THe Almighty God whose throne is heaven, the firmament his pa­vilion, and the earth his theater, the Alpha and Omega, the begin­ning and the end, the first the last and the revealer of secrets, Da. 2.22.Victorin. in A­pocal. Cuius antiquit as im­mortalitas, whose antiquity is immortality, gaue an especiall priviledge to his mes­senger Iohn an Apostolical Prophet to write this Pro­phecy to all succeeding ages, a booke never reiected by any but the grossest Heretiques.Epiph.

That as he preferred Abel before Cain, Iacob before Esau, David before Eliab, Mathias before Iudas, so he preferreth S. Iohn before al the other Disciples, in this general charge to his Church. And he that made Moy­ses who was a courtier, Iob the Potentate, Samuell the Iudge, Elisha the Plowman Amos the Neat-heard, Gr. super Ezeck. Iere­my a Priest, Isaiah of the bloud royal a Prophet, Ma­thew a Publican, Peter a Fisher and Paule a Tentmaker, all to be penners or preachers of his word, now inspi­reth [Page 2]a poore exile to write the history of the Church in these intricate visions and revelations which he saw vpon the Lords day.Pro merito vo­luminis laus omnis inferior est Rupert. in lib. Where having sent to the sea­ven Churches, and shewed the authors of his message. God the Father and the Sonne, in the 5 first chapters, he commeth to predictions of things to come, c. 6. ob­signations of those to be saved, c. 7. Indignations vpon things to be destroied, c. 8.9. His warrant to write to many peoples and nations and tongues and kings, c. 10. The Churches Prophets fighting & falling by the beast, yet rising againe c. 11. Her body compared to a womā cloathed with the sunne, with the moone vnder her feet and a crowne of 12 stars vpon her head, c. 12. Her combats, and they blessed that die in the Lord, c. 13.14 Her threatnings with 7 golden vials ful of the wrath of God, c. 15. Her iudgements vpon her enimies in general, c. 16. and in these 17 and 18 chapt. her victo­ries gotten against the Romish church; wherein Prin­ces converted to the gospell (figured by a mighty An­gell lightning the earth, c. 1.) do iudicially decree that Babylon must fal, for troubling of states, for corrupti­on in doctrine, with which she poisoned other nations, & for the immoderate riches of her Merchants who sold both iustice and the soules of men,Rome selleth soules of men. Rev. 18.13. ver. 13. The Mi­nisters of God must accomplish it by preaching the gospell, at the sound whereof Babylon falleth as once the wals of Iericho at the noise of trumpets sounded by the Priests, and by the Ministry whereof as it were by the spirit of the Lords mouth Antichrist falleth into a consumptiō, as Dagon once fell before the arke. [Page 3]calling by this long oratorious exhortation to relin­quish Babylon (as Lot was warned to leaue Sodom) in a continuat set speech to 21 ver. a part of which I haue chosen for the subiect of my discourse.Clem. Alex. in locum. And I heard, &c.

It hath beene the admirable wisdome of the Al­mighty, never from the beginning to leaue his Church without some comfortable promise. So immediatly after the fall of our first Parents, hee foretold of that restauratiō which should be made by Messias his son,Gen. 3. as it came to passe in the fulnesse of time. Dan. 7.9.11. Ez 31. So hee fore­told by Daniel & Ezechiel, of the great trouble which his Church should endure by the persecutions of the divided Greeke Empire, Alexanders posteritie,Diod. l. 18. & Appian. especi­ally the Kings of Egypt, and Syria, which descended of Ptolomeus and Seleucus, whom the Scripture calleth the Kings of the North, and the South, by the space of 294. yeares, and of the precise determination thereof at the comming of Christ.

So he told Israel of their great servitude, and into­lerable bondage in Egypt,Gen. 15. and of the full end thereof after 400 yeares.

So here he sent Iohn the Evangelist into a little I­land of Pathmos, lying in the Aegean Sea, in the 96,Straho. l. 3. Eus l. 3. c. 18. yeare of our Lord, to prophecie of the ruine of a my­sticall Babylon (I meane Rome) as Ieremy had foretold of the ruine of literall Babylon. Rome in this booke cō ­pared to Sodome for filthinesse, to Egypt for Idolatrie, C. 11. v. 8. and in my Text to Babylon for both. And I heard, &c.

[Page 4]It is like to that Ier. 50.8. Fly from the midst of Babel, depart out of the land of the Chaldeans: or that Ier. 51.6. Fly out of the midst of Babel, and deliuer every man his soule: Be not destroyed in her iniquitie.

And I hear danother voice out of heaven. It is a di­vine inspiration to the Church, Parap H. Card. admonishing the elect as the other condemned the reprobate. The ordinarie Glosse interpreteth it of the preaching of the word. Brocard of those Scriptures in Esay, Ieremy, and Sopho­nie tending to this purpose.

Saying come out of her my people. Meyerus, paralle­leth it with that Za. 2.6. Ho,Marl. Lyra.Ho, come forth, and fly from the land of the North, saith the Lord. Marlorat, with 1. Co. 7.31. They that vse the world, as they that vsed it not. Generally it is to be vnderstood of the companie of the wicked; we must leaue them, they are lulled in the cra­dle of securitie, the Divell closeth their eies with igno­rance, filleth their cares with Sophistrie, covereth their heads with presumption of mercie, and lardeth their hearts with the neglect of iudgements; especi­ally it is applied to Rome, which will easily appeare to be Babylon.

That yee bee not partakers of her sinnes: either in consenting vnto, H. Card. or acting of her abominations, where­by Gods image is defaced, man made a monster, and Gods child the Divels Creature.

And that yee receaue not of her plagues. Si non fu­eritis participes in culpa,Hugo Card.non eritis similes in poena. If ye partake not in the offence, yee shall not partake in the punishment.

[Page 5]Thus God, ever will bee revenged vpon Sinners. Sinne cast the Angels out of heaven, Adam out of Paradise. By it Ruben lost his birth-right, Iudas his A­postleship. It maketh to men death terrible, their per­sons to God execrable, the law to condemne vs, consci­ence to accuse vs, & the hand of the highest to plague vs.

The summe of which Scripture,In Ref. Cathol. according to iu­dicious M. Perkins is, That they who hope for salvation must avoid the faith and Religion of the Romish Church.

Jn the words I obserue two general parts.

• 1 An admonition to forsake Babylon.
  Divisie.
  And I heard &c
• 2 The reasons for this desertion. That yee bee not partakers, &c.

In the 1 Generall, there is. 1. The instrument of ad­monition. A voice from heaven.

2 The matter of the admonition. Come out of her my people.

In the second generall. 1. The danger of contagion conversing with the wicked. Lest yee be partakers.

2 The danger of punishment to be inflicted vpon the consorts and complices of the vngodly. And that yee receaue not of her plagues.

• In the 1. There is a heavenly voice sounded.
• In the 2. The elect are called.
• In the 3. An infection is threatned.
• In the 4. The plagues of the wicked are manifested

Of these in their order, not what may bee spoken, but what the short time, my weake readings, and simple, but well meaning abilitie, with your patient attention [Page 6]and especially Gods gratious assistance shall permit. Wherein I shall desire to speake resolutely, yet with submission to so learned an assembly. The cause is Gods, and my warrant from heaven to proclaime this voice as powerfully, as my weaknesse shall suffer me.

It was a vaine challenge of Galilaeus de Galilaeis, 1^• Iae [...] to summon the starres to come neere him, and to giue him an account of themselues;Nuntius syder. he would heare their discourses. And a fond brag of Keppler that ever since Tycho Braches death, hee hath received into his eare that no new thing should be done in heaven without his knowledge.De stella in cyg­no. And of him who professed, that he heard that which never man heard besides, a Ser­mon which Christ made in praise of his father Ioseph, dedicating it to Adrian the 6.Iosephlna di. Gieron. Gratian. But we are sure S. Iohn heard many strange voices from heaven by the trum­pets of Angels, amongst which this is very remarke­able. It is a voice more shrill then that of the Aegyp­tian who from the promontory of Hister was heard of Histaeus Admiral of Darius being then at Miletum as Herodotus fableth,Melpom p. 163 for they that were dead a while may heare this voice and liue. In the scripture there is vox Implorativa, with my voice I called vpon the Lord.Psal. Vox collaudativa. A lowd voice saying salvation to our God which sitteth vpon the throne.Rev 7.10. Vox exhortativa, cry a lowd, spare not, lift vp thy voice as a trumpet?Is. 58.8. and if any man aske what the shal cry, hee must cry as the voice frō heaven, shall admonish him. There is vox Dei. To day if yee will heare his voice, harden not your hearts. This was a terrible voice to [Page 7] Adam I heard thy voice in the garden and was affraid.Gen. 3. Nec vox hominem sonat, It is the voice of God, not Man. Vox Christi, heare him. An oracle from heaven hath proclaimed it twise, in the river Iordan, Mat. 3. & on the mount Tabor, Mat. 17. when we haue heard him, and found him we must take hold of him chap. 3. In his word, we must beleeue him, in baptisme indue him, in the Eucharist spiritually eate him, in the poore relieue him, in his life follow him, in his death trust in him, in his tēple glorifie him, on earth affect him, & thē in heaven when we haue heard his voice wee shall en­ioy him. Vox Dei & hominis as here, God speaketh to Iohn, and the Church to vs from heaven. Whence I collect this doctrine.

The word preached ought reverently to be received in respect of the place whence it commeth, which is heauen. Doct. 1. Not that this is to bee vnderstoode only of the place whither Christ ascended, but also of the congregation of the faithfull where he is in the midst. Io. c. 4. v. 2.4. There is a throne in heaven about which are 24 seats, and 24 Elders. In the 5. ch. v. 10. these doe praise Christ that had made them Kings and Priests vnto God, and they should reigne on the earth, 50. Ep. 2.6. The church is called heavenly Ierusalem and in other places the kingdome of heaven; so that whether God from heaven doth cōmand Noah to make & enter the Arke or that an Angell bid Lot get him out of Sodom? Whether Moyses importune the people to get them from the tents of Dathan and Abiram, or the Prophets Isaie & Ieremy teach this Scripture for the leauing of Baby­lon, [Page 8]we must heare it as the voice of God comming from heaven.

As there is a woe against them that wil not preach, and a curse against them that preach negligently, so a­gainst them that wil not heare carefully, whereby they might avoid iudgements and punishments. There is a threefold voice of woes, c. 8.13. Woe, woe, woe to the in­habitants of the earth. Woe vnto the world because of Poperie, whereby men are punished in their soules, they will not goe to the law, & to the testimony, there­fore they can haue no light. Woe vnto the world for Turcisme, because thereby thousandes are murthered in their bodies not yeelding to the word, whereby they might avoid the Lords wrath. Wo vnto the world because of the last iudgement, for thereby the natural worldlings shall be plagued both in body and soule in Hell fire for evermore, because they harkned not to the sound of the Gospell. The dangers of all these may be prevented by hearing this sacred voice, Avoice from heaven.

Vse 1 Acomfort to all Churches which haue the voice of the word amongst them, whereby they are forewar­ned: wherein if any people were truely happy, it is this our Iland, which hath the voice of many criers, prepa­ring the way of the Lord, of many Turtles mourning betwixt the porch and the altar for the sinnes, saying Spare vs good Lord, spare thy people. Ioel. 2.17. Wee of this King­dome, 1 Sam. 21.6. haue many a faithfull, Ahimelech amongst vs, who rather then David should perish with hunger, will giue vnto him the shew-bread of the Sanctuarie, [Page 9]though they liue hungerly themselues. Many a wor­thy Minister, who rather then David should die with thirst, will with the hazard of their liues giue vnto him of the water of Bethlehem. 2. Sam. 23.16. I deny not, but by rea­ding a man may receaue much comfort, and be excel­lently prepared, to get sauing knowledge: yet the voice of preaching is the excellentest ordinary means which God hath sanctified to the salvation of his children, and to make them wise vnto salvation. By this the minde of the ignorant is enlightned, the memory of the forgetfull is strengthned, the heart of the obsti­nate is mollified, the affections of the vntoward are re­duced, the will of the perverse is restrained, and the life of the vngodly so changed, that at the voice of a simple and sinfull man, he crieth out with the Iewes, Men & Brethren, what shall we doe. With David; I am the man, with Saul, I haue sinned, and with every private con­vert to say, God is in these men indeed, whē they preach the heavenly voice. Were it not for preaching the word, where were the vnderstanding of it, consolati­on by it, direction from it? Without it how should hard places be made plaine, plaine be applyed, repug­nances in it be reconciled, or oppugners of it bee confu­ted. Take away preaching, and then downe with our schooles of learning, our houses of prayer, our obe­dience to Superiours, our loue to equals, and our right to heaven. It is the power of God to salvation, the pil­lar of God in our iourney to Canaan, the Angell of God to bring vs out of Sodome, the messenger of God to prepare his way, the trumpet of God to cry downe [Page 10] Iericho, and the caller to bring vs vnto the Church of Christ, being illuminated by the spirit.

For it is not the outward ministery of the word on­ly that is able to convert. Let the Preacher be one of a thousand. Iob. 33.23. for the excellencie of his gifts as prompt in the law of God as Ezra was, as mightie in the Scriptures as Apollo's, as eloquent to quicken & enliue his speech, as if he spake with the tongue of an Angel, as painefull as Paule, who laboured more then all the rest, as blameles in conversation as Zachary. Let the people heare never so gladly as Herod heard Iohn. Never so earnestly as the Iewes heard the Prophet as one that had a pleasant voice and could sing well. Esek. 33.32. Let thē heare never so long, as those that heard Paule vntill midnight. Let the matter bee handled never so excel­lently, as all the Synagogue wondred at the gratious words which proceeded out of Christs mouth. Yet if the Lord giue not a blessing, it is but the savour of death vnto death. Paule may plant and Apollo water, but God gaue the increase. Therefore every one must pray vnto the Lord for an vnderstanding heart, that as he would open the mouth of the Preacher, so also by his power, he would from heauen open the eares and hearts of the whole congregation, that they may heare this heavenly voice.

Vse 2 A Reproofe of those who hearing the heavenly voice of the Church by the mouthes of the Ministers, whereby their sinnes are plainely reproved, and their consciences powerfully convicted, for a while are as Agrippa almost perswaded to leaue their swearing, ly­ing, [Page 11]drunkennesse, &c: wil with teares confesse their sinnes and promise great reformation, but presently al their good motions vanish like a morning dew, they returne to their former courses, as the dog to his vo­mit, They liue but their sicke repentance is dead, Ipsius poenitentiae agunt poenitentiam, they repent of their repē ­tance, Amb. de poenit. l. 2. c. 9. The preacher is vnto them a voice, & nothing else, No voice from heaven.

But it is farre otherwise with the godly. If the Lord speake they tremble, if his word condemne a sinne in them they fal downe & mourne before him till he for­giue it. So were the Publicans moved at the prea­ching of Iohn Baptist, so the Iewes were pricked in their hearts at the preaching of Peter, so the Iaylour cryed to Paule and Sylas what must I doe to bee saved. And good Iosias, his heart melted at the hearing of the law, so effectual is the word in the hearts of the e­lect let the preacher be never so weake and sinneful, as Chrysostome well observeth.Chrys. in Mat. hom 6.

When S. Austens hearers with great applaus com­mended his preaching but mourned not for their sinnes, he told them. Folia haec sunt Nos fructus quaeri­mus. These are Leaues, we would haue fruit. So S. Chrysostome, If yee heare me with sorrow I shal be thāk­full and glad, for who can make me ioyful but you who made me sorrowfull. He thought as Ierome, that the best commendations of the speakers were the teares of the hearers at the heavenly voices.

Vse 3 Is it so that the voice of the Church is a heavenlie voice, then let not any man be puffed vp with the ex­cellency [Page 12]of his gifts. What hath he that is not from aboue? Let not any contemne his brother though far meaner. God often vseth weake meanes to confounde the mighty. Let not any haue the persons of men in a factious admiration saying I am of Paul, I am of A­pollo, I am of Cephas. But let vs giue one another the right hands of fellowship. Let vs haue the Ministers in loue for their worke sake. Let vs be swift to heare and pray the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth labourers into his harvest. Let vs take heede how we heare and pray vnto the Lord to open our hearts. For alas, the hearts of many are so locked and barred against the the word, as the gates of Iericho were against the Isra­elits, when none could go out or enter in.Iosh. 6.1. Therfore is the Lord so earnest in knocking, calling, crying by his voice from heaven. He knoweth of what mettall and matter we are made. This maketh him continue cry­ing till we answere, speake still Lord, thy servants heare. Hearing is necessary, for it is the sense of discipline through which as through the beautifull gate, that heavenly Nymph, knowledge entreth into the temple of the soule. Faith commeth by hearing. They that wil not heare are a generation of deafe adders that stop their eares against the voice of the charmer, worse thē guilty Adam, raging Saule, the stiffenecked Iewesi, mpi­ous Herod, vnhappy Felix, and irresolute Agrippa.

Many blessings are appropriated to the hearer, and as many curses adiudged to him that will not heare, all included in that of Salomon. He that turneth away his eare from hearing the law,Prov. 28.9. his very praier shalbe turned [Page 13]into sin. Therfore he that hath eares to heare, let him heare. See that yee despise not him that speaketh, For if they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turne a­way from this voice crying frō heaven. But this voice cryeth lowder in the second circumstance, the matter of the admonition, Come out of her my people.

It is a thing commonly obserued, 1³.2ae. that amongst ma­ny wicked, there are some children of God. Lot was in Sodom, Gen. 14. Rahab in Iericho, Iosh. 2. Iael amongst the Gentils, Iud. 4. Obadiah that feared God greatly & saved an hūdreth of the Lords Prophets was the go­vernour of Ahabs house, 1. King. 18.4. There were Saints of Caesars houshold, even of Nero that cruell monster; so here are many people of God in Babylon called from it before the Lord powre out the vials of his wrath. The Doctrine here is plaine,Doct. 2. that The Lord vsually admonisheth the elect before he take revēge on the reprobate. The Iudge of the earth will not stay the righ­teous with the wicked, Gen. 18.25. How inextricable soever the peril seeme to be, the Lord knoweth howe to deliver the godly out of temptatiō, 2. Pet. 2.9. Noah from the flowd, Lot from Sodom, the godly in the Actes of the Apostles, many in Ierusalem forewarned by a voice from heaven to get them to Pella, Eus. l. 3. c. 5. a city beyond Iordan, and here Gods people admonished to leaue sinneful Babylon before it be destroyed are sufficient proofes. Which the ancients describe thus. Confusion caused divisions of Nations, Regions and Religions: of this confusion Babylon of Assyria tooke the name.

[Page 14] Pliny would haue it a part of Syria which hee ex­tendeth hence to Cilicia. Pl. l. 5. c. 12. l. 16. Strabo addeth as farre as the Pontike sea. Ptolomy thus boundeth it, on the North it hath Mesopotamia, Geogr. l. 5. c. 20 on the West Arabia deserta, Susia­na on the East, on the South, part of Arabia, & the Per­sian gulph. Here was built the first citty we reade of after the flowde. Many glorious things are spoken of it, yet no Citty of God,L. 2. L. 3. c. 4. Herodotus would haue the wals to containe in compasse 480 furlongs. Diodorus but so many furlongs as there are daies in the yeere, so that every day there was a furlong built, 1300000. workemen imployed therein. The height of the wals was 200 cubits, the thicknes 50, so spatious that Aristo­tle said it was rather a country then a cittie.L. 4. Pol. c. 2.

It was one of the wonders of the worlde in regarde of the many miracles of art, the workes of Semiramis and Nabuchodonoser, who cryed out, Is not this great Babel that I haue built, for which prowd wordes hee was presently adiudged the losse of reason. There hee established that golden head of the image, the seat of the Babylonian Monarchie, yea Dan. 3. Hee set vp an image 60 cubits high, and 6 broad inioyning a Catho­like idolatrie therevnto, which the three Saints, Sha­drach, Meshach, and Abednago refused, and in a fierie tryall were found to be both Martyrs, & Confessours. As Babylon was,The affinitie & likenesse of Ba­bylon & Rome, proued thus. so now Rome is. I must confesse not properly Babylon, in as much as they were two divers Cities: but Rome may be called, and is Babylon figura­tiuely, spiritually, and by allusion. For as the olde Ea­sterne Babylon did a long time oppresse the Church of [Page 15]the Iewes, so Rome this westerne Babylon hath long op­pressed the Church of the Christians.

As Babylon had 7. heads,Dion. Halicar. Sigon. F [...]nest [...]l [...]a Sueton. Octau. ch. 17.9. so Rome bad 7. se verall governments 1, by Kings 2. by Consuls 3. by De­cēviri, 4. by Dictators 5. by Triumviri 6, by Emperours. Lastly by Popes. Babylon had 7 mountaines, so Rome, therefore called by some [...],Plut. probl. Rom the citty with 7. heads, that is, 7. hils. Capitolinus, Palatinus, Aventinus, Exquilinus, Caelius, Viminalis and Quirinalis. Neither is it sufficient to say, that it is shrunke into the plaine of Campus Martius, for though it may be true of the body of the towne yet the Lateran Church and palace which by a charter of Gregory 2. was made the head of all churches almost 250. yeeres since, after him by Pi­us 4, and lately by Pius 5, in which there haue beene held by severall Popes some 33. Provincial or Natio­nal, and 4 Generall Councels for the raising vp of An­tichrists throne, where those two monsters first were bred, of Transubstantiation & the deposing of Kings, this Church stands to this day vpon the hill Coelius.

The Babylonians, when there came any warre, had their Priests to consult with their Gods where they might hide themselues. Baruch. 6.48. so doe they in Rome, otherwise the Virgin had never taught Hiacyn­thus what to doe, as they faine of her image.Severin. de vi­ta mirac. & act. canon. 12. H [...] ­cynth. l. 1 c. 13.

Babylon was tearmed the pride of the Chaldeans, ten­der and delicate. Rome was held the glory of the we­sterne world, and pride of the Romanes. Babylon had all kingdomes in subiection to her. Rev. 17.18. Rome had the like, for Ierusalem in S. Iohns time was made [Page 16]an heape of stones. The Babylonians grew in their prosperitie, as fat calues in the grasse, and bellowed as Buls: who hath not heard the like of Monkes and Fryers, eating, saith Luther, till they came to be all bel­ly, liuing to do nothing, but eating of the labours of other men: groaning vnder the burden of Epicurisme, surfetting and crying, Heu quanta patimur pro amore Christi! Babylon was a land of Images, where they do­ted on their Idols.Bell. de imag. Ier. 50.38. Rome deifieth images as much. Babylon was noted for her oppression, and ex­acting of gold.Rev. 18.13. Is. 14.4. Rome is infamous, for her co­vetousnesse and marchandising of soules. Babylon vā ­ted, I shall be a Lady for ever, I shall not be a widow, nor knowe the losse of children, Is. 47.7. Rome hath the same wordes, v. 7. of this Chapter. All that is spo­ken of Babylon, In 17. Apoc. com 1. sect. 3. In Apoc. 14. Num. 42. fitteth Rome, saith Viegas. Ribera deni­eth not, that Rome is mysticall Babylon, he saith truth perswaded him to beleeue it, not only of heathenish Rome, but also of Christian Rome. Antonius Puccius Clericus Apostoli. 3. Non. Mai. 1515. Sess. 10. told Leo in the Councell of Lateran, that S. Peter called Rome, Babylon. B [...]ll. l. 2 de Rom. Po [...]t. c. 2. Bellarmine hath no Scripture argument to proue S. Peters being at Rome, but taking this for a ground that Rome is Babylon. I omit many testimo­nies of Tertullian, adversus Iudaeos, and of S. Ierome in prologo Dydimi, and Ep. 17. and in Is. 47. of Austin de Civ. Dei, l. 18. c. 22.

It is the vnanimous opinion of almost all the Fa­thers. Episc. Eliensis in sortura Tor­ [...] p [...]87. O [...]os. l. 2. c. 3. Babylon and Rome had the like beginning, the like power, the like greatnesse, the like times. Looke to [Page 17]words before my Text. All nations dranke of the wine of the wrath of Babylons fornications. What nations haue not beene afflicted with warres, treasons, cruelties, and many calamities from Rome? The Kings of the earth committed fornication with Babylon. Haue not many Monarchs suffered themselues, and their Kingdomes, to be corrupted with Romish super­stitions? The Marchants of the earth waxed rich with the abundance of the delicates of Babylon. What wealth hath beene caried about by means of Popish pardons, selling Salvation, yet are they but gulleries. Once heathenish Rome, now Babylon, saith Petrarch. For as heathenish Rome was founded in bloud by Ro­mulus the first builder killing his brother Remus: Aug Civ. l. 15. c, 5. so was Popish Rome setled in full possession by bloud, some 607 yeares after Christ, Palmerius, Iux­ta Bedam 612. Magdebur. Cen­tur, 7. when Pope Boniface ob­tained of the Emperor Phocas (that murtherer which slewe his Master Mauritius) that the Bishop of Rome should be called the vniversall Bishop, & the Church of Rome, the head of all Churches; so that now the Pope like heathenish Anius, will bee King and Priest, a King of Kings, as Paul 4, ad Ducem Florent. Rex Anius Rex idem hominum, Phaebi (que), sacerdos Virg. Ae. n. 3. and Prince of Priests. Cupers de Eccl. pag. 25. Num, 62.

Is Rome now become Babylon, Vse. 1. and is there so little hope of salvation there? O then blesse wee the name of the Lord, praise we him and magnifie him for ever, that this our Church is freed from that land of darknesse and house of bondage, where their holynesse is hypocrisie, their zeale fury, their faith vncertaine, their chiefest ground vnwritten tradition. But our faith is the [Page 18]same with the faith of the Patriarches and Prophets & righteous Fathers from the beginning of the world. Let vs looke vpon them, and consider with our selues? Were they Idolaters, Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, David? Had they any to go vnto for Indulgences and Pardons? Did they one call vpon the other? Happy are wee that are in such a case to follow these worthies. Blessed are we that haue God only to bee our Father & this Church to be our Mother. Rome was sometimes a glorious citty, Ignatius cald it Castissimam, Tertulliā saide it was a happy Church because the Apostles of Christ suffered martyrdome in it,B Iew. in def. of apol. and left their whole doctrine vnto it, but now saith he,

Seeing there are some Godly amongst the wicked, 2. Vse. let them striue against the common sins, the best else may be overtakē. Hence is it, that for the warning of all, for a caveat to the people of God, that they who thinke they stād may take heed least they fal, Criminatiōs as wel as the cōmendations of the best are registred in scripture, Noahs drunkennes as wel as his vprightnes. Lots incest as wel as the grieving of his righteous soule. The weak­nes of Moyses at the waters of Meribah whē he spake vnadvisedly with his lippes as well as his zeale when he brake the tables, comming down from the mount Sinai. Ionah his flying from Tharsis as wel as his prea­ching in Niniveh, and here the elects being in Babylon is noted to the world and they publiquely admonish­ed to leaue this cage of vncleane birds, this den of Di­vels [Page 19]O the patience of a mercifull God never striking but first warning, not suddenly taking revenge! How patient is he towards many beastly Belly Gods, and swinish drunkards, that seeke to bespatter the blood of Christ with their surfets and filthie vomits. Towardes horrible blasphemers, renting him asunder with their fearefull oathes. Towards abominable Atheists, who with their damned crew, shake their heads at him, & like the young ones of Bethlehem make a mocke of him. He is provoked every day, and yet hee reneweth his mercy every day, to al, even to the obstinat'st Recu­sants, saying, why will ye die, which voice many haue apprehended and fled out of Babylon.Amb. Hexem. l. 6 3. Ep. l. 7.48. For as S. Am­brose reporteth of the Partridges, that one stealeth a­way the egges of another and hatcheth them, but, saith he, divers of the young being hatched, when they af­terward heare the voice of their own & naturall dams in the field, leaue their stepmother, and come againe to her, to whom by originall right they belonged. So many, who haue beene infected by the Church of Rome, after true grace imparted from aboue, returne from their Seminaries, and adioyne themselues to our hap­py and true Church, where wee haue the worde truely preached, the sacraments rightly administred, the poor charitably releeued, and Gods graces so abundantly bestowed, that God hath not dealt so with any other nation, because we are his people, and the sheepe of his pasture, whom he hath called out of Babylon, that we might not be partakers of her sinnes. As it followeth in the first of my second generall.

[Page 20]Amongst all the occasions of sinne, there is none more dangerous then evill company. For can a man take coales of fire in his bosome, and not bee burnt, or handle pitch, and not be defiled, or fly with Ostritches and Pellicans, and nor grow wild, or dwel in the tents of wickednesse, Chrysostome. and not learne to be wicked? Rerum na­tura sic est vt quoties bonus malo coniungitur, non ex bo­no malus oritur, sed ex malo bonus contaminatur, Soo­ner the good may be infected by the bad, then the bad reformed by the good: so was it like to be in Babylon, and therefore the people of God are called out, whēce this Doctrine ariseth.Doct. 3. It is the part of Gods children, to a­void the company of the wicked, least they be infected by them.

This made Moses and Ioshua, so earnestly to exhort the Iewes, Exod 34. Deut. 7. Ioh 23. Psal. 106.35. to make no compact with the other na­tions, least they should bee vnto them a snare, to cause them to serue other Gods, and so the wrath of the Lord should be kindled against them, and destroy them. Which they not obeying, were mingled amongst the Heathē, and learned their workes. How much more necessa­ry is this doctrine now in the time of Antichrist, the Lord sending strong delusions, that if it were possible, the elect might be deceaued.2. Thess. 2.11.

This hath made S. Paul and others so to presse this point. Haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull works of darknesse. Ep. 5.11. Come out from among them and touch no vncleane thing. 2. Co. 6.19. Hate the gar­ment that is spotted with the flesh. Iude 23. Take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadduces. Mat. 16.12 [Page 21]For a little leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe. 1. Co. 5.6. S. Basil therefore compared the wicked to them in­fected with the plague: and Bar. calls it a sacriledge like that of the Iewes laying violent hands vpon Christ.Hom 9. Se. 1. conv. Pau­li. It hurt the sonnes of Seth, good men before, but marry­ing with the daughters of Cain, Gen. 4.6.7. they filled the earth with so much sinne, that a floud was sent to cleanse it.

A good Prophet sent to Bethel, there breaking the altar and restoring to Ieroboam his withered hand, yet in his returne accompanying with the false Prophet was kild by a Lyon. 1 King. 13. Eus. l. 3 c. 33. The young man commended to a Bishoppe by S^t Iohn, leaving the Bishoppe, became a theefe.

It is the hardest and most intangling knot that can bee knit, Aug l. 3. conf. c. 8 Gr. in pastoral. such are the Divels Marchants who in the markets and affaires of the world gaine many soules to hell. Wee may see the fruit in Peter who denied his Master amongst the wicked,Remig. in Mat. 26. whom he ever confessed amongst the Apostles. Therefore Salomon spake wel, the friend of fooles wilbe made like vnto them; Pr. 13. Eccl. 7. and the wise man, Depart from the wicked, and evils will depart from thee. So did S. Iohn, he woulde not wash in the bath with Cerinthus; and Policarpus he would not sa­lute Marcion the heretique. S. Paule gaue the reason,Eus. l. 3.52. What fellowship hath light with darknesse or Christ with Belial, 2. Co. 6.15. & the Prophet cōfessed, I hate them that hate thee, with a perfect hate odiendo vitia, diligē ­do naturam, hating them as they are sinnefull, loving them as they are men; Gr. 2. bast. c. 46 In Ez. ho 9. for it is folly saith Gregory to please them who we know displease God.

[Page 22] Seeing the company of the wicked is so infectious, Vse, 1. and yet there are so many,1. Co. 5.10. that we cannot avoid them vnles we go out of the world, let vs make a vertue of necessity; let vs walke without reproofe in the midst of a perverse generation. Of Noahs 3 sonnes one will bee a mocker of his father. Of Abrahams 2 one a scorner of his brother. Of Isaacs 2 one wil be carnall. The 11 bre­thren of Iacob will sell the twelfth Ioseph, but happy is the little flocke of Christ which separate themselues as the beloved people of God, and leaue the wicked having beene hurt by them. The burnt childe feareth the fire. The fish once wounded with the hooke is alwaies suspi­tious of the baits, The beast that hath once bin caught and hath broken the snare will hardly bee intrapped a­gaine. Hath nature made all creatures thus carefull to prevent bodyly dangers & shal not we be more careful in the case of our souls that when once by the mercy of God we haue escaped frō the filthynes of the world wee bee not catched againe therein least the latter end be worse then the beginning?

O that all our English fugitiues would looke into this one lesson, that so they might leaue Rome which opposeth it selfe against Christ in doctrine, in discipline, in life, so that now the Prophecies are fulfilled & so ma­ny reasons found true to proue that the Pope is An­tichrist. Rog. Houeder. in Rich. 1. So Ioachimus Abbas told Rich. 1. king of Eng­land going to the holy land, that Antichrist was borne in Rome and should be advanced higher in that See. So Robert Grosthead sometimes Bishop of Lincolne cryed out on his death bed, Christ came into the worlde to [Page 23]gaine soules, if any feare not to destroy Christ, Mat. Paris. in Hen. 3. he is An richrist. He spake it, Anno 1253. of Innoc. 4. who was found dead in bed his body ful of blaines the day after he heard that voice Veni miser in iudicium Dei, come wretch before Gods iudgement seat.

Vrban the 6, and Clemens the 7,Baldus in vit. Pont. l. 3 de pont. c. 15 two Popes at once called one the other Antichrist. That the Pope is An­tichrist, Bellarmine describeth Antichrist to be the last king that shall hold the Romane Empire yet without the name of the Romane Emper our. Did not Pope Gre­gory 7, so, by the confession of Azorius the Iesuit, Instit. moral. part. 2. l. 4. c. 20. l. ex quo. to the Emperour Leo then resident in Greece, excommu­nicating him for breaking down of Images, absolving all his subiects from their oath of allegiance, wherevp­on the Romanes casting of the Emperours yoake did solemnely sweare obedience in all things to the Pope? Doth he not commaunde the Emperour to holde his stirrup, serue his table with the first dish, L. Cerem. Eccl. Ro. l. 3. p. 1. and carry him vpon his shoulders? Did not Pope Alexander the 3. set his foot vpō the necke of the Emeprour Frederike the I, misapplying that in Psal 91.13.Sigibert. in chr. Anno 1159. Thou shalt tread vp­on the Lyon. That the Pope is Antichrist, as Christ chose simple men, so shal Antichrist select subtil & craf­ty men, and experienced in the knowledge of the world, saith Gregory. Doth not the Pope so?Moral. in Iob. c. 16. Examine his con­sistory of Cardinals, Cloisters of Monkes, orders of his schooles, and societies, all these hold it a reproach vnto them if they be not accounted most subtill.Tolet. Instr. sa­cerd. Parsons in trea­tise of mitigatiō. The profes­sours of mentall Aequivocation, I confesse excell all Matchiavellian Polititians that ever haue bin hard of.

[Page 24] That the Pope is Antichrist,Syb. orac. 8. so Sybil. oracul. 8. Hee shal be [...], he shall haue a white head, and be called by a name much like Pontus. So is the Pope ha­ving a white miter of Syluer, and his name is Pontifex.

That the Pope is Antichrist, I describe him not as a Iewe of the tribe of Dan, or one bred vp in Bethsai­da and Chorazin, or as Mahomet, or Nero, or one building vp the citty Ierusalem, or one borne of a Fri­er & a Nunne, or turning trees vpside downe with the tops in the ground and forcing the roots to growe vp­ward, Blew. in Thes. flying vp to heaven and then falling down brea­king his necke as some haue opened him; but working the mystery of iniquity, defacing the sacraments, selling pardons, in all things contrary to Christ, an Idoll shep­heard, a pandar of all evils, to whom even all the notes of Antichrist doe agree as is sufficiently proved by a most worthy M^r in this our Israel in his learned book Demonstratio Antichristi. D. Abbot. M. of Baliol. Col.

That the Pope is Antichrist, exalting himselfe a­boue all things. Can. si Papa dist. 40. 2. Th. 2.4. Aboue Bishops, for none of them may say vnto him, why dost thou this, though he lead infinite soules to hell; Let experience speake. A­boue Councels, I. de benef. p. 4. for one may appeale from the councel to the Pope, but not from the Pope to the Councell, saith Ioh: Bede of prae: og. of. K. Selva a Spanyard. Let experience speake. A­boue Angels, so Baronius in his paraeneticall against the Venetians, abuseth that place to the cleargy? Know yee not that we shal iudge the Angels. Can. Lector. 34. dist. Aboue the Apostles for he may dispense against the Apostles Gl. verbo Fiat. Aboue the law, for the Pope caused the 2. comman­de [Page 25]to be razed out in the synod of Ausburg. Anno 1548.

Aboue the Sacraments, for he may change in them what he thinketh meete. Aboue the Church, Conc. Trid. Sess. 21. c. 1. L. 1. de R. Pont. c. 9. Can. Nemo iudi­cab. can. 9. q. 3. Sect. 4. de Ce­rem. c. 6. & l. 1. tit. 7. though to the shutting out of Christ saith Bellarm. Aboue Princes, for no secular can iudge him. Therefore bles­seth He a sword vpon the night of Christs nativity, gi­ving it to some Prince his favorite, but never sending them the law or gospell.

I might stande to calculate the number of the beast expressed in three greeke characters, [...]666. c. 13.18. mentioned by Irenaeus, L. 5. c. 25. L. 2. de temp. nov. c. 4 p. 157. who had the names of Anti­christ from them that saw Iohn, saith Acosta, he must be [...]. The Italians were called Latini, which no­teth of what countrie the beast should come. The Popes haue all their religion, service, prayers, lawes, de­crees, writings, and translations in Latine, they preferre the Latin translations of the Bible before the Hebrew, and Greek; originals.

That the Pope is Antichrist, Rev. 13.11. Faber Stapl. in Instit. Antichrist must haue two hornes like a Lamb, and speake like a Dragon; so is the Pope, in words calling himselfe servant of servants, but indeed suffering to be worshipped. Antichrist must haue vpon his head, written a name, Mysterie. Rev. 17.5. Brocard in Ap. The Pope hath this word vpon his Crowne. Antichrist must sit in the Temple of God, Not that therefore the Church where the Pope is chiefe, is Christs true Church, and therefore all Protestants should bee ioyned to it, as Bellarmine reasoneth. But it is called so because they whom he hath seduced were sometimes the Temple of God. L 3 de Pont. c. 13. Ansel. 2. Th. As the Temple of Ierusalem was so called the ho­ly [Page 26]place, when the abomination of desolation was in it, not as being so properly, but because it had beene once dedicated to Gods worship,De temp noviss. l. 2. c. 12. saith Acosta. In the temple of God, that is insteed of the whole Church, saith S. Austin. Doth not the Pope so professing,L. 20. Civ. c. 19, Grets. 2. coll. Ratisb. Sess. 1. to define any thing without a Councell. Antichrist deni­eth that Iesus is come in the flesh, and is Christ. 1. Ioh. 2.22. So doth the Pope, though not in grant, yet in in­inference, overthrowing the truth of Christs humanity holding his whole humane body locally circumscribed in heaven, & at once (the same instant) wholy present in ten thousand places on earth, without circūscriptiō, & that whole Christ is in the formes of bread with all his dimensions, every part hauing his own place & fi­gure, & yet, so that hee is wholy in every part of the bread. Denieth our iustificatiō by faith in Christ, ascri­bing it to our own works. Denieth Christs satisfacti­on, as his Proselites doe, while they hold a payment of our vtmost farthings in a devised Purgatory. Christs mediation while they implore others to aide them. Adoring Angels, Saints, Bread, Reliques, Crosses, Images What offals haue they to allure Proselites out of this Kingdome, who with Noahs crow fly out of the Arke, without any mind of returne, at least without any good mind if they returne, Immunities to warrant sin, Indulgences to remit sinne, Iubilees for libertie, Libels of contumely, Exemptions from loyaltie, pretence of conscience, promise of preferment, faculties for treason and murthers of the Lordes annointed, facilities to climb heaven, not by Iacobs ladder (the grace of Christ) [Page 27]but by merits of Saints, supererogation of workes, and pardons of Popes, sinfull, miserable, all of them, abomi­nable many of them.

Gr. 9. refused the Gospell of Christ, and insteed there of substituted a legend,Balaeus l. 5. vit. Pont. compiled by a Monke named Cyril. Pope Paulus Venetus painted himselfe,Plat vil. Adr. 1. desiring to seeme a woman. Pope Hildebrand, Gr. 7. whome all good men saw,Annal. l. 5. pag. 455. to be of the kingdome of Antichrist (saith Aventinus) though Bellarmine cald him a Saint, caused Pope victor the 2 to bee empoysoned in the wine of the Eucharist, and cast his God into the fire, Benn Card. vit. Hild Abb. vesp. vit. H 3. Guicc. Chron. I­tal l. 11. Anno. 1513. C. 11. Ann. 954. because it answered him not of his event in war with Hen. 4. Leo 10. vpon the day of his coronation spent one hundred thousand Duckets, and called the Gos­pell of Christ a fable, as Guicciardine telleth, Iohn the 12 dranke to the Divell. Luit prand. rer. Europ. l. 6. c. 6. The whole Councel of Constance Sess. 11. concludeth of Iohn 23. Atempore iuventutis suae, From the time of his youth, he was ever of an evill disposition, shamelesse, vnchast, a lyar, disobedient to his Parents, and given to many other vices. Innocentius 8, had 16 bastards by severall strumpets,

Many Popes are vsually praised for goodnesse, not ex­ceeding others in wickednesse, so they witnes of one, Bonus Pontifex, nihil memoria dignum reliquit, Bened. 1. Sisini­us. Geneb. l. 4. Chr. of Ano­ther Nisi podagram habuisset nesciremus.

Many haue beene trised away suddenly, it being sus­pected they would be over good. They may haue the [Page 28] testimony of one of their owne who afterward was Pope himselfe (Aene as Sylvius) If time would permit I could bring forth many examples of Romane Bishops that were sound either to be Heretiques or else defiled with other vices, De geslis concil Basil. l 1 de Ro. Pont. yet all must be stiled Popes of godly memory because say their Scribes, Gloss. Extrav. l. 5. ca. Du. lum authorized by Gr. 13. we herein respect not what they did but what it became thē to haue done, by which reason, the honour of bonae memoriae belon­geth to Ieroboam amongst the Kings, Balaam amongst the Prophets, Iudas amongst the Apostles. He must know all things, erre in nothing, direct, informe, animate, expound scriptures, canonize saints, forgiue sins, create new Articles of faith, and in all these be as absolute as his maker. He must encroach vpon the offices of Christ. His Kingdome, Priesthood, Prophecie. O yee heavens bee astonished at this, and let all Christian hearts tremble to heare such blasphemies. Looke vpon all the successi­on from Pope Boniface 3 downeward,D. Downam de Antich. and you wil con­fesse it is Antichrist.

I say nothing of the now Pope Paule 5, Aunswer to a nameles Cathol Burghesius, but what the Seminarie Priests sometimes spake of him: He is a rash speaker, a headie vndertaker, of a vio­lent spirit, impatient of contradiction. Hee challengeth the succession of Peter, and name of Paul, but follow­eth neither. I search not over farre, their orders of Be­nedict, which hath beene so fruitfull, that they say all the new orders which in latter times haue broken out are but little springs Volladerius de Canoniza Fran­cis Ro. in epist. and drops, & this the Ocean which hath sent out 52 Popes, 200 Cardinals; 1600 Archbi­shops, 4000 Bishops, & 50000 Saints approued by the [Page 29]Church. Looke on their pardons. Leo 10, for onely re­hearsing the Lords Prayer, and thrise repeating the name of Iesus, gieuing 3000 yeares indulgence. Boni­face acknowledging so many Indulgences to be in that one Church of Lateran, that none but God can num­ber them.

Indulgences are giuen not onely to the Franciscans themselues, but to their Parents, to any which die in their habits, to any which desire they may doe soe, to those who are wrapped in it after death, though they did not desire it, and fiue yeares indulgence to those who doe but kisse it.Rodol Cupers de Eccl. vni­vars. fol 4. Scappus de Iure non Scrip. l. 1. c. 25. Their Cardinals are so bound to the Pope, that it is not lawfull for them without li­cense, first obtained from him to bee let bloud in a fe­ver, yet he calleth them his brothers, Princes of the world and Co-iudges of the whole earth.

I leaue their Priests and Iesuits, spirits of the Divell in many places of this land, breathing out infections, But blessed be the name of the Lord, who hath sent vs a North wind, as is prophecied c. 16.13. to driue away these Popish frogges to the place whence they came where they are dealt with as the old Romans did with their dogs in the capitol; Cic. prosex Ros­cio. vnlesse they did barke, their legges were broken, so these vnlesse they libell against he worthiest of our Saints, or often contra­dict things against conscience, they haue neither coun­tenance nor maintenance. I enter not into their Mona­steries 225044, as Durus de Paschalo reckons thē,I [...] ep. Hulderic. Ep. August An­no 866. were the cause that there were 6000 Infants heades found in a fish-pond: neither lead you into their blou­die [Page 30]inquisitions, or horrid dungeons, but ende this circū ­stance with that advise of S. Steven, O saue your selus from this wicked Antichristian generation; and so I hasten to my last part. The punishment of Babylon: plagues.

The plagues of Babylon for her persecuting the Church are many, Mortalitie, Beasts, Famine, c. 6.8. sores, bloud shed by sea and land, c. 9.10.11. wounding with the sword, c. 13.14. vnseasonable & distēpred aires darkning her kingdom,Doct. c. 16. & here plagues, Whēce this doctrine appeareth. God in iustice will be revenged vpon the enimies of his Church. The proofs of this are many. What Tyrāt hath escaped without some iudgment?Sueton. Domitian is slain with the daggers of his own servāts, his wife consenting. Adrian, after he had crucified at once ten thousand Christians, hath an issue of bloud, spitteth out his lungs,Spartian. l. 2. c. 12. and is so afflicted with a Drop­sie, that he would haue laid violent hands vpon him­selfe.Eus. hist. l. 7. c. 30. Valerian by the meanes of the K of Persia is flaied aliue, powdred with salt. Dioclesiā thrusting the Chri­stians out of their offices, and burning their Bibles, Ruff. had his house fired with lightning, & himselfe so ter­rified with thunder,Niceph. chris. that in a madnesse he killed him­selfe. Maximinus, rotteth with wormes; and the apple of his eye falleth out. Aurelian hath his throat cut. Mo­rindus is devoured of a monster that came out of the Irish seas. Cerinthus hath a hot house to fall vpō him. Arrius voided his guts.Nappier in A­poc. 14. p. 183. So Rome must fall, but when, whether in the yeare of our Lord 1639, as some deter­mine it, I dare not conclude, or whether by the tenne [Page 31]hornes, c. 17.16. that is,M. Dent. as some insinuate by the ten Kingdomes of Europe, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spaine, Denmarke, Sueueland, Poland, Russia, & Hungary I will not search. Wee knowe that of these, the beast hath lost the most, the others in France, Spain and Venice, doe groane vnder the heauie yoke of the Pope, and must shake him of, so that the prophecies must be fulfilled, It is fallen, It is fallen, c. 14.8. A noy­some and grievous sore shall fall vpon it. c. 16.2. Her plagues shall come in one day, death and mourning, & famine, and she shall be vtterly burnt with fire, c. 18.8. It shall be cast downe like a great milstone into the bottom of the sea. c. 18.21. The voice of Harpers and Musitians, Rev. 18.22, and Pipers, and Trumpetters, shall be heard no more in it. No crafts-man shall be found in it, nor the sound of a mil­stone heard in it. The light of a candle shall shine no more in it. The voice of the bridegroome and the bride shall bee heard no more in it. The Lord doth the greatest exploits either by himselfe without meanes as he overthrew the Moabits and others. As he destroyed Pharaoh, 2. Chr. 20, as he o­verthrew Iericho, & the Assyrians. Or by weak meanes as the innumerable army of the Madianits by Gedeons 300. as the Philistins by Ionathan and his armour bea­rer. As the Kings of Sodome by Abraham, Iu 7. and his fami­ly, Goliah by David, Sisera by Iael. It is in vaine then to aske how Rome shall fall. God can doe it. Two founda­tions cannot stand at once. The Lord shall consume that wicked man, with the breath of his mouth, and abolish him with the brightnesse of his comming. E­ven so come Lord Iesus, come quickly. So hee will, [Page 32]though iniquitie for a while get the vpper hand, by corrupt subtiltie, by the proud and false vaunts of an­tiquitie, vniversalitie, and succession, By the glorious shewes of their processions, the gaudy ornaments of their altars, the pomp of their services, the triumphs of their festivals. By their taking the best opportunitie, to worke vpon those which are either most vnable to resist, or most like to bestead them. By their rewards of the Calender or red-hat. D. Hal in Ep. By the conioynd labours of whole societies, directed to one end, and shrouded vnder the title of one Author. By large maintenances raysed from the death-beds of some giltie benefactors. By their pretended myracles, wilfull vntruths, bloudy in­quisitions, depravation of ancient witnesses, expurga­tion of their own, condemnation of our writers, glo­rious titles, craftie changes of names, shapes, habits, con­ditions, and multitudes of Actors. But we haue not so learned Christ, Wee haue receaued the plaine truth, Let vs stand fast to it only. O let it never bee said that our carelesnesse, indifferencie, and idlenesse shall ayde them, and wrong our selues. Wee haue a good King (and long may we haue him) who in the lists of contro­versie, may grapple with Antichrist for his triple crown. We haue those Bishops, who may iustly chal­lenge the whole Consistory of Rome. We haue as many learned Doctors, and true hearted Divines, as no nati­on vnder heauen more. Christendome hath not the like two flourishing Vniversities. We want nothing, & shall we be wanting to our selues. The cause is Gods, & in spight of the gates of hell, shall succed, though we [Page 33]were not, our neglect may slacken the pace of truth, It cannot stay the passage. Our Honourable mother, Anno 880. Capgravius in Catalog. Sanct. Angl. 884. Philippus chron. l. 4.960. Balaeus Cent. 2.1330. Wolphius lect. Memo­rab. tom. 1. Herod. hath had a religious founder King Alfred that stood for the vse of the Scripture to the Laitie against the Pope. Ioh. Patritius his Reader, that spake against transub­stantiation, Many honest simple people that defended Rome to be Babylon. Occam that wrote a book against Pope Clement calling him Antichrist. Let not vs goe backward.

It is recorded of Craesus, that being in danger to be slaine in the warre, his sonne who had till that time beene dumbe, seeing his father in that estate, cryed out O man kill not Craesus. Religion in many Places weepeth and is ready to bleed, If ever any amongst vs were he­therto silent, let their zeale now reuiue it.

Pyrrhus said he woone more cities by the industrie of his Oratour Cineas, then he took by force of arms; Plut. in Pyrrh. Let our faithfull preaching the word without minsing or singularitie, or Popish and false allegations against those blessed men of God, Calvin, Beza, & the rest, win more soules, then the circumventing stratagems of the Iesuits. Let me speake to you Nobly and Honourably descended flowers of this garden of the muses, To the hopefull sonnes of the Honorab. The L. Montegle, The L. Peter, The L. Spenser. S^r Robert Carey the Pa­radise of God, sonnes of so worthy Fathers. Season your studies with the reading of the word, Let not the booke of the Law depart out of your hands, medi­tate in it day and night. Let the Poet encourage you.

Prima tuo gerito pro Iove bello puer. Mart.

To you, Reverend and learned worthies of our Israel, Let your resolution be that of Luther, Non potest is [Page 34]salutem consequi qui non ex toto corde Antichristum & Papatum oderit.

Let your farewell to your friends, bee as was that of the late memorable & learned D. Holland, Commendo vos dilectioni Dei & odio Papatus, Exhort them all to loue God, & hate Popery. To all let my advise be, that of Ier, 50, 14. Put your selues in aray against Babylō round about (against Rome) All yee that hend the bowe shoot at her, spare no arrowes, for she hath sinned against the Lord. Doe to her as she hath done to others, so for our zeale, God shall blesse vs, and crowne vs in his glorious Kingdome, whether hee bring vs, who died for vs, even Christ Iesus, to whom with the Father, and the Spirit, be ascribed all glory, and honour this day, and forever. Amen.