Mirrovr of new reformation wherein reformers, by their owne acknowledgement, are represented ad viuum. The beauty also of their handy-worke is displayed |
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VII. The fruits of Reformation.
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Mirrovr of new reformation | ||
VII. The fruits of Reformation.
Protestants tel vs that before the lightOf their new Ghospel men
When we were seduced by the Pope, (saith Luther) euerie man did willingly follow good workes; and now euerie man neither saith, nor knoweth anie thing, but how to get al to himself by exactiōs, pillage, theft, lying, vsurie &c. Luth. Dom. 26. post Trin. See M. Stubbes motiue to good works. p. 44. 45.
More
Certainly to speake the truth, there is many times found cōscionabler & plainer dealing amōgst most of the Papists, then among manie Protestants: and if we looke narrowly to the Ages past, we shal find more godlines, deuotion, and zeale (though blind) more loue one towards another, more fidelitie and faithfulnes euerie way in them, then is now to be found is vs. M. Stubbes motiue, p. 43.
And eu'ry way more giuen without compare
To al good workes, then in their Church they are.
For now, (say they) such as haue late embrace't
Our Reformation doe repaire more fast
Yo theft, exactions, lying, vsury,
Excesse
Another sort of Germans giue indeed place to God's word, that it may be preacht, but there is not found among them anie amendmēt of life, but horrible Epicurisme, and a beastlie life in their behauiour, drunken assemblies, lustful desires &c. in lieu of fasts they giue themselues night and day to riotous banquets and continual drinking. Iac. And. ad c. 21. Luc. See also Melancth. ad c. 6. Matth.
What eye so blind, that it doth not gush out with teares to behold the miserie of our supposed glorious Church? I meane the great ignorance, the superficial worship of God, the fearful blasphemies & swearings in houses & streets &c. the dishonour of Superiours, the pride, crueltie, fornication, adulteries, drunkennesse, coueteousnes, vsuries & other like abominations &c. O behold & pittie the woeful and lamentable state of our Church in these things! See this in M. Powels book of things indifferent, p. 136. See likewise next before at 5.
And such foule vices as from hence proceed,
Then did the former t'any vertuous deed.
So that (thus stil themselues goe on) who would
A
If anie be desirous to see a great rable of knaues, of persons turbulēt, deceitful, coseners, vsurers, let him goe to anie cittie where the Ghospel is purely preached, & he shal find them there by multitudes. For it is more manifest then the day-light, that there were neuer among the Ethnicks, Turkes, & other Infidels, more vnbridled & vnruly persōs, with whō al vertue & honestie is quite extinct, then are amōg the professours of the Ghospel. Andr. Masc. domin. 1. Adu. See him also l. de prophet, Christi. and sym. Paulus in serm. dom. 13. post Trin. See hereafter at 17.
Let them but vnto any Citty goe
Possessed by Reformers, it wil shew
Whole shoales of such; yea Pagans, Iewes, and Turkes,
With other Infidels doe better workes,
Detest sinne more, shew greater honesty,
Are farre more patient and lesse proud then wee.
In lieu of fasts wee haunt excessiue feasts
Drink healths to make our selues and others beasts,
Wrong marriage-beds, haunt stewes, and for our prayer
In eu'ry place we curse, blaspheme, and sweare.
Our children they grow worse, and dare such crimes
As were scarce knowne to men of former times.
Our Preachers labours, which should be assign'd
Only to truth, are
If you cast your eyes vpon Protestant Doctours, you shal find that some of them moued through vaine glorie, enuious zeale, and a preiudicate opinion, disorder the true doctrine, disperse and earnestly defend the false. Some of them without cause stirre vp contentions, & with inconsiderate spight defēd them: manie wrest their doctrine euerie way, of purpose to please the Princes and people, by whose grace and fauour they are maintained. There are more, who with their euil and wicked life ouerthrow al that which by their true doctrine they had formerly built. Paul. Ebec prefat. comm. Philippi in epist. ad Corinth.
Of popular applause, attended stil
With hate and enuy: their malicious wil
N'er giues them rest, but makes them seek out wayes
How they debates and causelesse iarres may rayse.
In their disputes they wrest, peruert, and lye,
Oppresse the truth, and from the point stil flye.
Many besides are flat'rers, and beleeue
[illeg.] more with their vile wicked life doe shame
Their Ghospels doctrine and themselues defame.
So that we see, since we reiected Rome
The world doth dayly worse and worse become:
For
I may freely speake what I haue seen in the course of some trauels, and obseruation of some courses, that in Flanders was neuer more drunkennesse, in Italy more wantonnesse, in Iury more hypocrisy, in Turky more impiety, in Tartary more iniquity, then is practized generally in England, particularly in London, al this is seen &c. M. Rich. Ieffrey serm. at Paules crosse. Octob. 7. an. 1604. and printed an 1605. p. 31. See before at 7.
Th'Italians euer haue lesse wanton been,
In Iury n'ere was more hypocrisy,
Turky is freer from impiety,
And Tartary lesse wicked is then those,
Who euen in England now Rom's Church oppose,
Al this themselues affirme, this few deny;
T’weer not good manners here to say they lye.
Mirrovr of new reformation | ||