YOu wonder that any man in England endued with a good iudgement , conioyned with a religious conscience , can either accept or affect the Protestants new coyned gospell . But why doe you not shew what is the new coyned gospell , which the Protestants preach and professe . The Gospell is the good and ioyfull message of our saluation , through Gods mercies purchased vnto vs by Iesus Christ . This Gospell God preached to Adam , that Iesus Christ the seed of the woman should breake the Serpents Genes. 3. 16. head . This he renued to Abraham saying , In thy seed shall all the nations of the world bee blessed . This Gospell was Genes. 22. 18. preached by all the Prophets , who beare witnesse vnto Christ , that through his name all that beleeue in him , shall Act. 10. 43. reciue forgiuenesse of sinnes . Now if you can prooue that wee preach or maintaine any other gospell then this , then you may well call it a new coyned gospell : if otherwise , take heed you doe not belch out blasphemie , in calling this old and true gospell of Iesus Christ , a new coyned gospell . And let the Christian reader , which tendereth his owne saluation , well consider who they be that coine a new , false , and counterfeit gospell . Doe not they which teach vs to ascend into heauen by the bloud of Thomas Becket , coyne a In the Popish Primer printed 1557. new and false gospell : Tu per Thomae sanguinem &c. which they Englished in Queene Maries dayes thus : By the bloud of Thomas , which hee for thee did spend , make vs Christ to come , whither Thomas did ascend . Againe , Iesu bone per Thomae merita , nostra nobis dimitte debita : O good Iesus for the merits of Thomas ( Becket ) forgiue vs our sinnes . Doe not they , which teach vs to seeke to bee deliuered from the fire of hell by the merits and prayers of Saint Nicholas , maintaine a new coyned gospell ? Thus they prayed : Quesimus vt eius meritis & precibus à gehennae incendiis In the same Primer . liberemur : Grant wee beseech thee , that by his merites and prayers wee may bee deliuered from the fire of hell . Do not they which say and beleeue of an Agnus dei , that is to say , a peece of waxe and balme consecrated by the Pope , Tollit & omne malignum , peccatum frangit , vt Lib. 1. Caeremo . titul. 7. pag 91. Christi sanguis & angit , It taketh away all euill , it breaketh and strangleth sinne as doth the bloud of Christ : doe not they ( I say ) coine a new , false , and blasphemous Gospell ? Yes surely , for to attribute remission of sinnes , or any part of saluation to the merits of any other , but onely of Iesus Christ crucified , is to coine a new and false gospell : for it is not that gospell of God , which hee promised afore by his Rom. 1. 2. Prophets in the holy scriptures , which is concerning his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord , &c. To conclude this point , I say woe , woe vnto them that accept or affect any new coined gospell . Script . Brita . Centur. 4. p. 308. How your Friers went about aboue 300. yeares past to bring in a new coyned gospell , which they called the euerlasting gospell , and said , that it excelled as much the Gospel of Christ , as the Sunne in brightnesse excelleth the Moone , and the kirnell the shell , Maister Bale out of the Bookes of that execellent man William de Sancto amore , who in those dayes did withstand their diuelish deuises , did largely declare . And whereas you wonder that men indued with iudgment and a religious conscience , could affect or accept the gospel that we preach , which you falsely call a new coined gospell : we may well wonder , that any man that hath any sparke of knowledge or conscience should beleeue these foresaid false gospels . Wee may also wonder that men indued with reasonable soules and senses , being the handy worke of God , should bow downe and worship a stone and stock , which hath neither soule nor life ; hath eyes and seeth not ; eares and heareth not , &c. and is the workemanship of mans Psal. 115. & 135. hands , especially being so plainely and expresly forbidden in Gods commandements , & infinit places of the scriptures . We may wonder that any man should be so mad , as to worship , and thinke that which he doth eate , to be his God and maker : which is so absurd , that euen Tully not without Cicero de Natura d●orum lib. 2. reason could say , sed ecquem tam amentem esse put as , qui illud quo vescitur deum credat esse ? Doest thou thinke any man so mad as to beleeue that to be his God , which he doth eate ? yet into this madnesse , by a spirituall phrensie , be these men fallen . Wee also may wonder , that they should beleeue such false fables , and lying miracles , as abound in poperie : as for example , ( to cast the dung of their abhominations vpon their faces ) . That Images did speake , did sweate , did roll their eyes , did bleed : that the head of a dog being cut off from the body by theeues , which vpon Saint Katherines day came to rob a Priest , who was a deuoute Inter sermones discipuli Serm. de S. Katherin . worshipper of her , did still barke ? That the Virgin Mary did for many yeares in a Nunnery keepe the keyes , and supply the place of one Beatrix , whilest shee went away and played the whore . These and many such absurd fables were preached , published , printed , and beleeued , as may appeare by Sermones discipuli , Antoninus the Archbishop of In promptu . discipuli . Florence stories , Mariale , Summa praedicantia , the festiuall , Vitas patrum , and that monstrous booke the Legend , written by Iacobus de Voragine , Archbishop of Genua : Which Supplementum Chronicorum Bergomens . li. 13. fol. 205. yet was in so great reputation with them , that it was published in print in the English tongue , when the holy Bible was suppressed , and had this title set before it , The golden Legend : for as gold excelleth all other mettals , so this booke excelleth all other bookes : to the which title that worthy and right worshipfull Knight Sir Andrew Corbet of blessed memory , did adde these words , In lying , and so of a false & blasphemous title , made it a most true title . Yea I haue a booke in English in Folio , translated out of French , and printed in London in King Henry the eights daies Anno 1521. intituled , The flower of the Commandements , fully fraighted with such sottish and worse then old wiues fables , which yet in those daies were preached and beleeued of which to giue fol. 251. the reader a taste , I will set downe two or three . It is there sayd that Iohn Damescene hauing his hand cut off for writing letters against the Emperour , the same was suddenly set on againe to write a praier , which he had made to fol. 254. the Virgine Marie . Also , that a theefe which vsed to fast the vigiles of the feastes of our Ladie and vsed to pray vnto her , beeing hanged by the space of three daies could not die , for the Virgine Marie susteined him on the gibet ; infinite such other fables swarme in that booke . And wee may wonder that men of any wisedome , knowledge , or iudgement , should bee deluded and mocked with such false , fained reliques , as were and are in Popery , as with Saint Peters finger at Walfingham , as bigge as if it Erasmus in Colloquio . peregriergo . Blondus de Roma instaurata lib. 3. prope sinem . Holingshead in Henry 8. p. 946 Caluinus admonitione de reliquijs . had beene of some Giant : and also the virgin Maries milke there , which seemeth by Erasmus to haue beene the white of an egge and chalke mingled together , and a vessell of the same at Rome as writeth Blondus : the bloud of Hales , the which was prooued and declared at Paules Crosse by the Bishop of Rochester in king Henry the eights daies , to haue beene clarified honey coloured with saffron . In Geneua there was worshipped for the arme of Saint Anthonie , that which afterward was prooued to bee the pisle of a Stagge , for a peece of Saint Peters scull , that which was found to bee a pumish stone . But this will not bee beleeued of this writer and of his fellowes , because Caluin did write it . But why Caluin should write and publish euen in the French tongue in Geneua , such a thing of Geneua , vnlesse it were true , which the Inhabitants thereof might know to bee false , I see no reason : it could purchase no credit to him or to his doctrine . But why might not that as well bee true , as the things before alleaged , or as that which Gregorius Turonensis who liued sundry hundreth yeares past , writeth Greg●● . Turo●ens . lib. 9. ca. 6 that there was found in a boxe of reliques , of a certaine Sainct , rootes of trees , the teeth of a Mole , the bones of Mice , and the clawes of Beares , which were worshipt for holie reliques . But of these iuglings I will write no more at this present , GOD may giue occasion hereafter more largely to intreate of them . At these things we may wonder , but yet wee doe not ouermuch meruaile and wonder at them , for that the spirit of GOD by Saint Paule hath foreshewed vs , that the time would come , when men shold 2. Timoth. 4. 4 turne away their eares from the truth , and bee giuen to fables : and that the comming of Antichrist should bee by 2. Thessal. 2. 9. the effectuall working of sathan , with all powre and signes , and lying wonders , and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnes , amongst them that perish , because they receiued not the loue of the truth that they might bee saued , therefore GOD should send them a strong delusion to beleeue lies , that all they might bee damned which beleeued not the truth , but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes . Whereas you request that hee that shall answere this your pamphlet , will doe it briefely , orderly , and seriously , I will indeuor to doe the two last as GOD shall inable me . But concerning breuitie , I will vse my libertie , and peraduenture more largely lay downe your absurdities , then you would bee willing I should doe . But whereas you say , that you make this request , for that you perceiue that the Protestants cannot answere with breuitie , because their Religion lacketh both certaintie and perspicuitie : I say that with one breath you doe vtter two vntruthes . The first that wee cannot answere with breuitie , which how vntrue it is , let it be tried first by the briefe and pithy answeres of that great learned man Doctor Fulke : who answering many of their bookes , which yet to this day stand vndefended , how briefely and pithily hee answered the same , let any man that hath but a graine of indifferent iudgement , consider and iudge . And particularlie I referre them to his answere to Rishtons challenge , and to Allens booke of Purgatorie , both in one volume : yea many times in his writings hee called them from long and impertinent discourses , to short syllogismes , wherevnto ●ee could neuer bring them . How closely that pretious Iewell and excellent ornament of this Church of England did hold himselfe to the matter , and how vnlike hee was to Doctor Harding in his long discourses and digressions , who in his booke intituled , A detection of lies , &c. discoursed two hundred and sixe whole sides of paper , onely in preambles and prefaces , before hee once stept into his matter , as Maister Iewel truely told him ; let the vpright Preface to the defence of the Apology edition 2. reader indifferently iudge . The like I may say of that worthie man of famous memorie , Doctor Whitakers , who how briefely , soundlie , and learnedlie hee hath answered Campion , Saunders , Duree , Stapleton , William Reynolds , & Bellarmine , any man that hath an incorrupt eye may see and discerne . And if T. W. bee the author of this pamphlet ( as I nothing doubt but hee is ) he may remember ▪ that one which had conference with him , did write a briefe Epistle vnto him , and did therein set downe short sillogismes concerning the controuersies of praier to Saints , and the sacrifice of the Masse , and required to haue the like short syllogismes set downe of him for the defence of his assertions , and could not receiue one , but along tedious discourse concerning praier to Saints , which was confuted , and neuer defended . But whether answeres be briefe or long , it maketh no matter , so that they be learned , sound and true , to the effectuall confuting of the errour , and satisfying of the reader . Now as touching certaintie which you say , but doe not shew , that our Religion lacketh : I answere and auouch that our Religion is farre more certaine , consonant , and agreeable to it selfe , then the doctrine of the Church of Rome is : the which if I do not effectually proue hereafter in place more conuenient , I will not require any man ( to vse your owne words ) to accept , or affect it . But with what forehead can this man charge our doctrine with want of perspicuitie , seeing hee cannot bee ignorant how obscure , darke , and intricate the popish Religion and doctrine is ; as may appeere by their manifold , both curious questions , and intricate distinctions , which be their chiefe shifts , to elude the plaine truth . And if any would see how darke the doctrine and writings of Papists are , let him looke into the Schoolemen , Tho. Aquine , Io Scotus , Alexander de Hales , Gabriel Biel , and many such other , amongst whom he may finde as much certaintie , vnitie , and perspicuitie of doctrine , as hee may in hell . But how we study for perspicuitie , and seeke to make all matters plaine , both in our preachings , and in our writings , auoyding all curious questions , and intricate and needlesse distinctions ; we appeale to the consciences of al that reade , and heare vs . As touching your method concerning errours in doctrine , and inordinate affections in manners , if you can proue , that our wits be inueigled with them , and our liues stained with these , more then wee can prooue euen your holy Fathers the Popes , forsooth Peters successors , and Christes vicars haue beene , you shall winne the victorie . You seeme to attribute too much to our very naturall faculties , to the iudging and discerning of truth proposed , not considering the corruption of our naturall faculties by sinne , how both the minde is blinded , and the will peruerted . Our Sauiour Christ saith , The light shineth in darkenesse , and the darkenesse Iohn 1. 5. 1. Cor. 2. 14. comprehendeth it not : Saitn Paul saith , that animalis homo , the naturall man perceiueth not the things of the spirit of GOD , for they are foolishnes vnto him : neither can hee know them because they are spiritually discerned . But of this I forbeare to speake any more , and also will leaue the other wast words in your letter , and doe come vnto your articles of faith .

LOoking in this first article to haue found a syllogisme , which this worthy writer vseth in some articles following , but heere for want of a good medium ( as it may seeme ) to frame one by , hath omitted ; I found a false assertion , and a foolish probation . The assertion that we haue no faith . Haue we no faith ? The Deuils haue some faith : Saint Iames saith , The Deuills beleeue & tremble and haue wee no faith ? wee are much beholden Ia● : 2 : 19. vnto you for your charitable opinion of vs . You are by the doctrine of Saint Paule , not to thinke so euill , but to 1 : Cor. 13. 7. hope the best of them that professe Iesus Christ , and his holy Gospell . But to this your false and slaunderous assertion , I will oppose a true affirmation and confession . Wee beleeue all that God hath deliuered to vs by Moses , the Faith . Prophets , and Apostles , in the old and new Testament : yea we beleeue the contents of the Creeds of the Apostles , Nicene , & Athanasius : and yet haue we no faith ? Wee hope Hope . to passe hereafter from death vnto life , and to bee partakers of that kingdome of glory , which God hath promised , and Iesus Christ hath purchased for all those that truly beleeue in him . We trust that we haue Charitie , & loue both towards God and man , although wee confesse not in such Charit●e : full and perfect measure as wee ought to haue : Wee with Saint Iohn say , Hee that loueth not his brother abideth in 1. Iohn. 3 ▪ 14. death . Wee acknowledge repentance to bee one of those Repentance . chiefe heads wherein the summe of Christianity is comprised . Saint Marke setting forth the summe and substance of Christes doctrine , comprehendeth it in these two , Repent Marke 1 ▪ 16. Acts 20 21. and beleeue the Gospell : so did saint Paule , witnes sing both to the Iewes , and to the Grecians the repentance towards GGD , and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ . We beleeue to be iustified not by our owne works of righteousnes ( which wee vnprofitable seruants , and prodigall Iustification . Luke 17. 10. & 15. 21. children haue done ) nor by the merits of any Saints in heauen or in earth , but by the mercies of God , purchased vnto vs by the blessed and bloudy merits of Iesus Christ , and applied vnto our soules by the band of faith , by the John 3. 36. Rom. 3. 25. & 4. 5. Ephes 2. 8. Ephes. 3. 17. Church . which Christ doth dwell in our hearts , and is made ours . We beleeue that wee are true members of that holy Catholike Church , which is Christes misticall body , and whereof hee is the head , which is the spouse , and hee the bridegroome : which is his flocke , and he the shepeard : which is the heauenly Hierusalem the Mother of vs all : Galath , 4. 26 . finally which is the number of Gods elect and chosen people , that shall rest with Abraham Isaac and Iacob , in the Math. 8. 11 . Kingdome of Heauen . And wee know that wee haue perticular and visible Churches , wherein Gods word is more truly preached , the Sacraments seales of the word , are more purely ministred , and Gods name more faithfully inuocated and called vpon , then in any or all the Romish Synagogues . Indeed wee haue no Idolatrous Alters , to offer either carnall or externall sacrifices vpon , as though Altars . Christs sweet smelling sacrifice were not yet offered : but wee haue Mensam Domini the Lords Table , where-vpon we minister the Supper of Christ , which is a holy Sacrament 1. Cor. 10. 21. of Christs body and bloud giuen for vs , a memoriall of his death and passion , and a pledge of our redemption and saluation purchased thereby . Wee haue that sweete smelling and sufficient Sacrifice , which Iesus Christ by his eternall spirit offered without fault vnto GOD , to purge Sacrifice . Hebre. 9. 14. our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing GOD . As for the sacrifice of the Masse , as being iniurious to the said sacrifice of Iesus Christ , which he once , for all , and for euer offered vpon the Altar of the Crosse , wee deny , and defie . We haue no shauen nor greased Priests to offer the Priests . said false and forged sacrifice of the Masse : but wee haue priests , pastours , or ministers , how-so-euer wee terme them , according to the ordinance of Christ , to preach his holy Gospell , and to administer his sacraments to his Church . We haue and vse that religion which hath the testimonie of Religion . Rom. 3. the law and prophets , and wherein the true worship and seruice of God , according to his will reuealed in his holy word is contained : your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and superstition we flee and forsake . Finally , we haue that Christ , which came Christ . 1. Tim. 1. 15. Iohn . 1. 29. into this world to saue sinners , and which is that Lambe of God , that taketh away the sinne of the world , whom we acknowledge more soundly to be our onely high prophet , Matth. 17. 5. to instruct vs in the will of his father , whose onely voyce wee must heare ; our onely high priest , with the sacrifice of his body and bloud once offered to redeeme vs , and reconcile vs vnto GOD ; our onely mediator and intercessor to sitte for euer at the right hand of God to make intercession for vs ; and our onely high King , to deliuer vs out of the hands of our enemies , to giue lawes vnto our consciences , and to rule vs with the scepter of his holy word , then the Pope , and all his adherents doe . This our true confession where-vnto God and our consciences bee witnesses , we oppose to your false and slaunderous obtrectation and accusation , saying with Saint Paul ; Wee passe very 1. Cor. 4. 3. little to bee iudged of you , or of mans iudgement : and with him also exhort you , not to iudge before the time , vntill the Lord come , who will lighten things that are hid in darkenesse , and make the counsels of the hearts manifest , and then shall euery man haue praise of God . Further I doe exhort you that take vpon you so seuerely to censure and iudge others , carefully to take heede to your selues , that you haue not a false faith , grounded not vpon Gods promises , Faith . contained in his word ; but vpon mans deuises and traditions , which as Epiphanius saith , is worse then no faith . Epipha . in An●●rat● . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and that you bee not voyde of true hope , by teaching the doctrine of doubting ( whereof Hope . I shall speake hereafter ) and by fearing to be after death throwne into the firie torments of purgatorie : and that you want not true charitie , in iudging so falsely and maliciously , Charity . and persecuting vs so cruelly , as you vse to doe , when time and powre serueth you : and that you haue no true repentance , nor remorse of conscience for sinne , in Repentance . persisting so obstinately in damnable doctrine , and abominable idolatrie : and that by leaning to your owne righteousnesse , and the merites of other men , which were sinners themselues , you loose not that true iustification Iustification . which is the righteousnesse of GOD , by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleeue , which is onely Rom. 3. 22. able to stand and discharge vs before the iudgement seate of Iesus Christ , and is the onely strong staffe to leane vpon , to leap ouer the ditch of damnation , and beware ( I say ) that you leaning vpon the weake reede of your owne merites and others , fall not into the middest thereof , from which there is no rising : take heede you be not of the malignant Church , which heareth not the voice of Christ , Church . 2. Thessalo . 2. and wherein that man of sinne , and sonne of perdition sitteth and raigneth : and that you haue not such Idolatrous altars , as Iereboam had , against which the man of God cried , and vpon which the like iudgement of God fell , Altars . 1. King . 13. 2 as hath done vpon yours now : And that you haue not a false forged sacrifice , which appeaseth not , but dailie prouoketh Sacrifice . Gods wrath against you , and that you bee not without Priests to teach the law of God truely , but haue Priest . Ierem. 2. 8. Malach. 2. 8. swarmes of such Priests , as say not where is the Lord , and know not GOD , but prophesie in Baal , which haue gone out of the way , and haue caused many to fall by the law &c. Beware that you bee not without Religion , remembring Religion . Lactant. de origi . erroris lib. 2 cap 19. Christ . August . de ciuitate dei lib. 18. cap. 2. the saying of Lactantius : Quare non est dubium , quin religio nulla sit , vbicunque simulachrum est : Wherefore there is no doubt , but that there is no Religion , wheresoeuer an Image is . Finally , I say againe and againe , beware that you forsake not the true Christ , and worship Antichrist , sitting in the westerne Babylon built vpon seauen hilles , which in the daies of Saint Iohn raigned ouer the Apoc. 17. 9. 18 Kings of the earth : wherefore bee not so rash in iudging so hardly and vncharitably of others , but examine and iudge your selues , that you bee not iudged of the Lord . But I now come to your pithie probation of this your vncharitable 1. Cor. 11. 31. 1 and shamelesse assertion . The reason you say is : For if they haue , then the world was without them for a thousand yeares ( as they themselues must needes confesse , videl. all the time their Church was eclipsed ) and for 1500. as wee will prooue by the testimonie of all recordes of antiquitie , &c. Wherevnto I answere , that if wee take the world in that sense , which the scripture sometimes doth , for the multitude and societie of them , Whereof the diuell Ioh. 14 30. 2. Cor. 4. 4 Iob. 15. 18. 19 1. Joh. 5. 19 Io● . 17 9 Ioh. 14. 22 is prince : which hateth Christ and his true disciples , which is set vpon wickednesse : for the which our Sauiour Christ refused to pray saying , I pray not for the world : and whereof Iudas ( not Iscariot ) did say , what is the cause , that thou wilt shew thy selfe to vs , and not vnto the world ? In this sense I may grant that the world hath not had these gifts of Gods grace these thousand yeares , and put another thousand and more vnto them . But if we take the world more generally for this great Globe , and all the inhabitants thereof , then prooue by the testimonie of all antiquitie that the doctrine which wee teach and professe hath not beene these 1500. yeares in the world , and wee will yeeld , and you shall winne the victorie . But it is vsuall with you and your fellowes to make great and braue bragges to amaze the simple and ignorant ; and to bring small and poore proofes ( as you doe here none at all ) to perswade the wise and learned : great braggers are no great doers . In deede wee confesse that the Church is well compared by Saint Augustine to the Moone . For as the August . in Psa. 10 Moone receiueth her light from the Sunne : so doth the true Church receiue her light from Iesus Christ the sonne Malach. ● , 2 of righteousnesse . And as the Moone is sometimes in the full , and shineth in full brightnesse , and sometimes is in the waine , and sometimes is eclipsed , and doth little appeare : euen so the Church is sometimes in the full , and shineth in full brightnes and glory as in the Apostles times , and diuers hundreth yeares after it did : sometimes it is in the waine and eclipsed , as for many hundred yeares last past it hath beene , in which that Apostasie from the faith is come , which Saint Paule by the spirit of God foreshewed , 2. Thes. 2. 3. 1. Tim: 4. 1. and the euent hath proued by Mahometisme in the East , and Papisme in the West . During which time although the Church hath beene driuen into the wildernes , and the Apoca. 12. light of true doctrine ( which is the soule of the Church ) hath beene eclipsed , yet they haue neuer vtterly perished . For in all ages God in mercy hath reserued a remnant according Rom. 11. 5. to the election of grace , by whome the light of his truth hath beene preserued , and in whom those admirable promises of his mercy haue beene performed . These haue beene , not proud Popes treading vpon Emperors necks , deposing them from their Crownes and Kingdomes , raysing bloudy battels , and pouling and spoyling Christian countries with greeuous and horrible exactions and deuises , as might be shewed : not carnal Cardinals , Princes , peeres , hauing 200. and 300. benefices a peece , as Gerson Gerson tom. 1. de defect . Virorum ecclesiast. Nicol. Clama . de corrupto statu ecclesi● . Hebre. 11. 36. and Clamagis Parisian Doctors before named doe affirme , not Popish blind prelates , Abbats , Monkes , priests , &c. wallowing in all worldly wealth , and for the most part in great filthines of life , as hereafter I will shew : but such as the Apostle speaketh of , that haue beene tried by mockings and scourgings , yea by bondes and prisonment , which were stoned , hewen asunder , tempted , slaine with the sworde , wandred vp and downe in sheep-skinnes , and in goates-skinnes , destituted , afflicted and tormented , whome the world was not worthy of , which wandred in wildernesses and mountaines , and dennes , and caues of the earth . Such were these good people ( in the time of the foresaid apostacie ) the Waldenses and Pauperes de lugdun● dispersed in diuers countries , as namely Calabria , Sauoye , Prouence in France , of whom many both long ago in sundry places and diuers times were burned , as it is written in the old booke called Fasciculus Temporum : and also Actale . 6. fol. 84. of late yeares were most cruelly and vnmercifully persecuted in Merindoll , the valley of Angrone , Luserne , and See acts and monuments tom. ● . Ibidè fascicul . temporum . Saint Martin : Such were they that were called Begardi , of whom to the number of 114. were burnt at Paris , as the foresaid booke Fasciculus Tempo . sheweth . Such were they that were called Albigenses inhabiting especially about Tholossa in France , of whom by the procurement of that false Frier , and superstitious Hypocrite Dom nicus Vincent Bellua . Spec. Histor. lib 2● . cap. 103. Auton . hist ▪ part 3. titul● : 19. cap. 1. Sect: 4. Crant . an metropo : lib : 8. cap. 18. & li● 10. cap 9. an hundreth thousand were destroyed , as writeth Bernardus Lutzenburgus , & anno 180. were togither burned , as both Antoninus the Arch-bishop of Florence writeth , and Bellarmine himselfe confesseth . Such were they of whom Albertus Crantius writeth , which in Sueuia publikely preached , that the Pope , bishops and prelates were heretikes and Simoniakes ; that the begging Friers did peruert the Church with their false preachings , for the which they were persecuted and some burned . Such were they in Bohemia and Morauia in great number , with whom Aeneas Syluius ( who was Pope called Pius the second ) hauing had conference , writeth thus of one of them . Finitis sermonibus istis assurrexit vnus de primoribus Thaboritarum , Aeneas Syluius epist. 130. pag. 677. & animo satis inflato , quid tu nobis , inquit apostolicam sedem tot verbis amplificas ? Nos Papam & Cardinales auaritia seruos nouimus , impatientes , inflatos , tumidos , ventri ac libidini deditos , ministros scelerum , diaboli sacerdotes , & Antichrsti ●raecursores , quorum deus venter est , pecunia caelum . That is , when th●se speeches were ended , there did rise vp one of the chiefe of the Thaborites , and with an hautie mind said , What dost thou amplifie to vs in so many wordes the Apostolicall seate ? wee know that the Pope and the Cardinals bee slaues to couetousnes , impatient proud , arrogant , giuen to the bellie , and filthie lust ; the ministers of wickednes , the priests of the diuell , and the forerunners of Antichrist , whose God is their bellie , and whose heauen is money : such also was Arnoldus Brixianus , Frosard fol. 54. persecuted by that proud English Pope Adrian the fourth , anno 1155. Iohn Rochetailada burnt at Auinion by Pope Clement the sixt 1345. Michael Cesenas burnt 1322. Iohn Wickliffe , who died 1387. and after his death his body was burnt . Two Franciscan Friers burnt at Auinion by Pope Polychron . lib 6. Polidor Virg. lib. 19. Innocent the sixt 1354. Two others burnt at London 1357. William Swinderby burnt 1401. William White burnt 1428. Peter Clarke , and Peter Paine 1432. persecuted and forced to flee into Bohemia . Thomas Rhedonensis burnt at Rome 1430. Matheus P●lmerius burnt at Florence , as witnesseth Sabellicus . Dulcinus of Nouaria and Margaret his wife Anton part. 3. titull . 22. cap. 10. Sah●ll E●ne . 10. lib. 4. burnt about the yeare of our Lord 1304. Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage burnt at Constance 1415. 1416. Hieronimus Sauonarola burnt at Florence 1499. These and many such other that might bee produced with their faithfull fauourers and followers , were the true Church of God , in whome his mercifull promises were performed . These are they that haue mourned in Zion , that haue lamented Isa. 61. 3. Ezech. 9. 5. Apoc. 6. 9. 19. and cryed for all the abominations that haue beene done in Ierusalem , or rather in Rome , that were killed for the worde of GOD , and for the testimonie which they maintained , and which came out of great tribulation , and Apoca , 7. 14. Isa. 61. 3. haue washed their robes in the bloud of the Lamb. But these now haue beauty for ashes , the oyle of ioy for mourning , the garments of gladnes for the spirit of heauines , and are trees of righteousnes , the planting of the Lord , in Apoca. 6. 9. whome he is glorified , they bee now vnder the altar , and are in the presence of the throne of GOD and serue him day and night in his temple , and hee that sitteth on the throne doth dwell among them , neither doth the sunne light on them , neither any heat . But this man will say , 7. 15. that these were condemned and punished by the Church for heretikes . I confesse they were so , euen as the Prophets of God , Christ our Sauiour , and his holy Apostles were before them condemned by the Prelates and Priests of the Church of Israel , which carried the countenance of the Church of God , as much and more rightly then the Pope and his prelates now doe . Neither were these so few in number , but that by confession of some popish writers , the Romish false faith was sometimes in danger to haue bene subuerted by them . Wernerus a Charterhouse Monke Fascicu Tempo . aetat. 6. fol: 7. 8. of Colen in his fore-said booke called Fasciculus temporom writeth thus : Fuerunt nihilominus postea quidam subtilissimi Fascicu . Tom. a tat 6. fol. 78. hae●etici qui istam haeresim Waldensium defendere conabantur , & plura regna & populos deceperunt : that is , notwithstanding there were afterwards some most subtill heretikes , which went about to defend this heresie of the Waldenses , and deceiued ( or rather truely instructed ) many kingdomes and nations . And againe , hauing made mention of certaine Popish doctors in those daies , as Hugo Cardinalis &c. hee hath these words : Quos diuina bonitas 1233. misit pro fidei defensione , alioquin tota pene fides perüsset propter Fol. 80. haeret corum multiplioitatem , & subtilitatem simul & potentiam : that is , whome God sent for the defence of the faith , for otherwaies it had like wholy to haue perished by reason of the multitude , subtiltie and powre of heretikes . It appeareth by the testimonie of this Popish Monke , that in those daies there were verie many of them whom hee falsely calleth heretikes . And whereas these detested the enormities and abominations of the Church of Rome , and maintained the same substantiall and fundamentall points of doctrine that wee doe , ( as it appeareth by the articles obiected vnto them that they did ) how doth this man say that our religion was not these 1500. yeares in the world ? It was in the world , but hated of the world , which hated Ioh. 15. 18. 19 Christ : yet was it constantly confessed euen to death of them whome God the Father hath giuen to Christ out of Ioh. 17. 6. 9. the world . Hereby it may sufficiently appeare , that the Synagogue of the Iewes hath not been more constant in continuance , nor more ample in place , then the true Church of Christ hath beene . In deed it may bee , that the Synagogues of the Iewes haue continued in some certaine places more constantly , then the true Churches of Iesus Christ haue done : Yet herevpon it doth not follow , that either Gods admirable promises haue not beene performed , or that the true Church hath perished . It is not the Synagogue of the Iewes , but the true Church of God , that is clothed with Apoca. ●2 . 1. Christ the Sonne of righteousnes , treadeth vnder her feete earthly things , which be mutable as the moone , & is adorned with the doctrine of Christs twelue Apostles , which is forced Chrysostom in psal. 114. to flee into the wildernes . Chrysostome saith well : Ecclesia est tabernaculum à deo fixum non ab homine : ab vno loco in alium fugit , sed non à pietate ad impietatem fugit , that is . The Church is the tabernacle which God hath pight & not man , shee fleeth from one place to another , but shee neuer fleeth from Godlines to impiety and wickednes . As Barrabas found here more fauor with the prelates and priests of Iudah and Ierusalem , then Iesus Christ the Sonne of God did : So the Popes and Iewes Synagogues haue found more fauor , and more quietly rested in this wicked world then the true Church of Iesus Christ hath done . As euen in Rome the Iewes , professed & open enemies of our Sauiour Christ , haue had and yet haue their synagogues , and liue ( paying their tributes ) in as great quietnesse and safety ; as the Curtizans & Whores of Rome doe , which pay yearely to the Pope twenty thousand duckates . It is written in the pontificall , Cornel. Aprip . de Vanitate Scient. cap. 64. that at the coronation of the Pope , and in his procession to the Church of Laterane , the Iewes vse to meete him , and making curtesie do offer the law to him , to whom hee giueth a gentle answer . But whereas the foresaid Arnoldus Brixianus a great learned man reproued the errors & enormities of the Church of Rome , Adrian the fourth our proud Platina in Adriano 4. countriman ( who rebuked the Emperour for holding his wrong stirrop ) would not go vp the Church of Laterane to Platina in Honorio . 2. be consecrate , vntil he were driuen out of Rome . There was also one Arnulphus in Rome a Godly man , whom many of the inhabitants thereof acknowledge for a true disciple of Christ , that was there murthered by the priests for inueighing Platina in Paulo . 2. Sabellicus Ennead. 10. l. b. 7. against their wickednes . Also in a towne neere Rome called Pole , the Lord therof with many others were counted heretikes , for saying that none of them which followed Peter were the true vicars of Christ , but such as followed the pouerty of Christ . These Pope Paulus the second persecuted & contumeliously intreated , as Platina & Sabellicus do write . Hereby wee see that it is a thing more allowable in Rome , to deny Christ as the Iewes do , then to meddle with the Popes triple crowne , or to reproue his pride , & enormities .