An antidote agaynst poperie: most necessarie for all in this back-slyding age. Wherein 1. The trueth is confirmed, by authoritie of scriptures, witnessing of antiquitie, and confession of the popish partie. 2. Popish scripturall arguments are answered, by the exposition both of father and of their own doctours / by William Guild.

3. Confession of partie.

NOthing of this was delyvered or taught (sayeth Eckius) in the Scriptures of the Olde Testa∣ment,* 1.1 and in the New Testament also, the Apostles nor Evangelists, neyther by word nor writ, (that is, Scripture nor Tradition) left anie such thing behinde them, that the Sayncts should bee prayed vn∣to. And it is to bee confessed, (sayeth Cassander) that manie & great errours through the pretext of the intercession and merits of Sayncts,* 1.2 haue invaded the mynds and manners of the vulgar, where∣vnto also the inconsiderat wrytings and sayings of learned men haue given occasion, and fostered their erour. For first, wicked men con∣tinuing

in their wickednesse h•…•… believed that by the onelie int•…•…¦cession and patrocinie of Saynct•…•… they should get pardon and gr•…•… from GOD at hand, which p•…•…¦nicious opinion also so farre〈…〉〈…〉 might bee, hath beene confirm•…•… by counterfeyt miracles

Another errour is, that m•…•… who are not wicked or otherw•…•… good, haue made choyse v•…•… themselues of certayne Sayncts〈…〉〈…〉 their Patrons and Defenders, a•…•… haue placed more confidence〈…〉〈…〉 their merits and intercession th•…•… in Christs merite, and so, havi•…•… obscured that office of Christs o•…•…¦lie advocation, they haue in pla•…•… thereof substitute the Sayncts, a•…•… in speciall the Virgine Maries a•• vocation.

* 1.3Yea, there hath not wanted f••¦mous men (meaning BIEL an•• others) who affi••me, that i•…•… the Virgin Marie that is accompli¦shed which Assuerus promised to Esther, to giue her the halfe of hi•• Kingdome, and that even so of the Kingdome of GOD (which con∣sisteth

of justice and mercie) the LORD hath given to Marie mer∣cie, retayning justice to Himselfe, whence are these Titles given to her, Queene of Heaven, and Queene and Mother of mercie.

What shall I say, when thorow the whole Psalter, everie-where the Name of the LORD is found changed into the name of our La∣die, yea, it is come to that hight, that even CHRIST now raygning in Heaven is made subject to His Mother, whence in the Churches this is sung to her, saying, Com∣mand our Redeemer.

Thirdlie, some are seene to at∣tribute to the merits of Saynctes, the verie power of Sanctification and Redemption, which is onelie proper to Christ God and Man, and of whose fulnesse wee all haue receaved, (all this sayeth Cassan∣der)

Notes

• * 1.1

  E••k. enchi∣rid. de vener sanct. c. 15
• * 1.2

  Cas∣sand. cōsult art. 2••
• * 1.3

  Biel in can M••ssae Lect. 8.