no when he would perswade the world that we beleue that man hath free will to performe euen spiritual heauenly things without the grace of God In the same page and very next line he entreateth the Rhemists in like manner where he citeth these words of theirs Men beleue not but of there owne free will True it is they say so but they exclude not in those wordes Gods grace as moste iniuriously he chargeth them alleadging their words for that purpose for els where they acknowledge that Gods grace and free will must both concurre 2. Cor. 3. in ver 5. pag. 447. Beside the better to infame them he hath corrupted the sentence chopping of the last words which be these August lib. 1. ad Simplicianum q. 2. so that the charg of heresy or error toucheth S. Augustin from whom those words be drawne Mr. Rogers without all scruple cutteth those away to make his slaunder the more colourable against the Rhemists not hauing any list to quarrell with S. Augustin Pag. 65. S. Francis quoth he attayned vnto the perfection of holines and could not synne at all A most iniurious slaunder In the margent he may seeme to quote somethinge to the ignorant sor iustification of his bold assertiō but there is nothing saue a latin sentece which in Englishe is this Wilt thou come to the toppe or perfection attend to the life and manners of Blessed Francis but these words proue not that he could not synne and who is the author of them none is here named at all Is not this great sincerity of Mr. Rogers to vent out such an egregious vntruth and then to cousin his ignorant Reader with a quotation of his owne which yet proueth not that for which it is alleadged Pag. 97. Speaking of the Popes he enrolleth diuers of them for heretikes Some quoth he haue bene heretikes For Siricius Calixtus Leo 9. Paschalis condemned the marriage of Priests A notorious vntruth proceeding from a soule insected with heresy Let Mr. Rogers name is he can any old approued father or later writer not tainted with his leuin that euer condemned S. Siricius for an heretike For if it be heresy to condemne the marriage of Priests then was the auncient and holy Councell of Carthage heretikes nay then were their forefathers yea and the Apostles them selues heretikes yf Concil Carth. 2. can 2. we may beleue them It doth please vs all saith that Councell that Bishoppes Priests and deacons and such as handle the Sacraments being keepers of chastity should abstaine them selues from wiues that what the Apostles taught and antiquity it self hath kept we also should obserue And if it please him to reade Bels 12. 13. vntruths in this treatise he shall finde other authenticall authorities for the single life of the clergye yea euen by the testimony of his owne dere brethren the Lutherans of Magdeburge which being so I make no doubt but that the discreet Reader will rather condemne this moderne Minister of a notable vntruth then so many worthy fathers of the Primatiue Church for heretikes Pag. 102. He slaundereth vs most palpably as though we taught this doctrine viz that The Church hath power to chaunge the Sacramēts ordained euen by Christ himself we vtterly deny it what euidence doth he bring to conuince vs He quoteth in the margent Concil Trid. ses 5. cap. 2. where no such thing is to be foūd He must giue vs leaue to suspect that he vsed art in setting downe the quotation when the thing is most false which he obiecteth against vs. The place he meaneth is Ses 21. cap. 2. where the Councell deliuereth this doctrine Praeterea declarat c. Furthermore the Councell declareth that this power hath alwaies bene in the Church that it might in the dispensation of the Sacramentes their substance remayning sound and vntouched appoint or change those things which it should iudge to be more expedient for the profit of those that receiue them or that veneration which is due to the Sacraments according to the varietie of things tymes and places The Councell in expresse termes affirmeth that the substance of the Sacraments can not be altered and consequently that the Sacraments ordained by Christ can not be changed which yet Mr. Rogers directly contrary to their owne words fathereth vpon them Pag. 112. Som write quoth he as Busgradus that yf the Pope beleue that there is no life to come as som Popes haue done we must beleue it as an article of our faith VVho this Busgradus is I knowe not and as little where the place is to be founde neither am I like by Mr. Rogers for he neither telleth the one nor quoteth the other It is not vnlike but that he is one of his Suersbies some odde compannion or other which he hath in store for such holy purposes The vntruth is so abhominable that it smelleth before God and man Himself must father it vntill he can name some knowne Catholike for author thereof which he will neuer doe before the wordls ende Pag. 115. Yf S. Hierom quoth he had bene away at Chalcedon that Councell had erred Then surely did it erre seing certaine it is that he could not be there hauinge ended his daies before vnder Honorius the Emperour The authority of Iewell Prosper in Chronico anno Christi 422. who died most miserably in our memorie whom he quoteth is to light for so waighty a matter No maruail if Mr. Rogers runne into many vntruths yf he followeth such a lying master as was of rare note for that qualitie Pag. 116. By Councels quoth he the Traditions and bookes of foolishe men haue bene made of Ses. 4 decret equall authority with the word of God as by the Councell of Trent He meaneth the Histories of Toby Iudith and the Machabees c. as I suppose and not all there admitted for Canonicall least he sweepe away the whole Bible And were not I beseche him these bookes authorised also for Canonicall by the third Councel of Carthage twelue hundred yeares ago in which glorious S. Augustin Can. 47. was present VVill he also lightely reiect this Councell as Popishe and condemne them also for authorising the bookes of foolishe men it were plaine dealing I confesse but far better manners rather so to censure himself for contradictinge such a learned auncient and venerable Synode Again shall the Apocalyps or Reuelation of S. Iohn be the booke of a foolishe man because it was made Canonicall by the Councell of Trent and the third of Carthage For as the bookes of Toby and the Machabees were before doubted of by diuers and not ratified by the decree of any Councell before that of Carthage so was the Apocalypse of S. Iohn and therefore theire case is all one Furthermore be it that Mr. Rogers alloweth them not for Canonicall yet ought he not to terme them the bookes of foolishe men for then may we giue that name to all the bookes of the
to imploy his tyme so badly as with the touch of his creditt and perill of his owne soule to retale the vntruths of such grosse merchants In his fourth page thus he writeth Yea Arias Montanus a chief Papist in his Hebrew bible writeth in the forefromt and principall leaf of the booke There are added saith he in this edition the bookes written in Greeke which the Catholike Church following the Canon of the Hebrewes reckoneth amongest the Apocrypha The true sence of Arias Montanus words is corrupted either by Mr. Vdall or some other from whom he had them by foysting in diuers of their owne That learned man in the edition of the Antuerpiae ex osficina Christoph Plant. 1584. Hebrue Bible with the latin interlineall interpretation in the title page saith There are adioyned to this edition the bookes written in Greeke which are called Apocrypha He saith not they be Apocrypha but that they are so called by some that is the Iewes who exclude them from their Hebrue Canon which he had there sett◠forth That other addition viz which the Catholike Church following the Canon of the Hebrues reckoneth amongest the Apocrypha vpon which the force of his charge dependeth are not in Arias Montanus where Mr. Vdall had them himself best knoweth In fift page he writeth thus The Councell of Laodicea assured by a generall Councell in Trullo did sett downe the same Canon of the script urs Can. 59. which both the old Church had and our Church houldeth and commaundeth Ne aliqui c. that none besides be read and receiued in to authority How many things of note are comprised in these fewe lines against Mr. Vdall First he seemeth greatly to reuerence these two Councels which yet is but a copy of his countenance to delude the ignorant Reader for I doe not thinke that he will stande either to the one or the other though content he is to presse vs with their authority For example the Councell of Loadicea commaundeth Chrisme to be receiued after Can. 48. Can. 50. Baptisme and that the fast of lent be obserued neither of which I am sure pleaseth Mr. Vdall Likewise the Councell of Constantinople holden in Trullo alloweth of images and their veneration when it calleth them imagines venerabiles venerable images which I make no doubt nothing pleaseth his tast The same Councell forbiddeth Can 82. Can. 6. Can. 58. Bishoppes Priests Deacons and Subdeacons to marry wiues after taking of Orders and commaundeth Bishoppes not to dwell with their wiues which they marryed before they entered into the higher Orders of the Clergy which seuerity of theirs must vtterly dislike him as being in his opinion contrary to the word of God Secondly this Councell of Constantinople in Trullo is of no authority as in which the Pope neither by him self nor by his Legates was present and Pope Sergius who then liued Lib. de sex aetatibus in Iustiniano did disanulle that erraticall Synode as venerable Bede writetht with what conscience then can Mr. Vdal call that agenerall Councell and vrge the authority thereof as authenticall when as not only we but also the Protestants vtterly reiect it albeit in this point we for our parts see no cause to refuse it Thirdly true it is not that the Councell of Laodicea setteth downe the same Canon of the scriptures which the Church of England alloweth for the Apocalypse or Reuelation of S. Iohn is omitted Fourthly this Councell forbiddeth the readinge of others not there expressed yet the Church of England readeth the histories of Iudith and Toby in their publike assemblies which Mr. Vdall I suppose will hardly shewe howe it agreeth with the decree of that Councell Fiftly he hath corrupted the Councell by addinge somwhatof his owne for these words and receiued into authority be not there found VVould any euer haue thought that so many things could haue bene notedagainst him in so small a sentence If Mr. Vdall hath viewed the Originall hardly can he be excused from malice yf he hath not let him beshrewe their fingers vpon whose creditt he committed them to writinge In the same fift page he maketh vs to allowe the fourth booke of Esdras most vntruly and that contrary to his owne knowledge when as in the second page he confesseth that we account both the third and fourth of Esdras for Apocrypha Page 51. To eneruat the force of generall Councels thus he writeth Bellarmine reiecteth wholy seauen generall Lib. 1. de Concil cap. 6. and not lib. 10. cap. 60. as Mr. Vdal quoteth it Councels That learned Prelate is iniuriousoy intreated for who would not thinke that Mr. Vdall spake of lawfull and true generall Councels as though such were reiected by Bellarmine which is nothing so for he speaketh of certaine detestable conuenticles assembled by the Arrians and other like perfidious heretikes which they called generall Primum generale c. The first general Councell saith Bellarmine in the opinion of the Arrians which is reiected is the Councell of Antioch c. Ys these be detested by Protestants also for vnlawfull and wicked why is Cardinall Bellarmine singled out as though he alone refused them or the matter so cunningly deliuered as though they were reuerenced by Mr. Vdall and Protestants for lawfull generall Councels This is not to deale sincerly and to seeke truth with a pure and vpright heart vnlesse he be so carelesse as to receiue all vpon the report of others which yet can not wholy be excused Thus much shall serue at this tyme for by Gods asistance I intend hereafter more to lay open the manifould maladies of his treatise and to shewe with what weake engines he laboureth to vndermine the impregnable grounds of the Catholike Churche God graunte that the happy newes of his conuersion may crosse these my designements wherof I see no cause to dispaire if truly zeale of religion and desire of saluation which so much he would seme to thirst after hath embouldened him being a lay man to launch into the depth of these mysticall matters Let him not rely too much vnto those from whō he receiueth the substāce of that he writeth least together with the losse of his reputation he incurre also the daunger of eternall damnation and yf vpon this small warning he findeth himself to haue bene deceiued wisdom would he should more carefully looke how he trusteth where he hath bene abused with greater diligence both to examine his owne writers and also to reade our namely Cardinall Bellarmine where he shall finde the most of his obiections answeared as the Catholique author of that letter which he hath putte downe in his booke truly enformeth him To which that giueth no satisfaction alleadged by Mr. Vdall for answeare to witt that Bellarmins reasons are by the learned of his side sufficiently handled and replied vnto when as the most of the arguments in his booke be answeared by Bellarmine and nothinge doe I finde brought by Mr.
Much more might be sayd to the same purpose but it shall not neede when as the thinge is so cleere that our mortall enimies confesse it for the Magdeburgian historiographers after relation how the Roman Legates with-stood the audacious attempt of Anatolius and his confederates write thus VVherfore the iudges of the Synod decreed that the Centur. 5. col 949. principall primacye and honour was to be left vnto the Bishop of Rome and that notwithstanding somethinge was to be giuen to the Church of Constantinople because that city was adorned with the dignitye of the Empire and was called newe Rome that it might haue power to ordayne Metropolitanes in the dioceses of Asia Pontus and Thrace yet so that it might be lawfull for the Metropolitanes of euery prouince to ordayne Bishops This was that dignity and equalitye of priuiledge which they desired which notwithstandinge they obteyned not Pope Leo wholy irritating that decree as hath bene saide Thus haue we not only conuinced Bell of lying and corruption but so far prâ—uayled against him that by meanes of that decree by which he would ouerthrowe the superioritye of the church of Rome we haue abundantly proued the contrary and so we may say with the Prophet The arrowes of litle ones are become their woundes Psal 63. Neuer had gallant Minister worse fortune for not only his blowe is still defeated but his weapon disgratiously beaten backe vppon his owne face What sayth he now to the famous Councell of Chalcedon The Popes authoritye maugre his malice is cleerely proued out of that as hath bene sayd and so nothinge found there that can relieue his cause but such Vnguentum baculinum as he list not to meddle with al and that not only touching the Popes superiority wherof we haue spoken sufficiently but also other matters for example that Councell decreed thus Virginem c. It is not lawfull for a virgine Sessi 16. â—â—n 16. which hath consecrated her selfe to God and likwise a Monke to contract Matrimonye But if they be found doing any such thinge let them be excommunicated Did Bell for all that neuer in his whole life heare of any such creatures that remayne so far from being excommunicated that they be highly commended as the principall aduauncers of the Gospell and doth he not knowe a deare freind of his that hath written See Bels suruey pag. 231. 235. c. in defence of such wicked and filthy wedlocke Gladly then would I be enformed how his Ministershippe can eyther defend such sacrilegious wretches from the force of that Canon or his friende from beinge opposite to the doctrine of that Councell To deny the authoritye of that Sinode which him selfe vrgeth calling it a famous Councell were a base shift and nothing becomming his grauity and constancy but rather the leuitie of some mutable minister especially that being authorised by Act of Parlament which for certayne reasons he must defende but how in this case God knoweth that knowes all things THE VII VNTRVTH IT followeth immediatly in Bels booke Eightly the Councell of Nice prescribed limites as well to the Bishop of Rome as to other Patriarches This is a manifest vntruth and that by the iudgment of any that is indifferent The place he meaneth Can. 6. for he noteth none is in the sixt canon in these wordes Let auncient customes be kept throughout Egipt Libia and Pentapolis that the Bishop of Alexandria haue power of all these because the Bishop of Rome hath that custome Out of which wordes so far of it is that the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome is confined within any limits that her ample and vniuersall superioritye is confirmed for nothinge is here determined concerning the church of Rome but that is made the rule of other churches as Pope Nicholas the first noteth who also affirmeth Epist. ad MichaëleÌ„ that the Nicene Councell appoynted nothing about the Romane church because the authoritye therof was not from men but from God In the former vntruth diuers times was it mentioned our of Pope Leo as also out of his legates in the Councell of Chalcedon that the Grecians went against the Nicene Canons in their presumpreous attempt But to make the matter most clere to wâ—tt that the Councell of Nice did not limitt the Popeâ— iurisdiction but contrary wise allowed and approued nis supreame authoritye beside the restimony of Pope Nicholas alread alledged I will demonstrate the same out of the Chalcedon Synode which Bell calleth a famous Councell as it was in deede and therfore worthyly admitted by our country In the sixtene session Paschasinus the Popes legate cited this very Canon for the Popes Primacye for after the iudge had sayd Let both sides propound Concil Chalced. Act. 16. canons â—t followeth in these words The reuerend man Paschasinus Bishop and vicar of the Apostolike sea recited The sixt canon of the three hundred and eightene holy fathers That the Church of Rome hath alwayes had the These wordes are more clere in â—hâ— Nicene Councel â—t selfe See a little before Primacye But let Egipt hould that the Bishop of Alexandria haue power of all because the Bishop of Rome hath this custome Behold Paschasinus proueth the Popes supremacye out of that canon from which Bell would deduce the contrary And the Grecian Bishops were so far from contradicting this which no question they would had the canon bene plaine to the contrary senâ—e as the minister maâ—ntayneth that their silence confessed it to be most true Yea the iudges them selues though desirous to aduance the dignitye of Constantinople yet were they so ouercome with the light of truth shining in that canon that vppon the former euidence they sayd VVeperfectly perceiue all primacy and principall Act. 16. honour according to the canons to be kept for the Archbishop of old Rome most beloued of God The true meaning â—nertore of the canon is that the Bishope of Rome before the definition of any Councell vsed to committ the gouernement of Egipt Libia and Pentapolis to the Bishop of Alexandria as Pope Nicholas the first doth expound it and is plaine out of the Councell of Chalcedon which being so Bell remayneth guilty of an vntruth and the Popes eminent authority confirmed by that very canon which he brought to ouerthrowe it What an vnlucky hand hath this minister that striking at others still woundeth him selfe THE VIII IX AND X. VNTRVTHES AFter Bell had produced many arguments against the Popes soueraigne superioritye he maketh a recapitulation of them all but so handsomly that for their better grace he doth florish them ouer with new lyes To stande vpon one that hath a couple of followers Fourthly quoth he seing Polycarpus S. Polycrates S. Ireneus and S. Ciprian with many Bishops of Europe Asia and Affrica contemned the Bishop of Rome his decrees and supposed supremacye That S. Polycarpus contemned the Popes decrees is most false and vntruly collected out of his former argument in
Vdal to insringe his solutions which giueth me iust cause to suspect that he is with the preconceipted sincerity of his owne doctors carryed away into error and so looketh little into the Originals which if he did he could not but finde that which he pretendeth to seeke for if he shutte not his eies against the truth as he professeth he will not VVhich that he may doe I shall not forgett to cōmend him to his mercy who desireth not the death of a sinner but that all should com to the knowledg of his name But yf it shall sal out that he will stil proceede forward in his fourmer course yet I would wishe him in writinge to abstayne from all biting and bitter words which somtyme he breaketh into that the quarrell of God may not he prosecuted like the quarrels of this world but with that modesty which becometh the prosessors of diuinity and religion And for my part sory I am that Bell hath so far giuen the raynes to his passion as with such virulent termes and insupportable insolency to cast forth his gantlet of defiance and to insult against the whole Church of God which hath made my stile before in the Preface more stirring and quicke then otherwise I would or thought conuenient least we might be condemned of cowardize or seare to the preiudice of truth which so often and so opprobriously he obiecteth against vs. Thus much of these matters now it remaineth to encounter Bell and to examin and make triall what substantiall stuffe is contayned in his Triall of the newe religion B. C. BELS TRIAL EXAMINED CENSVRED AND REFVTED The Proeme ENtending to note the principall vntruthes of Bels Pamphlet the principall part and fundamentall substance thereof I haue thought goode to take my worke orderly before me first to salute his Epistle and see what holsome stuffe he presenteth in that to his Patrones Bells Epistle Dedicatory THE 1. VNTRVTH THE Minister standeth vppon coales till his fingers be at worke and his penne busied about his harts delight and therfore not to loose any time hefalleth roundly to the matter presenting his patrons with a tricke of his occupation in his very first entrance His wordes be these The visible church quoth he as writeth Egesippus Egesip apud Eusebium host lib. 3. cap. 32. remayned a virgin free from all heresies and corruptions during the lise of the Apostles that is to say about one hundred yeares after Christ to which time S. Iohn the Euangelist was liuinge But after the death of the Apostles sayth he errors by litle and litle crept into the church as into a voyd and desert house This assertion is dolefull ynoughe and yet very profitable against all Popish Recusants of our time as who are not ashamed impudently to auouch that after so many hundred yeares from Christes ascension there hath bene no error at all in their Romish Babilon This collection will proue dolefull ynough to him selfe and not very profitable to the congregation by that time we haue sifted his words and examined the authoritye alleadged for it is powdreed with lies and iugling tricks thicke and three-sould For first if he meaneth any such error as may stand with the integritie of the Catholike faith most false it is that we deny any such error may creepe into the Church for we willingly confesse that Papias S. Ireneus and some others held the error of the Chiliastes as him selfe mentioneth straight after that S. Ciprian and diuers others with him were carryed a way in to the error of rebaptization but yet notwithstandinge these their errors they were true members of the Catholicke church seing that in questions newly springing vp error may be incurred but not allwayes heresy which importeth not only an error in the vnderstandinge but also malice and obstinacie in the will by contemninge the Church her decree and determination But if by error he meaneth heresie as no question he doth both because he saith that during the liues of the Apostles the Church was free from all heresies and corruptios but after their death error by litle and litle crept in and also for that he termeth our Church Romish Babilon or as he speaketh in his Suruey where he handleth the very same matter whorish Babylon by which Page 342. wordes it is plaine that he meaneth hereticall errors for such only maketh our Church Babylon and to forsake her true spouse Christ and to comit spirituall fornication by cleauing to newe damnable and hereticall opinions and lastly for that otherwise he proueth nothing against vs the scope of his booke being to shewe that our religion is not old but newe as being far different from the pure faith of the Apostles This then being his meaning most false it is I say that any such errors crept into the Church I meane with the corruption of the Churches sincere doctrine though I willingly graunt that diuers of the Church haue by heresie falne from true doctrine as namely the minister him selfe eyther in the Apostles time or shall doe vntill the worldes end and that by the singular prouidence of Christ who promised that hell gates should not preuayle Math. 16. against his Church and many like places to that purpose might be alledged But what say we to the authoritye of Egesippus who liued straight after the Apostles cited by Bell for iustification of that he affirmed Nothing els but that he belieth both Egesippus and also Eusebius whome he quoteth in the third booke of his history cap. 32. as the relator of those wordes of Egesippus Reade the place he that please no such thing shall there be found nor the name of Egesippus so much as once mentioned The minister was not content to Bels epistle dedicatorie borrowed frō his suruey pag. 341. 342. present his Patrons with a cast paragraffe of his Suruey makinge it the begininge of his Epistle for almost two pages together but he must also abuse both them and others with a notorious vntruth of his owne fatheringe that vppon Eusebius which is not there to be found Neyther can this dealing of his proceede from other roote then meere malice for immediatly after this sentence cited out of Eusebius in the 32. chapter of his third booke he produceth out of the 33. chapter of the same booke how Papias and Ireneus were infected with the error of the Chiliastes and that very truly which sheweth that he perused the place And in his Suruey the foresayd Pag 341. 342. places be found in like manner alleadged the one truely and the other most falsely Can this procedinge of his stewe from any other sinke then the filthy puddle of his owne corrupt conscience Beside this who knoweth not acquainted any thinge in antiquitie that Simon Magus set his heresie abroach in the Apostles time and before the death of S. Peter as Eusebius recounteth whose Lib. 2. hist cap. 12. death was long before the death of S. Iohn
who knoweth not that some â— his writings be erroneous though not errorneouâ— in that sence which Bell pretendeth and so hâ— sayth much but to litle purpose vnlesse it be tâ— shew with what facilitye he can cite authorâ— vntruely making them to iustifie that to which their wordes can not be drawne The premisses duly pondered the prudent reader can not but vnderstand that I haue dealt frendly with Bell noting him only for one vntruth when as diuers might very well haue runne vppon the reckoninge The rest of his Epistle conteyneth litle els but a recapitulation of the cheife contents of his bookes or a bundle of vntruthes trussed vp together which must be examined in the chapters following only here wheras according to his great modesty he sayth that he will sett before the eyes of all indifferent readers as clerely as a glasse of christall the originall and dayly excrements of Popery I can not but add that the excrements of the Catholicke church be principally such Apostates as Luther Bucer Peter Martir and many more that forsooke their professioÌ„ of chastitie a religioê° life and the better to lay the foundations of the new gospell betoke them selues to the mortification of new wiues drawne out of Nunneries or other places where they could best meete with such kind of cattle Had it not bene for these and such like other excrements of ours the congregation would haue had poore increments and hardly would they haue bene furnished with Apostles had not our church voyded forth such Apostates Veryly he might with far lesse harme to his soule employ his talent by setting downe their originall and procedinge then he doth in discouering the beginning encreasing of Popery especially Bel borne at Rascal in Yorkeshire if he would remember an old acquaintance of his one Sir Thomas of Rascall that excrementicall companion for I knowe not a man in the parish that can better performe it beinge furnished with a rude rusticall stile fitt for such a subiect and one that hath perfect intelligence of his heauenly conuersation and righteousnes of life The counts being cast and the summe sett downe what hath he gott by his voluntary error to degorge his malice against vs for his disposition considered and the qualitye of the fault I can not thincke otherwise or what hathe he gayned by his grosse girdinge and filthy fleeringe at the excrements of Poperie Bels I. chapter Of this name and worde Pope THE II. VNTRVTH DIsputing of this name Pope and shewing out of S. Ciprian and others that it was giuen in old tyme to other Bishops and not only to the Bishoppe of Rome he addeth these words But aster that the Emperour Iustinianus had in his legall constitutions named the Bishoppe of Rome Pope the arrogant Bishopps of Rome began to challenge the name as if it were proper to them alone An vntruth why did he not name those arrogant Bishops of Rome that challenged the propertie of this title or some author of creditt that reporteth it And what reason had the Bishops of Rome to lay hold vppon the Emperors words rather then the words of the generall Councell of Chalcedon which was many yeares before in which he was called by that name as shal straight be handled This therfore must remaine for one vntruth vntill he can better discharge him selfe One thinge I must here add which wil litle please the minister and that is albeit the name Pope was attributed also to other Bishops yet was it in such speciall manner giuen to him that it did sufficiently declare his supreame authoritye ouer all other which appeareth first because when any was called Pope without further addition it was vnderstoode only of the Bishoppes of Rome as is euident out of the Councell of Chalcedon where it Act. 16. is sayd The most blessed and Apostolicke man the Pope doth command vs this thinge Secondly because the Bishoppe of Rome was called Pope of the whole church as we reade in the same Councell where Leo is called Pope of the vniuersall church and Liberatus affirmeth Act. 16. In Breuiario cap. 22. that there is no Pope ouer the church of the whole world but the Bishoppe of Rome Thirdly because he is called the Pope or father of generall Councels and of the whole world but he calleth not other Bishops Popes or fathers but his brethren or sonnes as is apparant out of an epistle of Pope Damasus to the Easterne Bishoppes recited by Theodoretus and in the Epistle of the Councell of Lib. 5. c. 10. Chalcedon to Pope Leo. To this may be added that seing Pope signifieth father as Bell according to the truth confesseth it followeth that the Bishoppe of Rome was in old time reputed superiour to all in that he was called the Father of fathers for Steuene Bishoppe of Carthage writinge to Pope Damasus in the name of three Councells celebrated in Affricke giueth him this title To Pope Damasus our Epis ad Damrsam most blessed Lord exalted with Apostolical dignity the holy father of fathers And this may be the reason that albeit sometime in the Primitiue Church the name was also giuen to other Bishopps yet seing in foresayd manner it agreed peculiarly to the Bishoppe of Rome as declaring his soueraigue authoritye ouer others the former custome ceased and so it remayned alone to him THE III. VNTRVTH VVIth the former he hath copled an other saying thus And so in processe of time the Bishopps of Rome were solely and only called Popes and of late yeares Our holy father and His holynes is his vsuall name A grosse vntruth for the name of his holines is not of late yeares beinge long since giuen to the Pope by Iustinian the Emperour and Theodoretus writinge to In epis ad Ioaâ— 2. Pope Leo vseth the same phrase Obsecro vestram sanctitatem I besech your Holynes sayth that learned and venerable Epist. ad Leonem Papam father and the Councell of Chalcedon in their letters to the same Pope Leo inuaighing against Dioscorus the heretike that presumed to excommunicate the Pope sayth thus Etpost haec omnia Epist. ad Lenem â—apam And after all these things he did also extend his madnes against him to whom the custody of the vineyard was committed by our Sauiour that is against thy Apostolike holines And if S. Ciprian and S. Augustin were called most blessed Popes as Bell here confesseth can any maruaile that the title of holines should be giuen to their superior and yet doth he neuer make scruple to say that it is a title only of late yeares making it to haue sprung vp long after that the title of Pope was appropriated as he would haue it to the Bishoppe of Rome which appropriation as he saith was about the yeare of Christ 528. and so the name of his holines much later and yet is that title more auncient then the sayd yeare of Christ 528. as is euident out of Theodoretus and
the Councel of Chalcedon both which were long time before the sayd time as Bell will not denye THE IIII. VNTRVIH PRosecuting his former matter he sayth But this Emperour that is Iustinian liued after Christ his birth about 528. yeares Ergo this pointe of Poperie is a rotten ragge of the new religion In which words he venteth out an vntruth for be it that it was then appropriated to the Pope as he sayth yet how can it be new which by his owne confession was vsed an eleuene hundred yeares agoe that is so many ages before the foundations of his religion were layd or the name of a Protestant heard of in the whole world I omitt here how many ecclesiastical names haue bene brought into the church as Homousios or Consubstantiall against the Arrians Incarnation against other heretikes the better by a new name to declare an auncieÌ„t article of faith Will Bell for al that call these words rotten raggs of a new religion He nauer dare offer it yet with no lesse reason may he doe it then he doth here the name of the Pope As for his rustical scoffinge the special grace of his writinge at the sylly people for reputing the word Pope a most sacred thing though ignoraÌ„t as he saith what is meÌ„t by the name I say no more but that he may with like grace runne vppon the name of Iesus Christ for thousands amoÌ„gst the Protestants which reuerence theÌ„ for sacred can tel as litle what is vnderstoode by it as we can by the name of the Pope But we are beholding to Bell that he vouch safeth to explicate the originall of that name telling vs that it signifieth Father and for that after so terrible a persecution of those few letters as though some misterye of iniquitie had lurked in them in such sort that in the time of Henry the eight it was rased out of all bookes and after many spightfull termes and most odius conceipts framed in the minds of the vulgar sort concerning that name he hath discharged it from all suspition of secret venim assuring good people that it is indede venerable as that which was giuen to most holy and auncient Bishopps and might in his opinion be giuen to him selfe could he haue the lucke to finger that dignitye Thus much of the Popes name now we are come to talke of his office and authoritye Bels II. Chapter Of the Popes superoiall power THE V. VNTRVTH TO season the begining of his chapter with a litle of his mendacious powder he writeth thus Bonifacius Bishoppe of Rome and the third of that name aboue six hundred yeares after Christ obteyned of Phocas then Emperor of Rome that Rome should be the head of all churches Before which time no authenticall writer can be named who euer ascribed the headship and vniuersall gouernment of all churches to the church of Rome To conuince this manifest vntruth somethinge hath bene sayd in the precedent chapter but plentifully haue I proued the contrary in The doleful knell published not long since against his Ministership both Pag. 45. 46. c. out of other authorities as also by the confession of the Lutherane Centuristes his deere brethren and lastly out of his sweete selfe that more cannot be desired Somthinge also shall be sayd in the sequell his owne wordes ministring iust occasion and here I will adioyne a litle more In the Councell of Chalcedon Maximus Bishoppe of Antioch was Act. 7. confirmed by S. Leo the first Pope Iulius the first also restored Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria to his seate Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople and Marcellus Bishoppe of Ancyra depofed vinustly by an Easterne synode as writeth Sozomenus whole words be these For as much as the care of all did belonge to him for Lib. 3. cap. 7. the dignitye of his sea he restored to euery of them their church And a litle after Athanastus and Paulus doe returne to their seates and sent the letters of Tulius to the East Bels best and most spedy answere to these prooffes will be to say that he was superiour to the Patriarches and other Bishops but had not any authority ouer inferior ministers Alas poore soule to what pityfull straights hath he brought him selfe whiles vpoÌ„ zeale he lyeth for the credit of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ THE VI. VNTRVTH IN his arguments propounded against the superiority of the Bishoppe of Rome wherof afterward I meane more fully to entreat this is one Seauently the famous councel of Chalcedon gaue the Bishope of Constantinople equall authority with the Bishope of Rome in all ecclesiasticall affaires In which words is one vntruth cunningly couched for he calleth that here the decree of the Councell which was by the ambition of Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople effected in the absence of the Romane legates Yf Bell can proue that this surreptitious decree of the Easterne Bishopes was euer confirmed then were it some thinge which he bringeth But the Bishop of Rome his legates withstood that their indirect proceedinge pronouncing it to be contrary to the decrees of the Nicene Councel and Lucentius in particular Se the 16. Action spake confidently saying that the Apostolicke sea ought not to be abased in their presence with other notable wordes tendinge to the same purpose And Pope Leo him selfe in his Epistle to Anatolius did bitterly inueigh against him for this his presumption and going against the Nicene canons admonishing him also how his legates which in his stead wer presidents of the Councell did withstand that his vnlawfull attempt for which cause he disclaymeth vtterly for giuing his consent Far be it â—pist 53. quoth he from my conscience that so wicked a desire should be holpen with my labor and of all that minde not high things but consent to the humble and he giueth the reason because it were as he sayth to infringe the Canons of the Nicene Councell and to depriue the sea of Alexandria of beinge the second in dignitye and Antioch of beinge the third and all Metropolitane Bishops of their honour About the same matter he wrott also to the Emperour shewing his great dislike of Anatolius ambition putting him in minde what special fauour he had afforded him concerning his consecration insinuating playnly how he deserued to haue bene deposed for falling into the heresie of Eutiches and for beinge wickedly promoted by Dioscorus of Alexandria to be Bishoppe of Constantinople yet because he renounced his heresie at the entreaty of the Emperour the Pope dispeÌ„sed with him VVe sayth Pope Leo hauing respect to your fayth Epist. 54. and intercession whereas the beginings of his consecration were not sound by reason of them that did it desired rather to be gratious then iust to the end we might thereby by applying of remedies pacifie all stirres which the deuill had procured which things ought rather to haue made him modest then immoderate in the end he exhorteth the Emperour to labour about the repressing of his insolencie Endeuour
quoth he to doe that which becommeth Christian and royall piety to witt that the foresayd Bishoppe would be obedieÌ„t to the fathers haue regard to peace and not to thinke that it was lawfull for him to ordaine the Bishoppe of Antioch without any example against the decrees of Canons as he presumed which thinge we would not make void for the desire we haue to restore faith preserue peace Lastly writinge to the Empresse Pulcheria about the same argument he vtterly maketh voyd whatsoeuer Anatolius had cunningly caused to be decreed coÌ„cerning the Primacye of Constantinople VVe make Epist 55. voyd quoth he the consent of the Bishopps repugning to the rules of holy Canons established at Nice by the vnited piety of your fayth with vs and by the authoritye of the blessed Apostle Peter doe with our generall definition wholy frustrate and make of no effect Now to return to Bell I say that he ouerreacheth when he enfourmeth his reader that the famous Councell of Chalcedon gaue the Bishope of Constantinople equall authoritye with the Bishop of Rome in all ecclesiastical affaires for it cannot truly be called a decree of the Councel which was not confirmed by the head Should a Parlament in England make ten seuerall acts nine very good and beneficiall to the realme but one cleane opposite to former acts and preiudiciall to the soueraigne dignitye of his Maiestie wherevppon he confirmed the nine but the tenth he did vtterly irritate and make voyde would Bell call that an act of Parlament or could he with out an vntruth so terme it in true and good meaninge most certayne he could not what followeth I leaue to Bels collecting vaine But it may be he will say that the confirmation of the Councell belonged not to the Pope It is not possible that he dare offer it will he make Pope Leo so auncient for time so renoumed for vertue so famous for learning such a simple or arrogant creature as to send his legats to be Presidents of the Councell in his place to write vnto the Empresse how he did make frustrate that decree yf his authoritye had not bene certayne in that behalfe and so made him selfe a laughing stocke to the Empire and the whole world and would the Councell haue admitted of his legates or euer haue made suite to him for the confirmation of their decrees as they did when they wrote to him in this manner And we beseech thee say they honour our iudgment Act. 3. in fine with thy decrees and as we with willinge mindes haue agreed together in good things so thy highnes also would accomplish that for thy children which is conuenient which CeÌ„tur 4. â—ol 551. petition of theirs is also formally recorded by the Lutheranes of Magdeburge The good reader hath also further to note that this pride of Anatolius was so exorbitant that at length he gaue it cleane ouer excusing him selfe to Pope Leo as we reade in the letters of the same Pope which he wrote vnto Anatolius in which after he had giuen order about certayne things in the church of Constantinople an argument of his iurisdiction in that place he cometh to that excuse which Anatolius alleadged in his owne behaulfe for hauing laboured about the primacye of his owne church and writeth thus But as touching that synne Epist. 71. which you committed as you say by the persuasion of others concerninge the encrease of authoritye your charity should more effectually and sincerely haue washed away if that which could not be attempted without your likinge you had not layd only vppon the counsell of the clergie for as offence is committed by giuing of bad counsel so likewise by giuing of badd consent But it is very gratefull to me most derely beloued brother that your charitye professeth that it doth now displease you which ought not then to haue liked you The profession of your charitye and the attestation of the Christian Prince is sufficient for your returne into common grace neyther doth that amendment seeme late which is accompanied with so venerable a witnes Let the desire of vnlawfull authoritie which made dissension be wholy cast away This wâ—â— at that tyme the end of that arrogant presumption but had Bell then liued it seemeth he would haue stoode more to his tackling and neuer haue shewed him selfe so base minded as to haue giuen ouer any title of honour or any wise submitted him selfe to the Pope who now pleadeth so earnestly in defence of that outragious ambition Here also the good reader hath to note that as the minister doth make that the decree of a Councel which as hath bene sayd was non at all so doth he make bold with truth beside a tricke of corruption for no where doe I read in the actes of that Councell that it gaue equall authoritye to the Bishop of Constantinople with the Bishop of Rome in all ecclesiasticall affaires as Bell affirmeth that worde all is foisted in by the malice of his ministership neyther haue they the word authoritye but priuiledges which consisted for as much as I can learne out of those Actes in these two pointes The first was that the Metropolitanes of the dioceses of Pontus Asia and Thrace should only be consecrated and ordained by the Bishops of Constantinople as also such Bishops as liued in the same place amongst barbarous people The second was that Constatinople might haue the second place in dignity next after Rome These I say were the priuiledges which Anatolius desired should be confirmed by the Pope for to thinke that he desired to haue euery wayes superiority and as Bell writeth equall authoritye in all ecclesiasticall affaires with Rome is contrary to all reason and not agreable to the recited words out of the Actes for though Anatolius with others decreed that Constantinople should haue equall priuiledges yea in ecclesiasticall matters yet is that straight limited to the consecration of Merropolitanes and to haue the second place in dignitye as before was sayd and is euident also out of the 15. Action can 28. and out of the 16. Action and lastly out of their relation to the Pope in which they craued his confirmation for there they mention nothinge of equall priuiledges and aduancemeÌ„t in ecclesiasticall causes causes but only speake of consecratinge the Metropolitanes of Asia Pontus and Thrace and of hauing the next place after Rome and yet they affirme that they did there signifye vnto him all the force of the Actes whereof it followeth that other priuiledges or eminencye in ecclesiasticall dignitye was not then desired and surely it were meere madnes to thinke that Anatolius would euery way haue had equall authority in all ecclesiasticall causes as the minister affirmeth seing then we must graunt that he desired iurisdiction in Italie and Rome it selfe nay what were it els but to condemne Anatolius of grosse foolerye in suyng for that superextrauagant grace of the Pope to the iniury of his owne See and dignitie
still keepe his former custome of celebrating Easter and also performe due obedience to Anicetus was because Anicetus would not for so smal a controuersiâ— or variety breake peace but was content to tolerate the same and therfore false it is that Bell sayth to witt that Polycarpus would and must haue yelded to Anicetus if he had acknowledged him for his superiour seing no such thinge was commaunded him but the matter left to his owne election Bels II. obiection SEcondly Ireneus and other holy and learned Bishopps of Fraunce ioyning with him reproued Victor then Bishoppe of Rome very sharply and roundly as one that had not due respect to the peace and vnity of the church which doubtelesse those holy and learned Bishops would not haue done if the Bishoppe of Rome had had in those dayes the supreame soueraignty ouer them THE ANSWERE HAd Bell recounted the cause why those Bishopps reprehended so roundly as he speaketh Pope Victor with other necessary circumstances he had marred all his market and proued the Popes superiority by that argument by which as he perfidiously handleth the matter he would ouerthrowe it The blessed martyr Ireneus with other reprehended Victor not for any wrong opinion about the keeping of Easter him selfe they being of the Popes minde as also the Prorestantes now be but for that he excommunicated the Bishops of Asia refusing to conforme them selues to the Church of Rome neyther did S. Ireneus this vppon conceipt that the Pope exceeded the limits of his power for no such thing appeareth in Eusebius from whom this story is fetched but for that he did vse it out of due season to the great trouble of the Church and for a small matter as he and they thought which sheweth playnely that they made no doubt of his authority otherwise many misliking his fact would easyly haue contemned his censure and iustly haue obiected presumption in vsurping that authoritye which belonged not to him where of no mention is made Superiours yea and the Pope him selfe may with due respect be admonished and reprehended especially by Bishoppes yf any great scandall or trouble of the Church be feared S. Paul resisted S. Peter in face because he was reprehensible Galat. 2. v. 11. wherof our Protestants absurdly gather that S. Peter had no sup riority ouer the Apostles a collection not known to an iquitye when as the matter was then so famous and certaine that wicked Porphiry that Paganicall philosopher reproueth S. Paul of sawcines for that he presumed Proaem com in Galatas epis 11. ad Aug. inter epistolas Augustini to reprehend Peter the Prince of the Apostles as S. Hierom reporteth S. Cyprian highly commendeth the humilâ—ty of S. Peter that tooke so quietly the reprehension of S. Paul being his inferiour For neyther Peter sayth S. Cyprian whom our Lord chose the first and vppon whom he built the church when Paul disputed with him about circumcision arrogantly tooke any thinge to him self saying that he had the primacy and therfore Epist 71. ad Quin. the latter disciples ought rather to obey him S. Augustin sheweth excellently by this example that S. Cyprian erring about rebaptization could not nor would not haue bene offended to haue bene admonished by others his followers or inferiours much lesse by Lib. 2. de Baptis cap. 1. a Councell VVe haue learned sayth he that Peter the Apostle in whom the Primacy of the Apostles by excellent grace is so praeeminent when he did otherwise concerning circumcision then the truth required was corrected of Paule the later Apostle I thincke without any reproach vnto him Cyprian the Bishoppe may be compared to Peter the Apostle howbeit I ought rather to seare least I be iniurious to Peter sor who knoweth not that the principalitye of Apostleshipp is to be perferred before any dignity of Bishoppe whatsoeuer but yf the grace of the chaires differ yet the glory of the martyrs is one These authorities shew two things the first is that S. Peter was reputed with the auncient fathers head and prince of the Apostles and also that the very Pagans were not ignorant of that thinge which I suppose will not greatly content Bell for certayne deductions that may be drawne from thence The second which is the cause why I haue alledged this of S. Peter and S. Paul is that dislike or reprehension of an other mans action doth not argue the man reproued not to be the others superior how soeuer Bell would inferr that when as hath bene sayd S. Paul inferiour to S. Peter reprehended him And therefor the most that can deduced out of the ministers idle discourse is that if him selfe wer a Bishoppe he would looke as the deuill God blesse vs is sayd to haue looked ouer Lincolne and none might without incurring of is mortall indignation admonish him of any fault or scandalous demeanure Great pitty surely it is that one qualified as he is and endowed with such an humble spirite should not be preferred to an Episcopale or to vse his owne phrase some ouerseing dignitye Thus by dismol destiny Bels argument hath rather hurt him then giuen him any help at all But one necessary adiunct belonged to this controuersie which he thought good not to touch for scalding of his fingers to witt that S. Victor excommunicated the Bishopps of Asia as I noted before for seing Bell confesseth that the old In his Fâ—neral lib. 2. cap. 2. Bishopps of Rome were very godly men and taught the same doctrine which S. Peter had done afore them and most certayne that S. Victor was one of those holy Martyrs it followeth that he vsurped no authority but exercised that which lawfully he might neyther that he taught any doctrine but that which S. Peter had done before him Out of which and the precedent discourse three or foure memorable notes may be inferred against Bell. The first and principall is that the Primacye of the Bishoppe of Rome began not six hundred yeares after Christ as befor he mayntayned hauing bene practised four hundred yeares before by S. Victor and descended to him from S. Peter The second is that Bels argumeÌ„t against the supreame authority of the Bishoppe of Rome being duly and truly examined proueth the cleane contrary The third is that the minister cunningly coÌ„cealed the cause why S. Ireneus reproued S. Victor as nothing fitting his purpose The fourth may be that most perfidiously he inferreth out of the reprehension of S. Ireneus that he contemned the Bishoppe of Rome his decrees and supposed supremacy as before hath bene noted I add lastly that whatsoeuer S. Ireneus and others thought yet blessed Pope Victor proceded most prudently for as much as he perceiued how that obseruation which in the time of Anicetus was only variety of rite without preiudice of religion began now to corrupt the soundnes of the Catholike fayth one Blastus who liued in Victors time as Lib. 5. hist cap. 15. De proscript in
Bell deny this lett him for that great skille which he hath in hunting out the originall of Poperie and superstition tell vs at what tyme bet wixt the first conuersion and the late daies of Edward the sixt the vse of latin seruice crept in Shal we thincke that S. Gregory whom Bell confesseth to haue been an holy Bishoppe indede would euer Woeful cry pag. 62. Suruey pag. 187. haue permitted that custom to haue been brought into our countrey if he he had thought it superstitious wicked nay if he had not reputed it requisite good and Apostolicall More then fower hūdred yeares before the time of S. Gregory the auncient Bryttaines receaued the same manner of seruing God from the blessed Pope and martyr S. Eleutherius that is in the latin tongue which appeareth first because venerable Bede Lib. 2. hist cap. 2. reporteth that there was not any materiall differece betwixt S. Austen sent by S. Gregory and the Britain Bishoppes saue only in Baptisme and the obseruation of Easter Secondly for that certaine it is that they had also since S. Austens tyme the masse in the latin tongue but to thincke that if they had bene once in possession of the seruice in their owne vulgar language that they could haue bene brought from that without infinite garboils especially the opposition betwixt them and the English Saxons in auncient tyme considered or that if any such contention had fallen out that it could haue bene omitted by the curious pennes of our historiographers it were greate simplicitie once to surmise Wherfore what followeth but that they receiued that custom at their first conuersion which was within lessen then two hundred yeares after Christ and consequently that by Bels allowance and the common cōputation of others it is sounde Catholicke and Apostolicall and no◠any rotten ragge of a newe religion as this ragge master gableth and that on the contrary to haue the publique seruice in the vulgar tongue is a newe patch of Protestanisme fetched from VVittenberge or that mart of Martinists the holy city of Geneua A short admonition concerning Bels eleuen chapters following THese chapters I shall soone dispatch seing they concerne not any weighty points of religion but ceremonies and such like in which the Chureh hath authority to ordaine and abrogate to make or repeale lawes as shall seeme most meete for the honour of God and the edification of Christian people For prooffe whereof I could alleage many Protestants but I will content my self only with one whose authority the minister will not refuse being a deere frend of his owne the first letters of his name are Thomas Bell who in a booke sett out not long since against the Puritanicall presbitery called by him The regiment of the Church disputeth earnestly for Imprinted by T. C. c. anno 1606. In his Regiment of the church cap. 7. pag. 53. the authority of the Church in thinges indifferent namely in his seauenth chapter where he deliuereth these two Aphorismes The first of things de facto altered in the Church for prooffe whereof he reckoneth vp sixe particular pointes recorded in scripture yet chaunged by the Church The first is to receiue the communion in the morning though Christ did it after supper The second is to celebrate it in leauened bread though Christ did it in vnleauened bread The third is that the Apostles receiued the communion sitting but now it is receiued kneeling Fourthly Christ premised washing of feet which is nowe omitted Fiftly the Apostles commaunded abstinence from bloud and that which is strangled and yet the Church hath abrogated that decree Sixtly S. Paul prescribed prophesying to be done with bare head yet small account is made thereof The second aphorisme is of thinges not expressed in scriture and yet decreed by the Church to be obserued and kept and this he proueth by the dedication of Salomons temple for seauene daies and out of 2. Paralip 7. Hoster cap. 3. 9. 1. Ma chab 4. the festiuall daies appointed by Mardocheus and the Machabees and afterward vpon this ground in his eigth chapter he iustifieth diuers things in particular instituted by the Church as the obseruation of festiuall daies kneeling at the communion Surplesses Tippets and square capps the ring in marriage and such like This being so what an old house hath this minister brought vpon his owne head neuer did old Elderton so tickle the Iesuits with gentle iyrks as Sr. Thomas hath prouided roddes for the runnigate of Rascall for if he inferre against our ceremonyes as he doth because they were instituted since Christ though very auncient that they be rotten ragges of the newe religion what shall become of their ceremonies which either be borrowed from vs or of far later date what can they be els but pild patches of Protestanisme and rusty raggs of the reformed congregation nay what must their communion booke it self be neuer heard of in the whole world till the late daies of king Edward the sixt and drawen from our Portesse and masse bookes as the thing it self speaketh and their Geneua Gospellers often cast in their teeth Was euer braue Ministers wittes so misledde by I knowe not what night ghoste or colepixen as to say that in one place with good grace which in an other turneth him to great shame and disgrace where is nowe Sr. Thomas and how beates his pulse are ceremonies instituted since the tyme of Christ and and his Apostles rotten ragges or no if not why is he so hotte on foot to persecute them so eagerly and intertaineth them with such homely termes if they be rotten ragges as here he saith how can he defend the English congregation that ruffleth in such raggs or himself that disputeth for the authority of the Church in that case or with what face can he euer looke vpon the Geneua generation of the mocking Martinists Certainly were he not habituated to chopping of faiths and chaunging of religion and that careles contempt had armed him to disgest any disgrace these newes were able to bring the panges of death but he that hath swallowed down mil-stones wil neuer make bones at such small choking oisters How his Regiment of the Bels bookes contrary one to an other Church written against Puritanes agreeth with The triall of the newe religion published against Papists or this with that be curious points of scrupulosity Bell careth neither for contradiction nor conscience but only seeketh the glory of God and the aduauncement of that Gospell which for the tyme present and duringe the same reuelation he firmely beleueth to be the euerlastinge truth But to runne ouer some of his chapters a little more in particular Bels XVII Chapter Of the antiquitie of Popish masse and the partes thereof THe minister very profoundly scoffeth both at other parts of the Masse and also at these following writing thus Gregory added the Kyrie eleyson Telesphorus Gloria in excelsi is Deo Gelasius the collects Hieronymus the
Epistle and Gospell The Creed was receiued of the Nicene Councell Pope Sergius the Agnus Dei after which he concludeth both of these and others which he there mentioneth as the Introite Halleluia the commemoration of the dead Incense and the Pax in this manner This being so I can not but conclude that euery patch and peece of the Romishe Masse is but a rotten ragge of the newe religion So earnest he is to make euery peece of the Masse a rotten ragge that he hath also made many parts of their owne Communion booke patches and peeces and rotten ragges to the great exultation of all truly deuoted to the Geneua discipline in which Kyrie eleison Gloria in excelsis The Collectes Epistle and Gospell Nicene Crede and Agnus Dei be founde no lesse then in our Masse bookes I omitte here how falsely and blasphemously he concludeth euery peece of the Masse to be rotten ragges for are the words of consecratiō the most essentiall part thereof which came not from any man but from the institution of Christ himself as also the Pater noster rotten ragges who durst say it but Sr. Thomas And here by the way the attentiue reader may easily answear a common and friuolous obiection of the Protestāts that maruaile how we make the Masse the sacrifice of the new testamēt to haue bene ordayned by Christ himself when as Durandus others note at what tyme and who they were that composed the parts thereof when as neither Durandus nor any other make the essential and very substantiall part of the masse that is the wordes of consecratiō to haue come from any other then the sonne of God but they speake of the accidentall parts thereof to witt either deuoute prayers or ceremonies which we willingly graunt to proceede from the institution of Christes Church The like may be said of the Protestants communion which they pretend to deriue not from any other then Christ himself and yet many of their praiers ceremonies which accōpany that actiō they can not shewe out of Gods word but must confesse to come from later institution can not finde more auncient authors then be alleaged for ours the moste of which liued more then a thousand years since and be glorious Saints in heauen and therfore what doth Bell and such like Ministers that deride the ceremonyes and parts of the Masse but frump and flout at sacred and venerable antiquity from whom they come as Sr. Thomas here confesseth and mocke and mowe at their owne communion booke and partes thereof being borrowed frō vs or in what they differ can shewe no greater antiquity then the late daies of Edward the Sixt at what tyme diuers ministers did hammer them in the forge of their owne inuention Bels XVIII Chapter Of the profounde mysteries of Popish masse IN this chapter the minister maketh himself some pastime for that one ceremony vsed in former tymes is now giuen ouer and out of vse as though the Church hath not that authority as before out of Bell was proued The Englishe congregation allowed by act of Parlamēt in kinge Edwards time the newe communion booke for sound and agreable to Gods word yet was it in the same kings daies and not long after abrogated a newe deuised not only differēt in ceremonyes but also in points of more importance For exāple in the first cōmunion book in the supper of the Lord or newe masse for that name also they mention they pray for the dead saying VVe commend vnto thy Fol. 11◠mercy o Lord all other thy seruants which are departed hence Praier for the dead in the first Englishcommunion booke from vs with the signe of fayth and nowe do rest in the sleepe of peace Graunt vnto them we beseche the thy mercy and euerlastinge peace c. But this doctrine was straight reformed and no such thing found in the next And the minister himself in one Queenes daies chaunged his fayth twice and would I make no doubt chaunge it twice more if any newe and pleasing reuelation should blowe in the skye He and his congregation that haue made so maine mutations no waies maintainable may be silent with shame and not speake of the change of a small ceremony which both according to vs and himself is lawfull and may be done by the Church as the honour of God and edifications of others shall require the same Bels XIX Chapter Of kissinge the Popes feete THis chapter of his flingeth at the kissinge of the Popes feete which yet he confesseth here an Emperour to haue done nine hundred yeares agoe Let him answear what I wrote of that pointe in the Forerunner for in his Funerall he hath not Pag. 43. See also the Doleful knel. pag. 148. done it which yet is the pretended answear to that treatise or for shame commaunde the clapper to silence Bels XX. Chapter Of prayinge vpon Beades HEre the minister runneth vpon Rosaries and praying vpon beades making the beginning thereof some fiue hundred years agoe before that tyme he saith the people of God vsed altogether godly bookes of praier And what praiers I besech him did they vse that could not reade at all or doe now amongest them which lacke that skille of which sort the number is not fewe This inconuenience with vs is auoided by sayinge of the beades which none so ignorant but can vse and so fruitfully spend their tyme. Mary with the Protestants they must vse bookes that can neuer a letter on the booke or praye by speciall reuelation As the Church setteth forth diuers bookes of praiers for the benefitt of them that can reade so may she institute the beades for those that can not Let him shewe that the praiers vpon the beades be not good or that no manner of praier though good may be vsed which was not in the Apostles tyme neither of which he will euer be able to shewe or els all his babling against the beades is not worth a rotten beade Thomas Sternhold Robert VVisdom and such like haue inuented long since the coming vp of the beades the harmonious canticles of Geneua psalmes will he for all that say as he doth of the beades that the rehearsall of the originall is sufficient confutation and call them a rotten ragge of the newe religion Veryly I will not deny but he may do it truly were it not that their religion indeede is so newe that the ragge as yet can scarse be rotten The very same obiection which he maketh against the beades may proceede against the very communio◠book it self and that far more iustly seing it is a la◠crabstocke of their owne planting as before hat◠benesaid It were better for him to looke vnto hi◠owne fripperie and the cast canions of the congregation then to meddle with the sacred wardroa◠of the Catholique Church Bels XXI Chapter Of chaunging the Popes name IN this chapter he doth reuell at the chaunging of the Popes name which no question