The glory of the true church, discovered, as it was in its purity in the primitive time also, a manifestation how and when the apostacy came, and how long it hath continued in the Church of Rome, proved to be in it, because she differs in doctrin & practice from the Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes : published for this end, that people may be informed, and their understandings opened to discern of the times and seasons, and see the difference between the lambs wife and the mother of harlots / by one who desires that all may come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, and walk in the light of the Lord, Francis Howgill.

CHAP. XIIII. Something further of the Decrees and Ordinances of the Church of Rome, which are holden out for Apostolical Ordinances. (Book 14)

POpe Paul about the year 757 condemned the Councel at Constantinople for condemning wor∣shipping of Images, he wrote a book of the worship∣ping and vitility of Images, calling them the Laymens Kalendar.

Pope Adrian about the year 770 cloathed the i∣mage of Saint Peter with silver, and covered the Altar of Saint Paul with a pall of gold, and condemned them for Hereticks, who kept Peter and Pauls Doctrine which declared against idols.

Pope Nicholas about the year 858 enlarged the Popes Decrees, equaling them to the writings of the Apostles, he decreed that service should be said in La∣tine.

And although by the Emperours the Pope was first elected, yet now having got head did climb up so high in power, and pride and arrogancy, endeavoured that no Emperour should be crowned without his leave in Germany.

And Pope Clement the fifth excommunicated An∣dronicus Peleologus Emperour of Constantinople as a He∣retick, because he would not suffer the Greek Church to appeal to Rome.

And when any Kings or Princes had displeased him, he hath excommunicated them, and given away their

Kingdomes to some other, teaching their people to re∣bell; and also instigating other Princes to make war against them, and to kill one another for trifles, and if any displeased him, he caused many Kings to do penance, and to pay great summes of money to get an absolution from excommunication; and the Rule and power of the Empire which gave him first his being to be universal Bishop, and to be called Pope, he hath raised war often against, and if he like not the Electi∣on of the Emperour, he hath deposed them, and one he brought into such subjection that he caused him to hold his stirrop, a thing that the Emperour was not accustomed with, he happened to hold it on the wrong side, for which he received a sharp reproof by his holiness.

Likewise some difference being between Pope In∣nocent the fourth, in the year 1250 and the Emperour Frederick the second, the Pope would not be reconci∣led, though the King of France strongly interceded, and offered full satisfaction for all pretended wrongs, would go out of his Empire if the Pope could not en∣dure him there, never to return into Europe again, so as that his son with the popes approbation might but succeed him in the Empire, which the Pope would not do.

And how England and diverse Nations hath been troubled with his oppression is well known, and what exactions and great sums of mony there hath been enhaused and squeezed out of the Dominions where he had power, the Nations well remembers, to maintain the pride of his Court at Rome, which abounded with all manner of vitiousness, in so much that it was grown to that height that Vincentius Clemence the popes Legate, said it was now too late, and past reforming.

But to take the Legates own words as follows a∣gainst his Master the pope and his Court, W. H. in his

book called a description of England in the 136 page, saith thus, that this Vincentius Clement in the year 1452 being Legate for the pope, was here in England about the popes business, and hearing that the Clergy had given the King two tenths for the repaying of his losses which he had sustained in France, and for the recove∣ring of Bou••deox; this Legate Vincenti••s coming into the Convocation house, he earnestly required the Clergy to be no less favourable to their Spiritual Fa∣ther the Pope, and their Mother the See of Rome then they had been to his vassal and inferiour, mean∣ing the King; and in his speech in the Convocation he shewed them how that his holiness the pope was much disturbed and in daily danger of his life by cut∣throats, varlors, and harlots which did much abound as he said in Rome; but the Clergy in the Convocation slighted his speech, and said how should we contri∣bute towards the suppression of such, whenas he and such as you continually uphold them? I grant saith the Legate that there wanteth just reformation of many things in the City of Rome which would have been made sooner, but now it is too late and past re∣forming; nevertheless I beseech you send the Legate to write unto his holiness the Pope, to request him that he would abandon and leave that Baby••on which is but a sink of mischief and of all ungodlinesse, and keep his Court elsewhere in some place of better fame; and this is the Legates testimony of the seat of the Mother Church of Rome.

Besides many of her own Members in England in the year 1245 do manifest what exaction has been upon this Nation, as may be seen in a supplication written in the names of the Nobles and Commons of England to Pope Innocent the fourth, shewing how many Sub∣sidies and taxes had been levied and sent out of the R••alm, and how they had been liberally paid,

they complaining also how he sent Italians and for∣raigners to possess their Churches and Benefices in England, who had no regard of peoples souls, and so were no good Shepherds as they said; and how the Ita∣lians received threescore thousand Marks by the year, besides other vails and excises they do reap more rents then the King himself, and so when he could not have his subsidies, and raise all the sums which he exacted from year to year, Pope Innocent per∣swades the French King to make warre with the King of England, for his not condiscending to the pope in all things, although he was then one of his sons, and of his Church, but enough of this; it were large to enu∣merate the actions and cruelties, the oppressions which hath been done in that which is called Christendom, since the Emperour gave unto the Pope his power, and how much idolatry, supersttion, he∣r••sie, and Doctrines of Devils hath been spread over the Nations these many hundreds of years, and how many have been put to cruel death; for not obeying and conforming to the said Doctrines and practices, Injunctions and Ordinances, and how many he this falle Church hath stirred up to kill one another, and destroy one another about these things, which hath been put upon people under the name of Divine Au∣thority, and holy subjection, and Apostolical Institu∣tions; by what as i•• written, all may see that these things are in the Apostacy, and in the fall, in the cu••se, and in the night of darknesse wherein all this wickedness hath been wrought by the false Church which the Lord God will reward double, and dry up her waters under which she sits, and make her seat desolate, and throw down her pride who hath drunk the blood of the Martyrs, and shed the bloud of the Saints, and devoured the Lambs of Christ, and made merchandize of souls; and therefore all who are

in part departed from her, stay not in the Suburbs, but come out of her-City, and the Adjacent places thereof, that ye be not partakers of the Judgement which is to come upon her; But Oh abundance of darkness remains yet in the Nations, and even in the Protestant Churches who hold up things yet which was invented by her, insomuch that one belonging to the Church of Rome, Dionysius Petavius 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cardinall layes claim to the Ceremonies which were practiced in England in the Bishops time; For saith he in his book called the History of the World, the Religion of England and Doctrine is Calvinis••••, the Doctrine of Geneva, but the Ceremonies are of Rome as they were practiced in England in the year 1640.

In the time of Leo the fourth, Edelw••lphus King of England went to Rome, for performance of a vow that he had made, and was courteously received and accepted by the Pope Leo; For which cause he or∣dained atribute to be paid yearly to the Pope, to wit a penny sterling for every house in England that kind∣led a Fire. New Protestants look to your Easter reck∣onings, you have denied the Popes supremacy, and yet Vicars and Parsons receives his tribute of every house that kindles a Fire, and this stands yet as a good and wholsome Institution amongst you.

And so for shame, let all that profess Reformation, and the Doctrine of godliness, and the faith of Christ, and the practise of the Apostles as their example, Come out of things which the Harlor hath in∣vented, and say as Abraham said to the King of So∣dom, That he would not take a shoe-latchet, least he should say he had made Abraham Rich; So let them that professes Reformation, not keep a shoe-larchet, nor one lap of the Whores garment, nor any piece of her Ornaments, that she may not boast any more that we are made rich by her merchandize; so purge

out horn and huff, and all the old leaven out of your hearts and out of your Assemblies, and come to be∣lieve in Christ the true light that lighteth every one that comes into the world, that he may be your Law-giver, whose Institutions are spiritual and his Ordi∣nances heavenly, which makes perfect, and clean and pure the comers there unto, and so let the old Rom••sh t••ash and foolish Ceremonies about worship alone, many of which are borrowed from the Heathen; and judge not any for departing from them, nor per••ecute none for not observing of them; for who so doth, will manifest themselves to belong to the City which is to be overthown, and to be in the Apostacy, and not Members of the true Church of Christ, the Lambs Wife.

And many more things which stands yet amongst them called Christions, as set discourses hath been set up ••••lled homilies.

And the a••oresaid W. H. shews the ground where∣fore they were devised; Some complained that their Churches and Universities were spoiled with error (as many are at this day) by which there was a want of able Pastors; four Sermons were appointed by pub∣lick order in the year only, and certain homilies was devised by learned men, and confirmed for sound Doctrine by the Clergy, who made them, and the Authority of the Prince, which homilies were ap∣pointed to be read by Curates of a mean understand∣ing, and them that had but mean pay, as five mark or twen•••• Nobles a year, of which sort we had many in England in the year 1640. I desire we have no more, le••st more ignorance abound; and these homilies were to be read after a certain number of Psalms read, and the Le••any, and an Epistle and Gospel, and it may be A••h••nasius or Nicene Creed, and this was the wor∣ship which hath been holden out even amongst the

reformed as spiritual worship; all which while people has been exercising themselves in those things, they have been further and further off from God and the knowledge of his truth, which is manifest to them that believe not by the Injunctions and Ordinances of men, but by holy Spirit which leads out of all Error, Superstition and deceit, and all that believes in it comes to be taught of the Lord, and worship in that which is pure, and are acceptable in his sight.