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
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
speeches of Protestants as it was to me to write them out let him runne ouer the Summe which I make of their words or by the notes in the margent chuse which are fittest to his purpose And thus much for the māner of my proceeding in this booke 11. The profit of this work is manifould First because by it a short and easie way may be taken to make an end The profits of this worke of all controuersies and that out of Scirpture alone as Protestants desire to wit by mere rehearsall of the expresse words of Scripture of Catholiks and of famous Protestants touching 260. articles of controuersie For if it appeare that catholikes in 260. articles agree both in word and sense with the expresse words of Scripture and these spoken of purpose to declare her meaning vnto vs and that Protestants in those 260. articles directly contradict the said words and sense of the holie Scripture no man will doubt but that all Protestant doctrin for as it is contrarie to the Catholik is also contrarie to the holie Scripture An other commoditie is that in this booke are gathered those places of Scripture and they ranked according to order of their matters which in 260. articles directly and in their proper and vsual sense do approue the Catholik doctrin and condemne the Protestant A third commoditie is that hereby are at hand in euerie kind of controuersie such sayings of famous Protestants as not onely directely crosse the Scripture but also many of them are so blasphemous against God against Christ against the Saints the Church Sacraments Faith Good works so opposite to pietie vertue and religion so fauorable to vice and all licenciousnes so repugnant to reason as some Protestants will deny and others scarse beleeue that euer any of theirs taught such doctrin Whome I request The Authors fidelitie in citing Protetestants sayings to take the paines to looke vpon the bookes and places by me alledged and then to beleeue their owne eyes For I not onely gathered their sayings out of their owne bookes but also after I had my self gathered them and caused them to be faire copied out I diligently conferred them with their books and admitted none which he that read their bookes did non find to be truly cited out of them Wherfore I say for my self as Caluin said for him self against Gentilis There shal be no colour for them to cōplaine that they are slandered seing I request that iudgmēt be made of their impietie out of their owne mere words And they who haue had to deale with Protestants ether by word or writing know well how important a thing it is to be able to conuince them that they teach that which in in very deed they teach which may clearly be done by their sayinges here rehearsed 12. The fourth commoditie of this worke is thar hereby shall appeare that almost in all controuersies which betwene Catholiks and Protestants Catholiks do stick fast to the very words of Scripture and religiously keepe her letter and forme of speech and Protestants goe fare from the words at lest of Scripture and bring in a different yea quite opposit forme of speech Nether ought they to think this to be a small fault both because they boasting of the pure and expresse word of God ought also to keep the very letter thereof and not to reiect it and to vse the contrarie as also because the Apostle commandeth to auoide profane nouelties of words and to keepe the 1. Timoth. 6. 2. Timoth. 1. forme of holesome words which we haue learned of him which commandment they do not follow who forsake the Scriptures forme of speech and embrace the contrarie and finally because not onely the sense but also the words and forme of speech vsed by the Scripture did proceed from the holie Ghoste and therefore it is sacrilegious audacitie to reiect Gods words and Gods forme of speaking and to bring in mans words and fashion of speaking quite contrarie As if these new Ghospelers should teach God how to deliuer his mind or he ment to speake otherwise by them then he did by his Prophets Apostles and Euāgelists wherefore their impietie is not to be borne withall who when the Scripture most often and most plainly calleth the beleefe of wicked men or reprobats faith and neuer denieth it to be faith yet dare say that it Caluin 3. Instit c. 2. §. 10. is vnworthie the name of faith When the Scripture often times and most directly calleth the Eucharist the bodie of Christ and not once directly denieth it to be his bodie yet dare say it is not his bodie And the like they doe in many other matters wherin if they controll not the meaning of the holie Ghoste at least they correct his speech and reforme it according to the square of their new doctrin Far otherwise proceeded the holie Fathers who would not suffer so much as a letter or syllable of the holie Scripture to be altered And as S. Austin grauely aduertized Philosophers may speake as they please but we speake according Lib. 10. de Ciuit. c. 23. to a certaine rule lest licencie in words breed impious opinions of the thing which they signifie Yea Protestants them selues some times will seeme to be very carefull of the words and phrases of Scripture For thus speaketh Luther If the In Confutat Latomi f. 227 Scripture terme any thing sin beware thou beest not moued by any words of theirs who as if they could speake better deny it to be sin And Caluin There is to be taken out of Scripture a 1. Instit c. 13. §. 3. certaine forme of thinking speaking by which all the thoughts of our mynd and words of our mouth are to be examined Beza Ad defens Castell also I see that all godlie and learned Diuines haue euer taught that the holie Ghost gouerned not onely the mynd but also the tongue and pen in so much as concerning the wonders of God not onely nothing can be saied of any mā more truly or more habily but also nether so grauely nor so properly Likewise Bucer Prefat in Math. No wisdom of the flesh can reach to these misteries of the kingdome of God Therefore then we speake most plainly most perspicuously and most surely of matters of faith when we speake according to the rule and forme of Scripture And otherwhere we In Hospin part 2. Histor must learne of the Scripture and the holie Ghoste how to speake and think of euerie matter Wherefore the holie Ghost his formes of speaking ought not to be corrected according to the iudgment of our reason Thus they which if they and theires had followed we should not haue had so much speech contrarie to the Scripture 13. The fift and that no small cōmoditie is that by this worke wil be taken from ministers all their false pretense of Scripture and of the worde of God wherewith perpetually they crie that the Catholik
fable that it skilleth not greatly to know how he descended into Hell that some of them eagerly impugne this article of the Creed and would haue it put out of the Creed and that some haue put it out Which is so plaine a contradiction of Scripture as diuers Protestants confesse it See l. 2. c. 30. ART XXII WHETHER CHRIST SVFfered the paines of Hell of the damned and the second death of the soule SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY DENIETH. Acts 2. v. 24. Whome God hath raised vp loosing the sorrows of Christ loosed the paines of Hell Free among the dead Hell according as it was impossible that he should be houldē of it Psal 87. v. 6. I am become as a man without helpe free among the dead CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE D. Stapleton in Promptuar Quadrages feria 4. Hebdom Sanctae It is a very diuelish speech and execrable blasphemie of Caluin that Christ in soule suffered the horrible torments of damned and lost man PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker l. 8. cont Dur. sect 20. Christ suffered the paines of Hell for a time Perkins in Explicat Symboli col 679. Others so expound Suffered the paines of Hell He felt and bore the torments and anguishes of Hell This is a good and true exposition Col. 680. Those words Crucified dead and buried are not to be vnderstood of a common and ordinarie death but of an execrable and cursed death by which Christ sustained the full wrath of God yea the anguishes of Hell both in bodie and mynd De Serm. Dom. col 575. Christ bore the sinnes The anguishes of Hell in mynd and bodie Suffered the second death of the elect together with the punishment due to them so much as appertaineth to the substance thereof to wit the first and second death Parkes cont Willet p. 114. Luther Illyricus Latimer tought that Christ descended into Hell bodie and soule and there sustained torments after death Willet Cōtr. 20. q. 3. p. 1083. I will shew in what tolerable sense Died in soule Christ is affirmed to die in the soule Et pa. 1112. That Hell flames are not eternall in Christ the worthines of his person obtained Luther in Psal 22. to 3. fol. 330. Christ suffered that which we should haue suffered for sinne and which the dāned now suffer In Gen. 42. to 6. f 586. I thinke that Christ sustained the sorrows of Hell Let vs know that Christ must haue borne the paine of Hell Hutterus in Analysi Confess Augustan art 3. Christ suffered the true sorrows of hell Lobechius disp 6. p. 136. Christ suffered the punishment of Suffered the paines of the damned the desperate and damned and euerlasting paines Caluin 1. Instit c. 16. § 10. He suffered that death which God in anger inflicteth vpon the wicked He suffered in soule the horrible torments of a desperate and lost man In Catechismo c. de fide he asketh How can it come to passe that Christ who is the saluation of the world should be subiect to this damnation and Answereth He was not so vnder Was subiect to damnation it as he remained vnder it In Rom. 10. v. 6. He suffered the horrors of hell for to deliuer vs from them Beza lib. Quaest vol. 1. p. 672. He was in the middest of the torments of hell Daneus Cont. 2. p. 165. Bellarmin saieth that the onely death which Christ suffered in bodie satisfied God for our sinnes This is false For the reward of sinne is death and that is twoe fould The Suffered the separation of God from his soule first is the separation of the soule from the bodie the second is the separation of God from the soule Both which Christ suffered therefore both death of soule and bodie and that wholie for vs and not onely the death of the bodie Vrsinus in Catechismo pag. 278. To beleiue in Christ who descended into hell is to beleiue that Christ suffered in his soule the hellish torments and sorrows Polanus in Sylloge thes par 3. p. 450. Christ died the eternall death And Pareus Colloq Theol. 2. disput 5. citeth Brentius saying Christ burnt in the flames of hell More like hellish Was burnt in the flames of hell speeches of theirs are in my Latin booke ca. 1. art 22. See Rogers vpon the 3. Article of English Confession THE CONFERENCE Scripture saieth that Christ was free among the dead that he loused the sorrows of hell and could not be held of it The same say Catholiks Protestants say that Christ suffered the paines the sorrows the anguishes of hell the true sorrowes of hell hellish torments that which the damned now suffer the torments of a desperate and lost man that he burnt in the flames of hell was in the middest of the torments of hell sustained the anguishes of hell both in bodie and mynd suffered the torments of hell both in bodie and soule that he suffered the execrable death the first and secōd death that death which God in his wrath inflicteth vpon the wicked the second death of the soule which is seperation from God that he died the eternall death that he was vnder damnation ART XXIII WHETHER CHRIST ENTRED vnto his disciples the doores being shut SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. Ihon. 20. v. 19. When it was late that day the first of the Sabboths Christ entred the doores being shut and the doores were shut where the disciples were gathered together for feare of the Iews Iesus came and stood in the middest Et v. 26. After eight daies againe the disciples were within and Thomas with them Iesus cometh the doores being shut and stood in the middest and saied c. CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME D. Stapleton in Ioan. 20. v. 19. The Euangelist saieth that Christ entred the doores being shut which words exclude all opening of any entrance PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY DENIE Willet Controu 20. q. 2. p. 1079. We graunt that Christs coming in the doores being shut was miraculous because one substance gaue place to an other for a time and after the passing of his bodie the place remained whole and shut as before but not in the very instant of passing Spalatensis lib. 5. Repub. cap. 6. num 180. Christ could He opened the dores truely open himselfe the doores and streight waies shut them and in the meane time hould the eyes of his disciples that they should not see ether the doores open or himselfe enter vntill he was in the middest Peter Martyr in dialogo col 97. When our Lord would The doores gaue place enter the doores of themselues gaue place Caluin Admonit vlt. ad Westphal p. 805. But if Christ by his diuine power did miraculously open the shut doores doth it therefore follow that his bodie was infinit Beza cont Westphal vol. 1. Theol. p. 231. Caluin thinketh He opened the doores rather that the Euangelist spake of the doores shut to giue to vnderstand that of themselues they opened to Christs entrance In Ioan. 20. v. 19.
Virtue their power whiles they denie that they are capable of power to worke miracles steale away their perfect iustice in denying that they are perfectly iust or perfectly do the will of God Robbe them of their honour because they Honor. denie that we may honour them imitate them pray to them or pray to God in their names They spoile them Dignitie of their dignitie in saying that God doth not any good vnto vs for their merits or good deeds They bereaue Knowledge them of their knowledge in saying that they know not any thing that is done on earth They robbe them of Charitie their charitie because they say that they pray not for vs ether in generall or in particular haue no care of vs not exercise any offices of charitie towards vs. Finally they Happines take from them their heauenly felicitie because they teach that they enioy not that vntill the day of iudgment And hitherto we haue spoaken of those who are in heauē now let vs speake of these things which are on earth and first of the word of God CHAPTER IV. OF THE VVORD OF GOD OR SCRIPTVRE ART I. WHETHER ANIE PLACES OF Scripture be hard to be vnderstood SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY AFFIRMETH. PETER 3. vers 16. As our most deere Some places of Scripture hard to be vnderstood brother Paul according to the wisdome giuen him hath written to you as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in the which are certaine things hard to be vnderstood which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE D. Stapleton in Ioan. 17. v. 20. Catholiks denie that all the Scripture is plaine and cleare PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker Controu 1. q. 4. c. 3. p. 337. Peter saieth not that Paules epistles are obscure no nor that there are some obscure things in Paules epistles And c. 4. p. 340. It is manifest that the Scriptures are easie to be vnderstood And he addeth that the whole will of God which is declared in his whole word and Scriptures and the whole Scripture is easie The same he saieth p. 341. Of the whole Scripture of the vniuersall Scripture and whole word of God Luther l. de seru arbit to 2. fol. 426. It is spred abrode by No place of Scripture hard the impious Sophisters that there are some things obscure in the Scripture and that all things are not laied open Fol. 427. There is nothing at all left obscure or ambiguous but all things are brought into most cleare light by the word and declared to the whole world whatsoeuer is in Scripture And fol. 440. I speake of the whole Sripture I will not haue anie parte of it to be saied to be obscure The like he hath Postilla in festo S. Iacobi fol. 430. and Cont. Cocleum to 2. fol. 410. Neuer any thing was vttered more simply more purely more clearely more easily then the word of God Praefat. Assert art The Scripture is by it selfe No booke more cleare then the Scriture the most certaine the most easie the most cleare interpreter of it selfe prouing iudging and lightning all things And in psalm 37. to 3. fol. 10. If anie of them say that we need the Fathers interpretation the Scriptures are obscure Thou shalt answere That is false No booke in the whole world is most clearely writtē then the holie Scripture which compared to all other bookes is like the Sunne before all other lights Gerlachius disputat 1. tom 1. pag. 9. We say that the whole Scripture is so cleare as it needeth no interpretation at all Zanchius de Scriptura tom 8. col 408. How then can the Scripture be saied obscure in anie parte thereof col 409. If the Scripture be obscure in no parte as before we haue shewed much lesse in those things which are necessarie to saluation And l. 1. Epistol pag. 98. The places of holie Scripture from whence the decrees of Christian religion are drawne are so plaine and manifest as they need no more diligent or clearer exposition Serranus cont Hayum part 3. p. 267. saieth that there is not anie ambiguitie or obscuritie in the matter or words of the Scripture And p. 269. that the Lord hath plainly laied open in the Scripture all the misteries of our saluation Manie more of their like sayings may be seene in my Latin booke cap. 4. art 1. CONFERENCE OF THE FORESAIED WORDS Scripture expressely saieth that in S. Paules epistles there be some things hard to be vnderstood The same say Catholiks Protestants expressely say that the Scripture saieth not that there are some obscure things in S. Pauls epistles that the Scripture the whole scripture is easie that the whole scripture is so cleare as it needeth no interpretation at all that no parte of it is obscure that all things are cleare whatsoeuer is in the word and declared to the whole world that the Scripture is the easiest and clearest interpreter of it selfe that no booke in the whole world is so cleare as the Scripture and that being compared to them it is like the Sunne to other lights Which are so manifestly contrarie to Scripture as Protestants thēselues sometimes confesse it See lib. 2. c. 30. ART II. WHETHER SCRIPTVRE CAN BE vnderstood without the light of the holie Ghost SCRIPTVRE EXPRESSELY DENIETH. 2. Peter 1. v. 20. Vnderstanding this first that no prophetie Scripture not vnderstood of our selues or exposition of Scripture is made by priuat interpretation Matth. 13. v. 11. To you it is giuen to know the misteries of the kingdome of heauen but to them it is not giuen Luc. 24. v. 45. Then he opened their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scriptures CATHOLIKS EXPRESSELY DENIE D. Stapleton l. 11. de Principijs c. 2. The spirit of God of whome the vnderstanding of the Scriptures is to be asked and giuen is not to be sought in the Scriptures themselues PROTESTANTS EXPRESSELY AFFIRME Whitaker l. 1. de Scriptura c. 12. sect 8. The Scriptures may Scripture not vnderstood by onely reading without the holie Ghost be known by onely reading l. 2. c. 8. sect 16. I say that the Scriptures may be vnderstood before faith and without faith Againe But if thou thinkest that the Scriptures cannot be vnderstood at all without peculiar lightning of the holie Ghost thou art in a great errour And Controu 1. q. 6. c. 13. For so much as appertaineth to the knowledge of the letter the Church hath no priuiledge Morton in Apol. part 2. l. 5. c. 10. Anie one though neuer so Anie may vnderstand the Scripture so impious may search the Scriptures to knowledge though not to wisdome that is to the knowledge of truth though not to the attayning of saluation Beza l. de notis Eccles vol. 3. p. 137. But for to vnderstand what the Prophets and Apostles haue in summe thought and thought of euerie article of our religion there needeth onely a wit not wholy dull
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
so manifest that much of their doctrine was in ould time condemned of the Fathers for heresie as themselues confesse it For touching the heresies of Aërius thus writeth Bucan Instit loc 42. Did the Fathers rightly reckon the opinion Protest confesse they hould the heresies Of Aerius of Aërius who made no distinction betwene a Bishop and a Preist amongst heresies No more surely then these other his opinions 1. That we ought not to make praiers or offerings for the dead 2. That dead Saints are not to be praied vnto 3. That there ought not to be anie set dayes of fasting Beza respons ad Serau c. 32. Surely Serauia if thou doest thinke Aërius to haue beene an Heretike in those three former points all the reformed Churches this day are Heretiks to thee as well as they are to the Papists Vorstius in Antibel p. 201. Aërius was vniustly condemned of heresie by the Fathers Angelocrator l. 7. de chronol The opinions of Aërius a most learned man that he reiected praier for dead and set fast and made a Preist equall to a Bishop were to be borne withall vnlesse with Aërius he had impugned the Trinitie Whitaker Cont. 2. q. 5. cap. 7. Epiphanius indeed and Austin after him put Aërius amongst Heretiks But if he held nothing but these points he was no Hereike Cartwright Replica 2. p. 618. If it must preuaile against me that Aerius an Heretiks would make a Bishop and Priest all one whome Epiphanius a Catholike thought to be distinct and different by the word of God or that Austin reckoned it amongst the heresies of of Aërius by this way will rise a great preiudice to the trueth wherewith we beleiue that we ought not to pray for the dead nor offer sacrifice for them For Epiphanius to 1. haer 7. calleth this an heresie of Aërius and of the same iudgement is Austin haer 51. which notwithstanding is orthodox doctrine Gratianus Antiiesuita part 1. pagin 528. Surely if one take away those things which Aërius is rather feigned then proued to haue held with the AriaÌ„s about the diuinitie of Christ there wil be nothing which may be iustly and deseruedly reprehended in his doctrine Daneus in libr. Augustini de Haeres capit 53. The Aërians were quickly supprest because they were oppugned by the common consent of all Bishops 1. Aërius taught that a Preist did not differ from a Bishop in order and degree Which doctrine I see not why it should be condemned 2. That praiers are not to be made for the dead because they caÌ„not be holpen by such suffrages of ours Why Christians should not admit this I see not 3. That fasts are not be appointed vpon certaine set and solemne dayes yearely as was the fast of lent for that all this kind of aniuersarie fasts is superstitious and not to be vsed of Christians Which surely is true 4. That there is no pascha among ChristiaÌ„s which is to be kept and celebrated Nether ought this opinion of the Aërians to be condemned because it is true Wherefore we haue not noted these men among Heretiks Touching the heresies of Iouinian thus writeth the Of Iouinian same Daneus l. cit c. 82. Iouinian did equall mariage with single life and virginitie for that both of theÌ„ are of theÌ„selues indiffâ—eÌ„t and no parte of Gods true worship as also because c. This why it should be erroneus nether Hierome proueth nor any other of the Fathers hath proued Whitaker loc cit IouiniaÌ„ thought that the choice of meates and fasting was not meritorious I answere Is the choice of meates meritorious Follie. To fast for this end to merit eternall life is to abuse fasting We willingly agree with IouiniaÌ„ in this point IouiniaÌ„ taught that mariage was equall to virginitie in dignitie and merit So also Paul so Christ so we all teach Indeed Hierome inuetheth against Iouinian for this cause HuÌ„fre ad Rat. 3. Camp We grant it is true which Sanders saieth of the Iouinians and Protestants That fasting or abstinence froÌ„ some certaine meats profiteth nothing Touching the heresies of Vigilantius thus Humfre loc cit Of Vigilantius He taught that the reliks of Saints are not to be worshiped And we also Vigilantius taught that there was no need to light torches or to wachat the sepulchres of Martyres And why should not we teach the same and much rather He taught that Saints are not to be worshipped nor that men ought superstitiously to runne to their monuments We say the same Vorstius in Antibel p. 162. The heresies alledged of Bellarmin are indeed no heresies for example which he alledgeth out of Hierome touching Iouinian and Vigilantius and out of Epiphanius touching Aerius and some few others Angelocrator loc cit Vigilantius a Frenchman but a most learned Prelat in Spaine denieth that Saints are to be reuerenced and would haue riches to be preferred before pouertie Against him Hierome wrote Beza in 2. part resp ad Acta Montisb Hierome defending an ill cause that is inuocation of Saints against Vigilantius c. Luther in Postilla Exalt Sanctae Crucis Vigilantius wrote of this matter worshippe of reliks against whome Hierome earnestly opposed himselfe which I wish had not beene done and if Vigilantius his booke were extant as Hieroms is I beleiue Vigilantius wrote more Christianely of this matter then Hierome Serranus cont Hayum part 3. The discreet Reader seeth that Hierome in that booke against Vigilantius passeth not onely the boundes of modestie but also of trueth Iuel in DefeÌ„s Apol. part 1. c. 2. sect 3. Hierome reproueth Vigilantius that he reprehended wakes inuocation of Saints worshippe of relikes lights and other such things Of Origen As for the heresies of Origen thus writeth Spalatensis l. 5. de Repub. c. 6. n. 44. Origen was shroudly taxed of Theophilus because he held that the Sacraments did not worke sanctification by the worke as I may so speake wrought but onely by the worke of the worker and that God doth not vse materiall and insensible creatures to importe sanctification to men But Theophilus whilest he doth reproue this opinion or error of Origen is all c. And yet herein Protestants teach as Origen did as appeareth by what hath beene related l. 1. cap. 10. artic 7. Finally Daneus Contr. 4. pag. 770. confesseth to agree Of MessaliaÌ„s and NouatiaÌ„s with the Messalians that habituall concupiscence in the iust is sinne and with Nouatians that Christians are not to be anointed Thou seest Reader that Protestants plainely confesse that they defend the condemned doctrine of Aërius Iouinian Vigilantius Origen Messalians Nouatians and that S. Austin S. Hierome S. Epiphanians Fathers Bishops with common consent of all did coÌ„demne their doctrines for heresies and them for heretiks Whome I aduise to consider well those words of Beza written of a late Heretik epist 81. He plainely and without dissimulation houldeth and accounteth Origen Aërius Heluidius c. not for Heretiks but for
conferred by them and ioyned with some humane principle and brought into sillogisticall forme Whereas a Iudge must be such as by himselfe without anie helpe of ether of the parties he can giue sentence Besides the sentence of the Iudge and especiallie if there can be no appeale from him must be so cleare as no man can doubt for whether partie it is But such is not the sentence of Scripture in manie controuersies Agayne there is controuersie betwene vs about diuers bookes of which the rest of the Scripture saieth nothing Finallie before Moises the Church had no Scripture and for sometime after Christ it had no parte of the new testament and yet she neuer wanted a Iudge And as we saw in the Chapter before Protestants confesse that Scripture of it selfe is not sufficient to determine all controuersies of faith and therefore not to iudge all Wherefore we must needs haue some other Iudge For these and the like causes some Protestants seing how absurd it is that Scripture is the onely Iudge in the Church say that Christ or the holie Ghost speaking in the Scripture is the Iudge Whitaker c. 7. cit We say that this Iudge is the holie Ghost speaking in the Scripture In like sorte Confes Heluet. c. 12. Academia Nemaus loc cit Lutherans in Colloq Ratisb sess 9. and others But seing Christ or the holie Ghost is no otherwise in the Scripture then as in a signe of his will to say that the holie Ghost as he is in Scripture is Iudge is no other thing indeed then to say that the Scripture is iudge And as the King as he is in his written laws is not a sufficient iudge of the common wealth because els eueÌ„ after his death he should be iudge but besides there must be a liuing iudge who both heareth and speaketh who can heare the parties and giue senteÌ„ce So nether is the holie Ghost a sufficient iudge is in the holie Scripture Others therefore acknowledge that there must be in the Church a speaking iudge or man For thus Eliensis loc cit Wherefore we all of long time demand a free and lawfull synod Protest admit a liuing Iudge in words And Lutherans in Colloq cit sess 9. We professe that God hath giuen some power to the Ministers and Doctors of the Church to iudge of controuersies of religion Neuerthelesse in trueth they denie the verie nature of the Iudge For ether they will not admit such a Iudge as we are bound to obeyâ— as appeareth by that they denie the vniuersall Church all Pastors or generall Councels to be infallible yea Moulins in the preface of his Bucler saieth that there But not in effect can be no greater temeritie then to desire that men sinners may be infallible iudges of the seÌ„se of the law And the LutheraÌ„s loc cit It is simply and absolutely certaine that the Ministerie may erre But this in trueth is to denie the Iudge whose end is The iudge in the Church admitteth not appeale to make peace and to compose debates which he cannot doe vnlesse men be bound to obey him and all the foresaied authorities reasons which proue that there ought to be a iudge in the Church proue also that he ought to be such from whome we may not appeale Wherevpon Whitaker CoÌ„t 1. q. 5. c. 4. thus writeth I answere that those words Deuteron 17. cit are to be vnderstood of authoritie to define hard contentions and controuersies as Ecclesiasticall by the Minister and politicall by the Magistrate that there might be in both some from whome there should be no appeale els there would be no end of contending But this he meaneth onely in the Nether in outward nor inward Courte externall or outward courte not in the inward courte of conscience For thus he addeth A great weight of iudgement was in the Priest and what he had once determined was good in the externall courte that so controuersies and debates might be ended And Cont. 4. q 1. cap. 2. Controuersies may be brought to the externall Courte and there defined but conscience resteth not in that Courte But this shift is easilie refuted First because the distruction of the externall Courâ—e is without cause deuised in this matter Secondlie because the peace of the Church especially consisteth in the internall courte to wit in faith Wherefore in this Courte we may not appeale from the Iudge of the Church otherwise there would neuer be peace of conscience Thirdly the practise of the Church in the Councell of the Apostles and in other generall Councels sheweth that the Iudge of the Church hath power to end controuersies euen in the inward courte of conscience Finallie if one were bound to obey the iudgement of the Church in the outward Courte and not in the inward it would follow that sometimes he were bound to denie Gods trueth before men to wit if the Church should define against Gods trueth Besides the authoritie of the Church is spirituall and ouer the soule and therefore her power of iudging extendeth it selfe euen to the inwarde Courte of the â—oule Wherefore let this be our 29. argument Whose doctrine in manie and weightie matters doth so contradict the expresse words of Scripture as they dare not admit anie Iudge in the Church they are to be thought to contradict the true sense of the Scripture But such are Protestants Therefore c. CHAPTER XXX THAT PROTESTANTS DOE SOMEtimes confesse that their doctrine doth contradict the holie Scripture THE last proof which we will make to shew that Protestants doe contradict the true sense of Scripture shal be taken from their owne confession wherewith sometimes they confesse it implicitlie sometimes plainelie and expressely Implicitly they confesse it diuers wayes First because they acknowledge that they Protest cannot reconcile their doctrine with the Scripture know not how to reconcile their doctrine with the holie Scripture Luther de seru arbit to 2. fol. 466. How this is iust that he God condemneth those that deserue it not is now incomprehensible yet it is beleiued till the Sonne of man be reuealed Et f. 486. In the light of grace it is vnanswerable how God condemneth him who with all his power can doe nothing but sinne and be guiltie Here both the light of nature and the light of Grace teach that it is not the fault of wretched man but of vniust God Et to 1. f. 390. It is a wonderfull probleme that God rewardeth iustice which himselfe reputeth iniustice Melancthon in Rom. 9. edit 1. This misterie is inexplicable that God both willeth sinnes and yet truelie hateth them Peter Martyr in locis Class 1. c. 16. § 9. It is no meruaile that we cannot vnderstand how it is not contrarie to Gods iustice to punish sinnes and by tempting to enforce them because God can doe more then we can vnderstand Caluin 1. Institut capit 18. § 3. By reason of the weaknesses of our vnderstanding we doe not
other expresse words are directly contrarie And let that faith or rather infidelitie fall perish vanish which in more then 260. articles is condemned of such words of God and in such a sense and in most points is onely supported by humane consequences humane conferences and humane reasons or arguments These are the points Christian Reader taken out of How Protest handle the letter of Scripture the first booke which I desire to fasten and engraue in thy memorie which yet will be more forcible if thou adde to them things which I haue set before thy eyes in thy second booke For there I haue shewed that the holie Scripture doth so manifestly condemne the Protestants doctrine as that touching the letter thereof they are forced to reiect some openly others priuilie to scrape out to call some in doubt to adde some to translate some wrong and change the order of others Touching the propositiōs How the sayings of Scripture they are compelled to say that some of them were certainlie knowne of God himselfe others not spoaken according to his owne mynd others spoaken ironically mimeticallie hyperbolicallie by fiction and amplification and to change vniuersall propositions into particulars vnlimited into limited absolute into conditionals these that were spoakē simply into those that were spoakē in parte and those that were spoaken of one time into those that were spoaken of an other Touching the single How the simple words words of Scripture they are forced those words which signifie the doing of a thing to expound of endeauour to doe it those which signifie the cause to expound of the way or means to an end Which signifie that a thing is to expound that it ought to be Which signifie a true thing to expound of an apparent or signe thereof to expound words by diuerse by disparate or vnlikelie yea by opposites or contraries to deuise all kinde of figures when the proprietie of the word is against them to find out new and neuer heard of distinctions to reiect the vnanimous exposition of Fathers Church and Councels to frustrate the ends of the passion of Christ to take out of the world all true vertue and to open the way to all vice to confesse that they hould opinions her to fore condemned for heresies of the Church and Fathers to acknowledge that some of their opinions are plainely blasphemous and finally which is the end of this worke directly opposite to holie Scripture Who I say in more then 260. articles of cōtrouersie not onelie oppose themselues to the expresse words of Scripture spoaken of purpose to tell vs Gods meaning cōcerning matters that farre passe all mās reach in their proper sense and in which men vsuallie vnderstand them and to which no other places of Scripture are directlie opposite but also laie violent hands vpon the sacred letter or word change almost all the kinds of propositions which the Scripture vseth impiouslie depraue the sense of the words reiect the exposition of Fathers Church and Councells make voide the ends of Christs passion take away all vertue and bring in vice and finallie confesse that diuers of their opinions are blasphemous contrarie to scripture they are to be accounted auoided and eschewed not onely as Heretiks condemned by the Scripture and holie Church but euen of themselues A note to the Reader I HAVE not set downe the editions of the Protestants bookes which I cite in this worke because I haue done that in my booke de Authore Prot. Ecclesiae put forth An. 1619. Where he that list may see them as also he may there see the laws which I prescribe to him that will answere ether that booke or this Moreouer in this English worke I doe not cite the English words of our English Protestant writers because I had not their English works at hand but translate them out of their Latin works Besides I am not so curious to cite the leafe or page as I was in the Latin edition because the vnlearned will not be able to seeke the Latin and the learned Reader will rather I suppose peruse my Latin copie where he shall find the leaues or pages as carefully cited as I could doe by the errors of the Scribe or Printer whose fault no discret reader will impute to me and whose error I hope is no where to be found both in the number of the chapters and of the leaues or pages together So that the one of them may bring the Reader to the place which I alledge if the other chance to be misprinted Laus Deo Virginique Matri AN INDEX OF THE CHAPTERS and Articles contained in the first booke CHAPTR 1. Of the owners of Scripture Whether Catholiks or Protestants be true owners of the Scripture CHAP. 2. Of God ARt 2. Whether God willeth sinne page 45. 2. Whether sinne pleaseth God p. 49. 3. Whether God hateth sinne p. 50. 4. Whether God worketh sinne p. 51. 5. Whether God ordaineth sinne to be p. 33. 6. Whether God commandeth sinne p. 56. 7. Whether God tempteth to sinne p. 57 8. Whether God necessitateth to sinne p. 59. 9. Whether God hateth all that sinne p. 61. 10. Whether God iustifieth the sinner remaining a sinner p. 62. 11. Whether God be angrie with the faithfull when they sinne p. 65. 12. Whether God be delighted with good works p. 67. 14. Whether God be serued by good works p. 69. 15. Whether God esteeme of good works which are not commanded 70. 16. Whether God be appeased by good workes p. 71. 17. Whether God will haue his commādements kept p. 73. 18. Whether God loueth all men p. 75. 19. Whether God would haue all men to be saued p. 77. 20. Whether God would haue some cōuerted who will not conuert p. 78. 21. Whether God call all men p. 80. 22. Whether God of himselfe will the death and damnation of men p. 81. 23. Whether God dāneth men for sinne p. 85. 24. Whether God can doe all things p. 86. 25. Whether God can make a Camell passe through a needls eye p. 88. 26. Whether God can doe that which shall neuer be p. 90. 27. Whether Gods miracles be a sufficient proof of trueth p. 91. Chap. 3. Of Christ Art 1. Whether God the Sonne had his being of his Father p. 96. 2. Whether Christ was predestinated the Sonne of God p. 97. 3. Whether Christ as man is to be adored p. 98. 4. Whether Christ as man could worke miracles p. 100. 5. Whether Christs humanitie be euerie where p. 102. 6. Whether Christ as man be head of the Church p. 104. 7. Whether Christ as man made lawes p. 105. 8. Whether Christ as mā be Iudge 107. 9. Whether Christ made a new testament p. 109. 10. Whether as man he were ignorant p. 111. 11. Whether as man he were a sinner p. 113. 12. Whether he refused to doe the office of a Redeemer p. 116. 13 Whether he was assured of his saluation 118 14 VVhether he had commandment