Answer to a Popish Antichristian Catholic, Title page – Dedication
A Deliberat anſwere made to a raſh offer, which a popiſh Antichriſtian Catholique, made to a learned proteſtant (as he ſaieth) and cauſed to be publyſhed in printe: Anno. Do. 1575.
Wherein the Proteſtant hath plainly & ſubſtantially prooued, that the papiſts that doo nowe call themſelues Catholiques are in déed Antichriſtian ſchiſmatiks: and that the religious proteſtants, are in deed the right Catholiques: VVritten by Robert Crowley: in the yeere, 1587.
LONDON. Printed by I. Charlwood, and are to bée ſold at the ſigne of the black Beare, in Paules Church y…rde. 1588.
Falts eſcaped in the print.
In the 7. leafe, and in the laſt line of the firſt page, & in the firſt of the ſecond page: reade thus, innocencie of life: for, not continue in ignorance, &c. In the 9. leafe, and 15. line of the firſt page: reade thus, and not, let vsus hauehave peace And in the laſt line ſaue one, of the ſecond page: reade thus, they are all become vnprofitable. In the 10. leafe, and 14. line of the ſecond page: read thus, traxerit. In the 16. leafe, and 6. line of the firſt page: read tend, for bend. In the 25. leafe, and 12. line of the ſecond page: read, conuenticles. In the 26. leafe, and 18. line of the 1. page: read, faſts, for feaſts. In the 27. leafe, and 9. line of the 1. page: read, caſes, for cauſes. In the 31. leafe, and 12. line of the eight Offer: read, at all times, the continuance, &c. In the 36. leafe, & 7. line of the 2. page: read, ſuch, for thoſe. In the 39. leafe, & laſt line ſaue 4. of the 1. page: read, Qui pridie. In the 50. leafe, and laſt line ſaue 6. of the 2. page: read, at any time. In the 53. leafe, and 29. line of the 1. page: read, which are not, &c. In the 55. leafe, and 33. line of the 1. page: read, perceiue by that, &c. In the 72. leafe, & 12. line of the 1. page: reade, Linus. In the 75. leafe, and 1. line of the 1 page: read, or doth ſeeme to bee. In the 77. leafe, and 1. line of the 1. page: this woorde (them) is to much. In 78. leafe, & 4. line of the 2. page: read, admonition. In the 80. leafe, & 22. line of the 1. page: read, they for then.
In the 81. leafe, & in the title of the 1. ſigne: read, of falſe prophets. In the 84 and 20. line of the firſt page: read, ſome of them, contrarie to the expreſſe, &c.
¶ To all and ſingular popiſh Recuſants.
SVppoſing that all ſuch papiſts as do refuſe to ioyne with vsus in the profeſsion and exerciſe of religion (and are therefore called Recuſants) be of one & the ſame minde with that popish Offerer, that first wrote theſe Offers, and did publish them in print: I hauehave thought it a thing very meete, to requeſt the ſame Offerer (if hee bee yet liuing) and all the reſt that bee of his minde, to afforde mee ſo much fauour, as to reade ouer their owne Offers, and that anſwere that I hauehave made therunto I truſt you will not deny mee this request: for your Offerer hath in the end of eueryevery part of his Offer, vſed theſe words (or the like) prooue this, & then I will relent and recant, & not before I know that ther be many amongſt you, that are worshipfull, wiſe, and learned: ſuch (I hope) will not blemish their worship, wiſedome, and learning, by fore-iudging ought that is or shalbe written in anſwere to any Offer that any of their minde hath or shall make, and require anſwere thereunto. I doo not require any of you to giuegive credit to that which I hauehave written: before you hauehave tried the ſame, and found it worthy of credit. And therefore I hauehave ſet ouer the heads of the pages of this my booke: this admonition: Firſt trie, and then truſt: If you shall finde that I hauehave ſufficiently prooued all thoſe thinges that your Offerer requireth the protestant to prooue: then I hope you wil redily performe, thoſe Offers that he hath made. And if you shall finde any inſufficiency in mine anſweres: I hope, that ſome of the learned on your ſide, will vſe ſome meanes whereby I may hauehave knowledge of that inſufficiency. And in the word & faith of a Christian, I doo promiſe you, that what ſoeuer any of you shal write touching this matter: I will reade it deliberatly, and without all parciall affection, with earneſt prayer to the almighty, for the direction of his holy ſpirite, whereby I may be ſtayed from ſtraying out of the way of truth. I know that there is but one way to euerlaſting life, & I doo know that Christ only is that way: if any of your ſort therefore, can make it plaine vntounto me, that your popish Catholique church dooth walke in that way, then will I leaue that way wherein wee proteſtants doo walk, and runne with you for I tell you truly, that none of you can hauehave a greater or more earneſt deſire, to enter with the Bridgrome Chriſt, then I hauehave, and (as I hope) shall hauehave to the end. My pen would gladly proceede, in paynting my paper with moe ſentences to the like effect: but I hauehave thought good to ſtay it, for that I doo perſuade my ſelfe, that you doo think the time longe before you can take in hand to performe that requeſt that I hauehave herein made. Frare you well. From my houſe at S. Gyles without Creplegate of London. The Lord Ieſus direct you in all that you shall doo. Amen.
Ianuarie. 16. An. 1587. Your well willer. Robert Crovvley.