The Height of Israels Heathenish Idolatry, Section 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Satans Sleights and Suttleties in himſelfe and by his inſtruments, and that firſt for the ſeducing of the ſoules of men, by blinding and deluding the vnderſtanding.
3. Satans ſleights and policies. 1. In himſelfe.FRom the former diſcourſe we are further to take notice of a third quality of Satan, which is, that to effect the former two ends, namely to wreake his malice vponupon man, and to aduance his owne honour, he vſed diuers ſuttleties, policies, trickes, and deuiſes; which euen now alſo hee vſeth, (though perhaps more couertly) in his wicked inſtruments, of whom, by their reſembling of Satan in their deuilliſh policies, we may giuegive iudgement. Deuilliſh policies I call them, that ſo I might not be thought ſimply to condemne all policie: for there is an allowable policie, practiſed by ſuch as neuer were ſchollers either to Satan or to Machiauel. Ioſhua vſed a politique ſtratagem in beſieging of the City Ai, and that with direction from God himſelfe. Saint Paul, for his owne ſafety, acknowledged himſelfe a Phariſie, though withall hee concealed part of the truth. But that policy I call deuilliſh, when men (as the Deuill) in policy, ſay, doe, intend, contriue and plot any thing, which is either againſt the honour and glory of God, or againſt the good, either ſpirituall or temporall of man; or which is to preiudice the Truth of God, eſpecially the Goſpell. But ſuch were Satans policies among the Heathen: for, all his farre ſhewes, and transformations, and apiſh imitations of God, and his dealings with his Church, whither tended they? Firſt, to the hurt of mankind; which hurt was intended firſt and chiefly againſt the ſoule, which thus he laboured to ſeduce by withdrawing it from the ſeruice of God to the ſeruice of himſelfe. Secondly, alſo againſt the body, ouer which he did cruelly tyrannize, by being blindly obeyed of men in voluntary ſelfe-ſacrifices.
Secondly, they tended to the manifeſt diſhonour of God and his truth, namely to the ſeating of himſelfe in the place of God. Theſe were his ends: but to effect them he had his reaches, his fetches, his heights and his depths.Reuel 2.2…. 2 Cor. 2.… 2. Cor 4.4… 2. Cor. ….3. The Scripture tels vsus of the depths of Satan, foreign, and of his deuiſes, his foreign, which he hath for our foreign or minds, by which hee blindes foreign, the minds of them which beleeue not, and corrupts mens minds. He had alſo his foreign, and his foreign, his policies and his ſophiſmes, which yet he hath, and in which hee is now farre more exerciſed then before. Of whom therefore we may ſay as was once ſaid of the Lacedemonians, The hurts he doth are freſh and new, foreign,his trickes and ſophiſmes by which he doth them are old and ancient: without which his colours and angelicall apparitions and trickes, his malice could hauehave effected nothing, as is ſaid. Hence it is, that to ſeduce men in their minds, he tooke the aduantage of their naturall ignorance, and vſed probable perſwaſions. To get them to yeeld ſacrifices of men to him, he perſwaded them it was ſeruice acceptable to him, that is, as they thought to God, thus alſo bewitching them with a conceit of high deſert and merit hereby. To get them to doe honour to himſelfe, he drew them on partly by faire promiſes and partly by threatnings, ſo, by imitating of God, ſeeming to be the author of good and euill. Thus he*Formas ſe vertit in omnes, hoſtiliter inſequens, falaciter ſub…eniens, vtrobi que nocens, Auguſt. de Ciu. Dei. lib. 10. cap. 10. turned himſelfe into al formes ſhewing himſelfe ſometimes as a friend, ſometimes as an enemy, but prouing alwaies a deceiuer, and one that intended hurt. Thus in his firſt deceit, when there were but two in the world, he deceiued the one by the other; his ſuttlety appeared in that he tempted Adam by Eue, beginning with the weaker and more credulous and curious, hee tooke the aduantage of her husbands abſence; he vailed and masked the danger by making vſe of the Serpent as his inſtrument; he pretended nothing but louelove, friendſhip, honour and happineſſe to them; he promiſed nothing but what might ſeeme pleaſant to the fleſh; he detracted from Gods word, and laſtly he withdrew their obedience and loyalty from God. Thus he beguiled Eue. 2. Cor. 11.3. 2. King. 22.10 34Thus to Ahab he promiſed nothing but good, yet being a lying ſpirit in the mouth of his prophets, hee intended nothing but hurt to him; and ſo to others.Ierem 27 10. Neither intended he any good to King Philip of Macedon, when by his Propheteſſe Pythia, as Demoſthenes ſaid, he didaforeign. Satan ab initio mundi fallax ſe per & menda…: mentitur vt fallat, blanditur vt noceat: bona promittit vt mala tribuat, vitam pollicitur vt perimat. Cyprian. lib. 1 Ep. 8. 1. Cor. 11.13.14.15. flatter and ſeeme to ſpeake as King Philip would hauehave him. And thus to be worſhipped of our Sauiour Chriſt he promiſed no leſſe then all the kingdomes of the world. But what he obtained not of him, he eaſily obtained among the Heathen; eſpecially when by ſeeming miracles, reuelations and predictions, he confirmed and authorized whatſoeuer hee taught, commanded and required.
From theſe premiſes, we will now vrge the Apoſtles argument, which in effect is this: Satan himſelfe is tranſformed into an Angell of light, therefore no maruaile if falſe Apoſtles be deceitfull workers,Secondly, in his inſtruments. and transforme themſelues into the Apoſtles of Chriſt; it is no great thing if Satans miniſters be transformed as the miniſters of righteouſneſſe. No maruaile indeed: for ſeeing Satan is ſtill the ſame he was, and alſo hath like aduantage of our weaknes, we may eaſily imagine, he will ſtirre vp inſtruments like himſelfe, by whom he may effect all his forenamed ends, which are three: Firſt, to ſeduce our ſoules; ſecondly, to kill our bodies; thirdly, to become our God; who alſo themſelues hauehave like ends.
For the firſt, namely the ſeducing of our ſoules, 1. To ſeduce the Soule.and the corrupting of our minds, before we ſpeake of his trickes and policies by his inſtruments in theſe our daies, it will not bee amiſſe to ſhew what aduantage is afforded vntounto them from mans naturall frailty,Their aduantage firſt from mans frailty and readineſſe to be deceiued. Shewed firſt in Eue. and readineſſe to bee deceiued, that ſo we may not wonder to ſee ſo many ſeduced by errour in theſe our daies in compariſon of ſound and ſincere profeſſors. This frailty we may firſt ſee and obſerue in our great grandmother Eue, who herein is a liuely type of the Church of God on earth, both before her fall and after. She may ſignifie the ſpotleſſe ſpouſe of Chriſt, (the true Catholike Church) which, as ſhe was taken out of Adams ſide while he ſlept, and after brought and eſpouſed to Adam, ſo, ſprang of the water and blood which iſſued out of the ſide of our Sauiour the ſecond Adam, while he ſlept the ſleepe of death, which two are the matter of our regeneration, and is thus eſpouſed ſpotleſſe to Chriſt her onelyonly husband being that Ieruſalem from aboue which is the mother of vsus all.Gal. 4.26. But the ſlie Serpent ſeduced the woman to diſobedience, from the ſimplicity of Gods word and her obedience thereunto, in which conſiſted her ſafety and felicity: and herein ſhe is a type of the viſible Church, and of ſuch as fall from outward grace through diſobedience, and from the ſimplicitie which is in Chriſt Ieſus. If therefore the Serpent had then craft enough to deceiue her being in perfect innocency, how much more may he deceiue vsus, whoſe frailty, euen the beſt, is ſuch in all the parts and faculties of ſoule, as whereof Satan can eaſily,2. In the parts and faculties of each m…s ſoule. …a…. 19.20. yea doth ordinarily take too great aduantage? He is the father of lies and errours, and a maſter ſeducer: our fleſh and concupiſcence is the mother thereof: Idolatry, variance, ſeditions, hereſies, are made the workes of the fleſh: which is Satans concubine, who therefore while we ſleepe and are ſecure,Matth. 13.2…. ſowes his ſeed, his tares: from whence iſſueth this baſtard and vnholy brood. And this mother, now Satans concubine,… Eph. 4.22 1. In the vnderſtanding. is that old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfull luſts: where within our ſelues we hauehave both corruption and deceit.
Firſt, in the vnderſtanding, naturally is ignorance, accompanied with a deprauation, yea a naturall incapability of receiuing diuine truth:foreign 1 Cor. 2.14. The naturall man perceiues not — he cannot know the things of the ſpirit of God. Nay the Deuill takes aduantage of our ignorance euen of good arts and ſciences, as Logicke, Philoſophy, and of the tongues, and ſo deceiues vsus with ſophiſtry and paralogiſmes, as hee did Seruetus and other hereticks: how much more then of our ignorance of Scripture, which is made the maine cauſe of errour,Matth. 22.29. which therefore Satan labours to depriue vsus of.
2. In the will. Act. 7.51.Secondly, our wils afford him like aduantage: which firſt, often euen reſiſt the known truth, and the holy Ghoſt. (Yet I hold not that mans faith and aſſent depends onelyonly and wholly on the command of the will in aſſenting or diſſenting,Quoad ſpecificationem & quoad exercitium. though the vnderſtanding doth, for the exerciſe of it, as to thinke or not to thinke.) Secondly, our will, affecting a liberty, makes choice of her religion and opinions,Coloſſ 2.20-23. Iſa 66.3. foreign. whence proceeds all wil-worſhip, and cultus electitij, whereby men chuſe their gods: which properly, according to the word, is an hereſie. Thirdly, it cauſeth obſtinacy in errour, and conſequently hereſie, eſpecially in women,Ierem. 44 10.17 who hold faſt the concluſion with this band, they will becauſe they will.
2 In the con…ience. Tit 1.15.…6. 1. …m. 1 19. …Thirdly, our conſcience being naturally impure, cauſeth ſhipwracke of faith: and being alſo erroneous. (as it muſt needs be when diuine truth guides it not) both miſleads to error, and holds men in errour, who commonly hauehave nought to ſay for themſelues, but their conſciences: and this the Deuil knowes well enough.
Fourthly, our affections alſo naturally being corrupt,4 In the affections. helpe to corrupt the iudgement; which this Serpent knowing, makes vſe, Firſt, of fleſhly pleaſures as his ſnares to hold and lead captiue ſilly women (eſpecially) laden with ſins and led with diuers luſts. Secondly, of mans naturall pride, 2 Tim. 2.26. and 2. Tim 3 6which Saint Auguſtine maketh the mother of all hereſies: this cauſeth firſt Schiſme, through ſelfe-conceit and ſingularitie of opinion, ſecondly, hereſie, through obſtinacy and ſtiffeneſſe in defending that opinion. Thirdly, Satan makes vſe (not to name ambition and flattery, of which, 1. Theſ. 2. verſe 3.4.5.6.7.) of couetouſneſſe in men, and of their louelove of mony, which, ſaith the Apoſtle,1. Tim 6 … while ſome couet after, they erre, and are ſeduced from the faith. And therefore Mammoniſts are the greateſt Sataniſts.
And now, I pray you,Second aduantage from Gods prouidence. 2 Theſ. 2.9. 10 11. Deut. 13.1.2.3. Dan. 11.3…. 1. Cor. 11 1… Third, from their owne ſuttleties. Reuel. 7.7.8-10.11. hath not Satan men at great aduantage? eſpecially further conſidering, firſt that God giues him ſome and liberty, and that firſt, to worke with all power and lying wonders — with all deceiueableneſſe — and ſtrong deluſion — in ſuch as receiue not the louelove of the truth: ſecondly thus to proue, and ſo to approue and manifeſt the louelove, the faith, ſincerity and conſtancy of the faithfull. Secondly, conſidering, that as Satan in deceiuing Eue, had, and abuſed, the Serpent as his inſtrument, ſo hath he now ſome of Serpentine diſpoſition, who yet, the more eaſily to abuſe our ſimplicity, hauehave their faces, as ours, the faces of men, and their haire as the haire of women — but yet they are Serpents, and their tailes are like vntounto Scorpions: and theſe are hereticks and ſeducers of all times.Euſeb. Eccleſ. hiſt. lib. 4. cap. 1… ex Jren Whence Policarpe the ancient Martyr called Marcion the heretick, Primogenitum diaboli, the firſt borne of the Deuill; and yet ſome were borne a little before him, euen in S. Pauls time,foreign. 2. Cor. 11.13.14 Act. 20 29.30. 2. Pet. 2.1.2.3. of whom he ſaith, they are falſe Apoſtles, and deceitfull workers, tranſforming themſelues into the Apoſtles of Chriſt. Such as theſe he alſo prophecied of; whom he deſcribes by the name of grieuous Wolues—who ſpeake peruerſe things to draw diſciples after them: of falſe teachers who priuily ſhall bring in damnable hereſies — ſpeaking euill of the way of truth, and through couetouſneſſe with fained words making marchandize of men. And theſe are they who being deceiued themſelues, deceiue others alſo,Iude 10. who being corrupt themſelues, yea corrupting themſelues like bruit beaſts in what they know naturally, corrupt others alſo; as doth their miſtreſſe, that whore, which did,Reuel. 19.2. (and now doth) corrupt the earth with her fornication. Now all theſe ſleights, this guile and deceitfulneſſe to delude and ſeduce, are foretold vsus of Antichriſt, of whom it is ſaid,2. Theſſ 2.9.10.11. His comming is after the working of Sataen, with all power and ſignes, and lying wonders, and with all deceiuableneſſe of vnrighteouſneſſe in them that periſh, becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the truth that they might be ſaued, and for this cauſe (it is added) God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould beleeue a lye, &c. Where wee ſee that the ſonne of perdition muſt vſe all guile and deceitfulneſſe to delude and ſeduce men from the truth of God: how needfull then is it for vsus to feare, what Saint Paul feared on the behalfe of the Corinthians,Cor. 11.3. ſaying, But I feare leſt by any meanes, as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his ſubtilty, ſo your mindes ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt: eſpecially when wee ſee and feele in our ſelues both in Court and Country the ſtinging effects of this ſerpentine Romiſh brood, who take and make vſe of all the forenamed aduantages; eſpecially in theſe our Northren parts, where our peoples eyes are put out,Reuel. 9.2. and our Sunne in great part darkened by the ſmoake of the bottomleſſe pit, out of which come theſe Locuſts to vsus.Qui cauet ne decipiatur, vix cauet cum etiam cau…t…etiam cum cauiſſe ratus eſt, ſaepe is cautor ceptus eſt, Plaut. captiu. Prouerbs 17. Therefore there is ſcarce any humane caution ſufficient againſt them, who want neither will nor skill to hurt by deceiuing: ſo that the moſt warie is not ſo warie, but for all his warineſſe hee may bee warred and foiled. Moderate feare may here be commended vntounto vsus by that commendation which the wiſedome of God giues to the feare of God, It is the beginning of wiſedome. For, as alſo ſaith euen naturall wiſedome in Ariſtotle, Feare cauſeth conſultation, Ariſt. in Rhet.and conſultation cauſeth wiſedome. Who then are eaſilieſt miſled and ſeduced but the ſimple,foreign. Minime mali. and ſuch as are leaſt of all diſtruſtfull? The Scripture cals ſuch ſimple, I would they were not alſo vnwiſe children.foreign Prouerb. 1.4. Prouerb. 8.5. Matth. 10.10. It is ſaid of ſeducers, cauſers of ſects and offences, that by good words and faire ſpeeches they deceiue the hearts of the ſimple, Rom. 16.18. What then ought wiſdomes worke to be in vsus? ſhe tels vsus her ſelfe, to giuegive ſuttlety to the ſimple: and her counſell is, O ye ſimple vnderſtand wiſedome. There is wiſedome then required in the children of light to eſpie and preuent the wiſedome of the children of the world: and therefore we are bid be wiſe as Serpents: wiſe, not to doe euill, but to preuent euill; and this our wiſedome conſiſts in cautelouſneſſe. As the Apoſtle hath foretold vsus of grieuous wolues, ſo he bids alſo, hauehave an eye to,Philip. 3.2. and beware of dogs, beware of euill workers. Now I need not much beware of that dog that giues me warning by his barking: but I will hauehave an eye to the cloſe ſullen Cur, that will pinch me by the heele ere I be aware. If our aduerſaries were all of haſty diſpoſitions,foreign. and free ſpirited to expreſſe themſelues boldly, then by Ariſtotles rule I need not much feare them: but being ſtill and cloſe fellowes, diſſemblers,foreign. Ariſt. Rhet lib. 3. foreign. deceiuers, and as Saint Paul ſaid, deceitfull workers, there is too iuſt cauſe of fearing ſuch. Theſe ſaith Ariſtotle, are to be feared, and ſo are, as he cals them, foreign, ſuch impoſtors as can foreign, imponere, that is, put a tricke vponupon a man finely.
Concerning all which Saint Paul warnes vsus,foreign, 2. Theſ. 2.3. 2. Cor. 113. foreign. Popiſh policies for the corrupting of mens ſoules. beginning his diſcourſe concerning Antichriſt, with this caueat, Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: wherefore not doubting but the Pope of Rome (and that ſucceſſion) is Antichriſt, his foreign and meanes of deceiuing and corrupting mens minds are now to bee conſidered, which, being both for the ſupplanting of truth, and planting of errour, we may reduce with the Apoſtle, to our minds, that is, partly to the vnderſtanding, on which the will much-what dependeth, partly to the affections and ſences, all which theſe ſeducers ſeeke to corrupt.1. For the corrupting the vnderſtanding. 1. Which they doe 1. By blinding it
Firſt, for the vnderſtanding: It they goe about to blind and to delude.
Their firſt tricke is to put out the light, and with Vlyſſes to put out Poliphemus his eye, while the people are ſecure, ſo that the hurt is done,And that 1. By denying the Scriptures to the people. and Ʋtis, No-body hath done it. This is done firſt by wreſting the Scriptures out of the peoples hands, not ſuffering them ordinarily to be read or knowne in any vulgar language. Perhaps it will be ſaid, The Bible is tranſlated into Engliſh by Papiſts, the new Teſtament by the Rhemiſts, and the Old by the Dowiſts. To which I anſwer,Popiſh tranſlations of the Bible in vulgar languages. this indeed is done to bleare mens eies: they are driuen to this ſhift neceſſarily to ſaue their credits, to ſeeme to ſatisfie the people, and that they might not be thought to be ſo terribly afraid of the Scriptures. But to what good purpoſe is this done?1. Obſcure. It is firſt done obſcurely,See Ʋalleſ. de ſacra philoſ. p. 73. whereby in the Engliſh they retaine diuers Greeke words, as azymes, &c.
2. Corrupt.Secondly, it is done in many places corruptly, and as it ſeemes, ſeeing they cannot be ſo ignorant of the originall, of purpoſe to eſtabliſh popiſh opinions, as Iohn 1.12. and Luk. 2.14 to eſtabliſh freedome of will, where in the firſt place, foreign, or power, ſignifies not any power or ability of man, but the right or priuiledge to become the ſonnes of God. And in the ſecond it is not, as they read it, to men of good will, but good will towards men, which foreign, is that good pleaſure of God whereby he freely accepts men to life by Chriſt. The like might be ſhewed in other places, as Pſal. 19.4. to proue the viſibility of the Church; but eſpecially Gen. 3.15. where they render it, She, not It, or He, as doth Saint Ierome, referring it to the bleſſed Virgin, not to Chriſt the promiſed ſeed: which ſhewes their blaſphemy in corrupting the text and fountaine in maine fundamentall points.
3. Called in.Thirdly, they hauehave indeed tranſlated the Bible (and yet I ſay not for all popiſh places) and alſo for a while let ſome number of copies to be ſaleable at the beginning, yet hauing by that meanes huſhed that former clamour— they hauehave called all vulgar Bibles ſtraightly in againe,Relation Sect. 34. yea the very Pſalmes of Dauid, though tranſlated by their owne Preacher Pangorola, as doubting elſe it ſeemes, that their owne Bibles if ordinarily and by eueryevery one read, would make men hereticks, as ſome blaſphemouſly hauehave vttered. Oh but hauehave you neuer heard of a booke intitled An Anker of Chriſtian doctrine, Anno 1618newly publiſhed by Th. Wr. wherein (as he would hauehave vsus beleeue) the moſt principall points of Catholique (that is in his ſence, Romiſh) Religion are proued by the onelyonly written word of God? Yes, the firſt part concerning the Creed I hauehave ſeene, where, of 53. Articles, few in expreſſe tearmes containe matter of controuerſie, others proſecute controuerſall points, which in the generall, but not in the application, we alſo acknowledge. This Booke will bee of this vſe, not to cleare, but to bleare the eies of the ſimple, while they (for the moſt part of them) onelyonly heare of ſuch a booke, not knowing or able to iudge how his promiſe is performed. This way of triall as their laſt (which ſhould hauehave beene their firſt) refuge they are now driuen to, to proue Popery by Scripture. Yet the Author very wiſely for himſelfe, abandons not other proofes by traditions &c. and indeed it concernes him ſo to doe, that ſo when he ſhall finde Scripture to faile him, he may hauehave recourſe to theſe againe from Scripture; which in effect he doth while he pretends the contrarie: for as other Papiſts herein contrarie themſelues, while they indeauour to proue by Scripture the ſame things, they hold tradition,Doctor Feild of the Ch. lib. 4. chap. 20. as our writers ſhew againſt them, ſo he vndertaking to proue by the expreſſe written word of God, that other proofes are both neceſſary and authenticall, (which are his owne words in the preface, pag. 7) when he comes to proue it in the place pointed to in his margine, namely in the third Article, he tels vsus there in the beginning that indeed the controuerſie of tradition may not be omitted in this place, becauſe not onelyonly ſome other points of Chriſtian faith, namely that our vſuall Creed is authenticall doctrine, but alſo the aſſurance which we hauehave of the whole ſacred Bible dependeth eſpecially vponupon tradition, &c. What is this but to runne himſelfe giddy in a circle, to flye from tradition to Scripture, and from Scripture againe to proue tradition, which tradition muſt teſtifie of Scriptures, and ſo round, &c. The maine waight of al his proofes then reſts not on Scripture, as he by his title pretends, but on tradition, into which mans faith muſt laſtly bee reſolued.
But to returne: for all this late pretence of Scriptures made by one man, the reſt dare not truſt their cauſe to the triall of Scripture onelyonly, vnleſſe it be onelyonly in their expoſition and application of it, which yet the very euidence of the words and truth in them, will ſoone refell in any man of common vnderſtanding, who ſhall not bee blinded through preiudice, but iudge euen by common reaſon, (and not by any priuate ſpirit.) For, though reaſon cannot reach to the things contained in Scripture without a ſuperiour illuſtration, yet it can iudge of conſequences and dependancies of points, and whether ſuch a point be rightly deduced or no, from ſuch or ſuch a place. This they know wel enough, and accordingly feare: wherefore their very common ſeruice among them, as containing many ſentences and paſſages of Scripture, muſt be read onelyonly in a ſtrange tongue: yea all of all ſorts, euen women and children, muſt pray in Latine. Nay in Italy it hath beene obſerued that in their Sermons, though they preach commonly on the Goſpell of the day, they do not read or any waies recite the text, but diſcourſe onelyonly of ſuch points as they thinke fitteſt, that ſo no ſound of Scripture might poſſeſſe the people.
Papiſts write and ſpeake diſgracefully of the Scripture.To this purpoſe they alſo ſpeake and write diſgracefully of the Scripture, ſaying it containeth not all things neceſſary to ſaluation, charging it with imperfection, ſaying, it is but a piece of a rule; and with obſcurity, calling it a noſe of waxe. Which they doe to make the people more willing to part with this treaſure, and to admit of their traſh of tradition, vnderunder the name of vnwritten truths deliuered by the Church by ſpeech onelyonly, which Church now hath declared her mind in the Councell of Trent, whereunto all thoſe that are ſolemnly made Doctors in Italy muſt ſubſcribe. Thus they deale with the learneder and more curious ſort, who elſe, looking into the fountaine of truth, ſhould finde but little agreement betweene it and the Romiſh doctrine. As for the ſimpler ſort, they deale with them as wiſe men do with children, who get ſome precious or good thing from them, and giuegive them in ſtead thereof a counter or ſome toy: ſo they in ſtead of Scripture giuegive them images as their bookes, with many outward ceremonies and ornaments to gaze vponupon, as knowing the peoples braines muſt and will be buſied about ſome thing or other: like to women, which hauing no children, are much delighted to play and ſport themſelues with little dogs and puppets. By this meanes they would auoid danger from the written word with which we vrge them, and which would ſhew them the vanity of their traditionall doctrine, as that the worſhipping of images is expreſly forbidden, with the reſt, and that their Church is ſtrangely infected.
Seeing thus they deale with Scripture,2. By prohibiting the reading or hauing of our bookes. wee may not hope that our bookes ſhould ordinarily be read of the vulgar Papiſt: for which they hauehave taken order by a general condemning of them, and prohibition: which if it were onelyonly to the vulgar, it had ſome ſhew of fitneſſe: but they are denied euen to the learned, both young and old. In the Colledges of Ieſuites are diuers of our bookes (though in a mourning weed of blacke leather) which if any younger Student deſire to ſee,Lib. de ſtudiis Ieſuit. abſtruſ. he muſt firſt in ſome Satyricall verſe raile on the author he deſires to read. Neither muſt their auncients and Fathers vſe any of them, without the priuity of their Regent. Nay their learnedeſt and greateſt Biſhops may not be ſuffered to ſee the naked face of their aduerſary, as witneſſeth that moſt reuerend Archbiſhop,Marcus Antonius. who in his owne experience ſo found it. Who alſo tels vsus that no Auditour vnderunder paine of excommunication, muſt read the treatiſes out of which their profeſſors of diuinity in their publike reading alleadge the opinion of the aduerſaries, but muſt take all on their word. Nay,See Doct. Iames corruption of Fathers, fourth part. Bellarmine and Baronius are faine to become ſuiters to the Inquiſitours to read any ſtrange booke, whether manuſcript or other: yea theſe very writers laſt named, as alſo Gregory de Valentia, who hauehave imployed themſelues wholly in refuting from point to point the Proteſtants doctrine and arguments, are ſo rare in Italy, as that by ordinary inquiry,Relation, Sect. 35. they are not to be found in any ſhop, but in ſtead of them an infinite number of inuectiues &c. ſo loath are they, it ſeemes, our poſitions ſhould be knowne, and our arguments, though related and confuted (to their power) by themſelues. But wee may not maruaile that our bookes and arguments ſhould be prohibited to be read, ſeeing their owne writers are alſo forbidden to be read in the old Editions, before they be corrected, as ſome parts of Ferus, Stella, Eſpenſaeus. Thus the inquiſition hath effaced that excellent digreſſion out of the fourth booke of Guicciardine: which worthy hiſtorian yet was a Catholicke, as they call themſelues, no man more. The reaſon is, it ſhewes by good record how the gouernment of the Church of Rome was at firſt meerely ſpirituall, and withall layes open her ambitious purchaſe of greatneſſe, and the meanes how ſhe got it. Thus aſhamed of her pedigree, as one noteth, ſhe razeth the memory of her anceſtors out of hiſtory, and would hauehave none to looke into the vnlawfulneſſe of her vſurpation. To conclude, the ſame Pope, Paulus 4. ſuffered his owne booke, in the writing of which his owne hand was before he was Pope,See their Index …ibrorum prohibit. in lit. C. 2. By deluding it. to be prohibited and damned, namely the booke called Conſilium delectorum Cardinalium.
But for all this, curious ſpirits will bee inquiſitiue, and mans nature is to couet what is forbidden: theſe impoſtors therefore, ſeeing they cannot wholly blind the iudgement, they goe about to delude it:Many wayes. and this they doe many waies.
1. With falſe Fathers and Authorities.Their firſt tricke is to abuſe the names and authorities of ſuch as for holineſſe and learning are highly reſpected and accounted of, and vnderunder their names to ſow errour, and to diſperſe the corrupt leauen of their owne doctrine. And herein they vſe Iacobs deceit, in counterfetting the voice and habite of Eſau, and yet they delude none thus but the blind,1. King. 3.19.20. as Iſaac then was; and the Harlots deceit, thruſting a dead child in place of the liuing; yet wiſe Salomon could giuegive the true mother her owne child. This is an old fetch of hereticks. Thus the Manichees would ſeeme to bring to light bookes neuer heard of before, the Aſcenſion of Moſes, the Reuelation of Elias, the Goſpels of Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, the Acts of Peter, Andrew, &c. So the Macedonian hereticks put forth a little booke ſmelling of their hereſie vnderunder the bleſſed man and martyr Saint Cyprians name. The like fraud is now vſed by the Impoſtours of this later age, Monkes, Friars, Ieſuites, from whoſe ſhops we hauehave not onelyonly new ſects broached vnderunder the names of Saint Auguſtine, Bernard, &c. but new authours alſo, as Dionyſius Areopagita; new Policarpes, new Ignatius &c. yea new Goſpels, Euangelia imò Proteuangelia, new Apoſtolicall conſtitutions, new Letanies alſo and Church Seruice, new fathers, but yet baſtard and falſe fathers, ſome whereof to the number of 187. ſome Papiſts themſelues, not onelyonly ſuſpect but plainely conuict of forgerie; there being twiſe as many beſides, which our beſt Proteſtants hauehave challenged of corruption: yet theſe books are ſtill vrged to the people by Prieſts and Ieſuits for ſound proofes of the chiefe points of popery, as Doctor Iames in his booke of that argument, ſhewes at large, who names the bookes, and ſhewes what Papiſts cenſure them, and what Papiſts againe alleadge them. And thus are the ſimpler ſort moſt ſtrongly deluded, receiuing bitter pils vnderunder gold, and poyſon vnderunder ſhew of hony. Theſe yet their foreign, and falſe inſcriptions, they call their Pias fraudes, godly deceits, agreeably whereunto they allow the faining of tales, fables, miracles and legends to prouoke the people to deuotion.
Of like nature and to like end,2. With corrupting of true Fathers. is their corrupting of true fathers and of the beſt learned of all ages, not ſparing their owne Authors, as is noted, no, not altogether the Bible it ſelfe. All which they corrupt by leauing out, adding, altering what they pleaſe, as may be moſt for their purpoſe and aduantage. And this they moſt ſhameleſly practiſe vnderunder ſhew and pretence of purging the world from the infection of corrupt bookes, and of correcting the faults of the print. For this purpoſe they hauehave their Indices Expurgatorii, that is,Indices expurgatorii. tables and Regiſters of ſuch places and paſſages as they meane to purge the bookes of, which they vſe as deletory Sponges to wipe out of ſuch bookes all ſuch things as make any waies againſt them Diuers whereof are now come to light, and are in our hands, to their eternall reproach. The firſt which was printed at Antwarpe, Anno 1571.by the command and direction of Ferdinand Duke D'Alua vnderunder Philip 2. of Spaine, lay hid in the hands of a few Cenſors appointed to view and correct bookes, for 15. yeares together, and after came to light, and was by Iunius left as a gift and monument of their ſhame, in the ſtudy of the Count Palatine of Rheine. The Spaniſh Index was found firſt and diſcouered by our Engliſh in the taking of Cales. Now by the direction of theſe Indices, the ancient Fathers and firſt Authours are made to ſpeake not their owne words and meaning, but what the late Councell of Trent hath deliuered. The bookes thus purged, (or rather polluted) are often reprinted, and theſe latter Editions onelyonly authorized, all other are diſallowed, called in, conſumed, with threats added againſt all ſuch as ſhall preſume to keepe them. And as thus they deale with the printed bookes, ſo in likelihood they hauehave an Index for the purging of the manuſcripts alſo: for in the Vatican library at Rome,Iames appendix to the aduertiſement prefixed to his booke of the Corruption, &c. certaine men being maintained onelyonly to tranſcribe the Acts of Councels, or Copies of the Fathers workes, they hauehave beene ſeene in tranſcribing to imitate the letters of the ancient Copies, as neere as can be expreſſed. In which copying out of books it is to be feared, they adde, alter, and take away at the pleaſure of their Lord the Pope. The euent may proue it ſo; herein dealing with and deluding the world, as the Gibeonites did Ioſhua, with old ſacks, old bottles, old ſhooes and garments, wherein they are ſaid to worke wilily. foreign in…ſtatia. I…ſh. 9.4.5.Now by all theſe meanes the triall of a queſtionable point in religion is like that triall of a Niſi prius at the common law, where for witneſſes are brought not good Free-holders, Probi & legales homines, but baſe wanderers, burnt in the eare for Rogues, who know neither father nor mother,…. With corrupting euen the Bible at ſelfe. Corruption of Fathers, part 3. or at the beſt bribed and corrupted.
But what if theſe bold bauds goe about to corrupt the Bible it ſelfe, by adding, detracting, altering? To make a little further vſe of Doctor Iames, this eaſily appeares by the infinite varieties, contradictions & oppoſitions which may be ſeene of any that ſhall compare two Bibles ſet forth by two Popes, Sixt. 5. & Clem. 8. and that within 2. yeares.1590. 1592.
The ſecond Commandement is alſo quite diſcarded out of their vulgar Catechiſmes which they communicate with the people, and to keepe the number of ten, the laſt is made two. Now whereas both the ſhame of the world and alſo the power of God keepes them from daring to attempt vponupon the text of the Bible it ſelfe; yet ſee how neare they come it by corrupting the gloſſe and marginall note. In the Bible of Robert Stephens, vponupon Geneſ. 15.6. where the words are, And he (Abraham) beleeued in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteouſneſſe; the note in the margent is, Abraham fide iuſtus, Abraham is iuſtified by faith: yet theſe words which are all one with the words of the text, euen as the Dowiſts read and tranſlate them, namely, Abraham beleeued God, and it was reputed to him vntounto Iuſtice: yet I ſay, theſe words are commanded to be put our, deleatur illud, Abraham fide iuſtus. Index Rom. pag 48. Rom. 4.3. Galat. 3.6. Iames 2.23. Index Rom. ibidAnd yet the authority of that place is vrged thrice in the new Teſtament. So on Leuit. 26.1. they hauehave expunged the gloſſe or marginall note, deleatur illud, ſculptilia prohibet fieri: let this be put out, ſay they, God forbids the making of grauen images: and yet God in the text forbids the making of them. Laſtly, 1. Sam. 7.3. Samuel ſaith, Prepare your hearts vntounto the Lord and ſerue him onelyonly: the gloſſe ſaith in the margent, Seruiendum ſoli Deo, God only muſt be ſerued; now ſaith the Romane Index, deleantur illa verba, Seruiendū ſoli Deo, Index Rom. pag. 50.let theſe words be blotted out, God only muſt be ſerued. Hence iudge what they would doe to the Scriptures if they durſt.
And thus we hauehave ſeene, how by prohibiting and corrupting theſe diuine and ancient monuments, they corrupt mens vnderſtandings. Yet this is not all:To plant their errours they furthe… delude mens minds. they hauehave other tricks of deceit and deluſion whereby they not only ſupplant the truth, but alſo plant their owne errours and make them paſſable.
Their next tricke then is to dazle the eyes of the ſimpler4. With proteſtations of truth ſort with Proteſtations of truth and ſwelling words of vanitie; ſo that vnderunder pretence of preaching the Truth, they ſupplant the truth:Hilarie Antichriſt, ſaith a Father, vnderunder colour … preaching the Goſpell, ſhall be contrarie to Chriſt. Euen ſo S Ambroſe deſcribes falſe teachers, to be ſuch as vnderunder the name of Chriſt,Qu… … nonum, … preach againſt Chriſt; ſo that the Lord Ieſus is denied, whilſt men thinke he is preached. And as the Deuils prophets of old tooke vponupon them the glorious name of Prophets of God; ſo ſeducers will be prophets of God, and prophecie in the name of God, though they ſo prophecie a lie, and can with the true Prophets of God ſay, Thus ſaith the Lord. …Thus Neſtorius though he were an Heretike yet could he couer himſelfe vnderunder the vaile and ſhew of the Orthodoxe faith,… as ſaid Theodoret of him, and generally falſe prophets can vſe the name of Chriſt to deceiue others thereby:Ma… … concerning whom, our Sauiour hath giuen vsus a caueat, ſaying, Take heed that no man deceiue you, for many ſhall come in my name and ſhall deceiue many. In my name: Some making themſelues Chriſts and Sauiours; ſome bearing my name not only of Chriſt but of Ieſus; ſome preſuming to be my Vicars on earth; ſome teaching lies and falſehoods in my Name, and as my Doctrine. Thus Ieſuites, yea, the Pope himſelfe, ſhroud themſelues vnderunder the name of the Lambe,Mat … 1 Ti… … but inwardly are rauening Wolues, and ſpeare …i… the Dragon, teaching indeed doctrines of Deuils.
This Whore of Rome, giues out her falſe doctrines in a cup of gold;Re…. … ſhe hath in her hand, Poculum Aureum Plenum Abominationum, a cup of Gold full of Abominations: where behold a Myſterie; the initiall or capitall letters of theſe words, written in the language of the Church of Rome, whether caſually or by ſpeciall prouidence, being put together, are obſerued to make vp the word Papa, or Pope.
We may well compare the Deuill and all his inſtruments to craftie Pyrats, who will hang out the ſame colours; they will ſeeme to be what indeed they are not. Thus the Arrian Heretikes of old, bragd they only were Catholikes, as for all the reſt, they called them ſometime Ambroſianos, ſometime Athanaſianos, ſometime Ioannitas. So the Mahumetanes now, though they deriue their pedegree from Agar the bond-woman, yet will be called not Agarens, but Saracens, from Sara the free-woman. Euen ſo the Iewes bragd they were Abrahams ſonnes, ſeede and blood; yet ſaith our Sauiour to them,Iohn 3.39.… You are of your father the Deuill. So Papiſts now: who but they? they only muſt be the true Catholikes, the true Church: for vsus, we are Lutherans, Caluiniſts, Schiſmatikes, Heretikes, with ſuch ſwelling words of vanitie, they bewitch and corrupt the mindes of the ſimpler ſort from the ſimplicitie which is in Chriſt Ieſus, euen as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his ſuttletie.2 Cor. 1….3. 2 Pet. 2.17, 18, 19. Of theſe we reade in the 2. Pet. 2. who though indeed they be but Wels without water, promiſing refreſhing to the thirſtie, but leauing their ſoules emptie; promiſing to others liberty, but are themſelues the ſeruants of corruption, yet in ſpeaking great ſwelling words of vanitie they beguile (or allure and catch like fiſhes) — them that were cleane eſcaped from them which are wrapped in errour. Hitherto referre we their great brags and vauntings, whereby they aſtoniſh men, and dazle their eyes with the name and report of the Church of Rome, with Antiquitie of her doctrine, with her Vniuerſalitie, Succeſſion of Biſhops, Miracles, Authorities of Fathers, and laſtly with the great rumour and report they giuegive of the learning of Papiſts. Who doubts but many are bewitched with theſe ſorceries? who hauehave not the ſpirit of diſcerning to put difference betweene the emptie name of a Church and the Faith profeſſed in a Church, betweene Antiquitie and Nouelitie of Doctrine, betweene true Vniuerſalitie and a number of men giuen ouer to belieue lies, betweene Succeſſion of Biſhops and Succeſſion of Doctrine, betweene true Miracles and lying wonders, ſuch as is ſaid Antichriſt ſhould worke, betweene Authorities of Fathers and Scripture truly alledged, and the ſame wreſted, if not falſified and forged; laſtly, betweene true and ſauing Knowledge, and a generall and ſwimming knowledge in the braine, without obedience, or without ſufficient warrant and ground from Scripture: for ſeeing they ſpeake not alwayes according to this word,Iſa. 8.20. It is, becauſe there is no light in them.
5. With ſhewes of Holineſſe.Beſides the aduantage from their vaunting and ſhewes of truth, we may obſerue how they can daube on artificiall colours of a holy profeſsion and life, thus Ieſabel-and harlot-like, to draw the eyes of men to looke vponupon them, louelove and like them: vnderunder which colour, doubtleſſe, they beguile the ſimple, and preuaile much. Doe we not ſee how the Pope inſinuates himſelfe through deceit and vnderunder the ſhew of ſanctitie?In the Pope. He is therefore called abſtractiuely His Holineſſe: but how farre from communicating therein later Popes hauehave bin, might eaſily and plentifully be ſhewed, if I thought fit to rake in that dunghil. He ſtiles himſelfe in a ſhew of greateſt humility,With Canaan, Gen. 9.25. Seruus ſeruorum Dei, the Seruant of the Seruants of God: yet indeed takes vponupon him as Dominus Dominorum, Lord of Lords, ſuffering himſelfe to be called and honoured by the name of God in the ſingular number. We read of Pope Martin the fourth, that hauing excommunicated the Sicilians,Morn. Myſter. Progreſſ. 53. Of this Pope was this Epitaph made: Hîc iacet ante chorum ſubmerſor Toutonicorum, Paſtor Martinus extrà qui totus ouinus, Et lupus introrſus, &c. and Peter of Arragon in fauour of Charles King of Sicilie, they in the midſt of their troubles had recourſe vntounto him; and ſo proſtrate vponupon the earth, they were inioyned to cry out aloud farre off from him: Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem: O Lambe of God that takeſt away the ſinnes of the world, graunt vntounto vsus peace. Which blaſphemie he no waies put back. Thus while hee ſhewed the hornes of the meeke Lambe Chriſt, a Dragon ſpake out of his mouth: for euen ſo he is deſcribed, Reuel. 13.11.
Of this ranke generally are all falſe Prophets, who come to vsus in ſheepes cloathing, perhaps with the name of Ieſus, who is the Lambe of God, vponupon them, but inwardly are rauening Wolues: Mat. 7.15.who vnderunder colour of long Prayers, and more then ordinary holineſſe,Mat. 23.14. deuoure Widowes houſes. Such are our Ieſuites,In Ieſuites. who deceiue not moe eyes through their diſſembled apparell, whereby they iet vp and downe vnknowne, in the habit of Gentlemen, Noblemen, &c. then they doe hearts and minds of the ſimple through their ſeeming deuotion, whom you may behold now folding their hands, now looking vp towards heauen, now ſighing, now leauing the high-way, when they meete women, from whom they turne their eyes; yet theſe men in ſecret doe ſuch things as is not meete to name; painted Tombes, &c. inwardly full of faction, hatred of the truth, cruelty, &c.
Such alſo is the holineſſe of their Monkes,In Monkes. who brag ſo of ſingular perfection, good Workes, Prayers, Faſtings, voluntary Pouerty, contempt of the World, forbearing the very touch of Money, Virginitie, &c. The outward auſteritie in the habits and outward ſhew of ſome of them preuailes much in this kind with well-meaning ſoules, which being ſimple and plaine dealing themſelues, conceiue of others by themſelues; who yet, with the falſe prophets of old, doe weare a rough garment to deceiue. Zach. 13.4. Iuſtin. Hiſt. lib. 1. fine.I cannot fitlier compare theſe then to Zopyrus, who cauſed himſelfe to be whipped and filthily mangled, his noſe, cares, and lips to be cut away, yet all in hypocriſie, to the end he might betray the Babylonians, to whom he fled, into the hands of his Maſter King Darius, as he alſo did: So theſe whip and ſcourge themſelues, &c. that ſo by ſeeming to auoid hypocriſie, and to meane ſincerely, they might become guides to the people; which they no ſooner obtaine, but preſently they betray them into the hands of their god Pope.
Herein alſo they reſemble the Scribes of old, who adorned themſelues with large and broad Phylacteries, that is,Mat. 23.5. ex Deut. 6.8. as S Ierome noteth, with parchments, in which the Law of God was written, namely the Decalogue, which folding vp, they bound to their foreheads in faſhion of a coronet, that they might be ſtill before their eyes. Now they that would ſeeme more zealouſly obſeruant of Gods Lawes then others, made their Phylacteries broder then ordinary, that they might therein write moe ſentences of the Law. Theſe, that they might be knowne to differ from the common ſort, carried Gods Lawes more beautifully decyphered on their garments. Thus they ſeemed to be clad with holineſſe, hauing it written in their foreheads, as had Aaron, Holineſſe to the Lord. Thus certainly they got what they looked for, eſtimation in the world, and won credit in the hearts and thoughts of the people. But what were they in our Sauiours account?Matth. 23.3.5. what were they in truth? Hypocrites, doing all to be ſeene of men, none greater tranſgreſſors of the Law then they. Thus were they, and thus are the Scribes of our times, like to our Alehouſes, which on the wall hauehave ſome goodly ſentences of Scripture, as Feare God, honour the King, &c. yet in the houſe is nothing but ſwearing, drinking, whoring, and in no place, either God or the King more diſhonoured and diſobeyed.
They then that looke onelyonly on the outward profeſſion and behauiour of ſuch as voluntarily ſeeme to relinquiſh all for Chriſt his ſake, to obſerue truely their canonicall houres of prayer, to liue an auſtere life, &c. and ſee no further, may eaſily be drawne on to a liking of that Religion which theſe profeſſe, and be hardned in it; but they that hauehave better iudgement, and the ſpirit of diſcerning, can eaſily put difference betweene a vizor and a true face, betweene Ieſabels painting and naturall beauty, betweene painted fire, which onelyonly hath the reſemblance of fire, and true fire which hath alſo the vertue and efficacy of fire; laſtly between flowers which are only painted or wrought with the needle, though neuer ſo accurately and elegantly, which ſend forth no ſweet ſauour, and thoſe which hauing deepe root in the ground, and being inwardly watered with the dew of heauen, exhale forth moſt comfortable and refreſhing ſmels.
6. By Inſinuations. Whereby, they would,Further, theſe deceiuers would creepe into men, and obtaine their purpoſe by a kind of Inſinuation, whereby partly they would ſeeme to come neare vntounto vsus, or at the leaſt, not to be ſo farre off vsus in many things as wee too harſhly conceiue of them, partly they would hauehave vsus come neare vntounto them.
Firſt, ſeeme to come neare vntounto vsus in ſome things.Firſt, they come neare vntounto vsus for words oftentimes in diuers points, pretending thus and thus they hold; yet this is but to delude the ſimple; for what they build with their words they deſtroy and pull downe againe, indeed, holding otherwiſe, and beguile the ignorant by ſhrouding themſelues vnderunder the couert of words.
Firſt, whereas it might ſeeme to vsus, as indeed it is, but harſh doctrine which Bellarmine deliuereth,aBellarm. de grat. & lib. arb. lib. 6. cap. vlt. namely, that man, before all grace, hath freewill, not onelyonly, to things morall and naturall, but euen to the workes of piety, and to things ſupernaturall; asbBiel 2. d. 28. lit. K. Bellarm. de grat. & lib. arbit. lib. 5. cap. 7. to auoid ſinne when he is tempted to it, to knowcBellar. ibid. lib. 5. cap. 14. and doe that which is morally good, and wherein there is no ſinne, yeadRefert Greg. Arim. 2. d. 29. art. 2. to louelove God aboue all, and to keepe his Commandements; the more eaſily to deceiue the ignorant, they very warily in words ſeeme to ioyne Gods grace with our will to helpe it, as if without it they would grant it could doe nothing: ſo Bellarmine ſayes,eDe grat. & lib. arbit. lib. 6. c. 4. in titulo Mans will in things appertaining to piety and ſaluation, can will nothing without the aſſiſtance of Gods grace, yea,fIbid. Sect. nos tres. the ſpeciall aſſiſtance. Yea and ſome now reuile vsus for charging them with the contrary. This yet is but a fetch to deceiue the ignorant, and, as onegWhite, way to the t…ue Church. Sect. 40. nu. 57. ſaith, a dram of their wit to make their Pelagianiſme goe downe the eaſilier. For many require no ſuch aſſiſting grace. Beſides, they maintaine the merit of congruity, wherein it is confeſſed there is the influence of no ſpeciall grace, it onelyonly conſiſting in doing that which is in our owne power. But here, Secondly, marke another fetch of like nature concerning this merit of congruity, which is generally holden by the Schoolemen, which yet is the very hereſie of the Pelagians. The Ieſuites beginne to ſay, this kind of merit is now reiected: and yet themſelues and their Peers teach the very ſame doctrine, and diſpoſing our ſelues to our owne iuſtification, that name is hatefull, yet the thing it ſelfe is liked well enough. Hoſius ſaithaSee White, vt ſuprà, Sect. 40 nu. 62. the Councell of Trent choſe rather to call good workes going before Iuſtification, Diſpoſitions, or Preparations to grace, then merits of any ſort. Thus they are content to lay by the name, but the thing they hold as faſt as euer they did.
Thirdly, they ſay, and will perſwade men they hold that the Saints are ſubordinate to Chriſt, and that their interceſſion is grounded onelyonly on his interceſſion; and yet they both ordinarily practiſe the contrary, yea, and alſo teach it: the Prieſt in the Maſſe craues ſaluation not onelyonly for the prayers of the Saints, but alſo for their merits, as might eaſily be euidenced from their writings. Laſtly, not to be infinite, (my purpoſe being but to giuegive a taſte of their dealings) they proteſt, and that by writing, that they allow not of the murthering of Kings, or that a ſubiect ſhould rebell againſt his Soueraigne; yet in deed not only practiſe otherwiſe, but teach, that a King hauing the ſentence of depoſition or excommunication pronounced againſt him by the Pope, is no longer King, and that his ſubiect is then looſed from his oath of allegeance; and maintaine, that to kill ſuch an one, is not to kill a King, but as they ſay, a man masked vnderunder that title, &c.
2. HaueHave vsus to come neare them.Now on the other ſide, ſee how they would inſinuate themſelues by drawing vsus on by degrees to yeeld vntounto them. For whereas it is true as well in matter of doctrine as of practiſe, Nemo repentè fit peſſimus, no man becomes ſuddenly notoriouſly euill or hereticall, but that error and idolatry creepe in by ſtealth, by little and little; Seducers would ſeeme modeſt at the firſt, and not to ouer-charge our ſtomackes with harder meat then they conceiue will eaſily be digeſted: they know how to beginne with the ſpoon. Therefore you ſhall not hauehave them firſt to vrge you to beleeue the infallibilitie of their god the Pope, and that he cannot erre in Peters Chayre how wicked ſoeuer he be: or that you may buy off your ſinnes as familiarly as you may buy wares in the market, &c. No, but meeting with a young nouice,By yeelding in ſomething. they will know of him whether he thinke that a Catholike ſo liuing and dying may be ſaued: if he ſtand at it, he ſhall be vrged with our confeſſion, and with the charitableneſſe of that iudgement. Next he ſhall be told, their Church is a true Church, and that it were too vnreaſonable to denie them ſo much: and then, that there is but one Church, as but one Chriſt, out of which no ſaluation; That this one Church is more like to be their Church then any other, as being ſo vniuerſall, ſo ancient, &c. And thus if the hearer ſuffer himſelfe, through his vngrounded iudgement, to be hood-winkt with this veyle of the Church, time ſhall lead him into thoſe hatefuller abſurdities. And this is a right ſerpentine tricke, which doth ſerpere, creepe on and in by littles, as errour hath euermore done.
Thus againe, if ſeducers can but get men at the firſt to ſee their monaſteries and other religious places, which are gloriouſly & reſplendently beautified with images, lights, &c. (which are able to dazle the eyes of the ſimple, and to winne from them a kind of reuerence, who naturally are inclined to idolatry) they will hope well for the future, eſpecially if they can but winne them to be preſent at their idolatrous ſeruice. If Alipius, in Saint Auguſtine, Auguſt. lib. confeſſ. 6. cap. 8. Of which infrà Sect. 3.by the importunity of his companions can bee ouer-intreated to goe to the bloody ſpectacles of the gladiatory combatants, though he reſolue to ſhut his eyes and ſo to be abſent, according to his owne inclination, whiles he is preſent, according to his friends deſire, it is enough; ſome ſudden fall of the wounded, ſome outcrie of the people, ſhall make him open his eyes, and what he ſees ſhall breed in him an itch to returne againe with the formoſt. It is enough for Papiſts, if the ſluces be once opened, the waters muſt then needs runne in a…daine.
Of this ſort are ſuch as deſire onelyonly a toleration of their Religion, as if this would content them: and ſuch as would be Reconcilers of vsus and the Romaniſts: they would hauehave vsus yeeld in ſome things vntounto them. But we dare not, leſt they at the length obtaine what they ayme at. If errour get but once into the belfrey, as ſaid a Doctor of our owne,D. Fulke. See alſo that worthy and vſefull booke called the Deceitfulneſſe of mans heart, hap. 15.2. Deceit. it will neuer leaue till it be in the chancell: if it may be ſuffered to bee in the porch, it will not be long but you ſhall ſee it poſſeſſed of the Church it ſelfe, and ſetting it in the Pulpit.
This tricke of inſinuation, according to both the branches of it, they particularly make vſe of in their intangling of young Gentlemen, who trauell beyond the ſeas, as may be ſeene worthily and elegantly handled by that graue and iudicious Diuine Doctor Hall in his Cenſure of Trauell, Quo vadis? Sect. 16.17.to whom I remit the Reader.
In the next place,7. By imitation. Popiſh ſeducers vſe an apiſh kind of Imitation, euen as wee hauehave ſhewed the Deuill was Gods Ape among the Heathen: for looke what were the chiefe means by which the reformers of Religion preuailed in all places, all thoſe courſes hauehave the popiſh ſort made vſe of with no little aduantage to their ſide. Theſe were, Firſt, diligence and aſſiduitie in preaching, together with their publiſhing of diuers treatiſes of piety and ſpirituall exerciſes and deuotions: Secondly, education and catechiſing of Youth in the principles of Chriſtian Religion: Thirdly, offers of diſputation: Fourthly, writing of Hiſtories and Martyrologies, and other ſuch like. In all theſe now they hauehave affronted vsus, and for diligence in diuers of theſe quite gone beyond vsus. But I meane not to inſiſt, as I might, on theſe particularly, eſpecially ſeeing it is already in a better manner performed,Relation of the ſtate of Religion, Sect. 27.28. to 32. then I am able, by the relater of the Religion vſed in the Weſt parts of the World; to whom I referre the Reader.
8. By Probabilities.Laſtly, theſe men we ſpeake of, come with plauſible perſwaſions, and with probabilities; which being indeed meerely Sophiſmes, yet the rather preuaile with the moſt, becauſe of mans naturall ignorance and corruption of nature, who hath in him by nature the ſeeds of all error, with an inclination thereunto. Truth in it ſelfe and owne nature is farre more probable then falſehood, yet with naturall men, for the moſt part, Truth is thought falſehood, and falſehood Truth. Seducing Sophiſters therefore hauing the aduantage of mens ignorance and want of true iudgement, by their art make falſehood it ſelfe very probable; wherein they make humane eloquence, (wherewith commonly falſe teachers excell the true) very ſeruiceable to their purpoſes, who beare it out and would beare all down with boldneſſe, with probabilities and ſhew of words. Thus they will perſwade the common people, we are heretikes, ſciſmatiks, at the leaſt, as hauing departed from the vnitie of the Catholique Church, and made a rent in it: this ſeemes very probable to vnskilfull and vnſtable ſoules, yet is it moſt falſe, for we hauehave not gone away, as heretiks vſe to doe, from the true Church of Chriſt, but, which all that louelove their ſoules ought to doe,Paralogiſmes. from the company and contagion of wicked hypocrites and idolaters; ſo that when they hauehave ſaid all they can, they can yet neuer ſay, that we hauehave departed from the word of God, from the Apoſtles, or from the Primatiue Church and the faith thereof. But thus deale crafty deceiuers in all ages, who catch men with ſhadowes, who are not able to ſee or diſcerne the ſubſtance and truth it ſelfe.Tertul. in Apolog. cap. 7.8.9. Thus Tertullian apologizing for the Chriſtians of primatiue times, tels vsus, that whereas it was their doctrine that in reſpect of the ſpirituall and eternall life, men muſt onelyonly feed on the fleſh and blood of our Sauiour Chriſt that immaculate Lambe, yet there were ſome enemies to the Croſſe of Chriſt that made the people beleeue that the Chriſtians were wicked and bloody men, that they did kill men in ſacrifice, eate their fleſh and drinke their blood. And whereas they taught that with God there was neither male nor female,Gal. 3.28. Act. 10.34.35. and in reſpect of iuſtification, no diſtinction of perſons, but all were brothers and ſiſters in Chriſt; there wanted not who calumniated them, and ſaid,Idem ca. 39. that Chriſtians made no difference either of age or kindred, but like bruite beaſts promiſcuouſly lay together, and accompanied one with another. And when, according to the neceſſity of thoſe times of perſecution,Iuel. Apol. Chriſtians often met together into retired places to pray and to heare the Goſpell, the rumor was they conſpired together among themſelues and conſulted to kill the Magiſtrates, or to ouerthrow the Commonweale: this was made more probable, becauſe factious rebels in like manner meet together in ſecret places. And S. Auguſtine relates, that, becauſe they in the bleſſed Sacrament of the Lords Supper vſed Bread and Wine, they were therefore thought to worſhip not Chriſt, but Bacchus and Ceres, whom the Heathen, with the like rites of Bread and Wine, did worſhip. Theſe things were beleeued, (as no doubt the like now, whereby true Religion and the profeſſors thereof are blemiſhed and blamed) not becauſe they were true, but becauſe they were probable, and had ſome ſhew of truth. Thus would Sauballat make men beleeue Nehemiah meant to rebell againſt the King,Nehem. 6.6. becauſe he fortified Ieruſalem.Gen. 39.18.19. Thus, Ioſephs miſtris eaſily perſwaded her huſband concerning good Ioſephs vnchaſt attempt, by ſhewing him Ioſephs garment; as formerly his brethren perſwaded their father Iacob of the truth of their falſe relation,Gen. 37.32.33. by ſhewing him the partie-coloured coat of Ioſeph all beſmeared with blood, and torne. From ſuch probabilities and little grounds, ſimple men conclude, what others would, and not what the premiſes, well ſifted and examined, afford.
Theſe deluders creepe into men alſo by Rhetoricall inſinuations, and deceiue by Sophiſticall quirkes; not teaching and ſhewing the fundamentall points of Religion to inſtruct men,And perſwaſions. but vſing probable perſwaſions to induce and ſeduce to errour. Thus the Friars euen in France, but more in Italy,Relation of Religion. Sect. 35. ſaith the Relator, in their indeauours to conuert others, will ſay it is lawfull to perſwade them, but not to diſpute with them.Tertul. adu. Valent. But what ſaith Tertullian? Ʋeritas docendo perſuadet, non ſuadendo docet▪ the truth perſwadeth by teaching, and doth nor teach by perſwading. It ſeemes heatheniſh idolatours followed this art of perſwading, and left the true art and methode of teaching, as appeares by*Procedant in medium pontifices — conuocent nos ad conſcionem — diſtringant aciem ingeniorum ſuorum: ſi ratio eorum vera eſt, afferatur. Parati ſumus audire ſi doceant— imitentur nos— nos enim non illicimus — ſed docemus, probamus, oſtendimus, Lact. lib. 5. de Iuſtitia. cap. 20. Lactantius. But certainly the popiſh doctrine and practiſe ſute well together, as tending to the ſame end. They teach that an implicite faith is as much as is required in ordinary Chriſtians, who therefore muſt not try the ſpirits by which men ſpeake: hereupon they are taught to beleeue without vnderſtanding, (and what lies then may they not belieue?) they are told that the grounds of Chriſtianity, and the proofes that the Scriptures are the word of God, are onelyonly credible and probable, but cannot be demonſtrated; that the chiefe proofe is the teſtimony of the Church, which is further guided by the ſpirit of God, the worke whereof is faith; which faith ſearcheth not the particular neceſſitie of the truth of things deliuered, but relieth in generall vponupon the approued wiſdome, truth and vertue of him that doth deliuer it: that therefore he that will hauehave neceſſary proofe of the ſeuerall articles of Religion, doth but wittily deceiue himſelfe; that the high vertue of Chriſtianity is in the humility of vnderſtanding, and the merit in the readineſſe of obedience to embrace it. What madneſſe then were it for any man to waſte his ſpirits in tracing the controuerſies of theſe dayes, and not rather to betake himſelfe to the true Church, whereunto the cuſtody of heauenly truth hath beene committed, and to receiue faithfully and obediently without queſtion making whatſoeuer it deliuereth, &c. This methode being as well plauſible as probable,This methode and art of perſwading may be ſeene more largely in the wiſe-obſeruer himſelfe, in his Relation of Religion, Sect. 12. is vſed as the chiefe meanes and courſe of their perſwading at this day, whereby, finding themſelues not able to keepe the laity-wholly and groſſely ignorant, as informer times, they cunningly indeauour ſo to lead them out of the briars as to enter them withall into a ſecond kind of ignorance; that being not content to ſee vtterly nothing, at leaſtwiſe they may be perſwaded to reſigne vp their owne eye-ſight and to looke through ſuch ſpectacles as they temper for them. For they finde by certaine experience that the ignorance of the Laity was euer the greateſt and ſureſt ſinew of their greatneſſe and glory.
But we are taught, and muſt teach, otherwiſe, firſt to know and then to beleeue: at the leaſt, faith muſt not bee without knowledge. Chriſts ſheepe follow him, Iohn 10.4.for they know his voice. Wherein all other ſheepe are herein ſheepe indeed, which blindly follow their guide though it be to breake their bones by falling and following from ſome high rocke or other downefall. Our Sauiour ſaith of his,Iohn 17.8. they hauehave knowne ſurely that I came out from thee, and they hauehave beleeued that thou didſt ſend me. And, as if the Lord meant purpoſely to meet with Papiſts in this point, and to let vsus know that error in iudgement and practiſe depended on an ignorant beleefe, he inſtanceth in a point of popery, namely, abſtaining from meats (which is alſo a doctrine of Deuils) and tels vsus,1 Tim. 4.3. that God hath created meats to be receiued with thanksgiuing of them which beleeue and know the truth. Which from hence we may conclude, Papiſts doe not. And thus much for the vnderſtanding, as by other meanes, ſo alſo by Paralogiſmes: but this, to ſpeake with the Apoſtle,Coloſſ. 2.4. I ſay, foreign.and hauehave ſaid, leſt any man ſhould beguile you with entiſing words.