Against Popery, Summary
The generall ſumme of all all things comprehended in this treatiſe following.
The reaſons why this worke was taken in hand and the ſtate of this cauſe beeing firſt breefly declared, then followe theſe generall arguments againſt popery and for our religion.
1 All true religion and acceptable to God, is wrought in the hearts of men by the miniſterie of God his word conteiued in holy ſcripture. Popery is not wrought by the miniſterie of that worde in as much as where that word is moſt plentifully & ſincerely taught, there popery moſt falleth, and where that word is wanting there popery moſt abounde, as alſo becauſe papiſts will neither voluntarily come, nor by authority be drawne, either to the preaching or reading thereof in our Churches, neither doe delight in the priuate reading thereof at home, ergo Popery is not true religion &c.
2 All true religion is vpheld and maintained by good and lawefull meanes, needing no euill & vnlavvefull meanes to vphold it. But popery is vpheld and maintained by all vnlawfull meanes, as by force and violence, by fire and fagot, corrupting, adding vntounto, and diminiſhing the text of ſcriptures, by falſe alleadging the authorities of men, by clipping and mangling the works of the auncient fathers, both in citing their teſtimonies, and alſo in printing of the bookes themſelues by authority of the popiſh church, by lying miracles, and ſuch other indirect meanes, ergo, &c.
3 The ſubiect matter of true religion is contained in the written word of God. The ſubiect mat▪ of poperie is not compriſed in that written worde of God, but is directly contrarie therevnto in all, the principall points thereof. ergo &c.
4 The forme of true religion is alſo comprehended in the canonicall Scripture. The forme of poperis is not there comprehended, but is altogether diuers from the forme of God his worſhip in that word preſcribed, yea rather poperie hath in a manner no worſhip of God at all. ergo.
5 All true religion referreth all things to God his glorie. Poperie referreth not all things to God his glorie, but ſo aduanceth the Pope, ſaints, and man himſelfe, that it ſpoileth God of all his glorie. ergo.
6 True religion bringeth forth obedience to the …orall law of God contained in the tenne commandements. Poperie (and not Papiſts onelyonly) baingeth forth no ſuch obedience, but tranſgreſſeth eueryevery one of theſe commaundements, and that in the highest degree. ergo.
7 True religion worketh true ioy and ſound comfort in eueryevery heart where it taketh true place, as certifying she ſame both of the preſent fauour of God, and alſo of the continuance thereof. Poperie worketh no ſuch ioy and comfort, as the which depriueth men of the Scriptures, whereby their eyes are to be opened and their mindes inſtructed in true wiſdome, as the which teacheth likewiſe that it is preſumption for a man to ſay that he is perſwaded of God his fauour, and of his owne ſaluation, and wherein no man euer knoweth whither he receiueth the true ſacrament or not. ergo.
8 All true religion is wiſe as he that is the author thereof. Poperie is not wiſe, but moſt fooliſh and ridiculous, groſſely worſhipping many homely relikes, abſurdly baptizing bells and Churches, &c. and without all wit and reaſon (much more without diuinitie) citing, condemning, and excommunicating them that are dead. ergo.
9 All true religion is vnſauorie and vnpleaſant to the nature of man. But poperie is moſt pleaſant thereunto, becauſe it teacheth men not to take any paines in the ſcriptures, yea forbiddeth all ſuch paines, becauſe it affirmeth that the worke done is ſufficient howſoeuer it be done, and that therefore men neede not to be carefull about their hearts, becauſe alſo it commendeth eſpecially the commandements of men, giuing all libertie vntounto men from the commaundements of God: and teaching that what good ſoeuer is neglected, or what euill ſoeuer is by any committed, yet by confeſſion of all this with the mouth, by a little voluntarie afflicting of the bodie, and especially▪ by a peece of money, a man may hauehave forgiuenes of all. ergo.
The contrarie of all the former arguments is prooued of our religion, from whence it follovveth that it is true and acceptable vntounto God.
10 Both the former concluſions, the one againſt poperie, the other for our religion, are prooued by actuall teſtimonies of God.
Theſe are ſhewed to be
1 The gifts of God promiſed to the latter times for the commendation of the Gospel.
2 The works of God.
The gifts of God are ſhewed to hauehave beene
1 Excedingly decaied, and almost dead and buried in the chiefe times of poperie.
2 Repaired, reuiued, raiſed vp, and greatly to hauehave flouriſhed, &c. at the breaking forth of our religion out of the darknes of poperie.
The works of Godare
either ſingle
againſt poperie.
againſt our religion.
or mixt both againſt poperie and for our religion.
All theſe former arguments beeing plentifully handled, then followeth the concluſion, wherein are exemplified the manifold vſe of the whole treatiſe.
Concerning them which are
of our religion
all generally vveake and ſtrong.
more particularly great perſons, and thoſe
alſo
either generally all,
or ſpecially Dauids
Worthies.
not ofour religion
Atheiſts and all of no religion.
Papists
1 weake & erring onelyonly of ignorance.
2 obſtinate and wilfull.