Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE THIRD PART CONCERNING the kissing of holy mens feete.

The Papists.

IT is a signe of reuerence done both to Christ and other sacred persons, as Prophetes, Apostles, Popes, or others representing his person heere vpon [error 27] earth, Rhemist. act. 4. sect. 3.

Argum. 1. The Shunamite fell downe and embraced Eliseus feete, 2. King. 4.27: Ergo, the Popes feete ought to be kissed.

Ans. 1 Your popes must be first as holy men as this Prophet was, who was thus reuerenced for his holynes, before they can challenge the like honor.

2 This reuerence to the prophet was voluntary in the woman, not looked for or exacted by the prophet, as the pope looketh for it of duty.

3 Heere is no mention made of kissing of feete, but onely that she caught him by the feete, which was partly a signe of her ioy, that she had met with the prophet, partely by this sodain and disordered gesture, the prophet percey∣ued that she was troubled in minde, for Gehazi would haue thrust her away, but he said, Let her alone, for her spirite is troubled within her.

4 This is no warrant for the pope to offer his feete to be kissed of Kinges and Emperours, because the woman fell downe at the prophetes feete: think you, that if the King of Israel had so done, the prophet would haue suf∣fered it?

Argum. 2. Marie kissed Christs feete: Ergo, the popes feete ought to be kissed.

Ans. What arrogancie is this, that the pope a mortall and sinfull man, should challenge that honor which was done to Christ being God in the flesh, and void of sinne? He might also with the like blasphemie challenge to be wor∣shipped: because the women in the Gospel caught Christ by the feete and wor∣shipped him, Mat. 28.9. We may see by this, of what spirit hee is, and whether he be not that Antichrist, that shal make him selfe as God, 2. Thess. 2.4.

The Protestants.

THe kissing of the feete, was an humble and lowly gesture, which was wor∣thily vsed toward our Sauiour Christ, who was God in the flesh, and in his body and humanity annexed to his Godhead, as God to be worshipped: but it is too diuine, and too lowly an homage to be offered to any mortall man: and holy men in times past refused it, when any carried away with immoderat zeal and admiration of their person, were ready to giue it vnto them.

Argum. 1. When Cornelius fell downe at Peters feete, the holy Apostle would not suffer him to do it. The pope is of a cleane contrary spirite to S. Peter: for he refused it beeing offered: the Pope holdeth out his toe, and offereth it to be kissed, and vrgeth men thereunto.

Argum. 2 If such kissing of feete be commendable, how commeth it to passe that the pope only hath holy feete to kisse; and not other Bishoppes and Clergy men, as well as he?

Augustine thus wryteth vpon those wordes of the Psalme, Worship his foote-stoole, reading according to the Septuagint▪ saith he, the earth is his foote stoole, but wee must not worship the earth: Conuer••o me ad Christū, & inuenio, quomodo sine impietate adoretur terra: suscepit enim de terra terram, quia caro terra est. in Psal. 98. I turne me (saith hee) vnto Christ, and I finde, howe the earth may without any impiety be worshipped: for hee tooke earth of earth, flesh of the flesh of the Virgin, the flesh is earth: Out of these wordes I conclude that the flesh, the body, the humanity ought not in any to be worshipped, but onely in Christ, for the neare coniunction of the Godhead and humane nature together: and therefore consequently no kissing of feete, which is an externall act of diuine worship, is seemely for any mortall man.