The blessings on Mount Gerizzim, and the curses on Movnt Ebal. Or, The happie estate of Protestants compared with the miserable estate of papists vnder the Popes tyrannie. By M.S. Doctor of Diuinitie.

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Title
The blessings on Mount Gerizzim, and the curses on Movnt Ebal. Or, The happie estate of Protestants compared with the miserable estate of papists vnder the Popes tyrannie. By M.S. Doctor of Diuinitie.
Author
Sutcliffe, Matthew, 1550?-1629.
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London :: Printed for Andrew Hebb, and are to be sold at the signe of the Bell in Pauls Church-yard,
[1625?]
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Subject terms
Parsons, Robert, 1546-1610. -- Warn-word to Sir Francis Hastinges wast-word -- Early works to 1800.
Catholic Church -- Controversial literature -- Early works to 1800.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A13171.0001.001
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"The blessings on Mount Gerizzim, and the curses on Movnt Ebal. Or, The happie estate of Protestants compared with the miserable estate of papists vnder the Popes tyrannie. By M.S. Doctor of Diuinitie." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A13171.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 13, 2024.

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Page 115

CHAP. II. Of the common workes of Papists.

BUt may our aduersaries say, albeit in time past men were not so learned; yet they liued better then men of our times. And true it is that S. Augustine saith, That men * 1.1 vnlearned earnestly contend for heauen, while learned men without vnderstanding wallow in flesh and blood: if we vn∣derstand it of those that onely had learned Christ Iesus and him crucified, and were vnskilfull in other matters; and not of those rude and ignorant people, that albeit running in worldly affaires, were notwithstanding vtterly ignorant of Christ Iesus. Wherefore as we haue before proued the Papists to be commonly most ignorant of diuine matters, so now we will briefly touch their liues and actions, to see if their manners correspond with their skill. And the rather I follow this course, for that Schoppius telleth vs * 1.2 of their braue workes done in the times of Iubileys, and Ro∣bert Parsons is euer talking of good workes, as if that were the proper possession of his consorts. Wherein I would not haue any to thinke that when I name Papists, I meane to speake against all our forefathers (who indeed positiuely held not all points of popery, but rather professed Christia∣nitie positiuely, albeit they did not resolutely denie popish errors) but onely such as are the chiefe founders, teachers, and maintainers of popish Religion, and which with great zeale persecute all that resist it, or refuse it.

These fellowes therefore, I say, haue no cause to glorie or boast of their workes. For whether we looke into the di∣uersitie of times or states of men, or else consider euery ver∣tue and good worke by it selfe, or looke into the countries drowned in Popery; I doubt not but we shall find the zela∣tors and chiefe pillers of popery very defectiue, and no way answerable to the commendation which their hired Pro∣ctors do commonly giue them.

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For the times before the yeare of our Lord 1500, I haue already alleaged the testimonies of Brigit, Petrarch, Catherine of Siena, Boccace, Breidenbach, Hugetin, Robertus Gallus, Math. Paris, and diuers others: vnto which I will adde the testimonie of Platina, Vspergensis and VVernerus. I need not say (saith Platina) how excessiue the couetousnesse * 1.3 of Priests is, and of those especially that are in principal places, nor how great is their lust, ambition, pompe, pride, sloth, igno∣rance of themselues, and of Christian doctrine, how corrupt their religion is, and rather dissembled then true, and how cor∣rupt are their manners, in prophane men, whom they call se∣cular, to be detested, seeing they offend so openly and pub∣likely, as if they sought praise hereby. He saith, their vices were * 1.4 so increased, that they seemed scarce to leaue any place for Gods mercie. And in Gregory the fourth, In omnem luxum & libidinem se effundit Ecclesiasticus ordo: The Clergie (sayth he) doth run headlong into all luxuriousnesse and lust. If then the people follow such guides, we may well imagine in what termes the Church stood in his time. Then began mis∣chiefes to be multiplied, saith Vrspergensis, there sprang vp hatred, deceits, & treasons. Heu, heu, Domine Deus, (saith Wer∣nerus) * 1.5 quomodo obscuratum est aurum, mutatus est color optimus! qualia contigisse circa hac tempora, etiam in Ecclesia & sede A∣postolica, quam vsque huc tanto zelo, custodiuisti, legimus scandala! quales contentiones & amulationes, sectae, inuidiae, ambitiones, in∣trusiones, persecutiones! ô tempus pessimum, in quo defecit sanctus, & diminutae sunt veritates à silijs hominum! Alas, alas, O Lord God, how is our gold obscured! how is the good colour (or state of things) changed! what scandals do we reade to haue happened about these times in the Church and Apostolicke see, which hitherto thou hast with such zeale preserued! what contentions and emulations, sects, enuies, ambitions, intrusions and persecutions! ô most wicked time, in which holy men are failed, and truth diminished from the sons of men! He sayth also, that about one thousand yeares after Christ, Christian faith began to faile, and that men gaue themselues to sooth∣saying and witchcraft.

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The wickednesse and profanenesse of latter times, and of times present, the Papists themselues must needes ac∣knowledge. And yet because Robert Parsons thinketh so well of his consorts, I would haue him to turne backe to that which is said already. Let him also reade that which followeth out of later writers. Apud plerosque religionis nostrae primores (saith Iohn Picus of Mirandula) ad quorum exemplum * 1.6 componi atque formari plebs ignara debuisset, aut nullus, aut certè exiguus Dei cultus, nulla benè viuendi ratio atque institutio, nul∣lus pudor, nulla modestia. Iustitia vel in odium, vel in gratiam de∣clinauit, piet as penè in superstitionem procubuit, palani{que} omnibus in hominum ordinibus peccatur, sic vt saepenumero virtus probis viris vitio vertatur, vitia loco virtutum honorari soleant, ab his qui suorum criminum quasi septa, & tanquam moenia, & inauditam petulantiam, & diuturnitatem impunitatem esse putauerunt. A∣mongst the most of the principal men of our religion, saith he, after whose example the ignorant sort of people ought to con∣forme themselues, there is either none, or but litle religion, no order or institution of good liuing, no shame, no modestie. Iustice inclineth to hatred or fauor, godlinesse is almost ouer∣throwne by superstition, and al states of men do sin publikely, and in such sort, that oftentimes vertue is a reproch to honest men, and vices are honored for vertues, of those who haue thought vnusual insolencie, continuance and impunitie, to be the walles and defences of their crimes. Afterward he taxeth the luxuriousnesse of all estates, the furiousnesse of lustes, the ambition and couetousnesse and superstition of the Cleargie.

Baptista of Mantua writing to Leo, hath these words:

Sancte pater, succurre Leo, respublica Christi * 1.7 Labitur, aegrotat{que} fides iam proxima morti.
That is, Help holy father Leo, the Christian common wealth is falling, and religion is sicke, and at the point of death.

Marcellus Palingenius in his booke to Hercules Duke of Ferrara, complaineth of a generall corrupiton in the world. * 1.8

Imo libenter, saith he, Destituam hunc mundum innumeris{que} refertum Fraudibus atque dolis, incestibus atque rapinis,

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Est vbi nulla fides, piet as vbi nullae, nec vllae Iustitia, & pax, & requies, vbi crimina regnant Omnia.
That is, Willingly I leaue this world, full of innumerable fraudes, deceits, incests, rapines, where there is no true dealing, no pietie, iustice, peace or rest, and where all sinnes reigne. And againe:
Et rura & siluae infames, vrbs quaeque lupanar.
Both cuntries & woods are infamous, euery citie is now a bor∣del. If we consider the Popes, although they be called most holy, yet nothing can be deuised more wicked & flagitious. Sabinian that followed Gregory the first, went about to abro∣gate all his acts. His life was blameable (as saith Werner) and his end fearefull. Of Constantine the second, he saith, that he gouerned with great scandall, and was the fift infamous Pope. Not long after succeeded Iohn the eight, or as some count the ninth, that played the harlot being Pope, and died in trauell of childbirth: a matter most infamous, and not to be excused with words, or any impudent deniall of Iebusites. Platina in the life of Sergius the third, speaking of diuers Popes about those times: Hi verò largitione (sayth he) & ambiticne pontificatum quaerētes, & adepti posthabito diuino cultu inimcitias non secus ac saeuissimi quidam tyranni inter se exer∣cebant suas voluptates postea securius expleturi, cum nullibi exta∣rent, qui eorum vitia coercerent. That is, These men seeking the popedome by bribery and ambition, and hauing gotten the same, neglecting the seruice of God, did prosecute their e∣nemies no otherwise then most cruell tyrants, purposing af∣terward to satisfie their pleasures, when there was none to correct or controle them.

VVernerus of Iohn the twelfth saith, that he was totus lubricus, that is, wholly giuen to lust. Platina accordeth with him in the mans faults, though he reckon him the thirtéenth. Both agrée, that he was slain of the diuel. In the life of Greg. the sixth, Platina calleth 3. Popes, three most foule monsters.

Beno, Platina and others testifie, that Siluefter the second and Benedict the ninth were Magicians, and gaue them∣selues

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ouer to serue the diuell.

Of Gregorie the seuenth, not onely Beno the Cardinall, but also diuers others report that he was a Necromancer, a murderer, a bloudie and cruell man. The Councell of Brixia deposed him as a notorious necromancer, possessed with a diabolicall spirit, and an apostate from the faith.

After the times of Gregorie the seuenth, the Popes ne∣uer ceassed to trouble Christendome, vntill such time, as they had ouerthrowne the Romaine Empire, and made way for the Turke, and dissolued all good orders both con∣cerning religion and iustice.

He that continueth the storie of Vrspergensis saith, that Clement the fifth was a notorious fornicator. Hic, vt habet Chronicon Hermanni, (saith he) fuit publicus fornicator.

Matteo Villani in his historie lib. 3. cap. 39. witnesseth against Clement the sixt, that he kept the Countesse of Tu∣renna, and made no conscience of the shame of the Church. Della vergogna della sancta Chiesa non sifece conscienza.

Iohn the 23. was an incestuous person, a Sodomite and a most abhominable atheist, that beleeued not the immorta∣litie of the soule, as was prooucd in the conuenticle of Con∣stance. The articles and proofes are yet to be read in the acts of that assembly, and reported by Peter Crabbe. Sixtus the fourth passed Nero the tyrant in all crueltie and villanie.

Gaude prisce Nero (saith one) vincit te crimine Sixtus, Hic scelus omne clauditur, & vitium.
Of Innocentius the eight the common report went, that he begot of diuers women sixteene bastards, eight males, and so many of the female kind.
Octo nocens pueros genuit (saith Marullus) totidem{que} puellas. Hunc merito poterit dicere Roma patrem.
He was otherwise giuen to gluttonie, auarice, idlenesse, and all filthinesse, as Marullus recordeth:
Spurcities, gula, auaritia atque ignauiae deses, Hoc Octaue iacent, quo tegeris, tumulo,
saith he. Yet none of the rest may séeme to compare with Alexander the sixth, whether we respect beastly life, or impious infideli∣tie

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He wasted the world, (as one saith of him) ouerthrew law and religion.

Orbem rapinis, ferro & igne funditus vastauit, hausit, eruit. Humana iura, uec minùs coelestia, ipsos{que} sustulit Deos.
He had secret intelligence with the Turke, set Italie on a flame, by empoysonment and practise tooke away mens liues, and beside harlots, of whom hée begot diuers children, he abused his owne daughter Lucretia, as diuers Historians report.

Such as these were, we find that Leo the tenth, Cle∣ment the seuenth, Paule the third, Iulius the third, Pius the fourth, and the rest, haue bene accompted, that is, men without religion or honestie. What Clement the eight now is, Rome knoweth, and his decayed ioynts speake. There∣fore doth Brigit bring in Christ speaking to the Pope and saying, Why dost thou hate me? why is thy boldnesse and presumption so great? For so indeed they liue, not as if they were ignorant of Christ, but as if they did deadly hate him.

The Cardinals, which are the Popes assistants, would be loth to shame their holy Father, and creator the Pope. And therefore albeit he excell others, yet these sometimes excell him in all licentiousnesse and loosenesse of life. The Cardinall Pietro Aldobrandini, and S. George, and Detti, the present Popes minions I hope will say for me. To leaue them to their friends, and to their owne consciences, let vs looke backe to the Cardinals made by Clement the sixt. Mattheo Villani in his third booke, cap. 39. signifieth, they had neither learning, nor honestie. Sixtus quartus his ne∣phew Petrus Riarius died young spent with pleasures. Obijt, voluptatibus confectus, saith Onuphrius. His excesse in glut∣tonie and venerie by his owne friends was much noted and spoken of. Farnesius prostituted his sister to Alexander the sixt for a Cardinals hat. Neither was he more infa∣mous for baudrie, then for lecherie, crueltie, and vnkind dealing with his kinred.

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The Cardinall of Valentia killed his owne brother and threw him into the riuer of Tiber: and afterward being cal∣led Caesar Borgia proued the most infamous monster, wher∣of there is any record in histories. Innocentius de monte that was Iulius the thirds Ganymedes, was made Cardinall for a reward. What maner of men Hippolito de Medici, and the young Cardinals made by Leo the tenth were, let the stories report. Brigit saith, that sometime iustice dwelt in Rome, but now her princes were murtherers. And 4. Brigit * 1.9 49. Cardinales extenti, & effusisunt ad omnem superbiam, cupi∣ditatem, & delectamentum carnis. That is: Cardinals are ex∣cessiue in all pride, couetousnesse, and delights of the flesh. Al∣uarus Pelagius, lib. 2. de planctu Eccles. art. 16. speaking of Cardinals, saith: That in riches they are increased, but much diminished in pietie. Aucta est possessio, diminuta religio.

The Prelates, Monkes, Friars, and Nunnes, follow the steppes of their leaders. Aluarus Pelagius hauing recke∣ned vp many faults of popish Bishops, knowne to the world, as admitting men vnworthie, vsing negligence in their calling, wanting knowledge, and such like, he saith, they offend priuily, yet so as it may be easily seene, in vnclean∣nesse of life, simonie, fraud, pride, couetousnesse, and that they are not ashamed. Nay he saith, they haue a whores forehead, and declare their sinnes like Sodome In occulto peccant per suas * 1.10 immunditias, & Simoniacas pactiones, fraudes, superbias, & in∣uidias, & auaritias, quaetamen à plerisque sciuntur. Nullam ha∣bent verecundiam aliqui ex eis, sed nec de eis in quibus publicè de∣linquunt. Imò in peccatis gloriari videntur, vndè frons meretricis facta est eis. Nec de peccatis erubescunt, & peccatum suum sicut Sodoma praedicauerunt.

The militarie orders of Knights professing religion, as * 1.11 he saith, tread their obseruances vnder foot with their fleshly liuing, and serue the flesh rather then Christ Iesus. Monkes * 1.12 degenerate from their auncestors, conspire, wander, contend, liue dissolutely. Priests liue incontinently, giue themselues to * 1.13 witchcraft, intangle themselues in worldly affaires. Contra san∣ctam castitatem, quam Domino promiserunt, (saith he) sic offen∣dunt

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continuè, etiam publicè, praeter eanefandissima, quae in occulto perpetrant, quod nec chartae reciperent, nec calamus possit exarare. No bookes (saith he) can containe, nor pen describe the vn∣speakeable abhominations which they commit.

Speaking of lawyers, souldiers, merchants, husband, men, men and women he doth recken vp such impieties, * 1.14 blasphemies, witcheries, filthinesse and abhominations, fraudes, oppressions and other faults, that it séemeth im∣possible among the Gentils and Turkes to find worse men.

With him Brigit also concurreth, charging the Go∣uernors * 1.15 of the Church with thrée notorious vices, that is, whoredome, auarice, and prodigalitie. Tria facinora exercent Ecclesiae prouisores, (saith Brigit) in carne vitam meretricalem habent. Secundo sunt insatiabiles similes voragini maris ad cupidi∣tatem pecuniae. Tertiò, bona irrationabiliter, & prodigaliter, sicut torrens impetu suo aquam fundens, pro superbia largiuntur. She saith also, that as they ride great horses, so the diuell rideth them, striking their brests with his heeles. Supra colla Praela∣torum, qui pro vana gloria magnos equos ascendunt, sedent Dia∣boli, & suis calcibus pectoraeorum impellunt.

Catherine of Siena cap. 125. saith, that religious men, pre∣tend Angels life, but for the most part are worse then diuels. Religiosi collocati sunt in religione, velut Angeli, sed quamplurimi sunt demonibus deteriores. And againe: religious men are made the diuels instruments corrupting religion within themselues, and among their brethren, and without among lay men.

Oflay men Brigit giueth no more commendation, then * 1.16 of the rest. Lay men (saith she) in Baptisme and other Sacra∣ments promise to serue God, but now they are departed from God, as if they were ignorant of him. The word of God they mocke, and Gods workes account as vanitie: they say Gods commaundements are too grieuous, they breake their word and their oathes, they haue left God, and ioyned them selues to the diuell, they seeke their owne things, and not those which are Gods. Laicus dedit fidem in baptismate, ac in suscep∣tione aliorum Sacramentorum promisit se Deo seruiturum: nuno autem discessit à Deo, quasi ignorans Deum: verba sacra habet pro

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ludibrio, opera diuina pro vanitate, mandata Dei ait sibi nimis gra∣uia, factus est fidei & promissi iuramenti violator, derelinquit Deū, & associauit se diabolo, propriam laudem quaerit, & quae sua non quae Dci sunt.

Mantuan speaking of Masse: priests, sayth, that shepheards * 1.17 hate their flocks and care not to feed them, but to sheare them and mocke them being so spoyled. Pastores odere pecus, nec pas∣cere curant, sed tondere greges, pecori{que} illudere tonso. And in his third booke of Calamities, he saith, they are filthy, incestuous, and hated of God.

Inuisi superis, foeda{que} libidine olentes, Heu frustra incestis iterant sacra orgia dextris.

Religious men also, as he saith, haue wooluish hearts, * 1.18 and are defiled with great crimes.

Ouium molli sub vellere fraudes (sayth he) Mente lycaonias seruant, & crimine sordent.

Palingenius telleth vs, that if we meane to kéep our houses * 1.19 vndefiled, we must auoid Monks, Friers and al maner of Masse priests: he saith that there is no greater plague, that they are the scumme of the people, a fountain of foolery, a sink of sin, wolues clothed in lambes skins, seruing God for hire, and not for reli∣gion, that they deceiue simple men vnder a false colour of reli∣gion, and vnder the shadow of religiō commit an infinit num∣ber of wicked acts and villanies. Finally, that they are robbers, adulterers, bougrers, and slaues of gluttony and luxuriousnesse.

Sed tua (saith he) praecipuè non intret limina quisquam Frater vel monachus, vel quanis lege sacerdos. Hos fuge. Pestis enim nulla immanior. Hi sunt Faex hominum, fons stultitiae, sentina malorum, Agnorum sub pelle lupi, mercede colentes, Non pietate Deum, falsa sub imagine recti Decipiunt stolidos, ac relligionis in vmbra Mille actus vetitos, & mille piacula condunt, Raptores, moechi, puerorum corruptores; Luxuriae at que gulae famuli.

And this may be verified by the filthy liues of the Masse∣priests in England, which enter into no house, but leaue a filthy sauor of their villanie behind them, neither sparing

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the good wife, nor the good mans daughters, nor the ser∣uants of the house, as partly the diuers confessions of the priests themselues & of parties abused, and partly the depo∣sitions of witnesses and records do proue: of which I wold set down some here, but that I would not blemish any that is repentant, nor touch the reputatiō of any simple Papist, but where I am vrged.

The same man doth say further, that al is ful of errors, foo∣leries and flagitious crimes.

Hinc tanta errorum scabies (saith he) tot stultitiarum Colluuies, hinc & tot millia flagi'iorum.* 1.20

But if Papists do so many good workes, as Parsons pre∣tendeth; let vs sée what they are, and in what places they are done. First, workes of true and sincere religion they care not for. The Popes giue ouer teaching, and busie them selues not much with praying. Nay they persecute such as professe religion, and will not suffer the vulgar sort to vn∣derstand what they pray, commaunding them to pray pub∣likely in tongues not vnderstood.

Pontifices nunc bella iuuant (saith Palingenius) sunt cetera nugae, Nec praecepta patrum, nec Christi dogmata curant.
Prelates now delight in warre, other things they esteeme as toyes, they neither regard the precepts of their fathers, nor Christs Religion.

Iustice is slowly administred among them: for the Pope easily dispenseth with the breach of all Ecclesiasticall laws, and giueth absolution for most hainous sinnes before, and sometime without all satisfaction. Vrspergensis speaking of the dayes of Innocent the third, Exaltatum est cornu (saith he) iniquitatis: The horne of iniquitie is exalted. He sheweth also, that then iustice was sold for money. In time past (saith Bri∣git) * 1.21 iustice dwelt in Rome, and her princes were studious of peace, but now all is turned into drosse, and her princes are murtherers.

Neither do they so many almes déedes, or deale so boun∣tifully, that they néed much to brag of their liberalitie. Pe∣trarch doth call Rome couetous Babylon: and sayth, that

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couetousnesse raigneth there. Multo aequanimius ferunt millium * 1.22 animarum iacturam (saith Clemangis) quam decem solidorum: They had rather lose ten thousand soules, then ten shillings. * 1.23

But percase by reason of their solemne vowes they are chast and continent. Alas there is nothing more sensual and luxurious. Quis non moechatur? (saith Palingenius, speaking of the Romish vnchast Cleargie) that is, Who doth not of∣fend in luxuriousnesse? Huldricus doth shew, that this for∣swearing * 1.24 of mariage is cause of great vncleanenesse. Pelagius lib. 2. de planct. Eccles. art. 27. saith, that by reason of priests vowes and licenciousnesse, almost halfe the people in Spaine are bastards. Speaking of priests, Nimis incontinenter viuunt (saith he) at que vtinam nunquam continentiam promisissent, ma∣ximè Hispani & regnicolae, in quibus prouincijs in pauco maiori nu∣mero sunt filij laicorum, quàm clericorum. This I cite at large for the honor of bastard Parsons, that is so well affected to some old bastard Spaniards.

Truth is no friend to such lying companions. VVhat truth can be there (saith Petrarch) where all is so ful of lyes? * 1.25 He excepteth not the secret places of Churches, the seates of iustice, nor the Popes throne. Quis vsquam (saith he) vero locus, vbi omnia mendacijs plena sunt? For their fraud and lies, Palingenius calleth priests and Friers impostors and crafty * 1.26 foxes.

Hos impostores igitur, vulpes{que} dolosas Pelle procul.

Neither can we commend them much for their clemency, albeit their Popes sometimes affect the name and title of Clement. For they prosecute their enemies as cruelly, as euer did tyrants, as Platina saith in Sergio. 3. they torment poore simple Christians, that touch their abuses and massacre them. They are red with the blood of saints.

Finally, neither vertue nor pietie sheweth it selfe in any of their actions. What are then the good works that our ad∣uersaries so much commend in them selues? Forsooth pil∣grimages to Rome, oblations to saints, almes giuen to sturdie Friers & Monks, building of Seminaries for rebellious youths,

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eating of fish and toadstooles, and muscles on fasting dayes, vowing of virginitie and single life, whipping a mans selfe, do∣ing penance by a Proctor, praying to Saints, hearing of Mas∣ses, and such like. Nay they accompt it meritorious, to massacre Christian Princes and others, when the Pope doth excommunicate them. But part of these workes are flagitious, part superstitious, none good. If then they al∣leage vs not their good workes and proue them, their glory and boasting of their workes will proue vaine and odious.

Finally, they must thew vs, where these workes are done, for which the Papists looke to merit eternall life, and by which they claime iustification. If they say at Rome, as no doubt they will, calling the same the holy citie, then we shall wonder at their impudencie. For that citie both in re∣gard of Priests, and people, of all others is knowne to be most flagitious. Peters pallace (saith Mantuan) is polluted, * 1.27 and rotten with luxuriousnesse.

—Petri{que} domus polluta fluenti Marcescit luxu.
And againe:
Sanctus ager scurris, venerabilis ara Cynaedis Seruit, venerandae diuum Ganymedibus aedes.
The same man (lib. 4. fastorum) telleth Leo the tenth, that he was to reforme thrée things: first, the bloudie broiles of Italie: secondly, the poyson of the court of Rome that infe∣cted all countries: and thirdly, the abuses of religion, that was much oppressed. The manners of Italie, Robert Bi∣shop of Aquila rehearseth. The sinnes of Rome are noted by Petrarch in his Sonnets beginning: Fiamma dal cielo, and L'auara Babylonia, and Font ana di dolore, where he signifieth, that she deserueth to be consumed with fire from he auen, for her notorious wickednesse. Palingenius bringeth in the di∣uell * 1.28 affirming, that both the men and women of Rome were his, for that all did apply themselues to luxuriousnesse, glutto∣nie, theft, and fraud, contending who should excell others.

Cunctiluxuriae, (saith he) at que gulae, furtis{que} dolis{que} Certatim, nosterque est sexus vterque.

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If then pure religion is to visite the fatherles and wi∣dowes in their aduersitie, and to liue an vnspotted life in this world, as Iames the Apostle teacheth, then is not Pa∣pish religion true nor vndefiled. If such as do the workes of the flesh described Galat. 5. shall not inherite the king∣dome of God; then is the state of Papists most miserable, vnlesse they repont. They may say to themselues, Peace, peace, and boast themselues, that they can do mischiefe. But therc is no peace to the wicked, neither shall their misthie∣uous malice and bloudie massacres alwaies escape vnpu∣nished.

Notes

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