The triall of truth Containing a plaine and short discovery of the chiefest pointes of the doctrine of the great Antichrist, and of his adherentes the false teachers and heretikes of these last times.

CHAP. 9.

5 That the Pope cannot exempt the cleargy from secular iurisdiction, nor licence any Princes subiectes to withdraw their loyalty & obedi∣ence, and to take armes against their soveraignes.

6 That the Pope cannot make it lawfu••l, much lesse meritorious to lay violent handes on the Lordes Annointed.

7 That the Pope cannot authorise stewes, and incestuous marriages dis∣allowed by God.

8 That the Pope cannot make good the sale of Masses and Pardons, but that it shall be condemned for the••t before God.

9 That the Pope cannot licence any to conceale the truth, or to avouch any thing contrary thereto, especially vvhen they are commanded by the Magistrate and that vpon their oath to open the same: nor yet to breake faith and promise made, no not to heretikes.

10 That concupiscence entertained and liked for a while, albeit it get not our full and setled consent, is sinne.

COncerning the commaundementes of the second table, which lay downe our duety tovvardes our neighbour, and be∣long to the preservation of humane soci∣ety, the church of Rome is an o•…•…ender also against the same, neither can she be∣ing charged therevvith iustly and truely pleade not guilty. 5 For against the fift com∣mandement shee offendeth by exempting ecclesiasticall persons from secular iurisdiction, and by discharging (as shee thinketh it expedient) all manner of subiectes, from their oath of obedience made vnto their naturall Princes, and in exciting them also to take vp armes against them, and so to stande out in open rebellion. For this is not to honour the parentes of our countries, * 1.1 and to yeeld subiecti∣on to higher powers, albeit they be heathenish and persecuting Ido∣laters.

6 * 1.2 Against the sixth commaundement she offendeth in teaching it to bee not onely commendable but also meritorious to murder even the

Lordes Annointed: the vvhich outragious villany many other murders also are like to follovve, all true subiectes (especially such as by speciall oath, hand, and promise of association are bound more precisely thereto) being ready to adventure their liues and liuings for the avenging of the death of their leige and loving Soveraignes. But this heard hearted steppe-dame little regardeth the liues of many, beeing ready at all assayes to em∣brue her selfe over with blood, so that shee may bring to passe her plots and purposes.

7 * 1.3 Against the seventh shee offendeth in allowing, or at the least in tolerating of open stewes, for her great revennew shee receaveth by them: and in dispensing with incestuous and vnlawfull marriages, be∣like vpon the former respect.

8 And albeit shee hath no colour nor shevve to allovve of theft done by violence, yet shee her selfe vvaxeth vvonderfull rich by that vvhich is done by fraude and deceite, in that she perswa∣deth the Laity to pay vvell for her Masses and Pardons, thereby robbing them of their landes and goods: for certainely this is no better then cunning cousonage, yea then statte thefte before God. If anie Priest (saith Saint Augustine) * 1.4 not contented vvith the wages which hee hath by the commaundement of Go•• for his service at the altar, doth play the merchaunt, and set to sale his praiers, and to readie to receiue the very vviddovves rewardes, such an one is to bee accounted rather a merchandizer then a Clerke. Neither may vvee alleadge; No man can charge vs vvith invasion, no man can accuse vs of violence: as if oftentimes flattery did not gette a greater boo••y from vviddowes then force. And it skilleth not before God, vvhether by force or subtlety thou gettest the goods of others, so thou enioy them by either.

9 Novve hovve this painted Babylonish harlot, vvhich boa∣steth * 1.5 so much of fidelity and truth, liketh in deede of true and faithfull dealing betweene man and man, hovv farre shee is of from all treachery, periurie, and lies, it may appeare in that shee allovveth her base children beeing brought even be∣fore the Magistrate to pretende ignoraunce, vvhen they knovve the matter right vvell, but as they say, not to open it to SVCH: in that also shee allovveth vvell of breach of faith and promise made to such as shee accounteth and condemneth for heretikes. VVhereby vvee

may perceaue hovve vvell shee leadeth her follovvers to the Lordes hill, and to the holy tabernacle of his heavenly king∣dome, vvherevnto none are admitted but such as sweare to their neighbour and disappoint him not, though it bee to their ••vvne hinde∣raunce. * 1.6

10 Lastly, albeit the lawe being spirituall setteth downe a rule to our soules and spirites, and to all the very motions and affecti∣ons of our heartes, forbidding all such as tende either to the dishonour of God, or to our neighbours hurt, yet the church of Rome teacheth that concupiscence if it get not the full consent of our vvill, and a setled resolution to accomplish the same, is not a transgres∣sion * 1.7 of the lavve of GOD, neither can bee iustly condemned of sinne. VVhereas the Apostle testifying of himselfe, that hee had not knowne conc••pis•…•…nce to bee sinne, excepte the lawe had saide thou shalt not lust, meaneth not in all likely hoode that kinde of lust, which is ioyned vvith a full consent of the vvill: for so hee being brought vp at the feete of a learned Doctor in the lavve, shoulde haue had lesse knovvledge then the very heathen themselues, of vvhom some could say, that the very consultation to sinne was sinne, albeit it came not to execution: and that a bare purpose to doe evill ma∣keth guilty of the deede done.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Rom. 13. 1.
• * 1.2

  See Cardi∣nal de Como his letter to Will. Parry
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 lu∣•…•…d tur∣•…•… est •…•…dor ex •…•…alibet.
• * 1.4

  •…•…e verb •…•…ecun∣•…•… Math. 19 ••0. 47.
• * 1.5

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. tract 〈◊〉〈◊〉 con. 1. •…•…6. •…•…se po∣•…•…s this? •…•…ee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hearte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suffi•…•…
• * 1.6

  Psal 15. 4.
• * 1.7

  Rom. 7. 7. In ipsa deli∣beratione ••a∣cinus est, tametsi ad actum non perveneris. Cic. off. l. 3. Nam scel•…•… ••nira se ta∣citum qui concipit vl∣lum, Facti cri∣men ha∣bet. Horat.