to looke towards our Doctrine the noueltie of our Religion you say hath discouraged you theirs hath drawne you with the reuerence of her age It is a free challenge betwixt vs let the elder haue vs both if there be any point of our Religion yonger then the Patriarkes and Prophets Christ and his Apostles the Fathers and Doctors of the Primitiue Church let it be accursed and condemned for an vpstart shew vs euidence of more credite and age and carrie it The Church of Rome hath beene auncient not the errors neither doe we in ought differ from it wherein it is not departed from it selfe If I did not more feare your wearines then my owne forgetting the measure of a Praeface I would passe through euerie point of difference betwixt vs and let you see in all particulars which is the old way and make you know that your Popish Religion doth but put on a borrowed visor of grauitie vpon this Stage to out-face true antiquitie Yet least you should complaine of words let me without your tediousnes haue leaue but to instance in the first of all Controuersies betwixt vs offering the same proofe in al which you shall see performed in one I compare the iudgement of the ancient Church with yours see therefore and be ashamed of your noueltie First our question is Whether all those bookes which in our Bibles are stiled Apocryphall and are put after the rest by themselues are to be receiued as the true Scriptures of God Heare first the voice of the old Church To let passe that cleare and pregnant testimonie of Melito Sardensis in his Epistle to Onesimus cited by Eusebius Let Cyprian or Ruffinus rather speake in the name of all Of the olde Testament saith he first were written the fiue bookes of Moses Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers Deuteronomie after these the booke of Ioshua the son of Nun and that of the Iudges together with Ruth after which were the foure bookes of the Kings which the Hebrues reckon but two of the Chronicles which is called the booke of Dayes and of Ezra are two bookes which of them are accounted but single and the booke of Esther Of the Prophets there is Esay Hieremie Ezekiel and Daniel and besides one booke which containes the twelue smaller Prophets Also Iob and the Psalmes of Dauid are single bookes of Salomon there are three books deliuered to the Church the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Song of songs In these they haue shut vp the number of the bookes of the olde Testament Of the new there are foure Gospels of Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn the Acts of the Apostles written by Luke of Paul the Apostle fourteene Epistles of the Apostle Peter two Epistles of Iames the Lords brother and Apostle one of Iude one of Iohn three Lastly the Reuelation of Iohn These are they which the Fathers haue accounted within the Canon by which they would haue the assertions of our faith made good But we must know there are other bookes which are called of the Ancients not Canonicall but Ecclesiastical as the Wisedome of Salomon and another booke of Wisedome which is called of Iesus the sonne of Sirach which booke of the Latines is termed by a generall name Ecclesiasticus of the same ranke is the booke of Toby and Iudith and the bookes of the Maccabees Thus farre that Father so Hierome after that he hath reckoned vp the same number of bookes with vs in their order hath these words This Prologue of mine saith he may serue as a well defenced entrance to all the bookes which I haue turned out of Hebrew into latine that we may know that whatsoeuer is besides these is Apocryphall therefore that booke which is intituled Salomons Wisedome and the booke of Iesus the son of Sirach and Iudith Tobias Pastor are not Canonical the first book of the Macabees I haue found in Hebrew the second is Greeke which booke saith he indeed the Church readeth but receiueth not as Canonicall The same reckoning is made by Origen in Eusebius word for word The same by Epiphanius by Cyrill by Athanasius Gregory Nazianzen Damascen yea by Lyranus both Hugoes Caietan Carthusian and Montanus himselfe c. All of them with full consent reiecting these same Apocryphall bookes with vs. Now heare the present Church of Rome in her owne words thus The holy Synode of Trent hath thought good to set downe with this Decree a iust Catalogue of the bookes of holy Scripture least any man should make doubt which they be which are receiued by the Synode And they are these vnder-written Of the old Testament fiue bookes of Moses then Ioshua the Iudges Ruth foure bookes of the Kings two of the Chronicles two of Esdras the first and the second which is called Nehemias Tobias Iudith Ester Iob the Psalter of Dauid containing one hundreth and fiftie Psalmes the Prouerbes of Salomon Ecclesiastes the Song of Songs the booke of Wisedome Ecclesiasticus Esay Hieremy c. two bookes of the Macabees the first and the second And if any man shall not receiue these whole bookes with al the parts of them as they are wont to be read in the Catholick Church as they are had in the old vulgar latine Edition for holy and Canonicall let him be accursed Thus shee Iudge you now of our age and say whether the opinion of the ancient Church that is ours be not a direct enemy to Poperie and flatly accursed by the Romish Passe on yet a little further Our question is whether the Hebrew and Greeke Originals be corrupted and whether those first Copies of Scriptures be not to be followed aboue all Translations Heare first the ancient Church with vs But saith Saint Augustine howsoeuer it be taken whether it be beleeued to be so done or not beleeued or lastly whether it were so or not so I hold it a right course that when any thing is found different in eyther bookes the Hebrew and Septuagint since for the certainty of things done there can be but one truth that tongue should rather bee beleeued from whence the Translation is made into another language Vppon which words Ludouicus Viues yet a Papist saith thus the same saith he doth Ierome proclayme euery where and reason it selfe teacheth it and there is none of sound iudgement that will gaine say it but in vaine doth the consent of all good wits teach this for the stubburne blockishnes of men opposeth against it Let Ierome himselfe then a greater linguist be heard speake And if there be any man saith he that will say the Hebrew bookes were afterwards corrupted of the Iewes let him heare Origen what he answeres in the eight Volume of his explanations of Esay to this question that the Lord and his Apostles which reproue other faults in the Scribs and Pharisees would neuer haue beene silent in this which were the greatest crime that could be But if they say that the Hebrewes falsified them
broken pits that can hold no water what shall be the issue Et tu Domine deduces eos in puteum interitus Thou O God shalt bring them downe into the pit of destruction If you wil thus wilfully leaue God there I must leaue you But if you had not rather die returne and saue one returne to God returne to his truth returne to his Church your blood be vpon my head if you perish ADVERTISEMENTS to the Reader VNDERSTAND good reader that in all these passages following I haue brought in C. Bellarm. speaking in his owne words except in some few plaine references where I mention him in the third person 2 That the edition of C. Bellarmine which I haue followed and quoted in euery page is that in octauo the commonest I thinke set forth at Ingolstadt from the presse of Adam Sartorius in the yeare M.D.XCIX 3 That all those Authors which thou seest named ouer the head of euery Section are Papists of note whose quarrels C. Bellarmine confesseth 4 That such great Doctors could not be singular in their iudgements but must needes in all probability which yet is not confessed be attended with many followers in euery point of variance euery Master hath the fauour of his owne schoole the sides taken by their Scholers is not more secret then likely 5 That one Doctor Pappus a learned German hath vndertaken the like taske but somewhat vnperfectly for of my 303 contradictions he hath noted but 237. the edition followed by him was not the same and therefore his trust could not be so helpfull to mee Besides that two or three of Card. Bellarmines workes are since published 6 That I haue willingly omitted diuers small differences which if I had regarded number might haue caused the Sum to swell yet higher 7 That thou mayest not looke to finde all these acknowledged differences maine and essentiall All Religion consists not of so many stones in her foundation it is enough that deepe and material dissensions are intermingled with the rest and that scarce any point is free from some 8 That Card. Bellarmine acknowledges those dissensions only which fall into the compasse of his owne Controuersies if all those omitting all others For instance of all those sixtie and two differences in the matter of penance which I haue here gathered out of Nauarre and Frâ—a Victoria he hath not confessed aboue fiue or sixe So that by the same proportion wheras three hundred and three Contradictions are acknowledged there cannot but be many hundreds wittingly by him concealed GEN. 11.7 Venite igitur descendamus confundamus ibi linguam eorum vt non audiat vnus quis que vocem proximi sui atque ita diuisit eos Dominus ex illo loco in vniuersas terras cessauerunt aedificare ciuitatem idcirco vocatum est nomen eius Babel c. THE PEACE OF ROME LIB I. FIRST CENTVRY of Dissentions DECAD I. First Bellarmine against Nic. Lyra Carthusian Hugo and Thomas Cardinals Sixtus Senensis THere haue not wanted some which haue held the seuen last Chapters of the booke of Ester because they are not in the Hebrewe Text spurious and counterfet In which opinion was S. Hierom as is gathered out of his praeface and following him not onely before the Councell of Trent Nicholas Lyra Dionysius Carthusianus Hugo and Thomas de Vio Cardinals but also since the said Councell Sixtus Senensis in the first and eight booke of his Bibliotheca Sancta But that they are sacred and Diuine is sufficiently proued by all those Decrees of Popes and Councels and those testimonies of Hebrew Greeke and Latine fathers which we haue noted formerly in the fourth chapter of this booke and so those other chapters which are not in the Hebrew c. Bellarmine in his first booke of the word of God chapt 7. See at large his confutation of Sixtus Senensis in the same place pag. 30. Secondly Iohn Driedo against Bellarmine IOhannes Driedo a Catholike writer denies the booke of Baruch to be Canonical in his first book the last chapter at the last argument But the authority of the Catholicke Church perswades vs the contrary which in the Councell of Trent the fourth sitting numbers the prophet Baruch among the sacred bookes Bellarmine the same booke chap. 8. pag. 41. Thirdly Erasmus and Iohannes Driedo against Bellarmine NOt onely Heretickes Pagans Iewes but of Catholicke Christians Iulius Africanus of olde and of late Iohannes Driedo in his first booke de Script c. chap. last and of semi-Christians Erasmus in his Scholees vpon Hieroms praeface to Daniel haue reiected the story of Susanna as new and foisted into the Canon But notwithstanding it is certaine that all these parts of Daniel are truely Canonicall Bellarm. the same booke chap. 9. pag. 43. Fourthly Caietane a Cardinall and some other namelesse against Bellarmine SOme obiect that the Church receiues those books that Saint Hierome receiues and refuseth those which he reiecteth as it appeares Distinct. 15. Canon Sancta Romana But Hierome flatly affirmes all these fiue bookes not to be Canonicall so reasoneth Caietane otherwise a Catholicke a holy Doctor Some answere that Hierome saith onely that these are not Canonicall among the Iewes but that cannot be for he mentioneth also the booke of the Pastor which was accounted to the new Testament But I admit that Hierome was of that opinion because no generall Councell as yet had defined of these books except onely of the booke of Iudith which Hierome also afterwards receiued That therefore which Gelasius saith in the Distinct aboue cited is to be vnderstood of the bookes of the Doctors of the Church Origin Ruffin and the like not of the bookes of Scripture Bellarm. ibid. chap. 10. pag. 53. Fiftly Bellarmine against Erasmus Caietanus IN our times Erasmus in the end of his notes vpon this Epistle and Caietane in the beginning of his Commentaries vpon this Epistle haue reuiued and renewed a question that hath long slept in silence concerning the Author and authority of the Epistle to the Hebrewes Bellarmine vndertakes to confute their seuerall reasons drawne First From Hebr. 1.5 compared with 2. Sam. 7.14 Secondly From Hebr. 9.4 compared with 1 Kings 8.9 Thirdly From Heb. 9.20 compared with Exod. 24.8 Bellarm. ibid. chap. 17. pag. 77. Sixtly Beda Lyranus Driedo Mercator Sulpitius Genebrard Benedictus Bellarmine dissenting THere are two principall opinions about the storie of Iudith Some would haue that storie to haue happened after the Babilonish captiuity eyther in Cambyses time so Beda Lyranus Io. Driedo or vnder Darius Hystaspes as Gerardus Mercator Seuerus Sulpitius refers it to Artaxerxes Ochus some others hold it to haue beene after the captiuity either in Sedecias times as Gil. Genebrardus or Iosias as Iohn Benedictus But neither of these seemes to me probable enough saith Bellarmine who confuting all them placeth this storie in the raigne of Manasses king of Iuda Bellarm. same booke c. 12.
Heare first the voyce of the old religion to omit the direct charges of Gregory Nissen and Ambrose thus hath Ierome vpon the Psalmes The Lord will declare and how will he declare Not by word but by writing In whose writing In the writing of his people c. Our Lord and Sauiour therefore tels vs and speaketh in the scriptures of his Princes Our Lord will declare it to vs in the scriptures of his people in the holy scriptures which scripture is read to all the people that is so read as that all may vnderstand not that a few may vnderstand but all What faithfull man saith Augustine though he be but a Nouice before he be baptized and haue receiued the holy Ghost doth not with an equall minde reade and heare all things which after the ascension of our Lord are written in Canonicall truth and authority although as yet he vnderstands them not as he ought But of all other Saint Chrysostome is euery where most vehement and direct in this point Amongst infinite places heare what he saith in one of his Homilies of Lazarus I doe alwaies exhort and will neuer cease to exhort you saith he that you will not here onely attend to those things which are spoken but when you are at home you continually busie your selues in reading of the holy Scriptures which practise also I haue not ceased to driue into them which come priuately to me for let no man say Tush they are but idle words and many of them such as should bee contemned Alas I am taken vp with lawe causes I am employed in publique affaires I follow my trade I maintaine a wife and children and haue a great charge to looke to It is not for me to read the Scriptures but for them which haue cast off the world which haue taken vp the solitary toppes of Mountaines for their dwellings which liue this contemplatiue kinde of life continually What sayest thou O man Is it not for thee to turne ouer the Scriptures because thou art distracted with infinite cares Nay then it is for thee more then for them for they doe not so much neede the helpe of the Scriptures as you that are tost in the midst of the waues of worldly busines And soone after Neyther can it be possible that any man should without great fruit be perpetually conuersant in this spirituall exercise of reading and straight Let vs not neglect to buy our selues bookes least we receiue a wound in our vitall parts and after he hath compared the bookes of Scripture to gold he addeth But what say they if we vnderstand not those things which are contained in those bookes What gaine we then Yes surely though thou dost not vnderstand those things which are there laid vp yet by the very reading much holinesse is got Although it cannot be that thou shouldest be alike ignorant of all thou readest for therefore hath the spirit of God so dispenced this word that Publicanes Fishers Tent-makers Shepheards Goat-beards plaine vnlettered men may be saued by these bookes least any of the simpler sort should pretend this excuse That all things which are said should be easie to discerne and that the workeman the seruant the poore widdow and the most vnlearned of all other by hearing of the word read might get some gaine and profit And the same Father elsewhere I beseech you saith he that you come speedily hither and harken diligently to the reading of the holy Scriptures and not onely when you come hither but also at home take the Bible into your hands and by your diligent care reape the profite contained in it Lastly in his Homilies vpon the Epistle to the Colossians he cries out Heare I beseech you O all ye secular men prouide you Bibles which are the medicines for the soule At least get the new Testament Now on the contrary let the new Religion of Rome speake first by her Rhemish Iesuites thus We may not thinke that the Translated Bibles into vulgar tongues were in the hands of euery Husbandman Artificer Prentise Boyes Girles Mistresse Maide Man that they were sung played alledged of euery Tinker Tauerner Rimer Minstrell The like words of scorn and disgrace are vsed by Hosius and by Eckius and by Bellarmine de verbo l. 2. c. 15. The wise will not here regard say our Rhemists what some wilfull people doe mutter that the Scriptures are made for all men c. And soone after they compare the scriptures to fire water candles kniues swords which are indeede needfull c. but would marre all if they were at the guiding of other then wise men All the Heretickes of this time saith Bellarmine agree that the scriptures should be permitted to all and deliuered in their owne mother tongue But the Catholike Church forbids the reading of the Scriptures by all without choice or the publique reading or singing of them in vulgar tongues as it is decreed in the Councell of Trent Ses. 22 c. 8. and can 9. If you thinke saith Duraeus that Christ had all Christians to search the Scriptures you are in a grosse errour For how shall rude and ignorant men search the Scriptures c. And so he concludes that the Scriptures were not giuen to the common multitude of beleeuers Iudge now what either we say or these Papists condemne besides the ancient iudgement of the Fathers and if euer either Caluin or Luther haue beene more peremptory in this matter then Saint Chrysostome I vow to be a Papist If ours be not in this the old Religion be not you ours Yet this one passage further and then no more least I weary you Our question is Whether the Scriptures depend vpon the authority of the Church or rather the Church vpon the authoritie of Scriptures Heare first the ancient Church with and for vs The question is saith Saint Austen betwixt vs and the Donatists where the Church is what shall we do then shall we seeke her in our owne words or in the words of her head the Lord Iesus Christ I suppose we ought to seeke her rather in his words which is the truth and knowes best his owne body for the Lord knowes who are his we will not haue the Church sought in our words And in the same booke Whether the Donatists hold the Church saith the same Father let them not shew but by the Canonicall bookes of Diuine scriptures for neyther do we therefore say they should beleeue vs that wee are in the Church of Christ because Optatus or Ambrose hath commended this Church vnto vs which we now hold or because it is acknowledged by the Councels of our fellow-teachers or because so great miracles are done in it it is not therefore manifested to be true and Catholicke but the LORD Iesus himselfe iudged that his Disciples should rather be confirmed by the testimonies of the Law and the Prophets These are the rules of our cause these
p. 58. Seuenthly Erasmus and Caietane against Bellarm. and all other true Catholickes ERasm in his notes vpon these epistles affirms that the Epistle of Iames doth not sauor of an Apostolicke grauitie hee doubts of the second Epistle of Peter he affirmes the second and third Epistles of Iohn were not written by Iohn the Apostle but by another of Iudes Epistle hee saith nothing Caietane doubts of the Authors of the Epistle of Iames of Iude of the second and third of Iohn and therefore will haue them to be of lesse authority then the rest Bellarmine iustly refutes their opinion ch 18. pag. 86. Eightly Erasmus against all true Catholickes ERasmus in the end of his notes vpon the Reuelation seekes out many doubtfull coniectures wherby he would proue this booke of the Reuelation not to be written by Iohn the Apostle His three reasons are truely answered by Bellarmine chap. 19. p. 94. Ninthly Genebrardus against Bellarmine THE fourth booke of Esdras is indeede cyted by Ambrose in his booke de Bono Mortis and in his second booke vpon Luke and in the 21. Epistle to Horatian but doubtlesse it is not Canonicall since that it is not by any Councell accounted in the Canon and is not found eyther in Hebrew or Greeke and contains in the sixt chapter very fabulous toyes I wonder therfore what came into Genebrards minde that he would haue this booke pertaine to the Canon in his Chronology pag. 90. Bellarm. chap. 20. pag. 99. Tenthly Iacobus Christopolitanus Canus against Bellarmine OMitting those therefore which falsly attribute too much purity vnto the Hebrew text we are to meete with others which in a good zeale but I know not whether according to knowledge defend that the Iewes in hatred of the Christian Religion haue purposely depraued many places of Scripture so teaches Iacob Bishop of Christopolis in his praeface to the Psalmes and Canus in his second booke and thirteenth chapter of common places These Bellarmine confutes by most weighty arguments as he cals them and shewes that by this defence the vulgar Edition should be most corrupt in 2. booke of the word of God chap. 2. pag. 108. DECAD II. First Pagnin Paulus Forosempron Eugubius Io. Mirandulanus Driedo Sixtus Senensis all together by the eares COncerning this vulgar Latine Edition there is no small question That it is not Ieromes is held by Sanctus Pagninus in the praeface of his interpretation of the Bible to Clement the eight and Paulus Bishop of Forosempronium in his second booke first chapter of the day of Christs passion Contrarily that it is Ieromes is defended by Augustine Eugubinus and Iohannes Picus Mirandulanus in bookes set out to that purpose and by some others But that it is mixt both of the new and old is maintained by Io. Driedo in his second booke ch 1. and Sixtus Senensis in his 8. booke of the holy Library and the end Bellarm. 2. booke chap. 9. pag. 135. Secondly Bellarmine against some nameles Authors COncerning the Translation of the Septuagint though I know some hold it is vtterly lost yet I hold rather that it is so corrupted that it seemes another Bellarm. 2. booke ch 6. pag. 127. Thirdly Valla Faber Erasmus and others against Bellarmine THat place Rom. 1.32 not onely Kemnitius but also Valla Erasmus Iacobus Faber and others would haue to be corrupted in the Latine vulgar Bellarmine confutes them and would shew that their Latine Translation herein is better then the Greeke originall Bellarm. same booke chap. 14. pag. 168. Fourthly Card. Caietane against Bellarmine THomas Caietanus in his Treatise of the Institut and authority of the B. of Rome chap. 5. teacheth that the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen are not the same with the power of binding and loosing for that the keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen includes the power of order and iurisdiction and somewhat more But this doctrine seemes to vs more subtile then true for it was neuer heard of that the Church had any other keyes besides those of order and iurisdiction Bellarm. 1. booke of the Pope ch 12. pag. 101. Fiftly Ioachim Raymundus a namelesse Frenchman against all Catholikes THat there are three eternall spirits Father Sonne Holy Ghost essentially differing was taught by a certaine Frenchman in Anselmes time and the same seemes to be held by Ioachim the Abbot in the yeare 1190. and Raymundus Lullius in the yeare 1270. confuted by Bellarmine in his first booke de Christo. cha 2. pag. 37. Sixtly Erasmus confuted by Bellarmine BEllarmines disputation against the Transsiluani and Erasmus as their patrone concerning the Diuinity of Christ warranted from diuers places of Scripture See Bell. l. 1. de Christo. ch 6. pag. 72.73 Seuenthly Bellarmine against Durandus THE fourth error is of Durandus in 3. d. 22. q. 3. who taught that Christs soule descended not to hell in substance but only in certaine effects because it did illuminate those holy Fathers which were in Limbo which opinion to be erroneous and yet not so ill as Caluins is proued by foure arguments and all his obiections answered by Bellarm. l. 4. de Christo ch 15. pag. 391.392 c. Eightly Bonauenture against Thomas SAint Thomas p. 3. q. 52. Art 2. teaches that Christ by his reall presence descended but to Limbus Patrum and in effect onely to the other places of hell but it is probable that his soule discended to all Secondly Saint Thomas seemes to say p. 3. q. 52. ar 1. that it was some punishment to Christ to be in hel according to his soule c. And Caietane in act 2. saith that the sorrowes of Christs death continued in him til his resurrection in regard of three penalties whereof the second is that the soule remained in hell a place not conuenient for it But Bonauent in 3. d. 22. q. 4. saith that Christs soule while it was in hell was in the place of punishment indeede but without punishment which seemes to me more agreeable to the Fathers Bellarm. l. 4 de Christo. c. 16. p. 396.397 c. Ninthly Bellarmine and all other Papists against Lyranus NIcolaus Lyranus is not of so great authority that we should oppose him to all the auncient Fathers and Historians which say that Peter was slaine at Rome not as Lyranus at Hierusalem Bellarm. l. 2. of the Pope of Rome ch 10. pag. 210. Tenthly Aeneas Syluius confuted by Bellarmine THat speech of Aeneas Syluius afterwards Pope that before the Nicene Councel each man liued to himselfe and there was small respect had of the Bishop of Rome is partly true and partly false It is true that the power of the Popes was somewhat in those times hindred but it is not true that there was so little respect giuen him Bellarm. l. 2. de Pontif. c. 17. pag 252. DECAD III. First Martinus Polonus confuted by Bellarmine THE confutation of Martinus Polonus which liued An. 1250. in that storie
after the comming of Christ and preaching of the Apostles I cannot hold from laughter that our Sauiour and the Euangelists and Apostles should so cite testimonies of Scripture as the Jews would afterwards depraue them Thus Ierome And the Canon law it selfe hath this determination that the truth and credite of the books of the old Testament should be examined by the Hebrew Volumes of the new by the Greeke And Pope Innocentius as he is cyted by Gratian could say Haue recourse to the diuine Scriptures in their Original Greek The same lastly by Bellarmines owne confession the Fathers teach euery where As Ierome in his booke against Heluidius and in his Epistle to Marcella that the latine Edition of the Gospels is to be called back to the Greek fountaines and the latine Edition of the olde Testament is to be amended by the Hebrew in his Comment vpon Zachary chap. 8. The very same hath Austen in his second booke of Christian doctrine chap. 11.12 15. and Epist. 19. and elsewhere This was the old Religion and ours now heare the new The present Church of Rome hath thus The holy Synode decreeth that the old vulgar latine Edition in all Lectures Disputations Sermons Expositions be held for Authenticall saith the counsell of Trent And her Champion Bellarmine hath these words That the fountaine of the Originals in many places run muddy and impure we haue formerly shewed and indeed it can scarce be doubted but that as the latine Church hath beene more constant in keeping the faith then the Greeke so it hath been more vigilant in defending her bookes from corruption Yea some of the Popish Doctors mainetaine that the Iewes in hatred of the Christian faith did on purpose corrupt many places of scripture so holds Gregory de Valentia Iacobus Christopolitanus in his Praeface to the Psalmes Canus in the second booke of his common places But in stead of all Bellarmine shal shut vp all with these wordes The Heretickes of this time in hatred of the vulgar Edition giue too much to the Hebrew Edition as Caluin Chemnitius Georgius Maior All which would haue euery thing examined and amended by the Hebrew text which they commonly call a most pure fountain See now whether that which Bellarmine confesses to haue beene the iudgement of Hierome Austen and all the auncient Fathers be not here condemned by him as the opinion of the Heretickes Ours was theirs and theirs is condemned vnder our names Iudge whether in this also Popery be not an vpstart Yet one step more Our question is whether the Scripture be easie or most obscure and whether in all essentiall points it doe not interpret it selfe so as what is hard in one place is openly layd forth in another Heare the iudgement of the old Church and ours All things are cleare and plaine and nothing contrary in the Scriptures saith Epiphanius Those things which seeme doubtfully and obscurely spoken in some places of Scripture are expounded by them which in other places are open and plaine saith Basil What could Caluin or Luther say more There is no so great hardnesse in the Scriptures to come to those things which are necessary to saluation saith Austen In those things which are openly layd downe in Scripture are found all those things which containe our faith and rules for our life saith the same Father who yet againe also saith thus The spirit of God hath Royally and wholsomely tempered the holy Scriptures so as both by the plaine places he might preuent our hunger and by the obscure hee might auoyd our nice slouthfulnesse for there is scarce any thing that can be fetch 't out of those obscurities which is not found most plainely spoken elsewhere And because Bellarmine takes exception at this Feré Scarce compare this place with the former and with that which he hath in his third Epistle thus The manner of speech in which the Scripture is contriued is easie to be commed to of al although to be throughly attained by few Those things which it containeth plaine and easie it speakes like a familiar friend without guile to the heart of the learned and vnlearned c. But it inuites all men with an humble manner of speech whom it dooth not onely feede with manifest truth but exercise with secret hauing the same in readinesse which it hath in secrecy Thus Austen To omit Iraeneus and Origen Chrysostome whom Bellarmine saith we alledge alone for vs besides many other playne places writeth thus Who is there to whom all is not manifest which is written in the Gospel who that shall heare Blessed are the meeke Blessed are the mercifull Blessed are the pure in heart the rest wold desire a teacher to learne any of these things which are here spoken As also the signes miracles histories are not they knowne and manifest to euery man This pretence and excuse is but the cloake of our slothfulnesse thou vnderstandest not those things which are written how shouldest thou vnderstand them which wilt not so much as sleightly looke into them take the booke into thy hand read all the history and what thou knowest remember and what is obscure runne often ouer it So Chrysostome yea he makes this difference betwixt the Philosophers and Apostles the Philosophers speake obscurely But the Apostles and Prophets saith he contrarily make all things deliuered by them cleare and manifest and as the common teachers of the world haue so expounded all things that euery man may of himselfe by bare reading learne those things which are spoken yea lastly so far he goes in this point as that he asketh Wherefore needeth a preacher all things are cleare and plaine in the Diuine Scriptures but because ye are delicate hearers and seeke delight in hearing therefore ye seeke for Preachers You haue heard the old Religion now heare the new Bellarmine hath these wordes It must needes be confessed that the Scriptures are most obscure Here therefore saith he Luther hath deuised two euasions One that the Scripture though it be obscure in one place yet that it doth clearely propound the same thing in another The second is that though the Scripture be cleare of it selfe yet to the proud and vnbeleeuers it is hard by reason of their blindnes and euill affections so the Lutherans saith Eckius contend that the Scriptures are cleare and plaine so Duraeus against VVhitakers so the Rhemists in their annotations and generally all Papists Iudge now if all these forenamed Fathers and so the Auncient Church were not Lutherans in this point or rather we theirs and yeeld that this their old opinion by the new Church of Rome is condemned for hereticall and in al these say vpon your soule whether is the elder Let me draw you on yet a little further Our question is whether it be necessary or fit that all men euen of the Laiety should haue liberty to heare and read the Scriptures in a language which they vnderstand
pretious blood J speake not of some rude ignorants your very booke of holy Ceremonies shall teach you what your holy fathers doe and haue done That tells you first with great allowance and applause that Pope Vrban the fift sent three Agnos Dei to the Greeke Emperour with these verses Balsame pure Wax and Chrismes-liquor cleare Make vp this precious Lamb I send thee here All lightning it dispels and each ill spri'ght Remedies sinne and makes the heart contrite Euen as the blood that Christ for vs did shed It helps the child-beds paines giues good speed Vnto the birth Great gifts it still doth win To all that weare it and that worthy bin It quels the rage of fire and cleanely bore It brings from shipwracke safely to the shore And least you should plead this to be the conceit of some one phantasticall Pope heare and be ashamed out of the same booke what by prescription euery Pope vseth to pray in the blessing of the water which serues for that Agnus Dei If you know not thus he prayeth That it would please thee O God to blesse those things which we purpose to poure into this vessell of water prepared to the glory of thy name so as by the worship and honour of them we thy seruants may haue our heynous offences done away the blemishes of our sinnes wip't off and there by we may obtaine pardon and receiue grace from thee so that at the last with thy Saints and elect Children we may merite to obtaine euerlasting life Amen How could you choose but be in loue with this superstition Magicke blasphemy practised and maintained by the heads of your Church 2 A Religion that allowes iugling Equiuocations reserued senses euen in very oathes Besids all that hath beene shamelesly written by our Iesuites to this purpose Heare what Franciscus Victoria an ingenuous Papist and a learned reader of Diuinity in Salmantica writes in the name of all But what shall a Confessor do saith he if he be askt of a sinne that he hath heard in Confession May he say that he knowes not of it I answere according to all our Doctors that he may But what if he be compelled to sweare I say that he may and ought to sweare that he knowes it not for that it is vnderstood that he knowes it not besides confession and so he sweares true But say that the Iudge or Prelate shal malitiously require of him vpon his oath whether he know it in confession or no I answere that a man thus vrged may still sweare that he knowes it not in confession for that it is vnderstood he knowes it not to reueale it or so as he may tell Who teach and do thus in anothers case iudge what they would doe in their owne O wise cunning and holy periuries vnknowne to our forefathers A Religion that allowes the buying and selling of sinnes of pardons of soules so as now Purgatory can haue no rich men in it but fooles and friendlesse Diuels are tormenters there as themselues hold from many reuelations of Bede Bernard Carthusian yet men can commaund diuels and money can command men A Religion that relies wholly vpon the infallibility of those whom yet they grant haue been and may be monstrous in their liues and dispositions How many of those heyres of Peter by confession of their owne records by bribes by Whores by Diuels haue climed vp into that chaire Yet to say that those men which are confessed to haue giuen their soules to the diuell that they might be Popes can erre while they are Popes is heresie worthy of a stake and of hell A Religion that hood-winkes the poore Laity in forced ignorance least they should knowe Gods will or any way to heauen but theirs so as millions of soules liue no lesse without Scriptures then if there were none that forbids spirituall food as poyson and fetches Gods booke into the Inquisition A Religion that teaches men to worshippe stockes and stones with the same honour that is due to their Creator which practise least it should appeare to her simple Clyents how palpably opposite it is to the second commaundement they haue discreetly left out those words of GODS Law as a needelesse illustration in their Catechismes and Prayer bookes of the vulgar A Religion that vtterly ouerthrowes the true humanity of Christ while they giue vnto it tenne thousand places at once and yet no place flesh and no flesh seuerall members without distinction a substance without quantitie and other accidents or substance and accidents that cannot be seene felt perceiued so they make either a monster of their Sauiour or nothing A Religion that vtterly ouerthrowes the perfection of Christs satisfaction If all be not paid how hath he satisfied If temporall punishments in purgatory be yet due how is all paid and if these must be paid by vs how are they satisfied by him A Religion that makes more scripture then euer God and his ancient Church and those which it doth make so imperiously obtrudes vpon the world as if God himselfe should speak from heauen and while it thunders out curses against all that will not adde these bookes to Gods regards not Gods curse If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke A Religion whose patrons disgrace the true Scriptures of God with reproachfull tearmes odious comparisons imputations of corruption and imperfection and in fine pin their whole authority vpon the sleeues of men A Religion that erects a throne in the Conscience to a meere man and giues him absolute power to make a sinne to dispense with it to create new Articles of faith and to impose them vppon necessity of saluation A Religion that baffoules all temporall Princes making them stand bare-foote at their great Bishops gate lye at his foote hold his stirrup yea their owne Crownes at his Curtesie exempting all their Ecclesiasticall Subiects from their iurisdiction and when they list al the rest from their allegeance A Religion that hath made wicked men Saints and Saints Gods Euen by the confession of Papists lewd and vndeseruing men haue leapt into their Calender Whence it is that the Pope before his Canonization of any Saint makes solemne protestation that he entends not in that businesse to doe ought preiudiciall to the glory of God or to the Catholicke faith and Church And once Sainted they haue the honour of Altars Temples Inuocations and some of them in a stile fit onely for their maker I know not whither that blessed Virgin receiue more indignity from her enemies that denie her or these her flatterers that deifie her A Religion that robs the Christian heart of all sound comfort whiles it teacheth vs that we neither can nor ought to be assured of the remission of our sinnes and of present grace and future saluation That we can neuer know whether we haue receiued the true Sacraments of
dist 33. quaest 2. Durandus vpon the same place defends it Bonauenture hath deuised another reason Thomas a third and Richardus vpon the same place seeing that the foresaid reasons did not giue satisfaction addes a fourth and saith that infants know they are fallen from happinesse and yet are not sadde it comes to passe by a singular prouidence of God which remoues sorrow from their minds Bellarm. ibid. cap. 6. pag. 609. DECAD III. First Albert Pighius and Peter Lombard with Scotus against the rest c. THat no part of iustice stands in any quality or habite of ours but all wholly in Gods free acceptation is held by Caluin Kemnitius Heshusius and to this opinion of the heretikes comes Albertus Pighius otherwise a Catholike Doctor but in some questions as Ruardus Tapperus noted before vs miserably seduced by reading of Caluins bookes for thus Pighius writes in his fift booke of Freewill Wee will fetch the diuers acceptions of grace from the Scriptures not from the Schooles for in them commonly they immagine that the grace of God is some quality created in our soules by God c. all which I thinke false and feined and to haue no authority from scripture thus Pighius But the common opinion of Diuines constantly teacheth that a supernaturall habite is infused into vs by God whereby the soule is garnished and perfited and so made acceptable to God For though Peter Lombard in 1. Sent. dist 17. seeme to say that charity is not an habite but the very holy Ghost himselfe yet it appeares in the same booke dist 37. he meant that the spirit of God dwelleth not in them onely which know and loue him but euen in Infants by some habite wherefore Io. Scotus holds that Peter Lombards opinion may well be expounded and defended but St. Thomas and other Diuines reproue his opinion as if he denied the habite of charity Bellarm. of grace and freewill l. 1. cap. 3. pag. 50. Secondly foure diuers opinions of Popish Doctors WHether the habite of grace be the same with the habite of charity there are foure opinions of Diuines for some would haue this iustifying grace gratum facientem to be an habite in nature and respects different from charity as St. Thomas Capreolus Caietanus Ferrariensis Dominicus a Soto Others make not a reall but a formall distinction betwixt them as Albertus Magnus Alexander Alensis and perhaps St. Bonauenture vpon 2. Sent. dist 26 Others hold them neither in deede nor formally but onely in certaine respects different and this is the iudgement of Alexander Alensis who belike changed his opinion Richardus Scotus Mayro Gabriel Maior Henry of Gaunt and Andreas Vega. Others holde there is no difference at all betwixt them saue in name onely So Durandus vpon 2. dist 26. q. The third opinion seemes to be most probable and more agreeing to Scripture Fathers and Councell of Trent Bellarm. ibid. c. 6. p. 63. Thirdly Thomas and all Diuines against Peter Lombard VVE thought it meete to confute the opinion of them which teach that charity whereby we loue God is not any created habite but the very person of the holy Ghost which vseth to be accounted Lombards opinion But we must thinke Pet. Lomb. was not grosse and dull to thinke the very act of loue which we our selues produce is the very holy Ghost but this was it that Lombard taught that the very next immediate cause or ground of the loue of God is the spirit of God in vs and not any created habite as of faith hope and the rest which opinion all Diuines confute in their Commentaries on the 1. booke Sent. dist 17. especially Saint Thomas in 2.2 q. 23. and in his questions who answereth 24. obiections that might be made for Lombards opinion Bellarm. ibid. c. 8. p. 77. Fourthly three rankes of Popish Writers at variance VVHence grace proueth effectuall are three opinions The first of them which hold the efficacy of grace to stand in the assent and co-operation of mans will and therefore these hold it in mans power to make grace effectuall which otherwise in it selfe would be but sufficient The other of those which thinke effectuall grace to be the naturall action of God which determines the wil to will and choose that good which was inspired to them by exciting grace This opinion seemes eyther the same with the error of the Caluinists and Lutherans or very little different The Abettors of this opinion like it because they thinke it is Augustines but that it was not his may be shewed by foure arguments c. The third is the meane betweene both these extremes Bellarmine ibid. c. 12. p. 97.98 c. Fiftly Popish Diuines diuided MAny Catholike Diuines and almost all teach that euery man hath sufficient grace giuen him for the place and time and yet without preuenting grace no man can desire or receiue it So Alexander Alensis Albertus Magnus S. Thomas Bonauent Scotus P. Adrian Io. Roffensis c. Bellarm. l. 2. of grace and freewill c. 1. p. 116. Sixtly Andr Vega against Abulensis Adrian Caietane Roffensis ALthough sufficient and necessary ayde to rise from sinne be not wanting to any man for the time and place yet it is not present at all times This proposition is not mine onely but it is confirmed by Abulensis Adrianus 6. Caietane Roffensis Driedo Tapperus But Andreas Vega saith that sinners may be at any or euery time conuerted yet he addes that they cannot at euery time bring that their possibility to effect so he partly affirmes and partly denies it Bellarm l. 2. c. 6. p. 131. Seuenthly Thomas and Caietane and Bellarmine against other Doctors DIuines indeede dispute whether predestination belong rather to the vnderstanding or to the will But I like the opinion of Cardinal Caietane and St. Thomas who hold it rather of the vnderstanding and the rather because it is Saint Augustines in his booke De bono perseuerant cap. 17. Bellarm. ib. c. 9. p 154. Eightly Ambros. Catharinus and some others confuted by Bellarmine BVT let vs more at large expound that principal place out of Rom. 9. because Ambros. Catharinus and some other new Writers take it amisse Bellarm. ibid. cap. 10. pag. 157. Ninthly some namelesse Authors confuted by Bellarm. THE distinction which some Catholikes make betwixt predestination and election that predestination is before election predestination is the meanes election respects the glory it selfe predestination is free election depends on the praeuision of our good works See by Bellarmine the same booke cap. 15. p. 186. confuted as disagreeing from Scripture and reason Tenthly eight seuerall opinions of Popish Doctors THe first opinion is That freewill doth consist properly in our act not in any habite c. so teacheth Herueus 1. quodlibet q. 1. who places freewill in those acts of the vnderstanding and will which goe before deliberation or the conclusion of deliberation The second is Bonauentures opinion who