A47584:1213
The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland
The history of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.The historie of the reformation of the Church of Scotland containing five books : together with some treatises conducing to the history.
London: printed by John Raworth for George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, 1644
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.
As it was a truth, That the Pastors and Watch-men in the days of Isaiah, 1were become dumb dogs, blind, ignorant, proud and avaricious. ⟨p. 9⟩And finally, as it was a truth, That the Princes and the Priests were murderers of Christ Jesus, and cruel persecutors of his Apostles, so likewise it is a truth (and that most infallible) That those who have condemned me (the whole rabble of the Papistical Clergy) have declined from the true Faith,2 have given ear to deceivable spirits, and to doctrine of devils; are the stars fallen from the heaven to the earth, are fountains without water; and finally,3 are enemies to Christ Jesus, deniers of his virtue, and horrible blasphemers of his death and passion. And further, As that visible Church had no crime, whereof justly they could accuse either Prophets or the Apostles, except their Doctrine only; so have not such as seek my blood other crime to lay to my charge, except, That I affirm, as always I offer to prove, That the Religion which now is maintained by fire and sword,4 is no less contrarious to the true Religion taught and established by the Apostles, then is darkness to light, or the devil to God; And also, That such as now do claim the title and name of Church, are no more the elect Spouse of Christ Jesus, then was the Synagogue of the Jews the true Church of God, when it crucified Christ Jesus, condemned his Doctrine, and persecuted his Apostles. And therefore seeing that my Battle is against the proud and cruel hypocrites of this age, as that Battle of those most excellent instruments was against the false Prophets and malignant Church of their ages: Neither ought any man to think it strange that I compare my self with them, with whom I sustain a common cause; Neither ought your Lordships judge your selves less indebted and bound to me, calling for your support, then did the Princes of Judah think themselves bound to Jeremiah, whom for that time they delivered, notwithstanding the sentence of death pronounced against him by the visible Church.