Alexander Farnesius his nephew of his base sonne Petrus Aloisius Guido Asâ—anius Fran. Fâ—rza another Nephew of his base daughter Constantia the one sixtene yeares of age the other 14 two tall striplings I wis his fatherhood creates for Cardinals answering those that obiected their tender yeares that himselfe now in his decrepite agâ— would easily recompense in his olde yeares what was therein wanting to them And so to this goodly issue came all this solemne Reformation But perforce at length all is devolved vpon the Councell of Trent an Assembly of many learned Doctors sufficient if any to invent some salue for Babylons sores And they say pretily to it for in that Councell you shall find no lesse then eleven or twelue very solemne and formall Decrees de Reformatione And when all is done nothing is Reformed Thus is verified that of the Prophet Ieremy Wâ— would haue cured Babylon but shee would not be cured Nay to shew her case is desperate that Councell comes with her Index expurgatorius wherewith to expunge and purge out all such bookes as either descry the nature of her diseases or prescribe remedies for the same Thus to this day from the time of Luther we see grievous sores stick close to that whole Pontifician body Although the corruptions of the Church of Rome were not altogether vndiscovered before Luthers time God still raising vp some from time to time to cry out against Babylon as Iohn Wickliffe in his workes writt against her manifold errors and abuses for which they merited the fire at the Councell of Constance but they never came so to be ransacked and ript up as by Luther and since his time He began to search their sores to the quick and laide them open with a witnes that it is impossible so much as ever to drawe the least skin over them to hide or cover them much lesse to cure them As for the bodily sores which fell vpon those of the Church of Rome vpon the pouring forth of this first Viall I list not to touch them Erasmus complaineth of Luther for two things that he touched too much the Bishops Myters and the Monks bellyes And surely a â—rievous sore fell vpon many of them in this kind maâ—y a Bishop lost his Miter and many a Monks fatt belly â—egan now to pinch for it Nor are we willing to touch â—hose Cardinals sore backs being beaten and pitifully 〈◊〉 vp and downe the streets of Rome by the Caesareanâ—ouldiers â—ouldiers who then had surprised it while their head â—as beating his braines how to get out of prison where 〈◊〉 was now pent and all this done within the time â—f the powring out of this Vial. I list not I say bee a â—aile in such sores Enough is said to cleare the powring â—ut the first Viall both when and how by whom and â—pon whom it began to be poured The second Viall powred out out And the second Angell poured out his Viall vpon â—he Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and â—uery living soule died in the Sea As in the former Viall we haue seene Romes spirituall â—ores so here we are to search for spirituall seas It is vâ—all in Scripture to which for interpretation this Proâ—hecy all along sends vs to shadow out the doctrins of 〈◊〉 word of God by waters As Eze 47.3 4 5. The waters 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary by degrees became a huge OceaÌ„ Esay applies and expounds it Chapter 11.9 speaking of the light of the Gospell in Christs time he sayth The earth shall beâ— full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters couer the Sea So Abac 2.14 And Esay 55.1 In Exod. 15. Yee haue 12. fountaines typing the doctrine of the 12. Patriarchs and 12. Apostles Now as seas are in the good part taken for the doctrines of Christ in the forecited places so here in the evill part for the corrupt doctrines of Antichrist At the blast of the second Trumpet the third part of the sea is turned into blood here the whole Sea Which notes the difference betweene the state of Romes doctrines before the Councell of Trent while as yet they were in their growing and as now they became in and after the Councell of Trent Before the Councell of Trent there was some fresh water to be found in the doctrines of that Church some truth some meanes of â—alvation left for those that could search and find it out and follow it seperating the fresh and cleare water of truth from the blood of her abominable idolatries and other impious doctrines while as yet the rule of faith to wit the Scriptures remained intire but in and after the Councell of Trent wherein the Rule of faith is altered humane Traditions and inventions comming in for an equall share with the Scriptures and shouldering them for the wall and driving them into the very Kennell now the Sea is turned altogether into blood In this Councell the whole doctrine of the Gospell is turned vpside downe The iustifying and saving faith is vtterly excluded abandoned and accursed Iustification by workes takes place The Masse a new propitiatory vnbloody sacrifice for all sinnes for quicke and dead foysted in for Christs onely sacrifice once made yea humane satisfactions in stead thereof All Idolatries are ratified The Sacramentall Cup the liuely resemblance of Christs blood shed for our sinnes without which is no redemption no lifâ— in vs is for ever most sacrilegiously cut off from Christs sacred institution No man must read the Scriptures but the sworne vassalls and that according to the sense of the Church of Rome whose Oracle is the Popes brest and that variable as may best sute to the present occasion and commodity of that Church The vulgar Latine Translation though in comparison but a blundered streame is preferred before the pure originall fountains the Hebrew and Greeke though it containe many absurdities and falsities which may not be corrected The Index Expurgatorius established in that Councell is to quench all truth Therein mans free will is established and Gods free grace abolished Predestination and Election vndermined and overthrowne And the â—ike Thus is that Sea altogether blood yea as the blood of a dead man corrupt filthy gore whereof every living soule in that Sea dieth So that vpon the powring out of the second Viall vpon the Sea of Romes doctrines â—oncluded vpon in the Councell of Trent they are beâ—ome altogether mortall and deadly bainefull to the â—oule yea whereof every living soule in that Church diâ—th This began euidently to appeare by the Learned Chemnitius his Examen and other learned Ministers of â—he Gospell since that time by whose preaching and writings and opening of the word of God that Church 〈◊〉 convinced to be now altogether Apostaticall as King â—ames calls her For in that Councell she hath altogeâ—her denied the faith and that with Anathema so as she 〈◊〉 become worse then an Infidell vtterly excluded from â—ll communion with Christ for
iniquity and profanesse is accounted the best Christian. These vncleane spirits would perswade the world that he is the best Minister that preacheth least that hath most preferments and cures of soules but liues at ease himselfe and playes the good-fellow that the Lords day is best observed but with one Sermon aâ— most and with one Play at least These be the vncleane spirits that revell most in the time of this Viallâ— wherein whose will not ruâ—â—e with the streame of all impurity and impiety thâ—â— blast them with the name of heresie as Pope Paul â— did those thâ—â— studied Academicall learning or as Traian put men to death only because they were Christians So that these vncleane spirits like froggs pollute the waters where they liue with the filthy froth of their frye so causing an vniversall surface of all iniquity in the time of this Viall more then ever The Royall Paraphrast saith of them They are likened to Froggs for that they are bred of an old filthy and corrupt false doctrine which for a long space hath blinded the world before their comming as froggs breed of rotten and slimy coruption or for that they preferrâ— themselues before all other Ecclesiasticall orders preceeding them as vnperfect and vnprofitable hopping and leaping aboue them Againe the frogg hath no othâ—r song but one Koax Koax and therein is very importunate so these vncleane spirits what is all their Croaking but one song The Church The Church the Catholick Church the holy Mother Church of Rome the Apostolicke Sea one supreme Pastor and Iudge of controversies who cannot erre and the like This is their three mans song wherein they goe as in a circle Thus by counterfeiting the froggs they doe as the Aegyptian Magitianâ— seeke thereby even by their very clamarousnesse and obstreperousnes to disgrace Moses and Aaron Gods Ministers in their office who preach the truth Fourthly froggs bring forth their young as the Beare vnformed having only a black head and taile such is the spirituall offspring of these Froggs whose faith is informis or vnformed implicit and even blacke with ignorance Hence the Proverbe Nihilò rana gyriâ—a prudentior no wiser then the young frye of a frogg Which may be applied to all seduced and blind Papists who are not able to render a reason of their faith Fifthly Froggs liue in abundance of waters and of idlenesse Whence the Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou pourest out wine vnto the froggs as we say To poure water into the Sea And in what abundance of voluptuousnesse and ease these froggâ— liue all the world knows Againe the Frogg is a nimble creature and when yoâ— thinke to take her vp in your hand she skips away and hides her in the mudd such are these actiue spirits In a word K. Iames of happy memory in his Premonition to all Christian Monarchs free Princes and States about these froglike spirits hath these words calling them a new sect of Spirits raised vp for the defence of that tottering throne called three in number by reason of their threâ— fold direction being raysed and inspired by the Dragon Satan authorized and maintained by the Beast the Antichrist and instructed by the false Prophet the Apostaticke Church that hath the hâ—rnes like the Lambe but speaketh like the Dragon These spirits indeed thus sent forth by this threefold authority for the defence of their triple-crowned Monarch are well likened to Froggs for they are amphibious and can liue in either element Earth or water for though they be Church men by profession yet can they vse the trade of Politike Statesmen going to the Kings of the earth together them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty What Massacres haue by their perswasion been wrought through many parts of Christendome and how evilly Kings haue sped that haue ben councelled by them all the vnpartiall histories of our time doe beare record And whatsoeuer King or State will not receiue them and follow their advice 〈◊〉 out must that King or State be even with Gunpowder ere it fayle And these froggs had reason indeed to labour to become learned thereby to dissipate that grosse mist of ignorance wherwith the raigne of Antichrist was plagued before their coming forth So farre the judicious King Thus we need goe no farther for a cleare interpretation of these words Hence also we may note the vnaminous spirit of these three the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet out of whose mouth these three Froglike spirits proceeding may put vs in mind as of their tripple authoritie so of their triple malignity as the crafty cruelty of the Dragon the vsurped power of the Beast and the sophistry of the false Prophet They are called also the spirits of Divells to note their Politicke 〈…〉 going in the habit of illuminate 〈◊〉 Rabbies in the long robes of profound Craftsmasters and expert Statesmen who in the time of this Viall bring into the world new Maxims of state infused into them from those whence they come But they work◠〈◊〉 This may seeme to excuse Priests and Iesuites from being of the number of those spiritâ—â— for what miracles doe they Yes surely great miracles if ye may belâ—eue them Although what true miracles can false Propheâ—â— the spirits of Devils doe But it sufficeth that these Prophets be the only Miracle mongers And aâ— King Iames excellently They doe miracles of deceit for they doe wonderfully deceiue men And doe they not vndertake to do miracles every day while they would make the worshippers of the Beasts Image belieue that they doe a Miracle inâ—uâ—ning a thinne Wafer cake into the very body of Christ flesh blood and bone Only the Apostle tells vs that Antichrists miracles are lying wounders serving only to deceiue them that perish through strong delusion sent them from God that they should belieue a lye and so might be 〈◊〉 And is it not miraculous that they can by their inchanâ—ing spells make of wise men starke ideots offensible men senselesse of reasonable men brutish as to believe that to be a miracle which they see with their eyes to be nothing lesse It is the property of a miracle to put it selfe vpon the triall of a mans infallible sense specially of the eye But here is no such thing to be serue When Christ turned the water into wine it had now both the colour and savour and substance and true spirit of naturall wine Thus it was with a true Miracle the first that Christ wrought in Cana of Galilee It was not such still as the guests could not discerne from water either by their eye or tast or smell but were by the strength of their faith or conceit to imagine it to be wine But the miracle forsooth of Popish Transubstanâ—◠〈◊〉 cannot indure the couch of â—ensâ—â— triall the eye seeâ— nothing but a 〈…〉 Wafer the mouth tasts nothing but a thinne shiver of bâ—ead Where then is the Miracle That must be begged
without the true and â—â—ving faith in Christ no vnion with him and so no â—ommunion No salvation then henceforth I still â—eane and note it well from the Councel of Trent and â—ownward hitherto no salvation in the Church of â—ome every living soule therein dieth The Sea of hir â—â—ctrines is become like the Asphaltite or Mare mâ—rtuâ—â— or dead Sea wherein every living creature dieth â—his is then another of the spirituall Aegypts plagues So that this second Viall was not powred ouâ— â—â—ill the Councell of Trent not before The Councell of Trent putting a maine bounder and odde betweene the state of the Church of Rome before and after it Before the Councell of Trent there was some fresh-water for our fore-fathers to refresh their leane and languishing soules and to waft them to heaven while as yet the rule of faith remained intire and the faith of Christ was not vtterly destroyed and cashered but after that Councell all is turned into blood yea as the blood of a dead man not a drop of fresh-water to be looked for but a dead lake of most abominable corruption and stinking putrifaction Let them therefore no more obiect to vs our forefathers what became of them before the Reformation Surely if any thing but good befell them they might thanke the Church of Rome for it if they perished it was through the blood they sucked from that Strumpetts breasts Nor are we answerable or accountable for the salvation of our fore-fathers If they were led by dumb idolls If they perished in the Religion of Popery therefore must we Doth not the iealous God visit the iniquities of the idolatrous fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him But blessed be God who hath long agoe pulled vs out of that bloody Sea wherein they were plunged Yea blessed be God who before the Councell of Trent before that Sea was altogether turned into bainfull blood God provided a remedy for them and vs one Vial was powred out by the preaching of the Gospell to giue men warning to fly from Romes plagueâ— sores And fifteene yeares before the conclusion of that wicked Councell was the pure fountaine of the Gospell restored in England in King Edward the sixt his dayes and foure or fiue yeares before the end of it the Gospell was reestablished in the blessed reigne of the 〈◊〉 renowned Queene Elizabeth Never 〈◊〉 vs then with our fore-fathers we hope that before the Councell of Trent God provided for them some freshwater as he did for the Israelites in Aegypt while the cursed Aegyptians had nothing but bloody waters to drinke But in the meane time O all yee Papists weepe not take not care so much for our forefathers as for your owne soules You are as poore fishes inclosed in the dead Sea in the Sea of Romes doctrines where you drinke in nothing but as the blood of a dead man whereof every living soule that drinketh thâ—â—eof dyeth Your case now is desperate infinitely worse then that of our fore-fathers before the Councell of Trent Oh that you had so much life left yea some dropp of humane sense and reason as to perceiue your ruefull condition That you perceiue it not is it not a cleare proofe of this Prophecy that every living soule in that Sea dieth Are not those dead fishes that discerne not betweene stinking blood and fresh water yea betweene the brackish Sea and the sweet Rivers But I wonder most how you living in this Church of England where the fresh Rivers of life doe flow that ever you would preferre the bloody Sea of Rome before them But I reade of the Mare mortuum or dead Sea of Sodom that if a Lanterne without a light in it be cast vpon it it by and by sinketh downe and is seene no more but a Lanterne with a light in it fleeteth aboue and sinketh not How true this is I dispute not But I am sure it is the liuely Embleme of a Papist who hath put out the light of his reason and vnderstanding or of the foolish Virgin who hath a Lampe without Oyle much more without light You reiecting the Gospell there is no light in you and so it is no marvaile if cast vpon the Asphaltite of Romes corrupt and bloody doctrines which Citty is called spiritually Sodome Chapter 11.8 you sinke ever head and eares and drinke your bane Whereas if you did but nourish the light of reason and of Gods word in your soules you should never sinke into the dead lake being sustained by the heavenly light This is that light which preserveth Gods elect fishes from the mortall and mortiferous Sea of Rome whereon though perforce they be cast yet are they not swallowed vp of it But you will object or some for you Is there no salvation no spirituall life to be found in the Sea of Romes doctrines No salvation within the verge and bosome of that Church For answere ye may beeliue the Scripture here It plainly saith that that Sea is become as the blood of a dead man so that every living soule therein dieth And what is more plaine then that the Church of Rome according to the conclusions and Canons of Trent is this bloody corrupt seaâ— They haue expressely denied the faith they haue excluded the word of God as the onely rule of faith as we haue shewed and what salvation then is left in that Church God forbid you will sayâ— God forbid But that will not serue the turne You must come out of Babylon as the Scripture exhorts you that ye be not partakers of hir sinnes and punishments The Iesuites indeed are clamarous in your eares No salvation out of the Church And herewith they dazle your eyes while you want iudgment to put a difference betweene the Church of Christ and the now Church of Rome Out of the Church of Christ there is no salvation That is most true But the Church of Rome is now no true Church of Christ. Why so She denieth the faith of Christ she denieth salvation and iustification by the faith of Christ. Now that Church which denieth the only meanes of salvation by Christ is no true Church of Christ but such as wherein salvation is not to be expected But the Church of Rome denieth the only meanes of salvation by Christ yea accurseâ—h it to wit the iustifying and saving faith of Christ. Therefore the Church of Rome is no true Church of Christ but such as wherein no salvation is to bee expected But you obiect againe As for vs we doe not know or are acquainted with the particular doctrines of the Councell of Trent we are not learned to define or disstinguish betweene Faith Faith it suffiseth vs to beleeue as the Church beleiveth and if we erre through ignorance we hope that will not altogether preiudice or hinder our salvation And some of the Church of England and those no small ones haue said that they doe not deny salvation at least to
some ignorant silly soules whose humble peaceable obedience makes them safe among any part of men that professe the foundation Christ. Answ. You belieue you wot not what yet you hope that will not hinder your salvation But you belieue as the Church belieueth You meane as the Church of Rome believeth Well And the Church of Rome tells you in her Councell of Trent that she belieueth no otherwise she admitteth of no other faith then that which the Deuils and damned in Hell haue If any dare deny this he will but bewray his shamelesse ignorance in this point But being ignorant silly soules whose humble peaceable condition makes them safe among any part of men that professe the foundation Christ are they not in the state of salvation This indeed may seeme a good indulgent Doctrine to nuzzle silly Papists in their ignorance and blind religion while they cary themselues like humble and peaceable men But they professe the foundation Christ. What is it generally to professe Christ and particularly to haue no interest in him What is it to professe the foundation and not to be built vpon it And who can be built vpon Christ but he that hath a liuely faith in Christ To belieue as the Church of Rome belieueth is only to haue a generall historicall faith that Christ is the Redeemer of mankind the Saviour of the world Thus farre the very Devils belieue But that Church forbiddeth any man to believe in particular that Christ is his Redeemer his Saviour that hee is iustified from his sinnes by Christ alone and that his sins are forgiven onely for his name sake This no Devill can belieue no Papists may belieue vpon paine of Anathema and damnation Therefore though they professe the foundation Christ in the generall yet wanting a speciall faith in Christ to apply his merits for the remission of their owne sinnes in particular how are they safe in any part of men professing the foundation Christ May a man then bee saved nay is he safe to witt actually saved living in any part of men professing the foundation Christ No matter then what religion a man be off so in generall it professe the foundation Christ and a man be humble and peaceable though a silly ignorant Thus all Hereticks are in the state of salvation if humble and peaceable men for they hold commonly and generally the foundation Christ. But know O all ye silly ignorant Papists that living here where the Gospell the only meanes of saving knowledge and of saving faith is preached all your silly ignorance all your pretended humble peaceablenesse shâ—ll never saue your soules but shall aggravate your condemnation so much the more by how much you contemne the living fountaines of salvation and chuse to your selues to drinke in the bainfull Doctrines of that bloody Sea of Rome Indeed those silly ignorants that liue in Spayne Italy and so forth where the Inquision restraines them from the meanes of better knowledge may haue some plea for their ignorance and God may shew mercy vpon their silly soules but for you that are English Papists and pretend ignorance the more you goe about to excuse your ignorance the more you accuse and condemne your pride and arrogance that can so scorne and villifie the pretious word of God which while you doe it makes your damnation out of measure damnable And while you contemne the Gospell how can you be either humble or peaceable â— for it is the Gospell of grace and peace which who so reiecteth is a proud and factious heretick But another of you objecteth What doe you tell vs of the Councell of Trent What though it be like such a Sea as ye tell of all like the blood of a dead man in which every living soule dyeth But wee here in England do not come to drinke in that blood we haue our Ghostly Fathers who broach and bring to vs no such drinke as you talke of but such as carrieth good reason with it to be wholesome for the soule Answ. It is indeed an observation of Dr. Sheldon once a â—eminary Priest but now a worthy Convert and learâ—ed Minister of the Church of England that the subtle Priests and Iesuits in England having to deale with peoâ—le not so ignorant as in forraine parts where the Gosâ—ell is wanting but such as haue heard at least in some measure of the grosnesse of Popery as of their Image â—orship the robbing of the cup from the people in the â—ucharist and the like doe therefore tenderly and waâ—ly attemper their Doctrines to their Disciples among 〈◊〉 vntill such time as they be growne to have more â—rong stomackâ— to be able â—o take downe and digest 〈◊〉 grossest meate without any curious dressing As a â—entlewoman obiecting to a Iesuite their taking away 〈◊〉 the Cup in the Sacrament as a grievous Sacriledge 〈◊〉 told her plainely that their Church was belyed â—hey did it not for proofe at the Sacrament he ministers 〈◊〉 her the Cup. She tells her Minister of it who perâ—eiving the Iesuits iugling told her it was certainely 〈◊〉 Cup vnconsecrated that hee gaue her Whereupon â—ee pressing the Priest about it he was forced to conâ—â—sse the truth that indeed it was so Thus can these â—hostly fathers play fast and loose with their credulous â—â—sciples that must take all their sayings vpon trust â—hus Romes Fishers show the silly fish at first nothing but the baite till they haue gotten her fast vpon the hooke But what kind of holy water all Papists may expect from their Ghostly Fathers the pouring out of thâ— Third and 4. Viall will plainely declare But before we proceed to the third Viall for the fuller confirmation of what hath beene said of the state of the Church of Rome whose Sea of doctrines is all turned into mortall blood in this second Viall it will be very requisite here to discusse one question Whether the Church of Rome be either a true Church or a true visible Church A Question of so much the greater moment by how much some by their no small authority and no lesse renowned opinion in the Church doe so sway the ballance on that side that many ill affected and of the adverse party taking the advantage are 〈◊〉 to catch the word out of their mouth and to say 〈◊〉 they Thy Brother Benâ—adâ—d Thy Mother Church of Româ— Which advantage how perilous it is in these luke warme indifferent neutralizing dayes is not hard to determine And Popery hath learned to get over the stile againe 〈◊〉 enough without our helpe And though it were true that the Church of Rome were a true Church yet the countenancing or pressing of it in these times might very well to be spared Buâ— why then say they do otheâ— cry down the Church of Rome for no true Church at all Surely this were a fault if it were an vntruth For giuâ— the Divell his due as wee say It is good therefore thâ—â— all men be well advised
the foundation 〈◊〉 professe that God is man for then the society of Devils might claime to be a Church but directly to hold Iesus Christ so to be come in the flesh as therein to suffer and satisfie for our Salvation becoming our Christ our Iesus Redeeming vs from our sinnes by imputing his merits to vs that our sinnes might not be imputed to vs which were imputed to him by whose stripes we are healed by whose Righteousnes imputed we are perfectly iustified in the sight of God Doth the Church of Rome directly hold this foundation Nothing lesse Yea she directly not by consequence only directly I say she denyeth and destroyeth this foundation How or where In the Councell of Trent Sess. 6. Canon 10. Si quis dixâ—rit homines per ipsam Christi iustitiam formâ—liter iustâ—s esse anathema sit If any shall say that men are formerly iust by the righteousnes of Christ let him be accursed Is not this a direct and flatt expresse deniall of the foundation And in the 11 Canon If any shall say that men are iustified by the solâ— imputation of Christs Righteousnes or by sole â—emission of sinnes otherwise then by inhereâ—t righteousnesse in vs obtained thereby or also that the grace whereby we are iustified is only the favor of God let him be acoâ—rsed What more direct denyall of the foundation Is not this the foundation That Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners And how Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we being dead to sinnes should liue vnto righteousnes by whose stripes we are healed Nay saith the Councell of Trent directly We are iustified by our inherent righteousnes and so our stripes are healed and not by the righteousnes of Christ simply imputed Therefore come out of her my people least ye be partakers of her sinnes Fourthly Let not antiquity in the holding of an opinion prescribe against Truth Opinions ancient O that Saint Ambrose words alledged by our Reverend Author might here take place Nullus pudor est ad meliora transire then I hope he will be otherwise minded then to say He that demeth the Church of Rome to be a true Church or a true visible Church shall 〈…〉 to his cause then to his adversary Then he will no longer 〈…〉 the iudgement of particular person 〈…〉 wherin our Reverend Mother Church of England hath in her publicke doctrine resolved the contrary while she denyes to the Church of Rome the true markes of a visible Church those very markes which the Church of Rome her selfe disclaimeth So shall our Divine Seneca partake also of great S. Augustines prayse while by an humble and ingenuous Retractation he shall both purge away the stâ—ine and put a more glorious luster to his most sweet pious and for their kind vnparalleld workes And for me a poore vnworthy Minister I hope his meek and sweet spirit having well waighed my reasons and pitied my weaknesses will be pleased to excuse me of any transportation of zeale vnlesse herein I haue exceeded the bounds in presuming so farre vpon the patience of such a Reverend Antistes of our Church But I trust he will not impute this to any arrogancy of spirit when it shall appeare it is to vindicate Christs truth and glory against the Synagogue of the proud Antichrist Thus having shewed the Church of Rome or rather the Synagogue of Antichrist to be no true Church nor a true or truely visible Church nor a Church but a Sea whose doctrines as waters are turned all into the blood of a dead man so that every living creature therein dyeâ—h no Salvation no life to be found in Babylon proceed we to the next Viall The Third Vial powred out V. 4. And the third Angel poured out his vial vpon the Riuers and fountaines of waters and they became blood And I heard the Angel of the waters say Thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast iudged thus For they shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are worthy And I heard another out of the Altar say even so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgements All Riuers saith the Preacher come from the 〈◊〉 and thither returne Rivers then sent out from the Sea doe here signifie all Romes Emissaries as all Seminary Priests and Iesuites who as Rivers doe convey and diffuse the sea-Sea-waters of Romes doctrines to all Countries and parts of the earth And this Viall holds the like proportion to the third Trumpet as the second Viall did to the second Trumpet For the third part of the sea blood here all and for the the third part of the Rivers imbittered here all are turned into blood for the same reason alledged in the former Viall Only here seemeth to be a little difference between the Seas blood and this of the Rivers for that is as the blood of a dead man this blood only without other addition Yet at the best blood it is Here then are meant not only all those that haue written large Commentaries vpon the Councell of Trent as Vega Soto Catharinus Andradius Bellarmine c. who with their Philosophycall and Aristotelian Divinity and Schoole-nicities and quaint distinctions haue laboured to giue a fairer luster to the blacke gore-blood thereof and to propine it to the simple and subtile both in Babylons golden cup as Doctors ministring poysoned pills guilded over but as I said all Priests and Iesuites whom King Iames calls the last brood of the Divell who by their actiue motion as Rivers the voluminous workes of their Rabbies being but as great vnwealdy ponds and standing lakes in comparison run more currâ—ntly through the world And in this one particular note how the Councell of Trent it selfe hath turned the Rivers of Romes doctrine I meane her writers which before the Councell were but as it were a third part blood now all into blood namely by their Index Expurgatorius cancelling and letting out what purer waters they find in their writings as might â—e shewed by many famous instances so that now all their Rivers must run nothing but blood And these may well be resembled to Rivers for sundry respectâ— For first as all Rivers haue their originall from and finall course to the Sea for all Romish Emissaries must divulge no other doctrine but such as they derive from the Sea of Trents doctrinesâ— and their course must tend to the inriching of the Sea of Rome Secondly as Rivers like Fame are small in the beginning but running along grow greater and greater till they powre their full channells into the Sea so all Iesuites though at first they arise like poore brookes yet by their long current they come to returne full streames of commodities to the Sea of Rome Thirdly as Rivers are of an incessant and indefatigable motion Labituret labetur in
omne volubilis aevum so are the most industrious actiue and vnwearied Iesuites Fourthly Rivers are full of windings so Iesuites like the Serpent are full sly of insinuations by meanes whereof as Rivers they traverse the greater tract of ground the more easily Fifthly Rivers vsually run along the fartest soyles and fairest meadowes and do not Iesuites so Sixthly Rivers in their spring are but weake but being suffered to run along by their strong and swift current beare downe all obstacles that come in their way so Iesuites at their first arrivall when the Sluces or Sinque ports are not well stopt are but weake in the beginning but in tract of time they grow impetuous and intollerable Seventhly Rivers cannot brooke the abundance of rain-waters from heaven but being troubled therewith by the stirring of their owne mud they discontentedly swell over their bankes and so cause inundations on every side No more can these Rivers of Rome brooke the plentifull showres of the heavenly raine of the Gospell but their muddy malice being troubled therewith the more it raineth the more they swell and no bankes can containe or content them but over they will to bring a deluge ouer all In a word Rivers are pleasant haue a gentle gliding motion but if a man will commit his small vessell to the guidance and convoy of the streame it will inguâ—â—h him at length into the all-devouring Ocean And such is the pleasant and plausible current of Iesuiticall perswasions and faire motions that if a man will pin his soule vpon his sleeue he will carry it hand smooth into the bottomlesse gulfe of the infernall Lake But herein vnlike to Rivers For first Rivers though they come from the Sea yet passing through the narrow veines and secret pores of the earth they put off all their brackishnesse but these as they come from a Sea of blood so they run blood Secondly Rivers refresh all places and the weary travailour especially but these are bainfull wheresoever they come and so farre from refreshing the weary Pilgrim that is bound for the heavenly Hierusalem that they poyson the soule of him that drinkes of them sending him downe to the Mare mortuum the Lake of Sodom Thirdly Rivers are many wayes commodious to the parts they runne by importing necessaries and exporting superfluities but these are no way commodious only bringing in false wares or Babells toyes for which they carry away the riches of the land and that which is most precious of all poore seduced soules of men In a word Rivers breede and feede plenty of good fish for the vse of men but these are full of netts to catch and bainfull intoxicating baites to kill all the fish that come within their Channell The summe is the pouring out of this third Viall is to discover the deadly and dangerous doctrines which of all other Romes Emissaries Iesuites doe broch and vent in all Countries Yea the confirmation of this Ignatiâ—n or Igniferian Order the Divells last brood as King Iames calls them by Pope Paul 3. in the time of the Councell of Trent doth plainly point them out for those speciall Rivers here which deriue their bloody waters immedatly from that bloody sea Their doctrines are bloody in a twofold respect First in that they cause and procure infinite blood-sheds in the world not sparing the sacred blood of Kings and Princes and of all Gods Saints and servants Secondly in a spirituall regard by killing the soules of those that drinke in these bloody waters in stead of the pure fountain-fountain-water of the word of God And this is specially that blood here meant It is no lesse mortiferous then that of the Sea in the former Viall whereof every living soule therein dieth For what other doctrines doe the Iesuites bring but such as are agreeable to those of Trent all blood Though they smooth it over never so artificially yet all is but Babylons cup of poyson and of all abominations only ministred and served in in glistering gold of gloseing glosses For this cause is added here an acknowledgement of Gods iustice vpon those that drinke of this blood to wit all Papists Thou are righteous O Lord c. because thou hast iudged thus for they shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are worthy God is still the same righteous God that ever he was and will be to the end notwithstanding the prevalent impotent spirit of all-daring Atheisme wherewith the world is now towards the end possessed wherein is verified that of Saint Peter 2 Pet. 3.3 c. When shall come scoffers walking after their owne Iusts saying where is the promise of his comming Well howsoever the daft world little discerne or dreame of it the righteous God is still a pouring out the Vialls of his wrath vpon the vessells of wrath fitted to destruction Marke it well Gods righteousnesse is here magnified for revenging the innocent blood of his Saints cruelly and prodigally spilt by their bloody persecuters those of the Church of Rome mainely which being made drunke with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iesus as Chapter 17 therefore they haue blood given them to drinke for they are worthy So righteous is God to recompâ—nse blood to the bloody As Qâ—eene Tomyris having in a bloody field vanquished Cyrus and slaine him she chopt off his head and putting it into a Vessell full of blood for Cyrus had formerly slaine her sonne she said Now satiate and glutt thy selfe with bloud which living thou didst so much chirst after The like may the spowse of Christ say to Rome and her followers who for their cruell massacring and marryring her innocent sonnes haue now blood in bowles yea whole Rivers given them to drinke for they are worthy But he that will discerne the fearefull plague vpon all Papists must with Dauid goe into the sanctuary of the Lord he must be an Angell from the Altar he must haue a spirituall eye to discerne it For doth any Papist so much as once dreame that he is a drinker of blood That all his religion and the practise of it all his adoring of or before his gaye pictures and images all his invocating of his bead-rowle of Saints all the Masses he heareth all his or her turning over their devoute beads all their Ave mariâ—s and Agnus Dâ—â—es all their shrifts confessions and absolutions all their whipping chere in Lent when they let themselues blood all their confidence in the Popes pardonâ— all their falling down at the tinkling of the bell when their little God almighty is solemnely caryed abroad all their trust in selfe-merits and distrust in Gods mercyes as they are inioyned and a rabble of infinite more pretty knacks so pleasing and plausible to flesh and bloud which at the ripest age hath not overgrowne the state of little children being altogether affected with all such baby play as their mother Babell hath invented for her children
or fresh-water Pilot durst aspire to vndertake the sole guidance of the Chariot of the Sunne or Sterne of State to the hazarding or certaine hastening of the combustion or shipwrack of all in one bottome When they saw they could not by any purchase vnder hand for toleration of their execrable curse-causing Idolls restraine or darken the beames of that Sunne shining vpon all her government when they saw they could not with all their Indian gold beâ—ot the more noble English braines and loyall hearts of her most indeered and intrusted Attendants but that they preferred the honour of their loyalty to their Prince and Country before their private ends were they never so profitable if withall dishonest when they saw that her Maiesty had a richer Mine of gold and silver in England caused by the influence of her sun-like gratious religious and righteous gouernment in the bowells of her free-borne English subiects true hearts and affections while in one Parliament time they would sweat her more subsidiary treasure then all the American slaues can force from the Indian Mines to supply their gold-thirsty Master in a whole voyage when they saw it was in vaine to goe about to perswade her religious heart to admit of any Papall dispensation from all those sacred oathes which shee had solemnly taken for the maintenance of the Lawes of her Kingdome the only bond to secure it from invasion when they saw that they could not work the noble frame of her goverment to the mould and conformity of their Mystery of Iniquity but that all her counsells and actions were fairely and squarely carried the Mysteries of State standing most sound while vpon most opposite tearmes with the Mysterie of Iniquity When they saw they could not cause a iarre in that sweet harmony betweene her Prerogatiue royall and the fundamentall Lawes of her Realme but that still they went hand in hand together to the contentment of all her friends but terror of her enemyes which â—s her enemyes knew full well if they should stand vpon termes of opposition would hurt and hinder each other the Prerogatiue Royall being like a tall gallant ship which cannot sayle without plenty of waters nor against the winde and tyde but with extreame difficulty and toyle of the Master or his Mate and their Marriners forced to fetch about for this poynt that poynt and yet hardly make any way good Lawes established being as the Seas wherein the Prerogatiue Royall may sayle at pleasure and that most steddily while through a iust Ballasse or ballance it passeth as well lowly vnder as loftily aboue water so that going a long with the wind and tyde of the Lawes it is wafted so much the more both sweetly and swiftly by the easie and gentle motion of the Pilots hand being thus every way helped no way hindred by the current of the streame while the Lawes runne in the full tyde of good execution whereas if it will make head against the streame of Lawes and the kindly gayle of good affections breathing forth from the Lawes vnviolated it can make but small speed and that to the great incoâ—brance and toyle of the steerer and his Marriners about him when I say they saw all this and much more as so many beames streaming from that Gospell-sun whereon in her raigne this Vial began more eminently and remarkably to be poured No marvail if such power were given to this Sun to scortch men with fire no marvaile If the envious man did fume and rage and though they saw with open eyes the mighty hand of Divine protection and blessing vpon her sacred Person and State though the light of the Gospell shined never so cleare round about yet had they not the grace to repent of all their Antichristian heresies grosse Idolatry their often and miraculously frustrated treasons and trecheryes frauds and forces to giue God the glory But as the Aegyptian Magitians though they confessed of the fourth miracle and the third plague of lice Digitus Dei est hic This is the finger of God And as Iulian the Apostate pulling the mortall dart out of his bowels though therein he saw and felt the hand of Divine revenge yet he vttered his confession thereof with the voyce of blasphemy Vicisti Galilaee and so breathed out his blasphemous spirit in a desperat impenitency So here the Magitian Apostates or spirituall Aegyptian Priests though they could noâ— but confesse the power of God in his perpetuall protecting of that royall Personage and prospering her in all her affaires of Statee which they had vainely sought so many wayes to defeat and deface to this day haue they obstinatly persisted in their blasphemy and impenitency Then which what can be a more fearefull signe and marke of a reprobate minde and of a conscience ceared and sealed vp to condemnation when men wilfully resist the manifest and knowne truth Even as Iannes and lambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the Truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest vnto all men as theirs also was 2. Tim. 3.8.9 The Fift Viall powred out And the fift Angell poured out his Viall vpon the Throne of the Beast and his Kingdome was full of darkenesse and they gnawed their tongues for paine and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their paines and their sores and repented not of their deeds We haue beheld in the foregoing Viall the Sunnâ— mounted to a high pitch which at the decease of the Royall Lady of ever blessed memory seemed to be come to the summer solstice entring the signe of Cancer and now behold in the pouring out of the Fifth Vial the sun as it were in his retrograde coming Southward wherein he redoubleth his heat and luster never any age producing such a Noble company of reapâ—â—s learned divines and Preachers vnder the auspicious influence of such a Royall Mecenas as the succeeding K. Iames of happy memory having prepared and now presenting a faire and fruitfull harvest to Him who is like to the Sonne of Man comming in with a golden Crowne and a sharp sickle and sitting vpon a white cloud of a peaceable government to whom an Angell out of the Temple cryeth Thrust in thy sickle and reape for the time is come for thee to reape for the haruest of the earth is ripe Thus is our Sun continued without setting from that Peerlesse Queene to a Peerlesse King in whose peaceable raigne this Fifth Vial comes to be poured out and that so eminently and remarkably as there is no place left of making the least scruple of it And the fift Angell poured out his Viall vpon the Throne of the Beast some turne it vpon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vulgar Latine super sedâ—â—â— Bestiâ— It matâ—ered not much whether we translated Sâ—aâ— or Throne so as wee vnderstand it right and not as some
East Gods called and chosen and faithfull with them to hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked to eat her flesh and burne her with fire Chap. 17 16. But for the generall Conversion of the Iewes so câ—â—dibly expected of many whâ—â—soever â—ither probable or demonstratiue Arguments may be brought for it from Scripture yet this place seemes not so pregnant for it Nor doe I loue to controvert it 〈◊〉 est ut 〈◊〉 â—randum est vt fiat Iâ— is indeed generally held both of ancient and moderne Divines Saint Augustine saith Erit quandoque aperta vâ—catiâ— Iâ—dâ—â—tum iâ— salute Evangelij But whether in lociâ— sui◠〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 he determines not This I am perswaded of thaâ— what or howsoever their calling shall be if it shall come iâ— vpon the fullnesse of the Gentiles suâ—ely it is more then probable that it is very neare at hand forasmuch as the Gentiles seeme to become to the fâ—ll height to a high water if not rather beginning to vaile and 〈◊〉 For men of all sortâ— will not for all the preaching and pressing of the Gospell stirre one foot from their habituall and predominant reigning sinnes to increase the Tydâ— with the flood of repentance towards God being readâ— rather with the backsliding stâ—eame of Apostacy to fall backe againe into the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Sea of Marab and of all rebellion against God But in a word to resolue this knoâ— here the drying vp of Euphrates that so the way for the Kings of the East may be prepared is a cleare all 〈◊〉 borrowed from the estate of the heathen Babylon and here applyed to the mysticall Babylon In Scripture we read that when God was abouâ— to destroy the former Babylon he threatned to dry up her waters specially Euphrates her chiefe defence And when he is aboâ—â— to deliver his people and destroy their enemyes the Aegyptianâ— he drieth vp the Sea So here he giveth vs to vnderstand what he is about to doe concerning the mysticall Babylon and the spirituall Aegyptians namely to bring vpon them even vpon the whole Papall Hierarchy vtter destâ—â—ction and to worke a mighty â—nd marvelous deliverance for his owne people This must needâ— be the expresse and cleâ—re meaning of the Holy Ghost in these words Nor are we to pitch our eyes vpon any reall or visible Euphrates or vpon the externall forces and powers of the mysticall Babylon â—s though they were meanâ— in this Vial to decay or be dryed vp Let no man imagine that by the great River Euphrates here dryed vp is meant the previous ruine of the house of Austria so making way for the ruine of Rome For certainely they must fall both together as the Oake and the Iâ—iâ— clasping each other The ruine of the house of Austria is not to be a forerunner but a concomitant of Babylons fall Nor is it possible for the Papacy to stand if once the power of Austria were shaken Rome Spayne Franâ—e and all their confederate powers may stand together in their full strength and yet the great River Euphrates vpon the powring out of this Vial be sayd to be dryed vp How can that be will some say Or when is this Vial poured out that way should be made for the ruine of Romes Hierarchy There are too many 〈…〉 now adayes And I 〈…〉 wise but vnhappy Statesman of this Kingdome said that whosoever in writing a moderne history shall follow 〈◊〉 too neere the â—eales it 〈◊〉 haply strike out his teeth And who knowes not that the pouring out of â—ot coalâ—â— vp on a furious and outragious Beast may make him â—ick and fling about him And though his Beastly head seeme pretty remote yet he wants not his brood every where â—eady to revenge his quarrell and returneth to him that meddleth as hot coales as he bringeth And besides would thâ—â—e not be found mockers enough of whom Saint Peter speakes who if a man should apply this Viall to these times would be ready to breake out 〈◊〉 to profuse laughteâ— That the Mysticall Babylâ—â— should now begin to be said to haue her great River 〈◊〉 dried vp her chiefe strength and forces decaying and declining and so making way to her destroyers the Kings of the East the sonnes of the Gospell what more ridiculous What more incongruous or contrary to all common sense and reason The Pope and his pâ—â—ty get grouâ—d every day prevaile and prosper in all their attempts the Protestants side goes to the wallâ— and talke you of a present declination drawing on to the destruction of the Papall power Can you 〈…〉 any likelihood that his great River Euphrateâ— in 〈◊〉 vp when but of late dayes to omit the 〈…〉 confluence of other Rivers as the rich Elu◠〈…〉 beene inriched and inlarged with the coâ—fluence of the sweet Rhiâ—â— now falling into it whoâ—e 〈…〉 who faire Polatinate But what haue I to doe to satisfie such men 〈…〉 the estimate of divine Mysteries according to 〈…〉 low scantling of common sense and opinion 〈◊〉 will they say if the very swallowing vp of the noble Rhine proue in the end the drying vp of the great Rivâ—â— Euphrates Doe we not know that iudgement must begin at the house of God And what followeâ— vpon iâ— but the vtter perdition of the Gospell And doe they not know that before how â—ur goâ—â—â— humility and 〈◊〉 high mind before a fâ—ll And is not the present presumption of Babylon and of her party a pregnant preâ—age of her speedy ruine How soone did Is now this great Babel turne the prowd King thereof a grazing Dan. 4. And when that insolent Tyrant Belshazzar was a quaffing and profaning those sacred vessells the spoyles of the Lords Sanctuary how sodainly appeared the handwriting vpon the wall Menâ— Mene Tâ—ke◠〈◊〉 Dan. 2â— 26 27 28 c. Let the proud King of the Mysticall Babylon read the interpretation and apply it How doth Babylon at this present triumph and pride her selfe in the sacred spoyles of Gods people Now is she drinking healthes to her lovers in the full bowles of her late conquests over the poore Protestants and to fill vp the measure of her drunkennesse she hath already swallowed downe at one gulp the blood of all the flocke of Christ even to the last drop through the wide gulfâ—â—f her bottomlesse confidence and inâ—ariâ—ble thirst Babylon then being arrived at the toppe of all presumption is not this a presage of her sodaine downefall Was it not just so in the punishment of heathen Babylon And â—ust so shall it be in the mysticall Babylon whâ—â— saith the Scripture She saith in her heart I sit 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 widow and shall see no 〈◊〉 Therefore shall her plagues â—â—me in one day death and mourning and famine 〈◊〉 she shall be vtterly burnt with fiâ—e For strong is the Lord God who iudgeth her And I pray you tell me you that haue learned but your ABC in Gods booke and aâ—e not altogether transported with the