The Ancient Faith of the Romans and the Romish Religion, Title page – Dedication
A Compariſon betweene the auncient fayth of the Romans, and the new Romiſh Religion.
Set foorth by Frauncis Bunny, ſometime fellowe of Magdalen College in Oxforde.
MATTHEW. 15. 13. Euerie plant which my heauenly Father hath not planted, ſhalbe rooted vp.
Printed by Robert Robinſon for Raph Jackeſon. 1595.
To the Right Honourable my verie good Ladie Katheren Countiſe of Huntingdon, Frauncis Bunny wiſheth increaſe of honour here, and euerlaſting life elſewhere. *⁎*
IF trueth ſhame not more of anie thing,Contra valentinianos. then when ſhe is hid, as Tertullian truely writeth: then it behooueth her friends to do her that fauor, that by all meanes poſſible they will earneſtly indeuor to bring her to light, that ſhee may be ſeene of them that ſeeke her, and knowen of them that louelove her. And although this may perchance ſeeme a hard attempt in theſe our dayes, wherein falſehoode maketh ſo fayre a ſhew, and hath ſo great appearaunce of that it is not, and eueryevery man claimeth to the trueth, be their doctrines neuer ſo diuers, yet ſince God hath giuen vsus meanes to driue awaye thoſe thicke cloudes of errour and ignoraunce, that the ſunne of trueth may ſhine vntounto the worlde, I hauehave indeuoured in this ſhort treatiſe, to take away that colourable ſhewe of trueth from the Church of Rome, that the vndoubted trueth of the Church of Chriſt may the better appeare. For we hauehave a touchſtone, the word of God that cannot lye, a rule that cannot deceaue, by which whatſoeuer we trie and examine, it wil ſoone bee ſeene whether it bee true or falſe. Truth alſo is a thing that is auncient, and hath bin alwayes,De virginibus velandis. ſayth Tertullian, and like the good corne that was firſt ſowen: but errour is that bad ſeed which was caſt after into that field by the enuious man.Tertul. de preſcriptionibus aduerſus Haereticos. Seeing therefore that is true that was firſt, and what ſo euer commeth after is falſe: howe eaſie a matter is it for ſuch as ſearch, to ſee the light, and for them that inquire after her, to finde the trueth? For if it bee true that the Scriptures teach, & that onelyonly, then al that is not agreable to that truth, muſt needs bee falſe. And if that onelyonly be nowe true, which in the Apoſtles times was true: no number of dayes or yeares ſhall prooue that not to bee falſe nowe, which then was not true. Therefore for the benefite of all ſuch as louelove the truth, I hauehave in this treatiſe ſet downe, the doctrine which was firſt taught and preached at Rome in the Apoſtles dayes, whereof no man doubteth, but that it muſt bee the infallible worde of God, and Chriſtian religion. Then alſo I hauehave added thereunto that which is nowe holden for the Romiſhe religion and Catholicke fayth there. And becauſe theſe two doe verie much differ, as hee that readeth will ſoone ſee (for indeede they are nothing like:) and wee are aſſured that that which Gods worde deliuereth, and was firſt, muſt needes bee currant, that which hath no warrant in the worde, and commeth after, muſt needes be counterfeite. I hauehave endeuoured to bee ſhort, becauſe I hoped it woulde be the more willingly read, and the better remembred. And for that cauſe I hauehave not aunſwered the argumentes, which the Romiſh Catholickes vſe for defence of their opinions, and the rather becauſe it is performed in an other treatiſe. But I truſt in this it will appeare, that hee that will imbrace the Catholicke Fayth that was then, when the faith of the Romans was commended, whereof the Papiſtes make greate bragges, muſt needes deteſt that Romiſh fayth that is now, and accompt it moſt blaſphemous. This little worke I hauehave beene bold to dedicate vntounto your good Ladiſhip, not onelyonly as a diſcharge of my duetie of thankefulneſſe toward your Honour, to whome you bounde mee long ſince by manie vndeſerued courteſies: but alſo becauſe that then I knewe your great zeale, and feruent deſire and louelove to the trueth, and your Chriſtian care to augment your knowledge of the will of GOD: Whereof I nothing doubt, but the Lorde hath giuen vntounto you great and happie increaſe. To whoſe abundant mercies in Chriſt I commit your good Ladiſhippe, alwayes praying that hee will here confirme you in his trueth, and continue all his good graces tovvardes you, vntill hee ſhall take you out of this vale of miſerie, to raigne vvith him in endleſſe glorie, Amen.