The Height of Israels Heathenish Idolatry, Section 2 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Satans ſuttle deuices and policies in himſelfe and by his Inſtruments for the reeſtabliſhing of his kingdome in the Chriſtian world, and for the aduancement of the Papacie to that height of temporall dignitie in which now it ſtands.
BVt behold yet further,3. Popiſh policies for the effecting of their third end, Namely, For the aduancing of the Pope and Papacy. and in the third and laſt place ſee, how in imitation of this their maſter, or rather as his inſtruments, (hee (Satan) being the ſecret contriuer of this whole myſtery of iniquitie) I ſay, how and by what policies they would, yea hauehave aduanced the kingdome of Antichriſt, the ſeat and ſea of Rome. Their policies are diuers, their end honor, their ground pride.
The pride of Popes, though indeed it be wonderfull, as is formerly ſhewed,Aboue Chap. 7. yet muſt it politiquely bee couered with the greateſt ſhewes of humilitie. What greater pride then to make Princes and Kings, in their publique ceremonies and alſo feaſts, vnderlings not onelyonly to them, but to their Cardinals; as alſo at the Maſſe to ſerue the Pope vponupon their knees? and yet what humility (in ſhew) greater then his ſhrining himſelfe daily vponupon his knees to an ordinary prieſt? What pride equall to his making the greateſt Emperours and Kings to kiſſe his pantofles and feet? what greater humility then for the Pope himſelfe on Maunday-Thurſday to ſtoupe to the waſhing of poore mens feet? What pride like to his vſurping and taking to himſelfe the priuiledges and titles euen of the onelyonly true God, and of Chriſt, ſtiled God vponupon earth in the ſingular number, Spouſe of the Church? and yet what greater humilitie,S… ſc…m Dei. then to call and write himſelfe, Seruant of the Seruants of God? But the world ſees well enough through theſe nets, though the eyes of his vaſſals are blinded therewith.
Let vsus then as farre as wee can, looke into this deepe myſtery of iniquity, conſider by what Art the Deuill hath gotten againe in the Church, as formerly among the Heathen, to ſit as God, and to reigne and rule in the hearts and perſons of the late Popes.
Theſe politique practiſes and trickes hauehave beene vſed by the Popes of Rome, to wind themſelues vp to the height firſt of ſpirituall, then of temporall dignitie.
…. … meſſengers, and … the …1. Whereas it were in vaine for the Pope euer to hope thus to Lord it in the Church, Houſe and Flocke of Chriſt, if Chriſt himſelfe the true and onelyonly Head and Husband of the Church, by his lawfull paſtors and trueſt Subſtitutes, did indeed rule in and among his flocke and inheritance: hee therefore, when he beganne firſt to put forth his head and hornes in the Church, did by the meanes laſtly named, to wit, by cruelty, and doth to this day, labour, by killing and murthering the bodies of true paſtors, the onelyonly true meſſengers of Chriſt,Mat. 2… … …8. with the husband men in the Parable, to rid them out of the way, that ſo by killing them, and conſequently Chriſt himſelfe the only true Heire, in them, hee with his Church and Clergy might ſieze on Chriſts inheritance.
Now theſe Impoſtors, leſt their villany and craft ſhould be eſpyed, and themſelues, thereby made odious to the world, hauehave ſet vp one in the place of Chriſt, and in his ſtead, who may ſeeme like vntounto him, that is, the Pope.
Euen as that Perſian wiſe-man or Magus, of whom wee reade in Iuſtine, Iuſt…n hiſt. lib. 5.who cloſely ſlew Merges who ſhould hauehave ſucceeded Cambyſes in his Kingdome, and ſet vp his Brother Oropaſta in his ſtead, who was very like to Merges: Euen ſo theſe bloudy and treacherous Inglers, being made drunken with the bloud of Saints and Martyrs, in whom they kill and perſecute euen Chriſt himſelfe to their powers, and in*Acts 9.… his account (or howſoeuer, hee being now bodily abſent) doe aduance the Beaſt of Rome into his place, as hauing two hornes like the Lambe, and ſo like,P…. 1….1…. that the bewitched eies of the ſimple cannot eaſily diſcern him.
And herein alſo is their fraud like vntounto theirs, who being of aſpiring ſpirits, take the aduantage of the death of ſome prince or King, and of their owne reſemblance of them in face, age, wit, and the like, and ſo after ſome few yeares, giuegive themſelues out for the very parties themſelues, whom they would make the world beleeue with fayre and probable relations, were not indeed ſlaine or dead, as they were ſuppoſed, but that they only either retired themſelues vponupon ſome ſpeciall conſiderations, or otherwiſe were only taken priſoners and held captiues when they were ſuppoſed to be ſlaine. Diuers examples of this kinde are related vntounto vsus by Lipſius. Lipſ. Moni… & Exemel. Polit. lib. 2. cap. 5.Among others he tels vsus of one Alexander a Iew who adopted himſelfe into Herods family, as being in face very like another Alexander whom Herod ſlew: which Alexander ſo ſoone as Herod dyed, preſently reuiued in this other, who made his tale ſo probable, that the wiſeſt among them were deceiued, being made beleeue that hee the true Alexander was cloſely conueyed, and another ſlaine in his roome: and thus comming for his eſtabliſhment to Rome, at the length Auguſtus Caeſar found him out, and condemned him to the Gallies. Thus alſo hee relates a more remarkeable ſtory of one Bernardus Rainſus a Frenchman, but a religious Anachoret, who ſome twenty yeares after the death of Balduinus Octauus, Earle of Flanders and Emperour of Conſtantinople, Anno 1225.who was ſlain in warring againſt the Bulgarians, gaue himſelfe out to be the ſaid Balduinus, who was not ſlaine, but carried captiue and kept priſoner, till at length by ſome Dutch Merchants paſſing that wayes, to whom he reuealed himſelfe, he was redeemed by ranſome. Thus he comes into Flanders, and being for his age, lookes, and face, and craft, like to the true Balduin, he is taken to be him indeed, and Ioanna daughter to Balduinus, which then ruled Flanders, is driuen away: thus for a good while being ſaluted both Earle and Emperor, he is deprehended and taken for an Impoſtor, and at the laſt hanged by the foreſaid Ioanna; which yet eſcaped not the cenſures of the people, who reported that ſhee a wicked and vnnaturall daughter had hanged her owne father. The application is eaſie: Chriſt being aſcended into the Heauens, and ſo, for his bodily preſence, being abſent, the ambitious Popes of Rome, being in compariſon of their affected greatneſſe, but of ordinary breeding and beginning, by fraud now giuegive themſelues out, to be, if not Chriſts, yet at the leaſt the true and onelyonly Succeſſors of him and of Saint Peter, indeed ſhewing themſelues to the ignorant and bewitched multitude in diuers things not vnlike, each of them vſurping his titles,2. Theſſ. 2.4. and making himſelfe like Chriſt in his offices, as God, ſitting in the Temple of God, ſhewing himſelfe that hee is God. But this man of ſinne is already reuealed in good part to be a deceiuer, and Antichriſt, and is reiected by them whoſe eyes are inlightned with Gods word, and not ſo much as accounted a true Paſtor of Chriſt, or to hauehave any rule and authority of right, ouer Gods inheritance, but onelyonly by vſurpation, violence, and deceit; though in the meane time, we, who ſo thinke and know, and accordingly reiect him, by the blinded and ſeduced company of Ieſuitized Papiſts, are thought ſacrilegious and vndutifull ſonnes and ſubiects to his Holineſſe.
…. The Popes appropriating … titles to his Clergy and himſelfe.2. Another thing herein conſiderable, is that Appropriating of rights and titles, which is vſed in the Romane Church. To which end they make priuiledges, where our Sauiour neuer made any, as in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper: the Lord makes no difference of men, but accounts all true beleeuers and penitents alike worthy to partake of all the pledges of his louelove: There is a time, as ſaith S. Chryſoſtome, when there is no difference betweene Prieſt and people, the King and his meaneſt ſubiect, As, … the Sacrament.namely when we partake of the myſteries of our Religion. But what doe Papiſts? they take away the cup in the Communion from the common people, and Laitie, whom they call*Bellarm. de exemp. Cleri…. prophane, and reſerue that priuiledge onelyonly for the Clergy, and for Kings; and why? let them pretend what inconueniences they will, yet the true cauſe is, that thus they might aduance themſelues, euen in the fruit on of holy myſteries, aboue the ordinary ſort of men, yea, and become companions euen of Kings, as ſharing with them in the ſame priuiledge. Yet his Holineſſe for greater Maieſty, muſt hauehave a way peculiar to himſelfe, and receiue the wine, or blood of Chriſt, as they account it, by a quill. Euen as in other particulars might be ſhewed, where common rights are turned into priuiledges and made proper to their perſons, for further reuerence; beſides their caſes reſerued, which none o…her muſt preſume to decide. Of which nature alſo is their appropriating of titles, as of the name Papa, or Pope, And the name or word Papa.which ſignifies as much as Father; which yet in former times was promiſcuouſly giuen to all Miniſters, as Saint Auſten giues it to Alipius: and euen now the Grecians call their Prieſt Papaous, the Germanes Pfaffen, the Flemings Papen. But the Pope wreſteth it from them and deuoureth and glutteth all to himſelfe, in which regard,Vilera in the liues of Popes. the word Papa beſt agreeth with him, which of ſome late writers is alſo taken pro ingluuie, for gluttony, or the gullet. Thus his members the Ieſuites, cal themſelues by the name of Ieſus challenging that ſacred name as proper to themſelues; as if none elſe had intereſt in Ieſus but they. And the Friars cal themſelues Fratres, as if none were brethren one to another in Chriſt, but only they that are of their fraternities. But, for Popes, what maruaile if they rob their brethren and equals of the Clergy of titles, when they rob God himſelfe of his honor, and aſſume the very name, titles, and priuiledges of God himſelfe, and of Chriſt, for the aduancement of their owne perſons?
…3. To like end, the Romane tongue is impoſed vponupon the Popes votarties and diſciples, in which onelyonly their Seruice and prayers both publike and priuate, muſt bee ſaid. For the rece…ng of a new Language is a note and marke, and indeed a bond of ſubiection. Thus the ancient Romanes did pl…nt their language, the Latine tongue, in the countries wh…ch they conquered; and the King of Spaine vſeth the … to ſpeake Spaniſh, by this meanes endeauouring to make them more his owne. In this very Land, William the … King of England, ſurnamed the Conqueror, when hee had …eated himſelfe here, laboured by all meanes to reduce the whole Nation to the French Language; to which end … …yned the children here to vſe no other language with the…r Grammer in Schooles, to hauehave the lawes prac…ſed in Fren…h, and all petitions and buſineſſes of court in French, no man graced but he that ſpoke French; yet this w… not in the power of the Conqueror to doe;… ſo that ſoone after his death all returnes natural Engliſh againe, but Law: …o… hauehave we n…w any marke of our ſubiection and inuaſſa…ge …om N…rman…y, but onelyonly that, and that ſtill ſpeakes … to vsus …n England. Euen thus the Pope hath made all Ch…rches which are vnderunder him glad to yeild their necks to …, and hath giuen them the Roman tongue for a … …biection to the Biſhop of Rome; for beſides … Canon lawes both are and are practiſed in the … and all Decrees and Sentences, Acts and … in the Court of Parliament, and ſeats … were not long ſince ſet downe in Latine: his … a…d Indulgences, and Letters of Abſolution, are all … the holy Scriptures not allowed to bee … Latine, and the Latine Tranſlation preferred … Originall, which in compariſon of the Greeke and Hebrew the onelyonly Originall Tongues in which the …es were written) they make like to our Sauiour C… hanging betweene the two theeues on the Croſſe. In which regard moſt fitly and rightly is the number of the Popes (and Popedomes) name (ſignified by that ſecond Beaſt,… which ſhall beginne to heale the wound of the firſt Beaſt or ancient Empire) which number the Scripture makes to be 666. found in the word foreign, Latinus, λ 30 α 1 τ 300 … 5 … 10 … 50 … 70 … …0 6…6or Latine, which is the ordinary name by which the Greeke Church doth call thoſe of the Romane Church, though otherwiſe by nation they be Frenchmen or Germanes. And the rather becauſe by an admirable concurrence the ſame number of 666. ſix hundred ſixty ſix, doth admoniſh vsus that 666 yeares after the reuealing of the prophecie, this ſecond beaſt, to wit the Pope, ſhall begin to heale the wound of the ancient Empire, and place the Romane Empire again in its former ſeate, as hee alſo did,See M…ns …ccomp…. … o… Pop… … cap 4 … becomming iuſt then an earthly Monarch, namely, in the yeare of Chriſt 755. Saint Iohn writing his Reuelation in the I… Pathmos, towards the end of Domitians reigne, in the yeare 89.
4. Let vsus further conſider what vſe they make of Tranſubſtantiation to this very purpoſe.4. The Pope makes a…on of the bre…d in t…e Sacrament, and then preferres himſelfe before it. They hauehave made a god of the Bread in the Sacrament, which accordingly they worſhip and adore. By this meanes they challenge (and reaſon will giuegive it) an equality with God, yea an eminency & ſuperiority ouer him. They ſay that Prieſts hauehave power to make God, and to create their Creator by the words of conſecration, and that the Prieſthood and the Godhead are like, and hauehave the ſame greatneſſe ſince they hauehave the ſame power. Then, ſay I, if the cauſe in dignity be before the effect, if the Creator be before the creature, that is, the Prieſt before the ſacrifice which he offereth, then alſo is the Prieſt, but eſpecially the Pope the chiefe Prieſt, grea…er then the Maſſe-god, and therefore the very ſame, who is pointed at by the Apoſtle Saint Paul, namely,… Theſſ. 2.4. he who exalteth himſelfe, not only aboue all that is called God, that is, Magiſtrates, Kings and Emperors, but aboue that which is worſhipped as God, as is the Bread in the Sacrament. And may not this be a notable point of policy in him, for the honoring of himſelfe, firſt to giuegive a deitie to the Bread, and then to preferre himſelfe before it? as indeed he doth.
We reade that the Kings of Perſia reuerenced and adored Fire as a god, and that when any King went any whither in Pompe, hee, to the end he might be ioyntly worſhipped with his god, had going before him a horſe, carrying a little Altar vponupon him, whereupon among a few aſhes did ſhine a ſmall flame of holy Fire, which they called Orimaſdu or Oriſmada. … 1. Sect. cap. 3. and Sect. 12. cap. 10▪ and 4.Euen thus alſo the Pope, as wee reade in their booke of holy Ceremonies, going ſome great iourney, ſendeth before him (and that ſometimes a day or two dayes iourney) his Sacrament vponupon a horſe, carrying at his neck a little bell, accompanied with the ſcumme and ſcullery, bag and baggage of the Romane Court. And when the Pope approacheth neare the place which he intendeth, it returneth and goeth forth to meet him and receiue him.
And thus if he be not worſhipped with it, yet he makes himſelfe the Maſter, and the Maſſe-god his ſeruant, and, ſeeing men fall downe before it as they meet it, he muſt needs get himſelfe who followes after in greater pompe, exceedingly reuerenced, and in the thoughts of the ignorant people, at the leaſt halfe deified.
5. The Popes incroaching and vſurping the rights and Temporalities of Princes.5. This laſt ſpoken of, may gaine him ſome reſpect and reuerence in the hearts of the people; but it addes little to his power. Let vsus now then conſider how he hath aduanced himſelfe for power and ſtrength, by incroaching and vſurping vponupon the temporalities and rights of Chriſtian Kings and Princes.
Now here are diuers particulars obſeruable. 1. Looke as King Cyrus obtained a victory againſt the Scythians, with like policy gets the Pope a hand ouer Chriſtian Kings and Princes. Cyrus faining himſelfe to flye, left his Tents well furniſhed of wine and bellicheare,Pr…u… S…ythae … quam b…ll… v…tur, …. 1. to the end, that the Scythian… being firſt ouercome with wine, might more eaſily be ouercome by warre; and ſo indeed they were. Iuſt ſo the woman and whore which ſitteth on ſeuen hils, and which hath in her hand a golden cup, full of abominations and filthineſſe of her fornication, hauing bewitched the Kings and inhabitants of the earth with her ſorceries and ſeducements,Reu. 1… 3.4 5.…3.17.18 ſhee hath caſt them into a deepe ſlumber, hauing made them drunken with the wine of her fornication. And ſo, as Delilah dealt with Sampſon, ſhe clips them ſhort and takes their power from them; yea thus they themſelues giuegive their power and ſtrength vntounto the beaſt.
2. They hauehave hereupon got caſes about mariage and like matters to be remoued from the Courts of ciuill Magiſtrates, that ſo men from all parts of Europe might repayre to Rome for the diſanulling of mariages, diſpenſations to marry in forbidden degrees, preſentations to benefices, and Biſhopricks, and the like.
3. To wind themſelues a little higher, they hauehave vſed policy to get Appeales to be made to the Church of Rome, and vnderunder pretence of the dignitie of the City, to draw to them the cauſe of their neighbours there to be heard. They hauehave herein carried themſelues like Abſolom when he aſpired to his fathers kingdome, of whom the Scripture notes,2 Sam. 15.2.3 4. that when any man had a controuerſie and came to the King for iudgement, then Abſolom called vntounto him, and ſo intercepts him, and by faire ſpeeches, curteſies and vſages,5.6. ſteales away his heart; approuing of all matters, how bad ſoeuer, ſaying, See, thy matters are good and right; but withall wronging the King his Father, and calumniating him, ſaying, there is no man deputed of the King to heare thee: But what followes? what aymed he at? Abſolom ſaid moreouer, oh that I were made Iudge in the land, that eueryevery man which hath any ſuite or cauſe might come vntounto me, and I would doe him iuſtice. And hath not the Pope in a manner proportionable, thus done and behaued himſelfe? It was an ancient cuſtome for the Churches of God in doubtfull caſes to conſult with the Apoſtles by Letters,Pet Martyr ad 1. Cor. 7.1. as 1. Cor. 7.1. and after their deceaſe, with the Doctors and Biſhops of the Church: but this laudable cuſtome the Popes ambition and tyranny abuſed; for being often, of mens free accords conſulted withall, he beganne at length, to vſurpe dominion, as if nothing were firme or to be ratified without his priuity and approbation. And yet to get the chiefe ſaying and ſtroke in the deciding matters of doubt and controuerſie, bad matters were made good by his diſpenſations with vnlawfull mariages, and the breach of lawfull and religious oathes, and the like iuſtifications of euill, both in regard of doctrine and of the practiſe of life. By ſuch vſurpations he hath at length ſo farre derogated from the authority euen of Generall Councels, that hee hath gotten himſelfe preferred before them.
4 Like hereunto is it, that they hauehave turned that honor which at the firſt was voluntarily offered them, into right of homage. Thus hauehave they alſo abuſed the fauour and liberalitie of Princes (who in their deuotion thought nothing enough they did for the Church) to their owne luſts and ambition, thus at laſt ſhouldring them out and ſtealing their Scepters.
5 But let vsus eſpecially obſerue what aduantage of riſing Popes hauehave taken from the ruine of the Romane Empire, and how the Sea of Rome hath riſen by thoſe ruines. This is that which the Scripture hath foretold vsus of,2 Theſ. 2.7.8. that the deſtruction of the old Romane Empire muſt goe before the manifeſtation of Antichriſt, who was then to put out his head, and to be reuealed, when he which withholdeth or letteth ſhould be taken out of the way.
The Romane Empire therefore falling to ruine, partly by inward diſeaſes, but chiefly by ſundry irruptions of the Northren people; the Biſhops of Rome beganne to build on thoſe ruines, and to abuſe the abſence and weakneſſe of the Emperours, whom they expelled out of Italy by the armes of the Lumbards, and confined them to Greece.
6 Now for the Grecian and Eaſterne Empire, ſee how they dealt with them, they abſolued their ſubiects from their oaths of fidelitie, and ſo bound them to themſelues: yet this was not done without a fayre colour, namely that they would not admit Images into their Temples; but the true cauſe was, the Eaſt Empire beganne to be weakned vnderunder the Emperour Heraclius, by the Solauonians, Perſians, Saracens, Lib. 1.as Nicholas Machiauel obſerueth in his Florentine Hiſtory, which he dedicateth to Pope Clement the ſeauenth. Thus might they offend the Emperour being poore and weake without much danger, eſpecially the Pope and the Romanes hauing at that time entered a league of friendſhip with the Lumbards.
7 Yet after, ſtanding need of ſuccour againſt the Lumbards, and not able to hauehave any from the Emperour, the Pope ſeekes to the Kings of France for ayde, who were the onelyonly meanes to exalt him, as they did alſo themſelues, who by this meanes running to the wracke of the ruinated Empire, aduanced themſelues to imperiall dignity, withall giuing the Pope whatſoeuer hee holds in Italy. Thus the Popes of Rome of ſpirituall Biſhops being made alſo temporall Kings, beganne now to thinke how they might hold their owne. They hauehave therefore wrought the new Emperour of Rome to keepe his reſidence farre off from Rome; firſt in France, as did Charles the Great; then, and now in Germany, as his Succeſſors. Now this was no little policy in them: for the Popes did not louelove to hauehave ſuch a ſtrong neighbour ſo neare, who might at his pleaſure chaſtiſe or depoſe them. Thus as formerly the Pope of Rome, by occaſion of the place and Emperours reſidence at Rome, tooke aduantage of preferring himſelfe in ſpirituall dignitie before other Biſhops, ſo now by occaſion of the Emperours abſence, hee gaines opportunitie to aduance himſelfe in temporall power aboue the Emperours themſelues.
8 Therefore, when the Germanes went about to ſettle their Empire in Italy, the Popes ſtirred vp factions againſt them in Germany, cauſing the ſons, by breaking the bonds of duty both naturall and ciuill, to riſe vp in armes againſt their fathers; yet all vnderunder pretence of Hereſie. Yea at the length they conſtrained the Emperours themſelues, before they were receiued into Rome (their owne ancient houſe and home) in conceiued words to ſweare vntounto them quamcunque fidelitatem, all fidelitie whatſoeuer, and truly and openly to declare that they had no right in Rome, and that they would ſtay there ſo long onelyonly, as the Pope ſhould pleaſe. And this is the paſſe they hauehave brought it to now, that howſoeuer they ſuffer the Emperour of Germany to hold the name of King of the Romanes, yet hee holdeth nothing eyther in Rome or in Italy, and though he be created and elected by the ſeauen Prince Electors, yet he is made baſely to demand the Imperiall Crowne of the Pope, and in ſigne of tribute to caſt a maſſe of gold at his feet. What remaineth there more, but as the Wiſemen to Chriſt, Incenſe and myrrh?
9. This done, their cunning alſo appeared in weakning the eſtate of the Emperor in Germany, by giuing great exemptions to the Princes thereof; who now are free ſtates and Princes of themſelues, not tied neceſſarily to aid him in his warres, but onelyonly with a few thouſands of foot and horſe, for the large proportion of Germany: ſo that he is rather an Emperor in name, then in deed.
10. If they cannot preuent it, but that the other will needs be ſtirring, or that they be feared, then their policy is, either to ſet Chriſtian Princes by the eares together, that ſo by their weakeneſſe, being diuided, they might make themſelues ſtronger, according to the old rule of deuilliſh policy, Diuide & impera, Firſt ſet men by the eares, and then rule them as you liſt: Or elſe to ſend them to warre againſt the Turke, and to recouer the holy Land, that ſo alſo they might take aduantage from the others abſence to ſtrengthen themſelues, or elſe might liue more ſecure. I read that when the Emperor Fredericke with a great hoaſt,Ʋaler. in vita Alexan. came into Italy to curbe the inſolency and obſtinacy of Pope Alexander the third,Anno 1159. and to ſettle the Popedome in the midſt of a great Schiſme; being come to Brixia, Harman Biſhop of that City, by the counſell of Alexander, perſwaded him to paſſe with his great Hoaſt into the holy Land, there to make warre with the Turke, which accordingly he did, and gained many Cities, and among them, Ieruſalem. But the Pope vſed all meanes to cauſe him to be ſlaine: and therefore ſent the liuely portraite of the Emperor to the Souldan, with Letters, aduiſing to kill him by deceit whom the picture repreſented. Now the Emperor was by this meanes taken, yet not ſlaine, but onelyonly ranſomed.
11. Beſides, as other Kings in a confuſed and troubled world had need of the Popes helpe or aſſiſtance, ſo he got authority in their dominions, not onelyonly ſpirituall, but partly temporall alſo.
12. Againe, he takes vponupon him to intermaddle in the affayres
12. Laſtly, to the ſame purpoſe, they hauehave made vſe of their abſolutions after confeſſion, to the vſurping of a temporall dominion ouer Kings and Princes. The Pope will abſolue a King, but it muſt be vponupon ſome tyrannicall condition, to wit, if he will goe in Pilgrimage, or make his Land tributary to the Pope, holding it as from Saint Peter, or if he will ſend ſo many Souldiers to ſuch or ſuch a Country, for the ſeruice of his Holineſſe.
6. Now laſtly,6. The Popes oblige others vntounto them: as theſe were aduantages politiquely taken and deuiſed for the raiſing of the Popedome to the height of Papall dignity and ſoueraignty, ſo hath not the Papacy wanted art and cunning for the perpetuating of its Greatneſſe, and for the further ſtrenghtning of it ſelfe. And this hath beene, and is practiſed eſpecially by obliging and binding others vntounto them, partly through louelove, partly through feare.
1 By Offices of louelove and kindneſſe,1. In louelove. Popes hauehave obliged to themſelues and to the Papacy men of all ſorts, both of the Laity and of the Clergy, and of meaner ranke,And that both of the Temporality, as well as great ones.
1. Firſt, Kings and great perſonages, and that diuers wayes.
Firſt, for their owne aduantage, they hauehave ayded and helped them, yea not ſpared ſometimes to countenance euen Rebels and Traytors. Thus Boniface the third, hauing an eye to his owne aduancement, gratified that perfidious and trayterous murtherer Phocas, who being odious to all, was yet by the fauour and furtherance of the ſaid Bonifaco, acknowledged as lawfull Emperour. In requitall of which kindneſſe he got what he looked for, to wit, to be called and accounted Biſhop of Biſhops. So, to aduance his temporalities, the like was practiſed by Pope Clemens 4. a Frenchman, who called into Italy Charles Earle of Aniou, againſt Manfred King of Cicilia, which Manfred being vanquiſhed and ſlaine, the ſaid Charles was made King of Sicilia and Ieruſalem, but with condition to pay the Pope yearely fortie thouſand du…kats by way of tribute. Thus againe, Michael Pale logus Emperour of Greece, vponupon hope to be ſuccoured by Gregory 10. promiſed in the Councell of Lion in France, to make the Patriarke of Conſtantinople conſent to the primary of the Biſhop of Rome, and that whoſoeuer would, might appeale thither.
Againe, by their Diſpenſations with Oathes of Princes, they hauehave laboured to ſtrengthen themſelues with the fauour and ſupport of the ſaid Princes; whiles ſuch popiſh Princes as for their owne ſecuritie for the preſent, hauehave by ſolemne Oathes entred into Leagues of friendſhip with Proteſtant Princes, ſhall by diſpenſation from the Pope, or from popiſh doctrine, be allowed to breake Oathes when it may be either for the diſaduantage of the Popes enemies, or aduantage of themſelues, his friends and fauorites. Thus is a Religious Oath made a ſnare to intrap the Innocent and conſcionable, whiles the other are warranted, either by the Popes ſpeciall diſpenſation, or by the authority of his example (they aſſuming to themſelues by imitation what hee hath done to others by his authority) to breake their leagues; which liberty of diſpenſing with their owne oathes (without any ſpeciall diſpenſation from the Pope) they the more readily take, becauſe it is not only the popiſh practiſe, but alſo doctrine, that faith giuen to Hereticks (as they account vsus) is not to be kept. And is not this faire aduantage againſt vsus, whiles they will hauehave vsus tied, and themſelues left free, while they can play Faſt or Looſe at their owne pleaſure?
But they hauehave more deuices then theſe for the binding of great ones vntounto them; for they can bee content to let great Families ſhare with them in their honours and dignities, ſo that eſpying ſome great Princes houſe ouercharged with children, or ſome other noble and potent Familie, they will labour to binde the whole familie and kindred to themſelues, by beſtowing a Cardinals Hat on ſome of the familie, thus placing him in the next ſtep to the top of their glory, or otherwiſe by making a younger brother an Abbat or a Prior, or receiuing the daughters of ſuch into ſome religious order Thus moreouer, to ſtrengthen their ſtate, they make ciuill Magiſtrates capable of holding benefices, beſtowing Church-liuings on the Laity, or elſe aſſigne to them yearely penſions out of their reuenues: which muſt needs proue a ſtrong prop to the Papacy, whiles ſo many mens wits, tongues, ſwords, ſhall be ready to maintaine them by whom they are mnintained.
2. Now ſecondly, And alſo the Clergythey want not their meanes to bind and tye their Clergy vntounto them; which they doe partly through the multitude of exemptions and prerogatiues, which theſe inioy ſecurely vnderunder the Popes protection: for they hauehave obtained of Princes, that the Clergy ſhould be exempt from all temporall Iuriſdiction, vnderunder pretence that they are the Lords lot and inheritance; by which pretence they hauehave leſſened the number of Princes Subiects: partly through abundance of maintenance and multitude of Church-liuings, whereby the Pope is able to gratifie the Clergy, more then any Prince in Europe. More particularly, they hauehave got the Archbiſhops to their ſide,Archbiſhops. partly by alluring the ambitious with Commiſſions and Offices, partly by an artificiall binding of them to the Pope by a Pall, which at the firſt were ſent freely, as a token of louelove and good will, but afterwards by ordinance were made neceſſary for each to hauehave, & a badge of ſubiection; and now at the length, they cannot be had but at an exceeding high price, and with great ſummes of mony.
They hauehave had aduantage alſo in regard of that multitude of religious Orders, Religious Orders.which are made as receptacles of all ſorts of men, ſuch eſpecially as wanting better meanes, betake themſelues to theſe orders, where is competent and good prouiſion for them, thus being put off by their parents at an eaſier and lower rate, then they could hauehave beene maintained at home; they ſerue alſo for ſuch, as hauing ſome naturall blemiſh in their bodies, ſtaine of ſome heinous offence in their ſoules, diſgrace attending their perſons, croſſe in their eſtate, in their louelove, or otherwaies; who weary of their liues, or vnwilling to bee ſeene of the world, conſecrate themſelues to ſome religious order or other. The eaſe and benefite they hence find in their eſtates, muſt needs bind them faſt to the Papacy, which maintaines both theſe orders and them.
But the ſwarming and exceſſiue multitude of Friars is otherwayes thought ſeruiceable to the Sea of Rome, firſt, in regard that being diſperſed in moſt Countries, they are able to deale with the multitude, not onelyonly in publike aſſemblies, but alſo in priuate at ſingle hand with men, women and children, by particular perſwaſions, inſtructions, and exhortations; the Art whereof many of them hauehave; which together with their hypocriticall ſhewes of holineſſe or auſterity of life, preuaile much to the peruerting and ſeducing of many a ſimple ſoule. Secondly, in regard they are found to bee moſt ready inſtruments of all bloody executions, as daily experience approueth; eſpecially in thoſe attempts and alſo murthers practiſed by them, and effected in the perſons of the two laſt Kings and Henries of France. Thirdly, in caſe of warre, and that the Pope ſhould be driuen to it as to his laſt refuge and ſacred anchor; the halfe of them (whoſe whole number may not well bee thought leſſe then a Million of men) might perhaps be thought not vnfit to be imployed in warlike ſeruice. As theſe things are wiſely obſerued, and more largely handled by the worthy Author of the Relation of Religion, &c. whoſe booke being not ſo commonly in eueryevery ones hand, I thought good here and there generally to touch ſome of his obſeruations, and by my pen to communicate them to the more.
Ieſuits.Laſtly, in a myſterious policy, the order of Ieſuites in theſe laſt dayes hauehave beene inuented to ſhoulder vp the tottering Tower of Babel. Theſe are bound to the Generall of their order, and ſo to the Pope in a ſpeciall vow of blind obedience, to be ready to doe and execute whatſoeuer ſhall be inioined them, without inquiring and asking why or wherefore. Theſe hauehave ſpeciall commiſſions, and are licenced, as the Popes Apoſtles, to trauerſe Sea and Land, to runne ouer the whole earth, euen to the fartheſt Indies, to gather new Subiects for the Pope; hauing alſo ſpeciall faculties granted vntounto them, and permiſſion to goe in laymens apparell, to equiuocate, to hatch and conceale treaſons, and the like.
2. Now ſecondly, where faire,2. By Feare. hopefull and contentfull meanes will not ſerue, there they goe about to hold men bound to them by Feare.
And for this purpoſe, the deuice of auricular Confeſſion is made to ſerue;Scire volunt ſecreta domus at que inde timeri. for by this they come to know mens counſels and deſignes, mens ſinnes and ſecrets, and ſo to be feared. The like feare they ſtrike into the hearts of Chriſtians by the thunderclaps of Excommunication and Church cenſures; and alſo by the power of depoſition of Princes, pretending authoritie to excommunicate and depoſe Princes, and to diſcharge their ſubiects of all oathes and bonds of obedience, and to bind them in paine of damnation to riſe againſt them. So eſpecially by the terror of the Inquiſition, which is the greateſt ſlauery that euer the Chriſtian world endured. The tyranny whereof is ſuch as would require a large booke to deſcribe it. The care of it being committed to the moſt zealous, painefull and rigorous Friers that can be found, the leaſt ſuſpition of hereſie, affinity or any commerce with Heretikes (as they call vsus) yea the bare reprouing the liues of their owne Clergy, is enough to bring men within the compaſſe of it; which if once it ſeize on them, and they in the leaſt manner be taken tardy, they had better ſuffer the moſt cruell death in any reaſonable time, then to endure ſo many deaths before they can be ſuffered to dye: for death ſhall be accounted a fauour. By this, as alſo by their other cruelties and butcheries on the bodies of their enemies, where and when it is in their power, they bind their owne moſt ſtrongly, though ſlauiſhly to them. Euen thus hath the beaſt of Rome ingaged all ſorts of men,Reuel. …3.16. by making them receiue a marke from it. And euen thus alſo got the Deuill among the Heathen to be worſhipped and adored as God, partly by more faire, louing and plauſible meanes, partly alſo by feare, and by doing hurt, as is proued.
What other politique fetches are vſed by them to aduance the ſeat of Antichriſt, were infinite to recite, nay they paſſe the ordinary reach of men. Satan the contriuer and author of them, beſt, vnderunder God, knowes the depth and number of them. Of him they hauehave learned by all manner of wickedneſſe to aduance themſelues, and, as we ſee in the former inſtances, neuer to inquire, what is honeſt, what is holy, what agreeing to charity and religion, what is honorable or diſhonorable to God; but to conſider what may any wayes make for the furthering of their owne deſignes, and to put that preſently in practiſe. Swering, forſwearing, lying, diſſembling, equiuocating, forging, and ſuch like, are the Pillars of Popery. It is a firme maxime with them,*Qui neſcit diſſi…late neſcit regnare Ad annu…; 1572. He that knowes not how to diſſemble, is no fit man to be a King; This was the ſaying of one Lewes King of France, commended by Thuanus, where he writes of Charles 9. by whoſe authority, ſaith he, the maſſacring of Proteſtants was performed, contrary to that which he had in his Letters ſignified to other Princes. So, that the hands of all that are with aſpiring Abſolom may be ſtrong, Ahithophels wicked counſell ſhall be followed, and Abſolom will goe in to his fathers concubines in the ſight of all Iſrael: ſo, rather then Rome ſhall be left empty of Cardinals, (I had almoſt ſaid, Carnals) which may ſtrengthen the hand of the Pope; the Curtezans, which in an honeſt zeale were baniſhed out of Rome, ſhall be reſtored, and the publike Stewes againe permitted.