The Novelty of Popery Discovered, Chapter 21
CHAPTER XXI.
The Conclusion of this Treatise.
THus having demonstrate the Noveltie of Poperie, and detected the same to bee the latter sowne Tares in the LORDS Field; wee see that the Antiquitie whereof they so much bragge, belongeth nowayes to them, more than the living chylde to the false mother: and if the Romane Church in these poyntes formerly discovered, will needes still clayme Antiquitie at all, it is manifest, that no other can bee yeelded vntounto her, than that which was yeelded to Iudah, and Israell, by the Prophet Ezekiell, vnderunder the names of Aholah, Ezek…. 23. 43 Isaiah I. 21.and Aholibah, to wit, That shee is olde in her Adulteries, the sometyme faythfull Citie, (as speaketh I saiah) having become an Harlot: and, as says Lyrinensis in the same place, now being a filthy Borthel, of wicked and prophane erroures, where a sacred store-house was before, of chaste and vncorrupted trueth, CHRIST'S sheepe-folde beeing p…sterd with disguysed Wolues: and (as it was objected to PAVLL concerning the Grecia…s) these thinges beeing brought within the Temple, which hauehave defyled the holie place.
As Elihu then sayde of himselfe, That hee was but of yesterday, Iob 32. 6.in comparison of Iobs elder friends; even so may Poperie justlie in lyke-manner confesse of her selfe, that shee is but of yesterday, in respect of that eternall Gospell spoken of in the Revelation, Revel, 14. 6.and the Popish Church beeing the meretricious mother onelie, of such bastard births, lyke brats of Babell, as shee may well father vponupon the broodie braine of vaine mans invention, puft vp (as the Apostle speaketh) by his fleshlie mynde, but can never say with Iacob of such. These are the children which the LORD my GOD hath given mee.
Let no man therefore marvell, that wee hauehave come out of Babell, as the LORD'S obedient people, lest wee should partake of her sin…es, and so receaue of her plagues; nor thinke that wee hauehave forsaken Rome, farder than shee hath forsaken the trueth, and her former estate, when shee was once the faythfull Citie: it beeing our duetie (as sayeth Lyrinensis) to receaue true teachers with the Church; but not with false teachers in the Church, to desert the true fayth of the Church, and embrace Novelties. For if anie man follow him,Ignat Epist. 6. ad Philladelph. (sayeth Ignatius) who hauehave departed form the trueth, hee shall never inherite the Kingdome of GOD: and hee who departeth not from a teacher of lies, shall bee condemned to Hell fire: for neyther must wee depart from them who are godlie teachers, nor must wee hauehave fellowship with these who are wicked.
Let her therefore with Ephesus, returne to her first louelove, renounce her Whoredomes, quyte her Erroures, reject her Novel…ies, forsake her Idolatries, and from Babell, turne Beth…ll; else wee solemnlie protest, that wee would hauehave cured Babell, but shee would not: and as LYRIN…N…IS speaketh, That our care is heereby to reduce the seduced multitude of the wo…ld, stricken with the cruell tempest of repentiue Heresie, from new broached errour, to the auncient fayth; from the phrenesie of Noveltie, to their won…ed health; and from the blindnesse of former darknesse, to the primitiue light of most sacred Trueth: that so, GOD may hauehave … ie; the Church, her luster; Satan, an over-throwe; BABELL, a downe-fall; the Saynctes may hauehave joye; and Veritie, the victorie.
AMEN.
Glorie to Him who giveth abilitie to the faynt, & increaseth strength in them who hauehave no might,
ISAIAH 40. 29.