A Retractive from the Romish Religion, Preamble
THE PREAMBLE.
THat which Ireneus (an ancientI. Iraeneus lib. … cap. 54. and godly Father of the Church) ſpeaketh of all Heretickes, that all the Helleborus in the world is not ſufficient to purge them, that they may vomit out their follie, may truely be ſpoken of the Church of Rome, and her adherents, that it is a difficult matter, if not almoſt impoſſible, to reclaime her from her errors, and to heale her wounds. All the balme of Gilead will not do it, nor all the ſpirituall phiſicke that can be miniſtred; for there are two ſinnes which of all other are moſt hard to bee relinquiſhed, Whoredome, and Drunkenneſſe: the one, becauſe it is ſo familiar and naturall to the fleſh: the other, becauſe it breedeth by cuſtome ſuch an vnquenchable thirſt in the ſtomacke, as muſt euer anon be watered: with both which ſpirituall diſeaſes, the Church of ROME is infected. She is the Whore of Babylon, with whome the Kings of the Earth hauehave committed fornication, and who hath made drunke with the Wine of her fornicationsReuel. 17. 12. all the Inhabitants of the Earth. In regard of the firſt, Ieremie prophecied of her, that though paines be taken Ierem. 51. 9.to heale her, yet ſhee could not be healed. And in regard of the ſecond, Saint Paul prophecied, that GOD would ſend2. Theſ. 2. 10. 11 them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould beleeue lies, that all they might bee damned that receiued not the louelove of the truth. Notwithſtanding, though the hope bee as little of the reclaiming of moſt of them, as of turning an Eunuch into a man, or making a blacke Moore white; yet I hauehave propounded in this diſcourſe a ſtrong potion compounded of ingredients; which if they bee not paſt cure, may purge and cleanſe them of their diſeaſe, and reduce them to the ſanity of Chriſtian Religion. Which if their queaſie ſtomackes ſhall eyther refuſe to take, or hauing taken, ſhall vomit vp againe, and not ſuffer them to worke vponupon their conſciences: yet this benefit will ariſe, that God ſhall be glorified, the truth manifeſted, and all that louelove the truth confirmed: and they alſo themſelues, that are ſo drowned in error, that they will rather pull in others ouer head and eares vntounto them, and ſo drowne together, then be drawne out of the myre by any helpe, ſhall be conuinced in their conſciences of their moſt groſſe apoſtacie. With this confidence towards Gods glorie, and the good of his Church, though with little hope of recouering them from their obdurate blindneſſe; I enter into my intended taske, deſiring the Lord to giuegive a bleſſing to theſe poore labours, which I conſecrate to my Lord and Maſter Ieſus Chriſt, whom I ſerue, and the Church his Spouſe, of which I profeſſe my ſelfe to bee one of the meaneſt members.