Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 3 · Chapter 7
CHAP. 7. Deluſions by Monaſticall Vowes, and the Sacraments of the Romiſh Church.
1. THeir Monaſticall Vowes and Sacraments lye ſo in my way, that I cannot draw towards my concluſion, vntill I a little diſcouer how the world hath bene deluded by thoſe meanes. And touching their Vowes, they are of three ſorts. Firſt, the Vow of voluntary pouerty. Secondly, of celibacy or ſingle life. And thirdly, of blinde and regular obedience: all which are profeſſed by their Monkes and Friars in their Cloiſters, to the great abuſing of the world by theſe tricks of Antichriſtian policy.
2. Concerning their voluntary pouerty which they vow and profeſſe, who ſeeth not how by this tricke they hauehave made themſelues rich and mighty vponupon earth? they profeſſe to hauehave nothing, and thereby gaine all things that their hearts can deſire, and that in ſuch plenty and abundance, that the very fat of the earth is their portion. Looke into all Countries of Chriſtendome, and you ſhall finde the Abbeyes, Monaſteries, and other Religious houſes, ſeated for the moſt part in the moſt fertile and pleaſant places of all Kingdomes, and enriched with ſo infinite poſſeſſions,Pet Ferarienſ. …n forma libell quo agitur …ex ſubſtit. eu ſu… corpore. that here in England the Law of Mortmaine was faine to bee made to reſtraine men from giuing too lauiſhly to thoſe idle bellies. Monaſteries (ſaith one of their owne writers) were founded in time paſt for Deuotion, though now they are abuſed to rapine and couetouſneſſe: for they hauehave at this day deſtroyed the world, and brought to nothing the ſtate of the Empire and of all Lay-men: wherefore all ſuch places as are, or ſhall be erected, may worthily bee called nets framed to catch Lay-mens goods. In this ſmall land of England, the reuenues of the Religious houſes which were diſſolued, did ariſe according to the old rents, to the ſumme of an hundred thirty foure thouſand ſix hundred and three pounds two ſhillings foure pence halfe peny: which ſumme what it would amount vntounto in the true valew according to the eſteeme of theſe times, I leaue to them to calculate that are better ſeene in wordly matters then my ſelfe: my opinion is, that it is not the tenth of the true valew. The Votaries of Saint Francis Order, of all other, profeſſed pouerty in the higheſt degree: according to the rule of their Order they might not ſo much as touch any Gold or Siluer, neither had they any right, title, or intereſt in any thing to be their owne: their good Founder Francis hauing laide it downe, that without any conſtruction, gloſſe, or interpretation, they ſhould hauehave nothing of their owne. And yet theſe Hypocrites wil take as much Gold or Siluer as is giuen them with their Gloues on their hands, and liue poſſeſſed of great reuenues, and fare plentifully in their Cloiſters: like vntounto that melancholy Athenian that imagined all the ſhips and goods in the Port P…raeum to be his owne, when he had none: ſo theſe profeſſing they hauehave nothing, yet poſſeſſe all things their hearts can wiſh. But I would faine know how they can excuſe themſelues by this rule from being theeues. For (as Hoſpinian ſaith) what is he but a theefe,Hoſpinian. de orig. Monach. lib. 6. cap. 16. that eateth and drinketh, and clotheth himſelfe with that that is none of his owne, nor can bee by any right? other theeues eate and drinke their owne when by guift it becommeth theirs, but no guift could giuegive them a propriety to any thing: this thing (ſaith the ſame Author) troubled the Friars exceedingly, becauſe it proued them manifeſtly to bee theeues, and they could not deuiſe how to ſhift it off. And to this agreeth Ferus in his expoſition of the eight Commandement,Ferus. in Expoſit. Dec…lig. where he placeth in the ranke of theeues, all thoſe which vnderunder the habit of Religion, deuoured widowes houſes, and rauiſhed to themſelues the riches of the world by Lyes and deceites: what is then this vow of pouerty, but a meere tricke to gull and rob Lay-men of their wealth, and to enrich …hemſelues with their ſpoyles? And yet forſooth they pretend heereby a ſtate of perfection and holineſſe, aboue the Law, and grounded vponupon an Euangelicall counſell, If thou wilt be perfect, goe ſell all thou haſt and giuegive it to the poore. Mat. 19. As if it were likely, that our Sauiour would at the firſt daſh giuegive a counſell of perfection to one that was not yet conuerted to the faith of Chriſt, but was meerely of the Iewiſh Religion: or if he did, yet that theſe fellowes are aſcended to this degree of perfection, when by their giuing away all (as they ſay) they gaine more then all, more caſe, plenty, belly-cheare, wealth, and contentment, then they could hauehave if they had kept their owne in their hands.
3. Their vow of celebacy or ſingle life is of like quality and nature: for vnderunder the pretext of holineſſe and purity, the Cleargy of Rome practiſed all manner of filthineſſe and impurity. So groſſely was the world deluded by this their counterfeit ſanctity, that if a Prieſt was found in bed with another mans wife, yet he was not to be ſuſpected of any vncleane act, but to be thought onelyonly to counſaile and aduiſe her for her ſoules health: and yet the horrible adulteries, and Sodomiticall abominations which hauehave ſprung from this root of celibacy, are vncountable. I might call to witneſſe Saint Bernard in his booke de conuerſ. ad Clericos. cap. 29. and vponupon the Canticles ſer. 66. and alſo Huldericke Biſhop of Auguſta in his Epiſtle to Pope Nicholas the firſt: and Robert Holkot Robert. Holcot.an Engliſh Dominican Friar, in his 173. Lecture vponupon the booke of Wiſedome: and Panormitane Panormitan.a man of great ſame in the Councill of Baſill. part. 3. de cleric. coning. cap. cum olim. And Iohn Gerſon Io. Gerſon.Chancellor of Paris, who complained that in his time ſome Cloiſters of Nuns were become Stewes of Strumpets and Whores. And Mantuane Mantuan.a Carmelite Italian Friar, with Polidore Virgill, Polid. Virgill.and many more, who hauehave in their writings largely diſcouered the abominable fruits of this filthy vow: but I will fix onelyonly vponupon ſuch as touch this point of deluſion. Auentine Auentine.thus writeth concerning thoſe times. The Decree of Celebacy (ſaith he) was acceptable to Whoremongers, to whom now it was lawfull in ſtead of one wiſe to hauehave the fellowſhip of ſix hundred Harlots. Hence many falſe prophets tooke occaſion by fables and miracles to caſt miſts ouer the truth: and by drawing places of Scripture to their purpoſe to deceiue the people. In a word, when as very few did truely make warre with luſt, and ſome did faine continency for gaine ſake vnderunder the honeſt name of chaſtity, they committed Whoredomes, Inceſts, Adulteries, eueryevery where, without puniſhment. Thus he.Mat. Paris in Gulie…o. primo. Mathew Paris is altogether as plaine and downe right to this purpoſe, his words are theſe. He (ſpeaking of Gregory the ſeuenth) forbad all Diuine ſeruice by married Priests, and Lay-people to heare their Maſſes, by a new example, and as moſt thinke, an vnconſiderate iudgement, contrary to the opinion of the holy Fathers. From whence aroſe ſuch a ſcandall, that the Church was neuer ſo diſtracted by any Schiſme or Hereſie: ſome contending for iuſtice, others againſt iuſtice, and in the meane while few keeping themſelues continent, though ſome made great oſtentation thereof for their owne gaine: many ioyned to their incontinency periury by reaſon of their adulteries, and yet who were in greater eſtimation with the people then theſe hypocrites?Sigebert. Anno. 1074. Sigebort another Hiſtoriographer of theirs, thus writeth. By this occaſion (ſaith he) many falſe Doctors springing vp in the Church turned the people from Eccleſiaſticall diſcipline by prophane nouelties. Nicholas Clemangis thus bitterly inueigheth againſt theſe fellowes:Nichol. Clemang. lib. de ruina & re…aras. E…cleſ. Theſe Votaries (ſaith he) who by how much according to the vowes of their Religion they ſhould be more perfect, and chaſt, &c. then others, by ſo much are they more wicked and obſc…ene; Monkes in habit, but monſters in conſcience, and conuerſation. And in the ſame booke concerning Nuns he ſaith, That they were not aſſemblies of Virgins dedicated vntounto God, but brothel-houſes of Whores and Strumpets, Stewes of Ʋenus, and receptacles of laſciuious and vnchaſt wantons to glut their luſts. But to leaue teſtimonies, and to come to examples.Mat. Paris. in Henrico. primo. Did not that Cardinall called Iohannes Cremenſis, that came into England as Legate from the Pope, in the reigne of Henry the firſt, fouly abuſe the people & the Cleargy? when the next night after hee had in a Councill at London vehemently inueighed againſt Prieſts marriages, and exhorted vntounto chaſtity, and enacted a Law in that behalfe, he was found in bed with an Harlot to the ſhame of the Order of Prieſthood, and reall confutation of his owne Decree?Stephan Apol. for Herod. Or that filthy Friar, named Iohannes de Cornibus that dyed of the Pox, yet left ſuch an opinion of holineſſe behinde him, that when after his death the red buttons of that diſeaſe appeared in his face, the people preſently beleeued that he was turned into a Seraphim? Or that great Saint of theirs Saint Duſtane, who for the diſallowing of Prieſts marriages, wrought by the Art of Necromancy, wherein hee was very expert, diuers great miracles, as to make an Image to ſpeake to the Councill aſſembled at Wincheſter, and his Harpe hanging vponupon the wall, to ſound of it ſelfe an holy hymne, Gaudete in coelo, &c. with ſweet melody, and to hold the deuill by the noſe with a paire of Tongs or Pincers when hee came to tempt him vntounto incontinency. If theſe ſtories were true, as they are related, then doubtleſſe the deuill was there the cheefe Actor: if falſe, then what ſhameleſſe beaſts were they, that reported them to the world? But howſoeuer it were, ſtill it remaineth that heereby the poore people were miſerably deluded. It is written of Saint Godericke, who being mightily tempted with the luſts of the fleſh, that to abate the heate thereof, he vſed diuers remedies, as to weare a haire ſhirt next his skin,Bale Acts of Engliſh Votaries. and ſometimes a coate of Maile, and to ſtand in the night when he was moſt tempted, in a Well of water vp to the chinne. One time (as they ſay) there appeared vntounto him a great old deuill, accompanied with a number of young ones like blacke boyes with ſhauen crownes, which turned vp his bare buttocks vntounto him in defiance of his chaſtity: and if any man that had a barren wife complained to this holy Saint, he made them fruitfull by tying his girdle about them. This and much more of ſuch ſtuffe is found in his Legend, which was read in the Church on his feſtiuall day with great deuotion, and certainely beleeued by the blinded multitude. And no maruaile if they were ſo deluded to beleeue this, when as they gaue credit to farre more abominable and filthy relations, as to that obſcoene tale of the miraculous conception and birth of Saint Wolſtone Biſhop of Wincheſter, which is this:Idem. that his Father deſirous to lye with his Mother vponupon a good Friday, and ſhe refuſing in honor of the day, was forced to leaue his Sperma vponupon a ſtone, which ſhee finding and lamenting the loſſe thereof, wrapt it vp in a locke of wooll, and nouriſhed it vp vnderunder her arme-hole till it was a perfect Child: and hereupon they ſay, he was called Wolſtone, a man famous in thoſe daies for many things but eſpecially for this his miraculous (I might ſay Sodomiticall) begetting. I will end with a merry ſtory related by Malſmbury and others,Guliel. Malmesbur. lib. 11. of a Nun that was Siſter to the Emperor Henry the ſecond, whom he ſo entirely loued, that he would often hauehave her to lye within his Pallace very nigh to his owne Chamber.Vincen…. ſpecul. h…ſtor. lib. 25. cap. 18. This Nun was ſecretly beloued of the Emperors Chaplaine, and with him had diuers amorous meetings in the night: now one morning hee being about to depart from her Chamber to his owne, leaſt his footing ſhould be ſeene in the ſnow which was newly fallen that night, ſhe tooke him on her backe and carried him ouer to his owne Chamber: at which time, the Emperor being by chance riſen to doe ſome worke of nature, and looking out of his window, beheld the whole pageant: ſhortly after fell a Biſhopricke which the Prieſt gaped after, and a Nunnery which his Siſter deſired: then the Emperor firſt called the Prieſt, and ſaid to him, I giuegive thee this Benefice vponupon condition, you ſaddle no more the Nun: And after calling her ſaid, I giuegive you the Nunnery vponupon condition you horſe no more the Prieſt. Were not theſe couple like to bee excellent gouernours of the ſpiritualty, thinke you? But all was chaſte Religion ſo long as marriage was abſent. And becauſe I hauehave mentioned a Nun, let me giuegive you two or three examples more of them to accompany the Friars. One is of Editha the Abbeſſe of Wilton, who was Saint Dunſtanes holy Minion.M…lmſbury. Ranulph. …n Polichro. lib. 6 cap. 9. Antonin. part. 2. tit. 16. c. 18. Her that holy man beheld on a time, as ſhee was croſſing and bleſſing her forehead with her thumbe; which he preſently taking into his hand ſaid, Neuer may this thumbe periſh, and ſo it fell out (ſaith the ſtory) for after her death, all her body was found reſolued into aſhes, except that thumbe, and another ſecret part which in all likelihood he had bleſſed alſo. It is written by the ſame Authors, that Elgina the wife of Canutus King of England hauing no children, and being therefore diſliked of the King her huſband, went to an holy Nunnery to thoſe religious chaſte women, hoping to find there ſome releaſe for her malady, as in deed ſhe did: for finding there an holy Siſter with child, ſhe bargained to hauehave the childe brought vntounto her in ſecret, which ſhe, counterfeiting her ſelfe alſo in the meane time to be great bellied, made ſhew to be her owne, and ſo contented her husband: this Child was called Sweno, and the yeere before Canutus dyed, was crowned King of Norway. But aboue all theſe, two Nuns following were famous for their cozenage: one a Nun of Watton in Yorkeſhire, who being ingroſſed by a young Monke of the Ciſternian Order, when ſhe was to be deliuered, feigned that Henry Murdach Archbiſhop of Yorke deceaſed, who had beene her bringer vp in her infancy, ſent two midwiues from heauen, and diſcharged her of her child without paine, and tooke it away with them, ſo that it was neuer ſeene after. Another, the Nun called Beatrice (of whom I hauehave ſpoken before) that is reported to hauehave beene ſo fauoured of the Virgin Mary, that ſhee in her habit and feature kept her place for many yeeres, whilſt ſhe plaid the Strumpet abroad. I conclude with that chaſt Siſter, that hauing had three baſtards, which afterwards grew famous in the Church for their learning, to wit, Lombard, Gratian, and Comeſter, gloryed in her villany, and ſaid, that it was an happy fault that had brought forth three ſuch worthy men. And thus wee ſee, how the ſimple world hath beene deluded and abuſed by this vow of celibacy.
4. Their third Vow is of regular obedience, whereby they ſo religiouſly tye themſelues to the rules of their Order, as in outward ſemblance, they ſeeme to the world to bee moſt holy Saints, when in the meane while in ſecret they breake thoſe rules at their pleaſure, and make no conſcience of obſeruing the Commandements of God. So great is their hypocriſie in this kinde, that ſome of them would not forſooth die, till their ſuperiours had giuen them leaue. But I cannot better decipher the hypocriſie of this generation, then in the words of Cornelius Agrippa, Cornel. Agrippa de vani…. ſcient. cap. 6.who at large deſcribeth them after this manner. There are (ſaith he) in the Church diuers ſects, Monkes, Friars, Anchorites, &c. which both the old Law, and the purer times of the Church were ignorant of. Theſe at this day, challenge to themſelues the onelyonly name of religious perſons, profeſſing difficult rules of life, and moſt holy duties, vnderunder the names of the worthy Fathers, as Saint Baſill, Saint Benedict, Saint Bernard, Saint Auguſtine, Saint Francis, &c. but at this day few of them are good, whereas of euill there is a great multitude. For hither reſort as to a Sanctuary for wickedneſſe, ſuch as are terrified in conſcience for their miſdeeds, or that by reaſon of the vengeance of the Law can be ſafe no where elſe, or which hauehave caſt themſelues into pouerty by Harlots, Dice, and Luxury: or whom the hope of eaſe, and the impatient deſperation of defrauded luſt, the inconſideratnes of youth, the malice of an vniuſt ſtep-mother, and greedy Tutors, hauehave encloſed within theſe wals. All which troope are combined together by a pretended ſhew of ſanctity, vnderunder a hooded habit, and a ſtrong vow of pouerty. In that great Sea of ſuperſtition, wherein ſwim and rauin the great Leuiathan, and Behemoth, with other ſtrange fiſhes, and creeping things innumerable: out of this gulfe iſſue forth ſo many Stoicall Apes, ſo many inſolent money-wormes, ſo many palliated beggers, ſo many hooded monſters, ſome wearing long beards, ſome cordes, ſome ropes, ſome ſackcloth, clubfooted, wood-ſhanked, bare-legged, blacke, dusky, griſely; attyred ſome in white, others in diuers colours, others in linnen, others with nets, others with ſhort clokes ſcarce reaching to their buttocks others with long clokes to their heeles, others clad like Mourners, others like Souldiers: ſome breecht, ſome vnbreecht, ſome girt, ſome looſe, with a number more of ſuch like Stage-Players. Theſe for their habit ſake vſurpe the onelyonly ſacred name of Religion, and boaſt themſelues as companions to Chriſt and his Apoſtles: when as their life for the moſt part is notoriouſly wicked, and yet vnpuniſhable through the pretext of Religion. For they are guarded with the priuiledges of the Romane Church, and exempted from the iuriſdiction of all other Churches: and therefore though they may call others in queſtion in any Court of Iuſtice, they if they hauehave done wrong cannot be met withall but at Rome, or Ieruſalem. Foxes they are in ſheepes skins, ſo diſſembling their Art of fraud, that they ſeeme to profeſſe nothing but counterfeit hypocriſie, and pure gaine, vnderunder the colour of piety: whilſt with a pale countenance they faine to faſt, and draw deepe ſighes from their breſt, with teares at command and murmure continuall prayers with mouing lips, and by a compoſed geſture, ſober gate, deiected eyes, ſeeme moſt humble and meeke, when in truth if they bee looked into, no ſinke is more filthy and corrupt: and yet they ouercome all with the title of Religion, and defend themſelues with their hood, as with a buckler againſt all the darts of Fortune, and ſo being ſecure from worldly troubles and dangers, eate the bread of idleneſſe, and ſleepe in deepe ſecurity; and account this Euangelicall pouerty, to eate the fruit of others mens labours, and liue by the ſweat of other mens browes: and whereas by their baſe habit they profeſſe deepe humility, walking bare-footed like poore peſants, diſguiſed like Comedians, bound with cords like theeues, ſhauen crownes like Fooles, with hoods, earelaps and little bels like Ieſters, and other ſuch markes of deiection, and reproch for Chriſts and religion ſake: in the meane while are tranſported with ambition, and direct the whole courſe of their order, to gaine to themſelues titles of honour, no kinde of people being more greedy of high places in the world then theſe are. This and much more to the ſame purpoſe writeth Agrippa, touching the hypocriſie of theſe Romiſh Votaries. And ſo wee ſee how the world hath bene a long time deluded by theſe Monaſticall vowes.
5. And now I come to their Sacraments, which are engines of no leſſe deluſion then the former. But to omit the two Sacraments inſtituted by Chriſt, which notwithſtanding they hauehave moſt horribly corrupted, I inſiſt in their owne fiue which are proper vntounto them. And firſt to begin with their Sacrament of Penance, whereof there are three parts: Contrition, Confeſſion, and Satisfaction. For Contrition, though their conſtant doctrine is, that paenitens ſi vel puſ…llus dolor ſit, abſoluitur aculpa, as Roffenſis; Roffenſ. Art. 5. Maldonat in Summa q. 16. Art. 1. Acoſta de ſalut …ndorum. lib. 5. cap. 11. Tollet de Instruct. Sacerd. lib. 3. cap. 5. Suarez tom. 4. diſput. 4. ſect. 4. …u. 9.though the penitents griefe be ſmall, yet he is abſolued from his fault: Tennis dolor ſufficit, a little griefe ſufficeth, as Maldonate: Contritio imperfecta, an imperfect contrition, as Acoſta: Quocun que gradu remiſſa, in the loweſt degree, as Suarez, and Tollet: yet it may wipe away the greateſt ſinne. Though I ſay, they teach this in their bookes, notwithſtanding they terrifie the people in their Sermons, that they muſt be greatly humbled, and rend their hearts by contrition, if they will be ſaued (for it is to be noted, that Popery is one thing in their books, and another in their common practiſe and ſpeech:) and that which is moſt abſurd of all, they neede not to be contrite at all, if they will giuegive a little money for a Pardon, and yet goe to heauen too. Touching Confeſſion, what is it but a meete deuice of pollicy to drayne mens purſes, and to diue into their purpoſes? Hereby they ſearch into the Counſailes of Princes, and myſteries of State, and intentions and practiſes of the common ſort of people; and ſo frame and proportion their plots accordingly, and that many times for the ruine and deſtruction of whole States. For if they finde any miſchieuouſly minded againſt Hereticall Princes, as they tearme all that proteſt againſt the corruption of their religion; they not onelyonly giuegive them abſolution from their intended crime before it be committed, but euen animate them vntounto it with promiſe of Paradiſe, and commendation of an act, not onelyonly meritorious, but Heroicall. Thus Father Garnet confeſſed our Powder Traytors; and a Ieſuite, Rauillac, that murthered Henry the fourth the French King: and yet forſooth the ſeale of ſecrecy ſolemnly ſworne, but daily broken for aduantage, doth caſt a vizard of holyneſſe vponupon their practiſe. Beſides it is a knowne caſe, how moſt of that ſhorne generation, make their confeſſion an ordinary bawde of vncleanneſſe. This is affirmed by diuers of their owne writers: one thus.Aluar Pelag. de planctu eccleſ. lib. 1. Art. 27. It is an ordinary practiſe (ſaith he) for Prieſts to commit execrable villany with women at ſhrift, rauiſhing wiues, and deflowring maydes in the Church, and committing Sodomy with yong men, &c. Cornelius Agrippa calleth in plaine tearmes Auricular confeſſion, Agrippa de vanit. cap. 64.genus quoddam lenocinij, and proueth the ſame partly by a ſtory out of the tripartite Hiſtory, where it is recorded, how a noble woman was rauiſhed by a Deacon in the time of ſhrift, for which cauſe Nectarius the Biſhop of Conſtantinople baniſhed this ſecret confeſſion out of his Church, as alſo all the Biſhops of the Eaſt, did the like in theirs: and partly by their owne knowledge and experience in theſe words: I neede not ſeeke farre (ſaith he) for examples, for I could relate many, freſh and well knowne if I would; for Prieſts, Friars, and Monkes, hauehave vnderunder pretence of religion, free and ſecret acceſſe to all ſorts of women, in ſhew to viſit, comfort, or confeſſe them for their ſoules health: but in ſtead thereof, they to whom it is a ſinne to touch money by the rule of their order, account it no ſinne, contrary to the rule of religion. 1. Cor. 7.1. to touch women with vnchaſte hands, and to defile holy Ʋirgins, Widowes, and Wiues; yea oftentimes like the Troiane adulterer and theefe, to conuay them from their husbands, and according to Platoes law, to proſtitute them to their fellowes: and ſo whoſe ſoules they ſhould gaine vntounto God, their bodies they ſacrifice to the deuill. VponUpon this ſame ground Acoſta, a famous Ieſuite, ſaith,Acoſta de procurand. Iuder ſalut. lib. 6. cap. 16. that it was a good prouiſion if the obligation of ſecret confeſſions were vtterly taken away, for the preuentions of moſt abhominable ſacriledges and filthy acts, in likelihood to be committed by ſuch as were forbidden the vſe of marriage. What is this but vnderunder a pretence of holineſſe, to open a gap to all wickedneſſe and vncleanneſſe? As for their ſatisfaction, which is the laſt part of their Sacrament of Penance, that is clearly nothing elſe but a Pageant of hypocriſie, and a meere mockery: For firſt, whatſoeuer paine is enioyned them by their Confeſſour in recompence (as they ſay) for their ſinne, is for the moſt part ſo ſleight and eaſiy (to wit, ſaying ſo many Creeds, or Auces, going in Pilgrimage to ſuch or ſuch a Saint, giuing themſelues a few ſtripes on the backe with a whip, faſting a certaine number of daies, &c.) as a wicked man would hardly exchange his long pleaſure in ſinne, for ſo ſmall and ſhort a puniſhment. And ſecondly, let the Penance enioyned bee neuer ſo ſharpe and great, yet a pardon may releaſe it, and that may be obtained by a little money; or if money bee wanting, for viſiting one of the ſeauen Churches in Rome, or ſaying a ſhort praier in the Primer, or deuoutly worſhipping the Croſſe, Nailes, Whip, Launce, Heart, or Handes, of Chriſt painted on a wall. Yea thirdly, if we are not able or willing to performe our penance our ſelues, we may hire another to do it for vsus, and in our ſtead, which is the plaine doctrine of Tollet, as hath bene ſhewed before. And what is all this, but a May-game of ſport, and a meere mocking of the world? by which notwithſtanding they both keepe the people, yea and Princes too, in awe and ſubiection, and heap vp great treaſures into their coffers.
6. From their Sacrament of Penance, I deſcend to the other foure. And firſt of Confirmation, which as it is abuſed in the Church of Rome, is nothing elſe but a deuice to gaine reuerence and reſpect to their Biſhops aboue other Prieſts. For hence it is, that they preferre it before Baptiſme, which they ſay eueryevery ordinary Prieſt may conferre, but this onelyonly be performed by a Biſhop, and that a man hath not his full Chriſtendome, till he be Chryſmatus, that is, thus comfirmed; and the Biſhops bleſſing is ſo donatiue of ſauing grace ex opere oper… to, that if a man dye before he hath committed any mortall ſinne after it, he muſt of neceſſity go to heauen. Hence it was, that yong & old flocked vntounto them by troups on eueryevery ſide, kneeling on their knees as to ſome Saint come from heauen, and crauing their benediction with moſt earneſt deuotion, and yet in concluſion all was not worth a ruſh, but they returned home as empty of grace as they went thither. I know that this Ceremony is of great Antiquity, and hath an holy and commendable vſe in the Church of God: but that it ſhould be a Sacrament conferring grace, and that a man is not a perfect Chriſtian without it, is a moſt abhominable deluſion.
Marriage is the next, which they call a Sacrament, aſcribing vntounto it the very efficacy of ſauing grace, as to the reſt, and yet deny the vſe of it to their Prieſts: before a vow (ſay they) it is Sacramentum, a Sacrament; after a vow Sacrilegium, ſacriledge. Now if it be a Sacrament, why is it not common to all? Why may any man vow againſt it? Why do they barre their Prieſts of it, who of all other hauehave a right vntounto the Sacraments? Will they deny them the meanes of their ſaluation, and ſo make them vngracious as they are? But I meane not to diſpute the queſtion any further, ſaue onelyonly to ſhew how theſe fellowes hauehave deceiued the world with a pretence of piety, in calling this ordinance of God a Sacrament of grace, and yet deny it to their Cleargy as a ſinne of the fleſh, and preferring concubinage, adultery, and whoredome, before it, as leſſer euils.
I will put in the next place, their extreame Vnction, though it be laſt in order, and ſay onelyonly thus much of it, that if it be true which the Councill of Trent decreed,Concil. Trident. ſeſſ. 14. cap. 2. that this Sacrament wipeth cleane away all ſuch ſinnes as remaine vnpurged or vnſatisfied for: and which the Councill of Florence iudged; that the effect of this Sacrament is, Sauati… animae, The healing of the ſoule: and which Bellarmine affirmeth, that therefore the fiue ſenſe, are annoynted,Bellar. de extrem. vnct. lib. 1. cap. 8. becauſe they are as it were the fiue doores by which ſinne enters into the ſoule: to wit, that there might be a generall purgation of all ſinnes which remaine: I ſay, if all this be true, then hath the world bene groſly deluded by them. For Purgatory, ſay they, is ordained to purge away the relikes of ſinne which in our life time we hauehave not ſatisfied for:Idem de Purgat. lib. 1. c. 1. et lib. 2. c. 1 thus Bellarmine defineth Purgatory, To be a place, wherein as it were in a priſon, thoſe ſoules are purged which were not ſufficiently purged in this life, to the end that being ſo purged, they may be admitted into heauen. Now if all the relikes of ſinne be wiped away by this extreame vnction, then what vſe is there of Purgatory? And if the relikes of ſinne be to be purged in Purgatory, then what vſe of this Sacrament? Either therefore the one, or the other, is a meere deluſion, or rather both, ſeeing there is no purgation of ſinne, but by the blood and Spirit of Chriſt alone, by which as many as beleeue in him are waſhed, and clenſed from the very dregges of corruption, 1. Iohn. 1.7. 1. Cor. 6.11. Adde hereunto, that this vnction was not vſed by the Apoſtles, and in the primitiue Church, as a medicine to purge the ſoule from ſinne, but as a miraculous meanes of curing ſome dangerous diſeaſe of the body. Thus ſaith Caſſander, Caſſander. Conſult. Art. 2.ſetting downe the forme of words which were then vſed at the annoynting of ſicke perſons: I an…oynt thee with holy oyle, in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt; praying that by meanes of this holy vnction, and our ſupplication, Sanitatem re…peres per Dominum noſtrum: wherefore (ſaith he) this vnction was not then applyed to ſuch as were at point of death,Feu…rden…. com. in Iac…b 5. and whoſe life was deſperate. The Ieſuite Penardi…tiu… confeſſeth as much, when he ſaith, That the effect of this oyle of old, was that … be cured from the d…ſeaſes of the body: And therefore S. Cl…ent Biſhop of Rome, amongſt the ſacred conſtitutions, ſees downe this forme of benediction of this holy oyle: O God the Creator, ſanctifie by Chriſt this oyle, and giuegive it vertue to cure and driue away diſeaſes. How are they then beguiled and deluded, that are made beleeue, that this laſt vnction by a Prieſt, is auailable for remiſſion of their ſinnes, and a powerfull paſport to conuay them into Paradiſe?
7. I will end, though out of order, with their Sacrament of Orders, wherein the whole inſtitution of Chriſt is ſo diſordered, and put out of frame, that little remaineth entire and found in this ſacred function. For the charge laid vponupon Prieſts by the Spirit of God in holy Scripture, is, to labour in the word, 1. Tim. 5.17. and to feede the Flocke of Chriſt with wholeſome doctrine, Acts. 20.27, 28. and to adminiſter the Sacraments to the people, and pray for them, Acts. 2.24. But in the ordination of Prieſts in the Church of Rome, there is no mention of any of theſe things. The formality vſed is onelyonly this: The Biſhop annoynteth with oyle in forme of a croſſe, the fingers of him that is to bee Prieſted, which are to touch the Hoſt, and putting into his hand, betwixt his fingers, a Chalice and a little Diſh with theſe words, Receiue power to offer ſacrifice to God; and to celebrate Maſſe, Gulie…. Malmsbur.both for the quicke and the dead. And by theſe words he eſtabliſheth him a ſacrificer of the body of Chriſt, and giueth him a power that ſurpaſſeth the power of all creatures in heauen or earth, whether Emperours, or Kings, or Angels, or the Virgin Mary her ſelfe: whence Pope Ʋrbane the ſecond inferred, That it was an abhominable thing, that the hands of them that create their Creator, ſhould be bound to ſerue them whoſe hands are daily polluted with filthy touchings. And by this reaſon he maintained, that Emperours and Kings ought not to giuegive Inueſtitures. Another great Doctor, that was Almoner to the Prince of Conde, in the firſt booke of his Royall Prieſt-hood, Chap. 3. thus magnifieth this function vponupon the ſame ground. Ioſhua (ſaith he) ſtayde but the Sunne in the place where it was before: but theſe (to wit Prieſts) ſtay Ieſus Chriſt being in heauen, on the middeſt of an Altar, where he was not before: the creature obeyed him, but the Creator theſe: the Sunne hi…, but God theſe, as often as they pronounce the words of conſecration. And againe, The Prieſthood and the Diuinity hauehave ſome thing in common betwixt them, and are almoſt of equall greatneſſe, becauſe they are of equall power: And therefore (ſaith he) ſeeing the Prieſt marcheth cheeke by iolle with the Diuinity, and that all Prieſts are Gods, it followeth that the Prieſthood excelleth the Royalty, and that Prieſts are greater then Kings. Neither is their practiſe different from their doctrine: For at the Papall Maſſe, if an Emperour or King aſſiſt in perſon, he performeth the office of a Subdeacon or a Deacon at moſt, and Deacons wee all know are but Prieſts ſeruants. And Baronius commendeth S. Martin, becauſe at a Feaſt he preſented the cup to a Prieſt to drinke of next himſelfe, rather then to any of the Princes, that were ſet with him at table. And this is the firſt peece of his ordination Next vntounto which followeth the ſecond, that the Biſhop then impoſeth his hands vponupon his head, and vſeth theſe words, Receiue the holy Ghoſt: whoſe ſinnes thou ſhalt remit, they are remitted vntounto them, and whoſe ſinnes thou ſhalt retaine, they are retained. By which words is committed vntounto them a power to remit, and retaine ſinnes as we ſee, and yet not all ſinnes neither: for ſome paſſe the power of ſimple Prieſts, and are reſerued for Biſhops and Penitentiaries, from whom alſo there are ſome cauſes reſerued to the Pope himſelfe, and therefore they cunningly alter the words of the Goſpell, and in ſtead of, Whoſoeuers ſinnes, ſay onelyonly, Whoſe ſinnes. And theſe be the two parts of their ordination, wherein the cheefe peece is cleane forgotten, to wit, authority and power to preach the Goſpell: and not onelyonly forgotten in their Orders, but alſo in their practiſe; for few there are of infinite multitudes, that labour to inſtruct the people by preaching, either for want of ability, or of conſcience: whereas eueryevery ignorant Ideot ſacrificeth daily, and giueth abſolution to eueryevery one that will demand it for a price. And yet who are in greater eſteeme then theſe? Who dares controlle them? Or what Lawes can take hold of them? They are wholly exempt from all ciuill command and authority, and endowed with ſuch priuiledges and liberties, as no man dare ſay vntounto them be they neuer ſo wicked, Blacke is thy naile, for feare of incurring the cenſures of the Church. And thus it is apparent, how ſtrongly the world hath bene deluded by this their Sacrament alſo, aſwell as by the reſt.