Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 3 · Chapter 8
CHAP. 8. A rabble of other Romiſh Deluſions, ariſing principally from the ignorance and abuſe of holy Scripture.
1. TO avoyde tediouſneſſe in this ſubiect which is infinite, I will binde vp in one bundle a few more of their deluſions, whereby the Popiſh Prieſts hauehave abuſed the world, and thoſe principally which ariſe, either from the ignorance, or from the malicious abuſing of holy Scripture, or from both together as ioynt cauſes. The ignorance and ſottiſhneſſe of the Romiſh Cleargy in former times, is ſo notorious and famous, that it is almoſt a needleſſe thing to report that which is written of them. Their owne rule, that Ignorance is the mother of deuotion, though directed to the Laity, yet poſſeſſed their Cleargy alſo: by which they were encouraged to lay aſide all ſtudy of holy Scripture, and to addict themſelues to blinde and ſuperſtitious deuotion, the true daughter of their blind mother Ignorance. S. Bernard ſaith, that ignorance hath two daughters, dubiety or doubting, and falſity or errour: their deuotion then muſt either be full of doubts, as proceeding from vnknowne grounds, or of errour proceeding from authorized ignorance of holy Scripture. There is one Ancient Law in our Kingdome, hatcht in the blindneſſe of Popery, that plainely euinceth the ignorance of the Cleargy in thoſe times, and their want of learned men: It is this, that in many criminall offences, he that could but reade the Pſalme Miſerere, or ſome other, though he vnderſtood neuer a word thereof, ſhould be exempted from the ſecular power, as being fit to make a Clerke, which plainly argued that which I named before, the groſſe ignorance of the greateſt part of the Cleargy in thoſe daies. I confeſſe that this Law is ſtill continued, but it is not with opinion that ſuch perſons are fit to be made Prieſts, but onelyonly for mitigating of the rigour of the Law in petty offences, which otherwiſe would be inflicted on them as vponupon the greateſt. If we deſire particular examples of this ſottiſhneſſe in Popiſh Prieſts, I could referre the Reader to other Authors that hauehave written thereof, and eſpecially to Stephens Apology for Herodotus, where is a whole thraue of them: but that he may hauehave alſo heere ſome ſatisfaction, I will not forbeare to relate ſome of them, partly out of that booke, and partly out of other writers. Their owne Canon Law telleth vsus of a Prieſt, that in the Sacrament of Baptiſme vſed theſe words, Bapizote in nomine patria, et filia, et spiritua ſancta, which notwithſtanding Pope Zachary writing to one Boniface a Biſhop in whoſe Dioceſſe this abſurdity was committed,Decret. 3. p. de conſecrat. Diſt. 4. can. …4. L…mbard. lib. 4. Sentent. Diſt. 6. reſolueth to be true Baptiſme, though the rules of Grammer were broken; and ſo doth alſo Peter Lumbard. Another, in the conſecration of the Euchariſt ſaid, Hoc eſt corpu… meum, which by the ſame rule muſt be a good conſecration, albeit notwithſtanding their Religion will neuer allow it, ſeeing the conſecrating vertue lurketh in Chriſts owne words, Hoc eſt corpus meum, and thoſe truely pronounced. Another, read in Luke 19.8. Euertit domum, in ſtead of Euerrit domum, ouerturned the houſe, in ſtead of ſwept the houſe, which was a miſtake that eueryevery School-boy could hauehave corrected: but it ſeemes this Prieſt had read Euertit in his books, but neuer Euerrit in all his life before. Another read Demiſſus per portam, let downe by the gate, in ſtead of Demiſſus per sportam, let downe by a basket. Acts. 9.25. Another to proue that an Heretike ought to bee put to death, alleadged that text of Saint Paul, Titus. 3.10. Haereticum denita, auoide an Heretike, as if it were de vita, ſupple, tolle, that is, take away an Heretike. But moſt famous was hee that being asked whether the Virgin Mari…s name could be found in the Old Teſtament, anſwered yes, in the firſt of Gen. verſe. 10. where it is written, Et congregationem aquarum vocauit Maria; and hee alſo that would finde the Maſſe in the firſt Chapter of Saint Iohn in theſe words: Inueninus Meſſiam, we hauehave found the Maſſe: and hee alſo who being in contention with his Pariſhioners, about pauing the Church, brought in the Prophet Ieremy for his Aduocate, Chap. 17. in theſe words, Paueant illi et non paueam ego, let them paue, but I will not paue. I will not remember that Popiſh Prieſt in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths reigne, who reading the firſt Chapter of Saint Mathewes Goſpell in the Church, Abraham begate Iſaac, and Iſaac begate Iacob, &c. when he came to the hard names of Aminadab and Naaſſon, &c. brake off on a ſudaine, not being able to read any further, with this concluſion, And ſo they begate one another to the end of the Chapter. Neither will I ſpeake of him a Popiſh Prieſt alſo miniſtrified in that time; that read, Mat. 17.27. in ſtead of caſt an Angle into the Sea, caſt an Angell into the Sea: nor him that being by his Ordinary bidden to conſtrue this Article of the Creed, Paſſus eſt ſub Pontio Pilato to try his ſufficiency, anſwered thus, Paſſus eſt, he paſſed, ſub Pontio Pilato, ouer the bridge Pilatum: which the Biſhop finding fault withall, ſaying, that Sub ſignified vnderunder, not ouer, he replyed; but if hee had gone vnderunder hee had beene drowned. But to paſſe further, if their ignorance in the Latine was ſo great, what ſhall we thinke of their knowledge in the Hebrew and Greeke? One of them being held for a learned Rabbi, Stella. Clericorum.hath this deriuation of the word praesbiter, either praebens iter, or more ſubtily, quaſi prae alijs bibens ter: and of the word Diabolus, of dia which ſignifieth duo two, and bolus which ſignifieth morcellus a morſell, becauſe he makes but two bits of a man, one of his body, and another of his ſoule.Lib. Confor…it. S. Franciſci. The bleſſed name Ieſus is thus abuſed by them: for they ſay that the two ſyllables wheron the word Ieſus ſtandeth, ſignifie the two natures in Chriſt, and the three vowels the Trinity, and the two conſonants the two ſubſtances in Chriſts Humanity, to wit, his body and ſoule. So the word Cephas, which is a Syriacke word ſignifying a ſtone, ſome of them deriue from the Greeke word foreign an head; cutting off the two laſt letters. Some againe from the French or Engliſh word Chef or Cheefe, and others from the Latine word Caput, which comes from Capio, whoſe preterperfect tence is Copi: and all this doltiſh ſtirre is to vphold the Popes ſupremacy that he ſhould bee head of the Church. But it is no maruaile if they thus dealt with thoſe three holy Languages, ſanctified by the Croſſe of Chriſt, ſeeing in their opinion the knowledge of them was a manifeſt introduction into Lutheraniſme, which they call hereſie, but in truth is a meanes to diſcouer their errors, and lay them open to the world. Neither was this ignorance found onelyonly in ordinary Prieſts, but euen in Biſhops and Popes: as witneſſeth Alphonſus de Caſtro. lib. 1. cap. 4. ad haereſ. when he ſaith; Conſtat plures corum adeo illiteratos eſſe, vt Gramaticam penitus ignorant. It is well knowne, that many of them are ſo vnlearned, that they know not their Grammer rules: for example, a Biſhop examining one that was to be made Deacon, in ſtead of asking Quot ſunt Sacramenta, demanded quot ſuni 7 Sacramenta: how many are the ſeuen Sacraments? To whom the Deacon anſwering, Tres: the Biſhop replyed In quibus, what call you them? And it is reported of Pope Iunius the ſecond, that ſigning a Warrant, in ſtead of fiat hee wrote fiatur. If any ſhould here ſtep vp and ſay, that wee hauehave alſo amongſt vsus many ignorant Miniſters, that hauehave beene as abſurd in their preachings and demeanors: I anſwer, that there neuer was Church better furniſhed with able, learned, and godly Preachers, then ours is (the Lords name be praiſed for it:) howbeit I deny not, but that there are amongſt vsus many wandring ſtarres, lewde, and vnlearned. Miniſters, who in their preachings and ſayings may peraduenture abuſe their calling, and affoord matter of laughter to prophane and ſuperſtitious perſons: but notwithſtanding I auouch, firſt, that the number of them is but ſmall, in compariſon of the huge troopes of ignorant Prieſts and Friars which ſwarme in al the places of Popery like Locuſts in Summer. And ſecondly, that our Church is ſicke of them, and ſeekes to eaſe her ſtomach of ſuch vnſauory morſels by little and little, not countenancing them and their ignorance, as they doe in the Romiſh Synagogue. And thirdly, that ſuch abuſes in ſome of our Cleargy are matters meerely taken vp by report, and often deuiſed by Popiſh and irreligious perſons, in malice to our Religion, without any ground of truth: whereas thoſe things which are related of them, are either authentically regiſtred in their owne bookes, or divulged by men of their owne faction and Religion. And therefore I may truely make vſe of the ſaying of the Poet againſt them: Et ſi not digniſumus hac contumelia maxime, indigni illi qui dicant tamen. Howſoeuer, the whole world will confeſſe, that the times of Popery were times of blindneſſe and ignorance, both in Cleargy and Layty, and that when the Goſpell began againe to ſhine forth in the world, Learning alſo began to ſhew it ſelfe in all places, which before had lyen hid as it were in a dungeon.
2. Thus they abuſed the world by their ignorance: but their horrible prophanation of holy Scripture is much more abominable; as firſt, in depriuing the people of all liberty to read the ſame, as if it were the onelyonly root and ſpring of Hereſie. This prohibition was ſo ſtrictly vrged, that it was more danger to bee found reading in a Bible, then forging falſe money, or counterfeiting the Kings coine, and hee was peremptorily iudged an Heretike,Bereſ. de tradit. pag. 44. Thyrraus de damoniacis. c. 21. Theſ. 257. H…ſius de expreſſo verbo. Dei. that was found with a Bible in his houſe, though he held in opinion no doctrine contrary to the Church of Rome: yea, one of them affirmeth, that it was the deuils inuention to permit the people to reade the Bible: and another, that hee knew certaine men poſſeſſed, becauſe being but husbandmen, they vſed to diſcourſe of the Scriptures: another, that Lay-men are no better then hogs and dogs, and therefore that theſe precious pearles are not to be committed vntounto them: and that the Scripture to a Lay-man, is as a Sword in a mad mans, or a knife in a childs hand. But what maruaile if Lay-men were forbidden by Prieſts, when euen Prieſts forbad themſelues to reade the Scripture? For their whole ſtudy was either the Canon Law, or ſome Poſtill, or at leaſt ſome booke of worſe report: as for the Bible, they did little acquaint their eyes with that obiect, leaſt it ſhould induce them into Hereſie. In ſomuch as an old Prieſt hearing a yong man alledge Scripture out of the New Teſtament, wondred, and ſwore that he had beene a Prieſt fifty yeeres, and yet neuer knew what the New Teſtament was. Espenſaeus in his Commentary vponupon Titus, Eſpenſaeus in Tit. cap. 1. & 2 pag. 105.giueth vsus a full iuſtification of this report: for there he thus writeth, I remember (ſaith he) that a Noble Italian Biſhop was wont to tell mee, that his Country-men were terrified from the ſtudy of Diuinity vvith feare of being made Heretikes, as if hereſie ſprung from the ſtudy, and not rather from the ignorance of the Scripture. What Art doe your Country-men profeſſe? ſaid I: of both Lawes (quoth he) but especially of the Canon Law, for this is the ſhorteſt cut to all the high dignities of the Church. I confeſſe that for very ſhame, within theſe forty yeeres they hauehave tranſlated the Bible into diuers vulgar languages, as the French and Engliſh: howbeit it is ſo corrupted in tranſlating, and ſo counterguarded with falſe gloſſes and annotations that in ſtead of the wholeſome iuice of ſauing knowledge, the Reader ſucks out nothing but poyſon and venome to his ſoule. And theſe editions were permitted to be read onelyonly of thoſe, that had attained a diſpenſation therefore from their Ordinary, or that could diſpend a certaine ſ…mme of money by their yeerely reuenue: as if hereſie builded her neſt rather in the breſt of the poore man, then of the rich: or as if the rich were leſſe carnall then the poore. And thus that generall name which Epiphanim giueth to all Heretikes, …ucifugae, agreeth well to this generations, who cannot abide the light of the Scriptures, but flie from them as Owles and Bats from the light.
3. Another groſſe prophanation of …oly. Scripture wherby they deluded the world, is, by their …h…eſſe additions, and idle paraphraſes, and interp…e…m. For …ouching additions, what can be more palpable, then when they patch vp the Canon of the Scripture, with thoſe books which were hel… both by the Iew… and moſt of the anci… … for Apocrypha? And which of themſel… … euidence that they proceeded no… from the Spirit … ſhineth in the Canonicall writings. Beſides, doe they not make their vnwritten traditions, I ſay not one, but the principall part of Gods word? Without which in their iudgement, the booke of God is an vnperfect rule of faith, a dead letter, an incky diuinity, and no better then a leaden rule, or a noſe of wax, flexible to eueryevery humour. In this ranke I may place diuers counterfeit books, diſguiſed vnderunder the name of ſome of the Apoſtles, or their Diſciples, full of fables, blaſphemies, and contrarieties, and yet commended to the world as parcels of the written word of God, and beleeued in as holy Scripture it ſelfe. As, the Goſpels of Saint Nicodemus, of Saint Thomas, of Saint Bartholomew, of the Nazarites, of Saint Anne, the booke called Paſtor, and that which is called Orthodoxographa Theologiae ſacroſanctae: with diuers others. But aboue all, that booke aſcribed to Saint Iames, called Protevangelion, ſiue de natalibus Ieſu Christi, et ipſius Matris virginis Mariae, beareth the bell for impiety. In this is recorded a long ſtory of Saint Annes barrenneſſe, and how by prayer ſhe obtained a childe of God which was the Virgin Mary, and how ſhe was dedicated by her Mother to the Lord, and brought vp in the Temple like an holy Nun, and after by lot fell to Ioſeph, and being with childe by the holy Ghoſt, after much trouble and ſtirre, was deliuered in a Caue of her childe, by helpe of a midwife miraculouſly found out by Ioſeph, with a number more ſuch idle circumſtances, which any Chriſtian heart would bluſh to reade, though they were not aſhamed to write, and commend to the deluded world as Articles of Faith. There they tell likewiſe of many miracles wrought by our Sauiour Chriſt when he was a childe: as that when he was carried an infant into Aegypt, and being aſſaulted by theeues, one of the theeues would not ſuffer his fellowes to lay hands vponupon Ioſeph and his company, but departing, deſired the infant Ieſus to remember this good turne: and this was the good theefe whom Chriſt remembred vponupon the Croſſe. Againe, that Chriſt being a Lad, and working with his Father Ioſeph in the Trade, had beene on a time corrected by him, for miſcutting a peece of timber too ſhort for his worke, had he not miraculouſly with his hands pulled it out to the full length. And thus the doltiſh Friars and Prieſts ſtuffed all their Sermons, diſcourſes, and writings, partly with Legendary tales, and partly with fables out of ſuch Apocrypha bookes, leauing in the meane while, the holy Scripture vntouched, wherewith they had ſmall or no acquaintance.
4. Beſides, what doe they by their ſtrange paraphraſes of the text, but turne it into a plaine enterlude or play? The Sermons and Poſtils of their Friars, are ſtuft with ſuch idle ſtuffe, which ſauoureth meerely of a prophane wit, and tendeth to no other end, but to the deluding of ignorant people. For inſtance, take the example of that ſinfull woman called Mary, Luke. 7. who waſhed our Sauiours feet with her teares, and wiped them with the haires of her-head: this they turne into a pleaſant Comedy, wherein are theſe Dramata or Actors. Firſt, Mary a wanton Wench, giuen to pleaſure and fleſhly dalliance, like another Thais: then her Siſter Martha a deuout young woman reprouing her for her wicked life, and perſwading her to repentance: next Ieſus Chriſt, an holy and Religious Preacher working vponupon her conſcience by wholeſome and heauenly admonitions. Then Simon the Phariſee preparing a dinner for Chriſt in his houſe, and entertaining all his Friends that came with him: beſides, certaine gallant yongſters making louelove to Mary, and labouring to keepe her in her old courſe of wantonneſſe. And laſtly, the Virgin Mary entertaining her after her conuerſion into her friendſhip and familiarity. There was neuer Comedy better acted, and more to the life, then this Friar-like relation was, by that Friar Menot by name, which we will confeſſe if we read the diſcourſe it ſelfe, as it is written by him at large. In like Comicall manner they handle the perable of the prodigall childe, which being breefely recounted by the Euangeliſt, is ſo enriched and diſguiſed with a number of idle circumſtances, as cannot but moue laughter in reading of them: for the true diſcourſe whereof, as alſo of the ſtory of the Officers that were ſent to apprehend Chriſt, Iohn. 7. and of the two women that contended about the liuing childe before King Salomon, 1. Kings. 3. with a number ſuch like. I referre the Reader to their owne bookes, and eſpecially to the Sermons of Friar Menot, Dormi ſecure, and Stella Clericorum.
5. As for their falſe interpretations and miſallegations of texts of Scripture, they are ſo frequent in all their bookes, that it may ſeeme loſt labour to ſtand about them: therfore for a taſte onelyonly take theſe examples following, wherein they apply the Scripture directly intended of our Sauiour Chriſt, to their Saints and Sainteſſes. The booke of the Conformities of Saint Francis affoordes many examples of this kinde of prophanation, but the concluſion of that booke is worth the noting, which is this, Multa quidem & alia ſigna fecit Franciſcus, qua non ſunt ſcripta in libro hoc: ſo affirming the ſame words of him, which were written by the Euangeliſt of Chriſt himſelfe. Thus a Friar of Saint Dominicks Order applyed vntounto his Patrone Saint Dominicke that prophecy of Zachary, Chap. 6.1, 2, 3. touching the foure Chariots, which being drawne with foure kinde of Horſes of diuers colours, ſignifie foure kinde of Friars of that Order, Minors, Heremites, Carmelites, and Predicants. To Saint Auguſtine they apply that of Ezekiel. 28.12. Tis ſignaculum plenitudinis Dei plenus ſapientiae: and to Saint Agnes, that text in the Canticles, 7.6 Quam pulchra es & decora char…ſſima in delicijs; and to Saint Lucie, that of Saint Iohn, Chap. 1.5. Lux in tenebris bucet, & tenebrae cam non comprehenderunt. Theſe braue applications are in the Sermons entitled Dormi ſecure: but theſe are nothing to them that follow for blaſphemy and impiety. The two great lights ſpoken of, Gen. 1.16. ſignifie (ſay they) the two dignities in the firmament of the Catholike Church, to wit, Pontificall, and Regall; the one to rule the day of the Spiritualty, and the other to rule the night of the Layty, and is leſſe then the other by 57. degrees, as ſaith the Gloſſer vponupon that place. That firſt and famous promiſe of the Meſſias, Gen. 3.15. is taken off from Chriſt, and put on the Virgin his Mother, by reading Ipſa conteret, &c. in ſtead of ipſe or ipſum, according to the Hebrew originall Text, and the Septuagint tranſlation. Againe, that Propheticall promiſe made principally vntounto Chriſt, and ſecondarily to the Elect, Pſal. 91.13. Thou ſhalt walke vponupon the Aſpe and Cockatrice, &c. was applyed by Pope Alexander the third to himſelfe, and the Emperour Frederick; and that not in bare words, but in a reall action, by trampling vponupon the Emperours necke. Eſay. 49.23. it is written, They ſhall worſhip towards the face of the earth, and li…ke the duſt of thy feete: and Eſay. 28.16. Behold I will lay in Sion a tried flo…, a precious corner ſtone, a ſure foundation: and Hoſea. 1.11. The Children of Iudah and Iſrael ſhall be gathered together, and appoint themſelues one head: and Cantic. 7.5. Thy head is like the Mount Carmell: and Mat. 28.18. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earth: and Pſal. 8.7. Thou haſt put all things vnderunder his feete, the Fowles of the aire, that is (ſay they) the Angels in heauen: Beaſts of the field, that is, the godly in this life: and Fiſhes of the Sea, that is, the ſoules in Purgatory. All theſe Texts they apply vntounto the Pope with a number more, making him equall vntounto Chriſt, and inueſting him with his titles of dignity: as of the Churches Head, the gr… Shepheard of the Flocke, the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda, the Bridegroome, &c. I might enlarge my ſelfe in this field: but for breuity ſake take onelyonly theſe three or foure examples more, and ſo an end with this peece of deluſion. Pope Boniface the eight, challenged to himſelfe the power of both ſwords, Temporall, and Spirituall; becauſe Chriſt ſaide, that two ſwords were ſufficient, and bad Peter not caſt away one of them, but put it vp into the ſ…eath. So likewiſe they expound that Text, Mat. 17.24. S…lus proce et me, P…y for thee and me: to ſignifie that Chriſts family hath two heads, to wit, Chriſt and Peter; becauſe they … onelyonly pryde, and that Peter was a chiefe ouer the reſt of the Apoſtles, becauſe none of the reſt payd…; as if paying of Tribute was a ſigne of preheminence, and not maker of …u…ction. In like m… ner, Baronius alleadgeth that of Acts. …0.1… Ariſe, …ron. kill, …de…: to proue the P…pes p… … the Venetians: Kill, that is, excommunicate: And eate, that is, bring them to the obedience of the Church of Rome. In fine, I cannot omit that their famous interpretation of a Parable recorded by S. Marke, Chap. 13.34. where it is ſaid, That a certaine man going into a ſtrange Country, leaneth his houſe, and giueth authority to his ſeruants, and commandeth the porter to watch. This man (ſay they) going into a ſtrange Country, is the ſoule which by death departeth out of this world: his leauing authority with his ſeruants, ſignifieth, that he chargeth his Executours to procure with his goods, the prayers and ſuffrages of the Church, whereby he may be freed from Purgatory: he commandeth the Porter to watch, that is, he giueth part of his goods to his Paſtour, that hee may diligently ſacrifice for him, by ſaying Maſſe. Who ſeeth not the impiety and prophaneneſſe of theſe interpretations? And yet theſe are nothing, either in number or quality, to thoſe that are ordinarily found in their bookes.
6. What ſhould I ſpeake of their intrica… queſtions, curious diſtinctions, ſubtile ſpeculations, and rond alluſions, where with they hauehave ſo perplexed all diuinity, that little of the true ſenſe and meaning thereof can be vnderſtood? Take a ſhort view of them, and thereby iudge of the whole lump. Touching queſtions: whether God could ſinne if he would? Whether he can yet do as much as he hath done? Whether he could aſſume the nature of man in the Female kinde? Or whether the holy Ghoſt could produce the Meſſias out of another creature then a woman? Whether the good Angels are of one accord? Whether God ſerueth himſelfe with all of them? Whether they are greeued at the damnation of them whom they guard and keepe? How many orders and degrees there are amongſt them? With many more of the like nature. Againe, about the Sacrament, how Chriſt is preſent, and at what moment of the conſecration the elements are changed? Whether if a Rat eate the Hoaſt, he be thereby ſanctified, and made an holy Rat, and ſo of Mice and Dogges? How the Spider ſwallowed vp by S. Francis came out whole and ſound at his thigh, whether of it owne motion, or by Diuine reuelation, and whether it partooke of the merits of Chriſts blood, and ſo was tranſlated into heauen. Theſe and a thouſand more ſuch like queſtions are to bee ſeene in their bookes, full of blaſphemy and impiety.
7. Touching their ſubtile ſpeculations and inferences, who can but ſay vntounto them, Wit, whither wilt thou, if hee reade but theſe enſuing inſtances? One proues, that Peter had no skill at his weapon, becauſe when hee ſhould hauehave ſtroke off Malchus head, he did but ſlice off his care, Another, that the royall Maieſty is ſubiect to the Prieſthood, becauſe the ſeruant whoſe eare was ſtroke off, was called Malchus, which ſignifieth a King. A third, that Eccleſiaſticall dignities are not to bee conferred in regard of kindred, but of deſart; becauſe the keyes were giuen by Chriſt to Peter, and not to Iohn, though his beſt beloued, becauſe he was his cozen. They tell likewiſe, both the colour and faſhion of Chriſts coate, how it was made by the hands of his bleſſed mother, and grew vp with him, as he grow: And how his fleſh was ſo tender being made of the pureſt blood of the bleſſed Virgins body, that if hee had but daſht his foote againſt a ſtone, it pained him aſmuch, as if another had bene wounded in his eye. Yea, they bluſh not to preach, how many ſcourges Chriſt had giuen him on his booke, and how many woundes he had in his body, and how many tho…nes there were in his crowne, and what he wrote on the ground when he abſolued the woman …ke… adultery: and what was the woman name that cryed, Bleſſed in the wombe that bare thee, to wit, S. Marcilla, Martha…s▪ Chambermaide: and the ſoldiers name alſo that pierced his ſide, to wit, S. Longine. Nay, they can diſcouer what ſpeeches paſſed in Paradiſe betwixt God the Father, God the Sonne, and God the holy Ghoſt, about the incarnation of Chriſt, and … the meſſage to be ſent to the Virgin Mary, touching his reſurrection. Theſe metaphyſicall ſpeculations ſauour more of …oth of wit, then of any fruite of Religion.
8. Their diſtinctions are no leſſe deluſiue then the former: for thereby they labour, if not to extinguiſh, yet at the leaſt ſo to obſcure and darken the truth, that it can hardly be diſcerned of the quickeſt ſight. For example: to excuſe the… Idolatry in worſhipping of Saints, they make a threefold kinde of religious worſhip: Dulia, belonging to the Saints in generall: Hyperdulia, appropriated onelyonly to the humanity of Chriſt, and the bleſſed Virgin his mother: and La…ia, due onelyonly vntounto God. Againe, to maintaine their doctrine of merit, they diſtinguiſh workes into three degrees: ſome proceeding from nature onelyonly before grace: others from faith and grace, but not from a man fully iuſtified: and ſome from a perſon fully iuſtified: and theſe laſt (ſay they) are meritorious of euerlaſting glory and happineſſe. Beſides, they diſtinguiſh their merits, into congruity, and condignity: the ſacrifice of Chriſt, into bloody and vnbloody; the one on the Croſſe, the other in the Maſſe. And whereas in the firſt inſtitution of the Sacrament, our Sauiour ſaith, Drinke ye all of this, they diſtinguiſh of the word All, and ſay, … by it are ment, not all Chriſtians, but All the Apoſtles onelyonly. And likewiſe in their Sacrament of Marriage, whereas the Apoſtle ſaith, Marriage is honourable among ſhall men, they diſtinguiſh againe of the word All, in like ſenſe as they did before in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, viz. no… A… in generall, b…t All that are not bound with avow to the contrary. And thus when wee ſay out of the Scripture, that Chriſt is the onelyonly true foundation of the Church; they diſtinguiſh of foundations; and ſay, that Chriſt indeed is the p…ne and principall foundation, but that the ſecondary foundation is Peter, and ſo the Pope, vponupon whom all the reſt are buil…. Againe they ſay, that all the Apoſtles were equall in reſpect of the people; but not betweene themſelues as if Peter, that neither ordained his fellow Apoſtles, nor inſtructed them, nor gouerned them, could be their ſpirituall Paſtour. So when the Scripture plainly affirmeth, that Chriſt is the onelyonly Mediato…r betwixt God and vsus; they anſwer by diſtinction, that he is the onelyonly Mediatour of Redemption, but nor of interceſſion. Againe, that he is the only Mediator in regard both of Nature and Office, but that the Saints are our Mediators in regard of Office, though not of Nature. So for ſatisfactions, Chriſts ſatisfaction (they ſay) is in vertue ſufficient but not in act efficient, except it be applyed by our ſatisfaction. So when the Goſpell ſaith. That when we hauehave done all that we can, we are yet vnprofitable ſeruants, they elude it by a diſtinction, ſaying; wee are vnprofitable indeed to God, but not to our ſelues. And when we giuegive inſtances of many Popes that hauehave erred and bene Heretikes, they anſwer that the Pope may erre, quatenus hom…, but not quatenus Papa. In fine, there is no truth in religion, nor point of faith, which is not mangled and obſcured by ſuch curious diſtinctions, and the world thereby moſt grieuouſly deluded.
9. Laſtly, touching their fond alluſions, to decipher them to the full, would aske more inke and paper, then I would willingly imploy vponupon ſuch idle ſtuffe: I will inſtance in three examples onelyonly, The firſt whereof ſhall be of their Epiſcopall ornaments. The two hornes of a Biſhops Miter (ſay they) ſignifieth his knowledge in the old and new Teſtament: his white Gloues, the ſincere adminiſtration of the holy Sacraments: his cleane Surpliſſa, the ſimplicity and innocency of his life: his Croſier St…fe, the drawing of Chriſts ſheepe to the paſture of Gods word: and his Croſſe and booke, the affections and afflictions which he is ſubiect vntounto. Are not theſe braue contemplations befitting an Heroicall inuention? Bu… I come in my ſecond example to their Maſſe, where the Prieſt at one inſtant perſonates many parts: to wit, of Chriſt, of the Virgin Mary, of the twelue Apoſtles, and principally of Iudas, of the Theefe on the Croſſe, of the Centurion, of the Publicane, and a number others. When hee croſſeth the Hoaſt (ſay they) hee repreſents the perſon of Chriſt: and when the Cup, the perſon of Iudas: by three other croſſes which he maketh before, he perſonates the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt: and by three after, three eſtates of men; one in heauen, another in Purgatory, and a third vponupon earth: by fiue croſſes which he maketh after all theſe, he repreſents either the fiue dayes betw…t Palme ſunday and good-Friday, or the fiue wounds of Chriſt: by burning candle (ſay they) figureth either Chriſt, who enlighteneth eueryevery one that commeth into the world, or the light of ſaith and ardour of charity, which is in eueryevery Chriſtian ſoule: and the Glorin in excelſis, pronounced with a low voyce, repreſenteth Chirſt crying in his cradle when hee was an infant: and pronounced with an high ſtraine, his terrible voyce at the day of iudgement. Did euer Mountebanke or Iuggler ſo cozen the world with counterfeit ſhowes and wares, as theſe Impoſtours hauehave done by theſe their hypocriticall deuices? The third example is, touching their Lent dyet, wherein they finde ſuch an infinite number of ſottiſh myſteries, as would bee tedious to repeate. There is not a Figge, nor a Rayſin, nor Prune, nor Egge, nor Egge-ſhell, nor Kernell, but hath a myſticall and ſpiritu…ll alluſion: their very Sallet compoſed of diuers kinde of Herbes, muſt ſignifie the word of God of diuers ſenſes; and the Vinegar and Oyle which are equally mixed in it, the Mercy and Iuſtice of God, the Orenge charity, and the Kernell ſecret almes. But for this matter I referre the Reader to a booke called, Quadragoſimale Spirituale, printed at Paris, Ano. 1565. and corrected and allowed by two Doctors. Therein wee ſhall finde no manner of thing which is eaten of them in Lent, but applyed to a ſpirituall ſenſe. But I leaue the further amplification of this dotage to others, that ſhall ſearch more narrowly into the bottomleſſe gulfe of their idle ſpeculations.
10. I could adde here a multitude of Apiſh tricks and inuentions, vſed by Popiſh Prieſts, to make their Auditours laugh, or weepe at their pleaſure: with a catalogue of their ridiculous diſcourſes both in …heir bookes and pulpit. As of him, that vponupon a wager made one halfe of the people in the Church to laugh, and the other to weepe at one inſtant, and that of purpoſe by a paſſionate diſcourſe of the paſſion of Chriſt to thoſe that ſate before, and laying open his bare backſide to them that ſtood behinde. And of him that cryed in the pulpit before the Pope and his Cardinals, Fye S. Peter, Fye S. Paul &c. Or of him that to terrifie his Auditours, preſented vntounto them a man like a deuill, with flaming eyes, a great hooked noſe, bloody teeth, and long crooked nailes, braying out an hideous voyce. Or of him that to ſhew the people the ouglineſſe of hell, laide open to their view the filthy backſide of the Sexton, with whom hee had compacted for the acting of this play. Or of him that preached alwayes by dumbe geſtures and ſhowes. Or of him that was diſcourſing vponupon mortality and death, cauſed on a ſudaine a dead mans skull, with a candle burning within it, to bee rayſed vp on the top of a pole, to the terrour of the people. Or of him that would proue a Lutherane to be worſe then the deuill, becauſe the deuill would flee away at the making of the ſigne of the croſſe, but a Lutherane was not afraide of it. or of him that hauing let fall his note of the names of perſons to be excommunicate, ſaide, that be excommunicated all that were in that hole, except the Biſhop and Officiall, whoſe names were alſo there written. Or of him that compared the Grace of God, to ſheepes tri…les: and another, the Sacrament to a Veniſon Paſty, which is called Veniſon though nothing be ſeene but the cruſt. Or of him that compared ſoldiers to Ieſus Chriſt in all things ſaue in one; namely, that he hauing deſcended into hell, returned backe againe, which they ſhould neuer do. I could (I ſay) adde theſe with a number more ſuch like examples, but that they are at large ſet forth by other Authors, and eſpecially by the forenamed Henry Stephen in his Apology, and alſo becauſe the whole rabble of Popiſh ſhauelings may thinke themſelues already ſufficiently graced in thus magnifying their witty inuentions. But howſoeuer they thinke, the world I am ſu…e may clearly hereby perceiue, how it hath bene a long time deluded by them, and how S. Pauls Prophecy is fully verified in the Papall Church and religion: God ſhall ſend vponupon them ſtrong deluſions to beleeue lyes.