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Advise of a sonne
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Genre
Letter Pamphlet
Date
1616
Full Title
The advise of a sonne, now professing the religion established in the present Church of England, to his deare Mother, yet a Roman Catholike.
Source
STC 13971.5
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Sample 1
The original format is quarto.
The original contains first paragraphas are introduced by decorated initial,contains footnotes,
THE ADVISE OF A SONNE VNTO HIS MOTHER.
SEing it hath pleased God toappoint you the meane of my
being in the world, by whose
holy ordinance you may iustly
chalenge, as of your right fro~
me, all sincere affection, dutie,
and observation; and besides
the bond of Nature, my obligacion
being much encreased by your most louing,
and co~tinued care of me, even from my childhood,
it is now my part and that vnder perill of a curse, if
I neglect it by all meanes I may to yeeld comforts
to your yeares, and from my hart and soule to wish,
that when your temporarie daies on earth shal end,
you may by the mercy of God take possession of
the eternall ioyes of heaven. I know and haue witnesses
of this, so many as haue knowne you that
your intentions haue ever aimed at this mark, your
life and actions haue beene a rare patterne to your
sexe, alswaies well declaring your devotion & zeale
to the service of God: The which being the principall
end of our creation howsoever the generalitie
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now in this state of corruption, tra~sported with thecares, the pleasures, and enticements of this life, lay
it not to the heart it is without question a blessing
incomparable whereof none can judge, but they
that feele it when God of his meere mercie by his
holy Spirit, shal moue the heart of a sinful creature,
who before delighted only in the way of his owne
destruction, sincerely to seeke and serue him: for this
we may build vpon, as a truth that must admit no
question, that never any shall haue their place in
heaven, whose hearts by grace haue not beene truely
moued to his duty heere on earth. Since then
the time of this life is the moment wherevpon dependeth
eternitie of weale or woe, it behooveth every
Christian that desires salvation, seriously to
consider of the way he walks in; especially seeing
we learne fro~ our Lord & Master Christ himselfe,
that the way is narrow that leadeth vnto eternall
life, and that they are but few that finde it. Yet this
difficultie of finding the way to heaven riseth from
the passengers wilfulnesse, or want of care: for the
truth is, that of the small company that make profession
of Christianity in the world, the greatest
part howsoever they disguise themselues in acting
their parts on earth with a maske of religion yet
never aiming sincerely at salvation for their end,
wholly neglect the meanes, and so runne the broad
way to hell. Others better weighing the shortnesse
and instability of this present life, and well foreseeing
their future mortality, in a state most blessed, or
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no lesse accursed, desire earnestly the joyes of heaven,yet never attending diligently to attaine them
by that way, which God hath directed for that end;
but relying vpon guides, whom they choose themselues
at adventure to conduct them, are carried
blindfold at the last thorough vncertaine by paths
to their certain ruine. It is true that God hath never
failed in every age to send faithfull guides into the
world, to direct his servants in this earthly passage;
but it is likewise found true by woefull experience,
that the Divell hath heere his swarmes of agents
likewise to mislead vs, and of those, very many who
haue learned the skill of their master, the Prince of
darknesse, to transforme themselues into the shape
of the messengers of light. If wee looke to the
Church, consisting of the Iewes alone before the
comming of Christ, we finde it recorded by the holy
Prophets of God, that it was in continuall danger
by reason of false prophets, and seducing Pastors,
that did infest it; who prophesied in the name
of God, when he sent them not; so that as the Prophet
Esay complaineth, The leaders of his people caused
them to erre, and they that were led by them, were destroyed.
When Christ our Saviour came into the
world, who were they that most opposed him, but
the Scribes, the Pharisies, the high Priests, who
were then esteemed, and tooke vpon them to be the
guides and leaders of the people: nay to discourage
their Nation from receiving the doctrine of their
salvation, they thought it enough to presse this
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question; Doe any of the Rulers, or of the Pharisiesbeleeue in him? but this people that know not the Law,
&c. In the time of the Gospell wee are forewarned
of false teachers, that shall rise vp in the Church,
who shal come neverthelesse in the name of Christ,
taking vpon them to be our guides; nay some of
them shall put on so faire a vizard of outward carriage,
as that they shall seduce if it were possible
Gods chosen children. So that it will concerne vs
no lesse then the losse, or salvation of our soules, to
be wary in our choice of the guides we follow, for
though it be certaine, that the blinde, and seducing
teacher, shall for his hire haue his portion in hell
with his Master, for whom he laboured; yet must
the seduced likewise know, that they cannot escape
the judgement of God; & so the one with the other
fal at last into the pit of eternal ruine. But herein to
make vs the more inexcusable, almighty God, out of
his infinit care of mans salvatio~, hath not only forewarned
vs of these noysome weeds, that shall daily
spring vp in his Church, to the endangering of the
corne; but to make vs able to discerne betweene the
true Pastors of his flocke, and those impostors that
endeavour to delude vs, he sends vs none to treate
with vs in this great affaire concerning our saluation,
but with instructions in writing, and those open
to our view; requiring vs, to whom these messengers
are sent, to haue an eye to their commission,
To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speake not
according to this rule, it is because there is no light in
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them. It is true, that from the first creation of theworld, for divers ages there was no written Word,
but as God himselfe was pleased to bee the immediate
teacher of our first parents, so afterwards fro~
time to time he raised vp preachers for his people,
whom in divers manners hee inspired with knowledge,
and enabled for this worke of instructing others
in his true feare and service. But when once it
pleased God in his wisedome to appoint Moses, that
holy man, to be the faithfull pen-man of his everlasting
Law, which he gaue for the goverment and
direction of his Church: it is required as a duty of
the people of God, That this booke of the Law depart
not out of their mouthes: That they mediate therein day
and night, To observe and doe according to all that is
written therein. And to restraine vs from wandring
out of the compasse of this written law, this charge
is giuen, That wee put nothing to the Word which hee
commands vs, nor take ought therefrom, that wee may
keepe the Commandements of the Lord our God, which
are commanded. And although the Prophesies were
penned after at sundrie times by men vndoubtedly
directed by the holy Ghost, yet shal we find no new
article of doctrine delivered in them: but they serue
many times to explaine the law. They Prophesie of
Christ to come, the accomplisher of the law; and
generally they are all Gods Heraulds to denounce
his iudgements, and heavie wrath, against the transgressors
of the law of Moses. But in the fulnesse of
time, when Christ came into the world, of whome
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Moses and the Prophets wrote, the Gospell waspublished, which was no other but a cleare declaration
of the prophesies, and the law; whereof a learned
Father aptly giues this note, That in the olde
testament the New is hidden, and in the new is the manifestation
of the olde. And this Gospel was first preached,
but after as one other of the Ancients observeth
well was by the will of God delivered in the
Scriptures, to be the pillar and foundation of our faith.
And in this sacred booke is wonderfully set foorth
vnto vs the infinite wisdome of the supreame Lawmaker
of the world: for as in the civill government
of earthly Kingdomes, those lawes are ever commended
most, that leave least to the discretion of
the Iudge, and never hath any common-weale had
laws so exactly framed, but with time they haue bin
found sensibly defectiue in this point; so certainely
this perfection is peculiar only to the written laws
of the Lord of heaven, so farre foorth, that for the
ministers of this law to adde or alter any one thing,
respecting the religious dutie and service wee owe
to God though but in offering strange fore before
the Lord, as did Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron
makes them liable to his wrath and malediction,
for their presumption. This moued Saint Augustine
that reverend Father alluding to the words
of the blessed Apostle confidently to pronounce,
That whether concerning Christ, or concerning the
Church of Christ, or concerning any thing that pertaineth
to our faith and life, we will not say, if we, but if an
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Angell from heaven shall preach vnto you, but what youhaue received in the Scriptures of the Law and the Gospell,
accursed be hee. The consideration of this gaue
me occasion to forsake my communion with the
Church of Rome, in whose bosome I receiued the
first instruction for matter of my salvation, as you
your selfe deare Mother can well remember. But
after divers yeares, when by accident this principle
had taken impression in me, That faith commeth by
hearing of the word of God, and then calling to mind,
that many points of the religion I haue embraced,
were not to bee found within the volume of Gods
sacred booke; I began to question with my masters
of that Church whom I did then reverence and admire
as men wholly composed to devotion and sinceritie
by what authority they could approve the~;
where after many passages with the relation whereof
I thinke not fit to trouble you their resolution
was, That a great portion of Gods word was not contained
within the holy Scriptures, but delivered in safe
custodie, to passe from hand to hand by tradition: for the
truth and certainty whereof, they told me, I must
depend vpon the credit of their Church; the which,
after much debate, they resolved at the last into the
bosome of the Romane Bishop: when I considered
this, and perceiued in the end the weaknesse of the
grounds that must warrant the truth of these vnwritten
verities as they style them I thought it no
longer safe to commit my self for direction to
those guides, my masters, I meane, of the Church
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of Rome, of whom in my conscience we may complain,as the Prophet Ieremy did of the false teachers
in his dayes, They haue reiected the word of the Lord,
and what wisedome is then in them. For although it
ca~not be denied, but they reteine and publish some
principles of our Christian profession, according to
the truth of Gods holy word; yet even those truths
they recommend vnto vs, vpon as perillous & false
a ground, as if a man should therfore beleeue Christ
Iesus to be the Sonne of the living God, because the
Divell did confesse it. To this purpose deare Mother
I beseech you to note, that whereas Gods sacred
word is left vnto vs to be the rule and foundation
of our faith and religion, my masters of Rome
intending to build a new, thinke it proper first to lay
a new foundation, & in place of the holy Scriptures
to be the rule & direction of our faith, they adva~ce
their Church, the which neverthelesse being rightly
vnderstood, holds no resembla~ce with the Church
in truth. And the rather to invite vs to pin our faith
vpon this their Church, they tender vs some formes
of truth, the which when wee haue embraced vpon
their Churches authority, shee will not leaue vs so;
but this Church that teacheth vs to worship God,
by like authority wil then require vs to worship Images.
Shee that teacheth vs to pray to God, wil
command vs likewise to pray to our blessed Ladie, and
the Saints. Shee that teacheth vs, that Christ by
one offring of his body, once made in sacrifice vpon
the Crosse, hath purchased remission for our sinnes,
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requireth vs likewise to beleeue that she offers daylyvnto God the same reall body of Christ in sacrifice
which himselfe offered vpon the Crosse as a
propitiation for the sinnes of the quicke and the dead.
She that teacheth vs that Christ hath made satisfaction
for his sin by blood-shedding and bitter passion,
will teach vs withall, that our selues must make
satisfaction for some sort of our sins, by our workes
of penance, the which if wee neglect, that then wee
must satisfie Gods iustice for them after this life by
suffering paines in a purgatory fire, vnlesse this holy
Mother out of compassion shall free vs by her indulgence,
a favour she sometimes affords to her zealous
children, if my masters of Rhemes bee not deceived.
Shee that teacheth vs to doe good workes, wil
make vs beleeue they are meritorious ex condigno,
and so turne our Christia~ duties into glorious sins.
Shee that teacheth vs that Gods written Word is
true, will haue vs beleeue withall, That it containes
not all the doctrine of our salvation, and commaunds
vs not to reade it without her leaue, nor vnderstande it
but according to the sence she giues vs. So that if we
marke it well shee doth no more then the enemy of
mankind is observed to doe, who many times for a
vantage vtters truth, that after he may finde the fairer
passage to delude with error. And if the grosse
absurdities, now currant in the Roman Church, apart
from these formes of truth, were laide open to
the view of all men, I am perswaded in my conscience,
there is not so simple a Christian living at this
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day, that makes any care of his dutie to God, butwould abhorre them. But herein my masters of
Rome declare themselues ingenious in their craft,
who wel foreseeing that this coine cannot passe for
currant in the light, vent it ever in the darke; so that
of many thousands that receiue it, scarse any one
doth vnderstand it in particular; and if any Lay person,
more curious then others, come by chance to
know it, yet admitting the principles which he must
learne withal, it is no more possible for him to judge
of it, the~ for any man in the darke to discerne of colors:
for as the eye of the body is not vseful at al, but
in the light, no more is our vnderstanding enabled
to distuinguish betweene truth and errour in the doctrine
of christianity, but in the glorious light of the
holy Scriptures. The ignorance of these is assigned
by Christ our Saviour to be a reason of error, and
we are taught by the Prophet David, That the enterance
of Gods word giueth light, that it giueth vnderstanding
to the simple. With him the blessed Apostle
accords, and tels vs, that the holy Scriptures are able
to make vs wise vnto salvation. This wisedome my
masters of Rome approue not in the Laytie: they
like the best that scholler, that soonest learnes and contents
himselfe with the Colliars Creede, To beleeue
in grosse, as doth their Church, without being able
to render a reason of any article of the religion hee
professeth. It is gravely delivered by the Rhemists in
their annotations vpon Saint Lukes Gospell, That
if a Catholike man being called before the commission,
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answere, that he is a Catholike man, and that he will liueand die in that faith, which the Catholike Church teacheth,
and that this Church can giue them a reason of al the
things which they demand of him, hee answeres enough,
and defends himselfe sufficiently. Now the better to
prepare the Layitie to this sufficiencie, they permit
them not to reade the Scriptures, but with licence,
and never but with this caution, to admit no other
sence of what they reade in them, but such, as these
my masters vnder the name of the Catholike
Church shall recommend vnto them: By which wily
sleight, they deprive them of al vse of their judgement
in the matter of their salvation, and of the
Scriptures, both at once; and in place thereof leave
them furnished only to maintain the doctrine they
haue embraced, with the pretended name and authoritie
of the Catholike Church. For instance in
this, giue me leave deare Mother without your offence
to appeale to your selfe; if it were demanded
of you, by what warrant you hold it lawfull to pray
to Saints, to worship Images, to pray for soules departed,
and the like; your answere I presume would
be, that herein you follow the doctrine of the Catholike
Church, which being ever directed by the
holy Ghost cannot deceive us. I must confesse, the
authority of the Catholike Church rightly vnderstood,
ought much to moue vs, consisting in a generall
sence of all that co~pany which in all ages, & places
of the world, haue ioyned in profession of al the
principles of the true religion. But if to chalenge to
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our selues the name of the Church were of it selfeenough, without question it would follow, that
God should haue as many Churches, as there haue
bin heresies in the world. For never haue there been
any authors of those impieties, but haue endeavoured
to giue them countenance vnder the shadow &
name of the Catholike Church. I wil not enter here
into any discussion of the doctrine mainetained at
this day in the Roman Church, which were, but to
weede in a field of tares: the absurdity of it is made
visible to the world, by the learned labours of many
reverent and worthy Pastors of our Church: I will
only in this place declare, in what sence my masters
of Rome vnderstand the Catholike Church, with
the sound whereof they continually fill your eares,
as being the maine supporters of al they teach you:
And first this principle is worthy to be noted well,
which we learne from the most eminent writer of
the Papacie at this day, That the truth of all ancient
Councels, and of all points of faith, dependeth vpon the
authoritie of the present Church; where, if we desire to
know, what he meanes by the Church, the Cardinals
interpreter plainely tels vs, That when they affirme
the Church to be iudge of al controversies of faith,
by the Church they vnderstand the Bishop of Rome, who
for the time gonvernes the shippe of the militant Church,
and by liuely voice doth clearely and expressely expound
his iudgement to them that seeke to him. To this purpose,
another great Rabbin amongst them delivereth
plainely, That the Apostolike Church is therefore
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said to be infallible, because he is over it, who by himselfehath infallible authority. And if wee would knowe
who that He is, that hath this infallible authoritie,
we may learne from the Jesuite Swares, That it is
the Pope whose determinatio~ he affirmes to be the truth,
and were it contrary to the saying of all the Saints, yet
to be preferred before them, nor if an Angell of heaven
were opposed against him, yet the Popes determination
were to be preferred. This man the Pope they style the
visible head of the Church, and affirme to bee alwayes
so infallibly directed by the Spirit of God, as
that whe~soever either of himselfe alone, with a purpose
to enforme the Church, or assisted with an assembly
of the learned, hee shall resolue any question
concerning faith, of the service of God, it is impossible
he should bee deceived. If you aske of anie
one of my masters of Rome, what he meanes by the
Church, which he proposeth to you to bee the rule
of your faith, hee will mannerly define it at the first
to consist of the Pope with a Councell; but if you
shall further vrge him to confesse, what you must
doe in case the Pope shal dissent in iudgement from
the Councell, howsoever he faulter in his speech a
while, he must acknowledge at the last, That if the
Councell, and the Pope, publish constitutions that be different,
that of the Popes must bee preferred, as beeing of
greater authoritie. To whose iudgement alone if wee
may beleeue another of that crew wee are rather
bound to stand, then to the iudgement of all the worlde
besides: who himselfe as Bellarmine mainetaines
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without any Councell may decree matters of faith. Sothat by this deare Mother if you weigh it wel, you
may plainely see, that howsoever my masters of
Rome dazell your eyes with the Churches name,
the Pope alone beareth away the game, in such sort,
that the fairest certainety you can haue to secure
your conscience in the religion you professe, must
wholly depend vpon him: yet is it worthy of your
observation to note, how the learned amongst the~
descant vpon this visible head, and infallibe director
of their Church. They will acknowledge, that the
Pope may be as wicked a man in life, as any other in
the world, and by experience hath bin found, that
sundry of them haue scarse had matches in this kind,
as for instance of one, Pope Alexander the sixt,
whom Guicciardine though himselfe a Papist doth
thus decypher. "His manners and customes were
dishonest, little sinceritie in his administrations,
no shame in his face, small truth in his words, little
faith in his heart, & lesse religion in his opinions;
all his actions were defaced with vnsatiable
covetousnesse, immoderate ambition, barbarous
crueltie: he was not ashamed, contrary to the custome
of former Popes who to cast some colour
over their infamie, were wont to call the~ their nephewes
to call his sonnes his children; and for
such to expresse them to the world: The bruite
went, that in the loue of his daughter Lucretia,
were concurrent not only his two sons, the Duke
of Candy, and the Cardinall of Valence, but him
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selfe also, that was her father: who as soone as hewas chosen Pope, tooke her from her husband,
and married her to the Lord of Pesare, but not able
to suffer her husband to be his corrival, he dissovled
that mariage also, and tooke her to himselfe
by vertue of Saint Peters keyes: It was amongst
other graces his naturall custome to vse
poysonings, not onely to be revenged of his enemies,
but also to dispoile the wealthy Cardinals of
their riches: And this he spared not to doe against
his dearest friend, till at the last, having a purpose
at a banquet to poison divers Cardinals, and for
that end appointed his Cup-bearer to giue attendance
with wine made ready for the nonce who
mistaking the bottle, gaue the poisoned cup to
him was thus himselfe dispatched by the just
judgement of God, that purposed to murder his
friends, that he might be their heire." Thus far the
historian: Now as in life, so is it not denied by my
masters of Rome, but that the Pope may erre in his
private opinions; Nay Bosius though most affectionate
to the Sea of Rome confesseth, That hee may
be an Heretike, as was Pope Honorius, whose heresie
is condemned of record by three lawfull Councels.
Pope Iohn the 23. was condemned in the
Councell of Constance, for maintaining the opinions
of his master Epieurus, That there was no eternall
life, no immortality of the soule, nor resurrection
from the dead. Yet if Pope Alexander the sixth at
leasure from his lewdnes, of Pope Iohn with his fellow,
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shal from their privat follies transforme themseluesinto publike teachers, and pronounce a resolution
in any question, that may be moued of any article
of Christian religion, purposely to direct the
Church; In this case, by the doctrine of my masters
of Rome, you shall bee bound to beleeue them no
lesse, the~ if God himselfe had taught you. To which
purpose, Stapleton the Priest hath left this for a principle,
That the foundation of our religion is of necessitie
placed vpon this mans teaching, in which we heare
God himselfe speaking. To this fallacie, vnder the
Churches name, they adde another, whereby they
endeavour to delude you, framed vpon a false position,
namely this, That all our forefathers haue embraced
the same religion in every point, which the~selues
professe and teach you: from whence they
prepare a question, the which they recommend to
their schollers to oppose ad omnia: Shall we thinke
our selues wiser then all our forefathers? If a professor
of Mahomets impieties which haue bewitched
a great portion of the world, for many hundreds of
yeares now past being perswaded by my masters of
Rome to become a Christia~, should question thus,
shal I thinke my selfe wiser then my forefathers, for
these thousand yeares now past, haue bin? I know
their judgement would serve them to reply, that he
must not follow his forefathers, vnlesse they had
beene followers of the truth of God: My masters of
Rome will tell you, that this holds no resemblance
with them, who dare giue you their words for assurance,
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that every article of their doctrine is derivedfrom our Saviour Christ and his Apostles. Questionlesse
their art of begging is but a vagrant fashion,
but it shal please you to see some trial of the truth
of this, I dare presume it shall be made evidently to
appeare vnto you in the presence of any that would
oppose it that their principle co~cerning the Popes
spirit of infallibility being the maine supporter of
all religion at this day in the Church of Rome is not
so ancient by many ages in the world, as is the Alcoran
of that accursed Mahomet. If the foundation be
proved new, what rule can they propose to secure
your conscience for the antiquity of the building:
their co~tinued Priesthood, their daily sacrifice, their
satisfactions for sinne, their workes of merit, their
reall change in the Sacrament, their adoration of it,
their mangled communion, their worship of Images,
their prayers to Saints, their Auricular Confession,
their Purgatory fire, with all that trumperie besides,
which they tender vnder the name, and disguised
habite of Church traditions? Certainly all these
are terra filij: If they seeke to the Scriptures for their
originall, they will be sent packing with we know you
not: Possibly it may be demanded, what I thinke of
our forefathers, who liued in the latter ages of the
world, while these mists of Popery lay thicke vpon
the face of the visible Church, in these Westerne
parts: Were thy damned all? God forbid, that any
man should be so savage to write or think so: I verily
beleeve, and haue been alwaies taught so, that as
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well the Church of England, as other of forraineparts, when the tyranny and corruptions of the Papacie
did most oppresse them, were neverthelesse
portions of Gods vniversall Church, and sent many
soules to God. For even in these, when they were
most obscured with errour and ignorance, yet all
essentiall points of Christian doctrine were to bee
learned, touching the invocation and worshippe of
God, touching our redemption by Christ Iesus crucified,
touching our observation of Gods commandements,
& so the rest: so that concerning our forefathers
this may suffice, that as wee are bound in
Christian charitie, to hope the best of their salvation,
that before vs embraced the faith of Christ
though possibly divers of them might approue in
grosse some errors of the time wherein they liued,
never apprehending in particular the scope & meaning
of them so yet is it no way safe for vs to make
our forefathers our rule of faith. In the Church co~sisting
of the Iewes before Christs comming into
the world, the holy Prophets of God were so farre
from making their forefathers a rule to follow, as
that to the contrary we shal finde nothing more familiar
with them, then to warne the people of God,
That they walke not in the ordinances of their fathers.
Not to be as their forefathers, a faithlesse & stubborne
generation: a generation that set not their heart aright,
&c. and to like purpose in sundry places. But for resolution
of this point, it is our part to follow the direction
of Saint Cyprian, that holy Martyr of the
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Church: If Christ onely bee to bee heard, not to listenwhat any man before vs hath thought fit to be done, but
what Christ hath done, who is before all, for that wee are
not to follow the custome of men, but the truth of God.
My masters of Rome if there be no remedy will assent
to this position of Saint Cyprian, marry then
you must giue them leaue to begge and assume this
truth of God, to bee the proper inheritance of the
Bishop, and the Church of Rome; but if you shall deale
so vnfriendly with them, as to presse them to shew
their evidence, they wil trouble you with much discourse,
but in the end, for your satisfaction, this answere
must content you, or none at all, dixit Ecclesia,
themselues will tell you so. The Pastors of the present
Church of England, will likewise make claime
of this truth of God, to rest with them; but herein
they wil deale more ingeniously with you, then the
other, they will desire you to beleeue them no farther
in this point, then by plaine demonstration out
of Gods holy word they shall be able to make good
their claime. In this confusion and difference betweene
our teachers pretending of either side to
haue the Church and truth of God; and yet impossible,
but that in so direct a contrarietie as resteth betweene
them, of one side they must needs abuse vs
possibly deare Mother you will aske, what meanes
are left for vs, that are but learners in the schoole of
Christ, to discerne betweene them? To censure their
doctrine by their liues and actions, were an vncertaine
way, a reason whereof wee learne from Saint
C 3
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Chrysostome, an acie~t Father of the Church: "Becausewhatsoever kinde of holines the servants of
God haue in truth, the servants of Satan may have
in likenes: for the divell hath his that be meeke and
humble, that be chast, and giue almes, that fast, and
doe every good deed, which God hath appointed
for the salvation of mankinde; and these formes of
godlines hath the Divell brought in, to seduce vs;
that a confusion being made betweene good and
counterfeit; simple men, which know not the difference
betweene goodnes indeed, and goodnes
in shew, while they seeke the good servants of
God, might light vpon the Divels seducements."
Of this mind are likewise the learned of the Church
of Rome, You know saith Master Harding in his
confutation of Bishop Iewels Apologie it is no good
argument to reason from manners to the doctrine: who
would not hisse and trample you out of the schooles, if you
make this argument: The Papists liues be faultie, Ergo,
their teaching is false. I know that howsoever my
masters of Rome like not as you see to haue their
doctrine measured by the line of their liues and actions,
yet themselues will offer crooked measure in
this kind: there is nothing more familiar with them
in their publike writings, or private discourse with
their schollers, that admire them, then to traduce
and vilifie the Pastors of the Church of England, of
whom certainly many there haue beene, and are of
excellent merit and example in the Church, and no
doubt but some in so great a number may be found
20
scandalous in their places, who can expect no other,but a fearful judgement in the end. But if this were
an argument, wee need not seeke for proofe from any
adverse to the Church of Rome, but from their
own records; as for instance in one, I pray you deare
Mother note, what Aventine a learned historian of
their owne discloseth: "The Pope setteth over
the flocke of Christ goates, wolues, lustfull persons,
adulterers, ravishers of Virgins and Nunnes,
cookes, muleters, thieues, bankers, vsurers, drones,
game-hunters, lecherous, persidious, periured, ignorant
asses: He committeth the sheep to wolues
and hypocrites, which only provide for their own
bellies: Nay, hee setteth boyes and wantones to rule
the lambes: I am ashamed to say what manner of
Bishops we have: with the renews of the poore
they feede their hounds, horses, whoores, they
quaffe, they loue, the fly learning as infection, &c.
thus farre the Historian." But my masters of Rome
will tell you, they haue an vndoubted way to assure
you of the doctrine they teach you, to bee the truth
of God; which is, by meanes of the miracles, they
boast to be frequent with them: I wil confesse if we
may beleeve them it hath been as easie and familiar
with them to worke a wonder, as it hath been with
the Pope to make a Saint, and yet I must tell you,
some doctors of his owne make doubt, whether al be
Saints in heave~, that the Popes have canonized for such,
and thrust into the Romaine Calender. But to the
miracles, which they can chalenge as proper to their
21
Church, since their Bishops of that Sea haue ascendedinto the seate of their Vniversall Soveraignetie,
if they were all true as for the most part questionlesse
they are but fables & impostures, such as those
of the Legend are observed to be, by men judicious,
and learned among themselves, as Canus, that
plainly stiles the writer of them a man of a brasen
face, and a leaden heart; Ephenceus that affirmes, No
stable to be so ful of dongue, as the Legends are ful of lies
yet could this prove no certaine meane to assure vs
of the truth to be with them, seeing as Stapleton,
one of their Priests confesseth For the more triall of
the godly, not only Antichrist himselfe, and his forerunners;
but all heretikes also may doe true miracles, by the
permission of God; as the Sorcerers of Pharao did. And
greater, I presume, my masters of Rome ca~not boast
of in these later times, then Baronius the Cardinall
hath recorded to be done by Simon Magus, that instrument
of the divel, That he made Images to walke,
and would lye in the fire without hurt, that hee would flye
in the ayre, and make bread of stones, that he could open
doores fast shut, vnloose bonds of iron, that hee had many
shadowes following him, as it had bin men, &c. The like
we may reade of others of that kinde. But for resolution
of this point, I will here set downe a discourse
of a learned Father, the which is well worthy of
your observation: "Since Heresies have gained
place in the Church, there can bee no proofe of
true Christianitie, neither refuge for Christians
willing to know the truth, but the holy Scriptures:
22
Heretofore it was by many meanes declared whichwas the Church of Christ, and which was Gentilisme;
but now there is no way for those that are
willing to know which is the true Church of
Christ, but by the Scriptures only: wherefore? because
all those things that properly belong to
Christ in truth, Heresies likewise haue in schisme:
they haue churches, they haue the holy scriptures
they haue Bishops & other orders of the Clergie:
they have Baptisme, the holy Eucharist, and all other
things, yea Christ himselfe: whosoever therefore
is willing to know which is the true Church
of Christ, how shal he know it in the confusion of
so great resemblance, but by the Scriptures only?
Heretofore it was knowne by miracles, which
were true Christians, which false: by what means?
The false, either could not work signes as the true
Christians did, or at least not such as true Christia~s
could: But now the working of miracles is wholly
ceased, and it is observed, that counterfeit signes
are more wrought with them that are false Christians:
Nay Peter in Clement hath foreshewed, that
Antichrist shal haue power giue~ him to work true
miracles. Heretofore by the outward co~versation
the Church of Christ might be knowne, when the
lives of Christians, either all or the most part were
holy, such as it was not with others: but now christia~s
are become as bad, or worse, then heretikes or
Gentiles: nay there is a better outward carriage
many times observed amongst those that are in
D
23
Schisme, then amongst Christians. Hee thereforethat would know which is the true Church of
Christ, how should hee know it, but only by the
Scriptures. Our Lord therefore knowing that so
great confusion of things would happen in the
last dayes, commands Christians, that desire to receiue
assurance of true faith, to fly to nothing but
the holy Scriptures. If they looke to other things
they shall be scandalized and perish, not vndersta~ding
which is the true Church, and thereby shall
light vpon the abomination of desolation, which
shall stand in the holy places of the Church, &c."
Thus far St. Chrysostom. My masters of Rome howsoever
they glose it like not the language of this
learned Father. To wish the~ to expose their Church
and doctrine, to bee judged by the holy Scriptures,
were a hard saying, & with the Capernaites in good
reason they may tell you, they cannot heare it. But if
St. Chrysostome had dealt so friendly with them, as
in place of onely Scriptures to haue named the
word of God, defining that word to consist as well
of vnwritten traditions, as the written word; & had
withall assigned the Church of Rome, with her supreame
Pastor, to be the trustie treasurer of vnwritten
verities, and the only infallibel interpreter of the
written word, whereof the Cardinals conclusion
might haue beene made good, That which pleaseth
the Church is Gods expresse word; and at the last resolving
this Church into the Pope alone, questionlesse
they would haue taken it as kindnes at his
24
hands. But if he will insist vpon only Scriptures theywill never giue over cavelling at this point: First
they will tell him, that many things belong to Christian
faith, which are contained in the Scriptures neither
openly, nor obscurely: St. Chrysostome it seemes
was of another mind, who affirmeth, That whatsoever
is required to salvation is all, accomplished in the
Scriptures, neither is any thing wanting there, that is
needfull for mans salvation: which mooues another
of the ancients to advise, That we refuse whatsoeuer
is taught, vnlesse it bee contained in the volume of the
Bible: a reason whereof, Cyril, a learned Father
giues, Because such things are written, as the Apostles
saw sufficient for our faith and manners. Possibly,
if they be intreated much, in good nature they will
acknowledge at the last, as Bishop the Seminarie
doth in his Tract against M. Perkins of Traditions
That the doctrine of salvation at least so much as every
simple Christian is bound to beleeue vnder perill of
damnation is contained in the holy Scriptures, though
not so for himselfe, and his learned brethren: but then
will they taxe the Scriptures with obscuritie, & discourage
you from medling with them, vnder that
pretense affirming, that they cannot be comprehended
by the capacitie of the vulgar & vnlearned reader.
To this I oppose the iudgement of S. Austin,
who plainely tels vs That God hath bowed downe
the Scriptures, even to the capacitie of babes and sucklings;
That when proud men will not speake to their capacitie,
yet himselfe might. To like purpose S. Chryostome,
D 2
25
That God hath penned the Scriptures by thehands of Publicans, Fishermen, Tentmakers, Shepherds,
Neatherds, and vnlearned men; that none of the simple
people might haue an excuse, to keep them from reading;
and that so they might bee easily vnderstood of all
men, the Artificer, the Housholder, and widowe woman,
and him that is most vnlearned, &c. thus he. To the
resolution of these learned Fathers, my Masters of
Rome will reply with a question; If the doctrine of
salvation be so plainely proposed in the holy Scriptures;
how it should come to passe, that it is so diversely
vnderstood? Arrius reads it, & denies the divinitie
of Christ; Eutiches reads it, and denies his
humanitie; the Græcians read it, and esteeme it folly;
The Jewes read it, and are offended at it. It is read
at this day in the Church of Rome, as likewise in the
Church in the communion whereof wee liue, and
different opinions are collected from it; yet of either
side, it is true, there are men of excellent gifts,
both for wit, & learning. As if my Masters of Rome
were ignorant, that wit and learning if not guided
by the holy Ghost were so farre from being means
to further vs to a right vnderstanding of Gods
word, as that the more they abound in any man apart
from grace, the more irrecouerable many
times they plunge him into errour & delusion: for
as the light of the Sunne though visible, yet is not
discerned by a blinde man, even so, although it bee
true which S. Austin teacheth That those things
which concerne our faith, & conversation, yea all things
26
necessarie, are plainely, and manifestly set downe, in theholy Scirptures; yet the doctrine of salvation contained
in them, being the obiect of faith, not of witte,
and humane learning which faith is the speciall
worke of the holy Ghost in man and never rightly,
and vsefully vnderstood, & beleeved of any, but such
only, as sincerely applying themselues to the outward
meanes of seeking instruction, by hearing, and
reading Gods holy word, obtaine withal by hearty
prayer, the direction of Gods blessed spirit: for the
naturall man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of
God, for they are discerned spiritually as the Apostle
tels vs. My masters of Rome wil heere be carping
with a question, whether every reader or hearer of
the scriptures, may assure himselfe to haue the spirit
of God? I say not so, spiritus vbi vult spirat: but this
I say, and am assured that I say the truth, that he that
hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his: and
in an other place we are plainely taught, That they
that are goverend by the spirit of God, they are the children
of God: from al which this conclusion wil cleerly
follow, that as it is impossible for vs vnlesse by
hearing, or reading, we acquaint our selues with the
language of the holy scriptures to distinguish with
the sheep of Christ, between the shepheards voice,
and the voice of strangers; so it is our part, seriously,
and from the heart, to seeke to God to enlighten
our vndersta~ding by the gift of his holy spirit, without
which, this everlasting word of life proues to
none, but the savour of death to their eternall destruction:
D 3
27
My masters of Rome I presume will be intreatedto acknowledge this, that there is no true
servant of God, but hath in this life the holy Ghost
for a pledge of his adoption which testifieth to his spirit
that he is the child of God: and shame I thinke will
not suffer them to make it questionable, whether
this spirit of God, that was so powerfull with the
blessed Apostles, as from vnlearned Fishermen as
diverse of them were to enable them for teachers
of the world, may likewise bee now of power, to
prepare the heart of the simplest hearer, or reader of
Gods holy word, truely to apprehend therein the
mysteries of his salvation. But how shall any man
say they be certaine, that he hath the spirit of God?
I must confesse, the truth of this is felt before it can
be learned: yet as the man that hath his bodily sight
being demanded how hee can bee certaine that hee
hath his eyes? could giue no other answer, but that
by seeing he is assured that he hath his eyes; and by
his eyes he is assured he sees; even so the spirit
of God being the eye whereby the soule discerneth
in spirituall things, the inward light of vnderstanding
in Gods faithfull seruants, apprehending and
beleeuing the grounds of faith deliuered in the holy
Scriptures, assures them, that they haue the spirit
of God abiding in them, and by the same spirit revealing
vnto them out of Gods holy word which
is infallible the doctrine of salvation, their consciences
are secured, that they vnderstand and beleeue
the truth. Yet would I not be thought to hold, that
28
every faithfull Christian in this life, did attaine to aperfect knowledge of all the deepe mysteries that
are to be found within the booke of God: I knowe
there is depth for the Elephant to swimme, and safe
place for the Lambe to wade in, and it is most certaine,
that since the Apostles, & Evangelists left the
world the holy Ghost to holde the children of God
in humility, & to moue them the more carefully to
attend the subordinate meanes prescribed for the
gaining of Christian learning, as ferve~t prayer, with
diligence in hearing Gods word preached & taught
by the pastors of his Church, and seeking to them
for their helpe and instruction vpon all occasions
of doubt, hath tempered their knowledge with
such measure, as that they shall but vnderstand in
part; yet shall they never faile to vnderstand so
much as shal suffice to bring them to a sauing faith.
But here a question may be moued, seeing it is true
as in part I haue noted that God by his ordinance
hath assigned the ministery of the Church I meane
the instructions of her Pastors, both private & publike
to bee one meane, to bring his children to the
knowledge of his truth, whether it be imposed vpon
vs that are of the Laitie, and learners in Gods
Church, as a duty, to beleeue the doctrine our Pastors
teach vs, without examination? My masters of
Rome, if you shall be pleased to demaund of them,
whether it may bee lawfull for you to examine the
doctrine they recommend vnto you, their answere
you may see in the annotations of the Rhemish
29
testament, That you must not try, and iudge, whetheryour teachers doctrine be true or no, neither may you reiect
that which you finde not in the scriptures. If you
shal reply, and demaunde of them, to what purpose
the holy Ghost then forwarned vs of false Prophets,
that shal come into the world; of ravenous
Wolues, that shal invade the Church; of seducers,
that shal so plausibly carry themselues, as that they
shal deceiue if possible Gods chosen children: they
wil ful wisely tel you, that al this hath no respect to
them, who vpon their words wee may beleeue the~
if wee lift are the true pastors of the Catholike
church, which cannot erre; whereas God wot like
petty chapmen they vent no other, but the deceiptful
wares of the great merchant, the Pope of Rome,
vnder the counterfeit marke & name of the Catholike
church. But to the point in hand, it is the precept
of Christ in general to al his servants, That
they beware of false Prophets, to try the spirits, not to
beleeue every spirit. Al which of necessity must presuppose
some examination, wherein we are not to
follow our owne reason, fancie, or private spirit, but
to be guided by that rule, which for this purpose the
holy Prophet doth direct, the testimony and the law:
from precept if we passe to example, wee shal finde
it recorded to the perpetual praise of the men of
Berea, that when the Apostle preached Christ vnto
them out of the law and the Prophets, they diligently
searched in the holy scriptures, whether those
things he delivered were so or no. And was it lawful &
30
commendable in these good Christians to examinethe doctrine, which was taught the~ by that elected
vessel fo God; and will these Lucifugi of Rome make
you beleeue its sinne for you to hold the like course
with them: It may be my masters of Rome for once
wil beare with these men of Berea, and yet not approue
their doing, as a rule to follow: Possibly they
wil not stick to tel vs, that in the Churches infancie
they were not so wel instructed in good manners, as
since the schollers of the Romane church haue bin:
But shal wome~ say they shal me~ vnlearned be fit &
able to iudge of their pastors instruction? I would
know of these my masters, whether Lydia the purple
seller, the woma~ of who~ it is written, That God opened
her heart, were then fit & able to iudge between
the doctrine of the Pharisies refusing Christ; yet advancing
the law of Moses; & the Apostles instruction,
the blessed messenger of the Gospell of Christ;
were Priscilla with her husband Aquila, fit and able
to judge of the doctrine of a worthy Pastor of the
Church, whom, after they had heard, they tooke privately
vnto them, and instructed in the way of God more
perfectly? Questionlesse if any Priscilla should be so
bould at this day with the meanest of my masters of
Rome, she should bee sent packing with the scornefull
phrase of Scripturist, Scripturian, doctoresse, Apostolesse,
or some such foolery: But Wisdome is justified
of her children: wee are taught by the blessed Apostle,
That the Scriptures are able to make vs wise
vnto salvation; & the Kingly Prophet accords with
E
31
this and telleth vs, That the testimony of God is faithfull,and giueth wisedome vnto little ones. This wisedome
my masters of Rome haue found fatall to
them, and therefore, although for feare of the people,
they dare not in plaine tearmes entertaine the
holy Scriptures, when they are encountred with
them with such a greeting, as Ahab that wicked
King gaue the Prophet Elias, Hast thou found vs, o
our enemie? Yet is it worthy deare Mother of your
observatio~, to note by what wily fleights & straines
of wit they haue practised to depriue the world of
all vse of them. First, they like not to have them tra~slated
into the vulgar tongue of euery natio~, whereby
the vnlearned and common sort might come to
know them. To this purpose I pray you marke a Iesuites
language: It is demanded saith hee whether
the sacred Scriptures may be translated into the mother
tongue of every nation, that every one may the better
reade & vnderstand them? I answere that Eutherans &
Calvinists are in that heresie, that they affirme the sacred
Scripture ought to be tra~slated into the vulgar language
of all nations, against whom the Councell of Trent hath
made a solemne decree: and with this Iesuite agrees
our countriman Reynolds the Priest. It seemes to me
saith this Seminary that this prophane revealing of
the divine misteries is odiously co~trary to the will of God,
and to the nature of the mysteries themselues. The manifold
and great mischiefes, which by the translation of
the Scripture haue risen against the Maiestie of God, against
the holinesse of the Scripture it selfe, against the
32
tranquilitie of States, against the faith and good conversationof men, should haue force enough vtterly to suppresse
these translations, yea albeit they were supported
by divine of Apostolicall authoritie: Thus he. My masters
of Rhemes notwithstanding this wisely taking
into their considerations the present time, state and
condition of our countrey, vnto which divers things are
either necessarie or profitable, and medicinable now, that
otherwise in the peace of the Church were neither much
requisite, nor perchance wholly tollerable haue sent vs
a translation, such as it is, yet durst they not send it abroad
alone, but vnder safe custodie of their peevish
Comment, which like a theefe lyes lurking by, to
steale from the Reader the true sence of this
holy word. Thus you may see, how vnwillingly
and against their appetite, they haue beene
brought to translate the Scriptures into our vulgar
language: Their next sleight to bee noted, is
the practise and devise they vse to restraine and discourage
vs that are of the Laitie from reading in
them: For whereas we finde it to haue beene familiar
with Christ and his Apostles while they were
conversant on the earth to direct their schollers
with search the scriptures, how readest thou, Let
Gods word dwell plentifully in you, & to such like purpose;
Peresius a Popish Bishop declaimeth thus,
shall no bounds be set to popular, rude, and carnal men?
shall old men before they haue put off the filth of their
minds, and young men that yet speake like children, bee
admitted to read the Scripture? I suppose verily & my
E 2
33
opinion fayles me not this ordina~ce vnder the pretenseof piety was invented by the divell: Another of the
same plume, to feare vs from reading Gods holy
word, tels a story of certaine men, that were possessed
of a divel, because being but husba~dmen, they were
able to discourse of the holy Scriptures. It is true that
by the rule of Pope Pius the fourth, such of the Laitie
may read the Scriptures as haue licence from their
lawfull Ordinary so to doe. But if any Lay person shall
presume to looke into the holy Scriptures without such
licence, he must knowe his penalitie to bee no lesse then to
be denied the pardon of his sinnes: The late Pope Clement
the 8. better belike considering, how well it
went with their triple crowne, when they kept the
Laity wholly from searching into the book of God
as in times past they indeavoured carpeth at the
rule of his predecessour, and resolueth at the last,
that notwithstanding this constitution of Pope Pius,
Bishops haue no power at all to grant any such licence to
the Laitie of reading Gods holy words. Neverthelesse
betweene the enterfiering of these holy Fathers, it
passes in print by my Masters of Rhemes, That such
of the Laitie may be readers in Gods word, as are permitted
by their Ordinaries vpon certificate from their parish
Priest or Confessour, that they be humble, sober, and
discreet persons, &c. But I beseech you note the vpshot
of all: First, this discreet Lay reader must admit
this for a principle, That little of Gods word is
co~mitted to writing, That the greatest part of it is come
to vs by tradition, the which we must receaue from our
34
Catholike Mother declaring her selfe by the mouth ofour holy father, the Pope of Rome: The next rule this
discreet Lay reader must learne to follow is, That
no man must giue any other exposition of Scripture, then
such as might agree with the doctrine of the Church of
Rome; a reason whereof Andradius that great defendor
of the faith of Trent can giue vs, because,
All power to interpret the Scriptures, and reveale the
hidden mysteries of our religion, is giuen from heaven
to the Popes, and their Councells. Where, though the
Councells be placed as a page to attend the Pope;
yet the resolution of all is this as before I haue noted
that if the Councell shall dissent in iudgement
from the Pope, The iudgement of the Pope is to be
preferred before the iudgement of all others, saith the
Cardinall Turrecremata. Of whom another writer
of the Roman Church in plaine tearmes affirmeth,
That he is the master of our faith, and cannot but attaine
the truth of faith, nor can be deceaued or erre, if as
chiefe Bishop, and master of the faith, he set downe his
determination. From all which it is evident if you
marke it well that although these Vicedei of
Rome could never compasse wholly to suppresse
the sacred Scriptures as with good discretion possibly
they might haue bin co~tented, considering how
eagerly this holy word pursues the~ still with hue &
cry; which was well obserued by Pope Leo the 10.
when in his familiar discourse with his friend the
Cardinall Bembus, he vttered this vnfavory speech;
what profit hath this fable of Iesus Christ brought to
vs or our court yet by vnspeakable sleights and art
E 3
35
accompanied in these later ages of the world, withstrange successe by Gods permission, they haue indevoured,
to bring the sence of the holy scriptures
in safe custody to themselues alone; & then locking
in fast with a rabble of grosse inventions styled the
Churches traditions in the close of their breasts,
of both together they haue ingenioulsy framed the
ladder wherby they haue mounted into the throne
of their vsurped soveraignety, in spiritual, and earthly
dominion; & then taking vpon themselues alone
to be the only never-erring oracles of Christian religion,
whe~ their children haue come to craue bread
of them, in place of that they haue giuen the~ stones;
wherewithal neverthelesse for manners sake their
hungry soules must rest contended, although in the
meane time they pine to death for want of the true
food of life. Possibly you wil thinke I write in humor,
and misreport them: O that I might be so happy,
as that you would giue me leaue, to avow the
truth of these things before you, in the presence of
any one of my masters of Rome, that would oppose
it: They wil tel you, they may not be seene without
peril of their liues, as the case stands with the~ at this
day in England; and it is true, that the lawes sound
out severity against them, but in execution they
finde them remisse enough: for my part I know, fro~
my first acquaintance with them, they can equivocate
in apparel, as wel as language; and seeme to bee
any thing, saving what they are; & for this purpose,
I would surrender my iudgement to mine eies, and
take them for such, as their habit should declare the~.
36
God is witnes with me I mallice not their persons,I will co~fesse I cannot but condemne their craft, and
pitty such as are inchaunted by them. The truth is
they are cruel Iaylors, and mure vp your vnderstanding
in these things, as their close prisoners; wel
knowing, that if once they giue you but libertie to
heare freely what might be said against them, they
are sure to loose you. I beseech you deare Mother
for the loue you beare to God, to thinke maturelie
of this great affaire. It concernes your soule, & that
for eternitie; and your day of preparation, by the
course of nature, is far declining. Certainly the fault
of my masters of Rome who mislead you is inexcusable,
yet wil not their fault proue your excuse: The
account for your soule wil be required at your own
hands: igonra~ce without questio~ will prove no answere
at the judgement day: It is not only a feareful
sin, when it misleads vs from the way of our salvation,
but a grievous punishment that pursues mankind
for the first transgression. I know your zeale to
the service of God is great, but zeale without knowledge
carries with it in the holy Scriptures a just reproofe:
I cannot expect you should vpon my saying
aba~don the religio~ you haue so long embraced, this
only shall be my humble request & that for his loue
that suffered a bitter & ignominious death, to bring
vs to a life of glory and eternity, that you would resolve
speedily, to lend an indifference eare to some debate
of this point, by persons learned of either side,
for which purpose although the meanenes of my
co~dition may chalenge nothing fro~ this state or merit
37
yet would I hope to finde the favour, for so charitablea worke, as the good of a soule, which a
kingdome cannot redeeme, that some learned Priest
of the Romish fashion, without perill of the lawe
might be suffered to haue accesse to you; so that
you would be willing to admit withall the presence
of some moderate, graue, and learned man of the
contrary part, betweene whom, if it might please
you to stand but attentiue with a mind free of preiudice,
my hope would be, and my vnfained prayer
should concurre with it, that God would bee pleased
to open your heart, as he did of Lydia that good
woman, and make you able to discerne betweene
his truth delivered in his holy word, and the impostures
of the present Church of Rome. if you should
co~sult herein with any one of my masters of Rome,
I know he would disswade you from this course; he
would sing Syrene-like, pretending this care, that it
is not now safe for you to disquiet your conscience
with questions of this kind; whereas in truth his aime
only would be, to hold you stil a captiue in the bo~ds
of error, ignora~ce & security. But God I trust in his
good time wil disappoint their drifts, to whom fro~
my heart I will daily pray as charity, conscience and
duty binds me that in mercy he wil be pleased to direct
your good intention with a true vnderstanding
of his will; that so your commendable desire of salvation;
being accompanied with a right endeavour
in the way, may carry you through this pilgrimage
of sorrowes, into the place of everlasting joyes.
FINIS.