Right Worshipful, it is a notable policy of the devil, which he hath put into the heads of sundry men in this age, to think that our religion and the religion of the present Church of Rome are all one for substance; and that they may be reunited as (in their opinion) they were before. Writings to this effect, are spread abroad in the French tongue, & respected of English Protestants more than is meet, or ought to be. For, let men in show of moderation, pretend the peace and good estate of the Catholic Church as long as they will; This union of the two religions can never be made, more then the Union of light & darkness. And this shall appear, if we do but a little consider, how they of the Roman ⟨image 3⟩church have razed the foundation. For, though in words they honour Christ, yet in deed they turn him into a Pseudo-Christ and an Idol of their own brain. They call him our Lord, but with this condition that the Servant of Servants of this Lord may change and add to his commandments: having so great a power, that he may open and shut heaven to whom he will; & bind the very conscience with his own laws, and consequently be partaker of the spiritual kingdom of Christ. Again they call him a Saviour, but yet in Us: in that he gives this grace unto us, that by our merits we may be our own Saviours: and in the want of our own merits, we may partake in the merits of the Saints. And they acknowledge that he Died and Suffered for us, but with this caveat, that the Fault being pardoned, we must satisfy for the temporal punishment either in this world or in Purgatory. In a word, they make him our Mediator of Intercession unto God; but withal, his Mother must be the Queen of heaven, and by the right of a mother command him there. ⟨image 3⟩Thus, in word they cry Hosanna, but in deed they crucify Christ. Therefore we have good cause to bless the name of God, that hath freed us from the yoke of this Roman bondage, & hath brought us to the true light & liberty of the gospel. And it should be a great height of unthankfulness in us, not to stand out against the present church of Rome, but to yield our selves to plots of reconciliation. To this effect and purpose I have penned this little Treatise, which I present to your Worship, desiring it might be some token of a thankful mind, for undeserved love.
RIght Worshipfull, it is a notable pollicie of the deuil, which he hath put into the heades of sundrie men in this age, to thinke that our religion and the religion of the present Church of Rome are all one for substance; and that they may be reunited as (in their opinion) they were before. Writings to this effect, are spread abroad in the French tōgue, & respected of English Protestants more thē is meete, or ought to be. For, let men in shew of moderation, pretend the peace and good estate of the Catholike Church as long as they will; This vnion of the two religions can neuer be made, more then the Vnion of light & darknes. And this shall appeare, if we doe but a litle consider, how they of the Romane ⟨image 3⟩church haue rased the foundation. For, though in words they honour Christ, yet in deede they turne him into a Pseudo-Christ and an Idol of their owne braine. They call him our Lord, but with this condition that the Seruant of Seruants of this Lord may change and adde to his commaundements: hauing so great a power, that he may open and shut heauen to whome he will; & binde the very conscience with his owne laws, and consequently be partaker of the spirituall kingdome of Christ. Againe they call him a Sauiour, but yet in Vs: in that he giues this grace vnto vs, that by our merits we may be our owne Sauiours: and in the want of our owne merits, we may partake in the merits of the Saints. And they acknowledge that he Died and Suffred for vs, but with this caueat, that the Fault beeing pardoned, we must satisfie for the temporall punishment either in this worlde or in Purgatorie. In a word, they make him our Mediatour of Intercession vnto God; but withal, his Mother must be the Queene of heauen, and by the right of a mother commaund him there. ⟨image 3⟩Thus, in word they crie Osanna, but in deed they crucifie Christ. Therfore we haue good cause to blesse the name of God, that hath freed vs from the yoke of this Romane bondage, & hath brought vs to the true light & liberty of the gospel. And it should be a great height of vnthankfulnesse in vs, not to stand out against the present church of Rome, but to yeeld our selues to plottes of reconciliation. To this effect and purpose I haue penned this little Treatise, which I present to your Worship, desiring it might be some token of a thankefull minde, for vndeserued loue.
