Two godlie and learned sermons appointed, and preached, before the Jesuites, seminaries, and other aduersaries to the gospell of Christ in the Tower of London. In which, were confuted to their faces, the moste principall and cheefe poincts of their Romish and vvhoarish religion: and all such articles as they defend, contrarie to the woord of Cod [sic], vvere layed open and ripped vp vnto them. In Maye. 7 and 21. Anno. 1581. By Iohn Keltridge, preacher of the vvorde of God, in London.

To the Readers, and faithfull Christi∣ans, health and peace in Christe Iesus.

THe great looue that the Lord our GOD hath borne to the Church, neither is it, neither can it be hid from any man: and if we which haue nowe It∣ued in the same many yeeres, be not either stuffed and choaked vp with his manifolde benefites, or carelesse & secure, for that they haue béene so plentifull. Then will euerie faithfull and good man say, as I say, that of all Nations and Countries vnder heauen, we haue hitherto liued most happily. For if Warres were looked for, the Lord hath turned all to peace: If conspiracies and Treasons were practised, they haue béene reuealed from time to time: If Insurrections were made, they the authors haue béen suppressed immediatly: If Forrainers and straungers haue determined any thing against vs, their pretended deuises neuer tooke effect: If at any time they haue purposed to spoyle vs, the Lord hath deliuered them into our handes: If the heauens haue portended any great thing, or the earth hath shaken her pillers against man: or the Elements in flaming manner, cast foorth their sparkes of fyre: yet haue all these moste straunge thinges (to this day) shewen their force, de∣clared their effectes, and plainely manifested their angrie countenaun∣••••s, against other Nations and straunge people, not against vs of England. So that I may say, happy are we, if we may continue happy: and blessed be we aboue all other, if we be still blessed of the Lord: and most of all are we to praise our God, if héereafter we shall be able to stande, as hetherto we haue done, which he onely knoweth, not man. Of this I am certaine, and for the same I haue a good warrant: that if our sinnes be not come vp vnto the brim, if our ini∣quities be not ripe, or our manifolde transgressions, come vp before God, then haue we not to feare any thing: but whatsoeuer kinde of ••••••righting it be, howsoeuer mens heartes doo fayle them, or what ru∣mors and signes of alterations the wicked doo forecast in their hearts, all shall be turned to the best, if we haue not prouoked the Lord. In verie déede it is true, that the Lord is able to remooue our Candel∣stitke: that the Lord is able to carrie vs into a straunge lande: and he is of power to hang vp our Harpes vpon the willowe Trées, and en∣force vs to sing a song of Sion in Babell. Yet let Israel be of good chéere, and you the people of the Lord comforted, for if you will feare the Lord and obey him, all thinges shall goe well with you, all the blessinges of God shall be powred vppon you, and you shall stande in feare and dread of none. But and if you disobey the Lord your God, and cleaue not vnto him, all the plagues and curses set downe in his booke shall ouertake you. I tell you of a trueth, that if we looke not

to our wayes, and take héede to such thinges as the Lord our God hath forbidden vs: without questiō he will bring such a thing to passe, as all the eares of men that heare thereof, shall tingle at it. For my owne part, I am perswaded, that euen now God hath begun to becken his hand, and shake his rod at vs: and of the same, I will yéelde cer∣taine reasons.First of all, the pride of Sion is great, and her daugh∣ters haue wādring eyes, and stretched out neckes, & they mince it in the stréetes with their féete, as if onely they had a care to liue héere, and to doo nothing else.Secondly, the fulnesse of bread is great, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are inglutted with the Oliue and the Grape, therefore beginne freé to to be carelesse. Thirdlie, there is a gréeuous sinne, which of all o∣ther I feare, which aboue the rest I abhorre, which of all is most dam∣nable, which in the most is most common, yet estéemed of ouer lighthe, by the most godlie: which is whoredome, that is so sparinglie puni∣shed. For these sinnes am I perswaded, that God hath begun••e to shewe his displeasure, and angrie countenaunce vpon vs: the Lord hath nowe forewarned vs to looke about, and to examine our selues a∣gainst the tyme of his comming. And assuredlie, I am sore gr••uc•• for the same: for the Papistes, finding that we haue displeased God, and knowing that the Lord neuer striketh, but when he is angry: have nowe of late lyft vp their heads, thinking to make a conquest, and to pray vpon vs, So that I sée we are nowe in distresse, and two kinde of inconueniences fall vpon vs for our sinnes. First, the Lord is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honoured, and the Papistes they hope for a day: Secondlie, our people and nation is affrighted, and in parte discouraged, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they feare that because the multitude of Heretiques are nowe inc••••∣sed: that therefore God as he hath warned vs, hath also forsaken vs: and as he hath touched vs, hath certainly delivered vs into their handes, which is nothing so. wherefore, séeing the & the aduersaire, is so exalted against God in his pride: and the poore Church so discou∣raged for her sinnes in great humilitie, I will say some thing to them be the.

As concerning you the aduersaries of God, and enimies to Eng∣land: whether you be called by the name of Papistes, or tearmed as Catholiques, or estéemed as Iesuites, or thought to be Seminaries, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called by any other name among men: Vnderstand all of you, that if we haue sinned, you haue no cause to reioyce: we haue not trespassed a∣gainst you, but against God: and if any thing happen vnto vs, we are vnder the handes of the Lord, not vnder yours. What if our fathers haue erred? what if our Kinges and Princes haue offended? what if our Rulers haue trespassed? and we his people gone astraie? that appertayneth not vnto you, but vnto our God. To him we submitte our selues, to him we yéelde, to him we acknowledge our sinnes: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for you, what haue you to doo with vs? why trouble you his people? and what haue you to doo with his annointed? we will submitte not

selues to the highest, we will not be delyuered into your handes, nor into the handes of men. Knowe you that we will neither choose to ••ye thrée dayes before our enimies, nor haue seuen yéeres famine come vpon vs in the land: but we will fall into the handes of God, let the Lord doo what séemeth him best in his eyes. Now if it should come to passe, that we were againe made slaues vnto you, as we haue béene of oide tyme: yet would the Lord be reuenged vpon you: your Shéep∣heards should be scattered, as was Gardner and Bonner: your Prin∣ces and blasphemers should perishe, as all those haue done that stoode against vs: your Runners and Deuowrers with the swoord, should haue a deadly ende, as hath befaine to the persecutors of our Church: and you your selues should haue all the plagues of Egipt to trouble you, tyll you had deliuered vs. what if we serued you, seuen or eight péeres for our sinnes, to reclaime vs? yet would the Lord send an o∣ther Othoniell, to redéeme vs, & consume you. what if eightéen yéeres? as we confesse some times we did: what aduantage was that to you, when Eglon your King, with the Ammonites and Amalekites, were afterward destroyed for it, by Ehud of Gera, the Captaine of the Lord? What I pray you, aduauntageth it you, to rayle on the hoast of the lyuing God, and to curse vs, and to defie vs before the Lord: if after∣wards you and yours, be found all onely to be they that are cursed? for so it fell out in the dayes of Ezechias,when Senacherib defied Israell, and rayled on the lyuing God. And so fell it out at the be∣ginning to Balack the sonne of Ziphor, that hyred Balaam to curse Is∣raell, as the Pope hath hyred and sent you out to curse vs. Therfore this people, if they will feare the Lord, shall not be afraide of two or thrée Bées of the East, but euen they shall sée your dead carcases vp∣pon the ground, and you the enimies of God to be drowned and swim before their faces.

And nowe for the second point, for which I doo perceyue the people of this Land are greatly troubled: namely, because that the Papistes and Iesuites, with other the riffe raffe, and scumme of this Realme, are nowe séene to appeare, who before this tyme haue béene hidden in the bytches, and channelles of England: Let them all vnderstand, that it is a small thing with God, and no great or rare matter, to haue wicked men and vngodlie ones, to arise in the Familie of the Lord. For so it must it be in his Church & Congregation for euer, that those that are his may be tried. VVhy? wherefore? for what cause should you be ••••••couraged? it hath béene so of olde, from the beginning it hath béene thus. Looke and sée, search and vnderstand, it will be found true. It is a small matter, in great abundance of small hearbes, to haue a hand∣full of stinking wéedes: in a mightie ground well eared with corne, to finde some Darnel, or some Cockle: in plentifull Gardens, and well ••••ored, to haue a bundle or two of Nettles: or in our great and mighty Church of England, to haue a fewe of wicked and peruerse papistes.

The Israelites cannot doo amisse, though some Préestes of ••••all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Land: the Congregation shall not all perishe, though Coré, D••∣than, and Abiram conspire: the Prophetes of God, & all faithfull per∣sons must not be dismaied, albeit some offer vp Incense to the Quine of Heauen: and England must not be afrayde, though some Iesuiets trouble them. The Church of Corinthus had in it false brethren, that hindred them: and Laodecaea, and Smirna, and Theatyra, in the Reuela∣tion, had among them, wicked persons that withortwe them: and the Primitiue Church, hath not béene without Heretiques at all tythes, that haue withstoode them: neither shall England be without Se••i∣naries, and schollers of the Pope to molest them.

I remember what Augustine sayth: Firmissime tene, et nallaten•••• dubites, Aream esse Dei ecclesiam Catholicam, et in ea vsque in sinem seculi frumento mixtas pale as contineri. That is: It is to be thought stedfastilie, and not to be doubted of by any man, that the Barnes of the Lord, doo signifie vnto vs the Church of God, and within them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ende of the world, there will be Chaffe mixt with good Corne•• that is, wicked with good: euill men, among righteous men, and Heretiq•••••• among those that are faithfull. It is as true, and as pretie as it is plaine that Prosper sayth: Nunc vero ecclesia aut Arca, velut mund•• et immunda animalia, bonos malosque portare cognoscitur, vsque in prae∣dictum finem, de quo Dominus et saluator noster in Euangelio 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est. That is: And nowe we are assured, that the Church of God, which is as was the Arke, hath in it bothe fowle and cleant 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and is openlie knowne as well to carie the good, as those that are e∣uill, euen vntyll the determined ende and tyme, whereof our Sauiour Christe spake in the Gospell, which is vnttyil the ende of the wor••e. So that nowe we are not to be discouraged, but comforted: not dismayed but stayed: in as much as the Lord will alwayes fight for vs, and permitte the wicked for a season, that their condempnation may be greater when he commeth. And it must not be vnknowen to you, that there haue risen vp Heretiques from tyme to tyme, but especially in the Primitiue Church, and in the lyght of the Gospell, as the Iesu∣ites, and the Fanulie of Looue, and the Seminaries doo now in our age: After Christe. 46 yéeres, began Simon Magus: whome the Pope is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lyke as can be; that selteth the holie Ghost, and hell and Heauen; and soules of men for money. After Christe. 58. yéeres, or thereabout: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Elymas Bariesus, he would haue peruerted and turned Sergius Pau∣lus from the trueth: as Champion and Howlet haue laboured of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to peruert the state of England.After Christe. 73. sprang vp Corin∣thus: as like the Papistes in this one thing as might be that he lu•••••• after the satissying of the ••••••lie, and delighted in meate and drinke; and maried women.After Christe. 93. spr••ng vp Basilides, before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Menander: whome in this one thing, the Pope and his Clergie res•••••• bleth: in that they thinke that Faith by periurie may be renouri••••••

After Christe. 100. yéeres, arose vp the Gnostikes, some call them Bar∣borites, all one with Papistes, for they had in them a swelling pride, as hath the Pope with his Cardinals, & thought they knowe all things: and their women among them were as common, as the strumpets and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, be at Roome for the Friars. After Christe. 121. dyd the Naza∣rit•••• spread their Herefies abroade, altogether in effect, as are the Iesu∣ites: who gaue them selues to the obseruation of the Lawe, euen alike as be all their Ceremonies which they vse. After Christ. 163. were the Montanists, verie rife in the world: what they differed from the sects of Iesuites, and their company I knowe not, all one they were in many things: For they for bad mariage as papistes doo, they absteined from 〈…〉〈…〉 béeing vnla••••full, euen as papistes doo: they vsed 〈…〉〈…〉, and defiled women as the papists doo. And thus from time to time since Christe, there haue béene most detestable Herefies in the Church: now I am of opinion, that the errors of the papistes, are a confused, and mingled Chaos, euen a trusse and Booget of Hertfies, gathered togeather of all sortes of Heretiques from the beginning: which, when time se••ueth I will prooue, Héere lyeth out 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 holde, that God of his mercie will as wel defend vs: as he hath done the other his Churches that hath béene pestered with them since the comming of Christe. And as for England, they can doo it no 〈◊〉〈◊〉, God is with vs. They cannot hurt vs, God fighteth for vs: the••r pretious bau••••es shal not breake our heads, for so hath the Lord 〈…〉〈…〉: Their errors shall doo, what God will haue done & that is mough to comfort vs. For the papistes them selues & what grosse and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 opinions they holde, this short Treatise shall declare: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Irequire at your hands, that shall reade this Booke. First that 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••differerently, without partiality. Secondly, that you way the, Articles and sundrie pointes, and howe and where, the trueth in them is to be looked for. Thirdly, that you cast not your eyes vpon the writer, or vpon the Aduersary that is confuted, but that you iudge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betwixt bothe. Last of all, with a perfect, pure, and vndefiled 〈…〉〈…〉 this booke to be read of thée, that thou thy selfe mayst be com∣••••ted, thy conscience assured, thy minde and beare satisfied, and thy ad∣versaries mouthes that would hinder thée for euermore stopped. So I leaue thée to the tuition of the Almightie, and do aduertise thée, to may for the conuersion of these Heret ques, or for the will of the Lord to be shewed vp•• them, according •••• that purpose and determination of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which he hath decréed. And so fare you most hattehe well.

Yours in the Lord. Iohn Keltridge.

Notes

• Deut. 28.2.
• Leui. 26.14. Lamen. 2.17
• Pride.
• Securitie.
• Whordom.
• Iudg. 3.9.
• Iudg. 3.14.
• Isai. 37.38.
• Numb. 22.
• August. ad Petrum. Cap. 43.
• Prosper. de∣promis. et praed. Dei, Cap. 7.
• Euse. Lib. 2. Cap. 1.
• Beda.
• Iren. Lib. 1. Cap. 25.
• Euse. Lib. 4. Cap. 7.
• Epiphanius Haer. 26.
• Haer. 29.
• Euse. Lib. 5. Cap. 13.