Alexandria of this likewise writeth Genebrard Of these Liturgies writeth Coccius lib. de Euchar. art 1.4 likewise mention is made of them in the booke called Bibliotheca Patrum in the 6. Tom. of the edition 1589. But least we become tedious to your graue Attention we will bring onely the Testimonies of some holy Fathers who liued in the most flourishing estate of Christs Church who be most commended of our Aduersaries The first of or VVitnesses shal be S. Denis Areopagite disciple of S. Paul of whom there is mention made in the actes of the Apostles Act. 17 14. who liued in the yeare 90. of whom Sutcliffe the Protestant writer saith de presb cap. 13. pag. 91 Orm. in his picture of a Puritan pa. 1605. Eccl. hist cap. 3. Dionysius antiquitatis optimus sanè testis videtur enim esse antiquissimus This S. Denis then who as Mr Oliuier Ormerod a learned Protestant writeth liued in the Apostles times in his Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie setteth downe the most of the Ceremonies that the Catholike Church vseth in celebrating the Masse viz the prayers the burning of Frankincense about the Altar the singing of Psalmes parcells of scripture which be read the washing of handes the giuing of the Pax the Eleuation of the holy Hoste the Adoration of thesame the Comunion receauing of the SacrameÌ„t yea he affirmeth that no sooner the B. Sacrament is on the Altar but there be present troopes of Saints This ancient Father in all his books maketh so much for vs both in this all other pointes of our Catholike Faith and against our Aduersaries that Caluine Lib 1. ca 1 §. 4 Câ—nâ— 1. li. 2 c 10 col 637. the Century writers haue no other refuge but to call in question the bookes of S. Denis albeit most vniustly preferring the saying and false opinion of Erasmus Laurentius Valla both GrammariaÌ„s before the authority of an infinite number of ancient Doctors Origen Orig. hom 2. indiuers ante med Athanas in Scholiâ—s in opera â—ionysii Chrys epist ad CaroluÌ„ Caluum gric hom 34 Fulk in his confut of Purgat pag 353. Coup in his dict at the wo d Dionyâ—ius pag. 105. who liued in the yeare 230. in one of his Homilies alleadging a passage of S. Denis his Caelestiall Hierarchy termeth him Great S. Denise Areopagite S. Athanasius who liued in the yeare 319 that Great Diuine S. Chrysostome who liued in the yeare 390 that Caelestiall birde S. Gregor the Great who liued in the yeare 590. Calleth him ancient venerable Father And not only are his bookes acknowledged by the ancient Fathers but euen by our late Protestante writers as by Mr Fulk Hermanus D. Bridges Lord Bishop of Oxford who did thinke him to haue beene before S. Basils dayes who liued in the yeare 370. by Mr. Cooper late Bishop of winchester by Mr. Oliuier Ormrod in his picture of a puritane in proofe of the Crosse made in Baptisme And by the Archbishop of Canterb in his answere to an admonition And this concerning our first witnes The second of our VVitnesses is S. Ignatius Scholler vnto S. Iohn the Euangelist who liued in the yeare 100. writeth thus in his vndoubted Epistle ad Smyrnenses Ad Smyrnenses that the Bishop is as highe Priest in respecte of his Priesthood affirming further that in the Church nothing is greater then the Bishop who sacrificeth vnto God for the safety of the whole world because it is saith he not lawfull without a Bishop to offer immaculate Sacrifice Ibidem to celebrate the masse c. This saying of S. Ignatius is acknowledged not gainsaid by the late Bishop of Canterb Mr. Whitgift in his Def. pag. 408. For further proofe of this and like sayings of S. Ignatius see S. Hierom lib. de viris illustribus ibidem it is not lawfull without a Bishop to offer Sacrifice or to celebrate masse The third VVitnesse is S. Irenaeus Scoller to S. Policarpus who was Disciple to S. Iohn Euangelist and liued in the yeare 170 who some times was Bishop of Lyons in France Lib. 4. aduersus Haeres This Irenaeus affirmeth that besides the spirituall Priestly Order of all the Iust another peculiar Priesthood of the Apostles who are in respect therof to attend dailye vpon God the Altar Dialog cum Tryph. The fourth VVitnesse is Iustinus Mart. who liued in the yeare 130. he affirmeth that the sacrifice of the Eucharist is by the Institution of Iesus Christ that it is celebrated throughout all the world by the Christians Euseb li. 4 c. 17 Hier. in catalog and that by the Priests only his bookes and workes are reported by Eusebius and S. Hierom. Origen hom 21. in Num. The fift VVitnesse is Origen who liued the yeare 230. In his 21 homily on the booke of Numeri the which homilies he did write before his falling into error doth Iudge that it appertaineth only to theÌ„ that liue chast continually to offer sacrifice The sixt VVitnesse is S. Cyprian Epist 63 ad Caecil who liued in the yeare 240. in his Epistle ad Caecilium saith thus If Iesus Christ our Sauiour God be himself cheif Priest of his Father and the first who did offer vp himself as a sacrifice to God the Father commanded vs to doe the same in commemoration of him Truely it followeth that the Priest who imitates that which Christ did doe is in the place of Christ and doth offer vp to God the Father a true and full sacrifice whensoeuer he beginneth to offer according to that manner as was offered by Iesus Christ this S. Cyprian for the which wordes the Century writers do reproue and reiect him The seuenth VVitnesse is S. Basil Liturg. Eccles Cappad apud Cocc li. de Euch. who professed a monasticall life and liued in the yeare 370. He setteth downe the ceremonies forme of the sacrifice of the masse which were obserued within his diocesse he being then Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia The 8. VVitnesse is S Iohn Chrysostome Lib de Sacerd. who liued in the yeare 390. in his booke de Sacerdotio speaking of the consecration of the host in the sacrifice of the masse saith thus The wordes are pronouÌ„ced by the Priest and are consecrated by the grace Chrys orat coÌ„tra geÌ„tes qd vnus est Deus vertue of God The booke which he maketh of Priesthood is a sufficient proofe of his opinion in this and other points of our Catholike Religion in the which book he affirmeth that in Britanie there were Altaria Christo dedicata The 9 VVitnesse is Tertullian one of the Latine Churche who liued in the yeare 220. whose authoritie is reuerenced not only by the Ancient Fathers In his picture of a Purit pa 3 but likewise by our aduersaryes Ormerod a Protestant writer doth alledge Tertullian his opinioÌ„ of the signe of the crosse Baptisme against his Puritane Brethren This
therefore after a more then ordinary manner appropriate them selues to your iudgment An exposition of certaine difficult obscure words termes of the lawes of this Realme printed A 1602 Fol 25. Fol 26. For if I mistake not but do rightly informe my selfe from your booke of The termes of the law your procedings in case of Attainder are threefold as by Outlary where the partie doth not appeare to answere the law by Verdict which is the triall of honest Iurors vpon his appearing to answere the law and by Confession which is the parties owne acknowledgement of his offence Also in case of Title to temperall possessions there be certaine receaued grounds in your law of great force to demōstrate the right as faire ancient vnsuspected Euidence the Testimony of credible witnesses and euen Praescription it selfe where of no memory occurreth to the contrary In so much as by the statute of Limitation no man is inhabled to commence prosecute suite Fol. 140 for any landes whereof him selfe or his Ancestors haue not bene before seised within a certaine time in that behalfe limited The only Priority of possession receiuing also this fauour in your law that to the partie disseised of such his possession you afford speciall remedy by VVritt of Assise Fol 24. Fol. 47. Fol. 47. allowing him also the benefit of his Continuall Claime to preuent Descent vpō the other parties dying seised Moreouer where the letter of your Statute law appeareth to be in some cases doubtfull you are reported to hold that sense and vnderstanding thereof for most reasonable which is found most agreable with the knowne answerable Practise of ensewing times Besides all this there are established with you for the finall ending of all arising cōtrouersies High cours of Iudgment to giue definitiue sentence and the same so giuē not by the law it selfe but by your selues placed as Iudges to pronounce determine what is the law Against which sentence so once orderly giuen No VVritt of errour or Appeale lieth Fol. 82. whereby to support the partie so cōuicted in the farther humor of his vnsatisfied and endles contention Of all which I haue informed my self partly from your foresaid booke of the Termes of the law and some by conference with others So as I am to craue pardon if exceeding herein the boldnesse of my profession I haue mistaken or not dewly obserued the apte proprietie of wordes retaining yet I hope the substance of the matter And for as much as these your ciuill obseruations prescribed for the inquiry setting forth of right are in themselues no other then as liuely resemblances imitations of those maine grounds which facred Theologie affordeth to the demonstration of Truth I am now likewise to craue further leaue to entreate you of your serious retired view of your leasurable Iudicious and graue considerations of this our short Application of some principall parts thereof to the like answerable grounds and principles so plentifully abounding in proofe of our Catholike Religion But least I should be tedions to your honors attention I will but set downe one point for the which Catholikes are so often commanded to appeare before your honors to answere to the law are dailie deiected disgraced Impouerished The point is knowne to you all to witt for entertaining of Massing Priests SECTION II. A verdict consisting of twelue generall Councels al of them being within the first foure hundred od yeares after our Sauiour Christ FIrst therfore concerning your proceeding by Iurors if that may be esteemed to be a true Verdict which is so by such giuen you haue then here the same giuen in the fore said point which might be giuen in other points likewise of our Catholike Faith by the Ancient Fathers who being assembled in Generall Councells Synodes sworne vpon the perill of their soules haue in this other many speciall cases directly found for vs. to that effect that those of our Iury may be the lesse suspected of you we will bring them of the first 400. yeares after Christ the which Ages euen your owne Doctors being Iudges were freest from all corruption alteratiō of the true Religiō Faith deliuered by the Apostles D. Fulke in his Answere to a counterfaite Catholike pag. 36. saith The Religion of the Papistes came in preuailed the yeare of God Anno 607 in the which time saith he The Reuelation of Antichrist with the Church fled in to the wildernesse to witt in A o. 607. And Simō de Voyō one of your Protestāte Doctors Simō de Voyō in his epist to the Reader in his discourse vpon the Catalogue of Doctors in the Epistle to the Reader post medium affirmeth that Anno 605. VVhen Pope Boniface was enstalled in the Papall throne Powell pa. 105 then falshood gott the victory And Mr. Gabriel Powell in his Considerations of the Papists reasons saith I grant that from the yeare of Christ 605. The professant Companie of Poperie hath bene very visible and perspicuous Perkins 307. And Mr. Perkins in his exposition of the Creed affirmeth That during the space of 900. yeares the Popish heresie hath spread it selfe ouer the whole earth Whit. p. 35. And Mr. Whitaker de Antichristo contra Sanderum saith During all that time to witt of 600. yeares The Church was pure and flourishing and inuiolably taught defended the faith deliuered from the Apostles And the like acknowledgement is made by many other learned Protestants which were tedions to your honors In his booke of Institut set out in frēch printed at Geneua 1562. to sett downe in this our short Application Only we will conclude which Caluine your cheife man who albeit he doth not graunt the florishing estate of the Romane Church the full space of the first 600. yeares after Christ yet doth acknowledge that no chāge of Faith was made vntill the times of S. Augustine Epiphanius Optatus c. which was for 440. yeares after Christ These be his owne wordes in his booke of Institutions set forth in French It was athing saith he notorions without doubt that after the Apostles age vntil those times no change was made in doctrine neither at Rome nor at other citties Thus Caluine Therefore hauing freed our iury from all suspition euen our enemies being our Iudges Whitg in his defence p. 330. we wil place as Fore-man of our Iury that notable and famous Councell of Nice the which saith Mr. Whitgift a protestante writer is of al wise learned men reuerenced esteemed embraced next vnto the Scriptures themselues The 1. Coūcell of Nice can 3. This Councell was celebrated the yeare of Christ 325. at the which was present 318. Bishops who did decree that Priests that did say Masse offer sacrifice It is not let at liberty to marry because exception is taken at women but the mother etc should not keepe cōpanie with any womā
Tertullian amongst the other traditions of the Catholike Churche Lib. de Coron milit cap. 3. reports of the saying of masse or oblation at the end of the yeare for the Soules departed The which sentence is acknowledged by Mr. Fulk to be of Tertullian And in his booke de cultu faeminarum In his confut of purg pag. 362 he saith that a woman should not goe abrode vnlesse it be to visiâ—t the sicke heare the sermon or assiste in the Churche at masse The Ninth VVitnesse is S. Ambrose who liued in the yeare 3â—0 and whome the Century-writers do reiect Lib 4 cap 4 col 295 for his to much writing in fauor of the sacrifice of the masse Catholike Priesthood Amongst other of his sayings he confessed of himself that tumult being risen in the assembly where he was Ambro. lib. 5 Epist 3 yet he was not forgetfull of his office but did beginne the masse The eleuenth of our VVitnesses is S. Augustine Scoller to S. Ambrose he died in the yeare 430. he is plentifull in this other points of Catholike doctrine euen in the Iudgment of our Aduersaryes Chemnitâ—us in his ExaÌ„ part 3. pag. 3. he named the word masse in one of his Sermons saying lett no man be absent from the masse on sonday And againe he named the word masse in another Sermon saying these words which shal be read at the masse and else where August serm 51 de tempore Ser. 91. de tem Ser. 337. Vniustly therefore do our aduersaryes obiect against vs saying that S. August did neuer name the word masse And within S. Austins time the 2. Councell of Carthage in the 3. chap and the Mileuitan Councell cap. 12. doth name the word masse And before S. Austin S. Ambrose who liued anno 390. in his 5. book of Epistles Epist 33 S. Damasus Pope who liued about the yeare 384. in his book of the liues of the Popes And S. Macharius who liued about anno 319. in his decret de consecrat named the word masse S. Fabianus Pope in one of his Decrees who liued about the yeare 242. S. Sother Pope Martyr who liued about the yeare 171. in one of his Decrees which are extant Tom. Concil S. Pius Pope Anno 147 in one of his Decrees S. Higinus Pope Martyr Anno 144. in his Decree as Ino. lib. 2. testifieth S. Alexander Pope Martyr Anno 121. Epist 1 ad omnes Orthodoxos which is to be seene in the Councell of Tribury cap. 19. S. Clement third Pope after S. Peter Epist 3. Anno 111. S. Ignatius the Apostles Scoller Epist ad Smyrnenses All which holy men did name the word Masse properly and in that same sense that the Catholikes at this day do vse Yet for all this forsooth our Aduersaryes would make the world belieue that the word Masse is a word newly inuented not found in the primitiue Churche But they deale with vs in this as in many other things which must proceed either of malice or of grosse ignorance The twelfe of our VVitnesses is S. Hierome who liued in the same time that S. Austin did Ao. 430. He is generally holden of our Aduersaries to be for the Catholike Religion in this Epist ad Heliod other points He did reuerence respect holy Priesthood very much saying God forbid I should speake amisse of them who succeding doe consecrate with their mouth the body Cyrillus Catech Cyrillus Hieros catech 12. Gregor Nâ—ssen orat in muliereÌ„ peccat Ep ph Haeres 73. blood of Iesus Christ To these VVitnesses wee might adde infinite more if it were not tedious to your honors As S. Cyrill of Alexandria contemporaneo to S. Hieron S Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus Anno 320. S. Gregory of Nyssen Epiphanius Athanasius Anno 319. Optatus Anno 350. lib. 6. aduersus Haeres Athan. quaest 34. Right honorable Reuerend Graue and Learned these be our VVitnesses who did direct our fore said Iury in their Verdict at whom our Aduersaries can take no exception iustly seing they were men indifferent and not angrie neither at our Aduersaries not at vs and who be much esteemed of by the more aduised and sober Protestants chemint exam Concil Trid. part 1 pag. 74. who to vse their owne words doubt not but that the primitiue Churche reâ—eaued from the Apostles and Apostolicall men not only the text of Scripture but also the right and natiue sense therof And that we are greatly confirmed Confessio Bohemi pag. 400 in the true sound sense of Scripture by testimonies of the ancient Fathers And that they are the true and best Masters of posteritie going before leading vs the way and as Mr. Bancroft late Bishop of Canterb saith Bancr survey pag. 379. for Mr Caluin and Mr. Beza I doe thinke of them as their writings deserue but yet I thinke better of the ancient Fathers I must confesse SECTION IIII. The Confession of twelue of the learnedest of the Aduersarie parties THIRDLY if the parties owne Confession be of force as doubtles in all reason it is no lesse then Conuincing your Wisdomes shall heare the grauest of your Aduersaryes confirme by their ouwne Confession this point of doctrine for vs. 1. Caluine our Aduersaries prime man speaking of Irenaeus Tertullian Origen August and others how highly they esteemed the Church of Rome Inst lib 4 cap 2. §. 2. in respect of the Succession of the Romane Bishops answereth giueth his like reason there of saying Considering it was a matter out of all doubt that from the beginning euen vntill that time viz till S. Austins time nothing was changed in doctrine the holy doctors tooke in argument that which was sufficient for the ouerthrowing of all new errors viz that they viz the heretikes oppugned the doctrin which euen from the very Apostles themselues had beene inuiolably and with one consent retained Againe in his booke of Institutions set forth in French he saith expresly Instit in French printed at Genaua anno 1561. that it was a thing notorious without doubt that after the Apostles age vntill those times viz S. August his time no change was made in doctrine neither at Rome nor at other cittyes Now seeing aluine affirmeth that without all doubt there was no change of doctrine in the Church of Rome from the beginning that is from the Apostles times vntill S. Aug. his time which was for 400. and odd yeares after Christ it must follow in Caluins opinion that the doctrine we haue heretofore alleaged by the testimony of our Iury viz the Councells and witnesses viz the Fathers they being all both Iury and witnesses within the said first 400. and od yeares is pure doctrine inuiolably with one consent retained from the very Apostles themselues 2. BEZA Scoller to Caluin Confess Gen ca. 7. Sect. 12. saith that Leo who was Pope Anno Domini 440. did clearly breath forth the arrogancie of the Antichristian
exposition of the creed affirmeth that from Gregories daies to Luthers which was 900. yeares the Popish heresy had spredd it self ouer the whole earth The like acknowledgement doth make Simon de Voyon Mr. Fulk others heretofore cited Nap. pag. 68. Mr. Napper that so greatly commended aduersary in his Treatise vpon the Reuel dedicated to the K. Maiesty granted vs 1260. yeares of prescription saying that betwixt the yeare of Christ 300. 316. Anti-christiaÌ„ raigne began raigning vniuersally without any debatable contradictioÌ„ 1260. yeares thesame affirmeth Mr. Brocard vpoÌ„ the reuelatioÌ„ Mr. Gifford against the Brownists pag. 38. graunteth vs 1300 Fo. 110. odder yeares saying to offer oblation for the dead was generall in the Church loÌ„g before the daies of S. Austine as appeareth in S. Cyprian Tertull who liued about the yeare 240. Hamelmannus de Traditionibus Fol 741. reacheth vp to S. Denis of Areopag who liued in the in the Apostles times saying that Denis did write much of Churches of Altars of places sanctified of Consecrations Monkes and sundry Ceremonies Sebastianus Francus Epist de abrogandis statut Eccles saith that immediatly after the Apostles times the Masse begun Hospinianus in hist Sacram. lib. 1. ca. 6. affirmeth that it was euen in the Apostles times they being yet aliue Mr. Ascham a prime protestant in his Apol. pro caena Dom. pag. 31. acknowledged that no beginning therof can be shewed Mr. Gab. Powell pag. 43. in his consideration of the Papistes Supplication being prouoked that if our Catholike doctrine be errour then to tell vs when it came in who was the Author of it c. Answereth thereto acknowledging and saying We cannot tell by whome or at what time the Enemie did sow it neither indeed do we know who was the first Author of euery one of your blasphemous opinions And Mr. VVhitaker in Resp ad Camp rat 7. pag. 101. confesseth that the Romane Churches change cannot easily be tould Now if that rule Aug Ep. 118. or proofe of Apostolical doctrine of S. Aug. be true viz. Whatsoeuer opinion is not knowne to haue begun since the Apostles times thesame is not new or secondary but receiued it is originall from the Apostles themselues The which Rule saith Mr. VVhitgift some times Archb of Canterb. in his defence pag. 352. was of credit with the writers of our time namely with Mr. Zuinglius Mr. Caluine Mr. Gualter and surelie saith he I thinke no learned man doth dissent from them the which Rule he likewise vrgeth against Mr. Cartwright his Puritane Brother in defence of the names Metropolitanes Cartwr ag whilg pag â—03 352. and Bishops to whome Mr. Cartwr answeareth saying I appeale to the Iudgement of all men if this be not to bring in Poperie againe to allow of S. Augustins saying c. Further he affirmeth that therby a window is open to bring in all Popery Therfore seeing according to S. Augustins rule the opinion doctrine whose beginning is not knowne whose Antiquity cannot be found is a proofe of Apostolike Doctrine it followeth that the opinion whose beginning is knowne the Antiquity Author therof found is a sufficient proofe of false doctrine And hence it is that S. Hierome saith To reduce an heresie to a beginning is a confutation of it Hiero. ad Clesiphont And seing that our aduersaries caÌ„ shew no beginning or Author of the foresaid pointe of Catholike Priesthood yea not of any one necessary and essentiall Article of Catholike doctrine on the other part seing we caÌ„ reduce euery pointe of aduerse doctrine to his beginning Author time place froÌ„ Christ to this day according to the promise made by God himself to his Catholike Church that Pastors Eph. 4.12 Isa 6â— 6 Doctors must be in the Church till the Consummation of Saints who shal be as watchmen all the day and all the night for euer they shall not hould their peace but shall alwayes resist false opinions innouations with open reprehension CoÌ„sequently it followeth this our Catholike doctrine wherto we were so many Ages since conuerted to be no new or secondary since the Apostles times but truely primitiue and vndoubtedly Apostolike And contrariwise our aduersaries doctrine to be new secondary false and Apostaticke And this concerning Praescription SECTION VII OF CONTINVALL CLAIME IF Continuall Claime be a matter amongst you wherby Right title are preserued It is more then euident that this our Catholike Church hath bene euer waking ready euen within the yeare day so to preserue her right in this and other points against all Sects and heresies whatsoeuer and howsoeuer deuided otherwise among themselues did generally conspire to oppose themselues as against their capitall enemie This is euident to this day in Anabaptistes Swenckfeldians Libertines Antrinitarians etc. Who thinke the reformation of Religion to consist specially in the abnegation of our Catholike Faith terming themselues in such respect reformed Churches and euery one of them thinking themselues so much more reformed then others by how much they are further then others dissenting from our Catholike Religion it needeth no better proofe then that of the Protestants Puritanes in England We haue not bene wanting to this Continuall Claime before Luthers time by reason of our former confessed quiet possession euen in the iudgement of our very aduersaries And our need since his time hath bene but in some countries in which our Claime hath bene so dailie continued as we hould it needlesse to proue the same so that our aduersaries are forced to say their Church was for many yeares inuisible contrary to that promise made by God himselfe to his Church Esay 62.2 saying vpon thy Walles ô Hierusalem haue I set watchmen all the day night for euer they shall not be silent Pag. 191. 188. Mr. Napper in his booke vpon the Reuelation dedicated to the Kings Maiestie affirmeth that this abiding of Gods Temple so long latent and obscure is most certaine Noe true visible Church nor sincere doctrine publiquely opened that any man may haue accesse vnto Againe from the yeare of Christ 316. Pag. 161. God hath withdrawne his Church from open assemblies into the harts of particular godly men where it abode inuisible to these our daies the space of 1260. yeares acknowledging likewise that during the foresaid space of 1260 yeares the Catholike Romane Church did possesse the foresaid Continuall Claime affirming that from Constantines time till those our daies euen 1260. years the Pope his Clergie haue possessed the outward visible Church of Christians Pag 43. Mr. Gab. Powell in his consideration of the Papistes supplication saith We cannot tell by whome or at what time the enemie did sowe c. meaning our Catholike doctrine Mr. Fulk in his Reioined Pag. 265. being vrged with this demand I answeare quoth he my text saith it was a misterie not reuealed therfore could not be at the