Look from Adam and Behold the Protestants Faith Proved, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. A concluſion, that this faith is the right true old faith, which alway ſhall ſtand ſure.
THis holy undefiled faith which the Lord planted and ſet up in all nations by the Apoſtles, immediatly after the Apoſtles deceaſe, was ſore attempted by ſundry uncleane perſons, which brought up falſe cuſtomes and miſbeleefes, and made perillous ſects. Beſide this alſo was it ſore perſecuted with the ſword of tyrants. But in all ſuch dangers the truth overcame and had the victory. For though the citizens of the devils citie (according to the diſpoſition of their Patriarke Cain) did murder, and although falſe Prophets brought up evill counſell, yet the citie of God triumpheth, and the bloud of innocent Abel and his brethren ſpeaketh yet. But after that the perſecution was ſomewhat ceaſed, and the perſecutors ſore and horribly puniſhed for their bloudſhedding (the hereſies alſo being well brought downe by faithfull ſhepherds) in the ſame reſt alſo was our holy faith not a little hurt. For reſt put away feare, brought idle felicitie, voluptuouſneſſe, and fleſhly ſeeking of riches and dominion: and ſo through covetouſneſſe and ambition,Note. The decay of Chriſts religion. there was powred great poyſon into the Church, whereby religion ſore decaied. For while the Miniſters of the word laboured more after riches, than to performe their of…ce and charge, and to edifie the Church, they were pleaſed with ſuperſtitiouſneſſe in ſtead of true religion. Of this then followed it farther, that the ſingleneſſe of faith was forgotten, new lawes made, the old rites and cuſtomes either perverted, or elſe utterly overthrowne and abuſed: whereby men came farre from the doctrine and Chriſtian ceremonies, from the way of truth into errour fooliſhly, and partly into ceremonies of idolatry.What inconvenience followed. Hereof commeth it, that we have now the abomination of the Popes power, of Pardons, of Maſſes for the dead and quicke, of merits, power and interceſſion of Saints in heaven, of worſhipping their bones upon earth, of Idols, and vaine ornaments, pompe and pride of the Church, of hired ſinging and praying in the Temple, and of the whole ſwarme of idle religions. All which things, with other moe like fondneſſe, are nothing but new alterations, pervertings, and contrary to all old ordinances, having no ground in Gods word, and are cleane againſt God, though many hardnecked people are yet in a fury and brawle for ſuch things, and will make all the world beleeve, that this their fooliſhneſſe, alteration, and perverting of Gods ordinance, is the old faith. And yet wote they, or will not know, that their babling hath very little ground, and that they (if they conſidered the matter as it is) are very naked and miſerable.
And though this papiſticall religion hath endured, prevailed, and triumphed now certaine hundred yeares, yet hath God alway ſent his faithfull ſervants, and had a little holy flocke of his owne, like as afore-time in the dayes of the iudges, of the Kings of Iuda and Iſrael, and in the captivity of Babylon, though it was almoſt at the worſt afore, and at the comming of Chriſt.Note. Like as it is alſo with us, the nigher the ſecond comming of Chriſt, the worſe it is in the world. Nevertheleſſe (as I ſaid afore) God alway ſet forth his word, and doth yet. Contrarywiſe, the Pope with his multitude,The Pope and Mahumet ſtrive againſt Chriſt. and Mahumet with his (as it ſeemeth and becommeth very Antichriſts) have hitherto undertaken to ſuppreſſe the old religion, and to ſet up his owne ordinance (unknowne to our fathers of old time) to bring it into poſſeſſion, and under the name of God and his holy Church, to ſpread it upon all Chriſtendome. For out of the acts and ſtatutes of the Pope and his wanton ſpiritualty, and out of the lawes of Mahumet, it is manifeſt what the one hath taken in hand and done now more than 600. yeeres, and the other upon a 900. yeeres. It is evident yet alſo even now, whereto his generall councels and parlamenrs doe extend. But not regarding how he threatneth and faceth, and how he garniſheth his new and wanton religions with falſe (but diſſembling) titles, boaſting of many hundred yeeres, many generall Councels, Fathers, holy men, Doctors, Vniverſities, Cloiſters, ſinging, praying, faſting, almes-giving, diſplying, and telleth ſuch like: All his bragging ſet aſide,Let us doe as our o…deſt fathers have done long b…fore us. let us caſt his religion from us, and take upon us unfainedly the true old religion, which hath endured ſince the beginning of the world, by the which all holy men have ever loved, worſhipped and ſerved God, and knew nothing utterly of the Popes religion. And if we muſt for this cauſe be hated and perſecuted of the world, well, it hapned even ſo unto all holy Prophets before us likewiſe, and ſpecially unto Ieſus Chriſt our Lord: which ſhall come ſhortly to judgement, and utterly deſtroy the kingdome of Antichriſt, whom he now killeth with the ſpirit of his mouth. Our poſſeſſion is not here upon earth, the kingdome of heaven is our native country: From thence looke we for the Saviour Ieſus Chriſt our Lord,Philip. 3.20, 21. which ſhall raiſe up our mortall and miſerable body, that he may make it like his excellent and glorified body, according to the power, whereby he may ſubdue all things unto himſelfe. To him be honour and praiſe for ever and ever. AMEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henrich Bullinger, Look from Adam and Behold the Protestants Faith Proved (1624)