Romes supremacy Ergo there is no such matter in all the scripture M. Abbot blushing at the vglie shape of this ilfavoured argument to botch it out doth adde that by those seaven churches are figured the whole church of Christ and yet there is not a word in thē of the supremacie of the church of Rome I thinke well nor of thundreth matters moe that belonge to the christian religiō for these seaven short letters which S. Iohn writes to the seaven churches are contained within the compasse of three pages of one little leafe in octauo in their owne bible and can anie man bee so simple as to dreame that all the points of our faith are comprehended within them S. Iohn com̄ends the vertues reprehends the vices of those churches but doth treat of verie few points of doctrine and therfore no strange case if hee spake not of the supremacie of the church of Rome M. Abbots third argument the church of Rome hath a speciall caution given her not to presume vpon her stabilitie in the faith lest she fall Rom. 11.20 S. Paul saying to her Be not high minded but feare for if God spared not the naturall branches take heed also lest hee spare not thee Behold the bountifulnes of God towards thee if thou continue in his boūtifulnes or els also thou shalt bee cut of Ergo what hee had neede to bee a cūning fletcher that could make either a bolt or a shaft of this fit for the purpose First here is nothing at all against the church of Romes supremacie nor yet anie certaine assertion against her stability in the received faith For here is aswell a promise of Gods bountifulnes towards them if they will do well as a threat against them if they do evill Againe all this is besides the cushion for though that Epistle bee to the Romanes yet S. Paul there doth expresly direct that discourse not to the Romanes in particuler but in generall to all the Gentiles beginning it thus for to you Gentils I say c. Ibid. v. 13 and goes on with a comparison betweene the Iewes and the Gentils so that nothing is more perspicuous then that the warning there given is not speciall to the Romans but generall to all Gentiles These loe bee the foregallāts shal I saie or rather the forlorne hope of M. Abbots terrible argumēts marshalled by himself in the forefrōt of his batlle to daūt the Enemy are wee not like thinke you to haue a hott skirmish of it where such drosse and refuse of arguments are thought worthie the first and best place but it were pittie that such a bad cause should bee burnished sett out with anie better M. Abbot having given such a mighty pushe at our position cometh to confute that I said to witt that it is deduced out of Gods word rightly vnderstood according to the interpretation of the ancient fathers that the church of Rome is that rock vpon which Christ built his church against which the gates of hell shall never prevaile To which M. Abbot as though he went about to choke dawes saies that I giue him chalke for cheese bicause I promised a deduction out of the word of God and in steed therof bring an exposition of the ancient fathers Marke gentle reader my words and then thou canst not but find M. Abbot to be an egregious wrangler for I performed that deduction which I promised out of Gods word naming the verie place out of which it is deduced but because I ioyned with it according vnto the exposition of ancient fathers hee like a man scarse well in his wits cries out that in steed of scriptures I bring in an exposition of the fathers when I do make mention of the fathers exposition not as the ground of my deduction but onlie for the true sense of those words of holy scripture out of which I do make the said collection The deduction in my former booke was verie briefe bicause I did there point onlie at the places of holie scriptures out of which it might bee gathered the question of the supremacy being there but touched by the way wherof M. Abbot takes advantage and saies that I am dumbe and can say no more because I will not bee like to him and out of season thrust forth long discourses of by questions I hauing also before written a whole chapter of the supremacy in my second part against M. Perkins where M. Abbot saw well enough that I could haue said here much more of the same matter if need had so required but such is his impudencie that he cares not what hee saie so hee maie make a shewe to his simple reader that hee hath canvased his aduersarie seeing that M. Abbot hath here hudled together verie much of that matter I will more at large sett downe these deductions and orderlie confirme each member therof The first fountaine out of which all the rest do flow as riuers is this The chief superiority in governmēt and authoritie of power over all the church was by our blessed Saviour given to S. Peter and to his successors vnto the end of the world but the Bishops of Rome are S. Peters successors therfore the Bishops of Rome have from our saviours grant and gift authority of power and superiority of goverment over all the church The maior of this argument is to bee deduced out of the word of God the minor being a matter of fact and that which hapned after S. Peters death to wit who was his successor shall haue sound proofe out of the most approved testimony of the best witnesses since that age All which being performed the conclusion that the Bishop of Rome hath supreme commaunding power over all the church must needs stand most assured That our blessed saviour gaue superiority of government to S. Peter vnder the metaphore of a rocke or foundation in building when he said Thou art Peter Math. 16 and vpon this rocke I will build my church Thus I proue Christ made Peter the rock or foundation of his church therfore he gaue to him the chiefest place of government in it for as the foundation is first placed and doth vphold all the rest of the building so he that is the foundation in the spirituall building of Christes church hath the chiefest place therin is to com̄and over all the rest To make this more perspicuous we must call to mind that amongest other titles and names of the church of God one is a house as the Apostle sheweth that thou maist knowe how to converse in the house of God 2. Tim. 3.15 which is the church and the faithfull are called by the same Apostle 1. Cor. 3.9 Ephes 4.12 the building of God Dei aedificatio estis Againe God gaue some Apostles some Doctors c. to the building vp of the bodie of Christ S. Paul as a wise Architect laid the foundation and others builded thervpon Now in that supernaturall and
Etenim cum hinc ob consilij maturitatem longam maximarum rerum experientiam prope Regem ad maxima Reipub. negotia peragenda sedere compellimini illinc vero propter senilem infirmitatem amplissimam vestram prouinciam peragrare quomodo se quisque suo in munere gerat perlustrare non possetis adiutorem vobis elegistis nobilissimum Dominum D. Franciscum de Harlay virum omnium virtutum laude florentem qui ex illustri ortus familia inter magnates sanè si voluisset spleÌ„dide viuere potuisset sed ab ineunte aetate saeculi pompis nuncium remittens in altissimarum rerum contemplationem mentem suam tanto studio tantaque ingenij foelicitate intendit vt non in Latinis modo Graecis literis sed in omni scientiarum genere tam miros breui tempore fecerit progressus vt inter grauissimos Theologos Parisienses iuuenis summa cum laude professus sit qui rerum etiam occultarum cognitioni raram quandam prudentiam coniungens ad res magnas sacras eximiè gerendas admodum habeatur idoneus Hic talis ac tantus iuuenis vestram sustinens personam ac grauiore vestro illustratus consilio gregem vestâ—um vigilantissimè inspiciet omnia quae ab boni Pontificis munus spectare intelligit prudentissime administrabit Quum igitur prouinciam nobis proximam ab Illustrissima D. vestra adeo omni ex parte excellenter gubernari perspexerimus mirum videri non debet si nos qui omni proprij Episcopi auxilio penitus destituimur ad tanti Archiepiscopi patrocinium confugiamus Itaque humillimè ab Illustrissima vestra Amplitudine petimus vt in suam nos clientelam benigne admittere libellum hunc perpetui nostri erga Illustrissimam D. vestram obsequij quasi arrhabonem recipere dignetur Deumque Opt. Max. quotidie rogabimus vt Illustrissimam D. vestram ecclesiae suae quam diutissime incolumem conseruet Parisiis xxi Nouembris Anno Domini 1614. AN ANSVVERE VNTO M R ABBOTS EPISTLE DEDICAtorie GOOD Christian reader I being prisoner by the gatehouse in westminster when Mr. R. Abbots last booke intituled the true ancient Roman Catholike came forth against mee was you may be sure wel inough looked vnto for writing then any replie Since my enlargement I was a long time occupied partlye in flanders partlye in Paris about ordinary busines well knowen to many so that I had small respite to reade ouer that which M. Abbots had written against mee At leÌ„gth coming to haue better leasure albeit I haue neuer since bin free from the same care and not willing to spend my spare time idly but to set in haÌ„d with some peece of worke I was by my graue and vnderstanding frinds advised to begin with a confutation of the same booke as coming forth latest and being indeed the only booke wich M. Abbot had labored in defence of himself against mee I at my louing frinds instaÌ„ce perusing ouer that booke more diligentlie found it fuller of words tauntes and cauills thaÌ„ of weightie and sound matter and would therfore rather haue made choise of some other booke of more importance not making anie great reckning of his vntrue imputations and bitter speeches against my self bicause the most honorable prelates of the primitiue Church and best deserving Doctors whose bookes I am not Worthie to carrie after them writing against bitter and broadmouthed Heretikes never lightlie escaped better cheape for what these mild hornets wanted in sound reasonnig that they were wont to supplie in foule railing My kind frinds replied that how litle account soeuer I made of mine owne interest yet M. Abbot being now growen a maÌ„ of name and chosen for the divinitie reader in the famous vniuersitie of Oxford that ought not to bee contemned which hee and his frinds deemed worthie the print Besides he pretendeth it to bee a peece of great price long premeditated and esteemed by him a mater worthie a large treatise and therfore not to bee lett passe as a thing of naught without an answer whervpon in part and withall to iustifie that in my booke which hee catcheth at as least iustifiable belike for he doth not answere it orderlie as it lieth though it were but a litle one but picketh out certen parcelles I in fine resolued to examine brieflie the weight and worth of that his booke which hee surnameth à counterproofe not vnproperlie bicause hee doth in it verie often hunt the counter as they say that is rather runne vp and downe forward and backward turne this waie and that waie verie idly and impertinently then fall to any serious proofe or pursue the points in questioÌ„ directlie Notwithstanding I will not deale with M. Abbot after such a hafting and abrupt manner as hee doth with mee by cutting of at the first clapp fowerscore eight pages of my small discourse without amy word of auswere therunto mangling also the middle of it and leauing out a great part of the latter end but will begin with him at his Epistle Dedicatory and thenceforth prosecute it orderlie as it lies not omitting by the way anie matter of moment though I meane not to sett downe his whole text word by word bicause that would cost mee more the printing then it is worth by agreat deale And wee here in banishment haue not so much spare monie but the summe and substance of all hee handleth shal bee sincerely related as the iudicious and vpright Reader if hee please to conferre this my answere with that his booke shall easilie perceiue Having in few words shewed the reasons that moued mee to vndergoe this worke and the method that I meane to obserue therin without anie further preface I will presentlie come to M. Abbots Epistle Dedicatorie in the first entrie wherof hee seemes to plaie the triuant and for want either of iudgment or of fitter inuention to fall into a faultie Exordium by the skilfull in that art called Commune comon which his aduerse party maie as well if not better vse against himselfe then hee doth against his aduersarie Neither needes it anie other answer but a plaine returne of the same wordes with a verie little alteration Let vs trie whether M. Abbots proeme proposed against vs will not in the iudgement of an indifferent Reader serue for vs against them Thus it begmneth Mr. Abbots text turned against his ovvne partie MOST gratious and renowmed prince such is the malice and furie of Antichrist and his army of priestes as Gregorie calleth theÌ„ in oppugning the Religion and faith of Christ Greg lib. 4. Ep. 38. as giueth cause to vs that fight for Christ to stand continuallie vpon our guard and to be readie still in armes to entertaine the assaultes that are made continuallie against vs. W. B. THE first staffe of this wartier like sentence bicause it hath in it the names of Antichrist and Priests maie at the first blush seeme to some protestantes to hitt vs but
subditos praelatos omniuÌ„ igitur pastor est quia praeter agnos oues in ecclesia nihil est Eucherius Archbishop of LyoÌ„s Christ sayd vnto peter feed my sheep first he committed to him his lambes then his sheep because he did not onely constitute him a pastor but the pastor of pastors therefore Peter doth feed the lambes and the sheep he feedeth the yonglinges and their dammes he doth gouerne the subiectes and the Prelates wherefore he is pastor of all because besides lambes and sheep there is nothing in the church h Gregorius lib. 4. Epist 32. Cunctis ergo Euangelium scientibus liquet quod voce dominica sancto omnium Apostolorum principi Petro Apostolo totius Ecclesiae cura coÌ„missa est ipsi quippe dicitur Petro amas me pasce oues meas ipsi dicitur ecce Satanas expetiuit cribarevos sicut triticum ego pro te rogavi Petre vt non deficiat fides tua c. Gregory the great it is manifest to all that know the Gospell that the charge of the whole church was by our lords voice coÌ„mitted to holy S. Peter prince of all the Apostles for to him it was said Peter dost thou loue mee feede my sheepe to him it was said behold Satan hath desired to sift you as wheate And I haue praied for thee Peter that thy faith shall not faile and thou once converted confirme thy brethren In which passage you see that other place of S. Luke emploied to establish the supremacie which H Leo ser 3. ass Commune erat omnibus Apostolis periculum de teÌ„tatione formidinis diuinae protectionis auxilio pariter indigebant c. tamen specialis a domino Petri cura suscipitur pro fide Patri proprie supplicatur tanquam aliorum status certior sit futurus si mens principis victa non fuerit S. Leo also doth in the forealleaged place in these words Our lord tooke speciall care of Peter and for the faith of Peter did hee praie peculiarly for the state of others should become more certaine if the mind of the Prince were not ouercome And after a litle Christ made Peter prince of the whole church S. Chrisostome vnderstood the supremacy to bee given to S. Peter in the same words when hee thus reasoneth I Chrisostom in 3. act Apostolorum Quam est feruidus quam agnoscit creditum a Christo gregom quam in choro princeps est obique primus onnium incipit loqui Behold the fervour of S. Peter how well did hee know the charge of the flocke to bee committed to him by Christ how well doth hee shew himself the prince of that company and doth alwaies speake first marke the reason for to him had Christ said And thou once conuerted confirme thy brethren In like manner k Ambros in Psalm 43. Denique Petrus ecclesia praeponituâ— postquam tentatus a diabolo est adeoque ante significat dominus quid est illud quod postea cum pastorem elegit dominici gregis nam huic dixit tu autem conuersus coÌ„firma fratres tuos c. S. Ambrose Peter is made President of the church Christ did signifie before what hee meant by that that hee chose him pastor of our Lords stocke for to him hee said thou being conuerted confirme thy brethren So doth l Theophil in c. 22. Luâ—ae Tu conuersus planus huius loci intellectus est quia te habeo vt principem discipulorum postquam me abnegato fleueris ad panitâ—ntiam veneris confirma cetâ—râ—â— hoc enim tedecet qui post 〈…〉 petra es et firmamentum Theophilact the plaine sense of this place is bicause I esteeme of thee as of the prince of my disciples after that thou having denied mee shalt wepe and come to repentance do thou confirme the rest for that becometh thee who after mee art the rock and foundation of the church These texts of holie Scriptures and testimonies of ancient fathers to omitt manie others I deliuer by the way in confirmation of S. Peters primacy to giue M. Abbot a proof that I could haue said more for that cause then I said in my former booke where I did passe over that point speedely as scarse belonging to the question then in hand 7 Now I returne to that text recorded in S. Mathew Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke will I build my church vpon which wee must staÌ„d the longer bicause M. Abbot doth saie what hee could devise against the true sense of it by it therfore I will prove according to my former deduction first that the primacy was giueÌ„ to S. Peter and afterward shew that it is deriued to the popes of Rome his successors M. Abbot confesseth that the fathers sometimes take Peter to bee that rocke vpon which Christ built his church but avoucheth that none ever said that the church of Rome was the rocke yea addes very groslie that I belie the fathers and father that on them which they never meant when I saie that they out of that text gathered the Pope of Romes supremacie how audaciously and vntruly this is spoken shall appeare assoone as I haue dispatched the former part about S. Peter himself Let it therfore bee first duly considered what a worthie company of the auncient renowmed fathers both Greek and Latin do interprete S. Peter to bee that rocke vpon which our blessed saviour built his church and therwith gaue him power authority to gouern the same that no man maie doubt that to be the true literall sence first intended though secundarily it may admitt other constructions I will begin with that famous Clarke Origen who is one of the auncienst amongst the Greekes that hath written comentaries vpon the Testament he stileth 1 Origin homil 5. in Exodum Vide magno illi ecclesiae fundamento Petrae solidissimae super quam Christus fundauit ecclesiam quid dicatur a domino modicae inquit fides quaro dubitasti S. Peter the great foundation of the church and most sound rocke vpon which Christ built his church Hipolitus 2 Hipolit de constructione mundi Princeps Petrus fidei petra quem beatum iadicauit Christus deus nostâ—r ille doctor ecclesiae ille primus discipulorum qui regus claues habuit c. Peter the prince the rocke of faith the Doctour of the church the chief of the Apostles whom our lord pronouÌ„ced to bee blessed Eusebius 3 Eusebius lib. 6. historiae 19. resert ex Origine Petrus super quem Christi ecclesia contra quam â—nferorum pâ—rtae non praeualebunt aedificata est c. reciteth these words Peter vpon whom was built the church of Christ against which hel gates shall not prevaile 4 Epiphan in Ancorato non longe a principio Ipse dominus constituit Petrum primum Apostolorum petram firmam super quam ecclesia dei aedificata est portae inferorum non praepraeualebunt
that I will do that for him which hee blinded with self loue imagined impossible for any man to do to wit I will put downe his argument more cleerly and formerly then he hath done himself as every scholler that can Iudge of the forme of an argument may easily perceaue in this manner No part can be the whole but the church of Rome is but a part to wit the head of the church Ergo it cannot be the whole This his so often repeated argument without any new fortificatiō needs no other refutatiō than that which hath been once or twice giuen before Thus at length we come to the end of M. Abbots first chapter which was diuided into fower sections or parts and haue by the helpe of Gods good grace both defended and proued that supreme commanding power of Iurisdiction which consisteth in the chief government of Christs church vpon earth to haue been by our blessed Saviour first established and placed vpon the person of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles that there should be perfect vnity in his Ecclesiasticall kingdome then that the same might endure not for tearme of S. Peters life only but alwaies continue vnto the worlds end He ordained that S. Peters successors the Bishops of Rome should enioy the same soveraigne authority ouer the whole Catholike church vntill the worlds end which I made good specially by the confession and acknowledgment of the greatest Patriarks most learned and best approued Prelats of the East churches because the better learned Protestants do after a manner grant vnto the Bishop and pope of Rome Of this read more in the note at the end of this chapter as patriarch of the west supreme authoritie and Iurisdiction ouer all the west churches Moreouer because the protestants do all and some obiect that fact of the African Bishops wherin they seemed to deny appeales of all vnder the degree of Bishops vnto the court of Rome as an argument of great moment against the said supreme commanding power of the sea of Rome I haue produced testimonies of the most ancient and best learned Bishops and Doctors of the African church averring the Iurisdiction of the church of Rome ouer themselues and their countrie So that there can remaine no scruple in the vpright and iudicious Readers vnderstanding but that the Bishop of Romes supremacy hath been acknowledged witnessed and obeyed all the world ouer even in the pure times of most florishing Christianity And consequently that all they who desire to bee sound and perfect Catholiks must imbrace and professe the faith and religion of the same Roman church or els be content to bee reckened in the rew of hereticall or schismaticall Congregations And as in this life they willingly take part with them in their schisme and errors so they may assure themselues vnles God giue them grace to repent to bee against their wils sorted with them in the finall separation at the last day and to haue their vnlucky lott with them in the lake euer burning with fire and brimstone from which our most mercifull Lord and sweet Saviour Christ Iesus deliuer all them that professe his truth and holy name Amen M. Richard field Doctour of diuinity in his fift book of the church printed at london 1610. of the bishop and church of Rome hath these positions FIrst in the 32. chapter that the Bishop of Rome doth succeed S. Peter in the Bishoprique of the City and in the honour of being one of the prime Bishops of the world Secondly in the 34. chapter that the church of Rome was head of all churches that is first in order and honour among them but not in absolute supreme commaunding power 3 That the same church was in more speciall sort head of such churches as were within the Patriarchship of Rome as was all the west church To which effect his maiesty of England our soueraigne lord writeth to all Christian Monarches Pag 46. If there were yet question among the Patriarches for the first place I would with all my hart giue my consent that the Bishop of Rome should haue the first seat I being a westerne king would go for the patriarch of the west 4 That the Bishop of Rome had the care of all churches not as absolute supreme commaunder but as most honorable among the Bishops who were first to be sought vnto in matters requiring a common deliberation and from whom all things generally concerning the state of the whole church were either to take beginning or at the least to seek confirmation before they were generally imposed and prescribed The same Doctour in his preface to the reader teacheth that to compose variances rising between Patriarches and their Bishops or among themselues he that was in order and honour before the rest might lawfully interpose himself and in his synode iudg of such differences And in such cases as could not be so ended or that concerned the faith and the state of the whole vniuersall church there remained the iudgment and resolution of a generall councell wherin the Bishop of the first sea that is the Bishop of Rome was to sitt as President and moderatour Obserue how easily that which we teach of popes the supremacy may be gathered out of these principles for if it appertaine vnto the Bishop of Rome as prime Patriarch to compose the differences rising betwixt other Patriarches and their Bishops if he must be principally sought vnto for finall resolutions in matter of faith if care of all churches belong to him and from him all thinges generally concerning the state of the whole church were either to take beginning or els to seek confirmation let any vnderstanding man exercised in gouernment tell me how Patriarches and Bishops may be conuented to appeare without commaunding authority and how without compelling power the popes finall determinations would be of all parties obeied THE SECOND CHAPTER M. ABBOT The comparisons betweene the Donatists and Papists iustified and enlarged page 51. R. AB IT is a meere vsurpation wherby the Papists call the Roman church the Catholike church and the same that the Donatists of old did They held the Catholike church to be art Cartenna in Africk and the Papists hold it to be at Rome in Italy W. B. THis cōparison is a fond new deuise of M. Abbot wherin there is skarce one spark either of wit or learning wherfore it deserued rather to be abridged or wholy cāceld then to haue been enlarged Iustified it can never bee because it hath not many true words in it Take a tast of this first branch which is false on both sides for neither was Cartenna in Africa but in Mauritania nor did the Donatists hold their pretended Catholike church to bee at Cartenna but esteemed the Rogatists who so much magnified Cartenna to be wicked Schismatiks altogether vnworthy the name or communion of their supposed Catholik church as S. Austin M. Abbots owne author doth testifie Aug. Epist 48. in the place
blood the picture of Christ in the forme of a good shepheard carrying home the lost sheepe on his shoulders Tertul. de pudicitia cap. 7. 10. as witnesseth Tertulian And that the Crucifixe was set vp in churches in S. Hieroms daies Hieron epist 27. de Epitha Paulae cap. 3. he declares plainly where he recordeth how the most holy widow Paula visiting the holie places was wont to fall downe prostrate before the Crosse and to adore as if she had seen our Lord Iesus hanging on it And Gregory Nazianzene reporteth that his father built to the honor of God a stately church Naz. oratione 19. in laude prat Bas con Iulianum Imper. citatur ab Adriano Act. 2. Niconi 2. Nissen de laudibus Theodor. Chrysost in Liturgia and among other ornaments did decke it with verie goodlie Images S. Basil testifieth the same saying in all our churches wee do set vp the Images of Saints So doth Gregorie Nissene in his oration made in the praise of the Martir Theodore And in the beginning of S. Chrisostomes Liturgie translated by Erasmus it is recorded how the priest turning towards the Image of Christ was to say a certaine praier whence it followeth evidently that the Image of Christ was by the Aultar where that Liturgie or Masse was said wherfore when so many worthy Prelates and Doctors of both greek and Latin church do teach holy pictures to haue been vsuall ornamentes of ChristiaÌ„ churches in those ancient and pure times it remaineth most certaine that true Christians could not bee frighted from Catholike churches by setting any pictures of saints in the same and consequently that which the Donatists spake of must needs bee the Image of some false God or of some monster which they did so much abhorre R. AB 5. THe Donatists alleadged their owne councels assembled by their owne authority against the Maximianists their owne schismatiks August epâ—st 162. and against the Bishops of the Catholike church Even so do the Papists alledge against vs their owne conventicles W. B. HEre is falshood vpon falshood for albeit the Donatists did alleadg their owne couÌ„cels against the Maximianists that were fallen from them as the protestants do their new articles and Canons against their schismatiks the Puritans yet M. Abbot cited no place to proue that they alledged their owne councels against the Catholiks No more do wee vse to produce against Protestants any late councel of ours or any late Catholike Author otherwise then to verify what our doctrine is and what they do teach neither can hee take any iust exception against the councell of Trent if it should bee produced against them as consisting wholy of men of our religion because men of their party might haue been there present if they had so pleased For they were requested to come and safe conduct was offered them the surest that could bee devised to perswade them to haue appeared there in their liknes to haue defended their new devised religion but they like valiant men feared to shew their face before that most learned assembly They lay barking at home out of their owne kennells against it but durst not in disputation encounter with the Catholike Doctors there assembled R. AB 6. THe Donatists not knowing how to make good their rent from the church by argument August epist 137. devised crimes and slaunders against their persons that defended the Catholike partie In the same steps walke the Papists who labour to blemish the names of Luther Calvin Beza and others by whom the Gospell of Christ hath been defended W. B. THis proper resemblance is borrowed out of the common of Dunses and by none more practised then by protestaÌ„ts who litle spare the name or fame of any Catholike writer against them how high in dignity how holy and learned soeuer hee bee Nay they are not ashamed to professe openly to the world that they take a speciall pride in railing against vs. Luth. Con. Sicarium Dresdâ—nsem Let this one sentence of their great maister Martin Luther serue for a pregnant proofe therof I saith hee regard not his complaints that in my booke there are few other things then taunts reproches and devils for this ought to bee my glorie and from henceforth so will I haue it reputed of mee that I am full of revyling taunting and cursing the papists for I will exercise my self against those knaues in taunts and curses even to my graue And out of Calvins sweet workes may be piked a volume of vile railing words as big as the bible as Sieur de meres relateth Manifi n. 17. As for Luther himself Calvin and Beza to omit others because M. Abbot for honors sake nameth these three as the three worthies of their new Gospell they are euen by principall men of their owne religion so curried and reuiled that in comparison therof all that the Catholiks do say of them are but fleabitings Take a tast of these fewe First of their holy father frier Luther thus writeth his sanctified sonne Zuinglius in his answer to Luthers book of the Sacrament Resp Zuingly ad l. Luther de Sacrament Here the word of God shall obtayne the victory and not those frantike reproches wherwith thou criest out that wee bee Lutters Devils Lunatike mischievous robbers rebels dissemblers Hyppocrites and what not Thou coynest rules after which the scriptures must bee vnderstood which otherwise thou couldst not alledge for thy purpose c Then he comes to his commendation Thou canst not deny thy self seised with the passion of Anger to rage and to bee mad If thou wilt but soberly vew ouer thine owne booke such a multitude of reproches and swarme of perverse opinions could never flow out of the fountaine of charitie or any reposed premeditation In the meane season I will make it more cleere then the daie light that thou never yeâ— didst know the glittering brightnes of the Gospell Mark this censure of Zuinglius of his master Martin vnles thou hast cleane forgotten it c. Thou adulteratest and corruptest the word of God thou dost imitate the Marcionists and Arrians Thus much out of Zuinglius may serue for blasoning and displaying the armes of his reverend maister Frier Martin Luther Now let vs heare how Doctor Hunneus a very learned Lutheran doth describe and paint out the man of God Iohn Calvin I suppose HuÌ„naeus de Calvino Iudaisante fol. 181. saith hee that Angel of darknes Iohn Calvin to be sufficiently discouered who peeping out of the pitt of hell parâ—lie by his detestable frantike lust of wresting the scripture to the subversion of those fortresses which the Christian religion had against the perfidious Iewes and Arrians Partly by his writing against the sacred Maiestie of Iesus Christ exalted and in part also by his perverse opinion of the whole matter of the Sacraments Finally by his horrible paradoxes of inevitable predestination hath in these latter times darkned no small part of the
they saie that all their additions ioyned and sowdered to the rest bee inspired by the holie Ghost Or can that trulie bee called a psalme of Dauid that hath one sentence in it not dictated by the holy Ghost But in their meeters manie such sentences bee added which are not assured to bee of the holie Ghost wherfore they may well marre but cannot make vp any psalmes of Dauid Besids they haue some very hereticall sentences interlarded among the rest As for example this in the inuocation of the holy Ghost before the Sermon Keepe vs from all papistry Finally there bee some whole psalmes made by by Robin woodcocke I trow or some of his fellowes no lesse Dunsticall then hereticall Take for a tast therof the first staffe of the last song in their psalter composed by R. W. which I thought good to record here that the reader may see how elegant and pleasant they bee both for meeter and matter Preserve vs Lord by thy deere word From Turke and Pope defend vs Lord Which both would thrust out of his throne Our Lord Iesus Christ thy deare sonne These must needes bee verie noble verses that haue thrice Lord in them And as for word and Lord Throne and sonne though the words do end in the like syllables yet they agree not in sound If M. Abbot would haue the simple reader beleeve that S. Austin and S. Leo when they speake in the praise of singing of Psalmes did meane Davids psalmes in meeter let him produce but one good Author to testify that they were so turned within 900. yeares of those Doctors deathes and then hardely beleeue him If hee cannot then every man may see what credit is to bee given to his allegations That S. Austins words which I alleaged are to bee vnderstood of Psalmes which the Donatists sung in their churches rather then of songs in their drunken bankets may bee gathered out of the comparison that hee makes betweene them and the psalmes that were sung in the Catholike church And S. Austin might well by a Metaphore vsuall in the holy scripture call the Donatists new mad devises against the ancient custome of grave singing in the quire their drunkennes As for the worshipfull testimony of Cornelius Agrippa of our mingling holie things with prophane it being recorded in a booke of condemned memorie I hold it not worth the answering Sure I am that M. Abbot by producing of such Authors cracketh his owne credit for hee promised in his Epistle to the reader that hee would only vse the testimonie either of some learned Bishops of Rome or of some other famously approued author and commended in that church And this booke of Agrippa de vanitate scientiarum is by name condemned by the same church in the Cataloge of forbidden books wherfore M. Abbot is no man of his word Finally like to a tatling tennis plaier that comes well beaten out of the tennis court yet to comfort himself and to saue his poore credit with his friends brags that those mates with whom he plaid were no matches for him yea that no man that daie was able to stand in his hands Even so M. Abbot having behaued himself as simply as a man of either wit or learning could doe either for defending of his owne or for offendīg his aduerse party yet cōcludeth as though hee had gotten the field and cleane foiled his adversary saying that I did vnfortunatly enter into retorting of that comparison nothing serving my turne but that hee like a nimble tēnis player had returned my owne bals vpon mee that with very great advantage well bragge is a Iolly dog and leesers must sometimes bee suffred to haue their words Let the iudicious and indifferent reader but weigh well first what kind of resemblance M. Abbot endevored to make betweene the Donatists and the Papists to wit to chalenge to themselues to bee the Catholike church To bee or rather to desire to bee dilated all the world over that out of their church there was no salvation To spred ill rumors of their adversaries To discourage men from ioyning with them with a Ragmans roll of such rotten riff raffe common to all sects and to none more vsuall then to the protestantes themselues So triviall I say that any man of ordinarie discretiō would haue been ashamed to haue put them downe in print to the view of the world Afterward on the other side let him but call to mind what resemblances I haue proposed betweene the Protestants and the Donatists and weigh how substantiall they bee in themselues and how properly they fitt the protestants The first was that the spirit and soule of Donatisme cōsisted in affirming the church of Christ not to appeare in any other part of the world visibly but to haue cleā perished saving in some few places where men of their religion liued Of the same mind were the chief protestants for many yeares Secondly the Donatists were the first among Christians that appealed from the iudgment of Bishops vnto temporall Princes though they afterwards repented themselues thereof when they saw that the said princes would not helpe them Is not this one of the chiefe heads of the protestants Gospell yea doth not the whole frame of their new religion hang vpon the supreme ecclesiasticall authority of kings Thirdly they beate downe Altars abused the blessed Sacramēt of Christs body defiled holy oiles confiscated sacred chalices and sold them togither with the vestments and other holie ornaments of the church All which are so proper to the Protestants that they blush not daily to practise it and make open profession of the same 4. The protestāts like vnto the Donatists by putting innocēt priests to death make martirs whom we may worship Finally they pulled of the veiles of religious women which were signes of their professed virginity exposing them to the hazard of the wild world In which vngodlie and irreligious practise the protestāts haue gone farre beyond the Donatists But that they maie not take too great pride therin let them heare the vpright censure of the holy prelate Optatus passed 1200. yeares agone against them in the name of their deere brethren the Donatists In this kind you haue done as great damage to god Optat. l. 6. co Parm. In hoc genere tanta damna fecistis Deo quanta lucra diabolo procurastu Conflastis impie calices crudeliter fregistis inconsulte rasistis altaria Nudastis denuo capita iam velata de quibus professionis detraxistis indicia qua contra raptores aut petitores videntur inuenta Spiritale hoc nubendi genus est in nuptias Sponsi iam venerant voluntate professione sua vt secularibus nuptiijs se renuntiasse monstrarent spiritali sponso soluerant crinem iam caelestes celebrauerant nuptias as you haue procured gaine to the devill you haue impiously melted Chalices you haue barbarously broken downe Altars c. and a litle before you haue vncouered the