The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of religion 29
Reaſon of Religion. 29 29. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religiō ▪ whichaAct 2 beginning at[a]Popery be gan at Rome, not at Rome, not at Hieruſalem. leruſalem, hath as a river through the length of her courſe ever more and more increaſed, & ſpreade it ſelfe, as it was propheſied that the[b]But Popery hath no cō munion with this. Church of Chriſt ſhould,bPſal. 2.8. I will giuegive thee (ſaith God the Father to God the Sonne) nations to thine inheritance (which is his Church) and the ends of the earth to thy poſſeſſion: cEſay 2 2.All nations hall run vntounto her. dDan. 7.14.All people, tribes, and tongues ſhall ſerue him. eEſay 60.10The ſonnes of ſtrangers (that is of the Gentiles) ſhall build vp her wals, and their Kings doe ſervice vntounto her. Now that theſe, and innumerable other like predictions and propheſies are only found true, & fulfilled in[c]Not thoſe predictions, but theſe rather. Shee hath made al nations drunken, &c. our Catholicke Roman Church & Religion, both the ſeverall cōverſions of nations vntounto her, & the infinit multitude diſperſed every-where of her beleeuers, do, as nothing can more, clearely teſtifie: And how greatly it ſpred it ſelfe, even when[d]True Chriſtian Religiō, not Poperie. it firſt put forth after the death of our Saviour, it appeares by the ſeverall people and nations, to whom S. Paul directed particular Epiſtles, namely, the Romans, Corinthians, Galathians, Epheſians, Philippians, Coleſſians, Theſſalonians, Hebr…wes, by miſſion of the Apoſtles into all quarters of the world to preach the ſame, by S. Peter, writing to the Iewes diſperſed in Pontus. Galatia. Cappadocia, Aſia, and Bithynia, by the contents of the 2. and 4. Chapters of the Acts of the Apoſtles, where the converſion of 8000. is ſpecified through two Sermons preached by S. Peter. Likewiſe what ample, & moſt mervailous increaſe it tooke afterward in the ſecond age,aJn dialago c… Tryph. Juſtinus Philoſophus, bLib 1. cap. 3.Jreneus, &cJn Apolog ca. 37 & adverſ. Iudaeos c. 7 & 8 Tertullian do witneſſe. And ſo dothdDe vit. Philoſop. in Aedeſ. Eunapius Sardianus a prophane writer, and enemy of Chriſtian Religion,eVit. Conſtantini lib. 3. ca. 24 & ſeq &c. vit. Euſebius, fLib. 1. cap. 12.Socrates with others for the thirde age.
And touching the ſucceeding Centuries, to the end it may appeare how[e]Falſe. our Catholike religiō did in every age ſpread & dilate it ſelfe according to the former prophecies, we will recite a few of many Nations that were converted in every Coūtrey to the ſame.
In the fourth age were converted the[f]Theſe were converted to S. Paulinus epiſt. Beſſites, Dacians, Getes, and Seythians bygS. Pauſinus de reditu Nicetae in Dac. S. Nicetas Biſhop of Dacia to the Catholick Roman faith. The Morins, & Nervians byh26. Victricius Biſhop of Roan. And within the compaſſe of this centurylEpiſt. 3. S. Hierome alſo writeth that other Nations were cōverted, as the Armenians & Huns, addingkIdem epiſt. 7. that troops of Monks came dayly from India, Perſia, and Aethiopia vntounto him.
Chriſtianitie, not to Popery.
In the fifth age the Saracens bylCyrillus in vita S. Euthy mij apud Metaphraſten die 20 Ianu. S. Euthymius Monke, and Aſpebetus. ThemSocrates li. 7. cap. 30. Burgundians vponupon this motiue of ſeeing Gods eſpeciall and moſt ſingular favours and protection towards the Roman Chriſtian Monarchie in times of diſtreſſe. TheaProſper adverſus collatorem in fine. Scots by Palladius, ſentbA.D. 429. by Pope Caeleſtine, the FrēchcGreg. Turon. de geſtis Franc. lib. 2. cap. 31. by S. Remigius Biſhop of Reims, anddAlbin Flac. circiter A.D. 499. S. Vedaſtus Biſhop of Arras.
In the ſixth age theeA. D. 565. Northerne Picts byfBeda de geſt. Angl lib. 3. ca. 4 S. Columbus Abbot. ThegA.D. 589. Goths byhGreg. Turonen Hist. Fran. lib. 8. ca. 41. Leander Biſhop of Sevil. TheiA. D. 590. Bavarians bykA D. 594. Rupertus Biſhop of Worms. ThelGreg. epiſt. li. 3. c. 29. & 27. Barbaricinians bymA. D. 596. Foelix Biſhop, and Cyriacus Abbot. ThenBeda de geſt. Angl lib. 1 cap 23. Engliſh by S. Auguſtine, a Benedictine Monke, ſent by Pope Gregory the Great.
In the 7. age, the Flemings byoIaco. Mayer in Chron. Flandriae 649. Eligius: the Weſtphalians by thepFaſciculus temporum. two Evaldes, after honored with the crowne of martyrdome: multitudes of Spanyards byqVolaterranus li. 21 & Vincē tius lib. 23. cap. 92. S. Andonius, chiefly through the miracle he wrought in calling ſtore of raine from heauen by his prayers, when in ſeauē years before there had fallen none in that place: The people of Franconia byrSigibertus in Chronico. 688. Chilianus ſent by Pope Cuno: and the Friſians byſTrithemius de Regib. Francorum. 696. S. Willibrode an Engliſh man, imployed in that holy worke by Pipin King of France, and Pope Sergius the firſt.
In the eight age, thetHedio lib. 6. cap. 17. Haſſites. uChronic. Iſanacenſe.Thuringians, xMutius lib 7. & Hartmannus Schedelin Chro. aetate 6.Erphordians andyWillibaldus in vita Bonifacij 722. Cattians by S Boniface, an Engliſh Monke: the Lumbards by Sebaldus zHartmannus vhi ſupra.ſent by Pope Gregorie the ſecond. The Iewes of the Citie of Berythum … by the bleeding of a Crucifix, which the ſaid Iewes had cōtumeliouſly ſtabbed and the blood wherof cured all diſeaſes. The two Saxon Dukes,Crantzius in metrop. lib. 1. ca 9 & Magde cent 8. tit. de Propagat. 785. Witekindus 01 and Albion, by a miraculous ſight which Witekindus ſawe whilſt he was but in a new and doubtfull diſpoſition of becomming Chriſtian, to wit, a f…ire childe deſcending frō the Prieſts hands into the mouthes of the receiuers, when, celebrating Maſſe, hee delivered the ſacrament of the Altar to Communicants.
Witekindus Crantzius in metrop. lib. 1. ca 9 & Magde cent 8. tit. de Propagat. 785.ſaw this viſion at Wolmerstadium on the feaſt of Eaſter, when the Campe of Carolus magnus lay there.
In the ninth age, theaAdamus lib 1. ca. 16. & 17 & Crantzius in metrop. lib 1. cap 19.826. Danes, and Suethens, by S. Auſgratius Monk thebBiondus Fla. Dec 2 l. 2 840. Bulgarians by S. Joannicius: thecHelmoidus li. 1. cap. 6. & lib. 2 cap. 12. in hist Sclau. & Cedrenus. 875. Rugians by the Monkes of Corbeia. thedTheodomarus Fpiſcopus Juvanienſis ad Ioannem Pontificem. Moravians, by Withungum: theeZonaras tom. 3. Rhoſſits vponupon the evidence of the mira cle enſ…ing. They demaunded of the Prieſt, whom their Emperour Baſilius Macedo ſent vntounto thē to teach them the Chriſtian Catholike faith, by what powerfull and divine ſigne, he would witneſſe the truth of his doctrine. The ſigne was, that if the booke wherin the ſaid doctrine was written ſhould not burne being caſt into the fire, then they al with one accord would preſently beleeue and receiue his doctrine. A great fire was made, & the Prieſt putting the book (which was the holy Bible) into the midſt therof, ſaid with a lowd voice, Glorifica nomen tuum Chriſte Deus, Chriſt our God glorifie thy holy name. The flames gaue place to the booke, and the booke lay ſo long in the fire as the people themſelues thought meete, and when it was taken out, it appeared ſound, whole, & no one leafe either ſcorched or blemiſhed.
In the tenth age the Polonians bylCromerus, & alij de reb. Polonorū. 965. Aegidius Tuſeulanus, fAdamus l 2. c 78.10.11. & Ditmarus chron. lib. 2.971.and others ſent by Pope John the 13. The Selavonians bygA.D. 989 h Cartuitias in vita Steph. Hungar. reg. c. 1.2. & 3. Aeneas Sylvius Hiſt. Bohem. cap l 16. S. Adelbert, and the Hungarians byiAen…as Sylvius. another Adelbert ſurnamed their Apoſtle
In the eleventh age thekA. D. 1106. Bozius lib 4 cap. 5. Vindians, and multitudes of Pruſſians, be ſide the reclaiming of the lapſedlCirciter A D. 1150. Ranulph. l. 4 c. 22 Hungarians.
In the twelfth age, the Pomeranians, the Norvegians, by Nicholas an Engliſh Moncke employed in that holy worke, by Pope Eugenius the third. The which Nicholas was afterward choſen Pope of Rome, and named Hadrian the ſouth, and gaue the dominion of Ireland to King Hen… 2 wi…h co…driō of propagating the Chriſtian faith there;Stowin anno 7. Henrici 2. of preſerving the rights of the Church entire, and inviolated, and of paying a yeerely penſion of a penny for every houſe in the Kingdome.
In the 13. age. theaAnno Dom. 12 5. Li…onians, bybCran…zius lib 7 cap. 13. … Medardes, thecAnno Dom. 1230. L…tuanians bydMartinus Chromer lib. 8. the knightes of S. Marie, theeAnno Dom. 1270. Sabellicus, & Guilielmus de Nangiaco. Emperour Caſſanes with it numerable Tar…arians.
In the fouretenth age,fAnno Dom. 1300. Niceph. Gregor. Hiſtor. lib. 4. Azatines Emperour of the Turkes, the Iſles of the Canaries, thegAn. Dom. 1344 B…zius lib 4 cap. 5. revolted Lituanians, thehAnno Dom 1346 Sebaſtianus Munſterus in Coſmograph. Cumans the Boſnians, the Lipnenſians, the Patrianians & other Sclavonian nations, by …ope Clement the 6. and Leves king of Hungary.
In the ſifteenth age, theiAnno Dom 1350 Michael Rit lib. 2. Bonfin. deca. 2. lib. 10. Same getians the kingdomes of Bentonine Guinea Angola, andkAnno Dom. 14…2. Martin. Chrom. li 18. Congo.
In the ſixteenth & laſt age, to ſpeake ingenerall, without deſcending to any particulars, more provinces, Nations, and numbers of rich Kingdomes, and Empires, were brought to the knowledge of Chriſt, & embracing the Catholike Romane fa…th, by the labors of thegIudas and other reprobates may preach the Goſpel, yea & worke miracles in Chriſts name. Mat. 7.22. Dominican and Franciſcan Friers, and the Fathers of the ſociet…e of Ieſus, God atteſting his cauſe & truth by ſeveral miracles, then all Chriſtendome twice, yea, perhaps more then thrice told contained before: which, beſide the record of all Coſmographies, and Hiſtories of this ſubiect, may plainly be demonſtrated in that, before the laſt Centenarie, or not many yeeres different, the Chriſtian Religion extended not it ſelfe beyond the river Ganges Eaſtward, and the Iſles of the Canaries in the Weſt, which ſcope and ſpace is counted no more then of an hundred & twenty degrees; but the circuite of the world which is now ſailed, & every, or moſt where portes of Chriſtians found therin, is of three hundred and three ſcore degrees, wh…ch is full out thrice as much.
The fewe precedents (moſt renowned Prince) collected out of many that might be added, do very cleerely ſhew, not only that the aboue rehearſed, end other prophecies, & promiſes of God of dilating the place of his Tentes, and of ſpreading out the curtaines of his Tabernacle. Eſa. 54.2. that is the boundes of his Church (Chriſts Spouſe and tempora Kingdome) are to the e…e fulfilled, in the encreaſing ſocieties, and continuance ofhBegging of the queſtion. our religion, but that alſo the Word of wiſedome, and the Word of knowledge (graces given by the t…ſt…monies of ſaint Paule, 1 Cor. 12 8. in the Church, by the holy Ghoſt, to the profit of others) hauehave their reſidences in thelProue that. teache…s of …ur religion, and …hat in how eminent and moſt powerfull man…er, the converſion of the former Nations beareth moſt apparant witneſſe, …or there can be no doubt made but that ſome, if not the moſt part of the foreſaide Nations and ſorts of people, were of excellent dexterity and iudgment, & therefore very vnlike that they were ledde away, eſpecially from the religion and ri…es they were bred & borne in, without ſtore of ſolide & ſubſtantiall reaſons mouing them therevnto. And it is as little queſtionable, whether ſome of them were not alſo of a knotty, vntractable or vntameable nature▪ of a prowde, obſtinate and hawty diſpoſition, drowned in vncleanes, and delighting in the varieties of liberty: lets and ſtrongeſt impeachments of embracing the diſcipline, purenes & auſterity of ourkPopiſh Antichriſtian ſuperſtition. Chriſtian Catholike religiō: and the conquering of them a plaine demonſtration that their Coverters (all ſtout profeſſours of the Romane religion) taught that doctrine, which the Prophet calleth a law, converting ſoules: and the Apoſtle, the liuely and forcible word, more piercing then anie two edged ſword. Pſ. 18.8. Heb. 4.12. Likewiſe that they fought not with the leather ſheath, the letter onelyonly of Scripture, but with the letter & true ſenſe, which onelyonly is the Sword of the ſpirit, that reacheth vntounto the diviſion of the ſoule. Eph. 6 17 Heb. 4 12. The bright Candel (Luk. 11.37.) that illuminateth thoſe that ſit in darknes. Luk. 1.79. And the ſeede to which God promiſeth to giveraine for the rich fructifying thereof Eſa. 30.23. And finally, that they were alſo true imitators of the Apoſtles in doctrine and office, as becomming Fiſhers of men. Matth 4 16 & Mark. 1.17. drawing them out of the Sea of infidelity, into the harbour of Chriſtianity, a badge or attribute giuen to the Apoſtles, and verified in none but in Catholike teachers Neither did thē, nor doth now the word of wiſdome & knowledge 1 Cor 12 8. (a gift proper to Gods Church) worke in our Catholike teachers vponupon Infidels onelyonly, but the ſame extended and ſtill extendeth his power & divine …fficacie to the bringing forth of as rare or more rare effectes, vponupon beleeving Chriſtians, namely, in exciting men and women of all ages & eſtates, evenaBambaTheſe foreſooke their lawfull vocation, and reſigned their power to the Beaſt. Apo. 17.17. King of Spaine, Hugo King of Province▪ Rachis King of Lombardie. Sigiſmundus King of Burgundie. Veremundus King of Caſtile. Ranimirus King of Aragon. Ethelred, and Keneredus Kings of Mercia. Sigebert Alfred. Ceolulphus. Egbert Kings of Northumberland. Sebba, Offa, and Jna Kings of England. Henrie the fourth, King of Denmarke. Carlomannus King of Almaine. Trebellius King of Bulgarie. Cazimirus King of Poland, and others Kings,bRadegund Queene of Fraunce Margares Queen of Frace-Briget Queen of Sueden. Etheldreda Queene of Northumber. Sexbi…ga. Ethelburga. Q Q of Weſt-ſaxons, & others. Queenes,cLotharius Earle of Romans, & others. Emperours,dRichardix wife of Carolus Craſsus Emperour. Chune gundie wife of Henrie Emperour and others. & Empereſſes,lThey meane plainely to, become Moonkes & Nunnes; a true effect of Popiſh ſuperſtition, and the broade way to Hell. to relinquniſh the worlde, renounce the pleaſures & delights thereof and devote and binde themſelues to a poore, chaſt, and obedient life, vnderunder the commaund & direction of others: Of which,mTheſe be the ſwarmes of Locustes, that came out of the ſmoke of the bottomleſſe pit. Apoc. 9. religious companies ſome eate noſt ſhe but in time of ſickenes only, or other neceſſity, and obſerve both ſilence, and ſolitarines, as do the Benedictines; ſome never eate fleſhe at all, weare alwaies ſhirts of haire, goe not forth of their Cloyſters, nor ſpeake to their fellowes but with leaue, as do the Carthuſians: ſome neither eate fleſh, egs, nor whitmeates, & faſt three parts of the yeere, as do the Bonhomes; SomenHoly Hypocrites. diſcipline themſelues ſundrie times in the weeke, or daily, goe barefoote, touch no money, hauehave nothing in proper or in common, and beg their food from d…re to dore▪ as do the Capucines: ſome attend the ſicke in all diſeaſes, aſſiſt them with ghoſtly counſell, provide them Sacraments, & burie their deade bodies as do certaine fraternities: ſome clenſe vlcers, and feſtered ſoares, nor refuſe any office, how baſe & loathſome ſoever about impotēt criples & lazars, as do the Nūnes of S. Elizabeths order: And al theſe, with other divers orders, that after another māner labor to mortifie thēſelues, & do good to others, lie vponupon no other beds but of ſtraw, riſe at midnight, ſleepe little, & ſpend much time in praier, & meditation. Which are no conditions of life, that eitheraRom. 13.14. make proviſion for the fleſh in concupiſcences, orbGalat. 5.16. do ſeeke to accompliſh the deſires, orcTisus 3.3. ſerue the voluptuouſnes thereof (ſinnes which the Apoſtle forbiddeth) but rather formes[o]Will-worſhip, condemned Col. 2 23. of life thatdGalat. 5 24. crucifie the fleſh, with her vices, and concupiſcences, doeGalat. 2.19. naile them to the Croſſe with Christ, & render bothfGalat. 6.14. the world crucifide to thoſe that ſo liue, and them to the world. Vertues which by the teſtimonie of the ApoſtlegGalat. 5.24. make their dooers the ſervants of Chriſt, andhGalat. 2.20. to liue now not they, but Chriſt in them Effects of no falſe Religion.
Reſolution of the 29. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion beginning at Hieruſalens, increaſed and ſpread is ſelfe into all nations.
Ergo:
Popiſh Religion is true, and to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I To the Antecedent.
1 AS the Divell, the eaſier to deceiue, beeing tranſformed into an Angell of light, arrogateth vntounto himſelfe thoſe things which belong vntounto GOD: Even ſo doeth his Church, that great whore which ſi…teth vponupon the ſcarlet coloured beaſt with a cup of gold in her hand ful of abominations and filthines of her fornication; that deceaveth the Kings, and the inhabitants of the earth, challenge vntounto her ſelfe the titles and rights of Chriſts true Church: whereas in deed ſhee is great Babylon that mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth. Apoc. 17.4.5.
2 Popiſh Religion did not beginne at Hieruſalem, but at Rome, that great citty vponupon ſeaven hils, where Antichriſt wrought the myſterie of iniquity.
3 The Prophecies concerning Chriſts Church, how that ſome of all nations, & people, & tribes, and tongues ſhould flocke vntounto her, do not belong vntounto the Popiſh Church; for none ſhall flocke vntounto her but ſuch, whoſe names are not written in the booke of life. Apoc. 17.8.
4 It was not vntounto Popery, that the Nations were cō verted, but vntounto the true Chriſtian religion, wherewith Popery hath no communion.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 IF Popiſhe religion had begunne at Hieruſalem, yet were it not true Religion; becauſe it loſt the ſinceritie of doctrine which was profeſſed and taught at Hieruſalem.
2 If Popery were ſo ample, as the Suppliāts make their brags, it were not therefore true: for never was Popery of ſo many nations ſo vniverſally received, as gentiliſme was.
3 Seeing the Whore of Babylon ſhould ſitte vponupon manie waters (that is, rule over many people) and cauſe the Kings and nations of the earth, to be drunke with the wine of her fornication, as it is Apoc. 17. who ſeeth not that even Antichriſtian Papiſtrie may be countenanced with great ſhew of vniverſalit…e?
4 For our partes, wee had rather enter into the Arke with eight perſons Geneſ. 7. ſo to be ſaved: then to refuſe ſo to doe with all the world beſides, and ſo to be drowned. We had rather ſhe out of Sodom with two or three, Geneſ. 19. then with all the reſt to ſtay there, and to be deſtroied with fire and brimſtone. Wee had rather enter in at the ſtraight gate to life everlaſting, though fewe goe that way, Luk 13. then with the Papiſts, walke the broad way which leadeth to deſtruction.