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.

[ 1] I say first, that how holy your Masse is, shal by Gods grace [ 2] appeare in conuenient place. I say secondly, that wedlocke is an honourable and vndefiled bed, and therefore cannot pol∣lute such persons, as vse the same lawfully and in the feare of God. Yea if the vse thereof had not been lawfull, euen in Bi∣shops and other ministers of the church; holy Paphnutius durst not haue defended the same publikely, in the presence of so ma∣ny learned men at Nice: who for all that did so, and was ther∣fore not onely highly commended, but the whole councell als∣agreed to his godly motion. I say thirdly, that there were ma∣ny [ 3] legall contamination, aswel in men as in women, (whereof

who list may see at large in Leniticus,) but neither was the lawfull matrimoniall act reputed any of them;* 1.1 neither do those legall ceremonies concerne vs of the newe testament, but the true puritie signified by the same; that is, Christian purificati∣on wrought in the bloud of Christ Iesus, and apprehended by a true, sincere, and liuely faith. I say fourthly, that many legal contam••nations were no other sinnes, then the manifold popish [ 4] irregularities, then nocturne pollutions done without consent of the patient: which neuerthelesse the best learned papistes will haue to be no sinne at all. I say fiftly, that Abimelech in∣quired of cleannesse from women, not in respect of the coniu∣gall [ 5] act; but for many other contaminations, which might haue happened by comming neere to any woman in her monethly course. For not only the woman her self was thereby vncleane in lawe and legall ceremonie, but also all such as touched her clothes, her bed, her seate, or whatsoeuer els. Which inquisi∣tion Abimilech made, least hee shoulde seeme to contemne the law: that so Dauid if perhaps he had been any way polluted le∣gallie, might haue had (saltem desiderio) purification accor∣dingly. I say sixtly, that the high priest in the olde lawe was married, and begate children, and that euen in those daies [ 6] when he ministred to the Lord: for he was bound to offer vp in∣cense on the altar, of sweete perfume, that was neere the arke of testimonie before the mercy seate;* 1.2 not this day or that day onely, but euery morning and euery euening throughout their generations for euer. Since therefore the high priestes marri∣age and coniugall acts, were nothing preiudiciall to his holy function; it followeth consequently, that neither can holy wed∣locke be now preiudiciall, to the ministerie of the newe Testa∣ment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leu. 15. per 〈◊〉〈◊〉 See cap. 21 22.
• * 1.2

  Exod. 30. v. 7.8.