A17218:145
Look from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proved out of…Looke from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proued out of…
Look from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proved out of the holy Scriptures against all atheists, papists, loose libertines, and carnal gospellers: and that the faith which they profess, hath continued from the beginning of the world, and so is the true and ancient faith. Herein hast thou also a short sum of the whole Bible, and a plain manifestation, that all holy men who have pleased God, have been saved through this Christian faith alone.Looke from Adam, and behold the Protestants faith and religion evidently proued out of the holy Scriptures against all atheists, papists, loose libertines, and carnall gospellers: and that the faith which they professe, hath continued from the beginning of the world, and so is the true and ancient faith. Herein hast thou also a short summe of the whole Bible, and a plaine manifestation, that all holy men who have pleased God, have beene saved through this Christian faith alone.
London: printed by John Haviland for Thomas Pavier, 1624London: printed by Iohn Haviland for Thomas Pavier, 1624
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
CHAP. XII. A conclusion, that this faith is the right true old faith, which alway shall stand sure.
This holy undefiled faith which the Lord planted and set up in all nations by the Apostles, immediately after the Apostles decease, was sore attempted by sundry unclean persons, which brought up false customs and misbeliefs, and made perilous sects. Beside this also was it sore persecuted with the sword of tyrants. But in all such dangers the truth overcame and had the victory. For though the citizens of the devils city (according to the disposition of their Patriarch Cain) did murder, and although false Prophets brought up evil counsel, yet the city of God triumpheth, and the blood of innocent Abel and his brethren speaketh yet. But after that the persecution was somewhat ceased, and the persecutors sore and horribly punished for their bloudshedding (the heresies also being well brought down by faithful shepherds) in the same rest also was our holy faith not a little hurt. For rest put away fear, brought idle felicity, voluptuousness, and fleshly seeking of riches and dominion: and so through covetousness and ambition,1 there was poured great poison into the Church, whereby ⟨p. 98⟩religion sore decayed. For while the Ministers of the word laboured more after riches, than to perform their of••ce and charge, and to edify the Church, they were pleased with superstitiousness in stead of true religion. Of this then followed it farther, that the singleness of faith was forgotten, new laws made, the old rites and customs either perverted, or else utterly overthrown and abused: whereby men came far from the doctrine and Christian ceremonies, from the way of truth into error foolishly, and partly into ceremonies of idolatry.