An ansvvere to VVilliam Alablaster [sic] his motiues. By Roger Fenton preacher of Grayes Inne

THis new stampe of religion which Luther and his minsters boast of to be reformed according to the ancient coyne, cannot auoide the desert of counterfeit. Because so generall a reformation, and re∣stitution of the primitiue Church, neither can be, neither was to be expected. For although the worship of adulterous religion haue suffe∣red many changes, either by the admiration of some man of extraor∣dinarie account, or the intimation of Oracles, or the ambition of su∣perstitious, or inuasion of neighbours, or chaunge of gouernment, the state alwaies fashioning religion, the fittest consequence of policie: yet in the true religion instituted by God himselfe, the diuine ordinance hath made onely two memorable varieties: not by condemning the former, but by preferring the latter; not in difference of substance, but perfection: not by retraction as in chaunge of their counsell, but adding of timely accesse. The first was from the law of nature, to the subiection of the law written. The second from the seueritie of the law, vnto the obedience of the Gospell (Christ being the summe of all, but with difference.) For in the state of nature he was discerned a farre of as a bodie. In the law he was distinguished neerer as a man: In the

Gospell he is seene face to face: Both these chaunges were restituti∣ons of the former, but with some perfection. For Moses restored the decalogue, sacrifice, worship of one God, circumcision, tenths, sabbaths, and such like, which were in the state of nature, but arbitrarie for har∣monie. In the Gospell, Christ the interpretation of the law which was corrupted, and the three great parts of religion, iustificaon by faith, which was exemplified in Abraham, the sacrifice of himselfe, which was figured in Isaack, and in the Pasca, the mysterie of baptisme which was instituted in the deluge and redde sea, and the Eucharist which was acted by Melchisedech.

For like as when Thamar the daughter in law of Iuda brought forth her twinnes, Zaram and Phares, Zaram first put forth his hand, and the midwife tied a red threed about it, and he pulled it in againe, and his brother Phares was borne afore him: So the Sacra∣ments of the Gospell which are bound about with the redde threed of Christ his passion, did first shew their hand in Abraham, and Melchi∣sedech, but the Sacraments of the Iewes were borne before them. So that these two be not chaunges but restitutions, and these are two earthquakes registred in the scripture, prophecied of before, expected by the Church, brought in with prodigious signes, confirmed by the vi∣sible presence of God in miracles: and one more we expect, which shall chaunge all things temporall into eternall at the ende of the world. Besides these, neither the scripture mentioneth any more, neither the iudgement of the Chuch and fathers did expect other. For what pro∣phesie either in the old testament or in the new made way for this refor∣mation, after 1000. or 1500. yeares? What prodigious signes gaue the world warning of Luthers comming? which of the creatures out of course gaue attendance at his birth? with what extraordinarie power was he garded? with what miracles was his doctrine graced? That a religion venerable for age, certaine for succession, comely for order, admirable for vnitie, approued by experience, allowed by proui∣dence, confirmed by miracles, rooted in so many kingdomes, that neuer was doubted of but by heretikes, neuer saw change but by her enemies, should vpon one mans, and such a mans credit, and authoritie without greater cause, nay without any cause fly the world, & leaue her kingdom and royalty at the dispose of one Apostata and Monke, and an inces∣tuous Monke.