Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

4. The Sovereignty of God hath not been less invaded by the usurpations of men. One single order of the Roman Episcopacy hath endeavoured to usurp the prerogatives of God; The Pope will prohibit what God hath allowed; The Marriage of Priests, the receiving of the Cup as well as of the Bread in the Sacrament, the eating of this or that sort of meat at special times, meats which God hath sanctified; and forbid them too upon pain of damnation. 'Tis an invasion of God's right, to forbid the use of what God hath granted, as though the earth, and the fullness thereof were no longer the Lords, but the Popes; Much more to forbid what God hath commanded, as if Christ over-reached his own Authority, when he enjoined all to drink of the Sacramental Wine, as well as eat of the Sacramental Bread, No Lord but will think his right usurped by that Steward, who shall permit to others what his Lord forbids, and forbid that which his Master allows, and act the Lord instead of the Servant. Add to this the pardons of many sins, as if he had the sole key to the treasures of Divine Mercy, the disposing of Crowns and Dominions at his pleasure, as if God had devested himself of the Title of King of Kings, and transferred it upon the See of Rome. The allowing public Stews, dispensing with incestuous Marriages, as if God had acted more the part of a Tyrant, than of a Righteous Sovereign in forbidding them; Depriving the Jews of the propriety in their Estates upon their Conversion to Christianity, as if the pilfering mens goods were the way to teach them self-denial, the first Doctrine of Christian Religion, and God shall have no honour from the Jew without a breach of his Law by theft from the Christian. Granting many years indulgences upon slight performances, the repeating so many Ave-Maries, and Pater-Nosters in a day, Canonizing Saints, claiming the Keys of Heaven, and disposing ⟨p. 755⟩of the honours and glory of it: And proposing Creatures as objects of Religions Worship, wherein he answers the Character of the Apostle, 2 Thes. 2.4. Showing himself that he is God, in challenging that power which is only the right of Divine Sovereignty; exalting himself above God, in indulging those things which the Law of God never allowed, but hath severely prohibited.

4. The Soveraignty of God hath not been less invaded by the usurpations of men. One single order of the Roman Episcopacy hath endeavour'd to usurp the prerogatives of God; The Pope will prohibit what God hath allow'd; The Marriage of Priests, the receiving of the Cup as well as of the Bread in the Sacrament, the eating of this or that sort of meat at special times, meats which God hath sanctified; and forbid them too upon pain of damnation. 'Tis an invasion of God's right, to forbid the use of what God hath granted, as though the earth, and the fulness thereof were no longer the Lords, but the Popes; Much more to forbid what God hath commanded, as if Christ over-reacht his own Authority, when he enjoyn'd all to drink of the Sacramental Wine, as well as eat of the Sacramental Bread, No Lord but will think his right usurpt by that Steward, who shall permit to others what his Lord forbids, and forbid that which his Master allows, and act the Lord instead of the Servant. Add to this the pardons of many sins, as if he had the sole key to the treasures of Divine Mercy, the disposing of Crowns and Dominions at his pleasute, as if God had devested himself of the Title of King of Kings, and transferr'd it upon the See of Rome. The allowing publick Stews, dispensing with incestuous Marriages, as if God had acted more the part of a Tyrant, than of a Righteous Soveraign in forbidding them; Depriving the Jews of the propriety in their Estates upon their Conversion to Christianity, as if the pilfering mens goods were the way to teach them self-denyal, the first Doctrine of Christian Religion, and God shall have no honour from the Jew without a breach of his Law by theft from the Christian. Granting many years indulgences upon slight performances, the repeating so many Ave-Maries, and Pater-Nosters in a day, Canonizing Saints, claiming the Keyes of Heaven, and disposing