Fair Play on Both Sides, Dialogue

Fair Play on Both Sides · Dialogue

p. 1FAIR PLAY: Or a Diſpute between a PROTESTANT and a ROMAN-CATHOLICK. Wherein the true Religion is made clear to the meaneſt capacity.

Roman Catholick's Preface.

I Pray thee, Proteſtant, bear with me,(a)(a)Indeed a man had need to be very patient that meaneth to hear thee.

To ask thee Queſtions two or three:

And if an anſwer thou canſt make,

More of thy counſel I will take.(b)(b)Yet I fear, that though thou wert brayed in a Mortar with a Peſtel, among Wheat, thy fooliſhneſs will not depart from thee, Prov. 27.22.Prov 27:22

Many ſundry Sects appear,

Now in the world far and near,

The Calviniſt, the Proteſtant,

The Zwinglian, the Puritant,

The Browneſt, and the Family of Love,

And many more which I can prove,

And the Roman Faith truly,

Which you call Papiſtry.

And every one confeſs Jeſu,

Saying that their Faith is true:

But amongſt theſe, tell me how

The Truth from feigned lies to know.

All theſe in very deed,

Reherſe all Articles in the Creed;

And every one of them ſaith,

That theirs is the Catholick Faith:

But this it is that I do ſeek,(c)(c)I believe, thou art one of thoſe, which are ever learning, and never come to the knowledge of the Truth, 2 Tim. 3.7. Take the Lanthorn which David uſed, and thou ſhalt ſoon find the true Church, Pſal. 119.105.2 Tim 3:7Ps 119:105

To know the Church Catholick,

The Communion or Company

Of holy men in Unity.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

His Preface.

I May not (Papist) ſuffer thee,

Becauſe thy Queſtions idle be:

And if my Counſel thou wilt take,

Then hear the anſwer I will make.

p. 2Thou tell'ſt of Sects that do appear,

And ſeem'ſt the truth glad to inquire:

But ev'n in this I malice ſmell,

And ſee thy ſpiteful meaning well.

When thou theſe divers Sects doſt name,

Thou wouldſt thereby our Church defame(d)(d)I have reaſon ſo to think, becauſe the multitude of ſuppoſed Sects amongſt us, is a common imputation. See Briſt. Motives, pag. 10.

And make fools think that we them lov'd,

When as with us th' are not approv'd.

We do not hang on Clavins ſleeve,

Nor yet on Zwinglius we believe:

And Puritans we do deſie,

If right the name you do apply.(e)(e)Viz. If either by that name, are underſtood thoſe ancient Hereticks, called Cathari, who dreamed of a ſtate of perfection in this life, (ſo as Papiſts alſo do) or elſe ſuch factious ones among us, which have ſought the ſpoile and havock of the Church.

All giddy Sects among us crept,

We wiſh out of our Church were ſwept:

No name do we delight in more,

Then that at Antioch given of yore.(f)(f)Chriſtians. Acts 11.26.Acts 11:26

But now what Sects you Papiſts have,

I do but thy own witneſs crave:

Some Capucines, ſome Franciſcans,

And ſome be called Dominicans:

Some Jeſuites, ſome Seculars,(b)(b)The emulation and difference betwixt theſe two their Quodlibets do ſhew.

Some gray, ſome black, ſome white Friars:

And that your ſtore may not be ſpent,

New Locuſts ſtill from Hell are ſent.(c)(c)Rev. 9.3. Thoſe Locuſts do well repreſent the Popes Clergie: they were bred of the ſmoak of the pit, ſo are theſe of Hereſie, Ignorance and Superſtition: they deſtroy the fruits of the earth; ſo theſe ſpoile the Church.Rev 9:3

Thou ſaiſt, thou would the Church find out:

So that I ſee thou art in doubt:

And ſo indeed Uncertainty

Is ſtill the fruit of Popery.

Popiſh Rime.

Catholick.

IN your Bible I have read,

The Church muſt through the world be ſpread:

For Chriſt he his Apoſtles ſent,

With Power and Commandement,

That to all Nations they ſhould go,

To Preach, and to Baptize alſo.

Who hath done this? to know I wiſh:

For that is ſure the Church of Chriſt.(d)(d)I hope thou wilt not ſay that Rome hath done this: the charge was given and undertaken before Rome was converted.

p. 3And for example, let me know,

And if thou canſt, I pray thee ſhow,

What Church did take in hand

The firſt converſion of this Land.(e)(e)The Apoſtles Church, for ought you can prove to the contrary.

And all other Countries every where,

Throughout the world far and near;(f)(f)Who but a Papiſt would dare to ſay this?

If this were not the Church of Rome,

Then will I be converted ſoon.(g)(g)You build your faith upon a very ſure ground.

Saint Paul in his Epiſtle ſaith,(h)(h)Did Paul ſay that Rome ſhall never deny the Faith?

The Romans had the Catholick Faith,

Saying it was renowned,

Spoken of, or publiſhed,

Through the world over all,

Catholick, Univerſal:

And if your Churches were even ſo(i)(i)Our Church is a part of the Catholick Church: diſprove it if you can.

Then to your Churches I would go.(k)(k)You may come to our Churches; the Pope giveth you leave, ſo that you keep your hearts to him.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Catholick.

IN our Bible thou haſt read:

'Tis well in ours, for yours is fled,

And lurketh in a tongue unus'd,

Whereby poor people are abus'd.

The Church is Catholick, as you ſay,

And ſo ſay we: but why ††The reaſon why the Church is called Catholick.I pray?

Becauſe to it, it were diſgrace,

To limit it to time or place.

It ever was, and ſo ſhall be,

Since Chriſt, excluding no degree:(l)(l)Col. 3.11. Acts 10.34, 35.Col 3:11Acts 10:34Acts 10:35

It once was ty'd unto the Jews,

But now no place (m)(m)Auſtine ſaith it is Catholick, becauſe ſpread over the world, Ep. 170. and thereto agreeth the Scripture, Acts 1.8.Acts 1:8it doth refuſe.

It is a very fond ſurmiſe,

Which you the Papiſt do deviſe,

To ſhut the Church within Romes wall,

And yet to call it general.(n)(n)Catholick and general are all one; and therefore one of their own Councels ſaith, The Roman Church is not the Univerſal Church, but of the Univerſal Church, Baſil. Con. ſy. 3.

The very name which you pretend,

Whereby your Church you would defend,

To all which do the meaning know,

Doth quite your fancy overthrow.

p. 4You ſay, the charge, which Chriſt once gave,

The Romiſts well performed have:

But mark how thou thy ſelf doſt hurt,

And lay Romes honour in the dirt.

That charge (i)(i)Viz. of preaching through the world.was given firſt to them,

Which lived at Jeruſalem,(k)(k)The Apoſtles, Mat. 28. Acts 1.Matt 28Acts 1

And thence the Goſpel iſſued out,(l)(l)Acts 8.1.Acts 8:1

As Eſay told (m)(m)Iſa. 2.3.Isa 2:3the world throughout.

By them the Nations turned were,(n)(n)We read in Hiſtories, as in Euſebius and others, how the Apoſtles divided themſelves into all the quarters of the world.

And thence of Chriſt Rome firſt did hear:

Yet now the place (o)(o)Jeruſalem.which others call'd,

To Turkiſh Empire is enthrall'd.

So though't were true, which is not ſo,

And never ſhall be prov'd I know,

That Rome to Chriſt the Nations brought,

Yet this your reaſon were ſtark nought.

But now (perhaps) Rome doth, you'l ſay,

Bring home the wanderers to the way.

Indeed the Spaniards loving Gold,

Have brought the Indians to your fold.

The Frogs from Euphrates came out,(p)(p)Euphrates was a great river running near the old Babylon in Chaldea, and was the defence of the City. Cyrus and Darius could never take the City, until by policy they dryed up the River. Now in a ſpiritual ſenſe, it doth ſignifie the honour, wealth and authority of Rome, which hath of latter years decayed excedingly, and doth daily; and the frogs, mentioned in Apoc. 16.13. do well reſemble the Jeſuites, who feeling Euphrates to dry up, beſtir themſelves, and are croaking like Frogs in every corner, labouring to maintain the Popes Authority.Rev 16:13

I mean, the Jeſuited Rout,

Do ſpread themſelves in each countrey,

To draw men to diſloyalty.

They counſel Subjects kill their Kings,

Stabbings they uſe, and poyſonings.(q)(q)Our Countrey and times afford ſtore of examples to prove this.

Chriſt gave no ſuch commandement,

When firſt he his Diſciples ſent.

Of this converſion if you boaſt,

Whereby poor ſouls, Hell hath engroſt,

I yeeld it you full willingly,

It well agrees with Popery.

To draw Diſciples is no mark,

For ſo doth many a feigned Clark.(r)(r)2 Pet. 2.1, 2. Acts 20.30.2 Pet 2:12 Pet 2:2Acts 20:30

The Church to truth which doth convert,

We do embrace with all our heart.

Thou ſayſt, Romes Faith once over all

The world was famous (ſo ſaith Paul)(ſ)(ſ)Rom. 1.8.Rom 1:8

And Rome did firſt convert our Land,

And hereupon you greatly ſtand.

p. 5Romes faith indeed once bare the bell,

And ſo it did deſerve it well:

But Rome's not now as heretofore;

That faithful Citie's made a Whore.(t)(t)Iſa. 1.21. So it was ſaid of Jeruſalem, which had more excellent particular promiſes, then Rome can alledge any.Isa 1:21

If new Rome now, were as the old,

Then we with Romaniſts would hold.

If Rome become Chriſts enemy,

Then we from Babylon muſt flie.(t)(t)Apoc. 18.4.Rev 18:4

To ſay that Rome is therefore ſound,

Becauſe of old it was renownd,

It may a Papiſt ſatisfie:

But men of judgement it deny.

Paul never Rome did magnifie,

As he did thoſe of Theſſaly:††See 1 Theſſ. 1.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.1 Thess 1:31 Thess 1:41 Thess 1:51 Thess 1:61 Thess 1:71 Thess 1:8

Yet now that Church is clean defac't,

And there the Turk himſelf hath plac't.

The Aſian Churches, (x)(x)Epheſus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Apoc. 1.11.Rev 1:11famous once,

Are turned to a heap of ſtones.

The golden lights (y)(y)Thoſe ſeven Churches were repreſented by ſeven golden Candleſticks, Apoc. 1.20.Rev 1:20of Saint Johns age,

Are now become even Sathans cage.

Prove thou, that Rome hath not declind

From th' ancient Church by Pauls reſind:

And then I'le ſay, thou haſt done more

Then ever Papiſt did before.

But for firſt turning of our Nation,

I trow thou nam'ſt it but for faſhion:

For they that look in Hiſtory,

Thereof can find no certainty.

Simon Zelotes, as ſome ſay(z)(z)Niceph. lib. 2. cap. 40.

Did firſt Chriſts Goſpel here diſplay,

Even whilſt that Emperour did reign,

By whom our Saviour Chriſt was ſlain.(a)(a)Gildas Lib. de victoria Aurelii. Ambroſii.

Some ſay, that he of Arimathy(b)(b)Joſeph who buried Chriſt.

In the year of grace ſixty three,

From France by Philip (c)(c)Philip the Apoſtle.was ſent over,

To us the faith for to diſcover.(d)(d)So ſaith Gildas alſo.

Hereto agreeth a learned man,

That ancient Clark Tertullian,

That by th' Apoſtles, Britany

Was turn'd to Chriſtianity.(e)(e)Tertul. in his book againſt the Jewes, amongst other places converted by the Apoſtles, reckoneth divers parts of France and Britain: So doth Origen, Hom. 4. upon Ezechiel.

p. 6Pope Elutherius long agoe(f)(f)About the year of Chriſt, 180.

As his Epiſtle plain did ſhow(g)(g)This Epiſtle hath been found, out of the ancient Records of the Kings of England.

Unto King Lucius hither ſent,

Ere Ethelbert was king of Kent.(h)(h)Which was about 600. years after Chriſt.

We hold the faith that then was taught,

But you the ſame do ſet at naught:(i)(i)Eleutherius referred King Lucius to the Scriptures, clean againſt the Papiſts courſe now, and called him Gods Vicar in his kingdom: which title the Pope alone doth now challenge.

When Rome the Truth doth once forſake,

Then we of Rome our leaves muſt take.

If that our Church were Catholick,

To come to Church thou wouldſt not ſtick.

If of the word thou knewſt the ſence,

Thou ſoon would'ſt leave that fond pretence.

Our Church that truth doth firm embrace,

Which all thoſe hold in every place,

Who leaving mens traditions clean,

Upon the Scriptures onelyonly lean.(k)(k)That is truly Catholick which every where, alwayes, and by all (viz. true Chriſtians) is believed, Vincen. cont. Haer. c. 3. Let Papiſts prove, that the word Catholick being taken in that ſence, ours is not a Catholick Church.

Popiſh Rime.

Prophets.

SO ſaith the Prophet Malachy,

There ſhould be offered far and nigh,

A clean Oblation or Sacrifice(l)(l)When you read Altar and Sacrifice, you think ſtreight that makes for Maſs, not knowing, or not ſeeming to know the language of the Scripture.

From place where now the Sun doth riſe,

To the going down of the ſame:

And what is that, I pray thee name?

If it be not the holy Maſs,

I will be a Proteſtant as I was.(m)(m)If thou hadſt been of us, thou wouldſt have continued with us, 1 John 2.19.1 John 2:19

In the eighteenth Pſalm I found,

The whole world ſhould hear their ſound:(n)(n)Namely, of the Apoſtles, and their Doctrine: prove our Doctrine to diſagree with theirs.

And if this mark you do not want,

Preſently I will recant.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Prophets.

THou cit'ſt a text of Malachy,(o)(o)Mal. 1.11.Mal 1:11

Hoping to prove thy Maſs thereby,

Alas, the reaſon is but ſmall,

And helps that Idol not at all.

p. 7In it God threatneth the Jews,††The opening of the place of Malachy.

Who their great priviledge did abuſe,

And thought the Lord was tied to them,

And unto their Jeruſalem.

The Prophet tells, that God elſewhere

Will find out thoſe, which ſhall him fear,

And in an order without blame,

Shall call upon his holy Name.

Speaking to their capacity,

The Legal tearms he doth apply:(p)(p)So Joel 2.28. The holy Ghoſt foretelling the Spiritual enlightning which the people ſhall have under Christ, doth deliver it under the names of Viſions and Dreams: which notwithſtanding were not ordinary in the times of the Goſpel.Joel 2:28

And calls our Goſpel like Service,

A pure and ſpotleſs (q)(q)Pure in Chriſt, being accepted of God through him, 1 Pet. 2.5.1 Pet 2:5Sacrifice.

What ground is here then for the Maſs?

It ſtill remaineth, as it was,

A groſs device, defaming Chriſt,

Who is our true and onelyonly Prieſt.(r)(r)See more of this hereafter, in ſpeaking more directly of the Maſs.

The ſpeech of David of the Skies,(ſ)(ſ)Pſal. 19.3. But according to their account, Pſal. 18.Ps 19:3Ps 18

Into the Apoſtles, Paul applies,(t)(t)Rom. 10.18.Rom 10:18

And ſaith, their ſound went far and near,

As in the ſtories doth appear.

Tell me, I pray, what good to you,

This place you have alledg'd can do?

It maketh nought for Popery,

Or for your idle trumpery.

Indeed the infamous Fame is ſpread,

Of Antichriſt your hideous head,

And all God's Children him do ſee,

The man of ſin (r)(r)2 Theſ. 2.3.2 Thess 2:3alone to be.

Th' Apoſtles Faith was far diſperſt,

And here in England was rehearſt.

…ith then our Doctrine is the ſame,

…o it belongs part of their fame.

Popiſh Rime.

Continuance.

THis is another mark moſt ſure,

The Faith of Chriſt muſt ſtill endure,††Chriſts Faith muſt endure, therefore Rome is the true Church. A hot argument; as though the Chriſtian Faith could endure no where but at Rome.

According as our Saviour ſaid,

When for Saint Peter he had pray'd;

p. 8Simon, thy faith ſhall never fail,

The gates of Hell ſhall not prevail,††True, the gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt the Church of Chriſt: but Chriſt in deſpight of the Devil will have a Church upon earth: what makes this for Rome?

The holy Ghoſt your comforter,

Shall remain with you for ever.

And I my ſelf, your ſureſt friend,

Will be with you unto the end.

Saint Paul hath the like ſpeech,

There ſhall be alwayes men to preach:

Apoſtles (p)(p)Some ſay they are Apoſtles, and are not, Rev. 2.2.Rev 2:2Doctors, and the like,

In the Church Catholick:

If this be not the Church of Rome(q)(q)Becauſe you ſay it, we are bound to believe it.

Then will I be converted ſoon.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Continuance.

YOu ſay, Chriſts faith muſt ſtill endure,

I yield that nothing is more ſure:

And alwayes God a Church will have,

Though thereat Satan rage and rave,(ſ)(ſ)Mat. 16.18. And that is the uttermoſt which can be collected out of that place.Matt 16:18

It glads my heart, that Chriſt hath praid;

Thereby I know my Faith is ſtaid:(t)(t)Luke 22.32. Chriſts prayer there belongs to all believers as well as to Saint Peter, John 17.20.Luke 22:32John 17:20

The comfort of Gods holy Sp'rit,

Is each good Chriſtians ſole delight.

This proves, there ſtill a Church ſhall be,

And herein thou and I agree:

To prove the Church tied to one Sea,

Requireth yet a better Plea.

The Faith of Chriſt may ſtill abide,

Though Rome ſhould into Tibur ſlide:

Gods Spirit is free, and is not bound(u)(u)John 3.8.John 3:8

Within the liſts of Romiſh ground.

When thou canſt prove by holy writ,

Chriſts Faith to Rome by charter knit,

Then ſhall thy tale ſome credit find,

Where now it turneth all to wind.

But yet continuance is a Note

Of Gods true Church: and Paul hath wro…

Epheſ. 4.11, &c.Eph 4:11That there ſhould ſtill ſome teachers be:

In ſome we this fulfilled ſee.

p. 9I ſay, continuance is no ſign,

To prove a Church to be divine;

We may not think each Doctrine ſure,

Which doth for many years endure.(x)(x)It is true, that the truth ſhall continue; but yet it holds not backward, that whatſoever continueth is Truth. The Devil is a lyar from the beginning

Muſt not the tares be let to grow,

Till it be time the corn to mow?(y)(y)Mat. 13.10.Matt 13:10

And Antichriſt ſhall long time ſtay,

Even till the very Judgment day.(z)(z)2 Theſ. 2.8.2 Thess 2:8

The Arrian hereſie years did ſtand,

Two hundred more than one thouſand:(a)(a)Yea, and it was ſo generally received, that it was ſaid, the whole world was become an Arrian. Hierom. dialog. contra Luciferianos.

And ſo ſince Mahomet firſt was ſeen,

A thouſand years have numbred been.

Romes name endures, but Rome is chang'd,

And hath from Chriſt it ſelf eſtrang'd:

Quit thou Rome from Apoſtacy,

Or name not Perpetuity.

Pauls words do prove, (b)(b)Epheſ. 4.11, &c.Eph 4:11that certainly

The Church ſhall have a Miniſtry:

And that there ſhall be ſome to feed

The Flock of Chriſt at ev'ry need:

But that theſe Paſtors here or there,

Shall alwayes fit in beauty clear,

This fond conceit, not one more word,

The holy Scripture doth afford.

Indeed in Rome there divers be,

That bear the name of Prelacie:

Better we Pilates may them call,

Seeking the Churches Funeral.

You call your Pope a Shepheard great;

But where is his Spiritual meat?

I do not hear that he doth preach:

That would his greatneſs much impeach.

Such are his carnal Cardinals,

Or rather bloody Canibals.(c)(c)The People that live upon mans fleſh.

They eat the fat, and skin the Flock,

And live upon the Churches ſtock.

An idle ſign, a Shepheards Crook

In hand they bear (d)(d)The Paſtoral ſtaff, made in faſhion of a Shepheards crook.but cannot brook

To preach the Word (a Paſtors grace)

That duty fits not their high place.

p. 10The key of knowledge they withdraw,(e)(e)Luke 11.52.Luke 11:52

And from Gods people ſteal (f)(f)Jerem. 23.30.Jer 23:30Gods Law,

And mens devices (g)(g)They teach Traditions to be equally reverenced as the Scriptures, Conc. Trid. ſeſ. 4. dec. and Lidanus calleth them the foundation of Faith, Panopl. lib. 5. cap. 2.on them thruſt,

Making them unto fancies truſt.

Theſe are Romes Paſtors: woful ſheep,

Which left are to the Wolves to keep.

Thou Shepheard great and Biſhop chief,(h)(h)1 Pet. 2.25. & 4.5.1 Pet 2:251 Pet 4:5

Come quickly (i)(i)Rev. 22.20.Rev 22:20quell this Romiſh thief.

Papiſts Rime.

Viſible.

ANother mark there is moſt clear,

The Church of God muſt ſtil appear,

As a City on a hill,(k)(k)Some wreſt the Scriptures to their own deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3.16. Take heed.2 Pet 3:16

Seen and continue ſtill,

As a light on a Candleſtick,

So is the Church Catholick:

Our Saviour ſaith, if one offend,

And will not be rul'd by his friend,

Tell all the Church without delay:(l)(l)Would you have us go to Rome with every complaint? It ſeemeth ſo; for you tie the Church to that Sea.

And if he will not then obey,

Do thou eſteem ſuch a man,

An Heathen or a Publican.

Is not that the Church, wherein we ſee

Two hundred Biſhops thirty three,

To have ſucceeded each other,

Since the time of Saint Peter.(m)(m)You muſt firſt prove that Saint Peter was Biſhop of Rome.

Shew me this mark in you,(n)(n)Thou thy ſelf ſayſt, there have been ſucceſſively 63. Biſhops in England ſince Peter: then either ours is the true Church, or elſe ſucceſſion of Biſhops is no ſure mark.

And I will ſay your faith is true:

If this be not in the faith of Rome,

Then will I be converted ſoon.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Viſible.

THou tell'ſt a tale incredible,

How that God's Church is viſible:

And by the Biſhops Catalogue,

Wouldſt prove the Romiſh Synagogue.

p. 11The errors here together lapt,

By which the ſimple are entrapt,

All which your feigned Church doth hold,

I mean in order to unfold.

The Catholick Church defin'd aright,

Cannot be ſubject to our ſight:

It is th' Elected company,(o)(o)1 Pet. 2.9.1 Pet 2:9

And Chriſt his choſen Family.(p)(p)Epheſ. 3.15.Eph 3:15

Of this, one part in Heaven lives,(q)(q)Called the Church Triumphant.

The other here with Satan ſtrives,(r)(r)Tearmed the Church Militant.

The part above (you'l not deny)

With mortal eyes none can deſcry.

The ſame is true of that below,

It is unſeen by us alſo:

How with mine eyes I might diſcern.

And ſee th Elect fain would I learn.

Upon their perſons we may look,

Whoſe names are written in Gods Book:(ſ)(ſ)The Book of Life, Phil. 4.3.Phil 4:3

But as for their Spiritual being,

It is a thing doth paſs our ſeeing.

Parts of Chriſts Church, you Papiſts make

Even thoſe whom God will quite forſake:(p)(p)So doth Bellarmine, lib. 3. de Eccleſ. cap. 7. and the Rhemiſts in their Annotations upon John 15.1.Eccl 7John 15:1

Which if the matter be well ſcand,

Cannot with any Scripture ſtand.

Of the true Church Chriſt is the head,(q)(q)Epheſ. 1.22.Eph 1:22

In him can be no member dead:(r)(r)They are called living ſtones, 1 Pet. 2.3.1 Pet 2:3

His Church a Garden, (ſ)(ſ)Cant. 4.12.Song 4:12cloſed well,

In which no Reprobates can dwell,(t)(t)So Auguſt. applieth the place. Contra Creſ. Gram. lib. 2. cap. 26. and Gregory the great, who was a Biſhop of Rome, in his Commentary upon that place. Charitatis vallo circumquaque munitur, ne intra numerum electorum reprobus aliquis ingreciatur.

So that, if fitly we will ſpeak,

The ground you lay is very weak:

In calling it a mark moſt clear,

That Gods true Church muſt ſtill appear.

Of Churches nam'd in ſeveral,

In Cities, or elſe National,

We yeeld ſometime they may be ſeen,

Though ſometime they are darkned clean.

Sometime the Moon with chearful light,

Shines in the height of Heaven bright:(u)(u)Aug. uſeth that ſimilitude. Epiſt. 48 and Epiſt. 80. and Ambroſe Hex. 4. C. 8. Eccleſia ſicut luna defectus habet & ortus frequentes.

Sometimes with clouds 'tis overſpred,

And in the Wane clean vaniſhed.

p. 12So is the Church in ſafety ſtill,

Although not alway viſible:

Sometimes it ſits in glory great,

Sometime it hath no certain ſeat.

The Woman, which to Deſart fled,

From Satans rage to hide her head,**Apoc. 12.6. So much alſo the Rhemiſts upon that place do acknowledge.Rev 12:6

By all the learnedſt full conſent,

The Church on earth doth repreſent.

The famous Church of Iſrael,

Where God did promiſe ſtill to dwell,(x)(x)Pſal. 132.14.Ps 132:14

Was drown'd ſo in Idolatry,

And ſuperſtitious ſlavery,

That all true worſhip being gone,

Elias thought himſelf alone:(y)(y)1 Kings 19.10.1 Kgs 19:10

And when Chriſt comes to judge us all,

Then faith on earth ſhall be but ſmall.(z)(z)Luke 18.8.Luke 18:8

How is the Church a City then,(a)(a)Mat. 5.14.Matt 5:14

Rais'd on a mount, and ſeen of men?

And how a light ſet up on high,

That all that will may it eſpie?

How ſhall we to the Church complain,(b)(b)Mat. 18.17.Matt 18:17

If of the Church no ſhew remain?

This is thy Popiſh reaſoning,

And Scriptures plain miſconſtruing.

The true meaning of thoſe places.Chriſt doth th' Apoſtles counſel give,

Soundly to preach, and well to live,

Becauſe their places were in ſight,

And 'twas their Office to give light.

They erring many might miſlead,

Which in their ſteps might hap to tread:

If that their Doctrine were unſound,

In falſhood many might be drown'd.

It was in vain for them to ween,

In doing ill not to be ſeen:

You are (ſaith Chriſt) upon a Mount,

To be well mark't make full account.(c)(c)Thus Chry. and Theophilact. expounded this place, foreign.

This ſhews wherein our duty ſtands,

And what God looks for at our hands,

Who call'd are to the Miniſtry,

To labour in God's Husbandry.(d)(d)1 Cor. 3.9.1 Cor 3:9

p. 13But from hence how may proved be

The Churches viſibility?

This place affords a ſlender proof,

And little for the Popes behoof.

Yet you perhaps will urge it ſtill,

The Paſtors are ſet on a hill,

And called Light: even ſo ſay I,

But all men can them not deſcry.

For thoſe which want ſpiritual eyes,(e)(e)Epheſ. 1.13.Eph 1:13

Nor are by ſearching (f)(f)John 5.39.John 5:39Scripture-wiſe(g)(g)Epheſ. 5.15, 17.Eph 5:15Eph 5:17

This mounted City cannot ſee,

Nor where theſe lightſome Paſtors be.(h)(h)This was the Anſwer of Aug. to the Donatiſts. Tract. 1. in Epi. Johan.

Chriſt bids us we the Church ſhould tell,

If things be not reformed well:

By Church, he means all ſuch as be

Indued with Authority.(i)(i)The ſame which Paul calleth Preſbyterian, 1 Tim. 4.14. The Elderſhip.1 Tim 4:14

Theſe Office-bearers all men ſee,

In times of ſetled Sovereignty:

Yea, and among themſelves th' are known,††This anſwer the Papiſts cannot miſlike: for they make uſe of it for themſelves. Rhem. in Apoc. 12.6. The error of this Popiſh Argument.Rev 12:6

When th' outward ſtate is overthrown.

When that was ſaid in ſpecial,

You turn to Church in general:

Thereby you may deceive ſome fools;

But ſoon it will be ſeen in Schools.

This argument of outward ſtate,

Which for a mark you intimate,

Againſt that thing doth ſtrongly make,

Which you to prove do undertake.

Romes ſtate hath ſometimes been obſcur'd,

And hath diſgraces foul endur'd:

Burnt (k)(k)By the Goths, 547.ſackt (l)(l)By Charles Duke of Burbon, in the dayes of Pope Clement the ſeventh, whereupon was made t… clauſe in the Letany, Sancta Maria, &c. O holy Mary, pray for Pope Clement, &c.ſome Popes impriſoned,(m)(m)John 14. Boniface 8. about the year 1304.John 14

Some glad to fly (n)(n)John 17. fled to Hetruria.John 17ſome baniſhed;(o)(o)Vigilius 18. and Gregory the ninth, about the year 1227.

Where did your glorious Church abide,

When Popes were glad themſelves to hide?

Peace, peace, no more of this for ſhame:

Rome ſaith you will her clean defame.

††Succeſſion.Succeſſion commeth next in place,

Whereby thou ſeek'ſt thy Church to grace:

Your turn Succeſſion cannot ſerve,

If from the Truth Succeſſion ſwerve.

p. 14The Jewiſh Church from Aaron,

A juſt deſcent might ſtand upon,

Even when they crucifi'd our Lord:

And hated all that lov'd his Word.

If we ſhall ſay, that Church was true,

Conſiſting of ſo vile a crue,

We caſt Chriſt and the Apoſtles out,

Among the baſe and damned rout.

The Grecian Churches at this day,

For their defence as much can ſay:(p)(p)At Conſtantinople there hath been a perpetual ſucceſſion from Saint Andrew. Nicep. At Alexandria from Saint Mark.

Yet you of them do give this doom,

That in Gods Church they have no room.

Yet if Succeſſion were a ſign,

Which your grand Captain Bellarmine

Dares not avouch, (q)(q)Bellarmine ſaith, it followeth negatively, that where there is no ſucceſſion, there is no Church: but not affirmatively, that where there is ſucceſſion, there is a Church. Lib. 4. de Eccl. cap. 8.Eccl 8I fain would ſee,

How Rome can prove her pedigree.

You call your Church Saint Peters Chair,

As though the Pope were Peters Heir:

But if that ground we once deny,

What Papiſt can it verifie?

You cannot prove by holy Writ,

Peter at Rome did Biſhop ſit:

The onelyonly place which you do name,(r)(r)1 Pet. 4.13. The Rhemiſts ſay, that thereby Babylon is meaned Rome, and ſo they confeſs Rome to be Babylon.1 Pet 4:13

Returneth to your greateſt ſhame.

The things you fetch from Hiſtorie,

Touching this point, do not agree,(ſ)(ſ)Oroſius ſaith, Peter came to Rome in the beginning of Claudius reign; Hierom in the 2d. year, others in the 4th. year, other the 13. year. Damaſus ſaith, he came thither in Neroes reign; ſo that there is no certainty in that which they make an undoubted principle.

And what our part hath herein ſed,

By Papiſts ſtands unanſwered.

But if he Biſhop were indeed,

Tell me who next did him ſucceed:

Some Clement (t)(t)The Popes decrees hold ſo.and ſome, Linus hold.(u)(u)Dorotheus, Euſeb. lib. 3. cap. 4.

Thus your ſucceſſion is control'd.

Once was a Pope ſuppos'd a man,††John 8. Platina, The womans name was Gilbertia, a Dutch woman of Burguntium.John 8

But prov'd in time a Curtezan.

Then either your Succeſſion ſhrank,

Or you muſt put her in the rank.

When Popes there were, ſome 2. (x)(x)Two Popes together, Anno 1083. Anno 1058. and 1062.or 3.(y)(y)Bened. 9. Silveſt. 3. Greg. 6. all at one time; and at another time. Ben. 1. a Spaniſh Pope. Greg. 12. a French Pope, and John 23. an Italian Pope.

Where then might your ſucceſſion be?

One Schiſme held almoſt forty year,(z)(z)39. years.

Pope againſt Pope, as doth appear.(a)(a)Let their own Authors ſpeak.

p. 15One Council (b)(b)The Council of Conſtance.did theſe Popes put down,

And to another gave the Crown:

When theſe falſe Popes the place poſſeſt,

I think you'l ſay Succeſſion ceaſt.

Popiſh Rime.

Unity.

ANother mark there is truly,

The Church muſt have Unity,

As our Saviour hath foretold,

One Shepheard and one fold:

One is my Spouſe, one is my Love,

One is my Darling and my Dove.

This is his Spouſe, and at ſome time,

He doth reſemble it to a Vine:

His Father is the Husbandman,

A Branch is every Chriſtian.

This is his Body Myſtical,

The which he doth his Kingdom call:

Whereof Saint Peter had the Keys,(c)(c)What became of the Keys, when Pope Julius the ſecond threw them into Tyber?

And his Succeſſors have alwayes:(d)(d)As though no body did ſucceed Peter, but the Pope, who is rather the ſucceſſor of Romulus then Peter; as Pope Hadrian the fourth ſaid when he died.

And likewiſe Saint Paul ſaith,

One Baptiſme, and one Faith.

And one Lord Jeſu:

Have no diſſention among you.

If this be not the Church of Rome,

Then will I be converted ſoon.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Unity.

TIs true, Chriſts Church is alwayes one,

Ty'd unto him as head alone:

The parts thereof do well agree,(e)(e)Acts 4.23.Acts 4:23

Like Children of one Family.

But yet not every company,

Together link't in Unity,

Muſt by and by be called good,

If truth by them ſhall be withſtood.

p. 16To make a Calf they all agree'd,(d)(d)Exod. 32.1,Exod 32:1

All cry'd, Let Chriſt be Crucifi'd:(e)(e)Mat. 27.22.Matt 27:22

Great is Diana, with a ſhout,

At once the people all cry'd out.(f)(f)Acts 19.34.Acts 19:34

John ſaid, they ſhould yeeld to the Beaſt,

Even from the greateſt to the leaſt.(g)(g)Apoc. 13.16.Rev 13:16

As Chriſt his City is but one,

So is the Devils Babylon,(h)(h)Ut eſt Dei una Eccleſia, ſic eſt Diaboli una Babylon. Aug. de Civit. Dei.

The beſt ſometimes do diſagree,(i)(i)Peter and Paul, Gal. 2.11. Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15.39. Chryſoſt. Theophilact, and Epiphanius, Auguſtine and Hierom, Cyril and Theodoret.Gal 2:11Acts 15:39

Each man hath his infirmitie:

Better the diſcord bringing light,

Then is agreement without right.(k)(k)foreign, Nazienz. Oratione prima de pace.

Yet by this mark, if Rome be try'd,

It will fall hard upon your ſide:

Your joynt-conſent, we cannot find,

Nor that you all are of one mind.

If we ſhall credit Hiſtory,

You cannot brag of Unity:

Where twenty ſeveral Schiſms have been(l)(l)Genebrardus in Chro.

What harmony may there be ſeen?

The laws which one determineth,

The Pope that follows cancelleth:(m)(m)Stephen 6. abrogated all his predeceſsors decrees. Formoſius took up his body, cut two fingers of his right hand off, and buried him again.

Yet things by him aboliſhed,

By next Popes are eſtabliſhed.(n)(n)The following Popes, Theodor. 2. Romanus, John 10. confirmed all Formoſus his Acts.John 10

And yet another (o)(o)After all, Pope Sergius diſanulled their Acts, took up Formoſius his body, and caſt it into Tyber, Ex Polychron.comes behind,

Who with the former fault doth find,

And all which they did quite diſplace,

Reduceth to the former grace.

Thus one ſage Council doth decree,

Another ſaith it may not be:(p)(p)The firſt Nicene Council allowed Prieſts marriage, and the Communion in both kinds. The Councils of Conſtance and Baſil, forbad the Laity the uſe of the Cup. The Council of Trent forbiddeth both the Cup to the Laity, and marriage to the Clergy. The third Council of Cartharge pronounced him accurſed; and called him the fore-runner of Antichriſt, whoſoever ſhould rearm himſelf Univerſal Biſhop: but now the Council of Trent curſeth him who ſhall deny the Pope of Rome to be the head Biſhop of the world. The general Council of Conſtantinople overthrew Images: The ſecond Nicene Council decreed them to be worſhiped. Again, the Council of Frankfort, under Charles the Great, determineth it to be Idolatry, and accurſeth the Nicene Council. Many the like differences might be alledged.

p. 17That which one Sect (q)(q)In Anno 1476. there was a great controverſie betwixt the Franciſcanes and Dominicanes, touching the conception of the Virgin Mary, whether ſhe were conceived in ſin or not; the Dominicanes held ſhe was, the Franciſcanes the contrary: but Pope Xyſtus the 4. joyning with the Franciſcanes, four of the other were condemned and burned at Rome.or Author likes,(r)(r)Alph. de Caſtro. lib. 1. cap. 6. holds the Pope inferior to the Council. The opinion of all the Jeſuites at this day is, that he is above the Council. About the Euchariſt, they have a world of differences amongſt themſelves; as whether Chriſt did conſecrate when he bleſſed the bread and wine: or when he ſaid, This is my Body, whether ſo much bread as is taken onelyonly be conſecrated: whether the ſubſtance of the bread be turned to nothing, or changed into the ſubſtance of Chriſt: whether there be a bodily motion in the Sacrament: whether the body of Chriſt in the Sacrament can be touched: how the accidents in the Sacraments are without a ſubject: whether the accidents can be broken: whether they can nouriſh: whether the water mingled with the wine, be turned into Chriſts blood: Whence come worms in the Hoſt?

The ſame another clean out-ſtrikes.

I know you Papiſts do agree

To work the Churches miſery:

So Herod was made (ſ)(ſ)He that would know the differences betwixt the Thomiſts, Scotiſts, and Occamiſts, let him read Eraſ. L contra Latomum, Luke 23.12.Luke 23:12Pilates friend,

To bring our Saviour to his end.

Some yeild, as fearing to reſiſt,

(Such is the power of Antichriſt)

You may not call this Unity,

But rather publick Tyranny.

Some joyn, becauſe they do not ſee

The very depth of Popery:

To build upon the Church Belief,

Of Lay Religion is the brief.

Some for their eaſe and Bellies ſake,

Do to your Church themſelves betake:

As Monks, and ſuch as loytring love,

Whom none but Romiſts can approve.

This is your Romiſh Concordance,

Among your ſelves at variance:

Though all for ſome reſpects are led,

To meet together in one Head.

In one point more, I needs muſt ſtay,

Though nam'd of you but by the way;

Leſt with a phraſe of Peter's Keyes,

You dazle ſhould the Peoples eyes.

By Keys, is meant the power to preach,

And in Gods truth the Church to teach:(t)(t)Luke 11.52.Luke 11:52

By it (u)(u)Viz. Preaching.Heaven's open'd to receive

All thoſe which truly do believe.

It is the power to looſe and tye,

Which Chriſt gave to the Miniſtry;(w)(w)Therefore Miniſters are ſaid both to have the Miniſtry of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.8. and the Miniſtry of Vengeance againſt diſobedience, 2 Cor. 10.6.2 Cor 5:82 Cor 10:6

It was intended unto all,(x)(x)Our Lord, in the perſon of one, gave the Keys to all, to ſhew the unity of all, Cyp. de ſimp. Prelatorum: and Leo a Biſhop of Rome, is of the ſame judgement, In Sermone de Nativitate.

Though ſpoke to one in ſeveral.

When to Believers we give Hope,

Then is the Gate of Heaven ſet ope:

When Mercies Promiſe is repeal'd,

Then by the Keys that Gate is ſeal'd.(y)(y)To bind and looſe, is no other thing, but to declare Gods ſentence, Hieror. in Mat. 16.Matt 16

When Peter did his Faith confeſs,

Th' Apoſtles (by) did mean no leſs:

p. 18And that which Chriſt to Peter ſpake,(z)(z)Auſtin ſaith, he anſwered for all, Hom. in Joh. 66.9. & elſewhere often: unus pro multis reſpondit, one made anſwer for all: and Lyranus, Confeſſio Petri, erat confeſſio aliorum.

We may not from the other take.††Cuncti claves Regni, &c. All receive the Keys of Heaven. Hier. lib. 1. adverſus Jovi.

Each true and faithful Miniſter,

Is Peter's rightful Succeſſor:

Then ſpeak no more of Peter's Keys,

Except th' art ſworn the Pope to pleaſe.

Popiſh Rime.

Holy.

THis you ſay in very deed,

When you rehearſe the Holy Creed,**So you ſay in the Creed, that Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God: and yet you ſay alſo, he is in body preſent at the Maſs.

One Church Catholick,

Holy and Apoſtolick.

This is another mark truly,

The Church of God muſt be holy:

Holy Men, Holy Service,

Ceremonies, Sacrifice:

Sacraments and holy Days,

Are obſerv'd in her always:

As for the Saints and Martyrs all,

And Virgins, which you Saints do call,

I ask you when they liv'd, and where,

Whoſe names are in your Calendar?

In what Religion they died,

By whom they were Canonized?††Who made the Pope a Saint-maker?

Prove that theſe agree with you;

And I will ſay your Faith is true:

If they were not your Company,(a)(a)You ſtand ſo much upon company, that you will rather go to the Devil, then want company.

Then is your Faith an Hereſie.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Holy.

THou ſayſt the Church we Holy call,

And ſo we do acknowledge all:

What in the Creed our Mouths confeſs,

Our Hearts within believe no leſs.

The Purity, decay'd before,(b)(b)By Adams fall.

Unto his Church Chriſt doth reſtore.

p. 19That which is here in leſs degree,

The ſame in Heaven ſhall perfect be.

If thou knew'ſt Romes Impurity,

Thou would'ſt nor brag of Sanctity:

A ſink of Sin, a Sea of Evil,

A place poſſeſſed of the Devil.(c)(c)Gallus Senonenſis, wrote above 400. years agoe, that Satan was let looſe at Rome to deſtroy the Church. Tho. Becket a Romiſh Saint, acknowledged the common proverb to be true, That there is no right at Rome. The Biſhop of Worſter, a Papiſt, told Philpot, That he thought, the wickedneſs he ſaw in Rome made him an Heretick.

Your Popes bear Names of Holineſs,

But none more full of Wickedneſs:

Let Stories ſpeak, enquire of them,

What Popes have worn the Diadem:

Some Hereticks, (d)(d)Marcellinus, Pope, ſacrificed to the Idols of the Panims: Platin. and Volater. Liberius Pope, an Arian. Plat. & Hiero. in Catal. ſcrip. Eccl. & in Chro. Anact. 2. Pope, an Acatian. Plat. Vigilius an Eutychian. Liber in breviatio: Honorius, a Monothelite, condemned by the Roman Council under Adrian 2.ſome Murtherers,(e)(e)Pope Alexander 6. poyſoned Gemes the Great Turks brother, committed to his cuſtody, Hiero. Maurius, Munſt. lib. 4. Coſm. Pope Hildebrand hired one to kill the Emperour: Benno Cardinalis.

Inceſtuous ſome, (f)(f)John 13. Pope committed inceſt with his two ſiſters: Luithbrand, lib. 6 He was wounded in adultery, Platina. Alexander 6. lay with his own daughter. Vol.John 13ſome Sorcerers:(g)(g)Hildebrand: ſo ſaith Benno the Card. Pope Silveſter 2. gave himſelf to the Devil to be Pope. Pla. Joannes Stella: many others were Magicians, as John 21. Benedict. 9. &c.John 21

Some noted for their cruelty,(h)(h)Pope Alexander 6. cut off the hands and feet of one Mancinellus, becauſe he wrote againſt his filthineſs: Joh. 13 cut off the hands and noſes of divers Cardinals, Plat.John 13

Some for their monſtrous Blaſphemy.(i)(i)Pope Hildebrand threw the Sacrament into the fire. Benno. Card. Joh. 22. derided the Goſpel; held the ſouls to be mortal, and was therefore by the Council of Conſtance, 1. 2. ſeſ. 11. called a Devil Incarnate. Leo 10. writing to Cardinal Bembus, calleth the ſtory of Chriſt, a Fable, Joh. 13. called the Devil to help him at Dice, and drank to him, Luithp. lib 6.John 13

One Pope (k)(k)Pope Sergius 3.a famous Lemman kept,

Whoſe Baſtard to the Popedome crept:(m)(m)Joh. 11. or as ſome count, Joh. 12. ſee Plat. and Luithprand.John 11John 12

Another granted liberty

To practiſe beaſtly Sodomy.(n)(n)Sixtus 4. Granted liberty to the whole family of the Cardinal of St. Lucy in the three hot months, June, July, Auguſt, to uſe Sodomit…y. Weſellus Groningenſis, in a Treatiſe, de Indulg. Papalibus, at the foot of the Licenſe was written, Fiat ut petitur, Be it as it is requeſted.

Who but the Pope receiveth Rent,

Which from the Stews to him is ſent?(o)(o)Every common Harlor in Rome paid a Fee to Pope Sixtus 4. Agrippa in his declam. ad Lovan.

Let Rome and Venice make Report,

And all that thither do reſort.

Who hath in Metre vile expreſt

The ſin which Nature doth deteſt?

Let Beneventum name the man:(p)(p)The Archbiſhop of Beneventum, Johannes a Caſa, Dean of the Popes Chamber, uſed Sodomy, and commended it in Italian Metre: the book was printed in Venice, by Trojanus Nauus: ſee the writing of Paulus Vergerius againſt this Archbiſhop.

Do thou diſprove it, if thou can.

If this among your Heads be found,

How ſhall we think the Members ſound?

Lord, bleſs us from ſuch holy Popes;

And, Lord, make void all Popiſh Hopes.(l)(l)Marozia, Wife to Guido.

p. 20Like to your Popes your Service is,Holy Service.

Wanting no ſtore of blaſphemies:

Which, leſt the People ſhould eſpy,

You hide in Latine ſecrecy.

I need no better Witneſſes

Then your allowed Porteſſes,

Your Miſſals, and your Letanies,

And all your forged Pſalteries.

What we to God alone muſt give,

That to the Saints you do derive:

God will not from his Glory part,(q)(q)Iſa 48.11.Isa 48:11

Yet you to Creatures it convert:

Unto the Saints you prayers make,(r)(r)There is neither commandement in the Scripture, that we ſhould pray to Saint, nor promiſe that if we do pray to them we ſhall be heard: upon which 2. every lawful prayer muſt be built.

And beg Salvation for their ſake:(ſ)(ſ)In their prayers upon the Sts. dayes, ſtill thoſe words come in, that by their merits we may have profit, by their requeſts we may be delivered, &c. And Lombard ſaith, the Saints do juvare nos merito, lib. 4. diſt. 45. d. 10.

You do adore a piece of Bread,(t)(t)When it is carried in proceſſion: for though it were true, that the bread in the Sacrament is turned into the Body of Chriſt, yet the Sacrament being ended, it muſt needs return to the former nature

And make fond (u)(u)They are fond, becauſe touching the eſtate of the dead, there is no certainty.prayers for the dead.

You kneel down to a Croſs of Wood,††All hail, O Croſs, our onelyonly hope, &c. encreaſe righteouſneſs to the godly, and give pardon to the guilty, In breviario infra, Heb. 4. Quad.Heb 4

Thinking thereby to purchaſe good:

And for ſome things you would have done,

You pray the Virgin charge her Son.(x)(x)Roga patrem, jube natum; jure matris impera, Pray the Father, charge thy Son, command by the right of a Mother; In officio beatae Mariae.

With Chriſt you do Saint Francis joyn,(y)(y)They ſay, that St. Francis could ſave all that ſhall live after him to the end of the world, through his merits, from everlaſting death Floſ. beati Franciſ. Conformit, ſ. Fram Tho. lib. 4 diſt. 4. art. 3.

And ſo his Glory do purloyn:

One Mediator we do know,(z)(z)1 Tim. 2.5. That place proveth, that there is but one Mediatour, as well as that there is but one God.1 Tim 2:5

You have joyn'd with him many mo:(a)(a)The form of Abſolution to Penitentiaries runneth thus: The paſſion of Chriſt, and the merits of the bleſſed Virgin, of Saint Peter, and Saint Paul, and of other he and ſhe Saints, be unto thee in remiſſion of ſins.

We do the Virgin Bleſſed call,(b)(b)Luke 1.48.Luke 1:48

And ſay ſhe paſſed Women all:

But when you call her Gate of Grace,(c)(c)Coeli feneſtra: Regis alti janua, &c.

We ſay Chriſts honour you deface.

The thing that made her Spirit glad,

Was, that ſhe ſuch a Saviour had:(d)(d)Luke 1.47:Luke 1:47

Can ſhe on him commandment have,

Whoſe help ſhe needed her to ſave?

**What honour is due to the Saints.This honour to the Saints we give,

We crave Gods grace like them to live:(e)(e)1 Cor. 11.1.1 Cor 11:1

We care to keep their memory,(f)(f)Heb. 13.7.Heb 13:7

And God in them we glorifie.(g)(g)Gal. 1.23.Gal 1:23

††Holy Ceremonies. Whoſo readeth the Canon of the Maſs, ſhall there ſee a world of idle and ridiculous ceremonies.Your Ceremonies idle be,

And favour moſt of vanity:

You ſtand ſo much on outward ſhow,

That you the ſubſtance overthrow.

p. 21With Images and Pictures gay,

You ſteal the Peoples hearts away:

Well may you pleaſe the outward eye,

The ſpirit you do not edifie.

A pretty play, to ſee a Prieſt

Toſſing his God between his fiſt:

Such geſtures, and ſuch apiſh mowes,

Such warbling, and ſuch antick ſhowes;

Now bends, now ducks, now ſtands upright,

Then turns him to the Peoples ſight:

Now ſighs, now twenty Croſſes makes,

And ore his head the Wafer ſhakes:

Then waſheth, then the Chalice licks,

And ſhuts his Idol in the Pix:

But ſtill the man is much afeard,

Leſt ought ſhould hang upon his Beard.

Mean while the Vulgar in a maze,

Upon the Caky Idol gaze,

And knock and kneel, and think them well,

That they have heard the ſacring Bell.

Tell me, I pray thee, doth God will,

With ſuch fond Rites his Church to fill?

They never came into his thought;(i)(i)Jerem. 19.5.Jer 19:5

Tradition onelyonly hath them brought.(k)(k)They ſay indeed, that they have the form of the Maſs, by the Tradition of the Apoſtles. Rhem. 1 Cor. 11. ſ. 22 but the truth is, that it was now a piece and then a piece, patched up by their own Popes. Sixtus 2. brought in the Sanctus. Innocentius 1. the Pax. Leo 1. added this clauſe (A holy Sacrifice and unbloody Hoſt:) Gelaſius, the Prefaces, Collects, Gradualls. Symmachus the Gloria in excelſis. Agapetus 1. Proceſſions. Pelagius 2. nine Prefaces before the Canon. Sergius 1. Agnus Dei: and Gregory 1. confeſſeth, that one Scolaſticus made moſt part of the Canon; Holy Maſs or Sacrifice.1 Cor 11

Your Rites and Maſs do well agree,

Both full of groſs Idolatry:

Both are unholy and unſound,

Both wanting holy Scripture-ground.

You ſay that in the Euchariſt,

To God is offered by the Prieſt,

A Sacrifice in Wine and Bread,(l)(l)Rhem. Heb. 7. ſect. 8. Concil. Trident. ſeſ. 22. cap. 1.Heb 7

Both for the living and the dead.(m)(m)Conc. Trid. ſeſ. 22. cap. 2.

Look firſt what Chriſt did inſtitute,(n)(n)Mat. 26.26. Mark 14.22. Luke 22.19. 1 Cor. 11.24.Matt 26:26Mark 14:22Luke 22:191 Cor 11:24

And that one place ſhall you refute:

What he did, we muſt do likewiſe;(o)(o)This do ye, 1 Cor. 11.25.1 Cor 11:25

There's no word of a Sacrifice.

By this (ſaid Chriſt) Remember me:

That ſhews he would not preſent be:(p)(p)Bodily.

We keep ſuch things in memory,

Which we behold not really.

p. 22The Prieſts of old did every day

Some Off'ring on the Altar lay.(q)(q)Heb. 10.11.Heb 10:11

Chriſts holy Off'ring is but one,

Performed by himſelf alone.(r)(r)Heb. 10.12.Heb 10:12

If Chriſt ſhall often offred be,

We ſhall his ſufferings multiplie:

As on the Croſs he died not twice,

So there's no ſecond Sacrifice:(ſ)(ſ)Heb. 9.25. to 28.Heb 9:25–28

There's now no ſacrificing, Prieſt,

That Office reſted upon Chriſt:(t)(t)Heb. 7.23, 24Heb 7:23Heb 7:24

It comes to none ſucceſſively,

'Tis his for all Eternity.(u)(u)The office of a Prieſt, ſo far forth as we underſtand thereby a Sacrificer, whom the Grecians call Hiereus, belongs onelyonly to Chriſt, and cannot paſs from him to another, neither the name of Prieſt in that ſenſe, but as the name of Prieſt cometh from the Greek word Presbyteros, which ſignifieth an Elder, it cannot ſimply bee miſliked.

How can a Maſs a pardon bring,

Sith 'tis a bloodleſs Offering?††Heb. 9.22.Heb 9:22

Chriſt hath procur'd Remiſſion:(x)(x)Heb. 9.12.Heb 9:12

What needs a new Oblation?(y)(y)Heb. 10.18.Heb 10:18

See then your holy Sacrifice,

A thing without all warrantize:

Of Scriptures, or of Writers ſage,

Which lived in the pureſt Age.(z)(z)The Maſs, as it is now, was not in uſe in the Church, 1200. years after Chriſt: It never came to the full perfection (though it was in hatching before) until the Council of Lateran, under Inno. 3.

The Sacraments ††Holy Sacraments.in number twain,

You eek't have with a longer train:

The ſeven-headed Romiſh Beaſt,(a)(a)Revel. 17.7.Rev 17:7

The two to ſeven hath encreas'd.

Both Baptiſm, (b)(b)Mat. 28.19.Matt 28:19and that holy feaſt,(c)(c)1 Col. 11.24. &c.

Commanded are by Chriſts beheaſt:

Shew me but one commandement

To prove another Sacrament.(d)(d)No Father within an 100. year after Chriſt, acknowledged ſeven Sacraments of the New Teſtament: And Auguſtine ſaith, The Sacraments are, Numero pauciſſima, feweſt in number, Ep. 118. Now, two is the leaſt number.

Two in the Old, (e)(e)Viz. Ordinary.two in the New,

So ſhall we have proportion true:

Name what in th' ancient (f)(f)Viz. The form of Gods worſhip under the Law.Liturgy,

Your five falſe Symboles do ſupply.(g)(g)The Sacraments of the New Teſtament. ſucceed the Sacraments of the Old: if then they can name no Sacraments of the Old Teſtament, in the place whereof their five ſuppoſed Sacraments ſhould come, then they cannot juſtifie them to be Sacraments.

Thoſe Sacraments which holy be,

You ſtain'd have with your Pedlary:

In Baptiſm, Oyl, Lights, Spittle, Cream,

Your Exorciſm, and conjur'd Stream;

Were theſe invented by Gods Spirit?

Or found you them in holy Writ?

Whence had you all that rituous ſtore

Us'd in the Maſs, and nam'd before?

p. 23You ſpeak next of ††Holy dayes.Feſtivities,

And holy-day Solemnities:

Thou think'ſt by this, with eaſineſs

To prove thy Churches holineſs.

Truth is, mens Conſcience you enthral,(h)(h)Bellarmine ſaith, men are bound in Conſcience to keep the Festivities of the Church, lib. 3. cap. 10. prop: 3. and ſo do the Rhemiſts, Gal. 4. ſ. 5.Gal 4

To many an idle Feſtival:(i)(i)very near 200. if we put theſe together which were determined of, Concil Oxon. ſub. Steph. and which we read in the marginal Notes upon the Rhemiſts Teſtament.

You'll have them be as ſtrictly kept,

As Gods own day by his precept.

Of feaſts, ſome low, ſome higher be,

Some great, ſome leſſer in degree:

Some double more, ſome double leſs,

A treble fault ſome to tranſgreſs.

So with your doubling and redoubling ſtile,

The ſimple People you beguile:

The Lord is weary of your feaſts,(k)(k)Iſa. 1.14.Isa 1:14

And likes not your deviſed reſts:

All days are like in holineſs,

None holy more, none holy leſs.(l)(l)The difference betwixt dayes, is in obſervation and uſe, and not in the nature of the day; if one day had been in nature holier then another, the Sabbath might not have been altered.

Paul thought his labour was in vain,

Where days diſtinctions did remain.(m)(m)Gal. 4.10, 11.Gal 4:10Gal 4:11

Thou hop'ſt to put us in ſome fear,

With ſpeaking of the Kalendar:(n)(n)Saints Canonized.

Thou ask'ſt what Faith all thoſe did hold,

Whoſe Names are found therein enroll'd?

I tell thee plain, 'tis nought to me

What many a one there nam'd, might be:

My faith's not ſo ſet on the rack,

To ſeek ſtrength from the Almanack.

Yet ſure I am, what we profeſs,

Some that are there, believ'd no leſs:(o)(o)As Peter, Paul, Mary, &c. and ſome there named which ſuffered perſecution in the ten firſt Perſecutions of the Church.

Our Faith and theirs doth well agree,

And you with them at variance be.

You Churches make, and holy days

Unto the Saints and Martyrs praiſe:

But us which do believe the ſame,

You ſeek to kill, and to defame.

Thou ask'ſt who them canonized,

Whoſe names are there enregiſtred?

You ſay the Pope: I ask again,

Wilt thou that ſainting power maintain?(p)(p)The cuſtom of Canonizing Saints, was not heard of, till one thouſand years after Christ, in the dayes of Alexander 3. and Gregory 7.

p. 24Can any mortal Creature tell,

Who goes to Heaven, and who to Hell?

All judgement Paul bids us forbear,

Until the Lord himſelf appear.(q)(q)1 Cor. 4.5.1 Cor 4:5

In Heaven to ſit, or high or low,

Is it in mans power to beſtow?(r)(r)Mat. 20.23.Matt 20:23

What Biſhops can, or Saints inveſt,

Or ſhut men from eternal reſt?

Someone Pope doth a Saint enſtall,

His grant another doth recall:(ſ)(ſ)Bonifance 8. cauſed Hermanus Ferrarienſ. who had been Canonized for a Saint 30. years before, to be taken out of his Grave and burned, ann. 1300.

'Tis but a ſilly dignity,

That's ſubject to uncertainty.

Among your Saints even thoſe are ſeen,

Which to their Prince have Traytors been.As Thomas Becket, and Elizabeth Barton, called the holy Maid of Kent, and others.

Though that our Church ſuch Saints deſpiſe,

To it, it is no prejudice.

Popiſh Rime.

Hereticks.

OUr Saviour warns us to have care,

Of falſe Prophets to beware;(b)(b)That makes us take heed of you.

Which in his name ſhall come,

Not ſent, yet they ſhall run:(c)(c)There be many of your Church come amongſt us to work miſchief, before you be ſent for.

Thieves; not entring by the Door,(d)(d)A lively deſcription of the Popes Clergy.

That kill and ſteal, and keep a ſtoor;

Wolves in Shepheards cloathing,

That kill the Soul, and ſteal the Tything.

Dogs, Foxes, and Maſters of lies,

That new Sects will deviſe;

Bringing in diſſention,

And heap thouſands to perdition.

Where have you been this many a year,

That none of you durſt once appear.

Ever ſince our Saviours time,

To whom did your light ſhine?(e)(e)To thoſe which had eyes to ſee it.

Where did your principal Paſtor ſit?(f)(f)In Heaven.

Who kept your keys? who fed your ſheep?(g)(g)You have butchered a good ſort of them.

Shew ſome Churches you have built:

I can ſhew many you have ſpilt.

p. 25How might a man have found you out,

To have trial in a matter of doubt;(h)(h)You be too proud to learn: it is the firſt leſson you teach your Diſciples, to admit no conference.

Where for ſo many a year,

No ſuch Company did appear?

Until Luther, a lying Frier,(i)(i)If Luther had continued a true Friar, he had never been good.

Upon whom the Devil had deſire,

Br…ke his Vow, (k)(k)Herods vow is better broken then kept.and married a Nun,

And there your Sect (l)(l)Our Sect is the ſame that Pauls was, Acts 28.22.Acts 28:22firſt begun.(m)(m)Either thou knoweſt this to be a lie, or thou knowſt nothing.

And favoured in Saxony,

By a Duke that loved liberty:

And in King Edwards time truly,(n)(n)There were Engliſh men in England who bare witneſs to this truth, by ſuffering death for it long afore King Edwards time.

It firſt infected our Country.

For a thouſand years you ſay,

That Papiſtry did bear the ſway:

And during all that ſpace,

No Proteſtant durſt ſhew his face.(o)(o)The more they lay hid, the greater was your tyranny; yet many then both ſhewed their faces, and loſt their lives.

Who kept (p)(p)Indeed you kep them ſo faſt, that the people could have no comfort by them.the holy Scriptures then

From the hands of wicked men?

Who had authority to ordain

Our Prieſts and Biſhops again?

For he that entreth without Order,

As a Thief doth kill and murder.

And one thing maketh me to muſe,

That no Prieſt you do refuſe.(q)(q)A very tale.

Being ordred by the Church of Rome,

But he was accepted ſoon:

If he would ſay the New Service,

He ſhould have a Benefice

Without any further Order,

And accounted for the better.(r)(r)He that hath once been an eager Papiſt, and is converted truly, is to be the better thought of; becauſe having known the abomination of Popery, he muſt needs deteſt it more.

How can ſhe make a lawful Prieſt,

If ſhe be not the Church of Chriſt?

Anſwer this, O Proteſtant;

If thou canſt, I will recant:(ſ)(ſ)I believe you will not be ſo good as your word.

But while an anſwer you deviſe,(t)(t)A man need not be long in making you an anſwer.

I counſel all men that are wiſe,

To hold the faith maintained here

The ſpace of a thouſand year,

Brought unto us Engliſh men,

By our Apoſtle (u)(u)Who made him an Apoſtle?Saint Auſten.

p. 26Who from Rome was hither ſent,

When Ethelbert was King of Kent,

Who learn'd his Faith of Gregory:††This Gregory accounteth him the fore-runner of Antichriſt, who ſo ſhould ſeek to be called Ʋniverſal Biſhop; from this Faith you are gone.

His Faith was kept ſucceſſively,

By threeſcore Biſhops and three,

Since Saint Peter's time truly,

Who learn'd his Faith of Chriſt Jeſu,

Who is the Son of God moſt true.

Proteſtants Anſwer.

Hereticks.

THe Caveat touching Hereticks,

Doth make againſt falſe Catholicks:

We know full well that Popery

Is but a Maſs of Hereſie.

Thoſe Errors which of old were hatcht,

Your Church together hath them patcht:(u)(u)It maintaineth free will, and merit of works, with the Pelagians. Auguſtine. The Pelagians held Children to be without ſin. Aug. contra Jul. lib. 3. cap. 5. So the Church of Rome ſaith, Concupiſcence is no ſin. It holds Imagery with the Simonians, Baſilidians, and Carpocratians; and with the two latter they ſecret their Religion, Iren. lib. 1. cap. 23. Epiph. Haereſ. 24. It alloweth praying in an unknown tongue with the Oſteni, Epiph. Haereſ. 19. It accounteth marriage unclean, with Tatianus, Hae. 46. and condemneth wedlock in their Prieſts, as the Manichees did in their choſen ones, Aug. Ep. 74. With the ſame Hereticks it uſeth bread onelyonly in the Communion, Leo Ser. 4. de Quad. and placeth faſting in the deſtinction of meats, Aug. de Morib. Eccl. & Manich. l. 2. cap. 23. It thinks that all neceſſary doctrine is not contained in the Scripture, with Montanus, Ep. Haer. 48. It brageth of inherent righteouſneſs, with the Cathari, Iſid. Etym. lib. 8. cap. de Haer. Chriſt: It worſhipeth Angels with the Angelici, Aug. ad Quodvult. cap. 39. It denyeth the preaching of the Word to be a note of the Church, with the Donatiſts, Aug. in variis locis: and with them tyeth the Church to one ſet place, Caſſ. in Pſal. 60. It worſhippeth the Croſs with the Armenians, Euthimius in Panoplia. Thus in many other points it partaketh with the ancient Hereticks.Ps 60

On them ſhe puts a fairer Name,

But in effect they are the ſame.

You raz'd have the foundation

Of all Truth and Religion:

You chang'd have the ſincerity

Of all the Grounds of Piety.††As for example, firſt the Article of Juſtification, the efficient cauſe of our Salvation and Righteouſneſs, by the Scripture, is Gods Love and Grace onelyonly, 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 2.11. Epheſ. 1.5. John 3.16. The Papiſts ſay, God is moved by our preparing works. So held Malvend in his Diſputation with Bucer at Ratisbone: ſo Bonaventure lib. 1. ſen. diſt. 41. Quaeſt. 1. Touching the matter of our Juſtification, the Scripture propoundeth nothing but Chriſts obedience, Rom. 5.19. & 10.4. The Papiſts place our Righteouſneſs before God, in our own works and merits, Con. Trid. ſ. 6. c. 7. For the form (as Schollars call it) of Juſtification, it is by the p. 27Scriptures, the imputation of Chriſts Righteouſneſs, 2 Cor. 5.21. The Papiſts place it in our merits, Rhemiſt, 2 Tim. 4. ſ. 4. Secondly, It is a ground of Chriſtian Religion, that the Law cannot be fulfilled by us, and that no man is to expect Righteouſneſs or Salvation by it, Rom. 8.3. Acts 15.10. Gal. 2.15, 16. & 3.10. The Papiſts maintain, that men may keep the Law, Con. Trid. ſ. 6. c. 11. Yea, and that they may perform more then the Law binds unto; whence are ſprung the works of Supererogation, and Indulgences, which that Council ſo highly prizeth, Seſſ. 21. c. 9. A third ground of Religion overthrown by them, is, that eternal death is due to every ſin. This the Scripture avoucheth, Rom. 5.12. & 6.23. Ezek. 18.14. The Papiſts teach, ſome ſins to be in their own nature pardonable, not deſerving death, Con. Trid. ſeſ. 6. c. 11. From which opinion aroſe Purgatory. A fourth ground of Religion is, the certainty of Salvation; that Believers may be certain of Salvation, is the Doctrine of the Scripture, Rom. 8.38. Heb. 11.1. Luke 10.20. The Papiſts deny and ſay, We can but have hope onelyonly, Con. Trid. ſ. 6. c. 9. And yet therein they confound themſelves, for true hope cannot be deceived, Rom. 5.5. It is the Anchor of the Soul, Heb. 6.19. A fifth ground is, that we cannot ſatisfie God for our leaſt ſins: The Scripture aſcribeth all ſatisfaction to Christ, Heb. 1.3. 1 Pet. 2.24. Rev. 1.5. The Papiſts maintain, that we may and muſt ſatisfie, making ſatisfaction a part of Penance, Con. Trid. ſ. 14. c. 13. A ſixth ground is, That the Scripture contains al Doctrine neceſſary for our Salvation; ſo ſaith the Scripture, 2 Tim. 3.16. & the ancient Church, Aug. lib. 3. cont. lit. Petil. c. 6. and others. The Papiſts equal Traditions to the Scripture, Con. Trid. ſ. 4. A ſeventh ground is, that the knowledge of the Scripture is needful to people unto Salvation, and ought to be read of them; thereto accords the holy Text, John 5.39. Col. 3.16. The Ignorance therein is the cauſe of all error, Mark 12.24. The Papiſts forbid the people the uſe of the Scripture, Rhemiſts Preface; and do all in the Church Service in an unknown Tongue. Eighthly, the Scripture teacheth us to worſhip God alone, Mat. 4.10. The Papiſts Worſhip Angels and Saints, yea their Images and Reliques: their diſtinction of Latria, and Dulia, will not ſerve them; for they pray to Creatures, and that is Latria; and they acknowledge that which they call Latria, to be due to the Croſs, Tho. p. 3. ſum. Quaeſt. 25. art. 4. and Andrad. lib. 9. Orth. expl. Ninthly, It is the Doctrine of the Scripture, that Christ, …ding to his humane Nature, is onelyonly in Heaven, Acts 3.21. Papiſts ſay, He is bodily preſent in the Euchariſt, Con. Trid. ſ. 13. c. 6. Tenthly, Chriſt ordained the Communion in both kinds, commanding to do as he did, 1 Cor. 11.24. Papiſts take the Cup from the Laity, Con. Trid. ſ. 21. c. 1. Thus, as in theſe particulars, ſo in many other, it were eaſie to ſhew how the Church of Rome hath overthrown the main points of Holy Droctrine, and have nothing left but the name of the Church, and a title and ſhew of Religion.2 Tim 1:9Titus 2:11Eph 1:5John 3:16Rom 5:19Rom 10:42 Cor 5:212 Tim 4Rom 8:3Acts 15:10Gal 2:15Gal 2:16Gal 3:10Rom 5:12Rom 6:23Ezek 18:14Rom 8:38Heb 11:1Luke 10:20Rom 5:5Heb 6:19Heb 1:31 Pet 2:24Rev 1:52 Tim 3:16John 5:39Col 3:16Mark 12:24Matt 4:10Acts 3:211 Cor 11:24

p. 28Thou fall'ſt now to a railing vain,

And would'ſt by this thy Pope maintain:

Leave idle terms, and ſhew ſome reaſon,

Elſe all theſe words come out of ſeaſon.

Shew thou what Sects we do deviſe,

And wherein we deliver lies;

And prove it ſo, that all may ſee,

Leſt thou thy ſelf the Lyar be.

Foxes, and Dogs, and Wolves thou nam'ſt,

And Thieves, wherein thy ſelf thou ſham'ſt:

Or prove all this in us is true,

Elſe we return it back to you.

They call'd Saint Paul an Heretick,(x)(x)Acts 24.14.Acts 24:14

A Blabler, (y)(y)Acts 17.18.Acts 17:18and a Schiſmatick:(z)(z)Acts 24.5. & 28.22.Acts 24:5Acts 28:22

They ſaid our Saviour was poſſeſt,(a)(a)John 8.24.John 8:24

And of his preaching made a Jeſt.(b)(b)Luke 16.14.Luke 16:14

Yet Paul no Hereſie did teach,

Nor in the Church made any breach:

Nor yet our Saviour had a Devil,

He never did or preached evil.

Let Scripture try wherein we erre,

We crave no other Arbiter:

Convict us once by ſuch a Judge,

We will not at your railings grudge:

Now that thy ſtore is almoſt ſpent,

Thou com'ſt t'an old worn Argument:

Where was your Church ſome years ago,

Before the World did Luther know?

If briefly now I ſhould deny

The Churches Viſibility;

It were a word ſufficient

To overthrow this prattlement;

Yet this I ſay, and will maintain,

That even when blindneſs moſt did reign,

Our Church a certain being had,

Though not with outward Beauty clad:

Like to that holy portion,(c)(c)1 Kings 19.18.1 Kgs 19:18

In that great ſuperſtition,

Which over whelm'd all Iſrael,

After the Tribes from David (d)(d)Davids Line.fell.

p. 29Or as ſome Ears of purer ſeed,

Amidſt a field of noyſome weed;

So God had ſome even at that time,

When Antichriſt was in his prime.

And now and then oat brake the Light,

Even in that long and irkſome night:

Like as the Sun in lowring days,

Sometime ſends forth his glittering Rays.

Long time ere Luther yet was born,

Whom you our Founder name in ſcorn,

There were which ſhew'd their enmity

Againſt your vile Idolatry.(e)(e)Bertram wrote againſt Tranſubſtantiation, ann. 812. a Biſhop of Florence was condemned for teaching that Antichriſt was come, ann. 1114. Arnulph. was murthered in Rome, for preaching againſt the Pope and his Clergy, anno 1128. Henry, a Monk, of Toloſe, was againſt prayer for the dead, Pilgrimage, Cream, Oyl, &c. anno 1137. Jo. of Salisbury, called the Clergy Phariſees, the Pope, Antichriſt, and Rome, Babylon, 1151. Gerard and Dulcimus, which taught the Pope to be Antichriſt, were burnt, with 30. more, about the years, 1164, 1165, 1166. The Waldenſes, which held in many points againſt the Pope, were in anno 1167. and after increaſing in divers places. Almaris a Biſhop burnt in Paris, for holding againſt Tranſubſtantiation, Images, Altars, and praying to Saints, 1206. Many in Suevia did preach the Pope to be an Heretick in the years 1236, 1237, 38. Groſted, Biſhop of Lincoln, wrote against the Pope, anno 1246. Arnold de Nova Villa, againſt Maſſes and Sacrifices for the dead taught, that the Popes belief was the Devils belief, ann. 1259. All Hiſtories are full of the like examples: theſe few may ſerve for a taſte, to ſatisfie an indifferent reader, and to stop their mouths, who ſay, none were heard of, of our Religion and Church till Luther.

But now the Lord hath let us ſee

Your Antichriſts deformity:

That all men might him fully know,

Before his final Overthrow.

Our Paſtor chief (f)(f)1 Pet. 5.4.1 Pet 5:4in Heaven did ſit,

And ſo doth ſtill, ſaith holy Writ:(g)(g)Acts 4.21.Acts 4:21

On earth, Univerſal Prieſt,

None dare be call'd but Antichriſt.(h)(h)Gregory the Great, a Biſhop of Rome, ſaid, that whoſo calleth himſelf, or deſireth to be called Univerſal Biſhop, is the fore-runner of Antichriſt, Epiſt. ad Eulogium. lib. 7.

He that our Church and Keys had ſought,

By tokens in the Scripture taught,

Our Church and Keys he might have found,

Even when the World was moſt unſound.

Building of Churches nothing makes

For that which here thou undertakes:

For then commend Demetrius,

Who builded Shrines at Epheſus.(i)(i)Acts 19.24.Acts 19:24

Well may the heathen People boaſt

Of Piramees and Churches coſt:

In Houſes made, God doth not dwell,

As holy Scripture doth us tell.(k)(k)Acts 7.48.Acts 7:48

Yet neither all the Churches here,

Erected by the Papiſts were:

Nor are by us aboliſhed

Places where God is worſhipped.

If private men have evil done,

For it blame not Religion?

Thoſe men that do Church-ſpoyling love,

Our Faith and Church doth not approve.

p. 30Thoſe Cells and Dens of Idleneſs,

And Nurſeries of Wickedneſs,

Upon good cauſes were diſplac'd,

As Baals Temples were defac'd.(l)(l)2 Kings 10.2 Kgs 10

††Touching Luthers Marriage.A lawleſs Vow (m)(m)It is well called a lawleſs Vow, becauſe it is of a thing which is not in mans power. If it be ſaid that by faſting and prayer it may be performed, and continency obtained; I anſwer, the gifts of God are two-fold: Some common to all Believers, as Faith, &c. Some peculiar to ſome onelyonly, as this of Continency: Now, if by faſting and prayer we labour for the firſt ſort, we ſhall in ſome meaſure receive them: but we have not the like aſſurance for the gifts of the latter ſort, becauſe (it may be) the Lord is pleaſed otherwiſe to diſpoſe. Now to make ſuch a Vow, is a ſin, but to perſiſt in it, is a double evil.of ſingle life,

Luther well brake, and took a wife.

Better the pure and ſpotleſs Bed,(n)(n)foreign, Heb. 13.4.Heb 13:4

Then by unclean luſts to be led.(o)(o)1 Cor. 7.9.1 Cor 7:9

Better the married Chaſtity,(p)(p)Papiſts do oppoſe marriage and chaſtity; but Paul bids young women to be chaſt, and ſubject to their Husbands, Tit. 2.4, 5.Titus 2:4Titus 2:5

Then violent Virginity:

They ought not ſingle to remain,

Who are not gifted to contain.(q)(q)1 Cor. 7.9.1 Cor 7:9

Wedlock it ſelf cannot defile,

It hath an honourable ſtile:(r)(r)Heb. 13.4.Heb 13:4

God doth it not to each man give,

Without the Marriage Bonds to live.(ſ)(ſ)Mat. 19.11. And it is allowed to a Biſhop to be the Husband of one Wife, 1 Tim. 3.2.Matt 19:111 Tim 3:2

The forced vows of ſingleneſs,

Have brought forth beaſtly filthineſs:

Thou maiſt behold in Hiſtory,

The fruits of Monkiſh Lechery.(t)(t)There were 6000. Infants heads found in Pope Gregories Mote, as appears by the letter of Volutianus, Biſhop of Carthage, or as ſome think, of Huldericus (Biſhop of Auguſta) to Pope Nicholas: againſt the forbidding of Prieſts marriage.

Thy poyſoned Tongue doth further reach,

The noble Saxon to impeach:

Becauſe to truth he did encline,

Thou calleſt him a Libertine.

When God was pleas'd to let him ſee

How Chriſt his death hath made us free,

Then did he deem it ſlavery

To bear the Romiſh Tyranny.

Though Antichriſt did Rome poſſeſs,

††Who kept the Scriptures.You kept the Scriptures I confeſs:

And in that long Apoſtacy,

Thoſe Books were in your cuſtody.

So I a Pirate falſe have known,

To keep the Goods were not his own;

And in the Ship to rule and raign,

When the right Owner hath been ſlain.

So did the Jewiſh Synagogue,

Safely keep Moſes Decalogue,

And th' other Books, (u)(u)Viz. The Prophets and Pſalms, for ſo is the old Teſtament divided, Moſes the Prophets, and Pſalms, Luk. 24.44.Luke 24:44when cruelly

They did Chriſt Jeſus crucifie.

p. 31††Touching the calling of Miniſters.The Paſtors which did firſt reſtore

The truth which long lay hid before,

Thereto were called lawfully,

And even by your Authority:

You did them Prieſts and Doctors make,

And they from you this charge did take,**In their admittance.

That they the Truth ſhould ſoundly preach,

And in the ſame the People teach.

Hereto you cauſed them to ſwear,

That to the Faith they ſhould adhere,

And never ſhould Errors endure,

That were againſt the Doctrine pure.

That whereunto you did them call,

Full well they have performed all:

Truth they have ſought to propagate,

And Hereſies to ruinate.

As we account your Baptiſm true,

And never do the ſame renew:††Yet it followeth not hereupon that Rome is a true Church: There is in the Papacy a certain hidden Church, and to it that Sacrament appertains. Circumciſion was uſed of old, even among the Samaritans.

So may you make a lawful Prieſt,

Yet be not the pure Church of Chriſt:

We know that now you wiſer be,

And ſwear your Prieſts to Popery,(x)(x)In their Oaths and Admiſſions, they put in this clauſe, (The Catholick and Apoſtolick Church of Rome) which in elder times was not uſed.

And bind them to maintain the ſtate

Of your three-crowned Potentate.

See now (O Papiſt) thou recant,

Th' art anſwer'd by a Proteſtant.

I counſel thee, if thou be wiſe,

No new evaſions to deviſe.

Thy tale of Ethelbert of Kent,

Is but a ſlender Argument:(y)(y)It is alſo anſwered before.

It skills not whence the Faith was brought,

Or who it firſt amongſt us taught.

Let us into the Scriptures look,(z)(z)Eſay 8.20.Isa 8:20

And duly ſearch (a)(a)John 5.39. Acts 17.11.John 5:39Acts 17:11that holy Book:

Thence ſhall we know wch Church to leave,

And unto which alone to cleave.(b)(b)We have found Chriſt in the Scriptures, there we muſt alſo find the Church, Aug. de Paſtoribus.

Thoſe ſwelling words (c)(c)2 Pet. 2.18.2 Pet 2:18of Unity,

Succeſſion, and Antiquity,

Are but poor groundleſs fantaſies,

To blind the ſimple peoples eyes,

p. 32Though that an Angel thou ſhouldſt ſee,

Let him (ſaith Paul) accurſed be,(d)(d)Gal. 1.8.Gal 1:8

If from the Scripture he doth erre,

Account him not Gods Miniſter.

If one ariſe, and wonders ſhow,

Seeking the truth to overthrow,

Though that might ſeem a motive ſtrong,

Yet unto him death doth belong.(e)(e)Deut. 13.1, 2, 5.Deut 13:1Deut 13:2Deut 13:5

If threeſcore Biſhops here, and three,

Have been with us ſucceſſively,

It either proves our Church is true,

Or elſe that mark makes nought for you.

That Faith for which Peter was ſlain,

Our Engliſh Church doth ſtill retain:

We hear the Voice of CHRIST JESU,(f)(f)John 10.27.John 10:27

Who is the SON of GOD moſt true.

FINIS.

End of the text · Samuel Hieron, Fair Play on Both Sides (1666)