A Reformed Catholike

THE AVTHOR TO THE Christian Reader.

BY a Reformed Catholike, I vnderstand any one that holds the same necessarie heades of religion vvith the Romane Church: yet so, as he pares off and reiects all errours in doctrine vvhereby the said religion is corrupted. Hovv this may be done, I haue begunne to make some little declaration in this small Treatise: the intent whereof is to shevve howe neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of religion: and wherein we must for euer dissent.

My purpose in penning this small discourse is threefold. The first is, to confute all such Politikes as holde and maintaine, that our religion and that of the Romane Church differ not in substance, and consequently that they may be reconciled: yet my meaning is not here to condemne any Pacification that tends to perswade the Romane church to our religion. The second is, that the papists which thinke so basely of our religion, may be wonne to a better liking of it: when they shall see how neare we come vnto them in sundrie points. The third, that the common protestant might in some part see and conceiue the point of difference betvveene vs and the Church of Rome: an◊ knovv in what manner and hovv far forth, vve condemne the opinions of the said Church.

I craue pardon for the order vvhich I vse, in handling the seuerall points. For I haue set them downe one by one, as they came to minde, not respecting the laws of methode. If any Papist shall say, that I haue not alleadged their opinions aright, I ansvver that their bookes be at hand, and I can iustifie what I haue said.

Thus crauing thine acceptation of this my paines, and wishing vnto thee the increase of knowledge and loue of pure and sound religion, I take my leaue and make an ende.

And I heard another voyce from heauen say, Goe out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sinnes, and receiue not of her plagues.

IN the former chapter S. Iohn sets down a description of the whore of Babylon, and that at large as he sawe her in a vision described vnto him. In the sixteenth verse of the same chapter, he foretells her destruction: and in the three first verses of this 18. chapter, he goeth on to propound the said destruction yet more directly and plainly; withall alleadging arguments to prooue the same, in all the verses following. Now in this fourth verse is set downe a caueat seruing to forewarne all the people of God, that they may escape the iudgement p. 2which shall befall the whore: and the wordes containe two parts: a commandement, and a reason. The commandement, Come out of her my people, that is, from Babylon. The reason, taken from the euent least ye be partakers, &c. Touching the commandement, first I will search the right meaning of it, and then set downe the vse thereof and doctrine flowing thence. In historie therefore are three Babylons mentioned: one is, Babylon of Assyria standing on the riuer Euphrates, where was the confusion of languages, and where the Iewes were in captiuitie: which Babylon is in Scripture reproched for Idolatry and other iniquities. The second Babylon is in Egypt standing on the riuer Nilus, and it is now called Cayr; of that mention is made 1. Pet. 5. v. 13. (as some thinke) though indeede it is as likely and more commonly thought, that there is meant Babylon of Assyria. The third Babylon is mysticall, whereof Babylon of Assyria was a type and figure; and that is Rome, which is without question here to be vnderstood. And the whore of Babylon, as by all circumstances p. 3may be gathered, is the state or regiment of a people that are the inhabitants of Rome and appertaine thereto. This may be prooued by the interpretation of the holy Ghost: for in the last verse of the 17. chapter the woman that is the whore of Babylon is said to be a citty which raigneth ouer the kings of the earth: now in the daies when S. Iohn penned this booke of Reuelation, there was no citie in the world that ruled ouer the kings of the earth but Rome;

p. 3it then beeing the seate where the Emperour put in execution his Imperiall authoritie. Againe in the seuenth verse shee is saide to sit on a beast hauing seuen heades and ten hornes which seuen heads be seuen hills, v. 9. whereon the woman sitteth, and also they be seuen kings. Therfore by the whore of Babylon is meant a citie standing on seuen hills. Now it is well knowne, not onely to learned men in the Church of God, but euen to the heathen themselues, that Rome alone is the citie built on seuen distinct hills, called Caelius, Aventinus, Exquilinus, Tarpeius or Capitolinus, Viminalis, Palatinus, Quirinalis. Papists to p. 4helpe themselues, doe alledge that old Rome stood on seuen hills, but nowe is remooued further to the plaine of Campus Martius. I answer, that howsoeuer the greatest part of the citie in regard of habitation be not nowe on seuen hills, yet in regard of regiment and practise of religion it is: for euen to this day vpon these hills are seated certaine Churches and Monasteries & other like places where the Papal Authoritie is put in execution: and thus Rome beeing put for a state and regiment; euen at this day, it standes vpon seuen hills. And though it be come to passe that the harlot in regard of her later daies euen changed her seate, yet in respect of her yonger times in which shee was bred and borne, shee sate vpon the seuen hills. Others, because they feare the wounding of their own heads, labour to frame these wordes to an other meaning, and say, that by the whore, is meant the company of all wicked men in the world wheresoeuer, the deuil being the head thereof. But this exposition is flat against the text: for in the second verse of the 18. chapter, shee is opposed to the kings of the earth with p. 5whome shee is said to commit fornication:) and in the last verse shee is called a citie standing on seuen hills and raigning ouer the kings of the earth (as I haue said,) & therfore must needes be a state of men in some particular place. And the Papists themselues perceiuing that this shift will not serue their turne, make two Romes, heathenish Rome, and that whereof the Pope is head: