TRISAGION OR , THE THREE HOLY OFFICES OF IESVS CHRIST , THE SONNE OF GOD , PRIESTLY , PROPHETICALL , and REGALL ; how they ought of all his Church to be receiued .

With a Declaration of the violence and iniuries offered vnto the same , by the Spirituall and Romish Babylon ; as well in her publique Missals , Breuiaries , Portuses , R●saries , Liturgies , Psalters , Primers , Manuels of prayers and Suffrages , as in their best and most approued priuate Writings .

Reuealing many blasphemous Mysteries vnknowne to the Vulgar .

By RICHARD FOWNS , Doctor of Diuinitie , and Chaplaine Domesticall to the late illustrious Prince HENRY .

LONDON , Printed by HVMFREY LOWNES for MATHEW LOWNES : and are to bee sold at his Shop in Pauls Church yard , at the signe of the Bishops head . 1618.

IESVS Christ , the supreme King of Kings , and of all Lords transcendent Lord and Soueraigne Ruler , crowne your Highnesse with all blessings from the heauens aboue , and from the earth beneath ; that after a long and glorious life in this world , you may for euer and euer put on the Stole of immortall felicity in the world to come .

The honour and dignity of Potentates and great Gouernours ( most gratious Prince ) consisteth neither in the largenesse of their Empire , the riches of their Treasure , the abundance of Reuenew , the multitude of Subiects , the prosperity of Armies , the strength of Cities , Castles , Palaces or Guards : but in this is euery Prince renowned , if they which delight in Thrones and Scepters , embrace wisedome , that heauenly and diuine wisedome , which was the light vnto the feete , Psal . 119. and the Lanthorne vnto the pathes of Dauid ; euen true Religion , the sincere seruice of God .

The sweete and Evangelicall Prophet Esay therefore declareth , that to vphold Religion , and to defend the Gospell , is the principall end for which all Gouernours and Magistrates were ordained . Kings ( saith he ) shall bee thy nursing Fathers , Esay 49.23 . and Queenes shall be thy nursing Mothers .

And this indeed is the chiefest reason why vnto Kings , Princes , and great Rulers commonly the trauailes and labours of the pen , vndertaken in defence of Religion , are commended ; not , that by their power men do expect to be defended from slanderous and poysoned tongues ( which Kings and Princes themselues cannot auoid ) but that vnto them which sit at the Sterne of gouernement , the knowledge of controuersies in Religion should bee brought , to the end , that false worship being extirped , true Religion may be vpheld , and the right feare of God established vpon the earth .

Hauing finished therefore this poore Orphan labour of mine , begunne not without the knowledge and approbation of that thrice-noble Prince , Henry , your Hignesse late dearest and most worthy brother ; I thought it my duty to present it vnto your Grace , both in respect of that excellent knowledge of heauenly things , to which , euen in this your tender age you haue attained : as also for that vnder his hopefull aspect , it first tooke life and began to grow .

Surely , I cannot tell to whom rather the knowledge of this cause should appertaine , then to your most excellent Highnesse : whom God ( I hope ) hath ordained , after a long period of the glorious and happy raigne of your august and gratious father , to sway the Scepter of the Brittish Kingdom , which therefore the hellish brood of Locusts , Iesuites , and Seminaries do so much labour to bring backe againe vnto the Romish seruitude ; not , that either they care for our saluation , or that they dislike the doctrine of our Church , but for that this fertile Iland hath yeelded such large reuenew , and copious prouent vnto the vnsatiable vultures of that Court .

And it is worthy obseruation , that as neither Religion , nor zeale of the truth hath set these brands on fire to the deuastation & combustion of Christendome ; so no lenity nor mercy preuaileth to appease their gall : for otherwise , how could they breake out into such treasons and slanders against the most sacred person of our Tres-noble King ? then whom , the Sunne neuer saw a Prince more mercifull , nor more clement ; in so much that I should presume to haue said , that his pittie and compassion had beene more then the safety of his State could well endure : sauing that my Lord the King is euen an Angell of God discerning both good and bad . 2. S●m . 14 17.

I speak not this to exasperate your Highnesse more then is conuenient : neither do I with Eckius declaime how lawfull it is to put Heretickes to death , Eck trac . de Comburend . Haret . nor vrge the Sentence of diuine Command by which Idolaters must die . God forbid , that where the Master is a Lambe , the Minister should be a Lyon : Iosh . 9.23 . Numb . 5.2 . onely , I wish that Gibeonites should not be Lords ; nor Lepers liue as they which are clean in the Land . And I must be humbly bold to say vnto your Highnesse after the maner as Amphilochius that worthy Bishop once spake vnto Theodosius the Emperour ; A Prince may iusty feare how God will prosper him in his succession , Zozom . lib . 7. c . ● . if he suffer them which are open enemies to the Kingdome and office of his Son Christ Iesus , to flourish without controule in his Dominions . With vs ( God be blessed ) it is not so : for his most excellent Maiestie hath prouided Christian and wholesome Lawes to suppresse this heresie and superstition ; and as well by his peerelesse Labours and exquisite Writings , as by godly Edicts & Proclamations , aduanceth pure Religion vnto the vttermost . Zenoph . de dictis & factis Socr . But as it is in the roofe of an house , if the tyles from the vppermost crest depend in due and fit subordination , all tempest and iniurie of weather fals to the ground , and is shaken off ; But when they lye athwart and crosse vnto the head , euery little showre will breake in and annoy the Edifice : So , if inferiour Magistrates , who liue in the places where Popish infection is , do not duely execute the Regall Religious Lawes ordained for this purpose , but rather helpe to shuffle delinquents out of the power of the Law , and blinde the eyes of the State ; What policie of a Prince can serue turne , or what authority preuaile , Cum bonus , Diocl . Flav . Vopisium . cautus , optimus , venditur Jmperator .

I know , it ill befits Phormio to read a lecture of Chiualrie to Hanniball , or mee to discourse of policy in the eares of your excellent Highnesse ; whose vnderstanding and knowledge in matters of religion , both by your supernaturall endowment and grace , as by the succesfull labours of your worthy Chiron , Mr Thomas Murrey , euen in your childehood was aboue the power of your age . Yet , giue mee leaue , ( most illustrious Prince ) since the desolation and destruction of the great Whore must be wrought by Kings and Princes , Apoc . 17.16 , who shall eate her flesh , and burne her with fire ; to inuite your Highnesse also vnto the banquet , and to declare vnto your Princely Celsitude what God requireth at your hands , and the hands of all Kings and Princes , euen to stand on the watch-tower in the day time , and to set your selfe in the watch euery night , Esay 21.8 to put your selfe into the number of those fanners that shall fanne Babylon , ●ct . 7.2 and empty her land , that is , shall examine her errours , and make desolate her kingdome , and in the day of her trouble bee against her on euery side .

Surely , Dauid and Salomon are no more praised in the Scripture , for preparing the substance , and building of the house of God in Ierusalem , 2 Chron . 22.2.3.4 3 Chron . 31.2 then was Iosaphat for taking away the high places and groues out of Iudah ; Joash for repairing the temple ; Hezekia and Josiah for reuiuing the worship of God almost vtterly decaied in the land . 2 Chron . 35 These are glorious examples for your Highnesse imitation , shining starres of direction in your course , bright mirrours by which you may compose your actions ; assuring your royall breast , that if you seeke the glory of GOD , promoting of truth , aduancement of religion with an vpright and perfect heart , no poyson , no gun-powder , no knife of barbarous Iesuits , nor conspiring Seminaries shall hurt you . Hee shall couer you vnder his wings , and you shall be safe vnder his feathers , his truth shall be your shield and buckler . Ps●l . 9● . Psal . 2 You shall not feare the pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse , nor the plague that destroieth at noone day : but you shall flourish like a Palme-tree , and grow vp like a Cedar in Lebanon , the louing kindnesse of the Lord shall endure for euer and euer vpon you , and his righteousnes vpon your childrens children . Which the Lord of his mercy , through his deare Sonne Iesus Christ , grant vnto your most excellent Highnesse , O Lemuel , O Jonathan , O breath of our nostrils !

GReat is the difference ( welbeloued in Christ Iesus ) betwixt want of knowledge , and wilfull errour ; ignorance of simplicitie , and ignorance of peruerse disposition . For although a small errour in the beginning may growe great in the end , Arist . l. de coelo & Mund . as Aristotle ; Yea all deep-rooted errors are hardly by words extirped , as Petrarch witnesseth : Petraro de vit . so●t . lib . 1. cap . 2. yet as to bee deceiued in opinion is infirmitie of nature ; So with an high hand euen against the face of Trueth to defend falsehood , is Serpentine and Satanicall maliciousnesse .

Wherefore auoiding to sing vnto these deafe Adders which haue stopt their eares , charme the charmer neuer so wisely ; I addresse my speech vnto you , poorer in spirit , yonger in malice , who although you sit in darknes , yet hate not the light ; though you know not truth , yet loue not lies .

All meanes I am sure to detaine you in errour are by your pretended spirituall Fathers of Rome daily practised ; force , torture , persecution , forbidding of you to read the labours of all them in whose forehead the Character of the Beast is not . A practice so much the more abominable , because the proofes and arguments which are produced by the professors of the reformed religion against the vse of Rome , are chiefely taken out of the word of God , the Scriptures of our saluation ; which to deny vnto the world , what is it but to take the Sunne out of the firmament ? and to forbid men to read , What is it but with Nahas to pull out the right eyes of Israel , euen the cleere eye of true faith , that they may be led by blinde guides headlong into all perdition ?

Dum enim grauia scripture dicta non perquire●●ur vt mandantur , paulatim a s●●entia decidet mens , vt aliquando nec leuia intellectu cap●antur . Greg . super Cant . Gregory well obserueth ; while the weightie sentences of Scripture are not sought for as it is commanded , by little and little the minde falleth from knowledge , so that many times the easie things are not vnderstood . You see then the purpose for which the perusing of Scriptures is interdicted vnto you , that being spoiled of her armour , the soule may bee made captiue vnto the will and pleasure of Idol and brutish Shepheards , whose onely study is so to beare rule ouer you , that you may heare by their eares , Eck de M●ss Lat . non Germ●nice dicend . and see by their eyes ; as Eckius for defence of his Masse in the Latine tongue shameth not to affirme , that All the hearers thereof must trust in the faith of the Church .

Cyp . in tract . 3. de Simp prael . From this supine negligence and slumber in the cause of Religion let Cyprian awake vs ; who saith , the Diuell is changed into an Angell of light , and subornes his Mininisters , as the Ministers of righteousnesse , who put the night for the day , destruction for saluation , desperation vnder the pretext of hope , perfidiousnesse for faith , Antichrist for Christ ; and while they feigne things probable , they ouerthrow the truth with their subtilty . This is brought to passe ( deare brethren ) because the Spring of truth is not sought vnto , neither haue men recourse vnto the head , neither is the doctrine of the heauenly Master obserued . Act. 17.11 . Let the B●reans teach vs also who searched the Scriptures daily concerning the truth of the things which Paul had preached . Finally , hearken I beseech you to the high Priest and Bishop of your soules Iesus Christ , who exhorteth not his Apostles , and the Rulers of the Church onely , to awake from sleepe , and to flee the darkenes ; But , What I say vnto you , I say vnto all men , Watch . Mark . 13.37 . When ambitious Manasses , brother to the good Priest Iadus , Iadus high priest of Ierusalem , Manasses of Samaria . by the meanes of Shanabalat the Horonite had built a Temple on Mount Gerizim in Samaria , wherein the holy Law of Moses was daily prophaned , so that who in Ierusalem had eaten vncleane meates , or defiled the Sa●bath , fled vnto this Temple as a sanctuarie , wherein Idolatry , strange worship , and all prophanenesse was to be found : Yet such was their impudence , that they feared not to contend with the Temple which Salomon built at Ierusalem , for antiquity , dignity , and place . Here was now Mountain against Mountain , Temple against Temple , Altar against Altar , Law against Law , Priest against Priest , while the Iewes auouched the Temple of Ierusalem to be built according to the prescription of Moses ; Schisme betweene the Iewes and Samar●tanes , which should be ●he true Temple . and the Samaritanes earnestly stroue that on their Mount of Gerizim , Moses intended that the house of God should stand Into such violence burst out , at last , the flame of this contention , that it came vnto the eares of King Ptolomeu● Philometer : and vnto his iudgement on both sides was the cause referred : Before whom they bound themselues with a solemne oath , swearing by God and the King , that they would bring their proofes out of the Law of God . Which when they had on either part done , the Iewes for their Temple brought better testimonies then the Samaritanes could , and had the victorie . The same kinde of triall betwixt the Christian Church , Co●trouersies tryed by the Scriptur●s . and the Romish Church , we still desire ; that by the authority of the pure word of God it may be decided , where the true Temple is : with them , or vs.

Iu●g . 9. When the Gibeonites saw themselues vnable to stand against Israel , they sent Messengers to Iosua in old and ouerworne garments , rent and torne shooes , hauing sowre drinke in their bottles , dryed and moulded bread in their bagges , pretending that they came from far , & dwelt a great way off from Israel . To which , while the people gaue ouer-light credence , counselling not as they were wont at the mouth of the Lord ; they made with them an vnaduised league , and sware a peace to be repented . With the like fraud , vnder false pretence , and borrowed ragges of antiquity and succession , doe the Romish Masters , at this day , insinuate themselues into the hearts and fauour of such who giue no eare vnto the Word and Oracles of God . And not so onely : but as Iezabel to auoide the iust punishment due vnto her whorish and Idolatricall beastlinesse , entertained Iehu with a painted face , 2. Reg . 9.30 . and tyred her head ; So they also colour their impiety , hide from your eyes their blasphemies , and cast painted glosses ouer their grosse superstition ; that they may blinde your iudgement , and abuse your zeale with maskes and shadowes .

I haue therefore , according vnto the measure of grace giuen me , in these my labours , vnscarfed the Papall policie , and laid open the mysterie of Babylon , shewing you her filthy parts , the very dregs of her cup : that seeing there lyeth much Adders poyson vnder her tongue , which you perceiue not ; much gaule , much bitternesse , which by the lying glosse of false hypocrisie is hidden from your eyes , you may at the last finde whither they haue led you ; and to what place , all this while , blind fold yee haue trauelled , and that your feet stand not in the gates of Sion , nor yet in the Prophets house at Dothan ; 2. Reg . 6. but that you are in the middes of Samaria , the implacable enemy of the true Ierusalem . Which , that it may be the better brought to passe , I will pray also with the Prophet , 2. Reg . 6.20 . Lord open the eyes of these men , that they may see .

Your Missals , the solemne formes of publique Seruice , I haue vndertaken to examine , prouing out of them the Limitations of Bellarmine , and such other Sophisters ( by which they go about to maintain the grosseness of errours ) to be meere mockeries not obserued in the Liturgies of the Romish Church . I haue also studied to shew vnto you the abhominable falsehood , superstition , and Idolatry , in the Breuiaries , and Masse-bookes contained ; that when you see how the open religious seruice of God , is prophaned and falsified , you may iudge what faith or sincerity they keep in their priuate writings ; and say with that great Physition , Si aqua praesocat , quid insuper sorbebimus ; If we be strangled with the purest water what then shall we drink ?

One thing let me especially commend to your considerations . Whereas it is a common opinion that your Missals & Legends , of late time set forth , are more reformed then the old and obsolete ; It is farre otherwise : for there is no blasphemy so great , nor superstition so absurd , to be found in the one , which is not as palpably deprehended in the other . For as of Masse-bookes the Romane Breuiarie , set forth by the authority of the Councell of Trent , and ratified by Pius Quintus , is held the tersest and most reformed : So the Legend published by Aloysius Lypomanus , is accounted the flower of Legends : But to speake the truth , these aboue the rest , by many degrees , surmount in all spirituall wickednesse , in all falshood and blasphemy .

TWo Cities the Spirit of God by the pen of all the Prophets setteth out vnto vs : Ierusalem the vision of peace , or the perfect peace ; and Babylon the confusion of this peace . Wherefore Ierusalem and Babylon are the arguments of all the Prophets from Esay to Malachy , while some describe the honour , the excellence , the prosperitie , the vnitie of Ierusalem ; others the crueltie , the couetousnesse , the contention , the idolatry of Babylon ; together with the longing desire of Israel to bee deliuered out of the Hell of their captiuitie .

All this is but a very figure , and mysticall type of two greater Cities , striuing vnder the name of the Church , like the twinnes in Rebeccaes wombe . Gen. 25 22. Wherefore the New Testament containeth the building vp of the spirituall Ierusalem , the true Church of God , seated vpon the faithfull Rocke of all stabilitie , Iesus Christ ; and sheweth the malignitie , and the conspiracie of the Antichristian Synagogue , the Mysticall Babylon , against the poore flocke , the Turtle , the spouse of Christ , together with the captiuitie of the holy Citie for a time : and withall teacheth the Zion of God to striue and labour to bee deliuered from this more then seruile slauery .

The captiuitie of the terrestriall Ierusalem was corporall , carnall , and worldly . In which their bodies and goods were carried away , according to the disposition of the Conquerour : Their political estate was ouerthrown : their countrey wasted , and giuen vp into the hands of strangers .

The captiuitie of the Mysticall Ierusalem , the militant Church of Christ , is chiefely spirituall , while the Princes of Babylon raigne not onely in their Palaces , but in the Soules of men , deforming the religion , changing the worship , altering the lawes , prophaning the Couenant , poisoning the faith , blinding the knowledge , terrifying the consciences , and lading them with traditions , ceremonies , and constitutions , heauier then any clay of Egypt , more burdenous then any iron , any fetters of Babylon . For this cause , the raigne of Antichrist , and his Lordship ouer the Church of Christ , the Spirit of God calleth great Babylon , Apoc . 17 5. the mother of whoredomes , and abominations of the earth .

Some perhaps will maruell , Ob. how wee can giue vnto any Sect the Title and Appellation of Babylon , which doth professe it selfe Christian ; and hath for sundry yeares borne the name of the Catholique Church . Sol . To these I answere , that the second Babylon doth in this differ from the first , that the first was a stranger , an open enemie , a professed aduersarie to Israel ; but the second Babylon is a lurking , a secret enemie , who is couered with the cloathing of the Sheepe , chalengeth to haue the hornes of the Lambe , will seeme to bee the onely Temple , and the onely Church of Christ , vnder colour whereof she perturbeth , peruerteth , ouerthroweth , destroyeth all things . But it is true , as the Chaldean Babylon is the head of all those which maligned , vexed , hated , and persecuted the naturall Israel : so Rome is the head of them which depopulate , waste , and destroy the Church . Wherefore Ambrose ( if he were author of that exposition vpon the Apocalypse which goeth vnder his name ) saith , The great Whore sometime signifieth Rome . Babylon apud ●onostrum Ro . vrbis figu●a est . Tert . l. 3. adu . Marcion . And Tertullian saith , that Babylon in Saint Iohn is a figure of the Citie of Rome . Rhem . in 1. Pet . 5. annot 4. Peter writeth from ●aby●on , that is Rome . And the Romanists themselues say , that by the Church at Babylon , Pet●r the Apostle did vnderstand the Church at Rome : & to this opinion , Euseb . l 2. c . 14. hist . vt cita●● Rh●m . ib . Eusebius , Ieronian Cata de terti illuss . vt affirmant R●em . St. Ierome , Oecumen●●● vt ipsi citant Rh●●● 〈◇〉 Oecumenius doe subscribe . This the Disciples of the Romish Church say is to bee vnderstood onely of Ethnicke Rome vnder the gouernment of Heathen Emperours . But to this their euasion the spirit of God it selfe hath framed a sufficient reply in the Reuelation , where the mysterie of the Woman sitting on the Beast is described . Wee finde that this Beast was twofould ; the first , and the second ; Heathen Rome the professed enemie : and the Pseudochristian Rome a secret aduersarie , who hath the hornes of the Lambe , and vnder the name of Christ , and of the Church , doth all mischiefe both to Christ and to the Church . And surely of this second Beast the Scripture witnesseth , that he shall preuaile , and deceiue them that dwell on the earth , working signes , and making all captiue to the first Beast , and to receiue his Marke . So that Heathenish Rome , which before was wounded , is now healed and magnified by the second Beast ; which indeed is not diuers from the first in person , but in respect : not in substance , but in qualitie of time and gouernement .

Now , as the children of Israel from the first Babylon were by the mercy of God after long affliction deliuered ( God mollifying the hearts of Kings and Princes to set them free , and to permit them to reedifie the decayed walles of Ierusalem ) and Babylon it selfe also brought to extreame ruine and destruction : so the spirituall Babylon is comn into remembrance also before God , and the Lord hath turned the hearts of them who formerly gaue their Kingdome to the Beast ; so that now they hate the Whore and make her desolate , and by the mercie of God in sundry Kingdomes and Nations religion is purged from superstition , the Gospell truely preached , Sacraments sincerely administred , our soule is escaped , as a Bird out of the hand of the Fowler , and there is sprung vp light for the righteous , and ioifull gladnesse among such as are true-hearted .

This notwithstanding , as among the Israelites there were euer many found that would rather turne back vnto Egypt , and be content to dwell in the house of their captiuitie , then in the good land which flowed with Milke and Honey : So in the Church of Christ there are found also Owles that delight in darknes ; to whom the light , the libertie , the grace of the Gospell is burdensome : which had rather be fed with Egypts flesh-pots , with Leekes and Cucumbers , then all the Manna that comes from Heauen ; and the captiuitie of Babylon is farre sweeter vnto them , then the freedome of Ierusalem .

To recall these from their myre and their vomite , to which they are running againe , much labour by many learned men hath beene bestowed ; and of late time , from the Confession of Schoolemen , Iesuites , and other Popish writers in their Bookes and Commentaries , testimonies haue beene taken , as it were out of their owne bowels , to conuince Popery . Some also haue gone about to mitigate the opinions on both sides , and to draw them as neare together as they could . But alas , who can make peace betwixt light and darkenesse , day and night , truth and falshood , God and Belial , Christ and Antichrist ? Such contraries brooke no pacification .

Seeing therefore for these late yeares , in this Kingdome , and especially in my countrey of Worcester-shire diuers dayly fall from the truth , bewitched with the Cup of the glorious Strumpet , who sitteth vpon the Beast , and who are daily led captiue into Babylon , by the Emissaries of that chaire of pestilence ( Seminaries and Iesuits euery where lurking amongst vs ) I thought it my duety also amongst the rest , to stand in the gappe for the house of Israel , and to cast my poore myte into the treasurie , if so be by my simple labours any weake might bee strengthened , and any doubtfull resolued .

Now because the abominable desolation is a subtill Mysterie , and the Purple Strumpet hath much more gaule and venime in her Cup , then shee openly sheweth to the world ( to speake plainely ) for that they ouercast their false doctrine , with faire glosses , to the intent they may conceale the dregges thereof from the eyes of men , and by all meanes couer and hide the depth of their impietie , lest the common sort should espy the same , and euery dogge barke at it ; I haue endeauoured in this Treatise to strip the Harlot out of the raggs of her excuse , and to shew her naked vnto the world ; that beholding her filthinesse , and her botches , the godly reader may hasten out of Babylon , seeing it is become the habitation of Diuels , the hold of all fowle spirits , a Cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird , that all her Restrictions , Limitations , distinctions , cautions , are but the guilt of her Hypocrisie cast ouer to deceiue .

But so great is the lubricitie and subtiltie of this Mother of Whoredome and of Witchcraft , that it seemes as easie to fit a garment vnto the Moone , onely immutable in her mutabilitie : or ( as the prouerbe is ) to hold an Eeele by the tayle , as to force them to stand vnto any kinde of testimonie in matter of Religion . For if you vrge them with Fathers , they receiue the Fathers so farre as they agree with the Romish Church : If you alledge Councels , they except against them , as not assembled by the Romish authoritie : if with Schoolemen you presse them , what is more common then , Hic Magister non tenetur ? Yea , if they bee charged with the authoritie of the Pope himselfe , they say , he taught not Papally out of the Chaire , but spake after his priuate opinion . I haue therefore ( not omitting their priuate writings ) produced the most part of my proofes out of the Missalls and Breuiaries , the formes of their publique worship . Which , though she haue an Harlots forehead , yet any reasonable man will thinke , the Babylonish Strumpet cannot for shame deny .

The priuate authors alledged are old and new , obselete and flourishing ; which I of purpose haue done , that I might shew , that their new writers , and of best esteeme , are nothing lesse superstitious , and lesse erronious then the Vetus Comoedia , the barbarous age of doting Monkerie .

To their new and reformed Missalls and Legends I haue also adioined the more ancient , euen for the same purpose . For in them all it will appeare , that , as the Cnidian Mason making a watch-tower in Egypt for the conduction of trauellers by the Sea in the night , being commanded to set the name of the King , at whose charge it was built , in the wall , did so indeed , but hee set it vp deceitfully , in plaister and parget onely ; vnderneath the which curiously in free-stone hee graued his owne name , Sostratus Dexiphanis Cuidius Dijs salutaribu● ob nauigantes , Politianu● in Suctoniu●s . Sostratus Dexiphanis the Cnidian to the sauing Gods ; that when the Morter was fallen off and decayed , all the praise might redound vnto himselfe , as though he had beene the founder of that worthy worke : So the Romanists deceitfully and colourably call their Masse the seruice of God , and pretend his worship in the superficiall appearance thereof ; but in deed and in veritie all the honour is giuen to men , vnto Saints , vnto Images , and senselesse blockes ; and this is the onely purpose of their Legends and Missalls .

It may perhaps be thought in me , an ignorant man , and of very meane gifts , an audacious and presumptuous part , to deale in a matter of this high nature , and weightie argument . But to this I reply , that I haue read of Cities throwne downe in Spaine by Connies , in Thessalia by Moles , in France by Frogges , in Africa by Locusts ; and there is no instrument so exile and contemptible , by which that great power cannot worke , who calleth light out of darknes , and in the mouth of Babes and sucklings hath ordained praise .

Hereto I must also adde , that these my weake labours were in a manner extorted and wrested from mee by diuers of them , who in these parts are blinded with Popish errour and superstition . For while I bended my selfe chiefely to this purpose in my ministerie , to beat downe the walles of the spirituall Iericho , which I saw goe vp so fast , and to bee fauoured by many of great authoritie with vs , they there vpon tooke occasion to slander my doctrine , and to report of mee , that I denied Iesus Christ to be crucified , and that I preached , how men ought not to come vnto God through Iesus Christ ; and sundry other slanders both towards my labours , and my selfe . Wherefore I thought it meet , by this my trauaile , to make profession of my faith publiquely , and also to lay open vnto them that shall vouchsafe to peruse these ensuing obseruations , the blasphemie and Antichristian opposition , wherewith the Man of Rome impugneth Iesus Christ , the glorious Sonne of the liuing God .

To conclude , if by these my simple trauels GOD may bee glorified , the truth defended , fals-hood discouered , Hypocrisie vnmasked , the ignorant informed , the wauering and doubtfull confirmed , Litatum est , I haue my desire ; if not , I haue done my indeauour , and discharged my owne soule , referring the successe vnto him , who is onely able to giue strength and power to the weake things of the world to ouerthrowe the mighty , and to perfect his owne power , in our weakenesse : To whom , the Father of all that is called Father both in Heauen and in earth , the blessed and eternall Sonne , with the sweet and sanctifying Spirit , three persons and one glorious God , be all power , might , Maiestie and dominion , vpon the knees of all hearts ascribed for euer and euer , Amen , Amen .