Church is still the true Church of Christ it contayneth and continueth all thinges necessary to saluation they which liue and die therein may be saued and being the true Church by the z Articul 19. 1562. Couell defen of Hooker pag. 67. ninetenth Article of Protestant religion it must needes be as before is cited a congregation of faithfull men in the which the pure word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly ministred according to Christes ordinance in all those thinges that of necessity are requisite to the same Then seing according to his Majesties sentence a King-speach in Parliam I acknowledge the Roman Church to be our mother Church And in the publike conference his regall resolution being this b Conference at Hampton pag. 75. That no Church ought further to seperate it selfe from the Church of Rome either in doctrine or ceremony then shee hath departed from her selfe when shee was in her flourishing and best estate and from Christ her Lord and head vvhich by the testimonies before is nothing at al in any necessary question but stil it joyneth vs to Christ both by doctrine and Sacraments in this life and with glory in heauen therefore we may not forsake it in earth Chapter 3. Wherein these Protestants teach the necessity of one supreame spirituall head and commander in the Church of Christ howe S. Peter was this chiefe among the Apostles and after him his successors the Popes of Rome IF vve examine a little further the testimonies of these men whereas some vnchristian sermons and bookes haue heretofore tearmed the Bishop of Rome to be the great Antichrist and seducer of the vvorld vve shall nowe receiue a better doctrine and more religious answere That there euer was and must be one chiefe and supreame spirituall head and commander of the Church of Christ in earth That in the time of the Apostles and among them it vvas S. Peter the first Bishop of Rome And after him the Bishops and Popes of that same Apostolike See therein succeeding in that supreame binding and commanding authority D. Field citeth and approueth this a Field pag. 138. as a generall and infallible rule Ecclesiae salus in summi Sacerdotis dignitate pendet c. The health of the Church dependeth on the dignity of the high Priest whose eminent authority if it be denyed then will be so many Schismes in the Church as there be Priests then of necessity one chief supreame high Priest must be assigned in his judgement And D. Couell entreating of this spirituall and highest Monarchicall regiment and necessity thereof writeth thus b Couell against the plea of the Innocent pag. 106. We easily see that equality doth breede factions and therefore wisemen to suppresse the seedes of dissentions haue made one aboue the rest And that no man should esteeme this as an humane ordinance either prouided by Councels as some Protestants vvould perswade or giuen or graunted by Phocas the Emperor about the yeare of our Lord 607. for Boniface then Pope his successors to vse D. Downames wordes c Downame lib. 1. pag. 4. to be head of the Catholike or vniuersall Church This Protestant authour both testifieth and proueth it to be the institution of Christ himselfe and first among his Apostles of whome he speaketh thus d Couell supr pag. 106. Because in the execution of holy thinges where the persons put in trust are but men discord and disorder vsually doe breake in the wisdome of God thought it necessary that amongst them who for their ministery were equall an inequality for order and superiority to command should be graunted that by this meanes order and vnion should both be preserued in Christes Church Which if it concerne all persons and ages in the Church of Christ as surely it doth the gouernement must not cease with the Apostles And againe hee proueth this spirituall supreamacy to bee perpetuall because novve there is more neede in these times of sinne and dissentions And yet saith he e Couell supr pag. 107. It was the principall meanes to preuent Schismes and dissentions in the primatiue Church when the graces of God were farre more aboundant and eminent then nowe they are nay if the twelue were not like to agree except there had beene one chiefe amongst them for saith Saint Hierome amongst the twelue one was therefore chosen that a chiefe being appointed occasion of dissention might be preuented c. And he disputeth thus against the Puritans f Supr pag. 107. Howe can they thinke that equality would keepe all the Pastors of the world in vnity And adjudgeth this supreame spirituall power so necessary in the Church of God that he addeth Seing that all men may easily erre and that no errours are so dangerous as those which concerne religion the Church should be in a farre worse case then the meanest common-wealth nay almost then a denne of Theeues if it were destitute of meanes either to conuince heresies or to suppresse them Novve it is no great labour to define vvho vvas this chiefe and commander among the Apostles and vvho after that time vvas novve is and must continue Among the twelue Apostles I doe not remember that any Protestant preferreth any other before Saint Peter then Saint Hierome and D. Couell assuring vs that among them one was chiefe vve may conclude it of Saint Peter And this the rather because D. Sutcliffe vvriteth thus g Sutcl subuers pag. 40. Tertullian giueth the keyes only to Peter saying that the Church is built vpon him And thus D. Sutcliffe testifieth for himselfe h Supr pag. 3. Peter preached in no place but he there ordayned Bishoppes and teachers and founded Churches vvhich in his booke against D. Kellison he i Sutcliffe against Kellison pag. 105. maketh an argument of supreamacy D. Field telleth vs from Scripture k Field p. 196 That Christ promised to build his Church vpon Saint Peter Then no Christian vvill doubt except hee vvill doubt of Christes truth and promises but it vvas so performed Concerning the supreamacie of the Church of Rome his Majesty before acknowledgeth it to be our mother Church and it was a rule Kings speach confer sup to all both in doctrine and ceremonies when it was in her flourishing and best estate D. Couell writeth thus l Couell def of Hooker The Church of Rome was the chiefe and only Church M. Ormerod m Ormer pict pap pag. 184. calleth it the eye of the West in vvhich diuision England is and the anker of piety M. Downame graunteth n Downame l. 2. Antich pag. 105. it was a note of a good Christian to cleane vnto the Roman Apostolicall Church And thus both they D. Sutcliffe o Sutcl epist dedicat of subuers and pag. 89. D. Field p Field of the Church c. and the rest doe ordinarily yeeld that it continued vntill the yeare of Christ six hundred and
and dignity ouer all Churches in all parts of the world and neither by Councell Emperor or such Donation but by old custome and the institution of Christ And the same Church as before still continueth the true Church of Christ I hope it is no offence to agree with it in this as in other questions Chapter 4. All bookes receiued for Scripture by the Roman Church are Canonicall THus hauing by the directions sentence of Protestant writers of so late memory as this present is found out that the Roman Church is the spouse of Christ his true Church and piller of truth whose communion we must embrace followe her directions rest in her judgement liuing dying therein to haue eternal life the only and chiefest happynes which we can seeke or find And that the authority of the chiefe Bishops of that holy Apostolike See hath euer bin so soueraigne chiefe commanding and supreame as these men haue taught vs in the former Chapters we might here by D. Fields censure and aduise confine our selues and vvade no further in so many intricate controuersies of religion But to giue a finall contentment to all curiosities let vs briefly enter into a particuler-like examination of all principall Articles in question And first of Scriptures vvhose authority is either only or chiefest with Protestants D. Couell writeth in these wordes a Couell def of Hook p. 31 The Church of Rome teacheth no bad opinion to affirme that the Scriptures are holy diuine in themselues but so esteemed by vs for the authority of the Church And againe That the Scriptures are true we haue it from the Church And further thus b pag. 32. 33. supr The Church hath foure singuler offices towardes the Scripture First to be of them as it were a faithfull register Secondly to discerue and judge betweene false and adulterate and that which is true and perfect The third to publish and diuulge to proclayme as a cryer the true edict of our Lord him selfe The last is to be an Interpreter and in that following the safest rule to make an vndiuided vnity of the truth vncapable of contradiction to be a most faithfull expositor of his owne meaning And concludeth thus c page 34. supr We say that we are taught to receiue the word of God from the authority of the Church we see her judgement we heare her voice in humility subscribe vnto all this Hitherto be D. Couels wordes for the major proposition of my Syllogisme But the minor or second position that the Roman Church is the true Church of Christ is allowed and proued by Protestants before Therefore this Protestant argument must be thus concluded All bookes which the Church of Rome proposeth for Scriptures the expositions which shee deliuereth c. In humility we must subscribe vnto them receiue them as the word of God from her authority D. Doue referreth the question what bookes be Canonicall Scripture to the two Doctors S. Augustine and S. Hierome His vvordes be these d Doue perswas pag. 15. Catholikes proue them to be Canonicall out of S. Augustine We that they be Apocrypha out of S. Hierome both which Doctors are of no small authority with the Church of Rome and therefore in this we differ no more from them then S. Hierome did from S. Augustine Therefore I hope for many causes Protestants will giue place vnto vs in this question It is knowne S. Augustine in calling was aboue S. Hierome In learning D. Couell telleth you e Cou. against Burg. pag. 3. he was farre the most learned Doctor that euer was or shall be in all likely-hood Thirdly your publike Conference f Conference infr to be after cited hath answered S. Hieromes authority for Catholikes Fourthly S. Augustine speaketh in the name of the whole Church for these bookes his wordes be these g August tom 10. ser 191. We receiue the old and newe Testament in that number of bookes which the authority of the holy Catholike Church hath deliuered And in the place where he deliuereth the Canon of Scriptures as Catholikes nowe doe hee giueth these rules to him that vvould knowe vvhich bee true Scriptures his vvordes bee these h Tom. 3. lib. 2. doct Christ cap. 8. In Canonicall Scriptures let him followe the authority of the most Catholike Churches among which those be which haue deserued to haue Apostolike Sees and to receiue their Epistles And so proceeding too long to be cited concludeth by all his rules that all those bookes vvhich the Roman Church nowe receiueth there remembred by S. Augustine are Canonicall But to be briefe The Protestant Surueyor of the communion booke affirmeth plainely i Suruey of the booke of common prayer pag. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. that the Protestants of England must approue for Canonicall these bookes with the Roman Church So likewise doe the 22. Preachers of London in their Petition k Petit. of 22. preachers except against homilies and except 4. against the com booke And D. Field is of the same opinion or must be for thus he vvriteth l Field lib. 4. c. 23. pa. 245. The ancient and true beleeuing Iewes before the comming of Christ especially such as liued in Greece and nations out of Iury commonly called Hellenists receiued those bookes for Canonicall Scripture And to vse his vvordes Hence it came to passe that the Iewes deliuered a double Canon of Scripture to the Christian Churches And speaking againe of that volume of the Hellenists he addeth m page 246. These bookes joyned in one volume were translated out of Greeke into Latin and read by them of the Latin Church in that translation And entreating of S. Augustine and the Latin Fathers especially in Africke and the third Carthaginian Councell vvhere this Canon is receiued he vvriteth thus They reckon the bookes of Scripture according as they found them in vse in the Latin Church Then D. Field hath absolutely graunted that in the Latin Church vnder vvhich England is these Scriptures vvere euer esteemed for Canonicall And being translated as he acknowledgeth out of Greeke into Latin this Gretian vvill not easily persvvade but the Greeke Church also first embraced them for he saith thus n page 245. supr The Greeke Iewes or Hellenists deliuered this Canon to the Christian Churches then first to the Greeke Church being in Greece among them and best vnderstanding those Greeke Scriptures before they vvere translated into Latin The Protestant Conference at Hampton-Court entreating of the Protestant exceptions against these Scriptures vseth these wordes o Conference pag. 60. Most of the objections made against those bookes were the old cauils of the Iewes renewed by S. Hierome in his time who was the first that gaue them the name of Apocrypha which opinion vpon Ruffinus his challendge he after a sort disclaimed the rather because a generall offence was taken at his speaches in that kinde Hitherto the censure of that publike
conference vvhereby the ground of Protestants denying these bookes by S. Hieromes opinion as D. Doue hath witnessed is vtterly ouerthrowne D. Couell answereth p Couell against Burges pag. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. the objections against Burges the Puritan in particuler as Catholikes doe and sheweth that these bookes haue vvithout cause beene accused of faults by Protestants only to denie them to be Canonicall as Catholikes hold He addeth further thus They are most true and might haue there concilement of other Scriptures And againe in these vvordes q Couell supr pag. 87. If Ruffinus be not deceiued they were approued as parts of the old Testament by the Apostles For when S. Hierome write so scornefully of the history of Susanna and the song of the three children he chargeth him therein to haue robbed the treasure of the holy Ghost and diuine instrument which the Apostles deliuered to the Churches And S. Hierome who is not vsually slowe to defend himselfe leaueth that point vnanswered pretending that what he had spoken was not as his owne opinion but what the Iewes objected And for his paines in translating the booke of Iudith vvhich the Protestants denie he giueth this reason because we reade that the Councell of Nice did reckon it in the number of holy Scriptures Hitherto D. Couels vvordes And much like vnto this of Ruffinus he citeth r pag. 76. 77. from S. Augustine S. Cyprian and others temporibus Apostolorum proximis in the next age to the Apostles Objection And if any man shall object against me that ſ Art 6. Syn. Lond. 1562. the sixt Article of the English Protestant religion excepteth against these bookes and leaueth them forth of the Canon of Scriptures t Answere I answere this proueth nothing but to proue their religion to be contradictory and vnpossible to be true For the bookes of Communion and Homilies as before authorized aswell by those Articles as the statute of Queene Elizabeth and the late Protestant Canons receiue cite and practise them for Canonicall Againe that sixt Article is contradictory to it selfe in this point and so of no authority by Protestants themselues for it only approueth for Canonicall Scriptures to vse the wordes of the Article u Articul 6. supr Those Canonicall bookes of the old and newe Testament of whose authority was neuer any doubt in the Church in the name of holy Scriptures these we vnderstand And yet these Protestants doe tell vs x Willet Synops q. 1. of Script pag. 2. 3. edit anno 1594. that all Scriptures haue beene doubted off by one Church or other But to contaynemy selfe vvithin my time of limitation I vvill only cite the Bishop of Winchester he writeth thus y B. Bilson suruey of Christs sufferings pag. 664. The Scriptures themselues were not fully receiued in all places no not in Eusebius time He saith the Epistle of Iames of Iude the second of Peter the second and third of Iohn are contradicted Thè Epistle to the Hebrewes was contradicted the Churches of Syria did not receiue the second Epistle of Peter nor the second and third of Iohn nor the Epistle of Iude nor the Apocalipse the like might be said for the Churches of Arabia Will you hence conclude that these parts of Scripture were not Apostolike or that we neede not receiue them nowe because they were formerly doubted off Hitherto B. Bilsons vvordes By which it both appeareth by Protestants howe their Article doth contradict it selfe And I may conclude vvith the Protestants before that all bookes which the Roman Church receiueth for Scripture be Canonicall and most holy Whereby it is too manifest what a grounded religion that Protestancy is which hath excluded so long time so many bookes of Scripture and so many Articles of faith prayer for the dead patronage of Saints and Angels prayers vnto them and the like And yet would pretend that their religion is only founded vpon the word of God in Scripture Chapter 5. The vulgar Latin translation of Scriptures vsed by the Roman Church is best the English Protestant translations are erroneous NEXT to the Canon and Text of Scriptures let vs entreate of their translations both as they are vsed in the Roman Church and the English Protestants And first concerning the vulgar Latin allowed among Catholikes D. Doue writeth thus a Doue perswasion p. 16 We Protestants graunt it fit that for vniformity in quotations of places in schooles and pulpits one Latin text should be vsed and we can be contented for the antiquity thereof to preferre the old vulgar translation before all other Latin bookes so much we doe yeeld to the Councell of Trent And D. Couell entreating of translations of Scripture against Burges the Puritan answereth in these wordes b Couell against Burges pag. 94. We are ready to confesse whether you vnderstand the Italian or that which goeth vnder the name of S. Hierome that they were vsed anciently in the Church a thousand and three hundred yeares agoe one of them by S. Augustine preferred before all the rest the other highly commended by Beza and that of the vulgar though with Pagnin and Driëdo we thinke it was not S. Hieromes but mixt yet we can be content to say as Isodore doth of it interpretatio eius this translation is to be preferred before others Hitherto his owne wordes And if M. Couell Doue and other Protestants well consider the judgement of the Councell of Trent in this question and the preface to the Bible of Xistus quintus they shall perceiue the intent of the holy Councell being only to approue that Latin translation vsed a thousand and three hundred yeares since in the Church as D. Couell telleth vs when it was in the flourishing and best estate and so to be reuerenced by Protestants judgement before and not to reject either the Greeke in the newe or Hebrewe Text of the old Testament Touching other translations D. Couell writeth c Couel supr pag. 94. No translation whatsoeuer is authenticall Scripture And D. Doue addeth d Doue persw pag. 16. All translations haue many faultes M. Burges in his Apologie writeth thus of the approued English Protestant translation e Burges Apolog pa. 93. in D. Couels answere It is a translation which hath many omissions many additions which some-times obscureth some-times peruerteth the sence being some-time senselesse some-times contrary And D. Couell in his answere acknowledgeth so farre faults in their translation that he requireth a better to be established The 22. Preachers of London write of the translation only in the communion booke in this manner f Petit. of 22. preachers except 11. against the com booke It contayneth in it diuers corrupt translations of Scriptures by leauing out of wordes putting too of wordes peruerting the meaning of the holy Ghost The Suruey of the booke of common prayer addeth g Suruey of the booke of com prayer pag. 160. There be many grosse
and D. Field e Field supr acknowledge Heluidius was condemned of heresie and justly for denyall thereof which could not be except to denie the doctrine of true Traditions were to denie the word of God in their judgements Nowe let vs see vvhat Traditions we shall haue approued by Protestants The same Authour maketh this discourse and diuision following f Field lib. ◠cap. 19. First we receiue the number and names of the Authours of bookes diuine and Canonicall as deliuered by Tradition This Tradition we admit the number authours and integrity of the partes of these bookes we receiue as deliuered by Tradition The second kinde of Tradition which we admit is that summary comprehension of the chiefe heades of Christian doctrine contayned in the Creede of the Apostles which was deliuered to the Church as a rule of faith The third is that forme of Christian doctrine and explication of the seuerall partes thereof which the first Christians receiuing of the same Apostles that deliuered to them the Scriptures commended to posterities This may rightly be tearmed a Tradition for that we neede a playne and distinct explication of many thinges which are some-what obscurely contayned in the Scriptures g Field p. 239 The fourth kinde of Tradition is the continued practise of such thinges as neither are contayned in the Scripture expressely nor the example of such practise expressely there deliuered though the groundes reasons and causes of the necessity of such practise he there contayned h p. 239 supr The fift kinde of Traditions comprehendeth such obseruations as in particuler are not commanded in Scripture nor the necessity of them from thence concluded c. Lastly comming to Traditions touching conuersation and manners he preuenteth confuteth the vsuall objections of Protestants about this doctrine in these wordes i Field pag. 241. 242. That the Apostles deliuered many thinges of this nature to the Churches some by way of precept some by way of counsaile and aduise only some to particuler Churches and some to all some to continue but for a time and some to continue for euer we make no doubt And exemplifying that the Lordes day or Sonday is of this kinde he addeth k Field supr pag. 242. And sundry other thinges there are which doubtlesse the Apostles deliuered by Tradition but they are confounded with Ecclesiasticall Traditions as Waldensis aptly noteth that we might the more reuerence the constitutions of the Church and are dispensable by the guides of the Church Hitherto be the wordes of D. Field Then to make ashort reflexion vpon this his doctrine By his first rule of Traditions he must needes graunt vnto vs which I haue proued before at large that althose bookes which the Roman church approueth for Scripture together with the speciall doctrines of prayer for the dead to Angels c. are Traditions For not only D. Field and his rules doe so assure vs but D. Couell l Couell against Burges pag. 87. from the primatiue Church hath told vs that all which we receiue were the treasure of the holy Ghost and diuine instrument which the Apostles deliuered to the Churches Secondly we must of necessity resort to the Roman Church to knowe and learne the forme of Christian doctrine and explication of the seuerall parts thereof and the obscurities of Scriptures For he saith that the Apostles deliuered this as a Tradition to posterities And no posterity of Protestants can be of this posterity because both their priorities posterities denie Traditions Thirdly D. Field must needes seeke for or allowe of many Traditions which he remembreth not and in all equall judgement as many Articles of Catholike religion as we claime by Tradition for in his fourth fift and sixt member of Traditions he euer speaketh m Field pag. 241. 242. of them in the plurall number as thinges obseruations of this sort sundry other and the like And yet he only recounteth baptisme of Infants in the fourth n page 239. The obseruation of Lent in the fift o page 239. and Sonday or the Lordes day in the last If he will say they are confounded with Ecclesiasticall Traditions as he did that men might more reuerence the constitutions of the Church Let them at the last recant their contempt and dislike against them And this the rather because the rules vvhich he assigneth to knowe true Traditions being p Field p. 242 the authority and custome of the Church consent of Fathers or testimony of an Apostlike Church neither doe nor possibly can tell of any Traditions to aduantage Protestants which denie all Traditions So that of necessity both the Traditions and rules to knowe them doe and must belong to the Church Apostolike of Rome being in this question a rule of it selfe as he hath declared Then by the doctrine of D. Field and the Protestants before and nowe to be cited Catholikes may lawfully say with the ancient Fathers with D. Couell q Cou. against Burges pag. 139. 124. 125 and other Protestants That the signe of the Crosse is an Apostolicall constitution and Tradition With D. Couel r pa. 122. sup againe and the ancient Fathers from them that the mixture of water with wine in the Eucharist is an Apostolical Tradition With the Pastors of the Apostolike Churches three hundred Fathers and consent and custome of the Church D. Fields rules for true Traditions in the second Nicen Councell ſ Conc. Nic. 2. That reuerence of Images is an Apostolicall Tradition With S. Chrisostome S. Augustine and S. Epiphanius by D. Fields rules and M. Middletons t Middleton Papistomast pag. 137. 138 47. 45. graunt That sacrifice and prayer for the dead was an Apostolicall Tradition With the ancient Fathers so receiuing from those vvhich vvent before them by graunt also of M. Middleton u pa. 134. sup That vowes of chastity and single life in Priestes is to be obserued by Tradition With the ancient Fathers that Reliques to be reuerenced is a Tradition when M. Willet x Willet Antilog pag. 13. telleth vs that Vigilantius was condemned of heresie for denying it With his Majesty y Conference pag. 13. and the conference with the consent of Fathers Apostolike Churches c. That the particuler and personal absolution from sinne after confession is Apostolicall and a very Godly ordinance With the Protestant z Conference supr pag. 18. Bishop of Winchester antiquity so consenting That baptisme to be ministred by priuate persons in time of necessity is an holy Tradition With his Majesty and the said conference a Conference pag. 35. 36. that Bishops he diuinae ordinationis With the same Protestant conference b Conference pag. 10. 11. and antiquity not only that Confirmation is an Apostolicall Tradition But because it is so joyned by them with Baptisme and hath both a visible signe and grace by the Communion booke c Cōm booke tit Confirmation reuiued that it
THE FIRST PART OF PROTESTANTS PROOFES FOR CATHOLIKES RELIGION AND RECVSANCY Taken only from the vvritings of such Protestant Doctors and Diuines of England as haue beene published in the raigne of his Majesty ouer this Kingdome PSAL. 1. vers 1. Blessed is the man that hath not gone in the counsaile of the vngodly ANNO DOMINI 1607. TO THE MOST HONOVRABLE LORDES AND OTHERS OF HIS MAIESTIES PRIVIE COVNCELL MOST HONOVRABLE As nothing can be lesse concealed then the long manifold and knowne miseries of English Catholikes for their ancient faith So if we consider by what plots and practizes the aduancement of Presbiterall discipline hath beene and daylie is more and more affected and only or chiefly as the defendors thereof professe a Iacob p. 73. of his reasons Protestāt letters in the end of the conference 1603. Purit offer of confer c. receiuing obstacle in course of learning by the groundes of Catholike religion The pennes and pulpits of Puritans and their Printers will sufficiently write preach and publish to the world by whome and to what purpose no smal part of these afflictions haue beene vrged and incited against vs not only by those fewe which refuse your externall conformity but such as for a fashion followe it to retayne themselues in authority For proofe whereof the greatest number of the present Protestant writers D. Sutcliffe b Sutcliffe against D. Kellison pag. 42. D. Doue c Doue perswasion p. 31. D. Field d Field p. 170. M. Willet e Willet Antilog pa. 275. Wotton f Wotton defence of Perkins pag. 28. Middleton g Middleton papistomastix p. 201. c. doe teach there is no matter of faith no substantiall essentiall or materiall point or difference in religion betweene Protestants and Puritans But they are of one Church Faith and Religion Then either they be Puritans or of no religion and it is not materiall with them whether men be of a true or false religion of any or none at all For his Majesty h K. speach in Parl. 1603 conference at Hampton p. 36. 80. 81. 82. the Bishop of Winchester i B. of Winchest Suruey pag. 466. 467. 474. 486. c. D. Couell k Couell defence of Hooker p. 68. against Burges in Prefat pag. 33. two of your best writers M. Parkes l Parkes against lymbomastix pag. 92. 93. Prefat Apolog. Epistol dedicat M. Ormerod m Ormerod Epist. dedicat pict Purit c. and others conclude from their doctrine and their owne bookes extant tell vs Their religion is to beleeue that euery Prince King or Emperor disanulling the Presbitery is enemy to God vnworthy to raigne to be resisted by force of armes not to be prayed for No King no Monarchy no Bishop no true Church in England or wheresoeuer their Presbitery wanteth The article of Christes discent to hell is an jdle and vaine fansie a meere dreame an intruded fable a pernitious heresie Christ was a sinner suffered the torments of the damned his diuinity humanity and saluation heauen and hell are questioned the foundation it selfe is shaken And such Professors haue professed and profited so farre that by outward signes communion profession protestation subscription no man can tell who is of what religion among them For men by this doctrine as his Highnes n Conference supr pag. 82. hath noted will denie their religion to make their party good against the Bishops A chiefe Professor may professe o Willet Antilog in prefat Latin to our Soueraigne Puritanus non sum I am no Puritan to haue better meanes to write p Willet lymbomastix Lymbomastix and q Parkes against lymbomastix p. 106 become the greatest promoter of pretended discipline Though a Minister subscribe-foure times r Burges Apol apud Couell against Burges He may defend both that and refusall lawfull c. Wherefore seing such teachers by such meanes as Protestants acknowledge ſ Parkes Apol. epist dedicat Couel against Barg in pref Make way for Atheisme and Infidelity and t Parkes supr epist dedicat men say they knowe whome to flie but whome to followe they cannot tell I hope it unto heynous sinne in Catholikes not to followe such conductors And for further excuse because they write they u Vniuersity of Oxfor against the Millinar petition p. 32 are more famous for learning then all the Ministers of Europe and yet doe not only refuse all equall triall offered by vs but either cal x Willet Eccles triumph pag. 40. apud Parkes against lymbomast p. 28. the rules and principles of religion which his Majesty approueth and we humbly accept a foolish conceit and imagination or y Wotton defence of Perkins p. 15. 16 vtterly reject them and will only be tryed by themselues A poore Catholike Student in most dutifull manner presenteth vnto your Honours these Protestant proofes for all chiefe points of Catholike religion only taken from their owne writings since the beginning of his Majesties raigne in England First to giue them all aduantage because in this time they haue written so much and so vncharitably against vs that one of their owne number z Omer pict pap in postscript epist adjudgeth many of their bookes to the fire and their authours worthy death Secondly because I cannot tell whether they wil allow what they wrote or taught in the dayes of Queene Elizabeth seing they defend they may often change doe * Doue perswasiō p. 31. at the least at the change of euery Prince And so with all submissiue respect I leaue this cause to your wisest consideration and your most Honourable persons to Gods protection THE FIRST PART OF PROTESTANTS PROOFES FOR CATHOLIKES RELIGION AND RECVSANCY Chapter the first Of the supreame and most preeminent authority of the true Church howe necessary it is to finde it followe the directions and rest in the judgement of it DOCTOR FIELD a late Protestant writer beginneth his dedicatory Epistle to the L. Archbishoppe of Canterbury before his bookes of the Church in this māner a D. Field of the Church epist dedicat There is no part of heauenly doctrine more necessary in these daies of so many intricate controuersies of religion then diligently to search out which among al the societies of men in the world is that blessed company of holy-ones that house-hold of faith that spouse of Christ and Church of the liuing God which is the piller and ground of truth that so they may embrace her communion followe her directions and rest in her judgement D. Couel writeth of the Church in these wordes b Couell defence of Hooker pag. 30. art 4. That which by her Ecclesiasticall authority shee shall probably thinke and define to be true or good must in congruity of reason ouer-rule all other inferior judgements whatsoeuer And to them that out of a singularity of their owne aske vs why we thus bang our
declared for the present it is expected by all Protestants that deale sincerely that their religion should be agreeable to the doctrine of the ancient and primatiue Fathers Therefore his Majesty esteeming them with due regard hath pleased to sentence these in Parliament k K. speach Parlia 1603 I will euer yeeld all reuerence to Antiquity And in the publike conference in these wordes l Conference pag. 73. For my part I knowe not howe to answere the objection of Papists when they charge vs with nouelties but to tell them that their abuses are newe And approueth the dayes and time of Constantine in the primatiue Church a rule of religion saying m Conference supr pag. 69. Constantine is not to be appeached of superstition but thinges then vsed may still be continued Also in his first speach in Parliament he would haue all nouelties renounced And of the same minde no doubt be all sincerely meaning Protestants which trust vnto and are directed by the sermons citations and bookes of these Doctors teachers among them But it will nowe appeare that they are so farre from justifying their former oathes protestations and assertions that they acknowledge those primatiue Fathers to be for Catholikes and both vvrite and censure those most holy and learned men for that cause with vnciuill contemptuous barbarous and irreligious speaches First M. Wotton expresly controleth the recited sentence of his Majesty concerning the time of Constantine and antiquity for a Catholike Authour citing n The Catholike Authour against Perkins in prefat and humbly accepting it for a rule of triall M. Wotton writeth thus o Wot def of Per. p. 15. 16. The triall of doctrine is not to be featched from the opinions and examples of men And againe p page 16. It may not seeme strange if superstition were crept into the Church before Constantines time Let vs proceede D. Couell a man not of the rashest judgement hath honoured S. Augustine before vvith the greatest commendation of learning yet M. Wotton writeth q W. sup p. 8. We neede not feare S. Augustine though against vs. r page 17. Eusebius is to be reprehended ſ page 9. There was want of modesty and truth also in the treatise of Hierome against Vigilantius t page 88. The ancient Fathers spake more like Philosophers then Diuines u page 118. It is more then I knowe that Gregory is a Saint x page 224. The Authour of the Epistle to the Philippians attributed to S. Ignatius is an vnfit judge in controuersies of diuinity y page 422. Tertullians witnesse is of small authority z page 440. Damascene is not greatly to be respected a page 462. Origen is generally condemned b page 340. Ignatius Epistle to the Romans approued by S. Hierome and Protestants is a counterfeit Ignatius for teaching merit of good workes c page 387. Cyprian is too farre carryed away since he ascribeth to almesdeedes the purging of sinne d page 467. Ireneus judgement is little to be respected e page 494. Tertullians testimony is not worth answering Tertullian and Origen may be joyned together f page 495. Chrysostomes Rhethoricke is better then his Logicke g page 495. Hieromes authority in the case of single life is not much worth h page 500. Those Christian Fathers which condemned Iouinian as S. Augustine Ambrose Hierome c. delt vnchristianly with him i p. 519. 520. The authority of the ancient writers Athanasius Augustine Hierome concluding a worke of perfection from those wordes of Christ goe and sell all c. is not to be admitted k page 543. The authority of Clement of Alexandria and Augustine with the schoole Doctors is inferior to the Iewes l p. 545 546. Origen and Theodoret vvhome before he preferreth m page 484. aboue S. Augustine ouerthrowe their owne distinction n page 594. Lactantius though he were an ancient Christian yet in his verses of vvorshipping the Crosse he sheweth himselfe liker a light Poët then a graue writer And no meruaile though this Protestant be so angry with the ancient Fathers for teaching and maintayning that doctrine vvhich the Roman Church nowe holdeth as appeareth before For he exclaymeth most barbarously and vvithout respect euen against all the Kings of this and other nations for the same cause his wordes be these o page 53. The Kings of England and Scotland c. were Sathans souldiers when they were of the Popes religion Hitherto M. Wotten next let vs come to M. Perkins whome he defendeth M. Perkins writeth thus p Perkin problem pag. 4. The Fathers haue spoken many thinges incommodiously of holy thinges q pag. 93. 94. The ancient Fathers did sinne in the inuocation of Saints yea were guilty of sacrilege such were Paulinus Fortunatus S. Leo S. Ephrem S. Flugentius Petrus Domianus Prosper r page 105. The ancient Fathers sometimes speake inconueniently of the article of justification ſ page 184. Some of the ancient Fathers as Tertullian and Cyprian are Montanists or at the least doe erre filthily for making Confirmation a Sacrament D. Sutcliffe vvho so much before reuerenced the Fathers in vvordes nowe writeth in this manner t Sutcl subuers pag. 5. Metaphrastes is a lying pedant writing more lyes then leaues u page 8. 9. Bede reporteth too many thinges by heare-say Ado is a fabulous writer x page 9. The history of King Lucius his conuersion testified by so many hystories may well be paragoned with the tales of King Arthure Sir Tristram and Lancelot Dulacke y page 19. The Brittaines haue cause to detest the memory of Augustine Let vs next come to M. Willet the great professor of Diuinity who hath taken so solemne an oath before that the Fathers be for his cause To shewe his just dealings I will only vse the testimony of a Protestant against him M. Parkes vvriteth of him in these wordes z Parkes against Limbomastix p. 170 He condemneth all the ancient Fathers for dreamers a page 151. Condemneth all the Fathers b Defen of the third testimony sect kkk He condemneth all learned and Godly Diuines for enemies of Christes Crosse and blasphemers of his passion He justifieth most wicked Heretikes and condemneth most holy Fathers c Defen of the first second testimony p. 2 5. sect 18. 21. pag. 181. 166 101. 100. defenc of the 2. place sect 10. 11. 20. defenc of the 3. testimony sect 7. 12. 15. 16. c. He falsly translateth corrupteth indignely handleth clippeth shamefully corrupteth injuriously handleth greatly abuseth vntruly alleageth misquoteth maymeth mistranslateth much abuseth notably corrupteth c. S. Augustine Origen S. Ambrose S. Chrysostome S. Leo S. Hierome Tertullian S. Bernard c. fathereth false-boodes vpon them peruerteth their true arguments corrupteth their wordes And further in particuler for those bookes which he hath written against Catholikes as his
seauen when Bonifacius Pope there claimed as they say supreamacy first in the Church D. Downames vvordes be q Downame lib. 1. pag. 4. About the yeare of our Lord six hundred and seauen Boniface the Pope and his Successours claymed and obtayned to be head of the Catholike or Vniuersall Church Then I thus demonstrate from these Protestants that this Church of Rome both claymed and exercised this supreame authority vvhen it vvas in this flourishing and best estate a rule to Churches of faith anker of piety c. First D. Sutcliffe is vvitnesse r Sutcl subuers pag. 57. Ireneus saith that euery Church ought to haue respect to the Church of Rome for her eminent principallity vvhich vvas long before any generall Councell or Christian Emperour to giue or allowe this priuiledge Secondly D. Field plainely acknowledgeth ſ Field lib. 3. cap. 1. that the supreamacy belonged to the Popes of Rome before the first Nicen Councell Then by the rules vvhich he giueth to knowe true Traditions t pa. 242. sup custome of the Church consent of Fathers or an Apostolike Churches testimony this must needes be of that kinde And then equall in authority vvith Scripture as he acknowledgeth u page 134. of such Traditions M. Ormerod ascendeth to Pope Anacletus liuing within an hundred yeares of Christ his wordes be these x Ormer pict pap pag. 78. To proue that the Church of Rome hath the preeminence ouer all Churches Anacletus alleadgeth Math. 16. vers 18. Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church and he expoundeth it thus super hanc Petram id est super Ecclesiam Romanam Vpon this Rocke that is vpon the Church of Rome will I build my Church This is as great a clayme of supreamacy and by as great vvarrant as any Pope nowe claymeth it Yet Anacletus vvas a Saint and holy Pope euen in the best estate of that Church Againe there were at those daies accounted but three great parts of the world Asia Africke Europe yet we are told by these Protestants that the Pope in that flourishing and vnspotted time of the Church of Rome claymed and exercised this supreamacy in all these parts For Asia though in the Greeke Church D. Couell telleth vs y Couell against the plea of the Innoc. pa. 65. that Pope Victor in that time did authoritatiuely clayme supreamacy ouer all Asia excommunicating the Churches of it to vse his wordes in seperating all Asia from the vnity of the faithfull for being disobedient in the point and question of Easter What greater supreamacy can be claymed in the Church then to excommunicate and put forth of the Church so great a part of the world D. Downame yeeldeth to Bellarmine y Downame lib. 2. Antich pag. 105. that S. Augustine Victor Vticensis in Africke vvere of opinion that to adhere to the Church of Rome was a marke of a true Catholike in those times And M. Perkins saith z Per. problem pa. 237. 238. Appeales were often made out of Africke to the Popes of Rome in those dayes Neither doth this Doctor denie a Down supr pa. 106. 107. but the Bishops then did sweare obedience to the Pope And entreating of a Bishop recanting his heresies he writeth of him in these wordes b Down supr pag. 107. He sweareth to renounce his former heresies to professe maintayne that faith religion which the Bishoppe and Church of Rome did professe M. Ormerod witnesseth c Ormerod supr pag. 44. that S. Leo taught that God did assist and direct that See in decrees Of Europe there can be no question for generally Protestants agree with D. Field d Field of the Church D. Doue e Doue persw pag. 29. 30. D. Couell f Couel defen of Hook pag. 74. 75. 76. and M. Ormerod g Ormer pict pap pag. 184 that the regiment of the West Churches among which this nation is belonged to the Pope of Rome And D. Sutcliffe giueth particuler examples h Sutcl subu pag. 19. how S. Gregory cōmanded to vse his wordes the Bishops of France commanded also in England the constituting of our Archbishop S. Augustine and the very See of that preeminence at Canterbury D. Couell vvriteth the same i Cou. against Burges p. 49. of Pope Gregories commanding authority in all Spayne who prouoked by the heresie of the Arrians commanded that through all Spaine there should be but once dipping in Baptisme M. Middleton vvitnesseth k Middleton papistomast pag. 39. that at the least the first generall Councell of Nice taught the dignity of Rome ouer the West Prouinces in which we of this nation are and that by old custome which was when that Church was in her best and flourishing estate a rule to all And to proue this custome both larger then ouer the West that is vniuersal ouer al Churches and from the Apostles he addeth thus l page 200. Papias liuing in the Apostles time taught Peters primacy Romish Episcopality And D. Downame writeth thus m Downame l. 1. Anticl rist cap. 3. pa. 35. Diuers Bishops of Rome before the time of Socrates the Historian in that vnspotted reguler time of that Church contended to haue the primacy ouer all other Churches and that is the chiefe scope of many of their Epistles decretall Neither doth D. Downame n page 36. denie but both Iustinian the Emperor and the great generall Councell of Chalcedon in the primatiue Church attributed to the Pope of Rome to be head of the Church which he saith is the greatest stile And he addeth thus of that Church in that best estate Titles of honour and preeminence were giuen to the Church of Rome as the chiefe or head of the Churches And againe Before the graunt of Phocas the Church of Rome had the preeminence and superiority ouer all other Churches excepting that of Constantinople And both D. Field o Field lib. 1. of the Church telleth him absolutely that the Title of Constantinople was but intruded and vsurped And when the first Nicen Councell gaue such honour to the Roman Church there was not so much as the name of Constantinople And that this preeminence and superiority was a commanding and binding authority is proued before from all parts of the world wherein it was exercised in that best and flourishing estate of that Church That no Councell could be kept none confirmed nothing concluded in the primatiue Church without the Bishoppe of Rome his approbation wil approue in the chapter of Councels hereafter Wherefore seing we haue beene taught before by Protestants that one primacy chiefe commanding authority was euer necessary in the true Church of Christ That S. Peter as chiefe of the Apostles had and exercised it in that time And after him the primatiue and most ancient holy Popes of Rome as successors vnto him euer claimed exercised and executed the same soueraigne spiritual Pastorall office