A Brief resolution of a right Religion. TOUCHING THE Controversies, that are now in England. Written by C. S. PRO. 15.32. He that refuseth to be reform despiseth his own soul: but he that submitteth himself to correction is wise. LONDON. Printed by Roger Ward, for john Proctor, and are to be sold at his shop upon Holborn Bridge. 1590. TO THE READER. THou hast (courteous Reader) here offered unto thy view, a small book containing the resolution of a true Religion. It is garnished with no great eloquence or rhetorical flourish, as manifesting my intent therein to be more to delight the inward heart, with matter of substance, than the outwaed care, with words of trifling dalliance. The positions I hope will prove true, the question not doubtful, though dangerous to myself, in that I shall hazard my person in running upon the cragged Rocks of the pestilent toonged Papists: I trust, notwithstanding the ship of my safety will be strong enough, if not to break the rocks, yet to bear the brunts of all such stormy and tempestuous accidents as wind and weather shall throw upon me sailing in so troublesome seas. howbeit I mean well even to the Romish Catholics themselves, whom earnestly I would request to read this small work with a single eye, and with an indifferent mind, not carried away with enraged rancour, or wonted obstinacy: for I will not fear to make themselves judges of the cause, if they have their eyes to see, or wills to judge with indifferency. I have not run over all matters of both sides, for neither could I in so small a room, only and especially I have leveled at the very foundation: Read it through therefore (gentle Reader) with no less good mind than I wrote it, and then I doubt not but thou wilt in fine be resolved with me of a right Religion: If my work want learning, in recompense thereof I pray thee accept my good will, wherein is no defect. Thus not doubting of thy humanity, hoping well also of thy divinity, I commend this my book to thy grateful courtesy, and bid thee most heartily farewell. Vale in Christo. C. S. R. Armin in praise and commendation of this brief Resolution of a right Religion. THere are many that have took upon them to set down the points of true Religion, and have aptly argued of particular parts, yea and rightly deciphered the ample Rules of truth, amongst whom as chief, this learned student, C.S. hath sufficiently plainly and profoundly placed it before our eyes, and having quite suppressed false doctrine hath presented to our view, this right resolution and I in this behalf will say, that the papist may well knock himself on the breast, saying a Confiteor, making vain signs of repentance of his sins, but if he look narrowly unto it, he shall find it nothing but mockery and hypocrisy. The other vicious and detestable sect, are Martinesses, who see so far into matters, that they oversee themselves, wresting things from the right sense to the wrong, making show of zeal when it is mere folly, therefore let them know here is the right religion, though a brief resolution, short and sweet, and therefore you that will be heirs of heaven, and you zealous protestants wish him well whose employed study was, and is to conduct you to the truth, and therefore hold every sect false, whose rules he doth contradict, and withal patience wait for the coming of the Lord jesus Christ, and labour so that you may be found of him without spot and blameless. Surely that day ought to be fearful to the wicked, but of us that should be most desired, knowing assuredly that there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ jesus, and his great kindness and meekness when he cometh to make us live with him for ever in heaven. Amen. R. A. A BRIEF RESOLUTION OF a right Religion. GReat controversy hath long been between the Papists and Protestants (as they are commonly termed) whether of them be the true church, for it is agreed of both sides, that Extra Ecclesiam non est salus. but surely me thinks it is a question, scarce questionable: for, the papistical romish Church arrogateth, that they are the true church: and our Religion, grounded out of the word of God, persuadeth us to be of the true church, for we are builded upon the sacred writings of the Prophets and Apostles Christ jesus himself being the a Ephes. 2.20. corner stone: their church, or rather synagogue of Satan is builded upon unwritten verities and depraved sacred truth, the pope of Rome, a man, nay b reve. 13.1 a beast, with seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy, being the head thereof. We embrace Paul, we embrace Peter, and yet we renounce the Pope, who vainly boasteth himself to be Peter's successor, in as much as the Pope is neither like to Peter, in doctrine, manners, nor religion, and in vain shall the pope boast to have his place, when he cometh nothing near unto, in the qualities of his person, nor in the doctrine of the Apostles, for in this respect there is as much difference between them, as betwixt black and white, light and darkness, heaven and hell, as afterward shallbe manifested, Christ hath forewarned us that there shall arise c Mat. 24.24. false Christ's, and false Prophets, and shall show great signs, and wonders to deceive (if it were possible) the very elect. Paul hath given us a good caveat, let no man (saith he) deceive himself: & again, let every man take heed how he buildeth: And he addeth this rule, to know d 1. Cor. 3.18. assuredly the true and right foundation: for (saith he) other foundation can no man lay, but that which is laid already, which (saith he) is jesus Christ. The same Paul in his Epistle to the Galathians, saith, e Gal. 1.8. if we, or an Angel from heaven, preach unto you any other Gospel then that we have preached, Anathema esto, let him be accursed: And this sentence he iterateth, a second time. If we are bidden not to believe Angels from heaven, if they teach doctrine contrary to Paul's, will aine man than be so foolish as to believe the pope upon his word and unwritten verities, teaching matters contrary, not only to Paul, but to Peter and to all the whole body of the sacred scriptures? When f Luke 16. Dives was in hell, and cast up his eyes and saw Lazarus in Abraham's bosom, and being in torments could not obtain of Abraham, that Lazarus might dip his finger in water and cool his tongue, because he was tormented in that flame, He did then beseech Abraham, that he would send Lazarus to his father's house (for he had five brethren) that he might testify to them, lest they also came in that place of torment: But whether did he refer them? They have (saith Abraham) Moses, and the Prophets, let them hear them? for if they will not hear them, neither will they believe, though one rise from the dead. Thus we are referred to build our belief upon Moses, and the prophets. Christ himself saith, and commandeth us g john. 5 39 to search the scriptures: for (saith he) they are they that testify of me. So that the people are bold to hear Christ, Moses, and the prophets and apostles, with this clause also added, that if any, though an Angel from heaven, teach doctrine contrary unto them, Anathema sit, we must hold him accursed: so that we are not to believe the Pope, nor his unwritten verities, nor general Counsels, nor yet ancient Fathers, no not Angels themselves, though coming from heaven, if they teach matter contrary to the sacred scriptures: & as the people are to hear such kind of Teachers so are also all that take upon them the office of teaching, or of Apostleship, not to teach doctrines of men, or their own fantasies, or blind dreams, but only such stuff as they receive from God. Moses, he gave the law to the Israelits, but he did it by commandment from the Lord, and spoke as from his mouth. What manner power the prophets generally had, is very well described in Ezechiell. Thou h Ezek. 3.18 son of man (saith the Lord) I have given thee to be a Watchman to the house of Israel, therefore thou shalt hear the word out of my mouth, and thou shalt declare it to them from me. Look to the Apostles, and see what commission they had: Go (saith Christ) h Mat. 27.19 and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy Ghost, teaching them to keep all things whatsoever I have commanded you: so the apostles commission was to teach that, which they had received from Christ. Christ himself the son of the everliving God, in respect that he was an apostle or messenger sent from God his Father, answereth the jews in the seventh of john, saying: My i john. 16. doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me: So Christ himself taught no other doctrine, but that which he had from his father. And S. Paul, as a faithful Apostle affirmeth to the Corinhians, that he k 1 Cor. 11 received that of the Lord, which he delivered unto them. Thus we see that the apostles spoke from the mouth of Christ, Christ from the mouth of his Father, and all both Christ and the Apostles, Moses and the prophets, spoke as from the mouth of God, which is also verified by that one saying of the Author to the Hebrues: God l Heb. 1, 1 in times past divers ways spoke unto the Fathers by the Prophets, but in these last days he hath spoken to us by his son. And Paul telleth Timothy, that all scripture m 2 Tim. 3, 16 is given by divine inspiration, and written as with the finger of God, who is all truth, and therefore it is impossible, should either lie or err. Therefore touching matters of religion, let God alone be heard, and the sacred Scriptures produced for the establishing of that religion which shall be acceptable in his eyes. For a man's faith is to be builded upon the surest anchor and m 2 Tim. 3, 16 rock, and in such sort that neither winds nor waves be able to remove it: and that must be as Christ teacheth, upon his word, which is infallible and never faileth. And all, both reason and divinity so persuadeth: for that saying of Paul is true: Let n Mat. 7.14 God be true, and every man a liar. It is well known, and daily experience can tell us, that men may err and go awry, but he o 1 Ioh, 5.10 that believeth not God, maketh him a liar, as S. john saith, which cannot be without horrible blasphemy. Let us therefore not build our faith and religion upon any man, be he Augustine, Cyprian, Ambrose, Hierome or whosoever, nor upon general Counsels, for they were also compounded of men, and Humanum est errare, Men may err: therefore no question but they might err. And if in any any thing they do not err, it is because they have the word of truth, and of sacred Scripture for their confirmation, or else they must needs err. So that all those ancient Fathers and general Counsels, they must all draw water from the pure fountain, the sacred word of truth, or else they do nothing else but preach the puddle of their own inventions: which if they should do, though they were Angels from heaven, we must not believe them, nay, Anathema sit, we must hold him accursed, by the rule of Paul aforesaid. The word of God delivered as from the mouth and hand of God, being laid as a foundation, we are not to doubt but that our religion builded thereupon is most sure and certain, never able utterly to be overthrown with all the power and policy of Antichrist and his adherents, be they never so subtle in the one, or full of fortitude in the other: For why? Christ the head of his Church is the defender thereof, and the confounder of Antichrist. The Papists and enemies of the true Church of God, they call us Heretics by a metaphorical speech borrowed from themselves, and give railing sentence upon bs, when they are no longer able to convince our reasons, showing therein their malignant tongues and malicious hearts: but we answer with Paul, that with that which they call heresy, we serve the living God. They call our religion a condemned doctrine, attainted long ago by general, Counsels: If they show me the revealed counsel from God, I will believe them: and of general Counsels, some are mere repugnant and contrary one to another, so that they are of little credit But what if it be condemned by men, if it be allowed of God, what need we care? We know that at jerusalem they held a council together to put p Math. 26.4 Christ to death as a malefactor, yea, and condemned him. Was therefore his doctrine ever the worse, or was it therefore so, because they condemned him? Did they not hold a council against Stephen, and stone him to death? and yet Stephen is recorded to be a man full of q Act. 6.12 faith, and of power. What will the deceitful Papists say of Peter, their Pope's predecessor? (as they vainly boast) There was a general council held against him also, and condemning his doctrine, scourged him and the rest of the Apostles, with an inhibition that they should not teach any more in the name of jesus. If their general counsels be of force to condemn us and our religion, I see no reason, but that their religion should be also condemned by the former council against Peter: but Peter's doctrine was true, notwithstanding the Counsel: and so may ours, notwithstanding their Counsels against us: For we (as I have oft said) build our religion upon Christ, upon Peter, the apostles, and prophets. The Papists therefore do both foolishly and ignorantly paint out the beauty of their Church, by the title of universality, and thereupon (as I suppose) they glory to call themselves Catholics. The Pope (say they) holdeth the Apostolical Sea, and the Bishops that be anointed and consecrated by him (so that they be trimmed with fillets and miters) do represent the Church, and aught to be taken for the Church, and therefore they cannot err, because they are consecrated to the Lord: which consequent also followeth not. For Aaron and other rulers of Israel also were consecrate to the Lord: but Aaron and his sons after they were made Priests, did yet err when they Exo. 31.4 made the calf. But let us examine the premises. Wilt thou (simple papist) have universality a contival badge of the church? wilt thou have the true Church to consist in such outward glorious show? Then was the chief Priests, the Scribes and Pharisees, who were assembled to kill Christ the true church: and then shall Christ and his apostles, (few in number, and dispersed abroad) be the false church. For the glory of the outward Church remained in the chief priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, & yet who be so blasphemous as to dare say, that they were the true Church, who crucified the Lord of life? So that (silly papists) never deceive the world with this gloze: for your outward pomp of your church is rather (you see) an argument of a false church, than of a true Church. By this reason of the papists, the four t 1. King 22. 1●. hundredth Prophets which lied to Achab, should have represented the true Church: but the Church was indeed on Micheas side, being indeed but one man alone, and unregarded, but out of whose mouth came truth. Did not the false prophets in resemblance bear both the face and name of the Church, when they did with one violent assault rise up against jeremy, and with threatening boasted, that it was not possible that the v jere. 18.18. law, should perish from the priest, counsel from the wise, and the word from the Prophet? jeremy alone was sent against the whole company of the Prophets, to declare from the Lord, that it should come to pass that the law should perish from the priest, counsel from the wise man, and the word from the Proophet: and yet all men know that jeremy was in the right and of the true Church, and all the rest against him, in a marvelous error. Thus you see, that truth is not tied to the multitude of men, or to the title of universality, nor to the outward glistering pomp, but rather contrà. In the old world, did not Noah and his family (being very few in number in respect of all the world beside) did not they (I say) represent the Church of God at that time? Doth not Christ often call his, a little flock? Doth not Christ say that x Math. 7.13. wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that enter that way? Doth he not also add that strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it? What doth all this prove, but that the fewest usually are the Church of God, and universalities and multitudes, they are so far from being marks of the true Church, that they rather evidently bewray the synagogue of Satan? The Papists are still busy with us, and they think they drive us to a hard strait, when they demand of us where our church was many hundred years ago; for they say that the Church must consist of an always appearing form, visible to the eye and that it may be always pointed out with the finger in apparent show. Truly this answer is easy to dissolve this which they make so knotted an argument: for though papists like carnal and sensual men can judge of nothing but that which they see with outward eyes, yet Protestants (as they term them) God hath endued them with better understanding. Let them answer me what form of the Church shined in outward show, when Helias complained and bewailed that he z 1. King. 19.11. alone was left. No question there was then, and hath been since, and ever will be a Church of God, so long as Christ shall reign at the right hand of the father, and yet it was not then seen in outward visible pomp, but rather seemed as desolate, (as the Prophet Helias himself supposed,) and as no Church indeed: but it was said to Helias that there were reserved seven thousand men that had not bowed their knees to Baal. So that there was even then a church, which yet was not seen with outward shining pomp, and when the Prophet himself began therewith also to be dismayed. Where was the Church in the time of Christ and his Apostles, when the shepherd was taken, and the sheep was scattered and dispersed? When the glistering outward show was in the high Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees? And yet the Church obscured, was the true Church, and not the synagove of the Scribes, Pharisees, & high priests that excelled in outward gorgeous show. Thus there is no question but that the true Church may be, and yet not appear in outward pomp of show and glorious to the eye. For where was our church in Queen Mary's days, as in all other times of persecutions in all places of the world beside: Is there not a Church though it be not seen, nor showed in outward and eminent brightness, but lieth as it were hid, darkened, & scattered abroad? The Church was then persecuted, and many then like constant Martyrs of the true Church indeed induced the tyranny of that romish religion, so that some were banished, and other fled into other nations for succour, and some endured martyrdom at home, some other hid themselves, but the whole Church generally was vexed and oppressed. And therefore when our Church was persecuted it is a good argument I think to say there was a Church overwhelmed with tyrannical malice. Is any man so buzzard like, or so blockishly blind, that will say there is no sin at all, because it is sometime covered with a cloud? or that there is no fire at all because it is sometime raked up in embers? our Church may be, and yet not seen, not known to be, by reason of darkness, and palpable blindness, and ignorance that over shadowed the light thereof: so that by reason of cloudy darkness that grew, the Church could not shine to the view of others, though in itself it were enlightened from God with a secret hidden and unapparent light many ages together. Thus by express testimony of scripture thou seest that a Church may be, yea a true Church may be, though it be not eminent in apparent show: for God doth show the bright beams thereof in time, and causeth it to shine in perfect beauty: for, it is neither devil nor pope, nor prelate, nor potentate, no power, nor policy that is able utterly to root it out from the earth, for the God of heaven is the strong defender and most puissant preserver thereof against all the devilish brains, that do nothing else but devise the utter ruin and destruction thereof, if they could tell which way. To these men therefore me thinks Gameliel, a doctor of the law, should satisfy answering in the like case to the rulers, who took counsel to put Peter and the rest of the Apostles to death, for their preaching in the name of jesus. Let them alone saith he, for if this a Act. 5, 28 work be of men, it will surely come to nought, if of God, you cannot dissolve it lest you be found to fight against God. As long therefore as our religion is builded, not upon men, but upon God, in vain do papists look for the overthrow of that whereof God himself purposeth to uphold. They object as contrary unto us the ancient fathers by whose consenting voice, if the debate were to be ended, the better part of the victory to speak most modestly, would bend to our side: but whereas many things have been well and wisely written of those fathers, and something hath happened to them which is wont to happen to men, these kind natured children according to the rightness they have both of wit and judgement, do worship only their faults and errors, and those things which are well spoken, they either utterly reject, or else mischievousle corrupt with their bastard glozes and interpretations. And no marvel though they thus deal with the fathers who were but men, when they dare be bold to add to, to take from, to curtal & corrupt in like sort the sacred scriptures of God himself, as afterward shallbe declared. But the papists are so drowned in their own sensual blindness, they are so addicted only to the outward eye that they can see no true token of the true church: they show themselves to be men in that rather than they will have no Church they will build it upon men when they want the word of God for their foundation: whereupon in truth the true Church is builded: but of the same fountain of ignorance is it that they call our religion new because it appeared not in outward show along time together as their painted Church hath done, to whom we answer that it is, new to them to whom the Gospel is new: And whereas it hath long lain hid unknown, and as it were buried, that was the fault of the ungodliness of the world, but now sith it is by the bountifulness of God restored again, it ought by right of full restitution to receive again the due title of antiquity: And herein the papists do manifest injury unto us: who convey our religion (far before theirs) namely from the mouth of God, and the prophets, of Christ, and his apostles by a lawful conveyance written with the finger of God, sealed with the blood of his son, and delivered unto us by the hands of the prophets, and apostles, so that we have the writings of God, lawfully sealed and delivered, to give in evidence for the truth of that faith that we profess, the truth whereof is confirmed by the miracles that are extant in scriptures, wrought by Christ and his apostles, for the establishing of his doctrine forever. So that I trust the Papists will not drive us to other miracles: for all the miracles that ever were done before, either in the time of Moses and the Prophets, or Christ and his apostles, for confirming of the doctrine that they should teach, upon which doctrine already confirmed by innumerable miracles, signs, and wonders, We rest and stay ourselves as upon a most sure anchor and infallible foundation, which can never fail nor fall. They have charged our doctrine, as the wellspring of troubles, uproars, and contentions, and termed it most slanderously, a Doctrine of Libertines, and licentious liberty. But who knoweth not that these are evident and apparent badges of their Romish religion? Doth not daily experience teach us that the Roman jesuits, and Seminaries of Rome, do disquiet not only England, but all Europe, with erecting uproars, and monstrous treacheries and treasons in peaceable commonweals, with seeking to shed innocent blood, to pull crowns from lawful anointed Princes, and setting subjects (if they could) in rebellious troops to bid battle against their lawful Sovereigns? But it is an hard matter to take Hercules' club out of his hand: and to wreath from Princes their crowns is more impossible: but in raising war against God, the annointer of Princes, and preserver of their regal Sceptres, is far less hope to get a victory. Therefore to the turbulent spirited Papists Elias hath taught us to answer, that it is not we that have c 1. King 18 troubled Israel, but themselves that wrestle against the power of God. And whereas they urge upon us a doctrine of liberties, and licentiousness, they throw that upon us which is appropriated and peculiar unto themselves only: For our religion teacheth a true faith towards God, and good and godly conversation among men: but all the romish Catholics if they be once reconciled to the Sea of Rome, there is no truth in their mouths, nor faithfulness in their hearts, they may swear and forswear: for Fides non est servanda cum haereticis, as they with as much rage, as little reason term us: yea, what villainy may they not commit? They may sin all monstrous sins of the world, and justify it when they have done: so that they may sin, and that with authority. They may have a pardon from the pope, and a dispensation also for money, to commit all filthiness and kinds of naughtiness, adultery, robbery, murder, treasons, rebellions: And what villainy is there that they may not commit with boldness, by virtue of their vicious and most pestilent religion. For a pope's pardon will salve all. Do we not see it evident that the pope sendeth his Legates hither to persuade the people to a wrong faith, to whisper in their ears treachery and treason against a most natural prince and Sovereign. And to such fellows as like hereof, they grant pardons, and take it a matter meritorious in heaven: But who is so blind that doth not see the perverseness, and sensual beastinesse of their Romish religion: who, when they are able no longer to stand upright, and to maintain the pomp of the Pope, but that his kingdom beginneth to fall, being already shaken, when by the power of the word of God, the glory of their church beginneth to decay and fade away: then they are driven to devise new subtleties, and because their doctrine cannot please God, they endeavour another while to see if they can please men withal, Wherein (good reader) I beseech thee consider with me, upon what good foundation the Church of Rome is builded, and how well the pope (that vainly boasteth himself to be Peter's successor, dischargeth the office of a true apostle. The papists and Romanistes they contend with stretched out voice, and fight with all the violence they can, to erect and uphold the vanishing, and all tottering glory of the pope. This they cannot do (they think) unless they have the people's hearts: and they persuade themselves, that the people of the other side will never be reconciled to their Romish Church, unless their religion be easy, plausible, and pleasant to the outward sight, and delight of the flesh. Hereupon have they granted their Bulls, their dispensations, and all other their licentious doctrines, which give free leave and authority to commit any sin or sins, for as long or as short a time as they listed, so that they might take their choice of pleasant sins, to sport themselves at their pleasure and convenient leisure: which to achieve, notwithstanding they must pay good currant coin for. Behold gentle Reader, the two pillars of the church of Rome: viz. The glory and riches of their proud Pope, and prelate's was one: and the liberty preached to the people, was the other. So that the pope (I think) went about to build a kingdom for himself on earth, rather than to build a church for God in heaven. Hereupon is he magnified with so many titles: Hereupon, after he began to grow in ambition, he usurped the title of Supremacy over all kings, princes, and Emperors of the world. And when the pope had all this jurisdiction and pre-eminence, what was it else but to say with the Whore of Babylon d reve. 18.8 Sat as Queen. I wonder that all the Papists of the world are not ashamed of their unholy father, whose kingdom, whose Church, whose religion is only to preach liberty and licentious kind of living to the people, seeking his own only glory and renown, and not the glory of God. This is that the jesuits fight for, that the Seminaries persuade and contend for, that the papists boast of, that they dare challenge all the world in disputation for the defence thereof, namely the erecting of the downfalling pride of the Pope, in their subtle persuasions to reconcile silly & unstable souls unto their Romish Sea. They can paint out the honour of Rome with most princely building, in the authority of their Pope, with more than kingly titles, and the glory of their splendent Church with no less eloquence: insomuch as they have made their tongues as sweet as music to enchant, and their reason nothing but sophistry to deceive: of whom I wish all men to take heed, as of ravening wolves, and to fly them as venomous serpents. For the true Church of God doth not stand in such outward glistering pomp, as these men would make believe, but in truth of the word of God delivered in sacred scriptures, as heretofore hath been declared. But all the pomp wherewith the Roman jesuits, Seminaries and papists do so advance their proud Pope withal, and calling their Church the mother Church, What doth it else represent unto us, but the glorious state of the Whore of Babylon, which was clothed with e reve. 17.4 purple, and decked with gold, with precious stones, and pearls, having a cup of gold in her hand full of th'abominations and uncleanness of filthiness, and in her forehead was written, not the mother Church, but great Babylon, the mother of fornications, and of abominations of the earth? O, but I do the Pope great injury: for, he calleth himself servus servorum, the servant of servants: but what matter is it to call himself so in name, when in deed he showeth himself Rex regum, a king of kings, and a Lord above all nations, as his title of supremacy, his usurped authority of-excommunication of princes, his putting down of kings, and giving their kingdoms away to whom he list doth manifestly bewray. So that this is but a mist cast over men's eyes, to blind fold men from beholding the usurped princeliness of the Pope. In truth the Church of Rome savoureth of too much earthly pomp to have any part in the true church of God, though it boast never so much and trust in lying words, saying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, The papists can say that concerning Rome they have the testimony of Paul, who in his Epistle to the Romans writeth to all that be in Rome & calleth them f Rom. 1.7. beloved of God, called saints: but what profiteth it then that in times passed there was a true spouse of Christ in Rome, sith now and many years since it is become an adulteress and hath forsaken her first love & her first faith? But all this is outcountenanced with the authority of the pope being Peter's successor as he glorieth. And the pope he challengeth the Apostolic Sea, so that he will be Peter's successor: and yet vicarius dei: what is this else but to assure us that Antichrist shall sit in the Temple g Thess 24. of God, as God, boasting himself to be God. The Pharisees in Christ's days could say who can forgive sins but God: and yet the Pope, he will arrogate unto himself that authority to wreath from kings their crowns and sceptres: what is this but to sit in the temple of God as God, and boasting himself to be God. Now how well he dischargeth the office of an Apostle, I think all men understand he braggeth to be Peter's successor: but what glory is it to be Peter's successor in place and not to retain the doctrine and perform the office of the Apostle Peter. It is the manner of papists altogether to glory of names, persons and places, and such outward titles, & they never look to the truth of inward purity, so that all there religion is nothing else, but a painted schulchre, fair to the eye, but within full of rotten bones: because the pope was successor to a good Apostle: It followeth not no more than an usurper of a kingdom shallbe said a lawful king, because he is a successor to a lawful king: Though Peter were a true apostle, yet the pope may be a false Apostle, and that the Pope is a false Apostle appeareth by the notes of a true and false Apostle: Peter had his calling from Christ to be an Apostle, and so entered Peter into the Apostleship: For Christ is the h joh. 10.1 door, & whosoever entereth not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber: therefore let the Pope show that he entered in by the door, or else he is not like Peter, a lawful Apostle: In doctrine, how the Pope and Peter agree is soon seen. Peter saith if i 1. Pet. 4. 1● any man speak, let him speak as the words of God: the pope he blotteerth out his own traditions, his unwritten verities, and vomiteth out the puddle of his own brain: yea he, will preach matter contrary to the word of God, and pervert the word of God: as when Paul saith, and the whole Scripture agreeing with him, that by the k Rom. 3.20 works of the law no flesh shallbe justified before God, the Pope and Papists hold and teach, that good works are meritorious: yea, and that there be works of supererogation able to save both themselves and others also they may so abound with such superfluity of good works. Yea worse than all this, they hold and teach, and teach other to practise (which is most horrible blasphemy) that bad works are also meritorious, namely that treason in subjects, and murdering of their lawful Christian Sovereign, is not only lawful but allowable: yea, commendable: nay, more than so, meritorious in heaven, which doctrine as it is most blasphemous, so the practice thereof is most damnable and dangerous, abhorring from nature, which teacheth every subject to fear and honour his prince, as nature bindeth the son to fear and honour his father, for princeps est patriae parens: degenerating from the law of all nations for it is lawful and meritorious for a papistical Romanist treacherously to murder his holy father the pope: yea rather more, if of evils the least be to be chosen, than it is for a sworn subject to be false and traitorous to so christian a prince, Mere repugnant to all Scripture, yea contrary to the doctrine of Peter himself, whose doctrine the pope must obey and teach, if in succession he will be accounted a lawful Apostle of Christ. hearken O ye Papists, and listen what Peter teacheth you, follow his doctrine & let not the pope's bare name of holy father deceive you any more, nor the name of the Apostolic Sea, for they are but lying words to deceive you: Compare the Apostleship of Peter with the Apostleship of the Pope, and then if you find him contrary, though he be Peter's successor, reject him and tread his doctrine under feet. The words of Peter are thus: be m 1. Pet. 2 13. subject therefore, (saith he) to every human creature whether it be to the king as to the chief: or to relers, as to them that be set in authority, for the punishment of them that do ill, and the praise of them that do good: again in the same chapter he saith, honour all men, love brotherly charity, fear God, honour the king: again, he commandeth servants to submit themselves in all fear unto their masters, not only (saith he) if they be good, but also though they be froward. If a froward master be to be honoured and feared of his servant, much more ought the person of a kind and virtuous Sovereign be had in most reverent estimation of all subjects: considering that the person of a Prince on earth is the image of God in heaven: that she is a person of mighty majesty, of puissant magnificence, and of most glistering princely royalty, who being placed in her throne by God, by whom Reges regnant, & principes dominantur, is impossible to be thrust out by the power or policy of men, no not of the devil himself, nor all his adherentes: for that must needs stand, which God hath established, but that may easily fall which men only have erected: heaven and earth may pass, but not one jot of the word of God shall perish but shallbe fulfilled: They therefore may aswell think it as possible to pull God out of heaven, as it is to remove a lawful anointed prince from beside the seat, wherein God himself stablified her: The vain hope of the papists therefore dismayed, and the false Apostleship of the pope confuted by the faithful Apostle Peter, let us proceed further to compare them together. n 1. Pet. 2.11 Beloved saith Peter, I exhort you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which fight against the soul: And again he saith, o 1. Pet. 1.15 As he which called you is holy, so be ye also sanctified in all conversation, because saith he, it is written p Levit. 11 4 4 be ye holy as I am holy: So that Peter admitteth no uncleanness, nor dispenseth with any sin, but reproveth all and only alloweth sanctimony of life and conversation, and he bringeth in scriptum est also for the warrant of his doctrine, I would all that pretend themselves to be his successors would do the like: and give the like wholesome sound admonitions and precepts than should not men either for love, or money have pardons, dispensations, commissions, with authority to commit most devilish murder: accounting that for meritorious, which is most monstrous, and meriteth in truth a most bloody revenge for the body, and eternal torments for the soul, if it should be but so much as conceived in the imagination: What the office of a true Apostle is, Peter describeth in his fift Chapter. q 1. Pet. 5.1. The elders that be amongst you, I which am also an elder exhort, feed, as much as in yours, the flock of Christ, not compelledly but willingly, not covetous of filthy gain, but of a ready mind, not as exercising lordship over the clergy, but that ye may be r 2. Cor, 4, 24 examples of the flock: If Peter showing himself that he is an elder, do claim no Lordship in his Apostleship, how cometh it to pass then that the pope his pretended successor, claimeth not only a lordship and dominion in Rome, but a little of supremacy over all nations. The Papists answereth at christ said unto Peter, Thou s. Mat, i6, 18 art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it: and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou bindest on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou losest on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. But can these words of binding & losing give a supremacy and kingdom unto the Pope, and not to Peter, whose successor he is? For we heard before from Peter's own mouth, that he claimeth nor alloweth, but disclaimeth and dissuadeth such exercised lordship over the Clergy. So that neither did, he affect such proud titles of honour Lordship, and superiority, but sought rather, as he wished all other, to be examples of mildness and good conversation. How can we think that Christ should give such Lordlike authority, when Christ telleth his disciples contending among themselves who should seem to be the greatest: The t Luke, 22, 25 Mat, 20.25 Mark, 15.24 Kings of nations (saith he) bear Lordship, but it shall not be so with you: but he that will be the greatest among you, let him be as the least, or as a servant. Now if neither Peter had the superiority but forbiddeth it, as teaching all humility, being taught by Christ his master, the kings of nations are to bear the lordship: & his apostles should be so far from contending for primacy on earth, that they should rather be as servants appointed to minister to the Church of Christ, to build a kingdom for God in heaven: If neither Peter had it, and if Christ also forbade it: showing, the kingdoms belong to the kings of the nations: how can any man gather, that Christ's meaning was to give that to Peter, which he forbiddeth Peter & all the rest of the apostles? If Peter never had this authority, I marvel much how the papists can possibly convey that to the pope which his predecessor never had: for they affirm the pope's authority to be above all kings of the earth, supreme head of the Church, and universal bishop of the whole world; but how far these usurped titles were from the affection of the true apostle Peter, the humility of Peter, the divine exhortation of Peter. And the former commandment of Christ to all the Apostles doth sufficiently declare: for neither could Christ give that authority of Primacy which himself forbade, nor Peter take that which was not given him, and which he neither used, nor so much as desired in affection: neither consequently can the Pope, his pretended successor derive that unto him, which never belonged to his Ancestor. It cannot therefore be, that the power of binding and losing, should signify the supremacy of earthly kingdoms, to set up and pull down whom he list: for (as hath been already proved) Peter is so far from that arrogance, that himself giveth a double charge to the contrary: namely to fear God, and to honour the king, as one that is worthy to have the chiefest room: for Christ had taught Peter, and Peter no doubt learned it, that Lordship and dominion belonged unto the kings of Nations. The power therefore of binding and losing is not committed to Peter alone, but to all the Apostles, and seemeth to be expounded in the xx. of john, where Christ, after he had breathed upon his apostles, and said, Receive v john. 20.22 ye the holy Ghost, he had said before, As my Father sent me, so send I you. He addeth furthermore, that Whose sins ye remit, they are remitted: and whose sins ye retain, they are retained. And this power of binding and losing, of remitting and retaining, was not appropriate unto their persons or unto their places, but unto the office of their Apostleship, and unto their preaching of the Gospel. For Saint Paul saith that the x Rom. 1 16 1. Cor. 1.21. Gospel of jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every on that believeth. The Gaoler demanded of Paul and Silas, what he should do, that he might be saved, they answered, y Act. 16.31, Believe in the Lord jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy household. When Peter had preached unto the people, they began to be pricked in their hearts, they demanded of him, and of the other Apostles: Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter answered, a Act 2 38 Repent, and be baptized every man in the name of jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receive ye the gift of holy Ghost. Be it known unto you b men and brethren (saith Paul) that thorough this man (speaking of Christ) is preached unto you the remission of sins, and that every one that believeth, shall thorough him be justified from all things, from which he could not be justified by the law of Moses. So that we see, that remission of sins is by the preaching of the Gospel to the faithful: and that contra, Their c sins are retained and bound with chains thereof, that are Infidels, obstinate, and unrepentant, that have no faith to take hold of salvation preached by the Apostles and pastors of the Church. But (say they) When Christ gave unto Peter by special name, the keys of binding and losing, he thereby made Peter the Prince of the whole church. The answer is easy sie, for it is proved before, that Christ gave the power of binding & losing to all the Apostles, and why at this time Christ said unto Peter that he would give to him the keys by special name, the reason was, as appeareth by the circumstance of the text, because when Christ demanded of his Apostles, Whom say ye that I am, Simon Peter answered, thou art Christ the son of the living God: For Peter answered in the name of all the apostles, and Christ likewise gave him the keys in the name of all. And so Cyprian and Augustine, two of the Fathers expound it, that Christ did it not for this purpose, to prefer one man before an other, but so to set forth the unity of the Church: for so saith Cyprian, that God in the person of one, gave the keys to all, to signify the unity of the Church. Augustine saith, When the Apostles were all asked, only Peter answered, Thou art Christ: and it is said to him, I will give thee the keys, as though he alone had received the power of binding and losing, whereas he being one standeth one, for all, And he received the other with all, as bearing the person of unity: therefore one for all, because there is unity in all. I trust these Fathers will satisfy the Papists, if they be not obstinately malicious, and froward children that in the power of the keys of Peter gained no superiority over the rest of the Apostles. Act, 15, 5 1, pe●, 5, 1 Act, 11, 3 Acts, 8, 24 Gal, 1 & 2, cap, Run over all that remaineth written, and you shall find nothing else but that he was one of the twelve, equal with the rest, and their fellow, but not their Lord. I wonder therefore that the Pope and Papists will force that upon Peter, which Peter never had, nor meant to take upon himself, which Christ never meant to give him, nor to any other, viz. to be the Prince and head of the Church: for he hath left this title to no other but himself. This that Christ saith, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, imprehendeth no other thing of Peter, but that which Paul, and Peter himself speaketh to all Christians: for Paul maketh Christ the chief & d Ephes, c, 20 corner stone, upon which they are builded together, that grow into an holy temple to the Lord. And Peter biddeth us to be lively e 1, Pet, 2.3 stones, builded upon that lively, chosen and precious stone, Christ jesus. So when Peter had answered to the demand, that he was Christ the son of the living God: then said Christ, Blessed art thou f Mat, 16, 7 Simon Bar-Iona, for flesh and blood hath revaled this to thee, but my father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So that still the Church is builded upon that confession and answer that Peter made: viz. Upon Christ the son of the living God: also the g rock is said to be Christ by especial words in the epistle to the Corinthians. And Christ himself saith by special words also, that he that heareth his words and doth them, hath like a wise man builded his house upon a rock, so that Christ and his word be Mat, 7, 24, 25 the rock whereupon the Church of Christ is builded: For the Church is not builded super Petrum, but super petram: that is jesus Christ the son of the living God, whom Peter confessed. If Peter then be not the head of the Church, down must fall the title of the universal Bishop of all the Church, which title the pope proudly hath usurped, as derived from Peter, who was content to be a member of the Church, and not the head thereof, but the swelling ambition of the Pope is so monstrous, that he neither careth to commit treason against christian princes, but most proudly he will intrude himself into the seat and throne of God himself, and he will be head of the Church to die for it: but I believe in the end he will scarce be so much as the foot, or one of the toes of the Church, his blasphemy is so monstrous and so intolerable. If then (silly Pope) thou wilt be head of the whole Church, show which way thou makest title, for Peter from whom thou claymest was content to be a member of the Church: And thou because thou canst not be a member of the church, most proudly claymest to be the head: & because thou canst not be the head, thou wilt be no part of the church at all. I believe the consequent: darest thou proud pope without all authority derogate so much from the glory and majesty of Christ, as to take from Christ his crown, & to set it upon thy head most traitorously, and thinkest thou that he will not trample thee under his feet? doth not Paul to the Ephesians speak in plain terms that God raised Christ from the dead, and set him at his right hand in heavenvly places above all principalities, & powers, and lordships, and every name that is named not only in this world, but in the world to come, and hath submitted all things under his feet, and hath made him head above all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. If Christ be the head of the Church, as this text doth most plainly prove, then cannot the pope be the head of the church in earth, as he proudly usurpeth: for there can be but one head of the Church, and that head is Christ: so that it is the sole appropriated title of Christ to be the head of his church on earth, and every where, for God hath given this title to neither man nor angel, nor archangel, but to Christ only, whom he raised from the dead. Look through the whole life of Peter, look through all his Epistles and doctrine, and thou shalt find in him all the marks of a true and worthy Apostle: his mind humble, not elevated with pride: his doctrine sound, which he had received from Christ: his counsel good: his admonitions wholesome: his Epistles most divine. The pope his boasting successor cannot abide the charge of preaching sincerely the word of God: but yet will he be an Apostle, as touching the place, and retain the name of an Apostle, and when a man is no more an Apostle, and revera wanteth both the doctrine and sincere mind of an Apostle, what is this else but to be a false Apostle, and an intruder into the Church of God? What his doctrine is particularly, to recite all were to tedious, and almost infinite: their idolatrous mass, their invented purgatory devised only to purge men's purses, not their souls, their bowing to idols, their intercession of saints, their free-will, their justification by works, nay their works of supererogation and infinite more: what do all these but make void the cross of Christ, and disannul the grace of God, repugnant plainly against the law of Moses and the sacred scriptures? But who may speak against him in any thing? who may tell him that God commandeth we should not k Exod. 20. bow down nor worship carved Images, and if he leave out this second commandment clean out of the book because it maketh against him, who can reprove him? In his absurd doctrne of transubstantion after the words of consecration uttered who can persuade him but that the bread is the very body of Christ? and the wine is the very blood, though Christ call it plainly the l fruit of the vine in plain terms? Who may tell him that he should only teach the godly doctrine of Christ as a faithful Apostle, and not his unwritten verities nor curtal the scriptures of God, nor yet dispense with any thing therein contained? who may tell him of his charters of pardons, his dispensations to commit cruel and unnatural murders against Christian Princes, rebellions, robberies, adulteries and all the villainies of the world, and all this under a pretenced colour of the supremacy (which Peter never had) over the Church of God over all Princes and Emperors, yea and I think above God, himself? for what is this else, but to chop and change, and to use at his pleasure the sacred word of God, and to abuse it to all ungodliness and wickedness. Their answer is short, that the Scriptures are to be expounded by general counsels, and they and the pope make the Church, and the Church cannot err. And whatsoever therefore they shall say or decree, that is the word of God, and to be reverenced as an oracle from heaven whatsoever it be: And hereupon is builded the implicita fides of the Roman papists, to believe as the Church believeth, is faith good enough for a papist: This argument is very pithagorium, Ipse dixit: ergo verum est: O subtle papists, O simple and deceived people, O most devilish and pestilent religion, thus to bewitch men's hearts, and to cast a mist before their eyes, to blindfold them in such polluted doctrine: And the more to colour this their fraud and apparent deceit they have established ignorance, for the mother of devotion, and images they have made lay men's books, and as for the Bible, that shallbe read to the people in an unknown tongue, as in Latin: O devilish devise of Satan, O hellish darkness: Not the devil himself could have invented a more subtle & yet a most pernicious religion. Is ignorance the mother of devotion, when Christ calleth it the mother of error, saying, to the Saducees, you Mat. 22 29. err not knowing the scriptures? Can an unlearned man saith Paul, say Amen to thy service uttered in an unknown tongue, when he knoweth not what thou sayest? and he saith plainly that there is no Rom. 14. edification in such unknown language, how can these men boast that they edify the people then when the people say Amen they know not to what, and their implicita fides believeth they know not what: they tell them the church cannot err, and this is sufficient for them, if you will go any further the Church must answer. O silly Romanistes, so much seduced by that deluding Antichrist, whereupon is your Church builded? upon the pope as the head of the church, and the general counsels. Peter never claimed to be the head of the Church, he never had that authority given him, nay it was denied him to seek after it: And Christ only is the head of the church as hath been proved before, Ergo the pope hath no such pre-eminence. As touching their general counsels wherewith they bind men's consciences, as with cords, how can they prove those counsels to be autentically true? for whatsoever it be, that is decreed by them, they make them as oracles and necessary conclusions of the truth, though they disagree never so much from the Scriptures: for such matters must not be called into question, for they hold it as a principle, that from the determination of a counsel there can be no appellation: but what if they err? They say they cannot err: why? Because they be the Church: who alloweth it? Will they prove themselves to be the Church, who in their blind and devilish doctrine and conversation, show themselves to be the Synagogue of Satan? I know not, and I am sure themselves will never be able to prove: For the word of God is that which must try out the truth of the religion, and Church of God. For as for building faith upon general Counsels, it is a very feeble foundation, and (no question) they might err, and did err: yea, they are sometimes contrary one to an other: as the Synod of Constantinople gathered together under Leo the Emperor, judged, that images set up in Churches should be overthrown and broken in pieces. A little afterward the Council of nice which the Empress assembled in spite of him, decreed that they should be restored: both these Counsels could not c true: and whether of these should a man take to be true, or how can he tell which is true, but by that Scripture which is given by divine inspiration, which is the rule of the Church, and the square of truth, whereupon the church must be builded? else we shall never know what, or which is the truth. Augustine saith, that the latter Council can not stand without present peril of idolatry. Epiphanius saith, it is a wickedness and abomination to have Images seen in the Church of Christians. The Council of Constance forbade the Sacrament of the lords Supper to be given to the lay people, but willed that the Priest only should drink thereof, which I think the Romanistes themselves will not agree unto. Thus because Counsels may easily err, there is no faith to be built upon them: but all faith, all religion, and the true Church is only to be built upon the o Ephe. 2.20 Prophets and Apostles, Christ jesus being the head corner stone, the rock that never falleth nor fadeth: For this is a mark incident to the Church, My p john, 10.3 sheep (saith Christ) will hear my voice Again, Christ saith, He that is of q john 3.47 God heareth God's words, you therefore hear them not (saith he) because you are not of God. The sheep will follow their good shepherd, for they know his r iohn. 10.3 voice: A stranger they will not follow. Therefore the church and true spouse of Christ must be subject to her head and husband, inclining to his will, and governed by his word: For the Church which is not builded upon the word of Christ is built upon the s Mat. 7.26. Sand, and so subject to a continual ruin and overthrow, as Christ himself preached in his sermon: But that which standeth upon Christ the rock, the t Math 16, 18, gates of hell shall never prevail a-against it, as Christ told Peter. Try the spirits (saith S. john) whether they be of v God or no: f john. 4, 1, for many false prophets are come into the world. Again, he that knoweth God heareth us (saith S. john) he that is not of God, heareth not us: by this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. The false prophets (saith he) speak of the world, and the world heareth them, because they are of the world: but we are of God (saith he) So that both john and Christ show this to be a mark to know the spirit of error, if they hear not the words of Christ's apostles. Let not the pope therefore deceive thee (gentle Reader) as though he could not err: neither let his general counsel so bind thy conscience, without appellation, but that thou be free to try the spirits by the word of truth: For many false prophets are come into the world. Try the gold by the touch stone: For be he Pope, be they general counsels: yea, be they Angels from heaven, if they preach matter contrary to the doctrine of Christ, believe him not: nay, Anathema esto, hold him accursed, as Paul commandeth thee. The Scribes and Pharisees demanded of Christ, why his disciples transgressed the traditions of the elders. Christ answered them, Why do ye Math, 15, 2 transgress the precepts of God through your tradition, for God commanded, saying, Honour father and mother. etc. Hypocrites (saith he) well prophesied Esayas of you: saying, This people cometh near unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me: but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine, the precepts of men. And is not the religion of Rome as vain a worship, when they teach for doctrine, the precepts of men, viz. of general Counsels, and that we must hold them as undoubted oracles of the holy Ghost: and that none must mutter against them, or gainsay them, upon pain of a condemned heretic. Yea, they hold, that the word of God is subject to the censure of the Church, which (say they) is their Pope & general counsels, and whatsoever sense they set upon the scriptures, is to be received for true, without questioning against it: what is this else but to make the head subject to the foot? the sheep to rule their shepherd? and the Spouse which should be subject, to bear authority over her husband that should be sovereign, her Lord and master to govern her after his will? But herein the Church of Rome showeth herself to play the harlot plainly, when she renounceth her head: when she forsaketh her husband, and runneth a whoring after her own ymagmations. judge then (gentle reader) whether thou think to be the true church, ours that is builded upon the foundation of Christ, the prophets, and apostles, or the church of Rome, that is builded upon the Pope, his Cardinals, and his general counsels: Ours that acknowledgeth Christ to be the only head thereof, or theirs, who (most dishonourably to christ) acknowledge the Pope the head thereof: Ours that is builded upon God, ortheirs that is builded upon slippery men: Ours that admitteth no impurity, or theirs, who for money, and to serve their turn, will dispense with most monstrous and heinous cruelties: Their religion which seeketh and thirsteth after blood, being therein like to the Devil their father, who was a z john. 8, 44 murderer from the beginning, or ours which seeketh peace of conscience in a godly conversation: Ours seeketh the glory of God: theirs seeketh their own pomp, and the glory of the world: Ours giveth free liberty to all to try the truth thereof out of the sacred scriptures: they bind men's consciences with the decrees of their own counsels without apellation We say with the Prophet Esay, That all our righteousness is like a defiled cloth: and with Paul, that Christ is made unto us a 1. Co. 1.3 ct righteousness by the bountifulness of God, and wisdom, and redemption, that as it is written, He that b jere 9, 23 rejoiceth, should rejoice in the Lord. We say with Christ, that no man can come unto him, unless it be c john. 6, 65 given him from his father. We say also with Paul in plain terms, that it is d Phil. z 3 God that worketh both the will, and thee deed. They say they have free will of themselves to good, acceptable to God, by I know not what blind light of nature: they have good works, yea works of supererogation, meritorious for themselves and others also: wherein they may boast and brag, but not before e Rom. 4 2 God: So we ascribe all all glory to God, and they rob God of his glory and take it to themselves. Peter was commanded to feed the f ohn 21, flock of Christ, and he did according: The Pope he starveth the flock of Christ without any food, and yet he taketh the fleece: for ignorance (saith he) is the mother of devotion: and heathen Idols be the books that Lay-men must look on, and this is the food he ministereth, and the knowledge and truth. Christ biddeth the people, Search the g john, 5.39 Scriptures: the papistical church saith no: It breedeth sects and schisms, as though they were wiser than christ. The religion of God is sincere, holy and pure: for money a man may have a pardon and dispensation of the Pope for all kinds of beastly villainies, what doth this show but that their belly is their God, their kitchen is their roligion? yea, they are not ashamed to publish murder of christian princes to be a matter meritorious: and wherefore contend they for this? but that they may reign themselves in earthly pomp, and sit above kings, adorned with large extended authority. This last point is such a blur to their religion, that he is wilfully blind that seethe not the falsehood thereof: yea it is such a spot to their religion, to give a commission to commit murder & that by the name of meritorious: that it bewrayeth all the rest of their religion to be full of fraud & deceit & open treachery. For what man of sound wit can be persuaded that he that is a true & faithful apostle indeed, can dispense in any sort with such open & gross faults which are even odious to the law of nature, & ready foot-path to bring the body into bondage, & the soul to hellish torments? I would wish therefore no man's in plicita fides to be so entangled with his open sleights as to believe him in any thing, for he showeth himself revera to be very Antichrist in such perspicuous manner, that no man can doubt thereof, for what doth he else but sit in the h 2. Thess. 2. temple of God and boast himself to be God, when claiming the Apostolic sea, he calleth himself the vicar of Christ in earth? the head of the church? that he cannot err? that he can forgive sins? matters that belong peculiarly to God alone: and yet that proud Antichrist will be extolled with those titles: what is this but to sit in the seat of God as God? Also that he claimeth to be Dux ducum, Rex regum, imperator imperatorum, that he hath authority to depose and set up princes at his pleasure, to build and overthrow kingdoms, what is this but malepertly and most blasphemously to thrust himself into the seat of God boasting himself to be God? for it is God per quem Reges regnant ac principes dominantur. But let all the Romanistes know this, that is also written in the same Chapter concerning their Antichrist the pope, that for the decite wherewith he hath deceived the inhabitants of the earth, and for his treasons and blasphemies against the mighty God, the Lord from heaven shall consume him with the i 2. Thess. 28. spirit of his mouth, and confound him in the brightness of his coming: Babylon must k Reul, 18, 2 fall, yea great Babylon must fall, and must become an habitation of devils & a prison of alunclean spirits. Now let him boast that he is Peter's successor? that maketh him never a jot the more lawful apostle unless he perform the office of a sincere Apostle as Peter did: l john, 10, 1 for otherwise he is a l thief, a robber and a Wolf that appeareth in sheeps clothing, of whom Christ bade us beware. And therein he doth nothing else but like the devils imp transform himself into an angel of light to deceive simple souls. Let them glory in the name of the church, crying that Rome is the mother church, the mother church, what benefit is it to have the name and to want the thing? for in truth all their pre-eminence is only in names of the church, of Peter's place in the stateliness of their Hierarchy of goodly order, of their carnal cardinals and in such outward pomp and glory. But (alas) these painted clothes bewray the raggedness of their religion: for the church of God is not builded upon such outward shows, but upon sincerity of doctrine and conversation. Therefore leaving the Lion to be known by his claws, whom times and seasons have so manifestly disclosed, I counsel thee to forsake the pope and to learn of Peter: build thy faith not upon the pope who of himself wanteth a foundation, but upon Paul and Peter and the rest of the Apostles Christ jesus himself being the corner stone. Take heed of implicita fides, & learn thyself out of the word of God what thou believest and whereupon thy faith is builded: for if it be builded generally upon men, thy faith is wavering and doubtful, but if upon God, then is it built upon a rock, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. Follow the advise of Christ, n john, 5, 39 Search the scriptures diligently, read them with reverence in all humility, and pray to God earnestly, so shall his word be a light unto thy feet, o Psal, i19, 105 and a lantern to thy paths to direct thee in the way of truth to keep thy mind sincere and thy eye clear to see and discern the truth from falsehood, a shepherd from a wolf, a true Apostle from a false, and Christ from Antichrist. FINIS.