Against Popery, Treatise · Argument 10

Against Popery · Treatise · Argument 10

p. 91THE TENTH ARGVMENT:

the firſt part, touching the great decaie of Gods gifts in theſe times of Poperie.

MY laſt argument touching the maine concluſion, both againſt poperie and alſo for our religion, ſhall be from the teſtimonies of God himſelfe in this matter. By the teſtimonies of God, I meane not here the teſtimonies of his written word, but p. 92reall and actuall teſtimonies (if I may ſo ſpeak) that is, ſuch things as whereby indeede God himſelfe hath iuſtified our, and condemned the Romiſh religion vntounto the eyes of men, as by his written word he hath done the ſame vntounto their eares. Neither let any man be offended, that I call ſuch things by the name of God his teſtimonies, for ſo the like arguments are called in the ſcripture it ſelfe. Ioh. 5. 36. our Sauiour Chriſt calleth the workes that he did, the witneſſes or teſtimonies of his Father in his behalfe: I hauehave (ſaith he) greater witnes then the witnes of Iohn: for the works which the Father hath giuen me to finiſh, the ſame works that I doe, beare witnes of me that the Father hath ſent me. In like manner ſpeaketh the Apoſtle, Hebr. 2. 4. where he ſaith that God did beare witnes vntounto his goſpel, both with ſignes and wonders, and diuerſe miracles, & gifts of the Highoſt, according to his own wil.

2 Theſe actuall teſtimonies of God, wherof I purpoſe now to ſpeak, are eſpecially two. The firſt are the gifts of the ſpirit, which God hath promiſed to theſe laſt times of the world, for the commendation of the goſpell: the ſecond, are his other works, whereby likewiſe he doth beare witnes thereunto. Touching the firſt, let vsus firſt of all conſider of God his promiſe for thoſe gifts; ſecondly of the performance of that promiſe. The promiſes are either made in the olde teſtament by the Prophets, or in the new by Chriſt himſelfe. The promiſes of the old teſtament are many. Firſt of all, the Prophet Dauid pſal. 68. 18. p. 93inſinuateth a promiſe of the gifts of the ſpirit in theſe words: Thou art (ſaith he) gone vp on high, thou haſt led captiuitie captiue, and receiued gifts for men: where the Prophet, by receiuing gifts for men, meaneth the gifts wherewith Chriſt as the Mediatour was furniſhed without meaſure, to beſtow vponupon the Church after that he ſhould vanquiſh his enemies, & triumphing ouer them ſhould aſcende into heauen, there to ſit at the right hand of God in all glorie and authoritie. This interpretatiō is manifeſt, both by the words immediately following, Praiſed be the Lord, the God of our ſaluation, which loadeth vsus daily with benefits; and alſo by the application thereof, Eph. 4. 8. where although the Apoſtle doe name onelyonly the callings of the Church, yet doth it not therefore follow that the place in the pſalme is of ſuch gifts onelyonly to be vnderſtoode, becauſe that eueryevery generall may be applied not onelyonly to ſome, but alſo to all particulars comprehended in the generall. The ſecond promiſe is, Iſa. 44. 3. where the Lord ſpeaking of the latter times of the church, ſaith thus, I will poure water vponupon the thirſtie, and floods vponupon the drie ground: I will poure my ſpirit vponupon thy ſeede, and my bleſſing vponupon thy budds, &c. And leaſt any ſhould thinke, that this promiſe was onelyonly made to the Iewes or Iſraelites according to the fleſh, he addeth in the 5. v. One ſhal ſay I am the Lords, another ſhalbe called by the name of Iacob: and another ſhall ſubſcribe with his hand vntounto the Lord, and name himſelfe by the came of Iſrael: which words doe teſtifie, that the p. 94promiſe before made was as wel to the Gentile… as to the Iewes, becauſe the Iewes were alreadie of the houſe of Iſrael & called by his name. The promiſe of the ſame gifts of the ſpirit is likewiſe ſignified, by leading or driuing of them to the ſprings of waters, Eſa. 49. 10. He renueth alſo the ſame promiſe, Ioel 2. 28. Afterward (ſaith the Lord in that place) will I poure out my ſpirit vponupon all fleſh, and your ſonnes and your daughters ſhall propheſie: your olde men ſhall dreame dreames, and your young men ſhall ſee viſions: and alſo vponupon the ſeruants and vponupon the maidens in thoſe daies will I poure my ſpirit: ſo the ſame Prophet chap. 3. 18. expreſſeth the ſame promiſe in other words ſaying, In that date ſhal the mountaines drop downe new wine, and the hills ſhall flow with milke, and al the riuers of Iuda ſhall runne vvith vvaters, and a fountaine ſhall come forth of the houſe of the Lord, and ſhall water the valley of Shithim. By all theſe words he meaneth nothing elſe but the plentifull gifts of God his ſpirit, calling them by the name of wine, milke, and waters, both becauſe of the varietie of them, and alſo becauſe of their diuers effects, according to the diuers neceſſities of the diuers members of the Church. And leaſt this promiſe alſo ſhould be reſtrained onelyonly to the Iewes, he addeth in the 21. v. this effect of the ſpirit, that he would clenſe their bloode whome he had not yet clenſed, meaning by thoſe whome he had not clenſed, the Gentiles, that till the comming of Chriſt were without Chriſt, aliens from the common-wealth of Iſrael, ſtraungers from the p. 95couenant of promiſe, hauing no hope, and being without God in the world, Eph. 2. 12. Finally the Prophet Zacharie, chap. 14. &c. hath this promiſe, In that daie ſhall the waters of life goe out of Jeruſalem, halfe of them toward the Eaſt, and halfe of them tovvards the vtmost ſea, and ſhall be both in ſommer and winter. Theſe and ſuch like are the promiſes in the old teſtament, which to belong to the new teſtament, and to be made for the credit and commendation of the goſpel, appeares by the application of the promiſe in Joel made by Saint Peter. Act. 2. 16. And although that Prophet ſpeake of ſeeing viſions, dreaming dreames, and propheſying, &c. yet by theſe are not onelyonly to be vnderſtoode the ſame, but becauſe theſe ſerued then the good of the church, therefore by them the Prophet meaneth all ſuch gifts as ſhould make for the good of the church, vnderunder the goſpel the which is manifeſt, becauſe Saint Peter applieth this prophecie to the gift of tongues, beſtowed vponupon the church at the feaſt of Pentecoſt.

3 Touching the New Teſtament firſt our Sauiour alluding vntounto, and indeede plainly meaning theſe promiſes of the olde Teſtament before mentioned, ſaith thus, Ioh. 7. 38. He that beleeueth in me (as ſaith the Scripture) out of his bell…e ſhall flow riuers of water of life. Where the Euangeliſt himſelfe interpreteth our Sauiour to ſpeake of the ſpirit, which they that beleeue ſhould afterward receiue. The like promiſe is made ſo often as he ſpeaketh of the Comforter, p. 96Ioh. 14. 26. and 15. 26. 16. 7. and elſwhere. So alſo after his reſurrection, Act. 1. 5. Iohn indeed baptized with water, but ye ſhalbe baptiſed with the holy Ghoſt within theſe few dates. All theſe promiſes doe teach and aſſure the Church that the goſpel ſhould not come forth in the latter daies poore and deſolate, but rich and accompanied with an honourable traine of all neceſſarie gifts and graces of God his ſpirit: and that the more the goſpel ſhould flouriſh, the more plentifull alſo ſhould theſe gifts and graces flowe in the Church. Thus much for the promiſes of the gifts of the ſpirit.

4 Touching the performance thereof, it is certen that it was eſpecially accompliſhed in the time of the Apoſtles: and fit it was it ſhould be ſo, becauſe the goſpel was then firſt to be cō municated vntounto the Gentiles, who before that had neuer heard any ſuch doctrine: and becauſe alſo, as the Lord did then giuegive extraordinarie callings of the Apoſtles, Euangeliſts, and Prophets, ſo it was alſo meere that they ſhould hauehave gifts ſutable to their callings. Notwithſtanding it is not to be doubted, but that the promiſe ſhould remaine, and doth yet remaine in force, euen vntounto the ende of the world, as touching the generall ſubſtance thereof; and that therefore although thoſe times are now paſt, and thoſe reaſons now ceaſed, when and why the Lord gaue ſuch gifts of his ſpirit, in ſuch extraordinarie meaſure and manner, yet he will neuer leaue his goſpel without ſuch a traine of the graces of p. 97the graces of his ſpirit as ſhall be ſomewhat anſwerable to the flouriſhing thereof, and meete likewiſe to commend the ſame the better vntounto the world.

5 Sith this is ſo, I demaund whether this promiſe were performed to the church of Rome, holding the ſame doctrine that now it hath held for the ſpace of ſeauen or eight hundred yeares, and enioying that outward glorie and magnificence, the which alſo theſe yeares it hath enioyed? Certenly to this my demaund, it cannot be affirmatiuely anſwered with any truth. For all men know (or may know) the contrarie: yea the Papiſts themſelues, if they be not paſt all ſhame and grace will acknowledge the contrasie. For when the Pope beganne to ſet his foote vponupon the ſtaires, and to aſcende towardes that dignitie whereunto he is now mounted, then began the holy Ghoſt alſo, as it were, to take the wings of an Eagle or doue, and to flie awaie, and returne againe towardes the heauens, from whence before he came. Euer ſince that time alſo, as the Pope hath climed the ladder of his magnificences, ſo the ſpirit of God hath mounted more and more towards heauen, and hath gone further and further out of the ſight of men. The more that the Pope and popetie hauehave growne and flouriſhed, the more hauehave all the gifts and graces of God his ſpirit decaied and …ithered. At the laſt when the Pope was reuealed to be the man of ſinne, the ſonne of perdition, &c. and the verie p. 98Antichriſt, that is, when he was come to the toppe and perfection of his pride, then alſo did the holy Ghoſt in a manner take his leaue and bidde all the world almoſt farewell, at the leaſt touching his viſible preſence. When all Kings and Princes had receiued and drunken the cup of his fornications, whereby beeing intoxicated and depriued of all true knowledge of God and common ſenſe, they abiected themſelues vntounto him and put their necks vnderunder his girdle, yea abaſed themſelues in moſt ſlauiſh manner to hold his ſtiroop, and kiſſe his filthie feete: when alſo they had receiued his marke in their foreheads, that is, themſelues had embraced his damnable doctrines, and ſtooped vntounto his abominable idols, and commanded alſo their people to doe the like: when, I ſay, the Pope and poperie vvere thus aduanced, and had iuſtled both the true religion of God and alſo all authoritie of Princes out of the throne, and moſt proudly did ſit in it themſelues, as it were booted and ſpurred: when (I ſay againe) the Pope with all his abominations did thus ſit in the chaire of eſtate, both of Princes and alſo of God himſelfe, then what true knowledge was there, I wil not ſay of God, but euen of arts, of tongues, and almoſt of any good humanitie?

6 For triall of theſe things, if any thinke I ſlaunder them, let the rolles and Chronicles of thoſe times be ſearched: let the bookes of thoſe ages be peruſed, let their matter, their phraſe and ſtyle be examined. Was not the knowledge p. 99of the Greeke ſo rare, that it was a common prouerb, Graecum eſt, legi non poteſt: It is Greeke, it cannot be read? And could the Hebrew tongue be more plentifull? No verily, but much rarer. What alſo ſhall I ſay of the Latin tongue? was the knowledge of that in thoſe times any better? very little. EueryEvery boie indeede learned their primmer, and to ſay his praiers, and to helpe the Prieſt to ſaie Maſſe in latin, yet could he not tell whether he praied to God or the deuill: whether he asked bread or a ſtone, fiſh or a ſcorpion, yea not one Prieſt of an hundreth did vnderſtand the Mattins, that he continually ſaid, or the maſſes that he daily ſung; Rome was wont to be the mother of this tongue, and the Vniuerſitie and houſe of the eloquent oratours, but hauing once entertained the deepe myſterie of tranſubſtantiation of bread into the bodie of Chriſt, all the former eloquence of this place was alſo tranſubſtantiated into barbariſme. This tongue indeede was the common tongue of their religion at Rome and elſwhere, yet when their religion was at the full, then alſo was the knowledge of this tongue in the wane, yea in the very laſt quarter halfe ſpent. For it would make any man of knowledge to laugh, to reade or heare the words, phraſe, & ſtyle of thoſe books that were then written. In their praiers indeede, (in which is leaſt neede of eloquence) eſpecially in their praiers to the Saints, and chiefly to the virgine Marie, by two or three figures they affected a kinde of eloquence to pleaſe the eares of men, p. 100and to make the praiers goe the more roundly, that …o men might take the more delight in ſaying or ſinging of them: but in moſt of their other writings there is nothing but plaine dunſtable latin, yea nothing for the moſt part but barbariſme.

7 If any man yet deſire further proofe of this ignorance, wherewith I charge the chiefe times of Poperie, let them read what M. Lambert reporteth touching the ſame in his perambulation of Kent, writing of the place called Cliffe; what (I ſaie) he reporteth in that place of that matter out of William Malmesburie, de rebus gestis pontificum Anglorum: namely, that Curbert the eleuenth Archbiſhop of Canterburie, in a great Synode of all or moſt of the Biſhops of his Prouince, aſſembled by himſelfe to the foreſaide Cliffe (then called Cloueſhoo,) did there decree that the Prieſts themſelues ſhould firſt learne, and then teach their pariſhioners the Lord his praier, and the articles of his beleefe in the Engliſh tongue. In the ſame place alſo he noteth, that king Alfred in his preface vponupon the paſtoral of Gregorie which he tranſlated, ſaith that when he came firſt to his kingdome, he knew not one prieſt of the ſouth ſide of Humber that vnderſtood his ſeruice in latin, or that could tranſlate an epiſtle into Engliſh. Further, he addeth that Alfric in his proeme to the grammer, ſaith that a little before the time of Dunſtan the Archbiſhop, there was neuer an Engliſh prieſt that could either indite or vnderſtande a latine epiſtle: p. 101and laſtly that William Malmesburie himſelfe ſaith, that at the time of the Conqueſt almoſt all the Biſhops of England were vnlearned.

8 This is not to be vnderſtood of the knowledge of the latin tongue onelyonly, but alſo of the very matter it ſelfe, and that not onelyonly of books of diumitie, but alſo of bookes of philoſophie and humanitie. Their abſurd and groſſe definitions, their infinite, intricate, fooliſh, and vnlearned diſtinctions, (wherein notwithſtanding conſiſteth all their learning and deepenes, as they of Thyatira ſaide, Revel. 2. 24) will not onelyonly wearie and tyre any young ſcholler, but alſo make a learned man ſicke at the very heart. EueryEvery man that is any thing acquainted with Peter Lombard, Gratian, Scotus, Durandus, Thomas Aquinas, Occam, Gerſon, Haymo, and ſuch like Diuines of thoſe times, can teſtifie that which I ſaie of the bookes of Diuinitie. For proofe notwithſtanding thereof, I referre the reader to that which that reuerende father and worthie man Maſter Iuel anſwereth to a vaine boaſt of Maſter Harding, touching the learning of their ſide. Firſt hee biddeth him remember that their prouinciall conſtitutions doe beginne with theſe wordes: Ignorantia ſocerdotum. Then hee addeth as followeth, It were no great maſterie to charge the chiefe doctours of your ſide vvith ſome vvant of learning. Ludouicus Vives ſaith, Ʋt quidque his ſupertoribus ſeculis min…s tritum fuit ſtudentium manibus, it a p. 102purius ad nos peruenit. For the ſpace of certaine hundred yeares, the leſſe any bookes came into ſtudents handes, the purer and better they came to vsus: meaning thereby, that eueryevery thing was the worſe for your learned handling. Of Thomas, Scotus, Hugo, and others of whom you ſeeme to make ſo great account, your owne friend Catharinus ſaith, Scholastics multa inerudite comminiſcuntur. Theſe ſchoole-doctours imagine matters vnlearnedly. Eraſmus ſaith, Portenta quae nunc paſſino legimus in commentarijs recentium interpretum, tam impudentia & inſulta ſunt; vt videantur ſuibus ea ſcripſiſſe non hominibus. The monſtrous follies that we commonly read in the commentaries of late interpreters (wherby he meaneth the very croppe and the worthieſt of all your ſcholaſticall doctours) are ſo farre without ſhame and ſo peeuiſh, as if they had beene written for ſwine and not for men. One of your doctors ſaith, Apoſtolus dicitur ab apos quod eſt argumentum vel praeeminentia, & ſtolon quod eſt miſſio, quaſi praeeminenter miſſus. Another ſaith, Apocriſarij dicuntur nuntij Domini pap…: Nam criſis dicitur ſecretum, & apos dicitur nuntius. Another ſaith, Cathedra eſt nomen Graecum, & componitur à Cathos, quod eſt …ides & edra quod eſt sponda. Another ſaith, Eleemoſyna dicitur ab eleis quod eſt miſereri, & mors quod eſt aequ…. More followeth to the ſame purpoſe in Iuel his defence of the apologie 5. part, 12. chap. 2. diuiſion. where the learned reader may ſee the quotation of thoſe writers out of whome he boroweth p. 103theſe things. By theſe things we ſufficiently ſee the profaned diuinitie of the chiefe times of poperie.

9 Touching philoſophie, the workes of Petrus de Bruxellis, Iohannes de monte, de ponte, Dorbella, Duns, Toletus, Titleman, and many ſuch like, doe euidently confirme that which I hauehave ſaide. Yea ſuch is the rudeneſſe of theſe bookes, that many young ſchollers in Cambridge and Oxenford, for want of good direction too much addicting themſelues to the reading of them, can neuer afterward attaine vntounto any true eloquence or knowledge of the Latin tongue, neither yet to ſound philoſophie. So alſo may it be ſaide of ſuch Diuines as take too much delight in reading the works of thoſe before mentioned. Many diſtinctions in theſe bookes ſeeme wittie, and hauehave ſhewe of ſome depth in thoſe things whereof they intreat, but if they be thoroughly with iudgement examined, and (as it were) ſifted or rather bolted, they will be found but meere trifles, more curious and troubleſome, then ſound and profitable: ſo farre alſo from illuſtrating and making lightſome the things whereto they are applied, that rather they obſcure and darken them. Sometime perhaps a man may hitte vponupon, or by the waie meete with ſomething ſomewhat worthie the obſeruation, but it is ſo rare that more time will be loſt whilſt a man ſinde it out, then the benefit of the thing will counteruaile when he meeteth with it.

p. 10410 As thoſe bookes before ſpoken of doe witnes the learning or rather ignorance of thoſe times when they were written, ſo many men alſo now liuing can teſtifie as much of the later times of poperie, both touching all the learned tongues, and alſo touching diuinitie, and philoſophie. Notwithſtanding I charge not all of thoſe times, and of that religion with ſuch ignorance, but onelyonly the moſt: ſome there were more learned, but very few. The greateſt part of thoſe that were brought vp in learning, and which profeſſed learning, were as ignorant and vnlearned as I hauehave ſaide. And how could it be otherwiſe, ſo long as they taught that principle before ſpoken of, that ignorance is the mother of deuotion? And albeit they meant the ignorance of God and diuinitie, yet therupon followeth that the knowledge of other things is alſo vnneceſſarie. For all other knowledge is eſpecially to be referred to diuinitie, as to the chiefe and principall ende thereof. This beeing taken away, what neede in a manner is there of other knowledge? And indeede they deſired that men ſhould hauehave had no good learning at al (as it is among the Turks) that ſo they might neuer diſcerne the wickednes of their religion. For they knew and feared, that the true knowledge of tongues, and arts, and humanitie, would quickly hauehave detected all the wickedneſſes and abominations of their religion. Therefore alſo when they could no longer keepe vnderunder the knowledge of theſe tongues and arts, but did ſee men to growe p. 106and flouriſh therein in deſpight of them, they made a ſolemne and common law amongſt them, that the vulgar corrupt tranſlation in latine of the Bible ſhould onelyonly be authenticall, and that alſo no man ſhould in any wiſe appeale from thence to the Hebrewe or Greeke text. By this canon they prouided, that although men grew to skill and knowledge of thoſe tongues, yet this skill and knowledge ſhould little helpe them to any further learning of the holy Scriptures, then before they might hauehave attained vntounto by the latin tongue. Yea ſo alſo they cunningly endeauoured to ſtoppe the courſe of ſuch knowledge. For who could hauehave any great heart to thoſe ſtudies, whereby he ſhould hauehave no helpe in diuinitie, the Queene of all ſtudies? Againe, touching that learning that was in the chiefe time or poperie, for the moſt part it was greateſt in them that inclined to our religion, and that did not a little diſlike of many groſſe points of poperie, and of many foule corruptions amongſt the other Papiſts.

11 Now to conclude this part of the argument touching the generall ignorance that was in the pride of poperie, how will it ſtande with the rich and ample promiſes of God, before mentioned, for the powring out of water vponupon the ground, and his ſpirit vponupon all fleſh? If poperie were the religion that came from God, would God hauehave ſo pilled it and poulled it of all the gifts and graces of his holy ſpirit ſo often promiſed? If it had beene the ſame religion p. 106which the Apoſtles taught after the aſcenſion of Chriſt, and the primitiue Church receiued from them, would not the Lord hauehave commended it with his ſpirit as he then did? If the Church of Rome were the onelyonly daughter of God, and ſpouſe of Chriſt (as ſhe boaſteth her ſelfe) would the Lord hauehave left her ſo naked of all ornaments? chiefly and principally beſeeming her eſtate, and moſt anſwerable to her royall diſcent? will any earthly Prince ſende forth his onelyonly daughter, or let his wife goe abroad, without ſuch princely ornaments as her princely eſtate requireth, and whereby ſhe may be knowne and reuerenced with the reuerence of a Prince? much leſſe therefore may we dreame, that the Lord God of heauen, the Prince of all princes, would ſo rawly ſend forth his onelyonly daughter, or Chriſt Ieſus his onelyonly ſonne and heyre ſuffer his onelyonly ſpouſe (whome he loueth as himſelfe) ſo poore and naked, as the Church of Rome was in her higheſt proſperitie.

12 I graunt that the Pope and his Cardinals had their rich ornaments and coſtly apparell, of ſiluer, gold, pretious ſtones, &c. that alſo the reſt of that generation euen to the very hedge prieſt, had a gaie coate to weare in their holy buſines, that likewiſe all their Churches had great riches: I graunt that in all theſe things the Pope and poperie did farre excell Saint Peter with all the reſt of the Apoſtles, and likewiſe all the churches of their time, but theſe are not the ſpirituall ornaments that the ſpirituall nature of the daughter p. 107of God and ſpouſe of Chriſt requireth. The Church of God is indeede deſcribed, pſal. 45. 9. &c. as a Queene ſtanding at the right hand of her husband Chriſt Ieſus, in a veſture of gold of Ophir, and as hauing apparel of broidered gold, and likewiſe that ſhee hath rayment of needleworke, but the Prophet deſcribeth here the Church onelyonly after the manner of an earthly Queene, meaning notwithſtanding by theſe things all manner of ſpirituall and heauenly ornaments, and therefore euen in the ſame place, and the beginning of the 13. verſe, ſhee is ſaid to be all glorious within. It is therefore certen that the chiefe ornaments of the Church, are inward and ſpirituall: the which wanting, whatſoeuer outward ornaments and riches ſhee hath, yet ſhee may be called wretched, miſerable, poore, blinde, & naked, as Chriſt Ieſus calleth the church of the Laodiceans. Rev. 3. 17.

13 Now then, foraſmuch as the Church of Rome wanted thoſe ſpirituall ornaments which the Lord hath promiſed, and doth alwaies beſtowe vponupon his daughter, I conclude therefore that ſhee is not the daughter of God, neither the ſpouſe of Chriſt. If it be ſaid that the true church hath not alwaies the like gifts, I freely acknowledge it; yet this is certen, that the more the Church flouriſheth, the richer ſhee is in the gifts of God his ſpirite. But contrariwiſe the more the Church of Rome flouriſhed, the poorer ſhee was in the graces of God his ſpirit. And here by the flouriſhing of the Church, I meane p. 108not onelyonly an outwarde flouriſhing in earthly things: for ſo I graunt that as the graces of God are many times choaked in particular member… of the Church by outward proſperitie, ſo it may be alſo in the whole bodie of the viſible church: but by the flouriſhing of the church, I meane her flouriſhing in ſound doctrine, and her enioying of ſuch authoritie as of right belongeth vntounto her. Now in this ſenſe, when the doctrine which the church of Rome accounteth onelyonly ſound doctrine, and the contrarie whereof ſhee accounteth hereſie; when, I ſaie, this Romiſh doctrine moſt flouriſhed with leaſt gaine ſaying of any thereunto, when alſo that authoritie which the church of Rome chalengeth to her ſelfe, as her right was in ſuch regard, that neither Princes nor people made any reſiſtance, thē were thoſe gifts of the holy Ghoſt promiſed to the true Church, in the latter times moſt rare and ſcarſe; when it was ſommer with the church of Rome touching all her prerogatiues which ſhee chalengeth, then it was the dead of winter touching thoſe graces of God his ſpirit; ſo that ſcarſe any leaues of them did hang vponupon any tree. Thus we ſee that thoſe promiſes were not performed to the church of Rome in that eſtate wherein now it ſtandeth, and whereof it vaunteth.

p. 109THE SECOND BRANCH OF the tenth argument, touching the reuiuing of Gods gifts at the breaking forth of our religion out of the darknes of Poperie.

MAy the like be ſaide of our Churches in England, Scotland, &c. ſithence the religion now eſtabliſhed brake forth of that darknes wherein before it laie? No ve…ily. All the worlde ſeeth what knowledge of arts, of tongues, of philoſophie and all humanitie hath beene, yet is, and doth daily encreaſe. Now many children ſixteene or ſeauenteene yeares old are better Grecians, and more learned Hebritians, then were the great doctours in the height of poperie. Now I may truly ſaie that Cambridge alone, or Oxenford alone (if not ſome one Colledge in either of both) hath more skilfull Grecians and learned Hebritians then all Chriſtendome had, whilſt poperie ſate vponupon the th…one. The like may be ſaid of the true knowledge of the Latin. Philoſophie alſo and all arts ſince our religion hauehave beene reuiued, hauehave beene much poliſhed, and farre more perfected then they were before.

2 Let it not here be ſaid, that there are ſome Papiſts now eueryevery waie in theſe things as learned as the Proteſtants. For firſt of all the queſtion is not whether Papiſts or Proteſtants be nowe more learned in the tongues or liberall p. 110ſciences, but when this learning, hauing beene along time as it were baniſhed out of the world, returned againe. This preſent learning therefore of the Papiſts, neither much helpeth them, neither a whitte weakneth this mine argument, except they could prooue, that when their religion was at the higheſt, then alſo they had bin as learned as now they are. Secondly, although that many of them hauehave indeede now attained vntounto much knowledge of arts and tongues, yet this knowledge begā firſt to be reuiued amongſt vsus. Afterward they ſeeing vsus by thoſe gifts tha… God had beſtowed vponupon vsus, for commending of our religion to the world, to be ſo able to maintaine our doctrine, and ſo mightie to oppugne theirs, they (I ſaie) ſeeing this, were prouoked and whetted to take the more paines in ſtudie, that they might the better defend their errours againſt vsus, which now they ſaw to be falling to the earth from whence they ſprung. Many alſo of the learned amongſt them attained vntounto their learning euen againſt vsus and by vsus, beeing brought vp in our ſchooles, and afterward better nouriſhed and more ſtrengthened in our Vniuerſities. But as vnnaturall children doe ſometime forſake their naturall parents, and runne they cannot tell whether; ſo hauehave they forſaken our Vniuerſities: and as many roagiſh boies beeing entertained by ſome maſter, and vnderunder him hauing learned ſome good trade, doe oftentimes when they hauehave been a while there, forſake ſuch maſters, and goe to any other that p. 111will giuegive them but a little more wages yearely, vnthankfully forgetting all that their former maſters did for them, when no man els would regard or pitie them: euen ſo many Papiſts hauing gotten their learning amongſt vsus, and in our Vniuerſities, yet ſeeing afterward they can not hauehave ſuch outward preferrements as they looked for (which is a thing that they eſpecially …yme at) hauehave vnnaturally forſaken vsus, and aſſociated themſelues with the Papiſts, who wan…ing ſuch ſtuddes to vphold their rotten and tot…ering religion, hauehave beene glad to entertaine them with great promiſes, but many times not performing them, but rather bringing them, or ſending them at the leaſt to the gallowes. Such oftentimes is the iudgement of God vponupon them, …hat too much reſpect outward preferrements, and ſo doth God in his iuſtice harden many of them that will not beleeue his truth, whilſt they liue where and when they may hauehave it, that he giueth them ouer to beleeue lies ſo ſtrongly that they care not what danger they incurre againſt themſelues, both ſoule and bodie, for defence and furthering of thoſe lyes which they hauehave embraced. 2. Theſſ. 2. 11, 12.

3 Well, to returne from where we hauehave di…reſſed, we ſee by this that I hauehave now ſpoken, that in theſe reſpects thus mentioned, the Church of Rome may thanke vsus for that learning which nowe they hauehave, and for many of thoſe learned men which are now in great and …igh eſtimation amongſt them. Further it is no p. 112new thing that thoſe gifts of Gods ſpirit, which God at the firſt giueth to beare witnes vntounto … truth, ſhould be afterward communicated bo… to ſuch as doe not greatly fauour Chriſt and his goſpel, and alſo to ſuch as are wicked and reprobate. In the time of Chriſt himſelfe the power of caſting out diuells firſt giuen to the twel… Apoſtles Math. 10. 1. for the commendation … their miniſterie, was afterward communicated to other that would not ioyne with the Apoſtles nor follow Chriſt. Our Sauiour alſo ſaith that many that ſhould plead for themſelues the caſting of diuells out of other, ſhould notwithſtanding be reiected by him as refuſe perſons Math. 7. 22. And thus hath the Lord dealt in theſe latter times. As at the firſt preaching of the goſpel by the Apoſtles after the aſcenſion of Chriſt, he beſtowed vponupon them the gift of tongues for the better magnifying of the goſpell, and furniſhed them likewiſe with other extraordinarie gifts; which gifts notwithſtanding afterward were alſo communicated vntounto many other, yea to many of the wicked: ſo in theſe latter times alſo at the firſt breaking forth of his truth (which we profeſſe) through the blacke, the thicke, and darke cloudes of poperie, that … long time had ouerſhadowed and drouped the whole earth, the Lord according to his ancient promiſes gaue gifts vntounto men, in reſpect of the former great want of them, very extraordinarie… theſe gifts (I ſay) he gaue at the firſt breaking forth of our religion through poperie, to the firſt p. 113preachers of our religion, for the commending thereof vntounto the world, and ſo encreaſed them afterwarde more and more in thoſe that embraced our religion: but after that by ſuch gifts he had ſufficiently renewed and recouered the credite of his truth which we doe now hold, and likewiſe by beautifying our religion with the firſt fruits of theſe gifts, had ſufficiently diſgraced poperie, then he communicated theſe gifts vntounto other euen vntounto the Papiſts themſelues.

4 And truly in verie great wiſdom hath God done ſo, that he might teach men to eſteeme of his truth, not for thoſe gifts onelyonly but alſo for the truths ſake it ſelfe. So alſo he would hauehave the Papiſts themſelues, yea and all the world to ſee, that all the learning in the world is not able to vphold poperie, and that our religion is as well able to ſtand againſt, and to beat downe poperie into the pitte of hell, from whence it came, as well when poperie hath the ſame armour on that our religion hath, as when it was naked and had almoſt none at all. Therefore to conclude this part alſo of this my laſt argument, touching the performance of thoſe promiſes of God to the Church, that were neuer in ſuch manner performed to the Church of Rome. As the more the darke cloudes of poperie couered the whole earth, and the more violently alſo the boiſterous winds therof did blow vponupon the earth, making the very cedars of Lebanō both to bēd and to breake, the more dead were all the gifts p. 114of the ſpirit, as we ſee all things to be in the depth of winter: ſo like wiſe ſithence our religion hath come about towards the ſommer point, and by the ſtrength and power thereof hath ſcattered and diſperſed theſe cloudes, and pacified thoſe boiſterous winds of popery in many kingdomes, the more hauehave thoſe gifts of God his ſpirit before promiſed, budded and flouriſhed euen as we ſee after an hard winter, the more the ſunne commeth about toward Cancer, the more all trees and hearbs before ſeare and dead, doe reuiue and ſpring out. I conclude therefore, that as by the ſpringing and flouriſhing of hearbs and other plants, we know ſommer to be come; ſo alſo by theſe gifts of God his ſpirit which hauehave ſprung and flouriſhed, euen ſithence that our religion hath beene reuiued & againe quickned: we know the ſame goſpell to be againe returned about, the which in former times God according to the righteouſneſſe of his promiſe, did beautifie and commēd with the like graces.

5 Will any Papiſt now obiect the times of Tertullian, Gregorie Nazianzen, Cyprian, Chryſoſtome, Ambroſe, Ierome, Auguſtine, Barnard, and ſuch like? let him firſt remember, that moſt of them were before the time whereof we ſpake. They were (I ſay) before any ſtone almoſt laide of the foundation of the church of Rome in that ſtate wherein now it is: all of them alſo liued before that Church was built to that perfection whereunto it was reared, vntill the repairing of our religion. Againe theſe auncient: p. 115Fathers ſo many of them as did ſee the building of this church begun, or any matter prepared …owards the ſame, laboured by might & maine (as we ſpeake) and to the vtmoſt of their power, …he hindring and ſtaying thereof: therefore hauehave they plainly written againſt images, iuſtification by works, inuocation of Saints, freewill, and many other the like principles of poperie, as is …lentifully ſhewed by our late writers in parti…ular controuerſies. Eſpecially both they and alſo many other, yea ſome of the Papiſts them…elues, and of the learnedſt of them hauehave migh…ly declaimed, and ſharply inuaied againſt all …uch proud and arrogant titles, as now the Pope …laimeth and vſurpeth. Further although theſe …ere excellent perſons for learning and godli…es, and worthie of honourable remembrance … all ages, yet liued they not altogether. Nay …ther one age had almoſt but one ſuch, or at the …aſt but verie fewe ſuch, as theſe were that I …ue named: but our ages and the ages before …s, euer ſithence the returne of our religion, hauehave … all times and in euerie kingdome had many …ch. Yea I doubt not to ſale, and that truly, that although it be not yet two hundred yeares ſince …u… religion came out into the open field, and …ncountered with poperie in ſuch publique …anner as now it doth, yet there hauehave beene in …is little time as many great learned men as …ptaines of the Lord on our ſide, as can be …ooued to hauehave beene with vsus or againſt vsus, in …welue hundred yeares before.

p. 1166 Further I doubt not but that I may ſay, and that alſo truly, that we hauehave had and yet hauehave many in good reſpects comparable to thoſe before named, as in the exact knowledge of all learned tongues, arts, and humanitie, ſo alſo in ſound and deepe iudgement of diuinitie. vz. Luther, Zuinglius, Melancton, Oecolampadius, Eraſmus, Paulus Phagius, Bucer, P. Martyr, Calvin, Marlorat, Muſculus, Cranmer, Ridly, Hooper, Bradford, Bullinger, Bez…, Zanchius, Iu…l, Ramus, Vrſinus, Sadeel, Daneus, Pilkington, Fulke, Humfrey, VVhitaker, and infinite other, partly dead, and partly yet liuing, whoſe name… I doe not well remember, or in ſome reſpect… thinke not conuenient to expreſſe. I may here alſo name Flaccius, Illyricus, Hemingius, and many other of that ſort: becauſe although they hauehave ſome errours, yet which almoſt of the auncient Fathers had not as many and … great?

7 To this argument I may further adde, that the Lord hath not onelyonly commended our religion by the encreaſe of all learning according to the encreaſe of our religion, but alſo by the repairing almoſt of all other knowledge in cō mon things and matters of this life. For what trade and ſcience is there ſo meane and baſe, which is not much amended and brought to further perfection ſithence the late time of out religion, then it had before in the depth of poperit? yea who knoweth not that there is great varietie of knowledge ſithence the flouriſhing p. 117of our religion, which neuer almoſt was heard of before? Eſpecially moſt admirable is the gift of printing, which neuer was in the world till within theſe hundred and three ſcore yeares at the moſt, about which time it pleaſed God to broch new veſſells of his goſpell with our religion. This gift of printing is not vnfitly by ſome compared to the extraordinarie gift of tongues in the Apoſtles time; becauſe the Lord did not onelyonly prepare a waie for the goſpel thereby, but alſo hath made it as a mightie voyce of a crier in the wilderneſſe of poperie, to proclaime the grace of God in Chriſt Ieſus, and to further and inlarge our religion, by opening the hearts of many Princes and more people, many noble and more baſe, many rich and more poore, and many learned and more vnlearned perſons, for the entertainment of Chriſt Ieſus, and ſubmitting themſelues to his kingdome and gouernement. Certenly by this new benefit of printing the Goſpel hath beene more ſounded out to the eares of all nations, then it could hauehave beene by the voice of many preachers. For by the means hereof wee that liue in England, hauehave eaſily heard the ſermons and readings of Calvin and Beza in Geneva, and of other in other places: and they likewiſe that liue in Geneva and in other places, hauehave eaſily heard the readings of Doctour VVhitakers in Cambridge, and likewiſe of Doctour Reynolds in Oxenford. This printing alſo is not onelyonly as a quicke poſt riding vponupon a ſwift and ſpeedie horſe, but alſo as p. 118an angel of the Lord with ſixe wings, for the moſt ſpeedie conueying of the doctrine of the goſpel out of one countrie into an other. Who alſo knoweth not, that a man may hauehave more now for ſixe pence, then before printing, he could hauehave had written for fourtie ſhillings? who ſeeth not alſo that bookes printed, are more eaſily both read and alſo preſerued, then the like onelyonly written? Now although the deuill abuſe this gift of God alſo for the furthering of popery, (as what gifts be there that he quickly doth not abuſe?) yet ſith it was neuer heard of whilſt pope…ie was at the higheſt, but then onelyonly appeared and came forth into the light of the ſunne, when our religion was raiſed out of the graue where before it laie buried, and when poperie began to fall ſicke, and to encline vntounto a conſumption, who ſeeth not that it was a ſpeciall and an extraordinarie gift of God for the honouring and furthering of our religion? Thus much for the firſt ſort of God his actuall teſtimonies, namely for the gifts of his ſpirit which before he promiſed, and according to his promiſe hath beſtowed vponupon his Church, not onelyonly in the time of the Apoſtles, but alſo in theſe latter times for the commendation of the goſpe… then, and of our religion now, as being the ſame with the goſpel, and therefore in like manner acceptable vntounto him.

p. 119THE THIRD BRANCH OF the tenth argument, touching the works of God againſt Poperie.

NOw followeth the ſecond ſort of God his actuall teſtimonies, namely the workes of God, wherby God hath teſtified both his diſlike of poperie, and alſo the approbation of our religion ſeueral…y and ioyntly, as euidently as if in expreſſe wordes, and in his owne perſon, he ſhould hauehave ſpoken againſt poperie in this manner: This is the religion that I hate, and which my ſoule ab…orreth: and contrarily of our religion as he ſpake of his Sonne: This is the Goſpell and that glad …dings which bringeth ſaluation vntounto all men, and in vvhichwhich I am vvell pleaſed, therefore receiue it.

2 Here firſt of all let vsus conſider the great iudgements of God againſt many of the Papiſts, eſpecially ſuch as hauehave beene ſpecial aduerſaries to our religion and to the profeſſours thereof. For truely there hauehave beene fewe ſuch ſpeciall aduerſaries to vsus and our religion, whome God hath not in ſome ſpeciall manner ſo puniſhed here in this life, or at leaſt ſo proſecuted that their malice in their poſteritie, that all the worlde might thereby clearely ſee, that he vtterly diſliked of them and of their courſe, as alſo approoued and allowed of them & their cauſe, againſt whome they oppoſed and ſet themſelues. Touching p. 120theſe iudgements, although I might eaſe my ſelfe and the reader of much labour, by referring him onelyonly to the latter ende of the booke of Martyrs, where is a ſpeciall treatiſe of ſuch things; yet becauſe that booke is of ſo great price that many are not able to buie it, I will therefore cull out ſome few of the principall examples there and elſewhere in that booke mentioned, and for the reſt referre ſuch as hauehave that booke to that ſpeciall treatiſe. Firſt of all let here be remembered the hiſtorie of one Pauier or Pa…ie, in the daies of King Henrie the eight: this Pauier or Pauie beeing towne clarke of the citie of London, and a notable enemie to the goſpel, vponupon ſome report that the goſpel ſhould be in Engliſh, ſaide with a great …ath, that if he thought the King would in deede ſet forth the Scripture in Engliſh, and let it be read to the common people by his authoritie, he would cut his owne throat. And ſo indeede he did not much leſſe. For though he cut not his throat with a knife, yet he hanged himſelfe with an haltar, anno Dom. 1533. This is reported by Maſter Fox, page 1055. of his booke printed 1583. but borrowed from Hall his Chronicle, who wrote the ſame not vponupon the report of other, but vponupon his owne knowledge, who both heard him ſweare that he would cut his owne throat, and alſo knew how he brake promiſe by hanging himſelfe. In the ſame yeare alſo, that is 1533 one Doctour Foxford chancelour to the Biſhop of London, and a cruell p. 121perſecutor and butcher of God his Saints vnderunder Biſhop Stokeſly, died ſuddenly and fearefully … in his chaire, his bellie breaking and his guttes falling out before his owne eyes.

3 Next to theſe let be conſidered that of William Gardiner an Engliſh marchant, moſt cruelly martyred at Liſhbone in Portugal, for ſnarching the hoſt with one hand, and beating the chalice with the other out of both the hands of a Cardinoll, before the King and all his nobles, the Lords daie after a ſolemne marriage of the ſaide King his ſonne with the daughter of the King of Spayne, anno Dom. 1552. and in the raigne of King Edward the ſixt of moſt bleſſed memorie. Let, I ſay, be here alſo remembered the iudgement of God following the execution of that moſt holy martyr by the Portugalls at Liſhbone for the cauſe before mentioned. For how did they, by whoſe authoritie he was ſo executed, eſcape? The ſame night he was burned, one of the ſparkes of the fire where with he was burned, by God his prouidence beeing conueied amongſt the King his ſhippes lying in the hauen, fired one of them and burned it… within halfe a yeare after the young Prince then married, died: and the King himſelfe alſo within another halfe yeare after that, and ſo within one yeare both the king and his ſonne died.

4 An other example we hauehave of one Alexander the keeper of Newgate, not much vnlike to Alexander the copperſmith, of whō the Apoſtle p. 122complaineth; this Alexander dealt moſt cruelly with thoſe that were committed to his cuſtodie in new gate for the goſpel. But what became of him he died moſt miſerably being both ſwolne more like a monſter then a man, & ſo eaten alſo within, that no man could abide the ſmell of him. Yea further, the Lord his wrath was kindled alſo againſt his ſonne: for he being left very rich, was giuen ouer to ſuch a …iotous mind, that he waſted all within three yeares: and beeing ſometime asked how he could ſpend ſo much in ſo little time, he would anſwer, that euill gotten muſt be as euill ſpent. Shortly after alſo as he walked in newgate market, he fell downe ſuddenly, and ſo died fearefully.

5 Another example there is alſo regiſtred of a Sheriffe of Suffolke his man, that attending vponupon his maſter at the martyrdome of one Iames Abbes at S. Edmonds Burie, and hearing the fald Iames Abbes exhort the people to ſtande in the goſpell which he would in their preſence ſeale with his blood, bad the people not beleeue him, becauſe he was a madde man & ſpake he knew not what. But marke good reader: This rayling and rauing Papiſt, as ſoone as fire was put to Iames Abbes, was immediately before all the people ſtricken with madnes, ſo that he cried out as much in commendation of Iames Abbes, as before he railed on him: condemning alſo himſelfe, and ſaying, Iames Abbes is a good ſeruant of God and ſaued, but I am damned. This note he ſung vntill his dying daie, railing alſo on p. 121the prieſt that his maſter ſent for to houſle him a little before his ende; yea not onelyonly railing on the prieſt, but alſo on papiſts and poperic, charging them to be the cauſe of his damnation. Another example we hauehave of God his iudgement vponupon Fiſher Biſhop of Rocheſter, and Syr Thomas More knight: theſe had beene perſecutors of the Proteſtants, eſpecially they had procured the death of Iohn Frith, Bayfield, and Baynham. Therefore the Lord cried alſo quit with them, for themſelues alſo were publikely executed at Tower hill.

6 Worthie alſo of remembrance is that which M. Fox likewiſe writeth of one Vanderwarfe of Antwerp, who as he was of great place and authoritie in that citie, ſo alſo was he of great malice againſt the Proteſtants, moſt cruelly perſecuting all, and drowning many men and women to his great praiſe among other of that cruell generation. For this alſo he was called a blood-hound, or bloodie dogge. But God in whoſe eyes the death of all his Saints is alwaies right pretious, forgot not his crueltie: for this Vanderwarfe hauing gotten great riches, and therefore left Antwerp, liuing in the countrey at his caſe, at a certaine time came in a waggon with his wife, and ſome other to make merrie at Antwerp, where hauing recreated himſelfe, he returned againe towarde the countrie. As ſoone as he was out of the citie, beeing to goe ouer a wooden bridge, built (as ſhould ſeeme) but for a ſhift and for a time, hauing barres and p. 124rayles on both ſides, the horſe in the waggon ſtoode ſtill, and would not goe forwarde by any meanes of the waggoner. Vanderwarfe his bloode beeing vp, and prouoked againſt the waggoner, bad him driue forward in a thouſand deuills names. Immediately vponupon this there aroſe ſuddenly a mightie whirle winde (all being calme before) which toſt the waggon with this gentleman & other paſſengers ouer the bridge, and ſo they fell into the water. The reſt beeing ſaued, and takē vp aliue for the preſent, (though his wife died within three daies after) himſelfe onelyonly was drowned, as he had drowned many before. What alſo ſhall I ſay of the miſerable & deſperate death of Steuen Gardiner the great blood-ſucker of this land? for at his death another Biſhop cōming vntounto him, & (as it ſeemeth) finding him in a deſperate minde; put him in remembrance of Peter his denying Chriſt. But he ſauouring no comfort therein, anſwered that he had denied Chriſt with Peter, but neuer repented with Peter.

7 What alſo ſhal I ſaie of Henrie the ſecond of that name King of France? had he not committed certaine great perſons to priſon for religion, and threatned one of them to ſee him burnt with his owne eyes? yet behold the worke of God herein. Shortly after he had not eyes to ſee it: for the very ſame daie that the King was in the greateſt rage againſt the foreſaide priſoners, and had examined the Preſidents & counſellers of the Parliament againſt them, after p. 125dinner addreſſing himſelfe to runne at the tilt, and indeede performing that acte very honourably with the breaking of many ſtaues, to his great commendation by all the beholders. He not ſatisfied with that which he had done, but tickled with the former commendation, and deſirous of more according to the nature of ambition (which thinketh no praiſe ſufficient) vrged the Countie of Mountgommer to runne an other courſe with him. This Countie had before receiued the former priſoners from the Conſtable of France vponupon the Kings commandement, and carried them to priſon. Notwithſtanding now when the King vrged him to runne an other courſe; he kneeled downe and craue pardon, as thinking the king to hauehave done inough for one daie; but the King preuailing more by commanding, then the other could doe by intreating, at the laſt this Countie addreſſed himſelfe to this laſt courſe, which indeede was the laſt courſe of that daie and for cuer to the king: for the ſtaues beeing broken, and the King his vizzard ſuddenly falling off (ſo doth the Lord worke to bring his iudgements to paſle) one of the ſhiuers pearſed his head vntounto the braines, and ſuddenly ſo feſtered that no ſurgeons could cure the ſame. Thus the King loſt one of thoſe eyes, where with he threatned to hauehave ſeene the burning of thoſe perſōs, & died alſo of that hurt.

8 Neither may we here well omit the death of Charles the ninth of that name King of France, in whoſe time & by whoſe meanes that p. 124bloodie maſſacre, before mentioned was done in Paris, and in many other cities of France. For as the King had delighted himſelfe in the blood of his Saints, ſo himſelfe alſo in his youth at the age of 25. yeares died of a moſt grieuous bleeding. Many other the like examples are recorded by M. Fox, both of our owne countrie and alſo of other nations, of ſome that were ſtricken with madnes, of ſome that did hang or drowne themſelues, and of other that died in deſpaire moſt fearefully, and that in ſuch manner as that all the world might ſee the iuſt iudgement of God againſt them, both for their religion and alſo their malicious perſecuting of ſuch as were of our religion.

9 To theſe will I adde an other example not yet written by any, but yet as trew as any of the former, (whereof not with ſtanding ſome are knowne to all the world) and alſo no leſſe worthie the writing then the former. At great Wenham in Suffolke, in the daies of King Henrie the eight, there dwelt one M. Cardinal, whoſe wife hauing heard one M. Worthe a godly man & good preacher, preach at Hadley about ſome three myles from thence, at her returne home entreated her husbande one daie to requeſt M. Worthe to come and preach with them. Maſter Cardinall though at the firſt fearing ſome danger of law, yet at the laſt yeelded, and indeede proceeded and procured M. Worth to come thither. The parſon of the ſaide Wenham beeing popiſh, withſtood M. VVorth beeing come, ſaying p. 125that no ſuch ſhould preach there; M. Cardinal intreated but the parſon denied, beeing like …o the dogge in the manger that wil neither eate …aie himſelfe, nor ſuffer the horſe at the racke to eate any. So, I ſaie, this parſon (as ſome alſo doe …n theſe daies) neither would nor could doe good himſelfe, neither would ſuffer any other …o doe any. At length M. Cardinall ſeeing the parſon ſo wilfull and obſtinate, ſaide that M. VVorth ſhould preach doe the parſon what he could to the contrarie, and come what daunger would come. In fine they went all to Church, and many other vponupon knowledge of M. VVorth his preaching were aſſembled. Now when M. VVorth ſhould begin his ſermon, the parſon according to his froward word for the diſturbing of him, went toward the high altar to ſaie, maſle. VVhat followed? a moſt worthie example of God his iuſtice. For preſently before all the people aſſembled, the Lord ſmote this popiſh parſon for dead for the time, drawing his mouth vp to his eare, and ſo made him paſt ſaying of maſſe. Notwithſtanding beeing carried out of the church for auoiding further trouble of the congregation, he was within little time recouered of his life, yet neuer recouered his witts and ſenſes, but liuing long after, continued a foole all the daies of his life, and turned the ſpit, … was imploied vponupon ſome other ſeruice in the ſaide M. Cardinall his houſe euer after. I hauehave heard this of many very credible perſons, who had often heard it from M. VVorth, long time p. 128after (euen in this Queenes daies) viccar of Dedham in Eſſex, and of many other that were preſent at that ſermon, and were eye witneſſes of the iudgement. Some alſo are yet liuing about VVenham aforeſaid that knew it.

10 I might adde many other examples of God his iudgements againſt like perſons for like cauſe: but theſe ſhall be ſufficient. For by theſe who ſeeth not (that hath any eyes at all to ſee) in what account poperie is with the Lord? Let all men therefore by theſe examples take heede that they deceiue not themſelues. Let not them blindfold their owne eyes that they may not ſee the things thus manifeſt. Let them not diſgrace the reports of M. Fox, ſith many things written by him are alſo written by other before him, from whome he borrowed that which he did write. Some things of his are ſamous, and knowne to all men. I am not ignorant that M. Fox in writing ſome things vponupon the report of others might ſometime erre. And although his ſlippe in ſuch things be taken great hold of by the Papiſts, who there by take occaſion to diſgrace all the truth he hath written, to couer their owne crueltie, to conceale God his iudgements, & to harden themſelues in poperie, and the more eaſily to draw other to be of this minde; yet let the wiſe and true Chriſtian conſider, that it was by the deuills great policie, to mooue ſome (no doubt) in colour of ſynceritie, and pretending a minde of helping M. Fox in that worthie worke, to informe him p. 129with ſome vntruths, that by his writing of them vponupon ſuch information, all the reſt of his writing might be in diſgrace, as being in like manner vntrue. This no doubt, was the ſubtiltie of the old ſerpent, and of his viperous litter, ſo to diſgrace that noble worke, and ſo to obſcure thoſe euident examples of Gods diſalowance of their religion, as though he had written no truth, when the moſt of the things by him chronicled, are as cleare as the ſunne is in the midſt of the brighteſt ſommer day. But albeit ſome be giuen ouer in the iuſt iudgement of God, to beleeue truthes to be lies, becauſe they hauehave embraced lies for truthes; yet I hope that ſuch as belong vntounto the Lord, though perhaps by ſuch deuiſes they hauehave beene abuſed, will now make better vſe of theſe examples that I hauehave ſet downe, and the like. Thus much for thoſe works of God againſt poperie and Papiſts, whereby he hath (as it were) immediately teſtified his diſlike of both.

THE FOƲRTH BRANCH OF the tenth argument, touching the workes of God for our religion.

NOwe although by the former workes, God hath alſo teſtified his approbation of our religion; yet let vsus nowe further conſider and marke diligently, what p. 130he hath directly done for our religion & the profeſſours thereof. Truly ſuch hauehave beene the great and mightie works of God for our religion, that as the Prophet ſaith, God is knowne in Iudah, his name is great in Iſrael. pſal. 76. And againe, The Lord loueth the gates of Sion aboue all the habitation of Iacob, glorious things are spoken of the citi of God. pſal. 87. 2, 3. So alſo it may be ſaid of many particular perſons that hauehave boldly profeſſed, and ſtoutly maintained our religion, and chiefly of thoſe cities, countries, and kingdoms where it hath bin in like māner maintained, defended, and eſtabliſhed. To begin with Luther, when it pleaſed God firſt to open his eyes to ſee both the abominations of poperie, and alſo the truth of the goſpell, and likewiſe to deliuer him from the miſerable darknes and bondage of the one, and to tranſlate him to the glorious light and libertie of the other, yea to giuegive him an heart, courage, and tongue, boldly (as the Lords herault) to condemne, and diſclaime the former, and to preach and proclaime the other; how many, how diuers, how great, and how mightie aduerſaries had he? How few alſo, how ſimple, and how weake were thoſe that tooke his part? yet how mightily and how miraculouſly did God preſerue & vphold him, yea alſo bleſſe and proſper the worke of his miniſterie, almoſt to all Chriſtendome? The like might be ſaide of many other, who although they had not ſo great, nor ſo many enemies as Luther had: yet had more greater then they had beene able to p. 131hauehave reſiſted, had not the Lord mightily taken their part.

2 What ſhall we ſaie of little Geneua? doth it not ſtand in the very mouth of the aduerſarie there of the Duke of Sauoie? doth this aduerſarie want either power or malice? Is it not therefore manifeſt that the Lord which neither ſleepeth nor ſlumbereth, pſal. 121. 4. is the keeper there of, and that he doth protect and defende it by his mightie power and outstretched arme? What ſhall we ſaie of the towne of Rochel, beſieged for the goſpels ſake, and for harbouring the profeſſours thereof, by all the power of France for ſeauen whol monethes together? were there not during that ſiege many conflicts & skirmiſhes? did not the whole power of France make ſeauen principall aſſaults thereunto, in all which the Pope his ſide & greater power had the greater loſſe? doe not the French hiſtories themſelues teſtifie, that in the firſt aſſault, within leſſe then one monethmonth there were diſcharged againſt the walls and houſes thereof, the number of thirtie thouſand great ſhotte? Doe not the ſame alſo write that in the ſecond aſſault there were two thouſand fielde peeces laide againſt the towne? yet what ſucceſſe had theſe and the other aſſaults? The King was forced in the ende to withdrawe his forces, and ſtill to graunt them continuance of their former priuiledges, and ſpecially to the griefe of his heart, the libertie of the goſpel. What alſo ſhall we ſaie of God his prouidence toward the ſaid citie, p. 132during all the time of the former ſiege? for the poorer ſort wanting corne, the Lord ſent eueryevery daie into the riuer a multitude of ſuch fiſh, as the which they vſed in ſtead of bread: and that this was the ſpeciall and extraordinarie worke of God it appeareth in that, that ſo ſoone as the ſiege was remooued, the ſupplie alſo of the fiſhes did ceaſe.

3 Aboue all what ſhall we ſaie of our owne little Iland, and of our moſt dread ſoueraigne and gracious Queene? Hath not the whole land, and eſpecially her Highnes, had many and mightie enemies continually? Before ſhee came to the crowne in the daies of Queene Marie, were not Queene and Councell (for fiue yeares togither) her mortall enemies? did they not tranſlate her from place to place, by night and by daie, whether in health or ſicke? were not ſometime her owne ſeruants remooued from her, and ſtraungers appointed to attend vponupon her? was not the place directly vnderunder her, one night fired to her great daunger if it had not beene preuented? did ſhee not ſometime in the euening feare death before the morning? did ſhee not in the heauines of her heart and agonie of her ſoule, write, Much ſuspected by me, nothing prooued can be? Did ſhee not ſende theſe words to ſome of her ſeruants, that came and attended to ſee her. Tanquam ovis? who kept her in all thoſe great and deepe daungers? who reſtrained her enemies, eſpecially the bloodie and butcherly Biſhops, Bonner and Gardiner, who deliuered her p. 133in the ende? who aduaunced her vntounto the crowne? did not the Lord all this, and that moſt wonderfully? And may it not be ſaide in ſome ſort of her preſeruation, deliuerance, and aduauncement, as it is ſaide of Chriſt himſelfe, eſpecially conſidering that all her daunger was for Chriſt his cauſe: This is the Lord his doing and it is vvonderfull in our eyes? pſal. 118. 32.

4 Sithence ſhee hath beene placed in the throne of Maieſtie, hauehave her daungers bin leſſe or fewer? No verily: but as her place hath beene higher, ſo the deuill and all his whelpes hauehave more ſought her vtter ruine and ouerthrow. To omit forraine aſſaults, many home rebellions, many ſecret conſpiracies and priuie treaſons, many open inſurrections, hauehave beene againſt her Highnes from time to time. Many hauehave beene ſent partly from the Pope, partly from the King of Spayne, firſt adjured by their ſacrament of the altar, ſecretly or openly moſt traiterouſly to murther her. Many here within the realme hauehave conſpired and attempted the ſame. Neither hauehave they beene ſuch as hauehave wanted opportunitie to hauehave effected their purpoſe, but euen ſuch as hauehave beene continuall courtyers, waiting daily vponupon her perſon; yea as hauehave had all their aduancement and honour from her: ſuch alſo as hauehave had familiar acceſſe vntounto her, and with whome likewiſe ſhee of her princely curteſie and kindenes towards them hath vouchſafed verie often priuately p. 134to confer: yea euen then, when they hauehave come with full purpoſe and reſolution to hauehave defiled their hands with ſhedding of her ſacred blood, hauehave they beene admitted to her priuate and ſecret conference. Who then bridled them? who tooke away all heart and courage from them? Is it not euident to all men, and muſt not all men acknowledge, that the ſecret power of the Almightie did both withhold them, and alſo preſerue her? And may not ſhee truly ſaie with the Prophet, pſal. 94. 17. If the Lord had not holpen me, my ſoule had almoſt dwelt in ſilence? But is this all? No verily: the Lord hath not onelyonly thus miraculouſly kept her, but alſo highly honoured her in the eyes of all nations. As ſhee maintaineth the cauſe of Chriſt Ieſus, ſo God hath performed to her in ſome ſort, the promiſes made vntounto Chriſt Ieſus. As ſhee is a principall member of the ſpouſe of Chriſt Ieſus, ſo hath God honoured her with thoſe honours that he hath promiſed to the ſame ſpouſe. All Princes almoſt hauehave brought preſents vntounto her, and all people hauehave beene in admiration of her. Search all hiſtories, turne ouer all Chronicles, ſacred or profane, diuine or humane, eccleſiaſticall or ciuill, yet ſhall ye neuer finde a woman prince, a maiden Queene, whoſe preſeruation hath beene ſo mightie, whoſe glorie ſo great, whoſe gouernement ſo long, ſo proſperous and ſo happie.

5 All this hath beene the more admirable, and is the more to be conſidered, by how much the more and oftner ſhee hath beene curſed with p. 135bell, booke, and candle, by him that arrogateth to himſelfe plenitudinem poteſtatis, all authoritie in heauen, in earth, and in hell it ſelfe. This addeth no ſmall force vntounto my argument againſt him and all his religion. For if he were he whom he vaunteth himſelfe to be: if he were Peter his ſucceſſour, and Chriſt his viccar-generall vponupon earth: if he were the head of the Church, if he had the keies of heauen, if he could not erre; how could he hauehave erred in ſending forth ſo many curſes cauſeles? or if the cauſe of his curſes were iuſt (the which he rather pretendeth) how could he ſo often hauehave curſed without ſucceſſe? Chriſt hath ſaid and promiſed to Peter and his ſucceſſour (as they teach) that whatſoeuer, or whomſoeuer he ſhould binde or looſe in earth, the ſame ſhould be bound or looſed in heauen. HaueHave his curſes beene ſuch? verily they neuer came halfe waie to heauen, or els when they came there, Saint Peter was ſo faſt aſleepe that they could not awake him to let them in: or els when they were let in or crouded in, they were nipped in the head, and by the regents there retained with a Neſcio, or Non placet. But I will not ſpeake too much of this, leaſt I prouoke his holines to commence an action againſt Chriſt himſelfe, for not keeping promiſe, yea to ſende out a bull and excommunication againſt him. For then what ſhould become of vsus poore Proteſtants, if our head ſhould be thus hardly dealt withall?

6 Notwithſtanding I feare him not greatly, p. 136ſith I hauehave ſeene by ſo much experience, that his bulls are but bubbles; yea that the high court of heauen, hath alwaies turned his curſings into bleſſings. For I doubt not, but that the more he hath curſed her Maieſtie and this lande, the more God hath bleſſed both. Eliſha curſed the two captaines with their fifties, which were ſent to apprehend him and carrie him to the King, and preſently fire came downe from heauen and conſumed them. 2. King. 1. 11. Eliſha curſed thoſe vnhappie hangmans and wicked boyes that mocked him, and preſently came two Beares out of the forreſt which deuoured them. 2. King. 2. 29. The ſame Prophet likewiſe curſed his ſeruant Gehazi, for that ſinne which before we hauehave heard to be the life of the Pope, and preſently the leproſie of Naaman did faſten on him and cleaue vntounto him. 2. King. 5. 27. Dauid curſed Ioab, praying the Lord to remember him according to his wickednes, 2. Sam. 3. 39. & ſo it fell out to Ioab, 1. King. 2. 34. Paul curſed Elimas the ſorcerer with blindnes, and immediately there fell on him a myſt & darknes, ſo that he went about ſeeking ſome to lead him by the hand, Act. 13. 11. If therefore this bonus ſenex and holy father, had curſed with the ſame ſpirit wherewith they curſed, and in the ſame name in whoſe alſo they curſed, his curſes alſo would hauehave had the ſame effect. But ſithence they had the cleane contrarie, may we not ſafely conclude, that he is not the Vickar of Chriſt, but rather the deputie of the deuill; and that the p. 137vickar of Saint fooles is his ghoſtly father? yea that he is the aduerſarie of Chriſt and childe of perdition, in taking vponupon him to curſe the annointed of the Lord, who is alſo the bleſſed of the Lord. Certenly foraſmuch as his curſes are no more effectuall, but alwaies turned into ſuch bleſſings, I wiſh he would likewiſe curſe me; for then I thinke I ſhould both liue the longer, notwithſtanding my preſent infirmities of bodie, which daily threaten death vntounto me, and alſo euerie other way be the more bleſſed. Dauid hoped of ſome good from the Lord, for curſing of Shimei after another manner, 2. Sam. 16. 12. ſo if the Pope would alſo curſe me, I ſhould hope to fare likewiſe the better thereby.

7 To end this argument therfore drawne frō ſuch examples: if Nabuchadnezzer ſeeing the mightie deliuerance of Shadrack, Meſhach, and Abednego, in the fierie ouen, did acknowledge their God to be the only God, Dan. 3. 29. If Darius ſeeing the ſtraunge preſeruation of Daniel from the mouth of the Lyons, when he was caſt into their denne to hauehave bin deuoured of them, did likewiſe confeſſe the God of Daniel to be the liuing God which remaineth for euer, Dan. 6. 26. ſhall any that profeſſe themſelues, and would be accounted Chriſtians, ſee ſo many and ſo great mercies of God towardes other profeſſing our religion, and ſo miraculouſly beſtowed: ſhal any, I ſay, that would be accounted Chriſtians, ſeeing all theſe things done by God himſelfe, for the vpholding and maintaining of p. 138our religion and the profeſſours thereof, yet make doubt of our God whither he be the liuing God, and of our religion whither it be the true religion?

8 Yea but me thinketh, I heare one obiect the great plentie that was in the time of poperie, when one might buie 24. egges for a pennie, a good cowe for a noble, or eight ſhillings, an oxe for a marke, a ſheepe for twentie pence, a buſhell of wheat for foure or ſixe pence. And that ſithence this new religion (for which I now plead) came vp, there was neuer ſuch plentie, neither was it euer ſo merrie with vsus. This is an old obiection, and worne in a manner with often handling cleane through: yea it is ſo olde that it is euen rotten and conſumed, ſo that if it be but touched, it will fall to duſt or pouder. It was vſed by the Iewes to Ieremie againſt the word of God that he preached, and for defence of their former idolatrie: When, ſay they, we worſhipped the Queene of heauen (or as ſome doe read more generally, the things of heauen) then we had plentie of victualls, and were well, and felt no euill; but ſithence we left ſuch idolatrie, we hauehave beene conſumed by the ſword, and by famine. Ier. 44. 17, 18. To this obiection I returne a threefold anſwer briefly. Firſt I ſaie that this plenty of things in former time of poperie, is not eaſily prooued as ſpoken. For although a man might then buie ſo much for ſo little as hath beene ſpoken of, yet this prooueth not ſuch plentie, except there had beene as great plentie alſo of money, to hauehave p. 139bought the other things ſo cheape. Then a penie was as hard to come by, as a teſter is now: for then a labouring man had but a penie a daie for his worke, but now he hath ſixe pence or a groat at the leaſt. Therefore it skilleth not though things be now dearer then they were then, as long as money is more plentifull and eaſie to be come by. So likewiſe it may be ſaide as well of the commodities which the poore man hath to ſell, as which the rich man hath. When therefore a man may hauehave a groat nowe or ſixe pence as eaſily as then he could hauehave a penie, may he not as well giuegive a groat or ſixe pence for that which he buieth now, as then he did giuegive a penie? Secondly, the number of people beeing now ſo encreaſed aboue that it was then, as we ſee it to be, and compared with the ſmall number of thoſe times, doth prooue that there was no greater plentie in thoſe times then is now. Yea rather doth not this commend the merciemercy and liberalitie of God the more, in prouiding as well for the great multitude that is nowe, by the meanes of the long and great peace we hauehave had, as he did then for that ſmall number of people that was then? If it be obiected, that many townes & cities were greater then, then now they be, and that this prooueth as great a multitude to hauehave bin then, as is now: I anſwer that as ſome townes and cities are decaied, ſo alſo many more both townes, cities, and villages, are mightily encreaſed. Thirdly, though the former plentie of former times ſhould be graunted, yet p. 136duplicate page p. 137duplicate page p. 138duplicate page p. 139duplicate page p. 140it is not to be aſcribed to poperie. For then now alſo where poperie is, there ſhould be like plentie. But we ſee the contrarie. For in Spayne and other countries of poperie, there is farre greater dearth at all times, then where our religion is receiued.

THE FIFTH PART OF THE tenth argument, touching the workes of God both againſt Poperie and for our religion.

NOw then let vsus proceede, and to the former exāples both of God his iuſt iudgement againſt poperie and Papiſts, and alſo of his mercies for our religion and the profeſſours thereof; let vsus adde an other ſort of mixt workes of God, that is, of ſuch things as God hath done both for one and alſo againſt the other, and whereby at one and the ſame time he hath ſignified both his liking of the one, and alſo his diſliking of the other. Here I will not referre the reader to the hiſtories and bookes of other, but doe onelyonly intreat him wiſely and in the feare of God to conſider ſuch things as hauehave beene ſo lately done in the eyes of the whole worlde, as that eueryevery childe of twelue yeares age knoweth them and talketh of them.

2 Firſt therefore let the great Navie of the p. 141king of Spayne, ſent forth anno Dom. 1588. for the inuaſion of this kingdome, and captiuating of the people (if it had beene poſſible) be conſidered, with the ſucceſſe which it had. This Navie was ſo great, as that the ſeas neuer before did beare the like, and therefore alſo themſelues did call it the inuincible Navie. Neither was it ſent forth onelyonly by the King of Spayne himſelfe, but alſo with all the bleſſings that might be of the Pope and the whole Church of Rome. As the whole popiſh holy cleargie in England in Queene Maries daies, made many earneſt and loude praiers, went many ſolemne proceſſions, and ſang many deuote Maſſes for the childe-birth and ſafe deliuerance of Queene Marie; ſo in like manner did the Pope and colledge of Cardinalls, and the whole holy Synagogue of Rome, in Rome, in Spayne, and in many other places, make the like ſupplications, goe the like proceſſions and ſing the like maſſes, for the good and happie ſucceſſe of the ſaide Navie. Therefore came this great armie, not onelyonly intending all violence and crueltie, but alſo fully perſwaded (in their owne hearts) of all victorie. They made the like account of preuailing againſt Englande, that ſometime Senacherib King of Aſhur with his Captaine Rabſhakeh made of preuailing againſt Ieruſalem, and therefore ſaide (no doubt) in their hearts ſecretly, the ſame that Rabſhakeh ſpake in words openly, 2. King. 18. 25. Am I now come vp without the Lord to this place p. 142to deſtroy it? The Lord hath ſaide vntounto me, goe vp againſt this land and deſtroie it. They thought it had beene impoſſible for vsus to hauehave eſcaped their hands, as ſometimes Benhadad king of Aram did thinke it impoſſible for the Iſraelites to eſcape out of his hands, and therefore hearing that men were come out of Samaria againſt him, he made not reckoning of it, but ſaid, Whether they be come out for peace, take them aliue, or whether they be come ought to fight, take them yet aliue. 1. King. 20. 18. Finally they ſo preſumed vponupon the vertue of the Popes bleſſing and vponupon their great forces, that they made reckoning before of deuiding the ſpoile amongſt them, as ſometime Siſera and his mother with her wiſe ladies did, of deuiding the ſpoile of the Iſraelites. Iudg. 5. 29.

3 But what came of all this? Truly, as there neuer had beene ſent forth the like power by ſea againſt any people, ſo was there neuer the like ouerthrow. They had not cried loud ynough vntounto their gods, therefore they did not helpe them: they ſet themſelues againſt the God of heauen, therefore he confounded them. They ſaid as the Egyptians ſaide, Exod. 15. 9. We will purſue, we will ouertake them, we will deuide the ſpoyle, our luſt ſhall be ſatisfied vponupon them, we will draw our ſword, our hand ſhall deſtroy them: but we may truly ſing and ſay as Moſes and the Iſraelites in that place ſung and ſaid, verſ. 6, 7, 10. Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power, thy right hand, O Lord, hath bruiſed the enemie. And p. 143in thy great glorie haſt thou ouer throwne them that roſe againſt thee: thou ſenteſt forth thy wrath which conſumed them as the ſtubble. Thou bleweſt with thy winde, the ſea couered them, they ſanke as lead in the mightie waters. All this may we truly ſay, becauſe the Lord, the Lord onelyonly did ouerthrow Pharao and his people in the redde ſea. He gaue their fleſh to be meate to the fiſhes, as before he had giuen the fleſh of the Egyptians. Yea he did this in a maner without any ſtrēgth of men, he commanded both winde and ſea againſt them, and they both obeyed, that ſo himſelfe might hauehave all the glorie, and none might giuegive any part thereof to vsus, neither we take any part thereof vntounto our ſelues: yea that ſo he might make it knowne to all the world, that Pope and Spanyard had not onelyonly oppoſed themſelues vntounto the Queene of England and her religion, but alſo to the God of heauen and his truth. So that as all the praiers, proceſſions, and maſſes here in England for Queene Marie her ſafe deliuerance, & for the yong Prince in her wombe, came to nothing: in like maner did all the works of like deuotion, by the Pope himſelfe and the reſt of the Church of Rome, in Rome and elſewhere, come to leſſe then nothing. For as before his curſes of our Queene and land were turned into bleſſings: ſo now alſo his bleſſings of the Spanyard and his forces, were turned into curſes. Who ſeeth not by this, that he that dwelleth in the heauens did laugh them to ſcorne, and that that the Lord had them in deriſion? as p. 144it is ſaid and threatned vntounto all ſuch as aſſemble togither againſt the Lord and againſt his annointed. pſal. 2. 2. &c. As the prophets & prieſts of Baal cried vntounto their gods, ſo did the Spanyard vntounto his gods, both which he imagineth to be in heauen, and alſo before which he falleth downe and worſhippeth in the earth, I meane both vntounto all his Saints, and alſo to all his grauen images made of woode, ſtone, ſiluer, and gold, &c. As Eliſha cried vntounto the true God, ſo alſo did we in the daie of our trouble. We faſted and praied lifting vp our hearts and our handes vntounto God in the heauens, commending our ſelues and all our forces onelyonly to him. Therefore as the prieſts of Baal laboured in vaine: ſo alſo did the Spanyard. As Elija, Iehoſaphat, Mordechaie, and Eſter, and many other the good ſeruants of God, were heard in that they praied; ſo alſo were we. Wherefore, as Elija by this argument confounded the prieſts of Baal, proouing their god to be no god, their worſhip to be falſe worſhip, and contrarily did approoue himſelfe to worſhip the true God, in true manner: ſo alſo why may not we by the like argument, condemne the god of the Pope and the Spanyards to be no god, and their religion likewiſe to be no religion: and on the contrarie conclude and boldly affirme our God only to be the true God, and our religion to be that religion which this our true God hath once commanded, doth daily commaund, and euer accepteth? Truly ſo great was our daunger in that expedition of the p. 145Spanyard againſt vsus, that ſithence our deliuerāce from the ſame we may truly ſay as the Church ſaith, pſal. 124. If the Lord had not bin on our ſide, may England now ſay, if the Lord had not bin on our ſide, they had then ſwallowed vsus vp quicke, when their wrath was kindled againſt vsus: then the waters had drowned vsus, the ſtreame had gone ouer our ſoule, then had the ſwelling waters gone ouer our ſoule. Praiſed be the Lord, which hath not giuen vsus as a praie vntounto their teeth. Our ſoule is eſcaped, euen as a bird out of the ſnare of the fowler: the ſnare is broken, and we are deliuered. Our helpe is in the name of the Lord, which hath made heauen and earth. This whole pſalme in reſpect of our mightie deliuerance, may we as truly applie vntounto our ſelues, as before we ſhewed that we might applie part of the ſong of Moſes and the Iſraelites, when they were newly deliuered from their ſlauerie and bondage out of the lande of Egypt.

4. The ſecond example of theſe mixt workes of God againſt Pope and poperie, and alſo for vsus and our religion, is the honourable and happie ſucceſſe of our forces laſt yeare ſent forth againſt the Spanyards vnderunder the conduct of the right honourable and moſt worthie Earle of Eſſex, and the Lord Admiral: eſpecially if it be compared with the former ſucceſſe of the Spanyard againſt vsus. For the Spanyard comming againſt vsus (as before is ſaid) with ſuch huge and mightie forces as he thought inexpugnable, and finding vsus as it were in a manner altogether p. 146vnprepared to meete him ſo ſuddenly, and indeede of our ſelues not able then to hauehave reſiſted him, yet could not ſo much as ſet any footing of any one man within any part of our land; but by the mightie hand of God ſtretched out from heauen againſt him, was forced to returne in vain, yea with loſſe (at the leaſt) of halfe his forces both ſhippes and men by the waie, to the euerlaſting ſhame and diſhonour of him and of his religion. But on the contrarie our forces beeing nothing ſo great as his were, neither comming vponupon him on the ſuddaine without his great preparation for them, did yet ſo mightily preuaile, by the power of God going before them and with them, and the feare of God falling vponupon the Spanyards (as ſometime vponupon the Shechemites and their neighbour nations, Gen. 35. 5.) that comming not into any obſcure riuer, but to one of the moſt famous hauens in all Spayne, and finding the ſame furniſhed with a mightie Navie of the king his greateſt ſhippes, did not withſtanding both foile all the foreſaide Navie, and alſo land, not ſome, but as many of their men as themſelues would: and within few daies did both take and ſacke, not ſome little village, but one of the chiefeſt, richeſt, and ſtrongeſt townes in all his kingdome, ſtrongly fortified with men, and plentifully furniſhed with victuall, and whereof (by report of them that were there, & that know the place) eueryevery houſe was built of ſtone, and in forme and ſtrength like vntounto a caſtle. Thus did our God bleſſe and p. 147proſper our forces againſt him, with loſſe of no man of reckoning but onelyonly one, and of no more of the common ſoldiours, then is moſt likely in ſo great a multitude would hauehave died at home. So did our armies returne, as with a ſufficient ſpoyle and bootie, ſo with exceeding great honour and renowne. What ſhall we ſay of theſe things? that by our hand and ſtrength we hauehave gotten the victorie? God forbid that we ſhould ſo robbe God of his honour. But let vsus more truly anſwer as the Apoſtle anſwereth the like queſtion of admiration with theſe wordes, If God be with vsus, who can be againſt vsus? Rom. 8. 31. Euen ſo let vsus, touching the confuſion of the Spaniſh forces, and the gracious ſucceſſe of our owne, likewiſe anſwer and ſay, God hath beene with vsus, therefore it skilleth not who hath beene againſt vsus: and on the contrarie, God hath beene againſt the Spanyard, and therefore it hath not holpen him againſt vsus, whomſoeuer he hath had with him.

5 A third example alſo of like mixt workes of God, againſt Pope and poperie, and for vsus and our religion, is that ouerthrow which the laſt winter the Lord himſelfe, without any meanes of man, gaue to a great power of Spaniſh ſhippes, ſent towards Ireland for aide and ſtrengthening of the rebells againſt vsus. This power of ſhippes, beeing not ſo much as exſpected of vsus, did the Lord by his mightie power ſo graciouſly confound in our behalfe, that we neuer heard of their comming, till tidings came of p. 148their drowning. And may we not here alſo adde the happie ſucceſſe of our laſt voyage this preſent yeare againſt the Spanyard, as likewiſe the contrarie of the Spaniſh Navie againe ſent hither againſt vsus? yes verily. Theſe doe no leſſe deſerue the regiſtring, then the former: theſe are as well worthie the obſeruation, as the former: finally theſe ſpeake as plainely for our religion and againſt poperie, as the former. For as touching this ſecond voyage of that moſt worthie and honourable Earle, albeit at the firſt God himſelfe ſeemed as it were to froune vponupon vsus and to reſiſt vsus, (for the triall of the courage, and proouing the patience, and likewiſe the better humiliation of the ſaide Earle and his forces) and finally for inſtructing of vsus as well as the Spanyard, that the proceeding in any voyage muſt not be according to the will and pleaſure of man, but according to his will and pleaſure, that ruleth and gouerneth as well by ſea as by lād:) yet afterward (all things conſidered) the Lord hath not much leſſe (if any whit leſſe at all) magnified his great mercies towards vsus and his goſpel, and his iuſtice againſt Spayne and poperie, then he did the laſt yeare, at the taking and ſacking of Cales. For firſt of all, how honourably to the great reproch of the great King, hath our little Fleete diſcontinued from home, partly before, and partly about the dominions of Spayne, and that in the very face of the Spanyard? yet what hath all the Spaniſh power done vntounto them? yea rather how cowardly p. 149hauehave they kept themſelues within their ſafe hauens and harbours, not daring ſo much as once to looke our forces in the faces? did we ſo in the yeare 1588? doth not this ſpeake to the renowne of our little Iland, and eſpecially to the glorie of the religion therein profeſſed? doth it not in like manner as euidently diſgrace both the Spanyards themſelues, and alſo their Romane religion? As touching the finall ſucceſſe of this voyage, although it were not ſuch as it might hauehave beene (becauſe God well ſeeth that ſo rich a bootie as the whole Indian ſleete had beene, would perhaps hauehave made vsus too proud) yet ſuch was it, that we hauehave no loſſe, neither they any gaine thereby. Concerning the Spaniſh Navie, this yeare alſo ſent againſt vsus, firſt how cowardly was it ſent, when they thought our ſtrength to hauehave beene from home? will not eueryevery man vtterly condemne him for a cowarde, that taketh the aduantage priuily of his aduerſarie, when he thinketh him to be vnarmed? why therefore may not the like be ſaide of the like practiſe of a King and kingdome? eſpecially of ſuch a king and kingdome, as in their high pride thinke they ſhould commaund the whole world. Secondly what ſucceſſe had this Fleete, ſo priuily and cloſely thinking to hauehave ſtolne vponupon vsus? verily as he that kept England heretofore, hath neither ſlept nor ſlumbred, ſo now alſo whē the Spāyards thought to hauehave founde vsus aſleepe, they founde him waking. When they thought to hauehave found vsus p. 150vnarmed, they found him as a man of warre, with his ſword girded to his thigh, yea rather readie drawne in his hand, and eueryevery way prepared for the battaile. For this man of warre fought for vsus againe this yeare, as he did the laſt yeare: and did partly confound them, and partly force them to recule home with all diſhonour; and that before that we did ſo much as once (almoſt) dreame of any ſuch power comming towardes vsus. The more did God reueale his wrath againſt them and their errours; as alſo teſtifie his louelove vntounto vsus, and to his owne truth.

6 In writing thus of theſe things, I boaſt not of our ſelues and our owne worthines, as if the Lord for our righteouſneſſe had done all theſe things forvs: I labour not to commend our perſons, but onelyonly to iuſtifie our religion. As touching our ſelues, we cānot deny but that although we hauehave the goſpel, yet our contempt of his goſpel and his other mercies, our ſecuritie by thē, & our other manifold and heinous ſinnes which we daily commit againſt his maieſtie, are ſuch, that we hauehave beene and are altogether vnworthie of ſo mightie protection, and of ſo proſperous ſucceſſe. It hath not beene therefore in reſpect of our ſelues, that God hath thus dealt with vsus and for vsus: but onelyonly for his owne great names ſake, and that he might yet further commend his goſpell profeſſed amongſt vsus (but indeede not ſo practiſed and obeied by vsus as it ought to be) vntounto thoſe that yet regard it not, p. 151and that (if it be poſſible) he might winne thereunto both Atheiſts, and Papiſts, and alſo all other that yet are enemies thereof. Thus we condemne our ſelues, and thus we magnifie onelyonly the power and goodnes of God, in regard whereof we wiſh as the Prophet often wiſheth in the 107, pſalme, that men would therefore confeſſe before the Lord, his louing kindnes, and his wonderfull workes that he doth before the ſonnes of men: we wiſh alſo as the Prophet doth again in the ſame pſalme, verſ. 22. that, men would offer ſacrifice of praiſe, and declare his works with reioycing. Let no man or woman therefore, how zealous ſoeuer of poperie they hauehave beene hitherto, and yet are: or how obſtinate and hard hearted ſoeuer againſt our religion, ſo lightly paſſe by this argument, or ſo baſely thinke of our religion, as they hauehave done or doe. Though we doe not honour it as we ought to doe, but rather diſhonour it by our wicked liues and conuerſations, altogether vnbeſeeming the holines thereof: yet let them more ſeriouſly conſider theſe arguments, whereby God himſelfe from heauen hath graced and commended and doth grace and commend the ſame vntounto them.

7 Let no man here ſay, that by theſe laſt arguments from the works of God, the religion of the Turks might be iuſtified. For albeit it cannot be denied, that the Turke hath had mightie victories, and doth flow in great proſperitie, yet is their great difference betweene our victories, and his: betweene our proſperitie and his. All p. 152that he hath gotten hath beene by exceeding force and power: but our victories hauehave beene obtained almoſt without force, againſt great force. His victories hauehave neuer beene gotten without great loſſe of his owne ſide: but as the Iewes and Iſraelites oftentimes preuailed without any fight at all, Iudg. 7. 20. 2. Chron. 20. 17. and 23. &c. ſo in a manner hauehave we done. The Lord onelyonly hath fought for vsus, we almoſt hauehave not fought for our ſelues or for him, but onelyonly hauehave ſhewed our faces to the enemie. As the Turke hath thus gotten that which he hath, ſo alſo he maintaineth his eſtate wholly by violence: but as the Lord hath fought for vsus from heauen, ſo alſo he miraculouſly maintaineth vsus. The like may be ſaid of the other proſperitie of the Turke, becauſe he hath not thoſe mightie enemies to oppugne and envie it, which we hauehave had and yet hauehave, to enuie and oppugne ours. The ſame, and more alſo, may be ſaide of all the victories of the Spanyard himſelfe againſt other: he hath gotten all, he holdeth and keepeth all, partly by violence and crueltie, partly by falſhoode and treacherie. Therefore as the former great victories of Senacherib againſt other nations, whereof Rabſhekah boaſteth, 2. King. 18. 34, 35, &c. did the more iuſtifie and commend Hezekia, and the worſhip of God repaired and eſtabliſhed by him: ſo the great victories of the Spanyards againſt other nations either heathen or popiſh, maketh the more for vsus and for our religion, ſith the Spanyard cannot by thoſe means p. 153preuaile againſt vsus, by which he hath preuailed againſt others, as great people as we are if not much greater. For what els doth this teach, but that the Lord himſelfe is our light and ſaluation, our ſtrength, our rocke and fortreſſe, and he that deliuereth Pſal. 27. 1. Pſal. 18. 1. 2.Ps 27:1Ps 18:1Ps 18:2vsus. Surely the Lord is our ſtrength, and he that teacheth our hands to fight, and our fingers to battell, he is our goodnes & for treſſe, our tower, and Pſal. 144. 1, 2.Ps 144:1Ps 144:2deliuerer, our ſhield, and he in whome we truſt: euen he that ſubdueth our people vnderunder vsus. It is the Lord that pleadeth for vsus & for our religion, yea rather for our religion onelyonly; becauſe that we ourſelues are ſo wicked and ſinneful, that we are altogether vnworthie of his aide and defence.

8 Yea but the Spanyard himſelfe hath alſo had great victories againſt the Turke, when the Turkiſh forces hauehave perhaps beene twiſe or thriſe ſo great as the Spaniſh. Let this be graunted, yet doth not this ſimply iuſtifie the Spaniſh religion, but onelyonly in reſpect of the Turks, who are profeſſed enemies of Chriſt and of all that is called by the name of Chriſt. The Iſraelites after the death of Ioſhua fell often to moſt grieuous idolatrie, the Lord gaue them notwithſtanding mightie victories againſt their enemies. Yea the tenne Tribes after they were reuolted, not onelyonly from Iuda, but alſo from the Lord himſelfe and his worſhip, and ſo continued: in their battels notwithſtanding with thoſe that profeſſed enmity both to thē, & alſo to god whome they ſometime had truly worſhipped, and of whoſe worſhip they retained ſome ſmall p. 154remnants, had very great and happie ſucceſſe, though ſometimes their enemies were tenne times as many and as ſtrong as themſelues. Yet doe not theſe victories ſimply iuſtifie the Iſraelites, or their preſent religion, but onelyonly in reſpect of their enemies, which did vtterly denie God and his religion. The Lord notwithſtanding their falling in moſt things, had regard to the remnants of his worſhip amongſt them, and to his formet couenant, euen for his owne names ſake, as Ezekiel teacheth, chap. 20. In like ſort the Spanyards profeſſing the name of Chriſt, and hauing ſome remnants of Chriſtian religion amongſt them, but the Turks vtterly denying and defying Chriſt, and the very name of all chriſtianitie: no maruaile though Chriſt Ieſus in the warres of the Spanyards againſt them, doe rather fight the battels of the Spanyards, as hauing reſpect vntounto his name ſo blaſphemed by the Turke. But hereby doth not Chriſt Ieſus ſimply approoue of the Spaniſh religion, but onelyonly in reſpect of the Turkiſh.

9 If it be further obiected, that the moſt wicked that are, doe ſometime preuaile againſt the godly themſelues, as the men of Ai againſt Iſrael, &c. and that they flow alſo in much, yea almoſt in all outward proſperitie, and that therefore this argument is not ſound and firme enough, to inferre that which I inferre thereof, I anſwer that the Lord indeede giueth ſometime ſuch victorie vntounto the wicked againſt his owne people, but it is for ſome ſpeciall ſinne of his p. 155people, as appeareth by the example before alleadged. For Iſrael fell before the men of Ai for the ſinne of Achan, yea the Lord ſaith they could not ſtand before their enemies, Ioſh. 7. 12. becauſe of that ſinne. Againe, though the Lord ſometimes giuegive his people ouer into the hands of his and their enemies, yet he doth it not in ſuch miraculous manner without the force of the enemie againſt them, himſelfe fighting from heauen for the enemie, as he hath done for vsus againſt the Spanyards, but alwaies the enemie hath preuailed againſt the Lord his people, by greater ſtrength of fleſh then the Lords people had againſt them, and by fighting in their owne perſon. For touching the former example of Ai, Ioſhua ſent but about 3000. of the Iſraelites againſt it, Ioſh. 7. 4. but it is moſt like that they were repelled by a farre more greater force. For although they whome Ioſhua firſt ſent to view Ai, returned and ſaide it was but a ſmall people, yet it is certen that they were able to make a greater force then three thouſand, becauſe when Iſrael preuailed againſt Ai to the number of twelue thouſand, Ioſh. 8. 26. The ſame may be ſaide of the other proſperitie of the wicked, they proſper, they flouriſh, they waxe rich, &c. but it is by ordinarie meanes: ſometime alſo, yea moſt commonly by vnlawfull meanes, by hooke and by crooke (as the prouerbe is:) but our proſperitie and the proſperitie of other kingdomes, countries, and cities, &c. profeſſing our religion, hauehave ſo proſpered p. 156and flouriſhed in outward things, aboue that which they did whilſt they were ouergrowne with poperie, that eueryevery man may euidently ſee, that it is the ſpeciall bleſſing of God euen for the honour of our religion, that hath made vsus rich and thus to proſper. Againe we hauehave thus proſpered, though the wicked Papiſts hauehave ſeene our proſperitie, and beene angrie; yea though they hauehave practiſed againſt vsus and gnaſhed their teeth. Pſal. 37. 12. and 112. 10.