The Baiting of the Pope_s Bull, Part 2 – Errata

The Baiting of the Pope_s Bull · Part 2 – Errata

p. 74An Aduertiſement to thoſe my Countrymen whom the Pope calleth his Catholicke ſonnes.

MY natiue brethren Countrymen, or (if you will) Romane Catholickes (… wherein you ſo much glory and and which not onelyonly diſtinguiſheth) but euen deuideth you from all true Catholickes, ſuch as Rome accounts Heretickes) although my deſire to ſpeake vntounto you bee greater then my hope to be heard (ſuch is the vaile of … obedience wherein they have ſhut vp your eares, and cloſed your eyes, that you ſhould not heare or … more grieuous Babylonian or Egyptian Captivity ſpirituall than thoſe temporall & typicall were to Gods people) yet … this preſent, necesſſity inforced to aſſay at leaſt what cōmon humaine prudence or Engliſh ſpirit is left in you, as not altogether eaten out with that ſpirit of lethargy and benumbedneſſe, wherewith the Myſtery of iniquity hath ſo wholy poſſeſſed many. And if at the worſt, my purpoſe herein ſhall proue fruſtrate, yet it ſhall …, that we would have cured Babylon but ſhe would not be cured; and hereby I ſhall howſoeuer diſcharge the duty of one that hath obtained mercy to be faithfull, deliuering mine owne ſoule, whither ye will heare, or whether ye wil forbeare. Yet I will hope the beſt, praying God to giuegive a bleſſing. Yea, why ſhould I not rather be moſt confident herein, that all of you will be ready to harken to ſuch a buſineſſe as this, which I am to propound vntounto you? Only (as I have premiſed in the Inſcription) I except and exclude the Ieſuites from my leaſt hope of perſwading them, becauſe the Arguments and Motiues, which may and ought ſtrongly to preuaile with you, are directly contrary to the very principles and Grounds of their Ieſuiticall Order. They hauehave altogether caſt off all hope of heauen, all faith in Chriſt, and in ſteed thereof hauehave made choice of that offer, which Chriſt refuſed, namely: the Kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them; men they are of pragmaticall, and worſe then … p. 75ſpirits, plotting either to … all Kingdomes and States, (or which is as good) to ſubiugate them to the Tyranny of Rome and Spaine? Rome's fiſhers they are, who euer find it beſt fiſhing in troubled waters, by ſtirring vp cōmotions, factions, rebellions, treaſons, arming and animating Subiects againſt their lawfull Prince; this is their doctrine, this their practiſe who ſo ignorant, as knowes it not? ſo that to goe about to perſwade them to imbrace peace, loyaltie, fidelitie, to leave off all their treaſonable practiſes in vndermyning …, were as much, as to inferre a new Article of faith, to belieue a poſſibility, that a true Ieſuite ſhould euer be conuerted to become a true Chriſtian; ſuch and vnreconſileable … & … hauehave they put betweene the order of Ieſus, and the … of Chriſt; and they that are once of the ſocietie of Ieſus, ſhould neuer come to bee of the bleſſed Communion of Chriſt▪ ſo that ſuch is the reno…e of their factious ſociety, that no maruaile if they ſet the Sonne againſt the father, the ſubiect againſt the Prince, when they hauehave made Ieſus to be at vtter defiance and enmitie with Chriſt. Ieſuiticall doctrine is ſuch a Dye as will not eaſily giuegive place to any other colour, otherwiſe, then as Sathan, who can change himſelfe into an Angell of light, in appearance onelyonly. The reaſon why ſo few, or rather neuer any, ſpecially Engliſh Ieſuites, renounce their diabolicall profeſſions, to imbrace the Truth, is beecauſe they cannot enter into that Profeſſion, but with a kind of reluctancy at the firſt, (before they be hardned, and their conſciences ſeared,) not onelyonly againſt the light of their conſcience but euen againſt the light of reaſon, and nature it ſelfe, ceaſing to be reaſonable men, to enter into a new order of Incarnate Deuills, whoſe order is to put out of order the whole courſe of Nature, ouerturning the very foundations of all humaine ſocieties, and all under the name of Iesus; as if Ieſus were no more a name to ſignify the … of his people, but were as much as **Reuel. 9. 11.Rev 9:11Abaddon, or Apollion, in the Ieſuites ſenſe; ſo that a Ieſuite being one, whoſe faith and profeſſion is an habituall and vowed wilfull Rebellion againſt God and Chriſt, againſt the very light of Nature, and of his owne conſcience, p. 76becomes thereby ſo inuincibly obiurate, that … … were to iudge whether Satan or he were likelier to renounce their religion, ſauing onelyonly, that the one is a Deuill, the other a Man, or in mans ſhape at leaſt. For we know, Chriſt hath ſaid, that the ſinne againſt the Holy Ghoſt ſhall neuer be pardoned. And the reaſon is giuen by Diuines, becauſe it can neuer be repented of, no more then that of the Deuill, whoſe ſinne was that againſt the Holy Ghoſt, when he firſt forſooke the truth, to betake himſelfe to that order, wherein for his Antiquity, and pregnancie, hee merited, long before the … and laſt Saint Ignatius, to be the Grand-Father and Founder of this new ſociety.

Leaue we theſe therefore, as Chriſt did the wilfull blind Phariſes, to periſh together, of whom he ſaid, Let them alone they be blind leaders of the blind, and if the blind leade the blinde, they ſhall both fall into the Pit; and let me ſpeake vntounto men, to Engliſh men, to wiſe men, ſuch as hauehave not ſo farre vowed themſelues captiues for Babylon in their blind obedience, as to diſauow their common ſence and reaſon. Tell me if there be euer be among you all, ſo farre beſotted and infatuated with Ieſuiticall Illuſions, that treaſon or rebellion againſt your Soueraine Prince ſhould be ſo meritorious, as to merit ſome better Kingdome then this of England? yet can your common ſenſe & reaſon be ſo farre tranſported as to think you ſhall be in happier caſe vnderunder the Spaniſh yoake, then vnderunder the gouernmnet of your owne natiue King? What nations or kingdomes ſo miſerable as thoſe vnderunder the Spaniards inſolent & intollerable tiranny? To ſay nothing of the West-Indies, whoſe wretched ſlauery hath been the ſubiect of large volumes, ſetting out the matchleſſe examples of ſpaniſh cruelties; enough to cauſe euen thoſe barbarous heathen to abhorre heauen it ſelfe, if it were (as the iugling Friers & Ieſuits falſly informed them) the reward of Spaniards, with whom they would be loath to goe thither, vponupon any tearmes: to ſpeake as little of our neighbour Netherlands, once vnderunder the Spaniard, but whoſe ſaluage and treacherous crueltie grew ſo intollerable, that theu ſhooke him quite beſides the ſaddle; enough to p. 77proue him vnexpert in the Art of good Horſe-manſhip, which conſiſts rather … and moderating of the …, then in the rough and ouer imperious vſage of the Rod and Spurre: to paſſe by alſo thoſe goodly Countries in Italy, as of Naples, Millain and the reſt, how groane they vnderunder that Iberian yoake? how the people once conquerours of the world now made ſlaues, their Nobility debaſed, their ancient Gentrie defaced, and all trampled vnderunder the Spaniards proud foote? Go no farther then Spaine it ſelfe: Aske that company, that came lately out of Spaine,and tooke a full view of the Spaniſh Regiment; they can tell you how vnworthy it is to become ſo much as a Paterne for the Noble State of England to follow. How baſe and wretched is the whole Commonaltie of that Nation, though Natiues! What ſlaues vnderunder a Tyrant, rather then Subiects vnderunder a King? There no lawes are in force, but ſuch as eſtabliſh an abſolute tyranny. There, eueryevery monyed man may not bee permitted to purchaſe lands, no, nor to buy himſelfe good … but according to his ſtinted pittance, a pound of Beefe or ſo. There the common … (for all their great Maſters … of ſo many mynes) are glad of copper coyne, inſtead of ſiluer (for who goes worſe ſhod then the ſhoomakers wife?) and if he chance to get any ſiluer, purchaſed with his double commodities, he muſt be ſure to pay the King and the Prieſt in the pureſt coyne; for if he offer them the baſe, the King … …, the Prieſt can finde no hands to recieue it, turning away his face, as though he cared not for money, and ſuch an offence is not abſolued, nor expiated, without …ere ſiluer. As for his baſe coyne, that he may lay out to hauehave as baſe commodities for it, not halfe ſo good penny-woorths, as our poore hauehave at the Chandeler for their farthings. For as neere as they can, the ſeller ſhapes his price according to the ſtuffe, or mettall, which the buyer bringeth: Their taxes are intollerable. Take but one inſtance: the common meritorious Curtiſans: that trade for three pence a turne, muſt pay one penny of it to the King, and another to the Pope, and hauehave but the third penny to herſelfe; though it be too much, p. 78vnleſſe ſhe deſerued it better. To ſay nothing of the miſerable captiuity of the Spaniards, who ſitting at dinner, or ſo, if the Prieſts bell doe but tinkle at the doore, his Dame, be ſhe neuer ſo buxome or debonaire, louely or dainty, away ſhe muſt to priuate ſhrifte, while the good-man muſt be glad to bite vponupon the ſower hearbes of cholericke jealouſie, leauing his dainty (Kates perforce alas!) to the Prieſt, to feede upon. O poore Spaniards! yea ſome of them, informed by our Engliſh then their Gueſts, how free we were in England from ſuch bondage, deepely ſighed (as far as they durſt) ſaying, England was happy, and enjoyed Heauen, while themſelues were tormented in Hell and Purgatory. And tell me now O yee Engliſh Romain Catholickes, do yee enuy the happineſſe of the Spaniſh yoake? Is it ſo ſweete, trow you, to exchange for it your Engliſh liberty? Yet, though you affect it neuer ſo much, though Ieſuiticall eloquence neuer ſo fairely guilt ouer with a brainſick ambition of becomming great Magnificoes: yet ſoft a while; you muſt not looke … to goe cheeke by iowle with ſenior Spaniole, to bee vsed … gether ſo favourably, as your Don is: For he is a Natiue of Spaine: you Aliens, he is, for all his Maſters yoake, poore and true to his King, ſo poore, that he cannot chuſe but bee true; for yee ſeldome or neuer heare of rebellion, or treaſon in Spaine by a Spaniard. Why? becauſe the poore ſhakes are kept ſo cold, that they want courage & ſtrength to ſting: but in England it is otherwiſe. As king Henry 4, of England a wiſe Prince, who full well knew the humour of the Engliſh (they are a **Remaines of wiſe ſpeeches pag. 210.graue authors words) in his admonition to his Sonne, at his death, ſaid, of Engliſh men, ſo long as the hauehave wealth and riches, ſo long ſhalt thou h…ue obeyſance: but when they be poore, then are they ready to make inſurrections at eueryevery motion. Ibid. in Epigr.For as Alfred of Beuerly ſang of England in his Poem.

Libera gens, cui libera mens, & libera lingua,

Sed lingua melior, libera … ….

A Nation free, whoſe minde, whoſe tongue if free:

p. 79But hand then tongue will better, freer be.

And what liberty doe not euen you yourſelues here inioy? wherein are you reſtrained, vnleſſe a little in that wherein it were happy for you, that ye had not the leaſt communion at all, I meane your Romiſh Religion? But of that Anon. But ſay, any ſhould renounce the beſt natiue properties of Engliſh men, which is fidelitie and loyaltie to their Prince and Country; and retaine the worſt, to wit, an itching affection after noueltie and change: Say, that the Ieſuits with their Circean Cup, ſhould ſo tranſforme our Engliſh, as Vliſſes his men, into Hoggs, as when the hungry Wolfe or Fox ſhould ſee me to preſent to their ſmell ſome gratefull cōmodity, they ſhould inconſiderately with the ſnowt of ſenſuality caſt open the doore of their owne ſty, and ſo let in the rauenous Beaſts to prey both vponupon themſelues, & the whole litter, turning their habitations into Dennes of ſuch wild Beaſtes. In plaine tearmes, ſay, that if the ſubtile and cruell Spaniard were now with a great Nauy vponupon our narrow Seas, ſeeking to arriue on our Coaſt, but could not … we kept our Sinque-Ports and Forts well guarded, yea ſpecially, ſo long as we were all faſt knit in vnity among our selues, like true Engliſh-men; but that the Popes Catholick ſons ſhould be perſwaded, for the obtaining, … leaſt of the liberty of their conſciences if not to plunge themſelues into a further thraldome) to riſe vp for the Catholick King ▪ by which meanes he might haply … footing in England (what thinke you then ſhould become of you? Grandees all of you would be.Yea Grand deuills, and ſuch as your new maſter of Spaine would neuer account worthy to be truſted, ſo much as to digge in his ſiluer Mynes in the Weſt-Indies, who ſo vnnaturally would not ſtick to betray your deare natiue Country. Nay would he not ſpare that labour and coſt to carry you ſo farre to bee his ſlaues (though, as Mendoza anſwered Henry 3 of France, that if his Maſter had conquered England in 88. the Engliſh ſhould hauehave had the fauour to be tranſported to digge in his Indian Mines) and by the way ſ…w you vp cloſe in the old Romaine Culleus, a leather ſack, (the ancient reward of …) p. 80caſting you into the Sea, as vnworthy to touch any Element, that would vnnaturally betray that ſweet Country, wherein you firſt receiued your Being, and breath? The Spaniard … his leſſon ad vnguem, Amo proditionem, odi Proditorem; I louelove the Treaſon, but hate the Traytor. Or ſay, that neceſſity may inforce him for the preſent to allow you to breath ſtill in England, to be his Drudges and Vaſſals (as it was with … at the Captiuity in Babilon) to till the ground for him, to carry him in prouiſion for the warres in his conqueſt of the reſt of Chriſtendome, and to feed his hungry pround Spaniards, ſucking the ſweet of your ſw…t continually▪ yet … whither you will account this a condign recompenſe for ſuch a foule treaſon; yea conſider alſo, what yee hauehave now purchaſed in compariſon of that, which yee were before, when yee liued like free Engliſh men, eueryevery man vnderunder his owne Vine and vnderunder his owne Figtree.

But why do I ſo much as ſuppoſe or imagine the leaſt probabilitie of the comming to paſſe of any ſuch prodigious …? God forbid I aſſure my ſelfe, none of you will euer … ſuch vnnatural Miſcreants, to betray your natiue Country to the Spaniard; neither if any would be ſo mad, will our good God ever forſake this his inheritance, wherein he hath ſo many thouſands of his faithfull and vowed ſeruants, who hauehave not bowed the knee to B…l, or kiſſed … …. And you cannot but know ſo much (as little acquaintance as is allowed … to hauehave with the Scriptures) that ſo long as but one … was in wicked Sodome, euen the power of the Omnipotent himſelfe was ſuſpended from taking reuenge vponupon it, till Lot was ſafely provided fir; and if but one righteous had beene found in the Citie, God had ſpared it for their ſakes. Therefore neuer let any Romiſh or Spaniſh hopes feed themſelues with ſuch a vaine conceit of Englands Conqueſt, vnleſſe the conniuence at your innumerable … Idols may indanger … place your chiefe confidence …, more zealous then wiſe, and … alleadge the Catholicke cauſe, and the libertie of conſcience, as preponderating all other miſchiefes, p. 81the freedome of Religion, and of the ſoule being to be preferred before the thraldome of the body, yea and the betraying of your earthly Country not to be forborne, for the meriting of an heauenly: this indeed may ſeeme a waighty point, and therefore not vnworthy altogether in this place of our deepeſt conſiderations, for the diſcuſſing of ſuch a difficulty.

To begin then at the head-ſpring of this our diſcourſe, it is no newes vntounto you, that the Pope of late hath ſent his Bull or Brieue into England, recommended to all his Catholicke ſonnes of England, wherein he chargeth you by no meanes to take the Oath of Allegeance or fidelity to your King, but rather that you ſhould account him for your Enemy; the ſumme is that you ſhould bee armed with the ſpirit of rebellion againſt your King and Country, when occaſion of the Catholicks cauſe ſhould ſerue to ſhow your valour in the open field, as ye may all more plainely ſee in this brief… vnfolding of the Brieue.

How? to charge ſubiects to diſauow their fidelity to their Prince? by what authority? who hath ſuch power ouer men, to diſpenſe, to diſſolue, to abſolue from the bonds of duty and obedience, which naturall ſubiects owe to their King? By what lawe or example? God in his word hath taught the contrary. But Chriſt Vicar hath this power: but Chriſt practiſed the contrary. But the Apoſtolicke ſucceſſour of Peter may doe it: but Peter & Paul both, preached, practiſed the contrary: ſo all the Patriarckes and Prophets: Yet Chriſts Vicar, Peters ſucceſſor, are titles not lightly to be regarded; to which is added alſo, Head of the Church, Oracle of the world, to whom is committed all power in heauen and earth, who cannot erre, to whom all muſt be ſubiect vnderunder paine of damnation, and much more then I can tell: Huge titles, enough to intoxicate and infatuate ſilly and ſimple ſoules, yea and to dazzle the eyes euen of the acuteſt wits with their glorious luſter, where they are attended or entertained but with credulity.

But if there be any truth at all in theſe things, concerning p. 82the Pope, whence (in the name of God) hath he theſe titles? From what ground of truth? He dare plead, from Scripture. From Scripture? Hold you there, we deſire no better euidence, or vmpire in this cauſe: you will graunt then, that the Scripture is of authority in it ſelfe to challenge our faith to reſt vponupon it, as a moſt ſure rule. Yes, but with condition (as you are taught) if it hauehave authority from the Church: From what Church? What Church? Of Rome: From whoſe mouth? who muſt pronounce the verdict? The Pope forſooth: if ſo then the Popes power is not built primarily vponupon the Scriptures but vponupon himſelfe, and ſo he is Iudge in his owne cauſe. The Pope belike lendeth authority to the Scriptures, and they againe repay him with his owne minted coyne, by confirming his ſupremacy. This is pretty. Iuſt as Boniface confirmed Phocas in his vſurped Empire, and Phocas reciprocally ſettled him in his Papall ſupremacy. Or as the**See Cicarillas in vita Sixti 5. where this Pope hauing canonized the Anchorite Didacus for a Saint makes his ſolemne prayer to God to be ſo fauourable to his humility as (ſaith he) by the pious prayers of thy Saint Didacus, wee may merit to be exalted to eternall glory in hea…en. Contra neg…ntem Principia, non eſt diſputandum. Pope makes Saints, who by that meanes receiuing a power and merit, are by their Canonization qualified to become interceſſors for their Canonizer, his Holineſſe. What a coniuration-circle is here? but pitch we vponupon the center. If the Pope giuegive the authority to the Scriptures, preſcribing and limiting them their ſence: whence then hath the Pope this authority? From Chriſt as his Ʋicar. How proues he that? From Scripture. But what authority hath the Scripture for this, till firſt it receiue it from the Popes breſt? Come, come; let ſuch popiſh jugglings impoſe vponupon fooles; and ſuch turnſicke windings cauſe the braines of young children to runne round, and to conceit that the whole earth runnes round, when it ſtandeth ſtill vnmoued. But let men be guided by reaſon, vnderſtanding iudgement. He that denyeth principles, is to be deteſted, not diſputed with. It is a Principle in Divinity that the Scripture is, and euer hath beene the rule of Faith. Yes, ſay your Pontificians, a Partiall rule but not Totall, the vnwritten word is to be added. What is that? Apoſtolicke traditions. Apoſtolicke? That ſounds well. Well; let not Apoſtolicke Traditions croſſe Apoſtolicke writings, and hauehave with you. But otherwiſe looke not that your penny of p. 83Traditions ſhould paſſe for current ſiluer with vsus, for waight and pureneſſe, as the Scriptures, in point of rule of Faith, for all the Pope ſtampeth them with the Image and Superſcription of Apoſtolicke. Abrahams wells are now digged ſo deepe, ſo large, as not all your Philistian rubbidge can ſtop them vp, not Apoſtolicke, not all Romes holy Reliques, or peeces of Chriſts Croſſe & the reſt. But neither is Apostlicke Tradition enough to make vp the other moity of the partiall rule parallell to Scripture, by Pontifician confeſſion; for neither will thoſe ſerue the Popes turne. What then? How ſhall the rule of Faith bee eeked out to the intire perfection to pleaſe the Pope, in caſe his Holineſſe would come within the compaſſe of any rule? Yes: there is (forſooth) the liuely Oracle or voyce of the Church, which being of an vnlimited latitude, doth conſummate the rule of Faith; and the Popes breſt is the fountaine, whence theſe waters of Romes ſanctuary flow. But the truth is (if there were any truth in it) this rule is ſuch, as will not indure copartnerſhip with Scriptures and Traditions, for all they be Apoſtolicke, but is the ſole and ſupreme Rule whereby thoſe muſt be ſquared & whereto they muſt be conformed. Nor is this Rule of the Popes breſt certaine, but ſometimes it giues one ſence of Scripture, & ſometimes another, according as the changeable & various condition of the Church requiteth. This is a Mystery which perhaps many of you the Popes Catholicke ſonnes will hardly belieue, ſpecially ſuch as are indued with any iudgement & enjoy the priuiledge to hauehave the free vſe of your reaſon without papall reſtraint; but if any doubt of it, we hauehave ſufficient authentick records for it, the beſt that Rome can afford.

But come, doe but ſtraine courteſie a little with your Ghoſtly Father, and let vsus enter in a little priuate ſad conference, and let right reaſon be the Moderatour. Tell me (as Paul asked Agrippa) Belieueſt thou the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles? I know you belieue. Surely if yee doe, you may anſwere with Agrippa, Almoſt thou perſwadeſt mee to become an Orthodoxe Chriſtian, and true Catholicke. And reſt but vponupon the Scriptures, and I will ſay, Thou art not p. 84farre from the Kingdome of God. But to reſt vponupon the voyce of the Pope, and not vponupon the expreſſe words of Scripture, what is it, but to ſuffer him to plucke out both your eyes, that ſo he may the more eaſily lead you blindfold into hell? Or what were this, but to make the Pope your God, aboue God and Chriſt, and ſo to adore him, who thus aduanceth himſelfe aboue all that is called God? Fye for ſhame, as God hath giuen you reaſon, vnderſtanding and iudgement, ſo in the name of God vſe it to his glory, that gaue it, and ſuffer no man to cheate you of it, leaſt you proue more ſottiſh then thoſe heathen, who worſhipped the creature in ſtead of the Creator, who is bleſſed for euer.

But you are perſwaded of the Popes inerrability, as being Chriſts Vicar, Peters ſucceſſor, as hauing continued in the See of Rome euer ſince the Apoſtles times, ſo as not any Biſhops See in the world hath done the like. What then? all Biſhops and Miniſters of the Word may be ſaid to be Chriſts Vicars, and Succeſſors of the Apoſtles, while they execute their Miniſtry, as Chriſt and the Apoſtles did. But neuer any man was Chriſts ſole Vicar ouer his Church. This prerogatiue is peculiar to the Holy Ghoſt, that Other Comforter, who onelyonly cannot erre, leading Gods people into all truth. As for Peters Vicarſhip, he had it but in common with his fellowe-Diſciples, Wee paſſe by thoſe places of Scripture, which Pontificians hauehave miſerably peruerted to this purpoſe. Doe but looke in my anſwer to this Bull or Brieue. And for lineall vniterrupted ſucceſſion of the Bp. of Rome from the Apoſtles times: what is this to the purpoſe, to proue the Popes Vicarſhip or his Succeſſors-ſhip? Certainely it makes wondrous much to fulfill all thoſe Prophecies in Scripture, concerning Antichrſt, whoſe Seat is Rome. For may not the ſame Church of Rome (ſpecially if we meaſure it by the place where it is fixed) in ſo long a tract of time, come exceedingly to differ from that it was once, in the more pure and primitue age of it? Doth not experience teach you, that the ſoundeſt, and ſolideſt Oake in time growes rotten, hollow, a neſt for Owles, and ſuch like night-birds, vnuſefull for p. 85building, and at laſt, good for nothing but the fire? And yet the while, it is called by the name of ſuch an Oake ſtill. The Church of Rome at firſt was ſound and Apoſtolicall, while it kept the Apoſtolicke Faith: but might not time make it rotten, and yet be called Apoſtolicke ſtill? Bethel (as much as the houſe of God) ſo called at firſt by Iacob who erected there an Altar for Gods pure worſhip, yet retained that name ſtill in Ieroboams time, euen when it was wholly polluted with the Idolatry of one of his golden Calues erected there. Ancient goodly Chanels hauehave beene in time ſo choaked vp with mud and grauell, that the maine ſtreame hath beene diuerted and driuen another way, and yet hauehave retained the name of the old chanell ſtill. Yea that goodly Cittie Ieruſalem, in Chriſts time, when it crucified Chriſt was called the Holy Cittie; and for all that God hath made that now a curſed heap, and the Country about it a deſolation, neuer to be repaired: yet your Pontificians eſpecially call it the Holy Land ſtill; which notwithſtanding is neuer a whit the holyer, though by the Popes ſubtile inſtigation, ſo many thouſands of ſoules hauehave periſhed about the pretended quarrell, out of a blind zeale of recoucring it againe; which whither regained, or no, the Pope was ſure not to looſe by the bargain; for if he had regained it, it might hauehave brought the greater income to his coffers by the trade of ſuperſtitious Pilgrims at leaſt; althoug hee hath ſome footing there with the Turke: but he was ſure during the quarrell, to inlarge his Papall Dominions at home in Chriſtendome, which he did: but this by the way. You ſee then, that continuance of antiquity in name and title, may notwithſtanding ſtand with altering the propertie and true nature of the thing. Did not the Prophet ſay of Ieruſalem, How is the faithfull Cittie become an harlot? It was full of iudgement, righteouſneſſe lodged in it; but now murtherers, &c. And may it not proue ſo with Rome, for all you ſtill call it the Apoſtolicall See? And what will you ſay then? What if Apostolicall, in title bee turned into Apoſtaticall, in truth? What if Tues Petrus, &c. and tibi dabo claues, &c. and Orani pro te Petre, &c. and, Omnis mihi potestas p. 86data &c. & Ecce duo gladij hîc: ſatest: all proue, by the Popes peruertings, to make vp the Myſtery of iniquity; and by faſtening all to Rome, proue her the Miſtres, and Mother of whooredomes. For let me tell you, you cannot finde me out the exact and true naturall Myſtery of iniquity indeed, but vnderunder the vaile of ſuch titles, borrowed from Scripture. None can be Antichrist, but he muſt call himſelfe the Vicar of Christ, the Succeſſor of Peter, the onelyonly one vponupon earth, that cannot erre, and the like; tranſlating the whole power of Chriſt vntounto himſelfe. To bring in the Turke for a Corriuall with the Pope for the title of Antichrist, is to dreame waking, and to bewray extreme ignorance in thoſe two great Myſteries the one of Godlineſſe the other of iniquity. For all the Turks Alcoran cannot make one compound of the Myſtery of iniquity whereby to deceiue with ſtrong illuſion, if it were poſſible, the very elect, For take but a breefe ſuruey of the Myſtery of iniquity.

This Myſtery began to take roote in the Apoſtles time, as Saint Paul ſpeaketh,2 Theſſ. 2.2 Thess 2 but was letted to grow, by the Romaine Empire (as the learndeſt Fathers hauehave interpreted, and experience hath made it euident) and by manifold Perſecutions for the ſpace of aboue 300. yeares. Then Constantine the great, like Noahs Doue after the Deluge bringing an Oliue branch of peace; and after a ſad winter a mild ſpring, and ſommer to the Church, ſetting a Coronet vponupon the head of Sylueſter the 1. Bp. of Rome, then the imperiall City, at what time there was a voice heard from Heauen, Hodie venenum effuſum est in eccleſiam, This day is poyſon powred into the Church: from this time forward began the Root of this Myſterie to ſprowt and ſpring, bud forth and bloſſome aboue ground, howſoeuer nipt by ſundry froſts, as an ouerforward ſhoot in the ſpring. For Rome, by vertue of being the prime Imperiall City, and the Bp. of Rome, by vertue of his new Crowne, began from henceforward to ſtickle for the ſupremacy ouer all other Churches. Yet, at the firſt, his beſt Plea was, a counterfet and foiſted Decree of the Nicen-Councel, by which hee would claime the Preſidency of the African p. 87Councell, whereof Saint Augustine was. But the whole Councell cryed it downe, hauing openly conuinced the Bp. of Rome of forgery. For as yet, the Bp. of Rome had not learned, how he might deriue this ſtreame of Supermacy to Rome from the fountaine of Scriptures. But ſtill the Myſtery faſtened the roote eueryevery day more & more, and got ground, vntill Boniface 3. about the yeare 606. by earneſt ſuit and importunity, as their owne Platina recordeth, obtained of the Parricide, Phocas, that the City of Rome ſhould be the head, and Mother city ouer all other. But what was this to the Papall Supremacy? yes: for vponupon the Headſhip of Rome, the Pope now founds his owne Headſhip ouer the Church, & all Church men; that he might proue himſelfe to be that man of ſinne, that Son of Perdition, who exalts himſelfe (marke it well) aboue all that is called God, 2 Theſſ. 2.2 Thess 2ſitting in, vponupon, or ouer the Temple of God. For Phocas his meaning was not; when hee granted the preheminence to Rome before other cities, whoſe emulous corriuall Constantinople her younger ſiſter had bene, Phocas now ſtinting the ſtrife; that therefore the Bp. of Rome ſhould hauehave that abſolute ſouerainty ouer all, as euen Boniface then began to arregate to himſelfe, who of Bp. of Rome (a title which he had had with other Patriarches in common, only hauing precedency of place, in regard of the prime Imperiall city) now is turned Pope of Rome, challenging the ſoueraine authority of ſole Father of the Church, with his**See plantin…. Volumus & Iubemus, we will and commaund; which Motto this firſt Pope of Rome brought in with an innouation of the ancient cuſtome of the Church, of aſſuming the power of election and inueſtiture of Biſhops into his owne hand; whereupon his Papall word was, Ʋolumus & Iubemus. So that thus this Boniface became the firſt ſtemme or eminent branch growing from the root of the Myſtery of iniquity. Here began Antichriſt to diſplay himſelfe, whoſe immediate forerunner (as Gregory Bp. of Rome but a little before called him) was Iohn of Conſtantinople, who taking vponupon him that blaſphemous name of vniuerſall Bp. (as Gregory termes it) was therefore the forerunner. A moſt true Prophecy; Now Boniface, Gregories next ſucceſſor p. 88but one, is the Antichrist, whoſe forerunner was Iohn. All you that are verſed in the ſtorles of the Church, know all this to be true. This branch henceforward ſpreads further and further, and mounts higher and higher, till Hildebrand, Pope Gregory 7. who added another maine branch to the former, to wit, domination ouer Kings and Princes, which the Pope had ſtriuen for before (the Miſtery of iniquity ſtill working, but Rome was not built in one day) but could not obtaine full poſſeſſion of it, till this Hildebrand, who begins Iupiterlike to thunder out his excommunications againſt the Emperour. This Hildebrand ſate about 1000. yeares from the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, fulfilling the prophecy, of letting looſſe the Deuill after 1000. yeates; for**Bead Benno Cardinalis, of his life. Alſo Abbas vrſpergenſis. he was a Coniurer, got the Popedome by Satans meanes, exerciſed the vſurped power of Satan ouer the Kingdomes of the world, & brought in that**1 Tim. 4.1 Tim 4 doctrine of Deuils, in forbidding marriage to Prieſts. He began to peruert the Scripture to his wicked purpoſes, as the Deuill did to Chriſt, which (ſaith Bruno in vrſpergenſis is a moſt groſſe kind of Idolatry. From this time forward, this tree of the Myſtery of iniquity did thriue and proſper notoriouſly, hauing the two numerous Orders of Saint Dominick, and Saint Francis to water it, inſtituted by Pope Innocent 3. at the Counſell of Lateran, vponupon his Dreame, that the Lateran, was like to fall, but that in came Dominick, and ſupported it with his ſhoulders; wherevpon the next morning the Pope granted him his ſute, which he was then in hot purſuit off, for the erecttion and inſtitution of his black Order. This Innocent 3. was the firſt that decreed the Breaden God in his Tranſubſtantiation, to be belieued, and adored of all, about the yeare 1215. And in the yeare 1300. began Pope Boniface 8. to inſtitute and celebrate Romes firſt Iubilee, marching forth the firſt day in his pontificalibus, wearing, no longer the ſingle, but the tripple Crowne; and the next day in his Imperiall Robes, with two Swords carried before him, with Exe duo gladij hîc, Behold here are two Swords, the Spirituall and temporall. Thus grew on ſtill ſtep by ſtep this Myſtery of iniquity, hauing many helpes to forward it, as firſt, the Emperours Court remoued p. 89to Conſtantinople, and … that which … the Antichriſt was taken out of the way, as 2 Theſſ. 2. the loſſe of the Emperours footing in Italy in Auguſtulus: the quarrell about Images, deuiſed at firſt by Gregory onelyonly for Lay-mens bookes, yet wherein now all Romaine-Catholicks, Lay, and learned, are proved ſuch profound Proficients, as by their often and over-ſtudious diligent pooring therein, they hauehave learned ſuch Divinity in them, as to adore them for theyr Gods: the riſing vp of Maomet in the Eaſt: the tranſlation of the Empire into the Weſt: the long pretended-holy warres for recovery (forſooth) of the holy Land, the Pope ſetting Chriſtian Princes to goe fight for the Shadow, the while hee got the Subſtance: the rabble of Friers of all ſorts: the Schoole Rabbies: and profound ignorance all along, all religion being confined to an vnknowne tongue, that men might know it (that knew nothing) to be the language and religion of Babel, by the confuſed ſound, and little ſenſe hee could find in it. And yet all this while was not Antichriſt come to his full pitch, ſtature and ſtrength, vntill the Councell of Trent, in which the Church of Rome ſheweth her ſelfe to bee quite apoſtatized and fallen away from Chriſt, ceaſſing to bee any longer a true Church, as having ſolemnly renounced and accurſed the ſauing faith of Chriſt, without which is no ſalvation, no communion with him. During which Council, alſo was firſt founded that diabolicall Order of the Ieſuites, the moſt actiue inſtruments of Antichriſt▪ and in a manner the only and laſt ſupporters of the Babylonian tottering Tower. But this by the way. In the Councill of Trent (I ſay) is the whole Myſtery of iniquity fully accompliſhed, and the Pope now declared that Man of ſinne, that Antichriſt, prophecyed of in the Scriptures. I can but name theſe things vntounto you at this preſent: nor doe I ſay more, then I am able more abundantly to demonſtrate, if occaſion ſerued. For comparing the Pope exactly to the deſcription of Antichriſt in the Scripture, wee finde him in all points anſwerable, and that in a full meaſure, ſo that it is not poſſible for a man to imagine, wherein Antichriſt can goe higher, then the Pope hath p. 90done. A ſcantling where of wee may▪ take in this Papall Breeue or Bull, wherein throughout, hee ſhowes himſelfe that Antichriſt. And if the Pope bee that Antichriſt, as moſt demonſtratiuely hee is, which I dare vndertake to maintaine againſt all the Ieſuites in England: then conſider, ô yee Romaine-Catholickes, in what a fearefull condition you all ſtand, that adhere to the Pope, as your Head. Certainely ſuch are no other, then the limmes of Antichriſt, the members of the Beaſt, the children of that Father, who is the ſonne of perdition, who with all his, goe into perdition. This is a hard ſaying, you will ſay, but it is too true. Nor do I alone ſay, that in the Church of Rome is no ſaluation to bee found;Concil. Trent. Seſſ. 6. Can. 12. Aske the Councell of Trent (which is the onelyonly rule of Romiſh faith) that will tell you. To giuegive you one inſtance for many; one of her Canons is: Si quis dixerit, fidem iuſtificantem nihil aliud eſſe, quàm fiduciam diuinae miſericordiae, peccata remittentis propter Chriſtum, ibid. Can. 28.vel eam fiduciam ſolam eſſe, qua iuſtificamur: anathema ſit. That is: If any ſhall ſay, that iuſtifying faith is nothing elſe; Iames. 3.Jas 3but a confidence in Gods mercy, remitting ſinnes for Chriſts ſake; or, that confidence to bee onelyonly that, whereby wee are iuſtified: let him bee accurſed. What is then Romes iuſtifying faith? Heare another Canon: which telleth you, that the faith of Rome may ſubſiſt, being ſeperate from grace, and yet bee a true faith, though it bee a dead faith. And this is no other faith, but that which is in the very Deuills, as Saint Iames ſayth. For, as they confeſſe, they may with this their faith goe into hell, and there bee puniſhed with the Devils. As for the iustifying and ſaving faith, they not onelyonly accurſe it, but him alſo, that ſhall ſay,**Can. 14. that none is truly iuſtifyed, but hee that beleeueth that he is iuſtifyed. Thus they hauehave quite excluded and exiled out of their Church, with Anathema, the ſaving & inſtifying faith, without which there is no ſalvation, no communion with Chriſt. Whence I conclude with this Argument.

That Church which denieth, yea accurſeth the ſauing faith of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto inſtification, allowing onelyonly ſuch a faith, which can neuer ſaue a man, but is a graceles faith, p. 91ſeperable from grace, and which a man may carry with him into hell; that is an Apoſtatized Church, vtterly fallen away from Chriſt, wherein no ſaluation is to bee found, or hoped for.

But the Church of Rome denyeth, yea accurſeth the ſauing faith of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto iuſtification, allowing only ſuch a faith, as can neuer ſaue a man, but is a graceleſſe faith, ſeperate from grace, and which a man may carry with him into hell.

Therefore the Church of Rome is an apoſtatized Church, vtterly fallen away from Chriſt, wherein no ſaluation is to be found, or hoped for.

Both the propoſitions are proved out of the Councell of Trents owne Canons already cited.

If any anſwer, that the Church of Rome denyeth not the true faith; foraſmuch as the faith, which ſhee alloweth, ſhe ſayth is true, though dead; I rejoyne, and ſay, that this is a Paralogiſme. Romes dead faith is indeed for the kind of it, a true dead faith, or a true faith of devils, as one may be ſaid to be a true lyar. But I proue, that this faith of Rome is meerely different in kind from the true ſauing faith of Chriſt, thus.

That faith, which Chriſt commendeth for the onelyonly true ſauing faith, doth ſo iuſtifie a man, that he ſhal neuer come into condemnation, but paſſe from death vntounto life.

But the only faith which the Church of Rome alloweth, doth not ſo ſaue or iustifie a man, but that he way with it go into condemnation, and not paſſe from death vntounto life.

Therefore the ſaith of the Church of Rome, is not that faith, which Chriſt commendeth for the only true ſauing faith.

And conſequently, the Church of Rome denying the true ſauing faith of Chriſt, whereby to be juſtified, is vtterly voyd of all hope of ſaluation, and ſo hath quite abandoned Ieſus Chriſt. Now for the Propoſition, it is proved by Chriſt himſelfe Ioh. 5. 24. The Minor is confeſſed by the Councell of Trent itſelfe, as hath beene proved.

Take one argument more.

That Church which cleaueth to Antichriſt as her Head p. 92whome ſhee receiueth all her ſpirituall life, hath no ſaluation to be found or hoped for in it.

But the Church of Rome cleaueth to Antichriſt, as her Head from whom ſhee draweth all her ſpirituall life.

Therefore the Church of Rome hath no ſaluation to be found, or hoped for in it.

The Propoſition is granted of all. For Antichriſt and all his members are damned, and goe into perditition, as the Apoſtle ſheweth, 2 Theſſ. 2. Reuel. 14. 8, 9, 10, 11. …. But for the Aſſumption, that the Church of Rome eleuenth to Antichriſt, as her Head, from whom ſhee draweth all her ſpirituall life: This is plainly proued, yea profeſſed and avowed even by the Pope himſelfe, and by his Papall Decrees. Firſt, the Pope is the Head of the Church of Rome. Secondly, he is not ſimply a ſubordinate and Miniſteriall Head, but the abſolute, ſoveraine, ſupreme Head, whom (as Pope Nicolas 3. in his Euangelicall and irrefragable Decree, in Sexti, de Electione, cap. 17. tit. 6. lib. 1. doth peremptorily tell vsus) the Lord would hauehave to bee intitled into the fellowſhip of the indiuiduall vnity, that the ſtructure of the eternall Temple built by God, might by an admirable gift of the grace of God, conſiſt in the firmneſſe of bleſſed Peter, and his Succeſſor; that from him, as from a certaine Head he might diffuſe his gifts, as into all his body. The like Decree hath Pope Boniface in his Commune Extrauga… 1. de Maior. & obed. c. vnam ſanctam, making Peter and the Pope, one and the ſame Head with Chriſt leſt otherwiſe, ſayth the Pope, the Church ſhould bee at a Monſter with two Heads. Thirdly, it cannot bee denied, but that Antichriſt is that Man of Sinne, deſcribed by the Apoſtle, 2 Theſſ. 2. who exalteth himſelfe aboue all that is called God, who ſitteth in, vponupon, for, or ouer the Temple of God, ſhewing himſelfe that hee is God. Fourthly, the Pope himſelfe preveth, that he is that man of …; for hee exalteth himſelfe aboue all that is called God, namely aboue all Kings and Princes, and Powers of the world, who … called Gods Pſal. 82. 6. I hauehave ſayd, Yee are Gods. That he that exalteth himſelfe, witneſſe this preſent Breeue or Bull. … though Pope Boniface 3. with importunate … … wicked Tyrant p. 93and Murtherer Phocas, that Rome ſhould be the Head City over all, ſo that this ſupremacy might claime its foundation from humaine Conſtitution Imperiall: yet the Popes Perſonall ſupremacy over Emperours and Kings came in by the By, by his owne meete vſurpation, which though it might ſeeme to bee grounded vponupon the ſame foundation of the Cities Supremacy, yet it was never the intent of Phocas the Founder, that the Biſhop of Rome ſhould hauehave a perſonall or reall Supremacy over the Emperour, as we hauehave ſhewed. This learne of the Beaſt grew out afterward in Hildebrand, Pope Gregorie. 7. who himſelfe being a Conjurer, and getting the Popedome by the Deuils meanes, hee now began to exerciſe the Dragons vſurped power over Emperours, Kings, and Kingdomes of the world, as the Dragon ſayd to Chriſt, All this power, and glory of the Kingdomes of the world, is deliuered to mee, and to whomſoeuer I will, I giuegive it; which very ſpeech Pope Hadrian 4. vſed to the Emperour Fredericke. Thus doth the Pope exalt himſelfe aboue all that is called God. To ſo little purpoſe is it to ſhift it off, by ſaying, hee hath this power deliuered to him, and therefore, hee doth not exalt himſelfe. For ſo ſayd the Devill, All this power is giuen mee; and yet was hee not a moſt ſhameleſſe vſurper? But more of this in the Anſwere to the Breeue. Againe, doth not the Pope ſitt in, or vponupon, or for, or ouer the Temple of God? For all theſe the Greeke phraſe, foreign, ſignifieth. And what other Temple of God doth the Pope allow, but the Church of Rome, whereof himſelfe is the Head, the ſumme, and only Oracle? Inſomuch as hee ſheweth himſelfe to bee God, by aſſuming to himſelfe the whole vnlimited power of God, as if hee were the ſame with God and Chriſt, as being aſſumpted into the individuall vnity with Chriſt; as Pope Nicolas decreed. O all yee learned Papiſts, that doe adhere to ſuch a Head, even to that man of ſinne, Antichriſt, which while you doe, what remaineth for you, but according to the holy Ghoſt; owne doome, even damnation and perdition both of ſoule and body for evermore▪ In the name of Ieſus Chriſt therefore open your eyes, put off that Egyptian vaile, which this Man of ſinne p. 94hath caſt over you, that you ſhould not ſet the truth▪ ſhake off thoſe Babylonian chaines, wherewith you are ſo miſerably captived by Antichriſt, and quit your ſelues like men. Hearken diligently to the voyce of Chriſt in his word, who from heaven cryeth vntounto you, ſaying, Come out of Babylon, my people, that yee be not partakers of her ſinnes, and that yee receiue not of her plagues, Reuel: 18. 4. This Babylon is the Church of Rome, ſo plainly deſcribed in the 17 chapter, that the moſt learned Ieſuites themſelues know not how to ſhift it off. This Babylon (chap. 18. 2.) is fallen: An Angell cryeth mightily, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of Deuils, and the bold of eueryevery foule ſpirit, and a cage of eueryevery vncleane bird; &c. Is fallen, is fallen? What is the meaning of this fall, twice repeated? Some fearefull and ſtrange fall ſure; even an vrtet apoſtacy and falling a way from the faith of Chriſt. She ſhall one day fall externally, but in the meane time, ſhee is vtterly fallen internally, and become the habitation of Deuils, &c. where the Devil now domineereth in that Antichriſt in his full pride, and rebellion againſt Chriſt. Let not theſe my words ſeeme tart to your more tender palate. I dare ſay, you abhorre Antichriſt, whoſoever, and whereſoever he is. And doe but open your eyes, and you cannot but plainely diſcerne even the Pope to be the ſelfeſame.

So that we need not further quarrell Rome about other points, as the rubbidge of her infinite idolatries, and doctrins of Devils, whereof that Tower of Babylon is built vp; when as the very foundation of it is rotten, and the whole body altogether Antichriſtian, from top to toe▪ when as from the Crowne of the Head to the ſole of the foote, there is no whole part: yea, when as the Maine Head of that body is Antichriſt, and the faith of that Church, apoſtacy. No more is to be ſaid.

I will conclude therefore, not with a diſſwaſiue from that damnable practiſe of diſavowing loyaltie to your King; for I ſuppoſe, no true Engliſhman wilbe either ſo vnnaturally and degenerouſly impious, yea or ſo vnreaſonably ſottiſh, as to be ready to betray their ſweete natiue country to Rome and Spayne: but in the name of Ieſus Chriſt be exhorted, to abandon p. 95and, abhorre ſuch a Father as the Pope, being that Antichriſt, and ſo that lawleſſe one, who leading with himſelfe Millions of ſoules into hell to be tormented with the great Deuil, yee none muſt preſume to blame him for it; as it is in his owne Decretalls; hee, who is the author and abettor of conſpiracies and treaſons, of treacheries and rebellions, as in this Breeue hee profeſſeth; he, who is that ſonne of perdition, and that head, whoſe members muſt neceſſarily periſh, being damned, for not receiving the louelove of the truth, but belieuing lyes, as 2 Theſſ. 2. and fly with ſpeed unto Ieſus Chriſt, high you into the boſome of the Church of England your Mother, who reacheth vntounto you the pure milke-flowing breſts of ſalvation in the Word and Sacramens. As for thoſe, that wittingly and wilfully adhere to the Pope as their Head, they ſhut themſelues out of the Kingdome of God, and of Chriſt. Nor let any Engliſh-Roman-Catholicke plead ignorance, while they ſhut their eyes at the bright Sun before them. The poor people in Spaine, that are ſhut vp from the light, may, if any, finde ſome excuſe: but not ſo in England. He that loueth not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, let him be Anathema Maranatha. Now the Lord open all your hearts, eares, & eyes, that hearing you may ſee, & belieue in Ieſus Chriſt to your eternall ſaluation. Amen.

Your truely loving Country-man, H. B.

Errata.

Pag. 31. line 21. for deſcribe, read aſcribe. p. 40. l. 2. for Powers, r. Pioners. p. 46. l. 6. r. proceed. p. 48. l. 18. r. ordine ad ſpititualia. p. 49. in the margent correct the numbers. pag. 52. l. 26. blot out men. pag. 53. l. 19. r. Lateran. p. 56. l. 3. for ſaith, r. ſuch. pag. 61. l. 6. r. triumphs. l. 23. r. Tortus. l. 30. r. hic. l. 35. r. certae ſpei. p. 63. l. 1. r. iudgement. p. 70. l. 12. r. it ſo putrifyed. pag. 71. l. 25. for concerning. r. couering. pag. 72. l. 16. r. fiſh.

FINIS.

End of the text · Henry Burton, The Baiting of the Pope_s Bull (1627)