brasse stone and wood can they see heare or walke haue you done penance from the works of your hands or will you wilfully go to the diuell Apoc. 10. ◠The text And I saw an other angell strong descending from heauen clothed with a cloud and a rainbowe on his head and his face was as the sunne and his feet as a pillar of fier The note Christ the valiant angell is heere described The answer I maruell that you followed not your Liranus to expounde this of the bishop of Rome but that flatterie you are ashamed of though in other things you excéede him But the circumstances make it plaine his dignitie power strength his decking from top to toe the greatnes of his voice the brightnes of his countenance his vnused steps comprehending lande and sea togither can not well agrée to any other Apoc. 10. ◠The text And when the seauen thunders had spoken their voices I was about to write And I heard a voice from heauen saieng vnto me Signe the things which the seauen thunders haue spoken and ⸫ write them not The note Manie great mysteries and truths are to be preserued in the church which for causes knowen to Gods prouidence are not to be written in the booke of holie Scripture The answer Farre fetched and déere bought is good for ladies Iohn was forbidden to write Ergo they are kept in the church When you can prooue that your church knoweth those things which Saint Iohn was forbidden to write and those things which Saint Paule heard and sawe in heauen and might not vtter then will I beléeue all your vnwritten verities Apoc. 10. ◠The text And the angell which I saw standing vpon the sea and vpon the land ⸫ lifted vp his hand to heauen and he sware by him that liueth for euer and euer c. The note This was the maner of taking an othe by the true God as Deut. 32. The answer There were diuers and sundrie maners of taking othes by the true God which I do not thinke so necessarie here to be noted as that you haue taught men to forsake God and to sweare by those which are not Gods and as the thing which is héere sworne that is that time shalbe no more which is most necessarie for men to consider that they flatter not them selues with the eternall continuance of the world Apoc. 10. ◠The text And he said to me Take the booke and ⸫ deuoure it The note By earnest studie and meditation The answer You say well adde this I pray you that it is not onlie to be read studied and thought vpon but also in as large measure as we are able to attaine to vnderstood and laied vp in our harts Apoc. 10. 9. The text And it shall make thy bellie to be bitter but in thy mouth it shalbe ⸫ sweete as it were honie The note Sweete in the reading but in the fulfilling somewhat bitter bicause it commandeth works of penance and suffring of tribulations The answer The promises of the most gratious fauour of God and good life to beleeuers are swéete and delectable but that we must passe through manie and bitter tribulations to come to life to flesh and blood can not be but bitter As for your satisfactorie workes of penance which your mind runneth on are not to be found any where in this booke but your hart is alwaies on your half penie Apoc. 11. 2. The text But the court which is without the temple cast foorth and measure not that bicause it is giuen to the Gentiles and they shall tread vnder foot the holie citie ⸫ two fourtie moneths The note Three yeeres and an halfe which is the time of Antichrists raigne and persecution The answer But that these moneths are to be measured here by our ordinarie moneths that resteth to be prooued The onlie thing that we can learne by this is that Antichrists raigne shall not endure alwaies but in comparison of Christes raigne which shalbe eternall if shalbe verie short But how long or how short so euer the time is this is certaine and plaine against the papists that during Antichrists raigne the holie citie that is the church shall be troden vnder foote Apoc. 11. 7. The text And when they shall haue finished their testimonie the ⸫ beast which ascended from the depth shall make warre against them and shall ouercome them and kill them The note The great Antichrist The answer The bishop of Rome who though in the eies of the world séeme to preuaile and to kill the witnesses of Gods truth yet he can not do it till they haue finished their testimonie that is the time that God hath appointed them for the execution of their office Apoc. 11. 8. The text And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the ⸫ great citie which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt where the Lorde also was crucified The note He meaneth Hierusalem named Sodome and Egypt for imitation of them in wickednes so that we see his chiefe raigne shalbe there though his tirannie may extend to all places of the world The answer How faine you would turne mens eies from Rome to looke for the great Antichrist els where Séeing the names and other attributes are spirituall descriptions of this citie and that Rome resembleth Hierusalem in killing Christ in his members is like Sodom in beastlie filthinesse and like Egypt both in ambition and superstition and in indeuor to hold the people of God in seruitude and thraldom I sée not why we should still thinke that to be the great citie here spoken of Apoc. 11. 10. The text And the inhabitants of the earth ⸫ shall be glad vpon them and make merrie The note The wicked reioice when holie men are executed by the tirants of the world bicause their life and doctrine are burdenous vnto them The answer This is verie true and taught by dailie experience vnder the Pope and such tirannous princes as bend their might force and authoritie to aduance his dignitie Apoc. 11. 15. The text And the seuenth Angel sounded with a trumpet and there were made loud voices in heauen saieng ⸫ The kingdome of this world is made our Lordes and his Christes and he shall raigne for euer and euer Amen The note The kingdome of this world vsurped before by Satan and Antichrist shall afterward be Christs for euer The answer This last trumpet summoneth all the dead to rise againe and so to come to iudgement at which time all enemies shalbe destroied and God sole seazed in quiet possession for euer and euer of the whole world Apoc. 11. 18 The text And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and ⸫ to render reward to thy seruants the prophets and saints and to them that feare thy name little and great c. The note To repaie the hire or wages for so both the Greeke word and the Latin signifie due to holie men proueth against
obiect it And bicause we denie that Christ after his death went into Limbus Patrum as they without al warrant of the word imagine therefore they maliciouslie giue out that Caluin and his followers denie an article of the Faith and therfore conclude them to be infidels In all their notes touching iustification by faith they deale with vs as though we ascribed iustification to an idle faith which worketh not by loue and vpon that false ground they gather many things against vs as shall appeere in mine answere to their notes But all that are wise and haue eies to see do perceiue that in this maner of dealing they do but vtter their owne shame in making no conscience of cogging lieng and slaundering in steede of battailing with their enimies they make themselues sport with their owne shadowes Now to their amphibologies and aequiuocations which are also to long to pursue The Rhemists vpon the fift to the Galathians confesse that Paule when he ascribeth iustification to faith speaketh of such a faith as worketh by charitie and yet in all their notes against iustification by faith they dallie and play and dazel the eies of the simple with the ambiguitie of the word being diuerslie in diuerse places taken The like dealing they vse about the words of iustice and iustification which when they know them to be diuersly taken and in sundry senses yet they delude with the sound of the words those who for simplicitie are not able to discerne the diuersitie of the sense I wil not heap vp here more of these examples a number will offer themselues in reading of mine answers The alledging of the Fathers thicke and threefolde is for two fraudulent respects One is that those which are doubtfull to what religion they may encline and to which side to cleaue may continue doubtfull and without resolution still whiles both our aduersaries and we alledge Fathers and accuse one another of corrupt dealing in them and they poore soules not able to repaire to the Fathers to see whether side dealeth truely The second is to continue the false perswasion of their credulous followers in thinking that all antiquitie maketh for poperie To these two ends it is that their allegations are so many First therefore to auoid this their fraud it is to be noted and obserued that a maruellous number of their allegations touch no point nor matter in controuersie betwixt vs. As for example they alledge Origen to prooue that the innocent children murthred by the commandement of Herode haue beene honored for martyres Augustine to prooue that not to do good is damnable Hierome to prooue that fasting praier and almes are fruits of repentance or as they terme it penance Cyprian to prooue that they are false martyrs that suffer not for iustice Chrysostome to prooue that by the church the gouernors thereof be vnderstoode Ambrose to prooue that God hath left to his church authoritie aswel to loose as to binde Which kinde of proofes for matter not denied if they had beene omitted and left out the great glorious shew of Fathers had beene blemished and their campe verie nigh halfe dissolued Next is to be marked that if they catch any thing that maketh for them in any Father they neuer looke how rightly the Father collecteth it and by what good reason he warranteth it it is with them sufficient that he saith it But Augustine teacheth vs to giue that reuerence onely to the canonical Scriptures to beleeue whatsoeuer they say And for others of what learning or holines soeuer not to beleeue bicause they speake but bicause they prooue that which they speake either by the word it selfe or by good reason grounded vpon the same word And here also bicause they are woont to triumph that we make this a colour to reiect the Fathers when they make against vs it is to be remembred that they themselues do not without exception admit the Fathers But they appoint an other rule to trie them and their saiengs by that is the decrees and determinations of their owne church Thirdly it is to be noted that they alledge those bookes very often wherin they know that the Father which wrote them was far ouercarried with heate of contencion that they themselues will not nor dare not defend many things that passed them as Hieroms bookes against Iouiuian and Vigilantius Fourthly it is not to be passed ouer how they abuse Augustine in leauing those bookes which he wrote against the heretike Pelagius concerning the question of Freewill and alledging testimonies out of other books wherein he himselfe did confesse that he did erre of ignorance Fiftly they force diuers and sundrie to serue their turnes whether they will or no. Sixtly to make the greater shew they furnish out their number with such as they know to haue beene burnt on the face for forgerie and cite them vnder the reuerend names of Clemens and Dionisius Areopagita and such like Finally it is not to be passed ouer that they for the corroborating and proouing of the vsurped primacie of the bishop of Rome they hunt for speeches of the Fathers spoken in extolling Peter or in commending the faith then professed at Rome or els the excellent learning and vertue of some notable bishops there which then gouerned that church and them they racke and set on the tenters to prooue that which they neuer thought of that is the vniuersall power and authority which the bishop of Rome now claimeth The practise of the primitiue church doth best declare both what the Fathers ment and also what power and authoritie he had In that it is manifest that he was a bishop as other bishops afterward by consent of men a patriarch limited as other patriarches a subiect to the Emperour in commission vnder him as a delegate that men might appeale from him and that the Emperour might and did appoint in such cases of appeale delegates to affirme or reuerse the bishop of Romes former sentence and iudgement So far was he from that vniuersalitie of power which he hath heertofore vsurped and yet challengeth But why should I dwel so long in these matters exceede the length of an Epistle seeing they haue brought nothing of anie weight in anie matter of controuersie but it hath beene and that they know well enough often and fullie answered by diuers and sundrie alreadie But bicause being fugitiues and hauing no honest ordinarie vocation to occupie themselues about they neuer make an end of writing wherein they do nothing but set new colours on old matters to make their sencelesse followers beleeue that they bring in new allegations neuer before answered Therefore vnder your Graces correction be it vttered I would wish that our controuersies being drawen into a sum might by your authoritie be deuided to so many learned men as your Grace shall thinke conuenient and competent for that purpose to examine and to reduce and bring into
monument tremble and roare as if they stood before the iudgement seat of Christ. The answer We will not striue with you for your author For though women beare the name of that epistle yet I thinke Hierome was their pen man But we are not bound to beléeue what S. Hierome speaketh further then he prooueth his speeches by the word And we easilie beléeue that the diuell might worke there strong illusions to deceiue and to draw people into an admiration of such things as God hath no where commended to them in his word Iohn 20. 21. The text He said therefore to them againe ⸫ peace be to you The note Though he gaue them his peace hard before yet now entering into a new diuine action to prepare their harts to grace and attention he blesseth them againe The answer Christ by repetition of his vsual blessing or salutation séeketh to make his Apostles being astonished at his sodaine and maruellous comming amongst them to know vnderstand and be assured who he is Iohn 20. 26. The text Iesus commeth ⸫ the doores being shut and stood in the midst and said peace be to you The note See the annotations on the 19. verse of this chapter The answer We haue séene stale stuffe of it and refer the answer to him that answereth your other annotations Iohn 20. 29. The text Bicause thou hast seene me Thomas thou hast beleeued ⸫ blessed are they that haue not seene and haue beleeued The note They are more happie that beleeue without sensible argument or sight then such as be induced by sense or reason to beleeue The answer Bicause that sensible experience which Thomas had of Christ and by which he was induced to beleeue the resurrection was granted but to a few therefore generally the happines of Christians doth consist in beléeuing the testimonie of the word preached without any farther sensible experiments Yet not withstanding in matters subiect to sense we are no where commanded to beléeue that to be cheese which is chalke neither that to be flesh which our eies tell vs to be bread Iohn 21. 7. The text ⸫ Simon Peter when he heard that it is our Lord girded his coat vnto him for he was naked cast himselfe into the sea The note See in Saint Augustine tract 122. In Io. the great mysterie hereof concerning the church and in Saint Gregorie hom 24. in Euang. and Saint Barnard lib. 2. cap. 8. de consi Peters primacie here mystically signified The answer Hungrie dogs are glad of dirtie puddings Our papists haue béene these 27. yéeres séeking a néedle in a bundle of haie that is they haue béene seeking the fathers to finde the bishop of Rome to be called the vniuersall bishop or head of the vniuersal church and cannot finde it Therefore they hunt for other things in stéed thereof to bleare the eies of the simple withall and there is nothing so sillie and simple that they finde but it must serue their turne It hath béen told them that their reasons hold not which they deduce from Peter to the bishops of Rome It hath béene tolde them also that primacie is one thing and the supremacie which they chalenge for the bishop of Rome is an other being things verie far vnlike And yet bicause they cannot finde better stuffe for their purpose they are still faine to finde themselues plaie with these But let vs sée your authorities The mysteries which Saint Augustine gathereth out of this place are taken out of the net throwen out of the right side Christs being on land the number of the fish taken and such like which he applieth to the church at the resurrection and neither to the name nor authoritie of Peter Gregorie toucheth the same mysteries and addeth onely this concerning Peter that he drâ—w the net to lande bicause the church was committed to him And that he drew the elect to the stability of the shore by preaching writing and myracles And then I pray what did Peter here that the other apostles did not Iohn 21. 14. The text This now the ⸫ third time Iesus was manifested to his disciples after he was risen from the dead The note Not the third apparition but the third day of his apparition for he appeared in the verie daie of his resurrection often againe vpon Lowe Sunday then this third time and Saint Marke saieng Last he appeared cap. 16. 14. meaneth his last apparition the first daie The answer A note so true and so necessarilie collected vpon the place so plaine for the capacitie of the simple reader as this afore will hardly be found and with you is a verie rare birde Iohn 21. 22. The text So will I haue him to remaine til I come what to thee Follow thou me The note So readeth Saint Ambrose in Ps. 45 serm 20. in Ps. 118. Saint August tract 124. in Io. and most ancient copies and seruice bookes extant in Latin ⸫ other read if I will other if so I will c. The answer Against the consent of all copies of the Gréeke against the greatest number of ancient copies of your old translator against the generall consent of the enterpretors both Grecians and Latinists and especially against the manifest truth appearing in the circumstances of the text it selfe you follow those copies which you know to be corrupt and al to vpholde a lie and a fable You enforce Augustine to giue you credit against his wil knowing that that which you alledge is but the fault of the printer or writer not his minde For his long doubtful disputation whether Iohn were dead or no doth plainly declare that he read not as you haue set it downe For then he would neuer haue made doubt of that which Christ so plainelie spake And againe how can your reading stand with that which Iohn saith after Christ said not that he should not die Iohn 21. 25. The text But there are manie ⸫ other things also which Iesus did which if they were written in particular neither the world it selfe I thinke were able to conteine those books that should be written The note How few things are written of Christs actes and doctrine in comparison of that which he did and spake And yet the heretikes will needes haue all in Scripture trusting not the Apostles owne preaching or report of any thing that our master did or said if it be not written The answer Now for vnwritten verities I pray you for my learning shew me one of those heretikes that hold that all that Christ said and did are written in the Scriptures If you cannot do that then you abuse your reader with a lie We saie that enough is written in the Scriptures to bring beleeuers to life eternall and so hath Iohn written before vs. But it greeueth you that we giue not credit to a number of lies which you obtrude to vs vnder the name of the apostles If all that vnder their names you haue set out be true how chance their
things which must be done quickly after these The note The second vision in which is represented vnto vs the glorie and maiestie of God in heauen and the incessant honor and praises of all angels and saints assisting him Which is resembled in the daily honor done to him by all orders and sorts of holy men in the church militant also The answer If all orders in heauen giue all honor glorie and power to God alone and his Christ how dare you then miserable caitifes part the glorie of mans saluation betwéene God and your selues Is that thinke you a resemblance of the incessant honor and praises of his angels and saints in heauen Apoc. 4. 6. The text And in the sight of the seate as it were a sea of glasse like to Christall and in the midst of the seat round about the seat ⸫ fower beasts full of eies before and behind The note These fower beasts and the like described in the first of Ezechiel by the iudgement of the holy doctors signifie the fower Euangelists and in them all true preachers The man Matthew the lion Marke the calfe Luke the eagle Iohn See the causes heereof in the summe of the fower Euangelists pag. 1. S. Gregorie in Ezechiel The answer The causes alledged why by the fower beasts fower Euangelists should be signified are in my iudgement very slender and friuolous But whether they be signified or els whether as other interpreters affirme they do represent Gods wisedome might diligence spéedinesse or facilitie in bringing all things to passe I will not contend neither with Gregorie nor you Apoc. 5. 1. The text And I sawe in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne ⸫ a booke written within and without sealed with seuen seales The note The third vision Saint Gregorie taketh it to be the booke of holie scriptures libr. 4. dialog 6. 42. The answer Saint Gregories interpretation doeth verie well please vs and I hope bicause you alledge it it can not dislike you we will therefore adde some thing which the text it selfe doth manifestly offer vnto vs to be obserued First in that it is written within and without it manifestlie appéereth that there is no roome left for your additions called traditions Secondlie it is fast and safe sealed that with seuen seales by which so diligent and so close sealing vp it is manifest that it is vtterlie vnlawfull to adde to diminish to alter anie thing for that to do in a sealed euidence is no better then méere forgerie Apoc. 5. 3. The text And no man was able neither in heauen nor in earth nor ⸫ vnder the earth to open the booke nor to looke on it The note He speaketh not of the damned in hell of whom there could be no question but of the faithfull in Abrahams bosome and in purgatorie The answer Surelie you can spie daie at a very little hole that can picke purgatorie out of this place he speaketh of men vnder the earth but he can not meane of hel and therefore he must néedes meane of purgatorie First graues are vnder the earth and therefore it may be he meaneth neither hell nor purgatorie But I pray you tell vs how do you know he meaneth not hell bicause it was out of al doubt and past question that among the damned there could be none found worthie to open the booke And doeth not the same reason prooue that he could meane purgatorie or Limbus patrum or may it be like to finde some worthier there then could be found in earth or in heauen You knowe well inough that your fond followers will not séeke to examine the truth of anie thing you set downe and therefore you dare deale thus looselie that euerie bodie that will not wilfullie be blinde may sée your absurdities But to leaue your follies I sée that you are amongst those to whom this booke is yet shut and not opened and therefore no maruell though you want vnderstanding Apoc. 5. 5. The text And one of the seniors said to me weepe not behold the ⸫ Lion of the tribe of Iudah the roote of Dauid hath wonne to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof The note So did Iacob Genesis 49. call Christ for his kinglie fortitude in subduing the world vnto him The answer That Christ is called héere the Lion of the tribe of Iudah it is apparant but whether by allusion to that place of Genesis which you cite may be doubted but thereof I will not mooue anie contention Apoc. 5. 6. The text And I sawe and behold in the middest of the throne and of the foure beastes and in the middest of the seniors ⸫ a lambe standing as it were slaine hauing seuen hornes and seuen eies which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the earth The note So Christ is called for that he is the immaculate host or sacrifice for our sinnes The answer By allusion vnto Moises law bicause the lambe appointed for sacrifice must haue neither maime nor spot Apoc. 5. 9. The text Thou art worthie ô Lord to take the booke and to open the seales thereof ⸫ bicause thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy blood out of euery tribe and tongue and people and nation and hast made vs to our God a kingdome and priestes and we shall reigne vpon the earth The note This maketh against the Caluinistes who are not content to say that we merite not but that Christ merited not for him selfe Caluin philip 2. verse 9. The answer Let vs then sée how this prooueth that Christ merited for him selfe Thou art worthie O Lord c. bicause thou wast slaine Ergo his death and passion was the cause of his worthinesse and made him worthie I pray you you I say that thinke this so inuincible a proofe and so necessarie a consequence tell me whether Christ being the eternall sonne of the Father were vnworthie this honor afore his incarnation and consequentlie afore his death and passion I suppose you dare not say that he was vnworthie before especiallie séeing he durst not aske of his Father greater glory then he was afore possessed of with the father If he were worthie before and so continued then could not his merits which came after be the cause of his worthinesse and so consequentlie he him selfe in our nature did not merit for him selfe this worthinesse which he had before But his honor and glorie to the which he hath aduanced our nature was a consequent of his abasing and the coniunctions in those places note rather an order and consequence then a cause Apoc. 5. 13. The text And euerie creature that is in heauen and vpon the earth and vnder the earth and that are in the sea and that are therein all did I heare saieng To him that sitteth in the throne ⸫ and to the lambe benediction and honor glorie and power for euer and euer The note All the said creatures are bound to giue honor
but penance also to the people The answer And we preach repentance and faith therefore our doctrine is apostolike But it is a woonder to sée how you dally with faith onely to make the preaching of iustification by faith to be odious amongst the ignorant And nothing more plainly bewraieth that you impugne the truth against your own consciences and knowledge than your foule dealing in this point For you know that we preach somwhat besides faith Acts. 20. 28. The text Take heed to your selues and to the whole slocke wherein the ⸫ holie Ghost hath placed you bishops to rule the church of God which he hath purchased with his owne blood The note Bishops or priests for then these names were somtime vsed indifferently gouernors of the church of God and placed in that high roome and function by the holie Ghost The answer Then those names were alwaies vsed indifferently for the distinction grew after when one was set aboue the rest for auoiding of scismes as saint Ierom telleth but I pray you tell me what priuilege Peter had more than Paul or Rome more than Ephesus that rauening woolues might not rise amongst them that succéeded Peter at Rome as well as amongst those that succéeded Paul at Ephesus Acts. 21. 9. The text And entring into the house of Phillip the Euangelist which was one of the seuen we taried with him And he had ⸫ fower daughters virgins that did prophesie The note As saint Peter had a wife but vsed hir not after his calling as it is noted else where out of S. Ierom Luke 4. 38. so it may be said of Saint Phillip being deacon The answer It is easie to make a great shew of fathers when one for one and the same thing is alledged so often and to no purpose The Apostles left all therefore they left also their wiues saith Saint Ierom. And we say they left their houses also or else they did not leaue all And if they might so leaue their houses that it was notwithstanding lawfull for them both to retaine the possession of them and also to haue the vse of them for themselues and their friends as this place doth plainly declare then much rather might they both kéepe and vse their wiues As therefore afore you dreamed of Peter so héere you dreame of Phillip that being married meâ— they liued not vnder the rules and lawes that the holie Ghost hath giuen to married men which is as great an iniurie as you can do them Acts. 22. 17. The text And now what tariest thou Rise vp and be baptized and ⸫ wash away thy sinnes inuocating his name The note The sacrament of baptisme doth it selfe wash away sinnes as heere is plaine therefore doth not onely signifie as the heretikes affirme that our sins be forgiuen before or by faith only remitted Wherby the churches doctrine is prooued to be fully agreeable to the scriptures that the sacraments giue grace ex opere operato that is by the force and vertue of the worke and worde done and said in the sacrament The answer That we affirme that sacraments onely signifie is a slander deuised by your selues as is also the odious name terme of heretikes which you giue vs. We know that our God kéepeth iust promise and therefore doth giue the things which he promiseth to woorthie méet receiuers of his sacraments Your plaine proofe of your churches doctrine that the sacraments giue grace ex opere operato prooueth no such thing to them which vnderstand the vsuall forme and maner of sacramentall spéeches most commonly vsed in the scriptures And therefore it can deceiue but onely those who haue made ignorance the mother of their deuotion 〈…〉 The text And when the blood of Steeuen thy witnes was shed ⸫ I stood by and consented and kept the garments of them that killed him The note Not onely principals but all that consent to the death or vexation of Christian men for the catholike faith do highly offend which the Apostle confesseth here that Gods mercy may be more notoriously glorified in him hereby The answer Though it hath pleased God to abridge your power here in England that your crueltie could not so shew it selfe as other times it hath done yet no doubt your good will and consent hath béene in those most horrible murders of Gods witnesses in those countries where you haue soiourned Therefore I would that all you counterfet catholikes would earnestly marke this and while time serueth earnestly repent with Paule that the greatnes of Gods mercy in your and by your conuersions might be glorified This is all the hurt I wish you Acts. 23. 3. The text Then Paule said to him ⸫ God shall strike thee thou whited wall The note He said not this through perturbation of minde or of a passion but way of prophesie that this figuratiue high priesthood then â—rimmed like a whited wall was to be destroied whereas now the true priesthood of Christ was come Beda in hunc locum The answer Although there be both learned and godly of an other minde yet for my part I like Bedaes exposition hereof Acts. 23. 16. The text And Paule knowing that the one part was of Sadduces and the other of pharisies ⸫ he cried out in the councell men and brethren I am a pharisee the sonne of a pharisee of the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am iudged The note Such prudent euasions from danger are lawfull which Saint Chrysostome calleth specially in this apostle the wisedome of the serpent as otherwise in his teaching preaching and patience he vsed the simplicitie of a doue The answer Wise and prudent escaping of danger is verie lawfull and for that purpose the wisedome of serpents is verie necessary for the church of God especially against the extréeme crueltie of papists Acts. 23. 1â— The text And the night following our Lord standing by him said be constant for as thou hast testified of me in Hierusalem so ⸫ must thou testifie at Rome also The note Though God who could not lie had promised that he should go to Rome yet the apostle omitteth not humane meanes to defend himselfe from his enimies and otherwise Neither said he as the heretikes called predestinates Let them do what they wil they can not hurt me for I am predestinate to go to Rome See his doings and saiengs to saue himselfe in the chapter following The answer You are good fellowes you can make your selfe sport in confuting your shadowes He that were not acquainted with your cogging and lieng would thinke by this spéech of yours that som newe heretikes neuer afore heard of were lately risen that held this that you confute But I praie you where doth these predestinates dwell What bookes haue they written By what euidence may it appéere that you truely charge them For till you shew vs some that vnder pretence of predestination do refuse the ordinarie meanes which God hath appointed for their safegard we can not
wait for the comming of the Lord you would not wilfully serue his enimie and oppose your selues to his knowen truth 2. Corinthians 2. Cor. 2. 10. The text For my selfe also that which I ⸫pardoned if I pardoned any thing for you in the person of Christ That we be not circumuented of satan For we are not ignorant of his cogitations The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though he did great penance saith Theodoret yet he calleth this pardoning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a grace bicause his sinne was greater than his penance The answer It is happie you will confesse one man pardoned of grace which had not by gretnes of penance deserued it Theodorets meaning was not to part his pardoning betwixt penance and grace And the text prâ—â—ueth cléerly that how great testimonies so euer man giueth of true repentance yet remission and pardon of sinnes is not merited but procéedeth méerely of grace and fauor 2. Cor. 4. 17. The text For that our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall waight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but the things that are not seene The note The English bible 1577 doth falsely translate Prepareth The answer This translation although not so proper in word yet all one in sense with the rest is alreadie iustified by master D. Fulke against Martinius The reason which he yéeldeth for your fault finding is to be noted for it sheweth that you would haue that which is momentanie and light to deserue that which is eternal and of great waight and so make a small matter to deserue eternall life and glorie So lightly you thinke to come by heauen â— Cor. 5. 8. The text But we are bold and haue a good will to be pilgrimes rather from the bodie and to be ⸫ present with our Lord. The note This place prooueth that the saints departed now since Christ sleepe not till the day of iudgement and that they be not holden in any seuerall place of rest from the fruition of God till the resurrection of their bodies but that they be present with God in their soules The answer You would say that this prooueth that the soules of the saints sléepe not with their bodies till the day of iudgement I maruell much why the apostle speaketh nothing héere of purgatorie sith by your churches doctrine the soules of the greater part of Gods saints after the earthly house of this habitatioÌ„ is dissolued go for a time to the paines of purgatorie which is directly against the apostles doctrine in this place deliuered For he immediately after our dissolution appointeth vs an house to dwell in not for a time but eternally nor in pugatorie but in heauen not seuered from the fruition of God but in the presence of our Lord from which he placeth none absence but whiles we are héere in the bodie 1 Cor. 5. 2â— The text Him that knew no sin for vs he made sinne that we might be made the iustice of God in him The note That is to say a sacrifice and an host for sinne See the last annot of this chapter The answer If men should héere without all reason sticke vpon the letter as you do in This is my bodie what can you say for this exposition that might not be iustly returned against you in that Your annotation you send vs vnto is a childish cauill grounded vpon this that the scripture calleth him iust that doth iustice But doth it call none else so The publican departed better iustified than the pharisie I pray you what iustice had he done God iustifieth the wicked He is iust or blessed to whom God imputeth no sin The iust man liueth by faith So obteined the théefe vpon the crosse to be iustified and saued You sée then that the Scripture speaketh of some other kind of iustice besides that which consisteth in our owne doings Leaue therefore your foolish cauilling 2. Cor. 5. 10. The text As sorrowfull but alwaies reioicing as needie but enriching manie as ⸫ hauing nothing and possessing all things The note Saint Augustine in Ps. 113 gathereth hereby that the Apostles did vowe pouertie The answer Wilfull pouertie bicause you sée no reason to gather it out of this place you make Saint Augustine your buckler for it but I thinke your note booke deceiued you I take it that there is no such matter in the exposition of that Psalme But he saith there that in calling images by the names of those whom God created men turne the truth of God into a lie and that their forme and shape their honorable placing and setting a loft in the church hath more force to draw people to idolatrie then the consideration that they haue no life nor vse of their parts and members hath to induce men to the contrarie I do not remember that I haue reade any thing in Augustine that fauoreth wilfull pouertie But in his booke of the worke of moonkes he is verie earnest against such idle bellies as thought it vnlawfull for them to gaine any thing by worke or labor but would liue altogither vpon the offerings and liberality of others and he both telleth them that they refuse to obey the Apostle Paul and confuteth their foolish reasons 2. Cor. 6. 14. The text ⸫ Beare not the yoke with infidels The note It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with heretikes and infidels See S. Hier. câ—ont Iouian lib. Cocil Laod. cap. 10. 31. The answer It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with papists or other heretikes or infidels For this there néedeth no authority of men for the word of God is plaine and it is not called into question â— Cor. 7. 10. The text For ⸫ the sorow that is according to God worketh penance vnto saluation that is stable but the sorow of the world worketh death The note Contrition or sorowfull lamenting of our offences is the cause of saluation Not onely faith then saueth as the heretikes affirme The answer You deceiue your selues and others whiles of euerie consequence you make a cause It is verie true that faith and repentance must be ioined companions in them that shall be saued and yet neither of both properly the cause of saluation 2. Cor. 8. 5. The text And not as we hoped but their owne selues they gaue first to the Lord then ⸫ to vs by the wil of God The note The principall respect next after God is to be had of our masters in religion in all temporall and spirituall duties The answer If there were not iust cause of suspicion of your euil and lewd minde and meaning this note might passe without controlement as an hyperbolicall spéech tending to the reuerence and credit of Gods ministers But bicause your whole course of dealing bewrateth manifestly that you séeke to preferre your pope and your selues to be regarded and respected aboue princes in temporall duties therefore the reader is to be admonished that
but now it hath vtterly none Penitents in the primitiue church did but giue testimonie vnto the church of their heartie and vnfained repentance and not as you would haue men imagine satisfie for their sinnes and deserue at Gods hand remission and pardon therof Augustine neuer dreamed of any such matter but he wrote against the Nouatians who denied repentance to them that sinned after they were baptized against whom he prooueth by the example of Peter which had denied Christ by the authoritie of this present text that men after baptisme were not to be excluded from repentance and so maintaineth the custome of the church in admitting penitents which had béene afore for their faults excommunicated what is this to that you alledge him for against our translation 2. Cor. 13. 10. The text Therefore these things I write absent that being present I may not deale hardly according to the power which our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto destruction The note Ecclesiastical ⸫ power to punish offenders by the censures of the church The answer Which power we reuerence and kéepe offenders in awe withall though we contemne and despise the vsurped power of the Romish church and care not for her thunderbolts GALATHIANS Galat. 1. 6. The text I maruell that you are so soone transferred from him that called into the grace of Christ vnto another Gospel which is not another vnlesse there be some that trouble you and will ⸫ inuert the Gospel of Christ. The note New Gospellers that peruert corrupt or alter the one onlie true and first deliuered Gospell are to be auoided See Saint Augustine contra Faust. libro 32. cap. 27. The answer The Gospel of God is the power of God to saluation to euery beléeuer whosoeuer therefore doeth preach any power of pope of man of fréewill or of anie other creature or thing whatsoeuer to saluation preacheth a newe Gospell and not the Gospell of God and therefore are to be auoided The whole doctrine therefore of the Popes church is to be auoided for it is nothing els but a new coined Gospell Your note booke still deceiueth you there are not so many chapters in that booke Galat. 1. 19. The text But other of the Apostles sawe I none sauing Iames ⸫ the brother of our Lord. The note Saint Iames was called our Lords brother after the Hebrew phrase of the Iewes by which neere kinsemen are called brethren for they were not brethren in deede but rather sisters children The answer If vpon this you should méete with men as froward as your selues are in expounding this is my bodie they might make you worke by not admitting any interpretation and therefore you might sée how fond a thing it is so to sticke to the letter that you will not admit the mind of the speaker Galat. 2. 11. The text And when Cephas was come to Antioch I resisted him ⸫ in face bicause he was reprehensible The note That is in presence before them all as Beza him selfe expoundeth it yet the English Bezites to the more disgracing of saint Peter translate to his face No. Testamen anno 1580. The answer It is somwhat that once in your liues you are content to acknowledge that you haue learned somwhat of master Beza but I thinke he should not haue béene spoken of héere but to take occasion by him to vtter your choller and to ease your stomacke a little vpon those whom you call English Bezites whose intent as you surmise was in their translation to disgrace S. Peter As if it had béene greater disgrace to saint Peter to be told of his fault to his face than to be told of it reprooued for it in the presence of the multitude But howsoeuer it was we sée plainly S. Peter went awry and brought others into the like danger And further we sée that his authoritie was not so great but he might be reprooued Yet though the pope go headlong to hell and lead thousands of souls with him thither no man may say Why dost thou this Gal. 2. 16. The text But knowing that a man is not iustified by the ⸫ works of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ we also beleeue in Iesus Christ that we may be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for the which cause by the works of the law no flesh shall be iustified The note By this and by the discourse of the whole epistle you may perceiue that when iustification is attributed to faith the works of charitie are not excluded but the works of Moises law that is the ceremonies sacrifices and sacraments thereof principally and consequently all works done meerly by nature and free will without the faith grace spirit and aide of Christ. The answer Helpe helpe Paul hath set the popes kitchin on fire Our Rhemists bring water but it runneth out by the way For both by this and the whole course of this epistle we sée that this new Gospell into the which the Galathians were translated was a péece of poperie Namely that they ioined in the cause of iustification saluation their works with Christ the law with the gospel But our Rhemists tel vs first that not the works of charity but the works of the law are excluded by S. Paul As who should say that there were any works of loue that are not commanded in the law And therefore if the works of the law be excluded the works of loue and charitie must be excluded also But to helpe this they adde that ceremonies sacrifices and sacraments are meant principally But against that Paul maketh him accursed that abideth not in all that is written in the law to do it If blessednes and iustification be our deliuerie from that curse who séeeth not that the whole law and euery part of it and euery worke of it must be excluded But further they adde that al works done méerely by nature and frée will are excluded wherein the word méerely is to be noted bicause it expresseth that their meaning is if there be a little helpe of faith or grace that then works be not excluded To the which I say this was the case of the Galathians and the very matter against the which the Apostle bendeth his whole force for that they being Christians and so beléeuers did not exclude their works and méerely ascribe their iustification to the grace of Christ for that they parted the matter as the papists do betwixt Christ and their works the whole maner of the Apostles reasoning in the next chapter doth plainely shew And therefore I will conclude with the Apostle By grace we are saued through faith and that not of our selues for it is the gift of God not of works that no man glorie Galat. 3. ◠The text O senselesse Galathians who hath ⸫ bewitched you not to obey the truth before whose eies Iesus Christ was proscribed being crucified among you The note For any people or
for persecution or for businesse séeing that both the actes of the Apostles the Epistle to the Romains euery epistle that Paul wrote from Rome minister good reasons against Peters being there so that if he were bishop so long as your stories testifie of him he was a notable non Resident but I had rather imagine that he came thither but a litle afore his death Philip. 3. â— The text See the dogges see the euill workers see the ⸫ concision for we are the circumcision which in spirit serue God c. The note By allusion of words he calleth the carnall Christian Iewes that yet boasted in the circumcision of the flesh concision and himselfe and the rest that circumcised their hart and senses spirituallie the true circumcision Saint Chrisostome Theoph. The answer Either you should set downe nothing without authorities alledged or els if you would spare your paines in anie place you should do it in those whereof the sense is not in controuersie but confessed on both parts Philip. 3. 1â—â— The text And may be found in him not hauing my iustice which is of the Lawe but that which is of the faith of Christ which is of God iustice in faith to know him and the vertue of his resurrection the societie of his passions configured to his death ⸫ if by anie meanes I may come to the resurrection which is from the dead The note If Saint Paul ceased not to labour still as though he were not sure to come to the marke without continuall indeuour what securitie may we poore sinners haue of heretikes perswasions and promises of securitie and saluation by onlie faith The answer We are verie sure that they which after they are called to knowledge do not continuallie indeuour to walke in those good workes which God hath prepared for men to walke in shall not come to the marke of life euerlasting which is set before all chrians And we know none but papists that teach such securitie to make men trust to that faith which is idle and doeth not worke by loue a diligent indeuour of obedience to Gods holy lawes And yet this continuance of our indeuour is no argument of doubtfulnesse of our saluation neither yet of trust in our deserts but that Christ liueth in vs and by his spirit leadeth and guideth vs effectuallie And it is not to be passed ouer though you be not disposed to sée it that the Apostle for all his indeuour yet flieth from his owne righteousnesse to the righteousnesse of Christ which God hath made his by faith so that it is euident that the Apostles confidence rested vpon the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to him Philip. 3. 17. The text Be followers ⸫ of me brethren and obserue them that walke so as you haue our forme The note It is a goodlie thing when a pastor may say so to his flocke Neither is it anie derogation to Christ that the people should imitate their Apostles life and doctrine and other holie men Saint Augustine Saint Benedict Saint Dominicke Saint Frauncis The answer It is a verie good thing when the Pastors are examples to their flocke in life and doctrine but yet the best men are to be followed with exception namelie no further then they follow Christ. As for your frierlie fathers whom you recken and whom you follow in wilworship are vnméete to be matched with Paul and others partners of Christian obedience to them among whom they liued Philip. 4. 3. The text Yea and I beseech thee my sincere companion helpe those women that haue laboured with me in the Gospel with ⸫ Clement the rest my coadiutors whose names are in the booke of life The note This Clement was afterward fourth Pope of Rome from Saint Peter as Saint Hierome writeth according to the common supputation The answer This is to be marked that the reckoning and supputation of Popes succéeding one another is a matter not agréed on though it be the maine foundation and principall pillar whereupon the Romish church will séeme to staie her selfe For as it is a matter verie vncertaine whether Peter was euer Bishop of Rome so is it also vncertaine who was first second third or fourth If we may beléeue the constitutions ascribed to the Apostles the testimonie whereof you can not refuse citing the authoritie of them in other matters verie often then Peter was neuer Bishop there but Linus was the first ordeined by Paul and not by Peter Clemens the second Eusebius reckoneth Clemens third and Euaristus fourth after both Peter and Paul For I do not perceiue that he reckoned one of them more for bishop there then the other Nicephorus maketh Peter the first Linus the second and Anacletus third and Clemens fourth Hierome reckoned in the same order sauing that he addeth that manie of the Latines did count Clemens next after Peter Sabellicus writeth that Peter Linus Cletus and Clemens were all Bishops of Rome at once and striketh quite out Anacletus out of the number Ireneus reckoneth next after Linus Anacletus And Optatus Mileuitanus setteth him that is Anacletus next after Clemens And thus your famous succession whereof you so greatly glorie resteth vpon a rotten vncertaine foundation the progresse thereof if it were examined is more diuerse and vncertaine and that manie waies and therefore no maruell though so vncertaine a succession must serue to vphold so vile a congregation as the church of Rome is at this day which bicause you know you referre the matter to the common supputation which must be that which you commonlie at this day follow Philip. 4. 10. The text And I also reioiced in our Lord exceedingly that once at the length you haue ⸫ reflorished to care for me as you did also care but you were occupied The note This reflorishing is the reuiuing of their old liberalitie which for a time had beene slacke and dead S. Chrysostom The answer This was Paules thankfulnes as well for the care they presently had of him as for their liberalitie afore time bestowed on him Philip. 4. 1â— The text And you know also O Philippians that in the beginning of the Gospell when I departed from Macedonia no church coÌ„municated vnto me in the account of gift and ⸫ receipt but you onely for vnto Thessalonica also once and twise you sent to my vse The note He counteth it not meere almes or a free gift that people bestoweth on their pastors or preachers but a certaine mutuall traffike as it were and interchange the one giuing spirituall the other rendering temporall things for the same The answer Your note is true though the pastors of your church giue stones for bread for fish scorpions and in stead of milke strong and ranke poison COLOSSIANS Colos. 1. 6. The text That is come vnto you as also ⸫ in the whole world it is and fructifieth and groweth euen as in you since that day that you heard and knew the grace of
vs also that God may open to vs also the doore of speech to speake the mysterie of Christ for the which also I am bound that I may manifest it so as I ought to speak The note Saint Paul euer much desireth the praiers of the faithfull whereby we learne the great efficacie of them The answer The praiers of the faithfull preuaile much with God for his eares be euer open to them and therefore as they are very néedfull so are they excéedingly desired of all Gods saints But I pray you tell me one thing why Paul neuer willed them to take héed of being ouer bold or saucy with God but to make some dead saint or other their meanes to offer their praiers to God For in so often repetition of this exhortation I thinke he would not alwaies haue forgotten this point if it had béene necessarie or expedient Col. ◠13. The text For I giue him testimonie that he hath much ⸫ labour for you and for them that be at Laodicea and that are at Hierapolis The note He did not onely praie but tooke other great paines to procure Gods grace for the Colossians perhaps by watchings fasting and doing other penance of body that God would not suffer them to fall from their receiued faith to the sect of Simon Magus or the Iudaizing christians The answer No doubt Epaphras omitted nothing that became a painfull and a carefull minister of the worde to vse for the procuring of Gods graces and the aduancement and setting forwarde the knowledge of Christ and his holie Gospell amongst those congregations or churches héere named What your meaning is by penance of bodie whether to satisfie for other mens sins as well as for his owne I know not And for such imaginations of yours Epaphras had nought to do with them 1. Thessalonians 1. Thes. 1. 9. The text For they themselues report of vs what maner of entering we had to you and how you are turned to God ⸫ from idols to serue the liuing and true God The note In this and the like places the heretikes maliciously and most falsely translate construe and apply all things ment of the heathen idols to the memories and images of Christ and his saints namely the English Bibles of the yeeres 1562. 1577. See the annot 1. Io. 5. 21. The answer We translate truely when in stéede of idols we say images Our construction and application also is true bicause both your hauing of images in churches and also all maner worship you vsed about them procéeded and came from Gentilisme so that the spéeches and reasons which the apostles prophets vsed against them are aptly applied against your images and the follies you commit about them Your annotation you referre vs to is like your selues matter whereof you might be ashamed if you had any shame in you For it hath béene often answered and it is enough for you barely to repeate it againe Your councel of Nice were impudent shamelesse asses beasts giuing that to images which you your selues dare not defend Eusebius in the place you cite though he aloweth of that image yet sheweth that that the like grew out of the corrupt customes of the Gentils wherof he saith that is no maruell that some did sticke in new conuerted Christians And you can not shewe for fower hundred yéeres after Christ the hauing of images in the churches for laie mens books But I refer your annotation to farther answer wherein it will be better displaied 1. Thes. 2. 1. The text For you your selues know brethren our entrance vnto you that it was not in vaine but ⸫ hauing suffered before and been abused with contumuelies as you know at Philippi we had confidence in our God to speak vnto you the Gospel of God in much carefulnes The note Anotable example for catholike preachers and passing comfortable when in the midst of persecutions and reproches they preach sincerely to please God and not men The answer Your note is good And God grant that you at length may cast away your desire of contending and man pleasing and séeke the truth in sinceritie so should we cease from offending God and troubling the worlde and our controuersies and contentions should quickly be at an end 1. Thes. 2. 18. The text For what is our hope or ioy or crowne of glorie ⸫ Are not you before our Lord Iesus in his comming The note If the Apostle without iniurie to God in right good sence called his schoolers the Thessalonians his hope ioy and glorie why blaspheme the protestants the catholike church and her children for terming our blessed ladie and other saints their hope for the speciall confidence they haue in their praiers The answer The prosperous successe that God gaue to his Apostle Paule amongst the Thessalonians did much comfort and encourage the said Apostle in his hope and expectation not onlie of their saluation but also of the crowne of righteousnes laid vp for himselfe in which respect as he might well bicause it was grounded vpon the promises of God he calleth the Thessalonians his hope How can this excuse you when the ground of your dealing is voide of all warrant of the worde For what warrant can you shew for your confidence in the praiers of saints But let vs go a little farther with you what haue you left to God his Christ that you haue not giuen our ladie and other saints what said I to saints nay to knaues and traitors who taught men to séeke to come to heauen by the blood of Thomas you can tell well enough It is not the catholike church and her children whom we charge with this it is the Romish Babylon and her vpholders the sinke of sinne and the mother of all abominations that séeketh to rob and spoile God of his honor and glory and to giue it to creatures But our God is in heauen he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him he will not giue his glorie to an other 1. Thes. 3. 10. The text Night and day more abundantly praieng that we may ⸫ see your face and may accomplish those things which want of your faith The note Though letters and epistles in absence giue great comfort and confirmation in faith yet it is preaching in presence by which the faith of Christ and true religion is alwaies both begun and accomplished The answer Why did you then both take quite away from the people the cōfort which they might haue reaped by the Epistles of Paul being absent if you would haue suffered them in a toong which the people vnderstoode and also in the daies wherein your heresie raigned amongst vs both slenderly and corruptly giue the other But thanks be to God who hath remooued you and giuen great encrease to his truth and religion by the industrie and diligence of true and sincere preachers amongst his people of England 1. Thes. 4. 9. The text As for the charitie of the ⸫ fraternitie we haue no neede to write
15. The text But if you haue bitter zeale and there be contentions in your harts glorie not and be not liers against the truth for this is not ⸫ wisdome descending from aboue but earthly sensuall diuelish The note The difference betwixt the humane wisedome specially of heretikes and the wisedome of the catholike church and hir children The answer If a man compare the fruits of heauenly wisedome with the fruits of the wisedome of your church he shall find them as contrarie as white is to blacke All stories testifie that your church hath béene the author of most of the wars and contentions in Christendome these thrée hundred yéeres and vpwards Your bookes in praise of Sodomitriâ— your curtesans maintained in the eies and bosome of your most holy father and the beastly life of your priests testifie the chastitie of your church The mercie of your church the massacres of France and the Marian storme in England not yet forgotten do sufficiently shew I might go thorough the rest but peace chastitie and mercie wanting amongst you doth sufficiently shew your wisedome to be earthly sensuall and diuelish Iames. 4. 6. The text And ⸫ giueth greater grace for the which cause it saith God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble The note The boldnes of heretikes adding heere the word scripture to the text thus And the scripture giueth greater grace The answer The blindnes of you papists which thinke it a boldnes to set the nominatiue case before the verbe I pray you tell vs what it is that as saint Iames héere saith giueth greater grace if it be not the scripture But the place is plain the words afore and the words following do inforce that the word scripture must be supplied but there is none other cause of your wrangling in this but that you would haue euery thing left as obscure and darke as might be possible to fray poore men from studieng that which they cannot vnderstand Iames. 4. 8. The text ⸫ Approch to God and he will approch to you The note Free will and mans owne endeuor necessarie in comming to God The answer Why do you not plainly say that we must preuent and go before the grace of God by our will and our endeuor bicause Iames setteth our approching first That we know to be your meaning for that your sophisters commonly contend for But to answer you shortly we are commonly and vsually by the spirit of God exhorted to that which God must worke in vs therefore frée will is not prooued by those exhortations Iames. 4. 11. The text ⸫ Detract not one from another my brethren The note He forbiddeth detraction euill speaking and slandering The answer Uices wherein you set a great péece of your delight as in your annotations most manifestly doth appéere Iames. 4. 15. The text For that you should say ⸫ If our Lord will and if we shal liue we will do this or that The note All promises and purposes of our worldly affaires are to be made vnder condition of Gods good liking and pleasure and it becommeth a Christian man to haue vsually this forme of speech in that case If God will If God otherwise dispose not The answer If this note had come from Rome as it doth from Rhemes from Italie as it doth from France we should haue woondered how they teach others that which they haue not learned themselues It may be you know the common Italian prouerbe In despite of God And this I know that neither this good counsell of Iames was vsed in time of poperie and when in the time of the Gospell men began to leaue former corruptions and reformed their spéeches according to this rule the papists scorned at it and derided it as too much holines Iames. 5. 1. The text Go to now ye rich men weepe ⸫ howling in your miseries which shall come to you The note A fearfull description of the miseries that shall befall in the next life to the vnmercifull couetous men The answer But your religion giueth them hart of grace to contemne all threats for your father the pope will sell them heauen for mony â—ames 5. 7. The text Behold the husbandman expecteth the pretious fruit of the earth patiently bearing till he receiue ⸫ the timely and the lateward The note He meaneth either fruit or raine The answer It is an Hebraisme and therefore better expounded of raine than of fruit bicause the phrase is vsuall in the Hebrew and so vsually signifieth Iames. 5. 10. The text ⸫ Confesse therefore your sinnes one to another and pray one for another that you may be saued The note The heretikes translate Acknowledge your sinne c. So little they can abide the very word of confession The answer Héere is a knot sought in a rush To acknowledge and to confesse in English eares is all one That we cannot abide the word of confession is one of your impudent and shamelesse slanders from the which the vsuall and common vsing of it in our translations do sufficiently cléere vs. Iames. â— 20. The text My brethren if any of you shall erre from the truth and a man conuert him he must know that he that maketh a sinner to be conuerted from the error of his way shall saue his soule from death and ⸫ couereth a multitude of sinnes The note He that hath the zeale of conuerting sinners procureth heerby mercie and remission to himselfe which is a singular grace The answer You dreame still of mans procuring mercie and remission to himselfe by his owne works but S. Iames hath no such thing but onely this that the soule of the conuerted man is saued and his sinnes couered that is to say abolished 1. PETER 1. Peter 1. 13. The text For the which cause hauing the loines of your mind girded sober trust perfectly in that grace which is offered you in the reuelation of Iesus Christ. The note Chastitie not onely of bodie but also of mind is required S. Beda vpon this place The answer Then all chastitie doth not consist in single life for in mind none haue béene more impure than your single men 1. Pet. 1. 17. The text And if you inuocate the father him which without acceptition of persons iudgeth according to euerie ones worke in feare conuerseye the time of your peregrination The note God will iudge men according to euery ones works and not by faith onely The answer Who euer denied that in the iudgement of God that it may appéere as it is indéed iust the godly and vngodly shall be discerned a sunder by their works and yet you neuer the nigher to your merits 1. Pet. 1. 18. The text Knowing this that not with corruptible things gold and siluer you are redeemed from your vaine conuersation of your fathers ⸫ tradition but with the pretious blood as it were of an immaculate and vnspotted lambe Christ. The note He meaneth the erros of gentilitie or if he wrote to the Iewes dispersed he meaneth the
downe granted you or else your conclusion carieth not so much as anie shew or likelihood of following That diuers take this Angell to be Christ you your selues confesse and that Christ is many times in scriptures called an Angell I am sure you will not denie That one Angell offereth and not many what can it signifie but that we haue one mediator not many and if we haue but one then why may not Christ be he That of the 24. elders in the fift chapter is a vision of the saints vpon the earth offering their owne praiers For Iohn in that chapter doth not describe the state of the church as it shall be in heauen but as it is héere vpon the earth and therefore setteth it downe magnifieng and praising the lambe by whom the booke was opened that is Gods will in his word reuealed and made knowen But you did well to tell vs that saints héere are taken for holy persons vpon earth for your blind schollers do not imagine that there be any saints but those which are dead and gone and which the pope hath canonized and are to be found in his calendar If the superior saints offer the praiers of the inferior then we néed to learne the orders of saints and Angels in heauen that we go not to them that themselues néed the helpe and intercession of others But who can so tell vs that we may beléeue him You say it is not against the scriptures If it be scripture that telleth vs that we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ who is the propitiation for our sinnes and that we haue one mediator then multitude of mediators and aduocates is against scripture We dare not beléeue your dreames which are no where warranted in the word And we maruell not that you thinke it no derogation to Christ to take away his mediatorship of intercession when you make him but halfe a redéemer and halfe a sauiour As for that of Raphaell it may serue to deceiue your simple followers withall but not to confirme any matter of controuersie against your learned aduersaries who know it not to be canonicall scriptures Apoc. 9◠1. The text And the fift Angell sounded with the trumpet and I saw ⸫ a star to haue fallen from heauen vpon the earth and there was giuen to him the key of the pit of bottomlesse depth The note Most vnderstand all this of heretikes The fall of an archheretike as Arius Luther and Caluin out of the Church of God which haue the key of hell to open and bring foorth all the old condemned heresies buried before in the depth The answer And we also vnderstand this of archheretikes But as you erre in your iudgement of heresie so you set them downe for archheretikes who were not but principall and woorthie ministers of God in his church Your odious coupling of Luther and Caluin with Arius is ridiculous when neither they had nor held any of Arius heresies It is true and signified by the star that heretikes rise of those that haue béen of great account amongst Christians and therfore haue the more opportunitie to deceiue with and become sectmasters as the bishops of Rome who were sometimes most highly and woorthily estéemed and now are become apostataes These as they rightfully challenge to themselues the keies of hell so haue they let abroad in a maner al condemned heresies Ebions heresie in denieng that faith alone sufficeth for iustification Montanus heresie in making lawes for fasting daies The Manichées heresie in forbidding priests to marrie and so consequently of most heresies one péece or other Apoc. 9. 3. The text And from the smoke of the pit there issued foorth ⸫ locusts into the earth and power was giuen to them as the scorpions of the earth haue power And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth nor any green thing nor any tree but onely men which haue not the signe of God in their foreheads The note Innumerable petie heretikes following their maisters after the opening and smoke of the bottomlesse pit The answer The innumerable locusts that deuour the wealth of the earth and with their vaine speculatious sting and poison those which loue not the truth are by the pope let out of hell and haue sparsed ouer the christian world in infinite multitudes as both his schoolemen and the sundry and diuers orders of his religious do testifie For what estimate may be made of the whole number when only one order namely the Franciscane friers were able to spare to the pope thirtie thousand able men to beare armour at one time Apoc. 9. 11. The text And they had ouer them a king the angell of the bottomlesse depth whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon The note The cheefe master of heretikes The answer You say that in English his name is destroyer We sée then the diuell who was an homicide and a destroier from the beginning is this king and captaine ouer the archheretike and his locustes and that they vnder him worke the great and mightie destruction of men which here is prophesied And this agréeth with the prediction of the apostle Paule That antichrist should come by the working of sathan with all power and signes and lieng woonders The pope therefore and his cleargie haue both a mightie and a cunning king and captaine to conduct them to destroy and to be destroied Apoc. 9. 20. The text ⸫ And the rest of men which were not slaine with these plagues neither ⸫ haue done penance from the works of their hands not to adore deuils and idols of gold siuer and brasse and stone and wood which neither can see nor heare nor walke and haue not done penance from their murders nor from their sorceries nor from their fornication nor from their thefts The note Pagans infidels and sinfull impenitent catholikes must be condemned also This phrase being the like both in Greeke and Latin signifieth such sorrowfull and penall repentance as causeth a man to forsake his former sinnes and to depart from them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the same phrase cap. 2. 21. 22. Acts. 8. 22. The answer Your two notes being both out of one sentence which could not well be deuided I haue coupled togither And bicause I am sure that by catholikes you meane none other but papists therefore you do well to couple them with pagans infidels For touching saluation and damnation they stand all in one state case that is in the state of damnation except they repent As for your phrase which you make so much a doo about it hath alreadie béen diuers tunes examined prooued that your imagined satisfactorie penance can not be gathered out of it Otherwise we do think that repentance to be but counterfet which wanteth the testimonies of true repentance doth not cause men to forsake their former sins and to depart from them But I pray you tell me your images of gold siluer
thing or such a thing in the scriptures is also in your church seruice It were too great a disgrace for you to say or sing in plaine English praise yée the Lord. Apoc. 19. 7. The text Let vs be glad and reioice and giue glorie to him bicause ⸫ the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath prepared hir selfe The note At this day shall the whole church of the elect be finally and perfectly ioined vnto Christ in marriage inseparable The answer In the meane space we had néed to take great héed of being seduced by your perswasions and so of forsaking Christ and coupling our selues to another man that is to the pope which is both the popes and yours whole endeuors Apoc. 19 9. The text And he said to me write Blessed be they that are called to the ⸫ supper of the marriage of the Lambe The note That is the feast of eternall life prepared for his spouse the church The answer And not for you which imbrace another head and spouse in his stéede to whom you haue giuen greater preheminence then to Christ himselfe Apoc. 19. 13. The text And he was clothed with a garment sprinckled with blood and his name is called the word of God The note The second person in Trinitie the Sonne or the word of God which was made flesh Io. 1. The answer Who shall confound antichrist and all the power of the earth which taketh his part euen with the sword that procéedeth out of his mouth Apoc. 19. 16. The text And he hath in his garment and in his thigh written king of kings and lord of lords The note Euen according to his humanitie also The answer Our Lord and Sauior Christ God and man after his resurrection is aduanced aboue all principalities and powers and euery name that is named in heauen and in earth Apoc. 20. 1. The text And I sawe an angell descending from heauen hauing the key of the bottomlesse depth and a great chaine in his hand The note See in S. Augustine lib. 20. de ciuit ca. 7. 8. seq the exposition of this chapter The answer Your referring men to the doctors sheweth that your care is not for ignorant men to profite them for they are not the better for this reference and the learned néedeth it not Apoc. 20. ◠The text And I sawe seates and they sate vpon them and iudgement was giuen them and the soules of the beheaded for the testimonie of Iesus and for the word of God and that adored not the beast nor his image nor receiued his character in their foreheads or in their hands and haue liued and reigned with Christ a thousand yeeres The note Quid in millenario numero nisi ad proferendam nouam sobolem perfecta vniuersitas praestitae generationis exprimitur hinc per Iohannem dicitur Et regnabunt cum illo mille annis quia regnum sanctae ecclesiae vniuersitatis perfectione solidatur D. Gregorius libro 9. moral cap. 1. The answer Your poore countrimen are greatlie beholding to you they are much the better for your note they vnderstand it as well and are edified as much by it as by your church seruice And for my part bicause you haue not vouchsafed to turne it into English your selues and bicause it toucheth no matter of controuersie betwixt vs I will also take mine ease and leaue it as I finde it Apoc. 20. 7. The text And when the thousand yeeres shall be consummate Satan shalbe loosed out of his prison and shall go foorth and seduce ⸫ the nations that are vpon the foure corners of the earth Gog and Magog and shall gather them into battell the number of whom is as the sand of the sea The note Saint Augustine thinketh that these do not signifie anie certaine nations but all that shall then be ioyned with the diuell and Antichrist against the church lib. 20. de ciuitate cap. 11. See Saint Hierome in Ezechielem lib. 11. The answer We agrée with Augustine that all enemies of the church are signified open as Turkes and such like priuie as the Pope papists and such like who vnder the name and title of Christ persecute the members of Christ which the text it selfe doeth plainlie insinuate which saith that they are the nations which are vpon the foure corners of the earth Apoc. 20. 11. The text And I sawe a great white throne and one sitting vpon it from whose sight ⸫ earth and heauen fled and there was no place found for them The note They shall then be new not the substance but the shape changed 2. Peter 3. See Saint Augustine lib. 20. de ciuit cap. 14. The answer That this is to be expounded of the innouation of heauen and earth we consent but I muse for whome you gathered your notes The learned without you know whither to repaire for resolution in their doubts The vnlearned can not consult with Augustine though they would These references to sée the iudgement of Doctors haue no profit but to make a shew of your reading Apoc. 20. 12. The text And I sawe the dead great and little standing in the sight of the throne and ⸫ bookes were opened and another booke was opened which is of life the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their works The note The bookes of mens consciences where it shalbe plainlie read what euerie mans life hath bene The answer Our owne consciences and thoughts at that day shall either accuse or excuse vs. Looke therefore well into your consciences and take héede that you trust not too much and to farre to your Pope of Rome for it is well knowen that he is but a mortall man and not God Apoc. 20. 15. The text And ⸫ he that was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the poole of fire The note Such as do no good workes if they haue age and time to do them are not found in the booke of life The answer Your note is neither gathered out of this place neither warranted by anie other He that liueth to mans state hath age and he that liueth long hath time to do good workes but suppose they haue done none shal we cut frō them hope of mercie afore the last gaspe may not the like grace be shewed them that was graunted to the penitent theefe The time therefore of working must begin at their conuersion and true turning to God whether it be earlie or late otherwise this place sheweth nothing but that onlie the elect shalbe saued Others though in shew they haue led a painfull religious life though they shalbe able to say Lord haue not we done thus and thus in thy name yet shall haue answere depart from me ye workers of iniquitie I neuer knew you Apoc. 21. 2. The text And I Iohn sawe ⸫ the holie citie Hierusalem new descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride adorned for hir husband The note The Church