from Gods promise and mercyfull acceptation for the worthines and merits of his sonnet This I challenge for a manifest vntruth when as plentifull testimonies want not to proue that workes proceeding of grace are meritorious not only for his promise or acceptation but also for the dignity of the workes yea the scriptures are euident in this point Call the workemen and pay them Math. 10. â— 8. their hyer where reward is giuen to the workes where of it followeth that workes descrued it likewise our Sauiour saith Com ye blessed of my father Math. 25. â— 34. possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was an hungred and you gaue me me to eate Where our Sauiour signifyeth that heauen was giuen to good workes for in more vsuall significant words it can not be spoken that heauen is giuen as a reward to the workes of mercy and beside in the same place damnation is giuen to bad works Gett you away from me ye cursed saith Christ Ibidem into fier euerlastinge which was prepared for the diuel and his angles for I was an hungry and youe gaue me not to cate c. Seing then the scripture declareth plainly that bad workes deserue danation be the cause thereof as plainly doth it also signify that good workes meritt heauen and be the cause thereof We find also in scripture that men are said worthy of reward as That you may be counted worthy of the kingdome of God for the which also you suffer 2. Thessal 1. v. s. Apocal. 3. v. 4. Cap. 16. v. 15. Suruay pag. 398. and They shall walke with me in wh it es because they are worthy Yea the word meritt is found in the scripture in Ecclesiasticus we reade thus All mercy shall make place to euery one according to the meritt of his workes Bell in his Suruay giueth two answears The first is that the booke is not Canonicall as which saith he was not founde written in the holy tongue A pitifull shifte for who knoweth not that many parts of the Canonicall scriptures be not written in the Hebrue tongue as all or almost all the new testament and sundry bookes be written in that tongue which be fabulous and of no authority and where did Bell larne that a booke could not be canonicall yea in the old lawe except it were written in the Hebrue tongue We haue as good authority to proue it Canonicall as he hath for the Apocalips which I trust he will not deny and that is the auncient Councell of Carthage wherein S. Augustin was Carthag 3. can 47. present and be it that it were not Canonicall yet is the authority thereof very waighty and of more credit then other authors though learned vertuous and auncient other wise why is it read in the Englishe Churches in that very place and order in which the Canonicall scriptures are This solution not fully satisfyinge him he giueth a second which is that the text is not truly translated inuaighing against the vulgar edition and the Councell of Trent that authorized the same for it should haue been translated saith he according to his workes but this is a poore cauil for in true sence what difference is there betwixt these two according to his workes and accordinge to the merit of his workes veryly the old interpreter as learned as Bell and of as good a conscience more then twelue hundred yeres agoe and S. Hierom not inferiour to Bell in Latin Greeke or Hebrue translateth thus that we mâ— sight against Gabaa Beniamin and render vnto it for to Iudic. 20. workes it deserueth and yet the formall word deseâ— ueth is neither in the Greeke or Hebrue but thu according to all the foolishnes which they haue done Israel The second place is in S. Paul where hâ— saith And beneficence and communion do not forgett so Mebr. 13. v. 16. with such hostes God is promerited be hould here all the word meritt But because Bell speaketh of the Fathers will briefly showe that he doth slaunder theâ— when he saith that they did terme workes meritorious because God hath promised to accept them â— worthy for the worthines of his sonne and for his merits reward them with heauen as if they had merited the same for they teach that good workes proceeding from grace and in the vertue of Christes moritts hauâ— worthines in themselfes be meritorious which Bell denieth them to hould and no maruaile when as himself teacheth that good workes are so farre from hauing any worthines in them that he maintayneth this paradoxicall proposition Good workes are imperfect polluted with synne and iâ— rigour Suruey pag. 400. of iustice worthy of condemnation Wherefore tâ— name one of the Greeke Churche and an otheâ— Hom. 4. de Lazaro â—irca medium of the latin S. Chrisostom writeth thus If God quoth he be iust he will render both to them and these according to their merits Note that he acknowledgeth merits of iustice and so not only of mercy liberality and free acceptation s. Augustin sayth Epist 105. â—d sixtaÌ„ As death is rendred to the meritte of synne as a stipend so eternall life to the meritt of iustice is rendred as a stipend More might be produced but these are sufficiet being of auncient and learned fathers and to say the truth greatly requisit it is not to labour about the proof of this point when as Caluin confesseth not only that the auncient doctours vsed the name of merit but also addeth that he did moste Institut cap. 15. §. 2. wickedly prouide for the sincerity of faith that first inuented that name for had they meant no other thing by it then Bell would persuade vs the sincerity of the faith had no waies been touched neither neded he to haue vsed any suche bitter accusation but this complaint of his argueth that they intended more by that name then he did admittt for true and so I leaue Bell conuicted of an vntruh But saith Bell the Fathers commonly ioyned merits and grace together I willingly graunt it for without grace our works are of no price dignity or merit in the sight of God and therfore the second Councell of Arausica saith excellently well Rewarde is due to good workes if they be they be done but Can. 18. grace which was not due goeth before that they may be done In which golden sentence the merit of good workes is taught the fountayne from whence they springe openly declared That which he alleadgeth out of S. Bernard to witt It is sufficient to meritte to knowe that our merits are not sufficient because it serued not his purpose it may be that he did of purpose quote it false for it is not in the 18. sermon but in the 78. sermon vpon the Canticles and as that whiche he hath all eadged doth nothing helpe him so that which followeth and omitted by him worketh his bane It is
BELS TRIAL EXAMINED THAT IS A refutation of his late Treatise intituled THE TRIALL OF THE NEVVE RELIGION By B. C. Student in diuinitie VVherein his many grosse vntruthes with diuers contradictions are discouered Together with an examination of the principal partes of that vaine Pamphlet and the antiquitie veritie of sundry Catholike articles which he calleth rotten ragges of the newe religion are defended against the newe Ragmaster of RASCAL In the Preface likewise a short viewe of one THOMAS ROGERS vntruthes is sett downe taken out of his booke called THE FAITH DOCTRINE AND RELIGION PROFESSED AND PROTECTED IN THE REALME OF ENGLAND c. with a short memorandum for T. V. otherwise called Th. Vdal Ierem 7. v. 8. Beholde you trust to your selues in the wordes of lying which shall not profitt you Printed at Roane 1608. THE PREFACE TO THE GOODE CHRISTIAN READER IN my last booke goode Reader which I published against the challenging minister intituled The Dolefull knell of Thomas Bell I very well remember that I freed my self from writing ought against him vntill I had sett forth his Blacke Buriall contayning an answear to the mayne of all his blasphemous bookes and pestilent pamphlets ys iust reasons there specified hindred not my designement notwithstanding meeting not longe since with a newe toy of his tricked and trimmed vp with diuers patches and rusty ragges drawen from the dunghille of his former monuments and called by him The Trial of the newe religion I resolued to examine his depositions and to try the truth of his newe treatise and that both because it falleth out very fittely and in order that hauing rung Bels Dolefull knell this examination of his Triall as his winding sheete should follow before the solemnity of his foule Funerals and interring of his carcasse be kept and also for that I feare by the disastrous coniunction of the planets that a could frost of pouerty will yet keepe backe the springe of the promised worke and therefore I thought it not amisse to publishe this Treatise being not of any such bulke but that a fewe crownes may dispatch the impression And lastly to giue Bell sure and certaine intelligence that it was contempt of him and his bookes that made them passe so longe without answear and not any rare learning or stinginge stuffe as in the light of his darke dreaming conceipt proceeding from much vanity and litle humility small grace great pride he framed to himself His eies I hope by this time be opened to see that albeit he were an importune challenger yet he lay not so close but that his sides haue bene soundly bombasted and his quarters kindely curried ouer That disdainfull stile of his which before trampled vpon our silence those mounting words which in former tymes menaced nothing but death and destruction that insulting vaine which did so contemptibly caper vpon our quiet carcasses is nowe becom bankrupt and fled the countrey Those ouerlooking termes and fiery phrases those terrible taunts which with restlesse penne he runge in our eares and neuer ceased to iangle both in towne and countrey are vanished and blowne away like the locusts of Egipt The world is altered Toâ—nam is turned French his hoat courage is cooled the gospelling Golias lyeth sweating vpon the earth fetching his last gaspe and the false pleasinge lustre of his bookes faded and coin to nothing In former tymes this and such like were his vsuall songes No no they do in effect confesse Funeral lib. 1. cap. 2. pag. 6. so much whiles they neither dare answear any one booke at all nor any one chapter wholy but here and there an odde piece or sentence I protest vnto the gentle Reader I partly blushe on their behalf But neuer as I thinke shall I liue so longe to heare any more such musicke No no that tune is out of date the bloud hath left his cheekes and runne in poste to comfort his faintinge heart It was also no question a braue pangue of his vauntinge spirit when he came ouer vs in this insulting manner They Funeral lib. 2. cap. 1. pag. 4. are so nettled so pricked and goared with my bookes and their religion so battered with their owne best learned doctors and most skillefull Proctors that gladly they would satisfy their Iesuited Popelings wipe away that discredit which hangeth at their beardes for which ende they vse many coosenlnge trickes iuglings and lieger-demains so to stay the outcries of the people vntill I be dead and then by your fauour they will com vpon me with good speed Canis mortuus non mordet but before that day my life I gage in that behalfe they dare not for their guttes publishe any direct full aÌ„swear etc. because to snatch here a piece there a piece is no answear at all but a mere toy for young children to play withall But pardon him this he will neuer do so any more whiles he liueth it was the heate of his zeale and the longe gaping after an ouerseeing benefice that made so many madde and lofty words to runne forth whiles the doore was open Balams eies be now illuminated and he seeth verie well and the world knoweth that his bookes be not only answearable but also som of theÌ„ answered His Downefall of Popery which in the highe pitche of his soaringe pride he affirmed to be such tickling stuffe that euery article Funeral lib. 2. cap. 4 pag. 10. coÌ„clusioÌ„ propositioÌ„ therein coÌ„tained might truly be called Noli me tangere because they dare not quoth he for ten thousaÌ„d millioÌ„s of gould touch the same fully directly wheÌ„ as for al that euery article hath bene examined euery coÌ„clusioÌ„ coÌ„futed euery propositioÌ„ perused answered beaten in pieces so that the Minister may truly be called Noli mihi credere and deserueth for this and hundreds more of like qualitie ten thousand millions of whetstones for the rewarde of his workes the trophees of his labours and the perpetuall ensigne of his false foolishe and phantasticall monuments But to prosecute further in particular this present Pamphlet the due examination whereof I haue vndertaken two speciall things remayne yet to be spoken of The first concerning my self the second touchinge the Minister As for my self thou shalt vnderstand good Reader that I was once determined to haue answeared the treatise fully and wholy as thou maist perceiue by the first and second chapters but afterward infirmity of body hindering the course of my studies and desire of minde to haue it dispatched with all speed caused an other resolution which may perhaps reuiue Bels dead spirits and inflame his cooled bloud and make him com out once againe with his old complaint that I haue answeared him by pieces and patches and for my lugges and guttes durst not deale with Such are Bels phrases the whole and that I haue after much labour and study much siftinge and searching out of the whole tome of his Triall
consisting almost of fiue and twenty leaues in quarto gathered only eight and fifty vntruthes and not past some fiue or sixe contradictions If the winde be gotte againe into that corner no remedy but I must beare of his storme with the cloake of patience hopinge that the good reader will consider how as I was not bound to meddle with his Pamphlet at all so it was also at my choice to leaue what I listed and take what I pleased especially making open profession of this my course taken therein and haue not any way abused the good Reader as Bell hath who in his Funeral doth make the world beleue that he hath wholy answeared my Forerunner consisting only of fower sheetes of paper and yet omitteth many notable and principall points as I noted in the Dolefull knell as for Pag. 61. example where his congregation is challenged by me to haue bene vnknowen for many hundred years together as they are inforced to confesse our Church all that while bearinge saile in the sight of the world and also charged to maintayne the heresies of Aerius Vigilantius and to take part with Iulian the Apostata and Turkishe Mahumetans to all which troublsom obiections he maketh silence to giue the solution The irreconciliable dissensions likewise of the Protestants in Germaeny and the endles brawles of our MiniÌ„sters at home not in triuiall toies but in matters of maine moment and importance beinge vpon iust occasion sett before him he fayneth himself blinde and will not see any more then pleaseth himself and the better to cloake this his dealinge he hath peruerted the whole order chopping and chaunginge all thinges as best serueth for the concealing of his treachery as in the foresaid In the Preface a little before the ende booke is handled But as for me albeit I haue not taken vpon me any intiere reply yet shall the good Reader finde euery chapter examined in order no one omitted and not much worth the speaking of to be lette passe so that in very truth it may serue for a iust confutation An other thinge also Bell is to vnderstand viz that he hath entred into an obligation of all losse of creditte for euer if he can be conuinced guilty of one only vntruth Be not these his owne words breathing out nothing els but an argument of a timorous conscience and vpright dealing to the commendation of his doctrine and winninge popular applause and likinge And my proceedings Motiues pag. 17. quoth he throughout this whole treatise shall be such and so sincere as if I can be conuinced by the aduersary either to alleadge any writer corruptly or to quote any place guilefully or to charge any author falsely I will neuer require credit at the Readers hand neither in this worke nor in any other that I shall publishe at any tyme hereafter of which promise he maketh also mention in his Downefall This being so can Bell iustly complayne if his In the Preface bookes be not wholy answeared when as one only certaine corruption or vntrue charge of any author proued against him doth cassiere his creditt and giue him his deaths wound or with what face can he iustly complayne when as in this Treatise not one or two but almost therscore of his vntruths be displayed or how can he denie all his reputation to be loste and his creditte crackt for euer VVill he say that he is not truly charged and pleade still for his innocency and sincerity in proceedinge So he may I graunt but whether truly or no that I remitte to the sequele desiring the good Reader in he meane tyme only to pervse ouer the xx xxv xxvj and xxvij vntruthâ—s and if he sindeth not that he hath alleadged writers corruptly quoted Iosephus Angles guilefully and charged authors falsly then a Gods name lett him be still liked and loued still culled and imbraced for the stoute champion and sure pillar of the congregation But if triall shall teache him that he hath forfeited his obligation no reason or conscience but the condition should be performed Thus much touching my self Concerning Bell and his Pamphlett two things occurre worthy of consideration The first is that as his Pamphlets called The hunting of the Romishe Foxe his woefull cry c. be either wholy or principally borrowed from his other bookes though a newe title and an other manner of order and methode may cause the Reader to thinke it otherwise and thereby to haue him in admiration for his abundant matter and flowinge inuention so this his Triall of the new religion will be found vpon triall to be nothing els but old patches and pieces of his former workes especially of his Suruey and only stitched together and botched vp after a new fashion For I assure the good Reader except it be the first chapter entreatinge Of the Popes name not only all the rest and that in many places almost verbatim is drawen from his Suruey and his other bookes but also the very Epistle dedicatory it self such a rare iewell hath he presented to his Patrones VVhether this be so or no lett vs briefly runne ouer the particulars His Epistle dedicatory is taken from his Suruey pag. 341. 342. except a very flewe lines and the recapitulation which he hath annexed to the ende of the chapters following after Of the first chapter I haue already spoken The second chapter Of the Popes superroiall power is borrowed from his Suruey pag. 189. where his eight arguments against the supreame spirituall iurisdiction of the Pope be contayned His third chapter Of the marriage of Priests c. consisting of fiue paragraffes is conueyed from the same booke of his Suruey The first paragraffe is found pag. 216. The second pag. 224. pag. 233. and 234. and 228. The third pag. 267. and 269. The fourth pag. 268. and 269. and that which he sayeth of Aeneas Syluius or Pius the second is in his woefull cry pag. 25. and lastly that which he bringeth of S. Gregory c. cometh from his Suruey pag. 222. His fift paragraffe is nothing els but a recitall or recapitulation of the whole chapter which fashion he obserueth also in his other chapters to make perhappes the bulke the bigger for the greater commendation of his labours The fourth chapter Of Pardons is fetched partly from his Suruey pag. 278. 279. and wholy from his wofull crye pag. 17. and 18. The fist chapter Of Purgatory taketh his first Originall from his Motiues pag. 3. 4. and 5. where the authority of Roffensis is spunne out at length and also from his Suruay pag. 297. His sixt chapter Of Auricular confession is deriued from the same Suruay pag. 501. and 502. And partly from the same sincke partly from the puddles of his Downefall stewe the principall contents of his seauenth chapter which is Of veniall sinnes See his Suruey pag. 381. 382. and Downfall pag. 383. His eight chapter Of the Popes fayth as touching the former part he tooke from
his Anatomy as himself noteth in the margent and that which in the later part he saith of So to and Alphonsus is fetched from his Ballance fol. 9. a and fol. 13. b. His ninth chapter Of the meritt of workes excepting that which he disputeth against S. R. is transported from his Suruey pag. 396. 397 and from his Downefall pag. 61. 75. and 69. His tenth chapter Of Transubstantiation is but a fewe ragges gathered from his Suruey pag. 436. 437. and his Downefall pag. 34. The eleauenth chapter Of Popish inuocation of Saintes is shreds of his Suruay pag. 331. and 340. where the same tales of S. Thomas and Polanchus were broached before His twelfth chapter Of the communion vnder one kinde proceedeth from his Suruey pag. 402. and 409. The thirtenth chapter Of priuate Masse springeth from the same roote of his Suruey pag. 414. and 415. The sourtenth chapter Of Pope Martins dispensation is drawne from his Downefall pag. 40. and his Funerall lib. 2. cap. 7. The fiftenth chapter Of worshipping of images is a wofull slippe of his wofull cry pag. 62. and 63. The sixtenth chapter Of Church seruice in the vulgar tongue descendeth from his Suruey pag. 476. 477. c. The seauenteth chapter Of the antiquity of Popishe Masse and the parts thereof acknowledgeth the same Suruey for syre pag. 480. and 481. The eightenth chapter Of the profound mystery of Popishe Masse yssueth from the same booke pag. 484. The ninetenth chapter Of kissing the Popes feete hath his first head and origen in the same Suruey pag. 487. The twentith chapter Of praying vpon beades The one and twentith Of chaunging the Popes name The two and twentith Of the Paschall torch The three and twentith Of the Popishe Pax be fower brethren begotten by his Suruey pag. 487. 486. 488. and 482. The fower and twentith chapter Of the Popes Bulles The fiue and twentith Of the Popishe Agnus Dei The sixe and twentith Of Candlemas day be three sisters descending from the very same father pag. 492. and 491. The seauen and twentith chapter Of the doubtfull oath c. receiueth his generation from his Motiues pag. 60. and his Downefall pag. 124 c. The eight and twentith chapter Of fasting hath his creation from his Suruey pag. 68. c. The nine and twentith chapter Of the annulling of Popish wedlock was first handled in his Motiues pag. 63. and 64. and afterward rehandled in his Downefall pag. 36. The thirtith and last chapter receiued his first life from his Motiues pag. 56. and 57. This is the Anatomy and liuely description of his Triall which discouereth the rare dexterity he hath in writing and from whatfountayne his great shewe of abundaÌ„ce floweth His choice of newe bookes is not vnlike the variety of Esopes suppers or the skilof som poore fidler that with two or three course daunces scraped vpon a sluttishe crowde serueth the whole countrey and maketh his good masters mery This is the first thing which I had to say concerning Bell and his bookes The second pointe which I meant to entreat of and would haue the Reader to note is that whereas Bels former bookes did continually ringe out bragges and brauinges darings and redarings challenges and Larums and the world was filled with his dayly outcriestin this last l'amphlet of his Triall as also in his Antepast sor so much as I have readde I meete with no suche swelling words nor finde any smoake of that â—aunting humor Those windes are allaid that terrible tempest is ouerblowne and the surginge seas and mounting waues of such extrauagant insolency calnied and at quiet Besore we could heare no other musicke but the battaile and such quarter braules as these In regard hereof most gracious In the Epistle dedâ—catorie of his Funeral and dread Soueraigne I now prostrate quoth Bell vpon my knees doe most humbly beseche your most excellent Maiesty that it will please your Highnes of your most princely fauour to graunt your roiall licence and safe conduct for any Englishe lesuit or lesuited Bapist in the whole world that shall haue courage to appeare for the true performance of the challenge in such manner as is in this reply expressed Oh most gracious Soueraigne I am ioyfull when I remember this future combate I wishe in my hart that it may be effected with all expedition for I confidently perswade my self in our Lord Iesus that his name shall thereby be glorified your Maiesty highely honoured the Papists stricken dead and all true harted Englishe subiects receiue vnspeakable endlesse comfort Yf it shall fall out otherwise and that I shall not be found euen in your Maiesties iudgement to haue the victory and vpper hand I will be content to loose my life for my iust reward as one that dishonoured your Maiesty and the cause where also the Echo of the margent returneth backe againe the like triumphant tune O noble king quoth he for Christs sake graunt my request the victory is already gotten none of them dare vndertake the quarrell Let me be hanged bowelled and quartered yea and my corps cast to the fowles of the aire if the victory fall not on my side Againe in an other place I dare and redare all Englishe Funeral lib. 2. cap. 2. pag. 5. Iesuits and Iesuited Papists whosoeuer and wheresoeuer to let me haue their speedy answear and the acceptance of this challenge c. No no they dare neuer do such an act dum spiritus hos artus what they dare do when I am dead I knowe not And againe he not only reneweth his challenge but also enlargeth it with many bigge and terrible wordes protesting his burninge desire and great readines in this marginall note A newe Funâ—val lib. 2. cap. 5. pag. 12. Annexed to the and of his Funeral challenge which I desire with all my hart to be performed as knoweth our mereifull God And yet once againe he is vpon our bones with A freshe Larum or newe challenge to all Englishe Iesuites and Iesuited Papists in the vniuersall world tagge and ragge none at all excepted whosoeuer shall appeare in the shape of man This was the braue vaine and exalted spirit of the magnanimous Minister neuer at quiet but still vrginge and pricking vs forward goading ad goaringe vs to the combate with his continuall scoffes tauntes girds glickes with incessant and insupportable scornes and in most contemptible and disdainfull manner a sample whereof I haue here in the former sentences presented before the good Reader a more large viewe may be had in the Dolefull knel and that taken only out of the one booke of his Funerall But he that before like a princely Eagle soared a lost in the skies creepeth now like a poore frozen snake in the lowe vautes and valleis Esops rumbling mountayne that terrified all the borders with the feare of som mishapen and formidable monster is at last deliuered of a ridiculous mouse Bell that thus assaulted vs with his challenges
Vdal to insringe his solutions which giueth me iust cause to suspect that he is with the preconceipted sincerity of his owne doctors carryed away into error and so looketh little into the Originals which if he did he could not but finde that which he pretendeth to seeke for if he shutte not his eies against the truth as he professeth he will not VVhich that he may doe I shall not forgett to cōmend him to his mercy who desireth not the death of a sinner but that all should com to the knowledg of his name But yf it shall sal out that he will stil proceede forward in his fourmer course yet I would wishe him in writinge to abstayne from all biting and bitter words which somtyme he breaketh into that the quarrell of God may not he prosecuted like the quarrels of this world but with that modesty which becometh the prosessors of diuinity and religion And for my part sory I am that Bell hath so far giuen the raynes to his passion as with such virulent termes and insupportable insolency to cast forth his gantlet of defiance and to insult against the whole Church of God which hath made my stile before in the Preface more stirring and quicke then otherwise I would or thought conuenient least we might be condemned of cowardize or seare to the preiudice of truth which so often and so opprobriously he obiecteth against vs. Thus much of these matters now it remaineth to encounter Bell and to examin and make triall what substantiall stuffe is contayned in his Triall of the newe religion B. C. BELS TRIAL EXAMINED CENSVRED AND REFVTED The Proeme ENtending to note the principall vntruthes of Bels Pamphlet the principall part and fundamentall substance thereof I haue thought goode to take my worke orderly before me first to salute his Epistle and see what holsome stuffe he presenteth in that to his Patrones Bells Epistle Dedicatory THE 1. VNTRVTH THE Minister standeth vppon coales till his fingers be at worke and his penne busied about his harts delight and therfore not to loose any time hefalleth roundly to the matter presenting his patrons with a tricke of his occupation in his very first entrance His wordes be these The visible church quoth he as writeth Egesippus Egesip apud Eusebium host lib. 3. cap. 32. remayned a virgin free from all heresies and corruptions during the lise of the Apostles that is to say about one hundred yeares after Christ to which time S. Iohn the Euangelist was liuinge But after the death of the Apostles sayth he errors by litle and litle crept into the church as into a voyd and desert house This assertion is dolefull ynoughe and yet very profitable against all Popish Recusants of our time as who are not ashamed impudently to auouch that after so many hundred yeares from Christes ascension there hath bene no error at all in their Romish Babilon This collection will proue dolefull ynough to him selfe and not very profitable to the congregation by that time we haue sifted his words and examined the authoritye alleadged for it is powdreed with lies and iugling tricks thicke and three-sould For first if he meaneth any such error as may stand with the integritie of the Catholike faith most false it is that we deny any such error may creepe into the Church for we willingly confesse that Papias S. Ireneus and some others held the error of the Chiliastes as him selfe mentioneth straight after that S. Ciprian and diuers others with him were carryed a way in to the error of rebaptization but yet notwithstandinge these their errors they were true members of the Catholicke church seing that in questions newly springing vp error may be incurred but not allwayes heresy which importeth not only an error in the vnderstandinge but also malice and obstinacie in the will by contemninge the Church her decree and determination But if by error he meaneth heresie as no question he doth both because he saith that during the liues of the Apostles the Church was free from all heresies and corruptios but after their death error by litle and litle crept in and also for that he termeth our Church Romish Babilon or as he speaketh in his Suruey where he handleth the very same matter whorish Babylon by which Page 342. wordes it is plaine that he meaneth hereticall errors for such only maketh our Church Babylon and to forsake her true spouse Christ and to comit spirituall fornication by cleauing to newe damnable and hereticall opinions and lastly for that otherwise he proueth nothing against vs the scope of his booke being to shewe that our religion is not old but newe as being far different from the pure faith of the Apostles This then being his meaning most false it is I say that any such errors crept into the Church I meane with the corruption of the Churches sincere doctrine though I willingly graunt that diuers of the Church haue by heresie falne from true doctrine as namely the minister him selfe eyther in the Apostles time or shall doe vntill the worldes end and that by the singular prouidence of Christ who promised that hell gates should not preuayle Math. 16. against his Church and many like places to that purpose might be alledged But what say we to the authoritye of Egesippus who liued straight after the Apostles cited by Bell for iustification of that he affirmed Nothing els but that he belieth both Egesippus and also Eusebius whome he quoteth in the third booke of his history cap. 32. as the relator of those wordes of Egesippus Reade the place he that please no such thing shall there be found nor the name of Egesippus so much as once mentioned The minister was not content to Bels epistle dedicatorie borrowed frō his suruey pag. 341. 342. present his Patrons with a cast paragraffe of his Suruey makinge it the begininge of his Epistle for almost two pages together but he must also abuse both them and others with a notorious vntruth of his owne fatheringe that vppon Eusebius which is not there to be found Neyther can this dealing of his proceede from other roote then meere malice for immediatly after this sentence cited out of Eusebius in the 32. chapter of his third booke he produceth out of the 33. chapter of the same booke how Papias and Ireneus were infected with the error of the Chiliastes and that very truly which sheweth that he perused the place And in his Suruey the foresayd Pag 341. 342. places be found in like manner alleadged the one truely and the other most falsely Can this procedinge of his stewe from any other sinke then the filthy puddle of his owne corrupt conscience Beside this who knoweth not acquainted any thinge in antiquitie that Simon Magus set his heresie abroach in the Apostles time and before the death of S. Peter as Eusebius recounteth whose Lib. 2. hist cap. 12. death was long before the death of S. Iohn
this graceles gospeller writeth of blessed Pope Gregorie whom generally the Historiographers of that tyme diuers of them saintes in heauen do highly cōmend litle importeth a sufficiēt argumēt for his innocēcie zeale of true religiō it is that all nouelling sectmasters bād against him neuer shall Bell shew that he crept into the popedome by naughty meanes thoughe most easie to proue that his ministership ran frō his priesthoode vpon no holie motiues But to the matter An vntruth it is that Priests still cōtinued married in Germanie for the space of one thousand seuenty sower yeares as he boldlye affirmeth which I haue proued most demōstratiuelie against him in the Dolefull knell For his pag. 101. 102. manner is againe and againe to inculcate the same thing so neuer lacketh matter for newe bookes thoughe botched together of such rotten raggs as were handled els where so that Bell cann make a new title and a litle chaunge of the order to begett a new pamphlet at any tyme vpon small warninge But I liste not to imitate his vaine thoughe iustely I mighte for why may not I singe the same songe if he fiddle still the same tune Wherfor referringe the good reader to the former place I will here only adioyne one testimony not mentioned before and it is of Pope Zacharie who liued eight hundred years agoe and so longe before the tyme he mentioneth This good Pope writing to S. Bonifacius our worthy countryman then Bishopp the apostle of Germany hath these wordes speaking of Priestes From the day of taking priesthode they are to be forbidden yea euen from their owne wiues Of this decree the Centur. 8. Cel. 704. Magdeburgians make mention True it is that they score it vp for one of his errors thatiudgement proceeding from the error of their doctrine but it giueth vs a sufficient warrante to score vp that also for a notorious vntruth which the minister speaketh of the longe lawfull liberty of Ecclesiasticall wiuinge in Germany THE XV. XVI XVII XVIII AND XIX VNTRVTHES NOwe followeth a litter of diuers lyes conteyned in three or fower lynes of which I must speake in particular Pleading still for the marriage of the clergie he saith For this respecte was it that many learned and holie bishops were maryed in the auncient tyme and flourishinge state of the Church vz S. Gregorie S. Clement S. Spiridion S. Philogonius S. Eupsichius and others This he bringeth to proue that they marryed after receiuinge of holie orders or at least vsed still the carnall company of their former wiues or els he proueth nothinge But in these wordes is conteyned a notorious lye with siue followers and others Why hath he not noted in his margent sufficient authoritie to iustify what he saith will these tricks of trustie sir Thomas neuer be lefte It serueth not the turne to tell vs that he hath done it in his Suruey and that for two reasons The first is because many haue not that booke and no reasone can he alleadge for not addinge the quotations here but onlye that he would haue his ignorant reader to take all vpon the reporte of his worde Secondly for that I finde not in all his Suruey any Clement noted for a marryed bishop and yet haue I viewed ouer the third and fourth chapters of his third parte where he entreateth of that matter But to runne ouer his particular catalogue That S. Gregorie the father of S. Gregorie Nazianzen did marry after he was Bishopp is one vntruth for he was marryed before euer he was christened as he may learne out of that funerall Oration of Nazianzen which in his Suruey he Pag. 222. citeth to proue him a marryed bishoppe That S. Clement after the dignitie of bishopp tooke any wife is a second vntruth for I challeng him confidently thoughe litle knowinge what Clement he meaneth That S. Spiridion was marryed I graunte but Bell must proue that it was after he was created Bishopp and not before or at leaste that he vsed the company of his wife which he will neuer doe and so that maketh the third vntruth The verie selfe same thinge I say of S. Cheremon and S. Philogonius which make vpp the fourth and fift vntruthes THE XX. VNTRVTH OF Saint Eupsichius more consideration is to be had for Bell not onely here maketh him a marryed bishoppe but also in his Suruey Pag. 222. saith that he was Bishopp of Cesarea and a marryed man and soone after his marryage martyred for lesus Christe For if this be true which so confidentlye he affirmeth it seemeth very plaine that his marryage did followe holie orders But out vpon the currupt conscience of this casta way I vtterly deny that he was euer Bishopp or in any sacred orders at all being only a laye man and of an honorable family How doth he proue the contrary For iustification of that he saith he quoteth in the margent the Tripartite historie and Nicephorus Lib. 6. cap. 14. Lib. 10. cap. 10. The wordes of the tripartite historie bethese Furthermore at that tyme they say that Basilius a Priest of the churche of Ancyra ended his life by martirdome and Eupsichius a citizen of Cesarea in Cappadocia hauing latelie marryed a wife being yet as it were a brydgroome Where is here any mention of his being Bishoppe Sozomenus from whom Cassiodorus the compiler of the triparaite historie tooke those Wordes saith that Eupsichius was ex patricys of the senators or nobilitie without any mention of his Episcopall dignitie Nicephorus his second authour deliuereth the story in this manner Hoc ipso tempore c. At this verie tyme Basilius also a priest of the Church of Ancyra ended his life by martirdome and likewise Eupsichius of Cesarea in Cappadocia borne of an auncient family and honorable kinred who a litle before had marryed a wife and was as yet a bridegroome And this is so certaine that the Lutheran Centurists who would as willinglie heare newes of a bishopp marryed after his consecration as Bell but being heerin not so impudent as he that seemeth to be ashamed of nothing but truth and honestie teporte him onely to haue bene a noble man Eupsichius say they was Centur. 4. Col. 1430. of the Cittie of Cesarea discended of the nobilitie of Cappadocdia slaine by the Citizens of Cesarea c. and they cite Sozomenus before mentioned Whether this be not a gallant vntruth meet for such a reformed minister and professor of the sincere gospell I referre me to the iudgement of the prudent and indifferent reader I cannot perswade my selfe but had he not wholy consumed his conscience with continuall custome of carelesse sinninge it could not posibly be that he would euer sette abroache such manifest grosse and shamelesse vntruths Bels IIII. Chapter Of the Popish execrable Pardons THE XXI VNTRVTH THis chapter though it be but short yet it lacketh not the seale of his occupation for his conclusion is adorned
Bell deny this lett him for that great skille which he hath in hunting out the originall of Poperie and superstition tell vs at what tyme bet wixt the first conuersion and the late daies of Edward the sixt the vse of latin seruice crept in Shal we thincke that S. Gregory whom Bell confesseth to haue been an holy Bishoppe indede would euer Woeful cry pag. 62. Suruey pag. 187. haue permitted that custom to haue been brought into our countrey if he he had thought it superstitious wicked nay if he had not reputed it requisite good and Apostolicall More then fower hūdred yeares before the time of S. Gregory the auncient Bryttaines receaued the same manner of seruing God from the blessed Pope and martyr S. Eleutherius that is in the latin tongue which appeareth first because venerable Bede Lib. 2. hist cap. 2. reporteth that there was not any materiall differece betwixt S. Austen sent by S. Gregory and the Britain Bishoppes saue only in Baptisme and the obseruation of Easter Secondly for that certaine it is that they had also since S. Austens tyme the masse in the latin tongue but to thincke that if they had bene once in possession of the seruice in their owne vulgar language that they could haue bene brought from that without infinite garboils especially the opposition betwixt them and the English Saxons in auncient tyme considered or that if any such contention had fallen out that it could haue bene omitted by the curious pennes of our historiographers it were greate simplicitie once to surmise Wherfore what followeth but that they receiued that custom at their first conuersion which was within lessen then two hundred yeares after Christ and consequently that by Bels allowance and the common cōputation of others it is sounde Catholicke and Apostolicall and no◠any rotten ragge of a newe religion as this ragge master gableth and that on the contrary to haue the publique seruice in the vulgar tongue is a newe patch of Protestanisme fetched from VVittenberge or that mart of Martinists the holy city of Geneua A short admonition concerning Bels eleuen chapters following THese chapters I shall soone dispatch seing they concerne not any weighty points of religion but ceremonies and such like in which the Chureh hath authority to ordaine and abrogate to make or repeale lawes as shall seeme most meete for the honour of God and the edification of Christian people For prooffe whereof I could alleage many Protestants but I will content my self only with one whose authority the minister will not refuse being a deere frend of his owne the first letters of his name are Thomas Bell who in a booke sett out not long since against the Puritanicall presbitery called by him The regiment of the Church disputeth earnestly for Imprinted by T. C. c. anno 1606. In his Regiment of the church cap. 7. pag. 53. the authority of the Church in thinges indifferent namely in his seauenth chapter where he deliuereth these two Aphorismes The first of things de facto altered in the Church for prooffe whereof he reckoneth vp sixe particular pointes recorded in scripture yet chaunged by the Church The first is to receiue the communion in the morning though Christ did it after supper The second is to celebrate it in leauened bread though Christ did it in vnleauened bread The third is that the Apostles receiued the communion sitting but now it is receiued kneeling Fourthly Christ premised washing of feet which is nowe omitted Fiftly the Apostles commaunded abstinence from bloud and that which is strangled and yet the Church hath abrogated that decree Sixtly S. Paul prescribed prophesying to be done with bare head yet small account is made thereof The second aphorisme is of thinges not expressed in scriture and yet decreed by the Church to be obserued and kept and this he proueth by the dedication of Salomons temple for seauene daies and out of 2. Paralip 7. Hoster cap. 3. 9. 1. Ma chab 4. the festiuall daies appointed by Mardocheus and the Machabees and afterward vpon this ground in his eigth chapter he iustifieth diuers things in particular instituted by the Church as the obseruation of festiuall daies kneeling at the communion Surplesses Tippets and square capps the ring in marriage and such like This being so what an old house hath this minister brought vpon his owne head neuer did old Elderton so tickle the Iesuits with gentle iyrks as Sr. Thomas hath prouided roddes for the runnigate of Rascall for if he inferre against our ceremonyes as he doth because they were instituted since Christ though very auncient that they be rotten ragges of the newe religion what shall become of their ceremonies which either be borrowed from vs or of far later date what can they be els but pild patches of Protestanisme and rusty raggs of the reformed congregation nay what must their communion booke it self be neuer heard of in the whole world till the late daies of king Edward the sixt and drawen from our Portesse and masse bookes as the thing it self speaketh and their Geneua Gospellers often cast in their teeth Was euer braue Ministers wittes so misledde by I knowe not what night ghoste or colepixen as to say that in one place with good grace which in an other turneth him to great shame and disgrace where is nowe Sr. Thomas and how beates his pulse are ceremonies instituted since the tyme of Christ and and his Apostles rotten ragges or no if not why is he so hotte on foot to persecute them so eagerly and intertaineth them with such homely termes if they be rotten ragges as here he saith how can he defend the English congregation that ruffleth in such raggs or himself that disputeth for the authority of the Church in that case or with what face can he euer looke vpon the Geneua generation of the mocking Martinists Certainly were he not habituated to chopping of faiths and chaunging of religion and that careles contempt had armed him to disgest any disgrace these newes were able to bring the panges of death but he that hath swallowed down mil-stones wil neuer make bones at such small choking oisters How his Regiment of the Bels bookes contrary one to an other Church written against Puritanes agreeth with The triall of the newe religion published against Papists or this with that be curious points of scrupulosity Bell careth neither for contradiction nor conscience but only seeketh the glory of God and the aduauncement of that Gospell which for the tyme present and duringe the same reuelation he firmely beleueth to be the euerlastinge truth But to runne ouer some of his chapters a little more in particular Bels XVII Chapter Of the antiquitie of Popish masse and the partes thereof THe minister very profoundly scoffeth both at other parts of the Masse and also at these following writing thus Gregory added the Kyrie eleyson Telesphorus Gloria in excelsi is Deo Gelasius the collects Hieronymus the
Epistle and Gospell The Creed was receiued of the Nicene Councell Pope Sergius the Agnus Dei after which he concludeth both of these and others which he there mentioneth as the Introite Halleluia the commemoration of the dead Incense and the Pax in this manner This being so I can not but conclude that euery patch and peece of the Romishe Masse is but a rotten ragge of the newe religion So earnest he is to make euery peece of the Masse a rotten ragge that he hath also made many parts of their owne Communion booke patches and peeces and rotten ragges to the great exultation of all truly deuoted to the Geneua discipline in which Kyrie eleison Gloria in excelsis The Collectes Epistle and Gospell Nicene Crede and Agnus Dei be founde no lesse then in our Masse bookes I omitte here how falsely and blasphemously he concludeth euery peece of the Masse to be rotten ragges for are the words of consecratiō the most essentiall part thereof which came not from any man but from the institution of Christ himself as also the Pater noster rotten ragges who durst say it but Sr. Thomas And here by the way the attentiue reader may easily answear a common and friuolous obiection of the Protestāts that maruaile how we make the Masse the sacrifice of the new testamēt to haue bene ordayned by Christ himself when as Durandus others note at what tyme and who they were that composed the parts thereof when as neither Durandus nor any other make the essential and very substantiall part of the masse that is the wordes of consecratiō to haue come from any other then the sonne of God but they speake of the accidentall parts thereof to witt either deuoute prayers or ceremonies which we willingly graunt to proceede from the institution of Christes Church The like may be said of the Protestants communion which they pretend to deriue not from any other then Christ himself and yet many of their praiers ceremonies which accōpany that actiō they can not shewe out of Gods word but must confesse to come from later institution can not finde more auncient authors then be alleaged for ours the moste of which liued more then a thousand years since and be glorious Saints in heauen and therfore what doth Bell and such like Ministers that deride the ceremonyes and parts of the Masse but frump and flout at sacred and venerable antiquity from whom they come as Sr. Thomas here confesseth and mocke and mowe at their owne communion booke and partes thereof being borrowed frō vs or in what they differ can shewe no greater antiquity then the late daies of Edward the Sixt at what tyme diuers ministers did hammer them in the forge of their owne inuention Bels XVIII Chapter Of the profounde mysteries of Popish masse IN this chapter the minister maketh himself some pastime for that one ceremony vsed in former tymes is now giuen ouer and out of vse as though the Church hath not that authority as before out of Bell was proued The Englishe congregation allowed by act of Parlamēt in kinge Edwards time the newe communion booke for sound and agreable to Gods word yet was it in the same kings daies and not long after abrogated a newe deuised not only differēt in ceremonyes but also in points of more importance For exāple in the first cōmunion book in the supper of the Lord or newe masse for that name also they mention they pray for the dead saying VVe commend vnto thy Fol. 11◠mercy o Lord all other thy seruants which are departed hence Praier for the dead in the first Englishcommunion booke from vs with the signe of fayth and nowe do rest in the sleepe of peace Graunt vnto them we beseche the thy mercy and euerlastinge peace c. But this doctrine was straight reformed and no such thing found in the next And the minister himself in one Queenes daies chaunged his fayth twice and would I make no doubt chaunge it twice more if any newe and pleasing reuelation should blowe in the skye He and his congregation that haue made so maine mutations no waies maintainable may be silent with shame and not speake of the change of a small ceremony which both according to vs and himself is lawfull and may be done by the Church as the honour of God and edifications of others shall require the same Bels XIX Chapter Of kissinge the Popes feete THis chapter of his flingeth at the kissinge of the Popes feete which yet he confesseth here an Emperour to haue done nine hundred yeares agoe Let him answear what I wrote of that pointe in the Forerunner for in his Funerall he hath not Pag. 43. See also the Doleful knel. pag. 148. done it which yet is the pretended answear to that treatise or for shame commaunde the clapper to silence Bels XX. Chapter Of prayinge vpon Beades HEre the minister runneth vpon Rosaries and praying vpon beades making the beginning thereof some fiue hundred years agoe before that tyme he saith the people of God vsed altogether godly bookes of praier And what praiers I besech him did they vse that could not reade at all or doe now amongest them which lacke that skille of which sort the number is not fewe This inconuenience with vs is auoided by sayinge of the beades which none so ignorant but can vse and so fruitfully spend their tyme. Mary with the Protestants they must vse bookes that can neuer a letter on the booke or praye by speciall reuelation As the Church setteth forth diuers bookes of praiers for the benefitt of them that can reade so may she institute the beades for those that can not Let him shewe that the praiers vpon the beades be not good or that no manner of praier though good may be vsed which was not in the Apostles tyme neither of which he will euer be able to shewe or els all his babling against the beades is not worth a rotten beade Thomas Sternhold Robert VVisdom and such like haue inuented long since the coming vp of the beades the harmonious canticles of Geneua psalmes will he for all that say as he doth of the beades that the rehearsall of the originall is sufficient confutation and call them a rotten ragge of the newe religion Veryly I will not deny but he may do it truly were it not that their religion indeede is so newe that the ragge as yet can scarse be rotten The very same obiection which he maketh against the beades may proceede against the very communio◠book it self and that far more iustly seing it is a la◠crabstocke of their owne planting as before hat◠benesaid It were better for him to looke vnto hi◠owne fripperie and the cast canions of the congregation then to meddle with the sacred wardroa◠of the Catholique Church Bels XXI Chapter Of chaunging the Popes name IN this chapter he doth reuell at the chaunging of the Popes name which no question