Mirrour of new reformation wherein reformers, by their owne acknowledgement, are represented ad viuum. The beauty also of their handy-worke is displayed.

I. TO THE PROTESTANT READER . I Seeke not heere by curious words and phrase To catch the vaine aire of vncertaine prayse , Those ends are base : let seruile spirits choake Their best endeauours with that puffe of smoak● ; I only ayme in al that I haue done , By winning of thy soule , to gaine (1) (1) a●mes 5.20 . my owne .

II. Another to the same . REad , search , compare , quote , weygh , examine , al I wish thee , is , to be impartial .

III. On the censuring Minister . ME thinkes I see s●me captious Minister Take vp my booke , and with a thought as farre From vpright iudgement , as my lines from lyes , Viewes euery page , and each citation tryes ; But finding al exact , he carpes my stile , Censures my verse , and with a scornful smile Fy on this Priest ( sayth he ) what rime is this ? What words are heer ? this couplet is amisse ; That phrase is of his owne inuention , new ; This ouer-harsh , that England neuer knew . Haue patience , good Aminadab , heer 's none Gaynsayes your censure ; for to France alone , Whose ayre hath sed me from a child , I owe The litle of this litle which I know . How then should I in forraine countryes gaine That , to whose height few can at home attaine ; I grant my lines are harsh , and doe not fal To please your eares , but yet I hope they gal .

IV. On the same . ALthough t' were true that these my lines containe No good , no right , or wel applied straine , T' were not my fault , for what good can be wrought , Where the whole subiect of the whole is nought ?

V. LVTHERS CHANGE . To his much honoured freind W. T. WHile in the Roman Church your Luther staid , To tame his flesh he (1) (1) I punished my poore body ( saith Luther ) with fasting , watching , praying , and other exercises . Luth. vpon the Galath . Englished . fol. 37. fasted , watcht and prayd , Affected ●●ue (2) (2) I kept Chastitie , Pouertie , and Obedience . Luth. ib. fol. 38. obedience , liued poore , And carefully from carnal ●cts forbore . Al that he did was with a (3) (3) Whatsoeuer I did , I did it with a single hart , of a good zeale , and for the glory of God. ib. fol. 37. single hart , An vnfain'd zeale , empo s'ned on no part With fond vaine glorie , but directed whole T' e●crease God's honour and secure his soule . But thence gone forth , he sodainly became So (4) (4) I am burned ( saith Luther ) with the great flame of my vntamed flesh ; I who ought to be feruent in spirit , am feruent in the flesh , in lust , and slouth , &c. Luth. tom. 1. epist. Latin. fol. 334. burned with his fleshes raging flame , As he grew almost (5) (5) He confessed himself to haue been almost mad through the rage of lust and desire of women . Colloq . mens . fol. 526. see also fol. 400. mad through lust ; eight dayes (6) (6) Eight dayes are now past , wherin I neither write , pray , nor studie ; being vexed partly with the temptations of the flesh , partly with other troubles , Luth. tom. 1. epist. Latin. fol. 334. He now wil spend , and neither studies , prayes , Nor writes , disturbed with inflamed veynes Of burning leacherie , and other paines . Say , is not this ( speake freely worthie freind ) (7) (7) Galat. c. 3. v. 3. T' begin in th' Spirit and in the flesh to end ?

VI. Luther no Reformer . LVther stil vaunts himself to be the (1) (1) We dare boast ( saith he ) that Christ was first published by vs &c. Luth. epist. ad Argent . an . 152● . first , That by truth's beames the Romish clouds disperst . Yet is it (2) (2) Luther confesseth ( saith the learned Protestant Hospinian ) that he was taught by the diuel , that masse , and chiefly priuat masse is naught , and that being ouercome by the diuel 's reasons he abolisht it . Hist , Sacram. part . vlt. fol. 131. See more hereafter IX . 2. granted , Satan was the cause , Which mou'd him first the sacred Masse t' oppose . Why 's Satan not Reformer then ? 't is true , He is indeed : Let 's giue the diuel his due .

VII . The fruits of Reformation . PRotestants tel vs that before the light Of their new Ghospel men (1) (1) When we were seduced by the Pope , ( saith Luther ) euerie man did willingly follow good workes ; and now euerie man neither saith , nor knoweth anie thing , but how to get al to himself by exactions , pillage , theft , lying , vsurie &c. Luth. Dom. 26. post Trin. See M. Stubbes motiue to good works . p. 44. 45. were more vpright , Of better life , more truly vertuous , More (2) (2) Certainly to speake the truth , there is many times found conscionabler & plainer dealing amongst most of the Papists , then among manie Protestants : and if we looke narrowly to the Ages past , we shal find more godlines , deuotion , and zeale ( though blind ) more loue one towards another , more fidelitie and faithfulnes euerie way in them , then is now to be found is vs . M. Stubbes motiue , p. 43. real , faithful , and Religious , And eu'ry way more giuen (3) (3) Is it not a shame vnto vs that our forefathers liuing in time of superstition &c. should notwithstanding so farre passe vs in good works , as that we may not once be compared to them in any measure ▪ M. Stubb . ib. p. 72. without compare To al good workes , then in their Church they are . For now , ( say they ) such as haue late embrace't Our Reformation doe repaire more fast To (4) (4) See before at 1. theft , exactions , lying , vsury , Excesse (5) (5) Another sort of Germans giue indeed place to God's word , that it may be preacht , but there is not found among them anie amendment of life , but horrible Epicurisme , and a beastlie life in their behauiour , drunken assemblies , lustful desires &c. in lieu of fasts they giue themselues night and day to riotous banquets and continual drinking . Iac. And. ad c. 21. Luc. See also Melancth. ad c. 6. Matth. in drinking , (6) (6) What eye so blind , that it doth not gush out with teares to behold the miserie of our supposed glorious Church ? I meane the great ignorance , the superficial worship of God , the fearful blasphemies & swearings in houses & streets &c. the dishonour of Superiours , the pride , crueltie , fornication , adulteries , drunkennesse , coueteousnes , vsuries & other like abominations &c. O behold & pittie the woeful and lamentable state of our Church in these things ! See this in M. Powels book of things indifferent , p. 136. See likewise next before at 5. swearing , gluttony , And such foule vi●es as from hence proceed , Then did the former t' any vertuous deed . So that ( thus stil themselues goe on ) who would A (7) (7) If anie be desirous to see a great rable of knaues , of persons turbulent , deceitful , coseners , vsurers , let him goe to anie cittie where the Ghospel is purely preached , & he shal find them there by multitudes . For it is more manifest then the day-light , that there were neuer among the Ethnicks , Turkes , & other Infidels , more vnbridled & vnruly persons , with whom al vertue & honestie is quite extinct , then are among the professours of the Ghospel . Andr. Musc. domin . 1. Adu . See him also l. de prophet . Christi . and sym . Paulus in serm. dom. 13. post Trin. See hereafter at 17. rable of cheating , factious knaues behold , Let them but vnto any Citty goe Possessed by Reformers , it wil shew Whole shoales of such ; yea Pagans , Iewes , and Turkes , With other Infidels doe better workes , Detest sinne more , shew greater honesty , Are faire more patient and lesse proud then wee . In lieu of fasts wee (8) (8) See before at 5. haunt excessiue feasts Drink heal●hs to make our selues and others beasts , Wrong (9) (9) See before at 7. and see likewise Sylu. Czecanonius de corruptis moribus , and Wygandus de bon. & mal . Germani . marriage-beds , haunt stewes , and for our prayer In eu'ry place we curse , (10) (10) Prayers they turne into swearing &c. and al this manner of life they tearme the ordinance of the Ghospel . Iac. Andr. Conc. 4. in c 2. Luc. See before at 6. blaspheme , and sweare . Our children they grow (11) (11) The children of them of the reformed Ghospel grow euerie day worse , more vntractable , and dare commit such crimes as euen the able men of former times were scarce subiect vnto . Io. Wygand . l. de bon. & mal . Germ. worse , and dare such crimes As were scarce knowne to men of former times . Our Preachers labours , which should be assign'd Only to truth , are (12) (12) If you cast your eyes vpon Protestant Doctours , you shal find that some of them moued through vaine glorie , enuious zeale , and a preiudicate opinion , disorder the true doctrine , disperse and earnestly defend the false . Some of them without cause stirre vp contentions , & with inconsiderate spight defend them : manie wrest their doctrine euerie way , of purpose to please the Princes and people , by whose grace and fauour they are maintained . There are more , who with their euil and wicked life ouerthrow al that which by their true doctrine they had formerly built . Paul. Ebec prefat. comm. Philippi in epist. ad Corinth . guided with the wind Of popular applause , attended stil With hate and enuy : their malicious wil N●er giues them rest , but makes them seek out wayes How they debates and causelesse iarres may rayse . In their disputes they (13) (13) See next hereafter at VIII . throughout . wrest , peruert , and lye , Oppresse the truth , and from the point stil flye . Many b●sides are (14) (14) There are found no smal number of the Ministers of the Word , who are flatterers &c. Io. Wygand . de bon. & mal . Germ. flat'rers , and beleeue As please the (15) (15) See before at 12. Prince or country where they liue . But more with their vile wicked life doe shame Their Ghospels doctrine and themselues defame . So that we see , since we reiected Rome The world doth dayly worse and (16) (16) It is a wonderful thing and ful of scandal , that from the time in which the pure doctrine of the Ghospel was first recalled to light , the world should dayly grow worse . Luth Ser. conu●● Germ. f. 55. See him also in postil . sup. Euan. dom. 1. Aduent . worse become : For (17) (17) I may freely speake what I haue seen in the course of some trauels and obseruation of some courses , that in Flanders was neuer more drunkennesse , in Italy more wantonnesse , in Iury more hypocrisy , in Turky more impiety , in Tartary more iniquity , then is practized generally in England , particularly in London , al this is seen &c. M. Rich. Ieffrey serm. at Paules crosse . Octob. 7. an. 1604. and printed an 1605. p. 31. See before at 7. n'ere in Flanders was more drunk'nes seen , Th' Italians euer haue lesse wanton been , In Iury n'ere was more hypocrisy , Turky is freer from impiety , And Tartary lesse wicked is then those , Who euen in England now Rom's Church oppose , Al this themselues affirme , this few deny ; T'weer not good manners here to say they lye .

VIII . An other vpon the same . (1) (1) I haue read ( sayth that learned Protestant Za●chius ) the Latin coppy of the Apology , and diligently read it ouer , not without choller , when I perceaued what manner of writing very many , let me not say for the most part al , doe vse in the Churches ( as they are called ) of the reformed Ghospel ; who would seem notwithstanding to be Pastours , Doctours , & Pillars of the Church . The state of the question that it may not be vnderstood , we often of set purpose ouerclowd with darknes : things which are manifest we impudently denie ; things false we without shame auouch ; things plainly impious we propose as the first principles of fayth , things orthodoxal we condemne of heresy ; scriptures at our pleasure we detort to our owne dreames ; we boast of Fathers when we wil follow nothing lesse then their doctrine ; to deceaue , to calumniate , to raile is familiar with vs &c. So as we may defend our cause , good or bad , by right or by wrong , al other things we turne vp-side-downe , ô times ! ô manners ! Zanch. epist. ad Io. Sturm . this in fine lib. 7. & 8. Miscellan . THE question 's state we Ministers , to shrowd Our falshood , doe with darknes ouerclowd ; Things that are plaine we shamelesly deny ; Things false we al maintaine , yet know we lye . Impious things we as faith's grounds propose ; And true things stil , as heresies , oppose . The scriptures we to our owne dreames doe wrest ; We boast the Fathers , but their faith detest : To cheat , calumniate , glosse , deceaue , and raile Is our cheif practize : so we may preuaile 'Gainst our Opponents , al things we auouch But greatly care not what : I think not much ,

IX . ON ZVINGLIVS . WHen into Zuinglius Satan had infus'd Himself , and by those (1) (1) Zuinglius confesseth himself to haue been instructed against the Masse by a certain Admonisher , to vse his owne words , whether black or white he remembred not . See this at large in Zuing. his owne works tom. 2. fol. 249. See the same derided as an illusion by the learned Protestants Iac. And. confut . Grina● , p. 120. 254. 304. by Schluss . Theol. Calu. 6. 1. in pro●m . fol. 3. Bened. Morgenst . de Eccl. p. 68. Heilbran . in Swenks . Calui● . presat . Giesek enius de coena . p. 64. and others . engines , which he vs'd Before 'gainst (2) (2) See Luthers like instruction from the diuel against the Masse , by conference largely by himself set downe tom . 7. Witt. f. 228. & tom . 6. Germ. Ienens . fol. 28. See more heretofore , VI 2. Luther , drawn him to (3) (3) I ingenuously confesse ( sayth Luther ) that I cannot henceforth place Zuinglius in the number of Christians . Tom. 2. Germ. f. 190. and further in fol. 182. he affirmeth that he hath lost whole Christ . forsake Christ , and al true Religion ; and betake Himself to schisme , his neuer setled braine ●uting (4) (4) Zuinglius , ( sayth Schlusselburg ) taketh his name with his condition 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , which signifieth often to shake and moue : because Zuinglius hath moued many vproares and troubles in the Church of God , by his heresy : or otherwise Zuinglius is deriued from giddinesse , von dem Schwindel : for he was struck with the spirit of giddines & blindnes , after the manner of al Heretikes , daring to depraue the Testament of the Sonne of God by putting the word ( significat ) for ( est ) Theol Calu. l. 2. act. 1. his name , did in a trice containe such swarmes of heresies , as one might see , But such a Maister could his Maister be . Th' first thing he doth is to (5) (5) For wheras the Euangelists say , This is my body , Zuinglius translateth , This signifieth my body , both in his latin new Testament , which he dedicated to the French King , and likewise in the dutch . See this affirmed by Schluss . Theol. Calu. l. 22. act. 6. fol. 43.44 . See Zuing. himself also , tom. 2. fol. 210. and see next before , 4. correct the lin●s Of sacred writ : his second worke declines To liberty of life , affirming al Christs promises were (6) (6) These are superfluous and hyperbolical sayings : If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandements &c. and so are al such promises likewise as are made to our works . Zuingl . tom. 1. fol. 137. hyperbolical . The flood-gate thus set wide he keeps no measure But frames al grounds of faith to his owne pleasure ▪ As , that original sinne though others please To tearme it sinne , is only (7) (7) Zuinglius , speaking of original sinne sayth : How is it possible , that what is a disease and contagion , should deserue the name of sinne , or truly be so &c. this disease cannot damne vs . tom. 2. f. 90. See f. 89. 115. 116. & in epist. Oecol . & Zuing. l. 1 p. 25● . 258 . a disease . Baptisme is so (8) (8) The baptisme of infants is a certaine external & ceremonious thing , which the Church may , as wel as other external things , worthily and honestly vse , or els omit , and lightly take away . Zuingl . tom. 2. f. 96. indifferent as it may Be done , omitted , yea or tak'n away . The path to heauen is so broad and plaine , As euen (9) (9) Here ( in heauen ) thou shalt see Abel , Enoch , Noe , Abraham , &c. Here Hercules , Theseus , Socrates , Aristides , Antigonus , Numa , Camillus , the Catoes , the Scipioes . Zuingl . tom. 2. f. 559. Infidels thereby attaine T' eternal blisse : when sinne we doe commit God as the (10) (10) See this hereafter . xij . 11. Authour moues and forceth it . Al Kings and Princes when they are dispos'd ; To persecute the truth may (11) (11) When Princes shal deal perfidiously and contrary to the rule of Christ , they may godlily be deposed . tom. 1 f. 84. see 85. & l. 4. Epist. Zuingl . & Oecol . p. 868. 869. be depos'd ; For which himself assumes the sword and (12) (12) Gualterus granteth that Zuinglius is tearmed by some Protestants , The most vniust authour of the warre , & violent disturber of the publike peace , who moued by pride and crueltie , caused the Tigurins to take in hand a new and strange attempt against their fellowes , that he might force them by want and famine to follow his doctrine , who before would not . Hitherto he in his Apolog. pro Zuingl . before the first the 1. tom . of his works . fol. 30. See 31. and Osiand . epist. Cent. 16. p. 203. stirre● Euen his owne Countrey-men to ciuil warres : And there an (13) (13) Zuinglius died in warre , and died armed . See Gualt . vbi supra . fol. 31. and Osiand . as before . See next hereafter . Ib. the 2. armed rebel feeles the proof Of treacherie , and dyes ; end good enough .

X. ANOTHER . ZVinglius , himself in open field did (1) (1) See next before , ix . 13. See 12. beare Against his Countrey trayt'rous armes , and there (2) (2) Zuinglius died like a thiefe because he would compel others to his errour , and for this cause he went into warre , and was slaine &c. Luth. colloq . Lat. tom. 2. cap. de Aduers . Like to a thiefe , (3) (3) But these our notable Censurers ( saith Gualterus meaning certaine Protestants , ) are not afraid : to pronounce him dead in sinne , & so consequently to haue been the sonne of hel . in Apol. fol. 31. see Hospin . hist. de Sacram. part . vlt. fol. 187. hell's sonne , in sinne did die ; And Luther (4) (4) I could wish that Zuinglius were saued , but I feare it hath fallen out otherwise : for Christ commanded that we should iudge al such as denyed him to be damn'd . Luth. Colloq . lat. tom . 1. c. de Damnat . & Inferne . See Hospin . vbi supra . doubt's he 's damn'd ; so doe not I.

XI . LVTHER'S CATECHISME . (1) (1) The Diuinity is threefold ( saith Luther ) or of three kinds , as there are three persons , vpon which words Zuinglius inferrs against him the same that we now doe , to wit , that he makes three natures in the Diuinity , and three Gods. Zuinglius . part. 2. fol. 474. THree God's there are ; yet like I not the name Of Trinity ; (2) (2) This word Trinity , is but a humane inuention & soundeth very coldly . Luth. postill . maiore Bàsil . apud Heruag . enarr . Euang. dom. Trinit. my Soule makes ful disclaime From (3) (3) My soule hateth Homousion , and the Arians did very wel in expelling it , least so prophane & new a word should be vsed in the articles of faith . Luth. l. Cont. Latom. tom . 2. Wit . imp. an. 1551. Homousion : the Antientest of tymes Is the true (4) (4) See hereafter . XII . 10. Authour of our greatest crymes . Christ , whom I first reuealed , (5) (5) See before . VI. 1. hath euer been Cloath'd (6) (6) How can Christ be said ( saith Zuinglius to Luther ) to be made of a woman , if as thou affirmest he was from al eternitie , according also to his humane nature . Zuingl . part. 2. fol. 402. with that flesh which here on earth was seen ; Yet that was a mere Spirit , (7) (7) Thou makest ( saith the same Zuinglius to Luther ) contrarie to al truth , the humanity of Christ a certain naked and mere Spirit , because he was conceiued by the holy Ghost , though thou performe it with mad and Marcion-like reasons . Zuingl . ibid. fol. 411. while he the rod Of God's iust wrath felt for vs , Sonne of God He was no more : but of al men the cheife (8) (8) Al the Prophets foresaw this in spirit , that Christ was to be of al men the greatest Robber , Homicide , Adulterer , Thief , Sacrilegious person , Blasphemer &c. For he being made a sacrifice for the person , & without sinnes , not the Sonne of God borne of the virgin Mary , but a sinner &c. Luth. tom . 5. Epist. ad Galat . see him also in Psal . 22. Blasphemer , leacher , murderer , and thiefe . His c●nscience then was (9) (9) Christ vpon the Crosse suffered great feare , and the horrour of a troubled conscience , and tasting the eternal wrath . Luth. in Psal. 22. tom. 3. fol. 330. troubled as impure ; He did being dead hel's paines , in (10) (10) Christ as he dyed with great paine , so he seemes to haue sustained paines also in hel after death . Luther tom. 3. fol. 279. hel endure . His (11) (11) If the Diuinitie did not suffer in Christ , he were not my Christ . See Zuingl . tom. 2. f. 458. & Hospin . hist. Sacram. part . 2. fol. 76. and Luther himself . lib. de Concil. part . 2. Godhead suffered , otherwise he ne're Had been my Christ : nay he a Sauiour were Vile , (12) (12) When I belieue that only the humane nature suffered for me , Christ is a Sauiour of a vile and smal account , yea he himself needeth also another Sauiour . Luth. confess . ma. de coena . tom . 3. Ien. fol. 454. See Zuingl . tom. 2. fol. 458. and Hospin . vbi supra , fol. 3. 76. 172. base , and abiect , not to be esteem'd , Yea a new Sauiour should haue him redeem'd . The real body and true bloud of Christ , According to the substance is (13) (13) Luther held ( saith Hospinian ) that the body and bloud of Christ both is and may be found according to the substance , not only in the bread and wine of the Eucharist , but also in the harts of the faithful , yea in al creatures , in fyer , water , & in the halter or rope wherewith desperate persons hang themselues , Hospin . vbi supra . f. 44. compris'd In euery place , yea in the rope which eyes A wretches , neck when in despaire he dies . Those books we Iob and Ecclesiastes cal This rides (14) (14) Luther auerreth of Ecclesiastes , that it hath neuer a perfect sentence , and that the Authour therof had neither boots nor spurres , but rid vpon a long stick , or in begging shoes as he did when he was a Fryar . Luther . conuiual . serm. tit . de lib. noui . & vet. Testam . Rabenstock . lib , 2. colloq . lat. Luth. c. de vet. Test . without boots , th' other 's but (15) (15) Of Iob ( Luther saith ) that the argument therof is a mere fiction , inuented only for the setting downe of a true and liuely example of patience . Luth. Ser. conuiual . tit . vt supra , & tit . de Patriarch . & Prophet . a tale . It is a fond and false (16) (16) It is a false opinion and to be abolished , that there are foure Ghospels ; for the Ghospel of Iohn is the only fayre , true , and principal Ghospel . Luth. praefat. in nou. Test . & lib. de script . & Eccles. auth. c 3. opinion T' affirme there are foure Ghospels ; onely Iohn The onely true prime Ghospel did set forth . Iames his (17) (17) The Epistle of Iames is contentious , swelling , dry , strawy , and vnworthy an Apostolical spirit . Luth. praef. in Epist. Iac. edit . Ienensi . Epistle is of no great worth . 'T is strawy , dry , contentious , and vnfit To be accounted an Apostl's writ . Th' Apocalyps (18) (18) Doctour Martin Luther ( saith Bullenger ) hath as it were sticked this book by as sharp preface , Bulleng . on the Apoc. Englished . c. 1. Ser. 1. fol. 2. is not Canonical ; Moyses his lips were ful of wrath (19) (19) Moyses had deep , vnpleasant , stopped and angry lippes , in which the word of grace is not , but of wrath , death , and sinne &c. they were ful of wrath and gal . Luth. tom . 3. Witt. fol. 423. See likewise fol. 421. 422. where he calles him a Goaler , Executioner , and a cruel Sargeant . and gal , Nothing delightful , angry , stop'd , wherin No word of grace was , but of death and sinne . The more men doe their soules with vices slaine , Th● (20) (20) See hereafter . xxx . 2. sooner they God's fauour shal obtaine . For Iust offend , (21) (21) We constantly say , that euen in praying a Iust man sinneth Luth. ser. de Ascens . Domini . euen when they seeke to winne God's grace by prayer ; (22) (22) A good worke done euen after the best manner , is a veni●l sinne . tom . 2. Wit . fol. 110. their best good deeds are sinne . The ten Command'ments do● (23) (23) The ten Commandments belong not to vs , for God did not lead vs , but the Iewes forth of Aegypt . Luth. ser. de Mose . See epist. ad Galat. c. 4. & cap. 20. Exod. not appertaine Vnto the free state of a Christian , Whose cheefest art and way is not (24) (24) The chiefe art and wisdome of Christians , is , not to know the law , to be ignorant of works , and of al actiue Iustice , especially when their conscience striues with the iudgement of God. Luth. tom. 5. fol. 272. to know Good workes , nor actiue iustice , nor the law : For faith (25) (25) Faith , vnlesse it be without euen the least good works , doth not iustifie ; nay it is no faith . See Luth. cited and condemned for this saying by M. Couel . def. of M. Hooker pag. 42. vnlesse without good deeds it be , It is no faith , nor doth it iustifie , Let 's but belieue , and (26) (26) A Christian or baptized person is so rich , that although he would , he cannot loose his saluation by any sinne , how great soeuer , vnlesse he wil not belieue . Luth. 2. tom . fol. 74. though by greatest sinnes We striue t' be damn'd , our faith such forces winnes As it alone from hel wil set vs free ; For there 's (27) (27) As nothing iustifyeth but faith , so nothing sinneth but vnbelief . Luth. loc. com . class . 5. p. 68. See him also part. 2. postil . Germ. Argentor . An. 1537. fol. 140. no sinne but incredulitie . Let 's not debase our selues , al Christians are Able in worth and honour to (28) (28) We are equal in dignitie and honour to S. Paul , Peter , the B. Virgin Mother of God , and al Saints . Luth. tom . 5. Witt. fol. 442. compare With Christ his Mother , Peter and the rest Of heauen's most Saint-like Cittizens , whose best And purest actions , might as wel by dogs Haue been (29) (29) Al their holines consists in that they haue prayed and fasted much , endured great labours , chastized their bodies , liu'd hard , & vsed an austere kind of habit ; al their holines a dog or a hog may daily performe . Luth. praef. in Alex. lib. de Eccles. performed , or by filthy hogs . A (30) (30) In absence of the Priest , a boy or a woman , yea any Christian can absolue . Luth. tom. 2. fol. 103. woeman , or a boy , the Priest away , May giue true absolution : only they Whose (31) (31) They onely communicate worthily , who haue sad , afflicted , disturbed , confused , and erroneous consciences . Ibid. fol. 73. conscience filled with confused care , Afflicted , troubled , and erroneous are , Doe worthily receiue : who is baptis'd , Vnder the name of (32) (32) A Priest , especially in the new Testament , is not made , but borne , not consecrate● , but created &c. al Christians are Priests , and al Priests Christians . Ibid. fol. 367. Priest is streight compris'd . Al (33) (33) The first office of a Priest is to preach the word &c. but this is common to al , next it is to baptize , and this also may al doe , euen woemen &c. the third is to consecrate bread and wine , but this also is common to al , no lesse then Priest-hood ; and this I auouch by the Authoritie of Christ himself &c. Luth. ibid. fol. 368. 369. vid. de abrog . Missae . fol. 249. & capt. Babyl . c. de ord. item Hospin . hist. Sacram. part . 1. p. 22. fol. 14. Christians may Christs body consecrate ; Al preach the word , and al administrate Effectual Sacraments ; yea I can shew That , though the Diuel doe it , it were true . To fight against the Turk is to (34) (34) Luther ( saith Hospinian ) proceeded so farre as to say , that the Sacrament were true , though it were administred by the Diuel . Hist. Sacram. part. 2. fol. 14. See Couel . def. of Hook. p. 101. oppose (35) (35) To warre against the Turk is to resist God , visiting our iniquities by them . Luth. to . 2. Wit . fol. 110. Euen God : none can be (36) (36) Among Christians no man can or ought to be Magistrate , but each one is to other equally subiect &c. among Christian men none is Superiour saue one , and only Christ . Luth. tom . 6. Germ. de saecul . potest . Vide Luth. c. 2. Caes . mand . An. 1524. subiect vnto lawes Of earthly Magistrate , for al men share Like power , like place on earth , al equal ar● . Be sure you haue regard that none be stayd , When the wife wil not , for to (37) (37) Luther counsel 's the husband in case his wife refuse his bed , to say to her : If thou wil't not another wil , if the Mistresse wil not , let the Maid come . Luth. tom. 5. fol. 123. take the mayd ; The Magistrate (38) (38) The Magistrats duty is to bridle such a wife , & to put her to death : this if the Magistrate omit ; the husband must imagine that his wife is stolen away by thieues and slaine , and consider how to marrie another . Ibid. fol. 123. See also the 111. must bridle such a shrew , Yea put her t' death , which if he wil not doe , Let th' husband then suppose her to be dead , And slaine with thieues , and streight another wed : Nor is he bounded here , o no , he 's free To do 't , as (39) (39) We can not stop S. Paul's mouth , nor striue with them who as often as need requires , wil make vse of this doctrine , his words are plaine : that a brother or a sister are free from the law of wedlock , if the one depart or doe not consent to dwel with the other : neither doth he say that this may be done once only , but leaueth it free , that so often as the case shal require , he may either proceed or stay . So that ( saith he a litle before ) we may haue in this case , ten or more wiues , fled away , and yet liuing . Luth. tom. 5. fol. 112. 113. oft as he shal vrged be ; So that one man by this occasion may Haue ten or more wiues liuing on a day . Th' offending (40) (40) The adulterer may flie into another Countrey , & if he cannot containe , marrie againe . Luth. ib. fol. 123. person if he cannot tame His fleshes pride , may likewise doe the same . Th' Ghospel no more excludes (41) (41) Poligamie is no more abrogated , then the rest of Moyses law , & it is free , as being neither commanded nor forbidden . Luth. propos . de Bigam . Epis. An. 1528. propos . 62. 65. 66. see also in .c. 16. Genes. edit . An. 525. Poligamy , Then th' rest of Moyses law , it stil is free ; This world hath nothing that can (42) (42) Nothing is more sweet and louing vpon earth then is the loue of a woman , if a man can obtaine it . Luth. in Prouerb. 31. vers. 10. marg. equalize A woeman's loue : he who would be so wise As t' liue without one , let him (43) (43) He that resolueth to be without a woeman , let him lay aside the name of a man , making himself a plaine Angel or spirit . Luth. tom . 7. Wit . fol. 505. cease to be Of flesh and bloud , for t' is as necessarie T' enioy a woeman , as ( my self best knowes ) To eate , drinke purge , watch , sleepe , or wipe the nose . (44) (44) As it is not in my power that I should be no man , so it is not in my power that I should be without a woman & it is not in our power that it should be either stayed or omitted , but is as necessarie as that I should be a man , & more necessarie then to eate , drink , purge , make cleane the nose , sleep , or watch . Luth. tom. 5. fol. 119. There is another like saying of Luther to this purpose , which because it is so beastly , and vnchristian-like a speach , I wil forbeare to translate it . Perinde faciunt ( sayth he ) qui continenter viuere instituunt , ac si quis excrementa ( o shamelesse beast ! ) vel lotium contra natura impetum retinere velit . Luther . in suo glossem . in decret. Noriberg . When we are dead , our soules must stil remaine Al (45) (45) The scripture sayth that the dead doe sleep . I am of opinion that they are cast into such an vnspeakable and a kind of wonderful sleep , that they feele & see lesse then others who sleep , and when they shal be raysed , they shal not know where they are , nor how they are so sodainly borne againe . Luth. tom. 4. fol. 417. see him also ib. f. 36. 37. & tom. 6. 321. 322. cast on sleep , vntil we ryse againe . And whether then they must , exempt from death , For euer liue , (46) (46) I permit that the Pope make articles of fayth to those that are his faithful : As bread and wine to be transubstantiated in the Sacrament ; The essence of God neither to beget nor to be begotten ; The soule to be a substantial forme of the body of man ; That himself is the Emperour of the world , & the King of heauen , and an earthly God ; I he soule to be immortal ; & al these infinit monsters contained in the Roman dunghil of decrees , that like as his faith is , such is his Ghospel , such his faithful , and such his Church . Luth. tom. 2. f. 107. it is no point of fayth , If any Papists doe this doctrine blame , Tel (47) (47) Doctour Martin Luther ( sayth Luther himself ) wil haue it so , and saith that a Papist and an Asse are directly the same . So is my wil , so I command , let my wil be my reason &c. And not much after , Luther , saith he againe , wil that it be so , and sayth that he is a Doctour more excellent then al that are in the Papacy . Tom. 5. Germ. fol. from 141. to 144. them , a Papist and an asse are th' same . But , if they doe persist and vrge thee stil , Make answer that my reason is my wil , Who am a Doctour greater farre then al Those , who themselues the Roman Church doe cal . My (48) (48) I wil haue you to know that I wil not hereafter vouchsafe you the honour , as that I wil suffer , either you , or the very Angels of heauen to iudge of my doctrine &c. nor wil I haue my doctrine iudged by any , no not by the Angels themselues ; for I being certaine thereof , wil by it be iudge both of you and the Angels . Luther aduers . falsò nomin . Eccl. stat. prope init . See the same words , though somewhat altered , in to . 2. Wit . fol. 306. See also tom. 5. fol. 290. and tom. 2. fol. 333. fayth of errour they shal ne're appeach , Nor shal the Angels iudge of what I teach ; For I am sure this doctrine is most true . So Luther sayth : now , Reader , what say you ?

XII . Vpon that feareful Atheisme of Luther , Zuingliu● & Caluin , that God is the Authour of sinne . SOme now a-dayes , when into sinnes they fal , Like Eue's vndoubted children , first of al Themselues excuse , and without further stay Th' fault on another , as the inforcer , lay . But who is he , on whom they doe impose So great a burden ? (1) (1) Genes. cap. 3. vers. 13. Eue the serpent chose ; 'T is not sure he : ô no , I quake to tel ; He 's greater then the greatest power of hel : He ( though eu'n faythlesse (2) (2) We must by al meanes haue a care that God be not sayd to be the cause of euil : nor let any one , who is to liue vnder iust lawes , vtter these words in his citty , nor giue eare vnto another that shal speake them : for it is the plaine corruption of honesty , sociable life , lawes and cityes . Plato dial. 2. de Republ. siue iusto . Item Plutarchus aduersus Stoicos . heathen doe disclam● From such a thought ) who al this Al did frame Must , as the Authour , that they may be cleare From fault , the poize of their offences beare . The egg , whereof this monster first was made , Was got in hel , and since by Satan layd , Oll (3) (3) Lyrinensis in commonit . aduersus profan . vocum nouit . Simon Magus and the (4) (4) Tertull. lib. de prescr . Cerdonistes , (5) (5) Irenaeus lib. 1 , aduersus haereses , c. 26. Marcionistes , (6) (6) August . haeres 49. Manicheans and (7) (7) Leo Epist. ad Turbium . Priscillianistes , With the (8) (8) August . haeres . 59. Seleucians , did ( the Church to spight ) Keep it , yet n'ere durst bring it forth to light . Th' infernal Sire of this curst rabble chose His misshap't ●ub (9) (9) ●dem , haeres . 66. Florinus , to disclose This poysnous Hydra : he , 't was he , who first Arm'd with audacious pride and malice durst Attempt to hatch it , and profane the light Of sacred truth by it's vnhallowed sight . Long , as vnseen , did vnregarded lye This hellish prodigie , straight sure to die For want of food , had not through curst remorse Of it's iust misery (10) (10) How can man prepare himself to good , seeing it is not in his power to make his wayes euil ? for God worketh the wicked work in the wicked . Luth. tom . 2. Witt. an. 1551. assert . art. 36. see also de seruo arbit . edit . an. 1603. fol. 195. Luther plaid the nurse . He careful fram'd it steppes , he did it draw Ta haughty passe , as scorning al it saw . Then (11) (11) When we commit adultery or murder , it is the worke of God , being the mouer , the authour & inciter &c. God moueth the theef to kil &c. he is forced to sinne &c. God hardned Pharo , not speaking hyperbolically , but he truly hardneth him , yea although he resist . Zuinglius tom. 10 de prouidentia Dei fol. 365. 366. 367. by which , and other of his sayings , he doth so plainly teach God to be the authour of sinne , as he is therefore particularly reprehended by the learned Protestant Grawerus in Absurda Absurd . c. 5. de praedest . fol. 3. 4. Zuinglius takes it , and for diuers yeares , The charge therof himself , most ioyful , beares . 'Til (12) (12) God is the authour of al those things , which these popish Iudges would haue to happen onely by his idle sufferance . Inst. l. 1. c. 18. sect. 3. see him also affirming our sinnes to be not onely by God's permission , but also by his decree & wil. ib. sect. 1. 2. & l. 2. c. 4. sect. 3. 4. and l. 3. c. 23. sect. 6. which blasphemy is so euidently taught both by Calum & most of his followers , that they are expresly condemned for it , by their famous brethren , Feming . l. de vniuers . grat . p. 109. Osiand . enchir . controuers . p. 104. Schassmanus de peccat . causis . p. 155. 27. Sitzlinus disput. Theolog. de prouid . Dei , sect. 141. Grawerus Absurda Absurd . in frontisp . l. and the protestant Magistrates of Berne likewise made it penal by their lawes , for any of their territories to preach Caluins doctrine therof , or for their people to read any of his bookes , containing the same . Vide litteras Senat. Bern. ad Ministros &c. ann. 1555. Caluin , much enamoured of it's grace , ( So Apes doe think their yong al creatures passe ) Handled the matter , with his brother so As soon he got it , o how it did grow Vnder his hand ! in few yeares it became The cheef support of it new Master's name . He brought it to ful growth : and , hauing first A world of rare destructions rehearst , He sent it forth , where now ( alas ! ) we see Scarce any place from it's infection free . Great Irenaeus did so much dislike Florinus act , as (13) (13) Eusebius , hist. Ecclesiast. lib. 5. cap. 19. more then heretike He long since censured him : if so , what may We then of these our latter Rabbins say ?

XII . VPON MELANCTHON . MElancthon holds there are (1) (1) There are three diuinities as there are three persons . Melanct. loc. com . an . 1545. c. de Christo ; for which he is reprehended by Stancarus l. 4. de Trinitate . three Gods , and striues Mainly to prone (2) (2) Melancthon in behalf of Henry VIII . ( whose diuorce from his first wife he held vnlawful ) aduiseth , saying : If the King be desirous to prouide for succession , how much better were it for him to doe it without the infamy of his first mariage : & this may be performed without peril of any mans either conscience or fame , by poligamy &c. because poligamy is not a thing altogeather vnusual ; Abraham , Dauid , and other holy men had many wiues , whence it appeares that polygamy is not against Ius diuinum . Melancth. concil . Theol. p. 134. plurality of wiues . He teacheth that in case of iust diuorce , (3) (3) If either ( the offending parties ) be of such an age as they be yet strong & lusty , or that they complaine that they cannot without danger liue in widdowhood , if they shew signes of penance , mariage is to be granted them . Concil. Theol. part. 1. p. 648. Th' offend●ng party may , without remorse , Againe contract : and vnder zeal's pretence Th' inferiour powers he (4) (4) If the Magistrate command an● thing against the law of God , doe not obey him , but peremptorily resist : as if he comman s to warre against the Turkes . ad c. 13 ep. ad Rom. See him also Concil. Theol. part. 1. p. 314 where he enabled the inferiour Magistrate to alter Religion , against the contrary edicts of the Superiour . See him further , ib. p. 249. 302. 303. 315. armes against their Prince . The Sonne of God did (5) (5) The Sonne according to his diuinity resisteth his Fathers wrath against our sinnes . Loci comm an. 1558. p. 40. and in Epist. ad Elect. Forgae dat . 3. Octobr. an 1552. further he teacheth that diuine nature of the Sonne was in his passion obedient to his Father . loc. comm. an. 1561. pag 41 See more in Pelarg. his Admon●t . de Arianis p. 43 and 24. eu'en as God ( he sayth ) Obey his Father and resist his wrath , Yea (6) (6) Pelargus confesseth of Melancthon , that he saith , that the Sonne maketh intercession , is his Fathers Minister , Priest , and Mediatour , answering in excuse therof that he meant the same especially of his humane nature , implying so thereby , that he meant it also ( though not so principally ) of his diuine nature Pilarg . Admonit . de Arianis . pag. 45. pray vnto him ; whence he doth inferre He is his suppliant , Priest and Minister . About the Sacraments he held — but what ? 'T is yet vnknowne ; for stil as wel in that As other points so (7) (7) Concerning his inconstancy about the real presence , see in lib. 3. epist. Zuingl . & Oecol . p. 603. where he flatly disclaymeth from Zuinglius doctrine herein ; & the same more fully , ibid. p. 618. 644. 645. see also Hospi● . Histor. Sacr. part . 2 fol. 68. and yet of his change afterward , see the same confessed by Hospin . vbi supra , fol. 115. 141. and by Osiand . Epit. cent. 16. p 615. 667. See ibid. 8●● . 703 where it is said of him , If this mans constancy in the true Religion had been answerable to his learning , surely he had been an incomparable man . See further of his inconstancy , in Schluss . Theol. Calu. l. 2. fol. 91 92. 94. 95. and colloq . Altemb . fol. 377. 402. 424. 425 463 520. 524. wau'ring he appeares , As no side dare securely cal him theirs : For which respect eu'en they who most would rayse His name , (8) (8) Ioach. Morlinus Melancthon's scholler , commending him for some things , yet in regard of his other bad deseruings , he sayth : In these points let the diuel prayse thee ( O Philip ) and not l. Morl. in publ. lect. See this in Schluss . Theol. Caluin . l. 2. art. 10. referre him to the Diuel's prayse : Yea (9) (9) If I could redeem the saluation of our Master , Philip Melancthon , with the peril of my life , I would doe it ; but he is taken out of this world , and carried to the Iudgement of the horrible tribunal of God , to plead his cause there . See Schlusselb . vbi supra . doubt of his saluation . What could frame For such a man a more befitting name , Then this of Black-earth ? ô , it sutes him well For nothing that is whyt can enter hel .

XIV . VPON BVCER . BVCER , as (1) (1) I doe not absolutely affirme this , though it is without question true , by reason of my vndertaken course to proue al by the sayings of Protestants ; and for this I haue not as yet found the testimony of any of them . But it is reported by that temperate writer Vlenberg . in his causae , causa 12. some affirme , was first a Iew ; But doubting that , his mind he did imbew With Christian rites , and , vpon iust dislike Of Iudaisme , became a (2) (2) That he was a Catholike , it is affirmed both by Osiand . Epist. cent . Ib. p. 88. and al others that write of him . Catholike ; Yet stayd not there , but soon did that reiect For (3) (3) See Peter Martyr in his treatise of the Lords supper annexed to his comm. places in English . pag. 138. Luther's , then new rays'd , licencious Sect. Yet that he held not long , but chang'd againe , And vowd himself a perfect (4) (4) See Bucer himself in Epist. ad Noremb . and Esseingenses . Zuing ian . From hence he back to (5) (5) See the acts of the Synod holden at Luther's house in Wittemberg anno 1536. & Osiand . Epist. cent. 16. pag. 246. Schlusselb . Theol. Caluin . l. 2. fol. 17. & 129. Lauath . hist. Sacr. p. 1. Mart. Crusius p. 3. Annal. Sur. l. 11. c. 25. Luther made repaire ; And there , for his offence , by humble prayer He (6) (6) Bucer in edit. 1. comment . in 6. Ioan. & 26. Math. asked pardon of God and the Church , for his hauing bewitched many with the heresy of Zuinglius . pardon crau'd : but this he soon forgot , And straight resum'd his former (7) (7) Lauath . hist. Sacr. f. 37. Pet. Mart. of the Lord's supper , annexed to his comm. places in English. p. 138. & Schlusselb . theol . Caluin . l. 2. fol: 17. & 70. where he sayth : Yet the same Bucer at Cambridge in England an. 1551. reuolted againe to the heresy of the Zuinglians . Zuinglian's coat Nor want there (8) (8) See before at 1. Yet it is affirmed by Posseuint in not . verbi Dei , & Vlembergius , Causa 12. some , who dare auerre for true , That , after this , he dy'd , as first , a Iew. Who 'l not admire this man ? sure he doth misse it , Who his Religion cannot like , what is it ?

XV. VPON REFORMERS Sacraments . YOVR Sacraments , you say , doe onely signe , Witnesse , and seale the promises diuine ; And , euen to him who faithfully repents , Conferre no grace ; ô gracelesse Sacraments !

XVI . THE REFORMERS Oath of Alleageance . I A. B. truly from my hart protest That if Priests be not by the King represt , My self wil raise the (1) (1) If the Magistrates shal refuse to put Masse-mongers , and false Preachers to death , the people in seeing it performed , doe shew that zeale of God , which was in Phinees destroying the adulterous , and in the Israelites against the Beniamites Good-man . p. 196. people to effect What he wil not : and if he doe erect Himself 'gainst God , I 'l not regard his place , But , rather then obey him , (2) (2) Earthly Princes doe bereaue themselues of authority when they erect themselues against God , yea they are vnworthy to be accounted in the number of men , and therefore we must rather spit in their faces then obey them . Caluin . in c. 6. Daniel . vers. 22.25 . spit in 's face , If he himself (3) (3) There are vices inherent in the persons of Princes , though they be lawfully established by succession , or election , viz. vngodlines , couetousnes ambition , cruelty , luxury , leachery , & such like sinnes which Tyrants delight in : what shal be done in this case to these Princes ? I answer that it belongs to the Superiour powers , such as are the seauen Electours in the Empire , and the States-men of the Kingdome almost in euery Monarchy , to restraine the fury of Tyrants , which if they doe not , they are traytours to their Countries , and shal before the Lord giue an account of their treachery . Beza confess . an. 1560. p. 216. see . Caluin . Inst. lib. 4. c. 20. Sect. 31. giue ouer to the vice Of lust , of riot , pride or auarice , Or wilfully (4) (4) Kings and cheif Magistrates , are the vassals of the Kingdom , and of the Common-wealth where they rule ; wherefore they may be dispossessed and deiected when they shal obstinately attempt any thing against the feudal Lawes of the Kingdome , and this ( saith he a little before ) may be done with a good conscience . Danaeus lib. 3. Pol. Christian . c. 6. Beza Epist . 24. infringe our feudal lawes , And play the Tyrant , I wil straight dispose , As best I can , th' inferiour Magistrate By peace or (5) (5) The Peeres of the Kingdom or the publike assembly of States ought to destroy him , either by peaceable practizes or open warre . Fenners sacra Theol. l. 5 c. 15. p. 185. warre his fury to abate . Which if , through want of courage , he refuse , The (6) (6) If the Noblemen & other inferiour Magistrates for feare should refuse to reforme religion , the rest of the people might doe it in that case themselues . Goodm . p. 196. 87. 34. 35. 185. 180. 184. &c. See also Knox hist. Scot. p. 49 , 50. people shal attempt it : they shal vse Al meanes they can to worke his ouerthrow , Take him , (7) (7) The people may arraigne their Prince . Buch. de iure regni , pag. 62. arraigne him , and (8) (8) Euil Princes ought by the Law of God to be deposed , and inferiour Magistrates ought cheifly to doe it . Goodman , p. 144. 145. examples allowed of Kings deposed . Edw. Rich. 2. Christian of Denmark &c. Obed. 100. See more in Knox hist. p. 371. appel . p. 28. 30. 56. & in M. Sutcliff's answer p. 71. it is said , that this Doctrine ( of punishing , deposing , and killing of Kings ) was commended by the most learned in those parts , which were ( saith he ) Caluin , Beza , & certaine Englishmen : affirming moreouer that the same doctrine , or ( to vse his owne words ) disobedience rather against Princes was taught by Buchanan , Knox , Hotroman in his Francogallia , Beza de iure magistratuum in subditos , vindiciae cont. Tyrannos , Vrsinus , &c. See also pag. 95. and the same likewise auerred by D. Bancrofts Suruey , p. 48. and Dang . posit . p. 18. See more before at 4. depose him too . But if these fayle , we , in our iust defence , Wil (9) (9) Subiects when they endure publike and manifest wrong , may lawfully become suppliants to forraine States , and craue their ayde against their Princes , and other Kings ought to take vpon them their defence and protection . Bucanus , loc. com . Theol. loc. ●7 . p. 845. & this doctrine saith the learned protestant M. Owen , was published at the earnest request of Beza and Gonlarrius . Herod . & Pil. p. 13. & 5● . suppliants be vnto some forraine Prince T' assist vs with his ayd , that pulling downe Our King , he , if (10) (10) The people haue right to bestow the crowne at their pleasure . Buchan . de iure regni p. 13. we please , may take the crowne . But if yet al these meanes desectiue proue , Then I my self , (11) (11) By the word of God a priuate man ( hauing some special inward motion ) may kil a Tyrant , &c. or otherwise a priuate man may doe so , if he be commanded or permitted by the Common-wealth . Obed. p. 10. See more ib. p. 99. 103. inspired from aboue , Either by poyson , pistol , sword , or knife , Or such like wayes , wil take away his life . A deed so farre from treason , as I sweare , That (12) (12) It were good that rewards were appointed by the people for such as should kil Tyrants , as commonly there is for those that haue killed either wolues or beares , &c. Buchan . de iure regni , p. 40. he who kils a raging Wolf or Beare Deserues lesse pay , for from this act proceeds Th' whole Kingdom 's good ; ô 't is the (13) (13) I am of opinion with the old people of Rome , that of al good actions the murther of a Tyrant is most commendable . Euseb. Philad . dial . 1. best of deeds ! For al such Kings as doe God's lawes transgresse , And to the same their fearful subiects presse , Of their due honour stil (14) (14) If magistrates transgresse God's lawes themselues , and command othets to doe the like , they loose that honour and obedience , which otherwise is due vnto them ; and ought no more to be taken for Magistrates , but to be examined , and punished as priuate transgressours . Goodman p. 119. 139. See more before at . 2. depriued be , And th' subiects from their vs'd alleageance (15) (15) If Princes be Tyrants against God and his truth , their subiects are freed from their oaths of obedience . Knox , to Engl. and Scotland . fol. 78. free . And then we scourge them may with their (16) (16) That is , arraigne them , examine and punish them as priuate transgressours : wherof see before at 7. & 14. & Obed. pag. 111. where it is sayd , That Iudges ought by the law of God , to summon Princes before them , for their crimes , & to proceed against them , as against al other offenders . owne rod . Al these and more I sweare ; so help me God.

XVII . TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT Maiesty my dread Soueraigne . PArdon , most Gratious Soueraigne , if my verse Distast thy eares ; what I aboue rehearse Is not myne owne : I onely doe relate The tenets of such foes vnto the state , As would ( if they had power ) assaile the crowne , And in thy blood al our best fortunes arowne . My prayers , are [ as likewis● of the rest Of my deare brethren ) that thou maist liue blest Aboue thy wishes ; al disasters chase , And stil looke smiling fortune in the face . May peace by thee with that same throne be grac't , Wherin thy Royal Father hath her plac't : And al such wretches as beare any part In hate to thee , put-off their traitrous hart , That no tumultuous or disloyal straine May e're disturb the quiet of thy raigne . Be forraine and home-bred iniurious scopes Against thy person strangled in their hopes : And who knowes treason and reueales it not , Be food to beasts , and branded with the note Of Traitour ; yea , let those so censur'd be , Whose onely thoughts are false to thine or thee , This , al true subiects wish , this each implores , Who 'l not subscribe to this , is none of ours .

XVIII . CALVIN'S CREED . (1) (1) If the Father haue his essence of himself , the Sonne his essence of the Father , and the Spirit from them both , doth not ( saith Caluin ) three essences herevpon arise ? Tract . Theol. p. 793. besides this , in act. crueti he often writeth that the Sonne hath his substance distinct from the Father , wherevpon followes , that he is a distinct God from the Father . See act . Seru. p. 249. 250. 871. 872. & passim . THree Gods there are ; (2) (2) He teacheth that the Father can neither wholy , nor by part , communicate his nature to Christ ▪ but must withal be depriued therof himself . Tract . Theol. p. 771. 772. and he denies that the Sonne is begotten of the Fathers substance and essence ; affirming that he is God of himself , not God of God. See M. Whit. 8. Camp. rat . & Cal. himself l. 1. Inst c. 13. sect. 23.29 . & tract . Theol. p. 774 by which it followes , that if God haue no Sonne begotten of his substance & essence , he can be no Father , & Christ , if he receaued no essence from the Father , he cannot be his Sonne . no Father ; (3) (3) That dreame of the absolute power of God which the School-men haue brought in , is execrable blasphemy . Calu. ad c. 23. Ezech. gallice script . See him Instit. l. 3. c. 23. sect. 2. nor can he , Who made of nothing al , Almighty be . Christ is to God , as God , (4) (4) The Father is greater then I , hath been restrained to the humane nature of Christ , but I doe not doubt to extend it to him as God and Man. Tract . Theol. pag. 794. See also p. 792. & 2. Inst. c. 14. sect. 3. & in c. 17. Io. v. 12. &c. 22. Math. v. 44. & cap. 26. v. 64. inferiour , And doth , (5) (5) It is no absurdity &c. if Christ according to his diuinity maketh intercession to the Father . Tract . Theol. p. 791. as God , for vs God's ayd implore . He (6) (6) How are we iust before God ? Sure as Christ a sinner was iust . 1. Cor. c. 5. and in another place : Christ ( saith he ) in that humane nature which he had taken vpon him , was truly a sinner , and guilty of euerlasting malediction . Id. c. 3. ad Galat. truly was a sinner , (7) (7) See before at 2. not God's Sonne , His birth made Mary of a Virgin (8) (8) Our Lord spared Mary til she had wel recouered her weaknes in child-bearing , that she might take her iourney . in c. 2. Matth. v. 13. none . She was (9) (9) She was hasty out of time , intempestiué festina . in c. 2. Io. v. 4. &c. 8. Luc. v. 19. too busy , of a (10) (10) While she giueth scope to her motherly greife , she through lack of consideration preferred herself before God. In c. 2. Luc. v 18. haughty vaine , And (11) (11) She seemes no lesse spightfully to restraine the power of God , then did before her Zacharias . In c. 1. Luc. v. 34. spightfully God's power did restraine . Christ not one onely , but (12) (12) For he seuereth the person of the Mediatour from Christ's diuine person , maintaining , with Nestorius , two persons in Christ ; the one humane , the other diuine l. 1. Inst. c. 13. sect. 9. 23. 24. two persons hath , And was endew'd , as other men , with (13) (13) Though the sense of Christs flesh did apprehend destruction , yet faith remained firme in his hart in c. 26. Matt. See besides , his attributing of the like faith to Christ , which holy men are vsed to haue when they are tempted . In Matth. c. 4. v. 3. & in c. 27. v. 46.50 faith . He , as in yeares , so did in wisdome (14) (14) Christ as he did grow in body , so likewise did he profit in soule ; and a little before : The guifts of his mind did encrease with his age . In cap. 2. Luc. v 40. grow , Yet did not , when at wisest , (15) (15) Christs soule was subiect to ignorance : this only difference is betwxit vs & him , that our infirmities are of necessity , his voluntary : in c. 2. Luc. v. 40. It is euident that ignorance ( sayth he ) was common to Christ with the Angels in c. 24. Math. v. 36. and in particular he auoucheth that he knew not the day of iudgement ( in c. 24. Matth. v. 36. ) nor what that tree was which he cursed . In c. 21. Matth. v. 18. see also Ib. c. 9. v. 2. al things know . He vs'd no grounded method to (16) (16) We must remember that Christ did vse the common receaued prouerbs , not that they should solidly proue any thing , but only that they should be as probable coniectures . Calu. in c. 12. Matt. v. 25. & 2. 10. Luc. v. 17. and therevpon he is not afraid to censure certain words of Christ to be but a weak confutation of what he sought to refute . In c. 12. Mat. v. 25. & in another place : Christ ( saith he ) seemes here not to reason solidly . Id. in c. 9. Matth. v. 5. confute The aduerse part , but when he did dispute , He his opponents either did amuse With (17) (17) This seemes to be a harsh and farre-fetcht similitude ; & after : The similitude of sifting doth not hang together . Calu. in c. 16. & 22. Luc. farre fetch 't similitudes , or els abuse Their fayth by some (18) (18) When Christ inferred , Al things therefore whatsoeuer you wil &c. Caluin giueth it this glosse : It is a superfluous or vaine illation . In c. 7. Matt. v. 11. superfluous inference , Harsh (19) (19) This metaphore of Christ is somewhat harsh . I● c. 9. Matt. v. 4● . phrase , and words not in a (20) (20) That Christ promiseth from God reward to fasting is an improper speach , in Matth. c. 9. v. 16.17.18 . See him likewise taxed for improper speaches by Calu. in c. 12. Matt. v. 5.26.33 . in c. 15. v. 18. in c. 20. v. 26 & in c. 1. Ioan. v. 32. in c. 6. v. 29. 35. in c. 17. v. 12. & in c. 3. v. 21. he writeth of a saying of Christ , that it seemes to be spoken improperly and absurdly , in French , sans raison . proper sense . To vicious passions he sometymes obey'd , Was disobedient , cowardly , rash , dismay'd ; For through base feare he did t' his power (21) (21) He refuseth and denies , as much as in him lieth , to performe the office of a Mediatour ( ●n c. 26. Matt. v. 39. ) and manifests his owne effeminatenes by his shunning of death . In c. 12. Io. v. 27. denie To be the world's Mediatour , and to dye , And more afrayd of death was , then we see Theeues (22) (22) Theeues and other euil doers doe obstinately hast to ●eath , many with haughty courage despise it , some others doe mildly suffer it , but what constancy or stout courage were it for the Sonne of God to be astonished & in a manner strucken dead with feare of it ? &c. how shameful a tendernes , as I say , should this haue been to be so farre tormented with feare of common death , as to melt in bloudy sweat , and not to be able to be comforted but by sight of Angels ? l. 2. Instit. c. 16 sect. 12. now , or other wicked persons be . Yea he then quite (23) (23) The same vehemency took from him the present memory of the heauenly decree , so that he forgot at that instant , that he was sent hither to be our Redeemer In c. 20. Mat. v. 39. forgot and did not deeme Himself to be , who should our soules redeeme . His prayer was (24) (24) This prayer of Christ was not premeditate , but the force and extremity of grief wringed from him this hasty speach , to which a correction was presently added ; and a little before : He chastiseth and recalleth that vow of his which he had let sodainly slip . Id. ib. not aduis'd , but such as did A more proportioned correction need . Nothing had been effected if his death Had been but corporal ; for , e're his breath (25) (25) Christs death had been to no effect , if he had suffered only a corporal death . Inst. l. 2. c. 16. sect. 10. For sook him , he was (26) (26) Thus doe we see Christ to be on al sides so vexed as being ouerwhelmed with desperation , he ceased to cal vpon God , which was as much as to renounce his saluation . And this , sayth he a litle before , was not feined , or as a thing only acted vpon a stage . In c. 27. Matth. v. 47.46 . truly in despaire , And did the death of (27) (27) He was afraid of some-thing more horrible in his death , then the separation ( only ) of soule and body . In c. 26. Matth. v. 37. see 39. more then body feare . His guilty soule was (28) (28) It behoued that Christ , to satisfy for vs , should be conuented , and that guilty , before the tribunal of God In c. 27. Matth. v. 46. cited for to come Before th' Eternal , to receaue her doome ; And was (29) (29) Christ in his soule suffered the terrible torments of a damned & forsaken man . l. 2. Inst. c. 10. sect. 10. tormented with th' infernal paines , Which for the damn'd forsaken soules remaines . And , to be breef , no other signes there are In al his death , but tokens of (30) (30) In the death of Christ occurres a spectacle ful of desperation . In c. 27. Mat. v. 57. And againe : ●n this spectacle there was nothing but matter of extreame despaire . In c. 14. Ioan. v. 6. despaire . He went to hel , that is , (31) (31) It is no meruaile if it be sayd that Christ went downe to the hels , sith he suffered that death wherwith God in wrath striketh wicked doers l. 2. Inst. c. 6. sect. 10. God did impose Those paines on him , he doth vpon his foes ; Whence he became in horrour with the fright Of black damnation , and with (32) (32) It behoued that Christ should as it were hand to hand wrastle with the armies of the hels and the horrour of eternal death . Idem ibid. See him also in c. 26. Matt. v. 39. that did fight . His body dead , aliue againe was made ; Not of himself , but (33) (33) Caluin holds it to be absurd , that Christ should chalenge to himself the glory of his owne resurrection , when the scripture ( sayth he ) euery where teacheth it to be the worke of God the Father . In c. 2. Ioan. See him also in c. 8. ad Rom. by his Father's ayd . He sits at God's right hand ; that is , he holdes Next (34) (34) Christ is sayd to sit at the right hand of the Father , because being ordained chief King ( who in his name may gouerne the world ) he as it were holdeth the second degree from him of honour & Christ therfore sitteth at the right hand of his Father , because he is his Vicar . In c. 26. Matt. v. 64. vnder him , cheef rule ; and al controls . We need (35) (35) We need not feare least our sinnes come to be iudged by God , from which the Sonne of God hath by so pretious a price absolued vs . In c. 27. Matt. v. 29. not feare to haue our sinnes awaite For Iudgment , ransom'd at so high a rate . The holy Ghost is God , (36) (36) See before at 1. and besides read Calu. l. 1. Inst. c. 13. sect. 23. & 25. as I haue shown , Distinct from both the Father and the Sonne . 'T is false to say , the Church can neuer faile , For then it (37) (37) The matter came to that passe , that it was manifest & euident to the learned & vnlearned , that the true order of the Church then perished , the Kingdome of Christ was throwne downe , when this Dominion ( of the Pope ) was erected . Calu. resp. ad Sadolet . p. 132. 128. fel , when Popes did first preuaile . Penance is (38) (38) At what time soeuer we baptized , we are at once washed & cleansed for al our life ; and a litle after : They erre , who thinke that by the benefit of repentance , we doe after baptisme obtaine forgiuenesse . And not much before : In baptisme is obtained perpetual and continual forgiuenesse of sinnes , euen vnto death . l. 4. Inst. c. 14. sect. 3. 4. &c. 19. sect 17. needles ; eu'ry sinneful fal In baptisme is remitted once for al ▪ It is a foolish madnes to (39) (39) Vpon the 26. of Mat. he affirmes that they are mad who teach that the bloud of Christ is now ioyned with his flesh . Which opinion Schlusselburg detesting both in Caluin and his fellowes , sayth : Hence it appeareth that the Caluinists , albeit they affirme in word and writing , yet in hart they doe not belieue the resurrection of the dead . Schluss . Theol. Calu. l. 1. art. 20. maintaine That after death our flesh shal ryse againe . In heau'en it-self (40) (40) Christ being entred into the Sanctuary of heauen , vnto the end of the Ages of the world , he alone carrieth to God the prayers of the people ( of the Saints ) abiding a farre off at the portch . l. 3. Inst. c. 20. sect. 20. and els-where : The soules of the godly hauing ended the labour of their warfare , doe goe into a blessed rest , where with happy ioyfulnes they looke for the enioying of the promised glory ; and so al things are holden in suspence til Christ the Redeemer appeare . Ib. c. 25. sect. 6. no Saints haue yet ar al been . Who speakes these words , a Christian ? (41) (41) See Aegidius Hunnius his Caluinus Iudaizans , &c. printed Wittenb . 1593. & Iohn Modestus his Demonstration forth of holy Scripture , that the Sacramentaries are not Christians , but baptized Iewes & Turkes , print . Tubingae . 1583. both which Authours were learned Protestants . no Iohn Caluin .

XIX . VPON SAINT PAVL and Luther . PAVL in his writings (1) (1) S. Paul repeates this sacred name of IESVS in his Epistles neer 500. times . ofttymes IESVS names , Luther the Diuel's name (2) (2) So frequently doth Luther vse the name of DIVEL , that the learned Tigurine Diuines speaking but of one of his bookes only , say , that it is ful of Diuels ; and in another place : How wonderful ( say they ) is Luther here with his Diuels , w●at impure wordes he vseth , with how many Diuels doth he burst ? Theol. Tigur . confess . Germ. fol. 3. & part. 3. fol. 134. & Zuinglius sayth to him : We fil not our bookes with so many Diuels , nor doe we bring so many armies of Diuels against thee &c. Zuingl . tom. 2. fol. , 81. more oft proclames . What is the reason ? sure , on either part The mouth speakes from th' aboundance of the hart .

XX. Vpon the late peace betwixt the King of France and the Hugonots . WArr's stormes are past , the gentle breath of peace Hath forc't in France al noysome vapours cease . The Rochellers and their adherents now Their humble necks vnto the King doe bow . They now no more vil (1) (1) As they haue done for the space of oboue 40. or 50. yeares together , and that for Religion , as euidently appeareth by the Protestant writer I. de Serres in his general Inuentory of the history of France , transl . into Engl. by Edw. Grimston ; and by Osiander , who writing of those warres sayth : Ciuil warre for Religion was renewed &c. Epit. 116. p. 804. for Religion's sake Rebellious armes against their Sou'raigne take . No more (2) (2) The King caused certaine Edicts to be published against them of the Religion , who stood vpon their guard , seeing their Prince threatned them so openly . Crispen . Est . of the Church . p. 613. see Osiand . ep. cent . 16. p. 8●8 . de Se●res p. 625. 658 &c. contemne his Edicts , and no more Against his powers (3) (3) As without further testimony , it is sufficiently knowne they haue done , by their often sending , besides other Countries , hither likewise into England . Read De Serres . forraine power implore : Hence-forth they 'l neuer , vnder fayre peten●e To shew their fayth , come (4) (4) As they did , when vnder colour of exhibiting a Confession of their faith , they came armed to the Kings Palace . Osiand . Epit. cent. 16. p. 698. armed to their Prince , Nor armed treat with him , (5) (5) As they did when they treated partly as humble seruants , partly as armed subiects , like to such who beg for almes with their swords in their hands . De Serres p. 660. like such as stand To beg an almes with threatning sword in hand . They 'l ne're contend by open force againe From him his sacred Churches (6) (6) They hauing before by many petitions required temples for the exercise of their Religion , doe now take them by force in many places , and without further approbation of their demandes they assemble at diuers times . Thus de Serres p. 588. see Pet. Mart. Epist. annex . to his comm. plac . in English p. 157. to detaine : Nor wil their Preachers , (7) (7) As Beza did in a seditious vproare at Orleans , whereat he preached with his sword and pistol , and exhorted the people to shew their manhood rather in killing the Papists then in breaking images . M. Fulk . answ. to P. Frarnes declam . p. 44. see Anton. Fagus devita Beza . p. 45. arm'd with pistols , proue 〈◊〉 them to greater treasons they may moue . Religious persons , Abbeys , Monasteries , Preists , Altars , Vestments , Relikes , Images , And whatsoeuer els , may now be free From the (8) (8) For at Meaux , transported with vndiscreet zeale , grounded vpon their numbers , they did fly to the Churches , beat downe images , and make the Prists retire . de Serres p. 593. See their like insolencies vsed in the same kind in Grenoble ( 16. p. 610. ) and els where p. 589. profane reach of impiety . Th●y'l cease . But stay ; a further clause remaines ; I had forgot my self , they 'r Puritans .

XXI . VPON CAROLOSTADIVS . AS Car'lostadius first begin's to preach , The Diuel courteously takes paines to (1) (1) Carolostadius was wont to boast ( saith Chemnitius lib. de caena . p. 214. ) that the exposition of This is my body , came to him by reuelation , but he that appeared to him , if we may belieue Luther ( tom . 3. Ien. Germ , fol. 68. ) was eyther the Diuel , or the Diuels Damme . See also Chemnitius de caena p. 214. teach , Guide and direct him ; and to make him stil Better obserue the proiects of his wil , He kindly creepes (2) (2) This miserable man was not possessed with one Diuel only . Luth. loc. com . class . 5. c. 15. p. 47. see him also tom . 3. Ien. fol. 61. & Alb. cont. Carlostadianos z. 4. p. 1. & y. 2. p. 2. where affirmeth that the Diuel possessed Carolostadius corporally . into him , (3) (3) Let no man wonder that I cal him ( Carolostadius ) Diuel ; for I haue nothing to doe with him ; I haue only relation to him , by whom he is obsest , who also speakes by him . Luth. tom . 3. Ien. fol. 61. see also colloq . mens . fol. 367. 373. and directs His tongue to al Hel's most desir'd effects . So that , when e're this Doctour silence breakes , His lips and tongue moue , but the Diuel speakes . And while he lies , expecting eu'ry hower To try the force of death's al-forcing power , The Diuel (4) (4) This last apparition of the Diuel to him , which was three dayes before his death , is affirmed by Albert. cont. Carlost . f. 1. 6. & Io. Schutz . lib. 50. caus . c. 50. see more of Carolostadius hereafter . XXXIV . 2. 3. 4. 5. visits him . Monster of men ! The Diuel left thee not til death ; nor then .

XXII . VPON BEZA , BETWIXT HIS Candida and Andebert . WHat ? is not Beza yet resolu'd ? nor yet ? Stil doth he doubt on whether part to set His spacious lustes , his lustes as hard to fil As is the gulf of his insatiate wil ? See , see , ô , how he , fearful to distast Either damnation , his loosse eyes doth cast A like on both , as if he faine would gleane Equal (2) (2) Amplector quoque sic & hunc & illam , vt totus cupiam videre vtrumque , integrisque frui integer duobus , &c. Beza his owne words vbi supra . acceptance both from Boy and Queane , Now her he courts ; then fearing least that act Displease his Ganimed , he seemes t'retract His former errour , and assures the Boy That he alone shal be is onely ioy . His iealous punke at last perceaueth this , And stormes therat ; he calmes her with a kisse : Then , to his (3) (3) Priores tibi desero Andeberte : Quòd si Candida forto conqueratur , quid tum ? basiolo tacebit vno . ib. Boy : thou sweet ( saith he ) art myne , Thou art my cheef delight . O rare Diuine ! (1) (1) Among other wanton Epigrammes which Beza writ , there is one extant of his inordinate liking to his Ganimed called Andebertus , and his woman Candida , wherin he debateth whether sinne be may preferre , and finally m●kes choice of the boy before his woman . See this in Beza's Epigrammes print . at Paris an. 1548. In so much as Schlusselberg confesseth saying , that it is euident that Beza did write most obscene verses to Germanus Andebertus , whom he chose at Orleans , and that Beza made him his Adonis . Theol. Calu. l. 1. f. 93. see more in proem . p. 4. & 92. 93. & l. 2. f. 72. & hereafter XXXIV . 20. 21. 22. 23.

XXIII . VPON REFORMERS DOCTRINE of Predestination . E'RE Rome , the words then Empresse , did embrace That sacred truth , whose path she now doth trace , Mettal and stone , (1) (1) S. Austin de Ciu. Dei ; Lipsius and many others . her owne workes , she ador'd , And help , of what requir'd her help , implor'd . The ioyful reapers of the fruits of Nile Worship't (2) (2) Strabo lib. 17. Stackius de sacrif . q. gent. Philo Iuda●● de 10. praec . Ios. cont . App. Orig. cont . Cels . l. 3. &c. a Cat , Dog , Bul and Crocodile , Ibis and Hawkes ; yea offered vp their groanes To Beetles , Aspes , Garlick , and Onyons . Snakes , Adders , Tygers , Skrich-owles , Bats , and Trees , Hearbs , Beasts , and Birds are (3) (3) Purchas his pilgrimage . l. 6 , c. 9. Congo's Deities . To the (4) (4) Ludouicus Patrich . Rom. nauig . l. 5. c. 2. Diuel Calicute doth prayer assigne , Yea to an (5) (5) Maff. hist. Ind. lib. 1. p. 24. see Loopez . Ape , Elephants , and Kine . But bolder (6) (6) Caspar Balby . Gor. Arthus hist. Ind. p. 321. Pegu doth in this excel , In sacrifice she feeds the Diuel wel , And giues him musike : spacious ( g ) Tartary (7) (7) Io. de plano Carpini . c. 2. And fayre Cathaga much deuoted be To a God of Felt , in whose conceit Earth , Fire , Sunne , W●ter , Starres , the like respect require . The (8) (8) Vertomannus lib. 6. Philippina's doe adore an Oxe Peru amount (9) (9) Acosta lib. 5. cap. 5. of sand , a (10) (10) Cieza c. 50. Cocke , and Foxe , An Emerald and (11) (11) Acosta lib. 6. c. 21. Thunder : (12) (12) Purch . Pilgrimage . lib. 8. cap. 11. Mexico Before a liuing Slaue as God doth bow ; Yea to a masse of Passe which long hath stood Tempred in Childrens and in virgins blood . The lands (13) (13) Ib. lib. 5. cap. 8. betwixt Cambaia and Malabar Th' first thing they meet , after the morning-starre Hath told the Sunn's approach , be 't Bul or Boare Or any Creature els , they low adore , Rude misshap't Stones industrious (14) (14) Maffeus hist. Ind. l. 6. China makes Her Gods , with heauen and Hel-hags wound with snakes . To a Flint (15) (15) The Estates &c. of the world , in English , p. 778. Narsinga ; th' farthest (16) (16) Ortel . theatro . Miechonius de Sarmat . Europea . lib. 2. Moschi fal To an old wiue's shape ; (17) (17) Gagninus descript . Lithuaniae . Lithuania to a Mal. And in this sottish manner diuers more , For their Creatour , creatures doe adore : Al foolishly , I grant ; yet al hope (18) (18) The Calicutians adore the Diuel , who is appointed ( say they ) by God to reward euery man according to their workes . Lodou . Patrich . Rom. nauig . l. 5. c. 2. The Virginians likewise hold that the soule is rewarded after this life according to her works . Purch . pilgrim l. 8. c. 6. the like may be also seen in the rest , whosoeuer shal peruse their histories . t' gaine Some good by this their superstitious paine ; And think , that in reward each God proceeds With euery one according to his deeds . But Protestants serue such a Tyrant God (19) (19) Let not any of the Tyrant-worshippers accuse me heer of blasphemy , for I doe not in this place speake of the God of Catholikes , Iesus Christ : for he wil ( as himself saith ) render vnto euery one according to his works . Math. 16. v. 27. Luc. 6. vers. 38. Rom. 2. Cor. 1.3 . Gal. 6. Apoc. vlt. Psal . 65. As doth ( say they ) (20) (20) The God of Reformers doth ordaine by his counsel and decree , that among men some be borne destined to certaine damnation from their mothers womb , who by their destruction may glorify him ( Caluin . Instit. l. 3. c. 23. s●ct . 6. ) & this without any respect had to their works either good or euil . M. willet . Synop. p. 554. See also for this opinion Calu. Instit. print . Argentorat . p. 253. Luther lib. de ser. arbitr . Beza respons. ad acta colloqu . Montisberg . part . 2. p. 233. 165. Pet. Mart. comm. places , part . 3. p. 12. and many more . inflict the dreadful rod Of his eternal wrath , no care once had Of any of their actions good or bad : Yea though they be the chiefe in Vertue 's schoole , They must be damn'd : Which is the greatest foole ?

XXIV . A LETTER TO A MINISTER from one of his Pupils , concerning S. Austin's Workes . SIR , Since I saw you last , though many a hil , Plaines , woods , & groues our bodies doe diuide , Your best part hath been present with me stil , Distance of place that from me nere could hide . The ghostly good derections , which by you It pleas'd the Spirit to me then impart Streight in my soule to such perfection grew As they nere shal , nor can from thence depart ; You taught me then to know Rom's scarlet-whore And other points , which then I held amisse : Wherewith emboldned , now in one thing more Your graue aduice I craue , & this it is . I doubt not but you know in what esteeme With our best Authours Austin's writings are . To some so free from errour he doth seem● As (1) (1) After the sacred Scriptures there is no Doctour in the Church who is to be compared to Austin . Luth. loc. com . class . 4. p. 45. none but Scripture may with him compare . Others doe stile him the po●f ; und'st Diuine And great'st of Fathers , since th' Apostles were . (2) (2) M. Field of the Church lib. 3. f. 170. See Luth. tom. 7. fol. 405. Others affirme he did in learning shine Farre (3) (3) D. Couel in his answer to Io. Burges . aboue al that did or wil appeare . Others (4) (4) M. Iewel in his so wel knowne publick challenge at Paules Crosse , appealed to S. Austin as a true and Orthodoxal Doctour . appeale vnto him , some him cal The Fathers (5) (5) M. Forrester Non : Tessagraph . &c. in prooem . p. 3. Monarch , one more (6) (6) Austin of al the Fathers is holden most pure in the opinion of al. Gomar . spec. verae Eccles. p. 96. free from taint Of errour then the purest of them al , And say , he doubtlesse was a (7) (7) M. Whitak . answer to F. Camp. Protestant . Yet I , perusing of his Workes , can see ( Thus much the Spirit hath giu'n me to descerne ) Nothing but rules of wicked Popery Nor ought by him but superstition learne . To instance some ; he holds the (8) (8) I would not belieue the Ghospel , vnlesse the authority of the Catholike Church moued me thereto &c. The authority of Catholikes weakned , I cannot then belieue the Ghospel . S. Austin tom. 6. cont. Ep. fundam . c. 5. Church-decrees , Which are the bookes we ought true Scripture cal . Toby , (9) (9) The whole Canon of the Scriptures , sayth S. Austin , is contained in these bookes following : and then among the rest he names these bookes . Tom. 3. de Doctr. Christ . l. 2. c. 8. vide Conc. Carth. 3. c. 47. to which S. Austin being present subscribed . with Iudith , Hester , Machabees , He , Papist-like , doth hold canonical . General (10) (10) These things which we obserue , not written but deliuered , which are kept al ouer the world , are to be vnderstood to be obserued , as decreed either by the Apostles themselues , or general Councels . Tom. 2. ep. 118. ad Ianuar. c. 1. See heerafter at . 40. Traditions are to be obseru'd , Christ's true Church (11) (11) We must hold the communion of that Church , which is named Catholike , not only of her owne , but also of her enemies ; for wil they , nil they , heretikes & schismatikes , when they speak not with their owne fellowes but with strangers , cal the Catholike Church nothing else but Catholike Church ; for they could not be vnderstood vnlesse they discerne it by this name wherewith she is called by the whole world . tom. 1. de vera relig. c. 7. only called Catholike . None must (12) (12) It is a point of most insolent madnes to dispute against that which the vniuersal Church thinketh . tom. 2. ep. 118. c. 5. gain-say her ; she is stil preseru'd From (13) (13) S. Austin answering the Donatists , who affirmed with our Reformers that the Church was perished , saith : This they say who are not in the Church , ô impudent speach ! &c. why dost thou say that the Church hath perished out of al countries ? tom. 8. in Ps. 102. con. 2. fal ; Rom's Church is (14) (14) To which Church of Rome not to giue the primacie is truely either the greatest impietie or headlong arrogancie . tom. 6. de vtil . cred. c. 17. chiefest , & the like . The holy Sacraments doe grace conferre (15) (15) From whence is that so great vertue of the water , that touching the body it washeth the hart , but the Word working it ? tom. 9. in Ioan. tract. 118. And with the (16) (16) Vnlesse the signe of the crosse be applyed either to the forehead of the belieuers , or to the water wherewith they are regenerated , or to the oyle wherewith they are annoynted , or to the Sacrifice wherewith they are nourished , none of these are rightly administred . tom. 9. in Ioan. tract. 118. Crosse's signe applyed be : He doth moreouer seriously auerre , That such are (17) (17) It may truely be said that children dying without baptisme are to be in the easyest state of damnation : Yet he deceiueth & is deceiued who teacheth that they are not to be damned . To. 7. de pecc . mer & remiss . l. 1. c. 10. & tom. 7. de anima & eius orig. l. 3. c. 9. & tom. 10. de verb. Apost. serm. 14. & tom. 2. ep. 28. ad Hieron . damn'd as vnbaptized dye . He holds the real (18) (18) S. Austin writing vpon these words of the Psalmist , He was carried in his owne hands , sayth : Christ was carried in his owne hands , when commending his owne body , he said : This is my body ; for then that his body was carried in his hands . Tom. 8. in Psal . 33. Conc. 1. and see Conc. 2. & ante exposit. Psalmi . presence , which the (19) (19) It was the body and bloud of our Lord , euen vnto them to whom the Apostle said , He that eateth vnworthily , eateth iudgement to himself . Tom. 7. de Bapt. cont. Don. l. 5. c. 8. & againe : The traitour Iudas receiued the good body of Christ . tom. 7. cont. Eulgens . Donat. c. 6. bad As wel as good receiue , and doth it cal A (20) (20) Of his body and bloud he ordained a Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech . To. 8. in Ps . 33. Conc. 2. ante exposit. Psal . See tom. 5. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 17. cap. 20. and that he held this to be also a propitiatory Sacrifice , it is confessed by Crastouius lib. 1. de opis . misse pag. 167. & Hutteru● de Sacrificio missal . pag. 525. sacrifice , whereof he euer had A care no (21) (21) With what great care doe we obserue when the body of Christ is ministred vnto vs , that nothing thereof doe fal out of our hands vpon the ground . Tom. 10. l. 50. hom. 26. See serm. ad infantes . peece vpon the ground should fal . It ought by al to be (22) (22) Because he walked heer in that flesh , and gaue vs that flesh to eate for our saluation , now none eateth that flesh , but first adoreth it . &c. we may not onely not sinne by adoring , but sinne by not adoring , &c. Tom. 1. in Ps. 98. and see in Ps. 21. conc . 1. ador'd ( saith he : ) And holds the Papists (23) (23) Let man make knowne his life to God by the Priest , let him preuent the iudgement of God by confession . Tom. 4. de vera & falsa poenitentia . c. 10. and more fully tom. 9. l. 2. de visit . infir . c. 4. now Confession ; Orders (24) (24) Both Baptisme and Order are Sacraments &c. Tom. 7. cont. epist. parmen . l. 2. c. 13. & de baptismo contra Donat. l. 1. c. 1. & tom. 6. de bono coning . c. 24. besides , a Sacrament to be He shewes , and teaches Extream-vnction . His sentence stil against our Fayth proceedes In al these so much controuerted Heads , (25) (25) Let him ( the sick ) aske of the Church holy oyle , wherewith his body may be anointed , according to the Apostle , Iames. 5. Tom. 9. de rect . cath. conuers . & tom . 10. serm. de temp. 215. & tom. 9. de visit . infir . l. 2 c. 4. Iustification , (26) (26) The grace of God &c. bringeth to the life of the second man , not only by blotting out sinnes , but also by helping not to sinne . Tom. 2. ep. 106. 105. tom. 7. de nat. & gratia . c. 26. Free-wil , (27) (27) It is in our wil to consent to God calling , or to dissent from it . Tom. 3. de spir . & lit . c. 34. & tom. 2. ep. 47. tom. 6. in act. cum Fael . Manich. l. 2. c. 4. & passim . Merit (28) (28) Are there no merits of the iust ? there are truely , because they are iust &c. as to the demerits of sinne death is giuen as wage , so to the merits of iustice , as wage , life eternal . Tom. 2. ep. 105. & 46. 47. 52. & tom . 3. Enchir. c. 1●6 . 107. & tom. 7. de nat. & gratia , &c. of deeds ; Which fayth perhaps through him now so farre spreads . In Prayr (29) (29) Let him ( S. Cyprian he meanes ) help vs with his prayers &c. that our Lord granting , we may imitate his goodnesse as much as we are able . Tom. 7. de bapt. c. Donat. l. 7. c. 1. See l. 5. c. 17. to Saints , their (30) (30) We honour their memories as of holy men of God. Tom. 5. de ciuit . Dei. l. 8. c. 27. Worship , (31) (31) I thinke it was because they had seen in many places them ( SS. Peter and Paul ) pictured together with Christ . Tom. 4. de consens . Euang. l. 1. c. 10. Images , Prayer (32) (32) It is not be doubted but that the dead are holpen by the prayers of the holy Church , &c. Tom. 10. de verb. Apost. ser. 32. c. 2. & tom. 4. de cura pro mort . c. 18. for dead , material (33) (33) Incorporal spirits may , by strange yet true meanes , be tormented with the punishment of corporal fire . de ciuit . Dei. l. 21. c. 10. fire in hel , And (34) (34) Some suffer temporal punishments only in this life , others after death , some in both . Tom: 5. de ciuit . Dei. l. 21. c. 13. and after the English translation l. 21. c. 16. p. 857. &c. 21. p. 860. &c. 24. p. 863. & l. 20. c. 25. Purgatory-paines ; he n'ere doth cease Our now-held Doctrine to his power t' refel . With our blind Papists (35) (35) There are certaine venial sinnes which are loosed dayly by our Lord's prayer &c. but others which are to death , are not so loosed , but by the fruits of pennance . Tom. 4. de vera & falsa poenitentia . c. 4. a mayne difference . 'Twixt Mortal sinnes and Venial vnfolds : A (36) (36) If he shal marry after the vow , which he hath promised to God , he shal be condemned &c. If a Nunne shal marry , she shal be reputed to haue committed adultery against Christ . Tom. 8. in Ps. 83. vowed Chastity , Fastes , (37) (37) Not to keep ( the fast of Lent ) at al , is sacriledge , & in part to break it , is sinne . Tom. 10. de temp. serm. 77. ser. 62. and tom. 2. ep. 86. ad Casul . Abstinence (38) (38) Catholikes doe abstaine not only from flesh , but also from certaine fruits of the earth : not that they thinke them vncleane &c. and almost al in Lent obserue this abstinence . Tom. 6. cont. Manich. l. 30. c. 5. See tom. 1. de morib . eccles. c. 31. From certaine meates on certaine days he holds . In brief what holds (39) (39) For the other Catholike points which he holdes , see the treatise of S. Austins religion throughout ; where you shal find both them & this which I haue already set downe al for the most part acknowledged to haue been S. Austins doctrine by the learned Protestants themselues . he not ? scarce doe I know One part of him from superstition free ; His doctrine to approue , his rules t' allow Were (40) (40) M. Cartwright answering to S. Austins opinion about traditions , saith : To allow S. Austins saying , is to bring in Popery againe . M. Whitg . def. p. 103. to reduce expulsed Popery . Which makes me wonder , why we say , that he The (41) (41) Caluin granteth that Austin only is sufficient to shew the iudgement of the ancient Church . l. 3. Inst. c. 3. sect. 10. iudgement of the ancient Church doth shew ; For grant but that , and since we disagree From him , our Doctrine must of force be new . Faine would I know , how best I might defend Our faith , if any Papist should obiect And aske : why , since his writings we commend . We their authority as weake reiect . So hoping to receiue ere long your best And soundest counsel in this case , I rest .

XXV . The Minister's Answer to the former letter . DEarely beloued , I haue read your lines , Wherein aboue the common course of youth As in a spotlesse mirrour clearly shines A perfect zeale to search & find the truth . Now as concerning briefely your demand , (1) (1) What is Augustine ? who wil compel vs to belieue him ? by what authority is his word an article of faith ? Luth. contra Regem Angliae . Of Hippo's Austins so much vrged fayth : Why 's al he writes pure Ghospel ? what command Haue we to credit whatsoe're he sayth ? (2) (2) See next before XXIV . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. I but , say you , some doe him much commend , And vnto him as a sure ground appeale . I answer , such appeales (3) (3) He granted ouer-much and yealded more then of right vnto you ( Catholikes ) and iniured himself ouer-much &c. and in a manner spoiled himself and the Church &c. What haue we to doe with the Fathers , with flesh or bloud ? D. Humfr. de vita Iewelli . p. 212. too farre extend , They hurt themselues and the true Churche's weale . They giue too great a scope , themselues they shew Too much obsequious to Rom's Popish brood , Their cause they iniurie : what haue we to doe With man's inuentions now , with flesh or bloud ? For though some praise him , some there also are , Perhaps as zealous of the Word as they , Who wil not doubt , before they doe impare The grounds of truth , his errours to display . Be there not many of our learnd'st Diuines Who in some places of his workes suspect His (4) (4) S. Augustin tom. 5. de ciuit . Dei. c. 8. is to be suspected , for he speakes there of miracles done in Africk &c. whereas himself Tom. 2. ep. 137. saith that in Africk there were not any miracles wrought in any place . M. Moulin def. of the cath. faith Englished , art. 17. p. 323. sincere dealing , & by diuers signes His (5) (5) Austin wanteth the testimony of Scripture , neither agreeth he with himself , he contradictes himself &c. Hosp . hist. sacr. part . 1. Indice 3. Patrum at the word Augustinus see also Tossanus Syn. de Patr. p. 34. Hutt de Sacrificio Missal l. 2. c. 7. Muscul . loc. comm. de Decal . p. 39. contradicting of himself detect ? One you shal find his reasons (6) (6) I cannot allow S. Austins reason which he makes &c. Cartwr . in Whitg . def. p. 619. disallowes , Another markes his grosse absurdity , (7) (7) Austin in his booke of holy virginity belieues that B Marie vowed virginity &c. which al easily know how absurd it is . Pet. Mart. de Euchar. & vetis , col . 1609. see M. Whitg . def. p. 516. Another his (8) (8) So Austin & some Fathers thought , but without ground . &c. Dan. resp. ad tom . 2. Bellar. p. 281. vngrounded speaches shewes And some his furthring of Idolatry . (9) (9) M. Brightman hauing named among other Fathers S. Austine , saith that they were in words condemning Idolatry , but in deeds establishing it , by inuocation of SS. worshiping of Relikes , and such other like wicked superstitious , in Apoc. in c. 14. p. 382. Nor want there some who dare affirme , he erres (10) (10) Not onely Austin but other fathers also erred in the vowed Chastitie by mutual consent ( euen ) of married persons . Hosp . de orig. Monach. f. 102. item Beza in resp. ad acta coll. Monteth●● . part . 2. p. 143. And is (11) (11) Ambrose and Augustine were both of them corrupt in lent-fast . 2. reply part. 1. p. 83. corrupt , & (12) (12) Neither is that quirck of Austin to be approued &c. Caluin . l. 4. Instit. c. 15. sect. 7. vseth quircks ; & some Anouch that to belieue what he auerres , Were (13) (13) See next before in the former letter XIIII . 40. to set vp the faith againe of Rome . What should I say ? how many doe (14) (14) Although thou , Austin , affirmest that the Church al ouer the world obserueth this &c. yet I wil bring the contrary against thee . Hamelin de Apost. trad . part . 3. col. 815 oppose Against him , his authoritie (15) (15) The authority heer of Austin ( about material fire in hel ) is knowne . Danaeus resp. ad Bellarm. disput. part . alt. ad 6. controuer . p. 1337. despise , And doubt not on him this foule taint t' impose , That leauing Scripture he doth (16) (16) Austin did this without Scripture , yealding to the time and custome . Chemn . exam. part. 3. p. 211. temporize ? Nay more then that , some wil not stick to say , His words (17) (17) These things brought out of Austin doe not agree with the sacred Scriptures . Pet. Mart. de Euchar. & vo● . col . 1608. 1609. repugnant to the Scripture be , And on his back the imputations lay Of (18) (18) It was spoken inconsiderately by Austin . Musc. loc. comm. p. 266. rashnes , boldnes , (19) (19) Heer I entreat your indifferent iudgements that you freely speake , whether this saying of Augustin may not be thought more audacious then meet , or to haue been vttered imprudently . Zuinglius tom. 1. f. 135 and imprudencie . The sower , (20) (20) It is manifest that S. Austin did either sow the seeds of no smal errours , or else encrease and confirme them being sowed by others . Theod. Schnepf . lib. de Euchar. or increaser some him cal Of seeds not grateful in the Almighty●'s sight ; Some stile him (21) (21) S. Austin , among other Fathers , is called a doating fellow , a block-head , destitute of the Spirit of God , and therefore vnworthy to be credited , by Bartholom . Causaeus Clyp . fider gallit . impr . Geneuae , dial . 11. foole and dolt , and not at al Inspired with the Lord 's al-guiding Sp'rit . If so , why should we on his words relye To find that truth which only Scriptures shew ? No , let vs this pernicious (22) (22) Some are now come to that , that they fil al things with the Fathers authorities , which I would to God they had as happily effected , as they hopefully attempted &c. Surely I hold this to be a most pernicious custome and to be by al means shunned , &c. Iac. Aconc . in Stratag . Satanae , l. 6. p. 296. custome flye If e're we meane th' vndoubted truth to know . Nor would I haue you from this man alone But from al other Fathers to refraine , For 'mongst them al scarce can you find me one But doth maine (23) (23) Almost al the Bishops and learned Writers of the Greek Church & Latin also , for the most part were spotted with doctrines of free-wil , of merit , of inuocation of Saints , and such like , &c. Whitg . def. p. 472. 473. points of Papistry maintayne . So that as long as we on them insist (24) (24) So long as we doe insist vpon Councels and Fathers we shal be alwayes conuersant in the same errours . Pet. Mart. de Votes . p. 476. Stil in the self-same errours shal we stay : God's onely Word can onely chase this mist , No Sunne but that , that onely shewes the way . Now to your last demand ; make answer stil Your faith 's not tyed vnto each man's tongue ; T' Austin y' are ready to resigne your wil , As long as he doth to the Word no wrong . Say thus and they are mute : be not intic't To leaue this n'ere-forc't hold : farewel in Christ . (25) (25) Lay aside al such weapons as the ancient orthodoxal Fathers , Scholes of Diuines , authority of Councels and Popes , the consent of so many Ages & of al Christian people doth afford ; we receaue nothing but Scriptures ; but so , that we alone may haue the approued authority of interpreting them &c. Luther l. de seru. arbitr . contra Erasm . edit . prima .

XXVI . A REPLIE TO THE precedent letter . YOurs I haue read , and since you cannot giue Better solutions to my doubts , I grieu● To haue so long insisted on the path Of your so much esteem'd , so empty Fayth . For , if (1) (1) We doe not depend ( say many ) on the Fathers , but on the words of God , &c. But I wonder whether these men euer read ouer the writings of those Fathers , whom they railingly condemne for Sophistes . For if they haue read them , with what face dare they oppose them to the word of God , whom it is euident to haue only relied vpon God's word ? but if they haue not read them at al , or but negligently read them , what a shame is it , that the schollers should become their Master's iudges , yea and that before they heare them ? Thus farre Beza in lib. Epist. theolog . Epist. 81. ( as Beza did himself reply To such as did the same with you deny ) Austin and other Fathers did maintaine Those points for true , which you reiect as vaine ; Why , as if you alone could neuer erre , should you your iudgement before their's preferre , And neuer cease their writings to oppose Against the Scriptures , since they euery clause , No lesse then you , but with a more profound And deeper sight , did on the Scripture ground ? The question therefore , as I thought before , Is not heer whether we should credit more God's word or them , each child can that decide , But whether now men's iudgements should be tyde To what you hold the Word 's true sense to be , Or that whereon they iointly al agree . Heer lyes the doubt : when you doe them excel In this , I 'l then returne ; til then farewel .

XXVII . Vpon Peter Martyr . WHen pale (1) (1) Simlerus in the life of Peter Martyr ( saith Schlusselberg ) affirmes that he dyed in the Sacramentary heresy , and said to Bullenger and others a little before his death , That he would not be in Brentius heauen , for that was no-where . Therefore , ô Martyr , thou must stay in Zuinglius heauen , with Hercules and Socrates , ( to wit ) in hel ; where thou , ô Martyr , shalt be the diuel 's euerlasting Martyr . Theolo . Calu. lib. 2. act. 1. death summond Martyr to appeare Before th' Eternal's dread tribunal-chaire , In (2) (2) Brentius heauen is of that nature , that ( to vse his owne words ) not only holy men , but Sathan and his Angels are to be found therein . Brent . lib. de Maiest . Christi p. 160. see more of Brentius heauen in Hospin . hist. Sacram. part . alt. fol. 308. 321. 322. Brentius heauen he vow'd he would not come , He long before renounc't the heauen of Rome . In (3) (3) See before IX . ● . Zuinglius heauen sure he then would stay , With Theseus , Numa , Scipio &c. where are they ?

XXVIII . ON OECOLAMPADIVS . OEcolampadius stil in outward shew Vow'd himself confident that al was true He either preach't or writ : but in his hart He (1) (1) Ioannes Cellarius , who by reason of this doubtfulnes of Oecolampadius forsooke the Sacramentaryes , heard him pray thus in his Chamber : O Lord God , if my cause be not true , doe not aduance it , I beseech thee . See Colloq . mens . Germ. fol. 356. see also Iohn . schutz . lib. ger . 50. causar . caus . 15. H. 2. doubted stil of some and no smal part . Which priuate doubt ( although he did pretend Outward assurance ) (2) (2) Nicolaus Selneuerus , who witnesseth this his doubtfulnesse of the truth of his doctrine to haue remayned with him euen til his death , writes that he sayd thus in his sicknesse : O Lord Iesus Christ , reueale to me I beseech thee the truth , whether I haue hitherto spoken and written rightly of thy supper , or no ; which shewes ( sayth Selneuerus ) that hitherto he hath built vpon the sand . Seln . part . c. Enarat . Ger. in psal. fol. 215. lasted til his end ; I meane til Sathan , for his goodly merits , Vouchsaf't to (3) (3) I am fully persuaded ( saith Luther ) that Emser and Oecolampadius , and such like were Suddainly slaine by those horrible blowes & shaking of the Diuel . Luth. tom. 7. fol. 2●0 . quit him of his vital spirits . Shame not hereat ; Luther thy ancient freind Wil tel thee , 't was an (4) (4) I had rather be slaine by the diuel , sayth Luther , then by Caesar : for so I should be slaine by a great Lord. Luth. colloq . mens . Serm. fol. 259 , honorable end .

XXIX . Vpon the familiarity of Luther , Carolostadius , Zuinglius , Caluin , Beza , & others with the Diuel . SOme Protestants , as they themselues rehearse , Haue with the Diuel oft had great commerce . Luther with Diuels oft did (1) (1) See herafter XXXIII 20. lye and (2) (2) Ib. and of his further familiarity with him , See VI. 2. and IX . 2. and XXXIII . 21. 22. 23. 24. walke ; With Diuels (3) (3) See before ; XXI . throughout . Car'lostadius oft did talke ; Zuinglius (4) (4) Before in IX . 1. receaued from the Diuel this fa th ; Caluin on Diuels (5) (5) Herafter in XXXIX . 2. called at his death ; Beza's preferr'd to be the Diuels (6) (6) Schlusselberg affirmeth of Beza his Creophagia , that without doubt he writ it against the Testament of the Sonne of God , while the Diuel did dictate it vnto him . Theolo . Calu. lib. 2. art. 1. scribe ; And some are ful (7) (7) Luther sayth ( say the Tigurine Diuines ) that the Diuel dwelleth both now and euer in the Zuinglians , and that they haue a blasphemous breast , in-Sathanized , super-Sathanized , and per-Sathanized , and that they haue besid's a most vaine mouth , ouer which Sathan beareth rule , being infused , perfused , and transfused into the same . Tigur . tract. 3. cont. suprem . Luth. confess . p. 61. See also heerafter XLII . 32. of Diuels . A Diu'lish Tribe ?

XXX . REFORMERS IVBILIE . AL you who hate the idle smoake Of Romes good-workes , and scorne her yoake ; You proud disturbers of al peace , You Tyrants , you who neuer cease Of your oppressed subiects stil T' exact for law your lawlesse wil. You who with traytrous armes withstand You lawful Sou'raign's iust command , And to molest and vexe the King Pretend the State 's reordering . You wanton wits , you who profane The Sabaoth's rest with seruile gaine , You who attempt by magick spel To your behests to summon hel : You cut-throat Theeues , you Vsurers , You Forgers , you Extortioners , You disobedient children , you Who in man's bloud your hands embrew : You Leacher , Pandar , Bawd and Whore , You who afflict and starue the poore : You froward wretches , you false teachers , You brib'd Iudges , you Truce-breakers : You who murd'red haue your brother , Stab'd your father , kil'd your mother : You Drunkards , Gluttons , Sycophants , You impious scoffers at the Saints , You guileful gamesters , you who be Iustly condemn'd of Simony : You false Informers , you who stil I' vnmeasur'd pride direct you wil : You who sucke after other's bloud , You who enuy your neighbour's good , You Cursers , you who stil afford A bloudy oath to eu'ry word , And you by whom are dayly sold Lawes , iustice right , and al for gold , Lands in lust and riot lauish't , Wiues defiled , Virgins rauish't , The lawful Rulers had in scorne , Vice ouerpriz'd , false-witnes borne , Seruants wronged , Masters cheated , Tales to others hurt repeated , Churches rob'd , the weake opprest , Widowes , Orphanes , al distrest . And finally , al you , whose crimes Exceed the measure of our tymes , Cheere vp your selues , my noble Geux , And lend your eares ; I bring you newes Of a more easy Iubilie Then euer did the Roman See Bestow on hers . For when as shee Presumes to set her Papists free From their offences , first of al They straight forsooth to mind must cal Their forepast sinnes , and then stirre vp Themselues to sorrow ( ô this cup Hath no good rellish : ) then againe Al this their labour 's spent in vaine Vnlesse they meane with al their might T' amend their liues ; I , ther 's the spight . Nor wil this serue , but they must goe , And to a Priest al humbly show . Besids , they must both watch and pray , The world's loosse pleasures cast away , And if their sinnes be greater then The lighter faults of other men , They must be penanc't , and for that Giue almes , fast , and I know not what . Al which I 'm sure , if that you be Luther's ttue off-spring , you wil see To be but deeds , which may by (1) (1) See this before ; XI . 29. dogs As wel be compass'd , or by hogs . But you my Roaring desp'rate , Boyes , Are freed from al these tedious toyes . The great and gen'ral Pardon , which I now proclaime is nothing such . O no ; you may stil murder , sweare , Steale , cheat , and stil fals-witnes beare , You need not leaue your drunken feasts , You stil may vse maids , boyes , yea beasts , Stil enuy others , stil be proud , Take vsse by God nor man allow'd , Be mad through rage , vse wanton diet Apply yourselues to slouth or riot , Curse , damne , and haue your magick spels , Your punke , or whatsoeuer els : And yet as soone or sooner winne This gen'ral pardon for each sinne , Then if you left them : for you know Our Luther doth most plainly shew , That (2) (2) By how much thou art more wicked , by so much art thou neerer to grace . Luth. Serm. de piscat : Pet. th' more we doe ourselues deface With sinnes , we neerer are to grace . This Iewel now , this precious gemme This costly pearle , this golden streame Of heauenly grace ( because I know You wish to haue me shew 't , & so Your thirsty hopes at last relieue ) Is this , and only this , (3) (3) See before XI . 26. 27. and 25. and besides you may find this doctrine of onely fayth maintained by Zuingl . tom. 1. f. 204. Calu. in Rom. c. 10. v. 17. Lib. Concord . c. 3. de Iustif . fidei . p. 691. &c. 4. in epit . art . p. 589. 590. Auth. Respons. ad thes. Valent. p. 928. 958. Paraeus . l. 4. de Iustif . c. 2. Danaeus controuers . de bapt. c. 17. pag. 396. Perkins in 3. Galat. col. 157. tom . 2. Beza in sum . rei Sacram. p. 207. M. Whitak . de Eccles. cont . Bellarm. controuer . 2. q. 5. & generally by al Protestants . BELIEVE

XXXI . On Andraeas Musculus . MVsculus held that Christs diuinity Vpon the Crosse did with his body (1) (1) Andraeas Musculus was not afrayd openly to teach that the Diuine nature of Christ , which is God , died vpon the Crosse with his humane &c. neither did he desist &c. publikly to professe and spread abroad this Doctrine of the death of Christs Diuinity , and that by the help of Ioannes Islebius . Thus farre Syluest. Czecanorius dial . de corrup . mor. art. 3. fol. 5. and see Anar . Musculus & Isleb . in refut. Simleri . dye : And in his profane bookes plaine grounds did lay To make the Ghospel (2) (2) It is manifest ( sayth Simlerus ) forth of the writings of Brentius , Myricus , and Andr. Musculus , that they make nothing of the Ascension but a vanishing away and disappearing , &c. what is this but to make a way for Mahomet , &c. So he in vita Bulling . fol. 55. giue the Alcoran way ; Al which he euer did , no lesse then sound And orthodoxal points , on Scriptures ground . How wel his Name his inclination shewes ! Who 't feed such Monsters , chatters , teares , & gnawes With such fond glosses , as himself thinkes fit , The sacred volumes of th' Eternal's Writ : For Musculus to al imports the same That little mouse in English : hence thy name Thou takest Musculus . Take heed , and watch Th' infernal Cat ; she hath a diu'li●h scratch .

XXXII . Looke beyond Luther . LOoke beyond Luther , what espy you there ? I find the Fathers then possessed were With the now censur'd doctrines of (1) (1) The errour of Freewil flourished euer since the Apostles times in a manner euery where , til Martin Luther tooke the sword in hand against it . Discouer . of cont . in D. Bancrests ser p. 25. see Centur. cent. 2. col. 58. 59. cent. 4. col. 291. Hamel . de tradit . Apost. l. 2. col. 9● . Calu. Caluin . Iust. l. 2. c. 2. sect. 4. Free-wil Merit (2) (2) See before XXV . 23. see in D. Couels exam. p. 120. & Inst. l. 3. c. 15. sect. 2. of workes , (3) (3) I can not altogeather excuse the ancient Fathers in this respect , but that they layd some seeds of superstition &c. the obseruation of superstitious Lent was then euery-where in force . Calu. Inst. l. 4. c. 12. sect. 19. 30. the Centurists also charge the Fathers of the 4. Age with superstitious fasting vpon Wensday & Friday . Cent. 4. col. 440. Fastes , (4) (4) S. Cyprian is reprehended by D. Humfrey , S. Hierome by Luther and Caluin , and S. Austin by Melancthon , for holding that the commandemens are not imposble . D. Humfrey I●suit . part. 2 p. 540. Luth. tom. 2 f. 26. Calu. Inst. lib. 2. c. 7 sect. 5. Melancth. l. 1. ep. p. 290. Power to fulfil Gods sacred Precepts , (5) (5) The Fathers did allow vowes of perpetual C●astity , affirming them to be obligatory . Chemn . exam. part. 3 p. 1. Calu. Inst. l. 4 c. 13. sect. 17. Wottons def. of Park . p. 491. Vowes of Chastity , S. Peter's (6) (6) Many of the ancient Fathers were deceaued to thinke somthing more of Peters prerogatiue , and the B. of Rom's dignity then by the word of God , was giuen to either of them . Fulk . confut . of pap . quar. p. 4. Calu. Inst. l. 4. c. 6 & Fulk . retent . p. 284. and the Pope his Primacy The (7) (7) The ancient Fathers , and chiefly Hilary and Cyril , w●nt further herein then was fitting . Calu. l. epist. ep. 208. see sundry of the Fathers blamed in particular for our doctrine by D. Humfr. Iesuit . part. 2. p. 626. Cent. cent. 5. col 985. 295. Ad Francis . Margar. theol . p. 256. Anton de Ad. Anat. of Masse , p. 236. 221. &c. Real presence , (8) (8) In mingling water with wine a necessity and great mystery was placed , as may appeare both by Iustin Martyr and Cyprian . Whitg . def. p. 525. see M. Iewels reply p. ●●4 . Water mixt with wine The Eucharist (9) (9) Caluin granteth the reseruation of the Sacrament to be the example of the ancient Church . l. 4. Inst. c. 17. sect. 39. Pet. Mart. cont. Gardin . obiect . 88. Chemn . exam. part. 2. p. 102. Fulk . ag . Hesk. Sand. p. 77. reseru'd and yet diuine , I meane stil Real , (10) (10) The Fathers should not with so much liberty haue seemed here and there to haue abused the name Altar . Pet. Mart. comm. pl. part . 4. p. 225. Cartwr . 2. Reply . part . vlt. p. 264. & see part. 1. p. 517. Altars , (11) (11) They forged a sacrifice in the Lords supper without his commandment , and so adulterated the supper with adding of sacrifice . Cal. in omnes Pauli epist. in Hebr. c. 7. v. 9. see Inst. lib. 4. c. 18. sect. 1. & tract . theol . p. 389. & Fulk . reioined . to Brist . reply . p. 28. D. Field of the Church l. 3. p. 107 see also the Fathers charged euen with propitiatory sacrifice by Crastou . de opif. Misse p. 167. Sacrifice , That Sacraments (12) (12) It was a great errour of the old Doctours in that they supposed the external water of Baptisme to be of any value towards the purging of sinne . Zuing. Tom. 2. de Bapt. f 70. see Centur. cent. 2. col. 47. cent. 3. col . 82. Muscul . loc. comm. p. 299. giue grace , the Church (12) (12) It was a great errour of the old Doctours in that they supposed the external water of Baptisme to be of any value towards the purging of sinne . Zuing. Tom. 2. de Bapt. f 70. see Centur. cent. 2. col. 47. cent. 3. col . 82. Muscul . loc. comm. p. 299. comprize Both good and bad , (13) (13) We confesse in the Catholike Church both the good to be and the euil , but so as corne and chaffe . Aug. tract. 6 in Ioan. & l. 3. c. 2. 9. 12. 18. cont. Petil. & Donat. post collat. c. 4. 6. Cypr. l. 4. ep. 1. Fulgent . lib. de Fide ad Petr. c. 43. Hieron . dial . cont . Lucif . &c. with (14) (14) Not Cyprian only but almost al the most holy Fathers of that time , thought by their external discipline of life to pay the paines due for sinnes , and to satisfy Gods Iustice . Whitak . cont . Camp. rat . 5. Calu. l. 1. Inst. c. 4. sect. 38. Cent. cent. 4. col. 294. 231. see Calu. againe l. 4. Inst. c. 12. sect. 8. & l. 3 c. 4. sect. 38. Satisfaction , (15) (15) Tertullian doth greatly vrge confession , and it appeareth by certaine places of s. Cyprian that priuate confession was vsual , wherin they confessed their sinnes and euen wicked thoughts . Centur. cent. 3. col. 127. & cent. 4. col. 425. Confession , (16) (16) I am not ignorant how ancient the vse of Chrisme is . Calu. l. 4. Inst. c. 17. sect. 43. and the ministers of Lincolne diocesse charge Tertull. Cypr. Amb. with errour of vsing the Crosse in confirming those that were baptized . Abridg. p. 42. Confer . Hampt . Court. p. 10. Downh . def. l. 4. p. 23. Cent. 4. coll. 478. Buc. script . Angl. p. 570. Chemn . exam. part. 2. p. 58. 64. 65. Chrisme or Confirmation : That we may pray to Saints , (17) (17) I confesse that Ambrose , Austin , and Hierome held inuocation of Saints to be lawful . Fulk . reioynd . p. 5. see him ag . the Rhem. Testam . 2. Petr. c. 1. sect. 3. and Chemnitius exam. part. 3. p. 211. 200. see before at 2. yea and assigne Vnto themselues , their (18) (18) Paulinus , Lactantius , S. Bede , S. Leo , & S. Gregory are condemned for worshipping of images by Fulk . ag . Hesk. Sand. p. 672. 675. Centur. cent. 4. col. 1080. cent. 8. col 850. Simons reuelat . p. 57. Bal's pag. of Popes p. 24. 27 33. Images , and (19) (19) From translations were presently made circumgestations of relikes , as is to be seen in Hierome , S. Austin &c. they made pilgrimages to the places where they hard there were relikes famous for miracles , &c. Chemn . exam. part. 4. p. 10. Centur. cent. 4. col. 456. 457. shrine Religious worship , that the (20) (20) Da●aeus auerreth that S. Cyril and sundry other Fathers were plainly superstitious & blinded with this enchantment of the Crosse's adoration . 1. part . alt. parte . ad . Bellarm. 5. contr. resp. p. 1415. see M. Fulk ag . Hesk. &c. p. 657. Parkins problem . p. 8● . Centur. cent. 4. col. 302. 459. cent. 3. col 121. 240. Crosse may be Honour'd , with (21) (21) This corruprion ( of praying for the dead ) was general in the Church long before the dayes of Austin &c. it was the practize of the Church in general , and the corruption so ancient , that Tertullian sayth it was obserued by Tradition from the Apostles &c. the doctrine of Purgatory was crept in also . M. Gifford demonstr . ag . Brownists , p. 38. Fulk . confut . of purgat . p. 313 320. 326. 161. 194. 78. & in his retent . ag . Brist . p. 106. Calu. l. 3 Inst. c. 5. sect. 10. see M. Cartwr . 2. reply . part. 1. p. 619. Prayer for dead and Purgatory , With (22) (22) Al the Fathers with one consent doe affirme , that Christ deliuered the soules of the Patriarchs and Prophets out of hel at his comming thither , & so spoiled Sathan of those that were then in his present possession . M. Iacob in M. Bilsons ful redempt . p. 188. 189. & in his suruay of Christs suffer . p. 6●6 . D. Barlow def. ●f . art. of . Protest . p. 173. D. whitak . cont . Duraeum . l. 8. p. 567. Limbus Patrum , and that (23) (23) The Centurists speaking of most ancient Fathers say , that it seemeth that for the most part this chiefest article of iustification was obscured , for they attributed to workes iustice before God. Cent. 3. coll. 79. see also col. 78. 265. 266. & cent. 4. col. 292. 293. cent. 5. col. 1178. Bulling . on the Apoc ser. 87. fol. 270. see also M. Whitak . resp. ad 5. rat . Camp. Faith alone Produceth not Iustification . But these are Papists Heads : what ? then behind Your famous Luther can we nothing find Which you may challenge and securely vant To be the true badge of a Protestant ? Yes ; at his heeles , scortcht in lasciuious fyer , Lies the cast habit of a periur'd Frier .

XXXIII . Looke vpon Luther . LOoke vpon Luther , what is he ? a man Confessedly attended with a traine Of (1) (1) Luther , as he excels in rare vertues , so is he infected with many vices &c. I would he had been more careful in correcting his vices . Caluin alleaged by Schluss . Theol. Calu. l. 2. fol. 126. many vices ; one that beares a sense By much too deep of his (2) (2) Luther cal's himself a more excellent Doctour , then al those that a●e in the Papacy : with many more such like Thrasonical brags , in a certaine epistle which he writ ad Anonymum . Tom. 5. Ien. & 9. See tom . 3. Ien. p. 330. See before XI . 47. 48. & next hereafter at 3. self-excellence , The (3) (3) God for the sinne of Pride , wherewith Luther exalted himself , tooke away his true Spirit . Conr. Rheg . l. germ . cont . Io. Hess . de caena Domin . See him further accused of pride & arrogancy by his owne learned Brethren Oecolamp . resp. ad consess . Luth. by Sym. Lythus resp. ad alt. I. Gretz . Apol. p. 333. by Zuingl . resp. ad confess . Luth. by Naogeorg . in Schluss . Theol. Calu. l. 2. fol. 131. by Conr. Gesn . in vniuers . Biblioth. de Luth. by the Tigur . Diuines resp . ad lib. Luth. cont. Zuinglium &c. in so much that the same is acknowledged by himself to be the worlds opinion of him , in his loc. com . class. 4. fol. 35. pride of his ambitious mind is such , Yea so vnmeasur'd , as 't can brook (4) (4) See hereafter ad 13. no touch . Among his heads of saith , some doe appeare Deceitful , (5) (5) We haue found in the faith and confession of Luth. 12. articles , whereof some are more vaine then is fitting , some lesse faithfully and ouer-guilefully expounded , others againe are false and reprobate , but some there are which plainly dissent from the word of God and the articles of Christian faith . Oecolamp . resp. ad Luth. confess . See Zuinck feld praef. Super praecip . fidei artic. & Hospin . hist. sacr. pare . 2. f. 5. and see heretofore at XI . throughout . others vaine , some not sincere , Some false , some reprobate , which with the light Both of Gods word , and Christian faith doe fight ; Where he presumes the Scriptures to expound , His errours and (6) (6) Thou , ô Luther , art seen by al men to be a manifest and publike corrupter and adulterer of holy Scripture , which thou canst neuer denie before any creature . Zuing. Tom. 2. fol. 413. See more fol. 374. 475. 377. 412. corruptions oft are found Like to the (7) (7) Thou ( ô Luther ) corrupt'st & adulterat'st the word of God &c. imitating therin the Marcionites & Arianes Zuingl . ib. f. 412. See also f. 400. 401. 407. 411. Arians , and Marcionites To be both plaine & (8) (8) In translating and expounding of Scripture his errours are manifest and many . Buterus dial . com . Melancthon . many : when he writes Like to a scoffing cheater he doth (9) (9) Whereas Luther affirmes now this , now that , of one and the same thing , nor is euer at one with himself , doubtlesse he supposeth that it is lawful to vse that inconstancy and lightnes in the word of God , which impudent Scoffers are accustomed to vse in playing at dice. Zuing. Tom. 2. f. 458. bring Now this , now that , forth of the self-same thing , Ne're with himself (10) (10) Hospinian in the Alphabetical table of the 2. part of his Sacramentary history vnder the word Lutherus , chargeth Luther with great inconstancy in Doctrine saying : Luther his inconstancy in doctrine 4. 6. the causes of his errours and inconstancy in doctrine , 5. his first opinion of the Supper . 5. 6. his second 7. 6. his third. 8. his fourth . 12. his fift ibidem , with much more to the same purpose in that table , which for breuity I omit . at one : and when he (11) (11) Luther , when he hath once conceaued an opinion endeauours obstinately and eagerly to pursue and susteine it : neither doth he vse much to care what he say of any matter , though he be found to contradict either himself , or the oracles of Gods word . Zuingl . Tom. 2. resp. ad confess . Luth. See this Schlusselb . Theol. Calu. l. 2 fol. 122. gets Once an opinion , instantly he sets Others at naught ; that now to hold he 'l try , Though from himself or scripture he doe fly . Yea , (12) (12) I did know the eleuation of the Sacrament to be Idolatrical , yet neuerthelesse I did retaine it in the Church at Wittemberg , to the end I might despight the diuel Carolostadius . Luther parua Confess . See him also tom . 3. Germ. fol. 55. & col . mens . Germ. f. 210. See this condemned in him by his owne brother Amand. Polonus . in Syllogeth . Theol. p. 464. and the like examples alleadged by Hosp . hist. Sacr. part . 2. f. 8. 13. & 14. 's spight his soe , when he the truth hath mist , Against his conscience he wil stil persist : And yet this man doth stil himself preferre , And (13) (13) Luther presently sends al to the Diuel that wil not forthwith subscribe to his opinion . Tigur . conf. Orthod. 122. 123. Luther cannot endure any but such as agree with him in al things , ( saith Gesnerus ) and Bucer saith that he wil not suffer himself to be contradicted by any G●sn in vniuers● Biblioth. de Luth. and Mart. Bucer dial . cont . Melancthon . damnes al those , who with him wil not erre , Besides , he is , as sure as God is God , (24) (24) As sure as God is God , so sure and Diu'lish a lyer is Luther . Io. Campanus colloq . latin . Luth. Tom. 2. c. de aduers . fol. 354. A Diu'lish lyer ; yea and almost mad Through rage (15) (15) See before . v. 5. 6. 4. of lust : he is as liberal Of his aire (16) (16) Luther at the very first powreth forth al his curses . See Tigur . confess . Orthod. s . 122. 123. See himself also , Tom. 7. Witt. fol. 382. and here before at 13. execrations vnto al , As frantick men of stones ; and stil affoards Such stormes of (17) (17) Many of Luthers writings containe nothing but rayling and reproaches , in so much ( sa● they a little before ) as it maketh the Protestant religion suspected and hated . Tigur . vbi supra . See also Theol. Casimir . adm. de lib. Concord . Berg. c. 6. railing & inuectiue words . 'Gainst priuate (18) (18) Of his immoderate railing against priuate men see al his writings against the Sacramentaries : and in particular here before at XXIX . 7. men , and Kings (19) (19) He calleth Henry the Eight more furious then madnes it-self , more doltish then folly it-self , indued with an impudent & whorish face ; without any one veyne of princely bloud in his body , a lying Sophist , a damnable rotten worme , a basilisk , and progeny of an Adder , and lying Scurril , couered with the title of a King ; a clownish wit , a doltish head , most wicked , foolish , & impudent Harry : And further he saith that he doth not only lye like a most vaine Scurre , but passeth a most wicked knaue . Thou lyest in thy throat foolish and Sacrilegious King. Lut. tom . 2. f. 333. 334. 335. 338. 340. and of his like insolent railing no lesse against other Princes , and namely against the Duke of Brunswick , see his booke called Wider hanse woorst written in particular against him : and of his railing against the Arch-Bishop of Mentz , Prince Electour see him tom . 3. Germ. fol. 533. 339. 360. in colloq . mens . fol. 342. 343. and against the Princes of Germany see him tom . 2. Gem. f. 190. 200. & tom. 3. f. 195. as one would sweare Th' (20) (20) How merueilously doth Luther bewray himself with his Diuels ? What filthy wordes doth he vse , & such as are replenished with al the Diuels in hel . Tigur . tract. 3. cont. supra Luther . Confessio . Infernal furies in his speaches were . He (21) (21) I haue eaten ( saith Luther ) a heap or two of salt with the Diuel : I know the Diuel wel and he againe knowes me . Lut. conc . de turb . Sedand . Sathan knowes , and Sathan him againe , They are of long acquaintance ; through his (22) (22) He confesseth of himself that the Diuel sometimes passeth through his braine so that he can neither write nor read . tom . 3. Ien. Germ. f. 485. braine He sometime runnes while as he reades or writes , Sleepes with him (23) (23) The Diuel doth more frequently sleep with me and more neer me then my Catharine . Luth. colloq . mens . Germ. f. 281. neerer then his Kate a-nights . He hath a Diuel (24) (24) He confesseth that in his bed-chamber he many times walketh with the Diuel ; and further , that he hath one or two wonderful Diuels , by which he is diligently and carefully serued : and them he esteemes to be not vulgar Diues , but great ones ; yea Doctours of diuinity ( saith he ) among the Diuels . Luth. 16. fol. 275. or two , not of the throng Of vulgar Diu'ls , but such as are among Hel's great'st Diuines , on al occasions stil Prompt and obseruant to performe his wil. He vseth (25) (25) See before XI . 44. & 42. and see himself tom . 4. Ien. p. 381. and the Ti●u● . praefat. Orthod. Confessio & Casimir . vbi supra at 17. scurril and immodest words Names (26) (26) See before XIX . 21. oft the Diuel , (27) (27) It is most cleare , and can not be denyed , but , that neuer any man writ more filthily , more vnciuilly , more lewdly , and that beyond al bounds of Christian modesty and temperance &c. then did Luther . Tigur . Theol. Orthod. Gonfess . f. 10. and then immediatly after some of his obscene bookes , as his Heintzius Anglicus against our King of England , his Hans Wurst , and another no lesse beastly against the Iewes : besides these there is extant ( say they on the same place ) his Schem Hamphorus , a prodigious booke , filthy and stinking through his frequent mentioning of hogs , and his often and loathsome repetition of turd and dunghils . But would'st thou heare ( Gentle Reader ) the swine himself grunt ? If I were in hope thou would'st not condemne me for wronging out English tongue so much as to pollute it with so beastly phrase , thou should'st . Yet this , vpon better consideration , concernes only my-self . Thou shalt heare him whatsoeuer censure thou afford me , in hope thou may'st reap benefit by it , and iudge whether it be probable , nay possible for the Spirit of God to dwel in so loathsome a place , yea and blush to haue been so long seduced ( if thou be a Protestant ) by such a hog . Of what mouth ( saith he ) O Pope dost thou speak ? is it of that from whence thy fartes doe burst ? That which comes thence keep thou to thy self : or is it of that mouth into which wine of Corsica is powred ? let the dog fil that with his excrementes &c. Is it lawful to contemne the 4. first Councels &c. for your farts and decretales ? &c. If they be angry let th●m fi●● hose with durt and hang it about their necks , it wil serue them insteed of a perfume or kisse &c. But proceed ô litte Paul ( the beast meanes Paul the 3. ) good Asse doe not Ki●k : ô Kick not my little Pope : ô my deare Asse doe not so : the yce this yeare by reason there haue been no winds is very smooth & slippery , & thou might'st come so to haue a fat and breake thy thigh : and if in falling thou shouldst let a fart , euery one would deride thee and say , Fye how this little Pope hath berayd himself . Lut. cont . Pontif. Rom. a diab . fund . in tom . 8. Ien. p. 207. 208. In another place he affirmes the Canon law to be a turd of the Popes , which togeather with the Canonists stickes al on a heap in ipsius posterioribus . Col. Germ. fol. 419. He calles the Arch-Bishop of Mentz Cacando maculatum Sacerdotem , a berayd Priest . See Col. mens . fol. 84. 83. tom. 1. & f. 231. Let this be my general answer ( sayth he to Henry the 8. ) to al the sinkes of this foolish Hobgoblin &c. these are our forces , against which the Henries , the Thomistes , the Papistes , and al such dregs , sinks , priuies &c. tom . 21. Witt. f. 333. 336. 337. &c. May not we heer iustly say of him with the Tigurine Diuines , did euer man heare such speaches passe from a furious diuel himself ? Tigur . tract. 3. cont. Suprem . Luc. Confess . p. 61. But we haue ouer-much stirred in this puddle , and yet not produced the hundred part of that which may from thence be raked . Wherefore no longer to offend the modest and Christian eare for this time ( that I may say with Sr. Thomas More ) furiosum hunc fraterculum & latrinarium nebulonem , & cum suis furijs & furoribus , cum suis merdis & stercoribus , cacantem cacatumque relinquam . talkes of dung & ( ........ ) Beraying , priuyes , durty puddles , sinkes Windy gut-cracks . Fie take him hence he stinkes .

XXXIV . Looke on this side Luther . LOoke now on this side Luther , and relate What you can find in his reformed State. Th' (1) (1) See before XIII . & peruse the whole Epigramme . inconstant weake Melancthon first I see ; Next him that channel of impiety (2) (2) Carolostadius was a barbarous fellow , without wit , without learning , without common sense , in whom is no signe of the Holy Ghost , but manifest tokens of impiety . Melancth. Epist. ad Freder . Micon . See Hospin . hist. Sacr. part . alt. f. 114. That barb'rous , doltish , ignorant , impure , Possessed (3) (3) See before xxi . 2 : read the whole . heretike (4) (4) Carolostadius being indeed an heretike was a man so corrupt and euil in religion &c. See the authour of an answer for the time vnto the def. of the Censure . fol. 106. and Epicure (5) (5) That Epicurean Ghospeler Carolostadius saith Fulk in his reioind . to Brist . p. 420. Carolostadius : neer to him doe passe That Ape (6) (6) Beza ( saith Schlusselberg ) calleth Heshusius Polyphemus , Ape , & Dog , and Sycophant , and two-footed Asse , & Cyclop &c. Theol. Cal. l. 2. a. 1. that Cyclop , and two-footed Asse , The Sycophant , the dog Heshusius , And the Eutychian (7) (7) Let me be a brawler , ô Bullenger , ( saith Brentius ) Eutychian , a Sophist &c. Brent . Recognit . doctt . cont . Bulling . lying Brentius , Next th' heretike (8) (8) See Schlusselberg in haeres . Osiand . Osiander hand in hand With that (9) (9) See before ix . 3. vnchristned wretch , that (10) (10) Ib. 4. 12. See likewise x. factious brand , Zuinglius , who had his doctrine from a (11) (11) See 9. 1. spright , Which but since death he knew if black or white : Perfidious (12) (12) Luther complaines of Bucers perfidiousnes in an Epistle to Io. Secerius the printer . F. bric . loc. Com. Luth. clas. 5. c. 15. p 50. See also Lauath . hist Sacra . f. 12. fickle (13) (13) See before XIV . throughout . Bucer next doth goe , Then Iames Andraeas , who (14) (14) Selneu●erus ( saith Hospinian ) the indiuidual companion of Iames Andreas in his iourneys , is reported often to haue sayd of him before many good men , and those worthy of credit , that he had no God at al except Mammon and Bacchus : and that he neuer heard , nor could euer so much as suspect &c. that either at his going to bed , or vprising , he either sayd the Lords prayer , or made any mention of God : and that in the residue of his life , words , actions , or counsels he could neuer find any spark of piety , but exceeding great lightnes . hist. Sacram. part . alt. fol. 389. no God did know But Gold and Bacchus ; nor by night , or day , Was euer this (15) (15) Smidlen ( saith Lauatherus ) otherwise called Iames Andreas , is reported with vs to haue been taken in Adultery with a woman seruant &c. Tanch . his Epist. l. 5. p. 340. See him taxed likewise with adultery in Hospin vbi supra . Adult'rer seen to pray , Th' Angel (16) (16) I suppose that Angel of darknes , Io. Caluin , is sufficiently detected &c. Hunnius in Calu. Iudaiz . f. 181. of darknes Caluin now appeares , Who (17) (17) See hereafter . XXXIX . 21. on his back the shameful token beares Of a hot iron , for th' vnnatural vice Of Sodomy , who after died (18) (18) Ibid. & 40. throughout . of lice , And (19) (19) See hereafter . XXXIX . 2. in dispaire exhal'd his hateful breath , Cursing and calling Diuels til his death . Here comes another of this vertu●us Tribe That (20) (20) Whether Beza deserue this title or no , let any man iudge who shal peruse only this ensuing testimony , which his owne fellow Protestant Hutterus affordeth of him : I am ashamed to translate it , therefore take it in latine : Beza in fine libri de absentia corporis Christi in caena scribit : Candidae , siue Amasiae suae culum ( parce tu Christe blasphemias istas mihi referenti ) imo partem diuersam ( ô beast ) magis adhuc pudendam , mundiora esse , quam illorum ora qui simpliciter verbis Christi inherentes , credant se praesens Christi corpus in caena sacra , ore suo accipere . Hut . Explic. lib. Concord . art. 7. pag. 703. profane bawdy Scurre , that Diuels (21) (21) See before XXXIX . 6. Scribe Lasciuious (22) (22) Beza by his most filthy manners was a disgrace to honest discipline , who in sacrilegious verse published to the world his detestable loues , his vnlawful carnal actes , his whoredomes , & foule adulteries , not content that himself only should like a hog wallow in the durt of wicked lusts , but he must also pollute the eares of studious youth with his filth . Tilm. Heshusius ver. & sanc . Confess . Beza , in vndecent sort Betwixt (23) (23) See before XXII . through al. his Candida and Andebert . Now Allemannus the blaspemous (24) (24) Alemannus ( sayth Schlusselberg ) before times Beza's most familiar freind , & a stout Caluinist , bad a long farewel to Christian religion , and became an Apostata , and a blasphemous Iew. Theol. Calu. art. 21. fol. 10. & 9. see Beza Epist . 65. Iew Beza's great freind : then th' Authours of the new And later Arians , the vndoubted (25) (25) None in our time I haue knowne ( sayth Neuzerus ) became an Arian , who was not first a Caluinist , Seruetus , Blandrata , Paulus Alciatus , Franciscus Dauidis , Gentilis , Gribaldus , Syluanus & others : therefore whosoeuer feares to fal into Arianisme let him beware of Caluinisme . And Gerlachius hath this Manuscript of Adam Neuzerus ( saith Osiander . ) Osian . Epit. cont . 16. & 209. see him also 206. 207. 208. Spawne Of Caluin , whence was al their doctrine drawne , Syluanus , Dauid , Gentil Blandrata , Gribald , Seruetus , with the (26) (26) That impure Apostata Bernardin Ochin ( saith Beza ) de polygam . p. 4. see also Schuls . Theol. Calu. lib. 1. f. 9. Apostata Bernardin Ochin , ioyned to whom heere lurkes Alciate , with Neuzer , circumcised (27) (27) See hereafter XXXVII . 331. 33. Turkes , With many more such zelous Protestantes Al Luthers off-spring , yea and al prime Saints In his new Church . Who 'ld not imbrace this faith Which such rare Doctours , such strong pillars hath ?

XXXV . On Bullinger . THou writest , Bullinger , ( omitting much , Which can no more then these abide the touch ) That the three Persons (1) (1) The 3. Persons in the diuinity doe differ not in state but in degree . Bulling . resp. ad lib. Cochlei de script . & Ecclesast . authoritat . c. 7. in the Trinity Doe differ not in state but in degree . That Christ to hel , his suffrings at an end , Did not in person (2) (2) We shal more plainly vnderstand this article of Christ's descent into hel , if we hold that the vertue of Christ's death did extend euen to the dead , and help them , that is , that al the Patriarchs and other faithful people liuing before the comming of Christ , were by Christ's death preserued from damnation . Bulling . decad. 1. in exp●sit . symb . see him also in cap. 21. but in power descend . That (3) (3) In his Commentaries vpon the 19. chapter & 22. of the Apocalyps , he accuseth this B. Apostle to haue fallen into the sinne of Apostacy , and that he sinned as much as did eyther Peter by his threefold denial , or Thomas through his infidelity . Iohn did an Apostata become That infants lying in their mother's womb Are truly (4) (4) This is euident in his 3. decade and 7. Sermon . iustifi'd : that some now liue In heauen (5) (5) See Bullinger's allowance of Zwinglius his before-mentioned doctrine ( IX . 9. ) concerning the saluation of the Heathens in Zwing . Tom. 21. f. 550. see also Symlerus in vita Bullingeri . who neuer did in God belieue ; And to conclude that any Christian Holding faith's grounds , though he besides maintain Blasphemous points of stiff-necked Iudaisme , Or Infidelity , much more of schisme , May (6) (6) This is to be seen at large in his Firmament . come to heauen . Perhaps thou hast deprau'd This Point , to proue that thou thy self art sau'd .

XXXVI . THE LYE . PApists doe (1) (1) First this is the principal article of that secret diuinity that raigneth amonst the Popes , & that whole Colledge of Cardinals , that there is no God : the second , that al things that are written & taught concerning Christ are lyes and deceites : the third , that the doctrine of the life to come , & of the last resurrection are meer fables . Calu. l. 4. Instit. c. 7 sect. 27. hold ( thus prate al Ministers Whom to the pulpit their glib tongue preferr's ) That ther 's no God , that al which Scriptures shew Concerning Christ are fables , and vntrue ; That after this , there is no life , nor must Our flesh , once tot , return againe from dust : The (2) (2) The Papists make the Virgin Mary a God , attribute to her almightines both in heauen & earth &c. In the Papacy al haue made recourse to Mary , and haue expected more fauour and grace at her hands then from Christ himself . Lut. ad Euang. de fest. Annunt . Virgin Mary is their cheifest God , She hath al power , she rules the dreadful rod Of Heauen 's dread wrath , for her they Christ reiect , And more at her hands , then at his expect , The (3) (3) Papists doe not only adore Saints insteed of Christ , but also their bones , cloaths , shoes , and images . Calu. de necessit . reform . Eccles. see also the Magdeburg . praefat. in 6. centur . Saints they doe , in lieu of Christ , implore , Their shoes , cloaths , images , and bones adore . Christs death , they (4) (4) Rogers accuseth a Iesuite and some other Catholiks to hold that Christ came into the world to saue no women but men , and that one Mother Iane is the sauiour of women . Rogers vpon the 39. articl . of the Church of England . p. 183. 14. hold , for men did pardon gaine , Women are saued by one Mother Iane. A man with them may Gods ' commandments keep Without (5) (5) Papists teach that man , by the proper force of nature , may without God's grace keep the Commandments . Luth , ad lib. Duc. Georg. an . 1533. his grace : al (6) (6) Papists in their penance made no mention of Christ and faith : their opinion and hope was only in their owne workes , whereby their sinnes were before God to be blotted out ; and a little after : In their confession there was no faith , no Christ . Artic. Smalcald . part. 3. art. 3. faith is laid to sleep When they doe penance ; yea (7) (7) Our Babylon ( meaning the Church of Rome ) hath so extinguished faith , as with an impudent forehead she denyes it to be necessary in this Sacrament : yea with Antichristian impiety she defines it to be an heresy , if any one affirme faith to be necessary . Luth. de capt . Babyl . cap. de poenitent . t' is heresy T' affirme that faith therein is necessary . No (8) (8) Papists hold that God is appeased and made propitious vnto vs by traditions , and not for Christ . Apolog. confess . August . cap. de tradit . human . one of them by Christ , but by bare straines Of mans inuention , vnto heauen attaines . And when they pray (9) (9) In al their litanies , hymnes , and proses , where no honour is left vngiuen to dead Saints , there is no mention of Christ . Calu. l. 3. Inst. c. 20. sect. 21. no mention's made of Christ , But of his creatures . Minister , thou ly'st .

XXXVII . The Godly industry of reformers to bring there handy-work to perfection . LVther pretending cleerely to reforme The Roman Church , did raise his firster stor●● 'Gainst (1) (1) See Luth. Tom. 2. fol. 63. & Sleydan . l. 6. f. 232. Pardons , (2) (2) Luth. Tom. 2. fol. 63. Pope , & (3) (3) See Luth. de votis monast. Tom. 2. Monks : but not content With that , he straight his second forces bent Against the (4) (4) See before . XI . 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Scriptures , (5) (5) See his cutting of foure Sacraments at a blow . Tom. 2. f. 63. see likewise before . XI . 13. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. Sacraments , and (6) (6) Luth. Assert . artic. 1. & conc . de penit . & de capt . Babyl . cap. de Baptism . grace , Iustification (7) (7) See acts and monuments p. 402. & before . XI . 25. 26. 27. Works , (8) (8) The doctrine of workes is the doctrine of Diuels . Luth. de vot . monast . see him also serm. de piscat . Petri ad c. 2. ep. ad Galatas , serm. de nou. Test . ad Euang. in die Nat. Christi , & Passion . see next before . 7. and besides at XI . 22. 24. 29. Free-wil (9) (9) See his booke de seruo arbitr . Tom. 2. f. 424. and (10) (10) See him de abrogat . Miss. priuat . Tom. 1. f. 244. see also f. 720. see likewise before . VI. 2. & IX . 2. Masse ; Yet was he iudged scarce to haue vntyl'd The roofe of Babylon Zuinglius compyl'd (1) (1) The Anti-Trinitarians ( saith Osiander ) doe boast that Luther did scarce vncouer the roofe of the Babylonian tower . cent. 16. p. 209. see hereafter at 17. A second Reformation , and complain'd Of diuers things , which Luther stil retain'd , As th' )13) )13) M. Parker confesseth that Luther crossed himself morning and euening , and is seen neuer painted praying , but before a crucifix . against symbolis . part. 1. c. 2. sect. 30. p. 105. see Io. Creuel . refut. cerem . Miss. p. 118. and Io. Manl. loc. comm. p. 636. Real presence , with the (12) (12) Zuingl . Tom. 2. fol. 375. 416. Crosse to blesse , Saints (14) (14) As touching the inuocation of Saints ( saith Luther ) I think with the whole Christian Church , and hold that Saints are to be honoured by vs and inuocated . purgat ; quorund . art , & in Ep. ad Georg. Spalat . honour , (15) (15) I neuer denyed Purgatory ( saith Luther ) and yet I belieue it , as I haue often written & confessed . Tom. 7. f. 132. aduersus bullam . see him also in disput. Lips . c. de purgat . & resolut . de Indulg . conclus . 16. see likewise Zuinglian . Tom. 2. fol. 378. Purgatory , (16) (16) If it was lawful , saith Luther , for the Iewes to haue the picture of Caesar vpon their coynes , much more is it lawful for Christians to haue in their Churches , crosses , and images of Mary . See this cited forth of Luther by the protestant Hospin . histor. Sacramen . p. 2. f. 33. and see Luther in consolat . prolab . c. 6. Images . Yet was he censur'd nothing to haue done But slightly (7) (7) M. Hooker affirmeth of the Anti-Trinitarians , that following the course of extreame reformation , they were wont in pride of their owne proceedings to glory , that Luther did blow away the roofe , & Zuinglius batter but the wals of superstition &c. Eccles. pol. l. 5. sect. 42. p. 89. battred superstition . Caluin , with Beza and their fellowes try'd To make the Church yet purer , and deny'd Lay (18) (18) See this affirmed of Caluin , by Schlusselb . theol . Cal. lib. 1. f. 60. & 61. and see himself in Append. ad lib. de Eccles. reform . & Epist. 1. persons Baptisme in a needful case , Saints feasts , (19) (19) See Whitg . def. 548. 549. 550. vniuersality (20) (20) This , though as al know , it be denied by the Caluinists , yet is it defended by Zuinglius . l. ep. Zuingl . & Oecolamp . l. 1. p. 274. of grace , Power (21) (21) See the Caluinists reproued for this doctrine by Lobethius disput. theol . p. 301. by Andr. Althamerus concil . loc. scrip . pugnant . loc. 164. by Iac. Helbrun . in Swenck f. Caluin . p. 55. and others . of Priests t'absolue the penitent , Church-vestments (22) (22) See M. Whitg . def. 216. 286. 291. , ceremonies , (23) (23) Ib. p. 270. see also M. Couel . exam. p. 63. 64. Zanch comp. loc. 16. p. 639. Christ's (24) (24) See this impugned by M. Willet Lymbe-mast . in his special book that Christ descended not into hel by M. Fulk alleaged by M. Willet , synops. p. 605. 606. descent To Hel , (25) (25) See M. Whitg . def. troughout . al Churches Headships to reside In Bishops , and to their wils law 's t' be ty'd . Yet did not here this reformation rest , Others condemn'd this , as a (26) (26) So farre doth M. Barrow & his disciples disclayme from this third pretended reformation of Puritans , that ( as M. Bernard reporteth ) Barrow calleth their way in contempt , A silly Presbitory and Eldership , Perfidie and Apostacy , the building of a false Church to the Harlot , a second Beast , &c. Wretched disciples of Caluin , Counter-faith Reformists , transgressours of the worship of God &c. And further Barrow and Greenwood doe auouch the Puritans doctrine as new , strange , and Antichristian , &c. second beast , A fained Church vnto the Harlot built , Reformists al with forged colours guilt , Sinneful prouokers of the Eternal's wrath , A fond , new , strange , and Antichristian faith . These say , that th' heyght of reformation , Is to throw al (27) (27) See M. Hall's Apology ag . the Brownists sect. 45. 46. Hooker Eccles. pol. l. 5. sect. 17. Doue in def. of the Ch. gouern . p. 68. material Churches downe , Raze (28) (28) See Barrow his owne booke impugning vniuersityes . Vniuersities , (29) (29) Ibidem . reiect the prayer Our Lord ( we say ) did for his Church prepare . Neither doth yet this reformation please ; To make the Church most pure , & from disease Of al corruptions cleere , the (30) (30) The Arians in the reformed Churches of Poland , thinke the very beliefe of the Trinity to be a part of Antichristian corruption , and that the Popes triple crowne is a sensible marke , whereby the world might know him to be that mysterial beast spoken of in the Reuelation , in no respect so much , as in his doctrine of the Trinity . M. Hooker in his Eccles. poli. l. 4. p. 183. Trinity Must be impugned , with Christ his Deity . (31) (31) Zuinglius , say they , battered but the wals of Popish superstition , the last and hardest worke of al remained for them , which was to raze vp the very ground & foundation of Popery , euen the doctrine concerning the Deity of Christ . Id. l. 5. sect. 42. & 89. Stay , stay , great Sages of this wondrous Church , Whither at last wil your admired torch , The spirit , conduct you ? whither wil you goe ? For what coasts are you bound ? ô , now I know ; Belike y' are bound with your reformed couple Alcyate (32) (32) Alcyatus became a Mahometist , saith Osiander , as Gentilis himself relateth . epit . cent. 16. p. 207. see also Beza ep. 81. and Neuzer , (33) (33) Adam Neuzerus , ( saith Schlusselberg ) sometimes chiefe Pastour of the Church of Heidelberg , passed from Zuinglianisme , through Arianisme , to Turcisme , with many other Caluinists . Theol. Calu. l. 1. art. 2. fol. 9. see Osiand . vbi supra p. 208. 818. where he affirmeth that he fel into Turcisme , and was circumcized at Constantinople . for Constantinople .

XXXVIII . On Math. Flaccus Myricus . THy brethren (1) (1) He is honoured with these and more such like titles by his owne Brethren the Diuines of Wittenberg in respons. ad calumn . Plac. to which booke for breuity I referre the Reader , hauing only giuen him these for a tast to encourage him ( if he please ) to a further search . tearme thee , Flaccus , a profane Foe to al truth ; as impudent as Cain , A Dunghil-cock , a Snake , a Dog , a Scurre , A loathsome Cancer , Fury , Epicure , Vngrateful cuckow , periur'd , wicked , base , Impugner of the vertuous , doltish Asse , Foule grunting sow , who with her filthy nose Furrow's al grounds , where any goodnes grow's , Vaine Thraso , faithlesse Sinon , impudent Thersites , Harpax , hayre-brain'd Sycophant Blaster of freindship , kindler of debate , Sower of discords , enuy , iarres , and hate ; A ful-blowne bag-pipe , which when any tryes To presse , or squeeze it , squeaketh nought but lyes ; The Diuel 's liuely organ , and his sonne , Deseruing , as Christ's enemy , a throne In He●'s damn'd Court. If in this manner those Who are thy Brethren , speake , what say thy foes ?

XXXIX . ON CALVIN . CAluin , in pay of that despairing sinne He (1) (1) See before XVIII . 26. laid on Christ , himself did dye therein . And (2) (2) God in the rod of his fury visiting Caluin , did horribly punish him before the feareful howre of his vnhappy death ; for he so struck this heretike with his mighty hand , that being in despaire , & calling vpon the Diuel , he gaue vp his wicked soule , swearing , cursing , & blaspheming . He dyed vpon the dissease of lice & wormes , encreasing in a most loathsome vlcer about his priuy parts ; so as none present could endure the stench . These things are obiected to Caluin in publike writing , in which also horrible things are declared concerning his lasciuiousnes , his sundry abominable vices , and Sodomitical lusts , for which ( last ) he was by the Magistrate ( at Noyon ) vnder whom he liued , branded on the shoulder with a hot burning-iron ; vnto which I yet see not any sound & cleere refutation made &c. I haue read Beza , & I know that he writes otherwise of the life , manners , and death of Caluin ; but since he himselfe is infected with the same heresy , and almost the same sinne , as the history of his strumpet Candida witnesseth , no man can in this matter giue credit to him . Thus farre Schlusselberg . Theol. Calu. l. 2. fol. 72. The which is likewise confirmed by Iohn Herennius in lib. de vita Calu. who there affirmeth himself to haue been an eye-witnes thereof . while from forth his vlcerous flesh did burst , Wormes , stench , & lice , stil swore , blasphem'd & curst , And on the Diuel without rest did cal : Which argueth his good nature , and that al His wits were perfect , since so neer his end He had so cleare remembrance of his freind .

XL. An other on the same . CAluin , your faith 's chief Patriarch , did dye Of (1) (1) See next before XXXIX . 2. wormes , and lice : nor need you to deny , The truth hereof : great men haue dyed thus , For thus dyed (2) (2) Acts. 12. v. 23. Herod and (3) (3) Machab. c. 9. v. 5.9.10 . Antiochus .

XLI . Iarre of Reformers . NO sooner Sectaries , drunk with the pride Of their owne wits , beginne for to deride Their mother-Church , and leaue that steadfast rock , 'Gainst which no power nor (1) (1) Matth. 16.18 . Infernal shock Can e're preuaile , but they beginne to reele , And their smal forces , and great weaknesse feele . And like to Cadmus brawling serpent-brood 'Gainst (2) (2) So it is necessary that rent and diuided into smal pieces they perish , who haue preferred the swelling pride of their haughty stomach before the most holy hand of Catholike peace and vnity . S. August . con . Parmen . lib. 1. cap. 4. one another in a frantik mood Conuert their weapons . Hence did (3) (3) S. Ireneus , l. 1. c. 21. & sequent . Magus first Into Menandrians , and Saturninians burst , With Basilidians : from the (4) (4) S. August . tom. 6. de haeres . ad Quod-vult-deum , haer . 46. Manichees The Catharists and Macharians did aryse : Appellians , Seuerians , Lucianists , Were branches al sprong from the (5) (5) S. Epiphan. lib. 1. tom. 3. c. haeres . Marcionists . Montanus (6) (6) Id. lib. 2. tom . 1. spawn'd th' Phrygasts , Pepuzians , And Artotyrists : The Martyrians , With th' Enthusiastes from Messalus (7) (7) Id. haeres . 80. & Theodor. lib. 4. de haer . fab. came , As those that doe from Sathan take their name . And from (8) (8) Ruffinus lib. 10. hist. cap. 25. Arius sprong th' Acacians , With Macedonians , and Eunomians . But al these ioyn'd in one shew no effects Of discord , equal to our moderne fects ; They are diuided into Lutherans , And Sacrament-blaspheming Zuinglians And these againe both subdiuided , (9) (9)

The Lutherans are diuided principally into the Antinomi , Osiandrians , Maiorists , Synergists , Stancarians , Anisdorfians , Flacciaens , Substantiarians , Accidentarians , Adiaph●rists , Musculans , Pfeffingerians , Vbiquitist● . Al which how they dissent and persecute one an other , and many of them not so much as permit their Aduersaries to abide in the same Towne with them , the Histories of Osiander , Maior , Zuinck feldius , Illyricus , Spangenbergius , Stancarus , Heshusius , and others doe sufficiently manifest . For the yet more ful declaration whereof , I referre you to the catalogue of the Lutherans books against Lutherans , in the end of the Protestants Apologie . Vpon due consideration of which their diuisions , Oecolampadius doubts not to tel them , saying : If we reflect vpon your dissentions , surely there are almost found among you seauenty seauen changes , not only in your explanations of scripture , but also in certaine imaginary phantasies . Lib. germ . aequae resp. ad Luther . praef. and Illyricus sayth , that they dissent among themselues like the Sacramentaries & Babylonians , and no otherwise then the Idol-makers in Esay . Illyr . declar . artic. doctr. Christ .

The Sacramentaries are rent into Zuinglians or old Sacramentaries , Caluinists , or the new , or with vs called Puritans , and in France Hugonots ; Formalists , Familists , Brownists , Arminians , and infinit more , which ( for that they are commonly knowne ) I wil for breuity likewise omit . But the dissention of Sacramentaries was such euen in Luthers tyme , that he affirmed of them , That he scarce euer read of any a more deformed heresy , which presently in the beginning was diuided into so many heads , such a number of sects , not one like another , & such variety of disagreeing opinions . Luth. tom. 7. f. 380. & els-where he auoucheth , six or seauen sects of them to haue risen in only two yeares space . t. 6. f. 335. what may we then thinke haue sprong vp in so many yeares since that tyme . See also Hospin . hist. sacr. part . 2. f. 187. and Theol. Mansfild . confes . lat. p. 120.

make More seu'ral branches , then Lernean snake Sprouted forth heads : al whose contention spring's About (10) (10) There are no smal conflicts among vs , and those about no trifles , but of the eminent articles of Christian doctrine , of the Law and Ghospel , Iustification and Good-workes , the Sacraments , and vse of ceremonies , which can by no meanes be composed , concealed , or couered , for they are meer contradictions which brook no concord . Nic. Gallus superint . Ratisb . in thes. & hypothes . Fayth's grounds , and not in triuial things . Christ's (11) (11) The reformed Churches differ not about the supper of our Lord alone , but they also contend with such heat & feruour of disputation about the Person of Christ our Sauiour , the vnion and distinction of his diuine & humane nature , the vbiquity of his body , his corporal eating , which is performed with the mouth and teeth and is common as wel to the good as bad , his ascension into heauen , and sitting at the right hand of his Father ; that many old heresies , damned by our Ancestours , as they were recalled from hel , lift vp their heads againe . Tigur . praefat. apolog. praefix . orthod. consens . an . 1578. Natur 's , Vnion , and Distinction , His (12) (12) See hereafter . 21. Incarnation , and (13) (13) See before 11. Ascension , Baptisme , (14) (14) See hereafter 21. Good-workes , (15) (15) As touching the publike discord in the Church , thou needst not enquire thereof : but I speake not here of the discord which we must of necessity haue about the doctrine of fayth with the Papists and other heretikes ; but of that which is among our selues , who brag that we haue the true light of the Ghospel ; for there are contentions & variances among vs of Adiaphoraes , of good works , our iustice before God , free-wil , the presence and participation of the body and bloud of Christ in the supper , the humanity of Christ , his ascension , and sitting at the right hand of God , his vbiquity , and other matters ; there is neither end or meane of brawling and contending . Nic. Seln . in Psal. 131. Man's iustice before God , Christ's (16) (16) See before 11. corporal eating by the good and bad , Iustification , (17) (17) See before 10. which by their Church stil Is held the very (18) (18) It is the ground-worke , forme , and soule of Christian religion . Genen . praefat. sytag . confess . See the same more fully proued from the confession of Protestants in the Authour and subst. of Prot. relig by R.S. l. 1. c. 6. soule of sayth , (19) (19) See before , 15. Free-wil , Christ's Real presence , his Vbiquity , (20) (20) See before , 10. Ghospel , Law , Sacrament , and (21) (21) Beware , Christian Reader , and especialy al you Ministers take heed of Caluin's books , and chiefly in the article of the Trinity , the incarnation of Christ the Mediatour , about the Sacrament of Baptisme , and predestination , for they containe impious doctrine and Arian blasphemies . Stancarus cont . Calu. N. 4. Trinity , With many more , which to be brief I spare , Of their distinctions the maine subiect are . Nor be these iarres (22) (22) Many warres about many articles haue been waged , from the first reforming of the Church through Germany , euen to these tymes , and those surely not by common & light-harnisht soldiers , but by Standard-bearers , old expert warriers , compleat-armed Horsmen , & the most renowned Captaines on both sydes , and that sometymes with exceeding great heat . Iezl . de diuturn . belli Euchar p. 1. maintain'd among the base , And common smal-shot ; they of chiefest place Are the prime agents , and with so great hate Nourish the raging flame of their debate , As they by mutual sharp proscriptions Banish (23) (23) Touching banishment and the many examples thereof see Apol. mod. ad acta 15. Theol. Torgae , p. 3. 4. 5. Osiand . epit . cont. 16. pag. 803. 860. 609. 735. Crispinus Est . of the Ch. Schluss . catal . haeret . l. 13. and vlt. p. 828. 847. Iezle●us de diut . bell . Euchar. p. 100. p. 697. each other from their seueral townes , Seare them with th' odious brands of (24) (24) See hereafter . XLII . troughout . Heretike , Infidel , Iew , Turke , Diuel and the like , Erect strict Inquisitions , (25) (25) See in Hospin . his Sacram. historie the 4. articles of visitation ordained for examination of suspected Caluinists , and a litte after , the execution of the same , part . vlt. f. 394. fil the (26) (26) See examples of imprisonments in Hosp . vbi supra . f. 393. geoal With their susprized bodies , (27) (27) There was an Edict ( sayth Hospinian ) proclaymed , wherby not only the reading , but likwise the selling of al Caluinists books was forbidden . Hosp . vbi supra . f. 393. see also , ●94 . Iezlerus de diut . belli Euchar. p. 79. stop the sale Of al their books , vnciuilly (28) (28) See examples hereof in the Lutherans against the Caluinists , in Hospin . vbi supra , fol. 399. a 6. & 354. & Osiand . Epist. cent. 16. p. 608. & Iezl . de bello Euch. p 79. and againe in the Caluinists against the Lutherans , reported by Schulss . in his catal . haeret . l. 13. and vlt. p. 828. deny The vsual rights of hospitality Euen to strangers ; take (29) (29) See examples of the Lutherans falling to armes , and assaulting the Caluinists in Hospin . vbi supra . f. 397. and see againe other like examples of the Caluinists against the Lutherans , in Gerard. Gtes●ken . l. de verit . corp. Christi in caena , p. 256. see also Osiand . epit . cent. 16. p. 735. 803. offensiue armes ; And in confuzed and tumultuous swarmes Assayle each others ; nor be (30) (30) See a most barbarous example hereof reported by Hospin . vbi supra . f. 398. in the relation whereof , among o●hers he hath these words : The Lutherans rushing violently in brake the beere and coffin , & handled the dead body of the Caluinist after a most sauage manner , and cast it to the dogs , prouoking them to teare it in peeces ; and againe : They rush vpon the dead body &c. dead corps free From their ne're equal'd sauage cruelty . And what is most worth note , themselues confesse They haue (31) (31) The Papists haue the Pope as a common Father , Aduiser , and Conductour , to reconcile their iarres , to decide their differences , to draw their religion by consent of Councels vnto vnity &c. whereas on the contrary side Protestants are as seuered or rather scattered troupes , each drawing a diuerse way , without any meanes to pacify their quarrels , no Patriarch , one , or more , to haue a common superintendance or care of their Churches for correspondency and vnity ; no ordinary way to assemble a general Councel of their part , the only hope remaining euer to aswage their contentions . Sir Edwin Sandes in his relat . of religion . sect. 47. at fol. 5. 2. 8. no meanes these discords to redresse Or hope to be atton'd ( for that intent Hauing so many (32) (32) There haue been some Synodes or Colloquies , saith Schlusselberg , had with the Sacramentaries , but without any successe : and then presently after he reckons vp many of such their fruitlesse Synodes . Theol. Caluin . l. 2. art. 15. see also his catal . haeret . l. 15. p. 873. see this more at large in the Protest . Apology , tract . 3. sect. 7. versus sin . marg. at 6. fruitlesse meetings spent ) Before (33) (33) The Lutherans and Zuinglio-Caluinists haue for the space of 60. yeares and more so vehemently impugned one another , as vnlesse the great day of our Lord doe in the meane time come and end the debate , they seeme more likely to be ouercome by their mutual wounds then the Papists oppression . Schlusselb . proem . l. 1. Theol. Caluin . that day , when the Eternal shal Al men , al causes , vnto trial cal . So as some of them with amazement haue Stumbled (34) (34) Castalio , reflecting vpon the dissensions of Protestants , professed himselfe to rest doubtful , whether that the most cleer truth shined with them or not . Castal . praefat. bibl. Lat. ad Edw. 6. With the same scruple was Duditius likewise troubled , if we may giue credit to Beza , who was also deceiued himself with the like cogitations . Beza epist . 1. Of many others who were moued with the same read A mirrour for Martinists , p. 24. Melanch . consili . theol . part . 1. pag. 249. Georg. M●ior . orat . de confus . dog●● . Luth. loco comm. class . 5. c. 13. p. 39. Bulling . fundam . firm . part . 1. c. 1. p. 5. thereat , and others for to saue Their soules from shipwrack on such stormy seas , Haue (35) (35) Staphylus reuolted to the Catholiks , saith Dresserus , by reason of the disagreements amongst the Protestant Diuines . Dresserus in millenar . 6. p. 214. made repaire vnto the calmer Bayes Of Rome's ne're shaken Church . By which we se● That she alone is from al errour free , Which , void (36) (36) Luther himselfe granteth that Catholikes doe not contend about scripture , but al with one consent giue credit to the Fathers , adhere to the Councels , and submit themselues vnder the obedience of the holy See of Rome , and that these diuisions which are amongst them , are only humane dissentions , about honour , preeminence &c. Tom. 7. f. 380. the like is confessed by Duditius ( Beza epist . 1. M. Whitaker de eccles. cont . Bellarm. cont . 2. q. 5. p. 327. ) M. Fulk ag . Hesk. Sand. &c. p. 293. and Sir Edwin Sand. as before , 31. confessedly of al such strife , Shew's one , and but one way t' eternal life . So (37) (37) Heretikes by their dissensions confirme our faith . Iust. quaest. 4. ad Orthodox . by this meanes the Prouerb 's truth is knowne , When Theeues dissent , true men regaine their owne .

XLII . ON VAFER . INgenious Vafer can with special grace Sute his religion vnto euery place ; When he 's in England he himself doth vant A Parlament-Prince-pleasing Protestant ; And (1) (1) Cambden affirmes Holland to be a fruitful Prouince of Heretikes . Elizabetha p. 300. Holland holds to be a fertil place Of faithles Hereticks , (2) (2) In Hungary and Boheme ( saith our late Soueraigne ) there are infinit diuersities of Sects , agreeing in nothing but in their vnion against the Pope . K. Iames his workes . p. 371. Behemia's race Of Sectaries hath no vnited scope In any point , but how to spite the Pope . 'Mongst al translations of the sacred Word That of (3) (3) The conference at Hampton Court testifyeth , that King Iames professed that he could neuer yet see a Bible wel translated into English , but the worst of al his Maiesty thought Geneua to be ; to which he affirm'd that there were some notes annexed very partial , vntrue , seditious , and sauouring too much of dangerous and trayterous conceits . p. 46. 49. Geneua's most to be abhorr'd ; Whose factious Ministers not by word (4) (4) Since the time that they of Geneua deposed their Bishop , their Liege-Lord and Prince , ( as M. Sutcliff confesseth in his answ. to cal . petit . p. 194. ) it hath been a Principle ( sayth M. Bancroft ) as I suppose with some of the chief Ministers of Geneua , that if Kings and Princes refused to reforme religion , the inferiour Magistrates , or people , by direction of the Ministry , might lawfully , and ought ( if need required ) euen by force of armes to reforme it themselues . Dang . pos . p. 9. See further M. Bancrofts in his Suruay p. 48. Where he affirmes that they maintained in their books desperate points of deposing Princes , and of putting them to death in diuers cases of resistance against reformation . alone But by their (5) (5) They of Geneua ( sayth M. Sutcliff ) deposed their Bishop , which was also their Liege-Lord & Prince , from his temporal right &c. albeit he was by right of succession the temporal Lord and owner of that Citty and territory , Caluin . petit . p. 194. See the Suruay p. 11. 12. Dang . posit . ●2 . deeds teach subiects to dethrone Their lawful Soueraignes . Those in (6) (6) The Puritans of Scotland ( sayth M. Bancroft ) were published in a proclamation by his Maiesty to be vnnatural subiects , seditious persons , troublesome & vnquiet spirits , members of Sathan , enemies to the King and the Common-wealth of their natiue country &c. Dang . posit . 22. Scotland are Seditious persons , men who neuer spare Their King or country , troublesome , vnciuil , And restles spirits , yea members of the Diuil . The Puritans in general are (7) (7) I protest before the great God ( sayth his late Maiesty ) since I am heer vpon my testament , it is no place for me to lye in , that you shal neuer find with any . Highland or Border-theeues , greater ingratitude , and more lyes , and vile periuries , then with these phanatike spirits . King Iames his workes pag. 161. lyers Heady (8) (8) See this sufficiently proued by M. Bancroft in his Dang . posit . throughout the 3. 4. 5. and 6. Chapters of the 1. booke . aduancers of their owne desires , Crosse , wayward (9) (9) When we feast ( saith M. Ormerod ) they ( Puritans ) wil fast ; and when we fast , they wil feast . See further diuers answerable examples hereof in Ormer . his pict. p. 20. 21. Spirits , (10) (10) Ib. pag. 75. prone to loosse delights , Scripture-corrupters (11) (11) To proue their deuices they haue offered great violence to the holy Scriptures , expounding them contrary both to ancient Fathers and histories , and common reason &c. M. Sutcl . answ. Calum . petit . p. 141. periur'd (12) (12) See before at 7. Hypocrites , (13) (13) The purity ( of Puritans ) neither consists in life nor doctrine ( for none therein can be lesse pure , vnlesse it be in bare conceit ) but in outward shewes , false semblance , vaine protestations of reformation , gogling of eyes , & painted hypocrisie . M. Sutcl . answ. Calum . pet. p. 90. Detracting (14) (14) Al these attributes and more are giuen them by M. Sutclif . in his answ. Calum . petit . in Epist. Dedic . and p. 10. 13. 24. 33. 52. 54. 55. 56. 6● . 69. 72. 73. 89. 93. 99. 103. Satyrists , dogs , Schismatikes Murmurers , Vultures , yea and (15) (15) Least any man should thinke ( saith D. Couel ) out contentions with Puritans were in smaller points , & difference not great , each side hath charged one the other with heresies , if not infidelities , nay euen with such as quite ouerthow the principal foundation of our Christian faith . Iust and temperate def. art. 11. p. 67. Heretikes Equal to (16) (16) The Puritans haue ioyned with the Pharisees , Aerians , Apostolikes , Pepuzians , Petrobuzians , Florinians , Cerinthians , Nazerens , Bigardins , Ebionites , Catobabdites , Enthusiasts , Donatists . Ormer●● discou . of Purit . papisme . p. 9. th' Pharisies & Donatists , Arrians , Ebionites , and Catharists , Florinians , Beguardins , Pepuzians Apostolikes , and Petrobusians . Yet if to Amsterdam he hence doe saile , Or to Geneua goe , he then doth raile At th' English Church . The (17) (17) Archbishops and Bishops are vnlawful , vnnatural , false and bastardly Gouernours of the Church , and the Ordinances of the Diuel ; pettie Popes , pettie Antichrists &c. Bishops callings are meer● Antichristian &c. Danger posit . p. 59. with much more there to the same effect . Bishops are ( saith he ) An Antichristian Popish ministry . Their (17) (17) Their prescript forme of seruice is ful of corruption &c. Ib. 55. prescript forme of seruice wholy ful Of fond corruptions ; (19) (19) The Communion-book is an imperfect book , culled and picked out of that Popish dunghil , the Portuisse and Masse-book ; and many of the contents therein be such as are against the word of God. Ibid. from the masse they cul Their new Communion-bookes , dissenting farre From the Lord's word it neuer fayling square . The (20) (20) The Sacraments are by the Church of England wickedly mangled and prophaned . Ibid. p. 56. Sacraments they wickedly prophane , Their rites and habits (21) (21) Their garments & ceremonies are Antichristian pompes , rites , lawes , and traditions . Ibid. Antichristian . Their ministries are (22) (22) The Ministers are neither proued , elected , called , nor ordained according to Gods word . Ibid. p. 60. neither prou'd nor cal'd Nor right according to the Word instal'd : The most (23) (23) The most part of our Priests are either Popish Priests , or Monks , or Friars , or Ale-hāters , or Boyes & lads , drunkards and dolts ; they wil weare a fool's hood for liuings sake &c. Ibid. p. 61. are Monks , Friars , drunkards , dolts , or boyes They (24) (24) The publike Baptisme is ful of childish and superstitious toyes . Ibid. p. 96. baptisme profane with childish toyes And to conclude , they are , he yet beleeues Soule-murd'ring (25) (25) You shal find amongst this Crue of Ministers nothing else but a troup of bloudy soule-murderers , and sacrilegious Church-robbers . Ib. p. 61. Heretikes , (26) (26) See before , at 15. See also Rogers in his pref. to his art . n●● . 31. & 13. Sacrilegious theeues . Nor doth he there the Lutherans respect , Them he condemneth for a damned sect Of wilful (27) (27) We see by these words of Danaeus ( sayth Schlusselberg ) that the Caluinists account vs Lutherans for damned and excommunicated heretikes . Theol. Calu. lib. 2. art. 1. and in the same place , Caluin [ sayth he ) in his last admonition against Westphalus keeps no measure in his railing , he proclames al those heretikes , who refuse to reiect Luthers doctrine to obey Caluin . Heretikes ; and stil them (28) (28) Some of the Zuinglians ( sayth Iezlerus , ) haue called the Lutherans , haters of men , flesh-eaters , drinkers of bloud , Thyests , Hangmen , killers of Christ , bread-worshippers , adorers of a breaden God , denyers of the Redemption which Christ performed vpon the altar of the Crosse , Eutychians , Suenk feld●ans , and lastly ouerthrowers of many articles of the Apostolike faith , de diuturn . belli Euchar. fol. 93. See 92. also where they called also Caphernaites , Localists , &c. But farre more then al this may be found in the writings of Zuinglius , Caluin , & Beza against the Luth●rans , in Tossanus . Schuiz de serp . antiq. Georg. Hansfeld in via Monstrat . Wegweiser . Alb. cont . Carolost . Oecolampad . aequ . respons. charta quaedam Zuinglij an . 1527. and in general al Caluinists who haue writ against the Lutherans . For the more easy discouery of some of which Authours , I refer you to the 2. Catalogue in the end of the Protestants Apologie . cal's Drinkers of bloud , Flesh-eaters , Cannibals , Auerse from Christian faith , Christ's murderers , Destroyers of the Creed , Idolaters , Reiecters of Christs death , Zuenck feldians , Hang-men , Caparnaites , Eutychians , Localists , men prodigiously blind , False , wicked , proud , of an ambitious mind , Impudent Asses , more illiterate fooles Then simple children that frequent the scholes . (29) (29) Al these brotherly attributes , and many more such like , are afforded them by Caluin , Admonit. 3. ad Westphalum . But from these townes this Rouer scarce is got To Wittenberg , but sing's another note ; He now auerr's , (30) (30) We seriously censure the Zuinglians and al Sacramentaries for heretikes , and alienated from the Church of God. Luth. tom. 2. f. 503. & tom . Ien. p. 578. and seriously , that they Who from the true faith doe with Zuinglius stray , And likewise such as Caluin doe respect , Are a most damn'd (31) (31) Luther forgetful of God and diuine Honour , calleth vs a damned Sect , say the Tigurine Diuines in confess . Germ. part . 3. and execrable sect Of (32) (32) The Lutherans haue call'd , & to this day stil cal the Zuinglians conuicted heretikes , possessed with diuels , obsessed on euery side , before , behind , aboue , below , within and without with Diuels , Martyrs of Diuels , to be refelled rather with the sword of the ciuil Magistrate then with words , to be restrain'd from holy things , to be wholy rooted out of the Church , shunned by al good men , vnworthy for whom God should be prayd vnto , to be excluded forth of the leagues of Kings and Princes , to be reckoned amongst the Anabaptists , Nestorians , Arians , Turks , and in a word worse then al mortals that euer the earth bore , & damn'd for al eternity . Iezl . de diut . belli . Euchar. f. 93. See before , XXIX . 7. who yet would find more of these freindly Epithets , wherewith the Lutherans set forth their fellow Protestant-Zuinglians , need but repaire to Luthers bookes against the Sacramentaries . Io. Schuiz . Serp. antiq. & 50. cause , Riuand . lup . excor . Alber. cont . Carolost . Selneccerus and other Lutherans ( a Catalogue whereof is in the end of the Protestants Apologie ) and they shal find much more then I haue here expressed ; for ( to vse Iezlerus his owne words ) there is no end at al among them in contending , writing , declaiming , disputing , condemning and excommunicating one another . p. 80. yea euery mart ( as the learned Deane of S. Paules M. Dun ingenously confesseth ) we se more bookes written by these men against one another , then by them both for Christ . In the first serm preached by him to King Charles , at S. Iames. 30. Aprill . 1625. p. 15. conuict Heretikes ; on euery part About their body , and within their hart , Aboue , below , behind them , and before , Obsest with Diuels ; men deseruing more To be refelled by the aw-ful swords Of ciuil Magistrats , then force of words . They are ( he now affirmes ) to be restrain'd From holy things , their company refrain'd By al good men , most fitting t' be expell'd From forth the Churches bosome , yea and held Not worthy to be pray'd for , and vnfit That Kings should them into their leagues admits He vowes they are for either faith , or workes , Nestorians , Arians , Anabaptists , Turkes . And in a word , the worst of men , yea he Proclaimes them damn'd for al eternity . Yet into Frizeland if he take his flight Then th' Anabaptists only teach aright ; There , as amongst the Caluinists againe , He against Luther slack's his passion's rayne , And with a quau'ring head , and half-shut eyes As if forsooth of zeale his words did rise , In verity he offers to detect Infinit faults in now false Luther's sect . With (33) (33) You yourselues are they who lead a dissolute and carnal life , who crucifie Christ againe , who blaspheme his spirit , & contemne his grace &c. Menno Sim. fundam cap. de doctrin . Concionat . carnal wayes , saith he , their soules they staine , And Christ himself they crucify againe , Blaspheme his spirit , and contemne his grace , Affect (34) (34) I know certainly that they haue not the spirit , mission , and word ; and that in their doctrine and actions they seek no lesse then Papists the fauour of men , honour , pride , reuenues , beautiful houses &c. Ibid. faire houses , and a wealthy place ; They climb the pulpit there to preach , yet none Hath either Spirit , Word , or Mission . There (35) (35) They lead a quiet , idle , slouthful , & merry life , by seducings and flatteries they maintaine themselues with the robberies of Antichrist , and preach no more then an earthly and carnal Magistrate wil permit and heare &c. they by their dissolute and carnal doctrine haue brought dissolute and carnal people to such dishonest manners , and so licentious a life , that among the Turkes and Tartars there are not so vngodly and abominable people to be found . Id. de Christian . fide tit . de fide Luth. wil they vtter nought that may appeare At al distastful to their Princes eare . They idly liue , and to relieue their need On Antichrist's rich spoyles through flattery feed ; And to such loosnes al their flocks allure As Turkes and Tartars are by much more pure . But when this man , who with such zeale now burn's Vnto Geneu ' or Wittenberg returnes ; The Anabaptists straight , vnfit t' be nam'd , Chimera-like (36) (36) The heresy of the Anabaptists of our age is a variable and monstrous chimera , bred of many heresies &c. Schlusselb . Catal. haeret . epist. Dedicat. l. 12. of diuerse sects are fram'd , Muntzer , (37) (37) Muntzer , Carlostadius , and such like of their sect are meer incarnate Diuels , &c. Luth. Colloq . Germ. fol. 153. and those who of his doctrine share , No men , but meere incarnate Diuels are . Scarce any one but (38) (38) Scarce can there be found any one Anabaptist , which holdeth not some one opinion or other contrary to the rest . Calu. Inst. aduers . Anabapt. stil dissent's from other . And wil of errour charge his purest brother . If after this he goe to Rome or Spaine He Proteus-like transformes himself againe Then he 's a Roman Catholick , and saith , That Rome's the Mother-Church : Her only faith Is Orthodoxal , others doctrines he Most iusty al condemn'd for heresy . Yet after al these changes if he come , A new Vlisses , to his natiue home , He layes fast hold againe where he began . Say , Is not Vafer a Religious man ?

XLIII . ON FVRBO . FVrbo the Caluinist doth much complaine On Luther and his followers railing vaine Against his Church ; but yet , saith he , I thinke , They doe not dant vs much , nor make vs shrinke ; O no , we pay them home ! Then he affords A (1) (1) See next before XLIi . thoughout . rol of al their mutual scurril words And base inuectiues ; and refers it straight To al men's iudgements whether's in the right . Belieue me , Furbo , if without offence I might my iudgement giue , t' auoyd al sense Of partial censure , and my debt defray To Christian charitie , I sure would say , Not to offend here either them , or you , But to content you both , That both say true .

XLIV . Reformers rayling against the Apostles and Fathers . IF either Father or Apostle crosse Your Ghospel so as you can find no glosse T' inuert their words , their euidence to raile , Against their writings , y'on their persons raile . Peter though he by th' Holie-Ghost had been Confirm'd , you say , (1) (1) Whether Peter did in this sinne , as they say , mortally , let others iudge . This I know , that those , who were by this dissimulation enforced to Iudaisme , vnlesse they had been reduced by Paul , had perishcd . Luth. ad c. 2. Epist. ad Galat. committed mortal sinne , Yea (2) (2) S. Peter chief of the Apostles , and also Barnabas after the Holy-Ghost receaued , togeather with the Church of Ierusalem , erred . Brent . Apol. Confess . cap. de Conc. p. 900. And D. Goade likewise in the Tower disputat . with Fa. Campian the 2. dayes confer . argum . 6. affirmeth , that S. Peter did erre in Faith , and that after the sending downe of the Holy-Ghost vpon him . See more in M. Fulck . ibid. and ag . the Rhem. Testam . in Galat. 2. fol. 322. and Luth. Epist. ad Galat. c. 1. err'd in fayth , which (3) (3) See Caluin's Commentarie in omnes Pauli Epist. concerning S. Peter's supposed errour , to the schisme ( as he saith ) of the Church , the endangering of Christian libertie , and the ouerthrow of the grace of Christ . In Galat. c. 2. v. 14. p. 510. and 511. errour did import Losse of Christ's grace , & Christian freedome hurt . Th' Apostle Paul did not a litle (4) (4) Paul doth turne to Iames the Apostle ; and a Synod of al the Presbyters being called togeather , he is perswaded by Iames and the rest , that for the offended Iewes he should purify himself in the Temple , whereunto Paul yealdeth ; which certainly was no smal sliding of so great a Doctour , &c. Magdeburg . Cent. 1. l. 2. c. 10. slide , He was possessed with (5) (5) As though Paul ( when he writ his Epistles ) did then attribute so much to his Epistles , that whatsoeuer was contained in them was sacred &c. which thing were to impute immoderate arrogancie to the Apostle . Zuingl . tom. 2. f. 10. immodorate pride ; And (6) (6) Caluin speaking of S. Paul already an Apostle , sayth , that creeping vpon the ground he was defiled with much filth . in c. 7. Roman . v. 25. wallow'd in the durt of slauish sense , Subiect to rashnes and froward confidence . (7) (7) Paul was a man subiect to the common passions of men , not to cold only and heat , but to peruerse confidence , rashnesse , and the like . Id. in 2. Cor. c. 1. v. 9 Iames (8) (8) P. Moran accuseth S. Iames of 3. faults : 1. of making a wicked argument . 2. of concluding ridiculously , and 3. of citing scripture against scripture . Ad. c. 8. Rom. did produce a wicked argument , Scripture 'gainst Scripture cite , and gaue (9 (9 Caluin feareth not to affirme , that S. Iames approued superstitious vowes and brought Paul to consent with him in the same faults . In c. 21. Act. assent To superstitious vowes , yea moued Paul Into the same erroneous zeale to fal . Mathew (10) (10) Caluin writes that Mathew did improperly , and often cite the sentences of the old Prophets , against their true and proper sense . In c. 2. Math. v. 15. in c. 4 v. 13. in c. 8. v. 17. in c. 27. v. 9. not truly stil , but from the right Sense of their words , the Prophets oft did cite . Iohn (11) (11) The Euangelist Iohn improperly calleth that faith , which is only a preparation to faith . Caluin in c. 8. and 17. Iohn vs'd improper speaches , and became A false (12) (12) See this before XXXV . 3. Apostata ; Mark (13) (13) Marke was a forsaker of his vocation , and an Apostata ; neither doth infirmitie excuse his perfidiousnes , whereby the holines of his vocation had been violated : he had filthily through his owne fault falen from his charge . Marlor . in c. 15. Act. v. 40. was the same , And most perfidiously himself bereft Of his great charge , and his vocation left : Yet for their books , (14) (14) Clebitius impugnings S. Luks report in the historie of our Sauiour's Passion , saith : Matthew and Mark deliuer the contrarie ; therefore to Matthew & Mark being two witnesses , more credit is to be giuen then to one Luke . Clebit . Vict. Verit. arg. 5. more credit is t' be showne To him and Mathew , then to Luke alone . Thus you th' Apostles censure , what then are The Fathers ? them I doubt you wil not spare , Yes , as the former : Ambrose (15) (15) Ambrose writ six books vpon Moyses , but they were meager ones . Luth. Colloq . Mens. 6. de Patr. Ecclesiae . you affirme T' haue writ but meager lines , you Leo ●earme A haughtie (16) (16) I doe freely without courtesie of titles & excepting of persons professe , that I mislike these haughtie speaches in Leo &c. Reynolds c. 1. diuis. 2. f. 17. in conference . speaker . Austin (17) (17) See the Protestants malepert Inuectiues against this holie Father before XXV . throughout . did decline To more faults . Cyprian (18) (18) In the writings of Hierome there is not a word of true faith in Christ , and sound Religion . Tertullian is very superstitious ; among the Doctours of the Church he was a second Carolostadius ; I haue holden Origen long since accursed ; of Chrysostome I make no account ; he is nothing but an idle & prating Rhetorician ; Basil is of no worth ; he is wholy a Monk ; I weigh him not a haire . Cyprian the Martyr is a weake Diuine &c. The Apologie of Philip. Melancthon doth farre excel al the Doctours of the Church , and exceed euen Austin himself . Luth. Collog . Mens . cap. de Patr. Eccl. is a weake Diuine . Basil of no worth , Chrysostome a vaine And simple (19) (19) Chrysostome alleadged indeed scripture , but he applieth it madly : and yet he often applieth it to the same purpose ; alas good man . M. Fulk ag . Purga . p. 237. see the rest next before 18. tatling Rhetorician . Maximus (20) (20) Father Maximus did dote . Isidore ouer-shot himself by slip of memorie . Theodoret serued his owne cause . Reynold c. 4. diuis. 3. f. 132. and diuis. 2. f. 123. doted . Isidore was rash . Old Irenaeus (21) (21) Irenaeus vpon the foundation of the Apostles doctrine built much stubble and straw . Ad Schult . Medul . Theol. l. 31. c. 8. see the Magdeburg . Cent. 2. c. 10. builded straw and trash Vpon truth's grounds . Bold (22) (22) Epiphanius ( the Prolocutour in the 2. Councel of Nice ) was a pratling Deacon , of more tong then wit , more face then learning . Bilson , of Christ . subiect . Epiphanius was A pratling Deacon , and so farre did passe Al limits , as he shew'd in what he writ More face then learning , and more tongue then wit . Gregorie , (23) (23) Wil you giue me leaue ( saith M. Reynolds ) to think of Gregorie , as Christ of Peter , that he knew not what he sayd . Reynold . c. 7. diuis. 9. f. 285. like Peter , knew not what he sayd , And with Fulgentius to yutly passage made For blind (24) (24) In the sixt Age , besides Pope Gregorie , and Fulgentius , you haue few other famous Doctours of the Church , who notwithstanding &c. were the cause , fountaine , and seminarie of Idolatries , and innumerable errours to the ensuing ages . Magdeburg . Praefat. in Cent. 6. Idolatrie , yet he alone Was (25) (25) Gregorie the Great the Architect of superstitions , saith Peucerus in Chrom . See more against this Saint in Bulleng . de orig. err . Missae . in Luth. ad . c. 49. Genes. in Bugenhag . ad c. 3. Ionae . in Melancth. ad c. 14. Epist. ad Roman . in Caluin ad cap. 2. Habac. the Architect of superstition . Bernard , (26) (26) Bernard worshipt the God Moozim al his life &c. was an earnest defender of the state of Antichrist ; he adored strange Gods in his preseruing of Relikes . Magdeburg , Cent. 12. c. 10. ador'd Moozim to his end , And stifly did proud Antichrist defend . Hierome (27) (27) Hierome is not worthie to be numbred among the Doctours of the Church ; for he was an heretike : yet I belieue , that through faith in Christ he is saued . He was a man of no iudgement not diligence ; he writ manie things foolishly &c. I am not so displeased at anie of the Doctours of the Church as at Hierome &c. there is not in his workes anie mention of faith , nor of hope , nor of charitie , nor of the workes of faith . Luth. Colloq . Mens . f. 478. see before at 18. more of their inuectiues against him in Luther Epist. ad Brent . praefixa Com. Brent . in Oseam . & ad c. 22. and 31. Genes. and passim in al his Comment. vpon Scripture . in Calu. l. 4. Instit. c. 19. sect. 17. and ad c. 4. Iona. in Beza de Polygam . in Magdeburg . Cent. 5. c. 8. in Causae Clip . Fid. Dial. 6. 7. 8. in Brent . Apol. Confess . Wit . c. de innoc . Sanctor . of right should not reputed be Among the Fathers , since with heresie He is infected , and no iudgement hath , Nor care , nor writeth as he ought of faith . And to conclude , the Fathers (28) (28) Our Fathers , whether holie or not holie it imports not , were blinded with Montanus his spirit , through humane traditions & doctrines of diuels , &c. they teach not purely of Iustification &c. nor take they anie care to preach Christ truly by his Ghospel Pomer . in ●on . blinded were , With wretch'd Montanus spirit , nor did feare To preach false doctrine , al their life they err'd So that , (29) (29) Luther affirmeth the Fathers of so manie Ages to haue been plainely blind and most ignorant in the Scripture ; to haue erred al their life time , and that vnlesse they were amended before their death , they were neither Saints , nor pertaining to the Church . Tom. 2. Wit . lib. de seru. arbitr . p. 434. vnlesse before their death they clear ' Their consciences from those erroneous taynts , They were not of the Church , nor now are Saints . Thus doe the Churche's glorious Lamps become Subiect to your eu'n (30) (30) See before XVIII . from 4. to 34. Christ-controlling doome . While by the same ( more partial ) Protestants Are th' (30) (30) See before XVIII . from 4. to 34. mouthes of Christ , (31) (31) Luther is the mouth of Christ , a certain God of Diuines , the onlie chief Diuine among Diuines , the prime and greatest Doctour of the Church &c. Mich. Neander in Explicat . part . Orbis , lib. 8. great (32) (32) See Luther to be affirmed a Prophet in Sleydan in English. f. 222. and read the margents besides . Luther tearmes himself a faithful Prophet , an Apostle , an Euangelist , a liuing Saint &c. Tom 2. Ien. Germ. f. 522. and 79. see also Tom. 3. f. 334. and Tom. 4. f. 186. and 280. Prophets , (33) (33) Luther was a man of God , and truly that Angel which flew through the midst of heauen with the eternal Ghospel , Apoc. 14. Mich. Neand. Theol. Christian . p. 333. see Schluss . Catal. Haeret. l. 13. p. 314. 316. and 489. and Amsdorf . Sacer. Matthes . and others in their bookes passim . Angels , (34) (34) Holie S. Luther , saith &c. M. Gabr. Powel . Consid. of the Pap. suppli . p. 70. see more 32. and after at . 37. Saints , Lights (35) (35) O you Tigurins , you haue receaued into Tigure Peter Martyr , and Bernardin Ochin ; what two lights ? &c. Happie England whilst it had these , miserable when it lost them . Bale Praefat. in Act. Rom. Pont. of whole Nations ▪ (36) (36) Peter Martyr calleth Melancthon a man incomparable , and most instructed in al kind of vertue & learning , Dial. de Corp. Christi in loco , f. 107. cont. Gardiner . de Euchar. pag. 768. men adorn'd with al Vertue and learning , (37) (37) Christus habet primas , habeas tibi , Paule , secundas , At loca post illos proxima Luther habet ,

which I haue Englished thus : The first place Christ , the second Paul obtaines , The next for Luther after those remaines .

These two verses , saith Spangenbe●gius , were composed in honour of our most deare Maister S. Luther ; & al Papists must suffer them , wil they nil they , for true verses , &c. Spangenberg . in his Dutch booke against certain Catholikes , and in that part which is against Stephen Agricola c. 4. 6. v. a.

next to Christ and Paul , Worthie Diuines , (38) (38) M. Iewel is by M. Hooker tearmed the worthiest diuine that Christendome bred for some hundred yeares past . Eccles. Pol. l. 2. sect. 6. p. 150. whose bookes deserue a place I' th' (39) (39) Luther iudgeth Melancthon's booke of Common Places worthie to be placed in the Ecclesiastical Canon of holie Scripture . Tom. 2. de seru. arbitr . f. 424. see him in Colloq . Conuiu . c. de Patr. Eccles. see more here before at 18. Churche's Canon , whose learn'd Authours trace Truth 's foot-steps , righter , and in faith more (40) (40) Surely you are not able to reckon in anie Age since the Apostles times , anie companie of Bishops , that taught and held so sound and perfect doctrine in al points , as the Bishops of England doe at this day . Answ. to the Admonit . p. 472. 473. see Cal. Secund. Cur. de ampl . regni Dei , l. 1. p. 43. see also Beza Ep. 1. p. 5. sound Then since th' Apostle's times haue yet been found . The ancient Fathers of the Church , you say , Were farre to you inferiour (41) (41) Beza makes two kinds of interpreting scripture , the one touching only the words &c. the others is ( saith he ) by vnfolding the matter it-self in more words , & annexing of reasons thereunto , in which kind of interpreting ( in my opinion , and I thinke in the iudgement of al learned men , who haue looked into his books ) the great Iohn Caluin wil be found farre to haue surpassed al both the ancient and new Interpreters . Beza Praefat. in Nouum Testam . see him l. Icon. R. iij. a. See Nic. Amsdorf . Praefat. in 1. Tom. Luth. and Alber . cont . Carlost . l. 7. 6. see also Stigel . l. 2. poemat . N. 4. euerie way , In clearing of the Scripture's hidden sense , 'Twixt whom , and you , there is that difference As is 'twixt Sunne and Moone . I know it wel , Nay more ; as much as is 'twixt Heauen and Hel. (42) (42) Since the Apostles times there liued not , or came into the world anie greater then Luther , and it may wel be said , that God powred al his guifts into this one man ; and that there is as great a difference betwixt the ancient Doctours , and Luther , as there is betwixt the light of the Sunne and Moone , and there is no doubt but the ancient Fathers , yea the prime and best amongst them , as Hilarie and Austin , if they had liued and taught at the same time with Luther , would without blushing , as his seruants , haue carried the lanterne before him . Andr. Muscul . Praefat. in lib. Germ. de Diab . tyrannide .

XLV . Luther's respect to S. Hierome . WHile Luther liu'd , he would not to haue gain'd Ten thousand (1) (1) If anie man would giue me 10000 Crownes , I would not be in that peril and extreme hazard of my saluation , wherin Hierome is . Luth. Colloq . Mens . f. 377. Crownes , haue had his soule so stain'd With sinnes black guilt , as Hierom's was , and be In as great peril to be damn'd as he . Sure now to be but so , he would become More tractable , and take a lesser Summe .

XLVI . The dutiful children . NOt anie Protestant , but stil auowes The Church to be his (1) (1) These are so generally holden by al , that they require no further proofe . mother , and Christ's Spouse ; And yet , against the square which cannot erre Of (2) (2) My spirit that is in thee , and my words that I haue put in thy mouth , shal not depart out of thy mouth , and out of the mouthes of thy Seed , and out of the mouth of thy Seed's Seed , saith our Lord , for this present and for euer . Esay . c. 59. v. 22. And further : I haue espoused you to one man , to exhibit you a chast virgin vnto Christ . 2. Cor. 11.2 . See more in Coccius tom. 1. l. 8. art. 1. Bellarm. tom . 2. Controu. 1. l. 3. D. Nor. his Antid . part . 3. Scriptures , yea and (3) (3) The Spouse of Christ cannot play the aduoutresse , she is immaculate and vndefiled ; she knoweth one house ; she keepeth with chast bashfulnesse the sanctitie of one bed . S. Cypri . de vnit . Eccles. See more testimonies of the Fathers alleaged for the Churches infallibilitie and freedome from errour in Coccius , Bellarm. and D. Nor. vbi supra . Fathers , they auerre , She of her Faith hath so regardlesse been , As since the Apostles she scarce (4) (4) It is granted by Protestants themselues , that presently after the Apostles times al things were turned vpside-downe &c. and that for certaine , through the worke of Antichrist , the external Church togeather with the Faith and Sacraments vanished away presently after the Apostles departure ( Sebast . Franc. Epist. de abrog . stat. Eccl. ) & that the true Church decayed immediately after the Apostles times ( M. Fulck Answ. to a Counterf . Cath. p. 35. ) yea and that this general defection of the visible Church ( foretold 2. Thess. 2. ) began to worke euen in the Apostles times . M. Downh . of Antichrist . l. 2. c. 2. p. 25. See also M. Whitaker Resp. ad Rat. Camp. rat . 7. and cont . Dur. l. 7. p. 490. and 461. where he seekes to proue that presently after the Apostles times the true Church was no longer a chast virgin , but became adulterous and corrupt . See more in the Protest . Apol. p. 129. 130. 131. 222. 223. 301. 490. e're was seen But taynted , and impure ; did wholy loose Not only th' (5) (5) The Pope of Rome , hath most plainely rooted out the Ghospel truly oppressed and ouerthrowne . Luth. Epist. ad Freder . Elect. tom . 7. fol. 506. See him likewise tom. 2. f. 249. 387. and tom. 5. f. 306. 322. Ghospel , but euen (6) (6) So by litle and litle true Christ was taken out of the world , and Antichrist put in his stead . Cel. See Curie de amplit . regni Dei l. 1. p. 33. See the like in Luther tom. 3. f. 126. 345. tom. 4. f. 1. tom. 5. f. 306. 376. tom. 6. f. 660. Christ her Spouse ; No (7) (7) With great distresse went they scattering about , seeking some sparkes of heauenlie light to refresh their Consciences withal , but that light was alreadie throughly quencht-out , so that they could find none . This was a rueful state ; this was a lamentable forme of God's Church : it was a miserie to liue therein without the Ghospel , without light , without al comfort . Apol. of the Ch. of Engl. part . 5. c. 13. diuis . 1. See more in Melancthon or Curion in Chron. l. 4. p. 439. Chemnit . in locis , part . 2. p. 246. Sadl . de vocat . Minist. p. 552. Hospin . hist. Sacram. part . 1. l. 4. p. 291. sparke of true Faith , heauenlie fire was cherisht ; Al was (8) (8) The knowledge of Christ was truly abolished and destroyed . Luth. tom. 7. f. 230. See him tom. 1. f. 387. and M. Bale Apol. ag . Priests . f. 3. and Caluin . l. de vera Reform p. 322. Danae . in l. August . de haeres . c. 9. destroy'd , (9) (9) The Pope's tyrannie hath manie Ages agone extinguished the Faith. Luth. tom. 1. f. 77. and 249. and tom. 3. f. 348. 568. to . 4. f. 1. See Sleidan l. 11. f. 240. Melancth. or Carto● in Chron. p. 439. see before at . 7. extinguisht , (10) (10) Vnder Poperie that doctrine without which Christianitie cannot consist , was al buried and shut out . Calu. l. 4. Instit. c. 2. sect. 2. see Luther tom. 6. f. 199. buried , (11) (11) Certain it is that our Apostolical Bishops raigning , God's faith perished . Luth. tom. 1. f. 375. see M. Bal● Cent. 4. cap 6. perisht , Yea eu'n her (12) (12) See before xi . 1.18 . soule was (13) (13) In times past certain absurd opinions horribly ouerwhelmed this doctrine ( of iustification . ) Confess . Aug. p. 25. see Sleidan f. 240. Melancth. to. 2. respons. ad Cler. Colon. p. 96. 97. 99. Calu. resp. ad Sadol . p. 125. and passim omnes . ouer-whelmed quite Polluted , (14) (14) Schoole-diuinitie quite trampled and extinguished the least sparkles of pure doctrine touching the Law , the Ghospel , Faith , & Iustification before God. Melanct. or Carion in Chron. p. 439. and deuoyd of al true light . So that in lieu of being true , say they , And faithful to her Spouse , she fel away To soule (15) (15) It is true , that al the Church was corrupted , al adultresse , al Idolatresse . Boisseul Confut. Spond. 742. s●● before at 4. adulterie . Did er'e fooles before Striue in this sort to proue their mother whore ?

XLVII . THE IVDGE . HVsse (1) (1) What did the Popish faith decree ( saith M. Fox ) concerning Transubstantiation , which he ( Iohn Husse ) likewise did not confirme ? M. Fox in Apoc. c. 11. p. 290. See him further acknowledged by the same M. Fox to haue maintained Transubstantiation , in Act. and Monum . p. 209. and 197. I haue here the rather giuen instance of Husse for this doctrine of Transubstantiation , then of anie learned Catholike , because he is generally by Protestants receaued for one of their owne Church . holds whole Christ doth in the Eucharist Vnder the formes of bread and wine consist . Luthers (2) (2) Of the Sacrament of the Altar we decree that the bread and wine in the supper is the true bodie and bloud of Christ ; and that it is not only giuen and receaued by the godlie , but likewise by bad and wicked Christians &c. We respect not the sophistical subtilitie of Transubstantiation , wherein they feigne &c. that true bread doth not remaine . For it agreeth best with scripture , that the bread is present & doth remaine &c. Luth. artic. Smalkald . part . 3. art. 6. opinion is , that we are fed With Christ's true real flesh , but ioyn'd with bread . Zuinglius maintaineth , that the bread and wine (3) (3) The Eucharist , Communion , or Lord's supper ( saith Zuinglius ) is nothing else but a Commemoration &c. ( tom. 2. f. 212. ) it is nothing but a signe or figure , to make vs keep in mind the memorie of Christ's bodie , which was deliuered for vs , &c. This is , that is to say , this signifies my bodie ; which is , as if anie woman shewing a ring , which for this end her husband had left with her , should say , Behold , this is my husband . Ib. fol. 293. see f. 477. and here before IX . 5. Are not Christ's bodie , but a naked signe . Caluin (4) (4) We may see therefore ( saith Caluin ) wherein Luther erred , & in like sort Zuinglius and Oecolampadius . Calu. lib. de Caena Domini Argent . edit . an . 1540. see him further condemning the Lutherans for Consubstantiation , and the immensitie of Christ's bodie , charging them therfore with the errour of Marcion . Inst. l. 4. c. 17. sect. 16. 17. 18. dissenting from the former , saith 'T is (5) (5) In the mysterie of the Supper ( saith Caluin in Instit. l. 4. c. 17. sect. 11. ) by the signes of bread and wine is truly deliuered to vs Christ's bodie and bloud . And againe : In his holie Supper he commandeth me to take , eate , and drinke , vnder the Symbols of bread and wine , his bodie and bloud . I nothing doubt , that both he doth truly deliuer them , and I doe receaue them . ibid. sect . 32. But I denie ( saith he a litle after ) that it can be eaten without the tast of faith . ib. sect. 33. & a few lines after : That Christ should be receaued without faith is no more agreeing with reason , then seed to bud in the fire . truly Christ , but to the mouth of faith . Al these were learned Doctours , and suppos'd To be by th' Spirit to al truth dispos'd ; These (6) (6) Bohemia for the most part followeth the opinion of Iohn Husse , saith M. Grimst . in his Translat . of the Estates of the world . p. 580. The Marquis of Brandenburg , the Dukes of Saxonie , Brunswick , & Wittemberg , the Eearles of Mansfeldt , and the Free-townes , which confine with the Sea and France , follow the profession of Luther . ibid. p. 159. to which we may adde out of the same Authour Denmark paeg. 666. In Switzerland the doctrine of Zuinglius , as al know , hath possessed 5. of the better Cantons ; and as for the Grisons ( saith M. Grimston ) they of the League , called Grise , are for the most part Catholikes , & the rest in a manner al Protestants , which follow Zuinglians doctrine . ib. p. 280. As for the doctrine of Caluin , it is so generally knowne to be maintained in England , France , & Holland , as it needs no further testimonie . al haue Colledges , and men of name , Yea Townes , or Nations , which maintaine the same ; The Scripture's words they did acknowledge al , Al vs'd the same endeauours , which they cal The best approued way , and meanes most fit To find the true sense of th' ETERNAL'S Writ ; They al had skil in tongues , they al perus'd And weigh'd the Text , they al ( they thought ) stil vs'd (7) (7) The assured meanes assigned by Protestants to find out the vndoubted truth by the infallible interpretation of Scripture , is their reading thereof , their conference of places , their weighing of the circumstances of the Text , their skil in the tongues , their diligence , prayer , & such like . See D. Reynolds Confer . p. 83. 84. 92. 98. 99. & M. Whitaker de sacra Scrip. p. 521. 522. 523. Due diligence , with prayer , and places hard And doubtful speaches carefully compar'd : Yet did they al in this and manie more Chief heads of Faith , which I haue toucht before , (8) (8) See before , XLI . throughout . Dissent so farre , as by a mutual stile In greatest heat each other to reuile With th' name of Heretike ; and stil did grudge To be oppos'd by anie : Where 's the Iudge ? (9) (9) See XLII . throughout . Whereas some may here demand of me , where I find that Husse is so seuerely censured by the other three ; I answer , that the doctrine of Transubstantiation , which Husse maintained , is by them condemned in vs Catholikes for such ; as likewise the other Catholike opinions , which he is confessed to haue belieued , as seauen Sacraments ( Fox Act. Mon. p. 216. ) the Pope's Primacie ( M. Iacob Def. of the Ch. of Engl. p. 13. and Act. Mon. p. 2●7 . 216. Luther Assert . art. 30. ) yea & the Masse it-self , as Luther granteth in colloq . Germ. cap. de Missa . See more in M. Iacob , vbi suprà .

XLVIII . Of the Crosse , to Ananias . SAY , Ananias , whence doth it arise That in this sort thou shouldst the Crosse (1) (1) Luther saith , if he might recouer any parcel of the Crosse , he would cast it into the darkest & rankest sinke . Luth. in Postilla Ecc. Wit . fol. 148. 6. & 149. §. 2. Beza from his hart detesteth the image of the Crucifixe . Beza in Colloq . Montispil . & in Ep. 8. 12. Puritans tearme the crosse the marke of the beast , not to be tolerated in Baptisme by a timorous conscience . See the suruey of Common Prayer pag. 100. 102. 103. and their short Treatise of the Crosse in 8. Amsterd . 1604. pag. 21. despise ? When those Diuine Diuines , those more then men , Those saint-like Sages Austin , Nazianzen , Ambrose , both Cyrils , Athanasius , ●oth Clements , Hierome , Epiphanius , ●nd al the rest of this graue learned troop With reuerence stil before the Crosse did stoop , ●nd in their actions to preuent al feare Of Sathan's snares , the Crosse chiefe place did beare . (2) (2) By the mysterie of this Crosse the rude are catechized , the font of Baptisme consecrated ; with the signe of the same Crosse , by imposition of the hand , the baptized receiue the guifts of graces ; with the character of the same crosse Cathedral Churches are dedicated , Altars consecrated , Sacraments with the imposition of our Lords words accomplished Priestes also and Leuites by this are promoted to holy Orders , and generally al the Ecclesiastical Sacraments are by the vertue of this performed . Aug. ser. 19. de Sanctis Chrifost . hom. 55. in Mat. Then with the Crosse the rude were catechiz'd , The font was blest , the faithful al baptiz'd , Churches therwith they stil did dedicate , Altars , and Christ his body (3) (3) With this signe of the Crosse the body of our Lord Iesus Christ is consecrated . Aug. ser. 101. de tempore . consecrate , (2) (2) By the mysterie of this Crosse the rude are catechized , the font of Baptisme consecrated ; with the signe of the same Crosse , by imposition of the hand , the baptized receiue the guifts of graces ; with the character of the same crosse Cathedral Churches are dedicated , Altars consecrated , Sacraments with the imposition of our Lords words accomplished Priestes also and Leuites by this are promoted to holy Orders , and generally al the Ecclesiastical Sacraments are by the vertue of this performed . Aug. ser. 19. de Sanctis Chrifost . hom. 55. in Mat. The Priest receiued Orders , and in fine , By power and vertue of this sacred signe Al Sacraments ( our bucklers 'gainst hel's might ) Performed were , without (4) (4) Which signe of the Crosse , vnles it be applied to the forehead of them that belieue , or to the water itself wherof they are regenerated , or to the oyle wherwith they are annointed , or to the sacrifice wherwith they are fed , not any of them is rightly performed . Aug. trac. 118. in Ioan. ser. 19. de SS. &c. it nothing right . (5) (5) Let vs not be ashamed to confesse Christ crucified but let the signe of the Crosse be confidently imprinted with our finger in the forehead● , and in al things els : Let there be made a Crosse when we eate bread , when we drinke , when we goe forth , when we come in , before sleep , when we lye down , and when we rise ; when we goe and when we rest . Cyril Hierosol . Catech. 13. At the table , when we see lights , in our chamber , when we sit , what conuersation soeuer we be busyed in , we stil make the signe of the crosse in our forehead . Tertul. de Corona militis c. 3. Before they went to sleep , when they awak't Before they rose , when they their rest forsak't , When they were drest , before they tooke the ayre , When they began to study ; or prepare To eate , or drink , or talk , or light to see , Or what soe're they did , immediately They with the Cross● against al future harme , Then forehead , brests , and other parts did arme . (6) (6) When the soldier of Christ had thus said , he fortified himselfe with the signe of the Crosse , and with constancie of mind and vndanted countenance , without changing colour at al , he ioyfully went to punishment . Basil . in magn . orat . Gord. Mart. Did euer Tyrant seek by threats or paine T' enforce t●em from Christs holy truth refraine ? Lest they perhaps vnarm'd should loose the field 'Gainst threats and paine the Crosse was stil their shield . (7) (7) By the signe of the Crosse al magike is depressed , sorcery made of no effect &c. Athanas . de Incarnat . Verbi . Did any e're by magike art intend To trouble them ? The same Crosse was their freind . (8) (8) Making the signe of the Crosse , he without any feare drunke the poyson . Greg. Mag. de Sabino Episcopo . Idem lib. 2. Dial. c. 3. where he writes that a poysoned glasse was broken by the signe of the Crosse ; as with a stone . Did any to them , vnder faire pretence Of loue , giue poyson ? Th' Crosse was their defence They euer he●d . Good Zealous , doe not grudge Heer to admit now an vnpartial Iudge , Whether 't is fitter I my selfe resigne To their so general iudgement , or to thine ? (9) (9) What doe the diuels feare ? What doe they tremble at ? Doubtles at the Crosse of Christ , in which they were subdued , in which &c. Feare therfore & trembling wil surprize them when they see the signe of the Crosse faithfully fixed in vs . Orig. Hom. 6. in & Hom. 8. in diuersos Euangelij locos Cyrillus Hieros . Catech. 13. Ephrem . ad Monachos paren . 2. Hieron . ad Psal . 85. They h●ld , I say , that Diuels euer feare Before the Ensigne of the Crosse t' appeare ; That Crosses can euen with their very sight (10) (10) A man vsing the signe of the Crosse doth driue away the deceits of the diuel &c. Athana . de Incarnatione Verbi & in vita Antonij Detect their slights , and put them al to flight : (11) (11) A certaine man called Ioseph , a Patriarch among the Iewes , become a Christian , did take a vessel of water before them al , and with a lowd voice , imposing with his owne finger the signe of the Crosse vpon the vessel , & calling vpon the name of Iesus , said thus : In the name of Iesus of Nazareth , whom my forefathers crucified , be there power in this water to confound enchantments and magike &c. which done , al the enchantments were forthwith dissolued . Epiph. Her. 30. cont. Ebionitas . That crosses can to water power impart Streight to dissolue the slights of diuelish art , (12) (12) The Bishop Donatus came not armed against the Dragon with sword , speare , or dart , but made against him the Crosse with his finger in the ayre , and spit in his face . The Dragon no sooner receiued the spits into his mouth , but instantly dyed . Sozomen . l. 7. c. 23. & Chrisost. hom. 55. in Mat. That Crosses had wild beasts to mildnes brought (13) (13) Of miracles wrought by the Crosse read Theodoret. in vita S. Iuliani , & vita S. Martiani , & in Philotheo cap. 9. Hieron . in vita Hilarionis , Tert. de scorpiac . Aug. de Ciuit. Dei lib. 22. c. 8. Victor Vticens . de persecutione Wand . lib. 2. Gregor. Mag. lib. 2. Dial. c. 3. Sulpicius in vita S. Martiani with infinit more . That Crosses diuers miracles had wrought : (14) (14) How great a terrour this signe of the Crosse is to the diuels , he may wel know , who hath seen how , adiured by Christ , they fly forth of the bodies which they had possest : for as he with a word &c. so now his followers cast those foule polluted spirits forth of men , both with the name of their Master , and with the signe of his passion . Lactant. lib. 4. Instit. cap. 27. That Crosses without doubt can d spossesse (15) (15) The impression of the vital signe freeth vs from carnal desires , and frames our life to the imitation of God. Dionys . Areop . Eccl. Hierar . That Crosses can our loose desires represse . That such as ere to Crosses haue recourse (16) (16) What dost thou thinke the diuel wil suffer , if he see thee hold that sword wherwith Christ quaild his power ? &c. Chrisost. hom. 55. in Mat. Need not to dread the power of hellish force . (17) (17) Be not thou therfore ashamed of so great a good , lest when Christ shal come in his Maiesty he be ashamed of thee : for then shalt thou see this signe more brig●t then the sunne beames before Christ &c. Idem in hom. 55. in Mat. They gaue vs counsel not to be asham'd To vse that Crosse , wherwith hels pride was tam'ed , Lest when that Christ shal in the fearful day That glorious Ensigne in the ayre display He our disdaine with death shal prosecute And be asham'd to heare our shameles sute . (18) (18) The Crosse is become more famous then diadems or crownes ; neither is there a crowne greater or ornament to the head , then is the Crosse , which is more worthy of al honour . Idem . ibidem . They priz'd a Crosse more highly farre then gemmes Then gold , then pearle , then Crownes , or diadems , And thought the Crosse which on the ground was worne , More then the Crowne which Princes heads adorne . (19) (19) Theodorus and Valens added the cause of this their statute to be Ne sacrum signum pedibus calcaretur , Lest the holy signe should be troden vnder-foot . l. 1. Codi . tit . leg . cum fit nobis . We ought to blesse our forehead and brest with the Crosse of our Lord , and we tread it vnder our feet . Paul. Diac. lib. 18. rerum Roman . It was a saying of the Emperour Tyberius 2. So that the Emperours for reuerence sake Gaue special charge none on the ground should make The Crosse , because they held it farre vnmeet , That blessed signe should be defir'd with feet . But it was then ( though no-where now at al ) (20) (20) Wherfore let vs with gentle diligence ingraue the Crosse in our chambers , in the wals , in the windowes , in our foreheads . Chrisost. Hom. 55. in Mat. And in an other place he saith : It is on the wals and tops of howses , in bookes , in Cities , in townes inhabited and not inhabited . Quod Christus sit Deus . Ruffinus Eccles. hist. lib. 2. c. 29. First on each window , and on euery wal . The same Crosse then the top of houses crownes Adornes great Cities , graces countrey Townes ; Shines bright in holy Churches , no place free From that deuotion-stirring mysterie ; Which to confirme since scriptures were not found , (21) (21) Of these ( to wit the making the signe of the Crosse in the forehead ) and other such like doctrine , if you expect authority from scripture you shal find none : tradition shal be alleaged to be the authour , custome the confirmer , and faith the obseruer . Tert. de corona militis cap. 3. the same saith S. Basil de Spiritu Sancto c. 27. They thought Tradition a sufficient ground . And yet thy , Brother , zeale doth neuer doubt At this so much respected signe to flout , (22) (22) Others vse to make the signe of the Crosse vpon them with their fingers , to the end that by this signe they may be safe from the Diuel &c. this is not piey but magike Ioannes Brentius in Catechis . explicans symbolum Apostolorum . And say that when the diuel doth depart At sight therof , it is by magike art : (23) (23) Christ crucified is better represented by a Cow then a Crucifixe . Who belch forth this blasphemy see in Beza Colloq . Mompelgar . pag. 406. And ( thou , good Reader , heer auert a while Thy face , lest that this clause thy eyes defile , And thou , sweet Iesus , pardone the words I hate , I but thy foes blasphemous words relate ) And that more truely then a crosse , a Cow Doth to vs al Christ crucified shew . Tel me be ey and nay ( for vnto thee The spirit reueals al truth ) how can it be That such great men should walke so farre astray And only thou find out the neer high-way ? Perhaps they al were fooles , thou only wise , Thou to the blinded world a sunne did'st rise , To chase al misty shades thou wast elect , As worthier farre then they for to detect Their faults , and best deseru'dst that vnto thee The spirit should shew the truth . Yes verily .

FINIS .