A Retractive from the Romish Religion, Conclusion
Concluſion.
NOw then, gentle Reader, theſe things being thus cleerly proued, viz, Firſt, that the Religion of the Church of Rome giueth open libertie to ſinne. Secondly, that it maintayneth by the grounds therof, things forbidden by all lawes, Diuine, Naturall, and Humane. Thirdly, that it imitateth the Iewes in thoſe things, wherein they are enemies to Chriſt. Fourthly, that it derogateth from the glorie of Gods mercy, and efficacy of the merits of Chriſt, in the worke of our redemption. Fiftly, that it refuſeth to bee tryed by the Scriptures, and will be iudged and tryed by none, but it ſelfe. Sixtly, that it is at defiance and profeſt enmitie with the ſacred Scriptures. Seuenthly, that it maintayneth groſſe and palpable Idolatrie. Eightly, that it is contrary to it ſelfe by manifeſt contradictions. Ninthly, that it is apparently oppoſite to the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt. Tenthly, that it nouriſheth groſſe and barbarous ignorance amongſt the people. Eleuenthly, that it was neuer knowne nor heard of in the Apoſtles time, nor in the primitiue Church. Twelfthly, that it vpholdeth it ſelfe by vnlawfull, vniuſt and vngodly meanes: and laſtly, that it is dangerous and vnſafe, both in reſpect of Gods glorie, mans conſcience, and Chriſtian charitie. I ſay, all theſe things being thus cleerely demonſtrated; what remayneth, but that wee abhorre the ſame, as the Religion of the great Whore, and her Paramour Antichriſt, who with their cup of fornications, and vaine pretext of Peters authoritie, hauehave beſotted heretofore all Nations of the earth? and cleaue to the ſinceritie of the Goſpell, taught and profeſſed in the Church of Proteſtants, which is free from all theſe imputations; for it neither giueth libertie to ſinne, nor maintayneth any thing that is vnlawfull, nor imitateth the Iewes; aſcribeth all the worke of our redemption to Gods mercy, and Chriſts merits onelyonly, deſireth to bee tryed and examined by the Scriptures; reuerenceth the fulneſſe and perfection thereof; abhorreth all ſhew of Idolatrie, is not at enmity and oppoſition, but keepeth a ſweet harmony with it ſelfe: doth not croſſe the Goſpell, not ſo much as in ſhew: condemneth and laboureth againſt ignorance; is agreeable to the doctrine of the Apoſtles, and primitiue Church; maintayneth it ſelfe by no vnlawfull meanes: and laſtly, hath great ſafetie and ſecuritie, in the profeſſion thereof. Good Chriſtians muſt bee like good Gold-ſmiths, who will not take a piece of gold of any mans word, but will trie it by the touch-ſtone, and weigh it in the ballance. The Truth is like gold: it behoueth all therefore, to trie it and weigh it, before they entertayne it into their ſoules, leſt they receiue in ſtead of pure mettall, that which is counterfeit and light; trie therefore theſe two Religions, which of them hath the truth, and without partialitie or affection retayne the good, and reiect the counterfeit: remember that the truth of Chriſtians (as Saint Auguſtine ſaith) is more Aug. Epiſt. ad Hieron. Ambroſ. in Ser.beautifull incomparably, then Helene of the Grecians: and that it alone (as Saint Ambroſe ſaith) freeth; alone ſaueth; alone waſheth: and therefore though it be hid in a deepe pit (as the Philoſopher ſaid) yet it is diligently to be digged for, of all them that deſire the ſaluation of their ſoules. In a word, let not the darke miſts of error and ſuperſtition blinde thine eyes, but open them wide to the beholding of the bright light of truth, that ſhineth round about thee, and know, that if the Goſpell be hid, it is hid to them that periſh, in whom the god of 2. Cor. 4.this world hath dazeled their mindes, that they ſhould not ſee the light of the glorious Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt. I deſire no more credit at thy hands, then the euidence of theſe reaſons produced do require: and therefore if they be true, then yeeld aſſent vntounto them for thine owne ſoules ſake: if they be falſe, declare for my ſoules ſake wherein the falſhood lurketh, and I will be as ready to recant, as thou to refute. The Lord of his mercy anoint both our eyes with the eye-ſalue of his Spirit, that we may ſee the truth, and ſupply them with the oyle of his grace, that we may bow and bend vntounto it, and ſtrengthen vsus with his diuine power, that wee may conſtantly profeſſe and perſeuere in the ſame to our liues ends: faxit Deus for his only begotten Sonne, and our only bleſſed Sauiour Ieſus Chriſts ſake, to whom b… all honour, power, maieſtie, preeminence, and dominion, for euer and euer.
AMEN. Soli D… vnitrin… ſit laus in ſempiternum.
FINIS.
To the Reader.
THus it happeneth▪ … Reader) by an ineuitable neceſſity, where the Author cannot be preſen… I pray thee theſe faults eſcapes and couer … of charity: But if malice picke quarrell let it know, that there▪ is nothing▪ alledged, which in ſubſtance ſhall not bee iuſtified, though per aduenture it may faile in circumſtance. Farewell.