SOUND ADVICE TO Roman Catholics: Especially, The Residue of Poor, Seduced, and Deluded Papists in England, who obstinately shut both Eyes and Ears, against the clearest Light of the Gospel of Christ, and surest Evidences of Scripture and Reason.  
To which is added, A Word to the People called QUAKERS.  
By T. O.  Luk. 22.67. If I tell you, you will not believe. 
LONDON, Printed, and sold by Richard Janeway, in Queens-Head-Court, in Pater-Noster-Row. 1689.   

Licenced,  
Jan. 25. 1688/ 9   

SOUND ADVICE TO Roman Catholics, etc.  
THough there be none in this Nation, who (upon the account of Merit) oweth less kindness to your Tribe, yet (as one well acquainted with the Intrigues of both Churches) upon the account of Brotherly Love and Charity, I humbly present you with my Christian and best Advice, earnestly desiring you, seriously to consider the sandy Foundation of your Romish Church, and no more pin your Faith and confidence of Salvation, to the implicit assertions of a pretended Authority, and usurped Supremacy; to believe every Contradiction of Nonsense, which is, or can be affirmed by the Spiritual Apostates, of so abominable an Harlot, whom (with the Ephesians, Act. 19.28.) you term your Great Diana, and unspotted Mother-Church, and therefore aught to be believed without any further enquiry; though the Turks may, on as good grounds, persuade the World to embrace their Religion, and their chief Mufti as well claim Christ's Vicarage, upon the account of John of Constantinople, as the Pope of Rome can on the Succession of Peter; their Principles being neither more ridiculous, nor contrary to the Scriptures of Truth, and Apostolic Christian Faith, than the Doctrine of the Church of Rome is at this present time.  
Indeed, I myself was lulled asleep, by the allurements of the Popish sirens, and the bewitching Sorceries of the Man of Sin (as by the impetuous current of Babel's streams) driven headlong to the brink and shore of the See of Romish Abominations: But as Joseph was sold to Egypt, for the Preservation of his Brethren, so was I laid aside, by the permission of Divine Providence, for the safety both of my King and Country. Therefore (with the Apostle Paul, who was once a Persecuter) knowing the terror of the Lord, and the danger of Popish Apostasy, I persuade all men to renounce the Doctrine of Devils, and embrace the Christian Faith, freely offered to us in the Gospel. And because I would gain ground on the meanest Capacities, and discover the nakedness of the Roman Harlot, in puris, or (rather) nudis naturalibus, I shall (for the benefit of those who have not money to buy, nor time to read, great Controversies) set down in this small Treatise, some obvious and abominable Errors of the Romish Church, in such capital and legible Characters, that they who run may read MYSTERY BABYLON, etc. on the face of that impudent Harlot; and (unless they shut their Eyes, Ears, and all their Senses, the Gates of their understanding) be ready to cry out, Men and Brethren, what shall we do to be saved?  
The first blow that I intent to strike, is at the Pope's Supremacy and Infallibility, the two great Pillars whereon the Church of Rome (or rather Fabric of Antichrist) leaneth. The first, God hath as evidently prohibited, Mark 10.42. as he hath Murder and Adultery in the sixth and seventh Commandments; and since Papists unanimously acknowledge that all the Apostles received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Peter only the Keys, the Orders and Badge of his Supremacy, before they prove his Superiority and Dignity above the rest of the Apostles, they must prove that those Keys were a thing better and more precious than the rest received; yea, than the Holy Ghost, or God himself, which none but Antichrist and his Members dare to affirm. Peter, indeed, being a forward Man, Self-confident and Audacious, first answered our Saviour's Question, Matth. 16.16. and our Saviour (very gently) continued his discourse to him, not excluding the rest: But were I to give the Supremacy to any Apostle, I would rather give it to James the Lord's Brother, or to Paul or Barnabas, to whom Peter himself gave the right hand of fellowship, Gal. 2.9. or to John, who could be more intimate with Jesus than any of the rest, as is clear from Joh. 13.23. and was termed the Disciple whom Jesus loved, Joh. 21.20. Yet what Fool will from thence conclude, that he hated all the rest? though the Papists foolishly affirm, that because Christ gave the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter, he gave them to none else: He was pleased to wheedle over the rest with smaller enduements, privileges, and pre-eminence; though they received both the Father and the Son. Thus did Peter (according to the Canon of the Church of Rome) receive a more noble Gift; and was inspired with a greater Spirit than God himself; though our Saviour saith, Joh. 10.29. My Father is greater than all. Yet, for all these Keys were so precious, that bloody Sodomite, Pope Julius the Second, threw them in the River Tiber, as he was marching before his Army, the number whereof was as the sand of the Sea: Whence Bibliander doth conclude, that Pope Julius did resign all his pretended Right and Power, of shutting and opening Heaven and Hell, to the River Tiber, or the Fishes or other Creatures therein. For casting away the Keys, the Testimony of his Authority, he did deprive and spoil himself, and all his Successors, of Peter's Inheritance.  
But (to approach a little nearer to this glorious Mitre, whose dazzling brightness darkneth all the Crowns in Christendom) I would gladly know how the Pope of Rome came to be Peter's Successor, and if he came honestly by his Popedom: If Peter was Crucify'd at Rome, his Succession must be by Usurpation, and his Right to the Holy Chair, but a mere Robbery. But it is acknowledged by all, that the Titles of Pope of Rome, Universal Bishop, Peter's Successor, Christ's Vicar, and God upon Earth, were not known till (about 600 years after our Saviour.) The Patriarches of Constantinople and Rome, did both by Letters and Legates solicit the Emperor Mauritius for the Title of Bishop of Bishops, instead of Servus Servorum. But Gregory the First (abhorring that Blasphemous Name, and calling it the Mark and Badge of Anti-christ) Lib. 4 Epist. 27. wrote to the Emperor thus: Exclamare compellor, ac dicere, O tempora, O mores! Ecce cuncta in Europae Partibus Barbarorum juri sunt tradita. Destructae ●●bes, eversa Castra, depopulatae provinciae, nullus terram Cultor inhabitat, & tamen Sacerdotes qui in pavimento, & cinere flentes jacere debuerunt, vanitatis sibi nomina experiunt, & novis ac prophanis vocabulis gloriantur. That is to say, I am compelled to cry out, O Times! O Manners! Behold in all the parts of Europe, all things live under the reverence of barbarous people: Towns are destroyed, Castles are overthrown, Provinces are spoiled: No Labourer inhabiteth the Land; notwithstanding, the Priests (who should lie in ashes, upon the ground weeping) are seeking unto themselves Names of Vanity, and Glory in Profane Titles. Thus Anti-christ's Title was blasted in the bud, and forced to linger in the birth, till Bonifacius the Third (finding opportunity by the disliking which the Emperor Phocas had of the Patriarch of Constantinople) insinuated himself in the Emperor's favour, and obtained at his hands, that the Church of Rome should be called the Supreme Head of all other Churches, and himself Supreme and Universal Bishop of all Bishops. Then Boniface (as Platina writeth) proud of his Vain, Glorious, New Title (which he had snatched from the hand of an Usurper) called a Council at Rome, consisting of seventy two Bishops, thirty Presbyters, and three Deacons; wherein, the privilege of Supremacy, given by Phocas to the Roman Church, was published. Thus he who had murdered an Emperor could make a Bishop, and add lustre to his ambitious Holiness; and against the Nature both of Reason and Philosophy, give that which in himself he had not.  
Thus was this proud swelling Title Midwifed to the World, by a Tyrant who had Murdered his Master, the good Emperor Mauritius, with his Brother, Wife and Children. And as Bibliander observeth, the Eagles three Heads, with their bloody Bills, awaked all at once, viz. Boniface, Phocas, and Mahumet the Arabian. Now considering these things, and that the Bishop of Rome oweth his Greatness and Supremacy to the Emperor, what Master of Ingratitude is he, to Curse, Excommunicate, Depose and tread him under his Feet? Cause him to hold his Stirrup Crown him with his Feet, force him to stand barefoot, begging at his Gates, Poison him, and make him lie rotting above ground without a Grave to lie in.  
Neither can the Pope deduce his Infallibility from Peter's constancy and steadfastness of Faith; for he (after he had received the Keys) both could, and did fall, and was by our Saviour, Matth. 16.23. not called His Holiness, but Satan: whence I might (after the manner of Popish Argumentation) infer that the Church of Rome is built upon Satan, who denied his Saviour, and was ignorant, Gal. 2.13, 14. whether it was lawful to eat with the Gentiles, till Paul informed and confirmed him in the true Faith. Yea, all Papists foolishly conclude and affirm, that, during the time of Christ's Crucifixion, none upon Earth, no not the Apostles themselves, had true Faith, or believed in the Son of God, but only the B. Virgin: whence it will follow (according to the Principles of Popery) that the Church was built upon an Unbeliever, and that the Devils, the Gates of Hell did prevail against it.  
Now then, if Peter was neither Supreme nor Infallible, why doth the Pope of Rome father his Popperies of Supremacy and Infallibility on him? as by a Gospel Line, and Spiritual Deic●●…; he could prove his Right to the Holy Chair, and throw down, all his Brats of Abomination, at the Blessed Apostle's Door. But if I can, by demonstration, prove the Pope of Rome, his pretended Holiness, an Infidel in Faith, and an Atheist in Life and Conversation, I hope all ingenious Papists will acknowledge him Fallible; for, ab actu ad potentiam bene valet consequentia.  
The first proof I shall bring is a short History, taken out of the best Popish Writers, which is this; Formosus the first Reigned six Years, and died anno 896. after he had made many Decretals, Acts and Church-Canons, which Steven the 6th spitefully annulled and canceled, as wicked and abominable, because he had prevented him in the Popedom, and would not allow him Concubines to his mind: Yea (to revenge his undeserved quarrel against him) summoning a Council, he caused his dead rotten Carcase to be digged out of the Grave, and decked with Gorgeous Pontificals, and pulling off all again, to be arrayed in laymen's habit. Thus the dead Body being degraded and devested of all Ecclesiastic Dignity, like a superstitious Fool, he cut off the two Fingers of his right hand (wherewith he used to hold the Sacrament) and threw them in the River Tiber, and afterwards commanded his Body to be buried among Laymen. But Romanus the first, succeeding Steven, allowed and confirmed the Acts and Decrees of Formosus, annulling and condemning the Canons, Acts and Decretals of Steven, as wicked and abominable. Then after the Death of Romanus, Pope John the tenth being a Favourite of Formosus, made a General Collection of all the Writs and Processes against the dead Body of Formosus, and condemned the Pope Steven his Council, and all their Writings. Till Sergius the third (who had before, by the Roman Clergy, been elected Pope with Formosus, but suppressed by Faction) digged up the dead rotten Body of Formosus the second time; which had been in the Grave about ten Years, set it in St. Peter's Chair, drew it thence by the Heels to a block, and struck off its head: And chopping off the three fingers, which Steven had lest, he caused the rotten, stinking Massacred Body to be thrown into the River Tiber: And lastly, defaced, annulled and condemned all his Acts and Decrees, which before had been allowed, denied, confirmed and condemned by several thwarting and contradicting Popes. Till in the Reign of Pope Anastatius the third, about the year 913, some Fishermen found the Body of Formosus in the River Tiber; which was by his Holiness buried sumptuously; the very Images (if you can believe the famous Popish Writers) welcoming, nodding and saluting the dead Body when it was brought into the Church. Now of necessity some of these contradicting Popes were erroneous in their Judgements; yea, both faulty and Heretical, and did fall in their Faith, and sacrifice their Conscience to their spleen: For, contradicting one another, they could not all be in the right, nor affirm that which was true and Orthodox. For it is an undeniable maxim, that Duo contradictoria nequiunt esse simul vera. But, whatever was their Faith, I am sure their Charity was threadbare, and their Holinesses destitute of all mercy, vindictively pursuing their holy Father beyond the Gates of Death, and revenging their quarrel in the very Grave. Neither was this all, for it is observed by Popish Writers, and all others since, that after the Death of Formosus, the Popes of Rome poisoned and dispatched one another so fast, that there were eleven Popes within nine year space.  
The next proof of the Pope's Fallibility in Faith, is, that John the 23d was proved an Heretic in the Council of Constance, by these words; Pope John said, and stubbornly believed, that the Soul of Man dyeth together with the Body, and is consumed to nothing, like the Souls of Bruit Beasts. And because Thomas Walleis, an Englishman, was Imprisoned by the Pope for reproving his Heresy, the King of France summoned a Council into his Palace, in Viciana Sylva, where the whole Assembly subscribed against the Pope's Heresy: And the King wrote to John to reform it, and set the Prisoner at liberty. The last he did to prevent threatening dangers; but of his Heresy, he never would purge himself.  
My third proof shall be from Pope Gregory the VII. This man was an Adulterer, a great Sorcerer and Necromancer; and (as Beno the Cardinal writeth) when he was in his merry Fits, would cast off his Sleeves, and skip and dance like a Bear, in form of sparkles and flames of fire: With which, and many such Miracles (or rather lying Wonders) he deceived and persuaded ignorant people, to believe that he was a Lamp of pure Holiness. As also, he kept a Brazenhead in his Closet, wherein dwelled a Spirit, wherewith (in any danger) he consulted, to know the result of his undertake. But on a certain time (as he was preparing to War against the Emperor) his Domestic God gave him such an ambiguous Answer, that he could make no sense of it: therefore took the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (his supposed Deity) and setting it on a Table, Conjured it with the same Words that he had his Brazenhead, a little before; but the Sacrament giving him no Answer, His Holiness, in a great passion, threw it in the fire, with these Words, There's a God indeed: Can the Idol-Gods of the Heathens give them Answer in their Success, and canst thou give me none? The Cardinals then present, were much displeased that Hildebrand should have burned the God which they had made to be eaten: Therefore John Bishop of Portua (of the Pope's Privy Council) made his Apology in a Sermon in St. Peter's Church, the next Lord's Day, thus: What meaned HILDEBRAND and We to do these things, for which We all deserve to be burned alive? From whence I infer, that Pope Gregory was an Heretic, and did not believe the real Presence, and that the Sacrament was a True God. Yet this Gregory, alias Hildebrand, or Hell-brand (as some term him) for all he Poisoned seven Popes, to make way for himself to the Popedom, died at Salerne in great Misery, Anno 1086.  
My fourth proof is by consequence, from the Words of Pope Gelasius, concerning the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; who, against the Eutychians, speaketh thus: Biblioth. patr. Tom. 4. Surely the Sacraments which we receive, of the Body and Blood of our Lord, are a Divine thing, so that by them we are made partakers of a Divine Nature, and yet it ceaseth not to be the Substance or Nature of Bread and Wine, and certainly, the Image and Resemblance of Christ's Body and Blood are Celebrated in the Action of the Mystery. Whence it will undoubtedly follow, that he was a Heretic, according to the Canon of the second Council of Lateran, which confirmed the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, or else that all the Popes since have been Heretics, who have maintained Christ's real presence, in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.  
My fifth and last proof shall be of Pope Leo the X. who (when Cardinal Bembus moved a Question out of the Gospel) very contemptuously Answered, All Ages can testify enough, how profitable that Fable of Christ hath been to us, and our Company. Who then dare be so impudent to affirm him Infallible in Faith, who denyeth the very foundation thereof, and him by whom only Salvation can be obtained? Be astonished, O ye Heavens at this, and be horribly afraid, etc. Jer. 2.12.  
Now if this be the Fountain of the Romish Faith, and the Creed of his unspotted Holiness, what mud and dirt is in Babel's streams? What Atheism and Infidelity must there be among the Crew of the Romish Clergy? And Rabble of Brutish Priests, Monks and Friars! Est petri Sedes (saith Bellarm. in praefat: ante lib. de Pontif. Rom.) Lapis probatus, angularis, pretiosus, in fundamento fundatus. St. Peter's Chair is an approved Corner Stone, precious, and laid in the foundation. And again (lib. 2. the pont. Rom. cap. 31.) The Pope of Rome is the foundation of the Church. And Stapleton (Relect. princip. Doctr. in praef.) Alii nunc a Christo eorumve Doctrina, praedicatio, determinatio fundamenti apud me locum habebunt. That is others (now beside Christ) and their Doctrine, Preaching, and Determination, shall be esteemed of me as a Foundation. The Begging Friars in the time of William de sanct. amore (as the Doctors of Paris in lib. de peric. novis. temp. relate) collected all their Dreams, Fancies, and vain Traditions, into one Volume, calling it the Eternal Gospel, and Preached The Gospel of Christ shall cease, and our Eternal Gospel shall be Preached and received to the end of the World. The Pope with great reluctancy, did at last condemn this blasphemous Book of Abominations, and lying Wonders, at the earnest Request of the Doctors of Paris, against whom his Holiness conceived such implacable hatred, that he could never after be reconciled to them, and favoured the Friars so much, that he both preferred them, and enlarged their Privileges.  
Now if any of the Romish Clergy persuade a Layman to believe as the Church believeth, he must tell him what is the Church. For if he believe what the Church of Rome preached formerly, than he must not believe the Doctrine of Popery now. Yea, if he believe Pope Gelasius (whom I have Quoted) he must not believe the present Church of Rome; or else if he will believe the Doctrine of Rome now, he must acknowledge that Pope Gelasius was a cursed Heretic, which will overturn the Doctrine of the Pope's Infallillility, which hangeth betwixt a Possibility and an Impossibility.  
Now to prove the Pope Fallible, in respect of evil Works, Sin and Wickedness, his godless and brutish life is enough to declare him both a Beast and an Atheist. And I really believe, that as soon as ever he sitteth down in the old rotten Stool, which they call St. Peter's Chair (as from an old enchanted Oracle) he is possessed with the spirit of Delusion and Error; which driveth him headlong to all Abominations and Uncleanness. And, as an evil spirit from God, troubled Saul; so suffereth he the wicked one to take possession of this Prince of Pride, that they who follow and wander after him and term him His Holiness, may be inexcusable in the day of their accounts; in reputing him a Terrestrial God, whom they see an Infernal Devil. And son further satisfaction, I shall here insert some Popish Pranks, and Wicked Villainies, committed by the Popes of Rome; which the Reader may judge, whether or not they can consist with Infallibility and unspotted Holiness.  
Pope (or rather Popess) Joan was a Fornicatrix, and died in Labour, bringing forth a Bastard.  
Pope John XIII, lay with his own Sisters, forced his Father's Concubines, played at Dice, drank the Devils good Health, prayed to him for good luck, and put out the Eyes of Benedict his Ghostly Father.  
Gregory VII. caused a fellow to put great stones, right over the place where the Emperor Henry used to pray, in St. mary Church, to knock him on the Head, by an ingenious contrivance; whilst he was at his Devotion he Cursed, and Excommunicated him, without occasion, and took his Crown from him, without any just cause.  
Paschal II. stirred up Henry the V to Rebel against his good Old Father, who at last (by his assistance) beat him from the Empire, and brought him to beg his Bread; so that he lived and died miserable, and was caused to lie rotting above ground, without burying, five years, at the Pope's special command.  
Innocent IU. called Henry III. King, of England his Vassal, Slave and Page, whom he could imprison, and put to open shame, at his pleasure.  
Hadrian iv fell out with the Emperor of Germany, for holding his wrong Stirrup.  
Innocent III. took from John, King of England, both his Crown and Kingdom, and gave it to Lewis, the French Kings Son, without any just cause.  
Celestine III. Crowned the Emperor and Empress of Germany with his Feet, and (throwing off the Crowns again with his Toe) said, Th●ve power both to make and unmake Kings and Emperors.  
Nicolas III. begot a Bastard Son, that had Claws and Hair like a Bear.  
Boniface VIII. because Philip King of France would not suffer the Revenues of his Kingdom to be transported to Foreign Countries, Cursed both him and his, to the fourth Generation. He likewise gave Authority to Ecclesiastic Persons in England, to deliver the people to Satan twice a year. This man came by the Popedom after a most devilish and treacherous manner, for finding his Master, Pope Celestine the Fifth, a simple doting Man, he hired one of his Bedchamber to make a Ghostly noise, in a long Reed, through a hole which he had caused to be made privately, in the Wall of his Holiness' Chamber, crying, CELESTINE, CELESTINE, give over thy Charge, for it is above thy strength and ability. The Old Man (thinking the Infernal noise had been the Voice of an Angel, sent from Heaven) in spite of all opposers, gave over the Popedom on St. Luke's Eve, and went to a Desert to lead an Eremit's life, (as Massaeus writeth.) But the Impostor Boniface (who had thus cheated the simple man, and gotten to be his Successor, fearing that the people would follow him as Pope) apprehended Old Celestine, and put him in close Prison, where he lay till the day of his Death: But Boniface himself, did not escape the just Judgement of God, for he died in a miserable condition, with a guilty Conscience. This is he, of whom it was said, He entered like a FOX, he reigned like a LYON, and died like a DOG.  
Clement the V caused his Hangman to take Francis Dandalus, a Venetian Duke, and bind him with Chains, and throw him at his Feet under his Table, where (for very hunger) he gnawed bones like a Dog.  
Clement VI caused to Poison the Emperor Lewis, without any cause but Pride, Covetousness, and desire of Superiority.  
Urban VI drowned seven Cardinals, because he suspected that they had conspired against him with Charles King of Naples, and Clement his Competitor, an Antipope. This Urban (whom some termed Turban, for his wicked and troublesome life) as he was in haste riding from Naples, with his Spiritual Court of Rogues, and Sodomites, caused one of his Cutthroats to kill the Bishop of Aquilo his Prisoner, leaving his dead mangled body on the way; because (after his racking and tormenting) he could not ride so fast as His Holiness.  
Pope Sixtus iv gave liberty to several Families of the Clergy, to defile their bodies with all manner of filthiness and brutish uncleanness, for the three hot months, June, July, and August.  
Innocent VIII. begat sixteen Children, on sixteen several Women, and was so brutish every way, that after his Death this Epitaph was made upon him:  

Octo Nocens pueros genuit, totidemque puellas,  
Hunc merito poterit dicere Roma patrem.  
Spuricies, Gula, avaritia atque ignavia, Deses,  
Hoc, octave jacent, quo tegeris tumulo.   
Benedict the XII. bought with a large sum of money, the Sister of Francis Petrarch, a very beautiful Woman, to satisfy his Carnal desire.  
Alexander the VI lay with his own Daughter, on whom after her death this Epitaph was made:  
Hic jacet in tumulo, Lucretia nomine; sed re  
Thais; Alexandri filia, sponsa, nuras.  
Paul III. in disguise, lay with a young Gentlewoman, under pretence of Wooing her, by whom he had a Son called Peter Aloysius, the express Image of such a Father: For being General of his Father's Army, he caused his Soldiers violently to hold the Godly Old Bishop of Fane, till he in spite of the poor Old Man's heart, committed that abomination with him, that is neither proper to be Written, nor spoken of; the Bishop afterwards dying for very grief. This Pope Paul had a Daughter named Constantia, whose Husband he poisoned, to enjoy her person with greater convenience, and with her, to wallow in uncleanness. With whom also, her Brother Peter Aloysius, in imitation of his Father, made bold to commit Incest. This Pope also kept a List of 45000 Harlots about Rome, which paid him a monthly Tribute for Liberty of Whoring.  
These are Demonstrations of the Pope's Fallibility, and the fruits of his manifest Wickedness. These are the do of the Son of Perdition, and the wicked Works of the Romish Man of Sin, which (to number up all, or as many of them as have been published in Popish Historians) would make a book larger than twenty Church Bibles: But ex ungue Leonem, We may know by this little what the whole Volume would be, and what metal the Mystery of Iniquity is made of. Are these the Works of him that hath the Spirit of God, or the Spirit of Anti-christ? Tell me ingenuously Reader, how you relish this drop of the Cup of Romish Abominations, and if you can digest a whole Draught of it, without Poisoning your Conscience? Doth it surfeit your Soul to a future forbearance, and force you to cry out, O Man of God, Death is in the Cup?  
The second thing that I object, against the Church of Rome, is the keeping the Laity from reading the Holy Scriptures. It is life eternal to know God, Joh. 17.3. but how to know the God of Truth without the knowledge of the Scriptures of Truth, I never could yet find out, they being the right way, and appointed guide, to lead us unto Christ himself. Our Saviour saith, Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures. And it was the commendation of the Noble Bereaus, Act. 17.11. that they tried the truth of Paul's Doctrine, by the Touchstone and Scriptures of Truth: For the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets. All the Apostles wrote to the Saints in general, and Paul desired the Colossians to read his Epistle publicly, in the Churches, and charged the Thessalonians, by the Lord, to read his Epistle unto all the holy brethren. Now shall I conclude that there are no Saints but great ones, and learned Doctors: No Church or Congregation but what consisteth of Learned Rabbis and Clergymen: No Brethren but Bishops, Abbots, Priests, Monks and Friars, &c: God forbidden! For as Augustine saith, Conf. lib. 3. cap. 8. Men unlearned earnestly contend for Heaven, whilst learned Men, without understanding, wallow in flesh and blood. And although Paul wrote many things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrist, yet did not Peter (who giveth an Item of it, in his second Epistle, 3.16.) desire his Writings to be taken from them. Meat and Drink must not be rejected, because of Drunkards and Gluttons. Better some men be Debauched, than all the World Starved. Better there be a possibility of some's wresting the Scripture, than that all the World should lie in Ignorance. Since Heresies must be, that they who are approved may be made manifest, as good they be, by this means as other ways. Yet Chrysostom saith, Scripturarum ignoratio haereses peperit. And again, Barathrum est Scripturarum ignoratio. Whence I may rationally infer, that the Pope of Rome shutteth the Kingdom of Heaven against men, and sendeth all the Rabble of vulgar Papists (who dare not read nor know the Scriptures) in a broad way to Hell.  
Certainly it is the just condemnation of the World that men love to walk in Darkness, when they may walk in Light. And although the Scriptures be but a Riddle and Sealed Book to the Wicked, yet are the secrets of the Lord with those that fear him. They are a Sun, which show themselves with their own Rays, if within our Horizon, giving light to the humble, dazzling the cautious eye, and striking the ambitious spirits blind: A River, wherein an Elephant may swim, and an Insect wade and drink: A Feast, affording Milk for ●a●es; and strong Meat for Men of understanding: They are an inexhaustible Treasure, to which God hath promised his immediate and continual presence, Isah. 59.21. The everlasting Gospel is conveyed with an Angel, Rev. 14.6. This is that Light and Sun which the Man of Sin hath put under the Bushel of prohibition; and (as it is Prophesied, Rev. 16.10.) made the Kingdom of the Beast full of darkness.  
Now it is the earnest desire of my Soul, that the Church of Rome grant to all her Children the privilege of reading the Holy Scriptures, and show herself the true Mother, by feeding, and not the Stepmother, by starving her Children; lest her Flock go astray, and perish in Ignorance, and their blood be required at the Clergy-men's hands: For if the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, 2 Cor. 4.3.  
My third Objection shall be against the Doctrine of Venial Sins; for though some sins be more heinous in the sight of God than others, yet is no sin small or venial. The Law of God is a fiery Law, every spark burneth. The wages of Sin (without exception) is Death. God's Wrath and Curse hangeth over the head of every sin, Gal. 3.10. But since all conclude, that every sin, by Nature, is evil, let us abstain from all filthiness both of the flesh and of the Spirit.  
My fourth Objection shall be against the Doctrine of Purgatory, which Papists term a Place, or Pit of fire, Ordained by God, for purging the Souls of Men after Death, from Venial Sins. But this Doctrine nititur facto supposito; for if there be no Venial Sins, then is there no Purgatory. But (in few words) there can be no unsanctifyed Saints, God doth not pardon by halfs; he forgiveth all thine Iniquities, he healeth all thy Diseases, Psal. 103.3. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. It were a ridiculous piece of Nonsense, for a King to pardon a Malefactor of his Murder, and yet cause him to be whipped at the Cart for his provoking Language, God doth not forgive great heinous Sins, and retain small ones, he taketh away (as saith the Prophet) all our iniquities, healeth all our back-slidings, forgiveth us freely, loveth us freely, maketh us pure and clean, whiter than the Snow, and preserveth us spotless, till we appear before him. They that continue in sin, in expectation of a Purgatory, may be mistaken, and fall in the lake which burneth with for and brimstone; which is the second Death, Rev. 21.8.  
My fifth Objection shall be against the Popish Limb●● Infantum, an imaginary place, where the Roman Clergy bar up all unbaptized Infants, eternally, from the presence of God. This is an uncharitable Opinion, and cannot consist with the goodness, mercy, wisdom, and foreknowledge of God, who hath found out and ordained a sufficient Remedy for lost man, which under some circumstances cannot be administered; for, frustranea est illa potentia quae nequit reduci in actum. Now, I hope, the Papists will not deny that some Children are sanctified in the Mother's Womb, Jer. 1.5. and if such a Child should die without Baptism, who dareth to affirm that he is separated from the presence of that God, who hath promised to be both the God of the faithful and of their seed?  
My sixth Objection shall be against Popish Baptism: For, what a brutish thing is it to adulterate the Water and Element of this Holy Sacrament with Oil, Salt and Spittle. Is sensual man wiser than the Omnipotent God? If he Work, who can let? And who can say unto the King of Kings, what dost thou? Every thing ought to be done in decency and order, but this nasty and brutish trick is the shame of Sacraments, the blush of Babylon, the impudence of Popery, and the absurdity of abominations. Will it not satisfy you to eat up the good Pastures, but (with the Idol-shepherds in old) to tread down the residue with your feet. Will it not satisfy you to eat God's Body, Cancel the Scriptures, and debar the people from the Word of God, but must you also spit on his Sacrament, Homologating the deeds of Judas and Pilate, and of those Wicked Jews who served him so when they Crucify'd him? Will it not satisfy you to drink all the Wine at his Supper, unless you spit in this Element of Water, because it doth not answer your drunken Appetites? O wretched Hypocrites! How can ye escape the Damnation of Hell.  
And what a ridiculous wicked thing is it to Baptise Bells, Churches, and other Ecclesiastical Necessaries, in the Name of Christ: Whether is it, to mock or spite the Christian Religion? Did he ever Dye for Metal, Stones, and Wood? Were these the posterity of Adam? Have Stocks and Stones, Wood and Metal, Immortal Souls? And has Christ commanded some Stones (such as are in Church-Walls) and such Metal as is moulded in Bells, and such Wood as is converted to Roods, and wherewith we Roof Churches, to be Baptised, and not every Pot and Pan, Stick and Stone, we meet with? If they have right to the Sacraments, why not to the Word? And why do you not Preach to them? Why do you not Administer to them the Lord's Supper, since he can eat and drink with the Priest's mouth as well as other Laics?  
My seventh Objection shall be against the Popish Eucharist, wherein they pretend both to make and eat God, as is affirmed by Innocencius, in his Mysteries of the Mass, lib. 4. cap. 19 Panis in Cristum transubstantiatur & ita in Creatorem; sic ergo Creatura quotidie fit Creator. And Bonner, in praise of the Priesthood, saith, The Priests are Creators of their Maker. Truly it is most certain, that at the Celebration of this Holy Sacrament, Christ in a Mystery is more particularly present, than at other times: But to say that Christ, at his last Supper, did eat up all and whole Christ; and that the eater and the eaten were the same; and that the Apostles were Cannibals, and did eat Christ alive; when he was dead in his Grave; and that the B. Virgin did cruelly tear in pieces, and eat up her own Son, every bit and crumb; and that God in Christ (who made Men Rational, and is the Author of Order and not Confusion) did confound the World both in Sense and Reason; and that in this Sacrament there is Form without Substance, and Substance without Form, and yet no Forma Substantialis; and that Christ's Body is in Heaven, Earth, France, Spain, Italy, and all the World over at once; without Bilocation or Ubiquity: Or, (in few Words) to affirm that a Wicked Debauched Priest, can make that which was never unmade, viz. The Eternal everliving holy God, and then eat up the invisible Deity; is such a piece of ridiculous, impudent, absurd, brazenfaced, blasphemous, self-contradicting Nonsense, as driveth the Turks, Pagans, and Heathens, to astonishment; staineth Christianity, and confirmeth all ungodly Wretches in Atheism and Idolatry, and ought not to be named among Christians. For as Vigil. lib. 4. contra. Eutych. (speaking of Christ's Body) saith, When it was on Earth, surely it was not in Heaven: And now because it is in Heaven, certainly it is not on earth.  
My eighth Objection shall be against the Church of Rome's depriving her Laity of the Communion-Cup: For if our Saviour was so liberal of his Body and Blood, as to give both to unlearned Fishermen, yea to Judas, (whom he knew to be both a Thief and a Traitor) I think the Romish Clergy may do the same to the vulgar, after Confession, without fear of the falling of drops of blood, or mammocks of flesh; for it was no less disparagement to Christ's Body and Blood, to be in the Self-murdering Son of Perdition's Belly, than to lie in a Church floor.  
My ninth Objection shall be against the Doctrine of Popish Merit; For if Man, in his best estate, be but Vanity, all his righteousness and best performances but filthy rags, and the best of men but unprofitable Servants: What can foolish men merit at the hand of God? Or what reward can he expect for his empty performances? Yet are the deluded Papists so simple, as to affirm that many of their supposed Saints did live so holily, that they left in bank a superplus stock of good Works, more than merited Heaven to themselves, and Wicked Kinsmen, which now his Holiness of Rome hath laid up in bank as Spiritual Revenues, to be sold to ungodly rich sinners for ready Money, to buy their Salvation, and redeem their deceased Friends out of Purgatory. But this principle is so evidently abominable, that there is no need to refute it to a Rational Man; for there can be no greater absurdity thrown at it, than its own impudence and filthiness. For if Christ's Merits be infinite, and his Raiment (which he proffereth freely) be white as snow, what necessity is there to lay out our money for that which doth not profit, and buy filthy rags which cannot cover our nakedness?  
My tenth Objection shall be against the Adoration of Images. For notwithstanding that the changing the Glory of the Incorruptible God, into an Image made like to corruptible Man, and to Birds and  Beasts, and creeping things, was the abomination of the Gentiles, whom (being vain in their Imaginations) God gave up to vile Affections; yet are not Papists ashamed to build the Sepulchers of their Fathers, painting the Immortal Deity, in similitudes of their own Invention. O Fools! Doth not God fill Heaven and Earth? Are not all Nations, before him, less than Nothing and Vanity? To whom then will ye liken him? Or, Who shall be his equal? It would be reputed a spiteful piece of Misdemeanour, if not High Treason, in any Subject to take the Picture of a Hog, Dog, or Bear, and set it up in his Chamber, and call it the Picture of his King. Yet there is greater disparity betwixt God and the best of Creatures, than betwixt a King and a Bear. And what an impudent deluded thing is it in them, to pray to the Images of supposed Saints, Statues, Stocks and Stones, Gods of their own making, and not acknowledge themselves Idolaters: For (say they) We Worship not the Image or Statue, but its Representative. But, O deluded Wretches! What Fool will conclude that the Israelites, when they Worshipped their Molten Calf, did believe that it was their real God, (which had smitten Egypt with Plagues, and divided the Red Sea before them) but only his Representative? Yet, for their Idolatry, how many thousands fell in one day? Neither is it less sin, to pray to Angels and Saints, than to Idols of Stone, Wood and Clay; for if there be but one Omnipotent, Omnipresent God, who is only able and willing, at all times, to hear and help us. How dare you slight him, (who inviteth us freely,) to embrace those, who are neither able to hear nor help? For Papists cannot deny that they pray, Holy Michael, defend us in Battle, that we perish not in the fearful Judgement. And to the Blessed Virgin, O Glorious Saint, in whom I put my trust, the Mother of Grace; The Port of Salvation, my Confidence, my Refuge, and my only hope, etc. And to another, thus: Let me obtain Heaven by the Blood of St. Thomas Becket; as if the blood of a Traitor were more efficacious and propitiatory, before God, than the blood of Christ. Moreover, what an abominable thing is it to pray to St. Nicholas, to protect Mariners, St. Luke Painters, St. Crispin Shoemakers, St. Gal Geese, and Antony Pigs, etc. as if God, whose Providence reacheth the Sparrows, were not the Confidence of all the ends of the Earth, and of those who are afar off, upon the Seas. Moreover, it is ridiculous to pray to that which can neither hear nor help, and say, O Holy Cross help me. And again, ange piis justitiam, reisque dona veniam, Increase Righteousness in the Godly, and grant Pardon to Sinners. And to an old rag to say, O Sancte Sudari! Ora pro nobis, O Holy Napkin pray for us. These are the Works of Delusion, yea, the Mystery of the Man of Sin, which I earnestly desire and request all Papists to forsake, and pray only to God in Christ, the only Mediator and Advocate betwixt God and Man, as Jerom in an Epistle to Riparius Writeth; Christians, neither adore nor Worship Martyrs, nor Sun, nor Moon, nor Angels, lest they should therein rather serve Creatures than the Creator.  
My eleventh Objection, against Papists, shall be their praying in an unknown Tongue; for as Paul saith, 1 Cor. 14.9. Except ye utter by the tongue, words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken, for ye shall speak unto the Air? Yea, in this same Chapter, vers. 23. he compareth those who are guilty of this foolery, to Barbarians and Madmen; and telleth, that tongues are for a sign to them that believe not, but Nonsense to them that believe. Moreover, to be spoke to with stammering lips, and Men of another tongue, was a Curse from God upon Israel, as it is now on the obstinate Romans this day, Isa. 28.11.  
My twelfth and last Objection, shall be against their Doctrine of Adultery, or their Clergies single life; wherein they condemn their Sacrament of Marriage as an unholy thing, and a stumbling-block, in the way to Heaven. God appointed it from the beginning, Christ countenanced it, and the Apostle recommended it as honourable to all Men. What then are they, who give the lie both to God and Man, terming it unholy and unclean, whilst God hath affirmed the contrary, in as direct and plain terms as any man, yea, beyond what the Wisest Orator can express? But (since this is so plain an, absurdity in itself) I shall not spend Pen and Ink, in proving that which no rational man will deny; only suffer me at last now to treat, or rather surfeit your Eyes and Ears, with one abominable Story, which is this: Hudericus, Bishop of Augusta, in an Epistle, Writeth to Pope Nicholas I. that Gregory the Great bound the Clergy to a single Life; but on a certain time, a Woman catching small fishes (which this superstitious Monk thought only lawful to be eaten) found 6000 Heads of Infants, which had been therein drowned; which Monk Gregory perceiving to be the effect of the Clergies single Life, with sighing and sorrowing, he revoked the Canon. Yea, it is reported by the foresaid Bishop, that the Clergy did so burn in Lust, that they not only kept Company with Married Women, and their own Kindred, but with Mankind, and the very Beasts in the Field. Another Story, the Parallel whereof you may read in several Popish Historians, is this: Leander and Tritemius report, that about the year of our Lord 1470, Alanus de Rupe, a Dominican, after he had seen several Visions, contrived his Work called Rosarium, out of our Lady's Psalter, and Preached it instead of the Gospel; which Pope Sixtus iv confirmed, with Bulls and Indulgences: Whereupon a certain Book was published, in the beginning whereof is Written, that the B. Virgin came into the Cell of the said Alan, it being shut, and made him a Ring of her own Hair, and betrothed herself to the Monk, kissing him, and giving him leave to handle her Breasts; and finally, to be as intimate as Man and Wife. This is he from whom sprang the Order of Alanites, and whose Miracles the Popish Clergy so zealously defend.  
I thought to have spoken something of several other Popish Opinions, especially of Penance, Pardons and Indulgences, but lest I weary you, I shall only refer you to a little Pamphlet, sold by the Booksellers of London, Entitled, Sodom Fair, which discovereth the Nakedness and Abominations of the Romish Harlot to the Life, or rather Death; from which I pray God may deliver us all.  
I resolved once, as I have said, to have given you a taste of all the poisonous and counterfeit Merchandise, that is exposed in the Market of the Man of Sin, and a touch of all his Hocus Tricks, and Popish Pranks: But he who readeth with an Impartial Eye considereth with an Unprejudiced Understanding, and receiveth what I have here written in an honest Heart, will be ready to turn his back on Babylon, and his face Zion ward, and inquire after the good old way, which is set before us, in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament.  
Therefore it is my humble and hearty Advice, that all people be terrified at the Name of Popery, and that all Roman Catholics open their obstinate Eyes and Ears, to see and hear the Word of Truth, and with the Noble Bereans,, search the Scriptures, the Writings of the Fathers; yea, and their own Legends and Historians, to see whether what the Christian Protestant Churches affirm, be conform to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles or not: Then if Baal be God follow him; if the Pope or his Creature the Host, his imaginary Deity be God, follow him: But if there be no God but one, all-sufficient, eternal, invisible, and incomprehensible, follow him, according to his own Will, and the Rule which he hath in his Word prescribed to us; but if you will neither hear, nor believe the Word of God, and Scriptures of Truth, nor the Writings of the Fathers, and of your own Historians, then if one should come from the Dead, you will neither hear nor believe him: For they that shut both Eyes and Ears, and resolve to be filthy, will be filthy still. And none can do more, but with the Prophet Jer. 51.8. Wail over you, and cry out We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. But remember what the Lord saith by the Prophet Isa. 50.11. Behold all ye that kindle a Fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow.   

A WORD To the People called QUAKERS.  Gal. 4.16. Am I therefore become your Enemy, because I tell you the truth. 
I Intended to have spoken of your Opinions and Principles, but (considering that you all pretend to an Inspiration, of the Infalllble Spirit of Truth, and need no outward teachers) I shall only humbly advise you to square your profession, and try your Spirits, by the Scriptures of Truth; for the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets: And if you walk not after that Rule, which God hath set down, in his Written Word and holy Will, it is, because there is no light in you.  
Next, I cordially request you to consider, that all ages, since our Saviour's days, did repute them Heretics, who denied the sanctified use, and benefit of the Sacraments, which God, in Christ, hath appointed, as Seals of the New Covenant; to be an Evidence before the World, that (as we really believe in our hearts before God) we are not ashamed, before men, to own him, for a Redeemer, whose body was broken, and whose blood was shed, for the Remission of our Sins, and Salvation of our Souls. And though you repute them foolish and ridiculous, God by the foolishness of Sacraments, yea, of Baby-sprinkling, Bread-eating, and Wine-drinking, hath ofttimes conveyed Grace, Comfort and Strength, to weary, fainting Souls. Neither can you wipe off what I affirm, by saying they were but beggarly Rudiments, for young beginners, to endure but for a short season. For our Saviour, in his last Will, recommended them to his Apostles, as a Christian performance, to endure till the end of the World. Baptism he did Matth. 28.19. Teach all Nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the World. Now (since Baptism is one among these all things which Christ hath commanded; to the performance of which, he hath promised his assisting presence, to the World's end) it cannot be a transient Necessarium secundum quid, a thing that may be done or slighted; and that, but for a short space, for the Words are baptising them, viz. all Nations. Now when there are no Nations, there will be no Baptism; but as long as there is any Nation, or one Man of a Nation, Baptism will never be an useless Rudiment of humane Institution, or that which may be thrown away as a ridiculous Tradition. And, as for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, our Saviour said, Matth. 23.19. This do in Remembrance of me. Now if the time be expired, wherein we should not remember our Redeemer, and the time come wherein we should forget him, then may we lawfully lay by his Sacrament. Sed falsum prius ergo, etc.  
The next advice, that I would give Quakers, is negative, concerning matters of Fact; and that is, that they neither lie, cheat, nor covet: For he that saith that he is Religious, taught, and led by the Spirit of Truth, and doth such things, his show of Religion is vain; he is yet blind, and not purged from the Old Man: Love not the World (then) neither the things that are in the World. If any man love the World, the love of the Father is not in him. The Prophet Micah adviseth us to a good Religion, Chap 6.8. To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Which if all would study, before they fall by the ears in controversy, for the tithes of Mint and Rue, there would be more sincere knowledge in Religion, more inward Peace and outward Content, and greater practice of true piety. For the Lord saith, by his prophet David,, Psal. 50.23. To him that ordereth his Conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Now to this God, only Wise, be ascribed all Glory, Honour and Praise, with Dominion, Majesty and Might; World without end. Amen.   
FINIS.