liued at least on thowsand yeares before these controuersies began cannot be esteemed partiall on our side Thirdly that I expect and exact of him or them that shal goe about to answer this treatise the same roūde sincere and direct dealinge which I haue here vsed Remembringe before all things that he first set doune his faith in direct positions and then proceed inlike methode as I haue done for the rest To whom I willingly graunt this large libertie aboue that which I haue vsed that he tye not himself vnto the first 500. yeares for the fathers interpretations but that he take boldly 1500. yeares so that he bringe not condemned heretiques for his auctours and with all obserue the point followinge Fourthly that it shall not be to anie purpose in waye of answer that anie aduersarie bring another interpretation of some father upon the places of scripture alledged by me besides that which I haue brought For it is not denied that one the same place of scripture maie be and is often diuersly understoode not onely of diuers fathers but of one and the same father But if he will saye anie thinge to the purpose in this kinde he must bring an interpretation contradicting that which I haue brought and withall labour rather to proue his owne Doctrine thē to impugne that of the Catoliques For seeinge it is as all men Knowe à far more easie thīge to impugne anie doctrine though neuer so true then to proue the same no truth espetially of faith being so euidentlie clere but that some thing with shew of probabillitie maie be obiected against it it is not now expected that anie aduersarie should stand to answer those auctorities of scripture and fathers wich I haue alledged for proofe of the Catholique Doctrine or to impugne the same but rather to bring others in proofe of his owne that the iudicions reader maie compare our groundes in scripture both together and by the uieu of his owne eie trie whether of them be more conformable to Gods sacred worde And when anie one shall haue produced his proofes for Protestantisme in the like maner as I haue done in the behalfe of the Catholique religion if he can so doe yet shall he gaine no more therby but an euident demonstration against the cheefest ground of the Protestātes doctrine that ether to the true and full decision of controuersies in matter of faith is necessarily required some other iudgment or triall then the only wordes of holy Scripture or ells that therere is no meanes at all to end cōtrouersies of faithe which later neuertheless to affirme is no less iniuriouse to gods wisdome goodness or power then to saye that he hath prouided noe sufficient meanes for men to know the way to saue their soules For both parties bringing scripture for them selues whoe shall finallie determine whether of them doth applie the said Scriptures more sincerlie and accordinge to their true meaninge Fifthly that wheras before I can proue anie point of Christian beliefe by scripture I should first by good order proue that there is a holy Scripture and secondly in what bookes of the Bible it is contained yet because nether of these two pointes can be proued by scripture vnless wee first beleeue some scripture without proofe therfore that I may proue those pointes of faith wherin the Catholique Romane church doth differ from the Protestantes by holy scripture which our aduersaries vrge me ūto I must necessarilie to satisfie their disordered desire proceede disorderlie and suppose that for truth without proofe which requireth most to be proued I say without proofe if no proofe be good but that which is made out of scripture And here occurr by the way two things worthie of note Thone that the scripture cannot be an vniuersall rule of our faith seeinge some thinges are to be beleeued with out proofe of scripture as are for example that there is a holy scripture contayninge gods word and reuelation and that these and these bookes be suche therfore must there of necessitie be some other rule of our faith more vniuersall then the scriptures and consequently before the scriptures And this cannot be but the aucthoritie of godes church which is clerly S. Augustins Doctrine who was not afearde to saye I would not beleeue the Gospell but that the auctoritie of the church doth moue mee Seeinge therfore the authoritie of the church is a sufficient motiue for vs to beleeue what is scripture why should it not haue the like aucthoritie with vs in other pointes of faith which is also S. Augustins argument in the same place but I will notwithstanding satisfie our aduersaries in their owne humoure The Secund thing to be noted is that they that beleeue nothing but that which is proued by Scripture are euidently conuinced to beleeue nothinge at all For they that cannot beleeue that there is à holy Scripture or what bookes be holy Scripture cannot beleeue anie thinge because it is proued by scripture For it is euident that before they beleeue anie thing because it is proued by scripture they must beleeue that there is a Scripture and what bookes are scripture but they that beleeue not anie thing but that which is proued by Scripture cannot beleeue that there is a scripture nor what bookes are holy scripture for nether of these two can be proued by Scripture Thefore they that beleeue not anie thinge but that which is proued by scripture cannot beleene anié thing at all This Argument is a plaine demonstration and compelleth the Protestantes ether to confess that they haue no faith at all or to acknowledge this their positione to witt that nothinge ought or can rightly be beleeued but that which may be proued by Scripture to be false which notwithstandinge is the maine ground of all their religion But now haueing shewed the absurditie of their Doctrine in this point I will ioyne with them in the Scriptures as they themselues do desire obseringe this method First I sett downe the Catholique Roman belief in direct and playne positions then I bringe in proofe of it one two or moe places of holy Scripture citing the auncient vulgar translation and often times I ad the testimonie of some auncient father of the frist 500. yeares vnderstandinge such Scriptures as I cite in the same sense and meaninge that I cite them for Furthermore those fewe places of Scripture which seeme to sounde directly against the Catholique faith I shewe in brief how they are to be vnderstood And last of all I put downe the position contradictorie to the Catholique doctrine to the end that the indifferent reader be he Catholique or otherwaies may more easely iudge whether Doctrine hath better ground in holy Scriptures And further that he that will impugne this treatise may see what he hath to proue if he wil proue anie thinge to purpose who is to vnderstand that though the Protestantes doe maintayn the negatiue part in almost all the positions
cotrouerted betwixte them and the Catholiques yet is he not for all that to be excused from the proofe of those pointes vnless he will withall confess that in them the Protestantes haue no faith at all but onely a mere deniall of faith For faith beinge not a simple denying or not beleeuing but a possitiue assent and belief of such articles as are reueled vnto vs by God it hath possitiue groundes wherby it may and ought to be proued euen in those pointes which are negatiue And therfore as Catholiques doe proue theire faith in these negatiue pointes that onely faith doth not iustifie that we are not certayn of our iustification or saluation and the like so likewise are the Protestantes to proue theyr faith in these that there is no Purgatorie no reall presence no sacrifice of the Mass and the rest Vnless as is sayd before they will confess that they haue no faith in these pointes but onely a mere deniall of faith Haueinge thus aduertised thee good Reader of these fewe things I leaue thee to peruse the treatise it self desiringe thee to expect onely the bare positiones proued with the self text of holy Scripture and some fewe fathers without anie florishe of wordes at all The worke being such as doth rather resemble the bare bones of a great bodye tied together with dried Sinewes then a bodie throughly furnished with flesh and orher habiliments of friendly narure For which cause though to such as rather respect fashion then substance it may happ to appeare hideous yet to others of contrarie appetite for whose contentment it is speciallie intended it will not paraduenture be iudged altogether without forme THE FIRST CONTROuersie Of Holy Scriptures IT is Knowne that the Catholique Roman Church doth admitt more bookes and percells of holy Bible for Scripture then the Protestantes doe and consequently acknowledgeth a larger canon then they and yet notwithstanding shee teacheth Chatolique PositioÌ„ 1. That all such articles as by her and the Protestantes themselues are beleeued and holden for articles of faith are not so expressly contayned in holy Scriptures as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof Proofe The articles which the Protestantes doe beleeue to be of faith as well as Catholiques and yet are not contayned expresly in holy scriptures are many but wee will giue instance onely in a fewe 1 That there are three distincte personnes and one onely substance in god 2. That the secuÌ„de and third personns are of the same substance â—nd equall gloire with the first â— That the third personn proceedeth from the seconde and from the first 4. That there are two distinct and compleat natures in our sauiour Christ and but one onely personn 5. That there are in him two willes and two operations to witt of god and man about all which pointes haue been diuerse heresies as is well Knowne to the learned And thoughe all these articles haue most true ground and proofe in holy Scriptures yet are they not soe expressly contayned therin as they may be fully prooued by them alone One example shall serue for all To proue the sonn to be consubstantiall or of one substance with the father the Catholiques doe alledg and truly this testimonie I and the father are one yet because there are moe meanes of beinge one then in substance as namely to be of one will desire and affection of which sorte of vnitie specially the Arrianes did explicat this place alledging for them selues that testimonie I pray that they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that they also in vs may be one which cannot be vnderstood of vnitie in substance Therfore this testimonie without the interpretatioÌ„ of the Church which is the piller of truth doth not fully proue the father and the sonn to be one in substance The like may be sayd of the other articles here mentioned Catho posi 2. All such articles as are of faith and so holden by the ProtestaÌ„tes them selues are not contayned so much as indirectly or implicitly in holy Scriptures but onely so farr as the Scriptures contayne and testifie the auctoritie of the Church and traditions Proofe That all the Bookes of the Bible and euerie parte therof which are acknowledged for canonicall scripture ioynthy of Catholiques and Protestantes be such indeed That the most blessed mother of our Sauiour Christ continued perpetually a Virgin That it is lawfull for Cristians to eate strangled things and blood which were expresly forbidden them acts cap. 15. vers 20 are not so much as indirectly contayned in holy Scriptures otherwaies then is mentioned in our position But this being more amply proued in that which followeth of traditions this which wee haue sayd already shall suffice for the present The Positions which the Protestantes in this question are to proue be these ProtestaÌ„t position 1 All articles of faith are so expressy contayned in scripture as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof 2. All articles of faith are at least so contayned in holy scriptures as with out anie testimonie or auctoririe of the Church or traditions they may thence be plainlie and distinctly deduced TE SECOND CONtrouersie of Traditiones Catholique Positions 1. THe holy Apostles deliuered by worde of mouth moe thinges to be beleeued and obserued by the Church then ether they found written or wrot them selues And these thinges are vsually called traditiones Proofe 1. Haueing moe things to write vnto you would not by paper and â—â—â—e for I hope shall be with you and speake mouth to â—outhe 2. And the rest I will dispose when I â—ome where the holy Apostle euidently sheweth that he reserued something more to be ordayned by worde then he wrote 3. The Apostles were commaunded to teache all nationes to obserue all things which our sauiour had commavnded which doubtless they fulfilled but they were not commaunded in anie place to write all the same nether doth it appeare by anie Scripture that they did write all thinges which they taught men to beleeue and obserue This is à demoÌ„stration that they taught more then they wrote if nothing be to be beleeued but what is contayned in holy Scripture 4. They taught Baptisme giuen to infants to be good and lawfull or ells the Anabaptistes are not heretiques for rebaptising them 5. They taught the sonday to be solemnised and the Iewes Sabbathe to be left without all solemnitie though most strictly commaÌ„ded by god to be solemnised as an euerlasting couenaÌ„t 6. They deliuered and taught the creed by worde and not in writing which from they re tyme till now hath continued in the church by tradition onely 7. They taught Baptisme ministered by heretiques to be good and therfore S. Augustin speakinge therof saith Manie things which are not founde in the Apostles writinges nor in latter councells yet because they are obserued by the whole church are beleeued to be deliuered and recommended
A manifest promise of the spirit of god to continue for euer in the church 2. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earthe Goinge therfore teache yee all nations teachinge them to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue cōmaunded you Loe here commission to teache giuen to the Apostles and in them to all pastores 3. He that heareth you heareth me and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me Loe here obligation for others to heare and obaye that which they who haue the former commission shall teache 4. Behould I am with you all daies euen to the consūmation of the worlde Loe here the assurance of Christs asistance to his church and the lawfull pastores therof till the ende of the worlde who can now doubt of the infallibilitie of the doctrine of godes church 5. I will aske the father and he will giue you another Paraclet that is an aduocate or comforther that he may abyde with you for euer The spirit of truthe loe here the spirite of truthe promised to abide with the church for euer By warrant of which promised the first generall coūcell that euer was houlden which was at Hierusalem sayth thus Yt hath seemed good to the holy ghost and to vs to laye no further burthen vpon you then these necessarye thinges 6. In respect of the singuler priuiledges of the church and spetiallye of the infallibilitie it hath in doctrine sainct Paule callethe it the howse of god the church os the liuinge god the piller and grounde of truthe 7. He that will not heare the church let him be to thee as the Heathen and the publican Touchinge which pointe of the infallibilitie of the church sainct Augustine hath this excellent doctrine Althoughe Saith he no example is brought out of canonicall Scripture of this thinge Speakinge sf the validitie os Baptisme ministred by heretiques yet doe we followe the truth of the same Scriptures in this pointe whilst we do that which pleaseth the whole church which the auctoritie of the Scriptures doth cōmēd And because the holy Scripture cannot deceaue whosoeuer feareth to be deceaued by the obseurite of these questiones let him consult ther vpō with the church which without all doubt the Scripture doth shewe Protes Pos. The sense and meaninge of the holy Scriptures giuen or approued by the Catholique churche is not alwaies true nether are the definitiones and declarationes of faythe deliured by the same vnfallible truthes Here the reader may marke à strāge peruersitie or blindness in the Protestantes who graunt the gift of interpretinge the Scriptures to priuate beleeuers and yet deny it to the whole chuche THE FIFTH CONtrouersie of the marKes of the true Churche THe true Churche of god is but one This being not denyed by the Protestantes needethe no proofe The question is which of all those Churches which doe challenge vnto them selues the name of the Churche is that one true churche which doubt will easelie be cleared by the notes and markes fololwinge Vniuersalitie Catho Positions The true Churche of Christ is Catholique or vniuersall aswell in respect of place as of tyme That is the true church of Christ hath euer continued since his gloriouse ascention into heauen till this day and shall doe till the end of the world which is to be Catholique or vniuersall in respect of time And it hathe or shal be spred throughe all kingdomes and countries that are vnder heauen which is to be vniuersall or Catholique in respect of place Proofe in respect of place Aske of me and I will giue thee the gentiles for thin inheritance thy posessione the endes of the earthe By this promise of god to Christ S. Augustine conuīceth the Donatistes and in them the Protestātes that they haue not the true Chruche because theyrs is not vniuersall in such sorte as here is promised 2. He shall rule from sea to sea and from the riuer euen to the endes of the rounde worlde These Prophesies are clearely vnderstoode of the inheritance and kingdome that is the Churche of Christ as he is man Accordinge to which prophesies our sauiour saythe All power is giuen me in heauen and in earthe Goeinge therfore teache yee all nationes baptisinge them in the name of the father and of the sonn and of the holy ghost 3. You shall receiue the vertue of the holy Ghost comminge vppon you and you shall be witnesses vnto me in Hierusalem and in all Ieury and Samaria and euen to the vtmost of the earthe See Sainct Augustine Learned reader if thou pleas Proofe in respect of tyme. 1. In the dayes of those Kingdomes the god of heauen will rayse vp a Kingdome that shale not be dissipated for euer and this Kingdome shall not be deliuered to another people 2. And he shall reigne in the howse of Iacob for euer of his Kingdome there shall be no ende 3. Behould I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world 4. Vppon this Rock will I build my Churche and the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it A faithful sayinge Saith Sainct Athanas. and not à waueringe promise and the Church is an inuincible thinge althoughe hell it self should be moued The vniuersalitie of the church all christians profess to beleeueī the creed of the Apostles and of the first councell of Constantinople sayinge I beleeue the holy Catholique church protes pos The ttue Churche of Christ is not necessarily Catholique or vniuersall nether in respect of place nor tyme. This positione most cleerely against holy Scripturs must the Protestantes defende and proue yf they will proue and defende they re Churche to be the true Churche of god and consequentlye theyr religione to be true Visibilitie Catho pos The true Churche of god ys visible and apparant both to the faithfull beleeuers that are in it and to heretiques and those that are out of it Proof 1. A Citie cannot be hid situated vpon à mountayne He put his tabernacle in the Sunn S. Augustine proueth our positione by these textes say inge The true churche is hid to no man whence is that which he our sauiour Sayth in the Gospell A Citie sett vppon à mountane cannot be hidd And therfore is it sayd in the Psalme hee hathe put his tabernacle in the sunn that is in manifest 2. In the latter dayes the mountayne of the howse of our lorde shall be prepared in the top pof mountaynes and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and all nationes shall flowe vnto it 3. Men doe not light à Candell and. put it vnder a bushell but Vpon à Candlesticke To these textes doth S. Augustine allude when he saythe what ells am I to saye then that they are blinde that doe not see so great à mountayne that shutt they re eyes against the lampe sett vppon the candlesticke 4. If thy brother offende against thee