An Apology for the Discipline of the Ancient Church, Part 3 · Section 1
SECT. 1. The words of the Letter. Of the vile and virulent head the Pope.
1. FIrſtly, hath not the long provoked Lord begun in this Iſland and in Ireland to pull down loweſt that looſe, that lofty, and lawleſſe Church, which the corrupt Clergie had lifted up higheſt? namely the Oecumenical or Romane Catholick Church; whereof the ſinne-pardoning, or rather ſoul-poyſoning Pope was the Vile and Virulent head; who was therefore, and upon that account publickly declared, and generally (though not univerſally) beleev'd to be a horrible Monſter, as well as a very abominable beaſt becauſe of his ten hornes, Witneſſe what is written, Revel. 17.3.5.
The Reply.
To what you ſay of the vile virulent head the Pope, I aſſent, and ſo did and do all Orthodox Divines of our Engliſh Church; holding his claim to be Univerſal Biſhop to be Anti-Chriſtian, profane, proud, fooliſh, blaſphemous, by vertue whereof he doth ingroſſe to himſelf full power and authority over all Chriſtians in the world, both Eccleſiaſtical and ſaecular; the principal actions whereof are. 1. To frame and ſet out for all Chriſtians the rule of faith and good manners; to point out the books of Canonical Scriptures, and the traditionary word, and to deliver the ſenſe and interpretation thereof; and to determine all controverſies in religion with an unerring ſentence. 2. To preſcribe and enact laws for the whole Church equally obliging the conſcience to obedience with the divine Law. 3. To exerciſe external power of directing and commanding, and alſo of cenſure and correction of all Chriſtians. 4. To grant diſpenſations, indulgences, abſolution from oaths and vows. 5. To canonize Saints, inſtitute religious orders, to deliver from Purgatory. 6. To call and confirm general Councels. 7. To dethrone, and conculcate Kings, &c.
All this we diſclaim as well as you, and you needed not have ſaid, that it begun in this Iſland and Ireland, as if it begun with you: for it begun more then one hundred years ſince; aſſume not therefore that to your ſelves, which was done to your hands; to take down this head was the work of the National Church you ſo ſlight, and had it not been done to your hands, I doubt whether all the power you could make, had ever been able to have done it. And for this, that head being of a revengeful nature, hath ever ſince been plotting which way it might unroot us that unrooted it; For the proof of this I ſhall acquaint you, with what a friend acquainted me and others about five years ſince. A good Proteſtant he is now, but about 30. years before, was as he confeſſ'd, reconciled to Rome, by one Meredith an ancient and learned Jeſuite (for he was one of thoſe that Dr. Featly had to deal with in France.) This man told him that in England they had been long and induſtrious about their work of converſion; but it went on ſlowly, and ſo would till they took a wiſer courſe. Two things there were that muſt be done before they ſhould bring their buſineſſe to a full effect. They muſt firſt find a way to remove the Biſhops and Miniſters, in whoſe room they muſt bring it ſo about, that all ſhould have liberty to preach. Then ſecondly they muſt get down the Common Prayer book, and ſuffer every man to uſe what prayer he liſt. Thus much the man offer'd to make good upon his Oath before any Magiſtrate he ſhould be call'd. And now I pray tell me out of what ſhop do you think your work comes? That generation are a ſly ſubtle people; as the devil, they can transform themſelves into an Angel of light. If many printed books lye not, there have been many among you, and they know to inſinuate their poyſon under guilded pills. Poſitions they have many like your's, and beware leaſt when you think you ſuck in the Truth, you drink not poyſon. Verbum ſat Sapienti. They owe us a ſplene for caſting off their head; and they will never give over to ſeek a revenge.
We were the men that cut it off, and take heed leaſt unwittingly you ſet it not on again. 'Tis too true; I ſpeak it with grief; they have won to their ſide in the time of our diſſentions more proſelites then they did in divers years before. The Laws are now ſilent, and any man may be now any thing, ſo he be not an old Proteſtant of the Church of England; that if he profeſſe, then there will be a quick eye upon him; An Ordinance ſhall be ſure to reach him, which for ought I heard is but brutum fulmen to a Papiſt. Boaſt not then of your taking down that ſame vile and virulent head the Pope, when it is permitted to ſtand in more favour then a Proteſtant, whoſe work hath been to take down that abominable beaſt with his ten horns as you call him.