his Summa for his Apparatus super Decreto Vorionis Graecorum in Concil Florentino ab Eugenio Papâ IV. promulgato August de Ancona and a Rabble of such Romish Janizaries the Pope's Pretorian Band Capitolii Custodes Pontificiae Omnipotentiae jurati Vindices Seeing every Divine of the Church of England is bound to subscribe and defend the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church against all Adversaries and none can do that before they know and understand what that Doctrine and Discipline is and where 't is authentically treated of and to be found Jewel Rainolds Hooker Laud and Whitaker are excellent Authors but the most Authentick are and to be consulted 1. Our XXXIX Articles compos'd in the Synod at London 1552. i. e. 6 to Edvardi VI ti printed in Latin An. 1553. they were in number 42 they were after An. 1562. Elizabethae 5 to revised in the Convocation at London and reduced to 39. and publish'd in Latin 1563. A Copy of which is in Bodley's Library amongst Selden's Books with the Original Subscriptions of the Clergy annex'd to it 2. Our Book of Homilies compos'd 5 Years before the Articles An. 1º Edvardi VI ti Anno 1547. 3. Our Liturgy which was first publish'd An. 1549. then revised by Cranmer and Bucer and publish'd An. 1552. i. e. 6 to Edv. VI ti And left establish'd at his Death abolish'd by Queen Mary and again establish'd by Queen Elizabeth with some Alterations 1558. 4. Our Book of Ordination all these are confirm'd by Parliament and Convocation the Supreme Power Ecclesiastical and Civil and therefore whatever these four Books contain relating to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England is authentick and obligatory to the whole Church and Nation and to all Persons whether Clergy or Laity This our Common Lawyers will admit but no more because they wou'd increase their own Civil Power and diminish the Ecclesiastical But we say and can prove that there are other Books which as to the Discipline of our Church and her Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction are and de Jure shou'd be as authentick and obligatory as the former four already mention'd that is 1. Our Ecclesiastical Canons made in Convocation in the first Year of K. James the First An. 1603. 2. The Provincial Constitutions quas collegit Gul. Linwood erat Officialis Curiae de Arcubus dein Custos Privati Sigilli demum Meneven Episcopus Glossis illustrare incepit An. 1423. perfecit Glossas illas 1429. not and. Constitutiones has cum erant in Synodo Provinciae Cantuar. conditae Provinciam illam solum obligasse 3. Constitutiones Legatinae Othonis Othoboni erant Legati Pontificii in Anglia sub Hen. III. cum Glossis Johan de Aton Canonici Lincolniensis Not and. 1. Quod Gul. Linwood citat hunc Johan de Aton qui erat Linwoodo antiquior 2. Costitutiones has Angliam universam obligasse conditae enim erant in Conciliis ubi ader ant utriusque Provinciae Episcopi Pontificio Legato Preside Now all these Canons and Constitutions Provincial and Legantine and indeed the whole Canon-Law are still in use in all our Ecclesiastical Courts and Obligatory so far as they are not contrary or inconsistent with 1. The Law of GOD 2. The Law of the Land or the Prerogative Royal as may and evidently does appear by many Statutes not yet Repeal'd The next Inquiry will be How a Divine may come to know the true Meaning of those Writings which authentickly contain Our Doctrine and Discipline and the Reason of both In answer to this Query with Submission to better Judgments there can be no better way to know the true Meaning of our Articles Canons and Constitutions than by a diligent and intelligent reading the Works of those Excellent Persons who contriv'd those Authentick Writings ejusdem enim est exponere cujus est componere and have ever since successively defended them against all the Adversaries of Our Church Pope Presbyter and Fanatick and that with Victory I mean such as Cranmer Bucer Peter Martyr Jewel Rainolds Whitgift Bancroft Hooker Joh. White Dav'nant Abbot Crakanthorp Field Laud Chillingworth c. and such others As for some later Wtiters Scriblers rather they have endeavour'd by the many Apocryphal Pamplets which they have of late Years publish'd to confute the establish'd and known Doctrine of Our Church and all Reform'd Churches in Europe and maintain Positions which are evidently Socinian Popish or Pelagian and we have too much ground to wonder why such as are in Authority do give an Imprimatur to such pestilent Heresies which they are bound by Law and Conscience to condemn Now as it concerns a Divine to know the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England c. so he ought to know what are those erroneous Opinions which our Enemies and the Church's hold for no one can confute what he does not know To write against Rome or Geneva and upbraid them for Doctines they do not hold is a Calumny all that Bellarmine Lombard Vasquez or Cajetan hold who were Great but Private Men is not presently to be charg'd upon the Roman Church but such things as she by publick Authority owns in her Authentick Constitutions or Sacred and approv'd Offices As for Popish Errors they are either Fidei aut Facti in credendis aut agendis such as concern their Doctrine and Discipline 1. For their Credenda and Errors in Doctrine and many in Discipline too they have authentically declared and we may find them 1. In their Trent Council the Best Edition is that at Antverp 1633. in Octavo of which before pag. 18. § 3. 2. In the Catechism Trident. seu Roman ex Decreto Concil Trident. jussu Pii Papae Quinti there are many Editions of it but the best and most useful is that of Paris 1635. in Octavo 3. In their Pope's Bulls many Collections of them there are As for Instance 1 Eclog. Bullarum Pii IV Pii V Gregorii XIII Lugd. 1582. in 8o. Item 2 Literae Apostolicae c. De Officio Inquisitionis cum Superiorum Approbatione Romae 1579. Fol. Extant hae Literae cum aliarum Auctario in calce Directorii Inquisitionis per Nicol. Eimericum Venet. 1607. 3 Novae Compilatio Privilegiorum Apostolicorum Regularium Mendicantium c. per Iman Roclerium Turnoni 1609. Fol. In which Collection we have the Bulls of about 44 Popes 4 Bullarium Romanum Noeissi à Leone Magno ad Urbanum Octavum Tomis 4. in Fol. Romae 1638. Edidit Mar. Cherubinus extat Editio hujus Bullarii alia posterior additis Urbani Octavi Innocentii Decimi Constitutionibus auctior Lugd. sumptibus Phil. Borde c. This last Edition is best 1. Because it contains more Bulls 2 Because I find many things in this last Edition of Lyons which being damn'd by the Inquisitors are to be expunged and the Edition prohibited till they be so
capita in loca ejusdem insignia Dissertationes c. Paris 1676. Authore Natali Alexandro Ord. Praedicatorum Doctore Sorbonico in Octavo and 23 or 24 Volumes You may consult French Men's Writings both before and since Luther such as Gerson Chancellor of Paris and Espensaeas c. for they write more freely and learnedly against the Corruptions and Errors of Rome than any another Popish Writers Having writ this at several times and scarce perus'd any part of it as I would I hope the Reader will pardon my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not wilful Mistakes If He desire to see any of the aforemention'd Authors they are all some few excepted in my own Library here at Buckden THOMAS Lincoln LETTER I. Bishop BARLOW 's Letter to Dr. Howell Chancellor of the Diocese of Lincoln concerning his Primary Visitation Mr. CHANCELLOR WHEN I appointed this present Visitation of my Diocese it was both my Duty and Desire to have done it in Person as for several other Ends so more particularly that I might have the Happiness to know and be acquainted with my Brethren of the Clergy But my Age being now actually past 71. and Infirmities necessitate me to lay upon you that Burthen which my weak Indisposition at this time has disabled me to bear The Reason why I have not Visited before this Time was this My Predecessor visited the Year he died and tho' de Jure I might have visited the next Year yet I was unwilling to bring a burthen upon the Clergy so suddenly and therefore resolv'd not to visit until such time as my Predecessor if he had liv'd might have visited which was Anno 1677. When being call'd to the Parliament I was detain'd there and till now had no Opportunity to undertake what I had really design'd a Visitation This premised I shall intreat You to commend to my Brethren two or three things in what Words and with what Enforcement You in Prudence shall think fit 1. That they wou'd be conscientiously careful to live a pious Life and be Exemplary in walking Themselves in that way they commend to their Hearers from the Pulpit for if they Preach never so well and do not Live accordingly they will dishonour GOD and do Mischief to the People who are more apt to follow Examples than Precepts 2. That they wou'd be diligent in Catechizing the Younger People I fear too many of the Older sort may need it that they may know the Principles and Grounds of our Religion otherwise to preach to Uncatechiz'd People is to build without a Foundation 3. That they wou'd studiously endeavour to understand the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England which they have subscrib'd to and are bound to vindicate And in order to this let them read such Books as authentically contain both the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church viz. Our Liturgy Homilies XXXIX Articles and our Book of Ordination These Books are establish'd by Convocation and Parliament and ought both before and after Ordination seriously to be read and consider'd Jewel Whitaker Reynolds Hooker are excellent Authors who vindicated the Church of England against all her Adversaries with great Learning and Victorious Success and if young Students in Divinity will apply themselves to read them diligently they will find that these Books are of excellent use for the Explication and Confirmation of Our Churches Doctrine and Approved Discipline 4. And as Divines we are bound to inable our selves to know and defend our own Doctrine and Discipline than which no Church in Christendom has better or more consonant to Scripture and Primitive Antiquity so we shou'd endeavour according to our Ability to confute our Adversaries Papists and Non-conformists who as Herod and Pontius Pilate against our Blessed Saviour are Confederates against Truth and the Church of England What I have here mention'd is to re-mind my Brethren of what they know already and of the pressing necessity We now have if We love Truth and our Holy Mother the Church of England to know and confute the Impious and Blasphemous Practices of all those Recusants which at this Day disturb the Peace of the Church and State I desire You to advise the Clergy to pay their Tenths to the King duly for the Reasons in a Paper which the Reverend Mr. Skelton my Domestick Chaplain will give You And I have taken effectual order to prevent the Clergy's being impos'd on by undue Exactions from any Officer or Collector of their respective Dues within my Diocese resolving to lessen rather than augment the Fees c. which the Clergy pay With my Respects to Your self and my Brethren I rest theirs and Your Affectionate tho' Infirm Friend THOMAS Lincoln Sept. 1. 1688. LETTER II. A Short Method for the Study of Divinity in a Letter to a Friend by an Unknown Author and found in Bishop BARLOW 's Study SIR YOU ask of me one of the Hardest things I know To direct A Young Student in the the Methodical Study of Divinity If I have any Knowledge in it I must profess to You I know not how I came by it I read as it happen'd and thought of what I read and this is all I know of it It is I confess a great Defect in our Church and the occasion of many Mischiefs to it but it requires a much better Hand than mine and more Leisure than I have to prescribe a Remedy for it But if You will be contented with some free and hasty Thoughts You shall have them The constant Reading of S. Scripture with great application of Mind is a General Rule and ought to be a constant Practice whether we rightly apprehend the true Sence of it at present or not For when the very Phrase or Expression of S. Scripture and the History of it is imprinted on our Minds when we come strictly to examine any particular Doctrine of Religion various Expressions will occur to our Minds and will suggest such Thoughts to us as are to be had no other way And tho' it is not suppos'd that any Man acquainted with other parts of Learning and beginning to apply himself to the Study of Divinity can be in such a State yet the Scripture is to be read and learnt as the Grammar is by Children who know not how to apply the Rules much less understand the Reason of them And therefore part of them is to be read every Day tho' only in English which I think very adviseable for one who intends the Ministry without stopping at every Difficulty he meets with but charging his Memory with the Phrase and the Series and order of Events But to make the Reading of the S. Scripture useful he must furnish himself with all variety of Questions about Religion that he may know what to observe and enquire after And you will think it hard that I cannot direct him better than to send him to the Master of the Sentences or Aquinas's Summs or Estius upon the Sentences
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Studio Theologiae OR DIRECTIONS FOR THE Choice of Books IN THE Study of Divinity Written by the R t Reverend Father in GOD Dr. THOMAS BARLOW Late L d Bishop of Lincoln Provost of Queen's College and MARGARET Professor of DIVINITY in OXFORD Publish'd from the Original Manuscript By WILLIAM OFFLEY M. A. Prebendary of Lincoln and Domestick Chaplain to His Lordship OXFORD Printed by LEON LICHFIELD 1699. TO THE Right Reverend Father in GOD JAMES Lord Bishop of LINCOLN MY LORD WHilst others who are more immediately under Your Episcopal Government do equally approve and commend Your Generous Disposition and indefatigable Industry upon all Accounts to advance the Honour of the most Excellent Church of ENGLAND I cannot at this unhappy distance be silent but think my self obliged to mention that great Esteem which Your Lordship entertains for the Memory of many Learned Prelates who have presided over that Holy See which Your Lordship at present so deservedly fills And I am very sensible what an honourable regard Your Lordship in particular has for Bishop Barlow's Memory which suffer'd extreamly from those two Relick-mongers who printed a Spurious Book under his Lordship's Commanding Name and Character And whereas neither Religion or Gratitude were of any force to restrain their Endeavours from blasting their Great Benefactor 's Reputation after his Death by their publishing of many small Tracts it was thought necessary for Bishop Barlow's Legatees to whose Care his Lordship had committed all his own Original MSS. to undeceive the World and put a stop to mercenary proceedings by exposing the Defects of those Papers which were surreptitiously printed And I hope those Reflections which were drawn up and publish'd in the Year 1694. by my Brother Chaplain the late Ingenious Mr. Henry Brougham and My-self have been so far serviceable as to do justice to our Pious Patron 's Memory and to vindicate Our selves from all Suspicion of being any way concern'd in so base an Action as that of Selling to be Printed many private Papers with the specious Title of the Genuine Remains of that Learned Prelate Dr. Thomas Barlow c. My late Lord commanded that particular care should be taken of all his Original MSS. And that I may with greater ease discharge my Trust I have lately reposited all Bishop Barlow's Original Writings in the Archives of Queens College Library in Oxon two MSS. only excepted one treating of Grosthead's Life and Works which I left in Your Lordship's Library at Buckden in its way hereafter to the Library at Lincoln where the Ashes of that Memorable Prelate are Intomb'd The other MS. relating to the Choice of Books in the Study of Divinity I here humbly present to Your Lordship's Patronage which Your Lordship has already been pleas'd in a great measure to grant by approving of my Design and giving me good Hopes of Your Lordship's recommending These Directions to the Clergy of Your Extensive Diocese that they may be acquainted with the smallest part of that Learned Bishop's Study whose Communicative Presence they were not so happy to enjoy by his Visiting of them in such a Regular and Episcopal manner as Your Lordship has lately done in Your Primary Visitation of Your Diocese That part of his Sacred Office in our Church Bishop Barlow often complain'd he was not able to discharge as he ought And when he once attempted to visit his Diocese in Person which he often did by Legal Deputies by Confirming great numbers of People at Four several Towns in Hunting tonshire he was necessitated to tell some that then waited on him That his great Age and Infirmities wou'd not permit him to go through The several Counties of his Diocese But to express his Willingness and Readiness to Confirm such as wanted Confirmation his Lordship publish'd an Advertisement at the end of his Articles of Inquiry upon which many Persons of good Quality came to Buckden and receiv'd Confirmation from him in the Chapel of his Palace How diligent he was constantly to perform all other Duties of his Episcopal Function none are ignorant who at any convenient time waited on his Lordship about Matters Ecclesiastical And as his Lordship 's repeated wishes were that the Diocese of Lincoln might be bless'd hereafter more duly with the Solemn Rite of Confirmation so it was my Duty to attend whilst Your Lordship perform'd the Sacred Office for many Days together in Your Cathedral Church at Lincoln and elsewhere within some Peculiars belonging to that Magnificent Church particularly at Banbury where near a thousand Persons receiv'd Confirmation the 25th and 26th of September last some 80 Years of Age and scarce any under 12 for which Blessing that Ancient Corporation owns it self for ever oblig'd to Your Lordship May Your Lordship's Exemplary Life and Doctrine adorn the Faith and Practice of that Numerous and Learned Body of Men committed to Your Pastoral Care is the earnest of his Prayer who is MY LORD Your LORDSHIP 's most Obedient Servant WILLIAM OFFLEY Middleton Stony in the Diocese of Oxon Nov. 24. 1697. THE PREFACE I Shall not trouble the Reader with any long Apology for the Publication of the following Directions only I think it necessary to inform Him That had not this Method for the Study of Divinity been first printed and prefix'd to many other Papers which swell'd the Book to such a Price that few cared to buy it might the sooner have pass'd without Censure considering the Usefulness of such a Treatise wheresoever it shou'd be kindly receiv'd But being sensible withal that several Copies of this Method were dispers'd abroad and that many things already falsly printed did prejudice the Church of England and lessen the Author's Reputation I thought it my Duty to publish These Directions from the Original Manuscript which the late Mercenary Editors never saw without the long Train of Letters which are of no use but to expose the Secrets of a Private and Hasty Correspondence And since some angry Men are known to pass many unkind Reflections upon Bishop Barlow's Memory I leave the Bishop's own Words in a Letter which I have publish'd at the end of these Directions to vindicate himself from those unchristian Censures some at this day make use of that they may wound the Memory of A Great Father of the Church who has written many Learned Books in Defence of the Church of England against all that oppose it As for the first Letter which follows these Directions I found it written with Bishop Barlow's own Hand and as an Instance of its being proper to be included in his Directions to a Young Divine his Lordship left it fix'd to his Original MS. on that Subject The Second Letter sell into my Hands as I was making a Collection of some scatter'd Papers in my late Lord's Study and having communicated it to many Judicious Men they advis'd me not to conceal such Modest and Excellent Advice but to do the
learned Commentaries on both the two first Books of Moses In short you have Catalogues of the Commentators on every part of the Bible already printed out of which you may chuse the Commentaries of Brentius Calvin Pet. Martyr Joh. Wolsius Bucer Melanchton Luther Musculus c. Cajetan Masius Ar. Montanus Gaspar Sanctius Simeon de Muis the best Popish Writer on the Psalms A Lapide Corn. Jansen Vitalpandus in Ezek. Fran. Ribera in 12. Prophetas Minores Arias Montanus in 12 Prophetas In Hexameron you may consult 1. Eusta Antiochenum Lugduni per Alatium 1629. in 4o. 2. Ambrosium in Hexameron Tom. 4. Operum Edit Erasmi Basil 1527. For the New Testament very many Ancient and Modern have writ Explications of it some or all may be consulted 1. Chrysost. hath Homilies on most parts of the N. Test. 2. Hierom on the Gospels Acts and all St. Paul's Epistles but they are none of his as is certain and confess'd 3. Ven. Bede in 5 or 6 Tomes 4. Theophylact. on the Gospels Acts and all St. Paul's Epistles his Commentary on the Acts is by it self very hard to be met with Gr. Lat. per Laur. Sifanum Col. Agrip. 1567. Theophylact. hath nothing on the Canonical Epistles or Revelations 2. Beza's Notes on the whole New Test. the best Edition for there are many is that at Cambridge 1642. Camerarius's Notes on the whole N. Test. are joyn'd with it Calvin on all the N. Test. except the Apocalyps these two paucis exceptis quae Disciplinam Presbyterianam Genevetismam sapiunt are inferior to none for the Literal Sence of the Scriptures Aug. Marloratus his Comment on all the N. Test. containing the Expositions of many Protestant Writers Zach. Muthesius in 4o. Edit 1611. Dr. Wm. Foulke in Nov. Test. contra Annotationes Anglo-Rhemensium Erasmi Annot. in N. Test. Aquinas in Nov. Test. Chemnitius Gochardus Brentius Bucer Novae Glossae in Mat. Mar. Luc. per Rob. Steph. They are damn'd by the Spanish Inquisitors and therefore more valuable Lucas Brugensis in 4. Evang. Antv. 1606. Maldonatus Lutetiae 1629. There are former and worse Editions he is Vir Dotatus but as Causabon calls him maledicentissimus Hugo Cardinalis alias Hugo de Sancto Claro he writ about the Year 1244. in which he was created Cardinal by Pope Innoc. the IV. in a time of great Ignorance when Popery was not form'd whence it is that He and others of that Age have many things which they at Rome like not Jacobus Faber Stapulensis in 4 Evangel He was an Honest and Sober Papist and has an Excellent Preface before his Commentaries concerning the Excellency Perfection and universal Use of Scripture c. And therefore that Preface totally and many other things in his Commentaries are damn'd by the Inquisitors and all his Works prohibited by Clement VIII till they be purg'd that is corrupted and spoil'd by the Inquisitors and their Indices 1. Theodoret in omnes Pauli Epistolas num 14. he has nothing on the 7. Canonical Epistles James Peter John Jude nor the Revelation he is amongst the Ancients one of the best and usually comes nearest the Literal Sence Ambrose in omnes Pauli Epist. except ad Hebr. Peradventure because that Epistle was not in his time receiv'd in the Roman Church which may be the reason too why St. Hierom has no Commentary on that Epistle nor any Preface to it as he has to most Books of the Bible but those Commentaries are deny'd to be Ambrose's by many and suspected by more Primasius Utiensis circa Annum 545. Sedulius circa Annum 430. Oecumenius quisque demum fuerit in omnes Pauli Canonicas Epist. cum quo conjungitur Arethas Caesariensis in Apocalyp Who he was and when he liv'd is uncertain Bellarmine places him after the Year 1000. and some sooner his Commentary is indeed a Catena taken out of about 121. Ancient Authors for so many he cites and amongst them he often cites Photius whence 't is evident he liv'd after Photius's time who flourish'd after the middle of the Ninth Century 1. Conrad Vorstius on all the Epistles excepting that to the Hebrews who has first the Analysis 2. the Paraphrasis 3. Scholia in Paraphrasin 4. The Loci Communes of every Chapter Dr. Hammond's Annotations on the New Testament Cameronis Mirothecium Evang. Lud. Capelli Spicilegium both bound together printed in 4 to 1632. they have both many short and considerable Notes on many particular places in the Epistles and Apocalyps c. Estius in Epistolas one of the best Popish Writers on that Subject Joh. Gagnaeius in omnes Epistolas Apocalypsin Brevissima facillima Scholia in 8 0 Antv. 1564. Petrus Lombardus in omnes Pauli Epistolas He writ before Transubstantiation Opinionis portentum prodigium was Decreed in the Lateran Council Anno 1215. and in many things Honest Peter is no Papist Dionysius Carthusianus in omnes Pauli Epistolas and many others c. Arias Montanus in omnes Epistolas Apocalyp For the better Understanding of the Scriptures it will be convenient to know and to consult such Books as have given General Directions for Studying Scriptures and particular Explications of the Jewish Antiquities and Customs c. such as these 1. Antiquitatum Judaicarum lib. 9. per Ar. Montanum Lug. Bat. 1593. in Quarto 2. Buxtorfii Tiberias seu Commentarius Historicus Didacticus Criticus ad illustrationem operis Biblici c. Bas. 1620. Folio 3. And. Riveti Isagoge seu Introductio ad Scripturam Sacram Vet. Nov. Test. Lug. Bat. 1627. 4. Ant. Possevini Apparatus ad Studia Scripturae Theologiae Scholasticae practicae c. Ferrariae 1609. Quarto 5. Ejusdem Bibliotheca Selecta dictae Bibliothecae lib. 2. 3. Colon. Agrip. 1607. Fol. there are many such more Bibliotheca Studiosi Theol. per Gilb. Voetium Ultrajecti 1651. lib. 2. sect 2a. pag. 481. De Apparatu Theologico Hen. Hottingeri Clavis Scripturae seu Thesaurus Philologicus Tiguri 1649. in Quarto Seeing there are many Controversies concerning the Canon of Scripture some Books being Canonical to some which to others are Apocryphal it will be convenient to consult some who have writ ex professo of that Subject Amongst others these that follow 1. Joh. Rainolds de lib. Apocryphis Tom. 1 2. sunt quatuor Oppenheim 1611. there are many Controversies learnedly discuss'd obiter in those two Volumes besides those about the Canon 2. The Scholastical History of the Canon of Scripture by Dr. Cosins late Bishop of Durham London 1657. 3. Hen. Lemmichii Vindicatio Lib. Apocryph 1638. Octavo 4. Consulendi sunt cum opus fuerit Scriptores Eristici Pontificii Reformati qui Controversiam de Canone Bib. tractant quales sunt Chemnitius in exam Concilii Trident. Dan. Chamier Panstrat Cath. Tom. 10. Andr. Rivetus Catholici Orthodoxi Tom. 1. Tract 1. Eras.
Sanc. Rom. 3. where we have a long Catalogue of Authentick and Apocryphal Books made by Pope Gelasius and he infallible sure as any of his Successors and his Council of 70 Bishops An. 494. the Canons of that Council we have elsewhere better than in Gratian. In that Canon and Council they call some things Canonical and Authentick which they damn now as Apocryphal and so do we too and other things they approve as Authentick which now neither they nor we approve vid. Joh. de Turre Cremata his 15 and 16 Can. Glossas especially the late ones where to reconcile the Contradictions of this Canon and Council to the present Opinions of Rome they are glad to say that this Canon is so much corrupted that they cannot tell which words in it are really the words of Gelasius and which not It will be requisite for a Divine to consult some Writers about the Authority and Use of Fathers as to their Works which are confess'd to be Genuine such as these 1. Dallaeus de usu Patrum Extat 1. Gallice 2. Latine per Joh. Mettaienum Genev. 1656. in 4o. 2. Tractatus de Patrum Concil Traditionum Authoritate in rebus Fidei c. per Emend K. Vyfalvinum cum Praefat. D. Paraei Francof 1611. in 8o. 3. Tractatus de Patrum Authoritate c. Qui sint Patres Quid eorum Authoritas ad quid c. per And. Rivetum praefixus libro suo Quem Criticum Sacrum inscripsit 4. Vide Gratiani Distinctio 9. Glossam a Tur. Cremata ibidem multa de Authoritate Scripturae Concil Patrum c. True it is that the Socinians grant the Fathers no Authority at all and the Papists tho' all their Ecclesiasticks Secular and Regular are sworn never to expound Scripture but secundum unanimem Patrum consensum but very little and when they make against them none at all as we may evidently see by Cajetan Feuardentius Maldonatus c. who tell us it was the Opinion of Augustin and Pope Innocent the I. that it was necessary to Communicate Infants and that Augustin deliver'd this Non ut opinionem suam sed ut Fidei totius Ecclesiae Dogma which Opinion prevail'd in the Church for many Centuries tho' 't is now denied For the better understanding Scripture and Fathers the Knowledge of Ecclesiastical History will be necessary To this end you may consult such as have writ general Epitomes and Comprehensions of Ecclesiastical Histories for instance to omit others 1. Timanni Gesselii Historia Sacra ordine Chronologico compendiose digesta à Mundo condito ad annum Christi 1125. Trajecti ad Rhe. 1659. 2 Vol. in 4o. 2. Joh. Cluverii Historiarum totius Mundi Epit. ab origine Mundi ad an Christi 1633. Lug. Bat. 1639. 1 Vol. Quarto There are others who have writ Ecclesiastical History anciently and more fully as 1. Eusebii Hist. Eccl. cum Notis Hen. Valesii Paris 1659. 2. Socrates Sozomon per eundem Par. 1668. 3. Theodor. Evagrii Philostorgii Theodori Historia per eundem Paris 1673. These give an Account of Church Affairs for almost 600 Years And if Ruffinus his 2 Books of Ecclesiastical History by Ben. Laurent de la Barre Paris 1580. and the Historia Tripartita compos'd by Cassiodore and publish'd by Ben. Rhenanus Basil. 1528. be added it may compleat and facilitate the Understanding of the foremention'd Histories The late Writers of Ecclesiastical History which are very full are such as these 1. Historia Ecclesiastica per Centuriatores Magdeburg Basil. 1624. or the Epitome of it in 7 Volumes in Quarto by Lucas Osiander Tubing 1607. 2. Annales Ecclesiastici Card. Baronii à nato Christo ad annum 1197. continuati à Provio ad an 1431. à Spondano ad an 1646. observand de his Annalibus 1. Quod ex Editionibus omnibus illam Antverpiae 1612. solam correctissimam agnoscit Baronius There were three or four former Editions 3. Rob. Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici Vet. Test. Tom. 8. Col. 1620. in Fol. notand extat Epit. Annal. Card. Baronii per Lud. Aurel. 8o. Monast. 1638. 2 Vol. But before Baronius's Annals be read it will be useful to read the most Learned Exercitations of Causabon upon them which discover the many Errors and Frauds of the Annalist For Baronius is very zealous in maintaining the Pope's Prerogative and all the receiv'd Errors and ridiculous Superstitions of that Church And on the other side the Centuriators are in some things a little too strait-laced so that the Truth many times lies between them that the Reader of their Stories can find it no otherways but by collection of what they have said and the grounds why they did so It is useful also for to consult Ad. Trebbechorii Exercitationes ad Annales Baronii ubi desiit Causabonus in Quarto Edit Kilonii 1673. There are two Historians more which I wou'd commend for understanding the state of Religion since Luther both Persons of great Moderation and Fidelity tho' of different Religions and writ what they might and did know 1. Joh. Sleidani Commentarii de statu Religionis ab anno 1519. ad an 1556. 2. Thuani Historia ab an 1543. ad an 1607. And to these you may add Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent all excellent Persons Cedro digna locuti It is necessary for a Divine in Reading of Ecclesiastical History to have some skill in Chronology after a convenient Knowledge of the Tecknical part of Chronology de Anno Mense Septimana c. de Aeris seu Epochis c. In order to this He may consult such as these 1. Helvicus's Chronology 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they call it Oxon. 1651. of continual use in reading any History Sacred or Civil 2. Ja. Usserii Armach Annales c. à Mundo condito ad an Christi 73. 2 Vol. Fol. 3. Chronicon Cath. Ed. Simson Oxon. 1652. Fol. 4. Chronicon Charionis à Melancthone Peacero auctum editum Aureliae 1610. Chronology and Geography are justly the Eyes of History Sacred or Civil and therefore such Maps and Books as are useful in that kind may with benefit be consulted amongst others such as these 1. For Maps Those publish'd by George Hormius Accuratissima Orbis Antiqui Delineatio sive Geographia Vet. Sacra Prophana Folio Amstel 1657. particularly you may consult those Maps which concern Palestine and other places of Scripture which are mention'd in Ecclesiastical History You may consult for Books such as by way of Lexicon or Dictionary explain the proper Names of Nations Provinces Cities c. which are spoken of in Scripture as 1. Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Basil. 1568. it is but an Epitome of Stephanus made by Hermolaus Grammaticus and dedicated to Justinian the Emperor 2. Fragmentum Stephani de Urbibus per Tennulium Amstel 1669. in
accepi atque audivi coeno Quaestionum rivulis opinionum conturbavit id quod usus rerum magis nisi coeci sumus satis super que docet verba haec lineis inclusa ex jussu Inquisitorum ex Indicibus Expurgatoriis Hispan Madriti 1667. Lusitan Olysipone 1624. sunt delenda Vide dictos Indices in Joh. Aventino qui floruit circa an 1500. One thing more may be observ'd of the Schoolmen and of Popish Casuists and Commentators too especially those before Luther that when they speak of Moral Duties and those things which are within the compass of Natural Reason to know and judge of we shall find many things well and some very acutely said But when they speak of those things the Knowledge of which depends solely on Scripture and Revelation as of Faith Repentance Sacraments Justification c. their Ignorance of Tongues and Antiquity and consequently of the meaning of Scripture being so great besides their being inslav'd to maintain all the Errors and Superstitions of Rome which at that time were very many In their Discourses of such subjects 't is no wonder if their Mistakes ex inscitiâ aut partium studio be many and great It is next necessary for a Divine to have some Casuists and to know more that upon occasion he may consult them Amongst the Popish Authors there are very many so that all Persons of their Faction may find most Cases at least in the general stated and determin'd according to the Principles and Interest of their Church and their Prudence in this is great was their Cause good For Protestants there no part of Divinity which has been I know not the reason more neglected very few having writ a just and comprehensive Tract of Cases of Conscience However it may be useful to consult both Protestants and Papists 1. Protestants Casuists and amongst them 1. Dr. Sanderson Bishop of Lincoln his two Tracts or Prelections De obligatione Conscientiae and De Juramento are of great use and excellence for in those Prelections he has so plainly explain'd and prov'd many Propositions concerning Oaths and Conscience in Thesi and in general that he who seriously reads them and remembers what he reads may determine and resolve many other Cases which are not mention'd by Dr. Sanderson 2. Consult the five Cases of Conscience determin'd by a late Learned Hand that 's the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London 1666. in Octavo no Name to them but Parentem referunt they look so like that good Bishop that any wou'd suspect and it is certainly known those Resolutions are his and worthy our perusal 3. Amesius de Conscientia c. A Non-conformist and therefore cautè legendus as to that particular but otherwise he writes very rationally and what he resolves is short and the Texts he urges very pertinent So that when is out which is not usual you lose not much and when he is right you have it in a little time 4. Fr. Balduinus a Lutheran and therefore must be warily read as to that Point De Casibus Conscien Witterbergae 1628. 5. Casp. Eras. Brochmanni Systema Universae Theologiae in quo singuli Religionis Christianoe Articuli Controversiae priscae recentes polemicae expediuntur praecipui Conscientiae Casus è verbo Dei practicè deciduntur in 3. Vol. 4º Lipsiae 1638. there be former but worse Editions Popish Casuists are many and Voluminous for Ant. Dieina consists of 12 Parts and 6 or 7 Vol. in Folio but these that I shall here mention are of greatest Note and Authority 1. Manuale Confessariorum c. per Mart. Azpilivetam Navar. Par. 1620. 8o. 2. Franc. Toleti Cardinal de Instructione Sacerdotis c. lib. 8. Rothomagi 1630. in Octavo 3. Vincent Filliucii Quaestiones Morales c. Colon. Agrip. 1629. Fol. He writes as fully and learnedly as any among the Jesuites of which sort of Casuists amongst those who do not as some do with ambiguous Words and soft Expressions disguise and mollifie their harsh and horrid Opinions I shall name a few who write plain Popery and openly endeavour to prove their most desperate Opinions 1. Ant. de Escobar Theologia Moralis c. Lugd. 1646. 8o. This is a good Edition but there are two something better after it one at Lions and another at Brussels 1651. 2. Thomae Tamburini è Societate Jesu Explicatio Decalogi c. Lugd. 1659. Fol. 3. And that we may know what his Erroneous Opinions are and where to be found we have a Catalogue of no less than 103 pernicious Errors found in his Works and the place where signify'd in a Book with this Title Extraict de plusieurs Erreurs Maximes pernicieuses contenues dans un Volume du Pere Tambourin Jesuite c. Imprimé à Lion en la presente Annee 1659. in Quarto 4. If you desire to see more of the Jesuites Casuistical Divinity you may consult Pauli Lymanni Jesuitae Theologiam Moralem Lugduni 1654. and Fr Bordoni propugnaculum opinionis probabilis in concursu probationis operum Bordoni Tom. 6. Lugd. 1668. in Folio 5. And Lastly vid. Amadaei Guimenii Opusculum singularia universae ferè Theologiae Moral complectens adversus quorundam Expostulationes contra nonnullas Jesuit arum Opiniones Morales Lugd. 1664. in Quarto He endeavours to justifie all the Jesuites wild and extravagant Opinions which the Jansenists charge them withal in their Provincial Letters and the Jesuites Morals and the Mystery of Jesuitism and to do this he shews that many Eminent Authors and Writers of the Roman Church before and besides the Jesuites maintain'd with Approbation the very same Opinions which are charg'd upon the Jesuites So that this Work of Guimenius is a common-place-Common-place-Book wherein we may find all the Impious Opinions of the Roman Church particularly cited by Guimenius and eight or ten more Eminent and approv'd Writers of that Church who publickly held and defended them Besides Popish Casuists they have many Writers whom they call Summistae who have put all the Heads of Divinity in an Alphabetical Order and then explain each by way of Position Case or Question There are many such Writings the more Ancient before Luther when they writ more secure speak plain Popery the later are more cunning and cautious yet sufficiently erroneous I shall name two only 1. Summa Universae Theologiae Rainerii de Pisis Venet. 1585. in two Tomes Quarto 2. Summa Ecclesiasticae Disciplinae totius Juris Canonici aucta recognita c. Lugd. 1598. Authore P. Crespetio the most useful amongst them if I mistake not under every Head he cites passages out of the Fathers Councils Historians Schoolmen c. And any thing which he thinks makes for the Catholick Cause Of this sort of Writers or Casuists are Antonius Archiepisc. Florentinus Card. Cajetan Turre-Cremata in his Summa de Ecclesia a Book by reason of the Cardinal's Authority considerable as also which occurs in the end of
4. In their Canon-Law of which I shall hereafter write something all these are of Publick Authority receiv'd with Approbation of their Popes and Church For the Popish Agenda Matters of Fact and Discipline their Sacred and Civil Rites and Ceremonies we have them authentically set down in these Books 1. In Missali Roma There are very many Editions of it and much differing one from another as is evident and may appear by comparing the MSS. of which there are many in Bodley's Library and some in my own with the printed Copies the first and more ancient with those that follow Besides the Roman Missal which never was in use in England in any Age there are many others proper for other Countries and Places So we had in England 1 Missale secund usum Hereford 2 secund usum Sarum 3 secund usum Yorke 4 secundum usum Evesham 5 Lincoln 6 Bangor c. 2. Breviarium Roman there be many and differing Editions of this and Breviaries of other Churches as well as Rome The Breviary of Sarum so famous in England they call'd it Portiforium c. 3. Pontificale Romanum containing their Offices for Ordination Confirmation Consecration of Churches c. and other things particular to the Bishop 4. Rituale Romanum continet Ritus in Administratione Sacramentorum usitatos viz. Baptismi Eucharistiae Poenitentiae Matrimonii Unctionis Extremae quorum Administratio ad Parochos spectat c. 5. Sacrarum Ceremoniarum sea Rituum Ecclesiasticorum S. Roma Ecclesiae Libritres Romae 1560. Folio there are many more Editions of it at Venice 1506. at Colon. 1572. and there again 1574 in Octavo Whoever desires to be inform'd and convinc'd of the many Ridiculous as well as Impious Roman Superstitions and the prodigious Papal Pride let him get that Book 6. Processionale Graduale Paris 1668. Fol. Officium B. Mariae Manuale secundum usum Sarum Horae B. Virginis c. And to omit the rest Psalterium B. Mariae per Bonaventuram so they call it and 't is printed amongst his Works it is the most Blasphemous and Impious piece of Superstition and Idolatry that ever saw the Sun For whatever in David's Psalms is spoken of GOD or our B. Saviour is in that Psalter attributed to the Virgin Mary and yet Possevine has the Impudence to write Psalterium Divi Bonaventurae laudibus Beatissimae Virginis summa Pietate Impietate potius in Deum Blasphemâ Idololatrica accommodatum All the fore-mention'd Councils Canons and Sacred Offices have been receiv'd and publickly approv'd by the Church of Rome and so what Errors or Superstitions soever occur in them may be justly charg'd upon the Roman Church and they are responsable for them but not so for the Writings of Particular and private Men altho' otherwise for Place and Learning of greatest Eminence in their Church It is necessary to understand the Popish Controversies Books of this kind are very many to read them all is not opus unius hominis aut aetatis I shall name some few of the best which will furnish an Intelligent Reader with a convenient Knowledge of those things that are controverted 1. Dr. Crackanthorp contra Archiepisc. Spalatensem 4o. London 1625. It gives the shortest and best Account of most Popish Controversies 2. Gul. Amesii Bellarminus enervatus I noted to you before that he was a Non-conformist but he has very distinctly expos'd Rome and Bellarmine's Pretences and given a Clear Short and Rational Answer to them Vitus Erbermannus a Jesuite and Publick Professor at Mentz has published an impertinent thing he miscalls an Answer to Amesius printed at Herbipolis 1661. in 2 Vol. in Octavo But Omnia cum fecit Thaida Thais olet his pretended Reply is inconsistent and irrational 3. Andr. Riveti Catholicus orthodoxus c. It is extant in his Works Roterodami 1652. In French Saumur 1616. Lat. 2. Tomes 4.o. Lugd. Bat. 1630. he very fully handles almost all Popish controversies 4. Chamierus contractus seu Panstratiae Catholicae Dan. Chamieri Epitome per Fred. Spanhemium one Vol. Fol. Genevae 1645. This is more full and large than the former and may supply their Brevity and Omissions 5. If you desire upon occasion further Satisfaction in any Question our own Great and Learned Men Jewel Rainolds John White Whitaker Laud Chillingworth and others already mention'd may be consulted for none have oppos'd Rome and defended the Reformation with more Learning and Success To these may be added such as have ex professo examin'd and confuted the Council of Trent as for Instance 1. Chemnicii Examen Concil Trident. Francofurti 1578. 2. Examen Concilii Trident. per Innocentium Gentilletum Genevae 1586. Octavo 3. Anatome Concilii Trident. Historic Theolog. cum Historia Concil Trident. per Thuanum vindiciis pro P. Suavo Polano contra Scipionem Henricum per Jo. Hen. Heideggerum 2 Tomis in Octavo Tiguri 1672. more such Writers there are but one Chemnitius is best or all of these will be sufficient There are some who have writ Enchiridia Controversiarum such as these may be consulted 1. Manuale Controversiarum per Martinum Becanum Herbipoli 1623. 2. Or if that be too large a Work we may get his Enchiridion Manual Controversiarum hujus Temporis Duaci 1631. He gives also an Account of the Lutheran Controversies and of the Calvinists and of the Anabaptists c. 3. Enchiridion Controversiarum per Fr. Costerum Jesuitam Col. Agrip. 1587. postea Turnoni 1591. 4. Controversiae Generales Fidei contra Infideles omnes he puts all Protestants in that Catalogue Octavo Paris 1660. And because in all Controversies about Religion Scripture is urged on all sides and some things are hard to be understood it will be convenient to consult such Authors as have writ Explicationes Conciliationes Locorum difficilium 1. Fred. Spanhemii Dubia Evangelica Tom. 3. in Quarto the first Tome was printed at Geneva 1634. the second and third Tomes 1639. 2. Gul. Estius in loca Scripturae dissiciliora Folio Duaci 1629. a Learned Writer who explains many places very well but being sworn as all their Ecclesiasticks are to maintain all the receiv'd Doctrine Discipline and Rites of the Church of Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he does explain Places so as may make most not for Truth but for the Interest of the Church of Rome 3. Symphonia Prophetarum Apostolorum c. à Joh. Schorpio 4o. Genev. 1625. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu Contradictiones apparentes S. Scripturae c. Ven. 1645. 12o. 5. Vindicatio Locorum praecipuorum Vet. Test. à corruptelis Pontificiorum praecipue Bellarmini Calvinistarum he was a Learned Man and a Lutheran Photinianorum c. in Octavo Gissae 1620. per C. Helvicum 6. Conciliationes locorum S. Scripturae in specie pugnantium ex libris Augustini per Ludovic Rabum 4o. Noribergae 1561. 7. Harmonia totius Scripturae seu Conciliatio locorum Script c. per Mich. Waltheum 8o.