The Pope Confuted, Part 2 (1 of 3)

The Pope Confuted · Part 2 (1 of 3)

THE POPE CONFVTED. THE HOLY AND APOSTOLICAL CHVRCHE CONFVTING THE ERROVRS OF THE POPES DOCTRINE. THE SECOND ACTION.

IT appeareth manifes…ly ynough, I suppose, by the former discourse, that wee hauehave not departed from out the Church of Christ, in that we hauehave sequestre… our selues from the Romish Sinagogue. In this present action therefore, nowe it may seeme conuenient that we render the reason that moued vsus to renoūce that Romish route, and set downe as briefly as we may, the verie pointes withall, wherein we swarue from them. Wherein neuerthelesse shal not bee altogither amisse to aduertise the gentle Readers hereof chiefly, That we entred into this controuersie agaynst the aduersaries, not of anie set purpose to rayse contention and debate in the Church, nor of any desire to quarell and contende, nor yet of any euill affection that wee beare to the persons themselues, agaynst whome wee maintaine argument: n… yet for that we woulde not much more willingly bee coupled with them in one lincke of Christian vnitie and concord, if the vnitie, which they offered vntounto vsus, were such as we might by any meanes yeeld vntounto, without preiudice of the fayth and glorie of Christ, without staine of conscience, without manifest treachery and Apostasie, or without vnauoydable daunger of the safetie of our soule. But the matter being now growne to this poynt, that we can by no possible meanes be at vnitie with Christ, if we partake with them, what remaineth then at the length wherin they may eyther iustify agaynst vsus, or alledge for further defence in their owne behalfe? If they accuse vsus of Apostasie, or falling from them, let them then first by plaine demonstration make manifest the verie nature of right Apostasie. Surely if those that hauehave seuered themselues from the Primitiue and true Catholilike Church, and be reuolted from the first founders of Christian faith, from the auncient Fathers, from the Apostles, from the infallible principles of the Euangelical doctrine, to an other doctrine, to mens traditions, to forreine forged nouelties of Religion, to worshipping of Idols, to a strange Gospel altogether vnknowne to the Apostles, to patter praiers in vnknowne and barbarous speeches, may rightly be called plaine runnagates, no men in the worlde deserue to be called Apostataes in my iudgement more properly and truly, than this generation of Papists broode.

But here againe will some one of them replie, that they stande vponupon a good grounde of possession, not able to be gainesayde, which they holde of the holy and Catholike Church neuer discontinued, since the verie age and time of the Apostles themselues: from the which they say, that wee being but fewe in number, hedgecreepers as it were in corners, through treacherous backsliding, hauehave (as it were abandoning our natiue Country, & shrowding our selues in the hil Auentine) withdrawē our selues like rebels. To stoppe those slaunders againe, let this answere suffice: First as concerning the number, whether we b…e many or fewe, it maketh little to purpose. In the Church of Christ, sayeth Augustine, consideration must bee had of the grauitie of the matter, and not of the number of voyces: and it happeneth oftentimes that the greater number preuayleth agaynst the better, by number of polles rather, than by trial of trueth: yea Christ himselfe p. 49viewing the number of his flocke,Luke. …2…Luke 2 pronounceth it to be very smal,Mat… 20. 2…Matt 20:2 so also, when hee confesseth that many bee called,Luke. 18.Luke 18 yet hee addeth foorthwith, that the elect be not many, but fewe in number: in so much that he seemeth to doubt, whether the same sonne of man shall finde fayth in the earth, when hee shal come. Yet for al this, if a true computation may be yeelded of men, of nations and people, by the poll it self, of al such, as with al their hartes do detest the fraudes and contagion of the Romishe false religion, there wil not so small a number appeare in their eyes, as happly either they coniecture themselues, or at lest ought to make so slender accompt of.

But as concerning the Churche it self, let them vnderstand & persuade themselues thus: That wheresoeuer the true church of Christ is resiaunt, there we do plead in possession, & iustifie our true and vndoubted tenure therein. Of which church, they be called tenaūts in deed by name, but hauehave vtterly lost their whole interest and right therof. To make the same more plainly discernable, let vsus with due consideration make a proportion of both the churches of Rome: to wit, the auncient & first church there, and this new vpstart synagogue that is nowe:A compa…ison betwixt the aunciēt church of Rome and the Romish prelates nowe. and compare togither our popishe massemongers that bee nowe, with those auncient ministers & doctors of that first age, by line & by leuel as they say. So wil it appeare easily how much they differ eche from other. For how carefully & reuerently did those auncient fathers behaue themselues in the old tyme in that holy fūction of mynistery, which by lawful calling was committed vntounto them?The life and conu…rsation of the auncient a…d Apostolical …hurche. whose only delight and endeuor consisted wholy in instructing them that went astray, in conuincing the stifnecked with the pow…r of the word, in curing the canker of them that were wounded. To this painful trauail in teaching, was annexed no lesse carefulnesse to leade a blamelesse life, as that they might not only vaunte them of an vndefiled conscience which might boldly appeare before God, but also that no such blemish might be found in their conuersation, as might bee offensiue to man: whose whole trade of life was employed not in idlenes, & pleasurable delights, but in the earnest study of holy scriptures & in the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ. They were shepherds of the flock, & neuerthelesse sheepe of the flock also themselues not woolues amongst the sheep: they were not garded with train of souldiours, but in mightines of faith, in soundnes of doctrine, in exercise of holines, in sincerity of louelove, not so lofty in glory, as affable and friendly in speeche, finally endued with such a sweetnes of maners, and mildnes of minde, as that they would not willingly endamage their enemies. They …xecuted nothing with violence, their only weapon was the sword of the spirit, & power of the word: they threw none into prison, they drew none to the stake, they polled none of their possessions or goods, they sauored not of warres, nor breathed out bloodthirstines, nor teazed mē to armes, ne set Princes togither by the eares at any time: as they were themselu…s peacemakers, & messengers of peace, so did they allure al men to peace by al meanes possible. They neuer groaped after ti…les of vniuersality, nor trusted at any time in the confederacy of treachor…, in seditiouse factions, in conspiracies, nor in craf…y coūcels. They neuer haled scepters from out princes possessions, nor tread euer vponupon Princes neckes, but liued quietly vnderunder Ethnicke magistrates, with an especial foresight prouiding alwaies that they mynistred no occasion of sedition: yelding honor humbly to whome honor was dew, paying taxe & tribute, where taxe & tribute was payeable. They vsed continual exhortation to the nouices in Christ to hū ble themselues duetifully euen too al Idolatrous magistrates,Great differēce betwixt the bi…hops of the anc…ent, and the new churche of Rome. and too pray dayly for their good preseruation to God.

On this wise did those ancient Apostles & Apostolicke p. 50fathers traine the world at the first, & therby enlarged the Churche dayly. To the furtherance whereof it is skarse credible to be spoken, how much auailed not only the force of their miracles, but… with a… the sweetnes of their demeanor, & vprightnes of life, their cheerful courage in afflictions, their lenity in suffring iniuries, of minde milde and gentle, imagining no hurt to any, and endeuouring to deserue wel of al, raysing it self aboue wordly pōpe, making no accompt of this life, & exempt from al encombrance of wordly affaires, to the end they might the more freely attend the preaching of the word. So also were the bishops of that most happy age mainteined with the only beneuolence of the people, contented with the basenes of their own estate: In the meane time if there remained any surplus beyond dayly necessities, the same was deliuered back to the poore: At what tyme palaces of prelats were nought els but treasuries of the poore. For as yet the royalties of S. Peter rolled on no mans toung: what shal we say to this, that of that beadrol of bishops many liued so beggerly, that at the time of their death, skarse one penny could be foūd to pay for their graue: as we reade recorded of Theodoret? But this kind of men are lōg sithence dead and rotten, yea there remaineth skarse at this day any sparckles of their manners. The Catte is so altogither tourned in the panne amongst these Romishe reuellers, that whoso wil now compare these present prelates with the first proportionally, and enter into dewe consideration of the licentiousnes of these shauelinges, of their cruelty, ambition, tyrāny, fraudes, cōspiracies, loftines, delicacy, idlenes, riches, brauery, troupes of attendants, pallaces, lauishnes of life, greedines of reuenge, shal finde thē more like lordings, then bishops: rather monarches thē mūcks: & shal skarsely discerne whether a mā may rightly cal thē preachers or treachors: Teachers or deceauers: prelates or Pyla…es as Bernard did.Bernard in his Epistle to E… genius … And yet after al this howe they blush nothing at al to bee deemed their successors, from whome they hauehave so degendred in al actions of their liues, as that not so much as any memorial at al of that primitiue auncient integrity may be foūd to shine in thē,

And yet might this somewhat bee borne withal, if they woulde permitte vsus quietly to enioye the same doctrine at the least which those auncient elders and Apostolical founders left behind th…m to be receaued of Christian congregations. But as nowe euen on this behalfe al things are so vnlike, that any may wel doubt whether their life seeme lesse Apostolike,The life of the Bishoppes of Rome may seeme lesse Apostolike then Apostatique. or their doctrine more agreeable with Apostasie. The nature and nouelty of which doctrine being altogither so newfangled, as that it carieth no resemblaunce of Apostolical spirit, no likenes of aūcient antiquitie, it is a wonder to see, how these fyne fellows wil not cease in the meane time, to accuse vsus of nouelty, as though al antiquitie both of the scriptures, & of the Apostles and most learned fathers did not by all maner of meanes cry open warres against them. If this bee not true, let them discouer vntounto vsus, from what anti…uitie this Laterane transubstantiation and confession (as they tearme it) auricular receaued to bee publiquely authorised at the first:The Popes doctrine conninced in nouelty. both which Pope Innocent the 3. did in that barbarons age thrust vponupon the church by force, and power, without any probable reason of the scriptures, but enacted by the cōspiring decrees of certeine euil disposed persons: Again out of what progeny peeped priuate masses first: Trentals, yerely obites, that dayly sacri…ice of the Altar ordeined for the clensing of sinnes? the one parte of the cōmunion cut of by the rūp… pilgrimages, prayers for the dead, prayers in an vnknowē & barbarous loūg, & mū bled in a b…adrol by roat? Or frō what aūciēt brood were broached at y^• first their absolu…ions, pardons, …pish buls, romish stations, continual gaddings to the apostles tōbs, dedication of temples, shry…ing of saincts, con…uring… of salt & water, of co…ps, bowg…s, & that endles consecration p. 51of such like trumperies: couple heerewith also m…kishe vowes, rules, shauings, plates, myters, attires, besmearings, palls, iubiles, and I maruel that circumcision and the sacrifices of the olde lawe were not likewyse chopt in amongst the rest.

But when the Apostolique doctrine displayed his bright beames to the world first,The nou…l…y of the Popes doc…ryne was in many things vnknown to the aunciēt fathers. as it was heauenly, and auaileable for the sauety of the world, so did they proclaim nothing else, but that which they sawe with their eyes, & heard with their eares, they published nothing but what was foreshadowed before by many waies, & figures: foretold & agreable with the oracles of the Prophets. And where I pray you at the lēgth, hauehave these mē euer heard with eares which they debate so lustely of purgatory, of satisfactorie merites, of choise of meates not to be receaued with thanksgiuing, of matrimony not free, nor graū ted indifferently to al men, of ymages setvp to bee woorshipped? or out of what puddle were plumped first their proude crakes of the absolute power of the vniuersal bishop, of the Apostolique succession of the Romish Sea, of the keye that neuer erred, of the absolute authoritie therof which ought to be esteemed better then al councelles, not to be comptrolled of any person?

The Apostles, which established the principal part of our saluation in the power of faith,In howe many & how weighty matters the Apostolicke doctryne varyeth from the popes. taught vsus long ago on this wise, namely: that Christ was our rightuousnes, our wisdom, sanctification & redemption. And from whence then receaued these men this which they wil, & enforce vsus to beleue, that man of his own power worketh works meritorious: that wee meritte euerlasting life euen by due desert? That the blessed virgin may commaund her sonne reigning with the father to graunt this or that mans petitions. In the Apostles ty…ne it was decreed by publique authoritie, and by inspiration of the holy ghoste, that it should not be lawful for any man to charge the Gentiles with grieuous tradi…ions: neither did any man whē Paul preached grie…e his brother for eating fleshe so that it were priuately, and without offence to the weak brother. And from whence now hauehave …ssued these so great fluddes of m…ns traditions… w…erewith consciences are cl…gged both publiquely and priuately, far more rigorous then the state of the Iewes, so that he shalbe in daunger of losse of life as an heretique, whosoeuer shal dare touch an egge in the lent or ough… else then that which the Pope authoriseth, yea though sicknes or necessitie require him therto? Is any man so madde as to think these burdeins and clogges proceeded fro… the holy ghost? whom sithence it pleased to make churches free in the time of the holy Apostles, surely it is not likely that he would now alter his good pleasure, and charge the churches w^t more grieuous burdeins then before. In like manner in times past Bishops were created by the voices of the people, not without the consent of Princes & Emperours, & this also vponupon due examination of learning & life, according to the institution of the old Canons. Now to passe ouer many other things, at the naming wherof godly hartes may tremble for feare, fain would I hauehave them aunswere me how this canonical election without al examination, whithout the peoples voices, & without allowaunce of the prince, hath bene poasted ouer to a fewe Cardinales, or peraduenture solde to the fa…test in purse: where this tooke th… original of antiquitie, or when it first sprang vp.

Therfore to conclude this discourse of antiquitie,Tertullianus… if according to Tertul… iudgement that which is most aūcient must be deemed most true: & again whatsoeuer is crept vp of l…te must be taken for coūterfait: & if Irene combat…ng against the heretiques of his time, bee adiudged to hauehave don wel in that he appealed to the most aūciēt churches, as the w^t drawing neerest vntounto christ were beleued to erre lest: finally if we ought to holde that for autentick w^t was established by the authority of the Nicene c…ūcel, L…t the p. 52ancient determina…iō stand: if likewise we following t…eir …xāple, be willing to returne to that purest pate…ne of the most ancient Church, which you hauehave forsaken, & wil cal backe our selues, & al our ac…ions to the direction therof, wil any mā accompt this in vsus to be a departure from the Church, or an accesse rather to the primitiue Church?

But much matter is vsually obiected heere, touching the visible church, wherin for as much as both good and bad be conuersaunt, they say that the good ought to be receaued, and the ill neuerthelesse not to be reiected for the churches sake, wherin they abide. We deny not that in y^e visible church be alway residēt both good & euil, so also as we do embrace the good, we do not cast out the euil rashly for the churches sake. And yet foloweth no good cōsequen… herevpon, that they w^t do shunne the cōpany of the wicked in the church, do therfore reiect the church it self. For although in the church, the wicked are mixed togither w^t the good, yet be not these euil persōs the church of christ. It behoueth therfore to make euidēt now, which be those good ones, & which be those wicked ones, of whome we… speke: & here now an …stima… must be made not in respect of their conuersation, but in respect of their religion: that so as o… the one side we may deeme thē properly good, w^t teach purely & sincerely Iesus Christ & the sacramēts: so on the other side we cal thē euil, which defile the sinceritie of Christian faith, depraue his sacramentes, & vnderunder colour of the church do persecute the true churche of Christ.

Such to hauehave bene in al Churches, and in al ages of the Churche, euen from the first age of the Patriarches, Prophetes, and Apos…les alwaies vntil this pr…sent is more then manifest, which hauing no sparke of true religion, but a false vysor, of counterfaicte holynes, hauehave abused the name and title of pietie chiefly to ouerthrow true pietie. Of this number were Ismael and Esau in the tyme of Isaac and Iacob … in the tyme of Ioseph his owne naturall brethren, who lyke treacherous traytoures conspire… the murthering of their innocēt brother: Those also that ioyned in confederacy against Moyses, with Dathan and Abyron, and many other times: likewyse they that ioyned traiterously in armes against Dauid their liege Lorde and king. Such were the false prophets that withstood Elias, Michea, Esaias, and the true prophets of God: such were they who when Ieremy did prophecy, exclamed against him, The tēple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, when as in deede their speech was nought else but very lyes, like as the scribes & pharisees vpbraided Christ himself that they were the generation of Abraham, when as in very deed they were the broode of the deuil. Neither wan…ed such like busibodies in the Apostles tyme, whome S. Paul worthely reprouing spared not to cal false Apostles, false brethren, dogs, euil workmen, enemies of Christes crosse. The Angel in the Apocalipse speaketh of thē on this wise,Apocal. 2.Rev 2 they would be accompted Iewes, but in very deede they be the synagogue of Sathan. To conclude, with what sort of people hath not only Christes churche but al commō weales also bene pestered more at any time, then with such kinde of naughtipackes, which when either can not, or wil not walke the right way to true renowme, do foorthwith not only seeke pilladge of the people, but procure also the hassard of their soules health coūterfait hypocrites gloasing & flattering the vulgar sort of people, & entraping the simple. The like crafty colour vsed the sect of Mahomet, who bicause would not seeme to be Agarenes, coyned thē selues the name of Saracenes, as though they were generation of Sara, & so deceaued the people. And the beast mentioned in the Apocalips beeing nothing lesse then a Lambe,Apoca. …3. did wonderfully bewitche men vnderunder the counterfaict face and hornes of a lambe.

But here again happly wil some friend of the Romish Churche take me vp for stumbling, saying: what a matter p. 53is this? do ye on this wise compare so sacred a Sea to the Agarenes and Saracenes, seeing that these do carry no shewe, or any resemblance at all of the visible churche? neither ought to be named by the name of Christiās? On the other side though the Patriarke of Rome, be not allowed amongst you as head of the church, yet can he not be denied to bee a member of the visible churche, and to hauehave a place amōgst the Christian congregation. For as much then as this bishop hath his place of a Christian in the Christian church, for this cause surely it doth not beseeme Christians to s…quester them …elues from Christians. What needeth longer answere hereto then at one wor…e to answere with Cicero, Cicero in his Tusculanes the 3. booke.Why should I hearken to speeches, when I see deedes? Certes if he bee a Christian byshop as he requireth to be accompted, his offence is so much the more haynous in this, that vnderunder the visor of a Christian, he executeth such outrage so furiously and so sauadgly breathing out slaughter & vtter destruction of Christians, as that no man may doute, but that this Abadon hath murthered, burnte, and oppressed greater heapes of Christian carcasses, then any one of all the heathenish sauadge, which proclayme them selues to bee open enemies of Christianitie. Yea by so much the more is he to be detested then the Saracenes, by how much lesse an open enemy hurte…h in respect of the priuie lurking and domesticall Scorpion: whereof the one may somewhat be preuented by foresight, but this other doth …urther at vnawares before any notice or warning giuen. Moreouer to admitte also to be true, that this same prelate hath the place of greatest preeminence not onelyonly amongest the Christians, but also in the very bosome of the visible churche, howe farre forth I pray you, will this a…ayle, for as much as Antichri…t him selfe must plante his seate in the chiefest temple of God, garded with so great a guarrison of humble attendauntes, the multitude whereof is described vntounto vsus by the prophetical scripture in these woordes:Apoc. 13.Rev 13 And hee made all, bothe small and great, ryche and poore, free and bonde, to receiue a marke in their right hande, or their foreheades: And that no man might buye or sell, but hee that had the marke of the name of the beast, or the number of his name. &c. Nowe therefore if a man doe shunne and flee from this poyson and venimous contagion, though it be enshrined neuer so gloriously in the visible churche: it foloweth not therefore hereupon necessarily, that the same doth vtterly renounce the visible church of Christe.Though the Pope with his crew be part of the church, yet be they not the vniuersall church. No more is this true likewyse, though the Pope with his shauelings and Cardinals be some part and portion of a visible church, that therefore the state of the v…uersall churche consisteth wholy in them.

The Popes arguments deducted from the vniuersalitie.But they proceede neuerthelesse too their suttle …ophismes. What, say they, doth not the vniuersal church of Christe embrace the faith of Rome eueryevery where? Go to, and what then I praye you? Ergo he that se…ludeth him selfe from the faith of Rome, can not choose but renounce the vniuersall church of Christe. What answere shall I frame better too this suttle sophisme, but too deny both partes thereof, both the assumption and conclusion? For the church did neither heretofore alwayes confesse the Romish faith that is now to be vniuersall: neither doth the vniuersall churche of the whole worlde confesse the same at this present: as the which groundeth her ankerholde vponupon the Apostolike faith, and not vponupon the Romishe faith. Neither we, though we do not allowe, but abrogate vtterly all & singuler the assertions of the Romish religion being now in vre, hauehave therefore renounced the vniuersal church. Ouer & besides, to yelde thus much also, y^• a great yart of the vnlettered multitude do at this prese… receiue the Romish ragges: yet behoueth vsus to hauehave consideration not of that which the common people p. 54do affectionate, but what may be iustifiable by the touchstone of truth. So neither must we regarde what the Romish faith is at this present, rather we must be wel aduised what the first faith thereof was, and what it ought to be now also. That person surely which withdraweth him selfe from erroneous doctrine, chopt into the churche through the ignorance and treacherie of some teachers, doth not fall away from the church, but rather …oth seeke to salue the soares of the church. If the Pope of Rome & such as professe them selues to be pillers of the Romishe churche, will make proofe vntoo vsus that their Romishe church swarueth nothing from the Apostolike churche, & that their faith withal is not defiled with many filthy & vnsauery dregges & errors: then let them condemne vsus of Apostasy for our departure from them. But if they be not able to do so… yea if they thē selues hauehave not by much more probable arguments (renouncing the doctrine of the Apostles & the discipline of the best approued church) transfourmed them selues into a certein newfangled doctrine, let the indifferēt reader iudge hereof, whether they, or we des…rue most iustly to be condemned of Apostasie.

But you were sometime militant in the same churche where we be now (will they say,The Papi… obiection.) from whence you are nowe fallen awaye and departed from vsus. It is true in deede. So did your predecessours agree once well and godly wi…h Christ, with his Apostles, & with the ancient and godly fathers: why hauehave you abandoned them, and changed your tippe…tes the…? If you may thinke it lawfull for you to raunge at randon out of …he true track of religion, wherein you did treade sometime a right, and to suffer your s…lues to be carried away through rock…s and …ragges, why may it not be as lawfull for vsus to call our selues back into the true way of sa…uatiō after so many our wādrings & maskings, renoūcing al by pathes of errors? Now therfore be…hink your selues wel… whether it stād w^t more reason for vsus that we should retourne into the right way, or raunge at randon still with you? Wee do assure our selues that it is not lawefull for vsus to doe any other thing, nor treade any other path then wee doe now by any meanes, for as much as the authoritie of the scripture & the truth of Christes Gospell doth binde vsus hereto, with a necessitie vnauoidable. We were once of the same minde that you bee (I confesse it) stragglers I meane together in the selfe same couples of errours. What thē? If bicause we wandred in errours being yong men, shall we not therefore bee refourmed beeing growen to more iudgemēt? But so was Moses conuersant once in the familie of Pharao, Abrahā in Chaldea, Loth amongst the Sodomites, The children of Israel in Egipt, Daniel & the Prophets in Babylon, Christ amongst the Iewes: Paul with the Pharisees, Peter amongest fishermen, Augustine a Manychean. All maner of departures therefore, neither the departures of all persones, ne yet from all societie of companies, ought to bee accompted blameworthy. Although wee forsake to be ioyned in the felloweship of some that are named Christians now, yet are we not therefore fallen from the visible church. But for as much as in the visible church be two sortes of men,Two sortes of men in the visible Church. the one part of thē which occupie the functiō of teachers & preachers: the other of them which with the vnlettered multitude be hearers and learners: We therefore do reproue certen assertions & opiniōs in some false teachers, from whom we sequester our selues of very necessitie: yet in such wise as we depart not at al frō the visible church, in the which we hauehave our being and resiancie as well as they: yea we be many times conuersant as Christians, euen with our very aduersaries within one citie, & many …imes also vnderunder one roofe. And although we dissent frō the errors of certen particular persons, yet doe we not otherwise but wis… & will the best that may be to the persons p. 55them selues: and recompt our selues rather forsaken of them, then them forsaken of vsus: and are enforced to depar… from them rather by violēce, & plaine thrusting out, then of any our volūtary willingnesse: so that to set down the matter in plaine termes, it may be saide more properly that we do disagree and dissent from them,A disagreement not a departure b…twi…t the protestantes and the Papistes. rather then depart from them.

In which disagreement notwithstanding, we do not so altogether re…de in pieces all the articles of their popes and deuines, nor so altogether condemne them, as though nothing were sound amongst th…m: neither do we contend with al that church so, as though there remained no shape of a visible church in all that citie of Rome: for they hauehave baptisme there, wherein they make a profession of the name of the Father, the Sonne, & the holy Ghost: They hauehave also the law of God & the Gospel: yea they reteine the wo…shipping of Christ, & professe the same articles of the Crede that we doe. They retaine also after a certen sort the sacraments, though they abuse them after a filthy maner. All which do carry some prety shewe of Christianitie amongst men: not much vnlike as the olde Iewes in times past whilest Christ liued, were in possession of the holy citie, wherin the most holy name of God was magnified: in the which they obserued the worship of God together with the lawes & ordinances after a certen outward resemblance: wherein also those that sate in Moyses chaire taught many things peradue…ture not altogether amisse. Whenas neuerthe…esse vnderunder this cōterfaite visor of religion lurked most abhominable hypocrisie, & treacherous treason against God him selfe. Of whome spake God him selfe by the mouth of his Prophet, You be not my people. Os…c. ….Semblably if ei…her the Romishe church or any other church whatsoeuer do obserue orderly and teache sincerely & truely: therein doe we not de… to partake with them. But bicause the churche of Rome treading the track of the olde Synagogue hath yelded to be lead awaye blyndefolded into strange vnknowen bypathes of doctrine, into most horrible contagion of errors detestable absurdities, idolatrous worshippings, blasphemies, impieties, sectes and heresies, from the platfourme of most true and infallible doctrine, from the pure and sincere worshipping of God, and the vndouted squarier of Christian religion, from the principles of their owne profession, from the practise & meaning of the Apos…les, from the examples and steppes of their pred…cessour…: and hauehave chalenged vntounto it selfe c…ief, only, and most absolute soueraintie ouer all other churches of Chris…e fully fraught with crueltie bloodsheadings & pillages: he…ein if we do farre awaye seuer our selues from their societie, who can be so senslesse or endewed with no conscience at all, who seeing so many and so iust causes of departure, wil not thinke that wee hauehave rather departed away too late, then without good occasion? namely sithence we are not whirled theretoo of any gyddy lightnesse as it w…re with a puffe of winde, but enforced of very conscience: not of any desire of nouelty, but of meere necessitie, & not so much of any our voluntary affection, as warranted to departe from amongst them by special commaundement of Gods owne mouth?

The errours & filthines of the Popes doctry…e.But some one wil make a question heere, & demaunde what kind of filthines, what cōtagiouse errors do remain in the popes doctrine? Surely if the matter of it self were such, as that it were altogither in couert, and not openly manifest in the eyes of al men: I wold think that I ought to bestow some large discourse for the better demonstration therof. Yet somwhat to relieue the ignoraunce …f the vnlettered, let vsus (if we may) apply somewhat in that behal…. For I do see very many, that being bewitched with a certain blind admiratiō of the popes popeholy religiō, are caried away captiue into his erroures, for none other p. 56cause, but for that they wil not looke into the truth, when they may see it. Therefore remouing away those disguisings & visours, let vsus prye somewhat narrowely into the things them selues, and let vsus throughly beholde this whole Romish Troiane horse, not what it emporteth outwardly, but what it crowdeth couertly, and shrowdeth in the very closets thereof. I am not ignorant, that the name of the churche is a very plausible name, that the names of Christe, Peter and Paule be honorable: that the remembraunce of ancient antiquitie is wonderfully well liked of: that the authoritie of the fathers is much esteemed: that the vni…ie Apostolique, and catholique consent is of great valoure: and that the keyes of the churche be of no small authoritie in deede, if they bee true keyes, but if they be not true nothing is more forcible to deceiue. Therefore may not the Romish churche thinke it enough to vouche bare and fruitlesse titles: it must iustifie it selfe with substantiall matter I make no reckoning at all of their outward portely & ambitious challenge. This one thing do I seeke and craue to know, what the truth it selfe doth make iustifiable in deede. But in seeking, what do I finde? to conclude all in one word: euen all thinges tourned topsy turuie: vnderunder a lambes skynne shrowded rauening wolues: vnderunder the attire of the spouse crept in the strompet of Babylon: vnderunder poore beggerly we…des of Christian name, conquerours, warriours, vypers, monsters, tyrantes, scorpions, enemies of Christes blood. To be briefe nothing lesse, then they resemble ou…wardly: and expressing them selues in all their actions to nothing more neare then to the very (I had almost sayde) Iewes them selues: In this that I name them Iewes, let my woordes be condemned for vayne and vtterly voyde of all credit, if the matter it selfe doe not approue this to bee true by most euident demonstration and proofe.

A comparison betwixt the Iewes and the Romish catholikes.First like as the Iewes put the sonne of God to death long agoe, pretending the name of God: Euen so these vnderunder the name of Christe, doe hale and drawe without measure, without cause, without mercy, the members of Christe and the sonnes of the Churche in most horrible wyse, with execrable crueltie and woluishe sauadgenes, to slaughter, to fagot and fier, and to all maner of vnspeakeable tortures.The persecution of Christians, by the pope and his pap…sts As the olde Iewes leauing the spirite, did embrace only the letter, which killeth: & cōuerted all their expositions and interpretations to that vtter letter: What doe our Romanistes at this present els, then vrge, plodde vponupon, and exact all things to the onelyonly outward letter of the mysticall scripture as to the onelyonly infallible rule of religion: They regarde onelyonly the outward speeches of the Gospell, but make no reckoning nor any estimat at all of the Lordes meaning hidden vnderunder the veyle of wordes, vnderunder figures and parables: nor what the heauenly wisdome doth deliuer vnderunder them, nor whereunto the holy Ghost doth direct vsus thereby. They gnawe vponupon the outward huske and fleshly exposition of the scripture: but aspire not too the spirituall sense, neither pearce into the marowe & sinowes of the scripture. It is a wonder to see howe nimble and suttle witted, how earnest & wh…t they be in colde and naked parings and trifles, & rotten elementes of this world… but in the things which auaile most and be most profitable, they be more blinde then beetels, and skarce luke warme therein.

The ceremonies of the Iewes and the Papistes compared together.Amongest the Iewes all thinges were handeled with outwarde ceremonies and outwarde traditions. Such was the state of that tyme. But if a man will n…we examine the shape of Papisticall doctrine accordingly a…d compare it to that plattefourme: What shall he approue the Papistes to bee els then very naturall Iewes? …auing that the Iewes were exercised in the ce… pres…ribed vntounto them by Gods speciall commaundement: p. 57But our Romanists hauing no such …arrant from God, nay rather being by expresse testimonies of scriptures commanded to raise themselues from these corporall exercises, vntounto the consideration of more high and heauenly matters, yet contrarie to the expresse direction of the Apostolike doctrine, they cleaue so amazedly to dumbe ceremonies, that all things almost seeme to be transformed by them into colde ceremonies:The superstitiō of the Romanists in defending their traditions is more than Iewish. so that on this behalfe the state of the Iewes may seeme much more tollerable, then the state of Christians. It was counted a great fault amongst the Iewes in the olde time, and that also sharply rebuked not without cause, for that being so immoderately affected to their ceremonies, and traditions, they regarded not the commaundements of God, and esteemed more of mens traditions, than of Gods commandemēts. Make a comparison now betwixt these holy Prelates of the Romish Court, with those Iewes: & what shall ye finde in thē, that doth not onelyonly resemble Iewishnesse in that kinde of superstition, but also farre & wonderfully exceede it? For plaine demonstration whereof, consider the streight iniunctions for breach of their decrees, the mercilesse proceedings of their cruel iudgements, the vntractable difficultie to obteine pardon for them that do transgresse the Popes lawes, that breake their vowes, & offend in the decrees and traditions of men, rather then for such as doe notoriously trespasse in the commaundements of God.

What should I speake of that,As the Iewes do looke for a worldly Messi…as: so the Papists doe expect a worldly vicar. wherein this glorious court of Rome doth so altogither agree with the Iewes, y^t ye shalbe scarcely able to discerne, whether the Papistes be verie Iewes, or the Iewes verie Papists. For euen as the Iewes did either heretofore long sithence, or euen at this present nowe, expect the comming of their Messiah, which being furnished with worldly power, as a most valiant conqueror garded with inuincible mighty garrisons of stoutest souldiours should with warlike puissaunce, and dint of mightie sworde, by most notable conquest establish for himselfe an Imperial throne here on earth: yea such an Empire, as should with inuincible and triumphant earthly pompe, kingly royaltie, riches, dominion, glorie, and renowne of maiestie Imperiall, enforce to be subiect vntounto it, all other Kings and Monarches of the world: what do our holy Fathers of Rome (I beseech you) else, then in like fantasticall drowsinesse wherewith the Iewes doe dreame of their fantastical Messiah, forge vntounto themselues a glorious worldly Uicar of Messiah, whom they bedecke with golde, beautifie with pearle and precious stones, crowne with a triple diademe, vaunce on stately and princely Palfray, or rather support and carie abrode on mens shoulders, blaze out with more than kingly an… Imperial titles, endow with yearely reuenewes, tributarie prouinces, troupes of attendants, highest chaire of ma…estical state, finally the verie fulnesse of most absolute power, and what not?

Like Pope, like Church.Moreouer as they hauehave proclaimed this their Uicar of Messiah, the chiefe heade, Prince and Monarche of the vniuersal church: after the same shape do they fashion vntounto the same their Bishop, a like bishoply church, which least should not be in al poynts correspondent to her owne head, must bee such, as may glitter and shine in outwarde pompe, magnificence, and wel liking of the whole world: which being garnished with …arthly riches & power, made mightie and forcible with lawes, may make both Prince and people stoupe at her countenance. And for this cause to make the state of this their Churche more defensible, the graue fathers hauehave decreed by a verie profoūd Prouiso … that Cardinals, Patriarches, and the other estates & Syres ecclesiastical should be aduanced in highest honor, and dignitie, should glitter in golde and purple, should abound in wealth, possessions and pleasures: should flourish p. 58in most gorgeous pompe and power, princely palaces, and courtes that by this meanes they might beautifie the ma…estie of their glorious mother, holy Church, and make her to shine and seeme glorious in the eyes of the worlde.The very patt…e & …age of the Romish Church. This is that glorious Citie of God, forsooth, which is b…ilded vponupon the holy hilles, in the which appeareth neither wrinckle nor blemish: in the which may neuer so litle a tytle of …rrour possibly be found: which being famous & raysed aloft as a citie builded vponupon an high hill, may bee seene of al people a farre of, and ought to bee credited of all the Nations of the earth. And bicause this shape of a Church can not be seene any where at this present, but amongst that people and nation onelyonly, ouer whom the Bishop of Rome must be acknowledged for chief head: hereof must it follow of necessitie, That there is no true and glorious Church of Christ, except this onelyonly Romish Church, and that al other Churches besides, be foreiners, infamous, and no Churches at al: as the which being not able to deriue any certen…ie of their discent and antiquity, ought not in any respect beare the name of Christian Churches: but must be accounted rather for dennes, and conuenticles of heretiques.

And thus much nowe by the way touching the Church: the treatie whereof, God willing, shall bee sette forth with larger discourse in other bokes hereafter. This lesson in the meane …pace will not bee amisse to bee foretolde: That if it bee true that Christ himselfe did plainly pronounce, that his kingdome was not of this worlde: and this also as true, which hee doth else where affirme, that the things which doe seeme mightie and glorious to the iudgement of men, are accounted for vile drosse, and abhomination in the sight of God: finally if the estate of the most holy Apostles and Martyrs of Christ, was alwayes such, as it became rather odious to the worlde, then accepted, or of any estimation, & that such as applied neerest to Christ were alwayes despised most: and that the Disciple cannot bee greater than his maister: certes it can not possibly bee, that this Churche of the Pope, so mightie, and glorious in the worlde, so renowmed and famous in worldly pompe, and exc…sse, so magnified and fawned vponupon with the wel likings and alliances of Princes, should hauehave any aff…nitie or alliance at all with Christ, the onelyonly head of the Church, or any fellowship with the Apostles.

The Papists do play the Iewes, in establishing the doctrine of rightuousnesse by workes.I come nowe to other partes of the Romish doctrine, in the which the Papists do seeme no lesse Iewish, then in the shaping and fashioning of their Church, as I sayd before. For if the doctrine of Paule bee most true, where discoursing of the reiection of the Iewes that sought their iustification by the lawe, he rendered a reason, wherefore they could not attaine thereto:…om. 9.10… Bycause (sayth he) they sought to be come righ…eous not by faith, but by workes. L…t vsus see I pray you, what else doth the Romish religion proclaime at this day, then that wee ough… to make our way passable to heauē, by industrious works, & precepts of good life, reposing the whole shoote anker of assured affiance, & trust in the same: not bycause we beleue on him that doth iustifie the sinner, but in doing workes of this life which do exclude all impietie. How shall we say that the great Clearkes and Doctours which teach this, & such like doctrine, do differ from naturall Iewishnesse? If the Iewes seeking to be iusti…ied by woorkes, were for this only cause cleane cut of from true rightuousnesse, according to the testimonie of Paule: what hope may they concey…e at the length to attaine true rightuousnesse, which thrusting faith into a corner, do raise vppe the whole building of their iustification vponupon that tickle and sandle foundation of workes?

How fayth is esteemed with the Papistes.But thou wilt say, these men doe not so altogether abrogate fayth, but that they couple her together with p. 59works, by a necessarie and an inseparable coniunction. I do know indeede that fayth is peraduenture in some estimation amongst them: yet such an estimation this is, as that they will in no wise yeeld vntounto her, her true dignitie and due place of estate. For whereas no one thing is resiant in vsus, nor giuē vntounto vsus miserable wretches f…ō aboue, that may make vsus acceptable vntounto God, may obteine his fauour, may cure our diseases, may deliuer from the fetters and chaines of sinne, may turne away wrath and vengeance, may ouercome the worlde, may crush in peeces the horrible tyrannie of death and the deuill, may stande boldely and vnuanquishable in the face …f hell gates, finally which may ouerspreade vsus poore forlorne ca…iues, drowned in the doung and durt of the earth, with the gladsome sunneshine of heauenly life, and vnspeakeable glorie of immortalitie besides this onelyonly inestimable Iewel, namely fayth in Christ, in the which all our hope and riches togither with all the promises of God are fast locked vp as it were in a certaine Arke of couenant: when as also the selfe same fayth, linked and vnited togither with other vertues, doth not onelyonly farre surmount al those vertues in her singular excellencie and power, but also of her owne force onelyonly and alone satisfie and accomplish all the partes of our redemption, yea and so accomplishe the same, as that where she leadeth alwaies whole troups of most excellent vertues with her,Only faith with out works …o…h accomplish the whole worke of our ius…i…icatio… needeth not neuerthelesse any their helpe at al towards the procuring of Gods fauour: I beseech you for the louelove you beare to Christ: what peruerse peuishn…sse and I know not whether more malicious or shamelesse impudencie of men is this (I say of the false doc…ors of Rome) which being addicted to the Romish ragges, seeme by a certaine destinie as it were borne of purpose for the vtter ouerthrowe of Christes Church) so to embase this same faith in Christ, euen vnderunder al other vertues as a very naked, bare & fruitlesse thing of it selfe,O…or… agaynst Haddon. pag… 94. as that they scarcely can finde in their heartes to graunt her any commendation in heauen, or any place of acceptance in earth? For what else doe these wordes of theirs import, wherewith they tearme this fayth onelyonly, onelyonly rashnesse, yea and no fayth at al, but impudencie, temeritie,O…or in his Epistle to the Queene of England. pag. 27. 32. and arrogancie? Where they affirme the Gospel, whereof we make mention to be sedi…ious, full of fraude, and deceyte. Moreouer, where in all their bookes and writings they doe so vtterly suppresse this fayth of Christ, as that they dare presume to say that there is no passable way to heauen, but that which is purchased with holy workes, and most excellent integritie of life: I will couple herewith, though not out of the foresayd Authour, but out of the publike instrument and decree of the late Tridentine Councell. In which Councell whereas those gay iolly gallants did most filthily erre in many thinges, yet played they not the Philosophers in any one decree more perilously, then where they vttered their Stoicall opinion, in the doctrine of Iustification by Christ. Which being proclaymed vntounto vsus, throughout the whole tenour of the Scriptures to bee freely giuen without all mediation of any other thing, besides the onelyonly promise of God through fayth in Iesus Christ our Lorde: contrariwise those gracious fathers do so iumble and wrappe vp this grace of God full of sauing health, and freely offered, wholy replenished with most comfortable consolation and safety, in one hotchpot mingled as it were with their beggerly byhang decrees, as that they shame not to denie, That the Gospel is the only and absolute promise of eterternal life without any condition of obseruing the law and the cōmaundements of God: and again that our iustification doth consist not of the free fauour of the Lord, not of gracious imputation, not of onelyonly r…mission of sinnes: but of holinesse,Trid…in. Conc. Ses. 6. cap. 7. and of renuing the inward man, through voluntarie acceptaunce of grace (for so they speake) and of p. 60spiritual giftes, whereby we are not only reputed, but also are called, and be truly righteous in deede: eueryevery man receyuing of himselfe his owne rightuousnesse not by any other meane: ne yet that rightuousnesse properly, which is of Christ Iesus, but which is proper and peculiar to euerie particular person himself: By meanes wherof it commeth to passe, that faith, vnlesse she be accompanied with hope (as they say) and charitie, doth not vnite any person vntounto Christ perfectly, nor is able to make any man to bee a liuely member of his bodie.

Neither are those other fables any whit more sau… …ie which those graue Tridentine Bēchers hauehave dreamed of workes and eternal life.How fayth dot… beget good workes. For although fayth (as wee confesse) be for many great and vrgent causes with charitie by a certain necessarie and vnseparable coupling togither of most absolute societie: for what is more …greeable to conuenience of reason, then that these which be endued with a through feeling of their renuing in Christ vntounto euerlasting life, & of their free admission into heauen, should after so many & so manifold benefites receiued, not shew thēselues vnthankful nor disobedient: should not welter in fleshly appetites: shuld not be caried away with the tickling delights of this world: should not be drowned in carelesse securitie, nor slumber in slouth: but so fashion and frame themselues, as men enflamed with a voluntary serious & earnest cheerfulnes of mind, should not slacke any point of most industrious endeuor to serue the Lord faithfully: shoulde commit no accion whatsoeuer to the preiudice and hurt of his neighbor. Admit, I say, that we graūt all these to bee, as they bee in verie deede most true,Faith as oportunitie is offred can neuer cease from doing good, working alwayes thro… louelove. and withall confesse such an vnauoydable and necessarie coniunction betwixt them, that fayth neyther possibly can nor ought in any wise be sequestred from godly conuersation of life: what thē? Shal we therfore yeeld ouer to good works this most souerain benefit of euerlasting life, which the heauenly Maiestie hath vouchsafed to be free, by the onelyonly free merciemercy of God, as the proper and peculiar of…ice of fayth? and adnihilate & make frustrate the grace of God? So that mans obedience shall be an es…oppell to Gods merciemercy: so that the lawe shall foreclose the Gospel, and merit be an hinderāce, & preiudice to grace? But where did these famous Clearkes learne this Logike so to iumble and choppe the verie things themselues which differ so farre asunder in their endes and effectes, and to make such a confused mingle mangle of them in one lump as it were without al order, without any respect of choise, as the Cooke s…irreth his pottage about?

Fayth in iustification is onelyonly and alone, but in working is not alone.What? bicause fayth doth alwayes associate her self and is delighted with the sweete and ioyful felowship of most excellent vertues, & worketh alwayes through louelove, shall shee therefore not be alone in iustifying, bycause she is fruitfull and industrious in woorking? or shall shee therefore not onelyonly, and alone iustifie vsus in heauen, without woorkes, bicause shee is full of woorkes on earth? Or when shee dooth iustifie vsus in heauen before God… shall this our iustification bee therefore sayde to bee ascribed to anie our charitie? or vntounto Iesus Christ? in respect of any reward? or of the only gift of God? for any our merit or deseruing of works? or of the free promise of god? If God doe accomplish the whole action of our iustification for his promise sake, with what scriptures at the length will these Romish Rabbines vnderprop that their ruynous relike, shrined in their notable Councel of Trent for a matter vnreprouable, whereby they giuegive the worlde to vnderstande,Tridentin. Conc. Ses. 6. cap. 16. That eternal life is to be proclaymed to them that be good workers? Again: where they giuegive out, that by the promise of God eternal life shall bee rendered to good woorkes as an vndoubted rewarde. But where did God euer make anie such promise, that the heauenly inheritaunce shoulde be giuen vponupon any such condition p. 61as a rewarde vntounto them,The infallible do…trine of the Trid…ntine Counc…ll. S…ssi… 6 Cap. 7 which shall offer themselues vntounto the dreadfull Assise of the high Iudge with a white stoale (as they tearme it) of vndefiled renouation? For suche is the doctrine of these graue Fathers, which kind of doctrine if bee too bee admitted for infallible, I beseeche you what neede is there of Christe, or his Gospell, sithens men may so easily climbe vp into the kingdome of heauen by woorkes, as it were by a paire of stayres? yea to what purpose then serueth that, which Saint Paule doth so earnestly and so often plod vponupon,Ephesians 2.Eph 2 That life euerlasting is the gyft of God, not of any worke, least any man should boast himselfe?

Our Lorde and Sauiour Christe vndoubtedly dyd instruct vsus in his Gospell farre other wise then these Lordly Fathers, as the which hath directed the onelyonly way to heauen, not to passe thither by woorkes, but by faith: He that beleeueth in me (sayth he) hath life euerlasting. Againe setting downe a speciall marke,Iohn .6. promiseth That he that seeth the Sonne, and beleeueth on him, shall hauehave life euerlasting. And redoubling the same promise else where,Iohn .11. He that beleeueth in mee shall not die for euer. And why rather did he not vse these speaches with these gay woorkemaisters? To wit, that they which did lead heere in this worlde an holy and vpright life ful of good woorkes,Euerlasting life promised to the beleeuers. shoulde thereby purchase heauen.

What then? because all thinges bee ascribed vntoo faith, passing ouer all mention of woorkes: shal we therfore condemne this doctrine as an vtter aduersary too works, making no estimate of holy and vertuous liuing? God forbid. But these Romanists ouermuch sweating and moyling in theyr Summularies, Sententionaries, Decretaries, Thomists, and resolutions, and I had almoste saide altogeather blinded in theyr Philosophicall quiddities doe not conceiue aright of the heauenly purpose and meaning of Christe, neither do they sufficiently enter into due consideration of the purpose, force, and inwarde kernell of the Euangelicall Philosophie: neyther do discerne the difference betwixt the Lawe and the Gospell,The diffe…ence betwixt the law and the Gospel as they ought to doe. For whereas the whole force of the lawe consisteth in prescribing certaine rules, whereby this transitorie life may be directed in holynes & integritie:The vse and duetie of the lawe. whereby may be knowne what is to be ensued, and what to be eschewed: by what meanes Gods wrath kindled against vsus may bee pacified: and howe his punishmentes and corrections may be mitigated,Wherein the vse of the law consisteth properly. and in what wise other inconueniences and calamities of this life may eyther be …urned quite away, or otherwise quallified by petition: And where as on the other side that oth…r trumpe of Euangelicall Embassy soundeth a farre higher and more shrill note, nothing so meanely exercised of it selfe about those present thinges whiche concerne this present life, (though otherwise it doe minister many holsome restoritiues for the good preseruation thereof) but proclaimeth a far more happy league, and hostage of a better & euerlasting felicitie: against infinite and the neuer ceassing vexations, and calamities, not of this worlde only, but which presse downe and oppresse the whole frame of the vniuersall creation: it rayseth vpp and geueth vndaunted courage against the vnaoydable assaultes of death and the Diuell, it displayeth also remedie & a ready cōquest therof: Yea it properly layth down and discouereth the passable way, which doth bring vsus home againe vntounto God: and the meanes also whereby we may vntwyne our soules out of the entangled Laberinth of sinnes and conuey vsus too the heauenly glory that neuer shal hauehave end.

The Euangelicall faith.And because to attaine too this so vnspeakeable surpassing excellencie of immortall felicitie, may no possible p. 62passage be founde else but through the bowels and blood of Gods owne sonne, and our faith in the same: heereof commeth it that glauncing ouer the name of woorkes many times, though not altogeather suppressing the vse of them, the whole ministerie of Euangelicall doctrine doeth exercise it selfe chiefly,The preaching of faith. aboute those thinges which may best certifie distressed consciences of the merites of Christe, not of any our deseruinges, of the supercelestiall bountie of Gods mercy, and of the vnuanquishable **2. Cor 3. Who hath made vsus able minist…rs of t…e new Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirite. The fruite and prayse of good workes.2 Cor 3force of faith. Not because the good works of the godly are meane whiles nothing auaileable, beyng perfourmed acording to Gods lawe: for they profite very muche, not them only to whom they bee imparted, but be acceptable also vntounto God. By meanes whereof they procure great commendation not only in the sight of men, but be many times bountifully rewarded of God, yea euen to great benefite and gayne of the authors therof. Let vsus therfore graunt vntounto the lawe of the Lord her due honour,Psalm. …5.Ps 5 that it be holy and immaculate conuerting soules. Which wee do not embase, but establishe rather. Let the commendable industrie of the godly employed in the exercise of Gods commaundements hauehave her proper dignitie, her glorious and manifold rewardes in this life, which we do not abridge, but encrease and aduance more highly.

For what one thing can allure Christian heartes to pursue the way of good life more seriously and cheerefully,In what respect good workes be auayleable and what they bring to passe. then when as being made familiarly acquainted with Gods merciemercy, they feele and conceiue throughly, first and especially theyr duetie towardes God, next what they owe towards their neighbours for gods sake? Or what can be more agreeable with conuenience of na…urall reason, then that each person ought so to behaue himselfe towards others, as either by proof he hath foūd god affec…ed towards himself, or doth trust y^t in time to come he shalbe? Goe to, let vsus imagine this in our minde, that mans lewdnesse is growne so altogeather dissolute, as that it will not bee enclined to any gratefull remembraunce of dutifull requital, nor bee enduced to any couenable thankfulnesse: what? shal we beleeue that the dulnesse of mens natures will be sooner reclaimed with seuere a…steritie of disicpline, and feare of the whippe, and that the Lawe shall preuaile further with her sterne lookes, then the sweete and amiable embrasings of the louing Gospell? but be the matter as it will: yea let vsus moreouer graunt this also: That …o …ame the licentiousnesse of sinne is none other way reserued but the very snaffle and mozeroll …f correction, what shall wee say when the moste bountiful father of heauen and earth geueth out in speciall charge to powre out plentifully vponupon all fleshe indifferently the incomprehensible riches of his free mercy? shall wee speake nothing thereof? And when as the maister of the housholde is of his owne nature so bountifull and liberall (as Ianuensis reporteth) shall his stewarde pinch and be a Niggard?Ianuensis is his booke called Catho…ico.

Finally to reach yet one step further, and too confesse as the trueth is, that amongst all the chaunces & changes of this life, nothing is more honorable, nothing more excellent then the commendation of vertue: and that they hauehave perfourmed matter of great valour, which do with rules of good lawes, and preceptes of commendable maners endue the mindes of men, and reduce them from vice to treade the tracke of vertue: and …o admit this also, that in all ciuill societie this point of doctrine is of all others most necessarie: yet doe I demau…d this one question of these men, what benefite or aduantage all those our trauailes and laboures… bee they neuer so holy, may procure vsus at the handes of God in all these naturall corruptions of this life, which cannot possibly be altogether reclaimed with any lawe, nor with any cōmandementes? p. 63You wyl say that they will auaile very much, for we yeeld to God dutifull thankfulnesse, and to our neighbour necessary ayde, and thereby many times doe obteine of God honour and estimation not only to our selues, but for the common weale also, and bee many times preserued wonderfully, & rewarded by god, the most assured rewarder of all godly actions according to the most euident testimonie of the Psalmographe saying on this wise:Psal. 1…Ps 1 For thy seruant keepeth them, and in keeping of them is great reward. Admit this I say to bee true: Neuerthelesse for as much as this rewarde it selfe and recompencing of good workes doth not stretch it selfe beyond the limitted boundes of this present life, this is also vndoubted true that when wee hauehave made a curious collection of all the most famous and most exquisite workes, yea of the best holy ones in the worlde, yet in respect of the principall fountaine and originall cause of iustification all this huge heape of our woorkes and merites doe nothing at al auaile to purchase immortalitie of eternal life with God and his holy Angels, nor to obteine to be raised from the dead… nor to the destroying the force of death, and the Deuill, ne to the cleansing of our sinfull fleshe: nor yet to winne that glorious crowne of that endlesse kingdome in the worlde to come: To procure those so many (I say) so meru…ylous vnmeasurable benefits, so infinitly and incredibly surmounting all capacitie and reach of our nature and hope, our merites and woorkes bee they neuer so holy yeelde not any furtheraunce or benefite at al.

To bring this to passe is the only workmanship of Iesu Christ:From whence ariseth the wel…spring of eternal life. This is the only benefite of the sonne of God not due too any our desertes, but a free gift proceeding from his onelyonly meere liberalitie and merciemercy, and receiued of vsus by faith: not as any recompence of workes, but powred foorth oftentimes euen into the bosome of the moste vnworthie, which seeme too bee farthest of from all hope: without any regarde had of those, which doe feede theyr owne fancies most vponupon confidence and good opinion of their own wel doing: euen of his own free mercy & bounteous liberalitie. Who as is only holy, who only as hath power of life and death and of al authoritie in heauen and earth, so is he onelyonly & alone able to be…ow his graces vponupon whom he will being tyed to none, nor holden bound to any law. Nowe therefore sith by his glorious Gospel as by the antentique seale of his euerlasting wil, he hath deliuered vntounto vsus so manifest and determinate a demonstration of his vnchangeable will, witnessing thereby, That whosoeuer bele…ueth in him, shal of his gift enioy euerlasting life and the glory of his kin…dome: what may godly ministers doe in discharge of theyr function more duetifully: but by faithfull proclaiming theyr commission to put in executiō the charge committed vntounto them by their Lorde and Maister? What? and wil the Pope of Rome with his councell of Trident require vsus to renounce the Gospel of Christ, and to post ouer vponupon their pelting war ra…m… the crowne of glory, to the lawe of workes which Christe hath already warranted too faith? yea, will they hauehave vsus so saucie as to challendge them as a duetie, which Christe assured to all of free gift? or do these holy fathers thinke it to bee reasonable,Iustifica…ion is proper to faith only. that we shoulde hearken vntounto them, rather then vntounto Christe? Christe doeth very plainly and expresly set downe in the Gospell:Mark .9. Thy faith hath made thee whole. And shal we say on the contrary part, Thy workes hath made thee whole? Christ saith, Beleeue only… al things are possible to him that beleeueth. And shal we turning the cart before the horse, yeelding chiefe preheminence to works, promise al things to become possible to them that worke, and not to them that beleeue only? I beseech you what notable peece of worke wrought they towards the curing of their maladies, which were commaunded but to lift vp their eies only and too looke earnestly vponupon the brasen Serpent?

Finally where the holsome doctrine of the gladsome p. 64Gospel seemeth to enterlace heere and there many graue and weightie councels to the embracing of most absolute integritie, & to prescribe many …ules to allure to liue wel. If a man would discend into the due consideration of the end & scope of the Euangelicall exhortatiōs, he shal find nothing y^t doth more nearely resemble the meaning & purpose of Christ our Sauior, that doth approch more neerely to the direct end of al his speaches, actions, & myracles then this one thing chiefly aboue al other: namely, to draw all men to faith & the knowledge of Christ, as who did very wel know that all our safetie & righteousnesse doth depende wholy vponupon this only faith in him. Paul likewise treating vponupon nothing else almost throughout al his Epistles: how learnedly, how industrio…sly doth he vrge al his force of skil to acquaint vsus throughly with this doctrine, that the whole substance of our saluation, & strongest piller of our righteousnes was groūded not vponupon the sa…des of y^e law, not propt vp w^t the slimie morter of works, not raised vp w^t any our sweating or moyling, but promysed by the free mercy of god accomplished by the only workmāship of Christ, geuen & receiued through our only faith and beliefe in him:Good woorkes do not procure a man to be iust…fi…d but bee fruites and effectes of him that is iustified al…eady. and yet not excluding meane whiles the works of the law so, as they might not be alwaies attendaunt vppon the man that is iustified, as fruites and effects of faith: but that they shuld in no wise be taken for the original cause of iustification: and againe neither making this cause of iustificatiō to depēd so wholy vpō faith, as that we might therfore slacke any part of our dutie in doing good al the rest of our life.August. de gra…ia …. Cap. 3. But to the end we shuld not be carried away with vaine confidence of works, nor grounde our righteousnesse, which wee receiue only at Christes handes,Romans 4…Rom 4 else where in the only faith in Iesus Christe. And for this cause Of faith (saith S. Paule) that the promise might be made sure by grace which otherwyse woulde bee alwaies whirled aboute in vnstable vncertaintie, if it rested wholy vppon perfection of workes: and by the same meanes woulde it come too passe withal, that the promise should be thrust cleane out of credite. For if we bee adopted into inheritance by the law, then is faith become void, & the promise is of none effect … which the Apostle doth with like phrase of speache vrge againe in his Epistle to Titus, For i… inheritaunce come by the law (sayth he) then not of promise nowe. Titus .3.And againe to the Romanes to the same effect: If of grace, then not of workes now: otherwise grace shuld not be grace… Obiection.And why so I pray you? is it because the law is so manifestly repugnāt against the promise, or that grace is so dir…ctly contrary to good works, as that they cannot come togegether vnderunder one roofe, but the one wyll stiffle vp the other?

The answeres of the Apostle.Let vsus heare the answere of the Apostle God forbid: that any man shal thus think with himselfe, that there is any such mortal enmitie betwixt grace & good works, as that who so cleaueth to grace must foorthwith become a deadly foe to good works: or as though who so take holde of the promises of God, the same may in no wise walk in the cōmaūdements of the law. For what can be more familiar together thē the grace of god, & the fruits of good works?Howe faith and good woorkes doe agree and disagree ech with other. Who was stronger in faith then Abrahā, & who more excellent then he in all maner of vertues? Grace and good works therfore doth not simply differ ech frō other, but acording to the diuersity of the obiect, wherunto they be referred. Wherfore the state of the question must be aduisedly & cōsideratly noted. For the question in this place doth not tend heereunto, whether the person that is alredy inuested in the inheritance of grace, ought to liue wel… but how the possessiō of this inheritance may be wōne, namely, whether it come of free gift, to the vnworthie, or to thē that deserue it? by force of the lawe, or by promise? for any respect of works, or of the speciall and onelyonly benefite of faith without workes.

p. 65Here loe, the shamelesse sacriledge of the Popes iuggling bewrayeth it self, which directly against the authoritie of Gods worde, would vnderunder a very s…ye and suttle, but most pernicious pret…nce of magnifying and establishing the commaundementes of God, restreigne against al equitie & right, al whatsoeuer Christ, his Apostles, and the most euident meaning of the holy Ghost vouchsafed to endue poore forlorne man with all, of very free and franke liberalitie for the incredible comfort and co…solation of the godly, to the slippery state of miserable workes. From out which one platfourme very ill fauouredly framed, it is incredible to be spoken, what rotten ruin…s hauehave ensued, what monstruous superstit…on, what beggerly and patched religion, and howe troublesome a confusion of doctrine, hath heretofore too to long preuailed against Gods church, yea euen to this day doth holde captiue & miserably entangle the cōsciences of the godly.

But you will say perhappes out of this free and vnpunish…d libertie of doctrine, what wil you bring to passe els, but make an open roade to sinne: but withdrawe honest and well bent dispositions of the godly from ensuing vertue, and discourage them altogether from godly industrie too retchelesnesse and carelesse securitie? and by the same vtterly root… out withall the preceptes & …ules of all godly lawes, all honour and renowme, of iustice and ciuill societie,Tully in his or… tion for Milo. and all force and vygor of Christian discipline? For who is ignorant that hope of escape from punishement (as one hath written) is the greatest bayte and prouocation to sinne?The obiectio… is confuted. To answere hereto at a word, this their obiection may in some respect carry a shewe of some substance, if in proclaiming this faith in Christe (whereof we speake) we were so wholy affected thereunto, as that we should not withall apply worthy & serious exhortations too the practise of most vertuous life, and the necessary duties of Christian societie. When we can not, neither ought we be vnmindful of the wordes of the Apostle, which saith,E…he. 5. That for such thinges commeth the wrath of God vponupon the children of disobedience. Wherefore when we do so much aduaunce those euerlasting riches of Christe & the high magnificence of the diuine grace by the prescript rule of the Gospel, & do spreade the same abroade so discernable to the viewe of the worlde, as that we abridge no iotte of our dutie and obsequious obediēce to be busily employed in that other part of the lawe: what cause of iust quarell hauehave our aduersaries to expostulate with vsus, except they will exact this at our handes, that in proclaiming the Gospell of grace, we should so enforce the promise of euerlasting life to be dewe vntounto workes (as they saye,) that in the meane time no mentiō at all be made of faith, of Christ, of grace, or of free promise. For this seemeth the very butte wherat these delicate fine doctors do shoote so busily. For proofe whereof beholde the whole fourme of the do…trine which they do professe, and all the preachinges of their monkes, and you shall finde that not onelyonly the doctrine, but their life & whole course of their proceedings make no mention at all of faith.

A brief Catalogue of the popish doctrine.For w…at els emporte their purging satisfactions, their masse sacrifices, their generall martes of pardons: so many and soo tedious pilgrimages vndertaken into farre nations, so many and manifolde byhangers, procured for prayers and intercessions, Munkishe vowes, purgatorie markets, so many orders of Regulers, clogges of religions, innumerable and intollerable burdens of mens constitutions and traditions, monasteries buylded for the redemption of …oules (for so they affirme) Rosaries, Diriges for the dead, nightwat…hinges and other w…orkes of supererogation partly dewe, partly purchased with the peny, and enterpryses of all sortes vndertaken in hope rewarde? In good felloweship, p. 66who would euer hauehave entered into the order of Frauncis, B…nedict, Bruno, or Brigitte, who euer heretofore or at this present would be crowded vnderunder cowle, if he grounded the chiefe shooteanker of his saluation in Christe onelyonly and not in mens merit…s? What one of al that crewe would hauehave suffered him selfe too hauehave beene pent vp in such a loathsome continuance of monkishe austeritie, or hauehave tyed him self to an euerlasting restrain… from mea…es and mariage after the maner of the Nazarites, if reposing his only affiance vponupon Christe, hee did not determine vponupon some other hope of attaining saluation? Finally who would not with all his heart abhorte and de…est the vnmeasurable …rumperies and tedious traditions of men, if hee did firmely bele…ue that hee c…ulde not otherwise stande assured before the sea…e of maiestie, but by onelyonly faith which is in Christe Iesu?

Whereupon that deepe diuine whosoeuer he be, seemeth not to hauehave sayde altogether nothing to the matter, who in his bookes entit…led de Iustitia, Osor. in his 7. booke de Iustitia.debateth of righteousnes on this wyse: If faith onelyonly (saith he) do suffice, and so all the actions that we vndertake bee vnprofitable and def…led, then is it a plaine cons…quent, that all whosoeuer doe embrace this coun…erfaict fayth, doe vtterly shake of all endeuour to worke well &c. Truely I confesse this to be most truely spoken. Wheresoeuer saluation is preached to proceade freely from faith on…ly: It can not otherwise be, but that the who…e desire of workes will waxe somewhat colde. But what …orkes I praye you? forsooth such workes as the Romishe Sinagogue …oth broache vntounto vsus. But if the question co…cerne th…se workes, which are prescribed by the most holy lawe of God, it is so farre of, that faith onelyonly may make to relent any iot…e of such good endeuour as that it will worke in them a greater cherefulnesse too doe their dueties. Too make this more euident, let this suffise for proofe. For if our heauenly father hauehave made vsus inheritours of eternall li…e, of his owne proper gracious mercy, so that the possession of heauen become none otherwise ours then as the state of inheritance is due vntounto the sonne directly from the father by the lawe ciuill (as saint Paul witnesseth) who doth boldely pronounce that we be al the sonnes of God through fayth in Christe, and heyres according the promise. …ala. 3.Nowe then let this notable Philosopher of righteousnes aunswere mee hereunto. Whether the naturall sonne standing assured of his inheritable estate will be more negligent to doe the will of his father, or some other straunge hyreling waged for money, or enforced through feare of the eudgell.

A comparison betwixt the preachers of the lawe and the Gospel: and betwixt thē which plod vponupon nothing els then the right…ousnes of the lawe and workes.Goe too, let vsus compare nowe the lyues and maners of these holy fathers (al whose preachinges sounde nothing els almost, beate nothing els into the eares of the people, but the onelyonly woorkes of the lawe:) what kynde of workes doe they busie them selues about at the length, what vndefiled chastitie is in their ly…es, what holinesse in their conuersation, what humilitie deuoyde of all hawtinesse is in their heartes, what modestie acquainted with no kynde of ambition, what mildenesse insuffering iniuries: howe earnest a zeale to preferre the glorie of Christe, howe who…e a louelove hauehave they to their neighbours? But it is well, sithence their demeanour such as it is, appeareth manifestly enough, and is knowen of the whole worlde. For their open patcheries be not so closely pa…t vp in the budget of their confession, but that they be apparan… nowe, and waxe ridiculous a…d odious to all men: …ertes they can neither deceiue the eyes of the Lorde, nor escape his iudgement, except the onelyonly faith in Christ pleade better for them, then any their gaye wo…kes. Yet I make not here so great reck…ning of their manners. My p. 67whole discourse at this present is vndertaken against them for their erronious doctrine, and peruerse frowardnes of corrupt religion. Whereof what others iudge I knowe not: for mine owne part when I doe consideratly beholde and prye into those thicke and blacke clowdes of darkenesse, into the trashe, chaffe, and contagion of their errors, into the grossenesse of their doctrine, into the poyson of their opinions, into their impietie of religion, into the laberinthe of their traditions, and into the monstr…ouse misshapen orders of cloysterers and Regulers: finally when I doe throughly consider the liuely fountaines of Euangelicall sinceritie and doctrine Apostolicall, troubled and defiled in most filthy maner by thē, and the chiefe and onelyonly authour thereof the Pope of Rome: I become not a litle doutfull in mine imagination, whether the tyrannie of the Turke hauehave more grieuous…y wounded the Christian common weale, or the docrine of the Pope hath beene more preiudiciall too the Gospell of Christ: whether the Turkishe …ury, either the Popes flames and fagottes, or his crafty conspiracies hauehave swallowed vp and deuoured more Christians. And yet neither doth this milde and catholike father relent from his crueltie, but rusheth on much more rudely, not only vponupon the soules but also vpō the very throates of Christians, more horribly raging with slaughter & but…herie against the faithfull, thē the most rauenous Turke in the world.

If the cause of this horrour were now to be rendered: might we be so bolde to learne of your holines for the honor of your supersacred myter, (O reuerend father) what reason or matter did first enduce you, or euen now yet enforce you to so great disorder & outrage. What say you? what bring you? what do you alleadge, wherein you may worthely accuse vsus, or wherein we ought not much rather co…demne your fatherhood? what hath any of vsus deserued worthy of these tragedies, what? hauehave we euer practised any force against you? or hauehave we euer lyen in wayte for your life? hauehave wee at any time attempted too despoyle you of your citie or tabernacle? If not, why may it not be lawful for vsus quietly to enioy our poore cotages without your comptrollement? for you endeuour as much as in you lieth, not onelyonly to exclude vsus from out our cities & countries wherin wee remaine, but too bereaue vsus our liues also. With the smart of al which outrages raysed by you & your fraternitie, as many other nations ha…e bene heretofore grieuously punished, so also not long sithence both Fraunce and Flaunders, yea and Scotland also, and of late no…e likewyse her neere borderer and neighbour Irelande, to speake nothing meane whiles of her neerest neighbour England, which seemeth euen at this present to be circumuē …ed with the crafty vnderminings of you and your complices, and to stande in no small danger, vnlesse the heauenly maiestie preuent your treacheries betimes. For what thinke you that your crafty councels though cunningly coucht and packt together, bee vnknowen vntounto vsus? that wee vnderstande not what you hauehave done, what you doe, what you shoote at, whome yee seeke to vndermyne, what your deuises be at home, what your driftes be abroade, what you and your confederates whisper together? And put the case that these your couert conceipts be hidden from vsus, which you suppresse with silence: what? will you so blindfold the eies of Gods maiestie, that hee may not be able to see into your close co…celed villanies and make them more open then the day light? But I beseeche you sir, if the Turke supplyed the place of the Pope in Rome at this present, & woulde make speedy prouision by all meanes possible to roote vsus and the whole name of Christians out: What more horrible attempt could he procure for our vtter ouerthrowe? or if we our selues were miscreantes and Turkes, & not Christians, how could you possibly hate vsus more deadly? or persecute vsus more furiously?

p. 68But I surcease from farther complaintes though iustifiable enough against you, that I may the better prosecute the matters that apperteine more properly to our purpose: for I do right well perceiue whereunto all this your whotte contention and troublesome broyles doe aspire at the length. To witte: either by pollicie to allure vsus, or by compulsion to hale vsus too the doctrine and faith which you cal catholike. Go to, may we know (if it please your fatherhood) what kinde of catholike doctrine this is wher…unto you call vsus. To relent now somewhat of that contentious kinde of quarreling, and to cōferre with you nowe, not as moued with any malice against you as I may iustly enough, but to debate the controuersy, pleading it as it were at the barre against you, according to the equitie and truth of the cause by substantiall matter, rather then frutelesse wordes. Imagine therefore with your selfe, holy father, that you sitte not now in your consistory at Rome, as iudge of your owne cause, but to be araigned as guilty of the crime before the maiestie of Christian princes in a certen publike and generall councell, before whom you ought long sithence hauehave byn put to your purgation. Come of therefore you reuerende and holy bishop, for y^e louelove & reuerēce you beare to S. Peter, who coōmādeth you to rēder a reason of your faith to thē that demād it of you. Tel vsus frākely & opēly what maner & forme of faith is that at the length, which you obtrude vpō vsus on this wise, y^t the vnlettered may also vnderstād it.

What? wil you driue vsus to this point first, to make vsus …o acknowledge the Pope of Rome for Christes vicar on earth, & the only lord of Christian vniuersalitie?

But this first demaund of yours the Lord him self doth countermaund,The supremac… of the P…pe confuted. who assigneth lordship ouer nati…ns properly vntounto kings, assubiecte…h Apostles to ministery, forbidding thē al maner of mastery. It shal not be so amōgst you but he that wil be greatest amōgst you, shabe your s…ruant:Luke 22.26.Luke 22:26 what can be more manifest? But against this is a reply vrged here of the person of saint Peter, whome they reporte to hauehave bene the chiefe of the Apostles. But what do I heare? did Peter euer arrogate vntounto him selfe any soueraintie ouer the Apostles? or did hee euer affect vniuersall dictatorship ouer the congregation of Christians? Or if he had so done, would the Lorde hauehave euer permitted it, who neuer presumed of any such lordlinesse in him selfe, nor could abide it in his other disciples, nay rather did vtterly forbid it by words, by signes, by example, by all possible and manifest demonstrations? And doe you yet after so many, so manifest, and so approued testimonies, dreame still of a princely seignorie ouer Christes churche?

Inuocation of saintes confuted.What is your other demande then? That we cappe, k…eele vntounto, reuerently worshippe and call vponupon hee sainc…es and shee sainctes which the Romishe Canons hauehave in their kalender registred for sainctes, and procure them to bee our proctours and aduocates before God? But the holy scripture doth direct vsus but to one only mediatour in heauen,Hebr. 7.Heb 7 who alwayes liueth (saieth Paul) to the ende he may make intercession for vsus.

Pictures and images of saintes.That we should pro…trate our …elues before pictures and images? That wee should gadde on pilgrimage to stockes and stoanes? the holy scriptures do call you from nothing more earnestly.

Uowes of v… maried life.That shauelings and votaries be restrained from f…ee libertie to marry & eating flesh on fridayes & lent? The Apostle doth call this The doctrine of Deuils.

Masses and s… …rifices.That we should for the cleansing of our sinnes flee to masses and propiciatorie sacrifices? It is horrible sa…riledge directly against the office and glorie of Christ: who onelyonly and alone is appointed by the scripture to be the propitiation for our sinnes.

Satisfactions …or …i…nes.That by auricular confession & enioyned penance the fet…ers of sinne may be loased, and the fier of purgatorie p. 69qnenched? The Gospel of Christ teacheth an other doctrine, which wil take notyce of no sacrifice nor clensing of sinne, but of the only death and passion of Christ Iesu. And hee (saieth S. Iohn) is the propiciation for our sinnes. 1. Iohn .2…Likewyse S. Peter,Actes .1… That through his name all that beleeue in him, shall receaue remission of sinnes.

To the same effect wee heare out of the Euangelical doctryne, that wee bee iustified through fayth without woorkes. But the Popes dulcymer soundeth otherwise, which s…eming as it were to yeelde some little interest of iustifying to faith, yet transposeth the chiefe perfection therof vntounto works.

Christ doth make this proclamation, he that beleueth in me, hath euerlasting life. But the Popes prelates cry out,Osor. In his Epistle to the Queene of Englande. That ther is none other passable way to heauen, but which is procured with holy woorkes, and passing integritie of life. Paule doth pronounce hee is our righteousnesse meaning that all bee accompted for righteouse as many as bele…ue in Christ. These iolly fellow…s doo vrge against him that we become righteouse, not by the meane of our beliefe in Christ, but in that we bee righteousely doing workes, & yet peraduenture they wil not deny this, That Christ is our righteousnes: but the meane whereby hee dooth iustifie vsus, they allowe no…: Christ by fayth, the Papistes by woorkes: Christ freely, the Pap…tes not without condition of charity annexed.Rightuousnes by faith. Whereas Christ doo…h cure vsus in like manner,Iustification free. as the serpent in olde time did heale the wounded, which was done by only looking vponupon it: This can not the Papistes away withal in any wyse.

Moreouer whereas wee b…e taught by the woords of the scri…ture that by one oblation they are made perfect which be sanctified for euer. One only oblation.The Pope doth deny that there is but one only oblation, vnlesse Christ be dayly offred for a sacrifice to his father in their propiciatory masses.

The Papistes supp…r without wyne.Christ instituting his last supper intoo the remembraunce of his body and blood, did distribute to al ingeneral the bread and wyne withal, and commaunded the same to bee done in lyke maner. The Pope commaundeth otherwise, to deliuer the people one parte of the sacrament only without the wyne.

The holy ghost the vicar of Christ.Christ departing from the earth did promise that hee woulde send an other comforter, that the Church shoulde not want a comforter to supply his absence. And dare the Pope, not beeing satisfied, with the holy spirite of Christ whom Tertullian called by the name of Christes vicar, presume to cal him selfe Christes vicar,Tertullian de praescrip. aduersus Haereticos. Being taken hence into heauen to the right hande of the father, hee sent his vicar power of the holy Ghoste which might comfort the faithful. or shall wee beleeue him in his presumption?

Paul doth deny them to bee partakers of Gods righteousnes, which doo seeke too establishe their owne. And with what edge dare these Romanists, which carue out their owne righteousnes so greedily, conceaue too partake with Gods rightuousnes? The same Paul teacheth That Christ is the ende of the lawe vntounto rightuousnes to al that beleeue. Christ the ende of the lawe.But let vsus see this notable famous schoole of Rome to what end it leadeth vsus: & what way it carryeth vsus.The ende and mark of romish doctryne. Forsooth not from the lawe vntoo Christ: not from woorkes vntounto faith: not from faith vntounto righteousnes, but setting the carte before the horse: euen as though the ende of the lawe were not Christe, but the marke of Christ were the lawe: haling vsus backewarde from fai…h to woorkes, from the Gospel to the law: from the spirite and truthe, to shadowes, to coapes, to annoylinges, to shauings, to holiwater, to stagelyke gestures, p. 70to ceremonies, to rytes, to outwarde geugawes: to obseruaunces of places, times, persons and succ…ssions: too mens traditions and constitutions: too penitentiary satisfactions, from these to rightuousnesse, and in fine from Christianitie too Iewishnes: so that besides onelyonly circumcision, wanteth nothing to make vsus appeare the disciples of Moyses rather then the disciples of Christ.

The Lord dooth commaunde vsus in a certaine place to searche the scriptures… bycause (saieth hee) they beare witnesse of mee. Iohn .5.The Pope dooth forbyde that: Not permitting the people to reade in their owne house, nor too heare in the Churches so much as the promise made vntounto them in their baptisme,An vnknowne toung doth not edifie. but in the toung which they vnderstande not.

Christe in his Gospel can in no wise disgest them which say,Mat. 24.Matt 24 Loe heere is Christ, Loe there is Christ. And what els doth the Pope, if not in woordes, yet in very deeds? who commaundeth al Christians ingeneral to become subiect too Peters chaire: which chayre may bee placed no where but in Rome: as though Christ or Peter doo make their aboade no where but in the Citie of Rome, or at the least wyse more readyly there then else where. Lyke fable to this is that other, whereas all manner of woorshipping God aright is not tyed too any he…g…h of hils, or famousnes of ci…ies, & that the heauenly maiesty is most rightly called vponupon in that place, wheresoeuer he is worshipped in spirit & truthe. The Pope of Rome doth make a far other minglemangle of this spiritual worshipping god, not only with in…umerable Idols & shapes of earthly creatures, but skat…ereth the same abroade into manifolde & infinite seates of pilgrimages,Idolatro…s pilgrimages. stations, hilles, temples, and places. As though the only authority of C…rist coulde of it selfe auaile very litle, vnlesse it were vnderpropped with ruinous pillers of Saincts: or as though Christ were not able to mynister helpe in al places indifferently being prayed vntoo with lyke affectiō of religiō. Euē so they which gadd to Rome to visit the tombe of Peter and Paul, or raunge to Compostella to see S. Iames, or which doo conceaue in their mindes that the Sainctes be more effectual in one place then in an other, what say they els, then loe here is Christ, loe there is Christ. If the heauenly father doo require such woorshippers which woorshippe him in spirite and trueth, to what purpose serueth so special a prescription of stations, and holy Seas, so greate and tediouse chace & rechace hither and thitherof pilgrims, for deuotion sake.

Hithertoo hauehave I disclosed the maskinges of the Popish religion, though not al that I could, yet as many as wil serue our present purpose sufficiently ynough. Nowe that I may bee so bolde to leade the Pope home too his owne person: I will call him backe to the very roote of his progeny and stocke, euen to Saint Peter himselfe: whome as hee vaunteth to bee the founder of his Sea, so will I vouche the same against him for a witnesse too confounde his doctryne. This therefore do I demaunde of this good Syre: whether Saint Peter ought to bee numbered in the number of the Apostles? I perceaue hee dooth not deny it. I proceede then, and demaunde further: whether Saint Peter were one of the same number of Apostles to whome it was spoken:Peter the Apostle is denied to hauehave beene bishop of Rome. Go yee intoo the whole world preaching to eueryevery creature. If you graūt it, as yee can not wel deny it: I aske now whether the order Apostolique be the self same estate which beareth to name Bishops? If the functions bee seueral, howe coulde both the estates bee giuen to one selfe person:The functions of Apostles and Bishoppes bee diuerse. to wit that Peter shoulde exercise the office both of an Apostle, and of a Bishoppe? Then doo I desire to knowe: If Christe did sende out Peter togither with the other Apostles into p. 71the whole worlde, howe shall it appeare, that the Lord allotted him to some one certaine place, where h…e might sitte, who without any mention of place at al, was sent of the Lorde to goe, not to sitte: into the worlde, not intoo a City: vnlesse peraduenture wee ought too recompte the City of Rome to …ee the whole worlde… and that w…oe so sitteth at Rome may be supposed to goe ab…de into the whole worlde. Not so. But you wil say: That Peter did enstalle Lynus to be Bishop of Rome. It may be so: and what hereof at the length?

So also did the selfe same Peter teach …ch and long tyme at Ierusalem… The Pope of Rome is falsely supposed to bee Pete…s successor.in the which City Iames … the Iuste is reported too hauehave beene … Bishop by Peter Iames and Iohn. Yet was no man e…r so madde to affirme that Iames was for this cause Peters su…cessor. Semblably neither Timothe nor Ti…e w…re the…efore accompted Paules successors, bicause Pa…e …ade them both Bishops… no more …hen, i… the Pop… of Rome would at this present ordeine Ar…hbishoppe…, bi…hops or Cardinals at Rome, it should be any way … make them successors of the Pope.

But of the succession hath beene sufficiently spoken before.How much the popes doctryne is swarued frō the disciplyne Apostolique. Nowe bicause this treaty concern… not the succession of Peter but his doctrine: let vsus …ompare the orders of this Romish sea which is now wi…h the … of Peter deliuered then. Which howe …ouly hauehave …allen from that right …quarier of Apostolique d…sciplyne, may euen heereof appeare euidently: That whe…eas Peter dooth v…ry grauely & fatherly exhort them that mynister the woorde of the Gospel,1. Peter .2. that withal …umblenesse and reuerence they shoulde submitte them selues too them whoe beeing authorized by GOD doo beare rule ouer them whether they bee kinges set in hyghest authoritie, or princes, or rulers sent of GOD to gouerne the people. Too countermaunde this Canon of Peter, the practise of Rome cōmaundeth on this wise, That they submitte themselues in deede vntounto kings, & to al lawful magistrates so far foorth as their commaundements be not repugnant to Gods commaundementes or the Popes decrees. Out of which obedience notwithstā ding the Popes holines with his other prelates hauehave so s…ipped the coller, that I shame to vtter how treacherously they hauehave not onelyonly shaken from their shoulders the yoake of their due obedience to kinges & emperours, but also how arrogantly they hauehave bene imperiouse ouer thē, how they hauehave troa…en …pon their necks with their feete, forced them from out their kingdomes, & translated their scept…rs & crownes after their own l…st and pleasure.