neede no more proofe then what hath bene there said Now if one high Court or parliament gathered of the most sufficient and wisest men of one Kingdome be of so great force that no place of contention writ of errour or appeale remaineth to the partie once conuicted shall not a generall Councell gathered not of the wisest learnedest men of one Kingdome only but of many Kingdomes and assisted by the holy Ghost ô shall it not haue no force nor no credit for the finall ending of arrising controuersies contentions in matters of Religion but notwithstanding the sentence pronounced arrest giuen yet it shal be lawfull for euery one to follow his priuate iudgement appealing to the written law of only Scripture the which course your owne answerable groundes principles do sufficiētly informe you that their endeuour herein is no other then absurde preposterous infinitly contentious Who is so blinde as seeth not this to be the very same escape flight of the Nouellists of these our times Thus Mr. Cartwright the Puritane Brother in Mr VVhitgifts defence pag. 111. auoydeth the Protestants arguments In this sort is Beza himself noted to euade saying Bancro survey pag. 219. If any shall oppose against my exposition of the authoritie of certaine of the Ancient Fathers ad verbum Dei prouoco I do appeale to the word Where vpon Mr. Bancroff somtimes Bish. of Canterb inferreth saying How crankis Beza with the ancient Fathers Thus the Brownistes of Amsterdam in their Apologie pag. 103. labour to shrowde themselues Thus do the Anabaptists seeke to escape Thus also doth Socimus giue the slip in defence of his errour against the diuinity of Christ saying to his Protest Socimus in lib. de Christi natura contra Volanū pag. 2. aduersarij Volanus we propound to vs in the question none for Master or Interpreter but only the holy Ghost c. We do not thinke that we are to stand to Iudgement of any man though neuer so learned of any Councells though in shew neuer so holy and lawfully assembled of any visible Church though neuer so perfect and vniuersall c. thus he This kind of tergiuersation vnder pretence of only Scripture is hath bene the ordinary euasiō wherby almost all Nouellists of present former times haue dalie exempted themselues from all authoritie of contrary Iudgemente Hence it is that there be so many Sects amongst the Protestants in England other countreis Hence it is that many of the bookes of the scripture it selfe are reiected euen by the chiefest Protestants as S. Pauls Epistle to the Hebrewes the Epistle of S. Iames S. Iude the 2. of S. Peter the 2. 3. of S. Iohn the Apocalipse by Luther Brentius Kemnitius the Magdeburgians Hence it is that the manifold variable and different translations of Scripture the translation of the new Testament by Luther is condemned by Zuinglius saying ad Lutherum de Sacram. pag. 412. Thou Luther dost corrupt the word of God Hospin in hist Sacram. Parte altera fol 183. Beza in resp Castal Beza in Annot. in Matt. c. Luther in like manner doth reiect the translations of Zuinglius The translation sett forth by Oecolampadinis the Diuines of Basile is reproued by Beza calling it wicked and altogether differing from the mind of the Holy Ghost The translation of Castalio so much commended by Protestants is condemned by Beza As being sacrilegious wicked and Ethnicall And cōcerning Caluines translation the learned Protestant Writer Carolus Molinaeus in translat Test noui part 12 fol. 110. saith thereof Caluine in his Harmony maketh the text of the Gospell to leape vp downe he vseth violence to the letter of the Gospell and besides this addeth to the Text. As touching Beza his translation the foresaid Molinaeus ibidem part 20 30. c. saith of him He actually changed the text And Castalio that learned Caluinist saith of Beza that to note all his errours in translation would require a great volume All which confirmeth the Kings Maiesties Graue and learned censure in thinking the Geneua translation to be worst of all In the sum of the confer before the K. Maiesty pag. 46. And concerning the English translations Mr. Carleil in his booke that Christ descended not in to hell pag. 116. saith that they haue depraued the sense obscured the truth deceaued the ignorant that in many places they do detort the scriptures from the right sense they shew themselues to loue darknesse more then light falshood more then truth The Ministers of Lincolue diocesse in the abridgement of their booke to his Maiestie giue their like publique testimony tearming the English translation that taketh away from the text that addeth to the text c. a translation which is absurd and senslesse And the Puritanes in their petition to his Maiesty pag. 76. do charge the translation of the Psalmes to differ from the truth of the Hebrew in addition substraction alteration in 200. places at the least in so much as they do therefore professe to rest doubtfull whether a man with a safe conscience may subscribe therunto Not without cause did his Maiesty therefore affirme in the conference before him pag. 46. that he could neuer yet see a Bible well translated in English And as our learned aduersaries do thus agree to disagree in their owne translations mutually condemning each other so also haue they vpon a second and more due consideration afforded honorable testimony euen of our vulgar Latin translation had from Rome Beza annot in 1 cap Luc. vers 1. saith The old Interpreter meaning our Latine edition seemeth to haue interpreted the holy bookes with meruailous sinceritie and Religiō Conrad praefat in Psalt Couelin his Answer to Burges pag. 94. The which religious obseruation is acknowledged by D. Humfrey de rat interpret pag. 74. by Carolus Molinaeus by Conrardus Pelicanus by D. Couel other Protestants Wherefore iustly may we exclaime with S. Aug. cont Donatist cap. 24. saying O truth more forcible to wring out confession then is any rack or torment And for so much most honorable Lordes and graue Lawiers as it is the course of our aduersaries vnder the deceiptfull vaile of this their so naked vncertaine and doubtfull pretence of only scripture to vndertake liberty of reiecting all proofes and arguments drawne from the authority of all generall Councells though neuer so ancient neuer so vniuersall neuer so lawfully assembled from the Iudgement and consent of the Fathers though neuer so learned neuer so holy and neur so ancient from the practise of the Church though neuer so continuall neuer so agreable neuer so vniuersall and neuer so primitiue And so therby in the end making themselues euery of their followers Iudges both of Scriptures and of all Interpreters restrayning all things to their cōferring of places which they can in their owne priuate opinion collect to be true In so much
that we may say with S. Hierome Epist ad Paulinum Sola Scriptura ars est quam sibi passim omnes vendicant hanc garrula anus hanc delirus senex hanc Sophista verbosus hanc vniuersi praesumunt lacerant docent antequam discant The Scripture only is an arte or sciēce which euery one challengeth to themselues this the chatting old wife this the doting oldman this the prating Sophister this euery body presumes rent teach before they learne Againe writing against the Luciferians tom 3. he saith Nec sibi blandiantur si de scripturarum capitulis videntur sibi affimare quod dicunt cum Diabolus de Scripturis aliqua sit locutus scripturae non in legendo sed intelligendo consistant Neither is this different from the publike doctrine thus decreed in the 20. article of their Religion The Church say they hath power to decree rites or ceremonies authority in controuersies of Faith I appeale therfore to your learned Iudgemente that if your temporall high Courte parliamēte be of such force that men are to rest rely on the Iudgement giuen and sentence once pronounced our spirituall high Courts of Generall Nationall and Prouinciall Councells vnitie of the Church and consent of the Fathers be any waies inferiour to your temporall high courts and to haue no authority no force to giue out Iudgment pronounce sentence and decide controuersies so that no writ of errour or appeale lieth wherby to support the party so conuicted in the further humor of his vnsatisfied endlesse contention And to omit much other correspondence that may be alleaged and applied euen to your owne principles not to seeme offensiue or tedious we will here briefly insinuate some other proofes of no lesse force then the precedents SECTION X. OTHER PROOFES VOVCHsafe therfore Graue learned to adde vnto that which hath bene spoken the answerable doctrine of these religious ancient Iewes who liued before Christs coming foretelling writing by speciall instinct concerning our Cath. Church and B. Sacrifice commonly termed the Masse that so plainly that as Galatinus a learned catholike in his arcanis Catholicae veritatis lib. 2. cap. 3. affirmeth they may be thought not so much to haue foretould things to come as to haue reported Euangelicall things already done To this end saith Rabbi Cahana The Sacrifice Rabbi Cahana ad cap. 49. Gen. Vers 2. which shal be offered of wine shall not only be changed into the substance of the blood of the Messias but also into the substance of his body The Sacrifice which shal be of bread notwithstanding that it be white as milke shal be conuerted into the substance of the body of the Messias Rabbi Iudas In like manner Rabbi Iudas in 23. Exod. saith The bread shal be changed when it shal be sacrificed from the substance of bread in to the substance of the body of the Messias who shall descend from heauen he himself shal be the sacrifice Rabbi Simeon Rabbi Simeon saith in libro de reuelatione secretorum The Sacrifice which after the Messias his comming Priests shall make c. they shall make it of bread wine c. and that sacrifice which shal be celebrated vpon euery altar shal be turned into the body of the Messias Rabbi Barachias in Ecclesiast Rabbi Barach teacheth that at the comming of the Messias food shall come from heauen litle a like cake This same is affirmed by Rabbi Ionathas lib. collect in Psal 72. Rabbi Ionathas Rabbi Moses and Rabbi Hardarsan in Psal 136. also by others alleadged by Petrus Galatinus de arcanis Catholicae veritatis These Rabbines affirme likewise that Melchisedechs offering of bread wine in sacrifice was a prefiguration of that Sacrifice which was to be offered after the Messias his comming So Rabbi Samuel in Bereschith in cap. 14. Rabbi Samuel Genes auerreth saying Mechisedech set forth the actes of Priesthood for he sacrificed bread wine to the Holy God Rabbi Phinees Rabbi Phinees ibidem saith In the time of the Messias all sacrifice shall cease but the sacrifice of bread and wine shall not cease c. As it is sayd Psal 110. Thou art a Priest for euer according to the Order of Melchisedech Thesame affirmeth Rabbi Moyses Hardarsan ibid. in cap. 14. Genes This point is so euident in the old Iewish Rabbins that Theodorus Bibliander a Protestant of great fame lib. 2. de SS Trinit pag. 89. doubted not accordingly to confesse thesame In so much also as the ancient Fathers of the primitiue Church are likewise by our learned aduersaries as Mr. Fulk against Heskins pag. 99. Andreas Crastonius de opific. Missae lib. 1. pag. 28. sect 66. confessed to haue belieued accordingly the foresaid sacrifice of Melchisedech Neither are the Prophets wanting in this point foretelling a Priesthood and sacrifice and thesame not the offering vpon the Crosse which is now an acte of Sacrifice transitory past but to continue for euer and not in bloudy manner but according to the order of Melchisedech Psal 10. Malach. ca. 1.10 So the Prophet Malachy fore shewing the reiecting of the Legall Priesthood sacrifice foretelleth of the now Sacrifice of the Christian Gentiles to succeed which he termeth a cleane Oblation which is the Sacrifice of the Masse The Prophet Daniell fore shewing likewise the end of the world Antichrists comming Dan. ca. 12.11 foretelleth in like manner that as then the daily Sacrifice shal be taken away which one Sacrifice cannot be vnderstood of the many spirituall sacrifices of praier thankesgiuing for that Antichrists persecution shall rather increase then take these away Neither can Malachies prediction of that one Oblation be taken to signifie those said spirituall sacrifices because that they are many and but improperly called Sacrifices or were not new or peculiar only to the Gentills but were also belonging to those of the old Testament no lesse then now are to vs Adoration inuocation Psalmes Festiuall daies fasting almes deedes the like The Prophet Isay foretelling the Ecclesiasticall Ministers of the new Testament termeth them Priests which hath relation to a sacrifice More ouer the wordes of the Euangelist Matth. 26.28 Mar 14.24 Luk 22.19.20 And of S. Paul 1. Cor. 11.24 are literally answerable hereunto saying not that which shal be giuen or offered but which is giuen and not to you but for you the Greeke being the present tense in all the Euangelists and in S. Pauls epist speaking of the body and in S. Luke also in the Latine our aduersaries thēselues so put it in their translations Heb. 13.10 The Apostle to his effect called our table 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Altar for sacrifice Ignat. A word vsed by S. Ignatius the Apostles vndoubted Scoller in his Epist ad Philadelp by Nazianzenus Nazian in oratione pro Gorgonia By Chrysostome Chryso in demonstrat quod Christus sit Deus
Alexandria of this likewise writeth Genebrard Of these Liturgies writeth Coccius lib. de Euchar. art 1.4 likewise mention is made of them in the booke called Bibliotheca Patrum in the 6. Tom. of the edition 1589. But least we become tedious to your graue Attention we will bring onely the Testimonies of some holy Fathers who liued in the most flourishing estate of Christs Church who be most commended of our Aduersaries The first of or VVitnesses shal be S. Denis Areopagite disciple of S. Paul of whom there is mention made in the actes of the Apostles Act. 17 14. who liued in the yeare 90. of whom Sutcliffe the Protestant writer saith de presb cap. 13. pag. 91 Orm. in his picture of a Puritan pa. 1605. Eccl. hist cap. 3. Dionysius antiquitatis optimus sanè testis videtur enim esse antiquissimus This S. Denis then who as Mr Oliuier Ormerod a learned Protestant writeth liued in the Apostles times in his Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie setteth downe the most of the Ceremonies that the Catholike Church vseth in celebrating the Masse viz the prayers the burning of Frankincense about the Altar the singing of Psalmes parcells of scripture which be read the washing of handes the giuing of the Pax the Eleuation of the holy Hoste the Adoration of thesame the Comunion receauing of the SacrameÌ„t yea he affirmeth that no sooner the B. Sacrament is on the Altar but there be present troopes of Saints This ancient Father in all his books maketh so much for vs both in this all other pointes of our Catholike Faith and against our Aduersaries that Caluine Lib 1. ca 1 §. 4 Câ—nâ— 1. li. 2 c 10 col 637. the Century writers haue no other refuge but to call in question the bookes of S. Denis albeit most vniustly preferring the saying and false opinion of Erasmus Laurentius Valla both GrammariaÌ„s before the authority of an infinite number of ancient Doctors Origen Orig. hom 2. indiuers ante med Athanas in Scholiâ—s in opera â—ionysii Chrys epist ad CaroluÌ„ Caluum gric hom 34 Fulk in his confut of Purgat pag 353. Coup in his dict at the wo d Dionyâ—ius pag. 105. who liued in the yeare 230. in one of his Homilies alleadging a passage of S. Denis his Caelestiall Hierarchy termeth him Great S. Denise Areopagite S. Athanasius who liued in the yeare 319 that Great Diuine S. Chrysostome who liued in the yeare 390 that Caelestiall birde S. Gregor the Great who liued in the yeare 590. Calleth him ancient venerable Father And not only are his bookes acknowledged by the ancient Fathers but euen by our late Protestante writers as by Mr Fulk Hermanus D. Bridges Lord Bishop of Oxford who did thinke him to haue beene before S. Basils dayes who liued in the yeare 370. by Mr. Cooper late Bishop of winchester by Mr. Oliuier Ormrod in his picture of a puritane in proofe of the Crosse made in Baptisme And by the Archbishop of Canterb in his answere to an admonition And this concerning our first witnes The second of our VVitnesses is S. Ignatius Scholler vnto S. Iohn the Euangelist who liued in the yeare 100. writeth thus in his vndoubted Epistle ad Smyrnenses Ad Smyrnenses that the Bishop is as highe Priest in respecte of his Priesthood affirming further that in the Church nothing is greater then the Bishop who sacrificeth vnto God for the safety of the whole world because it is saith he not lawfull without a Bishop to offer immaculate Sacrifice Ibidem to celebrate the masse c. This saying of S. Ignatius is acknowledged not gainsaid by the late Bishop of Canterb Mr. Whitgift in his Def. pag. 408. For further proofe of this and like sayings of S. Ignatius see S. Hierom lib. de viris illustribus ibidem it is not lawfull without a Bishop to offer Sacrifice or to celebrate masse The third VVitnesse is S. Irenaeus Scoller to S. Policarpus who was Disciple to S. Iohn Euangelist and liued in the yeare 170 who some times was Bishop of Lyons in France Lib. 4. aduersus Haeres This Irenaeus affirmeth that besides the spirituall Priestly Order of all the Iust another peculiar Priesthood of the Apostles who are in respect therof to attend dailye vpon God the Altar Dialog cum Tryph. The fourth VVitnesse is Iustinus Mart. who liued in the yeare 130. he affirmeth that the sacrifice of the Eucharist is by the Institution of Iesus Christ that it is celebrated throughout all the world by the Christians Euseb li. 4 c. 17 Hier. in catalog and that by the Priests only his bookes and workes are reported by Eusebius and S. Hierom. Origen hom 21. in Num. The fift VVitnesse is Origen who liued the yeare 230. In his 21 homily on the booke of Numeri the which homilies he did write before his falling into error doth Iudge that it appertaineth only to theÌ„ that liue chast continually to offer sacrifice The sixt VVitnesse is S. Cyprian Epist 63 ad Caecil who liued in the yeare 240. in his Epistle ad Caecilium saith thus If Iesus Christ our Sauiour God be himself cheif Priest of his Father and the first who did offer vp himself as a sacrifice to God the Father commanded vs to doe the same in commemoration of him Truely it followeth that the Priest who imitates that which Christ did doe is in the place of Christ and doth offer vp to God the Father a true and full sacrifice whensoeuer he beginneth to offer according to that manner as was offered by Iesus Christ this S. Cyprian for the which wordes the Century writers do reproue and reiect him The seuenth VVitnesse is S. Basil Liturg. Eccles Cappad apud Cocc li. de Euch. who professed a monasticall life and liued in the yeare 370. He setteth downe the ceremonies forme of the sacrifice of the masse which were obserued within his diocesse he being then Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia The 8. VVitnesse is S Iohn Chrysostome Lib de Sacerd. who liued in the yeare 390. in his booke de Sacerdotio speaking of the consecration of the host in the sacrifice of the masse saith thus The wordes are pronouÌ„ced by the Priest and are consecrated by the grace Chrys orat coÌ„tra geÌ„tes qd vnus est Deus vertue of God The booke which he maketh of Priesthood is a sufficient proofe of his opinion in this and other points of our Catholike Religion in the which book he affirmeth that in Britanie there were Altaria Christo dedicata The 9 VVitnesse is Tertullian one of the Latine Churche who liued in the yeare 220. whose authoritie is reuerenced not only by the Ancient Fathers In his picture of a Purit pa 3 but likewise by our aduersaryes Ormerod a Protestant writer doth alledge Tertullian his opinioÌ„ of the signe of the crosse Baptisme against his Puritane Brethren This
thing superfluous thervnto MR. WILLET antilog pag 144. assureth you that diuerse of the Romane Church not only of the ignorant but of the Learned be saued and Saintes in heauen His wordes be these It is not denied by any Protestant but many renowned Kinges Queenes who might not plead ignorance of the Romane Faith are saintes in heauen And speaking of his maiesties Mother he attributeth such holinesse and truth to her Religion and her that it preuailed with God not only for her self but her sonne our soueraigne also his wordes be Willet antilog Engl. praef to the K. The child of such Prayers and teares cannot possibly fall away Now if to assist at the celebration of the Masse is to committ idolatry as our aduersaries would haue it Mr. Willet could neuer haue accounted these Kinges and Queenes to be saintes in heauen whose cheiffe and dayly exercice of deuotion was to assist therat D. Couell writeth of the Churche in these woordes in his def of Mr. Hooker pag. 30 art 4. That which by her Ecclesiasticall authoritie she shall probably think and define to be true or good most in congruity of reason ouer rule all other inferior iudgments whatsoeuer to theÌ„ that out of a singularitie of their owne aske vs why we thus hang our iudgments on the Churches sleeue we answere with Salomon Two are better then one for when in matters of lesse moment it was neuer thought safe to neglect the iudgment of many and hassly to follow the fancy and opinion of some fewe Now but that the Church of Rome hath had the definition of generall Councells and consent of Fathers in behalf of Catholike Priesthood and other pointes of Religion contradicted this day neither D. Couel nor any man euer douted hence it is that D Couel vbi supra pag. 73. concludeth thus It is strange for any man to deny them of the Church of Rome to be of the Church D. Murton part 2. apol pag. 340. lib. 4. cap. 18 auoucheth confideÌ„tly that a generall CouÌ„cell is highesâ— iudge so doth the Bishop of Winchester B. Bilsoâ—â— suruey pag. 85. and others but all men know thâ— Protestants not to be able to produce any generaâ— Councell consisting of meere Protestantes as thâ— Protestant Relator of Religion Relat. of Religâ— cap. 47. ingeniously confesseth and let it suffise tâ— Catholikes to bring the late generall Councell of Trent at the which Protestants Religion was nominatim condemned as heresie by six Cardinals foure Legates three Patriarches two and thirtie Archbishops 228. Bishops and 4. Abbots And so D. Morton must acknowledge the highest iudge to be for vs. D. Doue pleading for an vnion betwixt Catholikes and Protestantes speaking in fauour of the Church of Rome saith No Church can be condemned and adiudged hereticall by any priuate censure but it must be publicke by a generall Councell D. Doue persuas pag. 14. and pag 27. 28 he saith that according to the Catholikes definition of a Sacrament there be as many as they teach and this shall not breed any such iarre betwene vs that therfore we should refuse to communicate togeather and transubstantation it selfe shall be no bar The Bishop of Winchester in his suruey B. Bilsons suruey pag. 85. writeth thus The ancient consent of Godly Fathers is with great care to be scearched and followed of vs cheifly in the rule of faith Now seing the ancient Fathers make for vs in this point as hath thertofore beene shewed it followeth the B. of Winchester must allow of this point in controuersie seing it is there doctrine Mr. Parkes against Limbomâ—stix pag. 86. citeth and approueth the Councell of Lateran as a rule of Faith but that this Councell alloweth of transubstantation Can. 1. of Confession to a Priest Can. 21. Celebrating of Masse Can. 58. of Reliques can 62. may easely be seen by any man who will but read this Councell D Downam lib. 2. Antichrist pag. 165. graunteth with S. Aug. and Victor Vticensis that to adheare to the Church of Rome was a marcke of a true Catholike in those times But what the Church of Rome held in those dayes concerning Catholike Priesthood and other pointes of controuersie it may be seen by that which hath beene heretofore said But not to seeme tedious to your wisdomes I will conclude this section with the reporte which one of our aduersaries theÌ„selues maketh of Catholikes and of their Religion Relation of the stat of Relig. cap 48. the Authors wordes be There are among them vndoubtedly in great multitude men vertuous Learned fraught with the loue of God and the truth aboue all thinges men of memorable integritie of harte an affections cap 6. in their Sermons much matter both of Faith and piety is eloquently deliuered by men of wonderfull zeale and spirit c. Ibidem The outward state and glorie of their seruice doth ingender quicken increase and nourrishe the inward reuerence respect and deuotion which is dve vnto Soueraigne Maiestie power cap. 9. there deedes of charitie are exceeding cap. 48. we find amongst them excellent order of gouerment singular helpes for increase of godlines and deuotion for the profiting of vertue SECTION V. OF PRIORITIE of possession RIGHT wise and Learned Iudges we are not ignorant but that Prioritie of Possession amongst you receaueth this fauour in your lawe that to the party disseised of such his possession you afford speciall remedy by Writt of Assise allowing him also the benefitt of his coÌ„tinuall claime to preuent discent vpon the other parties dying seysed Therefore we require your graue considerations concerning this pointe of Prioritie of Possession how it maketh for vs and against our aduersaries euen they being Iudges The holy Fathers doubt not vpon this ground of Prioritie of Possession to vrge the Succession of the Romane Bishops as a strong vnanswerable argument against the Heretikes of those times So Irenaeus against the Heretikes of his time you ought saith he to obey those Irenaeus lib. 3. adu haereses cap. 3. who haue their Succession from the Apostles c So Tertull. lib. de praescript aduersus haeres let haeretikes set forth the beginnig of their Churches let them recount the order of their succeeding Bishops if they can And after setting downe in ranke the Bishops of Rome from S. Peter to Eleutherius he saith Confingant tale quid Haereticiâ— c. let Heretikes bring forth any such thing S. Hier. vnic Lyr. c. So S. Hierom in Apol. 1. adu Ruffinum So Vincentius Lyrinensis adu Haereses Commendeth the Romane Church for maintayning alwayes with so great force study and contention Susceptae semel Religionis integritatem the puritie of ReligioÌ„ which it first receaued So did S. Austin against Manichaeus these be his wordes August coÌ„t Ep. Manich cap. 4. Tom. 7. Multa sunt quae in Ecclesiae gremio me iustissime teuent c. I am held in the besome of the Church by the SuccessioÌ„ of Priests Bishops that
in respect of the Blessed Sacrament which is by them offered to God vnder Christ the high Preeist and in his steed place as S. Ambrose S. Cypr. do affirme as the Churches externall and acceptable oblatiō Ambr. in 1. Tim. ca. 4.14 S. Cypr. li. 2 Ep. 3 acknowledged by learned Protestants to haue bene for such accordingly offered not only for these thousand yeares last past but also for so many other praecedent Ages For these last thousand yeares it is a generall opinion amongst Protestants Fol. 344. Mr. Beacon in his Treatise intituled The Reliques of Rome affirmeth saying The Masse was fully finished by Gregory the first about Anno 600 c. And from Charles the Greate vnto Charles the 5. the Masse raigned as a most mightie Queene in all the Churches of the west part of the world Melancth lib. 4. Fol. 186. Chronic. in Henr. 4 saith of S. Greg. that he allowed by publike authority the sacrifice of Christs Body Bloud not only for the liuing but also for the dead Thesame is affirmed by many other Protestante writers Before Gregorie was Pelagius whome Masculus loc com de Caena Domini pag. 336. And Mr. Simonds vpon the Reuel pag. 81. both of them being Protestante writers do directly charge with the opinion of the Masse helping the dead Symachus was Bishop of Rome Anno 501. of whome the Century-writers say Cent. 6. ca. 10. col 664. Fol. 27. Notas Antichristi hic habuit Missam enim in formam redigit Before him was S. Leo Anno 440. of whome Mr. Bale in his Pageant of Popes saith Leo the first allowed the sacrifice of the Masse c. Before Leo was the fourth and fift Councell of Carthage at which was present S. Augustine the one reproued by Pelargus in his Schola fidei for allowing prayer Pag. 13. Masse for the dead the other by Luke Osiander cent 4 pag. 16. for that in the 27. Canon of this fourth Councell mentiō was made of Prayers oblations for the dead Before these Councells was S. Ambrose Anno 370. whome the Cent. writers cent 4. ca. 4. col 295. Do charge with not writing well de Transubstantiatione applicatione pro mortuis Before him was Gregory Nissen of the Greeke Church Anno 340 whom Andraeas Crastonius in his booke against Bellarmine chargeth for allowing the Euchariste to be likewise a sacrifice Crasto de opificio Missae lib. 1. Sect 146. Also S. Cyrill of Hierusalem another Father of the Greekes florished Anno 320. Holpinianus chargeth him for his acknowledgment of Masse Hosp in Hist Sacram pag. 167. Prayer for the dead Before these times liued S. Cyprian Anno 240. of whome the Cent. writers do say cent 3. cap. 4. col 89. Sacerdotem vice Christi fungi in Coena Domini superstitiose asserit Cyprianus The same affirmeth Mr. Fulk against Sanders pag 100 Before him liued Tertullian Anno 220. whom Osiander cent 3. lib. 1. cap. 5. and Mr. Fulk in his Conf. of Purg. pa 265. do charge for allowing of Masse for the dead Before him was Irenaeus Anno 170. whom Caluine chargeth for affirming the sacrifice of Melchisedech to haue bene a figure of the sacrifice of the Masse Cal lib. de vera Eccl. refor Cent 2. cap. 4. col 63. Before him liued Ignatius the Apostles vndoubted Scoller Anno 90 whome the Cent. writers do charge for saying that it was not lawfull to offer or to sacrifice without a Bishop Lastly Mr. Beacon in his reliques of Rome being a great diuine amongst our Aduersaries affirmeth seriously saying Fol. 344. the Masse was begotten conceaued borne anon after the Apostles times if all be true that Historiographers do write This same saith Sebastianus Francus Heb Ep. de abrog stat Eccl. and Hospinianus in Hist Sacram. li. 1. ca. 6. pag. 20. affirmeth that in the very Apostles times this was the opinion of many men Now therefore may it vouch safe your wisedomes to consider duly this Priority of our possession and successiue continuance of this our Cath. doctrine deduced from the Apostles times euen our Enemies being Iudges And take heed of that saying of S. Aug. in no vet Test quaest no. Heretickes saith he do trouble breake the order of succeeding Bishops begunne by S. Petr. and brought downe by ofspring one Bishop succeeding another and so challenge vnto themselues a certaine order with out beginning SECTION VI. OF PRAESCRIPTION IF Praescription it self wherof no memory occurreth to the contrary be a matter of any importance with your honors Right graue Learned Iudges you shall then here finde our now professed Catholike Religion deduced from the Apostles times by your learned writers confessed Surely I perswade my selfe that if any one Baron Earle or Duke in England could shew but half of these yeares we can shew for the continuance and possession of any temporall state Lordship or land in England he would highly esteeme therof and therby make a glorious defence against any wrangling companion that should pretend thesame and depriue him therof if he should truely say proue as we do the cause of our Church neither were it credible that the Iudges of his cause should giue the definitiue against him But no man can prescribe any such time in temporall matters and therfore are they well called temporall for that they chāge in a litle time No Dukedome or Earledome continuing lightly 3. or 4. generations together in any one name or family as may be easily seene in Camdens story where he taketh vpon him to recount the Earles Dukes that had their states titles ouer such a shire But as for matters of Religion Almighty God hath giuen another manner of force vnto succession both of men faith as for example in the law of nature he made thesame to endure by only tradition without writing for more then 2500. yeares vnder the Ancient Patriarches before after the Flood of Noe. And afterward againe in the written lawe the iewes continued the possession of their religion by succession of Bishops and Ecclesiasticall Gouernors from Moyses vnto Christ aboue 1500. yeares not withstanding of all the varietie of times calamities And no lesse from Christ to our age hath he continued the same in a much more gratious sorte manner notwithstanding so many mutations both in the Romane Empire all other Realmes Kingdomes yet euer hath succession of Pastours vnion of faith remained First therfore our aduersaries will not sticke vpon the first 100. yeares which reached to S. Gregories time but will graunt vnto vs that the Masse Catholike Priesthood was a generall doctrine throughout the whole world Pow. Pag 105. So Mr. Powell in his considerations of the Papish reasons I grant saith he that from the yeare of Christ 605. the professant company of popery hath bene very visible perspicuous Perk. pa. 307. Mr. Perkins in his
by S. Austine Epist 86. Aug. and that in a very proper sense to sacrifice Christs body vpon and so called of them in respect of the said body sacrificed Fourtly this is euident by the institution of the Euchariste it selfe for Christ commanded his Apostles in them there Successours to do the same which he did But he did truely sacrifice as performing the office of a Priest according to the order of Melchised King of Salem who offered vp bread and wine Therefore necessary it was that Christ should institute an vnbloudy sacrifice vnder the formes of bread wine and that to continue in his Church vntill the worlds end because he otherwise could not be truely said to be a Priest for euer for Priest Sacrifice cannot be asunder Neither is he Priest that hath no Sacrifice to offer vp as S. Paul saith Heb. 5.8 and seing the sacrifice of the Crosse was to be performed as once and cannot be againe repeated it must follow consequently that there is in the Church some other sacrifice which Christ the high Priest may be said to offer by his Ministers for euer which can be no other then the Sacrifice of the Masse once offered vp by himself instituting the Euchariste and now by his Ministers Fiftly seing the figures of the old testament as the Paschall Lambe the bloud of the Testament generally all the sacrifice of the old law were according to the vniforme doctrine of all the ancient Fathers signes and figures of the Euchariste But they were truely Sacrifices therefore the Euchariste no lesse otherwise it should follow the figures to haue bene more perfect then the things figured Sixtly Act. 4. If Miracles in all ages haue bene of great force to confirme true doctrine as we may see in our Sauiour in his Apostles so that S. Aug. Aug. cont ep Manich. cap. 4 lib. 8. de Ciuit. Dei placeth thesame among these things which most iustly held him in the Churches besome Then who will but read the Fathers shall find them plentifull euen in Miracles wrought in confirmation of the Sacrifice of the Masse S. Austine reporteth of his owne time and countrey Aug. de Cant. Dei lib. 22. cap. 8. how that one Hesperius hauing his house infested with wicked Spirites to the affliction of his beasts seruāts desired saith S. Austine in my absence certaine of our Priestes that some would go thither c. one went and offered there saith he the Sacrificie of the body of Christ praying what he might that the vexation the might cease God being therupon mercifull it ceased Chrys Greg. In like manner S. Chrysostome lib. 6. Sacerd. S. Gregorij lib. 4. Mor. and S. Bede hist lib. 4. cap. 22. do report sundry miracles to this same effect Seauently reason nature do confirme this For Religion Sacrifice are so conioyned together that the one cannot be without the other for neuer was there yet any nation in the world that had not some kinde of Religion and worhipping and that did not thinke Sacrifice necessary to the worship of God seing Sacrifice is the highest externall worship that can be exhibited by man to God for things are more excellēt then wordes specially whose substance is consumed vpon Gods honor But certainly the vniuersall consent of all nations proceedeth from the instinct of nature Lastly the more sober and learned sort of our aduersaries do afford to vs Catholikes the hopefull promises of saluation affirming this to be the iudgment of all learned Protestants as D. Some affirmeth in his defence against Penry the Puritane pag. 176. D. Som. Couell This same auerreth Mr. Couell in his defence of Mr. Hooker pag 68. accusing his brethren that affirme the contrary Cassander of ignorant zeale Georg. Cassander lib. de officio pij viri pag. 14. saith The Church of Rome is to be reuerenced as being the true Church and temple of God Hooker Mr. Hooker lib. 5. pag. 188. saith in his Eccl. Policij that the Church of Rome is to be reputed a part of the house of God a limme of the visible Church of Christ c. So saith Mr. Bunney in his Treatise tending to pacification sect 8. pag 109. Bunney Baro. Morton So Mr. Baro in one of his sermons serm 3. So Mr. Morton in his Treatise of the kingdome of Israel of the Church pag. 94. So Mr. Field in his Treatise of the Church lib. 3. cap. 46. And Mr. Couell in his treatise published by authority dedicated to the Lo. Arch. of Canterbury defended this opinion at large and concludeth saying VVee affirme them of the Church of Rome to be parts of the Church of Christ and that those that liue and die in that Church may not withstanding be saued SECTION XI A DISCOVERY OF CONTRARY doctrine THIS then Right honorable Reuerend Graue and learned being our confessed Religion Catholike doctrine thus made so euidēt by so many conuincing arguments irrefragable proofes I am now likewise most humbly to intreate you not to seeme offensiue or tedious if also I make bould to put your Wisedomes in remembrance by what instinct this soo generally confirmed receaued continued doctrine of the Masse it selfe become as now to you so odious to vs by your lawes so penall hath bene now of late so impugned traduced The principall man most notorious was an Apostata Monke Martin Luther Luther Whitak in resp ad rat Campi Iewell in his def pag. 426. Alberus contra Carolstadianos Powell in his cōsiderations Luther tom 7. Wittēb an 1558. lib. de Missa priuata fol. 443 whome Protestants reuerence and name their Father and a most excellēt man sent of God to lighten the whole world and whome the Lutherans gloriously vaunt to haue bene the first that impugned the Masse Mr. Powell a Protestant writer termeth him holy S. Luther But by what instinction or genius from what ground worke I pray you it was which so directed Luther to impugne the Masse not by any other but by the suggestion and perswasion of Sathan with whose affrighting and apparitions he had bene infested from his youth For it chanced that vpon a certaine time as himself reporteth the matter he was sodainly awaked about midnight then saith he Sathan began this disputation with me saying Hearken right learned Doctor Luther thou hast celebrated priuate Masse the space of 15. yeares c. And so the Deuill with arguments which Luther himself there at large setteth downe endeauoring to dissuade Luther any more to say Masse but as yet Luther standing in defence therof iustifying to the Deuill his saying of Masse Tom. 7. Wittēb of anno 1558 fol. 229. But saith Luther Sathan replied more vehemently c. Thervpon in the end Luther yeldeth and embraceth the doctrine so deliuered by Sathan ther vpon now altogether abandoneth the Masse This is confessedly defended euen by Luthers dearest Scollers
as Hospinianus in histor Sacram fol. 131. part altera Hospin Io. Regius Ioannes Regius considerat censurae pag. 123. Neither was this conference betweene the Deuill Luther spirituall only or a dreame but as Balduinus Balduinus a follower of Luther lib. de disput Luther cap. 4. pag. 83. saith a reall truth written by Luther saith he not hyperbolically but seriously and according to the truth of the history And if we looke to Luthers life after his Apostacie we shall find it answerable to his doctrine both tending to libertie it needeth not any other testimonie then that which the Protestants themselues acknowledge For say they Luther became so arrogant Ioac Camar de conâ—ugio Lutheri Conrad Regius de caena Dom. insolent and possessed with the sinne of Pride that God therefore did withdraw his true spiritt from him This we may manifestly gather out of his owne writings Tom. 2 Germ. Fol. 9. praefat lib. de abrog Miss where he acknowledged his conscience accusing him condemning him of singularity against the whole Christian world all times places persons and authorities These be his owne wordes how often hath my heart panted reprehended me obiecting against me what art thou only wise can it be credible that all others do erre haue erred so long time haue all generations so often euer bene deceaued What if thou dost erre bring so many into errour that shal be damned for euer art thou only he which hath the true pure word of God Hath no man in the world thesame but thou that which the Church of Christ hath hitherto defined and so many yeares obserued as good dost thou ouerthrow it as though it were euill so dost dissipate by thy doctrine both Ecclesiasticall ciuill common weales Thus his coÌ„science so long as he had any coÌ„demned him thus he repented his disobedience and said in praef in tom 1. Germ. Ientacul that he hoped the bookes which he had written would be burnt infect no more but when the bridle of Obedience was altogether broken his conscience extinguished and the plumes of pride sensualitie had mounted so high and carried him so farre he behaued himself in his apostacie Suet. as by the testimonie of Suetonius in vita Iul. Caes Iulius Caesar did in his temporall Rebellion against the Roman state who in the beginning doubted whether he should go forward or no Luther in colloq Mensal fol. 241. Tom 5. Germ. 121. Osiand cent 13. lib. 1. cap. 4. pag. 329 The ceÌ„t writers cent 13. cap. 5. Fulk in his retentiue pag 124. MelaÌ„ct loc coÌ„ de potest Ecclesiast Whitak cap. 18. Osiand Epist cent 16. pag. 86. Conrad in Theol Caluinist in proaem but when he had cast of shame he brake out into this speech Iacta est alea my chance is throwne So Luther wheÌ„ shipwracke was made of shamefastnes vttered his vnreasonable resolution of obstinate persisting in these termes Because saith he I haue entred into this cause now I must looke vnto it of necessity say it is iust If you aske a reason Doctor Martin Luther will haue it so sic volo sic iubeo sit pro ratione voluntas And thus much briefly of Sathans labouring by the ministry of Luther to impugne the Masse and neuer knowne to haue bene in any age before impugned otherwise then by the Albigenses Apostolici Almericus VVickliffs and such other as in regard of their other opinions were coÌ„fessedly euen in the Iudgment of our very aduersaries all of them noted knowne heretikes whose opinions in this other particulars were priuate by the said parties afterwards recanted called backe or else died with them And as for Carolostadius Zuinglius coÌ„temporanean to Luther whome Protestants name brethren their proceedings to impugne the Masse was not different from that of Luthers viz by illusions of Sathan as Protestants themselues do with dislike report of them Luther in loc com class 5 pag 47. speaking of Carolostadius calleth him a man giuen ouer into a reprobate sense and of Zuinglius he saith he condemned auoyded him with all his hart as despayring of his saluation as Hospinianus witnesseth in histor Sacram part Whitak contra camp rat 8. alt pag. 187. And the same they thinke of Luther So well agree the Fathers the Brethren as Protestants call them SECTION XII THE CONCLVSION PARDON me therefore Right honorable Reuerend learned if I be so bould now to appeale to your VVisedomes graue and mature Iudgement Vt sup whether Luthers doctrine concerning the Masse which had its growth in this age by apparitions from the Deuill as him self his dearest Schollers do accordingly confesse be of greater credit authority then that doctrine Religion whose vndoubted proofes are answerable correspondent to the like receiued principles groundes of your owne lawes then that ReligioÌ„ which remaineth in it self beautified with manifold confessed ornaments from ancient and memorable testimonies of your owne nation of all Christian nations of all precedent times then that Religion whereto the English nation was in the Apostles times confessedly first conuerted Then that Religion which hath founded your ancient municipall lawes and courts of iudgement erected your Churches Bishops-seas Religious houses Colledges Vniuersities and many other knowne monuments of pietie Then that Religion to which so many Kings Kingdomes of Gentils haue bene conuerted according to the sundry plaine praedictions of the Prophets had in that behalfe of Christs true Church which said praedictions otherwise then in by this Religion are yet hitherto coÌ„fessedly left vnperformed Then that Religion whose Priesthood and sacrifice was foretould by the Prophetes and acknowledged by the Apostles Then that Religion which is answerable to the doctrine of those Religious Iewes who liued before Christ Then that Religion which euen then long since was vniuersally professed in the Christian world Then that Religion in which was then also confirmed to vs from heauen with testimony of vndoubted miracles Then that Religion Faith approued of by the consent of so many Generall Nationall and Prouinciall Councels by the Iudgment of so many holy learned ancient Fathers practise of all times and ages and euen by the confession of our aduersaries Then that Religion against which all Sects heresies whatsoeuer howsoeuer deuided otherwise amoÌ„gst themselues do yet generally conspire Then that Religion to which our aduersaries afford to the members Professours therof the hopefull promises of saluation Then that Religion which only is ratified by all authoritie all Scriptures Traditions Prophetes Sibills Rabbins before Christ by the Apostles Euangelists all holy learned Fathers Historians Antiquaries and Monuments all Sinods Councels lawes Parliaments Canons decrees of Popes Emperors Kings Rulers all Martyrs Confessors and holy Witnesses by all Friends Enemies euen Mahometans Iewes Pagans infidells all former Heretikes Schismatikes and these Protestants themselues when they were most probable to speake truth and all Testimonies that can be deuised not only in this world but of God of Angells and glorified soules whose euidence cannot be vntrue of deuills and damned soules in hell condemned for their contempt or negligence thereof of soules in Purgatorie and whatsoeuer can be cited for witnesse in such cases as is most euident in this brief treatise In respect whereof your knowne Wisedomes in other matters cannot be wanting or transported herein with generall preiudice of our cause but obseruing your owne principles and abandoning all preiudice of opinion try the spirits if they be of God and proue all things houlding that which is good as S. Iohn saith in his 4. Chapt. To the reading therefore carefull examinatioÌ„ of this our Application do we humbly request you and that by the tender care had of your countrey by the deare respect of your saluation by your Christian zeale vnto true Religion by whatsoeuer else is sacred and holy Your poore Countryman M.E. A TABLE OF THE SEVERALL points handled in this treatise diuided in to 12 Sections as followeth The first Section THe lawe tearmes in generall perused in this Applicacation pag. 1. Sect. 2. A verdict consisting of twelue generall Councells all of them being within the first 400. odde yeares after our Sauiour Christ pag. 5. Sect. 3. The testimony of twelue lawfull credible witnesses pag. 14. Sect. 4. The Confession of twelue of the leardenest of the aduersary party pag. 25. Sect. 5. Of Priority of Possession pag. 41. Sect. 6. Of Prescription pag. 56. Sect. 7. Of Continuall Claime pag. 61. Sect. 8. Of the doubtfulnesse of the statute law pag. 69. Sect. 9. Of high courtes of Iudgment pag. 73. Sect. 10. Other Proofes pag 80. Sect. 11. A discouery of the contrary doctrine pag. 87. Sect. 12. The Conclusion pag. 92. FINIS