that by which he is iustified before God as if by onely faith we were iustified before God but yet that it were impossible to obtaine eternall saluation without workes cap. 4. in Epitome art We beleiue teach and confesse that good workes Workes wholy excluded from saltion are wholy to be excluded not onely when we treate of the iustification of faith but also when we dispute of our eternall saluation Againe We reiect and condemne these speeches Good workes are necessarie to saluation Zuinglius in Expostulat ad Lindouerum to 1. fol. 204. Faith alone saueth vs. Caluin in Rom. 10. v. 10. We are saued by faith alone In c. 1. v. 7. It is faith alone which bringeth euerlastingnesse of life Beza in Explicat Christianismi c. 8. vol. 1. pag. 199. Who Saluation relieth not vpon workes teach that mens saluation relieth vpon workes ether wholy or in some parte do plainely ouerturne all the Ghospell Pareus l. 4. de Iustif c. 4. The Ghospell promiseth saluation vnder the condition of faith alone Daneus Contr. de Baptismo c. 17. All the manner of our saluation purchased by Christ standeth in faith in him THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that faith alone can not saue vs. The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that faith alone saueth alone bringeth life that by faith onely we are saued that saluation is promised vpon conditiō of faith onely that workes concurre not to saluation worke nothing to saluation are not necessarie to saluation are not holesome ART IV. WHETHER ALL MEN BOTH good and badde be to be iudged SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Apoc. 20. v. 12. And I saw the dead great and litle standing Great and litle are to be be iudged in the sight of the throne and bookes were opened and an other booke was opened which was of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes And the sea gaue the dead that were in it and death and Euerie one All. hell gaue their dead that were in them and it was iudged of euerie one according to their workes 2. Cor. 5. v. 10. For we must all be manifested before the iudgmēt Euerie one seat of Christ that euerie one may receaue the proper things of the bodie according as he hath done ether good or euill Mathew 25. vers 32. And all nations shal be gathered before All nations him and he shall seperate them one from an other as the pastour seperateth the sheepe from the goates Then shall the King say to them that shal be at his right hand Come ye blessed c. Then shall he say to them also that be at his left hand Goe ye away c. Act. 10. v. 43. It is he that of God was appointed iudge of the liuing and of the dead Hebr. 22. v. 22. But you are come to mount Sion and the cittie All. of the liuing God and the iudge of all God CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Catechismus ad Parochos in Exposit Symboli Of which article that is the sense and meaning that in the last day Christ our Lord shall iudg all mankind PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther apud Scioppium in suo Ecclesiast c. 5. Christians Onely infidell know that onely infidels who will not receaue the Ghospell are to be iudged of Christ in the last day Let vs learne and note this Not the faithfull well that we feare not death and the last iudgment for Christ is not to come to iudge vs but he will iudge them who beleiue not Bullinger Concione 90. in Apoc. f. 163. The impious are Impious not the pious to be iudged but not the pious The good because they are iustified and absolued appeare in iudgment with glorie to iudge after their manner and fashiō the wicked but not to be iudged of anie Tilenus in Syntagmate c. 67. The elect do know that nether Not the elect their deeds nor all their words are to be called to the account of this iudgment The like say others as we haue shewed before c. 3. art 10. THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that all the dead shal be iudged according to their workes that all must be manifested before the tribunall of Christ that all Nations shal be gathered to Christs iudgment that Christ is iudge of the quicke and the dead that God is iudge of all The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that the impious are to be iudged but not the pious that the good are not to be iudged of anie that onely infidels shal be iudged ART V. WHETHER THERE BE ANIE to whome seeking eternall glorie according to patience of good workes euerlasting life is rendred SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Roman 2. vers 6. and 7. Who will render to euerie man There are some such according to his workes to them truely that according to patience in good worke seeke glorie and honour and incorruption life eternall CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Rom. 2. v. 6. cit If Christ alone shall bring those workes to which the Apostle here saieth that eternall life is rēdred he should not haue saied He will render to euerie one according to his workes but to euerie one according to Christs workes PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Beza in Rom. 2. v. 6. What is here saied of Sophisters as if There are no such anie out of Christ or regenerate in Christ are found such in the iudgment of God as these here are described doth varie much frō the scope of the Apostle For that surely is most absurd Or as he hath in edition of 1565. Shall anie man bring these workes to which the Apostle saieth that life eternall shal be rendred Ether men not regenerate or the sonnes of God But nether Abraham surely hath whereof to glorie before God THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that there are some to whome seeking glorie according to patience of good workes eternall life is rendred The same say Catholiks Protestāts plainely say that there are no men to whome life eternall is rendred according to their workes nor that there are anie workes to which eternall life is rendred ART VI. WHETHER THE SOVLES OF reprobates departed this life do now suffer the paines of hell SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Iude. v. 7. As Sodome and Gomorrha and the citties adioyning Sodomites in eternall fire in like manner hauing fornicated and going after an other flesh were made an example sustaining the paine of eternall fire Luc. 16. vers 22. And the rich man also dead and he was Diues in torments buried in hell And lifting vp his eyes when he was in torments c. Numbers 16. ver 33. And they went downe into hell quicke couered with the ground Are in hell CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME S. Thomas Suplement q. 69. art 2. As soone as the soule is loosed from the bodie ether it is cast into hell or mounteth to heauen vnlesse it be hindred
vayne Homius in Disput 70. Almes hath not that force which Papists blasphemously attribute to it to wit to dispose a man to the grace of iustification to wipe away sinnes and to satisfie for them Willet Contr. 19. q. 3. p. 1034. It is an abominable and blasphemous Not by workes opinion that anie man by his workes should be able to redeeme his sinnes THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that sinnes are redeemed by almes that sinnes are purged and redeemed by mercie Catholiks say the same Protestants expressely say that sinnes are not redeemed by almes or charitie that it is not possible to redeeme sinnes by almes that Christs eath had beene in vaine if sinnes could be redeemed by almes that it is abhominable and blasphemous to say that sinne may be redeemed by almes Which are so contrarie to Scripture as sometimes Protestants confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART IX WHETHER TO ABSTAINE from great sinnes be necessarie to saluation SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 1. Cor. 6. v. 9. Do not erre Nether fornicatours nor seruers of Great sinners shall not enioy heauen Idols nor adulters c. shall possesse the kingdome of God Ephes 5. v. 5. Know you this that no fornicatour or vncleane or couetous person which is the seruice of idols hath inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and God Rom. 8. v. 13. If you liue according to the flesh you shall die Shall die CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 4. de Iustif cap. 9. It can no way be that faith accompanied with euill workes can saue a man PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Whitaker Contr. 2. q. 5. c. 7. We say If anie haue an act of No sinne hurteth where faith faith that sinne cannot hurt him This Luther saieth this we all say Luther de Captiuit Babyl to 2. f. 74. So thou seest how rich A Christian cannot leefe his saluation by anie sinne a Christian or baptized men is who though he would cannot leese his saluation with what great sinnes soeuer vnlesse he will not beleiue For no sinnes can damne him but onely incredulitie De votis ib. fol. 281. There are none so ill workes of one that beleiueth in Christ which can accuse and condemne him De libertate ib. f. 8. No worke profiteth an infidell to iustice and saluatioÌ„ No sinne daÌ„neth infidelitie and contrariwise no euill worke maketh him euill or damned but incredulitie In c. 53. Isaiae to 4. No sinne can hurt him that beleiueth In Gal. 2. to 5. f. 313. The false Apostles taught that vnlesse you liue according to the law you are dead before God Paul teacheth the plaine contrarie In c. 4. f. 404. The true knowledge of Christ or faith disputeth whether thou hast done good workes to iustice or euill workes to damnation but simply thus determineth whether thou hast done good workes thou art not therefore iustified or whether thou hast done ill thou art not therefore damned Et to 1. Epist edit Ienae f. 345. Be a sinner and sinne No murther or fornication can draw vs from Christ Perseuerer in sinne are iust stoutly Sinne shall not draw vs from Christ albeit we commit fornication or murther a thousand times a daye Bergenses apud Hospin in Concordia discordi f. 86. Iustice is imputed euen to them who perseuer in sinne Melancthon in Ioan. apud Cocleum in Art 6. Confess Augustanae As by the Ghospell onely faith is iustice so that though thou hadst done all the sinnes of all meÌ„ yet if thou beleiuest that the Father hath mercie vpon thee for Christ thou shalt be safe So contrariewise by the Ghospell onely incredulitie is sinne Onely incredulitie is sine Reineccius to 4. Armaturae c. 15. Euill workes do not make an euill man to wit him that is in Christ Zuinglius lib. de ver falsa relig tom 2. c. de Peccato Onely increduliâ—ie is not pardoned It followeth that onely incredulitie is that to which pardon is denied Caluin in Rom. 8. v. 13. Howsoeuer we be yet subiect to sinne neuerthelesse he promiseth vs life so we prosecute our desire of mortifying the flesh Author resp ad theses Valentinianas p. 925. This would that notable Diuine Luther and all our men So we haue true faith no sinne how great soeuer shall hinder ws to be made partakers of the euerlasting inheritance See more in my Latin booke c. 15. art 8. THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely biddeth vs not erre for nether fornicatours nor adulterous nor such grieuous sinners shall possesse the kingdome of God and that if we liue according to the flesh we shall die Catholiks say the same Protestants expressely say that a Christian cannot be damned with what great sinnes soeuer so he will beleiue that onely incredulitie can damne him that though he commit fornication and murder a thousand times aday shall not be drawne from Christ though he had done all the sinnes of all meÌ„ he shal be saued if he beleiue that pardon is denied onely to incredulitie that so one haue faith sinnes can not hurt him that so we haue true faith no grieuous sinnes whatsoeuer shall hinder vs to enter into heauen What other I pray you is this but that voice of the Serpent to Eue Yee shall not die ART X. WHETHER SINNES BE THE cause for which men are damned SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Math. 25. v. 41. Get yee away from me you cursed into euerlasting Men are damned for not exercising charitie According to their workes fire which was prouided for the Diuel and his Angels For I was an hungred and you gaue me not to eate c. Apocal. 20. v. 12. And the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 2. de Grat. lib. arb c. 16. The Scripture euerie where teacheth that eternall punishment is by the iust iudgment of God rendred to mens sinnes PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Luther in Ionae 1. to 4. f. 409. Let vs know that we are not Men are not damned in sinne Onely incredulitie damneth damned in sinne nor saued by good workes Postilla in Dom. 8. post Trinitat f. 300. I obserue that no worke is so euill as it can damne a man onely incredulitie daÌ„neth That a man committeth adulterie that worke condemneth not but adulterie doth shew that he hath lost his faith In Dom. 4. post Pascha Onely incredulitie is held for sinne In die Ascensionis Nether is there anie sinne so great which can coÌ„demne a man onely incredulitie damneth whosoeuer are damned Damnation followeth no sinne but infidelitie Iacobus Andreae in Colloq Montisbel p. 109. None but None but infidels are damned Men are not damned because they haue sinned the incredulous is damned 105. Vnlesse incredulitie were in those that are to be damned none should be damned p. 447. Those that are to be adiudged to eternall punishmeÌ„t are not therefore daÌ„ned because they haue sinned but
because they would not embrace Christ with true faith And in the margent Onely incredulitie damneth men Whereupon Beza in the same Colloquie pag. 421. 448. in part 2. resp pag. 215. saied Surely your speech seemed to vs intolerable That men are not damned for sinne or because they haue sinned And notwithstanding Beza himselfe in the same Colloq pag. 103. saieth The onely efficient cause of damnation is our incredulitie 106. I say that onely incredulitie Onely incredulitie causeth damnation is the efficient cause of the damnation of the impious Et 2 part resp cit p. 6. Men perish not simply for sinne but for incredulitie Schlusselburg to 7. Catal. Haeret. p. 824. No sinnes condemne vnlesse incredulitie be adioyned Bidembachius in Consensu Iesuit Christian printed at Rochel 1584. p. 733. This saying is not ill vsed of some diuines It onely damneth Onely incredulitie damneth Wherefore ether Torrensis must reproue the office of the Holie Ghost reprouing the world and correct his tongue or he must graunt that men are damned for incredulitie alone Reineccius to 3. Armaturae c. 12. Man is punished not because Men are not punished because they did not well Sinnes do not damne Onely infidelitie is cause of damnation he did not well Zuinglius in Ioan. 5. tom 4. Sinnes do not make a man vniust nor damne a man but impietie and incredulitie Pareus in Collegio Theol. 7. Disput 5. It is rightly saied That onely infidelitie is the cause of damnation THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that men are damned for sinnes of omission or not doing that which they were bound to doe that euerie one is iudged according to his workes The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that men are not punished because they did not well that sinnes condemne not mē that men are not damned for sinnes or because they haue sinned that no sinne is so grieuous as it can condemne a man that damnation followeth no sinne but incredulitie that onely incredulitie damneth men that men are damned for infidelitie onely ART XI WHETHER WE MVST GIVE account of our sinnes SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Math. 12. vers 36. I say vnto you that euerie idle word that Man must giue account of euerie idle word men shall speake they shall render an account for it in the day of iudgment Rom. 14. v. 12. Euerie one of vs for himselfe shall render account to God 2. Cor. 5. v. 10. For we must all be manifested before the iudgment Of things that he hath done seat of Christ that euerie one may receaue the proper things of the bodie according as he hath done ether good or euill Apoc. 20. ver 12. And the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workss CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Act. 15. v. 11. Caluinists cannot abide that workes be called to account But these pestilēt teachers lead their followers right to the pitte of hell and directly gainesay the holie Scripture Workes must come to account PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Confessio Palatina p. 202. I beleiue and confesse that God Gods iugdment not to be feared the Father for Christs most full satisfaction neuer remembreth my sinnes so that I haue no need to feare the iudgment of God Luther in Gal. 1. to 5. f. 282. Christ will not exact an account He will not take account of our life Not enter into iudgmēt with vs. of vs of our ill passed life Caluin in Math. 12. v. 36. In this is founded the trust of our saluation that God will not enter into iudgment with vs. In c. 27. v. 26. Nether is it to be feared that our sinnes come any more into Gods iudgment In Roman 4. v. 6. Who are couered with Christs iustice they haue not onely God appeased to them but also to their workes whose spotts and blemishes are couered with Christs puritie that they come not to account In Gal. 3. v. 22. It followeth vndoubtedly If workes come into iudgment we are all damned Beza in Confess c. 4. sect 12. This sanctification of humane nature in Christ imputed to vs by faith hath made that the relikes of that corruption which is euen in the regenerate come not to account before God Scarpe de Iustif Contr. 7. These sinnes shall not come to account before God Tilenus in Syntagmate c. 67. The elect do know that nether their deeds nor all their words shal be called to the reckoning of this last iudgment THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that we shall giue account of euerie idle word that euerie one shall giue account for himselfe that euerie one shall receaue for the good or ill which he hath done that the dead shal be iudged according to their workes The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that Christ will not exact an account of our life ill passed that God will not enter into iudgment with vs that our sinnes shall not come to iudgment shall not come to reckoning that nether all our deeds or words shall come to the reckoning of iudgment ART XII WHETHER THE ELECT being iustified committeth ill or sinne SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Psal 50. ver 6. Dauid saieth of himselfe To thee onely haue Dauid did ill I sinned and haue done ill before thee 2. Reg. 12. v. 9. Nathan saieth to Dauid Why therefore hast thou contemned the word of the Lord that thou wouldest doe euill in my sight CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 1. de Amiss Grat. c. 7. Dauid himselfe peculiarly bewaileth his adulterie and murder and amongst other things saieth To thee onely haue I sinned and haue done ill before thee PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Zanchius de Perseuerantia tom 7. col 124. Dauid sinned He committed not sinne indeed but neuer committed sinne Et 147. The regenerate commit not sinne Musculus in Locis tit de Peccato The elect commit not The elect commit not sinne sinne though they sometimes do sinne Againe The elect commit not sinne but the reprobates Abbots in Diatribam Tomsoni c. 20. Christ manifestly sheweth that it is one thing to sinne an other to commit sinne and saieth that the iustified do not commit sinne THE CONFERENCE Scripture plainely saieth that Dauid though an elect and iustified man sinned did ill before God contemned Gods word The same say Catholiks Protestants plainely say that Dauid neuer committed sinne that the regenerate commit not sinne that the elect commit not sine ART XIII WHETHER THE ELECT himselfe being iustified sinneth SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. 2 Reg. 24. v. 17. Dauid saieth of himselfe I am he that haue Dauid sinned and did wickedly Did euill sinned I haue done wickedly Et 1. Paralipomen 21. v. 17. It is I that haue sinned it is I that haue done the euill CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Councel of Trent Session 6. Can. 23. If anie shall say that a man once iustified cannot sinne nor leese grace c. be he accursed
A CONFERENCE OF THE CATHOLIKE AND PROTESTANTE DOCTRINE WITH THE EXPRESSE WORDS OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE WHICH IS THE SECOND PARTE OF THE Prudentiall Balance of Religion VVHEREIN IS CLEARELY SHEWED THAT IN MORE then 260. points of controuersie Catholiks agree with the holie Scripture both in words and sense and Protestants disagree in both and depraue both the sayings words and sense of Scripture WRITTEN FIRST IN LATIN BVT NOW AVGmented and translated into English ACTS IV. VERSE XVII IF IT BE IVST IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO heare you rather then God iudge yee S. Athanasius Apol. de Fuga WHAT MVST WE STICK TO TO GODS words or these mens Fables AT DOWAY By the widdowe of MARKE WYON at the signe of the Phenix M.DC.XXXI The argument of the first booke VVHo in more then 260. points of controuersie speake with the holie Scripture in the very selfe same or equiualeÌ„t words when it speaketh of those matters expressely and of purpose and in that sense also which the words of Scripture of themselues without anie exposition of man do afforde and in which sense such words vse to be spoken and vnderstood of men they touching those points agree both in words and meaning with the holie Scripture And who speake of those points both in such words and sense as are contrarie to the foresaied words and sense they in those points disagree both in words and sense from the holie Scripture But Catholiks doe that and Protestants this Therefore c. The Maior semeth to be manifest by it selfe and is largely proued in the second booke Cap. 1. The Minor is shewed to the eye in all the first booke The argument of the second Booke VVHo not onely in more then 260. points of controuersie disagree from the foresaied words and sense of Scripture but also are forced openly to reiect some of the words thereof to blot out some to call others in question to change the order of others to change almost all kinds of the Scriptures speaches to expound her words by quite different and plaine contraries to reiect the vnanimous exposition of holie Fathers to confesse that some of their opinions were long since condemned for heresies that some are blasphemous and playne contrarie to Scripture such contradict not onely the words but also the true sense of Scripture But Protestants doe thus Therefore c. The Maior is manifest by it selfe and the Minor shewed to the eye in the second Booke APPROBATIO HOc opus cui titulus Collatio doctrinae Catholicorum ac Protestantium cum expressis sacrae scripturae verbis duobus libris comprehensa Latino serm one olim editum à duobus S. Theol. Doctoribus Parisiensibus approbatum nunc verò auctum in Anglicum sermonem fideliter conuersum nihil habet fidei Catholicae aduersum aut bonis moribus sed plurimum valet ad confutationem doctrinae haereticorum praesentis temporis proinde rectè praeli beneficio in lucem edetur Datum Duaci die 2. Ianuarij 1631. GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theol. Doctor eiusdem Regius ordinarius ac primarius Professor insignis Ecclâ—siae Collegiatae S. Petri Praepositus Canonicus Duacen sis Academiae Cancellarius librorum Censor THE PREFACE TO THE READER WHEREIN THE SCOPE MANNER OF PROCEDING AND PROFIT OF THIS BOOKE IS DECLARED REQVISITE TO BE READ BEFORE THE BOOKE THERE are now diuers years Gentle Reader since I published the first parte of the Prudential Balance of Religion in which by the weights of Prudence and Right Reason I weighed together the Catholik and Protestant religion according to their first Founders in our English nation to wit S. Austin and Martin Luther which booke hath neuer since bene answered by anie Protestant albeit diuers ministers and superintendents haue carped at it both in Pulpits and printed books shewing thereby that they wanted no will to answere it if they could haue performed it In the preface thereof I promised a second parte in which I would after the same manner weigh the forsaied religions according to their claimes to the holie Scripture and the expresse words thereof which here now I offer vnto thee The causes why I haue so long differred the publishing of this second parte are well enough knowne to them who know me and not needfull to be known of them who know me not And therfore I will not trouble thee with the rehearshall of them but here propose vnto thee the scope manner of Proceding and Profits of this second parte 2. As a man consisteth essentially of a Soule and Bodie and can neither be nor be imagined without them both So the true Church of Christ essentially consisteth Two things wholy necessarieto Christs Church of his true Doctrine which is the forme and as it were the soule of his Church and of lawfull Pastors and People who teach and embrace his Doctrine which Pastors and People make as it were the bodie of Christes Church And without both these partes to wit Christs true Doctrine and true Pastors teaching and People embracing it Christs true Church can no more be or imagined to be then a true man can either be or imagined to be without both the true bodie and true soule of a man And albeit the manifest need of both these partes to the true Church of Christ doth enforce Protestants to make some clame to them both and to pretend that they haue alvaies had both true Pastors who taught and People who beleiued their Doctrine yet their pretense to this parte of the Church is so weake and slender as but seldome and vpon mere necessitie they insist thereon But their greatest pretense and claime is to the true Doctrine of Christ and think thereby to proue that they haue alwaies had true Pastors and People who taught and beleiued their Doctrin as I haue shewed in a Booke of the Author of the Protestant Church and Religion wherein also I haue conuinced by ten Demonstrations all taken out of the open Confessions of the best learned Protestants both of England and other Countries that they neuer had anie one Pastor who taught or man who beleived the very fundamentall and most substantiall points of their religion before Luther arose but that he was first Author Inuentor and Father therof as some of them in plaine termes do call him 3. And although this Booke haue bene now these manie years published both in Latin and English and doth by the open confessions of the best learned Protestants ouerthrow the very foundation of their Church or rather shew that it hath no foundation at all besides their owne imagination yet hitherto no Protestant hath made anie shew of a solid answere vnto it I saie no shew of a why D. Prideaux lecture is no answer to the Author of Protest religion solid answere because that florish which Doctor Prideaux the Kinges diuinitie Reader in Oxford hath made in a lecture deserueth not the name of shew or shadow of an answer First because
at all For what need she help of others to declare her meaning who clearly declareth it her self And vndoubtedly if in any place she clearly declareth her meaning she doth it in those places in which she speaketh both clearly and of set purpose for to expresse her meaning But if by her self she doe not clearly declare her meaning in matters in controuersie without some help of man especially without the help of one of the opposite parties who contend about her meaning certainly she is A iudge must be able by himself to declare his mynd not fitt to be the onely iudge of controuersies as Protestants would haue her For who will saye that she alone is fitt to be iudge who alone and by her self is not able to vtter clearly her mynd Besids if the pure word of God may not iudge according to the pure sense which of it self it clearly yeeldeth but according to a different nay quite opposite sense which being conferred expounded wrested by man it is forced to yeeld who shall assure vs that Gods sense and not the sense of man whose and not Gods that conference inference and wresting is is made Serm. 14. de verb. Apost Tractat. 2. de Cant. c. 17. L. 6. cont Iulian c. 5. L. 2. de Baptismo c. 6. iudge of controuersies Let mens ghesses saieth S. Austin giue place for a time let vs take in hand diuine weapons Againe This is humane inference not dinine authoritie The arguments which you bring are humane these are diuine munitions And otherwhere let vs not bring false scales with which we may weigh what we will and how we will and saye as we please This is heauie This is leight But let vs bring the diuine scale of the holie Scripture and in that let vs weigh which is heauiest or rather let not vs wheigh it but let vs aknowledg it weighed of God Let vs set aside a while mens ghesses or imaginations of the conference or exposition of this or that place of Scripture let vs not bring deceitfull scales of mans conference inference or exposition of Scripture with which we may weigh what we will and how we will saying according as we please This is the meaning That is not the meaning This followeth That followeth not This is true that is false againe all which we may oppose those words of S. Austin This is mans inference mans conference mans exposition mans ghesse not diuine authoritie and let vs bring the diuine and sure scale of the pure meaning of Gods pure word and in that let vs weigh the doctrin of both partes or rather let vs acknowledge that which is weighed and allowed by God him self in this his scale Moreouer if mans help be necessarie to Scripture for the conference and expositiō of the places therof or inference of that which is to be inferred out of them so that without mans help it can not sufficiently decide questions of faith I aske of Protestants what men these must be whether we or they or some third who nether are Catholiks nor Protestants Sure I am they will nether admit ours nor other mens expositions of Scripture for their iudge and I think they wil be ashamed to exact of vs that we should admit their interpretatiō especially sith they refuse the conference inference and exposition of the holy Councells and Fathers Wherfore vnles they will stand to Protestants must be tried by the natiue and vsual sense of he words or thy no sense that sense of Scripture which is no way partial to wit which the Scripture it self by it self without any conference or exposition of man giueth they can name no sense of Scripture which both parties may admit for their iudge and to refuse all sense of Scripture whervpon both parties may reasonably agree is plainly to refuse all reasonable triall by scripture For seing the soule and kernel of the Scripture is the sense therof and that the letter or words is but the shell or bark of it as is euident and both holie Fathers and Protestants agree manifest it is that whosoeuer will not reasonably agree vpon any sense of the Church Councells or Fathers where it is spoken of set purpose to declare Gods meaning of it self without any mans exposition and according to the vsual vnderstanding of men it doth afford rather then the quite contrarie sense which by the wresting of Protestants it is compelled to carrie Let but this right reason and true prudence lift vp this Balance wherein I weigh the Doctrin of Catholiks and Protestants according to holie Scripture in more then 260. points and I nothing doubt but it will clearly see and iudge the Catholik doctrin agreable to Scripture and the Protestant quite opposite and contrarie And this is my purpose Scope and butte in this 1. The Scope of the first booke And of the second booke to which I adde a second wherin I manifestly shewe that Protestants Doctrin is not onely quite opposite in more then 260. points both in words and meaning to the holie Scripture but also that they are forced to reiect many and great partes of the Scripture to alter that parte which they admit to weaken all force of Scripture to say that much of the Scripture was not spoken of certaine knowledge or not according to the meaning of the speaker to teach that most weightie sentences of the Scripture were spoken ironically mimetically and hyperbolically to change the most vniuersall propositions of the Scripture into particulers to limitate speeches not limited by the Scripture to alter absolute speeches into conditionall to make causall propositions not causall to expound words in some sorte which were spake simply The contents of the second booke which were spaken of one time to interprete them of an other to make one saying of many to vnderstand words that signifie the doing of a thing of an endeauour to doe it which signifie working a thing of the way or meane therto which signifie that a thing is to expound that it ought to be words which signifie a true thing to expound them of a shew or apparent thing to expound the words of Scripture of different yea wholy diuerse contrarie matters to deuise improprietes and all figures of speeches to feigne friuolous and neuer before heard of distinctions to reiect the exposition of the Fathers Councells and Church to confesse that they teach Doctrin damned in ould time for heresie to frustate the ends of the incarnation and passion of Christ to take out of the world all vertue and giue free scope to all vice and finally to confesse that much of the Protestant doctrin is contrarie to holie Scripture All which clearly shewe that Protestant leaders doe not onely teach doctrin contrarie to the Scripture but also do in very deed mock and contemne it 8. The manner of my proceeding is this First I deuide Manner of proceeding in this booke the matters which are in controuersie
Ether the doores of themselues opened to Christ or he passed through the walls Piscator in Respons ad Buscherum c. 13. As if it were not more probable that Christ by his diuine power did open the shut doores More of their like sayings may be seene in my Latin booke chapt 2. art 23. THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that Christ entred to his disciples the doores being shut and when the doores were shut The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the doores were not shut in the instant of Christs entrance that Christ truely opened the doores that the doores of themselues opened and gaue place Which doctrin diuers Protestants confesse to be contrarie to Scripture See lib. 2. c. 30. ART XXIV WHETHER CHRIST PENEtrated the Heauens SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Hebrews 4. v. 14. Hauing therefore a great high Preist that Christ penetrated the Heauenes hath penetrated the Heauens Iesus the Sonne of God CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 3. de Euchar. c. 6. It cannot be temerariously saied of the bodie of Christ that the Heauens were broaken when he ascended to his Father PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Vorstius in Antibellarm p 402. The question is begged in Did not penetrate heauē all the examples which are bought to proue penetration of quantites whereas in truth no such thing is any where redde in Scripture Spalatensis lib. 5. de Republic cap. 6. num 182. I admit no penetration Gualterus in Ioan. 20. calleth it a monstruous new doctrin to say that twoe bodies can be at once in the same place Tilenus in Syntagm cap. 8. saieth that Christ ascended without penetration of quantities And the Ministers in the Conference at Paris 1588. affirmed that he could not ascend but renting and breaking the Heauens THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely teacheth that Christ penetrated the Heauens The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely teach that in Scripture there is no example of penetration that they admit no penetration that it is a monstruous new doctrin that Christ ascended without penetration and could not ascend but by renting the heauens ART XXV WHETHER CHRISTS DO IN heauen pray for vs SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Ihon 14. ver 16. And I will aske the Father and he will giue Christ our aduocate with the Father Maketh incession for vs. you an other Paraclete 1. Ihon 2. v. 1. But and if any man shall sinne we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust Rom. 8. vers 34. Christ Iesus that died yea that is risen also againe who is on the right hand of God who also maketh intertercession for vs. Hebrews 7. v. 25. Whereby he is able to saue also for euer going by himselfe to God alwaies liuing to make intercession for vs. CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME C. Bellarm. l. 1. de Sanctis c. 20. Christ praieth for all Et. l. 2. de Missa c. 8. Christ is our onely immediate intercessor with his Father Tolet in Ihon. 16. Annot. 35. The holie Fathers teach that Christ in heauen as man praieth his Father for vs albeit some denie it but improbably PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Peter Martyr in 1. Corint 13. But they must know that Christs intercessiō with the Father for vs is nothing else but that Christs intercession nothing but c he is alwaies present with the Father and that by his prosence because he was deliuered to death for vs Gods mercie towards the elect is most speedily obtained Caluin in Ioan. 16. v. 26. But when it is saied that Christ praieth for vs to his Father we must not imagin any carnall thing of him as if falling at his Fathers fect he humblie made Maketh not būble praier praier but the vertue of his Sacrifice wherewith he once pacified God to vs being euer of force this effectuall blood with which he clensed our sinnes and the obedience which he performed are a continuall intercession for vs. And in Rom. 8. v. 34. he saieth that because his death and resurrection are in steed of an eternall intercession and haue the efficacie of a liuely praier he is saied to intercede for vs. The like hath Perkins de Serie Causarum to 1. col 21. Bezain Confess c. 4. sect 16. Nether therefore may we imagin Praieth not as a Suppliāt that Christ as a Suppliant praieth for vs but he reconcileth vs to the Father by the perpetuall odour of his onely sacrifice and maketh our praiers effectuall before God Bucanus in Instit Theol. loco 35. Christ not by a gesture or praier as casting himselfe at his Fathers feet doth humbly pray for vs but both by the merite and vertue of his death and also by offering our praiers to the Father The like say others as may be seene in my Latin booke c. 2. art 25. THE CONFERENCE Scripture expressely saieth that Christ in heauen is our aduocate asketh for vs maketh intercession for vs. The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that Christs intercession is nothing else but his presence with his Father that he doth not humbly make praier for vs that his death and resurrection are in steed of praier that he praieth not for vs as a Suppliant that he doth not humbly pray for vs. A SVMME OF THIS CHAPTER OF CHRIST In the former Chapter we shewed that Protestants crie that we make a new God and that this fault rather falleth vpon them now we will shew that they obiect the like vnto vs concerning Christ and that themselfes are faultie therein M. Perkins in Cathol reform Controu 9. cap. 11. thus writeth of Catholiks They worshippe an other Christ then we doe And in Conflictu Christi cum Diabolo tom 2. col 130. The Papists Christ is a feigned Christ In Apocal. 2. col 189. The Papists Christ is a false Christ yea Protestants new Christ an idol of Christ But out of that which hath beene related in this chapter it will appeare that the Catholiks Christ is the true Christ described vnto vs by the Scripture and that the Protestants Christ is a quite different and opposite Christ For the Christ which Scripture and Catholiks propose is as he is man to be worshipped to be called vpon head of the Church lawmaker iudge can forgiue sinnes worke miracles None of which things agree to the Protestants Christ According to Protestants Christ as man was ignorant most truely a sinner was afraied of his saluation but not according to Catholiks According to Scripture and Catholiks Christ merited some thing for himselfe truely merited our redemption and that by his bodilie death or blood nether was his blood corrupted but according to Protestants he merited nothing for himselfe merited not our redemption with a iust price but by acceptation of his Father nor by his corporall death but by some greater matter and his blood was corrupted nor is now any more in being According to the Scripture and Catholiks Christ died for the wicked for the damned for all descended into hell was free
Iustification writeth thus Sanctification by the blood of the couenaÌ„t Heb. 10. v. 29. is not the inward cleansing of the heart from sinne To receaue the holie Ghost Act. 19. v. 2. With them is not to receaue grace but some speciall guifts Caluin ibid. Here is not spoaken of the spirit of regeneration but of speciall guifts In like sorte by The holie Ghost ib. Nether haue we heard that there is a holie Ghost is not meant the holie Ghost For thus Caluin ib. How could it be that Iews had not heard of the holie Ghost Et Beza ibid. It were most absurd to thinke that they knew not that there was anie holie Ghost To be sanctified Hebr. 10. v. 29. is not to be truely sanctified For thus Contraremonstrantes in Collat. Hagae p. 391. Nether yet can it be concluded thereof that they were truely faithfull and indeed sanctified To fall from grace Gal. 5. ver 5. With them is not to fall from grace but to fall from the hope of obtaining it Contrare monstrantes loc cit p. 388. These are saied to fall from the grace of iustification not that euer they were partakers thereof but because they are excluded from al hope of obtaining it so long as they wil be iustified by the law Touching baptisme To be baptized Act. 19. v. 3. In whome Touching Baptisme then were you baptized with them is not to haue receaued baptisme but other guifts Beza ib. We must needs graunt that here is not treated of baptisme but of guifts wherewith God was wonte specially to adorne those whome he made rulers of Churches Gualâ—erus ib. hom 125. These words must not be expouÌ„ded of the baptisme of water but of the baptisme of fire Likewise Baptisme 1. Pet. 3. with them signifieth not baptisme but Christ Zuinglius resp ad Huber tom 2. It is certainely euident that Peter in that place by Baptisme vnderstandeth no other thing but Christ. Water also Ioan. 3. v. 5. Vnlesse one be borne agayne of water signifieth not water but the holie Ghost Caluin ibid. I can no way be persuaded to beleiue that Christ speaketh of baptisme And in Refutat Serueti This pertaineth nothing to baptisme but the name of water is metaphorically attributed to the holie Ghost Zuinglius vpon this place By water here he meaneth not that element but the word of God grace of God heauenlie water that is the illustration of the noâ—â—e Ghost And in the same manner other Protestants commonlie Touching the Eucharist Is in the words of consecratioÌ„ Touching the Eucharist with them is not Is but Signifieth nor Bodie giuen for vs Blood shed for vs is the true bodie and blood of Christ but onely figures of them as appeareth by what hath beene saied lib. 1. cap. 11. art 1. To eate the flesh and drinke the blood of Christ so often repeated Ioan. 6. is not to eate or drinke but onely to beleiue P. Martyr cont Gardiner part 1. col col 866. We still say that to eate to wit the flesh of Christ is nothing els then to apprehend it by faith as giuen for vs as price of our redemption Which also he hath col 863. And Luther Postil in Dom. post Natiuit To eate and drinke his flesh and To eate 1. not to eate but to beleiue blood is no other thing then to beleiue that Christ truely tooke these for our sake and repaied them agayne at death The like hath Zuinglius in Ioan. 6. and in Histor passionis and l. de Relig. c. de Euchar. Bullinger Dec. 5. serm 9. Vrsinus in Catechism q. 76. Flesh in those words of Christ Ioan. 6. My Flesh. 1. not flesh but diuinitie flesh is truely meate with them is not flesh but the Godhead Zuinglius in Exegesi to 2. fol. 333. He saieth his flesh is truely meate meaning surely not his flesh but his better nature which had taken flesh The Bodie of our Lord in those words 1. Cor. 10. The bread which we breake is it not the participation of the bodie of our Lord with these men is not the bodie of Christ 1. Christians Christ but Christians Zuinglius lib. cit Thou mights haue seene at the first how that Communion and Bodie are not taken Bodie of Christ 1. men for distribution of Christs bodie but for men themselues Finally Luther was so bould as to set downe a Canon Luthers CanoÌ„ of expounding Words by coÌ„traries of expounding the words of holie Scripture by coÌ„traries For thus he writeth in Ps 5. to 3. fol. 171. Let this be a Canon for thee Where the Scripture commandeth a good worke to be done do thou so vnderstand it that it forbiddeth thee doe good workes seing thou canst not but that thou maiest sanctifie the Lord be dead and buried and suffer God to worke in thee Which Canon Protestants do well follow as appeareth by what hath beene related in this chapter and before in the sixt and seuenth chapter where we shewed that in the weightieste matters they expounded the words of holie Scripture ironically and according to others meÌ„s mynde These and innumerable the like doe Protestants of which we might easily gather not onely a chapter but a booke full But out of these which we haue rehearsed it clearely appeareth First how great hereticall libertie as Tertullian speaketh is which turneth the words of holie Scripture this way and that way in to this forme and that and tosseth them vp and downe like tenis balls Secondly how easie it may be for euerie idiote with this libertie for to defend what heresie soeuer though neuer so contrarie to Scripture For who cannot expound the words of Scripture by diuerse by disparate and contrarie things Thirdly how impossible it is if this libertie be admitted to refute by Scripture any heresie at all or to proue anie thing by anie words whatsoeuer ether of God or man Fourthly how that Protestants by this kinde of dealing do more dishonor God and the holie Scripture then if they should quite reiect it For if they should reiect the Scripture they should onely reiect Gods word and trueth But by this manner of dealing they doe not onely reiect Gods trueth and meaning but also in steede thereof foist in the contrarie vntrueth and so as S. Hierome speaketh In Galat. â— of the word of God they make the word of the Diuel Fiftly it appeareth that these expositions of Protestants are like to that which Luther merly deuised for to shew the Sacramentaries how they expounded the words of consecration in Defens verb. cenae to 7. fol. 384. where he A fit exaÌ„ple of Protest expositions writeth thus Surely they doe a great and weightie matter But no otherwise then if I should denie that God made heauen and earth wheÌ„ one should obiect that of Moises In the beginning God created heauen and earth I should expound Moises words in this sorte God that is a Cuccou Made that is deuoured Heauen and earth