Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 5. From whence all the glory of Popery sprung, and is continued.

ANd from hence sprange all the glory of the Papacy, threat∣ning the Layety, whom they kept in the darknesse of igno∣rance, by with-holding from them the light of the Scrip∣tures, that if they would not give such and such gifts to the Church, build such a Monastery, Abbey, Nunnery, Cathedrall, (and what not which they pleased, as also give a great part of their estates to the maintenance of such of their Hierarchy as was to live in them) they should incur his Holinesse displeasure, who had power either to damne or save them; by which jugling we have had all the Popish buildings erected, which either are or have been in this Kingdom, for if his Holinesse commanded, it must be accomplished in paine of Damnation, or a worse turne,

which God himself could not hinder if it were his Holinesse plea∣sure to the contrary; and in this manner was the Laiety brought poore and the Clergie rich, ingrossing (by this means) into their hands even the very fat of the Land, as it is most apparant to them that observe in what places of the Kingdome those religious houses (as they terme them) are situated.

But had Peter had that power which the Pope claimeth (as* 1.1 his Successor) doubtlesse Paul durst not have gain-sayed him as we read he did, (Gal. 2. 11.) for feare lest he should have damned him; as also by this meanes one of the Apostles should have been greater then another in power, which is absolutely forbidden, as I have formerly shewed; it is therefore most evi∣dent that Peter had no prerogative above his fellow Disciples, neither doe we read in Scripture that ever Peter pronounced Absolution to any man; so that Absolution and Purgatory are the Popes Stewards to gather in his revenues or impositions, which he requireth of his simple stupid Tenants, whom I hope will now have more wit or grace, then to be any longer cheated by him, or inthralled in his Tyrannicall and Anti-christian Kingdome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  We need not fear the Popes curse any more then Paul did Peter.