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.…

In which disagreement notwithstanding, we do not so altogether re•de in pieces all the articles of their popes and divines, nor so altogether condemn them, as though nothing were sound amongst them: neither do we contend with all that church so, as though there remained no shape of a visible church in all that city of Rome: for they have baptism there, wherein they make a profession of the name of the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost: They have also the law of God & the Gospel: yea they retain the worshipping of Christ, & profess the same articles of the Creed that we do. They retain also after a certain sort the sacraments, though they abuse them after a filthy manner. All which do carry some pretty show of Christianity amongst men: not much unlike as the old Jews in times past whilst Christ lived, were in possession of the holy city, wherein the most holy name of God was magnified: in the which they observed the worship of God together with the laws & ordinances after a certain outward resemblance: wherein also those that sate in Moses chair taught many things peradventure not altogether amiss. Whenas nevertheless under this counterfeit visor of religion lurked most abominable hypocrisy, & treacherous treason against God him self. Of whom spake God him self by the mouth of his Prophet, You be not my people. ¹Semblably if either the Romish church or any other church whatsoever do observe orderly and teach sincerely & truly: therein do we not de•• to partake with them. But because the church of Rome ⟨image 60⟩treading the track of the old Synagogue hath yielded to be lead away blindfolded into strange unknown bypaths of doctrine, into most horrible contagion of errors detestable absurdities, idolatrous worshippings, blasphemies, impieties, sects and heresies, from the platform of most true and infallible doctrine, from the pure and sincere worshipping of God, and the undoubted squarer of Christian religion, from the principles of their own profession, from the practise & meaning of the Apostles, from the examples and steppes of their pred•cessour•: and have challenged unto it self chief, only, and most absolute sovereignty over all other churches of Chris•e fully fraught with cruelty bloodsheadings & pillages: