A09453:465
A Reformed Catholic
A reformed Catholic: or, A declaration showing how near we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundry points of religion: and wherein we must for ever depart from them with an advertisement to all favourers of the Roman religion, showing that the said religion is against the Catholic principles and grounds of the catechism.A reformed Catholike: or, A declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and vvherein we must for euer depart from them with an advertisment to all fauourers of the Romane religion, shewing that the said religion is against the Catholike principles and grounds of the catechisme.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1598Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1598
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Lastly, here I note the special care that God hath over his own children. He first giveth them warning to depart, before he begin to execute his judgement upon his enemies, with whom they live; that they might not be partakers of their sins or punishments. Thus, before God would punish ⟨p. 337⟩Jerusalem, an angel is sent to mark them in the1 forehead that mourned for the abominations of the people. And in the destruction of the first born of Egypt, the angel passed over the houses of the Jews, that had their posts sprinkled with the blood of the paschal lamb: and this passing over be•okneth safety & preservation in the common destruction to those that have their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. This blessing of protection should move us all, to become true & hearty servants of God. Men usually become members of those societies and corporations, where they may enjoy many freedoms & privileges. Well, behold; in the society of the Saints of God, which is the true church, there is the freedom from danger in all common destructions, & from eternal vengeance at the last day. When Esther had procured safety for the Jews, & liberty to revenge themselves upon their enemies: it is said, that many of the people of the land became Jews. Even so, considering Christ hath procured freedom from hell, death, and damnation for all that believe in him; we should labour above all things to become new creatures, joining our selves always to ⟨p. 338⟩the true Church of God.
Lastly, here I note the speciall care that God hath ouer his owne children. He first giueth them warning to depart, before he beginne to execute his iudgement vpon his enemies, with whome they liue; that they might not be partakers of their sinnes or punishments. Thus, before God would punish ⟨p. 337⟩Ierusalem, an angel is sent to marke thē in the1 forehead that mourned for the abominatiōs of the people. And in the destruction of the first born of Egypt, the angel passed ouer the houses of the Iewes, that had their posts sprin kled with the blood of the paschal lambe: and this passing ouer beokneth safetie & preseruation in the cōmon destructiō to those that haue their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. This blessing of protection should moue vs all, to becō true & hartie seruants of God. Men vsually become mēbers of those societies and corporations, where they may inioy many freedomes & priuiledges. Well, behold; in the societie of the Saints of God, which is the true church, there is the freedō frō danger in all cōmon destructions, & from eternal vengeance at the last day. VVhen Hester had procured safetie for the Iewes, & libertie to reuenge themselues vpon their enemies: it is said, that many of the people of the land became Iewes. Euen so, cōsidering Christ hath procured freedom from hell, death, and damnation for all that beleeue in him; we should labour aboue all things to become new creatures, ioyning our selues alwaies to