The Papists Reasons of State and Religion, Reason of religion 5 – Reason of religion 9
5. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religion, that hathaThis is no argumēt to prove it true religion; for it is ſaide that Antichriſt ſhal prevaile &c. 488. after Prateolus accoūt confuted and outlaſted ſeverall hundreds of hereſies, which manifoldly divided in themſelues, did yet ever giuegive hands to the overthrowe of this one, but never foundbVntruth. other rocke than it, on which they were broken, or tooke their confuſion by. Which ſeemeth infa libly to demonſtrate, That the weapons of our cThey adde vntounto the text. 2. Cor. 10.4.Churches warrefare, are not carnall, but (as Saint Paul writeth of thedAnd cōſequētly not of theirs. true doctrine) mighty to God, vntounto the deſtruction of munitions, deſtroying Counſels, and all loferneſſe extolling it ſelfe againſt the knowledge of God; And that our Church and Religion, ever conquering their oppoſitors, & neuer conquered byeVntruth, as is manifeſt by ſo many kingdoms which lefte Poperie. them, is that kingdome which the Prophet ſaith,*Dan. 2.44. Shall breake in peeces and conſume all other kingdomes, & it ſelfe ſtand for ever.
Reſolution of the 5. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion hath confuted and outlaſted ſeverall hundreds of hereſies.
Ergo:
It is true Religion, and therefore to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I To the Antecedent.
POpiſh Religion, hath not confuted hereſies, but hath embraced ſome piece or other, of every not orious hereſie, that hath infeſted the Primitiue Church; to make vp the whole and intire body of Antichriſtian Doctrines So that Poperie may be iuſtly tearmed, an Epitome of Hereſies.
1 The Patriarke and ringleader of all Heretiks, was Simon Magus, Irenae. lib. 3. in Praefat. of whom mention is made in the Acts of the Apoſtles; that he thought it no ſinne, to buy the gifts of the holy Ghoſt. Act. 8.9.10, &c. to whom alſo is adſcribed the vſe of exorciſmes. Irenae. lib. 1. cap 30. The Papiſts in like manner buy and ſel ſpirituall things for mony, Baptiſt. Mant. lib. 3. de Calamit. temp. & vſe to exorciſe, not onelyonly intelligent, but alſo brute and ſenſeleſſe creatures, as water, oile, ſalt, herbs, candles, &c. Diſt. 21. cap. 1. Cleros.
2 The Diſciples of Simon Magus, whom Irenaeus termeth the fore-runners of Antichriſt. Iren. lib. 1. ca. 8. proſtrated themſelues before images; and worſhipped thē with odoriferous perfumes, incenſe, and offerings. Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. lib. 2. cap. 12. Ederus in Babyl. pag. 5. which thing is notoriouſly knowne to be practiſed by the Papiſtes.
3 Againe, the Simonians bragged much of their vnwritten verities, & whē they were reproved by the Scriptures, they accuſed them, as if they were not right, nor of auctoritie, that they were diverſely ſpoken, and ſo to bee interpreted, and that by them the truth could not be foūd out by thoſe, that are ignorant of tradition. Iren. lib. 1. c. 1. & lib. 3. cap. 2, which alſo is written of other Heretikes, as the Sethians, Epiphan. Haereſ. 39. the Archontikes. Epiphan. Haereſ. 40. the Severians, Epiphan. Haereſ 45. the Encratites. Epiph. Haereſ. 47. and the Bardeſaniſtes, Epiph. Haereſ. 56. Alſo, Artemon. Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. li. 5. cap. 28. Baſilides, Valentinus, the Marcioniſtes, Clem. Alexand. lib. 7. Strom. pag. 353. the Carpocratianes, Iren. lib. 1. c. 24. Ptolemaeus. Epiph. Haereſ. 33. Arrius, Athanaſ. Orat. 2. contra Arrianos p. 124. Secrat. lib. 1. Hiſt. Eccl. cap. 6. & Eutyches, Concil. Chalcedon. Act. 1. vaunted, that their doctrine was very auncient, receaved by tradition from the Apoſtles, and continued vntounto that day, by not-interrupted Succeſſion. Theſe ſhiftes alſo the Papiſtes have embraced. For, ſeeing that they cannot ſtand by the Scriptures, they flee vntounto Traditions and vnwritten verities, and accuſe the Scriptures of vncertainty, inſufficiency, want of auctority &c. iuſt as the olde Heretiques did.
4 The Papiſtes have learned Extreame Vnction of the Valentinians, Irenae. lib. 1. cap. 18. and of the Heracleonites: Aug. lib. de. Haereſ cap. 16. Epiph. Haereſ. 36. their Orders and quiets of Angells of the Archontikes. Epiph. Haereſ. 40. the worſhipping of Angels of the Angeliſts, and Caians, Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 39. the vſe and worſhipping of Images of the Carpocratians. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 24. Epiph. Haereſ. 27. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 7. the worſhipping and adoration of the Virgin Mary of the Collitidians, Epiph. Haereſ. 79. The veneration and worſhippe of the croſſe, of the Armenians, Niceph lib 18. cap. 45. the Baptiſme of women, of Marcion, Epiph. Haereſ. 42. the inſufficiency of the Scriptures, the lawes of faſting, Purgatorie, Limbus Patrum, of Montanus. Epiph. Haereſ. 48. Appollonius apud Euſeb. lib. 5. Hiſt. Eccl. cap. 17.18. Tertull. lib. 4. de Anima. in fi. & lib. de Coron. Milit. & lib. adverſus Praxaeam: Reliques, of the Sampſeaans Epiph. Haereſ 53. voluntary poverty, and ſingle life of Prieſtes, of the Apoſtoliques. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 40. Epiph. Haereſ. 61.
5 With the Ebionites, the Papiſtes will not be iuſtified by faith only, Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. lib. 3 cap. 24 but alſo by their owne workes and inherent righteouſnes, as the Cathariſtes or Puntanes hauehave taught them. Iſodor. Etymolog. lib. 8. cap. 4. de Haereſ.
6 The Pelagians held that Adams ſione was not propagated into the Poſterity, but only in reſpect of the guilte; that Children are borne without originall ſin; that concupiſcence was in man before the fall: that man may ſatisfie the law of GOD in this life; that man after the fall retaineth ſtil his free-wil; that the Gētiles by nature could fulfill the Law; that God did not command vsus things impoſſible. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 88. Epiſt. 89.90.92.94. de gratia & lib. arbit. 1. lib. 5 cap. 5. & 9. & alibi paſſim. Hieron. Epiſt. ad Cteſiphont. & libr. contra Pelagian. editis. The Papiſtes hould all theſe pointes.
7 The Novatians doubted of the remiſſion of their ſinnes, Ambroſ. lib. 1. de Paeniten. cap. 2. & lib. 2. cap. 5. So do the Papiſts. The Cerinthians and Nazareans obſerve the Moſaicall ceremonies. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 8. & 9. So do the Papiſtes. The Manichees miniſter the Euchariſt in one kind, Leo ſerm. 4. de quadrag. So doe the Papiſtes. Marcus made his followers beleive that in the Euchariſt, the wine was turned into blood, Epiph. Haereſ. 34. So do the Papiſts theirs.
8 The Manichees condemned marriage in their elect, that is, their Prieſts, Aug. Epiſt. 74. So do the Papiſtes in theirs. The Eucratites bragged of their continency, & yet were notable whoremaſters, Epiph. Haereſ 47 pag. 180. Such are the Papiſtes.
9 The Don…tiſtes tied the Church to one certaine place, & termed thēſelues only Catholikes, Aug. de Haereſ c. 69. & varijs in loeis praeterea. Caſſian. in Pſal. 60. So doe the Papiſtes. The Mirabiliarians vnderunder pretenſe of miracles, devulged their errours, Niceph. lib. 8. Hiſt. Eccl. cap. 35. & lib. 14. cap. 45. So doe the Papiſtes.
10 The Marcoſiās baptiſed in an vnknown tongue, Epiph. Haereſ. 34. Irenae. lib. 1. cap. 18. So do the Papiſtes. The Meſſalians reſtrained the force of Baptiſme to former ſinnes, Theodoret. divin. decr. cap. de Baptiſmo. So doe the Papiſtes. The Talians abſtained from marriage, as a ſtate of life impure and vnperfect Aug. Epiſt. 47. So doe the Papiſtes.
11 The Meletians vſe ſmall belles in celebrating their miſteries, Theodoret. Heretic. fabular. lib. 4. So doe the Papiſtes. The lacobines and Armenians pictured God the Father, and God the holy Ghoſt, Niceph. lib. 18. Hiſt. Eccl. cap. 52. So doe the Papiſts. The Nudipedals, or barefooted brethrē, vſed ever to go bare-footed. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 68. So do the Papiſtes in their Pilgrimages, & many Friers at all times.
12 Peter Gnapheus was condēned, becauſe he cauſed the invocation of Saints, to bee mingled amongſt the publike praiers of the Church. Niceph. Hiſt. Eccl. lib. 15. cap. 28. The Papiſtes doe the ſame. The Priſcilianites diſioyned married folkes for religion ſake, Aug. de Haereſ. ca. 70. alſo they boaſt of their revelations, Epiph. Haereſ. 49. The Papiſtes doe both.
13 The Helceſaits make Chriſt in heaven, to differ from Chriſt in earth, Theodoret. Haeretic. fab. lib. 2. So do the Papiſtes, who ſay that Chriſt in heaven, is viſible and palpable, and in earth, inviſible & impalpable. The Eutichians, affirmed that Chriſt had a body without ſhape, dimē ſions, or circumſcription, Leo, de ieium. 7. menſ. ſer. 6. the Papiſtes ſay the ſame of Chriſt in the ſacrament.
14 The Monothelites taught that there was but one will in our Saviour Chriſt. So taught Honorius the Pope in like manner. 2. Tom. Concil. Colon. Anno. 1551. editor. pag. 365. in Sexta Synod. Conſtantinop. Act. 12.
15 The Arabians held that the Soule died, and was diſſolved with the body. Aug. de Haereſ. cap. 83. Niceph. Eccl. Hiſt. lib. 5. c. 23. So alſo beleeved Pope Iohn XXIII. the head of the Romiſh Church, who as the Papiſtes affirme, cannot poſſibly erre. Concerning whom I will lay downe the very words of the Councel of Conſtance: Dominus IOANNES Papa XXIII, ſaepe & ſapius coram diverſis Praelatis, & alijs honeſtis & probis viris, pertinaciter, diabolo ſuadente, dixit, aſſeveravit, dogmatizavit & aſtruxit, vitam ateruam NON ESSE, ne que aliam poſt hanc: quinim… dixit, & pertinaciter credidit, animam hominis cum corpore humano MORI & EXTINGVI, ad inſtar animalium brutorū, dixit que mortuum ſemel eſſe etiam in noviſſimo die MINIME reſurrecturum. Tom. 2. Concilior. pag. 1060. Concil. Conſtant. Seſſ. 11. whervpon in the ſame ſeſſion he is called Diaholus incarnatus. pag. 1050. But concerning this point, the Reader may reade more in my booke de Antichriſto, Cap. 24.
II To the Conſequence.
1 IF Popiſh religion had confuted, and out laſted ſeverall hūdreds of hereſies; yet it followeth not, that it is true religion therefore: becauſe it is not ſtrange, to ſee one Heretique warre and fight againſt another, and the ſtronger to overcome, and out-laſt the weaker. So Popery hath done, and doth continually. But the truth of the Goſpell, being the doctrine of the Stronger man, which overcame and bound the ſtrong man armed, hath, and ever doth batter Popery to peeces, and hath gotten from it whole kingdomes and nations already (God be praiſed) and ſhall, ſhortly, worke the vtter ruine and deſolation thereof. Amen, Amen.
2 The places of Scripture, cited by the Suppliants, are not meant of the Popiſhe Church; but of the true Church of Chriſt; where with they have no communion, who doe vnworthily ſeparate themſelves from the ſame, and take part with her enemie.
Reaſon of Religion. 6 6. REASON OF RELIGION.
A religion, that erected and builtaWhat ALL? this word is too generall, the world can teſtifie. And ALL this is but a begging of the question. 2. Pet. 1.8. all the Churches, Hoſpitalles and ancient Colledges in Chriſtendome, indowed them with livings, inſtituted the Vniverſities and Seminaries, diſtinguithed the multitude into pariſhes, proportioned the tithes, annexed the glebe land founded the Biſhoprickes, limited the Dio…eſe…, decreed Eccleſiaſticall lawes and immunities, enacted all the olde Lawes of our Realme, and did (for that they would not be vacant without fruite, as the Apoſtle aduiſed, in the knowlegde of our Lord Ieſus) a thouſand good workes beſides, of which the religion regnant reapethbGOD can ſtirre up wicked men, to doe his children good. daily beneficte, and could not without ſuch our churches proviſion and ordinances, ever hauehave carried the exterior ſhew it doth.
Reſolution of the 6. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion, erected and built Churches, Hospitals, Colleges endowed them with livings, inſtituted Ʋniver ſities and Seminaries, &c: and did a thouſand good workes beſides.
Ergo:
Poperie is true Religion, and therefore to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 THere were Churches, Hoſpital, Colleges, Vniverſities and Schooles erected and inſtituted in the Primitiue Church, before Popery was dreamed of.
2 Alſo, the tithes were proportioned in the old Teſtament, in the daies of the ancient Patriarkes. And Biſhopricks were foūded, dioceſes limited, pariſhes diſtinguiſhed, and Eccleſiaſticall laws decreed, long before the beginning and originall of Popery, by the Fathers of the Primitiue Church.
3 … that Popiſh Religion bee conferred with the Religiō that thoſe worthy mē (which erected & builded Churches, Hoſpitals, Colleges, Vniverſities & Schooles, ſince the time of the Primitiue Church) died in; and both of them bee tryed by the Scriptures, and then compared vvith ours; it will be found, that not halfe of them dyed in the Popiſh Religion, as the Suppliants imagine; yea that the ancienteſt and beſt of them, dyed in ours; and therefore both they, and their monuments are ours, and giuegive greater credit vntounto our Religion, then all the reſt doe or can do vntounto Poperie.
II To the Conſequence.
1 Suppoſe Popiſh Religion, to be the principall auctor, and agent in all theſe, and in a thouſand good works beſides; yet doth it not follow therefore, that Popery is true Religion. Becauſe heretiques may, in civill affaires, do, or decree ſome things, which in themſelues are good; which notwithſtanding doth not any way giuegive allowance vntounto their Hereſie.
2 The Proteſtants hauehave built many Churches, Hoſpitals, Colleges, Vniverſities, and Schooles, and done ten thouſand good workes beſides: Wherefore, by the Suppliants argument, the Proteſtants Religion muſt needs bee true, vvhichwhich yet they vvill not grant.
3 Yea, vvhat is there in this Reaſon, vvhichwhich Infidels & heathen men, may not alleadge for thēſelues. Pagans, Iewes, Turkes and other profane Nations, erected many goodly monuments, decreed wholeſome and profitable lawes, and hauehave done many workes beſides, which in themſelues are very good. Will the Suppliants from hence cō clude, that their profeſſion is true Religion?
4 GOD can bring forth light our of darknes he can raiſe vp Heretiques, Infidels, and Atheiſts, to doe many things, for the good and benefite of his Church & Children.
Reaſon of Religion. 7 7. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religion,aA lowde lie. 9.10, & 11. Centenaries. that in three ages togither had not three open adverſaries in the Chriſtian world, who contradicted or impugned her doctrine, or beleeued another forme of faith, then that which ſhee then and now teacheth. And the Wiſedome of the eternall God (alluding to hisbIf we will beleeve the Suppliants Gloſſe; elſe not. Pro. 14.28. Gloſſa interlin in hunc locum. Church) affirmeth, that in the multitude of people cō ſiſteth the glory of a King; and in the ſmall number, the ignominy of the Prince.
Reſolution of the 7. Reaſon.
Popiſh Religion in three ages togither, had not three open Adverſaries in the Chriſtian worlde, who contradicted her Doctrine, or beleeved any other forme of faith, then that vvhichwhich ſhee teacheth.
Ergo:
Poperie is true Religion, and to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 THere hauehave bin, in every age, worthy and faithfull Chriſtians, who contradicted the Popiſh ſuperſtition publikely, and openly oppoſed themſelues againſt Antichriſt. For GOD had alwaies TWO WITNESSES to teſtifie the trueth againſt the Adverſary. Apoc. 11.3.
2 Theſe faithfull Servants of GOD, hauehave ever beleeved and held an other forme of faith, then that which Popiſh Religion taught; For they kept the commaundements of GOD, and had the teſtimonie of IESVS CHRIST, Apoc. 12.17.
3 In theſe Centenaries, which the Suppliants ſpeake of, to wit, in the 9.10. and 11. there lived, queſtionleſſe, ſeaven thouſande, vvhichwhich bovved not their knees vntounto Baall.
4 About theſe times flouriſhed, Bertrame the Prieſt, Huldrieus Biſhop of Auſpurge, Ioannes Patricius Erigena, Anſegiſus the Abbot, Berengarius Archdeacō of Angiers, Aruulphus Archbiſhop of Lugdune, Ioannes Sariſburueaſis, Arueldue Biſhop of Bixta, Petrus Bloix, Petrus Waldo, and all thoſe famous men which were tearmed Waldenſes, Frederike the ſecond & Petrus de Vinea his Chancellor, Bernard: all theſe and infinite numbers more, who are not recorded in Hiſtories, that held the faith of Ieſus; impugned the Papacie, and oppoſed themſelues againſt Antichriſt and all his diſciples.
5 Alſo the Greeke Church, cōtinually impugned Poperie; and held a faith different from the Popiſh beliefe.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 If there had not been found, THREE open adverſaries, in al the Chriſtian world, who in thoſe Cētenaries impugned Popery: yet doth not that inferre the truenes of Popiſh Religion. Becauſe it is written, in the Revelation, that GOD ſhould ſtirre vp TWO witneſſes, to teſtifie the trueth againſt Antichriſt. Apoc. 11.3. and in the mouth of TWO, or three witneſſes every thing is eſtabliſhed. Num. 35.30. Dent. 17.6. Dent. 19.15. Matth. 18.16.2. Cor. 13.1.1. Tim. 5.19.
2 It is written, that Antichriſt ſhal proſper for a time, and prevaile againſt the Saintes, yea that hee ſhall cauſe ALL, both ſmall & great, rich & poore, free and bond, to receiue his marke. Apoc. 13.16. No marvell therefore, if there were not many found, to impugne the Papacie; eſpecially ſeeing the Church had fled into the wilderneſſe into her place, at that time. Apoc. 12.14. Wherefore this paucitie of adverſaries againſt Poperie, is ſo far from proving of it, to be true Religion; as that it is a manifeſt demonſtration, that it is the Religion and peſtiferous Doctrine of Antichriſt.
Reaſon of Religion. 8 8. REASON OF RELIGION.
A Religion, whoſe chiefe profeſſors and ſpreaders thereof to other Nations were alwaies of a knowneawonderfull bely, if you meane full of holes and filth. witnes the holy Popes, Sergius III. Joane VIII. John XII. Sergius 3. his baſtard, John XIII, who was ſlaine in the very act of adultery, Sixtur IV, Paule III. Gregerie VIII, and a great number more. holy life, and ſemblable death, & the protoparents ofbWill they include the Chriſtian religion in this ranke. all other religions, men of a much contrary note: and we are ſure by the teſtimony of Gods word, that the good and bad trees are to bee knowne by their cAnd ſo are the Papistes. For there were but ſix thouſand yong childrens heads at ones found in a fiſh-pond within the grange of an Abber. Hulderich. in Epiſt. ad Nicol. I.fruites. Matth. 7.20.
Reſolution of the 8. Reaſon.
Popiſh religion, is that vvhoſe Profeſſers, vvere alwaies of a knowne holy life and ſemblable death.
Ergo.
Popiſh religion is true, and to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 WHat the*The Suppliants themſelvs afterwards confeſſe, the lives of their Profeſſours and chief Rulers are very lewde and wicked. in the 36. Reaſ. of Religion. life of Popiſh profeſſours hath bin, appeareth manifeſtly in the Catalogue of their Popes of Rome: whereof ſome were bloody murderers; ſome ſorcerers, nicromancers or coniurers; ſome bawdes, adulterers & Sodomites; ſome proude, ſacrilegious and craftie couſoners; and others ſeditious rebelles & traitours; as is plainely declared by their owne writers, vvhichwhich becauſe I have proved at large, in my Booke de Antichriſte; I wil not heere repeate.
2 As for their death, that alſo appeareth in the ſame holy race: whereof ſome died in the very act of adultery; ſome ſwearing and blaſpeming GOD; ſome damning & devoving themſelues vntounto the devil; & others thinking that there is neither God, nor devil, heaven nor hell, nor no other l…fe after this; as I hauehave alſo declared in that booke de Antichriſto.
3 I will not ſtand to relate particular examples, in this general diſcourſe. If I ſhoulde ſpeake of the death of Eccius, Latemus, Hofmaiter, Gardiner, notable profeſſours of Papiſtrie; and of the death of Francis Spiera, a revoulter from the Proteſtantes religion; it would make any mans haire to ſtand on end, that heard it.
4 The Papacy, by vertue of the religiō, which it profeſſeth, is the kingdome of ſinne; as I have proved at large in my Booke De Eccleſia Antichriſti: And therefore it is moſt certaine, that within the communion of Popiſh Religion, men can neither live well, nor die well.
II. To the Conſequence.
1 But be their lives, and their deaths, what they may bee: Religion muſt not bee meaſured by the lives of the Profeſſours. An heretike may liue an honeſt morall life, as Pelagius is ſaid to have done, and a good Chriſtiā may fall oftentimes, as we reade of David and others. 2. Sam. 11.4.15.17.
2 A rotten and worme-eaten apple hanging vponupon a good tree (ſeeing that came not through the nature of the tree, but by meanes of wormes, birdes, or ſome ſuch accident) miniſtreth not ſufficient argument, to prove that tree, to bee an ill tree: ſo the ill workes of Chriſtians ought not to ſtaine their holy religion. For the corruptiō of their fruites, commeth not from the nature of their religion, which forbiddeth ſuch fruites or workes, but from themſelues, from their owne native and originall corruption.
3 Yet the ill lives & worſe de…th of the Papiſtes, are ſufficient to condemne THEIR doctrine, becauſe they proceede from the nature, and articles of their religion, as ſhall be more manifeſt in the ſequel.
9. REASON OF RELIGION.
A religion, to which theaEven ſo we ſee it prophecied of before. Apoc. 17. that the Kinges of the earth ſhould commit fornicatiō with the great whore and give their power & cucto. rity vntounto the beaſt. famouſeſtConſtantinusImpudēt Papiſts that challenge all theſe Princes to bee theirs, whereas very many of thē died before Popery aſcēded from the pit of Hell an… manie alſo were the greateſt enemies that the Pope or Papacy h…d. Magnus, Iavianus with aboue forty Emperours of the Eaſt. Maiorianus, Carolus Magnus, with full neere fortie other Emperours of the Weſt. Emperours and (b)Clodoueus, Childiberius with aboue three-ſcore Kinges of Fraunce, Ranimirus, Sanctius, with almoſt twenty other Kinges of Aragon Telagius, Paſila, with at leaſt forty other Kings of Caſtile. Alphonſus, Sanctius, with many moe Kinges of Portugall. Geyza, Stephanus, with aboue thirty Kings of Hū garie Beſides the Kinges of Polonia, Bohemia, Denmarke, Norway, Suetheland, Gothland, Dalmatia, Baioria, Germania, Alemānia, Morauia, Loraine, Burgundy, Prouince, Lomberdy, Italy, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, Nauarre: end the Kinges of Affricke, as of AEthiopia, Nubia, & others Likewiſe the Kings of Canaria, Manicongus, Benop…tama, Angola, Guinea, Bentoninus, Quilca, Melinda, Mozambique; the Kinges of Aſia, as of Ciprus, Armenia, Hieruſalē, Tartaria, and ſome Kinges of the Agarens and Saracens many Kinges of the Heruleans, Iberians, Alanes, Abaſgorians, Lazorians, Scithians, Perſians and others.Kings of the world hauehave bowed their Crownes,(c)AsA Begging of the queſtion. Constantinus Magnus Emperour, Dagoberius, Carolus S Iudovicus, and other Kings of Fraunce, Alphonſus, Ranimirus 2. & Alphonſus 6. with other Kinges of Spaine. Stephanus & Ladiſlaus Kinges of Hungary Miſcelſlaus, Boleſlaus, Caſimirus Sanctus, and Caſimirus Magnus Kinges of Polonia, and many moe Kinges of other Nations. preſented their giftes,(d)As Iuſtinus Emperour, the perſon of Pope Iohn. Iuſtinianus of Pope Conſtantine, King Pipin the perſon of Pope Stephen the ſecond: Carolus o… Pope Leo the third: Ludovicus of Sergius the ſecond, and of Pope Nicolas: Henry the fourth of Pope Paſchal the ſecond, and others. reverenced her Pre…ates,(e)As Philippus Arabs Emperour, the Cenſure of Pope Fabian. Euſeb. lib. 6. cap. 27: hiſtor. eccl. the Emperour Theodoſiu… the excommunication of S Ambr. Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 17. hiſt. eccle. Sezom. lib. 7. cap. 24. the Emperour Otho the third, the inioyning penance of Romualdus Abbat. Petr. Dam. in vita Romual. To which may be added the devout readines of Henrie the ſecond, to accept and fulfill the ſentence of Pope Alexanders Legates, touching the death and murdering of Saint Thomas of Canterburie, Neubrigenſ. lib. 2. cap. 25. obeyed their cenſures, yea and hath at this preſent many of the greateſt Monarchs and potentates on earth to her Profeſſours, patrons, and foſter-fathers: So as of the Romane ReligionbA notorious vntruth. onelyonly, theſe enſuing paſſages & propheticall praedictions of holy Scripture muſt, of force, take their verification, or remaine as yet (beeing the latter yeeres or evening of the Church) vnfulfilled:cManifeſt racking and perverting of the Scriptures in wrong application. The Gentiles ſhall feare thy name, O Lord, and all the Kinges of the earth thy glory. Pſal. 101.16. Againe, All Kings of the earth ſhall adore him, all Nations ſhall ſerve him: Pſal. 71.11. And in another Prophet, Kings ſhall be thy nurſing Fathers, and Queenes thy Nurſes, Eſa. 49.93. And againe, Gentiles ſhall walke in thy light, and Kinges in the brightneſse of thy vpriſing. Eſa. 62.3. Places which to our iudgment moſt evidently convince, that not only ſome Kinges of the earth ſhall profeſſe and cheriſh true religion, but that the greater number of all Chriſtian Kinges ſhall embrace and advance thedThey cōclude againſt themſelves, for it is wel known, that Popery is not true religion. ſame. Now, it is moſt certaine, & as cleere as noone day, by all Antiquities, Proofes and Chronicles of the world, that there was never Emperour, nor till this age, any one King vnderunder, heaven, that entertained oreAll thoſe firſt Chriſtian Emperours and Kinges, which the Suppliants ſpeake of, and many others alſo in the midſt of the Papacie profeſſed true Chriſtian religion which wee profeſſe. profeſſed Proteſtant religion.
Reſolution of the 9. Reaſon.
Popiſh religion, is that to which the famouſeſt Emperours and Kinges of the vvorld have bowed their Crownes, preſented their giftes, reverenced her Prelats, obeyed their Cenſures.
Ergo.
Papiſtrie is true religion, and therefore to be tolerated.
ANSWERE.
I. To the Antecedent.
1 THE beſt, the ancienteſt and the famouſeſt of all theſe Emperours and Kinges mencioned by the Suppliants, lived and died longe before the originall of Poperie.
2 Many of them alſo impugned the Pope and Papacie, and held thoſe very pointes in religion, which the Proteſtants maintaine.
II To the Conſequence.
1 If all theſe Emperours and Kings had bin Papiſts indeede; yet were not Popery any thing the better for that; becauſe it is written in the Apocalypſe, that the Kings of the earth ſhould committe fornication with the great Whore of Babylon. Apoc. 17.2.
2 Heathē Pagans have had very many famous Emperours and Kings, who bowed their Crownes vntounto thē, preſented their gifts, reverenced their Prieſtes, & obeyed their Cenſures. Is Paganiſme therefore true religion?
3 The Proteſtants alſo hauehave had ſuch, and hauehave many at this day (God be thanked:) will the Papiſtes from hence acknowledge their religion true alſo?
4 Are not the Papiſtes in miſerable diſtreſſe for want of argumēts; who can ſay nothing for their Religion, but what Pagans, Turkes, & Atheiſtes may alledge for theirs?