Abrahams Faith, Part 2 · Chapter 5

Abrahams Faith · Part 2 · Chapter 5

p. 288CHAP. V. Heere is ſhewed that all men ought to flie poperie. Firſt, becauſe of the exceeding daunger it bringeth to them ſelues, to their ſeede and countrie. Secondlie, It is of all hereſies and Apoſtaſies the most pernitious. Thirdlie, It is not tollerable, or to bee wincked at, in any Christian common wealth. Fourthly, We of England hauehave great cauſe to praiſe God, that we hauehave nothing to do with it.

p. 289NO ſooner had my penne concluded the former Chapter, but that me thought I hearde the great comaunder of all the worlde, calling vntounto all Chriſtians, concerning the Romiſh religion and ſayingaaEſai. 52.11.Isa 52:11 Departe, depart, go out from thence and touch no vncleane thing. For ſeeing that poperie is ſo directly and manifold, differing from the true ancient and catholike religion, ſo agreeing with all filthie hereſies, and lately ſprung vp out of the vncleane brood of humane inuention and diabolicall ſuggeſtion, bearing downe all puritie of faith and true holy worſhip of God, & that hereby the Romiſh Church is certainly found to approue it ſelfe to bee that great Babilon, which is become the habitations of deuils, and the hold of foule ſpirits, and a cage of euerie vncleane and hatefull bird: I can no otherwiſe vnderſtand the duetie of all Chriſtians, but that they bee obedient to that heauenly voice, which els where calleth vsus out of that prophane ſinagogue of Rome, ſaying:bbReuelat. 18.4. Go out of her my people, that ye bee not partakers in her ſinnes, that ye receiue not of her plagues. It behoueth therefore euerie ſoule to conſider wiſely of this thing, becauſe of the daunger that may happen to himſelfe, to his ſeed, and to his countrie. For as it was no pleaſant thing to Noe, to liue among thoſe proud and cruell people of the firſt worlde, whoſe deſtruction hee knew to be moſt certainly approching: and as Lot dwelling at the gate of Sodom, vexed his righteous ſoule in hearing and ſeeing their vnlawfull deeds, & his verie life was hazarded in the deſtruction of the wicked, if God had not beene ſingularly mercifull p. 290vntounto him: So all men that feare God, cannot but know, that ſuch wicked and filthie hereſie, as poperie is, muſt needes bee as a canker that fretteth euen vntounto deſtruction of the ſoule. For it not onelyonly draweth vsus vntounto many noyſome and hereticall prauities, but alſo to moſt abhominable idolatrie, and the verie ouerthrow of the couenaunt of grace and true faith; by which we ſtand in the fauour of God and hauehave the hope of eternall life by Ieſus Chriſt. They which ſpeake moſt fauourablie for papiſts, & ſeeme willing to hauehave them in ſome ſort of the viſible Chriſtian Church: doe endeuour the ſame by making their apoſtaſie to bee no greater then the apoſtaſie of the ten tribes of Iſrael, after their falling away from the houſe of Dauid, vnderunder the hand of Hieroboam. At which time they left the temple at Hieruſalem, and the pure worſhip & word of God, and made them calues in Dan and Bethel, and worſhipped God as it pleaſed the kinges of Iſrael. But if men would conſider theaa1. King. 2. 2. Cron. 18. & 19.1 Kgs 2:2 ſtorie of that good king Iehoſhaphat, when hee ioyned affinitie with Ahab, they might eaſily ſee this thing, how neere hee was to leeſe his life for ſuch fellowſhip: what loſſe hee had of ſhippes, and how God rebuked him ſaying: Wouldeſt thou helpe the wicked, and louelove them that hate the Lord? therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vppon thee. Loe heere the Iſraelites are counted wicked & the haters of God; and ſuch as for whoſe fellowſhip, Gods wrath commeth vppon his children. Therefore ſeeing the papiſtes are (much more) worſe, it muſt needs bee verie daungerous to hauehave any fellowſhippe with them. And if the p. 291ſoule bee farre, more precious then the bodie, then is the hazarde the greater. And doubtleſſe no man is able to expreſſe the greatneſſe of the miſchiefe which that wicked broode may bring vponupon a man, for ſo much as they tranſgreſſe the worde of God, and follow not the doctrine of Chriſt, and hauehave choſen their owne waies, and their ſoule delighteth in their owne abhominations: For it is written:bb2. Iohn. verſ. 9. Whoſoeuer tranſgreſſeth and abideth not in the doctrine of Chriſt hath not God. And againe:ccEſai. 5.24.Isa 5:24 As the flame of fire deuoureth the ſtubble, and as the chaffe is conſumed of the flame: ſo their roote ſhall bee rottenneſſe, and the budde ſhall riſe vp like duſt, becauſe they hauehave caſt off the law of the Lord of hoſtes, and contemned the worde of the holy one of Iſrael. If then it be a perillous thing and a miſerie to bee without God, and to bee as a rotten roote and a budde turned into duſt, to be deuoured like ſtubble of the flaming fire: and that this commeth by forſaking the word of God: then woe and twiſe woe vntounto all them, that ſeperate not themſelues, from poperie and papiſtes, whoſe foundation is the forſaking of Gods worde, to follow the magiſteriall power of men, and humane traditions and inuentions. Againe, what ſoule is there that hath learned Chriſt, who doth not ſee, what a miſchiefe and inconuenience this bringeth on his poſteritie. And if you forget it, or conſider it not, rememberdd1. King. 11. & cap. 12. & cap. 14.1 Kgs 11 Salomon the wiſe, who was called Iedidiah, that is beloued of the Lord. Behold what a breach his idolatrie made in his kingdome & glorie: which befell in his ſon Rehoboams daies, & cōtinued in his poſterity for euer: he loſt the p. 292ten tribes of Iſrael, and his golde was turned into braſſe.aa2. King. 8 18.2 Kgs 8:18 And of Iehoram the ſonne of Iehoſhaphat it is ſaid, that he walked in the waies of the kings of Iſràel as did the houſe of Ahab, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife, & he did euil in the ſight of the Lord.bbCap. 9. & 10. And whē God ſtirred vp Iehu to root out the houſe of Ahab. For his abhominable idolatrie and bluddie crueltie: by this affinitie which came through Iehoſhaphates folly, Ahaziah king of Iudah, ſonne of Iehoram the ſonne of Iehoſhaphat being found in the company was ſlaine with Iehoram king of Iſrael wicked Ahabs ſonne, and fortie and two of Ahazias brethren comming to viſite the ſonnes of the wicked. Therefore all wiſemen conſidering theſe and ſuch like iudgements, vponupon the houſes of Gods children for their fellowſhip with the wicked, will know very well, that it behooueth them to take heed as of a poiſoned ſerpent, and to bee warie of theſe Scorpion-like popiſh Locuſtes: whoſe ſting being in their tailes, do bring ſuch great wrath of God vponupon all that are infected with their hereſie: For they know who hath ſaid:ccEph. 5.11.Eph 5:11 HaueHave no fellowſhip with the vnfruitful works of darknes, but euen reproue them rather: dd2. Ioh. ver. 10If there come any vntounto you & bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to houſe, neither bid him God ſpeed. eeHeb. 12.15Heb 12:15Take heede that no man fall away from the grace of God: let no roote of bitterneſſe ſpring vp and trouble you, leſt thereby many be defiled. Now as for a mans countrie conſider onelyonly the ſtorieffIudg. 17. & 18Judg 17 of Micah. Into whoſe houſe by his mothers ſuperſtition, when images had entred: it was an occaſion & meanes of the corrupting of the whole tribe of Dan with idolatrie. And that of^g p. 293Gideon.ggCap. 8.24.25.26. Who of the earings and iewels that were giuen him of the ſpoiles of Midian, making a Ephod (a ſmall thing in compariſon of popiſh imagerie) and putting it in Ophrah his city, brought a maruellous inconuenience and corruption to the whole land, and to his owne houſe, as may appeare by this that it is ſaid: All Iſrael went a whooring after it, Verſe 27.which was the deſtruction of Gideon and his houſe.

2 But if you marke it well this is not all. For of all hereſies & apoſtaſies, which hauehave happened from the beginning of the world, this poperie is the moſt pernicious. For all other hauehave contented themſelues to leade the people from God to idolatrie, and by continuance of ſinne hauehave drawne the fierce wrath of God, vponupon countries & nations, and in fine great deſolations and ouerthrowes. But poperie as it is equall at the leaſt in all theſe euils, with all other wickedneſſe and abhominations whatſoeuer: ſo it hath a certaine excellencie in doing euill, aboue all other infections. Namely, that it ouerturneth the verie courſe of nature. For wee reade in all ſtories of Aſſirians, Chaldeans, Meades, and Perſians, Grecians, & Romanes, that their ſuperſtitions did make them ſtraungers from God indeed, & worthely deſerued they & ſuffered they his heauie iudgements: yet the ciuill magiſtrate was honorable among them, and the beautie of the common weales, was the freedom to puniſh wickedneſſe, as murder and vncleanneſſe: & the people might liue in ſome reaſonable libertie, vnderunder the pure and honeſt obedience of their Lords kings or Emperours. But the Church of Rome taketh away all authoritie and power from the ciuill p. 294eſtate & tranſlateth it to the eccleſiaſticall, vponupon euerie trifle diſchargeth the people of their obedience to the ciuill ſword, and keepeth them in moſt ſtraite ſlauerie to themſelues, openeth the way to all wickedneſſe, murders, and vncleanneſſe, and vtterly weakeneth the eſtate of all princes, coningly making them vaſſals and ſlaues to all folly & diſhonour. All this the Chriſtian reader may ſee (before I proceed) if he call to mind the latter part of the laſt Chapter. How be it I will helpe him a little, that he may the more plainly diſcerne what I ſay and the true effect thereof. Three thinges I obſerue in a flouriſhing common wealth: 1. The good vertuous and commendable liuing of the people. 2. The wealth and peace of the countrie. 3. The honour and ſafetie of the prince and ciuill ſtate. Where theſe three are taken away, there the common wealth muſt needes be turned vpſide downe: and this doth the verie nature of poperie bring to paſſe, as it were the verie bane of the ciuill ſtate and common wealth. Firſt looke wee vponupon their ſingle life of their prieſtes,Single life the cauſe of many euils. Munkes, Friers, and Nunnes, and ſee what this doth bring to paſſe. Theſe doe naturally diminiſh the number of people, when ſo many men and women are kept from mariage, and theſe being priuiledged perſons are exempted from ciuil ſeruice: ſo that it weakneth the ſtrength of the realme: as Solomon ſaith:aaProuerb. 14.28. In the multitude of the people is the honour of the king, and for the want of people commeth the deſtruction of the prince. Secondly, theſe hauehave brought foorth moſt horrible vncleanneſſe, not to bee named amongſt Chriſtians, and infinite murders of p. 295poore innocents, ſuch as I am aſhamed to explane as it deſerueth: onelyonly I will ſhew the reader as it were through a lattiſe, ſome part of this euill and chiefly what the papiſtes themſelues ſay: namely that the inconuenience of this ſingle life was ſuch, that when the prieſtes by Gregory the ſeuenth were forbidden mariage,Antoninus hiſtor. pars. 3. tit. 16. pap. 1. § 21. there neuer was a greater ſciſme in the Church in the time of any hereſie, few men keeping themſelues chaſte, ſome feyning continencie for gaine and boaſting, and many encreaſing their incontinencie with periurie and diuers ſortes of adulterie.ccBalaeus de Act. Rom. Pont. de Greg. Chriſtianis. It is recorded that Gregorie the firſt, did among the firſt commaunde ſingle life vntounto prieſts: but after finding that they did commit filthineſſe ſecretly, & that thereof many children conceiued were murdred, he did abrogate that commā dement and ſaid, it was better to marry then to giuegive cauſe of ſlaughter. For when on a time, hee ſent to fiſh in a ponde, there were found in the ſame ſixe thouſand heades of drowned children, which hee ſeeing to come of this conſtrained ſingle life, mourning and ſighting from the depth of his heart, did forthwith reuoke his decree. Hee that readeth the liues of popes, if it were onelyonly in popiſh writers or could trauell and learne the guiſe of Rome, or could but vnderſtand what the commiſhioners of King Henry the eight of noble memorie, found and ſaw in putting downe of Abbies, hee would eaſily in this point beleeue the papiſtddMetropol. lib. 9. cap. 34. Krantius, where hee ſaith: That in the cittie of Rome Continencie is more rare then a white Swanne among ſeculer men. And p. 296this ſoare is growne grieuous, that euerie where it is complained of. So that theiraaCampegius reade Ioh. Sleid. coment. lib. 4. verie champions and defenders are forced to confeſſe, that the popiſh biſhops doe not onelyonly wincke at the beaſtly filthineſſe of their prieſtes: but alſo take money to ſuffer ſuch wickedneſſe: yea they are not aſhamed to face it out, with this whooriſh boldneſſe as to ſay:Shrift foſter father of filthineſſe. It is a much more grieuous ſinne for a prieſt to hauehave a wife, then to keepe many whoores at home. This ſinne of vncleanneſſe ſhall you alſo finde to bee nouriſhed by ſhrift. For beſide many other things, webbHiſtor. tripart. lib. 9. cap. 35. reade that Nectarius Biſhop of Conſtantinople, finding by experience, how apt this confeſſing to a prieſt, was to breed and nouriſh whoordome, tooke it vtterly away in thoſe Greeke Churches. But in the Latine churches remaining ſtill, one example may ſuffice to ſhew what a rich and fatte dunging vntounto a ſingle life this ſhrift hath beene and is, to bring forth ſuch vncleane and beaſtly fruit. WeccDiſcouerie of the holy inquiſition of Spaine printed at Londō 1569 reade of the Spaniſh inquiſition, that on a time it pleaſed the Lords inquiſitors of the holy houſe, to cauſe proclamation to bee ſolempnly pronounced in the prouince of Siuill, that whoſoeuer knew of their certaine knowledge or by report, that any Monks or other religious or ſpirituall perſons had abuſed their holy ſacrament of confeſſion to any ſuch abhominable vſe, or that any ghoſtly father had dealt in any ſuch ſort with their ſhrift children; they ſhall ſignifie it to the houſe of inquiſition. But this proued to be ſo great and plentifull an harueſt to that holy houſe: (for ſo many, ſo ſundrie women of all ſortes, yea of the grauer matrons, p. 297were touched in conſcience to enforme the holie fathers as obedient children) that they were faine for verie ſhame to leaue it of as they began, and ſecreatly to hang vp theſe holie men which heard confeſſion, by their purſes, whom they durſt not for the multitude call into open queſtion for their adulterous and filthie liuing. But this ſhrieft,The greateſt policie in the world did the pope compaſſe by the ſetling of auriculer confeſſion. if you marke it is not onelyonly naturally fit to foſter this kinde of filthineſſe, but alſo all treaſons and ſedition and all licence to euerie kinde of wickednes noiſome to the common wealth. For howe thinke you was the Pope able to wreſtle with the Emperours and Kings of the worlde, if hee had not all the ghoſtlie fathers at commaundement, who vnderunder Benedicite might and did lead the people whither they liſt: and who is it, that being ſo eaſilie (as by confeſſion) pardoned of all his ſins, which would not be encouraged to run after the like or greater exces. Moreouer what thing could be kept ſecreat from his beaſtlie holines, when his ſeruants were the princes confeſſors & councellors? To maintain theeues,Sanctuaries for maintenance of euill doers. murderers, and traitors, they hauehave ſanctuaries, cloiſters and monaſteries, to hide & keep them from the ciuil power. Their imagery & keeping their ſeruice in an vnknowen tong, with conceiling of holy ſcriptures, kept the people in ſuch awe and motherly deuotion, that they might eaſily carie the people not onelyonly againſt their liege Lords on earth: but euen againſt the Lord God of heauen. Their holie daies and faſting daies grewe to ſuch numbers, that the meaner people could not tell howe to liue. Their p. 298merites, praiers for the dead, oblations, ſacrifice of the maſſe and ſuch like ſuperſtitions, ſtale away the ritches of the comminaltie, and made manie good heires begge a cruſt at their religious monaſteries. Of all theſe things not onelyonly ſtories and experience,Polydor verg. hiſt. Angl. li. 7. Lex ad Manumortua. but alſo the Lawyers can certifie, by the ſtatutes that hauehave been made againſt inceſt, buggerie, appeales, holie daies and dead mens deuotions. But the thing that I will ſpecially ſtand vponupon is this: that beſide all theſe, which doo naturally in that religion afflickt and keepe vnderunder, the comely and honorable eſtate of the common wealth, there are other things in the lordlyneſſe and ſpirituall preheminence, of the prelacie, and eſpecially of the Pope, that make the ciuill ſtate as no ſtate, except as a meere ſlaue: and they tread vnderunder foote all earthlie kingdoms. Firſt I obſerue the popiſh doctrine as it was ſuffered by the Emperour,Poperie ouerthrew the eaſt Empire. by his ouergrowing to hauehave wayed downe the imperiall authoritie, namely by graunting to Boniface the third, the title of vniuerſall Biſhop, he loſt his authoritie ouer the pope and cleargie, as is before at large declared. And when in the ſecond Councell of Nice, the Empire condeſcended to images, it was preſently ſo weake that it had no more power to holde out in Italie: And laſtlie when the Greekes agreed more generallie vntounto poperie at the Councell of Baſill: The Turke by and by ouercame Conſtantinople; and ſo the Empire of the Eaſt was vtterly aboliſhed. Secondly though Charles the great roſe vp about that time Emperour in the Weſt, and ſo from thencefoorth, the Pope p. 299hath ſeemed to allow and maintaine an Empire in the weſt: yet all men knowe that the warres rayſed againſt the Emperours by the Popes, for the Primacie, in their inueſting of Prelates and ſuch like, hath made it a verie poore thing, for that it was in the daies of the ſaid Charles. For though poperie vſe the ciuill ſworde for her defence, yet it ſuffereth not the glorie and power of the ciuill magiſtrate, to hauehave any further ſtrength, then as the Pope and his Prelates may well rule: that they may alway hauehave them at their commaunde. And this is done by contention, auarice and her daughter extortion,Popery nurſe of contention. to keepe them alwaies weake and poore: and by falſhood and pride, whereby they are ſpoiled and ſubdued, and their authoritie made captiue, and as it were ſlaine and buried. For contention read Krantius Metropolis; and you ſhall finde,aalib. 6. cap. 6. that Biſhoprickes were gouerned by armes,bblib. 2. cap. 20. they ſtroue for their bounds and limittes,cclib. 1. cap. 40. they ioyned in conſpiracie with the ſonne againſt the father, yea when no cauſe was,ddPlatina in vita Greg. 7. Rodolphus taketh armes to depriue his Lord of his Empire, andeeKrant. Saxon lib. 5. cap. 7. & 18. &c. Henrie the fift wageth warre againſt his owne father: of which came all maner of euill, murders, rapins, burninges, ſpoiling of Towne and countrie, Anno 1184. TheaaKrant Saxon lib. 6. 2 ap. 46. Emperour Freoderick making a mariage for his ſonne: when in proceſſion on Pentecoſts day, he had the archbiſhop of Mentes on his right hande, and the Archbiſhop of Collen on his left. The Abbot of Fulda, ſtriuing to hauehave one of their places did ſo trouble the company: that if the Emperour had not wiſely ordered the matter there had been warre and bloudſhed vponupon the ſame. p. 300But what miſerable troubles, theſe contentions hauehave been to the kings of England, he that onelyonly readeth the elections of the Biſhop of Caunterbury ſhall ſee ſufficient: that I ſpeake nothing of munkes againſt ſeculer prieſts, abbots againſt their munkes, friers againſt friers and ſuch like deadly fewds: which hath cauſed great adoe in many places. Nay if I ſhoulde ſpeake of the Saxons and Almains, of the Guelphes, and Gibellins, Florentines, Venetians and people of Millaine; and I know not how many other cities and nations, which vponupon popiſh iars hauehave been brought, by factions and deuiſions into a formal war & continual ſteame of ſlaughter & butcherie one vponupon an other: I might make a great volume. And it filleth my ſoule with reſtles ſorrow, to thinke: that the vnthankfulnes of men, not beleeuing the truth of God, but harkening to fooliſh fables, ſhould prouoke the heauie wrath of GOD, to heape ſuch infinite and vnſpeakeable miſeries vponupon them. Now for their auarice and exactions how naturally,Popiſh extortions and auarice. they lie in their religion, and how they keepe vnderunder the people and nations, and preſerue their diabolical ſupremacie; only let me rehearſe the ſtories what they ſay: Firſt one ſaithaaKrāt. Metropol. lib. 10. cap. 34. Multae & magnae concertationes doctorum &c. Many and great diſcentions were there of learned & good men, and if they had bridled auarice, they might hauehave eaſilie found a meaſure or end: and againe.bbCap. 47. Exorbitabat eo tempore ſupra modum Romana curia in exhauriendo prouincias auro &c. At that time the court of Rome went out of ſquare aboue meaſure in robbing the prouinces of their gold, through the beſtowing of indulgences not heard of, and graces incredible. And the apoſtolical Courtiers or p. 301ſutors which obtained, were miſerablie toſſed: they ſtroue or ſued before the Auditor or iudge: two iudgements wer giuen for one partie. In the thirde inſtance the Iudge is commaunded, that hee put the one partie to perpetuall ſilence, Dato quod ſonaret & fulgeret. 1398.neither needed letters to bee diſpatched by the Chauncerie: there was a ſhorter way hy the chamber, by giuing that which ſounded and ſhined. A thing at that time new, but in our age well waxen olde, that, that age might be thought to hauehave found out that which this our age doth now vſe. But we complaine of theſe things in vaine. So complained Albertus Krantius being himſelfe a papiſt, whoſe ſtory endeth An. 1501. And in another place ſhewing how a youth of 17. yeares of age obtained a biſhopricke of the pope, he ſaith:ccLib. 12. ca. 29 The Apoſtolicall ſea ſheweth it ſelfe liberall to ſutors, chaunging lead for gold: which being ſpoken in the olde world, how much that liberalitie hath growen vntounto this day, they doe eaſily vnderſtand who hauehave doings in things. So doth anddMathew Patis hiſt. Hen. 1. An. 1103. other papiſt tell vsus, that when Anſelmus the Archbiſhop intreated the Lord Pope, for certain Biſhops and Abbots of England, who were degraded: That the ſame moſt gratious ſea, which neuer faileth any man (ſo as ſome white or red thing be mediator) reſtored the ſame biſhops & Abbots to their dignities. And aneePolydor. Verg. de inuē tor. lib. 8. ca. 2. other papiſt can tel you of their inſtruments & buls, & of the colledge of Catchpoles or Harpies (that is to ſay) ſcribes & notaries of the Apoſtolicall treaſures, which could skil how to make an office, which at the firſt was ſold for 500. crownes, to be at a thouſand or two or three thouſand: and how the annuates and yearely fruites, palles and appeales, hauehave ſoaked vp many countries, and made the pontificall ſea of great power. The effecte of which Apoſtaticall p. 302deuiſes of theſe lordly Popes, may appeare by the complaints of all nations, which thing may clerely be ſeene vntounto all men, that ſhall read the councel of Baſill, which made many prouiſions by decrees againſt the rauening of the Popes court, by reſeruations, appeales, inſtances, annates, collations, and many ſuch like:bbRead Iohn Sleid. Com. lib. 22. pag. 819. 820. 821. which decree the King of Fraunce Charles the 7. Anno 1438. did confirme, by an edict commonly cailed Pragmatica Sanctio, Which when pope Pius the 2. laboured with Lewes the 7. to vndoe: the Senate of Paris declare vntounto the king, what great proſperitie the Realme was in by that Edick, in the daies of many his forefathers, and what great affliction it was now fallen into by ſuch exactions, that thereby France would be bare of people and emptie of money, and vnleſſe he did holde faſt the ſanction of his father, euerie yeere there would goe out of France vntounto Rome, ten hundred thouſand crownes, beſide diuers waies that they had to impoueriſh his kingdome.ccMath. paris hiſt. Angl. Hen. 3. One Iohn Rufus the popes legate at one time wreſted out of the poore Iriſh mens deuotions 8000. markes. The Germains amongſt other greeuances, require three thinges to be amended.aaIohn Sleid. Com. lib. 4. Firſt, that they hindred the princes in their right; 2. That they pulled and made Germany waſt and without wealth and riches. 3. And bondmen with great bondage. But ſpeaking ſparing of other countries: by the patterne of Englande our owne countrie, you ſhall geſſe verie much, what ſpoile and hauock they made of al lands.Math. Paris hiſt. Angl. Hen. 3. pag. 927. 928. The greeuances of England hauehave been theſe. Firſt by complaint in a parliament there are ſeauen things mentioned, to weaken p. 303and empouiriſh the ſtate of the land. The Pope was not content with his ſubſidie of Peter pence but exacteth moſt greeuous contributions, more and more of the cleargie, and that without the kings conſent and aſſent, the Patrons cannot giuegive the benefices, but they are wreſted out of their hands and giuen to Romains, who know not our language and by tranſporting of money greatly empoueriſh our land, by prouiſions in penſions, by triall of cauſes they are drawen out of the kingdome by apoſtolical authoritie, againſt the ſtatutes and lawes of the Realme, by manifolde comming of that infamous meſſenger, Non obſtante, by whom the reuerence of an oth, the auncient cuſtomes the vertue of Scriptures, the authoritie of graunts and the ſtatutes, lawes, and priuiledges are weakened and made void &c.ccPag. 932. Alſo they cauſed the prelates to find them ſouldiers, ſome ten, ſome fiue, ſome fifteen well furniſhed with horſe & armor, and that one whole yeere.ddPag. 484. 485 They hauehave had ſuch extreame exactions of paiments, that they hauehave been faine to ſell or to lay to pawne their chalices, and other holy veſſels to feed the popes deſires.eePag. 303. Alſo he exacted the fift part of all the goods of the reuenues of the cleargie of Englande.ffPag. 1145. The Biſhop of Lincolne being aſtoniſhed at the coueteouſnes of the Romains, cauſed the reuenues of ſtrangers to be counted, and found that they had 70000. markes, when the meere reuenues of the king was not eſteemed to the third part. And that which of all is moſt paſt ſhame and coulour of honeſtie:aaPag. 1017. the pope ſent for his factors, certaine friers dominickes and minorites, who preaching among the people and proclaiming p. 304pardons: did ſigne with the croſſe all ſorts of people, men women, & children, old, yong, ſick & whole, and by and by after for a peece of money did abſolue thē of the vow of their peregrination. Thus you ſee that the church of Rome had many waies to draw out the wealth of all the world into their coffers, and keepe the kings and people in low eſtate & great ſlauerie. For which cauſe as other nations had their ſanctions which they called Pragmaticke, ſoaaPolnd. Verg. hiſt. Angl. lib. 14. Edw. 3. Falſhood in Poperie by diſpenſations. England garded themſelues with the law of prouiſion commonly called de Praemuniri. Touching falſhood; this Romiſh religion is thereof naturally ſuch a nurſe, that no common wealth can promiſe themſelues ſafetie, where that hereſie raigneth, or where it can come neere to hauehave any medling: for if they maintaine all traitors againſt magiſtrates, and by diſpenſations make men ſhameleſſe in forſwearing and breaking promiſe: what thinke you is the domage of all Chriſtian kingdomes, or what is the priuiledge of the popiſh kingdomes? LetbbLooke the booke called Execution of iuſtice, printed 1583. & E. Meteranus hiſt. Belg. lib. 3. pag. 83. Pope Pius Quintus bull ſent againſt our Queenes moſt excellent Maieſtie, to ſtirre vp all her ſubiectes againſt her: and the manifold practiſes out of Italie, & Spaine, from time to time, againſt both Ireland and England, teſtifie: yea theccMercuri. Gallob. lib. 4. 8000. foot, 4000. horſmē. ſupplies which he ſent of ſoldiers to helpe the Duke du Meine, and the traitors of France againſt their liege Lord and king; as alſoddId. lib. 2. with mutabilitie of France, printed at London. 1597. cap. 25. the murderous and bloudie knife of Iames Clement of the order of the Dominicke friers, being bleſſed for good ſpeed by Pagorola the Popes legate, wherewith the late French**Henricus Valeſius. King being a Papiſte, was traiterouſly killed, by the conſpiracie and inſtigation of many p. 305and great popiſh traitors: may be inſtead of a thouſand witneſſes.aaHiſt. Belg. E. Meteran. lib. 3. pag. 81. Duke Alba 1569. by a publike edict forbiddeth trafficke in the low countries vntounto Engliſh men: that no man vnderunder paine of confiſcation, bring in or out merchandiſe: and that it might be the more ſharply executed, he appointed ſearchers and informers, who ſhould hauehave the one halfe of that which was confiſcated. Now all theſe were Engliſh fugitiues papiſtes, and amongſt them the chiefeſt one William Parkins had Doctor Storie for his deputie: marke heere what witneſſe this is that papiſtes are naturally traitors, moſt ſharpe againſt there natiue countrie of England, by the very nature of their religion. And beſide thisbbMercurius. Gallobelg. lib. 4. pag. 344. their ſeminaries are erected at Rome and at Rhemes, and at Valleſoletum in Spain, out of which the traiterous prieſts and Ieſuites are ſent by doſens in diuers and diſgiſed attire to ſeduce the Queenes Maieſties ſubiects from their obedience, and to diſturbe the peace of this Realme. Yet ſee a little further how this naturall popiſh falſhood in diſpenſations hath hurt the verie obedient children.ccAlbert Krant. Metropol. lib. 2 cap. 23. Lewes the third being Emperor, warred againſt one Aldalgiſus, which was of the remnant of the Lombards, and by ambuſh being taken was bound by oath neuer to beare armes againſt him any more. From this oath Iohn the 8. abſolued Lewes, who being caught againe in like manner, for the ſame cauſe loſt his eies, and in his abſence in Italie the Hungarians waſted Bauaria, Sueuia, Saxonia, and caried a verie great multitude of people captiue eſpecially out of Saxonia. An other time the p. 306aaAeneas Syluius hiſt. de Europ. cap. 5.Hungarians being Chriſtians, hauing a goodly victory againſt the Turkes, graunted to a truce of tenne yeares, vponupon the Turkes ſuite and vponupon the knowledge of their owne ſtrength, finding it better to get ſtrength in peace, then to waſte all by continuall warre: and this truce was confirmed by oath on both ſides. But the Pope Eugenius taking it grieuouſly, neuer left both by intreatie and threatning, till he had cauſed the truce to bee broken by his diſpenſation and apoſtolicall authority. But what came of this periurie. The war was renewed, and God rewarded this papall Romiſh falſhood, with a moſt lamentable effuſion of Chriſtian bloud, by a ſhamefull foile and ouerthrow by the ſame Turke.Pride in poperie by the ſupremacie. Now let vsus go a little higher, and conſider of their pride and Seraphicall tyranny. What if herein wee looke but vponupon our own countrie of England? Into what ſlauerie and bondage thinke you, hath the ſtately primacie of Rome brought this realme vntounto. Firſt let the reader bee put in mind, that HenriebbMath. Pariſ. hiſt. Angl. Hen. 2. pa. 127. the ſecond, raigning in England about Anno 1154. being deſirous to annexe the realme of Ireland vntounto the imperiall crowne of England, ſent ſolemne embaſſage to Rome to Pope Adrian, that by his licence & fauour hee might enter that Iland in hoſtile maner, that he might ſubdue it and bring thoſe beaſtly people to the faith and obedience of truth. VntoUnto which the Pope by a ſpeciall bull gaue him licence, prouided that of eueryevery houſe be paid vntounto Peter the yerely penſion of a pennie, and the foundation of this graunt in the ſaid bull is builded vponupon this, that the p. 307Pope therein moſt arrogantly, without any authoritie from God, challengeth ſaying: Sane omnes inſulas &c. Surely, all Ilands, vponupon whom the ſunne of righteouſneſſe ſhineth, & hauehave receiued the doctrine of the Chriſtian faith, without doubt doth appertain to the right of S. Peter & of the holy church of Rome. Behold a wō derfull arrogancie, & a maruellous awe of a king to a proud prelate. And not onelyonly was he thus in awe of the pope (a thing abhorrent from a free kingdome) but alſoccPag. 134. & ſo forward. Thomas Archb. of Canterbury, being one of his own ſubiects, did verie greatly curbe him. For beſide many other croſſe dealing, whereas An. 1164. the Archbiſh. Biſhops, Abbots, priors, the cleargie, Earles, Barons, and all the nobilitie, did ſweare and firmely promiſe, in the word of truth, to keepe and obſerue to the king & his heires in good ſooth, without any ill meaning for euer, ſixteene points of cuſtomes or liberties, recogniſed and acknowledged to be to him, and namely of the aunceſtors of the king, for the auoiding of diſſentions and diſcord often ariſing betweene the cleargie and the Iuſtices of the Lord the king and the peeres of the Realme which were as touching aduowſons, and preſentations of Churches, of Clearkes accuſed, or conuicted, of the going of Archbiſhops, Biſhops, &c. out of the land without the kinges licence, of excommunication and of lay men accuſed to be done by lawful and honeſt accuſers and witneſſes: that ſuch as helde of the king ſhould not bee excommunicated, or interdicted without the kinges knowledge, that appeales ſhould not go further then the Archbiſhop, p. 308without the kinges conſent: that Archbiſh. Biſhops and all perſons, holding lands of the king in Capite, ſhould hauehave their poſſeſſion as a baron and doe ſeruice therein, as other Barons accuſtomablie did and ſuch like. This Thomas after his ſolemne oath, repenting himſelfe without the kings licence or knowledge, trauelleth and maketh ſuite to the Pope of Rome, not onelyonly to be diſcharged of his oath, but to ouerthrow the whole libertie of the realme, and that againſt both the king, nobles, prelates, and the whole ſtate of the land: and of them he excommunicateth many, & cauſeth verie great diſturbance to the king and all the realme. Thereof are many appeales, diuers meetings, of cleargie, ſtates, ſometime of Cardinals, ſometime of the French king, to compound or determine the cauſe. At length by the meanes of the French king, the matter being taken vp, & Thomas ſent peaceablie home, was no ſooner warme in his ſeate, but by bulles from the Pope hee fell to excommunicate and curſe the other Biſhoppes and others who had offended him. Whereupon there was kindled ſuch indignation and wrath in the heart of certaine reſolute perſons, that becauſe hee remained obſtinate in his former croſſing of the king, as they tooke it, laid violent hands vponupon him, as vponupon the kings enemie, and ſlew him. The king hearing thereof, being much greeued, did humble himſelfe in ſackcloth and aſhes, proteſting by ſolemne oath, his ignorance and innocencie of the fact, ſending Embaſſadors to Rome of his defence & ſubmiſſion to the order of the Church, which had ſuch ſtrange p. 309entertainment, that neither the firſt nor ſecond meſſengers could come into the popes ſight, and had much adoe to keep the land from interdicting, but at the length by ſwearing that the king would ſtand to the iudgement of the Pope & his Cardinals, that great curſe was auoided. Howbeit the king although by oath he ſware earneſtly that he was not priuy nor acquainted with the fact, yet becauſe in his anger he had ſpoken ſome wordes vnaduiſedly, and had brought vp ſuch wicked ſoldiers as would be reuenged vponupon the kinges traitor the Archbiſhop, and ſo ſlew him: therefore the king for remiſſion of his ſins was enioyned by the Pope, to giuegive ſo much money as would maintaine 200. ſoldiers a yeare, and ſuffer appeales, and let go all his cuſtomes and liberties of his anceſtors, before ſpoken of, and recogniſed by oath of all his ſubiects. And after this (a thing not be ſeeming any Chriſtian, much leſſe a king) returning into England, and comming neere to the cittie of Canterburie, he alighted from his horſe, and putting off all kingly maieſtie, barefoote like a pilgrim penitent and ſupplyant with ſighes, groanes, and teares, he commeth to the tombe of this Thomas, & caſting himſelfe downe in all his bodie, & ſpreading his hands to heauen, remained in praiers, and after other popiſh ceremonies, becauſe of his vnaduiſed words, he tooke vponupon him this penance: hee asked abſolution of the Biſhops then and there preſent, & laying open his naked skin to the diſcipline of rods, he receiued of euerie religious man, whereof there was a great multitude, three or fiue ierkes. Let any wiſe man knowing the word of God, conſider whether p. 310this were not a ſhamefull ſlauerie both of body, ſoule, king and kingdome.aaMath. Paris. hiſt. Ang. pag. 254. The king appealeth from his ſubiect. King Richard the firſt, going about to fortefie the out borders of his countrie in Normandie, was maruellouſly confounded and ouerſtreightned, by the Archb. of Roan his ſubiect: Who therefore interdicted all the countrie, ſo that mens bodies being dead, lay vnburied in the ſtreetes of the cities and villages, very greatly annoying the liuing with their ſtinch: yet had the king no way to relieue himſelfe, but by appeale to the court of Rome (loe here the king appealeth from his ſubiect) by whom it was ordered, that by exchange of ſo much for ſo much, as belonged to the Archb. & chapter of Roan the interdiction was ſtaied, and the Archbiſhop appeaſed toward the king. And who hath not heard of the vnſpeakeable thraldome that king Iohn was wrapped in, becauſe hee allowed not the choiſe of an Archbiſhop made by the pope without his conſent, but vſed his royall authoritie againſt them which agreed to ſuch choiſe, wherein his Maieſtie was excluded. Firſt his land was accurſed ſo that no Churches opened to their manner of ſeruice. Secondly he was excommunicated and laſtly depoſed of his kingdome, and his kingdome giuen to the French King to winne from him by force of armes. And by this he was driuen to commit himſelfe to the Popes pleaſure, and to reſigne his crowne and kingdome into the Popes hands, & receiued it againe in fee, and vnderunder homage, paying a thouſand markes yearely, & ſwearing himſelfe the Popes vaſſall for euer. What a lamentable caſe was it in England, whenbbMathew Paris. hiſtor. Ang. pag. 703. king Henrie the third, being p. 311humblie moued by his ſubiectes, to ſtand vponupon his priuiledge, that his people ſhould not bee made a pray to the Romiſh exactions: did anſwere directly and ſay: Neither will I, neither dare I gainſay the Pope in any thing. But moſt wofull is that which isccPag. 10.15. reported of Fredericke the Emperour, being ſo outragiouſly toſſed, and turmoiled by the Pope, that hee did moſt comfortleſſe lament, moſt plentifully and bitterly weepe and his eyes did runne with teares, which was a miſerable ſight in a man of ſo great authoritie and age: who bewailing and wringing his hands he ſaid: Woe bee vntounto me, againſt whom mine owne bowels doe fight: Peter whom I beleeued to bee the rocke and the halfe of my ſoule, hath prepared for mee the ſnares of death. Behold the Lord Pope, whom the Empire vnderunder my noble aunceſtors hath created and enriched of nothing, goeth about to pull downe the ſame, & deuiſeth the deſtruction of mee, who am ruler of the ſame Empire now readie to fall. Whom ſhall I truſt? where may I bee ſafe, where ioyfull hereafter? &c. And thus did that angelicall pride, ſo batter and bring downe the ciuill power and dominion in all places, that it is a moſt manifeſt thing, that in the time of Luther (ddReade Iohn Sleid. coment. lib. 14. as he verie wiſely and truely noteth) the doctrine of the magiſtrates office and his authoritie, was as it were dead and buried: and all power and dominion ſtole from them by this moſt horrible Apoſtaticall ſea of Rome. And that no maruell, for it is ^e ſaid of Pope Boniface the eight,Albert. Krant. Metropol. lib. 2. cap. 2. that the round worlde was not bigge inough for his mind, who put on his head, the pontificiall and imperiall myter, p. 312teſtifying that both ſwords were in his hands. What ſhall we ſay then? If that poperie be naturally ſuch a nurſe and mother of all kind of ſinne, fornication, whoredome and all filthineſſe, treacherie, rebellion, contention, war, murder, oppreſſion, and all kind of crueltie: if it weaken all common wealthes, by exactions, extortions, vſurpation, and arrogancie, and open the gate to all villanie and falſhood, by diſpenſations and ſanctuaries, and make all authority of the ciuill magiſtrate of moſt vile eſtimation, and without reputation, vſe and profit to Gods people: leading all ſorts of men into moſt vile ſlauerie of filthie idolatrie and humane inconſtancie, let their owne mouth be iudge againſt themſelues. For thus Pope pius the ſecond ſaith,Aeneas Syluius ex hiſtor. Bohemica. Vana eſt religio quae ſceleri locum facit: Vaine is that religion, which is a maintainer of wickedneſſe: which if all papiſtes would conſider, how it agreeth with poperie (whereof I hauehave giuen them heere a little light) they would quickly forſake that houſe of vanities & tower of confuſion.

3 I would then demand of any honeſt man and wiſe Chriſtian, who feared God and beleeued in Ieſus Chriſt, and did looke for his appearing and the laſt iudgement, how that wee of the true religion, now publikely taught and profeſſed in England, could bee made to like of the popiſh ſeruice, to bee tollerated or winked at in our countrie, or that wee could find a way to reconcile both religions? whether it were not, as if one imagine, that life & death, water and fire, light and darkneſſe, hell, and heauen, might reioyce and comfort each other. For it is not poſſible for a true Chriſtian proteſtant to hauehave peace p. 313ioy or comfort, in the fellowſhip of a true hereticall papiſt: they are in all things as is aforeſaid ſo contrarie. What mixture is there of the feet that are partly Iron and partly earth: ſo is the euerlaſting, moſt ancient and vnchangeable faith of Gods elect profeſſed in England, likely to agree with the earthly new borne ſuperſtition of the Romiſh ſinagogue. Set me the beleeuer and the infidell, the true Chriſtian and the hereticke in one fraternitie, how will they agree? Euen as Cain was kind to Abell, & Iſmael honored Iſaack, & Eſau ſought the ſafetie of Iacob, and Saul loued Daued, ſo will the papiſts be kind and faithful vntounto vsus. And let all men know, that when God hath ſaid, I will put enmitie betweene the ſeed of the woman, & the ſeed of the ſerpent. There can bee no peace nor reconciliation betweene vsus. It had need bee a verie fine wit, (but certeſſe no wiſe man) who can ſhewe how theſe may agree: one ſaith thou art Antechriſt, and the other anſwereth, thou art an hereticke: this man ſaith, thou art an idolater; the other ſaith to him againe, thou art a ſchiſmaticke: the one abhorreth all images, pardons, purgatories, merites, ſacrifices, monkerie, latine ſeruice &c. The other hath all his hartes delight in them, and careth not what murder he commit, to maintain ſuch trumperie. Can theſe agree or bee reconciled? The perſecutions, priſons, burnings, war, murders, maſſacries, villanies, and cruelties, which now hauehave continued & daily be practiſed by that ſea of Rome, in all ages and countries, do warrant a miſerable peace & reconciliation. They may lye, ſweare, and forſweare, kill and rebel, and do any thing for aduantage, and yet by abſolution, pardon p. 314or diſpenſation be holy children. They may diſſemble & pretend contentment and obedience (as they are not aſhamed to profeſſe) vntill they bee ſtrong inough to ouercome, & for aduantage, breake promiſe & catch at all occaſions: in what caſe are we if we ſhould truſt them to aſſemble together? Think we that if they might hauehave but the leaſt entrance or tolleration, that they would not quickly frame ſome great miſchiefe, which now continually labour with ſuch plots of treacherie to vndermine the ſtate: notwithſtanding that lawes are in ſome meaſure (God be thanked) preſſed vponupon them: and the eyes of many wiſe counſellors watch ouer them and preuent them. Ciuil men and politicians know, that it is dangerous to hauehave a naturall enemie neere thee, and that leagues and agreement amongſt enemies and with the wicked, are but baites, ſnares and nettes to deſtroy thee: ſo much more is it impoſſible that a Chriſtian common wealth can hauehave any good by tollerating of Antechriſtian obſeruations or doctrine, except to make them to be goads in their ſides, & pricks in their eyes, alwaies readie to riſe vp againſt them vntounto miſchiefe: as the Cananites were vntounto Iſrael. As a Wolfe will play with a lambe, and a Foxe with a Gooſe, and a Lion with a Kidde: ſo may all they which feare God, & beleeue to bee ſaued by onelyonly faith in Chriſt, abhorring idols and louing the right and iuſt authoritie of the magiſtrate, find fauour and peace at the handes of papiſtes, if once they wincke at their religion. For (though I ſay nothing of Gods hand, which is alway heauie againſt his Church, when they are friends with idolaters) wee hauehave too p. 315many hundred yeares experience, what this new religion of poperie hath brought into this world, and how ſolitarie it hath made the tents of Gods Saints. I verily thinke, that no Chriſtian prince, knowing his owne right from God, and the vncertainty of his ſtanding vnderunder that ſcarlet whore: that (if he hauehave any courage or power in his handes) will giuegive any countenance to ſuch as hee vndoubtedly knoweth will neuer bee faithfull, but alway vndermine his eſtate, & bring his life in hazard.

4 And ſithence we hauehave had now aboue fortie yeares triall of the ſound truth of the Goſpell, and of Gods notable hand in protecting and defending the ſtate of this land receiuing and embracing the ſame all this while, againſt moſt ſtrong force, & verie many maruellous cunning treaſons: how wonderfully he hath bleſſed vsus with peace and proſperitie, and made vsus ſo much the more happie, by how much our enemies hauehave laboured moſt wiſely & ſtrongly againſt vsus: he hath made the windes and ſeas to fight for vsus: & the Popes curſe hath he manifoldly turned vponupon his owne heade, and his abettors hauehave neuer proſpered: and in all things the Lord declared himſelfe to bee our God, by multiplying our peace and the daies of our gracious prince, in all perils ſtanding by her as his deare handmaide: wee may boldly ſay that the more we bee eſtranged from poperie: the neerer we are & the dearer vntounto the Lord our God, and the leſſe agreement we hauehave with the popiſh apoſtaſie, the more his grace, mercies, goodnes, and ſhielding power doth watch ouer vsus to feed, to foſter, to keepe & deliuer vsus. Therefore we Chriſtians, p. 316who hauehave bin begotten with the pure ſeed of Gods holy word, and felt & found moſt ſweet and ſound nouriſhment by that ſincere milke, vnderunder the moſt gracious happie and proſperous raigne of the Lords bleſſed annointed ſeruant Elizabeth our liege Ladie and Queene, and knowing what occaſions to godlineſſe, aboundance of peace and wealth, and ioyfull libertie of bodie and ſoule, wee hauehave had and enioyed, cannot ceaſe night nor day to praiſe God for his bleſſing and merciemercy, which wee hauehave had in and by her moſt conſtant faith and godly raigne: continually praying his diuine goodnes, to encreaſe his bleſſings and graces vponupon her both bodily and ghoſtly, to ſtrengthen and enlarge her heart, in all Chriſtian vertues, princely wiſedome and courage, to defend her againſt all her enemies: and prolong her daies more and more, in all ioy, honour, wealth proſperity and heauenly comfort in Chriſt: to his owne glory & the dailie good of his Church and this realme of England: euen for Ieſus Chriſtes ſake: To whom be praiſe & glory for euer, Amen.

FINIS.

Faults eſcaped in the printing.

What other Faults good Reader that the Corrector hath let paſt, let me entreat thee to mend with thy pen, as well as theſe.

End of the text · Josias Nichols, Abrahams Faith (1602)