TEXEDA Retextus: OR THE SPANISH MONKE His Bill of Diuorce against the Church of ROME: Together with other remarkable Occurrances.
IMMOTA
LONDON: Printed by T.S. for Robert Mylbourne, and are to be sold at his Shop at the great South dore of Pauls, 1623.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, AND worthy Knight, Sir Edward Conway, one of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuie Councell, and his Maiesties SECRETARIE.
THe sinne of Ingratitude hath euer beene ranked by men of ingenious and liberall education in, the first place amongst the of-scouring and scum of vices, whose iudgement and opinion herein, I professe I alwaies approued. To wipe off then, and cleare my selfe from the aspersion of this foule enormitie, I haue, on aduised [Page]deliberation presumed to consecrate and offer vp vnto your memorie this small Treatise concerning my vnfained conuersion vnto Christ, as a pledge and token of my thankefulnesse for many benefits and fauours plentifully conferred on me. For your most eminent and conspicuous vertues, whereof I oft haue had experience, especially your wisedome, bountifulnesse, courtesie, your feruent zeale to the reformed religion and pietie, which so attend and guard your person, that you can hardly be seuered or abstracted from them, promise and assure me, that this small Treatise giuen and consecrated on the Altar of an honest and sincere heart, will be most gratefull and acceptable to your Honour.
To the Christian Reader.
SAint Ierome relating Iacobs Vision, Epist. ad Ager. 11. in which he saw Angels ascending and descending on a Ladder reaching from the earth to heauen; gathers these profitable and comfortable lessons from thence, That no man should despaire of grace to recouer him from sinne, for Iacob saw Angels ascending; nor yet any presume of his owne strength, for Iacob saw Angels descending, as well as ascending; his owne words are, Videbat scalam per quam ascendebant Angeli et descendebant, vt nec peccator desperet salutem, nec iustus de sua virtute fecurus sit. The Church of Christ in this respect resembles the Sea, which, what it looseth in one place, it alwaies gaines in another. And therefore let no weake Christian be scandalized at the reuolt of so many now a dayes to Popish errors and superstitions. For the spirit speaketh expresly, That in the latter times, 1 Tim. 4.1. some shall depart from the faith, giuing heed to seducing Spirits and doctrines of Diuels; yea, that many shall follow their pernitious waies, by reason of whom, the way of truth shall be euill spoken of. 2 Pet. 2.2. When therefore [Page]we see the truth of these Prophecies fulfilled, in the falling away of many from the truth, euen this their falling away from the truth, ought to confirme vs in the truth; the rather because wee finde by experience, that the Apples that fall from the tree with the least shog, De simplicitate praelatorum. or smallest puffe of winde, are rotten at the core. This was Saint Cyprians obseruation, long agoe; Nemo aestimet bonos de Ecclesia posse discedere; triticum non rapit ventus, nec arborem solidâ radice fundatam procella subuertit: inanes paleae tempestate iactantur, inualidae arbores turbinis incursione euertuntur: Let no man imagine that good men can depart from the Church; The winde blowes not away the Corne, neither doth a storme throw downe a tree that hath sure rooting in the earth; it is but light chaffe which the winde scattereth abroad, and they are but hollow and rotten trees which are ouerturned with a blustring winde. And Saint Austen and Saint Gregory make good this obseruation of Saint Cyprian, by excluding all those from the number of Christs Disciples, and the true Sonnes of God, whose reuolt and apostacie euidently proues their hypocrisie. Saint Austen speakes definitiuely, Decorrept. et [...]. 9. Qui non habent perseuerantiam, sicut non verè discipuli Christi, ita nec verè filij dei fuerunt, etiam quando esse videbantur, et ita vocabantur: Those who perseuer not in the truth, as they were neuer the true Disciples of Christ, so neither were they euer truely the Children of God, no, not when they seemed so to be, and were so called also: And Saint Gregory is as peremptory; It may trouble, saith he, a weake Christian, Moralium in ob l. 34. cap. 13. that this Leuiathan hath such power, vt aurum, hoc est, viros sanctitatis claritate fulgentes, quasi [Page]lutum sibi vitijs inquinandum subijciat: That he can trample Gold vnder his feete like dirt; that is, men shining with a bright lustre of sanctitie, by defiling them with viciousnesse: Sed citiùs respondemus, quia aurum quod prauis Diaboli persuasionibus sterni sicut lutum potuerit, aurum ante oculos dei nunquam fuit; et qui seduci quandoque non reuersuri, possunt, quasi habitū sanctitatisante oculos hominū videantur amittere, sed eam ante oculos dei nunquam habuerunt: But we readily answere, That that gold which by the wicked perswasions of the Diuell, could be thus trodden vnder foot by him like dirt, was neuer gold in the sight of God; and whosoeuer may so be led away from the true Church, that they neuer returne thither backe againe, well they may seeme to lose an habit and shew of sanctitie before men, but the truth is, in the eyes of God they were neuer indued with any sanctitie at all.
If this suffice not to keepe the weake from stumbling at this rocke of offence, I meane the Apostacie of seeming Saints, and reuolt of outward professors of the truth, let them consider in the last place, that this losse of the Church (if it be any) is in some measure repaired by the daily accesse of new conuerts. Not to goe farre for instances at this present, for an Italian Apostata, we haue a Spanish Conuert; for a loose Bishop, we haue a strict Augustine Monke; the former lately left Christ, to follow his preferments in the Court of Antichrist; the latter hath left all his hope of preferments in this world, and stript himselfe of all his temporall meanes, to follow Christ naked: whose solid motiues set downe in this short and pithy relation, if thou [Page]weigh diligently, thou canst not but afford this treatise a like commendation, to that which Homer giues Diomedes, [...]: A little Man, but a great Souldier. For thou shalt finde in it arrowes taken out of the Romish Quiuer, drawne to the head against the Romish faith; besides, diuers rarities touching the fopperies and ridiculous superstitions of that Church. There are not many leaues in this Treatise, but there is much fruit, yet this is but a tast: The Author hath furnished already a Table richly with such kinde of fruit, to which he wil shortly inuite thee: In the meane while, let this stay thy stomacke, and if any thing herein please thy appetite, blesse God for the Author; if any thing distaste thee, pardon the Author for Gods cause; for which the more losse he hath, and doth sustaine, the more he deserues to gaine thy loue and charitable opinion of him.
Ferdinand Texeda hath by his religious conference and carriage, approued himselfe vnto vs, to be sound in Faith, and honest in Life, and one that deserues respect amongst all good Christians.
- Daniel Feately, Doctor of Diuinity.
- Richard Sibs, Preacher at Grayes Inne.
- William Crashaw, Preacher at White-Chappell.
- William Boswell, Preacher at Saint Laurence Iewrie.
- Iohn Squire, Preacher, at Leonard Shore-ditch.
- Thomas Wood, Preacher at Michaels Crooked-lane.
- Timothy Suite, Preacher at Andrew Hubbard.
- Iohn Regius, Pastors of the Dutch Church in London.
- Ambrose Regemorterus, Pastors of the Dutch Church in London.
- Nathaniel Marius, Pastors of the French Church in London.
- Abraham Aurelius, Pastors of the French Church in London.
THE SPANISH CONVERT, OR, FERDINANDVS TEXEDA his Conuersion to the Reformed Church, with the cause mouing him thereunto.
IT will not seeme strange to those whose mindes God hath illightened with the knowledge of Christian truth, that I a Spaniard and a Monke, trained vp and grounded in the errours of Poperie, and sometime a most sharpe and vehement prosecutor and maintainer of them; should now imbrace and professe the true religion, sith the sacred Scripture informes them that there is no respect of persons with God: Acts 10. Notwithstanding it will be a very hard taske for any to vndertake to perswade such as are enemies to this truth, that it was the finger of God that wrought this worke of my conuersion: for sith they with the vttermost of their indeauour, teach and maintaine, [Page 2]that the reformed religion is most odious and execrable to his diuine Maiestie, without all doubt they will neuer ascribe and giue vnto him the glory of my conuersion hereunto; for God tempts not, nor solicits any man to perpetrate any euill: yet neuerthelesse, to the intent that I may farther establish, and build vp in Christ such Christians as are truely called, and re-call such Catholikes (falsly so called,) as wander from the truth; I haue thought good to produce and publish some of the motiues and reasons that preuailed with me, to the vtter abandoning and renouncing of Poperie, which hee that shall but seriously and aduisedly weigh and consider, vnlesse hee wilfully be blinder then a Mole, I doubt not but hee will freely and ingeniously acknowledge this truth, that it was onely a tender regard of my soules health that induced me to shake hands with Poperie: But omitting these circumstances, as not so pertinent, ile now buckle my selfe to the matter in hand.
A Principle, and an especiall motiue exciting mee to abandon Poperie, was their celebrating of diuine seruice in an vnknowne tongue: For, as Saint Paul teacheth vs, hee that speakes in an vnknowne tongue, speakes not vnto men but vnto God: 1 Cor. 14. Therefore when we speake vnto men, it is requisite and necessary wee expresse our conceits in such notions and language as they best vnderstand vnto whom we speake: But the Papists setting light by Saint Pauls Doctrine, teach and exhort the rude and barbarous people in Lattine, which tongue they vnderstand not, as it is apparant to any that shall be pleased to peruse their Masse for the dead, where the sub-Deacon sings after [Page 3]this manner, Fratres ecce mysterium vobis dico: Brethren, behold I tell you a mysterie; hee pretends he speakes vnto his Brethren, but he speakes a notorious vntruth, because according to the determination of the Apostle in the place before cited, hee that speakes in an vnknowne tongue, speakes not vnto men, but vnto God. I may presse this reason yet further, because the Priest before the preface, saith (orate & me fratres) Brethren pray for me: the Papists themselues will not denie that these words are directed to the common people, and therefore neither can they gaine-say that they most shamefully oppugne the Apostles Cannon in the rpractise; for, intending & directing their speech vnto their Brethren, they speake vnto them in an vnknowne tongue: but the very simple, and illiterate people daily reproues, and sufficiently discouers this their grosse errour, in that immediately after the deliuery of these words (orate & me fratres) all of them in their assemblies for Masse, irreuerently sit still and chat vntill the Priest begins seruice, as if in stead of Brethren pray for me, hee had said vnto them, Brethren sit ye still and discourse together: And it is worth the noting, that whilst they thus talke, the Priest mumbles to himselfe certaine short Orisons which they tearme secret prayers, with a very soft and low voyce, and afterwards lifts vp his voyce and saies, per omnia saecula saeculorum; from generation to generation, and the common people they answere Amen: Now if it should so happen, as it is very credible it hath, especially when as the Moores inhabited Spaine, amongst whom there were very many Priests, that in outward shew seemed to professe [Page 4]and countenance Poperie, but indeed were Mahumitans in heart, if I say it should so fall out (which God forbid) that one of these saying Masse, instead of these short Orisons, should in his prayers vtter blasphemy against, Christ, and afterwards should say aloud, per omnia saecula saeculorum, should not the vulgar people in replying Amen, euen ioyne with him in that his most execrable prayer? Wherefore it behoues them to remember that of the Apostle, to him that blesseth onely with the spirit. How shall hee that occupieth the roome of the vnlearned, say Amen at the giuing of thankes, sith he vnderstands not what thou sayest? This their absurd errour is yet more apparant in their Nunnes, whilst they both at Mattens and Euensong, sing and rehearse certaine Homilies of Pope Gregories venerable Beades, of Thomas Aquinas in Latine, whereof they vnderstand, no not a syllable; I would faine know of them, to whom those excellent Sermons are rehearsed, to God, hee needs them not; to the people, they are aboue their spheare and capacitie: What will the Papists reply hereunto, or what can they say to this ensuing argument?
All those that deliuer words that are not intelligible, doe but beate the ayre.
All the Prayers and Sermons of the whole Corabble of Romish Priests are of this nature.
So the whole rabble of Romish Priests in their Prayers and Sermons, doe but as it were beate the ayre.
The proposition is, Saint Pauls experience proues the assumption, therefore certainely no man will except against the conclusion, vnlesse some barbarous [Page 5]and illiterate rusticke not versed in his Moodes and Figures.
A second motiue inforcing me to forsake Poperie, was their doctrine of humane satisfactions, because it is most iniurious and derogatorie to the meritorious and al-sufficient sufferings & satisfactions of our blessed Lord and Sauiour, and directly thwarts and crosseth the whole streame and current of the sacred Scriptures: By that one oblation of himselfe, once offered, Heb. 10. as the Author to the Hebrewes hath it, he hath perfected for euer those that are sanctified; and hee euidently and plainely teacheth elsewhere, that we are perfect and compleat in him: but that which in euery respect is perfect, needes not ought to make it more absolute.
Neither will I passe ouer in silence that I haue oftentimes-ruminated with my self; viz. that this their doctrine of humane satisfaction, vtterly ouerthrowes their Indulgences and Masses, together with their Churches treasurie as they so call it: for the bolsterers and maintainers of this opinion teach, that of necessitie, satisfaction must be made to the diuine iustice of Almightie God, euen to the vtmost farthing, and hereupon they would faine ground their Purgatorie, where insufferable flames of fire are prouided, and attend for all that depart this life, according to their doctrine, from whence there is no redemption vntill Gods wrath be fully appeased by their condigne punishments. On this foundation I erect this edifice; If of necessitie satisfaction must be made to the iustice of Almighty God in deserued punishments, euen to the vttermost farthing, then it is impossible to shunne or [Page 6]auoide these, but of necessitie they must be vndergone, euen to the vttermost farthing: If this inference be true, that we must needs satisfie the iustice of God in condigne punishments, to the vttermost farthing, how then can Masses, Indulgences, and the merits of Saints haue any vertue in them to extinguish the flames of Purgatorie? But the very truth is, howsoeuer the Papists denie in words that there is a necessitie imposed on vs to suffer condigne punishments as well in this life, as the next, for our demerits; yet they make it good in their practises: For, according to the Cannons of the Church of Rome, all those penances imposed by a confessor on petenciaries, may be exchanged and conuerted into pecuniarie mulcts, yea, as Tolet: in his summes auerres, these penances may be deferred and put ouer heare, to be vndergone in Purgatorie; yea, they may purchase their deliuerance from thence also for money: For, although a man deserue to remaine in that same fiery furnace vntill the day of the Lord, that last generall Audit, yet at one only Masse said at any allowed and priuiledged Altar (which may be purchased for two or at the most three groates) hath power and vertue enough to set the prisoner at libertie, and to transport and carry him into heauen: yea, in that instant, when he is rendring vp his body, as due debt to nature, hauing a pasport which they call, bulla cruciata, which is sold in Spaine for two groates, any petty Priest hath power not onely to absolue him from the guilt, but a so to free him from the punishment he hath deserued: What are become then of Popish satisfactions, when the most hainous offender may be discharged [Page 7]and acquitted for two groates? Where wee may note by the way, how that euer in the Church of Rome, retribution is not made to any to his workes as he hath done in this life (as the tenour of the Scripture runnes) but according to his estate in the goods of this life: For, put the case that it should so fall out, that two men of equall merit and desert (to speak in their owne language) so that if they were waighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary, they would euenly poise, should in one instant of time surrender vp their interest and title in this life, and both of them should be adiudged to remaine in the fire of Purgatory vntill doomes-day; if so in the behalfe of one of them, one onely Masse be celebrated at a priuiledged and allowed Altar, his partner that cannot be so befriended as to haue one saide for him, hee poore soule must lie still by it there to receiue the recompence of his sinnes, without the least hope of remission, vntill the generall Iayle-deliuery; whereas the former is forthwith loosed from his Fetters, and carryed by Angels into Abrahams bosome, alwayes prouided, the Priest haue his money for the Masse, for otherwise it hath not any vertue at all.
A third motiue perswading me to abandon Popery, was their Doctrine of Transubstantiation, affirming that the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament is really conuerted and transubstantiated into the very Body and Bloud of Christ: First, because it is not grounded on the Word of God, as in a manner Thomas Auio, sometimes a Cardinall in the Church of Rome, the Popes Legate and President at one of their Councels ingeniously acknowledgeth [Page 8]in these words, Caictan super 3. partem. S. Thomae in quaest. 75. & art. 50. Alterum autem quod Euangelium non explicauit ab ecclesia expresse accepimus scilicet conuersionem panis in corpus Christi: but the other point is not plainely set downe in the Gospell, but wee haue receiued it by tradition, expresly from the Church, to wit, the conuersion of the bread in the Sacrament into the very body of Christ. Iohannes Douns-Scotus fauours this opinion; Super l. 4. sentent. quaest. 11. Fides, saith he, de hoc Sacramento est propter solam ecclesiae determinationem: The ground of our beliefe concerning this Sacrament, is onely the sentence and determination of the Church. Occanus and Durandus de Sancto Porciano, who was sometimes the Popes Penitentiarius Priest, the Bishop of Melda, and Prior generall of the order of Preachers, all concurre herein in their iudgements, as also some of the learnedst Doctors of the Romish Church adhere vnto them. Secondly, also it implies a contradiction, that the body of Christ should be at one and the same instant of time both in heauen and in the consecrated hoast, which these reasons I shal now produce, seeme to me impregnably to proue.
First, The Heauens containe our Lord and Sauiour. Christs body is in heauen circumscriptiuely, therefore he cannot be in any place without the heauen. The Antecedent needes no proofe, the inference is thus strengthened, because as Thomas Aquinas, Bonauentura, Capreolus, teach, to whose opinion Vasquez also subscribes concerning the definition of circumscription, Apud Suarem. tom. 3. part. 3. viz. Circumscribi loco est corpus ita esse in hoc loco vt non sit extra illum: To be circumscribed in place, is for a body to be so in his place that it cannot bee without his place; [Page 9]Therefore it is impossible that the Body of Christ should be circumscribed or contained in heauen, and be also without the heauen. The antecedent is acknowledged of all Thomists, and is a principle in philosophy; onely the Iesuites exccept against it, who had rather oppugne and euen wage warre with truth it selfe, then not humour the Pope: but sith there is no contending with such as deny principles, I haue done with those glosing parasites of Antichrist, and come to the Thomists, who that they may not fall into the danger of the Inquisition, inuent certaine shifts to auoide the consequence, affirming that circumscription or circumscriptiue being in place, doth imply a denyall of any other circumscription or circumscriptiue being in place, Circumscription in one place, doth as well exclude definitiue being in any other place at the same time, as a circumscriptiue being; for that that is circumscribed in a place, can no way be without that place nor definitiuely nor circumscriptiuely, as the Schooles speake. but not of a definition or definitiue being in place; and therefore that Christ may be in heauen circumscriptiuely, and yet in the hoast definitiuely. But thus I reply, this answere is altogether groundlesse: for what reason can be giuen, why one circumscriptiue being in place, should bee more repugnant to another circumscriptiue being in place, then to a definitiue? And therefore this answere of the Thomists, as Suarez saith, is a very poore shift, and cousen German to a petitio principij, or begging the poynt in question; Nay its a harder thing to conceiue how a body should be in one place definitiuely, in another circumscriptiuely at the same time, then to be in two places circumscriptiuely, because to be definitiuely in place, is a manner of existence in place, no way agreeing to a body.
Secondly, it implies a contradiction, that the body [Page 10]should be distant and seuered from it selfe; But should it be in many places at once, it must needes be seuered and distant from it selfe; Therefore it cannot possibly exist in many places at once. The proposition is infallible, because distance necessarily implies a distinction, but no body is distinguished from it selfe; The assumption is thus strengthened, The distance of bodies is taken from the distance of the places wherein they exist; therefore if the places are distant wherein Christs body exists, Christs body necessarily must needs be distant from it self. Neither could I euer admit or approue of the answere of the Papists hereunto, viz. that indeed the body of Christ is not distant or seuered from it selfe, but onely that it hath distant vbities or different being in place, from the which the body is not simply denominated distant, but onely it is said as it exists in the place to be distant from it selfe, as being existant elsewhere: For, who perceiues not apparantly that this answere of them is a meare illusion and cauill? As for example, Peter is not distant from Iohn, but as Iohn exists in another place, and yet neuerthelesse he is absolutely and simply said to be distant from him; Nay, he cannot be distant and seuered from him, but onely in this consideration, as Iohn exists in another place, and existing or hauing his being elsewhere, he cannot but be distant from Iohn; neither can Christs body haue distant vbities or a different being in place and not be distant from it selfe.
Thirdly, if Christs body should in one instant of time be both in heauen & in the consecrated Hoast, then it might be questionlesse in innumerable places [Page 11]at once, and so by consequence should be infinite. All of them grant the first consequence, but denie the second; because, as they define immensitie, it is, praesentiam naturâ suâ constituentem rem in omnibus spatijs possibilibus, &c. A present setting or placing a thing of its owne nature in all possible places: But admitting Christs body should be placed or set in all such places, yet it hath not this propertie from its essence. But to wound them with their own weapon, I retort their answere backe vpon them. Immensitie is a present setting or placing a thing of its owne nature, in all possible places; Therfore onely that thing that is infinite may be in all possible places; The inference is euident, because the proper passion of any thing cannot agree to any other thing, vnlesse the thing it selfe also agree thereunto; therefore if Immensitie be repugnant to the nature of a body, it must also be repugnant to it to be in innumerable places at once.
Moreouer, that which they affirme, viz. that a body is not to be accounted infinite, although it be set or exist in infinite places, because it hath not this from its owne nature, is very ridiculous. For, thus I argue, that if God therefore cannot possibly be contained in any bounds, because by reason of his greatnesse and immensitie he is euery where, and in euery thing most inwardly present; therefore by the selfe same reason it followes, that neither may a body be present in all places, because it is his nature to be circumscribed and contained within the limits of place, because as Gods infinite greatnesse makes him vncapable of circumscription, so likewise the finite nature [Page 12]of a body, makes it vncapable of vbiquitie.
To conclude, this was alwaies my faith, that the Bread in the Sacrament, after consecration, remaines still pure Bread; for I my selfe haue seene wormes ingendered in the consecrated hoast, which could not haue beene if the substance of bread after the deliuerie of the words of benediction vanished away: for then there would not be any pre-existent matter, For euery substantiall forme necessarily requires some substantiall matter pre-existent, out of which by the vertue of the agent, the forme is educed. out of which the formes of wormes might be drawne. Neither like I that answere of the Papists hereunto, who affirme that God miraculously supplies there the first matter; for Christs existencie in the hoast, is most pleasing and acceptable vnto him, as they teach: wherefore then would he by working miraculously aboue nature, leauing the accidents, flye into heauen? and especially sith the accidents of bread haue no contrarie to expell and expose them to corruption. Besides, all men know that there are many vestments amongst the Papists, that for many generations, (if it be not impietie to beleeue them) are preserued incorrupted, and that onely because they haue touched the bodies of some of the Saints: what probable reason then can they render why the body of Christ should not exempt these accidents from corruption, with which hee is actually couered? This argument is further vrged and pressed, because the ingendering of these vermine, redounds to the dishonour of Christ, and the condemnation of the faithfull; for all that enter into the Church, adore and doe obeisance to the consecrated hoast included in the Pyxe; which if it should be transubstantiated into wormes, they should attribute diuine worship vnto [Page 13]them. From hence then we may infallibly conclude, that this Doctrine, concerning the carnall and corporall presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which Papists so stifly maintaine, is a meere figment of their owne braine. Neither euer would it enter into my minde, that our blessed Lord and Sauiour should by working miraculously aboue the ordinarie course of nature, administer matter for the generation of worms (no second cause requiring their production) & thereby cause that those accidents hauing no cause to corrupt them, should yet be corrupted; neither haue we reason to beleeue, that Christ for no cause should relinquish a place so gratefull and beloued of him, as they say; and so depriue the faithfull of his healthfull and louing presence, especially sith hee must needes foresee, that his absence must needes be manifest and apparant detriment to the faithfull.
I haue also obserued very many places in the ancient Fathers, expresly crossing and oppugning this Doctrine of Transubstantiation, some whereof I will here produce. In the first place, Saint Augustine, (in whose name, the Order of which sometime I was, much glorieth) confutes this errour, saying, Contra Adim. cap. 12. Non dubitauit dicere, hoc est corpus meum, cum signum daret corporis sui: He doubted not to say, This is my body, when he deliuered onely, the signe of his body: and in another place, Sicutergo secundùm quēdam modum sacramentum corporis Christi, corpus Christi est; sacramentum sanguinis Christi, sanguis Christi est: ita sacramentum fidei fides est: Ep. 22. ad Bonifacium. Therefore euen as the sacrament of Christs body is after a sort (or after a kinde of manner) his body; and the sacrament of his [Page 14]bloud, is his bloud, euen so the sacrament of faith, is faith: Saint Austen vseth the like speech of both. From which place I collect this Argument; The sacrament of faith is not transubstantiated into faith, therefore neither is the symbole of Christs body, conuerted into his body: and Tertullian in his booke against Marcion, in the 19. Chap. saith, Panem suum corpus appellat, vt iam inde eum corporis sui figuram pani dedisse intelligas: He cals Bread his body, that from thence thou mightest vnderstand that he gaue the figure of his body to the bread, (that is, made bread a figure of his body;) and Gelasius in his Booke of two natures, Tamen, inquit, esse non desinit substantia vel natura panis et vini, et certe imago et similitudo corporis et sanguinis Christi in mysteriorum actione celebrantur: yet saith he, the substance, or the essence of the bread cease not to be, and truely the image and similitude of the body and bloud of Christ are celebrated in the action of the mysteries in the sacrament.
Moreouer, I abandoned and renounced Poperie, for that it commands praier and inuocation of Saints, that hath neither promise, nor precept, nor president in the sacred Scriptures for its warrant and allowance, for we ought to be assured and perswaded in our consciences by some testimonies from the word of God (the rule and square of our actions) that Almighty God will be pleased to heare and accept of our prayers, through him, and for his sake, in whose name they are tendred vnto him, because that praier that is not of faith, is not pleasing or acceptable to him; but we haue no such promise concerning any of the Saints, but onely concerning that holy and [Page 15]iust one, Iesus Christ the righteous: Ioh. 16. ver. 23. Whatsoeuer yee shall aske the Father in my name, he will giue it you. Neither yet is there any precept extant in sacred writ, inioyning vs any such duty, but we are excited & commanded to flye vnto Christ, by prayer, in time of distresse, according vnto that, Come vnto me al ye that are wearie and heauie laden, and I wil ease you: Math. 11. Neither can any examples be produced out of the Booke of God, whose practise might at the least seeme to fauour or countenance this Doctrine concerning the inuocation of Saints; there are very many places that expresly teach, or necessarily imply, that wee owe the deuout affection of our mindes onely to God. Their comparison drawne from the manner and fashion in Princes Courts, is not of any moment; For, should the King constitute and appoint one onely Master of Requests, doubtlesse he would neuer admit or grant any suits preferred vnto him by any other; sith then our blessed Lord and Sauiour is appointed by his Father to be our onely Mediator and Intercessor, why then haue we recourse to any other? why relye we vpon, and preferre a most doubtfull and incertaine course, to a most certaine and infallible meanes? How are we assured that the Saints heare and vnderstand our grieuances? and admit they doe, that God approues and accepts of our petitions tendred vnto him in this sort; nay, wee are certainely assured, and expresly taught the contrarie, for our Lord and Sauiour saith of himselfe, I am the way, the truth, Ioh. 14. ver. 6. and the life, no man commeth vnto the Father but by mee; If it be his pleasure that wee should vse no other meanes vnto the Father but himselfe, doubtlesse it is [Page 16]not his will that wee should vse the mediation of Saints. Aug. tract. 22. super Ioan. This was Austens opinion when as he said in the person of Christ, Non est quò eas nisi ad me; non est quà eas nisi per me: Thou hast no whither to goe but to me, no way but by mee: Hereunto also Saint Ambrose assents, saying, Sedtamen Domine tu solus inuocandus es; But thou O Lord, onely art to be called vpon. Moreouer, I detested this their inuocation of Saints, because they not onely pray vnto them, but equalize and ranke them in an equall degree of honour with Christ; I charge them not falsly, the thing it selfe is too apparant; for when as not onely the vulgar sort, but euen their learned Rabbins haue poynted out, and as it were giuen in commission, especiall charges of administration and gouernement to euery seuerall Saint: Christ is not once thought of; they all imagine Christ to be more hard, and the Saints of a more benigne disposition, and easier to be intreated: and had rather trust to, and throw themselues into the armes of their mercy, then relye and depend on him for helpe; and leauing Christ, they flye vnto the Saints, they apprehend and apply vnto themselues the merits of the Saints for the pardon of their sinnes. And in the Romish Breuiarie, euery where God is intreated that hee would be pleased to bring men into his Kingdome in heauen, and that for the merits of his Saints; as it is apparant in this Collect, appointed for the feast of Saint Martha: Almighty and most mercifull God, whose Sonne vouchsafed to be feasted in the house of blessed Martha; grant wee beseech thee for her merits that so friendly and louingly entertained him, wee may be [Page 17]mercifully receiued and entertained in thy Kingdome of glory. There are many such curtaild Prayers in their forenamed Breuiarie, which euidently declare, that the Papists make their Saints not onely their Intercessors, but also their Reconcilers and pacifiers of Gods wrath: and Gabriell, the interpreter of the Cannon of the Masse, blusheth not to affirme that we ought euen by the prescription and appointment of God himselfe, to flye vnto the Saints for succour, that we may through their prayers and merits obtaine saluation: Hereunto Pope Innocent the third assents, saying, Necessarium nobis esse in viâ sanctorum suffragium: Whilst we are yet in the way to our Country, we need the suffrages of the Saints: and Thomas Aquinas peremptorily affirmes, 1.2. quest. 178. art. 1. opera miraculosa quae fiunt à Sanctis non solum intercedendo pro nobis ad deum praestari abillis, sed etiam cum imperio et potestate orta ex quâdam virtute ipsis à deo communicata; that is, That the miracles that are done by the Saints, are performed not onely by praying for vs to God, but with a kinde of command and power, arising from a kinde of vertue communicated to them from God: And in a certaine Spanish Booke, composed by a Doctor of Diuinitie, and a Monke, of the order of Saint Marie de Mercede, and approued of by the Archbishop of Valentia, and of the Iudge of Sancta Cruciata, and committed to the Presse with license from the Deputy of the kingdome of Valentia; the title whereof is, Breue historia de la orden de la Merced; the Author thereof affirmes, that the hope of our saluation is fastened with to Ankers, viz. Christ, and the Virgin Mary, and that none but may feare to [Page 18]be reiected of God, if he be not cloathed with the merits of Mary; but I had rather deliuer it in his owne words, Quiso dios estribasse el bien del hombre en dor ancoras esto es en Christo y en Maria benditissima, su Madre, Porque Como no avia elhombre por si solo sin el apoyo y arrimo delos nurecimientos desta esclarecida reyna de recelar le auia de desechar dios? To this purpose I might alledge that same most detestable Picture which represents Austen betweene Christ and Mary; turning towards Mary, hee is made to speake these words, I sucke out of these Teats, looking towards Christ, these, I am fed of these words, wherevnto is added in the midst, Earradius in concord. in euang. tom. 1. l. 8. cap. 11. I know not whether to turne me, and that of Barradius the Iesuite, who demands of Christ, wherefore ascending into heauen, he would not take his Mother along with him? and he himselfe answeres himselfe thus, peraduenture O Lord, thy heauenly Courtiers would be at a stand whether first to greet and entertaine thee their Lord, or her their Lady: and that the cursed and bitter fruits of their inuocation of Saints, may be the better perceiued and discerned, In lib. hisp. supra allegato, fol. 180. let vs heare the Papists themselues in one breath, inuocating Mary and blaspheming God.
Here followeth their Letanie.
- HOly Mary, Pray for vs.
- Holy Mother of God, Pray for vs.
- Holy Virgin of Virgins, Pray for vs.
- [Page 19]Thou that art the liuing Temple of the blessed Trinitie, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Lady of Angels, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the ofspring and honour of the Patriarkes, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the desire of the Prophets, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Mistresse of the Apostles, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Comfortresse of Martyres, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the instructresse of the learned, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the hope of Eremites, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Standard-bearer of Virgins, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art a patterne for the married, Pray for vs.
- Thou that are the comfort of Widdowes, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the ioy of holy men and women, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Paradice of pleasure, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the tree of life, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the onely parcell of earth, free from the curse of Adam, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Doue, carrying an Oliue branch, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art Iacabs ladder, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Bush of Moses, that burned, and consumed nor, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Arke of the couenant, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Rod of Aaron Pray for vs.
- [Page 20]Thou that art the golden pot of heauenly Manna, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Altar of sweet perfume, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art a Citie of refuge. Pray for vs.
- Thou that art Gedeons Fleece. Pray for vs.
- Thou that art a Lilly amongst thornes. Pray for vs.
- Thou that art a Garden enclosed, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art a Fountaine sealed vp, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Pit of liuing waters, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Tower of Dauid, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Palme exalted, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the pretious Myrrhe, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Rose of Sharon, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Cedar of Libanus, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Cypresse of mount Sion, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Sprigg of Iesse, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the beautifull Oliue, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the liuing Altar, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Torch of the faithfull, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the rising Sunne that neuer sets, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Moone alwaies at the full. Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Kings Court, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the fragrant Meadow of the holy Ghost, Pray for vs.
- [Page 21]Thou that art a Sanctuary alwaies holy, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the mirror of all vertues, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the bright morning-Starre, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the throne, and seate of God, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Castle of Iesse, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the safe harbour of Seafaringmen, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Seastarre that reioyceth the hearts of Marriners, Pray for vs.
- Thou who alone art a Virgin, and a Mother, Pray for vs.
- Thou who alone art a fruitfull Virgin, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art louely to heauen, terrible to hell, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the confidence of the godly, the terrour of the wicked, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art priuie to all the secrets of God, Pray for vs.
- Thou that inlightnest the highest Seraphins, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the glory of the people of Israell, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art all faire throughout, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art beautifull as the Moone, pretious as the Sunne, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Mother of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sauiour, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the true Mother of the Sons of Adam, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Queene of Kings, and Ladie of Lords, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art most humble in Maiestie, Pray for vs.
- [Page 22]Thou that dispensest the graces of the holy spirit, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Mother of deare loue, Pray for vs.
- Thou that wert foretold by the Prophets, adored by Angels, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art espoused, yet ignorant of the marriage bed, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the Nurse of him that nurseth all things, Pray for vs.
- Thou that containedst him that containeth all things, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art the fairest among the Daughters of Ierusalem, Pray for vs.
- Thou which wast onely free from the sinne of Adam, Pray for vs.
- Thou which wast ouershadowed by the power of the most high from aboue, Pray for vs.
- Thou that first imbraced the word of God, Pray for vs.
- Thou which inclosedst him in thy womb, whom the heauens could not containe, Pray for vs.
- Thou which onely didst bring forth without sorrow, Pray for vs.
- Thou which didst breake the head of the craftie Serpent, Pray for vs.
- Thou who firmely didst retain faith in his passion, Pray for vs.
- Thou whose body saw no corruption, Pray for vs.
- Thou who art assumed into heauen in thy glorified body, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art exalted aboue the quire of Angels, Pray for vs.
- [Page 23]Thou that sittest at the right hand of the Sonne of God, Pray for vs.
- Thou that reconcilest vnto vs God angry with vs, Pray for vs.
- Thou that art called on by a thousand attributes and titles, Pray for vs.
- Be thou fauourable vnto vs, Heare vs Lady.
- From euill and the danger of euill, Defend vs Lady.
- We beseech thee by thy immaculate conception, Defend vs Lady.
- We beseech thee by thy holy Natiuity, Defend vs Lady.
- We beseech thee by thy comfortable Annunciation, Defend vs Lady.
- We beseech thee by thy ioyfull visitation, Defend vs Lady.
- We beseech thee by thy most pure purification, Defend vs.
- By thy glorious Ascention, Defend vs.
- By thy triumphant Coronation, Defend vs. and afterward, That thou wouldest bee pleased to grant concord and peace to thy whole Church, We beseech thee to heare vs.
- And beneath, O Daughter of the high God, Defend vs.
- Thou that art the Mother of the Lambe, that taketh away the sinnes of the world, We beseech thee to heare vs.
- Thou that art the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, We beseech thee to helpe vs.
An Encomiasticall Letanie to the blessed Virgine, the Mother of GOD, gathered out of the sacred Scriptures and holy Authors. First of all sung in the great Church of the Citie Valentia, when as the holy Image of that Virgine, named Del Puig, famous and renowned for her frequent miracles both on Land and Sea, in the time of Warre and Peace, was brought in great state into Valentia, at that time when as the inuincible Armada was sent to inuade England, which was on the 17. day of Iuly, being Sunday, in the yeere of our Lord God. 1588.
VVEe beseech thee to heare vs sinners, that thou wouldest obtaine true repentance for vs.
We beseech thee that thou wouldest take care to preserue the Apostolicke See, and all the orders of the Clergie in the true Religion.
We beseech thee that allaying all stormes, thou wouldest conduct What successe and effect this prayer had, [...]ide, the Christmas hangings in the great Chamber at Thue-hall. safely the Catholicke Fleet of the Catholicke King, to the much desired and wishedfor Hauen.
We beseech thee that thou wouldest grant victofry to the Catholicke Fleet of the Catholicke King, ouer most barbarous and sauage heretickes.
We beseech thee to enlarge those Christians that are still oppressed with the yoke and tyranny of the English, that they may freely professe their faith and conscience.
We beseech thee that thou wouldest astonish and smite the hearts of the stubborne and obstinate heretickes of England, with feare and trembling.
We beseech thee that thou wouldest giue wisedome and courage to those faithfull souldiers that fight for the Catholicke faith.
We beseech thee that thou wouldest cause those holy Churches which are either vtterly ruinated or impiously prophaned, to be re-edified and restored to the honour of God, and to the honor of holy men and women.
That thou wouldest be instant with God by prayer, that the kingdome of England (the darkenes of blindnesse being dispeld) may be reduced to the ancient and Catholicke faith, and to the obedience of the Church of Rome.
We beseech thee to heare vs.
That thou wouldest be pleased to preserue all Spaine from the contagion of euill, especially this Citie most deuoted to thy seruice.
We beseech thee to heare vs.
That thou wouldest be pleased to obtaine peace in loue for thy whole Church.
We beseech thee to heare vs.
Moreouer: This likewise excited me to detest Popery, that it presumptuously dares, contrary to the expresse commandement of God, set before the people all sorts of Images to be worshipped and adored; The ground of my dislike hereof, was not onely because God hath prohibited it, but because I very well knew, and was certainely perswaded, that this their adoring and reuerencing of such images, is the Lacquy and Page of the grossest Idolatry; wherefore I thought it most meete, that these Images of Popery [Page 26]should be handled, as we reade the Brasen Serpent was by Hezekiah; for if Moses erected that Serpent in the Wildernes, not without his especiall warrant frō God; yet neuerthelesse because the people in long tract of time, fell to the worshipping of this Image, King Hezekiah detesting and abhorring this their Idolatry, commanded it to be taken downe and cut in peeces; with farre better reason should the Images of Popery, set vp contrary to Gods commandement, bee remoued and cut in peeces, who haue for their author and maintainer, not Moses the seruant of God, but the Pope, who is Christs enemy. And experience shewes, and their writings giue me euidence, that they haue degenerated so farre, as not onely to adore these Images, but also to haue forsaken their Creator, that they might settle and fixe their hope and confidence wholly on them, as this ensuing Eglogue, taken out of the fore-cited Spanish Booke will make it most plaine to the Reader.
A gratulation of this Sacred house, to the blessed Virgin, the Mother of God for her returne.
I Lay comfortlesse, being destitute of thee my light, & most glorious ornament, as a dead body deuoyd of life and motion, me thought I heard euery one saying vnto me; Where is that pretious gold which Princely hands haue laide vp in thee? Where are these infinite riches? Where is that bottomelesse depth of graces? Where is the Ocean of miraculous cures? Where is that louely Image of the blessed [Page 27]Virgin the Mother of God? To whom I replyed, she is gone, she is gone that imparted wonderfull holinesse vnto me, that hath made mee a most renowned Church; shee is gone, guarded, and attended with Angels and Saints; she I say, who hath made me an euer flowing fountaine of miraculous cures, a remedy against diuels, the onely refuge to all that flye vnto me; but she who seemed to be absent from me in body, was present with me by her wonderfull miracles, for shee which was manifested to our ancestors, as with starre lights, now by miraculous lights sent from heauen vnto me, hath testified how much shee loues me: All haile therefore, my life, light, honour and ornament, now comming vnto mee, for in this thy most happy and fortunate returne, there is sprung vp a new light to all the inhabitants of this Citie, honour, ioy, and exaltation; Welcome thou that art full of grace; Welcome thou Sea of ioy; Welcome thou only ease in troubles; Welcome thou that art the onely salue for al the hearts sore; Welcome holy Virgin, through whose meanes alone, we see the Kingdome of Valentia is brought and vnited to the Kingdome of Christ, and we hope many others will be.
All this they vtter to a stone, being indeed more sencelesse and stupid then it, and yet they would needes beare vs in hand that they worship not the Image but God in the Image: Certainely if this were true, those ouer-blessed Monkes in their Cloysters, that haue Christ, who is life it selfe, inclosed in a boxe, should not so plainely acknowledge, that by reason of the absence of the Image, they were euen dead, deuoide of life and motion: for if Christ were their life, [Page 28]those that haue him in their custody cannot be said to be dead, yet these men brag that they haue him, and yet liue not; therefore Christ is not that life whereof they speake, but the Image of blessed Mary, as neither is Christ their treasure, but the louely Image of the blessed Virgin, the mother of our Lord; for these Monkes suppose not that they inioy their treasure, because they haue Christ presentin the consecrated hoast, but they esteemed that they had lost it, because they wanted the Image of the Virgin Mary: In like manner, it was not Christ that communicated and imparted his holinesse to those most sacred houses, for Christ is there present, but the party is absent that hath endued them with wonderfull holinesse, and hath made it a most famous and renowned Church; and truely, if Christ did dwell in their hearts, as he doth in the hearts of Christians, they should not lye comfortlesse, for he is the true light that illightneth euery one that comes into the world, but because he is farre from them (I speake not of their meale God, but of our Sauiour) it is not his light, but the Images that shines before them; neither is it to be wondred at, if that same new light be sprung vp to the Papists, that forsaking the true God, who is α, and ω, the first and the last, they forge new corruptible Gods, betweene whom, and those the auncient heathen worshipped, I finde this remarkeable difference, Those ancient Gods had feete and walked not, these walke, yet haue no feete; Those had eares and heard not, these heare and haue no eares; Those had eyes and saw not, these discerne and discouer the most remotest obiects, yet haue no eyes. That these and farre [Page 29]more remarkeable matters are done by Popish Idols, euidently appeares by this insuing narration.
That is, Bartholomew de Billaro saw a certaine body going on fore-right through the ayre, towards the Altar of the Image, accompanied with twelue white Tapors; he could not certainely discerne whither it were that very Image or some other; but hee testified before a publike notarie, that hee did verily beleeue, that it was the very same Image, which without all doubt, returned from visiting some sicke person, that implored its helpe, which is very probable, for in the Legend of Miracles you may reade, that she hath performed this courteous office, and that very often.
The writings of the Papists are fraught with these, and farre groser lyes, to the intent, that they might perswade men, that these images are to be called vpon, and their aide implored in imminent dangers; and to this purpose they teach, that they ought to make vowes vnto them, and in briefe, to offer gifts vnto them; for it is vnto this marke that their legend of lying miracles aimes and leuelleth, viz. that the knowledge of Christ be wholly supplanted and subuerted, and the affiance we ought to haue in God, to be transferd and set onely on the image; whereof this is an euident and infallible signe and token, Psal. 144. The Author of the fore alleadged Spanish Booke. Elque de lexos inuecare est a imagen sera participante de sus fauores. that when as they know that God is neere vnto all those that call vpon him, yet they forsaking Christ, not onely pray themselues vnto Images that are farre distant, but also teach and perswade men so to doe in a set forme; and whereas they should know that the Lord stands at the doore and knocks, that he might sup with him [Page 30]that opens vnto him, and freely and liberally feedes him with heauenly food, yet these contemning him, forsaking their houses and families, goe in pilgrimages to the Images of Saints; whereby they are so far from being refreshed, that on the contrary, they depriue themselues of those goods whereby they should maintaine their Children and Families, and contrary to natures law, heape them on those Images, not that the Images should receiue any fruit or benefit by those gifts that are offered, but that the slow-bellies of the Monkes might be filled and stuft: Besides, when as they heare Christ so louingly inuiting them, Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and heauie laden, Math. 11. and I will refresh you: they flye from him and haue recourse vnto Images, and aske counsell of them.
I will touch, by the way, what I haue often thought on with my selfe, viz. that the Idolatry of the Papists herein, is more manifestly discerned by making a supposition, which they labour for with might and maine, as for their life, viz. that Christ is present in the consecrated hoast, which inclosed in a boxe is perpetually preserued in euery Popish house: If they haue their Sauiour Christ present with them, whom they assuredly know both can and will helpe them, wherefore then is it that they betake themselues to Images that are not present perhaps farre remote from them? How comes it to passe that they set light by him who is the expresse Image of his Fathers substance, Heb. 1. that gouernes all things by the Word of his power, 1 Tim. 2. and gaue himselfe for the redemption of all and who (if we may beleeue the Papists) is well pleased to remaine here on earth vnder the accidents [Page 31]of bread, that by his gratious presence, hee might comfort his distressed Church, and ease her of her affliction? How comes it to passe, I say, that they setting so light by him, they place him on an abiect and meane alter, with one only lamp burning before him, where he is visited of very few, and very seldome saluted, whilest that the Image of Mary his Mother, I speake not of all Images, but of those that are most famous, as our Lady of Lauretto in Italy, and our Lady of Monserat in Cataluania, & our Lady De Attocha, et de Guadalupe in Casteele. indeede but his handmaide, also, is set on an altar of gold, or Iuorie, curiously carued & polished, richly set forth with gemmes and pretious stones, cloathed with Princely garments, hauing not one onely, but fortie or fiftie tapers shining gloriously before her? Very many, being strucke with blindnesse, by reason of these lights fall downe on their knees trembling before her, spend whole dayes and nights in powring forth dolefull prayers vnto the Image; they lament, they make their complaints, lift vp their hands in pittifull manner, earnestly begge of her remission of their sinnes, and to conclude, with the welfare of the Popes Kitchin and Monkes bellies, they offer liberally to her with a full hand.
Verily sith the truth of these things haue beene ratified and confirmed by long experience, when I my selfe haue beene an eye witnesse, none can deny that such as doe such things as these are strucken both with blindnesse and madnesse, for mine owne particular, I freely confesse that this absurde error of theirs, amongst others of the like nature, was my first motiue to the abiuring and abandoning of Popery; and were the Church of Rome in all other articles of beleife orthodoxall and conformable to the Christian truth, yet this onely rocke in my way would vtterly [Page 32]haue driuen me from the profession thereof. But it is to be lamented with teares, that as in part I haue euidently and clearely shewed vnto you, the Church of Rome hath swarued from the rules of the Apostles in many tenents of faith, and haue brought in an innumerable company of Pestilent errours and diabolicall superstitions; therefore let no man maruell that I haue vtterly forsaken and a-abandoned Popery: I heard the voyce of the Lord calling me, and not willing to harden my heart, I came forth of Babylon, lest pertaking longer with her in her sinnes, I might also pertake in her punishments. Although these things were so as hath been related, for which I blesse and praise God; yet there were many Remoraes or hinderances that detained me in Spaine, and diuerted my minde from seeking the meanes of my saluation by Christ; insomuch that almost for the space of two yeares, my conscience struggled with mee, and endured many a bitter conflict: For, first, the world and the flesh obiected vnto my eyes, and whispered in my eares, that if I forsake Babylon, and cleaue to Christ, I must make account to take my farewell of all the pleasures and allurements of this life; of my noble Parents, of my Riches, Brethren and Sisters, of my Friends, Country, Patrimonie and Pleasures, which here I inioyed; together, with Honours and promotions; for I was a Monke of the famous Order of Saint Augustine, a Priest, a Preacher, a Professor of Philosophie, and Batchelor in Diuinitie; all which assuredly promised, as yeares increased, to aduance and raise mee to [Page 33]higher dignitie and preferment. Againe, I seriously and aduisedly pondered with my selfe, that hitherto I was both an honour and a comfort to my Parents, that hereafter the newes of this my conuersion would set a publike and eternall marke of infamie on them. I cast also daily in my minde, the pouertie, nakednesse, perpetuall exile, hatred of Parents, Countrie, Friends, and in briefe, the want and depriuation of all necessarie things towards the preseruation of this life, which I must needes indure if I quite my former religion; but all these carnall respects I slightly regarded and past-by, when I seriously considered, That wee must through many tribulations, Acts 14. enter into the Kingdome of God; 2 Tim. 2. And that all that desire to liue godly in Christ Iesus, must suffer persecution: and therefore, about some two yeares and a halfe since, I left Spaine, that I might settle my selfe in this flourishing Kingdome, where euery man praiseth God in the Sunne-shine of the Gospell: It is neere about two yeares since I first made my abode in this Citie, wherein by the meanes and fauour of God, I haue professed publikely the reformed Christian Religion, and haue vowed and sworne solemnely to continue in it to my liues end. Neither shall my great want, wherewithall I am much perplexed, I trust in God, euer alter my purpose and resolution, but that God that hath begun this good worke in mee, will perfect it; to the praise of his blessed and glorious name, to my eternall saluation, [Page 34]to the edification of all my Brethren, and to the confusion of the aduersarie, for which I bow my knees to Almighty God the Fountaine of all goodnesse, with my whole heart beseeching him to establish and confirme mee more and more in his truth.
Laus Deo, Amen.
Errata.
PAge 3. l. 8. lege pro, ibid. l. 18. lege pro, p. 4. l. 25. lege rabble, ibid. l. 27. lege Ergo, p. 6. l. 21. dele at, p. 7. l. 2. dele euer, ibid. l. 3. adde according, ibid. l. 13 adde be that, p. 8. l. 4. adde with, ibid. l. 12. lege Occamus, ibid. l. 14. lege Penitentiarie, ibid. l. 32. lege this, p. 10. l. 15. lege vbieties, ibid. l. lege beings, ibid. l. 17. lege this, ibid. l. 27. lege vbieties, ibid. l. dele a. ibid. l. lege beings, p. 11. l. 3. dele it is, ibid. l. 5. lege presens, ibid. l. 11. lege presens, ibid. l. 28. lege its, p. 12. l. 4. lege true, p. 13. l. 25. dele onely, p. 17. l. 25. lege Iudges, p. 18. l. 12. lege with, ibid. l. lege wounds, p. 21. l. 14. lege Iesu.