.% UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES Bibliotbcca Curiosa. THE APOLOGIE OF GEORGE BRISSET. EDITED BY EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S. F S.A. (Scot.) PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH. 1834. "f « 9 -If ^W ^■^■i THE APOLOGIE OF GEORGE BRISSET. This Edition is limited to seventy-five Large Paper copies, and two hundred and seventy-five Small Paper copies, issued only to Subscribers. Bibliotbeca Ciiriosa. THE APOLOGIE OF GEORGE BRISSET. KDIIKr) MY EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.. F S.A, (Scot.) PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBUR(;H. 1884. "R Y B77 C^ THE APOLOGIE OF GEORGE BRISSET, LORD OF GRATENCE. Written vpon confideration of the inhumane murther of the late French king, and fent to Mon- iieurTauraine, aCounfellor in the Court of Parliament of Brittaine in France, Lord high Steivardofthe counceU oi'Na.nts; where the faid Noble man, with many others of account, wereconuerted from the Church of Rome, and become true Chriftian Catholicks, to the great ioy ot all good Cnriftians. Tranflated out of French into Englidi. Printed for VFilliam Barley and/ohnBaily. 1610. » Jill 11 s 1 1 3 5 The Translator to the Reader. His short discourse includes in it much substance, and hi yet h open the principal errors, by %iihich the traytcrons Papists haue so long gotierned the conimon- ivealih of France : shelving how their reasons are badly grounded, ill applyed, and worse deriued for their purpose. Therefore I loish euery man zuould haue so much care of his soules health, as to imitate this neiv cornier t in the searching of Gods word: and doubtlesse, then many would receiue true comfort, and discei-ne light from darknesse, and bee no more misse-led with that vncharitable rule of Popery, viz. 1 hat it is not laivftillfor artificers, and trades-men, and those that bee ignorant people, to search into the Bo'^ke of God. By which meanes these Papists hane faire aduanlage to muffle their scholers in any error, ivere it ucuer so gj'osse : where hauing their faith tied to another mans report, they must needs stand in danger of dam- nation. And that many more should not be seduced into the like opinion, here is [by an PREFACE. inspiration from God) an Apohgie made by a French gentleman, trained vp all Ids timefrotn his infancie in Poperie, no7u reduced to the true knowledge of God, reitealed in his holy word, by searching out his saluation in the diligent irading and ??ieditation thereof. AN APOLOGIE 0¥ GEORGE BRISSET, Lord of Gratence. Mien I had throughly considered (right noble Sir) how that Rome continually striues to build vp the glory of her kingdome with the bloud of Princes, and to make by the same, a legend ful of sainted murtherers, I grew more desirous of my souls health then before. And that the changing of my religion, may make in you no ill impression of me, but that you would still hold me in the same estimation : I haue here set downe in writing, the motiues and reasons which haue induced me so to do : intreating you to beleeue that I haue not bin led vnto it, by any humane or worldly con- sideration. For I haue shut mine eies to many faire promises and aduantages, which were offered me by the church ofRome : and haue lost lo THE APOLOGIE OF the loue of many persons, which notwithstanding I will not ceasse to honor and loue ; but prin- cipally your selfe, whose vertue and discretion I haue alwaies highly esteemed. Which doth not onely giue me hope, that you will the better last my allegations, which I haue here briefly set downe : but also that many thousands hereby may returne out of the mists of Popery, into the light of truth : in the which God be theirs & my guide. And as my soule therein hath gained content, so I wish all mis-led beleeuers in that bewitching religion of Popery, be summoned, & call their intellectual senses together, and examine their consciences, whether saluaiion consisteth vpon the similitude of visible things (wherein I haue bene in former times nusled :) or the contempla- tiue cogitatios of inward thoughts (wherunto I am now reduced) be the better. Therfore as an induction to this my Christian Apologie, I wish all true Catholickes to become true alleagiants to their Princes, and not to let the blind Bayard of Babylon, with the vaine glory of his outward ceremonies, bewitch you. And so with honest truth to the world, & feruent faith in Christ lesus, I begin. The lime I was (right honourable, worshipfull, and well beloued friends) one of the number of the most zealous to the Romane religion, I had notwithstanding this perswasion with my selfe ; that religion is not subiect to men, how great and GEORGE BR IS SET. n learned soeuer they be, but that they tliemselues are subiect to religion : also that religion is the rule of saluation giuen of God to men, and to which euery man ought to bee subiect ; and that it is not lawfull for any one to exempt himselfe, or to change or diminish any thing therein. And thereupon demanding of some Church-men which I had best conceipt of, if this rule was giuen of God, they answered me, that it was in the sacred booke of God, called the Bible ; and that there is no other booke besides which may be named the word of God. Following therfore this counsell, after I had prayed to almighty God to giue me grace to profite therein, I painfully endeuoured my selfe to reade that booke ; and hauing chearefully read ouer all the Gospell, I was wonderfully astonished to find nothing therein, concerning the most part of those things, which had bene taught me. And that it is not in the Bible commanded at all to inuocate the Saints, nor to render any seruice to images, nor to sacrifice lesus Christ, nor to pray to God without vnderstanding what we say ; and that it speakes nothing of Purgatory, nor of Lent, nor of Masses, nor of Merits, nor of Monkes, nor of religious Orders, nor of the precedencie of the Church of Rome : nor in briefe of any of all those things, almost which were taught me in the time igno- rance blinded me ; which things I then thought had bene expresly commanded in that Booke of 12 THE A PO LOG IE OF the word of God. Furthermore I found (in tlie same) diuers passages which did seeme to me to be flat contrary to these tilings. Hereupon repairing my selfe to some of the same Church- men, they answered me, and said that it was not lawfull for me to reade the holy Scripture, nor to search after things which surpassed my capacity, but to be directed by them : also that the Catho- like Romane Cliuich had so ordained, to whom the holy Scriptures belongeth, saying : that she is the pillar and ground of truth, I. 7>'///. 3. vers. 15. Who heareth not the Church, let him be vnto thee as a heathen man, or a publicane, Matth. 18. And that lesus said to Saint Peter, I haue prayed that thy faith may not faile thee. Whereby it appeareth that the Church of Rome founded vpon Saint Peter, cannot erre in the points of faith, as they of the Romane sect afifirme. Whereupon aduisedly pondering these things in my minde, I said : I beleeue that lesus Christ dyed for me, and that the promises contained in the booke of the word of God, doe appertainevnto me as well as to Clergie-men : wherefore then should I not presume to see t hese things which apper- taine vnto me ? Contrariwise, if I had books of loue, or of tales and failles, they should not be taken from me j but now these men would be- reaue me of the booke which they themselues say is the booke of Gods word. Adde to this ; if it be for none to reade but the learned, neuer any GEORGE BRISSET. J3 man should prepare Iiimselfe to reade it, seeing hee cannot l)e learned before he haue read it. I had thought one had read the Scriptures to become wise in piety ; behold these men would, that one should become wise before he had read it : where- fore tlien do they alledge passages out of the holy Scriptures, seeing they will not permit me to search whether their allegations bee true or not ? My minde was therefore to see those places which they did alledge vnto me for the authority of the Church of Rome. Now for the first, where the Church is called the pillar and ground of truth, I tinc.e it there, no waye spoken of the Romane Church, no more then of the Grecian or Syrian Church : there being also no appearance that the diuine veritie should be grounded vpon men, but much more conuenient that men should ground themselues vpon the word of God. And therefore Saint Paulhy these words only vnderstood that the church is established by God in earth, to sustaine and defend the truth against infidels, and the enimies of truth ; and that these words do represent vnto the Church, her duty whereunto she is bound, and not at all her authority. So the Church of Syria planted by Christ and his Apostles, was the pillar and ground of truth against the lewes and Pagans ; but this did not exempt it from errour. The like may happen to the Church of Rome. As for the second place, which saith : He that hearth not the Church, 14 THE A PO LOG IE OF let him be vnto thee as an heathen man or a publi- cane : by reading the whole place, I finde easily that these ivords cannot serue to shew, that the Church of Rome which they call Catholicke, that is to say, vniuersall, should be iudge of the differ- ences of religion. First, because there is not any mention at all in that place of the Church of Rome. Secondly, because the doubts of religion are not there spoken of, but the quarrels and differences betvveene two brethren ; where also it followeth, that he speaketh not of the Catholicke or vniuersall Church : for to end the priuate quar- rels betweene two brethren, we must not expect the iudgment of the vniuersal Church. Therfore by the Church in this place, he meant the Pastors orgouernours of some particular Church, labouring to appease the differences betwixt particular per- sons, and that according to the rule of Gods word. He that will not then reforme and submit himselfe vnto them, is put into the rancke of Pagans. Now to the third text, the consequence thereof seemes very harsh vnto me, Petei; I haue prayed that thy faith may not faile : therefore the Church of Rome cannot erre. For the reading through this whole place of Scripture, doth euidently shew, that lesus Christ doth not speake to the Church, nor of the Church ; but that he speaketh to the person of Saint Peter, preparing hira to the temp- tation into which he forsaw, that hee should GEORGE BRISSET. 15 shortly fall, and renounce his Sauiour, lesus Christ therfore promiscth him by those words, that his faith should not finally faile in this his tempta- tion, but that God would raise it againe from that fall ; where if by Saint Peter he had meant the Church of Rome, is it possible he should not ex- pound himselfe neither there, nor in any other place? Besides, if our faith rest it selfe vpon these presuppositions, which is to say, that Saint Piter hath bene head of the vniuersall Church, and that hee hath made the Bishop of Rome his successor, not onely in the Bishopricke of Rome, but also in the charge of head of the Church ; and that this charge hath succeeded euer since Christ, without varying in doctrine, and without inter- ruption of succession : how is it that the people can bee assured thereof, seeing that for to know it, it is necessary to haue read ouer many histories, both ancient & moderne authors, written in latine, which they vnderstand not ? In all this therefore am I not satisfied. I must also confesse here, that hauing bene taught that the Church of Rome holds, that the consecration, and the transubstantiation is not effected in the Masse, if the Priest haue not inten- tion to consecrate, I haue bene seazed with feare of being an idolater, knowing well, that very often the Priest hath his intention elsewhere ; or belee- ueth not himselfe the very thing he doth ; for he may be a scoffer, or a prophane person. Some i6 THE A PO LOG IE OF there Ik, that in such a case adore that which the Priest lifts vp ; worship bread, and call it their God, and their Creator. This perplexity is befallen me through the reading of the Gospell, where I haue found the institution of the Sacrament litle agreeing with that which the Priest doth in the Masse. I. For there I find that all those that were present, did communicate ; but here ordi- narily the Priest onely eateth. 2, Also euery one there receiues both kinds: and Saint Paul i. Corinth, ii. speaking to the people, commandeth them to proue themselues, and then to drinke of that cup : but at this day the cup is vtterly taken away from the people. 3. lesus Christ did not there lift vp the hoast, as doth the Priest. 4. the Apostles did not adore the hoast, as the people do at this day. ^ In all the whole institution of this sacrament, there is no mention made of sacri- fice, nor any command to sacrifice lesus Christ for the liuing and the dead. 6. Christ spake in a language which those that were present vnderstood. 7. The Gospell saith, that lesus Christ tooke bread and brake it. The Church of Rome on the contrary, saith, that the Priest doth not breake bread, but the Audience. 8. The Gospell saith, that which lesus Christ gaue, was his body, (it saith also that he gaue bread.) The Church of Rome on the contrary, holdeth, that the bread is not the body of Christ, but that it ceaseth to be bread, and is conuerted, and transubstantiated into GEORGE BRISSET. *7 the body of our Sauiour ; which is as much as to corrupt the words of lesus Christ. 9. I fiiide also in Saint Matthctv. 26. vers. 29. and in Saint Marke 14. and in Luke 22. that lesus did drinke of the fruite of the vine, that is to say, wine, with his disciples ; it was therfore wine then when he dranke it. 10. I haue also found in the Apostle Saint Pa7{l in seuerall places, as in the i. to the Cor. 10. vers. 16. and chap. 11. & so forward, that we breake and eate bread ; also he saith in these words ; This is the body of Christ, and the bread which we breake is the communion of the body of Christ. But the Church of Rome denies all this, and saith, that this is not bread at all, and that we do not at all breake bread, but the figure of bread : how is it then that these appearances of bread should bee the communion of the body of Christ? II. Finally, I see that the Gospell, ac- cording to Saint Ltike the 22. chapter, and the Apostle Saint Paul in the eleuenth chapter of the first to the Corinthians, verse 25. do prescribe vnto vs, how these words, This is my body, ought to be vnderstood. For when it came to be spoken of the cuppe, in stead of that which is in Saint Matthru), this is my hloiui^ they tearme it thus : This Cuppe is the nnve Ttstainent in my bloud. The bread therefore is the body of our Sauiour in the same fashion, that that which is the cuppe is the new testament. Now it is not in substance, but sacramenlally, as nur Sauiour lesus Christ also 15 i8 THE AI'OLOGIE OF callcth it a commemoration or remembrance. I adde to this, that if the cuppe be the new testa- ment, in the bloud of our Sauiour, as saith Saint Luke ; it is not then the bloud of our Lord : For the bloud of our Lord, is not in the bloud of our Lord. Moreouer I confesse, that, in the depth of my ignorance, it despighted me much to heare some of the reformed religion reproach vs, in that our Priests made God, and after sold him for a little money in their priuate Masses ; and I haue heard some Doctours of the Romane Church hold, and maintaine, that the blessed body of our Sauiour lesus Christ might bee carryed away by a mouse ; which were able to make any mans heart tremble, that loued the honour of our Sauiour lesus Christ, the sonne of the euerliuing God. Likewise to disperse the bloud of our Sauiour into so many places, and to inclose his whole entire body into an aume of bread, is not conformable and agreeing to the Gospel!, which attributeth to him a body like vnto ours, to the end he should be our brother. Now those that alledge his body glorified, doe not con- sider at all that when hee instituted the vSacrament, his body wasyetvnglorified; and which is more, the glorification hath nothing changed his humane nature but hath onely taken away fi-om it all infirmities. I haue also learned in the Church of Rome, that the sacrifice of the crosse, that is to say, the death of our Sauiour lesus Christ, is our sole meanes of GEORGE BRISSET. 19 redemption ; notwithstanding the Priests say, that the Masse is the same sacrifice of the Crosse, and that they sacrifice lesus Christ really and effec- tually for our redemption : which to mee seemeth very disagreeable. For the one tels mee, the death of lesus Christ is the onely price of our re- demption ; and now they giue vs the sacrifice of the Masse for the same effect, which is not the death of lesus Christ. And it cannot be said, that the Masse is the continuation of the sacrifice of the crosse ; for it should bee then the continuation of the death of lesus Christ : and so Christ should dye continually. Purgatory also is another peece of popery, which hath turned me from the Romish Church, since I haue found it to be grounded vpon this Maxime, that lesus Christ by his death and sufferance hath satisfied for the finnes commtted before baptisme, but hath not satisfied for the sins committed after baptisme. For I haue said with my selfe, this is the most important poynt of all Christian religion : for it declareth vnto vs what it is that Christ hath done for vs. It is necessary therefore that this poynt aboue all others, should bee expresly and truly grounded vpon the word of God : yet notwithstanding, I could neuer finde any thing in the word of God, that could shew me one sillablefor it. Then hath not lesus Christ paid sufficiently to deliuer vs from Purgatory : and if hee hath paide sufficiently, wherefore doth 40 THE APOLOGIE OF not God accept of that paine, for so much as it is worth? And seeing hee doth still intercede for vs in heauen, wherefore do not soules come fortli from Purgatorie rather at his intercession in heauen, than tlirough the indulgences of the Pope ? Also the Church of Rome holdeth, that all the faithful! which shall bee aliue at the last day of iudgement, shall not goe at all into Purgatorie. Could not God then as well free vs without wronging his diuine iustice ? Nothing indeede that is defiled, shall enter into Paradice. But Saint lohn in his first Epistle, and first chapter, saith. Thai the hloiui of lesus Christ cleanseth vs Jrom all sinne. Likewise, according to the opinion of the Romish Church, in Purgatory sinnes are not cleansed, but are onely there punished ; and torments are no puigation to make cleane the spots and pollutions of soules and their sinnes, but inflicting penalties : but lesus Christ hee doth cleanse vs from all sinne, and makes vs cleare without spotte or filth. And needes must it indeed bee, that it belongeth to God himselfe to prescribe the meanes to worke our redemptions, and not for vs to inuent the way at our owne pleasure. And the meanes for vs to applie Gods grace and mercie, is not to displaye his iudgement in tormenting vs in fire. And to the same effect the holy Scriptures doe shewe vs diuers examples of some persons receiued into paradice, and that CEOKCE BRISSET. 21 haue entered into peace and glory immediatly after their death, as the Theefe vpon the crosse. I.uke 23. ver. 24. But wee finde not one example of any body which hath bene sent into Pmgatorie. It hath bene also no small matter, to finde out the errours of this Purgatorie, when I haue seene by experience that this fire burned for gaine and auarice. It is not knowne that euer particular Masses were sung, hut for such persons as payed well for them ; the poore must be contented with the generall and common prayers of the Church, of which the rich liivcwise hath his share ; but neuer was it seene (at any time) that the begging Friers would goe to the buriall of a poore person ; and yet notwithstanding, his soule cost lesus Christ as deare, and is no lesse precious in the sight of God, then the soule of an Emperour. The letters of indulgence and dispensation that the Pope granteth, are but for persons of ranke and qualitie to him. This also hatli greatly moued me, that is, that they teach in the Church of Rome, that a man cannot bee assured of his saluation. Whereupon I said to my selfe, shall I remain e in such a religion, in the which after I haue laid a foundation of merits and satisfactions, and also bought the same pardons of others, in the end of all I know not whether I be tlie child of God, or a limbe of the Diuell ? What kinde of religion is this that teacheth such doulilfulnes? Where, on 22 THE APOLOGIE OF the contrary, by the whole volume of the Scripture, God exhorteth vs to put our trust in him, & to fly vnto him with full assurance of faith ; and he telleth vs, that we may haue boldnesse by accesse vnto him in assurance of faith through lesus Christ. Consider with me also (beloued) that the com- mandments of the Romish Church are much more reuerenced then the commandments of God. There they teach, that the Church of Rome giues authoritie to the holy Scripture, that is, as much as the ordinances of men authorise the command- ments of God. To eate flesh vpon good friday, they say, is a farre more greater sinne, then to commit murther or adulterie, and yet it was the friday vpon the which our Sauiour Christ did ordinarily eate the Paschal lambe. To blaspheme the name of God in this age of the world, is (amongst them) accounted for a light matter ; but to speake euill of the Pope, especially in Italy or Spaine, is a burning matter, and vnpardojiable. At Rome the lewes hold a religion, which teacheth, that Christ is an impostor or iuggler ; but to say that there is no Purgatory at all, is a crime worthy of the Inquisition. Now euery Bishop in our country of France can giue absolu- tion in crimes and offences committed against Gods lawes ; but none can absolue sinnes com- mitted against the Pope, or his lawes. This triple-headed Potentate doth teach many things contrary to the law and the Gospell. First, GEORGE BR IS SET. S3 God saith in the 20. chapter of Exodus : Thou shalt not make to thy selfe the Hkenesse of any thin^ which is in heauen, or earth • Thou shalt not bow downe to th m, ^'c. But in the Romish Church they paint the holy Trinitie, they kneele downe before tlie images of Saints. Secondly, God saith in his law, sixe dais shalt thou labour. The Pope saith, Thou shalt not worke sixe daies, but thou shalt keepe such holy dayes as he enioyneth thee in the weeke davps to obserue. Thirdly, God saith by his Apostle, I. Tim. 3. vers. 2. A Bishop must be the husband of one wife, halting his children vnder obedience with all reuerence. But the Church of Rome commandeth, that a Bishop should haue neither wife nor children. Fourthly, God commandeth by his Apostle, i. Cor. 10. If any of them "which bcUeue not, call you to a Jeast, whatsocuer is set before yoti, cate, asking tto question for conscience sake. The Church of Rome contrariwise saith, when you shall be inuited to the houses of heretickes, eate not of all that which shall be set before you in the Lent time, or vpon fridaies. Fifthly, God saith by his Apostle, I. Cor. 14. It luere better in the Church to speake feio luords with vnderstanding, thn ten thousand in a strange tongue. The Church of Rome on the contrary, say all their Seruice in a language that is not vnderstood. And so in many other points. If any one alledge vnto me the multitude of professors, I say that Christ Matth. 7. 13. would 24 THE A PO LOG IE OF haue vs enter by the narrow gate, and saith, that the broade way wherein the multitude doe walke, is the way to destruction : Therefore if in the reading of the word of God, I meete with any difficulties, I resolue with my selfe neither to be iudge nor interpreter : and that M'hich remaines cleare and plaine, is sufficient to instruct and saue me. And truly since I conformed my selfe, to the true religion of our Sauiour lesus Christ, I haue learned now to beleeue no longer by the faith of another. Nor truly is any man saued by atturney ; which makes me earnestly to exhort all Romish professors to doe as I haue done for their owne saluations : and to thinke seuerally vpon these things, that their soules may be deliuered out of captiuity ; that we may together glorifie God vpon earth, being desirous to bee glorified by him in heauen. And now to you, you Romish Catholickes, as you tearme your selues, you that haue nusled me long in ignorance ; now that the true light hath opened mine eies, I will as plainly lay open, and set abroad your superstitious practises, which now to my soules sorrow, I liaue bene witnesse of. First, ye neuer came in with your miters, robes, and rings, by the doore, as did the poore Apostles ; but by the window, like robbers, theeues and murtherers, with Simon Magus, and such like. Neuer was your proud power of our heauenly fathers planting, and therefore at the last it must GEORGE BRISSET. 25 vp by the rootes ; yee must in the end be destroyed without hands : inuisibly shall ye be striken, as was the great tyrant Atiliochus : with the mighty breath of Gods mouth, which is his inuincible word, shall your false kingdonie be consumed. This reckon I to be sufficient to declare you both to God and man, most spightfuU traitours vnto those that will not bee wilfully blinde. And to proue you spirituall theeues, is the purpose of my writing : for proofe whereof I neede not to seeke further then into your owne open acts. How long haue ye kept the eternall testament of Christ vnder your filthy feete from the peoples reading ; which is the liuely foode of their soules ? yea how many innocent Christian creatures haue yee most cruelly murthered to cause them to abhorre it ? I haue knowne you burne a worshipful! gentlewoman for having but one chapter of S. MattJiews Gospell written in her house ; and another man for hauing S. Johns Gospell : beside many other cruelties by you committed. Some haue you burned for not allowing your pilgrimages ; some for not beleeuing your pardons ; some for not fasting the friday, for not obseruing your Lent ; some for your Purga- tory, some for your images ; some for not praying to dead Saints of your owne making ; some for not creeping to the crosse ; some for not going on procession ; and some for holy-water : and for other vaine trifles of your 26 THE APOLOGIE OF owne inuenting. Too long were it to recite all your acts of mischiefe, which yee haue alvvaies practised to deface Gods word. Neuer were ye yet content that the seede of saluation should fruc- tifie among the people, but euermore ye haue stroue to stop the sweete blast thereof, thereby to do the diuell your father a pleasure. Yee are those wild swine, leawd shepheards and Foxes, which haue rooted vp the Lords vineyard : there- fore how terrible will your sentences be against you at the latter day, where in feare yee shall confesse openly all your damnable foolishnesse, and that ye haue bene wilfully ignorant of the truth, and haue tired your selues in the waies of wickednesse and destruction ? Before your owne faces I will more plainly set downe your abhominations, and good workes as you call them. You are, I say, bewi'chers of our French Parliaments, wherein yee haue depriued altogether the common people of the Bibles reading ; onely you admit it to three degrees of men, to Gentlemen, Merchants and Priests : all artificers, and men of the common sort, clearly excluded; as though God were partiall, not willing his lawes and sweete promises sh luld be knownc to poore men, vnto their soules saluation. These be the good workes that (you say) will iustifie you before your God the Pope. These are deeds of supererogation, wherwith you scoure your fiery Purgatory. These are the merits of your GEORGE BRISSET. 27 satisfactions, whereby you get heauen when God is not at home. Oh shamelesse murtherers ! If he be called a mankiller that killeth the body, much rather he that killeth soule and body. All the world in a manner derideth your proceedings, and laugheth to scorne your vnprudent practises. Christ neuer contemned the poore, but blessed them aboue all sorts of people. Not onely opened he his Gospell to the poore in his owne person, bat also appoynted the poorest sort of men to de- clare it after his departure, enduing them most largely with his Spirit from aboue. He chose the weake to confound the strong, and the poore to deface the proud. Neuer sent he such glorious and Lordly Prelates to sit in Consistories, Councels, and Sessions, to the destruction of such as beleeue faithfully in Christ : therefore it is ea.sie to perceiue whose seruants you be. You euermore call vpon earthly gouernours, as did Simo7t Magtis your pre- decessour vpon the Emperour N'ero, to martyr the Gospell-preachers. Christ neuer willed any to be brought to his faith by compulsion, neither vsed the Apostles to enforce any man thereunto : But you like tyrants, more cruell then the Turke, constraine people to your false faith by diuers kinds of tor- ments. The true faith which commeth by the Gospell preached, bringeth forth the workes of the Gospell, which are the fruits of loue and glad- nes, peace, patience, gentlenesse, long suffer- ing, meekncsse, chastity, temperance, and such 28 THE A PO LOG IE OF like. But your pood works, as you terme them, be the going for pardons, the seeking of images, the praying to dead Saints, the taking of holy water, the hearing of Masse without vnderstanding, the v.'earing of beads, the offering of candies, the idle spending of your holidaies, the comming to confession, the creeping to the crosse, the fasting of Saints eues, the praying for all Christian soules, the building of ISIonasteries, and chanteries. the charming of Churches and chalices, with a thou- sand superstitions more for your profit and aduan- tage. These, I say, and such like, are your good workes, which beget nothing, as Saint Paul saith, buthaughtinesse, vaine glory, couetousnesse, pride, hatred, malice, manslaughter, gluttony, drunken- nesse, sloath, idolatrj', sedition, witchcraft, forni- cation, letchery, and such like sins of the flesh. And now to conclude with this my soules prayer: Oh eternall Father, for thy infinite mercies sake, graciously grant that our soueraigne Lord and king, Lewis the 13. may be so inspired with the true vnderstanding of thy word, that hee would clearely cast out of his priuy Counsell house, these locusts of yEgypt, and daily vpholders of Sodome and Gomora, the popes cruell cattell ; to the vniuersall health of his people : for neuer shall he haue of them but deceiptfuU counsellers, and hollow hearted gentlemen. Finally (O Lord) take from the their inordinate pompe, and riches, and more godly bestow it, to the aide and maintenance of GEORGE BRfSSUT. 29 the commonwealth. As for an example, it hath in times past bene clone in England, our neighbour kingdome ; where all Monasteries, Nunneries, Conaents and Friers houses, were conuerted into schooles of Christian learning, hospitals for sicke persons, and conuenient dwelling places for poore and aged people : reserving the'rest of their lands and goods, to the maintenance of their citties and townes. Which godly deede is now commended through all Christendome ; and there (O happy country) is Christ truly harboured, nourished, couered, fed, and visited in his diseased members : all which will be recompenced at the latter day. God grant that France, and all other nations may do the like. Amen. FINIS. UNWIN BROTHERS, PRINTERS, LONDON AND CHILWOKTH. .?"ft;1.. p 1 1189 i This "book is DUE on the last date stamped below m L-9-10m-2,'31 AA 000 632 781 UNIVERSITY of CALIFORk a AT .j.j6 ANGELE: UBRARY