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.…

¹But some one will make a question here, & demand what kind of filthiness, what contagious errors do remain in the popes doctrine? Surely if the matter of it self were such, as that it were altogether in covert, and not openly manifest in the eyes of all men: I would think that I ought to bestow some large discourse for the better demonstration thereof. Yet somewhat to relieve the ignorance •f the unlettered, let us (if we may) apply somewhat in that behalf. For I do see very many, that being bewitched with a certain blind admiration of the popes popeholy religion, are carried away captive into his errors, for none other ⟨p. 56⟩cause, but for that they will not look into the truth, when they may see it. Therefore removing away those disguisings & visors, let us pry somewhat narrowly into the things them selves, and let us throughly behold this whole Romish Trojan horse, not what it importeth outwardly, but what it crowdeth covertly, and shroudeth in the very closets thereof. I am not ignorant, that the name of the church is a very plausible name, that the names of Christ, Peter and Paul be honourable: that the remembrance of ancient antiquity is wonderfully well liked of: that the authority of the fathers is much esteemed: that the uni•ie Apostolic, and catholic consent is of great valour: and that the keys of the church be of no small authority in deed, if they be true keys, but if they be not true nothing is more forcible to deceive. Therefore may not the Romish church think it enough to vouch bare and fruitless titles: it must justify it self with substantial matter I make no reckoning at all of their outward portly & ambitious challenge. This one thing do I seek and crave to know, what the truth it self doth make justifiable in deed. But in seeking, what do I find? to conclude all in one word: even all things turned topsy turuie: under a lambs skin shrouded ravening wolves: under the attire of the spouse crept in the strumpet of Babylon: under poor beggarly we•des of Christian name, conquerors, warriors, vipers, monsters, tyrants, scorpions, enemies of Christs blood. To be brief nothing less, then they resemble outwardly: and expressing them selves in all their actions to nothing more near then to the very (I had almost said) Jews them selves: