THE LADDER OF HELL. OR THE PROTESTANTS LIBERTINE DOCTRINE, BEING THE BROAD WAY WHICH leadeth the followers of it to their eternal ruin and destruction in Hell. Set forth in Prose and Verse. ISAI. 5. 20. Woe unto you who call evil good, and good evil; putting darkness light, and light darkness. Permissu Superiorum. CRANMER COUBRIDGE, MINISTER OF THE WORD IN CUMBERLAND, to the zealous Protestants his Brethren, concerning the Printing, Title, and use of this admirable Ladder, worthily called The Ladder of Hell. COnsidering that this Ladder was first framed and entitled The Ladder of Hell, by a Papist, to the great disgrace (as he conceined) of our Protestant Religion; I imagine that some of you (dearly beloved Brethren) will wish that it had been quite suppressed, and never seen light: yet, (in regard it containeth nothing but a collection of certain sentences set down in the public books of twelve principal Pillars of our Church) I thought it not amiss to set it forth, just as I found it, under your protection; knowing well, that every zealous Protestant can with the dexterity of his reformed spirit turn all, though never so plainly seeming ill, to at least a seeming good sense: as for example, whereas the Papist called this collection of sentences, The Ladder of Hell because in his judgement the belief and, practise of it leadeth a soul directly to hell. Yet one of our new learning (considering that Ladders are made rather to help men upward then downward) will say it may be called The Ladder of Hell, because the belief and practice of it will lift souls out of hell. And with reason may this be said, supposing one ground of our new doctrine be true, Calvin. in c. 30. Isa. Hermonia ad cap. 3. Mat. v. 12. I. Instit. c. 25. n. 12. to wit, that Hell is (no such local place in which are fire and other torments, as is said by the ancient Fathers, and the Scriptures themselves, to be prepared for the Devils and other damned creatures, but) only a certain terror and horror of an afflicted conscience, the which may in some measure be felt even in this world, and is ordinarily felt after sin committed even by Protestants, until by believing firmly, and practising freely the points of doctrine contained in this Ladder, they come by degrees to contemn all things, to wit, all Laws of God and man: and all scruple of mind and remorse of conscience, and all fear of Death, judgement, and Hell, which estate of mind, it is like divers zealous Protestants have already attained unto, esteeming themselves hereby to be not only freed from hell, but to have attained a kind of heaven in earth: Marry the doubt is, whether this their heaven will last always, as true heaven ought to do, or whether this hasty freeing themselves from the hell of care, fear, remorse & sorrow in this life, will not plung them into a most bitter feeling of remorse in the hour of death, and into intolerable torments of the eternal Hell in the next life. The which doubt being in the judgement of some, only a Papistical scruple, I will leave to be discussed at better leisure: It shall suffice my present purpose only to declare the manifold uses, which for the present time may be made of this excellent Ladder, both by Papists and Protestants. First, I find that the Papists mean to make this short Ladder serve for an answer of many long discourses made by Protestant Ministers in books or Sermons, in which they object the ill lives of some Papists; the which objections the Papists do retort more strongly against us Protestants, who cannot deny, but that since the light of the new Gospel was by Luther brought into the world, Luther in Postilla supra Euangel. dom. 1. adventus. men are (as Luther himself coufessed) more revengeful, more conetous, more unmerciful, more unmodest and unruly, and much worse than they were in Papistry; the reason whereof (say the Papists) is for that the very doctrine itself of the new Gospelers, doth not only not afford such effectual restraints and remedies against sin, as is in the ancient Catholic Religion, but also hath (as appeareth by the steps of this Ladder) divers express principles, which do plainly open the gap to all licentious liberty of lewd life, far more than can be imagined to be done by any principles of the Papists doctrine. Whereupon the Papists conclude that the Protestant Religion, whose doctrine is so unholy, cannot be a holy Religion inspired by the holy Ghost, but suggested (as a Luth. de abroganda missa privata, editione prima. Luther the first Author confesseth some part of it (to wit, the denial of the sacrifice of the Mass) to have been suggested to him) by Satan himself, the enemy of all true Religion and holiness. The zealous Protestant not much regarding this, or whatsoever other arguments made by Papists, find out other uses of this Ladder: as for example. First, it teacheth every one of them to exercise heroical acts of their b I call it new found, because I find not in Scripture or in the ancient Fathers that a man is made just by confidently believing that he is Just, but rather by humbly acknowledging ones self to be a sinner, as appeareth in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Luke 18. newfound justifying Faith, by which they believe that they are just, holy, and of the number of the predestinate, not only by having a good hope, (as the poor Papists have) when they see or feel some of those things in themselves, which by the holy Scriptures they learn to be signs of true justice (to wit, repentance of sins past, carefulness to avoid sin in time to come, diligence in doing good works; etc.) but also by infallible and absolute belief, as of a chief article of their Christian faith, even at such times as they neither see, nor feel any such signs, yea even when they evidently see in themselves contrary signs, & namely, even when they actually do those works of the flesh, Gal▪ 5. of which Saint. Paul pronounceth, That they who do such things, shall not obtain the Kingdom of God. Zealous Protestants, I say, maugre this threat of S. Paul, are taught by this Ladder to believe boldly that they are Saints, and cannot miss salvation, notwithstanding they commit never so many most horrible sins. Secondly, this Ladder teacheth them to cast away all fear of God, not only in respect of his justice, in inflicting present or future pains for sin (which is called servile fear) but also of separation from God, which fear cannot stand with our new justifying Faith, in regard we must hold it absolutely impossible that we can be separated from God, and consequently we must cast away this fear, although never so much commended in Scripture. Thirdly, By this admirable Ladder, zealous Protestants may be delivered from all inward remorse of conscience, & may come to that highest perfection of our new Gospel, which consisteth in a neglect of all conscience, the which cannot be attained on a sudden, but must be gained (as Luther himself gained it) by entering into a terrible conflict, and fight against one's own conscience; the difficulty of which combat ariseth out of three heads. The first is the letter of the written word, which seemeth every where to cross thi● liberty of conscience, and to forbid the doing of any thing against conscience. But our new spiritual man, who judgeth all things, will oppose against this kill letter of Scripture, which restraineth our freedom, the quickening spirit of this Ladder, which alloweth liberty of neglecting conscience. The second is an old Tradition of the Papists in favour of conscience, which hath by long custom taken a deep root in us. But the zealous Protestant, who accounteth Papistry a great blindness, will easily defy this among other Papistical traditions. The third is an inveterate opinion and feeling of conscience engraven in the very nature and flesh of man's heart. But we new spirited men do know old nature to be corrupted, and that the flesh profiteth nothing. Thus my dear Brethrens, you may see what uses may be made of this admirable Ladder. It remaineth that in a word I also declare, why I make choice to dedicate it unto you, and to put it in print under your protection. The reason is, because the authors out of whom these sentences were collected, were all zealous Protestants. Secondly, because none now adays will (as I suppose) steadfastly believe & endeavour to practise according 〈◊〉 these points, but only zealous Prote●●a●s. Thirdly, because none but such zealous Protestant's, who frame their lives according to this Ladder, can well understand how it is possible that this Ladder can be good, or how it should deliver one out of Hell, and consequently, why it should be styled in that sense, in which I style it, The Ladder of Hell. It may be the Papist, which first framed this Ladder, will play upon us with his text, Woe unto you that call evil good, and good evil, Isa. 5. 20. But we care not for his text, for we can cry as loud, and say as fast, Woe unto him, and although the world will, witness that he hath better reason to use this text against us, than we against him: yet it sufficeth that our * Which whether it be white or black, Zuinglius himself could not tell. new Spirit doth bear witness to our nullity of conscience that we say true. If the Papist take advantage at my entitling myself Minist. of the Word in Comberland, saying that we Ministers cumber the Land with these libertine doctrines. I can reply & tell him, that it is he & his Seminaries, who cumber our consciences with their contrary doctrines, & with putting scruples into our heads, by adding to this Ladder certain sentences, threatening hell and damnation to sinners: for although we profess by our justifying Faith, that we are sure to be saved, and that we need not fear to be damned: yet I confess, when I seriously examine my guilty conscience, and by searching, find the holy Scriptures themselves to pronounce plainly eternal damnation to all ill livers. I cannot choose but be bodily afraid lest the Papist say true, when he telleth us that the Libertine doctrine taught by our new Gospelers, & set down in this Ladder, will most certainly lead the followers of it to their eternal ruin and destruction in hell; from which I beseech the Lord to deliver us all. Amen Your devoted servant in the Lord, CRANMER COUBRIDGE. THE PROTESTANTS LADDER of liberty in Prose. easy it is Hell not to miss. 1 GOD is the Author and enforcing cause of all fin. Calvin. 2 The ten Commandments are impossible to be kept. Calvin. 3 The ten Commandments belong not to Christains. Luther. 4 Christ hath fulfilled the Law for us. Willet. 5 We need take no pains for eternal life: Hoffman. 6 David committing murder and adultery, did not lose the holy Ghost. Fulke. 7 Whosoever believes, God works for him. Hoffman. 8 sins are not hurtful to him that believes. Whittaker. 9 We have no free-will at all, for it is titulus finere. Luther. 10 Good works are not necessary to salvation. Illiricus. 11 Good works are hurtful to salvation. A●●●ders. 12 To teach good works, is the doctrine of devils. Luther. 1● Let us take heed of sins, yea let us take heed of good works. Luther. 14 All our best works are mortal sins, and mere iniquity. Calvin. 15 We need not grieve or do any satisfaction for our sins. Luther. 16 A thousand fornications and murders a day, Luther. cannot withdraw us from Christ. 17 If thy wife will not come, let thy maid come. Luther. 18 A woman is as necessary as meat and drink. Luther. 19 We may have as many wives as we list together. Luther. 20 To fast and chastise our bodies, Luther. is sanctity for hogs and dogs. 21 Purgatory is a delusion of the devil. Luther. 22 The devils are but in hell. Luther. 23 There is no sin but infidelity, tindal. no justice but Faith. 24 No sins are imputed to the faithful. Calvin. 25 Sins of the faithful past and future, Wotton. are pardoned as soon as committed. 26 The more wicked thou art, Luther. the more near to receive grace. 27 We have as much right to heaven, Zuinglius. as Christ himself. 28 And we are all Saints, Luther. and as holy as the Apostles were. 29 We are certain of our salvation. Calvin. 30 We cannot fall from ours, Zuinglius. unless Christ fall from his. A larger passage no man treads Then that which to perdition leads. THE PROTESTANTS LADDER of liberty, in Verse. The gates are ●ide And open bide. GOD is of all our sins the enforcing cause, It is impossible to keep his laws, The Tables two no rules for Christians be, Christ hath fulfilled the Law, and left us free. We need no pains take for eternal life, David Urias killed, defiled his wife, Yet did not thereby lose the holy Ghost. God for believers work, they (truly) boast▪ To the believer, no sins hurtful are: We have no free-will, 'tis a title bare: There's no necessity of our good works, In them much hindrance to salvation lurks. The teaching of good works is devils lore; Shun sin, but for good works eschew them more▪ All our best works are sins and errors soul; For sin near satisfy, nor grieve thy soul, A thousand fornications on a day; As oft to kill, pulls not from Christ away. If thy wife will not, let thy maid supply, As meat and drink, a woman's necessary▪ Wives thou mayest take at once all that thou please▪ To tame the flesh by fasts, or want of ease, Is sanctity for hogs and dogs to use, With Purgatory the Fiend doth fools abuse. Nor are those damned rebellious spirits in hell, No sin, but want of Faith, no doing well, But to believe. No sins the faithful blot Committed, strait they are pardoned and forgot. The most defiled, the readiest is for grace; As Christ, so we, have right to see God's face. The Apostles equals we are all, and Saints, Our certainty of salvation never faints, What ever soileth ours, Christ's glory taints▪ They spend their days in faring well, And in a tri●e descend to hell. THE BOOKS OF Protestant's from whence the steps of the▪ Ladder are gathered. 1 Calvin. lib. 1. justitut. cap. 18. sect. 3. 4. Castalio is witness, l. de Praed. con. Calvin. Ecker. in fascic. contr. quaest. 2. cap. 7. Paraeus apud Became in 1. par. c. 16. p. 182. Litt. Bern. dat. Anno. 1555. 2 Calvin. lib. 2. Instit. cap. 7. sect. 5. 3 Luther. Serm. de Mois. & in coloq ●●ns. Germ. fol. 152. 153. Melane. in Loc. Com. edit. 2. pag. 76. Eberus Salmath fecicles cruciger colloq. Altemb. Anno 1568. 4 Willet in Sinop. Papis. pag. 564. 5 Hoffman. de Poenit. 6 Fulke in the Tower disput. 7 Hoffman. de Poenit. 8 Whitaker de Ecclesia. pag. 301. 9 Luther Art. 36. 10 Illiricus in Pref. ad Rom. 11 Amsdorfius quod bona opera sint perniciosa ad salut. 12 Luther de Votis Monast. 13 Luther in Piscatura Petri. 14 Calvin lib. 3. cap. 12. sect. 4. 15 Calvin lib. 3. cap. 4. sect. 38. 16 Luther Tom. 1. epist. fol. 334. 17 Luther Ser. de Matrimon. 18 Luther Ibidem. 19 Luther Ibidem. 20 Luther Tom. 5. Ger. fol. 324. 21 Luther Epist. ad Wald. de Eucha. 22 Luther ad cap. 9 jonae. 23 Luther in 5. par. post. German. fol. 140. and tindal alleged by Fox, Acts pag. 1137. 24 Calvin lib. 3. Instit. cap. 4. sect. 28. 25 Wotton in his Answ. to the Popish Art. pag. 41. 26 Luther Ser. de Pisc. Petri. 27 Zwinglius Tom. 1. fol. 288. 28 Luther Ser. de Cruse. 29 Disput. Ratisb. pag. 463. 30 Swinglius Tom. 1 fol. 268. FINIS.