The opening of heaven gatesThe opening of heauen gates

O good God, how marvellous is it to behold so many wise men, so much deceived, so many grey headed fathers so childish? so many tgnirant accounted wise? and so many infants allowed for men of grave and ripe judgement? if they can say against us, where is the city on the mountain, the visible Church? the catholic and universal Church? they are learned enough: but they cannot perceive that these are feigned fires, ⟨p. 104⟩painted out with fair glosses, wherein is no warmeth, nor that they be Illusions and shadows without substance▪ Take their Church from the pontifical hill: take away their Pomp and bravery, or their general consents, and take away their life, Nay if this were all, it were well (if evil may be well) But which is worse▪ they must have their Churches beautified with▪ Images, Feminine and Masculine curiously carved, gallantly gilded, prodigally beset with precious stones, and most delicately adorned with great choice of Jewels. They must have their Roodloftes with flags and silken banners, with Crosses, Roods, and Saints, like a storehouse of superstition. They must have their brave Altars, garnished with petty Gods, with well lifting Prelates, and other holy relics: they must have shaven crowned Chaplains, strangely attired, they must have their Albs, with silk of all colours, they Mitres and Crosiers, and what should I say, they must have holy bread, holy water, ⟨p. 105⟩holy oil, holy ashes, holy candles, an hundred holy orders, like hypocrites that beautify the out-side besides a thousand other holy things.

O good God, how mearuelous is it tobehould so many wise men, somuch deceaued, so many gray headed fathers so childish? so many tgnirant accoumpted wise? and so many infants allowed for men of graue and ripe iudgement? if they can say against vs, where is the citty on the mountaine, the visible Church? the catholicke and vniuersall Church? they are learned enough: but they cannot preceaue that these are fained fiers, ⟨p. 104⟩paynted out with fayre glosses, wherein is no warmeth, nor that they be Illusions and shadowes without substance Take theyr Church from the pontificall hill: take away theyr Pompe and brauery, or theyr generall consents, and take away theyr life, Nay if this were all, it were well (if euill may bee well) But which is worse they must haue theyr Churches beautified with Images, Feminine and Masculine curiously carued, gallantly guilded, prodigally beset with pretious stones, and most delicately adorned with great choyce of Iewels. They must haue theyr Roodloftes with flags and silken banners, with Crosses, Roodes, and Saints, like a storehouse of superstition. They must haue theyr braue Altars, garnished with petty Gods, with well lifting Prelates, and other holy reliques: they must haue shauen crown'd Chaplens, strangely attired, they must haue theyr Albes, with silke of all colours, they Mytres and Crossyars, and what should I say, they must haue holy bread, holy water,