Reproof of Howlets Untimely Shrieking, Part 2 (3 of 3)

Reproof of Howlets Untimely Shrieking · Part 2 (3 of 3)

p. 158Yee cannot stande, yee say, to rehearse our like absurd translations in infinite other thinges. No maruell, if yee bring the like to this out of Saint Iohn, that is: false slanders, though yee cannot stande to rehearse the same: For it is no honestie, neither needeth it; and you may bee ashamed thereof, if yee can blushe: wee can make you no answere to that which you note not, nor set vsus downe: But this I say, hee that shoulde enter your common translation the Bible in Latine, so aduaunced & approued of your side, y^t none may cōpare w^t it: but it must stand alone without checke and controulement, &c. As your Pope, with his Popish Trent Councell hath resolued; shoulde easilier find a way in, then well get out againe, so corrupt, and wilfully, and shamelesly corrupted is it. In the place of 1. Iohn 5. 21. and diuers other like, will you (for all the fault you finde) correct your owne vulgare translation, or abide by it to the popes face, that it is not scripture, except it be thus: from Idols, but manifest and wilfull corruption; I weeneAb Idolis. ye will not, you know the perill of it too well: But let vsus leaue y^t. Byde any thing in your selues, byde nothing in vsus: This is your equall rule, I pray you Syr, what made you;Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15 euen in the beginning of Genesis, in that notable and comfortable promise of mans restoring after his fall by the seede of the woman Iesus Christe, to turne that was spokē … Ipse … Ipsum.of Christ, ouer to the Virgin Marie, to change the gēder, and in steede of He, or It, that is: Christ, or the seede; to say in your vulgare or common translation: shee, that is the Virgin Marie; and so to peruert, not onelyonly the wordes but the meaning of the holy Ghoste. Let Lyra, and other Commentaries thereupon bee seene. Surely I thinke the Diuell himselfe was the Authour and father thereof; as hee was of the Ladies Psalter, and such other impieties: Let your Hyperdulia helpe this treacherie, you were best deuise defused tearmes, to helpe defused and naughtie matters: If Christ be our Lord, you will needes hauehave the Virgin Mary; our Ladie. I fhee bee king of heauen, Shee must be Queene. If hee bee ascended, wee must thinke She was assumpted, &c. I will not heere followe your abhominable superstitions and Idolatries. What mooued you in theLuke. 15. 8.Luke 15:8 newe Testament, in steede of sweeping the house, to translateforeign, verrit Vulg. vertit … euertit.it in your vulgar translatiō: ouerthrowing the house; Insomuch as your Expositours, making Comment thereof, shewe howe the woman ouerthrewe the house, some taking it, spoken by a figure, some simplie, in deed, and plainly, as the wordes lye. If it were a fault in the Printer, why caused it you not to bee amended, when yee were admonished, and founde it out; especially, seeing it deceiued your learned writers; to make vsus false Commentaries thereon. Why retaine you that corruption still in the Text in both places, and set down the true reading aloofe in the margin, in sundrie Bibles of diuers Printes; Why in that notable opposition betweene grace and workes; hauehave you left out in the Romans 11.6. these words in your translation? But if it bee of workes, it is no more grace, or els were work no more work: The reason may easily bee spyed; because you will bee thought to bee great friendes to workes, ye are content to become enimies to grace. Why are not these faultes with other, being so notorious, so often tolde, and cryed out against, amended in your corrupt translation; I think the religion you beare to your Pope, and to the translation by him authorised, stayeth you; els for shame you woulde hauehave mended so grosse corruptions, and hauehave floung them out of the Text of Scriptures, and restored the truth, and the Text: But your religion towards the Pope and Poperie hath taken away all religion towardes God and his worde; As may bee seene in infinite p. 159places of the Bible, obserued by the godly and learned aforetime, and nowe a dayes, and by diuers of your owne side; and notably in the Newe Testament by Faber, Valla, Erasmus, &c. and by those that hauehave examined and answered your Trent Coūcell; as Caluin, Kemnitius, & other: To whose writings I refer the Christiā Reader herein; to turn all that heere is saide against vsus and our translation, vponupon the Papistes, and their corrupt translation of the holy scriptures: which I would hauehave forborne to hauehave entred into, except necessitie, and this discoursers importunitie had pulde mee into this odious matter; to shew the Papistes partiall and hollowe dealing heerein.

Nowe because this common Latine translation of the Bible hath gone and still doth with many, vnderunder the name of Hierome his translation, and hath gotten thereby credit, for the man his great learning; our aduersaries also (as seemeth) woulde faine hauehave it reputed for Hierom his: Therfore shall it not be amisse (out of many places) to bring one, out of Hierome in his Commentaries vponupon the Scriptures, which plainely condemneth, and reprooueth these Gentlemens corrupt translation, as not good; and so none of Hieromehis. A little leauen corrupteth the wholeGalatians. 5. 9.Gal 5:9 lumpe: Thus the olde translation, as they call it. HieromeModicum fermentum totam … corrumpit. thus: a little leauē leaueneth or sowreth the whole lump, & immediatly after in his Cōmentarie on those words It is ill; in our Latine bookes, saith hee: a little leauen corrupteth the whole lumpe; and the interpreter translatedHieron. Lib. 3. in 5. ad Galatas. rather his owne meaning than the Apostle his wordes, &c. A shrewde checke of your translation, by Hierome. Why will yee not mende it; If you say it bee Hieromes, Why will yee not let him mende it; But let vsus proceede for y^e place of the second booke of the Machabees (which is the seconde faulte you find in our trāslatiō of y^e Bible) cō sidering2 …. 12. y^t it is neuer read in our publike church meetings: you might hauehave spared y^t frō being a fault in our seruice: sauing y^t wher you find none, ye think good to deuise & imagine faults, & to put the same vponupon vsus, will we, nill wee. If ye had had any store, ye might & would, no doubt, hauehave made better & fitter choyse to hauehave found faulte with the English translation read in our assemblies: either your skill is not great, or your store poore and slender, or lastly our English Bibles, too well translated; to bee iustly controuled by you. Your conclusion grounded vppon so weake and slender premises or proofes thereof, must needes but ill fauouredly followe: This I say (and when I hauehave saide, yet reporte mee too any learned indifferente Reader, vppon conference with the Greeke, to Judge) that in these bookes of the Maccabees (which are among the Apocrypha, as they are called, that is priuately and secretly read rather, thē opēly approued & receiued to be canonical scriptures, as Hierom sayth.) Our english bibles keepeEcclesiainter Canonicas scripturas nō recipit, saith Hierō, Prefat. in libros Solomonis. &c. more …, and come neerer to the Greek text than your vulgar translation, and more helpe (vponupon conference) shall the Englishe Reader hauehave, to vnderstande the sense of the Authour, than at the other: Although in deede the Greeke it selfe, euen here, be somewhat diffused and darke: And therefore no maruaile (the originall or fountaine being troubled) if translations bee not the playnest. Iosephus, a Iewe, hath in Hebrew written fiue bookes of the Iewishe Hystories, from their captiuitie in Babylon, vntyll Pilate their President: In which bookes (among other thinges) are written the worthye Actes of the Maccabees: And entreating this very place in that booke, he maketh no mentionIoseph, Ben Gorion, hist. Iudaic. lib. 3. Cap. 19. of this prayer for the dead. And this Ioseph, Ben Gorion, is thought to bee that Iason of Cyrenae, out of whome this booke of the Maccabees, was taken as an Abrigemēt: So as I maruaile howe that shoulde orderly come into the Abrigement, whiche is not founde in the bodie of the storielooke 2. Macab. 2. From the 23. verse, to the ende of the Chapter. 2. Maccab. …, 28. written at large: And yet the Abridger doth but tel his opinion of Iudas, and his facte: wherein if he hauehave not said and done as he shoulde, let him (as he requesteth in the ende) be pardoned; especially, seeing he leueth the truth of things in particular, to the Authour: Besides this, it is noted to be p. 160noted to be contrary to the custome of the Iewes, euen to this day: to sacrifice, or pray for the dead. And what commaundement2. Macc. 14 41 42, &c.2 Macc 14:41 or warrant is there in God his Lame for the same; Lastly, to leaue other thinges, the example of Razis, in killing himselfe (an ancient and famous man among the Iewes) seemeth likewise to be commended in this storie, by this abridger; which is not iustifiable by the scriptures though. Yee neede not therefore make so great a doe, … the one particular example of Iudas, thus commended here, to grounde a doctrine thereon for oblations and prayers for the dead: nor checke our English translation in the 12. Chapter of the 2. booke of the Maccabees, if you consider the matter well, sauing that where you hauehave little or no proofe (as the Canonicall Scriptures prooue not that article) there you had neede make much of a little, or but of the shewe of a thing onelyonly. Your deuised Purgatorie, and Diriges, and Masses, hauehave made this doctrine of prayer for the dead, so gainefull vntounto you, as you are nowe lothe to let it goe. The godlie learned and my good brother, D. Fulke, a paineful and profitable minister in Christs church, easeth mee heere by his trauaile: As he doth in many other places; that I may nowe the more haste to an ende; that the Reader findeth not in one to his contentment, that possible may he finde in the other. I referre therefore to him, in that may be here missing: and walke somewhat the more confidently and at large after him and his answere hereto, which is gone before, because he is well knowen (God hauehave the glorie) to be so sufficient as he is. Thus much concerning the Scripture, read in our Assemblies, &c. So yee speake too lauishly and lewdly. Let the reader by this, iudge in the rest; of your vpright, honest, and plaine dealing: which if you write againe, I wishe you to bee better aduised in: if you hauehave respect to your honestie and good name.

You say, and belie vsus, that throughout the Scripture where idoles are forbidden, we translate it images: And here in your margin, yesay: See the English Byble Dedicated to King Henry. It is worth the noting; that where this gentleman findeth such fault with the Byble Dedicated, as he saith, To King Henry y^e 8. & chargeth vsus, or side, and men, with that translation: those of his owne side then approued the same, and some of the greatest Clergie men, were then … and dealers therein: He shall neuer bee able to denie, but that Cutbert Tonstall, a piller of the popish Church here, Bishop then of Durresme, and in Queene Maries time also; was a principall man in perusing that translation, at the king his commaundement. If your self had looked but on the very first chapter, of the first booke of the Maccabees in the Englishe Byble, and the latter ende of the Chapter; besides that you might hauehave seene, whose successours the Pope and you Papistes bee; in renting, cutting, burning, and destroying Bybles: 1. Maccabees 1. 59. 60. Yee might hauehave founde the woord idole and idoles; foure times vsed, there in the Englishe Bible, translated in that our renoumed Prince his dayes king Henry the 8; once more in deede than in your common translation, that ye make so much of. Let the reader looke the Chapter and1. Macca. 5. 54. 57. iudge: So farre are we off from that you vainely surmise, and put vponupon vsus: measuring vsus by your owne foote. The seconde fault you finde, is for that our God his seruice and sacraments, is not sayed and ministred by Priestes, but by meere lay men (so ye speake) though wee hauehave, but too many of your Popishe Priestes among vsus; But (Sir) for this grounde of your Reason; Is the seruice or sacramentes therefore to be accompted naught, because the partie that ministreth the same, is not a conuenient minister: Ye doe not make, I take it, the sacrament to depend on the worthinesse of the Minister. As for saying Church seruice, that God his Ministers are bounde vntounto: it is the preaching of God his word and gospel, the administring of Christ his Sacrament; Baptisme, and the Lord his Supper, and withall to make publique Prayers, with the Assemblie; As in deede these thinges can not bee perfourmed without publique p. 161Prayer, &c. Other seruice, as your Popishe Mattens, Masse, Euensong, Compline, …, &c. Wee leaue willingly to your popishe Priestes, of whom and their office in Christe his Churche (no more then of this kinde of your seruice) wee hauehave no mention nor warrant in al the Newe Testament: But for sacramentes, doe you not holde, I pray you, and teach with your Canon lawe taken out ofDe cōsecrat. distinct. 4. ca. Sanctum ex August. ad Fortunat. Austin; that Baptisme is holie of it selfe; which is giuen in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost: so that there is also in the same sacrament, the authoritie of tradition by our Lord to the Apostles, and by them to the Bishops, other Priestes, and laye persons also that are Christians, comming from the same beginning and stocke, &c. And in the glose there: the Lord deliuered the forme of Baptising to the Apostles, and by them to others, euen lay persons. And in another place, pope Iohn saith: to do this work of baptising, if it be need30. q. 1 ad limina. ful, is freely graūted to faithful lay mē, according to cano nical authoritie. First therfore I say, for this place, y^t your Priestes be intruders into Church offices without lawfull calling from God: Next, if lay men hauehave any thing to doe in this businesse of Churche ministerie, I say they take the authoritie from your popishe religion, not from Christ, nor the Christian religion that we professe. Thirdly, I say that this is no sufficient reason to stay from our Church assemblies, whereto you driue; neither is one bounde alwayes to enquire of the person, or certainely to vnderstand, whether hee be a Priest, or no, before they come to the Church, or receiue: but to respect the matter, which is God his, the edifiyng of our owne consciences thereby, &c. and for the rest to suppose, the man that executeth that charge is a publike church minister lawfully called, or standeth and is reputed for such a one, at least; while the Church and state disaloweth him not. I speake not in defence of any that without lawefull calling, medle in Church functions, nor that they of authoritie, may suffer and beare with such, or let them alone: I speake only for the satisfying of priuate mens consciences in this case. Lastly, I say, if that be your let of comming to Church, it may be soone eased: For there be diuers, and to many as I sayed, here in the Ministerie that hauehave bin afore time priestes: Chuse your place, your person, and come to Church; but you meane it not, I weene, it is but a shift and a cloke, to couer more mischiefe vnderunder: For the name of priestes, because it is somewhat doubtfully taken, and wee louelove to speake playnely: Therefore we call such, Christ hisforeign Ministers, Pastours, Byshops, or Ouerseers; and such otherSacerdotes. &c. names as we finde in the Apostles wrytings; doe wee giuegive our church ministers, agreeable to their holy functiōs. We leaue the name of Priestes, and their sacrifieing office, as vnwonted and vnused by the holie Ghost in the newe Testament, in Church functions, in the time of the Gospel: whō, and whose phrase of speaking, in his matters especially, we like well to followe so much as we may; though wee louelove not, in the meane while, to striue about names, where the matter is plain. You quot your margin, but you set vsus down the words of no expresse testimonie, neyther in deede is it materiall to stande vponupon wordes, or to coulour thinges by doubtfulnesse of speach, when the matter is euident: And therefore leauing your priests and priesthood without all foundation and staye of God his booke, yee turne to the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews: whiche after yourHeb. 5. 4.Heb 5:4 manner yee cite falsely against vsus, and runne at large: that no man may take vntounto him this honour, but he that is called (of GOD, shoulde yee hauehave say de) as Aaron was. Ye say true: For in deede; no man is meete to bee our high Priest, but Iesus Christ, who was appointed and called therto of God, and of whom, and his preisthood; Aaron was a figure. The more wrong a great deale doth your pope to Christ, and to his church also; to take vpō him y^e title & office of high Priest in Christ his Church, without warrant from God: seeing it was allotted by a singular prerogatiue to our Sauiour Christ alone of his Father; As the Apostle … p. 162by in the next verse declareth: Thou art my Sonne, this day hauehave I begotten thee. And againe yet straight way:Heb. 5. 4. 1.Heb 5:4Heb 5:1 Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec. The greater and more is your fault still, that will needes succeede him in the office of Priesthood whether he will or no: When hee neither needeth, nor shall hauehave any successor: As who liueth a Priest for euer. And calling all Christians 1. Pet. 2. 9.1 Pet 2:9into the fellowship of his Priesthood, hath made vsus aReue. 1. 6. foreignRev 1:6 Royall priesthood, and Kings and Priests to God, euen his Father, without appointing any to serue the office of a sacrificing priest in Church Ministerie. Shewe as good a warrant of God his calling you, to the office of Priesthood, to sacrifice the Sonne of God dayly for the quicke and the dead, &c. and wee will yeelde, but yee can not: Nay yee cite the scripture against your selfe: ye tell vsus much of men, of fathers, counselles, fained Canons of the Apostles, and the authoritie of the Catholike Church.

You say, because Ministers be not ordained by such a Byshop and Priest, as the Catholike Church hath put in that authoritie, therefore they hauehave no autoritie in Church matters. I finde two faults here with you: one for clipping the king of heauen his lawfull coyne, or leauing out a worde of importance in this text, of the 5. to the Hebrews: For ye should say: that is called of God: But it is your mauer, ye can doe it well enough: we hauehave nowe taken tryall thereof but too much: and yee thinke ye may doe herein what ye list without coutrolement. The other fault is, that when you hauehave put God his name out of the text, in whome the Apostle sayeth, the authoritie is to call, and appoint, &c. If yee did cite that text, to proue that all Church Ministeries, and ministers must hauehave God for their foundation and Authour, and must be called of him; wee woulde finde no fault: But you place in God his steade, your Catholike Church, of Rome you meane I trowe. This dealing wee cannot away with: where God is shut out, what hauehave we to doe with men, or the Churches authoritie, &c. The sentence of S. Paule to Timothie, speaketh nothing of the dignitte1. Tim. 5. 2 21 Tim 5:2 of the high Priest. Ye neede not hauehave put in therefore, this dignitie, there: neither speaketh … one worde of your Popishe1. Tim 5. 17. 19.1 Tim 5:171 Tim 5:19 priesthood and Priestes; but of those he called before Ancients, or Elders; in that Chapter where ye finde, laying on of handes; ye dreame of making Priests, and giuing orders by and by: But that ye like any pharse better than the Scriptures, ye might hauehave also called Timothie, with S. Paul, an Euangelist, &c. as wel as by a name which y^e scripture2. Tim. 4. 5.2 Tim 4:5 giueth him not: … is not nowe y^e first time you call himVide supra. Fol. 7. thus: The name I denie not is honest, lawfull, & vsed in the scriptures: But because it is diuersly taken sometime generally, sometime particularly, and in vse of speeche with vsus, sometime for such a one as is a Popish or false Bishop, somtime for a true … of Christe; there needeth distinction … plaine exposition, for feare of mistaking the worde in a wrong sense. And nothing is better in such abuse of the office and name, and varietie & doubtfulnesse of speech (in my1. Pastores. opinion) then to followe the simplicitie of the Scriptures,2. Doctores. and to keepe the phrase and maner of speeche, vsed of the3. Presbyteri. holy …, in all sinceritie; especially, seeing properly to4. Diaconi. speake, the office of an Euangelist and of a Bishop, Bee distinct and two seuerall offices: but let that goe. The holy Churche functions instituted by our Sauiour Christe, and in the Scriptures recommended vntounto vsus for to continue ordinarie Ministeries among vsus: as Preaching Pastours; which are sometime called Bishops or Ouerseers, somtime otherwise, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, doe we receiue … uerence; (as becōmeth) Your vnderunder orders w^t your sacrificing Priesthood, as deuised by men, doe I not see howe our Churche is tyed vntounto, nor why it should be. Our Ministers that preache the Gospell heere, besides the inwarde assurance of God his sending after they be called, hauehave their admission with imposition of handes, and prayer; and that publikely in the face of the Churche, with the approbation …, being first examined, … their giftes serue thē p. 163for that office, and testimonie being giuen for their honest life and behauiour. This is more religiously doone, and is more agreeable to the Apostles doctrine to Timothie, & admonition by you here alleadged, then your Ceremonious doing is, as their office is better groūded on God his booke then yours: Court thē you lay men, or call them so, as much and as long as yee list. The summe is, you doe but goe about with slaunder to deceiue the simple.

The third particular faulte of our God his seruice is alleadged to bee this: that wee hauehave diuers falle and blasphemous thinges therein, saith this Papists blasphemous mouth, so placed, as they may seeme to be very scripture: hee giueth example: in the ende of a certaine Geneua Psalme; as lyingly hee speaketh like himselfe. You papists hauehave a poore spight at that … Citie Geneua, to cal that a Geneua Psalme, whiche I thinke was neuer saide, songe, nor heard in Geneua: And I am sure the Psalmes beeing printed in English meeter at Geneua, and there songue when there was an Englishe congregation assembled there, in time of our persecution; this Canticle was not in the booke, nor knowne of, nor any but Dauid his Psalmes. Besides, this is not, neither euer was, any part of the seruice heere vsed: But beeing since made by a godly man, & after the Psalmes by the Printer set in y^e end of the booke w^t the Authour his name, according to his discretion; wherein I wishe, for mine owne part, Printers tooke not themselues so much libertie; especially in these matters; and if that may appease or content and winne you to the professiō of Christ his Gospel, to tell you mine opinion, I would not care, if both that and all other songues besides Dauid his Psalmes and Scriptures, Were layde aside and … out of our congregations: Wee hauehave not to answere for eueryevery particular man his fact: Howebeit the thing is … so much disliked of by you; for that it is not Scripture: for then would you dislike your owne seruice a great deale more; but because your corrupt religion is therein touched; and namely your God the Pope, this is … griefe, but not iust Syr. Yee cannot like that we hauehave the scriptures in our Church assemblies; yee cannot like that is not scriptures, though it bee godly, and not against the Scriptures in any part. Sumine; liking or disliking, all must bee as liketh you. Wee pray (yee say) to God to keepe vsus from Pope, Turke, and Papistrie. And why not; Can we lightly pray to be kept from worser thinges, than from these mischieuous breakenecks of mens soules; Of Papistrie I hauehave said enough through this whole booke, what in deed it is; & what mē shall find it to be, if … call it to good & iust tryal: And y^e … at this day seeth, thāks be to God, wel enough thereinto; sauing a certaine that are and needes will be wilfully obstinate and blinde. Concerning that your Pope is ioyned with the Turke, the match we say, is … fit, they may well drawe both in one yoke: sauing that if there be any difference or oddes; the Pope is y^e worse; because he doth not only persecute and slay, with the sworde, as the Turke: but slaieth moe, and more cunningly by persuasion of word: not God his worde and Scripture … graunt: but his owne dreames glosed, and vnderunder pretence, as appeareth in you that are his Imps, & come from him for that purpose. You are very readie to lay blasphemie to the charge of others, we hauehave expertence, euen towards those of your own religion; and to spare your selues, by cloking your manifolde and great blasphemies thrise together heere; blasphemous, vponupon courage and choler rather then vponupon any iust occasion. Blasphemie was laide to our Sauiour Christe his charge, when hee was heere vponupon earth, by no small babes, but besides the common Iewes, euen by the Scribes and Pharisees that sate in Moses chaire, and challenged the highest roomes in Churche assemblies, and to…. 10. 33. be called Rabbi, Rabbi, &c. euen by him that had that titleMat. 9. 3. & 23. …. 6. 7. & 26. 65Matt 9:3Matt 9:23Matt 9:6Matt 9:7Matt 26:65 & roome of high Priest: which (putting it in the first place) you here make so much of, in your pope. When among the Iewes, God his Churche then, he yet had the same by better warrant, then your Pope that you bragge of, can p. 164claime it by nowe. And yet all that coulde not make … an honest man; muche lesse will it helpe your Pope now: But as that high priest then did blaspheme, and they…. 5. 11. were blasphemers that charged Christe; so looke you to your selues & your high priest; & you will not be founde in much vnlike case. Blasphemie, was obiected to S. Steeuen …. 13. 4.the first Martyr after Christe his Ascention: vntounto Sainte Paule also afterwarde, &c. No maruell therefore, though in zeale of your high priest, and for maintenance of your Idol the Pope, ye treade in like steps, and charge vsus with blasphemie; the best is: we are neuer the woorse, nor you euer y^e better menfor all this charge. Your … tytles wherwith ye goe about to decke and set your Pope, are alreadie so well examined as I neede not stand there vponupon, nor list not to trouble the Reader with too oft repetition.

All antiquitie in Christes church (say you) spoke very reuerently of your pope. No antiquitie (say we) knewe such a monster as you make your Pope to be, or at … allowed not the same in the Church, much lesse spake so reuerently of him. The first olde Fathers, might in some respect, giuegive much to the good and Godly Byshops of that place, which manie of them a great while together suffered martyrdome for the profession of Christes Gospell, though they gaue not so much as you now pretend, and chalenge: But what … it was, what is that to your proude Antichrist the pope now; Times, Persons, maners, are too farre and greatlye changed, distinguishe times, &c. and thinges then wil disagree from persons nowe; they are not alwaies holy, that occupie the places and roomes of Saintes and holy men, or succeede them. Blasphemie is a great matter: So will you say, is the Pope great, surely yea, by your computation, exceeding great; I wot not how many degrees you hoise him aboue the Emperour: as for kings as his …, they are … meete to holde his stirrop, or waite on his bridle, when he rides in his pontificalibus. These tytles here set down, though … be too excessiue and not wel warrāted by Antiquitie, yet are they nothing to set out your Pope with in his coulors. Let vsus heare therefore in some part, to knoweDominus … noster Papa. him by; not what Antiquitie, that was not acquainted with your Pope, gaue to godly Byshops: But what wee areDeus: Non purus Homo. &c. bounde by the Popes canon Lawe, himselfe, and his owne…. Iohn, 22. cum. …. 1. doctors to giuegive: & what he challengeth here; let vsus see what he is, & how he is called; he is called (as ye hauehave heard) OurGlosse. Lord god the Pope: god: neyther god nor man, No pureDist. 96 C. Satis. man, A Pope, that is, woonderfull, and the woonderment ofExtrau De verb. …. Tit. 14. in margine. Papa stupor …. in Proem. y^t world, he is inferiour to none, neither can he be iudged by any; The Prelate or pope of Rome is free frō al Law. Who may doubt hun to be holy, whom so high dignitie exalteth;Clementin in …, & margin. Presvl. Romanus … omni lege solutus. In whom if there want good thinges gotten by merit, those suffice which are bequeathed of the predecessor of that Sea: For eyther he lifteth vp to that high roome, those that are famous, or he doth beautifie and set out them that are exaltedExtrau. Iob de …. …. Cap. 1. in gloss. to that place, as the Popes themselues tel vsus of themselues. And the glosse there telleth vsus y^e meaning to be, that if passibleDist. 40. C. non. nos: & si Papa &c. Gloss. ibidem Diftinct. 19 C sic omnes. &c. y^e Popes sometime be not good; yet are they presumed or presupposed alwaies to be good. And in the marrowe or margin we finde, that the Pope cannot be accused of murder or whoredome: for why it is no better thā sacrelege toPapa sanctitatem recipit a Cathedra. Extrau. dispute of his doing: Or else (sayth the glosse) Say the popes doings are excused as the murders of Sampson, and theIoan. 22. Tit. 4 de conces. … cap. in Gloss & margine. Sext decretal lib. 1. theftes of the Hebrues, and the whordome of Iacob. Let no man be so bolde (sayth the glosse in another place) to say to the Pope, sir, why doe ye so; He hath fulnes of power I tell you: Now how can we vnreuerently thinke or speakDe election. & elect. Potestate. Tit. 6. Cap. 17. …. &c. of such a one without blasphemie? though hee carrye by heapes innumerable soules to the Diuell of hell. No mortall man presumeth to reproue his faultes there. &c,

This and the like is the gentle doctrine of the Pope and his stately state, not takē from antiquitie or the first fathers; but of late yeeres in comparison, deuised and broched vsus by that Antichrist, and stoutly mayntained by his proctors. Though the Pope be neuer so bad, though Rome be a sincke of sin, yet if eyther we shal cal a spade a …, that is, repute p. 165him and it to be such as they be, or pray and desire to be kept from that and the like infection, we blaspheme straight way: No maruel, this sore of many yeeres might not bee touched, wee may not say any thing, whiche is against Rome or the Pope of Rome, yet thus reporteth your own glosse. Io. Mo. said; that Rome founded of robbers & theeues keepeth stil her beginnings: Rome is called as it were gnawing the hands, Gloss. ….There is set vsus downe in his meeter thus much in EnglishRoma quasi … manus. Rome gnaweth the handes, whome she cannot gnaw she hateth. &c. As you be very bold and forwarde in definingRoma. … quos … non …, odit. sinne, and making it blasphemy to contrary or speak against Rome, your Pope there, and his canons and lawes, and all in blinde zeale for their defence: so must we tell you again: Yee take too much vponupon you, Gods church feareth not nor needeth feare your … resolutions and threates. Besides you iniurie God himselfe greatly: I heare & remēber how you determine, and what ye say of blasphemie and blaspheming the holy Ghost in your canon Lawe: They that willingly doe any thing or presume to speake; or easily agree to them that will doe or speake against the holy Canons seemeth not vnfytly to hlaspheme the holy Ghost:25. q. I. C. … &. Generali, ibidem. for such presumption is manifestly one kinde of the blasphemies agaynst the holy Ghost, &c. Thus farre your Gratian, out of Pope Damasus. Wee goe about to abuse none, nor to equall any other mens writinges with the scriptures: But if that be blasphemous, as ye here constantly avowe,Dist. 19. C. In Canonicis. Tit in ter Canonicas scripturas Decretales epist. connumerantur. then is your canon or the Popes Lawe blasphemous for your M. in another place goeth about to reckon your Popes decretall epistles in the number of Canonicall scriptures, and to racke in Augustines authoritie to prooue that matter, I thinke this geare and the like maye better and more iustly be accoūted of vsus blasphemie against god thē our praiers to be kept frō the Pope and his infection of papistry. But to conclude this point, there is you say, falshoode and blasphemie in our seruice, and we sing and cause to be sung as though it were scripture and one of Dauids Psalmes, a prayer made by man: wherein wee hauehave seene howe you fayle and faulte greatly, and yet can finde no vngodlinesse, much lesse blasphemie in that prayer: But were it sung as yee say, what I pray you, that are so precise and hard with vsus, were there therein done more than in your Popishe mattens? How is your Te Deum made by man & no scripture, distinguished from Benedictus, that is the holy Ghostes hymne and scripture? You had neede then mend your owne seruice, before you finde such fault with other: Agayne, whither will you leade and bring vsus from this seruice, that you seeme to finde fault with? You had not neede bring vsus to your Popish blasphemous seruice: For then hauehave we made but an euill change. You had neede to bring vsus to a seruice voyde of all note of falshoode and blasphemy, that charge ours so there with: and are so squaymish and precise that you cannot abide our seruice. It were too long vponupon this occasion throughly to examine your Popish seruice, yet let vsus take a viewe in this matter, that is in prayer and singing of Psalines, and giuegive you for one example two. Thomas Becket a naughtie proude Prelate. is made a Saint and a Martyr by you, & hath his holy day, and seruice; Is not this among the rest a blasphemous praier with you? By the… per Thomae … quem per te …, … no (Christe) … quo Thomas ascendit. bloode of Thomas, which for thee he did spend, make vsus (Christ) to climbe whither Thomas did ascend. If this geare be not blasphemous, I knowe not what is. For to leaue the making of a proude trayterous Prelate to his king a Saint; to ordayne seruice &c to Creatures in steede of the Creator; To talke also of Thomas ascending to heauen, what is it to desire Christ to bring vsus to heauen by the blood of Thomas; but by Idolatrie and blasphemie toEx Psa. 131. 15.Ps 131:15 staine Gods glory and to iniurie Christes merits: and withall to delude and abuse Gods people? Is not moreouer thisViduam a widdowe, for victum vitailes. verse sung by you in your Temples continually; as it were out of one of Dauids Psalmes? Viduam eius benedicens benedicam. &c? I set downe the Latin because you sing it in Latin, crauing herein pardon of the Reader, and yet take p. 166it as I finde it corruptly, and yet woorse translated in your English Primer, printed here in former Popish daies, that yee had beene as good hauehave left the ignorant people the Latin Primer alone and Beades still, as to hauehave abused them with so corrupt an English translation. Thus hath it; the popish english Primer that I saw at the writing hereof, distinguishing full ylfauouredlye the verses, and disioyning the wordes that are to be ioyned together: For the more plainenes I will set downe two verses. This is my resting place for euermore. Heere shall I dwell: for I hauehave chosen it with blessing. The widowe of it I shall blyke, the poore people of it, I shall fullfyll with breade. False translation, false printing, false singing, false saying: All false, and nothing but false agree well enough together, and with a false religion? The best in the worlde, and therfore belike being admonished, and called vppon for amendment, you let it stande still, such is your reforming and amending of thinges, deforming and making them euer woorse and woorse.

The next fault you charge our seruice with, is the lack of necessary thinges, which it should hauehave in it. Yee take example of a mans reciting of the Creede or Articles of the Beliefe: If you leaue out one article, as in effecte the Protestants (say you) doe: the Article of descention into Hell; all the whole Creede were naught thereby. I aske you first what if I adde an Article more, as you Papists doe, whē you aske men how they beleeue in the Sacrament of the Alter. &c. Is not that as great a fault; Next for answeare, I report me to all the world whether we in effect, or otherwise, leaue out that Article: Descended into hell, in the Creede or teaching the people to recite it: We bid or wishe them to leaue y^t article out. The creed or articles of y^e beliefe are daily twise a day publikely recited, in the Congregation by the Minister and the people in the mother tongue: At morning and euening prayer. Is not this article of descending into hell: at both times expressed? Looke vponupon the booke, come to Church and heare. Wherfore you are a very slanderer heere in as you are euer; But sir, is all the Creede naught, if that article be left out or any other: How say you then to the creed of that famous general councel of Nice, which leaueth out the Article of descending into hell, that I say nothing of other partes of the Creede; How say you to the like Creed in the first Councell at Constantinople: How to Athanasius…. lib. …. cap. 6. …. lib. 1. Creede; that leaueth out these wordes, Crucifyed, Deade; Buried; &c, I trowe you will not condemne these formescap. 5. …. lib. 1. …. 13. &c. of the Creed or Beliefe to prooue your saying true; It were better you and your saying too, should bee found false and faulty, as you be heerein, thē accuse so godly & ancient forms of Beleife: but to come neerer to you: What say you to your owne seruice, and the chiefest part thereof in your estimation. If this be a fault & prooue y^e whole naught; Thē is your masse naught & your masse creed, euē for this respect, for you cannot finde Descended into hell in your Masse Creed, nor died neyther, nor yet the communion of Saintes, And yet for all this, is it among the rest of the best that is in your Masse.

It would be too long particularly to examine your propiciatorie sacrifice of the Masse, which is a newe crucifiyng of Christ agayne, as much as in you lyeth, of which argument I speake a little after, where you repeate and mention your Masse sacrifice againe, and extoll it to the skie, it is your precious Iewell, your popish priesthood and priests finagogues or tēples, aultars, priests apparel, vestments, Sen sors Franckinsens. &c. which you here reckon vp, and wee, you say lacke; in deede we doe so, And we thanke God therefore, sauing that we hauehave those which you cal temples wherin we … for the exercises of our religion; which are therfore called Churches, with vsus, because Gods church and peo ple meete there, the rest you bring no scriptures for, which in steede of all that ye alleage, is the foundation of our christian religion, so called of Christ. Priests ye say and all were … for that cause, that is for your abominable masse …: take it your popish priestes and all, and away with the p. 167same out of Christes church, to the Diuell if yee will, … it first came amōg vsus. Your doctors, &c. hauehave … & are so answered, as I neede not stand therein vponupon this occasion. If yee take that or any other matter in hande, yee cannot goe vnanswered, God be thanked for his giftes. I list not now to repeate that is and hath beene so often well and truely tolde you heerein. The like to this I tell you of your popish and apish ceremonies. Wee liue not in a ceremoniall time, nor in a ceremoniall Churche, to heape vp the number of them nowe. Wee are content you be the fathers and fosterers of your superstitious and vnnecessary ceremonies, of your seuen sacraments, yea seuen hundred if you wil, for your priest in his pontificalibus and massing apparell is compounded I trow of nothing, if we will beleeue you, but of misteries, and so of sacraments, all your religion is ceremoniall and mysticall, but all of your owne deuising.

Wee (as those that are called to worship God in spirite and truth, that is, after a more spirituall and heauenly maner inwardly in a seruice more agreeable to Gods nature, then that which is shadowed by Ceremonies) content our selues heerein with Gods wisedome; desire to keepe sobrietie, and following the rule of the Scriptures, referre all heerin to order, comelinesse and edification especially: But not such as is fleshly, and agreeable to fleshly men & minds,Aug. ad … but suche as is correspondent and agreeable with the crucifides kingdome, and the preaching of the Crosse. Our sacraments we confesse, & are not ashamed in this time of y^t Gospell vnderunder Christ to cōfesse thē; being in number most fewe, in obseruation most easie, and yet in signification most heauenly. When you can prooue that ye heere only say, that wee either hauehave not most fewe, that is: two Sacraments, Baptisme, and the Lordes Supper, according to our Sauiour Christes holy institution, or are bounde to hauehave moe, you shall heare what wee hauehave further to answere and say vntounto you, If y^t, which hauehave beene alreadie saide content you not, as it may doe any reasonable men, that wilfully … not themselues. Our Communion can bee no Sacrament you say, yet you cannot bee ignorant that the word and matter are taken out of the Scripture: much lesse then can your priuate Sacrifice and Action, that is secrete coniuring, sole receauing, &c. bee a Sacrament. Houseling, and being houseled once a yeere, which is a halfe receiuing of I wote not what (not of a Sacramente sure, where you hauehave left no Element) is suche a prophanation, and contempt of Christes Sacrament as hardly can there bee a greater. Let not vsus then, among … the Communion of the body and blood of Christe is celebrated monethly or quarterly at least, of eueryevery one bee called contemners of Christes Sacramentes, and charged with Sacriledge: and you Papistes bee let goe scotfree: who in steede of ofte receiuing, content your selues with gasing, crouching, kneeling, &c. The like I tell you of prayer for the dead, of our prayers, &c. in the mother tongue: You are alwayes so like your selfe, as yee can hardely deceiue any that once knowe you, or will knowe you.

THE eight Reason is grounded vponupon the losse of the benefite of the Romish Catholik religion: If they goe to Churche heere, which is made a great matter, & a waightie: Before wee enter into that is particularly saide heereof: let vsus examine this generall grounde. Heere is no more alleadged for the Papistes refraining from our assemblies, then may bee alleadged by the Iewe, the Turke, or any Heathen: by the Arrian, Anabaptist, or any Heretike: who in communicating with an other religion leeseth the benefite of his owne: And therefore as we may answere the one, so may wee doe the other, that is: that it is no losse at al, to forgoe that which is not beneficiall to any, but hurtfull to all, yea as some losse is a gaine: so is it a great gaine, not only to forgoe so Diuelishe and poysonfull a religion, but with all to gaine the truth by the profession of the Gospell. How beneficiall soeuer a man hauehave esteemed and founde a … and lying aforetime to bee, yet hath he loste nothing p. 168thereby, that leaueth that custome, and vseth himselfe to the telling of the truth, yea hee hath gayned greatly by that change. To hauehave mens eyes opened, by the ministerie and preaching of the Gospell, that they may turne from darkenesse to light, and from the power of Satan vntounto God, that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ, &c, is no losse but an incomparable gayne. And this isActs. 26. 18.Acts 26:18 your very case, to the worlde warde more gaine and benefite many wayes by your voluntarie religion: then by the sincere profession of the holy Gospell of Christe Iesus; I graunt to the soule and Godwarde no profite but vnspeakeable hurt gotten by the profession of Poperie. Where vponupon, I counsel all to leaue those filthy puddles of Poperie, and to drinke of this pure fountayne of the water of life, that is: to leaue that god the Pope, his lawe and traditions, his idolatrous Religion, and superstitions, and to betake them selues to the true God of heauen, to Iesus Christ, his holy Scriptures and worde to be guided by, contayned in the Byble and booke of God: That which this discourser calleth a losse, that let them count an inestimable benefite. And what euer these men slander vsus withall, yet wee protest it before the eternall God, that our meaning is not to drawe any from Poperie to any Religion deuised by men, howe wise or mightie soeuer they bee: but to the true Religion of Iesus Christ set vsus downe in Gods booke: Let them betake themselues to that, let them professe the gospel of christ Iesus, they shal go long enough vnblamed for their profession by vsus: let them answere their profession and liue according thereunto as is set downe, in the same booke of GOD, they shall please vsus marueilously wel, it is all wee require at their hands, wee wil wishe peace vntounto them and to the Israel of God: Though then wee wishe men to depart frō that whoorishe Babylon of Rome, though wee … them saue them selues from this frowarde generation, &c. Yet wishe wee them well to marke, whether we cal them, we leaue them not at randon, we call them not to followe our Religion framed at our pleasure, much lesse call wee them to Atheisme: but we call them from that vsurper and woolfe, to Christ Jesus the Prince of Pastours, our onelyonly high Priest, and the Byshop of our soules. Reade the 1. Peter. 2. if but onelyonly the last verse of the Chapter, and see whither, and to whome S. Peter himselfe called men, euen the Church: Let his successour, as he falsely pretendeth, doe the like, at least if he call vsus to himselfe or any for him, let vsus learne to knowe him and them: Let vsus marke our losse and take heede of the change, though they that heare this Counsell shall bee accompted of the Papistes, …, Schismatikes, and I wot not what, for leauing the Idole of Rome, it maketh no matter, the gaine and vantage is so passing great, as it will easily satisfie and recompence all. A great losse, think & say you to parte from the Churche of Rome: an inestimable gaine say and thinke we, more … to win Jesus Christ, which will not bee in stifely cleauing to the other. Christ and Antichist, light and darkenesse, the temple of God, & Idoles hauehave no agreement. The things2. Cor. 6. 16.2 Cor 6:16 that were vantage vntounto Saint Paul, the same counted hee losse, for Christes sake.Philip. 3. 7.Phil 3:7

But let vsus see what the losses bee, that by parting from Poperie men hauehave: They are saieth this reasoner, sixe in nomber: whereof, let vsus see particularly: the first losse is, men leese the benefite of the sacrifice of the Masse, a great matter! and often repeated by you without sounde of the goodnesse thereof: but with vsus a happie losse sure, beyng of all blasphemies and idolatries the most abhominable: But sayth this discourser here: our Sauiour Christ appointed his bodie to bee offered vp dayly in the oblation of the Masse: for the commoditie of the whole worlde, quicke and dead, &c. I heare you say so sir: but I aske you where;Mat. 26. 26.Matt 26:26 what our sauiour Christe appointed, is faithfully recordedMar. 14. 22.Mark 14:22 vntounto vsus by the foure Euangelists, the faithfull witnesses ofLuk. 22. 19.Luke 22:19 all that Christ … did and taught, neuer a worde of yourIohn. 13.John 13 p. 169Massing sacrifice there. No; yes I pray you: Do this inDoe: Facite Uirgil cum faciam vitulos pro frugibus ipse … to, 1 cum Sacrificanero. remembrance of mee. Do this, that is, sacrifice this: for do, is to sacrifice, so doth the Heathen … Uirgile vse the worde, and so may we by the Poet expounde Christes meaning to bee gentle stuffe and a Clarkelye proofe to corrupt the sacred scriptures, with prophane gloses. If you hauehave any better proofe for your massing sacrifice out of the Euangelists, whiche tell vsus faithfully what was appointed by our Sauiour Christ, let vsus heare of it. Else hearken to S. Paul, who receiued of the Lorde, that which he also deliuered vntounto the Church: and is a faithful and trustie expounder of the three Euangelistes. Now he in his exposition of these1. Cor. …. 25 vers. 26. &c. wordes not onelyonly ouerthroweth your counterfaite sacrifice but your newe deuised transubstantiation also: who repeating: this doe in remembrance of mee, expoundeth the same of eating and drinking, not of Sacrificing, and saith: for as often as yee shall … this bread, and drinke this cup, yee shewe the Lordes death till hee come, &c. Marke these wordes well. So that where yee say this was appointed by our Sauiour to offer vp his body dayly, &c. We say, you say vntruly and are founde a false witnesse bearer,…. in … cap. …. but yee runne to the fathers, finding nothing in the EuangelistesNec … maiorum error … quendus est, sed … scripturarum & dei …. or Scriptures to make for you: but, as in time and place wee reuerence the fathers: so agayne tell wee you; that wee are not bounde to follow the errors of the fathers: but what if the fathers call the Supper of the Lorde, sometime a Sacrifice, foreign as they say, or by a figure; what if they say it is a Sacrifice, because there is offered to God thankes giuing, of which it taketh also theEucharistia. name, and because the remembrance of that one Sacrifice of Christ once offered, is therein celebrated by the Church according to S. Paules exposition: as often as ye shal eate this …, and drinke this cup, ye shew the Lords death till hee come, &c. What maketh this for your Massing propiciatorie sacrifice, or the offering of Christes bodie for obtaining of grace, & auoiding of all euils for the remission of sinnes, both of quicke and dead, or dayly in the oblation of the Masse for the cōmoditie of y^e whole world quick & dead, as you speake, whiche commeth all to one. Why may not we reconcile the fathers with the scriptures. GiueGive vsus leaue I pray you heerein, y wis your owne Maister sayth: that which is offered and consecrated of the Priest is called … and oblation: because it is a remembrance and representation of the true sacrifice and holy oblation made on the … of the Crosse. And againe, because in the SacramētMagister sen tentiarum li. 4. distinct. 12 there is a remēbrance of that which was once done, &c. In this sense denie wee not the Supper of the Lorde, to bee called a sacrifice, because praise and thanksgiuing are there offered vntounto the Lorde, and wee are not without this kinde of sacrifice in the celebration of the Lordes Supper (as I saide before) And if by haunting our Churche assemblies you had been aswel acquainted with our booke of common Praier, as nowe blinded with malice, ye are readie to cauill and slaunder, yee might hauehave founde wee reiect not the worde of sacrifice of prayse and thanksgiuing in the action of the Lorde his Supper: Nay that wee offer not only that but our selues also, &c. to bee a reasonable, holy, and liuely sacrifice vntounto the Lorde, according to the doctrine of the Apostle, beside the sacrifice of almes, &c. That yee neede neytherRom. 12. 1.Rom 12:1 say we hauehave no sacrifice, because wee hauehave not yourHeb. 13. 16.Heb 13:16 abhominable Idoll of the Masse, nor that they depriue them selues of participation of the sacrifice of Christes body and blood that haunt our Churche assemblies. EueryEvery one of vsus by the working of God his spirite in vsus, and by faith applyeth to … Christe and his sacrifice, with the fruit of his death and passion, more effectually and more faithfully, thā any mortal man besides can apply y^e same vntounto vsus. We aduaunce & … our faith therein, with the participation, that is: by the often vse and … of this holy Sacrament with the worde preached withall: Wee trust not your Popish application in his Masse, who, commonly sacrificeth for money, as indeede all your religion is for p. 170gaine, No penny, no pater noster, they say with you. If the Churche of God shoulde receiue no commoditie of Christes sacrifice or of his death and passion till your priest applyed the same, it woulde neuer bee. Keepe this your application therefore, with the commoditie thereof to your selues: we wil hearkē to y^e holy ghost, a better scholemaister then you, who, by the Apostle thus speaketh amongst other1. Cor. 10. 16 Heb. 10. 14. 19. &c.1 Cor 10:16Heb 10:14Heb 10:19 thinges: The cup of blessing which wee blesse, is it not the communion of the blood of Christe? The bread whiche wee breake, is it not the Communion of the bodie of Christe? Seeing therefore, brethren, that by the blood of Iesus wee bee bold to enter into the holy place by the newe and liuing way whiche hee hath prepared for vsus through the vayle, whiche is his fleshe and seeing wee hauehave an High priest which is ouer the house of God. Let vsus draw neere with a true hearte, in assurance of faith, sprinckled in our heartes from an euill conscience. For with one offering hath hee made perfect for euer them … are sanctified, &c.

To Chrysostome, and his hyperbolicall speeches you hauehave your answere elsewhere, and to Pope Gregories testimonie: seeing Masses bee thought to bee so cheape with you, as the hearing of one is so well worth an hundred markes, &c. where you hauehave a good pennieworth, blame not her Maiestie and the State, it were pittie you shoulde hauehave your masses too good cheape, that make suche price thereof; I perceiue if they were dogge cheape, they were … worth; howe say you to two hundred markes and a yeres imprisonment for hearing of a Masse; It is too good cheape, it is well worth more yee thinke. You are in your hundreds and thousande liues, you amplyfie in wordes iolily, woulde you needes hauehave it death, which in wordes and tearmes ye so talke of heere at pleasure; Take heed, make not to great account neither of saying nor hearing Masse, for raysing the price: Of naughtie behauiour I tell you growe good lawes. Cast your number together by Arithmetike and tell vsus plainely howe many liues the hearing of one Masse is well worth, and howe many you can be content to affoorde in that case. But bee wiser and better aduised, that is it I wishe. You abuse to grosly and childishly the holy scriptures.

For your Popish Bishops confirmation, and your extreeme vnction, or aneling whiche is the seconde losse yee thinke yee hauehave, and therefore yee put grace in eueryevery place heere. These myraculous giftes in the Primitiue Church, serue your Popishe Church neuer a whit, to take away all your Popishe graces euen in the whole seuen sacraments. Why adde you not to your gresie oyle, your spittle, &c, and your Ephata, after Christes example, to make deafe infants to heare, and by touching their tongue to make them speak. If it were as easie a matter to bestowe the heauenly and extraordinary giftes, or as you heere speake the grace, as it is easie to counterfaite the outwarde Ceremonie, you woulde bee meruellous men: But Apishe imitation is without good grace, hee is very simple that in looking on the places yee alleadge only, cannot make you answere. When wee see the visible graces and giftes of the holy Ghoste come vppon them that your Bishops confirme: as speaking tongues, &c. which are saide to hauehave beene giuen those, the Apostles layde their handes on, we will make … in your comparison: You tell vsus of the grace of Priesthood: But Saint Paule neither to Timothie, who was an Euangelist and Preacher of the Gospell, neither any where els speaketh of your Popish Priesthood, as I tolde you before. Priestes (you say) were ordayned for your Masse sacrifice, and they cannot other wise bee called Priesces but in respect of y^t sacrisice. Now the Popishe Masse beareth too late a date, besides the naughtines of it, to hauehave beene in the Apostles time, and ye prooue nothing. An … and double taking of the worde Masse, helpeth but little; no not taken out of mens …, nor of sacrifice neither.

p. 171The Apostle thus reasoneth, that; If Christ should hauehave offered himselfe often then must hee hauehave often suffered since the foundation of the world, &c. If the sacrifice of Christes body and blood to God his father be linked so narrowly with his suffering, that is: w^t his death & passion, as it cannot bee without the same: Then muste you leaue your dayly Sacrificing of him in the Masse whiche you … commende so highly, or els bee founde among them to crucifie againe to themselues the sonne of God, & make a mocke of him, &c, If Christe be dayly offered, Christe isLooke Hebr. 9. 25. 26. & 6. 6.Heb 9:25Heb 9:26Heb 6:6 put dayly to suffer: But Christe is dayly offered by Popishe Priestes in the Masse, say you, ergo: Christe is put dayly to suffer by you. Otherwise thus: If Christ be dayly or often offered, then muste hee dayly or often suffer: But he can not nor needeth not, dayly or often suffer Ergo: hee cannot nor needeth not dayly or often to bee offred. Answere hereto directly, shift not thinges off, cauill not with your fonde distinction of bloody and vnbloody: you professe your Masse sacrifice to be propitiatorie, and all one with that Christ offred on the crosse: nowe, that I tell you was not vnbloody, nor without shedding of blood. This is the cause, that seeing the doctrine of the holy Ghost on the one side, and your bad shiftes on the other side, maketh vsus to abhorre your blasphemous Masse, and to crye out against it, that I touche not other many and many grosse abuses therin, Thus much against your abhominable popish masse which you so much commende, though you bring nothing for proofe thereof but bare wordes.

I see you woulde make vsus beleeue that all your sacramentes giuegive grace, therfore ye say the grace of priesthood also: howe hap there be so many vngracious priestes, and so many graceles priestes then; if the order of priesthood giuegive grace, or be a conduite of grace as you speake; Belike they that take the order of priesthood leese grace, that they that take not that order may finde & hauehave the same. Againe, how make you this argument common for all those that come to, our Churches, shall they leese the grace of priesthood? why, many of them will tel you they neuer minde to be priestes, and so shall leese nothing by that, but that whiche a great many papistes among you shall leese as well as they, which haunt your Churches and abstaine from ours: which are called Laymen. Againe sir, how is priesthood a sacrament, by it self? I hauehave heard of your popish sacrament of orders: of priesthood neuer. The grace of Matrimonie, all your wiuelesse priestes, Nunnes, &c. shall leese: they are very vnholy belike: that so holy an order of God: as Mariage, can not beseeme them, will they reiect the grace of God, ye call it the grace of Matrimonie, Mariage, &c. are conduites of grace ye say, heere ye belie saint Paul sir, and corrupt the text: when you make Mariage a sacrament, your common translation is no good president to make vsus sacramentes: Else must you make vsus yet againe moe then seuen by him, as the learned knowe, and I thinke you be not ignoraunt. Againe, the Apostle sayth expresly there. I speake concerningLooke Ephe. 1. 9. &. 4. 3. 9 &c.Eph 1:9Eph 4:3Eph 4:9 Christ, and concerning his Church: that is the mysterie hee speaketh of there. I leaue to speake of the beastlines of Pope Siricius, who wickedly applieth to honorable mariage, that sentence of the Apostle: They that are in the flesh can not please God: to shewe howe contraryly you iudge and speake of Mariage: You tell vsus of seuen sacramentes, siue moe then … Christ instituted: but is that all? I wene if ye describe a sacrament, to … it to the number of seuen, ye shall finde many moe: yee will followe the common opinion of the Romishe Churche I trowe: And … not your glose tell vsus euen in mariage, that there are two sacraments, so shall wee finde eight by your doctrine: And one looke well; it will not be harde to finde nine, and moe too: so shall we hauehave no ende, nor keepe any measure if wee followe you herein: Your seuen sacraments, as you recken them heere, are these: Baptisme, Confirmation,27. q. 2. ex di … digest. Priesthood, Matrimonie, Extreme vnction, Penance, the sacrament of the Altar. The grace of Baptisme you leaue p. 172vntouched, not deniyng but wee enioye it: moe of your …, for sacramentes of Christes Church (properly to speake) doe not wee acknowledge: But in steed of your counterfaite sacrament and Idol of the Altar, wee hauehave restored vntounto vsus the sacrament of the Lords Supper, or of theHeb. 13. 4.Heb 13:4 body and blood of Christ, instituted by this our good master him selfe: As for mariage, we esteeme it honourable among all, and a bed vndefiled, as the Apostle speaketh and say with him on the other side, that: whore mongers and adulterers God will iudge. So then wee repute it as the institution of the holy God, and his order to liue in, according to his worde in his feare: A sacrament (as holy Baptisme, and the Supper are) doe we not repute it to be, none 2depende therein on your doctrine. In steede of your … Priesthood, hauehave wee among vsus such Church … as Christ also hath left vsus by his institution and worde, as namely, Pastours, or Ministers of the worde and Gospell. In stead of your dumbe ceremonies and Popishe confirmation, hauehave we a continuall Catechising of the youth 3and ruder sort, in the principles of Religion. As for your 4extreeme vnction, we shut it out as a thing deuised by your selues: for saint Iames place, maketh nothing for you: If priesthood be a sacrament, the other orders lesse and great, will claime the like priuiledge eueryevery one, so shall we hauehave a great many moe particular sacramentes, in number than seuen, and eueryevery one in kinde seuerally from other: the sacrament of …, the sacrament of subdeaconship, of reading also, of exorcisme, or coniuring &c. Where and when shall we crie; ho and stay.

As eueryevery one here can tell you, wee hauehave visitation of the sicke, counsaile, and prayers with him and for him, to his comfort, as the rule of Charitie prescribeth. 5Repentance is continually taught here, and perswaded: publike confession of sinnes is made in our assemblies vntounto God dayly. The power and authoritie of binding and loosmg, or the keyes, as you speake of the church (are heere by the ministerie of the worde and preaching, as occasion serueth more faithfully and vprightly vsed then with you. In steade of your Ashewednesday ashes, and displing on mens bare heades, and womens bare hands, &c. we hauehave some forme of publike discipline and correction (though not such and so perfect) as were to be wished. Nowe, let the Godly iudge of the gaine that you bragge is to bee had by the profession of your popishe religion, and haunting your Antichristian Synagogue, and the losse that you imagine is to be had in the profession of the Gospel, and our religion, ro in haunting our Church assemblyes: you that are blynded, partiall, and take no tryall of our Church meetinges, no maruel though ye corruptly iudge of the whole, For the authoritie of the true Church of Christ, there is no greate strife betweene vsus: there is more for your Pope, and Popish prelates, and Clergie, for their appropriating and abusing of the keyes of the kingdome of heauen, for taking away the key of knowledge, neyther entring themselues, & forbidding them that came in. Sauing that euen in the Churches authoritie, wee denie that our … Christ did at his departure (as you speake heere) leaue all his authoritie with his Church, which he had receiued of his father: hee hath not resigned his authoritie to any: he liueth, raigneth, and continually guideth and gouerneth his Churche himselfe, prouiding for the same as our onelyonly king, high priest, lawegiuer, prince of pastours, & so forth, after a farre better manner than any mortall man can or will performe that office, & yetin the meane while, hee hath appointed vnderunder him, offices and officers, such as he thought requisite, keeping the Soueraigntie in the Church still to himselfe,Luk. … 1. 52.Luke 1:52 of which offices and officers yee may see to the Romanes,Rom. 1 2. 6. 7. 8.Rom 1:2Rom 1:6Rom 1:7Rom 1:8 Corinthians, Ephesians, &c. Whose offices are limitted and bounded, so as they may not goe without their compasse.…. Cor. 12. 28 Ephe. 4. 11.Eph 4:11 That which you confesse Christ to hauehave giuen to his Church, let no man take from the Church. Let no creature vsurpe ouer the same; keep well to the Church, that ye here p. 173speake of the Churches authoritie.

Concerning Confession, in that place which ye … De poenitēt.out of the Acts, or out of your Gratian rather as appeareth,Dist. 1. c. volui. sent. 6. ex his. you put in of your selfe, that they came to the Apostles, it is not in the text, though your Gratian hauehave it; there was none of the Apostles there but Paul, that wee reade of, toAct. 19. 18. 19.Acts 19:18Acts 19:19 whomsoeuer the confession was made, it was publique, as of the fruites, it is reported, that immediatly many whiche… poenitēt. vsed curious artes, brought their bookes and burned themDist. 1 Agite. De … morum. before all men. You cite vsus a long place out of a bastardely booke, cast for credite vponupon Augustines backe (for the former place maketh nothing for auricular confession.) And yet woulde I the learned reader woulde conferre Gratian and you together, from whome you tooke this: but you thought good more strongly to confirme it with Hob, Nobs Erasmus.authoritie: of whom for answere, I say as that learned man in his Censor before the same booke sayth: A Praters talke neither learned, wise, nor eloquēt: what faces or minds had they y^t put vponupon vsus such writings in Augustines name; For the matter of your forged Auricular cōfession to a GhostlyDe poenitēt. dist. 1. Father, that is a popish Priest and so foorth, you might hauehave found that your owne doctors agree not, some thinking confession with the mouth to man not necessary for forgiuenes of sinnes, some thinking otherwise, and good authorities are by your M. Gratian that mooueth the question, alleadged against y^t kinde of cōfession, how euer you doctorlike decide the matter to the contrary, as though all the world must goe with you one way, that is a Popish way. Doeth not your he owne glose vponupon Gratian, where he bringeth in mens authorities to proue confession (as he doth also against it) say: alleadgeth (meaning Gratian) for the other parte: to witte, that sinne is not forgiuen one of yeeres of discretion without confession of the mouth, whiche yet sayth the Glosse is false.De poenitēt. dist. 1. c. omnis qui. 6. … contrario.

For our Churches doctrine in the matter of confession of sinnes, though we condemne your … order, and the butcherly straitnes of reckoning vp all our sinnes particularly in the priestes eare. &c. Yet with the scriptures wee teach and exhort men to acknowledge their faultes one to another. And where either the church publikely, or any man priuately is offended, there for reconcilement, we teach that it is necessary not onelyonly that ones fault bee acknowledged, but farder testimonie also giuen of repentance and sorrowe, to the churches satisfaction or the parties, according to the degree of the fault be it publike, be it priuate. Moreouer where one feeleth his conscience burdened or intangled with sinne and the remorce thereof, and is not able to helpe or rid himselfe out of the snares of the Diuell, there doe wee aduise him, to choose for his comfort and help, some godly learned and discreet man, minister, or other, to breake his minde to, to aske councel, and to learne that may be for the benefite of his soule and conscience. Thus whilest confession proceedeth from a religious and willing minde prepared by doctrine and exhortation in steede of your deuised downefall and breake necke to mens soules, is it made by vsus a soueraigne medicine, and plaister to cure woundes withal and sicke soules.

For the often receiuing of the holy communinion, this is no losse in our Churches, whereunto menare dayly exhorted to come often, and may receiue it in most places monethly, or as often as the parish will, and that in both kindes according to Christes institution comfortably: where in the popish Churches to be houzeld once a yeere, and then to receiue but a dry host without the consecrated cuppe, as they call it too diuelishly, was enough: wordes are but winde, & you giuegive vsus nothing but wordes either for your selfe or against vsus: and yet am I driuen to answer euen bare wordes. How much a doe we hauehave to bring our countrie people to an often receiuing of this most comfortable sacrament vy reason of your popish custome of rare and seldome receiuing that they hauehave beene so long acquainted withall, and thereby infected: And what people they here be that moste refraine p. 174… the communion, not of superstition, but of an opinion, … the seldome receiuing, as they were wont afore time in popery, may suffise: none that knoweth but meanely the state of this Church can; be ignorant.

In your talke of good workes: leaue out merit and meritorious that ye bable of without all ground after a popish manner, and let Gods order be kept, and good workes ranged within the compasse of Gods law and commandements and esteemed by his iudgement, and not by our fansie. Let will worship and superstitiously deuised good workes goe, and that being marked, which I hauehave before written, there will be no difficultie.

The Communion of Saintes, as I shewed before, your masse seruice Creede, leaueth out, how euer you vrge it heere: and yet would I not hauehave obiected this as anye faulte, but that you beginne, deale so hardly with vsus about the article of Descending into hell, without cause; and will needes make so haynous a matter of this doing. Still I did you applye this to your selues and your religion, … keepe your owne law: But sir this communion of Saintes is not to be had in your Church where the Pope is heade, frō whō al the members of that body must take influence, as you call it. The true communion of Saintes is among the members of Christes mysticall bodye, whereof hee alone is the heade, from whom all must take spirituall …, being by God his spirit engrafted into him, and coupled vntounto him by fayth, or which is all one, hauing him, by the same spirit dwell in our hearts by fayth: On this, and in this is the true Communion of Saintes grounded, whereof for answere to you there is enough sayde before. The summe is: the communion with the Pope cutteth of the communiō with Christ, & so ioyning vsus to Antichrist as head, destroyeth also the Communion of Saintes.

VVEE are come to the nienth and last Reason, which is taken from the example of Infidels & heretikes, meete mates for you, and a fit paterne in religion for those of your side to follow, a good & sure foundation for your erroneous consciences: meete as a poore helpe, to bee kept for the last place: but if your cause were good, you would make better choise. The Diuell is the father of such and their religion, naughtie consciences and doings: wherein the more … they be, the woorse they be, for want of a good foundation and a good guide: Obstinacie and peeuishnes in steede of Godlines may bee learned at these schoolemaisters and their doings, falshood, errour, and lyes, may bee … from them: truth and goodnes not at all, or very ylfauouredly: but where there is any sparke left in them, it may be better fetched from a clearer fountaine. So we may be free then frō learning a rule of conscience from such …: Let them serue you and your erroneous consciences, if you wil learne no better. Suppositions, … & rayling at the profession of Christes religion here, and nothing but such stuffe, amplified by comparison, similitude and example, not woorth the answering: I hauehave so much answered of an …, as I neede not stand therein now. It … to be your best Anchre and last refuge, when your matters cannot be maintained with a good conscience; and therefor both M. Howlet, and you pleade it so hard in the beginning, in the middest, and here in the end for a conclusion of the whole treatise. Good intents in poperie, or your well meaning mindes as you can call them when ye list to speake thereof, hauehave a great force: The matter though it bee had, though it be hurtfull to other; is mended; nay is made good, by that intent, or well meaning minde of yours. Thus may heresie be good, Idolatry good, theft good, whordome good, treason good, rebellion good, and what not good and godly, at leaste by his Dispensation all maye bee made good, that hath so infinite power and …, as your GOD the Pope hath, Ca mee, Ca thee: say they. Excuse you the Popes whoredomes, as … whoredome &c. As the … be fore willeth, and ye shall not leese p. 175all by his blessing, absolution or dispensation, &c. Yee shal gaine somewhat: he is no Churle, he will playe the good fellow where he taketh. His doctrine and canon law giueth greate scope, hee can enlarge the same for his Darlinges: But it cannot be so taken of her Maiestie our dreade … here: it will not serue to excuse that is amisse: for that which is supposed and vaunted by you to be so forcible and strong as to persuade any, to draw all; is found (what shoulde I say) by her Maiesties, and the States great wisedome? Nay, by any that list with indifferencie to examine it to be as weake as water: Wherefore be aduised, Leaue this hollow hollownes of poperie, Embrace Christes true religion prescribed and described in Gods book, cast away vice, embrace vertue: Be faithfull and true hearted to our dread Soueraigne and the state, … your selues and other Paply, and profit in all godlines, liuing together with vsus in godly peace and vuitie to your owne ioye and ours: Let God in all be praised, and yee are welcome home: otherwise, as wee had as leeue hauehave your roome as your companie: so for a watch worde and fare well, take heede to your selues, and prouide for an euill day I counsayle you: And yet I meane not so much in this world, as in that to come: God giuegive vsus all his grace.

Amen.