The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answere.

I answere to this insoluble so supposed argument, that the prophet speaketh of the sacrifice of prayer and thankesgiuing. And I prooue it by the flat testimonies of the holy Fathers.

Saint Irenaeus hath these wordes;* 1.1 In omni loco incensum offertur nomini meo, & sacrificium purum. Incensa autem Io∣annes in Apocalypsi, orationes esse ait sanctorum. Incense is offered to my name in euery place, and a pure sacrifice: and Saint Iohn in the Reuelation saith, that this incense is the prayers of the Saints.

Saint Theodoretus doeth expound this place after the same maner, in his Commentaries vpon the same text.* 1.2

Saint Hierome hath these wordes; Sed thymiama, hoc est,* 1.3 sanctorum orationes Domino offerendas: & non in vna orbis prouincia Iudaeâ, nec in vna Iudaeae vrbe Hierusalem, sed in omni loco offerri oblationem. But incense, that is, the prayers of saints must be offered to the Lord: and that not in Iudea one onely prouince of the world, neither in Ierusalem one on∣lie citie thereof, but in euery place must an oblation be made.

Now where it is said, that al our actions be impure and pol∣luted: I answere, that that is true indeed, when our actions be examined in rigour of iustice. But not so, when we are clad with the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus, and haue washed our sins in his bloud, for whose sake God doth not impute our polluti∣tions, and filth vnto vs. Not so, when God dealeth with vs according to mercie. Not so, when God accepteth our sinfull and imperfect acts, as pure, iust, and innocent. For our owne vnworthienesse,* 1.4 the Prophet desired God not to enter into iudgement with his seruants:* 1.5 but for Christs righteousnesse the Apostle pronounceth vs free from condemnation. For though our sinnes be red as scarlet,* 1.6 yet so soone as they be wa∣shed in the bloud of the immaculate Lambe, they become (by acceptation) as white as snow.* 1.7

This whole discourse Saint Augustine handleth finely, in these golden wordes;* 1.8 Vae etiam laudabili vitae hominum, si remota misericordia discutias eam. Woe euen to the laudable life of men, if thou examine it thy mercie set a part. And in this sense, the obiection taketh place. Neuertheles, god of his great mercie, doth accept our works as iust and pure, through faith in Christ Iesus our sweet redeemer,* 1.9 for whose sake he doth not impute our sins to vs. So saith the Apostle; not by the workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done, but according to his mercie hath he saued vs, by the washing of the new birth, & the renewing of the holy Ghost. So saith S. Iohn; These are they which came out of great tribulation, and haue washed their long robes,* 1.10 & haue made them white in the bloud of the lamb, through the merits of which lambe our prayers and works are reputed pure. Therefore saith Saint Paul, I will therefore that the men pray euery where, lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting.* 1.11

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iren. li. 4. cap. ••••
• * 1.2

  Theod. in 1. cap. Malach.
• * 1.3

  Hier. in hu•••• locum.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 142.2.
• * 1.5

  Rom. 8.1.
• * 1.6

  Apoc. 21. Apoc. 7.14.
• * 1.7

  Isa. 1.18.
• * 1.8

  August. confess. lib. 9. cap. 13.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 8.1. Rom. 5.12. Cap. 4 verse 7. Tit. 1.5.
• * 1.10

  Apoc. 7.14.
• * 1.11

  ••. Timoth. 2.8.