whatsoeuer giuing vs thereby to vnderstand that not onely the bondes of sins but as well all other knots and difficulties in matters of fayth are to be loosed by S. Peter and by the Pastours that succeed in the Church See more Deut. 17.8 Aggeus 2.11 2. Chron. 19.8 vnto the end 2. Thes 2.15 ¶ The holy Fathers that affirme the same are S. Gregory Naz. in orat excusat Tertul. lib. de praescrip aduersus haer S. Cyprian lib. 1. epist 3. S. Aug. lib. 1. cont Cresc cap. 33. lib. cont Fund cap. 5. Vincent Lyr. in suo commonit And S. Anselme lib. de incar c. 1. writing to Pope Vrban saith thus vnto him Vnto no other is more rightly referred to be corrected whatsoeuer ariseth in the Church against the Catholique fayth c. They affirme III. That the Scriptures are easy to be vnderstood and that therefore none ought to be restrayned from reading of them COntrary to the expresse words of their owne Bible 2. Pet. 3.16 where S. Peter speaking of S. Pauls Epistles saith In which are some thinges hard to be vnderstood which they that are vnlearned and vnstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures vnto their owne destruction But all vnlearned Reformers do both read and are allowed to read those hard thinges yea the Booke of Apocalyps also yet harder without any restraint to man or woman which yet they vnderstand not therefore they wrest them as also other Scriptures to their owne destruction Actes 8.30 And Philip said Vnderstandest thou what thou readest And be said How can I except some man should guide me Where first may be noted that this Noble Eunuch freely confessed he could not vnderstand the Scriptures without an interpreter to expound them albeit he was a great and serious student in them and withall a holy and humble man as S. Hierome noteth of him Epist ad Paulin. de stud Scrip. and next that he sayth Except some man guide me So as he fled not to his priuate spirit nor yet to conferring of place with place as our Aduersaries do Therfore the Scriptures are not easy Luc. 24.25 27. Christ called two of his Disciples fooles and slow of hart c. And beginning at Moyses and all the Prophets he expounded vnto them in all the Scriptures the thinges concerning himselfe How then are the Scriptures so easily to be vnderstood of the vnlearned when Christs Disciples themselues could not vnderstand them till first they were expounded to them Reuelat. 5.1 c. The Angell speaking of the Booke sealed with seauen seales wept much because no man in heauen nor in earth was able to open the booke nether to looke theron A strange case to read in Scripture it selfe that the booke of Scripture should be shut with so many seales but much more strange that euen in S. Iohns and the Apostles time none could be found nether in heauen nor earth able to open the same nor to looke theron which euery Apprentice now a dayes without any difficulty will vndertake to doe See more 2. Pet. 1.20 Mat. 13.11 36. Luc. 24.45 1. Cor. 12.10 Luc. 8.10 54. Luc. 2. 50.2 Tim. 3.7 1. Iohn 4.6 Iohn 5.35 Psal 119.18 34 Reuel 51. c. ¶ The Holy Fathers that affirme the same are S. Irenaeus l. 2. cap. 47. Origen l. cont Cels S. Amb. epist 44. ad Constant where he calleth it A sea and depth of propheticall riddles S. Hier. in praefat comment in Ephes 5. And S. Aug. epist. 119. cap. 21. saith The thinges of holy Scripture that I know not are many more then those that I know So S. Greg. hom 6. in Ezech. and many other Fathers confesse the same of themselues S. Denis Bishop of Corinth cited by Eusebius lib. 7. hist Ec. 20. saith Of this Booke of Scripture to wit this is my opinion that the matter therof is far more profoūd then my wit can reach vnto They affirme IV. That Apostolicall Traditions and ancient Customes of the Church not found in the written word are not to be receiued nor do oblige vs. COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible 2. Thes 2.15 Therfore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which yee haue bene taught whether by word or by our Epistle Hence it is cleere that some Traditiōs were deliuered to the Thessalonians by word of mouth and those of equal authority with what was written if not of more for the holy Ghost doth name them first as they were indeed the first in being yea it is certaine that before the new Testament was written the Apostles deliuered all by Tradition and word of mouth Therfore Apostolicall Traditions are to be receiued and do oblige vs. 2. Thes 3.6 Now I command you bretheren in the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ that yee withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which he receiued of vs. Lo he saith not I counsell you but I command you But these men reiecting all Traditions walke disorderly therfore they breake the Apostles cōmandment Yea they stand not but are fallen they let goe what the word it selfe doth will them to hould and therfore in the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ let all good men withdraw themselues from them 1. Cor. 11.2 Now I praise you brethren that you remember me in all thinges and keepe the Traditions as I haue deliuered them vnto you But these reiect all Traditions therfore needes must S. Paul speake thus vnto them Now none of my brethren I dispraise you for that you forget me in all thinges and keepe not the Traditions as I haue deliuered them vnto you Lastly If nothing at all be to be belieued but only that which is left vs written wherein should the Church haue exercised herselfe from Adam to Moyses the space of two thousand six hundred yeares See more 1. Tim. 6.3.20 2. Tim. 1.13.2 Tim. 2.2 Iohn 20.30 21.25 16.12.1 Cor. 11.16.34.2 ep Iohn 12. 3. ep of S. Iohn 13. Actes 16.4 15.28 ¶ The Fathers that affirme the same are S. Irenaeus l. 3. c. 4. Origen in cap. 6. ad Rom. S. Damas l. 4. c. 17. S. Chrysost in 2. Thes 2. And S. Basil de Spiritu sancto saith Some thinges we haue from Scripture other thinges from the Apostles both which haue like force vnto Godlines S. Chrysost hom 4. in 2. Thes sayth If is a Tradition seeke thou no further They affirme V. That a man by his owne vnderstanding or Priuate spirit may rightly iudge interprete Scripture COntrary to the expersse wordes of their owne Bible 1. Cor. 12.8 c. To one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit to another the working of miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another kindes of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues but all these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit deuiding to euery man seuerally as
Elias talking with them Therfore Saints deceased haue afterwards appeared to some on earth Matt. 27.52 And the graues were opened and many bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of the graues after his resurrection and went into the holy Citty and appeared vnto many c. 2. Mac. 15.12 Onias the High Priest after he was dead appeared to Iudas Machabaeus aliue The like did Samuel vnto Saul What shall we say then to those that will deny a truth to cleere For some such my selfe haue met withall See more Luc. Luc. 16.27.28 Ioan. 11.44 Luc. 7.15 23. Mat. 9.25 Marc. 5.42 ¶ See S. Bede l. 5. cap. 13. hist of England S. Gregory in his booke of Morals in sundry places XXXI That the Saints deceased know not what passeth heere on earth COntrary to the expresse words of their owne Bible Luc. 16. 29. Where Abraham knew that there were Moyses and the Prophets Books heere on earth which he himselfe had neuer seene when he was aliue as S. Aug. witnesseth lib. de cura pro mortuis cap. 14. Therefore the Saints deceased know what passeth here on earth Iohn 5.45 Doe not thinke that I wil accuse you to the Father there is one that accuseth you euen Moyses in whome we trust But how could Moyses dead two thousand yeares before accuse those that were then liuing if the Saints deceased know not what passeth heere on earth Like vnto this is that Reuel 12.10 And I heard a loud voyce saying in heauen c. The accuser of our brethren is cast downe which accuseth them before our God day and night Now she diuels cannot accuse men day and night before God but they must first know wherof who then will for shame deny that vnto Saints and Angels which must needes be granted to the very deuill 2. Kings 6.12 we 4. Kings O King Elisha the Prophet that is in Israel telleth the King the of Israel words that thou speakest in thy bed-chamber Hence I thus argue If the light of Prophecy could extend it selfe so far as to make knowne see and vnderstand things so secret yea euen to inward thoughts who can with reason deny that the light of glory can do the same in the soules of the blessed The like is proued out of many other places of holy Scripture as 2. Reg. 5.26 where the Prophet Elizeus being a far of saw all that passed betwixt Naaman and Giesi his seruant S. Paul was rapt into the third Heauen and saw that which was not to be tould to man 1. Cor. 12. S. Stephen saw from earth Christ sitting at the right hand of his Father Act. 7. The Rich-glutton saw from hell to heauen as Protestants confesse how then say they that the Saints cannot know or see from heauen to earth And without some reciprocall knowledge there could be no communion at all betweene the Saints in Heauen and the faythful on earth the which is an article of our creed which notwithstanding the continuall passage of soules thither doth conuince See more Matt. 19.28 Reuel 2.26 Luc. 22.30 Acts. 5.3.1 Kinges 28.14 Eccles 4.6.23 ¶ See Eusebius serm de Annunt S. Hier. in epitaph Paulae S. Maximus serm de S. Agnete XXXII That the Saints pray not for vs. COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Reuelat 5.8 The foure and twenty Elders fell downe before the Lambe hauing euery one of them harpes and golden vialls full of odours which are the prayers of Saints Lo how among so many diuine and vnsearchable mysteries set downe in holy Writ without exposition it pleased God that the Apostle himselfe should cleerly open this point vnto vs saying which odours are the prayers of Saints that so our Aduersaries may haue no excuse of their errour Therfore the Saints pray for vs. 2. Machab. 15.14 Then Onias answered saying This is a louer of the brethren who prayeth much for the people and for the holy Citty to wit Ieremias the Prophet of God Ancient Origen hom 18. in Ioan. saith It appeareth that Saints departed from this life haue care of the people as it is writen in the actes of the Machabees many yeares after the death of Ieremy Ierem. 15.1 Though Moyses and Samuel stood before me yet my mind could not be towards this people Hence S. Hierom. in his Commentaries and S. Greg. lib. 9. of his Moralls cap. 12. do gather that Moyses and Samuel after their death both could and did sometimes pray for the same people for otherwise it should be absurd to say Though Moyses and Samuel stood before me c. Baruch 3.4 O Lord almighty thou God of Israel heare now the prayers of the dead Israëlites we read of the dead of Israël And Theodoret paraphrasing vpon the Prophet Baruch interpreteth this place as Catholiques do Therfore the dead of Israel prayed for the liuing Reuel 2.26.27 And he that ouercommeth keepeth my works vnto the end to him will I giue power ouer the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron Since Iesus-Christ therfore imparteth his power vnto them vpon nations therfore they may with Iesus-Christ pray for those ouer whom they are thus established So S. Augustine expoundeth the same writing vpon the 2. Psalme We read also in the 16. of S. Luc. that the Rich-glutton in hell prayed for his brethren that were on earth If therefore the Saints in heauen pray not for vs their brethren on earth then we may say that greater is the Charity of the damned then of the saued But this were too absurd to say A conclusion which S. Aug. draweth from this very place ¶ See S Aug. serm 15. de verbis Apost S. Hilar. in Psalm 129. S. Damascen lib. 4. de fide cap. 16. with many others XXXIII That we ought not to beseech God to graunt our prayers in fauour of the Saints or their Merits nor do we receiue any benefit therby TWo wayes there are of praying by the mediation of the blessed Saints The one by beseeching God to grant our desires in fauour of them and their merits The other by expresly praying them to intercede and pray to God for vs. Both being impugned by our Reformers we will proue them our of their owne Bible The proofe of the first is contrary to the expresse words of their owne text Exod. 32.13 Remember Abraham Isaac and Israell thy seruants to whom thou swarest by thine owne selfe and saidst vnto them I will multiply your seed as the starres of heauen c. And our Lord repented we read was pacified of the euill which he thought to do vnto his people Loe how plainly Moyses prayed to God by the meditation of the holy Patriarches A forme of prayer so pleasing to him as hauing said a litle before that for their sinne of Idolatry he would consume them the memory of his holy Seruants being but laid before him he presently pardoned them Therfore we may beseech God to grant vs our prayers in fauour of them Theod.
house of rest for the Arke of the Couenant of the Lord and for the footstoole of our God Now the principall reason why the Arke was worshipped was in regard of the Images that were set vpon it which the Iewes did worship as S. Hierom witnesseth in his Epistle ad Marcellam Philip. 2.10 That at the Name of Iesus euery knee should bow of thinges in heauen and thinges in earth and thinges vnder the earth Now that is the Name of Iesus which either is pronounced by anothers mouth printed in a booke or painted and engrauen in a image but at any of these we are commanded to bow the knee Againe if Images ought not to be worshipped we may not whatsoeuer the Apostle saith bow our knee at the Name of Iesus seeing wordes as Aristole saith and as the truth is are signes representatiue of the thinges they signifie and are the images of the eares as the others are of the eyes Num. 21.8 And the Lord said vnto Moyses Make thee a fiery Serpent and set it vp vpon a pole and it shall come to passe that euery one that is bit when he looketh vpon it shall liue Hence are euidently proued diuers thinges against our Reformers 1. That God commanded the making of this Image 2. The setting of it vp for a signe 3. He promised that the lookers theron should assuredly receiue succour and help 4. He warranted the making the setting vp the behoulding and the reuerencing thereof to be exempted from breach of the first Commandement by working so many and so manifest miracles at and before the presence thereof Therfore an Image may be made may be set vp may be looked on and be reuerenced as Doctor Sanders most learnedly concludeth in his Treatise of Images ¶ See Fathers that affirme the same S. Amb. serm 1. in Psal 118. S. Aug. lib. 3. de Trinit S. Greg. lib. 7. epist 5. ad Ian. Finally S. Basill saith in Iulian. citat in 7. Sinod I honour the histories of Images and do publickly worship them for this being deliuered vs from the holy Apostles is not to be forbidden S. Chrysostom in his Masse turned into Latin by Erasmus sayth The Priest boweth his head to the Image of Christ. S. Damascen lib. 4. cap. 17. saith The worshipping of the Crosse and of Images is a Tradition of the Apostles But before I cōclude this Point I desire to solue a few obiections which vsually our Reformers bring against the Honour of holy Images Their 1. Obiection Is taken out of 2. Kings we 4.18 where King Ezechias broke downe the brasen serpent wherof we last made mention seing it to be the cause of Idolatry Answere This indeed is a common place from whence our Aduersaries collect sundry false and sophisticall arguments to wit from the abuse of any good thing to destroy it vtterly together with the right vse thereof But by the same argument they may as well collect that the Sunne and the Moone should be taken out of the Firmament because they were worshipped by the Gentils for Gods Likewise that the holy Bible should be burnt because many a one draweth damnable heresies forth of the same to his owne perdition Yea this silly argument borrowed from the abuse of thinges serues very fitly to proue the quite contrary thus Images haue byn sometimes abused therfore they were good in themselues for those thinges which are euill by abuse only must needes be good being well vsed Their 2. Obiection You giue that honour to Images which is due to God alone worshipping adoring and creeping to them as to God Answere We say the contrary which thus we proue The difference of honour proceedeth principally from the minde and not from the exteriour bowing or demeanour of the body For if I prostrate my selfe before an Image or kisse the same well knowing the while that it is no God nor reasonable Creature but only a rememhrance of God towards whome I desire to shew myne affection God knoweth how far off mine honour is from that honour which is due to him alone As contrary wise if I lay prostrate at Christes feet indeed kissed them knocked my breast held vp my hands vnto him called him the Sonne of God yet all this while thinke him not to be so in my hart myne honour truly should be no honour at all but a very contumely and affront vnto Christ Adde heereunto that the wordes which betoken honour adoration worship and the like are in a maner confounded in all languages but the hart from whence the honour proceedeth knoweth well the difference of euery thing D. Sanders de Imag. pag. 10. Their 3. Obiection It is expresly forbidden by God himselfe to fall downe before any Image or to worship it Answere Our Reformers themselues confesse to honour the Sacrament of Christs Supper which they teach to be an Image or representation of Christs body and bloud And seeing they belieue no other substance to be in the Sacrament besides bread and wine nor will not giue the honour of latria as we call it thereunto hence it followeth inuincibly that they do worship or honour some Image Now as they would not for all this haue vs to iudge or call them Idolaters euen so let it please them for their owne sakes to spare vs. For as they do not place or stay this honour in the bread and wine but from thence refer it to Christ himselfe euen so do we transfer all our honour from all Images vnto the first forme or patterne not suffering the same to rest or end in the Image which we honor Sander ibid. pag. 52. Their 4. Obiection An Image is a Creature and no God and to set vp a Creature to be worshipped or adored is flat Idolatry Answere Images are set vp in Churches not specially to the intent that the people should worship or adore them but partly to instruct the simple and partly to stir vp our mindes to follow the example of those holy men whose Images we do there behold So that the worship and reuerence which is there giuen to Images is giuen as it were by a consequence and rather because it may be lawfully giuen then because it is principally sought to be giuen As for the Idolatry which is obiected we are to vnderstand that the word is compounded of Latria and Idolum and is as much to say as the giuing of Latria or of Gods honour vnto an Idol But our Images are no Idols nor the honor we giue vnto them is that of Latria how then can it be said that Images are set vp to be vsed to Idolatry ¶ Thus much haue I thought good to adde in this place for the instruction of the ignorant and vnlearned people who vse to stumble at the doctrine Of the worship of Images because indeed they vnderstand it not And what is said for the worship of them may also serue for the lawfulnes of making them since the one supposeth the proofe of the other L.
That no man hath seene God in any forme and that therefore his Picture or Image cannot be made COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Gen. 3.8 where God appeared vnto Adam walking in the garden of Paradise in a corporall forme And Gen. 28.12.13 to Iacob standing aboue the ladder whereon the Angells ascended and descended For we must know that it is only the outward shape and forme of the thing which is expressed eyther in this or the like Image and not the inward substance thereof which is not possible for any Painter or Caruer to expresse which though it expresse not all that is therein yet that which it expresseth is a truth and thus may God be expressed to vs. Yea why may not God be expressed in the same forme manner wherein he hath manifested himselfe to mortall eyes Therfore his Picture or Image may be made Exod. 33.11 God appeared spake vnto Moyses face to face as one man speaketh to another To the Prophet Isay 6.1.5 Sitting vpon a throne To Daniel 7.9 Sitting wearing garments and hauing haire on his head like pure woll How then can any wise man doubt but that that thing may be lawfully set forth or expressed in an outward Image which necessarily must be conceiued by an inward 1. Kinges we 3. 22.19 I saw the Lord sitting on his throne and all the host of heauen standing by him on his right hand and on his left But perhaps they will say that God commandeth vs to heare his word and the Histories which speake of his apparitions but not to paint them I answere that seeing we learne by our eyes as well as by our eares there is no reason why that may not be painted before our eyes which may be preached to our eares Againe seeing we may find the aforesaid Visions and Histories in the Bible why may we not as well see them painted in pictures as written in a booke of white paper LI. That blessing or signing with the signe of the Crosse is not founded in holy Scripture COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Reuelat 7.3 Where one Angell sayd to foure other Angels Hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees till we haue sealed we read signed the seruants of our God in their foreheads Againe Marc. 10.16 And he tooke them vp in his armes put his handes vpon them and blessed them Therefore signing and blessing is founded in holy Scripture Luc. 24.50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany and he lift vp his handes and blessed them Therfore c. ¶ See the Fathers that affirme the same Dionys Areopagita cap. 4.5.6 Eccles Hier. Tertul. lib. de corona milit Origen in Exod. cap. 5. hom 6.5 S. Cyril Cat. 1. S. Basil lib. de spir sanct cap. 37. S. Chrysost hom 55. in Mat. cap. 16. LII That Concupiscence remayning after Baptisme is truly and properly sinne though not imputed to the faithfull COntrary to the expresse words of their owne Bible Iames 1. 14.15 But euery one is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne lust and entised Then when lust hath conceaued it bringeth forth Sinne and Sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death Heere 4. thinges are distinguished Concupiscence that is a power of couering prone to euill and her 3. motions Suggestion Delectation and Consent Now Concupiscence and her first motion S. Iames doth not call Synne but a Temptation to Sinne. Delight but not fully deliberate he calleth Sinne but not mortall the which only Consent causeth ¶ See in confirmation heerof S. Cyril l. 4. in Ioan. e. 51. S. Austine l. 5. cont Iulian. c. 3. 5. where he calleth Concupiscence not Sinne but the punishment of sinne besides the whole streame of Fathers LIII That Bishops and Priestes are not bound to liue a single life but may lawfully marry wiues COntrary to the words of their owne Bible Exod. 19.22 And let the Priests which come neere to the Lord sanctify themselues lest the Lord breake forth vpon them we read strike them Those also that were to eat the Paschal Lambe were commanded to haue their Loynes guirt Exod. 12.11 that is as S. Gregory expoundeth obseruing Continency hom 22. in Euangel In the New Testament S. Paul teacheth that a Bishop must be giuen to hospitality gentle sober iust Chast 1. Tim. 3. where insteed of the word Chast the Protestants in their later Editions translate of good behauiour therby to elude their state of liuing without wiues Also 2. Tim. 3.4 Thou therefore endure hardnes as a good souldier of Iesus-Christ No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier Which all the Fathers do vnderstand of liuing a single life and not to be entangled with wiues ¶ See Concil 2. Carthag can 2. Where it is expressely decreed that all Bishops Priests Deacons and those that handle the Sacraments be keepers of Chastity and to abstaine themselues euen from wiues S. Hieron l. 1. cont Iouin Apol. ad Pamach c. 3. Origen hom 23. in Num. Epiphan haer 59. Ambr. in 2. Tim. 3. and others LIIII That the publique seruice of the Church ought not to be said but in a language that all the people may vnderstand COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Luc. 1.8 And it came to passe that while he executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course according to the custome of the Priests office his lot was to burne Incense in the Temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of people were praying without at the time of Incense Where it is to be noted 1. That this was then the common custome 2. All the people were without and the Priest within how then did they vnderstand him Therfore the publique seruice of the Church may be so said as all the people vnderstand it not Leuit. 16.17 And there shal be no man in the Tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an attonement in the holy place vntill he come out haue made an attonement for himselfe and for his househould and for all the Congregation of Israel Therefore c. I shal not need to produce the authorities of Fathers for this point when the as practise of the whole Christian world for these many hundred yeares together hath byn directly contrary to our Reformers heerin against which to dispute as S. Aug sayth were insolent madnes See to Rhe. Test. pag. 46. But against this they will obiect out of Scripture this their probablest place 1. Cor. 14.16 When thou shalt blesse with the spirit how shall he that occupyeth the roome of the vnlearned say Amen at thy giuing of thankes seeing he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest For thou verily giuest thankes but the other is not edifyed Heer to I answere that there be two kindes of prayer or giuing of thankes in the Church The one