✚ A short treatise of certain things abused In the popish Church, long used: But now abolished, to our consolation, And God's word advanced, the light of our salvation. Matthew. seven. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shallbe hewn down & cast into the fire Psalm. cxxiii Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the foular/ the snare is broken and we are delivered. Mat. xv. All plants that my heavenly father hath not planted, shall be plucked up by the rofes Psal. cxviii. It is time (O Lord) to lay to thine hand, for they have destroyed thy law. Cum Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum. Preserve me (O god) for. in the do I trust. Psalm. xv. GRace which is the mercy favour and acceptation. Apoc. i. Of God our heavenly father, be given to this audience Peace, from jesus Christ, our health and satisfaction Which is the true tranquillity, of a quiet conscience Be ministered unto you with a more relyced sentence Than all tongues be able to make declaration My intent is to declare, if a while ye will keep silence How gods word is flourished, the light of our salvation We have been drowned with dreams, as our forefathers have been Ps. 106 living in wilful ignorance, not searching for the verity believing to have sight, when we have not seen But heaping sin upon sin, committing iniquity For lack of godly knowledge, brought into captivity Eccl. 21. So that the blind lead the blind, as Christ maketh demonstration Mat. 15 And both fell in the lake, of utter darkness or tenebre But now god's word is flourished, the light of our salvation The shepherds that should feed the flock, as Ezechiel doth say Eze. 34. And hath famished them for food, woe unto them all That thus suffereth the sheep to perish, going a stray From the hands of such blind guides the lord doth us call The sick have they not healed, the weak have they let fall But chuclishly and cruelly, be they had in estimation Come away good people, from their doctrine diabolical Apo. 18. For now god's word is flourished, the light of our salvation A great colour of holiness in the Pope's church hath been used The which is plain wickedness, as god's word proveth right 4. re. 17. To maintain the old customs, of most men now refused The verity clean banished, & truth put to flight if god had not been merciful, all men had lost the light Blind was the ceremony, for all the sainctification But now it is evident, to every christian wight How gods word is flourished, the light of our salvation In the stead of god's word we had holy bread & water Holy palms holy ashes, holy candles holy fire Holy bones holy stones, holy crewittes at the altar Holy censars holy banners, holy crosses holy atyer Holy wax holy pax, holy smoke holy smyer Holy oil holy cream, holy wine for veneration Holy coop holy canepy, holy relics in the quire Thus gods word could not florissh the light of our salvation We have had bells christened, vestiments consecrated Chalices anointed, high altars washed and hallowed Images tabernacled, dead men's bones shrined Conjured Crosses censed, spittled and spattled With turn and half turn, the people was deceived Seist me or seist me not, and much more abomination Feats of legerdemain, by these jugglers invented That god's word should not flourish, the light of our salvation. Upon the high holy evenness, as they do them call, They range all the bells a solemn noys to hear There had we evensong: compline, & salve with all Of that was song or said, themselves were never the near 1. cor. 14 For it was in a foreign tongue, as it doth well apere Nother to them nor us, was there edification For it was all lip labour, song they never so clear Esa. 29. seldom preach they christ, to be the light of our salvation The next day following we had matins, with prime and hours holy Many a deus in adiutorium, all in the latin tongue Conjuring of holy water, followed then immediately Procession after idols, all the church yard long High mass with devout sensings, ruffling it in priksong Then ran we to take holy bread, without signification These plants be plucked up, be they never so strong Mat, 15 They were not graffed on god's word, the light of our salvation With these old customs & such like, god is displeased sore As in the first of Esay, there is demanded plain Who required these of you, such things I do abhor Esai. 2 your Sabothes and your solemn days, your fastings are in vain New holidays & fastings, from my heart I do disdain God saith he is weary both of you and your oblation He biddeth you labour in his vine yard, and therein take pain To teach the people God's word, the light of our salvation soon it is seen what pains, in this vineyard they did take For every quick spring that brought forth, the fruit of God's verity They cried out on him heretic, burn him at a stake He speaketh against our Ceremonies, and therefore shall he die Throw such wretches in prison, and let the caitiffs lie And if they be not willing, to make their recantation famish them for food, or murder them privily Papists make traditions that light of their salvation. They speak against traditions the light of our salvation. Than scourged they the simple souls/ with their whip of correction And there on hanged vi strings, surely fastened with a law This whip was very meet, for their pestilent complexion For thorough such tyranny, the people's hearts were raw, Thus many faithful membres, from the truth did draw until our noble king, of his mercy and compassion Psa. 123 Broke this cruel whip, that kept the people in awe And hath advanced God's word, the light of our salvation. Bewail doth our Balamytes, disclosing their own nature Even as unshamefast shavelings, threatening Christ's poor sheep saying, if the sword were on our sides, be ye sure As it hath been before, than would ye not once peep But now that ye think all good order, is laid down to sleep ye make a bragging and a boasting of your exaltation Now who but ye gospelers, that Christ's flock doth keep ye teach the people gods word, the light of our salvation Thus was their hands defiled with blood, their fingers with unrighteousness devouring up the gospelers, in every town and city From their lips proceeded lies, their tongues advanced wickedness Without respect to the truth, they judge nothing truly Esa. 57 They hatched Cockatrice eggs, as we have seen it plainly And weaved spiders webs, by their cruel consultation. Now he that eateth of their eggs, shall not escape but die Or be an enemy to the truth/ the light of our salvation. The chiefest thing they set by/ is almost fallen away I mean their masking Mass, by so many Popes devised For thorough it the lords supper, hath been in great decay And the right institution, blasphemously blemished Thus in the popish church, it hath been long abused But now verity will have the matter, in examination He saith plainly such abusion, shall no more be used It shall be tried by God's word, the light of our salvation This Mass as they supposed, was alone sufficient To pacify God's wrath, for our wretched misery Free forgiveness of sins, being never so unpenitent Might be received at the Mass, this was their doctrine daily No small time were we blinded, with such popish peltry Making us to pay, for the holy consecration Like thieves that were unsatiate, they rob soul & body Without the fear of God's word, the light of our salvation. Christ held not the bread over his head, it is not in the Scripture. But broke it and divided it, to his apostles all Mar. 14 Christ bade them not kneel to it, of this ye may be sure if ye do search the Scriptures find it so ye shall Christ willed them to reseeve it, in the memorial 1. Cor. 11 That his body for our sins, suffered pain and passion To pacify the father's wrath, when we in sin do fall Thus was he offered once for all, the light of our salvation Herald 7.1. Mark how blindly we were fed, with our popish gentylinen Mark how with false doctrine, they have bleared our eyes. Mat. 16 Mark how craftily we were fed with Pharisees leaven Mark also how they repine, the gods word should arise Mark what devilish doctrine, these dreamers did devise Mark how cruel they have been, to Christ's congregation 2. Ti. 4. Mark how moche they have maintained, fantasies and lies Nothing regarding gods word, the light of our salvation Of long time have they caused us, commit abomination Robbing god of the honour, which to him is dew, ●●. 7.17 By inventing false gods, of their Imagination Making thereof a sacrifice, and if they prove this true They must confess they crucify, god's son again a new For if their bread be Christ, by transubstantiation Than offer they in sacrifice, this must needs ensue God and man flesh and blood, the light of our salvation Mat. 16 Doth not scripture say, into heaven Christ ascended Acts. 7 And dwelling not in temples, made with man's hand Heb. 10. But sat him down for ever/ until the world be ended Making intercession, both for free and bond That unto his godly promise, faithfully do stand This should be to the idolaters an honest reformation To drive them from Idolatry, for fear they be fond Enemies unto gods word the light of our salvation Ihon. 6 Christ is the bread of life which descended from the deite if any tate of that bread he shall live evermore Ihon. 8 Christ alone the son of God maketh us free Matt. 1. And from all our sins, clearly doth us restore Christ for all penitent hearts, hath laid up mercy in store Rom. 4 Christ died for our sins, and rose for our justification We believe to find him a merciful saviour For god hath chosen him to be the light of our salvation Now seeing we have Christ to be our only advocate In whom God the father, hath a special delight Let us hear him, for he alone doth invocate Mat. ● And of our sins clean forgiveness, we have in God's sight 2. Pet. 1 What need we than to seek help, at any other wight But even only in the merits, of jesus Christ's passion Eph. 1. bewailing our great misery, desiring day and night To find him a merciful God, the light of our salvation. Heb. 1. All we have offended, and have need of God's glory Rom. ●● No man is found righteous, and pure in his presence yet thorough his son Christ, we be forgiven freely For he hath made a sacrifice, for our sins and offence Heb. 7. He is our reconciler, peace maker, and defence He it is that shed his blood, only for our redemption And would have all men saved, this is his pretence Thus are we cleansed by Christ, the light of our salvation No small cause have we to rejoice, if we do consider How our merciful God, hath for his flock provided Replenyshinge us with meat, that endureth for ever I mean his eternal word from which we were divided Ihon. 6 By way of persecution abhorred and derided But thanks be to the living God, which for our consolation Hath overthrown the enemies, that thus enterprised Act. 9 To persecute the Gospel, the light of our salvation. And where we lived in fear, to confess the verity mat. 25. By hiding our talon, as servants unprofitable Now is that yoock broken, and we set at liberty Psa. 113 Plenteously to publish, the truth without fable Let us therefore beware, we be not found variable But lay a sure hold to the plough, with heart and cogitation Luke. 9 Continuing unto the end, strong steadfast and stable 1. Cor. 15 In no wise to renounce the truth, the light of our salvation. Apo. 17 Forsake the whore of Babylon, and the mark of the beast Forsake her merchants all, for they be most pestilent Apo. 18. Forsake the wares that she sold, from the most to the least Forsake her holy holiness, that she esteemed excellent Forsake the devilish doctrine, that she did invent Apo. 17. Forsake and flee utterly, from her abomination Apo. 18. For Kings and Princes were deceived, that to her did consent Persecuting God's word, the light of our salvation. Let us forsake all ceremonies, that to Scripture be not consonant Psal. ●● Traditions of forefathers, wherein we have been lead And with the lively word of God, let us now be conversant For therein shall we see, with what baggage we were feed wandering in the Pope's laws/ forsaking Christ our head 2. Pe. 2. heaping upon ourselves, the more greater damnation Thus were Traditions and Ceremonies, maintained in the stead Of God's true and sincere word, the light of our salvation Let us earnestly therefore desire, with an heart unfeigned Tim. 1. That in all thing we do, God may have the glory yea, and embrace this heavenly word, which we have received Not in talk/ nor to receive it as a carnal liberty But to bring forth the fruits of the spirit, so that thereby It may appear manifest, in our Godly conversation To be a light unto the world/ forsaking all iniquity And to persever in the truth, the light of our salvation. And doubt not all that the heavenly father hath not planted He will pluck up by the roots, they shall no more endure Mat. 15 This in his eternal word, he hath it promised Therefore be not unfaithful, for his covenant is full sure Heaven and earth shall perish, this is without recure Luk. 16. But his word shall never pass, by no determination until all thing be ended, therefore I you allure To trust wholly in his word, the light of our salvation Hunger and thirst for righteousness, than shall ye be satisfied Mat. 5. Mortify the flesh, with the deeds thereof also Let no filthy communication, out of your mouths proceed Ephe. 4 But as it becometh saints, even so look ye do Blessed be he to whom sin, is not imputed to Psal. 31. Neither in his spirit is there found dissimulation such shall enjoy the heavenly joys, knowing no kind of woe But have the fruition of God's sight, the light of our salvation And above all thing to embrace, God's eternal verity Which unto a Christian man, there is nothing so acceptable For as much as in it/ is contained sincerely The duty of all persons, a doctrine most profitable And in especial to this, we must be agreeable To love God above all thing, this is the chief foundation And our neygbours as ourself, thus shall we without fable receive at the hand of God, the light of our salvation. Let us be thankful to our God, for his etern verity With which he hath most plenteously endued our noble King So that among all his affairs, he may setforth god's glory With no less zeal than he hath done, sense his first beginning I mean, Edward the sixth, over us now raining Right Inheritor by dissent, of this realm or dominion That out of his Princely heart, there may distill and springe God's power and lively word, the light of our salvation. Also for those good ladies, of the same stock and lineage Mary and Elyzabeth, sisters unto his grace The heavenly Lord endue them, unto their last age Even as their noble father did, all Popery to deface And Gods eternal Testament, always to embrace For there in shall they learn, by the heavenly instigation To follow the fruit of the spirit, and thereby to purchase The Celestial kingdom, the light of our salvation. For the most honourable Council, with my Lord Protector Which striveth strongly with the enemies of God night and day In his proceedings and doings, the Lord be his director With his holy spirit also/ to rule their hearts alway That thorough their spiritual labour/ all Popery may decay And utterly banished the land/ with Godly reformation suppressing all false doctrine/ and to set such a stay That God's word may increase/ the light of our salvation. And that it may please thee (O God) to illumine the spirituality As bishops and all ministers/ with knowledge and understanding Of thy most blessed word/ to set it forth with sincerity And unfeignedly follow/ both in doctrine and living feeding Christ's flock/ with the word everlasting Not compelled thereunto/ nor for hope of promotion 1. Pet. 5 But for favour which they bear to it above all thing And thus shall God's word flourish/ the light of our salvation. Let Christ be preached the saviour/ wherein we may trust Rebuke every sin/ beware of devilish Doctrine 1. Ti. 4. Double tongued men/ in no wise be they must Not given to filthy lucre/ nor to much wine 1. Tim. 3 But having the mystery of Faith/ in conscience pure and clean And or they presume to minister in the congregation They ought to be well proved, this doth saint Paul determine And then to feed us with the truth, the light of our salvation. And even as it is their duty, to rebuke sin So is it our parts also, to cease from sin alway considering Satan was the first/ that did it begin Therefore be they our watchmen, as ezechiel doth say Eze. ●●● Now, if we have a warning, and will fully decay Our own blood upon our heads, this is without negation Reed the text and more plainly, see it there ye may Thus God would have all men saved, the light of our salvation. And for us poor communs also, the Lord be our over sear That above all we may desire, peace and quiet rest Both of soul and body, for that do we require So shall we prosper in all goodness, and God pleased best And at the last to be with Christ, this is our request Which is the head of the faithful and Christian congregation receiving there a kingdom, ever to have rest In joy and bliss without end, there to have our salvation. AMEN. james. i. ✚ Every good gift/ and every perfit gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of light. Proverb. two. For it is the Lord that giveth wisdom/ out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Psalm. cxv. Not unto us (O Lord) not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise. Timothee. i. ✚ To God only/ give the glory. Quod, Peter Moon ✚ Imprinted at Ippyswyche by me John Oswen. Cum Privilegio ad Imprimendum solum. 1548