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
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
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
17. The text And ⸫ they did all eate and had their fill The note The miraculous prouidence of God towards such as follow Christ into deserts prisons banishment or whether soeuer The answer Manie things besides may be noted as to giue thanks to God for his gifts though they séeme neuer so small or course and to marke that he can make so small a matter to suffice great multitudes and such like Luk. 9. 41. The text And Iesus answering said ⸫ O faithles and peruerse generation how long shall I be with you and suffer you The note Incredulitie hindreth the effect of exorcismes and other miraculous power giuen to the church The answer The power of myraculous working was granted to the church but for a time for the better confirming of men in the doctrine then deliuered The doctrine continuing one and the same new miraculous confirmations are not to be looked for Yet exorcismes in your church are verie common and how bad soeuer your popish priests are yet they must worke or else you beguile both your selues and others Luk. 9. 46. The text And there entred ⸫ a cogitation into them which of them should be greater The note Desire of preheminence is an humane infirmitie often euen among the good Against which Christ teacheth humilitie but forbiddeth not superioritie The answer Ambition in truth is a disease very common and good men very often haue béene therewith infected But for pride and preheminence ambiciously sought and tyrannously kept the pope hath no péere the diuell and great Turke onely excepted But by this it appéereth that the Apostles knew not which of them Christ had appointed to be greatest Luk. 9. 50. The text And Iesus said to him ⸫ prohibite not For he that is not against you is for you The note There be some that follow not Christ precisely in life and doctrine of whom we may make our aduantage toiâ—â—e propagation of Christs honor and religion when they do any thing for the aduancement thereof of what intention soeuer they do it The answer If you preached Christ and not your selues you might be the better borne with So his honor were aduanced your intentions néeded the lesse to be looked vnto But now you aduance the power of the pope the abilitie of fréewill and the valure of merits into the place of Christ the power of God to saluation to beléeuers and therefore are iustly prohibited Luke 9. 58. The text Iesus said to him ⸫ the foxes haue holes and the foules of the aire nests but the sonne of man hath not where to repose his head The note This man would haue followed him for temporall commodities and therefore was not suffered The answer This man then was méete to haue made a papist For it is plaine and euident that there was neuer any religion in the world deuised so gainefull and so apt and méete to bring in all maner of worldly coÌ„modities to the teachers thereof as popery Luk. 10. 1. The text And after this our Lord designed also other ⸫ seuentie two and he sent them two and two before his face into euery citie and place whether himselfe would come The note As the twelue Apostles did represent the higher degree of the cleargie called bishops So these seauentie two beare the figure of the inferiour cleargie called priests Beda The answer It is apparant and euident as well by the scriptures as by testimonie of antiquitie that at the first there was no such distinction of higher and lower orders of cleargie men called bishops and priests but that they were al one till for the better order of gouernment some one among a multitude of priests being chosen to gouerne guide and direct the rest had the name of bishop for distinctions sake giuen to him And therfore this prefiguring or representing that which then was not thought of is but a dreame of Master Beda But I maruell that Master Beda found no more of your cleargie orders there prefigured especially the pope and his cardinals belike the one was not growne then to his full height and the other scant hatched Luk. 10. 12. The text I saie to you it shall bee more tolerable for Sodom in that daie then for that citie The note Difference of pains and damnation in hell according to the difference of demerits August Lib. 5. cap. 5. contra Iulianum The answer It was néedlesse for you in this matter to quote your doctor considering that in it at this day so far I know you haue none aduersaries I hope you do not take hell for purgatorie nor make any of the differences temporall and then I sée no great cause to contend with you Howbeit in citing the place of Augustine either you delt very negligently or else you trusted your note booke too well for in the place you sende vs to Augustine hath no such thing Luk. 10. 13. The text Wo be to thee Chorozaim wo be to thee Bethsaida for if in Tire and Sidon had been wrought the myracles that haue been wrought in you they had done penance sitting ⸫ in sackcloth and ashes long ago The note True penance not onely to leade a new life but to punish the body by such things as heere be recorded for the ill life past The answer Who euer denied that penitent men should shew outward tokens of the greatnes of their inward sorrow conceiued for their sinnes or that they should not punish their bodie to the end that by not satisfieng the lusts and desires thereof it may be the lesse rebellious and more obedient to the spirit But all this is farre from that which you imagine concerning satisfieng by that meanes for ill life past Luk. 10. 16. The text ⸫ He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me The note It is all one to despise Christ and to despise his priests and ministers in the catholike church to refuse his doctrine and theirs The answer I will not quarrell with you about your word priests though I iustly might being taken of you for sacrificers But I returne your note against your selfe that therefore you despise Christ and his doctrine bicause you despise vs whom Christ hath sent to be teachers of his people in the Catholike Church Luk. 10. 35. The text And the next day he tooke foorth two pence and gaue to the hoast and said haue care of him and whatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I at my returne will repaie thee The note Saint Augustine saith that the Apostle 1. Cor. 9 according to this place did supererogate that is did more than he needed or was bouÌ„d to do when he might haue required all duties for preaching the Gospel but would not Lib. de oper monachor cap. 5. whereof it commeth that the works which we do more than precept be called works of Supererogation and whereby it is also euident against the protestants that there be such works See Optatus
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
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
3. The text Blessed is he that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecie and ⸫ keepeth those things which be written in it for the time is nigh The note There be manie speciallie now a daies that be great readers hearers talkers of Scriptures but that is not inough to make them good or blessed except they keepe the things prescribed and taught therein according to our Sauiours saieng Luke 11. Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The answer It is verie true that except men kéepe the word all their other indeuors about the word are little worth but men can not kéepe that which they know not Reading and hearing as here appeareth is the ordinarie meanes that men should vse to come by knowledge but you to the end you might maintaine blindnesse and ignorance haue kept the people from reading and hearing therfore you haue made â—ure worke that they should not attaine blessednes by kéeping Apocal. 1. 9. The text I Iohn your brother and partaker in tribulation and the kingdome and patience in Christ Iesus was in ⸫ the Iland which is called Patmos for the word of God and the testimonie of Iesus The note Banished thither for religion by Nero or rather by Domitian almost 60. yeeres after Christs ascension The answer By whom he was banished it is not materiall as long as wée coÌ„sent that these things were reuealed to him in his banishment Apocal. 1. 10. The text I was ⸫ in the spirit on the dominicall daie and heard behind me a great voice as it were of a trumpet saieng that which thou seest write in a booke c. The note I had a vision not with my corporall eies but in spirit I beheld the similitude of the things following The answer As Peter and Paul so Iohn in spirit also had reuelations and yet neuer none of them saw or knew of saint Patriks purgatory Apocal. 1. 12. The text ⸫ And I turned to see the voice that spake with me The note The first generall vision of the seuen according to Saint Ambrose The answer You delight your selues with fathers when and where you néede them not Your blind followers when and where they see any father cited suppose that it is for some matter of controuersie and thinke that all antiquitie make for you but in truth where you most néede them there you haue none at all Apoc. 1. 1â— The text And being turned I sawe seuen candlestickes of gold and in the middest of the seuen candlesticks one like to the Sonne of man vested in a priestlie garment to the foote and girded about neere to the pappes with a girdle of gold The note It seemeth not to be Christ him selfe but an angell bearing Christes person and vsing diuers speeches proper to Christ. The answer I sée no cause why it should not be Christ him selfe Apoc. 1. 20. The text And ⸫ the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches The note Saint Irenaeus alluding to this saith The church euery where preacheth the truth and this is the seuenfolde candlesticke bearing the light of Christ. libro 5. aduersus haere The answer We are to obserue héere first that the signes here beare the names of the things which they signifie for the seuen starres are the angels of the seuen churches and the seuen candlestickes are the seuen churches euen none otherwise then bread is the bodie of Christ. Secondlie the cause whie the church is compared to a candlesticke is bicause it carieth that light whereof all godlie men are partakers And bicause in it as candles or shining lights the Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and doctors do shine by the most wholsome doctrine of Christ. Apoc. 2. 1. The text And ⸫ to the Angell of the church of Ephesus write thus saith he c. The note That which before he willed him to write to the church he now willeth to be written to the Angels or bishops of the same onlie where we see that it is all one to the church and the head or gouernour thereof The answer It is euident that Iohn was commanded afore to send that which he wrote to the churches and it is also plaine that he is commanded to write the same to the Angels that is to the pastors and gouernors of the church But that which thence you collect that it is all one to sende to the church and to the heads and gouernors thereof is true but sometimes and not alwaies As when some faithfull are saluted by the apostle and the church that is in their house it is manifest that by the church gouernors are not ment And againe bicause you set head and gouernor in the singular number wherein we suppose that you haue a secret relation to the onely soueraigne of your church therfore we are to admonish the Reader that when by the church the gouernors thereof be vnderstood there is neuer anie one gouernor of the whole church ment Apoc. 2. 4. The text But I haue against thee a few things bicause ⸫ thou hast left thy first charitie The note By this we see is plainly refuted that which some heretikes hold that a man once in grace or charitie can neuer fall from it The answer First we do not hold that a man cannot fal but that he whom God looueth cannot finally fall the contrarie whereof doth not héere appéere Secondly that by the angell of the church any one particular man is ment cannot be prooued but rather a societie or succession of men whereof the later may be vnlike the former Whereof S. Paul speaketh to the ministers of the same church that of themselues shoulde arise gréeuous woolues and whereof we haue had great experience in the church of Rome in the later bishops who are as vnlike the former as lions are vnlike to lambes or drosse vnlike to golde And therefore this cannot be iustly applied to any mutation in one and the same particular man Apoc. 2. 9. The text I know thy tribulation and thy ⸫ pouertie but thou art rich and thou art blasphemed of them that saie themselues to be Iewes and are not but are the synagogue of sathan The note This church representeth the state of them that are spoiled of their goods emprisoned and manifoldly afflicted for the catholike faith The answer And it is to be noted withall who afflicted them spoiled them blasphemed them that is spake and did al maner of euil of them and to them For the afflictors and persecutors here spoken of are such as saie themselues to be Iewes and are not that is such as take vpon them wrongfully the name title of Gods church and people being in déed and truth the synagogue of sathan How néere this toucheth you that violently vsurpe the name of catholikes consider with your selues well for the afflictions you haue brought vpon others are manifest Apoc. 2. 10. The text Be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee ⸫ a crowne of life The note
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