their Ecclesiasticall power, proudly and scornfully contemned and rejected them, which did rightly and modestly admonish the reformation*. If wee shall further inquire of him, what remedy might bee applyed to such dangerous diseases; he professeth seriously, that the Church can never hope for any firme peace, unlesse they begin to make it, which have given the cause of that distraction. If we further presse him for his advice, how to procure that peace from them, which first occasioned the falling off, he replies, and confidently assures us; that this cannot bee effected, unlesse those which are in place of Ecclesiasticall government, would bee content to remit something of their too much rigour, and yeeld somewhat to the peace of the Church, and, hearkening unto the earnest prayers and admonitions of many godly men, will set themselves to correct manifest abuses, according to the rule of divine Scriptures, and the Primitive Church, from which they have swerved.

Heere is a plaine confession of a learned Romanist, that many abuses are crept into the Romane Church; here is likewise an acknowledgement of a distemperature that proceedeth from the Head (and wee know, when the head is distempered, commonly the whole body is out of order). Now to rectify these abuses, hee prescribes a Rule, which is the holy Scriptures, and hee sets before us an ancient patterne for our instruction, which is the Primitive Church.

Cassand. Consult. 56 & 57,

If the Scripture bee the rule of Truth, and the ancient doctrine be the patterne of a true Church, how can our Religion bee charged with heresie, which professeth the Scripture to bee the sole rule of Faith? Or how can it bee justly accused of Noveltie, as derived from Luther, when it is a Canon published for the direction of Preachers and Pastors in our Church; (viz.) That they should never teach any thing as matter of Faith religiously to be observed, but that which is agreeable to the Doctrine of the old and new Testament, and collected out of the same doctrine by the ancient Fathers, and Catholike Bishops of the Church*.

Let us ascend higher, and looke into former ages, and there let us examine, whether these two Sisters agreed in unity of doctrine in one and the same house.

It is reported of Redwald † King of the East Saxons, that he was the first of all his Nation, that was baptized and received Christianitie: but afterward being seduced by his wife, hee had in the selfe same Church (saith Bede) one Altar for Christ's Religion, and another for sacrifices unto devils. Such was the state of the Romane Church, especially in the ages after the devill was let loose. There were some that did consecrate themselves and their service to the

* In lib. Can. disc. Eccles. Angl. cap. 6. Preface to Bishop Jewel's Works. Eng. ann. 1611.

+ Camden's Britania. Eng. p. 465.

right worship of God alone: others to the adorations of Saints and Images. There were some that did constantly adore the Creator in his. bodily presence in Heaven: whilest others in the same Church did ignorantly worship the Creature; a consecrated Host upon the Altar. And thereupon Michael Cecanas, Generall of the Order of Franciscans, about 400 yeeres past, observing the different opinions of different members in the same Church, complained; there were two Churches, the one of the wicked sort flourishing, in which the Pope raigned: the other of godly and good men, and this Church he persecuted*.

This learned Fryer by his discovery of two Churches, shewes that long since there was a difference in Religion between the two Sisters, and thereby he plainely intimates the different estate betwixt Papist and Protestant in the same Church the major part was subject to the Pope, and that flourished, and was visible in the eyes of the world: but, saith the Franciscan, that part consisted of the wicked, and consequently was the malignant Church: the other part was obscured and persecuted by the Pope, but (saith he) it consisted of the faithfull and true beleevers, and consequently was the true Church.

I could ascend yet higher and shew, that the falling out of the two Sisters was about an Husband; the one was constant to her first love Christ Jesus,

* Mich. Cecænas contra Tyrannidem Papæ. Mornæ Mys-. ter. Iniquit.

the

the sole Head of the Church; the other sought a divorce from her Husband, by acknowledging the Pope to be the universal Head of all Churches, But I leave this to a longer time, and a larger Tract.

SECT. III.

CORRUPTIONS BOTII IN FAITH AND

MANNERS

CONFESSED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE RO MANE CHURCH, AND YET THE REFORMATION DENYED BY THE POPE, AND WHY, &c.

If we looke upon the latter ages, wee shall easily discerne an alteration of Religion by the complaints of head and members in the same Church. Pope Alexander the fifth, in the yeere 1411, promiseth solemnly to intend the Reformation of the Church; and for that purpose to assemble the most learned of all Nations: yet nothing was performed. At the Councell of Senest, in the yeere 1423, this proposisition

* Aun. 1411. Dixit quòd ipse volebat vacare circa reformationem Ecclesiæ, &c. Conc. Pisan Sess. 20.

+ Quæstorum abusus quorum malitia ita quotidie magno fidelium scandalo et querela deprehenditur, vide eorum emen

datione

tion of Reformation was revived. But withall it was adjourned de die in diem, and the day of their reformation is not yet come. If we come neerer to these times: the Councell of Trent in Paul the third's time, complained of Indulgences, an Article of the Romane faith: that the Pope's officers in collectings of money for those Indulgences, gave a scandall to all faithfull Christians, which might seeme to be without all hope of remedy. They complained in generall, that there were (many) errors and corruptions crept into the Masse, partly by the corruption of time, partly by the negligence and wickednesse of men: they confesse in particular, that Priests for. covetousness and gaine, made contracts and bargaines to say Masses for money*. Insomuch as it was observed, that the Priest alone said stragling datione spes nulla relicta videatur. Concil. Trident. Sess. 21, cap. 9. Cum multa jam sive temporum vitio, sive hominum incuria et improbitate irrepsisse videantur, quæ à tanti sacrifici dignitate aliena sunt. Conc. Trid. Sess. 22. Decretum de observandis et evitandis, &c.

* Moulin of the Eucharist, cap. 21. Ab ecclesiis verò Musicas eas, ubi sive organo, sive cantui lascivum aut impurum aliquid miscetur, &c. Conc. Trid. ibid. et mox. Ordinarii locorum Episcopi ea omnia prohibere, atque è medio tollere sedulo curent, ac teneantur, quæ vel avaricia, Idolorum servitas, vel irreverentia, quæ ab impietate vix setuneta essc, potest, vel superstitio veræ pietatis falsæ imitatrix induxit. Agrippa de vanit. Scient. cap. 17. Quarundam verò Missarum et candelarum certum numerum, qui magis à superstitioso cultu quàm à vera religione inventa est, omnino ab ecclesia removeant. Idem ibid Concil. Trid. Sess. 22. cap. 6. Optaret sacrosancta Synodus, &c.

Masses