terfeit holiness, and pharisaical devotion of the other party. The chief labourers in this harvest were Constantine, Egidius, and Varguius, all doctors, and sober, wise, and learned men, who by this kind of preaching procured to themselves many enemies, but, above all others, Arias was the most spightful and malicious; yet he carried it so cunningly that he still kept up his reputation with these men ; but it was not long before he discovered himself, and that upon this occasion. There was one Ruzius, a learned man, questioned before the inquisitors for something that he delivered in a sermon about the controversies in religion; the inquisitors appointed him a day of hearing; and, two or three days before Arias met him, saluted him courteously, and discoursed famili arly with him; then did he pump out of him all those arguments wherewith he intended to defend himself before the inquisitors. When the day came, and Ruzius appeared, Arias went on that side where his opponents were, which much amazed Ruzius; and, in the disputation, Arias, being prepared, did so wittily enervate all his arguments, that Ruzius had nothing to say for himself, and so was fain to yield the cause, and Arias went away with the honour of the field, though he got it by treachery. Yet did this Arias, being of St. Isidore's monastery, preach so practically, that a great light began to dawn in that dark place; for the whole scope of his sermons was to overthrow their profession; he taught them, that singing and saying of their prayers night and day was no service of God; that the Holy Scriptures were to be read and studied with diligence, whence alone the true service of God could be drawn, and which alone tells us the true obedience to his will; to the obtaining whereof we must use prayer as a means, proceeding as well from a sense and feeling of our own infirmities, as grounded upon a perfect trust and confidence in God.

By laying these foundations, through God's blessing, he began to make them out of love with their monkish superstition, and much provoked them to the study of the Holy Scriptures; besides also his sermons, he read daily a lecture upon Solomon's Proverbs very learnedly, and made application thereof with good judgment and discretion; also in private conference he did much good: the Lord also so ordered it in his wisdom, that he met with scholars that were very tractable, such as were not greatly wedded to their superstitions. And such was the force and might of God's election, that these few good seeds so fructified, that in the end they brought forth a great increase of godliness; for divers of the monks, that hereby had their consciences awakened and cleared, to see their former hypocrisy and idolatry, sought out for further instruction, and through God's mercy they light upon those preachers which taught the truth with more sincerity, of whom they learned the principles of pure and perfect religion; so that by degrees they left that evil opinion which they had formerly conceived against the Lutherans, and were desirous to read their books: and God miraculously provided for them, they had all sorts of books brought them that were extant at that time, either in Geneva or Germany, whereby it came to pass, that there were very few in all that cloister but they had some taste of true religion and godliness; so that, instead of mumbling their mattens, they brought in divinity lectures, and vain fasting was

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turned into Christian sobriety; neither were any taught to be monkish, but to be sincerely and truly religious.

But considering, that, when this should be once known, they could not live in any safety, they resolved among themselves to forsake their nest, and to fly into Germany, where they might enjoy more safety of their lives, and freedom of their consciences; but how to get thither was all the difficulty; if one or two should go first, the rest would be exposed to danger; if many should go together, a thousand to one but they would be taken again, being to travel from the furthest part of Spain into Germany: yet upon debate they concluded, that they must all either speedily depart, or shortly be apprehended by the inquisitors, who now had got some inkling of the matter; and God, seeing them in this distress, shewed them a means how, under an honest pretence, a dozen of them might depart together within a month, and each of them betake himself a several way to Geneva; where they appointed, by God's assistance, all to meet within a twelvemonth: the rest, which were but young novices, were left behind; who yet not long after were so strengthened by God, that they endured the brunt of persecution when it came, three of them being burned, and divers others diversly pu. nished.

The aforementioned servants of Jesus Christ forsook that place where they lived in honour, ease, and plenty; and, by undertaking for Christ's sake a voluntary exile, exposed themselves to shame, ignominy, wants, yea, and were in continual danger of their lives also. And under God Arias was a great means of this, who by his ministry had first enlightened them with the knowledge of the truth; for which he was often complained of to the inquisitors, and was convened before them; where he so cunningly answered the matter, that he was still discharged. But this last apprehension, through the mercy of God, brought forth in him the fruits of true repentance; for he did so deeply and unfeignedly bewail and repent of his former withholding of the truth in unrighteousness, that, whereas he used to be exceeding fearful of the rack, he being brought to it, and upon it, with a marvellous constancy withstood the enemies of God's truth, and took up the inquisitors round. ly, withal telling them that he was heartily sorry, and did most ear. nestly repent him, for that he had wittingly and willingly in their presence impugned the truth, against the godly defenders of the same. Many other sharp rebukes he gave to the inquisitors, as often as he came to his answer: but at last he was brought forth, arrayed in their accus. tomed manner, upon the day of triumph'; at which time he also made a notable profession of his faith, and so was led from the stage to the stake with a merry and chearful countenance, where, by the notable example of his repentance at his death, he made satisfaction to the church of Christ for all his former, unfaithful, and bypocritical dealing with it; and so quietly slept in the Lord.

And thus you see what hath been the lot and portion of the church and people of God, viz. That through many tribulations they should enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Here you have a certain and infal lible mark of the true church of Christ, viz. To be hated and persecuted by the devil and his instruments.' Herein, as in a perspective, you

may look back upon the persecution of the church of Christ, by reason of that cruel Spanish inquisition.

Upon the whole, let us consider, if that religion should be set up amongst us, which allows of such cruelty and tyranny, whether or no we have not cause to fear the worst, and to prepare for it. Fore-warned, fore-armed.

APPENDIX.

The institution of this Spanish inquisition, at first, was not only ne cessary, as the condition of affairs then was, but exceeding laudable, had it been kept within the bounds, at first, intended; but, instead of being used on the Jews and Moors, it hath been turned on the Protestants, and that with such violence and extremity of torture, that it is counted the greatest tyranny, and severest kind of persecution under heaven; insomuch that many papists, who would willingly die for their religion, abhor the very name and mention of it, and, to the death, withstand the bringing in of this slavery amongst them. This was it which caused the irremediable revolt of the Low Countries, the greatest part of that nation, at the time of their taking arms, being Roman Catholicks; yet it is planted and established in Spain, and all Italy, Naples and Venice excepted; the management thereof is committed to the most zealous and rigorous friars in the whole pack; the least suspicion of heresy, as they call it, affinity or commerce with hereticks, reproving the lives of the clergy, keeping any books or editions of books prohibited, or discoursing in matters of religion, are offences sufficient; nay they will charge men's consciences, under the pains of damnation, to detect their nearest and dearest friends, if they do but suspect them to be herein culpable. Their proceedings are with great secrecy and seve rity for,

1. The parties accused shall never know their accusers, but shall be constrained to reveal their own thoughts and affections.

2. If they be but convinced of any error, in any of their opinions, or be gainsayed by two witnesses, they are immediately condemned.

3. If nothing can be proved against them, yet shall they with infinite tortures and miseries be kept in the house divers years, for a terror unto others.

And lastly, if they escape the first brunt, with many torments, and much anguish; yet the second question or suspicion brings death remediless. And, as for torments and kinds of death, Phalaris and his fellow. tyrants came far short of these blood-hounds.

The administration of this office, for the more orderly regulation and dispatch thereof, is distributed into twelve courts, or supreme tribunals, for the several provinces of Spain; no one depending upon another, but, in a sort subordinate, to the general inquisition, remaining in the court, near the king's person, which hath a kind of superintendency over those tribunals. In all which, those of the secular clergy sit as judges, the friars being only used as promoters, to inform the court, and bring more grist unto the mill of these inquisitors; every one hath the title of lord, and are a great terror to the neighbouring peasants. Certain it is, that,

by this means, the people of this kingdom are so kept under, that they dare not hearken after any other religion, than what their priests and friars shall be pleased to teach them; or entertain the truth, if it comes amongst them, or call in question any of those palpable and gross impostures, which every day are put upon them; for, by this means, the people of this kingdom have been, and still are, punctual followers of the church of Rome; and that too in the very errors and corruptions of it, taking up their religion on the pope's authority, and therein so tenacious or pertinacious, that the king doth suffer none to live in his domi. nions, which profess not the Roman Catholick religion; of which they have been, since the time of Luther, such avowed patrons, that one of the late popes, being sick, and hearing divers men to bemoan his approaching end, uttered some words to this effect: My life, said he, can nothing benefit the church; but pray for the prosperity of the king of Spain, as its chief supporter. And thus you have the original of the inquisition.

A COPY OF A LETTER SENT BY E. B.

AN EMINENT QUAKER IN LONDON,

TO THE POPE AT ROME,

Transmitted thence by Cardinal Bromio, to a Person of Quality in

England.

WITH A COPY OF THE FACULTIES

GRANTED TO JOHN LOCET, ENGLISHMAN AND PRIEST AT ROME, 1678,

For England, Scotland, and all the King's Dominions, Ireland excepted. Printed in 1680. Folio, containing two pages.

FRIEND,

AM moved, at this time, by the spirit, to speak to thee a few words, which plainly proceed from the light within, and may prove for thy edification and conversion. I will not revile thee, nor call thee antichrist, the whore of Babylon, the scarlet whore, nor the beast, the dragon, or the serpent, titles frequently bestowed on thee, and which if thou deservest thou best knowest: but I come to thee in the meekness, and the words of truth and light, to speak to thy soul, as thou art a man, and pretendest to have lordship and dominion over both the souls and bodies of men. But by what authority dost thou usurp the title of Papa, father of the whole church of Christ? Who first conferred that title on thee? Was it from above, or from men? Jesus, when he was on

earth, commanded Peter to feed his sheep, and, as a servant, to administer to them; he gave them no authority to slaughter them, or to fleece them, or to use any tyranny towards them. Thou pretendest to sit in Peter's seat; have a care, I warn thee, that it be not Satan's chair, for it is very doubtful if the man Peter was ever at Rome, and it is for certain he never had any authority there, and was neither lord, master, or pope, but a servant to the servants of Jesus Christ, which title thou also ownest in words when in deeds thou art as proud as Lucifer, and wouldest set thy feet on the necks of kings and princes, and proudly trample on the people of God. Thou pretendest to the spirit, shew it by thy works; to infallibility, but thou hast failed in thy doctrine, and in thy practices. I hold with thee, that the spirit is to be the guide of the saints, and that the spirit is infallible, and can never be mistaken; but it is not to be confined to thee, and to thy cardinals; for, I tell thee, our pope, George Fox, hath as much of the spirit as thou hast, and it is as infallible; and therefore thou oughtest not to ingross it to thyself, since it is communicated to all the children of God, and to all the saints that observe and hearken to the light within. But thou hast done wickedly; thou and all thy predecessors, for several hundreds of years, have been building a very Babel of confusion; thou hast made religion the devil's stalking-horse, to drive souls into his snares; thou hast set up the calves at Dan, and in the mount; thou hast polluted religion with idolatry, and made of it a mere piece of art, policy, and legerdemain; I tell thee plainly, thou hast set up a pompous outward religion, only full of gaudy outsides, without any truth or sincerity, and without the spirit, the light, or the life of God. Look, therefore, I advise thee, as a friend and brother, to the light within thee, which shineth in thy darkness, that will teach thee better things; thou canst not but see and know the vanity of thy religion, which thy sons and thy daughters follow; and thou thyself laughest at the ignorance and folly of most of thy adhe rents and followers, who zealously follow thy dictates, without sight or knowledge. Thou actest against thy own conscience, and against knowledge, and against light, which is the sin against the Holy Spirit; and for this thou shalt be condemned, unless thou timely repent thee of, and reform thy errors. It is to maintain thy pride, thy lust, and thy cove tuousness, that thou strivest to kick against the pricks, and to establish thy abominations in the sight of the Israel of God; but the day will come, and is even at hand, that thou and thy Ishmaelites, which are become the sons of the bond-woman of sin, shall be cast out into utter perdition. Thou and thy gor-bellied cardinals, that live like princes, and fatten themselves up in their abominable lusts, against the day of slaughter, are very unlike the apostles, and disciples of Christ, who taught and preached the word with pains, care, and travel, in meekness and poverty, from the true light and spirit shining within their souls; and, were the primitive Christians on earth again, to see the shop of confu sion, thou and thy hierarchy have made out of their simple spun thread, they would not be able to know or believe this to be any part of the religion they taught or begun, with so great labour, travel, pains, and martyrdom. Thus hast thou made all their labours of little or no effect; and still takest care to keep poor souls in the snares of sin, and in the