But whatever was the cause, or occasion of the dissension between King Henry and the Pope, it's certain, Protestancy came into England, by the same way and means, that Christianity came into the World; the painful, pious Professors, and Teachers of it, sealed its truth with their blood; and what more honourable entrance it could make, I neither know, nor can it be declared. ⟨p. 273⟩Nor did England receive this Doctrine from others; in the days of King Henry, it did but revive that light which sprung up amongst us long before, and by the fury of the Pope, and his adherents, had been a while suppressed. And it was with the blood of English-men, dying patiently and gloriously in the flames, that the truth was sealed in the days of that King, who lived and dyed himself, as was said, in the profession of the Roman faith. The Truth flourished yet more in the days of his pious and hopeful Son. Some stop, our Author tells us, was put to it in the days of Queen Mary. But, what stop? of what kind? of no other than that put to Christianity by Trajan, Diocletian, Julian; a stop by fire and sword, and all exquisite cruelties, which was broken through, by the constant death, and invincible patience and prayers, of Bishops, Ministers, and People numberless; a stop, that Rome hath cause to blush in the remembrance of, and all Protestants to rejoice, having their faith tried in the fire, and coming forth more precious than Gold. Nor did Queen Elizabeth, as is falsely pretended, endeavour ⟨p. 274⟩to continue that stop, but cordially, from the beginning of her Reign, embraced that faith, wherein she had before been instructed. And in the maintenance of it, did God preserve her from all the Plots, Conspiracies, and Rebellions of the Papists; Curses, and Depositions, of the Popes; with Invasions of her Kingdoms by his instigation, as also her renowned Successor, with his whole Regal posterity from their contrivance for their Martyrdom and ruin. During the Reign of those Royal and Magnificent Princes, had the Power and Polity of the Papal world, been able to accomplish what the men of this innocent and quiet Religion, professedly designed, they had not had the advantage of the late miscarriages, of some professing the Protestant Religion, in reference to our late King of glorious Memory, to triumph in;
But whatever was the cause, or occasion of the dissention between King Henry and the Pope, it's certain, Protestancy came into England, by the same way and means, that Christianity came into the World; the painful, pious Professors, and Teachers of it, sealed its truth with their bloud; and what more honourable entrance it could make, I neither know, nor can it be declared. ⟨p. 273⟩Nor did England receive this Doctrine from others; in the days of King Henry, it did but revive that light which sprung up amongst us long before, and by the fury of the Pope, and his adherents, had been a while suppressed. And it was with the blood of English-men, dying patiently and gloriously in the flames, that the truth was sealed in the dayes of that King, who lived and dyed himself, as was said, in the profession of the Roman faith. The Truth flourished yet more in the dayes of his pious and hopefull Son. Some stop, our Author tels us, was put to it in the dayes of Queen Mary. But, what stop? of what kind? of no other than that put to Christianity by Trajan, Dioclesian, Julian; a stop by fire and sword, and all exquisite cruelties, which was broken through, by the constant death, and invincible patience and prayers, of Bishops, Ministers, and People numberless; a stop, that Rome hath cause to blush in the remembrance of, and all Protestants to rejoyce, having their faith tryed in the fire, and coming forth more pretious than Gold. Nor did Queen Elizabeth, as is falsly pretended, indeavour ⟨p. 274⟩to continue that stop, but cordially, from the beginning of her Reign, embraced that faith, wherein she had before been instructed. And in the maintenance of it, did God preserve her from all the Plots, Conspiracies, and Rebellions of the Papists; Curses, and Depositions, of the Popes; with Invasions of her Kingdomes by his instigation, as also her renowned Successor, with his whole Regal posterity from their contrivance for their Martyrdom and ruin. During the Reign of those Royal and Magnificent Princes, had the Power and Polity of the Papal world, been able to accomplish what the men of this innocent and quiet Religion, professedly designed, they had not had the advantage of the late miscarriages, of some professing the Protestant Religion, in reference to our late King of glorious Memory, to triumph in;
