Tatianites the Eucratites the Priscilianists and Eustachians her Fastings her Abstinences her Vow of Poverty Her Distinction of Meats And her Law of Celibat or Single Life By all which is accomplished the Prophecie of S. Paul which we have 1 Tim. 4.1 c. With the Marcionites and Pepusians she permits Women to Baptise With the Pelagians and Semipelagians she doth establish Free-will The Merit of Works The Perfection of Holinesse whereof the Monks do principally boast Adding thereunto of their own the Works of Supererogation as a mark of a Supream arrogancie With the Manichees though under another consideration in the Eucharist she hath cut off the use of the Cup. It were a thing too tedious to particularise more upon this matter 8. From the abovesaid it manifestly appears that the Church of Rome is Heretical yea above all others who ever have been Heretical Because she is not infected onely with two or three Heresies but with a great number and multitude of them And because her maladies are not small and slight but the poison of Heresie hath thrust it self through her whole body having almost corrupted all the Articles of Faith Which causeth us to say with the Prophet Isaiah c. 1.21 22. How is the faithful City become an harlot it was full of judgement righteousnesse lodged in it but now murderers Thy silver is become drosse thy wine mixt with water 8. The same also causes us to acknowledge that the Church of Rome hath onely an outward shew Her fairest is the frontispiece and fore front all covered with magnificent Titles But within it is nothing else but falsehood and Corruption She is like unto the Temples of the Egyptians of old which outwardly were fair and magnificent But within nothing was to be found but Cats and Crocodiles and Serpents and such other Beasts fitter for a Den then for such a Temple 9. If so many fair Churches in the East planted by the sacred hands of the Apostles and watered with their bloud are now changed in Mosquies of Mahumetans or in lodgings of Hereticks why then shall we find strange that such a change be happened in the West Since the thousand years ended of the binding in Chains of Satan by Jesus Christ in the preaching of the Gospel he hath been loosed according to the Prophesie of S. John Rev. 20.1 2 3. to work again a little season about the seduction of the Inhabitants of the Earth §. Antithesis of the Popish Doctors 1. Objection Against the Above Exercitations they object 1. That By Testimonies of Stories No Heresie was brought into the Romane Church Or any Change of Doctrine was ever made in the same Answer to that Objection 1. VVE Answer to that Objection That the Papists Histories written in the Time of Antichrists Tyranny Ought not And do not Deserve to be regarded by us Reformed Because the Authors of Them were Infected with the Errors of the Pope And did not Dare write for the most Part otherwise then might well stand with his Honour 2. And to All Histories That since the Defection have commended the Faith of that Church We Oppose the Word of God Which plainly convinceth it of manifold And Damnable Heresies 3. Besides we could alledge Sundry Writers in all Ages That openly have reproved the Same To Instance in one Doth not Sigisbertus the Monk An Historiographer mentioned by the Papists Expressely Charge Gregory the Seventh And his Successours For maintaining and practising Not only an Error But an Heresie Also In taking upon Them Authority to Excommunicate the Emperour And other Civil Princes This Heresie hath ever since continued in that See And is at this Time by the Pope And his Popelings Avouched And therefore by the Confession of the Popish owns Historiographers Some Heresles hath taken Place in the Church of Rome Which is contrary to the Obiection before propounded 2. Objection 2. Against the Above Exercitation The Popish Writers demand At what Time Vnder what Bishop By what way And By what Proceeding Was a New Religion Spread Over the City of Rome And over tho whole World Answer to that Objection 1. IT is hard for us to Answer At what Time Neither is it Necessary to set down the very Instant of Time All Things were not at once overturned in the Church of Rome Sinne And Error Came to their Height by Degrees And by Leisure to Ripenesse The Hairs of our Head are not all Gray of a Sudden Neither doth any thing suddenly come to his Maturity And the Growth of every Thing appeareth long after This is manifest in such Things as having small beginning go on forward unto a greater Quantity Until they come to Perfection 2. But doth it follow that the Church of Rome is not Corrupt Because we cannot tell the Moment of Time When it began to be Corrupt But being so manifest as it is What need we search the Histories to Shew the Beginning What we Pray If you see a Man sick of the Pestilence If you see a City corrupt with Riots and wickednesse If you see a House Ruinous And Ready to Fall If you see a Ship Sinking Will you deny all These Unlesse one can tell you the Time When that Man began to be Sick The Means how the City grew Corrupt Who was Owner And in what Year The House grew Ruinous And in what Day the Ship began first to Leak And what is the Force of the Papists Reason and Demand other then This 3. But do not their own Histories Tell When And By whom Innovations and Corruptions Entred Let Them See a Few of Them 1. He that first usurped Authority over other Churches was Pope Victor After Him Zozimus And Boniface the Third And Celestine And their Successours 2. Pope Syricius first forbad Priests Marriages 3. The Manichees first Denied the Cup to the People 4. The 2. Council of Nice first ordained Worshipping of Images 5. Pope Nicholas the Second first taught the Body of Christ must Carnally be handled broken and Eaten 6. Pope Innocent the Third first established the Doctrine of Transubstantiation 7. Boniface the Third first Declared That the Pope was the Head of all Churches 8. Gregory the Great taught first Purgatory for a certain Truth 9. The Florentine Council first taught And Declared that the Pope was above Councils 10. Innocent the Third brought in Auricular Confession If these were not Sufficient We could produce the Rest of the Popish Errors 3. Objection 3. Against the above Exercitation The Popish Writers take an Objection From the Perpetuity and Continuance of Christs Vniversal Church And demand of the Reformed Doctors With what face they durst accuse of Corruption the Present Church of Rome If they Remember how Christ promised his Spouse Perpetual Preservation Hos 2.19 I will even betroth thee unto me for ever Isa 59.21 As for me This is my Covenant with Them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee And my words which I have put in thy Mouth shall not
the Reformed to that Reason That is false 1. For the Sixth African Council and the Chalcedon Council had their Authoritie without the Pope 2. And Emperours Patriarchs and Bishops have Confirmed Councils 3. And the Council of Constantinople by Letters desired the Confirmation of the Decrees from Theodosius the Emperour Fraud This is a Fraud of the Church of Rome in Regard of another of her Principles That is the Catholick Church That because the Scripture maketh Honorable Mention of the Church The Roman Church is that true Church of Christ of which the Scripture speaketh so often 1. VVE Reformed acknowledge That both in the Old and New Testament there is every where honorable mention made of the Church And that it is called A Holy City A Fruitful Vineyard An High Hill A Direct Path The onely Dove The Kingdom of Heaven The Spouse and Bodie of Christ The Pillar of Truth The Multitude unto which the Holy Ghost being promised poureth all things needful to Salvation The Congregation against which the Gates of Hell shall never so prevail That they shall utterly extinguish the same The Congregation which who so Repugneth though he confesse Christ with his mouth yet hath he no more to do with Christ then hath a Publican and a heathen man 2. The above-said Titles do not belong to the now Church of Rome 1. FOr on the contrary It is the Babylonish Whore A Branch cut off from the true Vine A Den of Thieves A broad way leading to Destruction The Kingdom of Hell The body of Antichrist A Sink of Errors A great Mother of Fornication The Church of the wicked out of which every Christian ought to depart which Christ shall one day fearfully destroy and give her the just Recompence of all her sins 2. In vain then do the Popish Writers reckon up the praises of the Church unlesse they can demonstrate that they are proper to the Church of Rome 3. Which they shall never be able to do so long as Rome standeth As the Church of Rome is Fraudulous in regard of the Principles of Faith and Worship that she doth produce So is her Doctrine false concerning these Principles 1. Concerning the Traditions that she calleth Apostolical 2. Concerning the Church 3. Concerning General Councils 4. Concerning the Ancient Fathers 5. Concerning the Pope And therefore such Principles are justly excluded by the Reformed from the Rule of Faith 1. The Reformed justly exclude from the Rule of Faith the Traditions called Apostolical by the Papists 1. FOr the Popish Apostolical Traditions are but forged and devised Things and therefore no stay for a man to settle his Conscience upon 2. That they are not such as the Papists sayes Let them tell us if they can which be the Apostles Traditions how many and where they may be found If they cannot satisfie this Demand as they cannot indeed How may they then make any Reckoning of that whereof they have no certain knoledge How can They without falling Build their Faith upon Fantasies such as they are 3. The Apostles Doctrine we have in Writing The Apostles Doctrine we have in writing 4. Other Traditions of the Apostles we receive none for our belief The Scripture is the onely Rule of Faith and not Traditions a part of the Rule of Faith that is That Scripture is a perfect Rule 1. THat I prove in this manner 2 Timoth. 3.15 Apoc. 22.18 1 Cor. 4.6 John 20.31 2. That is the onely Rule whereunto the chiefest properties of a rule do solely belong But the properties of a true and certain rule do onely belong to the holy Scriptures in matters of Faith The rule of Catholick Faith saith Bellarmine must be certain and known De verb. Dei libr. 1. cap. 2. Now there is nothing better known or more certain then the Scripture which appears Because Traditions are far more uncertain than the written word and because many of them are false and uncertain 3. The written word is a Rule of Traditions From whence it follows that it is the onely rule That the written word is a rule of Tradition appeareth by the Doctrine of our Adversaries who acknowledge that no Traditions must be admitted but such as agree with the Scripture Bellarm. de verb. Dei libr. 4. cap. 3. And which are derived from the Scripture and the writings of the Primitive Fathers Bellarm. de Script libr. 4. cap. 3. But those Traditions which are derived from the Scriptures have the same to be their rule And there is nothing more common in the Primitive Fathers then to subject all their writings to be Regulate by the holy Scriptures Therefore such Traditions as are found in the works of the holy Fathers have the holy Scripture to be their rule from whence it followeth that the Scripture is the onely primitive rule of Faith 4. It is that which is acknowledged by some of our Adversaries Gabr. Biel Can. Miss Lect. 71. whereof Ferus saith expresly The holy Scripture is the sole rule of veritie and whatsoever differs or contradicteth the same it is error and cokle with whatsoever shew it come forth Ferus in Matth. lib. 2. in cap. 13. pag. 248. col 1. And another saith The Doctrine of the books of the Prophets and Apostles is alone the foundation of truth and the rule c. Villavincen de formand Concion lib. 2. cap. 2. 2. The Reformed justly exclude from the Rule of Faith the Catholick Church 1. VVE Reformed do Reverence and Love The Catholick Church as the Spouse of Christ 2. But we know that her duty is to hearken only to the voice of Christ her Husband And that she hath no Authority to adde so much as one iota in his Word or any waies to dissent from it 3. And further we know That the Romish Synagogue is not that Catholick Church of Christ whereof we speak 3. The Reformed justly exclude from the Rule of Faith General Councils 1. VVE Reformed doe esteem and regard General Councils in their place We thank God for them We Read Allow and Commend them so far forth as they agree with Gods Word 2. Let therefore their Decrees be examined by Gods Word 3. And if they agree let them be received for that Agreement 4. If not let them be rejected for the contrary 5. But the Argument holdeth not in this Form such a Council decreed so and therefore so must we believe 6. If this Principle were set down for certain and perpetual in Divinity we should have strange Beliefs enow yea surely scarcely should we retain any one true Belief 7. Two famous General Councils have been held in Nice The First And the Second In the First is condemned the Popes Supremacie Can. 6. In the Second is established the Idolatrous Worship of Images The First Belief the Papists will not allow The Second is detested by us Reformed 8. Let Councils therefore be esteemed as they deserve 9. And let them be tried as hath been said § Objection of the Popish
not Obey the Pope Why came they not to the Council of Trent The Pope by all means hath sought to have them subject to Him but they still contemn him to his no small grief 2. It is true the Emperour the Patriarch and a multitude of Bishops came to the Florentine Council they agreed with them in many Things in others they dissented the Popish Transubstantiation they utterly renounced 3. At that time Josephus their Patriarch suddenly died Eugenius the Pope instantly urged a new Election they denied to make any till they came to Constantinople 4. Do not the Papists see how well they agree We have a Book of Cyril Patriarch of Constantinople in which is set down the Confession of their present Faith whereby it appeareth manifestly that they are farre nearer to the Reformed Churches in Beleif then they are to the Roman 1. The Turks are beholding to none more then to the Pope for their Possession of Greece and the Eastern Empire which hath caused the Miserable Slavery of the Greek Churches 1. IF As our Saviour Christ saith A Kingdome divided against it self cannot stand then the breaking of the strength of the Empire and weakning the power of the Christians and consequently strengthning the Turks must all be inputed to him which did rent and divide the Roman Christian Empires and of one Empire made two 2. As long as the Province and Dominions of the Empire were united We were strong enough against the Turks 3. But After Pope Leo the 10. divided the Empire the Empire of Constantinople which before had much adoe to resist the Turk was now no longer able to sustain the Burthen wanting the greatest part of the Empire 2. O Christian Princes and States unite your selves and consequently join your Forces together to pluck off from that Infidell the Turk the Empire of Greece and to join it with that of the West that so both as in Times past make but one Empire THESIS Of the Reformation of the Church in general 1. VVHen the Church is infected with Errors in the Doctrine or loaded with unlawful Ceremonies or Governed by an evil Ecclesiastical Policie the Reformation thereof is not permitted to the People without the consent of the Prince and Soveraign Magistrate 2. But such a Reformation is to be made by the Prince and Soveraign as being a Right which belongeth unto him and which belongeth unto him by Divine and Humane Right 3. Neither also is it lawful to a Minister of a particular Church to change at his will the Ceremonies of his Church but if they are not to be tolerated he must with his Church make his Addresses to the Supream Magistrate to obtain from him the necessary Reformation of the same 4. The Prince being to imploy himself about the Reformation of the Church when she hath need of a Reformation ought to that effect to consult the Divines of his Countrey the most Learned the most Prudent and the most Godly and to convoke a National Synod composed of such Men. 5. It will be well done also by him to join unto his own Divines the Divines of other Reformed Churches that by that Means greater weight may be given to the Reformation which he will effect 6. The Divines assembled must carefully seek out the Truth and when they have found it the Prince ought to ordain and injoin the observation thereof 7. The said National Synod or Assembly of Divines ought to extend the Reformation of the Church to four Heads namely 1. To the Doctrine concerning Faith 2. To the Divine Worship and Service 3. To Ceremonies and outward things 4. To the Ecclesiastical Policy and Government of the Church 8. And in regard of the abovesaid four Heads the said Synod or Assembly of Divines ought to Reform the Church according to the best Form of all 9. Now a better Form of the Church cannot be conceived nor found than that according to which Jesus Christ by himself and by his Apostles did in the beginning establish and confirm the Church 10. Which hath been the Form of the Church in the Times of Christ and of his Apostles we learn it clearly out of the Books of the Evangelists and of the Acts of the Apostles and probably out of the Writings of the Doctors of the Church who lived immediately after the death of the Apostles 11. According to this Form the Church ought to be Reformed in regard of the above named four Heads bringing them back to the first beginning and to the first Springs Thas is to say to the first Antiquity 12 If it happens that between some National Reformed Churches there be a difference in regard of Ceremonies and outward things agreeing well together in regard of the Doctrine for such a difference in Ceremonies the said Churches must not be enemies one to the others But they ought to bear one another Charitably and profitably Of the 1. Reformators Luther Calvin c. What Esteem the Protestants make of the last Reformers Luther Calvin and their Associates And how far it doth extend 1. THe Protestants especially we of the Church of England acknowledge not any factious names of Lutherans Zwinglians or Calvinists with which we are injuriously nick-named by our Adversaries As of old good Orthodox Christians were called Cornelians and Cyrillians by the seditious followers of Novatus and Nestorius Phot. Cod. 280. in Excerptis Eulogii ad finem Libri Act. Conciliab Ephes in Epist Legat. Schism ad suos in Epheso pag. 281. Edit Bin. 1618. 2. With Pacianus we professe Christian is our Name and Catholick our Sur-name 3. We esteem of Luther Zwinglius and Calvin as worthy men but we esteem them not worthy to be Lords or Authours of our Faith or to lead our understanding captive both themselves were far from affecting such Divine Honour and we far from bestowing it We remember who said of Christ Hear him not hear them 4. And therefore though these mens reasons may gain our Assent their Testimony is at the best but probable we believe not what they say but what the prove 5. Much lesse can we endure being once baptized in the name of Christ to be marked with the name of any man as with a note of our servitude We disclaim the name of Calvinists we owe no service we have no dependance upon Calvin nor upon any other man as Doctor or Master of our Faith 6. We owe him and the rest of the first Reformers many thanks for their painful labours which shall remain of honourable account in all posterity We cannot bless God sufficiently for such Instruments of his glory Yet we do not Idolize their persons or adore their Dictates and Opinions as if they were Divine Oracles That Doctor who hath the command of our Conscience hath his Chair in Heaven we love and honour such persons as our Friends yet so that we honour Truth and love it above all Friendship Which Churches and Assemblies we comprehend Properly under the Appellation of
thought that in such things each several Church is left to her own Judgement and Liberty so as she keep her self to the general Apostolique Rule of Order and Edification and to the general Judgement and Practise of the Church Universal See Tertull. de virg vetand cap. 1. Fermit apud Cyprian Epist 75. August Epist so Socrat. Hist lib. 5. cap. 21. c. 9. Though the Body of Religion in divers Reformed Churches and Countries be clothed in divers Suits and Fashions yet for substance it may be one in all In all these contestations as it commonly falls out blessed be God they that are for Truth have ever been for Charity and mutual Toleration as appears by their published Writings all tending to Pacification Vide Junii Parae scripta Irenica 10. Luther himself though of a rough and vehement Spirit yet before his death being tempered by milde Melanchton that honour of Germany did much relent and remit of his rigour against Zuinglius and began to approve the good Counsels of Peace Admonit Neustad de Libro Concord cap. 6. p. 236. And 11. Among the Lutherans all are not of the same intractable Disposition As they in Polonia for instance where the followers of Luther and Calvin have long lived together in a fair and brotherly concord and communion notwithstanding their several Opinions which they still retain vide Corpu Confess Et ibi Poloniae consensum 12. Since then our Discords are of no higher Degree we say as Prudentius a Christian Poet of the Unity of his Times It hath been a little violated but is defended by Faith her Sister in whose company being safely come off she laugheth at her wounds as being easily curable Fraud A Discovery and Refutation of a New Way and Subtle Cunnings of a Seminary Priest of Rhemes against the Reformed Religion 1. THis Way and Cunning is to bring continual Allegations of Testimonies out of the Reformed own Writers craftily brought in their Books to shew a dissention of Judgement among the said Reformed Writers that so the Readers of the Books of those Popish Writers may be Induced to think the worse of the Reformed Religion 2. A Refutation of this New Slight and Device THis Device is full of Fraud Dishonesty and Malice taking Advantage of Mens Infirmities and Imperfections against the Eternal Truth of God which the said Popish Doctors cannot by ordinary and lawful kind of Reasoning Refute Concerning the Acknowledgement of a Seminary Priest of Rhemes That three Articles of the Controversies which were propounded by Bishop Jewell in this Sermon at Paul 's Cross in which he made his Callange were and are of weight 1. The Supremacy of the Pope 2. The Corporal Presence 3. And the Sacrifice of the Mass Examination of this Acknowledgement of the Seminary Priest by the Reformed Doctors 1. 1. IN that acknowledgement the Seminary Priest hath uttered his Judgement of the rest of the Articles that are in Controversie that they are not of such weight as his Church would have them to be esteemed 2. And of these three Articles he might with as good Reason have excepted the two latter and so make the first only a matter of weight 3. For that Article indeed is the substantial Point in maintenance whereof all the Popish Writers Labours are bestowed otherwise were it not for defence of their Popes wicked unreasonable Antichristian Monarchy they could easily agree with us for these two and for all the rest we doubt not 2. But what did the Priest in his Acknowledgement think then 1. Of Private Mass Is it a thing of no weight as there he would have it accounted There is not we suppose any thing in the Rome Church more used or better liked 2. What he did think of the half Communion 3. What he did think of the Latine Service 4. What he did think of Images 5. What did he think of the keeping of the Scriptures in a Tongue unknown to the People 6. And what did he think of other such Heads of the Romish Religion 3. 1. Are they of no weight Are they Trifles Are they not worth the striving for 2. Then let the Popish Writers give over all defence of them 1. Let Private Masses be abolished 2. Let the Communion be administred in both kinds according to Christs institution 3. Let the publick prayers be said in the Tongue that every Countrey useth 4. Let Images be burned 5. And all Idolatry forbidden 6. Let it be lawful for the People of all Countries to read the Scripture in their own Language 7. Let there be no controversie about the other Articles 3. For while they stand so stifly in maintenance of all these and others They cannot truly say and bear us in hand That they are not of weight in their Account The Reformed Churches truly and properly so called are Pure and Orthodox Churches And their Faith is sound and not Hereticall as falsly they are termed by the Church of Rome 1. IT is that which must be acknowledged by some certain Notes and Marks For as we judge of Coine by the pair of Gold Weights and of Metals by the Touch-stone and of Glassen and Earthen Pots by the sound so ought we to judge of the Church by her Marks 2. The true Touch-stone of the Church is the Truth It is the Scripture It is the Word of God For the true Sheep of Christ are those who hear the voice who know him and follow him John 10.27 It is the Lords Camp who marcheth after this Pillar And the Apostles Church is builded upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone Ephes 2.20 We hear saith St. Augustine found Christ in the Scriptures let us also seek there the Church And if they have the Church on their side let them show it onely by the Canonical Books of the Divine Scriptures As to know whether a Line be strait a strait Rule is applied unto it Even also to discern a pure Church from an impure there is no other means than to see and observe whether it doth agree with the Rule of Practice which is the Word of God 3. Under which Word of God the pure Administration of the Sacraments of the Church is also to be comprehended Because the right use of them is prescribed in the Word of God 4. Now by this true and certain mark of the Church we prove that the truly Reformed Churches are pure and Orthodox Churches because from point to point they follow it The Articles of their Doctrine as the generous young Eagle do fixly behold the Sun and without at all feeling the Eye-lids 5. If it were true as it is pretended by our Adversaries of the Church of Rome that the Religion of the said Churches should be false and that they were deceived then it should follow that Christ the Prophets and the Apostles should have deceived them Because they defend their Institutions and imbrace their Doctrine which to think onely
Omnipotencie of God 5. And notwithstanding that God having so permitted it those false Miracles did serve to Introduce and settle many Errors 1. By this Means the Popes and their Clergie did endeavour to establish the Doctrine of Transubstantiation Sometimes saying that Beasts did leave their Food to worship the Host Sometimes That the Host being pricked some blood came out of it That a part thereof being fallen in the water when the Priest washed his hands all the water had been changed into blood 2. By this Means also the Pope and his Clergy did establish The Intercession Adoration and Invocation of the departed Saints And upon that How many Miracles have been boasted of Namely That many blind do recover their sight Many lame do go That many sick do recover health If any Mineral Waters be found in a Country that have some virtue there a Chappel of some Saint is builded unto whom the virtue of these waters is attributed which is called by the Name of Miracle 3. By this Means likewise hath been established the Adoration of Images being said that in certain places the Crucifix being ill used by the Jewes did render Bloud Also that in another place a Child without Feet having vowed himself to the Virgin Mary whose Image was worshipped in the place where he was Born did see in sleeping his two Feet be given unto him That in some other Places some Images did render Oyle like unto Sweat which did serve for the Cure of many Diseases 4. By this Means besides hath been established the veneration of Relicks 5. And for the Admiration of the Dignity of Popes this Means hath been also used 4. I have said That the Fourth of the Means used by the Popes and the Church of Rome to seduce People Consisteth in Persecution and Cruelty 1. IT is that which is represented in the Apocalypse chap. 17.6 In these words And I saw the woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the Bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus And in the 12. Chapter all along Particularly and Expressely in the verses 13 15 and 17. of that Chapter 2. In that the Church of Rome is gone farre above the Cruelty of the Pagan Emperours and that of the most wild and Barbarous of them 3. This Cruelty and Persecution hath been exercised and tried by the Popes the Church of Rome in all the places where the Reformed Religion was Imbraced 4. And if at this Time it doth not appear so violent as in time past It is because the strength of Antichrist weakenth and not his will The Popes do hold That no other waies are to be used towards the Reformed then that of Punishments and of warre 1. BEcause say they there is but small hope of their Conversion Hereticks being very obstinate and whatsoever is done to exhort them to Repentance being by them attributed to the want of strength to force them 2. That there was not any Remembrance that ever Moderation had done any good 3. But that Experience had shewed that the sooner it is proceeded against them by the Justice and the Executions thereof it fareth the better 4. And where this way doth not suffice to proceed against them by warre Again Of the Cruelty of the Popes and of the Church of Rome and of the Popish Inquisition 1. THe Reformed call to witnesse all the people of the Christian World who have yet any sense of Humanitie and Equitie remaining in them Whether the Cruelty of the Church of Rome hath not been of all Cruelties the greatest 2. Thereupon let Italy speak also Germany Spain France the Low Countries besides our Kingdom of England 3. It were tedious to recite the Horrible Murders The Fearful Burnings and the Exquisite Punishments that the Papists have exercised in those States 4. The Sword The Rack The Gallows and the Fire have been the Instruments of their Cruelty 5. And had it not been for these the Church of Rome had been overthrown long ago For by these Weapons it was first Founded after increased and now maintained 6. If once these faile the Roman Church questionlesse cannot long continue § Of the Popish Inquisition 1. THe Horrors of this Popish Inquisition are above all that the Devil did ever invent 2. The Tortures thereof are so cruel and barbarous that that justifies all the Torments of Phalaris 3. It is to speak of it too softly to call it the Image of Hell 4. A man is laid in prison not knowing for what cause 5. After the Darknesse and Solitarinesse of a year he is questioned upon some certain deeds 6. If he declares himself to be a good Catholick and Abjures Heresie then he is put to death more mildly For there to be guilty of death it sufficeth to have been accused 7. If he persevere in the defence of the Truth which he did professe and resolves himself to martyrdom after infinite Torments he is produced in publick his head covered with a horrible cover which they call S. Benedict with a mouth and a tail of the Devil 8. And so he is burned with a slow fire at sundrie times that so he may feel himself dying 9. Which is an horror to the Turks and Mahometans although they be mortal Enemies to the Christian Name For they never did any thing to Christians which came near to this Crueltie Of the Perfidiousnesse and Cruelty Exercised by the Council of Constance upon John Husse and Hierome of Prague 1. 1. IOhn Husse of Bohemia and Hierome of Prague came to the Council of Constance trusting in the protection of a publick promise namely of Sigismund the Emperour who gave his publick warrant 2. And yet they were burned in that Council 3. Was it not fit that the Council should have given credit to the publick warrant of the Emperour Exception of the Jesuites BUt say the Jesuites John Husse was not called by the Council of Constance neither did he receive from it any publick promise Answer of the Reformed to that Exception 1. THe Emperour Sigismund gave him his publick Warrant which the Council most dishonorablie infringed 2. And after they had put Husse to Death contrary to publick promise they Enacted a Law That a promise made unto Hereticks by the Emperour or by any King or Secular Prince should not hinder any Ecclesiastical Judges from proceeding against them According to Law Concil Constant Sess 19. 2. HIerom of Prague likewise came to the Council of his own accord and making publick profession of his Faith was burned 3. SO that the Case of these Two than the which all Christendome at that time had not any more Holy or Learned 1. Shall remain as a perpetual Monument of the Papists Treachery and most horrible Cruelty 2. And also as a notable Caveat unto all the Godly to beware of them for the Time to come §. The Doctrine of the Church of Rome is false Concerning the Faith given to Hereticks 1. AFter that the Council of Constance had most