A Treatise of Things Abused in the Popish Church.

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A short treatyse of certayne thinges abused

In the Popysh Church, longe vsed:

But now abolyshed, to our consolation,

And Gods word auaunced, the lyght of our saluation.

Matthew .vii. Euery tree that bringeth not forth good frute shalbe hewen downe and cast into the fyre

Psalm .cxxiii Our soule is escaped euen as a byrd out of the snare of the foular / the snare is broken and we are delyuered.

Mat .xv. All plantes that my heauenly father hathe not planted shall be plucked vp by the rotes

Psal .cxviii. It is tyme (O Lorde) to laye to thyne hande, for they haue destroyed thy lawe.

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Preserue me (O god) for in the do I truste. Psalm .xv.

GRace whiche is the mercy fauor and acceptation. Apoc .i.

Of God our heauenly father, be geuen to this audience

Peace, from Iesu_Christ, our helth and satisfaction

Whiche is the true tranquilite, of a quiet conscience

Be ministred vnto you with a more relyced sentence

Than all tonges be able to make declaration

My intente is to declare, yf a while ye will kepe scilence

How goddes worde is florisshed, the light of our saluation

We haue bene drowned with dreames, as our forefathers haue bene Ps .106,

Lyuinge in wilfull ignorance, not searching for the verite

Beleuing to haue syght, whan we haue not sene

But heapinge synne vpon synne, committing iniquite

For lacke of godly knowledge, brought into captiuite Eccl .21,

So that the blind leade the blind, as Christ maketh demonstration Mat .15

And bothe fell in the lake, of vtter darkenes or tenebre

But now goddes word is florisshed, the light of our saluation

The shepeheardes that should fede the flocke, as Ezechiel doth say Eze .34.

And hath famysshed them for fode, wo vnto them all

That thus suffereth the shepe to perisshe, going a_stray

From the handes of suche blind guydes the lord doth vs call

The sicke haue they not healed, the weake haue they let fall

But churlishly and cruellye, be they had in estimation

Come away good people, from their doctrine diabolicall Apo .18.

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For now goddes word is florisshed, the light of our saluation

A gret colour of holines in the Popes church hath ben vsed

The which is playne wickednes, as goddes word proueth ryghte

To mainteyn the old customes, of most men now refused 4. re .17.

The verite cleane banisshed, and truth put to flight

Yf god had not bene mercyfull, all men had lost the light

Blynde was the cerimony, for all the sainctification

But now it is euident, to euery christen wight

How goddes word is florisshed, the light of our saluation

In the stede of goddes word we had holy bread and water

Holy palmes holy asshes, holy candles holy fyer

Holy bones holy stones, holy crewittes at the aulter

Holy censars holy bannars, holy crosses holy atyer

Holy wax holy pax, holy smoke holy smyer

Holy oyle holy creame, holy wyne for veneration

Holy coope holy canepy, holy reliques in the quier

Thus gods word could not florissh the light of our saluation

We haue had belles christened, vestimentes consecrated

Chalices anointed, high altares wasshed and halowed

Images tabernacled, dead mens bones shryned

Coniured Crosses censed, spittled and spattled

With turne and half-turne, the people was deceyued

Seist me or seist me not, and moche more abhominacion

Feattes of legerdemayne, by these iugglers inuented

That goddes worde shulde not florysshe, the lyght of oure saluacion.

Upon the high holy euennes, as they do them call,

They range all the belles a solempne noys to heare

There had we euensong: complyne, and salue with-all

Of that was song or sayd, them-selues were neuer the nere

For it was in a foren tonge, as it doth well apere 1. Cor .14

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Nother to them nor vs, was there edification

For it was all lippe-labor, song they neuer so cleare Esa .29.

Syldome preache they christ, to be the light of our saluation

The nexte day folowing we had matynes, with prime and howres holy

Many a deus in adiutorium, all in the latten tonge

Coniuring of holy-water, folowed then immediatly

Procession after ydolles, all the churche-yarde long

Hygh masse with deuout sensinges, ruffling it in priksong

Then ranne we to take holy-bread, withoute signification

These plantes be pluct vp, be they neuer so stronge Mat .15

They were not graffed on goddes worde, the light of our saluation

With these old customes and such-lyke, god is displeased sore

As in the first of Esay , ther is demaunded playne

Who required these of you, suche thinges I do abhor Esai .1

Your Sabothes and your solempne dayes, your fastinges are in vayne

Newe holydayes and fastinges, from my hart I do disdayne

God saith he is wery both of you and your oblacion

He byddeth you labour in his vyne-yarde, and therin take payne

To teach the people Gods word, the light of our saluacion

Sone it is sene what paynes, in this vyneyarde they dyd take

For euery quicke sprynge that brought forthe, the frute of Gods verite

They cryed out on him heretike, burne him at a stake

He speaketh againste our Ceremonyes, and therfore shall he dye

Throwe suche wretches in prison, and let the caytyfes lye

And yf they be not willinge, to make their recantation

Famysh them for fode, or murther them pryuely

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They speake agaynste tradycions the lyght of our saluacion. Papistes make traditions the light of their saluation.

Than scourged they the simple soules / with their whyp of correction

And there-on hanged .vi. strynges, surely fastened with a lawe

This whyp was very mete, for their pestilent complection

For thorow suche tyranny, the peoples hartes were rawe,

Thus many faithfull membres, frome the truth dyd draw

Untyll our noble kynge, of his mercy and compassion

Brake this cruell whyp, that kept the people in awe Psa .123

And hath aduaunced Goddes worde, the lyght of our saluacion.

Bewayle doth our Balamytes, disclosynge their owne nature

Euen as vnshamefaste shauelynges, threteninge Christes pore shepe

Saynge, yf the sworde were on our sydes, be ye sure

As it hath bene before, than wolde ye not ones pepe

But now that ye thinke all good ordre, is layde downe to slepe

Ye make a braggynge and a boastinge of your exaltation

Now who but ye gospellers, that Christes flocke dothe keape

Ye teache the people gods worde, the lyght of our saluation

Thus was their handes defyled with bloud, their fingers with vnrightuousenes

Deuouringe vp the gospellers, in euery towne and citye

From their lyppes proceded lyes, their tongues aduaunced wyckednesse

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Without respecte to the trewth, they iudge nothing treuly

Thei hatched Coccatrice-egges, as we haue sene it plainly Esa .57

And weaued spyders webbes, by their cruell consultation.

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Now he that eateth of their egges, shal not escape but dye

Or be an ennemy to the truthe / the light of our saluacion.

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The chiefest thinge they set by / is almost fallen awaye

I meane their masking Masse, by so many Popes deuysed

For thorow it the Lordes supper, hath bene in great decay

And the right institution, blasphemously blemysshed

Thus in the Popysh churche, it hath bene longe abused

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But now verite will haue the matter, in examinacion

He saith playnly suche abusion, shall no more be vsed

It shal be tryed by Gods worde, the light of our saluacion

This Masse as they supposed, was alone sufficient

To pacify Goddes wrathe, for our wretched mysery

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Free forgyuenes of synnes, beinge neuer so vnpenitent

Myght be receyued at the Masse, this was their doctrine dayely

No smale tyme were we blynded, with suche Popysshe peltry

Makinge vs to paye, for the holy consecration

Lyke theues that were vnsaciat, they robbed soule and body

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Without the feare of Goddes worde, the lyght of our saluacion.

Christ held not the bread ouer his head, it is not in the Scripture.

But brake it and deuyded it, to his Apostels all Mar .14

Christ bad them not knele to it, of this ye may be sure

Yf ye do searche the Scriptures fynde it so ye shall

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Christ willed them to reserue it, in the memoriall

That his body for our synnes, suffred payne and passion 1. Cor .11

To pacify the fathers wrath, when we in synne do fal

Thus was he offred ones for all, the light of our saluacion He .7 .x.

Marke how blyndly we were fed, with our popysh gentylmen

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Marke how with false doctrine, they haue bleared our eyes.

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Marke how craftely we were fedde with Phariseys leauen Mat .16

Marke also how they repyne, that gods worde sholde aryse

Marke what deuylish doctrine, these dreamers did deuise

Marke how cruell they haue bene, to Christes congregation

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Marke howe moche they haue maynteyned, phantasyes and lyes 2. Ti .4.

Nothing regarding gods word, the light of our saluation

Of longe-tyme haue they caused vs, commyt abhomination

Robbyng god of the honor, which to hym is dewe,

By inuenting false goddes, of their Imagination Ac .7.17

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Makyng therof a sacrifice, and yf they proue this trewe

They must confesse thei crucify, gods sonne againe a_newe

For yf their bread be Christe, by transubstanciation

Than offre they in sacrifice, this muste nedes insewe

God and man fleshe and bloude, the lyght of our saluation

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Doth not scripture say, into heauen Christ ascended Mar .16

And dwellyng not in temples, made with mannes hande Actes .7

But sat him downe for euer / vntyll the worlde be ended Heb .10.

Makinge intercession, both for free and bonde

That vnto his godly promyse, faithfully do stonde

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This shoulde be to the Idolatres an honest reformation

To driue them from Idolatry, for feare they be fonde

Enemyes vnto gods worde, the lyght of our saluation

Christ is the bread of lyfe, which descended from the deite Ihon .6

Yf any eate of that bread, he shall lyue euermore

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Christ alone the sonne of God maketh vs free Ihon .8

And from all our synnes, clearely doth vs restore Matt .1.

Christ for all penytent hartes, hath layd vp mercy in store

Christ dyed for our synnes, and rose for our iustification Rom .4

We beleue to fynde hym a mercyfull sauiour

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For god hath chosen hym to be the light of our saluation

Now seing we haue Christe, to be our onely aduocate

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In whom God the father, hath a speciall delight

Let vs heare him, for he alone doth inuocate Mat .3

And of our synnes cleane forgyuenes, we haue in Goddes syght 2. Pet .1.

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What nede we than to seke helpe, at any other wyght

But euen onely in the merites, of Iesu_Christes passion Eph .1.

Bewaylinge our great mysery, desyringe daye and night

To fynde him a mercyfull God, the light of our saluacion. Heb .1.

All we haue offended and haue nede of Goddes glory Rom .3

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No man is founde righteous, and pure in his presence

Yet thorow his sonne Christ, we be forgyuen frely

For he hath made a sacrifice, for our synnes and offence

He is our reconciler, peace-maker, and defence Heb .7.

He it is that shed his bloud, onely for our redemption

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And wolde haue all men saued, this is his pretence

Thus are we cleansed by Christ, the light of our saluacio[n]

No small cause haue we to reioyce, yf we do consyder

How our mercyfull God, hath for his flocke prouyded

Replenyshinge vs with meat, that endureth for euer

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I meane his eternall word, frome which we were deuided Ihon .6

By waye of persecution, abhorred and deryded

But thankes be to the lyuinge God, whiche for our consolacion

Hath ouerthrowen the ennemyes, that thus enterprysed Act .9.

To persecute the Gospell, the light of our saluacion.

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And where we lyued in feare, to confesse the verite

By hydinge our talent, as seruauntes vnprofytable mat .25.

Now is that yoock broken, and we set at libertie Psa .113

Plenteously to publyshe, the truth without fable

Let vs therfore beware, we be not founde variable

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But laye a sure holde to the ploughe, with harte and cogitation Luke .9

Continuinge vnto the ende, stronge stedfaste and stable 1. Cor .15

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In no wyse to renounce the truthe, the lighte of oure saluacion.

Forsake the whore of Babylon, and the marke of the beast Apo .17

Forsake her marchantes all, for they be most pestelent

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Forsake the wares that she solde, frome the mooste to the least Apo .18.

Forsake her holynes, that she estemed excellent holynes] holy holynes O, holynes C

Forsake the deuelysh doctrine, that she dyd inuent

Forsake and flee vtterly, from her abhominacion Apo .17.

For kynges and Princes were disceyued, that to her dyd consent Apo .18.

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Persecuting Gods worde, the light of our saluacion.

Let vs forsake all ceremonies, that to Scripture be not consonaunt

Tradicions of forefathers, wherin we haue ben lead Psal .cv

And with the lyuely worde of God, let vs now be conuersaunt

For therin shall we se, with what baggage we were fead

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Wanderinge in the Popes lawes / forsakinge Christ oure head

Heapinge vpon our-selues, the more greatter damnacion 2. Pe .2.

Thus were Tradicions and Ceremonies, maintayned in the stede

Of Gods true and syncere worde, the light of our saluacion

Let vs earnestly therfore desire, with an harte vnfayned

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That in all-thinge we do, God may haue the glory [1] Tim .1.1] O, C omit 1] O, C omit

Yea, and imbrace this heauenly worde, whiche we haue receyued

Not in talke / nor to receyue it as a carnall liberty

But to bringe forth the frutes of the spirit, so that therby

It maye apeare manifest, in our Godly conuersacion

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To be a light vnto the worlde / forsakinge all iniquite

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And to perseuer in the truth, the light of our saluacion.

And doubte not all that the heauenly father hathe not planted

He will plucke vp by the rotes, they shall no more endure Mat .15

This in his eternall worde, he hath it promysed

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Therfore be not vnfaithfull, for his couenaunt is full sure

Heauen and earth shall perysh, this is without recure Luk .16.

But his worde shall neuer passe, by no determination

Untyll all-thinge be ended, therfore I you allure

To trust wholy in his worde, the light of our saluacion

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Honger and thurst for righteousnesse, than shall ye be satisfyed Mar .5.

Mortify the flesh, with the dedes therof also

Let no fylthye communication, oute of youre mouthes procede Ephe .4

But as it becometh sayntes, euen so loke ye do

Blessed be he to whom synne, is not imputed to Psal .31.

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Neither in his spirite is there founde dissimulacion

Suche shall inioye the heauenly ioyes, knowinge no kynd of woo

But haue the fruicion of Goddes sight, the lyghte of oure saluacion

And aboue all-thinge to imbrace, Gods eternall veritie

Which vnto a Christen man, there is nothing so acceptable

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For-as-moche as in it / is contayned syncerely

The dewtie of all persons, a doctrine most profytable

And in especiall to this, we must be agreable

To loue God aboue all-thinge, this is the chief foundacion

And oure neygbours as our-selfe, thus shall we withoute fable

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Receyue at the hande of God, the lyght of our saluacion.

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Let vs be thankefull to our God, for his etern verite

With which he hath moste plenteously endewed our noble kynge

So that amonge all his affaires, he maye set forth goddes glorye

With no lesse zeale than he hathe done, sence his first begynninge

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I meane, Edward the sixt, ouer vs now rayninge

Right Inheritour by dissent, of this realme or dominion

That oute of his Princely harte, there maye dystyll and springe

Gods power and lyuely worde, the light of our saluacion.

Also for those good ladyes, of the same stock and lynage

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Mary and Elyzabeth, systers vnto his grace

The heauenly Lorde endewe them, vnto their last age

Euen as their noble father dyd, all Popery to deface

And Gods eternall Testament, alway to embrace

For there-in shall they learne, by the heauenly instigation

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To folow the frute of the spirite, and thereby to purchace

The Celestiall kyngdome, the lyght of our saluacion.

For the most honorable Councell, with my Lorde Protector

Which stryueth strongely with the enemyes of God night and daye

In his procedynges and doynges, the Lorde be his director

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With his holy spirite also / to rule their hartes alwaye

That thorowe their spirituall laboure / all Poperye maye decaye

And vtterly banyshed the lande / with Godly reformacion

Suppressinge all false doctrine / and to set suche a staye

That Goddes worde maye increace / the lyght of our saluacion.

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And that it may please the (O God) to illumine the spiritualtie

As Bysshoppes and all ministers / with knowledge and vnderstandinge

Of thy most blessed worde / to set it forth with synceritie

And vnfaynedly folowe / both in doctrine and lyuinge

Fedinge Christes flocke / with the worde euerlastinge

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Not compelled thervnto / nor for hope of promocion

But for fauour which they beare to it aboue all-thinge 1. Pet .5

And thus shall Goddes worde florysshe / the lyght of oure saluacion.

Let Christ be preached the sauyour / wherein we maye trust

Rebuke euery synne / beware of Deuelysh Doctrine 1. Ti .4.

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Double-tongued men / in no wyse be they must

Not gyuen to fylthy lucre / nor to moche wyne 1. Tim .3

But hauynge the mysterye of Faythe / in conscyence pure and cleane

And or they presume to minister in the congregacion

They ought to be well proued, this doth sainte Paule determyne

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And then to fede vs with the truthe, the lyghte of our saluacion.

And euen as it is their dewtie, to rebuke synne

So is it our partes also, to ceace frome synne alwaye

Consyderinge Sathan was the fyrste / that dyd it begyn

Therfore be they our watchemen, as Ezechiell doth saye Eze .33.

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Now, yf we haue a warninge, and will fully decaye

Oure owne bloude vpon oure headdes, this is withoute negacion

Rede the texte and more playnly, se it there ye maye

Thus God wolde haue all men saued, the light of our saluacion.

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And for vs pore communs also, the Lorde be our ouer_sear

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That aboue all we maye desyre, peace and quiet rest

Both of soule and body, for that do we require

So shall we prosper in all goodnes, and God pleased best

And at the last to be with Christ, this is our request

Whiche is the head of the faithfull and Christian congregation

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Receyuinge there a kyngdome, euer to haue rest

In ioye and blysse withoute ende, there to haue oure saluacion.

AMEN.

Iames .i. †Euery good gyft / and euerye perfyt gyfte is frome aboue, and commeth downe frome the father of light.

Prouerb .ii. For it is the Lorde that gyueth wysdome / out of his mouthe commeth knowledge and vnderstandinge.

Psalm .cxv. Not vnto vs (O Lord) not vnto vs, but vnto thy name gyue the prayse.

[1] Timothee .i. 1] O, C omit †To God onely / gyue the glory.

Quod, Peter_Moone.

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†Imprinted at Ippyswyche by me Ihon_Oswen.

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