An Answer to a Popish Rhyme, lately scattered abroad in the West parts, and much relied upon by some simply-seduced. By Samuel Hieron, Minister of the Word of God, at Modbury in Devon. Math. 10, 17. Beware of Men. Phil. 3.2. Beware of Dogs. LONDON Printed by Simon Stafford, dwelling in Hosier lane, near Smithfield. 1604. ❧ To my much esteemed friend, J. L. YOu will wonder, I am sure (considering my profession, to see me become a Poet. And indeed I do almost marvel at it myself, knowing myself to want the two principal furtherances of Poetry: the one is natures instinct a They say, Poëta nascitur: if a man be not, as it were, a Poet borne, he shall never prove excellent in that faculty. , which God in his holy providence hath denied me: the other is a certain retired freedom from all such businesses, which may breed distraction, b Carmina secessum scribentis & otia quaerunt, ovid. de Trist. which my public Calling, besides private encumbrances, will not afford me. Yet notwithstanding, upon this present occasion, I have even forced myself to this straighter course of Verse-making, though I know, that for mine own case (having to deal in such a distempered and unruly Subject) that lesse-limited & freer kind of discourse, which Prose alloweth, had been more convenient: Because the rules of Cadence, & number (to which our English Poetry especially is confined) do many times so straighten an unaccustomed Practitioner, that he is in hazard, either of obscuring the sense (which in a matter of this nature were something dangerous) or of marring the Verse (which to the apprehension of every common conceit were very ridiculous.) But howsoever I have erred in the carriage of this verse, I hope, to you and to others, whose favour, either because of their judgement, or their honesty, I desire, this shall excuse me: that meeting with our common Adversary (who appeareth sometime in shape of a Statesman, debating of Titles, and Commonwealth affairs, c Witness the Quodlibets, Dolman, etc. sometime as a Petitioner to the King and Parliament, d At the King's first coming, & now since the Parliament. sometime as a plausible persuader, e bristol Motives, & Books of that nature sometime as a Restorer of the holy Text, to the native purity thereof, f Rhem. Test. and Grego. Martin. sometime as a man of a very tender Conscience, giving reasons why he cannot come to our Assemblies, g Owlet. sometime as a Railer at our government, and an approver of our open enemies; h The wardword. Quo teneam vultus mutantem Protea nodo. that, I say, meeting with this timeserving Proteus, in the fashion of a Rhymer or Balladine, and crept in (as the manner of false brethren is i Gal. 2.4. Similes habent labra lactucas. ) into both the hands and the hearts of many simply-seduced; I have endeavoured to make the Lettuce like the lips (as the proverb is) and to proportion myself to him in versing, to whom I am sure (without wilful forsaking the plain truth of God, manifested in Scripture) I shall never be like in believing. The Service itself, which is here sent us in by this Runagate, k He confesseth he was a Protestant. is for substance agreeing with the rest of their Romish Cates, though (to say the truth) it hath come through the hands of a very homely and sluttish Cook, by whom it is neither seasoned with wit or argument, no, nor yet set forth after any good ordinary fashion: But it is even a very Gallimaufry, of certain naked and indigested Allegations (as it were the leavings and scraps of some other) without either order or proof, as though every Papist were a Pope, and every word of his mouth an Oracle. Belike the Sloven thought it good enough for those, for whom it was provided; as indeed it is: for those which turn their ears from the truth, and are given unto fables l 2. Tim. 4.4. ; and by some, upon my knowledge (to whom, I fear me, God hath sent strong delusions, that they should believe lies) it is highly magnified, m 2. Thes. 2.11. as a special preservative against supposed Heresy, and as a well-framed Sconce, which none of us all is able to overthrow. In regard whereof, knowing myself bound among others to contend earnestly for the maintenance of the Faith, n Jude 3. I have undertaken this which you here see. For my desire and true intent therein, it is best known to him which seethe in secret o Mat. 6.4. , and in his due time will make the counsels of all hearts manifest. p 1. Cor. 4.5. Touching the thing itself, how it is, and how well it is, I submit it to the censure of the godly-wise, praying them, that with their favourable (if not allowance, yet at least) connivence, it may pass to the use of those, to whom it is intended: And among others, I have directed it especially to you, in part of recompense for a great deal of kindness, entreating you to entertain it with the like measure of love, wherewith it is offered. And so beseeching God to fill you with the fruits of righteousness, q Phil. 1.11. I commend you to his grace in Christ jesus. Modbury, August, 20. 1604. Your very loving friend, SAM. HIERON. The Papists Rhyme. I Pray thee, Protestant, hear with me, a Indeed a man had need to be very patiented, 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 Yet I fear, that though thou were brayed in a Mortar with a Pestle, among Wheat, thy foolishness will not departed from thee: Pro. 27.22. Many sundry Sects appear, Now in the world far and near, The Caluinist, the Protestant, The Zwinglian, the Puritan: The Brownist, 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 JESV, Saying that their Faith is true: But amongst these tell me how, The Truth from feigned lies to know. All these in very deed, Rehearse all Articles in the Creed, And every one of them saith, That theirs is the Catholic Faith: But this it is that I do seek, c I believe, thou art one of those, which are ever learning, & never come to the knowledge of the Truth, 2. Tim. 3.7. Take the Lantern which David used, and thou shalt soon find the true Church, Psal. 119.105. To know the Church Catholic, The Communion or Company Of holy men in Unity. Catholic. IN your Bible I have read, The Church must through the world be spread: For Christ he his Apostles sent With power and Commandment, That to all Nations they should go, To preach and to baptise also. Who hath done this? to know I will, For that is sure the Church of Christ. d I hope thou wilt not say that Rome hath done this: the charge was given and undertaken before Rome was converted. As 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 The Apostles Church for aught you can prove to the contrary. And all other countries every where, Throughout the world far and near: 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 You build your Faith upon a very sure ground. Saint Paul in his Epistle faith, h Did Paul say that Rome should never deny the Faith? The Romans had the Catholic Faith, Saying it was renowned, Spoken of, or published Through the world, over all, Catholic, Universal: And if your Churches were even so, i Our Church is a part of the Catholic Church, disprove it if you can. Then to your Churches I would go. k You may come to our Churches, the Pope giveth you leave, so that you keep your hearts to him. Prophets. SO saith the Prophet Malachy, There should be offered far and nigh, A clean Oblation or Sacrifice, l When you read, Altar, and Sacrifice, you think straight that makes for the 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 If thou hadst been of us, thou wouldst have continued with us, 1. job. 2.19. In the eightéenth Psalm I found, The whole world should hear their sound, n Namely, of the Apostles, and their doctrine; prove our Doctrine to disagree with theirs. And it this mark you do not want, Presently I will recant. Continuance. THis is another mark most sure, The Faith of Christ must still endure, o Christ's Faith must endure, therefore Rome is the true Church. A hot Argument. According as our Saviour said, When for Saint Peter he had prayed. Simon, thy Faith shall never fail, The gates of Hell shall not prevail, The holy Ghost your Comforter, Shall remain with you for ever. And I myself, your surest friend, Will be with you unto the end. Saint Paul hath the like speech, There shall be always men to preach, Apostles, p Some say they are Apostles, and are not, Re. 2.2. Doctors, and the like, In the Church Catholic: If this be not the Church of Rome, q Because you say it, we are bound to believe it. Then will I be converted soon. Visible. ANother mark there is most clear, The Church of God must still appear, As a City on a hill, r Some wrist the Scriptures to their own destruction, 2. Pet. 3.16. Take heed. Seen and continue still; As a light on a Candlestick, So is the Church Catholic. Our Saviour saith, If one offend, And will not be ruled by his friend, Tell all the Church without delay: s Would you have us go to Rome with every complaint? it seemeth so; for you tie the Church to that See. 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? t You must first prove that Saint Peter was Bishop of Rome. Show me this mark in you, u Thou thyself sayest, 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. Unity. ANother mark there is truly, The Church must have Unity, As our Saviour hath foretold, One Shepherd 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, w What became of the Keys, when Pope julius 2. threw them into Tibur. And his Successors have always: x As though no body did succeed Peter, but the Pope, who is rather the successor of Romulus, than Peter, as Pope Hadrian the fourth said when he died. And likewise Saint Paul saith, One Baptism and one Faith, And one Lord JESV: Have no dissension among you. If this be not the Church of Rome, Then will I be converted soon. Holy. THis you say in very deed, When you rehearse the holy creed, y 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 Catholic, Holy and Apostolic. This is another mark truly, The Church of God must be holy: Holy men, Holy Service, Ceremonies, Sacrifice: Sacraments and Holy days, Are observed in her always: As for the Saints and Martyrs all, And Virgins, which you Saints do call; I ask you when they lived and where, Whose names are in your Calendar: In what Religion they died, By whom they were Canonised? z 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 You stand so much upon Company, that you will rather go to the Devil, then want Company. Then is your Faith an Heresy. Heretics. Our Saviour warneth us to have care, Of false Prophets to beware, b That makes us take heed of you. Which in his name shall come, Not sent, yet they shall run: c There be many of your Church come amongst us to work mischief, before you be sent for. thieves, not entering by the Door, d A lively description of the Pope's Clergy. That kill and steal and keep a store, Wolves in shepherds clothing, That kill the Soul, and steal the tithing, Dogs, Foxes, and Masters of lies, That new Sects will devise, Bringing in dissension, 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 To those which had eyes to see it. Where did your principal Pastor sit? f In Heaven. Who kept your keys, who fed your sheep? g You have butchered a good sort of them. Show some Churches you have built: I can show many you have spilled. How might a man have found you out, To have trial in a matter of doubt: 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 Friar, i If Luther had continued a true Friar, he had never been good. Upon whom the Devil had desire, Broke his vow, k Herod's vow is better broken then kept. and married a Nun. And there your Sect l Our Sect is the same that Paul's was, Act. 28.22. first begun, m Either thou knowest this to be a lie, or thou knowest nothing. And favoured in Saxony By a Duke that loved liberty: And in King Edward's time truly, n There were Englishmen in England, who bare witness to this truth, by suffering death for it long afore King Edward's 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 show his face. o The more they lay hid the greater was your Tyranny. Who kept p Indeed you kept 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 entereth without Order, As a thief doth kill and murder. And one thing maketh me to muse, That no Priest you do refuse, q A very tale. Being ordered 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 He that hath once been an eager Papist, & 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 I believe you will not be so good as your word But while an answer you devise, 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 Englishmen By our Apostle, u Who made him an Apostle? Saint Austen, Who from Rome was bisher sent. When Ethelbert was King of Kent, Who learned his faith of Gregory, w This Gregory accounted him the Forerunner of Antichrist, who so should seek to be called Universal Bishop: from this faith you are gone. His faith was kept successively, By threescore Bishops and three, Since Saint Peter's time truly, Who learned his faith of Christ jesus, Who is the Son of God most true. The Protestants Answer. 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. Thou tell'st of Sects that do appear, And seemst the truth glad to inquire: But even in this I malice smell, And see thy spiteful meaning well. When thou these divers sects dost name, Thou wouldst thereby our Church defame, a 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 loved, When as with us theyare not approved. We do not hang on Caluins' sleeve, Nor yet on Zuinglius we believe: And Puritans we do defy, If right the name you do apply. b Viz. If either by that name, are understood those ancient Heretics, called Cathari, who dreamt of a state of perfection in this life: or else such factious ones among us, which have sought the spoil & havoc 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. c Christians, Act. 11.26 But now what sects you Papists have, I do but thy own witness crave: Some Capucines, some franciscans, And some be called Dominicanes: Some jesuits, some Seculars, d The emulation & difference betwixt these 2. their Quodlibets do show. Some grey, some black, some white Friars: And that your store may not be spent, New Locusts still from Hell are sent. e Reu. 9.3. Those Locusts do well represent the Pope's Clergy: they were bred of the smoke of the Pit; so are these of Heresy, Ignorance, and Superstition: they destroy the fruits of the earth; so these spoil the Church. The reason why the Church is called Catholic. Thou sayest, thou wouldst the Church find out, So that I see thou art in doubt: And so indeed Vncertaynty Is still the fruit of Popery. Catholic. IN our Bible thou hast read. 'tis well in ours, for yours is fled, And lurketh in a tongue unused, Whereby poor people are abused. The Church is Catholic, as you say, And so say we: but why, 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: f Col. 3.11. Acts 10.34, 35. It once was tied unto the jews, But now no place g Austin saith, it is Catholic, because spread over the world, Ep. 170. and thereto agreeth the Scripture, Acts 1.8. it doth refuse. It is a very fond surmise, Which you the Papists do devise, To shut the Church within Rome wall, And yet to call it general. h Catholic and General are all one; and therefore one of their own Counsels sayeth, 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. You say, the charge, which Christ once gave, The Romists well performed have: But mark how thou thyself dost hurt, And lay Rome's honour in the curt. That charge i Viz. of preaching through the world. was given first to them, Which lived at jerusalem, k The Apostles, Mat. 28. Acts 1. And thence the Gospel issued out, l Acts 8.1. As Esay told m Isai. 2.3. the world throughout. By them the Nations turned were, n We read in Histories, as in Eusebius & 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 jerusalem. which others called, To Turkish Empire is enthralled. So though 'twere true, which is not so, And never shallbe proved, I know, That Rome to Christ the nations brought, Yet this your reason were stark nought. But now (perhaps) Rome doth, you'll say, Bring home the wanderers to the way. In deed the Spaniards loving Gold, Have brought the Indians to your fold. The Frogs from Euphrates come out, p Euphrates was a great River running near the old Babylon in Chaldaea, & was the defence of the City. Cyrus and Darius could never take the City, until by policy they dried up the river. Now in a spiritual sense it doth signify the honour, wealth and authority of Rome, which hath of later years decayed exceedingly, and doth daily; & the frogs, mentioned in Apoc. 16.13. do well resemble the jesuits, who feeling Euphrates to dry up, bestir themselves, & are croaking like Frogs in every corner, labouring to maintain the Pope's authority. I mean, the jesuited Rout Do spread themselves in each country, To draw men to disloyalty. They counsel Subjects kill their kings, Stabbing they use and poisonings. q Our Country and times afford store of examples to prove this. Christ gave no such commandment, When first he his Disciples sent. Of this Conversion, if you boast, Whereby, poor soul, Hell hath engrossed, I yield you full willingly, It well agreeth with Popery. To draw Disciples is no mark, For so doth many a feigned Clerk. r 2. Pet. 2.1, 2. Acts 20.30. The Church to truth which doth convert, We do embrace with all our heart. Thou sayest, Rome's Faith once over all The world was famous (so saith Paul) s Rom. 1.8. And Rome did first convert our Land, And hereupon you greatly stand. Rome's Faith indeed once bare the bell, And so it did deserve it well: But Rome's not now as heretofore; The faithful City's made a whore. t If. 1.21. So it was said of jerusalem, which had more excellent particular promises, than Rome can allege any. If new Rome now, were as the old, Then we with Romanists would hold. If Rome become Christ's enemy, Then we from Babylon must fly. u Apoc. 18.4. To say that Rome is therefore sound, Because of old it was renowned, It may a Papist satisfy: But men of judgement it deny. Paul never Room did magnify, As he did those of Thessaly: w See 1. Thes. 1.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Yet now that Church is clean defaced, And there the Turk himself hath placed. The Asian Churches, x Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Leodicea, Apoc. 1.11. famous once, Are turned to an heap of stones: The golden lights y Those seven Churches were represented by seven golden Candlesticks, Apoc. 1.20. of Saint john's age, Are now become even Satan's Cage. Prove thou, that Rome hath not declined From th'ancient Church by Paul refined: And then I'll say, thou hast done more, Then ever Papist did before. But for first turning of our Nation, I trow thou namest it but for fashion: For they that look in History, Thereof can find no certainty. Simon Zelotes, as some say, z Niceph. lib. 2. cap. 40. Did first Christ's Gospel here display, Even whilst that Emperor did reign, By whom our Saviour Christ was slain. a Gildas Lib. de victoria Aurelij Ambrosijs. Some say, that he of Arimathy, b joseph, who buried Christ. In the year of grace sixty three, From France by Philip c Philip the Apostle. was sent over, To us the Faith for to discover. d So saith Gildas also. Hereto agreeth a learned man, That ancient Clerk Tertullian, That by th' Apostles, Brittanny Was turned to Christianity. e Tertullian in his book against the jews, amongst other places covert by the Apostles, reckoneth divers parts of France, and of Britain: So doth Origene Hom. 4. upon Ezekiel. Pope Eleutherivo long ago, f About the year of Christ, 180. As his Epistle plain doth show, 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 Which was about 600. years after Christ. We hold the Faith that then was taught: But you the same do set at nought: i Eleutherius referred K. Lucius to the Scriptures, clean against the Papists course now, and called him God's 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 Catholic, To come to Church thou wouldst not stick. If of the word thou knewst the sense, Thou soon wouldst leave that fond pretence. Our Church that Truth doth firm embrace, Which all those hold in every place, Who leaving men's Traditions clean, Upon the Scriptures only lean. k That is truly Catholic which every where, always, & by all (viz. true Christians) is believed, Vincent. count Haer. cap. 3. Let Papists prove that the word Catholic being taken in that sense, ours is not the Catholic church, Prophet. THou cit'st a Text of Malachy, l Mal. 1.11. Hoping to prove thy Mass thereby. Alas, the reason is but small, And helps that Idol not at all. In it God threateneth the jews, Who their great Privilege 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 terms he doth apply: m So joel 2.28. the holy Ghost foretelling the plenty of spiritual enlightening, 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, And calls our Gospellike Service, A pure n Pure in Christ, being accepted of GOD, through him, 1. Pet. 2.5 and spotless Sacrifice. What ground is here then for the Mass? It still remaineth as it was: A gross device, defaming Christ, Who is our true and only Priest. o See more of this hereafter, in speaking more directly of the Mass. The speech of David of the Skies, p Psal. 19.3. But according to their account Psal. 18. Unto the Apostles, Paul applies, q 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 alleged can do? It maketh nought for Popery, Or for your idle trumpery. Indeed th' infamous Fame is spread, Of Antichrist your hideous head: And all God's children him do see, The man of sin r 2. Thes. 2.3. alone to be. Th' Apostles Faith was far dispersed, And here in England was rehearsed. Sith then our doctrine is the same, To it belongs part of their fame. Continuance. YOu say, Christ's Faith must still endure. I yield that nothing is more sure: And always God a Church will have, Though thereat Satan rage and rave. s Math. 16.18. It glads my heart, that Christ hath prayed: Thereby I know my Faith is stayed: t Luke 22.32. The Comfort of God's holy Spirit, 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: God's spirit is free, and is not bound v john 3.8. Within the Lists of Romish ground. When thou canst prove by holy writ, Christ's 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 God's true Church: & Paul hath wrote, That there should still some teachers be: w Eph. 4.11. etc. In Rome we this fulfilled see. I 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 It is true, that the truth shall continue, but yet it holds not backward, that whatsoever continueth, is Truth. The Devil is a liar from the beginning. Must not the tars be let to grow, Till it be time the corn to mow? y Math. 13.30. And Antichrist shall long time stay, Even till the very judgement day. z 2. Thes. 2.8. The Arrian Heresy years did stand, Two hundred more than one thousand: a Yea, and it was so generally received, that it was said, the whole world was become an Arrian. And so since Mahomet first was seen, A thousand years have numbered been. Rome's name endures, but Rome is changed, And hath from Christ itself estranged: Quit thou Rome from Apostasy, Or name not perpetuity. Paul's words do prove, b Ephe. 4.11, etc. that certainly The Church shall have a Ministry, And that there shallbe some to feed The Flock of Christ at every need. But that these Pastors here or there, Shall always sit in beauty clear, This fond Conceit, not one poor word, The holy Scripture doth afford. In deed in Rome there divers be, That bear the name of Prelacy: Better we pilate's may them call, Seeking the Church's funeral. You call your Pope a Shepherd 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 Cannibals, c The people, that live upon man's flesh. They eat the Fat, and skin the Flock, And live upon the Church's stock. An idle sign, a Shepherd's Crook In hand they bear, d Their Pastoral staff, made in fashion of a shepherds crook. but can not brook To preach the word (a Pastor's grace) That duty fits not their high place. The key of knowledge they withdraw, e Luke 11.52. And from God's people steal f jeremy, 23.30. God's Law, g They teach traditions to be equally reverenced as the Scriptures, Con. Trid. ses. 4. dec. 1. And men's devies on them thrust, Making them unto Fancies trust. These are Rome's Pastors: woeful sheep, Which left are to the Wolves to keep. Thou Shepherd great, & Bishop chief, h 1. Pet. 2.25. & 5.4. Come quickly i Revel. 22.20. quell this Romish thief. Visible. THou tell'st a tale incredible, How that God's Church is visible: And by the bishops Catalogue, Wouldst prove thy Romish Synagogue. The errors here together laped, By which the simple are entraped, All which your feigned Church doth hold, I mean in order to unfold. The Catholic Church defined aright, Cannot be subject to our sight: It is th' Elected Company, k 1. Pet. 2.9. And Christ his chosen Family. l Ephe. 3.15. Of this, one part in heaven lives, m Called the Church Triumphant. The other here with Satan strives, n Termed the Church Militant. The part above (you'll 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, feign would I learn. Upon their persons we may look, Whose names are written in God's book, o The Book of life, Phil. 4.3. But as for their spiritual Being, It is a thing doth pass our seeing. Parts of Christ's church, you Papists make Even those whom God will quite forsake: p So doth Belarmine, lib. 3. de Eccl. Cap. 7. & the Rhemists in their annotations upon Io. 15.1. Which if the matter well be scanned, Cannot with any Scripture stand. Of the true Church Christ is the Head, q Eph. 1.22. In him can be no members dead, r They are called living stones, 1. Pet. 2.5. His Church a Garden s Cant. 4.12. closed well, In which no Reprobates can dwell: t So August. applieth the place, contra Cres. Gram. lib. 2. and Gregory the great, who was a Bishop of Rome, in his Commentary upon that place. So that, if fitly we will speak, The ground you lay is very weak: In calling it a Mark most clear, That God's true Church must still appear. Of Churches named in several, In Cities, or else Nationall, We yield sometime they may be seen, Though sometime they are darkened clean. Sometime the Moon with cheerful light Shines in the height of Heaven bright: u Aug. useth that Similitude in Psalm. 9 and Epist. 48. and Ambrose Hex. 4. C. 8. Sometime with Clouds 'tis overspread, And in the Wane clean vanished. So 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 Desert fled, From Satan's rage to hide her head, w Apoc. 12.6. By all the Learneds full consent, The Church on earth doth represent. The famous Church of Israel, Where God did promise still to dwell, x Psal. 132.14. Was drowned so in Idolatry, And superstitious slavery, That all true worship being gone, Elias thought himself alone: y 1. King. 19.10. And when Christ comes to judge us all, Then Faith on earth shallbe but small. z Luke 18.8. How is the Church a City then, a Math. 5.14. Raised on a Mount, and seen of men, And how a light set up on high, That all that will may it espy? How shall we to the Church complain, b Math. 18.17. If of the Church no show remain? This is thy Popish reasoning, And Scriptures plain misconstruing. Christ doth the Apostles counsel give, The true meaning of those places. Sound 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 falsehood many might be drowned: 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 marked, make full account. c Thus Chry. and Theophilact expound this place, Paideusi antous enagonious einai, cai acribeiss peri ton bion, os para panton blepesthe mellontas. This showeth wherein our duty stands, And what God looks for at our hands: Who called are to the Ministry, To labour in God's Husbandry. d 1. Cor. 3.9. But from hence how may proved be The Church's visibility? This place affords a slender proof, And little for the Pope's 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 Eph. 1.18. Nor are by searching f john 5.39. Scriptures wise, g Eph. 5.15, 17. This mounted City can not see, Nor where these lightsome Pastors be. h This was the answer of Aug. to the Donatists. Tract. 1. in Ep. johan. Christ bids us we the Church should tell, If things be not reform well. By Church, he means all such as be Endued with Authority. i The same which Paul calleth Presbyterion, 1. Tim. 4.14. The Eldership. These Office-bearers all men see, In times of settled Sovereignty, Yea, and among themselves theyare known, When th' outward state is overthrown. The Error of this Popish Argument. 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. Rome's state hath sometimes been obscured, And hath disgraces soul endured: Burnt, k By the Goths, 547. sacked, l By Charles, Duke of Bourbon, in the days of Pope Clement the 7. whereupon was made the clause in the Litany, Sancta Maria, etc. O holy Mary, pray for Pope Clement, etc. some Popes imprisoned, m john 14. Boniface 8. about the year 1304. Some glad to fly, n john 17. fled to Hetruria. some banished. o Vigilius 18. & Gregory 9 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 thou wilt her clean defame. * Succession. Succession cometh next in place, Whereby thou seekst thy Church to grace: Your turn Succession cannot serve, If from the Truth Succession swerver. The jewish Church from Aaron, A just descent might stand upon: Even when they crucified our Lord, And hated all that loved his Word. If we shall say, that Church was true, Consisting of so vile a crew, 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 At Constantinople there hath been a perpetual Succession from S. Andrew, Niceph. At Alexandria, from Saint Mark. Yet you of them do give this doom, That in God's church they have no 〈◊〉. Yet if Succession were a sign, Which your grand captain Bellarmine Dares not avouch, q Bellarmine sayeth, 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. I sayne would see, How Rome can prove her Pedigrée. You call your Church Saint Peter's chair, As though the Pope were Peter's Heir; But if that ground we once deny, What Papist can it verify? You cannot prove by holy Writ, Peter at Rome did Bishop sit: The only place which you do name, r 1. Pet. 5.13. The Rhemists say, that there, by Babylon is meant Rome, & so they confess Rome to be Babylon. Returneth to your greater shame. The things you fetch from History, Touching this point, do not agree, s Osorius saith, Peter came to Rome in the beginning of Claudius' reign; Hierome, in the 2. year: others, in the 4. year: other, the 13, year. Damasus saith, he came thither in Nero's reign; so that there is no certainty in that which they make an undoubted principle And what our part hath herein said, By Papists stands unanswered. But if he Bishop were indeed, Tell me who next did him succeed? Some, Clement, t The Pope's decrees hold so. and some, Linus hold. v Dorotheus, Euseb. li. 3. cap. 4. Hieron in Catalo. Thus your succession is controlled. Once was a Pope supposed a man, w john 8. Platina: The woman's name was Gilberta, a Dutch woman of Maguntium. But proved in time a Courtesan. Then either your Succession shrank, Or you must put her in the rank. When Popes there were some two x Two Popes together Anno 1083. & Anno 1058. & 1062. or three, y Bened. 9 silvest 3. Greg. 6. all at one time: and at another time, Ben. 13. a Spanish Pope, Greg. 12. a French Pope, and john 23. an Italian Pope. Where then might your succession be? One Schism held almost forty year, z 39 years. From Pope to Pope, as doth appear. a Let their Ancestors speak. One Council b The Council of Constance. did these Popes put down, And to another gave the crown. When these false Popes the place possessed, I think you'll say Succession ceased. Unity. 'TIs true, Christ's Church is always one, Tide unto him as Head alone: The parts thereof do well agree, c Acts 4.23. Like children of one Family. But yet not every company, Together linked in Unity, Must by and by be called good. If Truth by them shallbe withstood. To make a Calf they all agreed, d Exod. 32.1. All cried, Let Christ be crucified: e Math. 27.22. Great is Diana, with a shout At once the people all cried out. f Acts 19.34. john said, they should yield to the Beast. Even from the greatest to the least: g Apoc. 13.16. As Christ his City is but one, So is the Devils Babylon. h est dei una ecclesia, sic est diaboli un a Babylon, Aug. de Civi. Dei. The best sometimes do disagree, i Peter and Paul, Gal, 2.11. Paul & Barnabas, Acts 15.39. Chrysost. Theophilact, and Epiphanius, Augustine and Hierome, Cyrill & Theodoret. Each man hath his Infirmity: Better the Discord bringing Light, Then is agreement without right. k Kreisson empathous omonoias he uper eusebeias diastasis, Nazianz: Oratione prima de pace. Yet by this Mark, if Rome be tried, It will fall hard upon your side: Your joint-consent we can not find, Nor that you all are of one mind. If we shall credit History, You can not brag of Unity: Where twenty several schisms have been, l Genebrardus in Chro. What Harmony may there be seen? The Laws which one determineth, The Pope that follows cancelleth: m Stephen 6. abrogated all his Predecessors decrees. Formosus 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 The following Popes Theodorus 2. Romanus, joh. 10. confirmed all Formosus his acts. And yet another o After all, Pope Sergius disannulled their acts, took up Formosus his body, & cast it into Tibur, Ex. Poly. Chron. comes behind, Who with the former fault doth find, And all which they did quite displace, Reduceth to the former grace. Thus one sage Counsel doth decree, Another saith it may not be: p The first Nicene Council allowed Priests marriage, and the Communion in both kinds. The Counsels of Constance & Basil forbade 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 Carthage pronounced him accursed, & called him the Forerunner of Antichrist, whosoever should term 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 worshipped. Again, the Council of Franckfort, under Charles the great, determineth it to be Idolatry, & accurseth the Nicene council. Many the like differences might easily be alleged. That which one Sect q In anno 1476. there was a great controversy betwixt the franciscans & Dominicanes, touching the conception of the virgin Mary, whether she were conceived in sin or not. The Do, held she was, the Fra. the contrary: but the Pope joining with the Fr. 4. of the other were condemned & burned at Berne. or Author r Alph. de Castro li. 1. c. 6. holds the Pope inferior to the Council. The opinion of all the jesuits 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 & wine: or when he said, This is my body, whether so much bread as is taken only, be consecrated: whether the substance of the bread be turned to nothing, or changed into the substance of Chr. whether there be a bodily motion in the Sacra. whether the body of Chr. in the Sacr. can be touched: how the accidents in the Sacr. are with out a subject: whether they stick in the air, or in the body of Chr. or in some other subject: whether the accidents can be broken: whether they can nourish: whether the water mingled with the wine, be turned into Christ's blood. Whence come worms in the Host. likes, The same another clean out strikes. I know, you Papists do agree, To work the Church's misery: So Herode was made s Luke 23.12. pilate's friend, To bring our Saviour to his end. Some yield, as fearing to resist: (Such is the power of Antichrist:) You may not call this Unity, But rather bloody Tyranny. Some join, because they do not see The very depth of Popery: To build upon the Church belief, Of lay-Religion is the Brief. Some for ease and bellies sake, Do to your Church themselves betake: As Monks, and such as Loitering love, Whom none but Romists can approve. This is your Romish Concordance, Among yourselves at variance: Though all for some respects are led, To meet together in one Head. In one point more, I needs must stay, Though named of you but by the way: Lest with a Phrase of Peter's Keys, You dazzle should the people's eyes. By Keys, is meant the power to preach, And in God's Truth the Church to teach: t Luke 11.52. By it u Viz. Preaching. heaven's opened to receive All those which truly do believe. It is the power to lose and tie, Which Christ gave to the Ministry, w Therefore Ministers are said both to have the Ministry of Reconciliation, 2. Cor. 5.18. and the Ministry of Vengeance against disobedience, 2. Cor. 10.6. It was intended unto all, x Our Lord, in the person of one, gave the keys to all, to show the Unity of all, Cyp. de simp. praelatorum: 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 : When Mercies promise is repealed, Then by the Keys that Gate is sealed. y To bind and loose, is no other thing, but to declare God's sentence, Hieron. in Mat. 16. When Peter did his Faith confess, Th' Apostles by did mean no less: z Austin saith, he answered for all, Hom. in joh. 124. and elsewhere often: unus pro multis respondit: one made answer for all: and Lyranus, Confessio Petri, erat confessio alienorum. And that which Christ to Peter spoke, We may not from the other take. a Cuncti claves Regni, etc. All receive the keys of heaven, Hier. lib. 1. adversus iovi. Each true and faithful Minister, Is Peter's rightful Successer: Then speak no more of Peter's Keys, Except th' art sworn the Pope to please. Holy. Why the Church is called Holy. THou sayest, 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 decayed before, b By Adam's fall. Unto his Church Christ doth restore. That which is here in less degree, The same in heaven shall perfect be. If thou knewst Rome's Impurity, Thou wouldst brag of Sanctity: A sink of sin, a Sea of Evil, A place possessed of the Devil. c Gallus Senonensis wrote above 400 years ago, that Satan was let lose at Rome, to destroy the church. Th. Becket, a Romish saint, acknowledged the common proverb to be true, that there is no right at Rome. The B. of Worcester, a Papist, told Philpot, that he thought, the wickedness he saw in Rome made him an Heretic. Your Popes bear names of Holiness, But none more full of Wickedness: Let Stories speak, inquire of them, What Popes have worn the Diadem. Some Heretics, d Marcellinus Pope, sacrificed to the Idols of the paynim: Platin. & Vola ter. Liberius Pope, an Arrian. Plat. & Hiero. in Catal. scrip. Eccl. & in Chro. Anast. 2. Pope, an Acatian. Plat. Vigil. an Eutchyan. Liber in breviario. Honorius, a Monothelite, condemned by the Roman Council, under Adrian 2. some Murderers, e Pope Alexander 6. poisoned Gemes the great Turk's brother, committed to his custody, Hiero. Marius, Munst. lib. 4. Cosm. Pope Hildebrand hired one to kill the Emperor, Benno Cardinalis. Incestuous some, f john 13. Pope, committed incest with his two sisters: Luith. prand. lib. 6. He was wounded in adultery, Platina. Alexander 6. lay with his own daughter. Vol. some Sorcerers: g Hildebrand: so saith Benno the Card. Pope Silvester 2. gave himself to the Devil, to be Pope. Pla. joannes stella: many other were Magicians, as john 21. Benedict. 9 etc. Some noted for their Cruelty, h Pope Alexander 6. cut off the hands & feet of one Mancinellus, because he wrote against his filthiness. john 13. cut off the hands and noses of divers Cardinals. Plat. Some for their monstrous Blasphemy. i Pope Hildebrand threw the sacrament into the fire. Benno Card. Io. 22. derided the gospel, held the souls to be mortal, & 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. Io. 13. called the devil to help him at dice, & drank to him, Luith. p. lib. 6 One Pope k Pope Sergius 3. a famous Levimen l Marozia, wife to Guido. kept, Whose Bastard to the Popedom crept: m john 11. or as some count, Io. 12. See Plat. and Luithprand. Another granted Liberty, To practise beastly Sodomy. n Sixtus 4. granted liberty to the whole family of the Cardinal of Saint Lucy in the three hot months, june, july, August, to use Sodomitry. Wesellus Groningensis in a Treatise de Indulg. Papalibus, at the foot of the licence, was written, Fiat ut petitur: Be it as it is requested. Who but the Pope receiveth rend, Which from the Stews to him is sent? o Every common harlot 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 Méeter vile expressed The sin, which nature doth detest? Let Beneventum name the man: p The Archbishop of Beneventum, johannes a Casa, Deane of the Pope's chamber, used Sodomy, and commended it in Italian Meeter: the book was printed at Venice, by Troianus Naws: 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. Like to your Popes, your service is, Holy service. Wanting no store of blasphemies: Which, lest the people should espy, You hide in Latin secrecy. I need no better witnesses, Then your allowed Portesses, Your Missals and your Litanies, 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 Isa. 48.11. Yet you to creatures it convert. Unto the Saints you prayers make, r There is neither commandment in the Scripture, that we should pray to saints, 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 In their prayers upon the saints days, still those words come in, that by their merits we may have profit, by their requests we may be delivered etc. And Lambard saith, the Saints do iunare nos merito, l. 4. dist. 45. d. 10. You do adore a piece of bread, 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 They are fond, because touching th' estate of the dead, there is no certainty. prayers for the dead. You kneel down to a Cross of wood, w All hail, O Cross, our only hope, etc. increase righteousness to the godly, and give pardon to the guilty. In breniario infra, Heb. 4. Quad. Thinking thereby to purchase good: And for some things you would have done, You pray the Virgin, charge her Son. x Roga Patrem, iube natum; iure matris impera, etc. Pray the father, charge thy son, command by the right of a mother: In officio beata Maria. With Christ you do saint Frances join, y They say, that Saint Francis could save all that shall live after him to the end of the world, through his merits, from everlasting Death. Flosc. beati Francis. Conformit. s. Fran. Tho. lib. 4. dist. 4. art. 3. And so his glory do purloin: One Mediator z 1. Tim. 2.5. That place proveth, that there is but one Mediator, as well as that there is but one God. we do know, You have joined with him many more. 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 Luke 1.48. And say she passed women all: But when you call her, Gate of Grace, c Coeli senestra: Regis al●i ian●a, etc. We say, Christ's honour you deface. The thing which made her spirit glad, Was, that she such a Saviour had: d 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 God's grace like them to live, e 1. Cor. 11.1. We care to keep their memory, f Heb. 13.7. And God in them we glorify. g Gal. 1.23. ‡ Holy Ceremonies. Your Ceremonies idle be, And savour most of vanity: You stand so much on out ward show, That you the substance overthrow. With Images and Pictures gay, You steal the people's hearts away: Well may you please the outward eye, The Spirit you do not edify. A pretty play, to see a Priest Tossing his God between his fist: Such Gestures, and such Apish mows, Such warbling, and such Antic shows: h Whoso readeth the Canon of the Mass, shall there see a world of idle & ridiculus ceremonies. Now bends, now ducks, now stands upright, Then turns him to the people's sight: Now sighs, now twenty crosses makes, And o'er his head the Wafer shakes: Then washeth, than the Chalice licks, And shuts his Idol in the Pixe: But still the man is much afeard, Lest aught should hang upon his beard. Mean while, the vulgar in a maze, Upon the cakey Idol gaze, And knock and kneel, & think them well, That they have heard the sacring Bell. Tell me, I pray thee, doth God will, With such fond Kites his Church to fill. They never came into his thought: i jere. 19.5. Tradition only hath them brought. 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, Sixtùs 2. brought in the Sanctus: Innocentius 1. the Pax. Leo 1. added this clause (A holy sacrifice and unbloody Host:) Gelacius, the Prefaces, Collects, Gradualts. Symmachus, the Gloria in excelsis. Agapetus 1. the 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. 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 Rhem. Heb. 7. s. 8. Concil. Trident. ses. 22. cap. 1. Both for the living and the dead. m Conc. Trid. ses. 22. cap. 3. Look first what Christ did institute, n Mat. 26.26. Mat. 14.22. Lu. 22.19. 1. Cor. 11.24. And that one place shall you refute: What he did, we must do likewise, o This do ye, 1. Cor. 11.25. There's no word of a Sacrifice. By this (said Christ) Remember me. That shows he would not present p Bodily. hi●. We keep such things in memory, Which we behold not really. The Priests of old did every day Some Offering on the Altar lay. q Heb. 10.11. Christ's holy Offering is but One, Performed by himself alone. r Heb. 10.12. If Christ shall often offered be, We shall his sufferings multiply: As on the Cross he died not twice. So there's no second Sacrifice: s Heb. 9.25, 26, 27, 28. There's now no sacrificing Priest: That Office resteth upon Christ: t Heb. 7.23, 24. It comes to none successively: 'Tis his for all eternity. u The office of a Priest, so far forth as we understand thereby a Sacrificer, whom the Grecians call iereus, belongs only to Christ, and cannot pass from him to any other, 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 can not simply be misliked. How can a Mass a Pardon bring, Sith 'tis a bloodless Offering? w Heb. 9.22. Christ hath procured Remission: x Heb. 9.12. What needs a new Oblation? y Heb. 10.18. See then your holy Sacrifice, A thing without all warantize Of Scriptures, or of Writers sage, Which lived in the purest Age. 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. * Holy Sacraments. The Sacraments in number twain, You naked have with a longer train, The seven-headed Romish Beast, a Revelation 17.8. The Two to seven hath increased. Both Baptism, b Matthew 28.19. and that holy Feast c 1. Cor. 11.24. etc. Commanded are by Christ's behest: Show me but one commandment, To prove an other Sacrament. d No Father within an hundred years 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 Viz. Ordinary. two in the New: f Viz. The form of God's worship under the law. So shall we have proportion true: Name what in th' ancient Liturgy, Your five false Symbols do supply. 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, than they cannot justify them to be Sacraments. Those Sacraments which holy be, You stained have with your Pedlery: In Baptism, oil, lights, spittle, cream, Your Exorcism, and conjured stream; Were these invented by God's Spirit, Or found you them in Holy Writ? Whence had you all that rituous store Used in the Mass and named before? ‡ Holy days. You speak next of Festivities, And Holy day Solemnities: Thou thinkest by this, with easiness To prove thy Church's Holiness. Truth is, men's Conscience you enthrall. h Bellarmine saith, men are bound in conscience to keep the Festivities of the Church, lib. 3. ca 10. prop. 3. and so do the Rhemists, Gal. 4. s. 5. To many an idle Festival: i Very near 200. if we put those together which were determined of, Concil. Oxon. sub Steph. & 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 triple fault some to transgress. So with your doubling and redoubling style, The simple people you beguile: The Lord is weary of your Feasts, k Isay 1.14. And likes not your devised rests. All days are like in Holiness, None holy more, none holy less: l The difference betwixt days, is in observation & use, and not in the nature of the day: if one day had been in nature holier than another, the Sabbath might not have been altered. Paul thought his labour was in vain, Where days distinctions did remain. m Gal. 4.10, 11. Thou hoy'st to put us in some fear, With speaking of the Kalendere: n Saints canonised. Thou ask'st what Faith all those did hold, Whose names are found therein enrolled? I tell thee plain, 'tis nought to me, What many a one there named might be: My faith's not so set on the Rack, To seek strength from the Almanac. Yet sure I am, what we profess, Some that are there, believed no less: o As Peter, Paul, Mary etc. 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 Martyr's praise: But us which do bleéeve the same, You seek to kill and to defame. Thou ask'st who them canonised, Whose names are there enregistered? You say the Pope. I ask again, Wilt thou that sainting power maintain? p The custom of Canonizing Saints, was not heard, till one thousand years after Christ, in the days of Alexander 3. and Gregory 7. Can any mortal Creature tell, Who goes to Heaven, and who to Hell? All judgement, Paul bid us forbear, Until the Lord himself appear. q 1. Cor. 4.5. In Heaven to sit or high or low, Is it in man's power to bestow? r Math. 20.23. What Bishop can, or Saints invest, Or shut men from eternal Rest? Some one Pope doth a Saint install: His grant another doth recall: s Boniface 8. caused Hermannus ferrarians, who had been canonised for a Saint 30 years before, to be taken out of his grave, and burned anno, 1300. 'Tis but a silly dignity, That's Subject to uncertainty. Among your Saints even those are seen, Which to their Prince have traitors been. t As Thomas Becket, and Elizabeth Barton, called The holy Maid of Kent. Though that our Church such Saints despise. To it it is no prejudice. Heretics. THe Caveat touching Heretics, Doth make against false Catholics; We know full well, that Popery Is but a Mass of Heresy. Those Errors which of old were hatched, Your Church together bathe them patched, w 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 sayeth, 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. Heres. 24. It alloweth praying in an unknown tongue with the Osseni, Epiph. Hear. 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 Heretics it useth bread only in the Communion, Leo ser. 4. de Quad. and placeth fasting in the distinction of meats, Aug. de Morib. Eccl. & Manich. lib. 2. cap. 23. It thinks that all necessary doctrine is not contained in the Scripture, with Montanus, Ep. Haer. 48. It braggeth of inherent righteousness, with the Cathari, Isid, Etym. lib. 8. cap. de Haer. Christ: It worshippeth Angels with the Angelici, Aug. ad Quoduuli, cap. 39 It denieth the preaching of the word to be a note of the Church, with the Donatists, Aug. in variis locis: and with them tieth the Church to one set place, Cass. in Psal. 60. It worshippeth the Cross, with the Armenians, Euthymius in Panoplia. Thus in many other points it partaketh with the ancient Heretics. On them she puts a fairer name, But in effect they are the same. You razed have the Foundation Of all Truth and Religion: You changed have the Sincerity Of all the Grounds of Piety. w As for example, First, the Article of justification, the efficient cause of our Salvation and Righteousness by the Scripture, is God's love and grace only, 2. Tim. 1, 9 Tit. 2.11. Ephes. 1.5. john 3.6. The Papists say, God is moved by our preparing works. So held Maluend in his disputation with Bucer at Ratisbone: so Bonaventure lib. 1. sen. dist. 41. Quest, 1. Touching the matter of our justification, the Scripture propoundeth nothing but Christ's obedience, Rom. 5.19. & 10.4. The Papists place our Righteousness before God in our own works & merits, Con. Trid. s. 6. c. 7. For the Form (as Scholars call it) of justification, it is by the Scriptures, the imputation of Christ's 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, & that no man is to expect righteousness of 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, & that they may perform more than the Law binds unto: whence are sprung the works of Supererogation, and Indulgences, which that Council so highly prizeth. ses. 21. ca 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 only, 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. 6.9. A fift ground is, that we cannot satisfy God for our least sins: The Scripture ascribeth all satisfaction to Christ, Herald 1.3. 1. Pet. 1.24. Re. 1.5. The Papists maintain that we may & must satisfy, making satisfaction a part of penance, Con. Trid. s. 14. c. 13. A sixth ground is, that the Scripture contains all doctrine necessary for our salvation. So saith the Scripture, 2. Tim. 3.16. and the ancient Church, Aug. lib. 3. cont. lit. Petil. c. 6. & 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 the people unto salvation, & aught to be read of them. Thereto accords the holy Text, joh. 5.39. Col. 3.16. The ignorance therein is the cause of all error, Mark 12.24. The Papists forbidden the people the use of the Scripture, Rhemists' Preface: and do all in the Church service in an unknown tongue. Eightly, the Scripture teacheth us to worship God alone, Math. 4.10. The Papists worship Angels and Saints, yea their Images & Relics: Their distinction of Latria and Dulia will not serve them: for they pray to creatures, & that is Latria: and they acknowledge that which they call Latria, to be due to the Cross, Tho. p. 3. sum. Quae. 25. art. 4. & Andrad. lib. 9 Orth. expl. Ninthly, it is the Doctrine of the Scripture, that Christ, according to his human nature, is only in Heaven, Act. 3.21. Papists say, he is bodily present in the Eucharist, Con. Tri. s. 13. ca 6. Tenthly, Christ ordained the Communion in both kinds, commanding to do as he did, 1. Cor. 11.24. etc. Papists take the Cup from the Laity. Con. Trid. s. 21 c. 1. Thus, as in these particulars, so in many other, it were easy to show, how the Church of Rome hath overthrown the main points of Holy Doctrine, & have nothing left but the name of the Church, and a Title and show of Religion. Thou fallest now to a railing vain, And wouldst by this thy Pope maintain: Leave idle terms, and show some Reason, Else all these words come out of season. Show thou what Sects we do devise, And wherein we deliver Lies: And prove it so, that all may see, Lest thou thyself the Liar be. Foxes and Dogs & Wolves thou namest, And thieves, wherein thyself thou sham'st: Or prove all this in us is true, Eyes we return it back to you. They called Saint Paul an Heretic, x Acts 24.14. A Babbler, y Acts 17.18. and a Schismatic: z Acts 24.5. & 28.22. They said, our Saviour was possessed, a john 8.48. And of his preaching made a jest, b Luke 16.14. Yet Paul no Heresy 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 err, 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 comest to an old worn Argument: Where was your Church some years ago, Before the World did Luther know? If briefly now I should deny The Church's Visibility: It were a word sufficient, To overthrow this prattlement. Yet this I say, and will maintain, That even when Blindness most did rain, Our Church a certain being had, Though not with outward Beauty clad: Like to that holy portion, c 1. Kings 19.8. In that great Superstition, Which overwhelmed all Israel, After the Tribes from David d David's line. fell. Or as some Ears of purer seed, Amidst a field of noisome Weed, So God had some even at that time, When Antichrist was in his Prime. And now and then out broke the Light, Even in that long and irksome Night: Like as the Sun in lowering days, Sometime sends forth his glittering rays. Long time ere Luther yet was borne, Whom you our Founder name in scorn, There were which show'd their enmyty, Against your vile Idolatry. e Bertram wrote against Transubstantiation, anno 812. a Bishop of Florence was condemned for teaching, that Antichrist was come anno 1114. Arnulph was murdered 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 oil, etc. anno, 1137. Io. 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. & 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 heretic, in the years 1236. 1237. 1238. Grosted Bishop of Lincoln wrote against the Pope, anno 1246. Arnold de nova villa, against Masses, & Sacrifices for the dead, taught, that the Pope's belief, was the devils belief, anno 1259. All Histories are full of the like examples. These few may serve for a taste, to satisfy 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 antichrist's deformity, That all men might him fully know, Before his final overthrow. Our Pastor chief f 1. Pet. 5.4. in heaven did sit, And so doth still, saith holy writ: g Acts 4.21. On earth, a Universal Priest, None dare be called but Antichrist. h Gregory the great, a Bishop of Rome, said, that whoso calleth himself, or desireth to be called Universal Bishop, is the Forerunner 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 Acts 19.24. Well may the Heathen people boast Of Piramées and Churches cost: In houses made, God doth not dwell, As holy Scripture doth us tell. k Act. 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 which do Church-spoyling love, Our Faith and Church doth not approve. Those Cells and Dens of Idleness, And Nurseryes of wickedness, Upon good causes were displaced, As Baal's Temples were defaced. l 2. Kings. 10. * Touching Luther's Marriage. A Lawless vow m It is well called a Lawless Vow, because it is of a thing which is not in man's power. If it be said that by fasting & prayer it may be performed, & continency obtained: I answer, the gifts of God are twofold: Some common to all Believers, as Faith, etc., Some peculiar to some only, 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 broke, and took a Wife. Better the pure and Spotless Bed, n Koite amiantos, Heb. 13.4. Then by unclean lusts to be led. o 1. Cor. 7.9. Better the married Chastity, p Papists do oppose marriage & chastity: but Paul bids young women to be chaste & subject to their Husbands. Tit. 2.4.5. Then violent Virginity: They ought not single to remain, Who are not gifted, to contain. q 1. Cor. 7.9. Wedlock itself can not defile, It hath an Honourable Style: r Heb. 13.4. God doth it not to each man give, Without the marriage bonds to live. s Math. 19.11. And it is allowed to a Bishop, to be the Husband of one wife, 1. Tim. 3.2. The forced vows of Singleness Have brought forth beastly Filthiness: Thou mayst behold in History The fruits of Monkish Lechery. t There were 6000. infants heads found in Pope Gregory his mote, as appeareth by the letter of Voluntianus, Bishop of Carthage, or as some think, of Huldericus, Bishop of Augusta to Pope Nicholas, against the forbidding of Priest's marriage. Thy poisoned Tongue doth further reach The noble Saxon to impeach: Because to Truth he did incline, Thou callest him a Libertine. When God was pleased 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 Apostasy, 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 reign, When the right Owner hath been slain. So did the jewish Synagogue Safely keep Moses Decalogue, And th'other Books, u Viz. the Prophets & Psalms; for so is the old Testament divided, Moses, the Prophets, and Psalms, Luke 24.44. when cruelly They did Christ jesus crucify. § Touching the calling of Ministers. The Pastors, which did first restore The Truth which lay long 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, w In their admittance. That they the Truth should sound 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 ruinated. As we account your Baptism true, And never do the same renew, 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 In their oaths and admissions, they put in this clause (The Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome) which in elder times was not used. And bind them to maintain the state Of your thrée-Crowned Potentate. See now (O Papist) thou recant, thou'rt answered 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 It is also answered before. It sails not whence the Faith was brought, Or who it first amongst us taught. Let us into the Scripture look, z Isay 8.20. And duly search a john 5.39. Acts 17.11. that holy Book: Thence shall we know which Church to leave, b We have found Christ in the Scriptures; there we must also find the Church, Aug. de Pastoribus. And unto which alone to cleave. These swelling words c 2. Pet. 2, 18. of Unity, Succession, and Antiquity, Are but poor groundless fantasies, To blind the simple people's eyes. Though that an Angel thou shouldst see, Let him (saith Paul) accursed be, d Gal. 1. ●. If from the Scripture he doth err, Account him not God's 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 Deut. 13.1, 2, 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 f john 10.27. of Christ jesus, Who is the Son of God most true. FINIS.