The Pope confuted The holy and apostolic Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…The Pope confuted The holy and apostolique Church confuting the Pope. The first action.…

And yet might this somewhat be borne withal, if they would permit us quietly to enjoy the same doctrine at the least which those ancient elders and Apostolical founders left behind them to be received of Christian congregations. But as now even on this behalf all things are so unlike, that any may well doubt whether their life seem less Apostolic,¹ or their doctrine more agreeable with Apostasy. The nature and novelty of which doctrine being altogether so newfangled, as that it carieth no resemblance of Apostolical spirit, no likeness of ancient antiquity, it is a wonder to see, how these fine fellows will not cease in the mean time, to accuse us of novelty, as though all antiquity both of the scriptures, & of the Apostles and most learned fathers did not by all manner of means cry open wars against them. If this be not true, let them discover unto us, from what antiquity this Lateran transubstantiation and confession (as they term it) auricular received to be publicly authorised at the first:² both which Pope Innocent the 3. did in that barbarous age thrust upon the church by force, and power, without any probable reason of the scriptures, but enacted by the conspiring decrees of certain evil disposed persons: Again out of what progeny peeped private masses first: Trentals, yearly obits, that daily sacrifice of the Altar ordained for the cleansing of sins? the one part of the communion cut of by the rump• pilgrimages, prayers for the dead, prayers in an unknown & barbarous loung, & mum bled in a b•adrol by rote? Or from what ancient brood were broached at y• first their absolu•ions, pardons, ••pish bulls, romish stations, continual gaddings to the apostles tombs, dedication of temples, shry•ing of saints, con•uring• of salt & water, of co•ps, bowg•s, & that endless consecration ⟨p. 51⟩