A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

The end of Popery is to pull down the kingdom of Christ, and to disannul his laws; as will appear by a short view in every commandment: and therefore it cannot be the true religion. The first commandment teacheth us, To choose and ⟨p. 118⟩acknowledge the true God for our God alone. But the Church of Rome teacheth to make more gods than one, & to acknowledge the creature to be God: for by their doctrine men are to pray unto Saints, whereby they make them gods, in giving this divine property unto them to know the heart. Their doctrine also ascribeth unto Saints power to merit; which is a property of God: for none can merit but he that is God. The humane nature of Christ •ould not have merited any thing, unless it had been joined to the godhead. Yea they make the wood of the cross to be God, for in their mass book at this day they call (not Christ crucified on the cross) but the very cross it self, our only hope: yea, the virgin Mary, who is but a creature, they place as a queen in heaven, giving her power over Christ to command him in the matter of salvation, and so they disannul the first commandment. The second commandment they revoke, in teaching it to be lawful to make images of the Trinity, according as they showed themselves in the old and new Testament: the father like an old man, the Son as he lived, and the holy ghost like a dove; and therein to worship them. Again, they teach that men may adore the Images of Saints, which is flat against that commandment. The third commandment they disannul, in teaching it to be lawful to swear by Saints, and not by God only. The fourth they disannul, by making the festival days of Saints equal with the Lords Sabbath, and to be kept holy unto God as solemnly as the Lords day. Whereby also they take away the liberty of the church in the lawful use of the six days, for honest labour in a mans calling. The fifth they disannul in giving freedom and immunity to their clergy from subjection to civil authority: and in dispensing with subjects, for their loyalty and allegiance to their lawful princes: and with children and servants from yielding due help, service, and obedience, to their parents and masters. The sixth, by their houses of refuge which they call Sanctuary, wherein murderers may be in safety;

The end of Poperie is to pull downe the kingdome of Christ, and to disanull his lawes; as will appeare by a short view in euery commaundement: and therfore it cannot bee the true religion. The first commaundement teacheth vs, To chuse and