The last Reason was,1 the superstition of those times, the deep devotion and dejection of spirit that was in the bodies of Christians in those days in regard of their spiritual estate: They being deeply convinced of sin, and sharply reproved by the Friars and Monks, who had a notable dexterity to sting the consciences of men, and wound them by the terror of Gods wrath, sometimes for their great exactions, sometimes for their incest; sometimes for their whoredom, and neglect of the Ordinances of the Church; and they had things so full against them, that it made them strictly devout, and so were taken up in devotion to this great Beast, and the head of it, that all the world admired and adored him for his admirable and transcendent power, and keys that he had to heaven (as they thought•) they all yielded themselves, some their bodies to fight, and some that had not sufficient to maintain themselves, other good Catholics were ready to cast in some more, some less, to maintain them, according to their abilities, and happy he that could make something to make war against these Heretics: So that lay all these ⟨p. 103⟩together, and you will see how he had this great power to make war with the Saints. Here was a great and vast change from the Institution of Christ, who confined all Churches into one Congregation, that all may hear, and all may be edified, that one Parish Church should grow to that vastness, to levy 300000. to the war, and that by a word of his mouth to have them all maintained without grudging, for every man did think the work as pious, a marvellous change: and well doth the holy Ghost say, He had great power, that the power of that Church should reach over all Churches, and shall have such an influence into Kings, that look what they shall dictate, all shall be ready, body, and goods, and life, and all to maintain them; you see the reasons of it, how he comes by this power.
The last Reason was,1 the superstition of those times, the deep devotion and dejection of spirit that was in the bodies of Christians in those dayes in regard of their spiritual estate: They being deepely convinced of sinne, and sharply reproved by the Fryars and Monks, who had a notable dexterity to sting the consciences of men, and wound them by the terrour of Gods wrath, sometimes for their great exactions, sometimes for their incest; sometimes for their whoredome, and neglect of the Ordinances of the Church; and they had things so full against them, that it made them strictly devout, and so were taken up in devotion to this great Beast, and the head of it, that all the world admired and adored him for his admirable and transcendant power, and keyes that he had to heaven (as they thought•) they all yeelded themselves, some their bodies to fight, and some that had not sufficient to maintaine themselves, other good Catholicks were ready to cast in some more, some lesse, to maintaine them, according to their abilities, and happy he that could make something to make warre aginst these Hereticks: So that lay all these ⟨p. 103⟩together, and you will see how he had this great power to make war with the Saints. Here was a great and vast change from the Institution of Christ, who confined all Churches into one Congregation, that all may heare, and all may be edefied, that one Parish Church should grow to that vastnesse, to levy 300000. to the warre, and that by a word of his mouth to have them all mayntained without grudging, for every man did thinke the worke as pious, a marvellous change: and well doth the holy Ghost say, Hee had great power, that the power of that Church should reach over all Churches, and shall have such an influence into Kings, that look what they shall dictate, all shall be ready, body, and goods, and life, and all to maintain them; you see the reasons of it, how he comes by this power.
- 1Reason 4.
