their Churches Let them vnroll the Succession of their Bisshopps Finallie it is without contradiction by the witnesse of Scriptures Doctors and Historyes a most vndoubted way to know at al times vvho be Heretikes and who be Catholikes and therefore of such as wil not desperatly cast them-selues into Hell deeply and earnestly to be considered Apostolike Church VPON this poynt of Succession is inferred another very vvorthie consideration that whereas not only we in the holy Masse but also the Heretikes in theyr communion professe both to beleeue Vnam Sanctam Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam One Holy Catholike and Apostolike Church according to the Crede of the first Constantinopolitan Councel it is our Church that is Apostolike bycause it agreeth in the faith with the Church of Rome in which is the See of an Apostle holding on to this day by Succession and to which was written an Epistle by an Apostle What caÌ„ they here deny doth not our Church the Catholikes I meane of England agree in faith with the Romain Church It is both confessed by the Heretykes who for that cause do call vs Papists and knowen to all men bysides Doth not the Bishop of that Church succeede an Apostle in his See S. Peter was an Apostle and Prince of the Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome which is as euident in it selfe and as certainely may be proued by vndoubted witnesse and as sensibly is sene vvith our very eies as that there hath bene so long and is at this present such a citie in the world named Rome Had not the Church an Epistle writteÌ„ to it by an Apostle S. Paules Epistle to the Romains is extant Are not these the causes why a Church is called Apostolike Heare Tertulâ—ians definition De Pres Haeret. Age tam qui voles â—uâ—iâ—sitatem melius exercere in negotio salutis tuae peâ—â—urre Ecclisias Apostolicas apud quas ipsae adâ—uc Cathedrae Apostolorum suis lâ—cis praesidentur â—pud quas ipsae authenticae literae corum recitantur sonantes vocem repraesentantes facieÌ„ well now thou that wouldest vse yet more curiosiâ—ie in the matter of thy saluation runne ouer the Apostolike Churches at whom the very Chairs of Apostles are yet in their places sitten in at whom the very authentical letters of them are recited sounding their voice representing their face Examples there hee putteth of the Churches of the Corinthians of the Philippians of the Ephesians and specially of the Romains saying of the same Videamus quid dixerit quid docuerit CuÌ„ Aphricanis quoque Ecclesiis contestatur Let vs consider what it the Romain Church hath said what it hath taught Mary with our Aphrican Churches also it holdeth Which he there declareth in al points by the Heretikes of that time denied by himselfe with other Catholikes of that countrie beleeued Wheâ—eupon he will haue it to follow that their African Churches are Apostolike although not so as the Romaine Church other like yet in another right good sense bâ—cause they agree with those Apostolikes And in this hee putteth so strong an argument of the truth that hee â—gâ—ine againe prouoketh Heretikes to shew the like Edant origines Ecclesiarum suarum euoluant ordinem Episcoporum suorum ita per successiones ab initio decurrentem ut primus ille Episcopus aliquem ex Apostolis vâ—l Apostâ—â—icis viris qui tamen cum Apâ—stolis perseuerauerit habuerit authorem antecessâ—rem Hoc enim modo Ecclesiae Apostolicae census suos deferunt Sicut Smyrnaeorum Ecclesia Polycarpum ab Iohanne collocatum refert Sicut Romanorum Clementem a Petro ordinatuÌ„ id proinde vtique caeterae exhibent quos ab Apostâ—lis in EpiscopatuÌ„ constitutos Apostolici seminis traduces habeant Let the Heretikes bring sorth the origines of their Churches let them vnfold the rew of their Bishops so from the beginning running downe by successions as that first Bishoppe of theirs haue had for his author and predecessor some one of the Apostles or Apostolike men which also with the Apostles perseuered For after this manner doe the Apostolike Churches bring down their substance to our time As the Church of the Smyrnians sheweth Polycarpus placed by S. Iohn as the Church of the Romains sheweth Clement ordered by Saint Peter And so verily doe the rest also shew whom by the Apostles ordained Bishops they haue for the drawers vnto them of the seed or doctrine Apostolike So as our naturall progenitors haue deriued or passed vnto vs the naturall seede of Adam Confingant tale aliquid Haeretici Let the Heretikes faine any such thing if they can saith hee But no doubt they cannot and therefore be they not Apostolike and ours most certainely which manifestly so doth is Apostolike God graunt them therefore once in heart also to beleeue with vs that which with vs in mouth they professe to beleeue I say One Holy Catholike and Apostolike Church Neither it is the Motiue only of Tertullian Saint Augustine also in the greatest matter that can be touching the very Canon of the Scriptures sendeth vs to those Churches speciallie aboue all others Quae Apostolicas Sedes De doct Christ lib. 2. cap. 8. Epistolas accipere meruâ—runt which to haue Sees Apostolike and to receaue Epistles Apostolike found the fauour Finallie many others of the holy Fathers teach vs the same vvay vnto the Truth and no one of them all did euer disproue it In whome this is yet further to be coÌ„sidered that whereas there were in their time standing yet manie other Churches Apostolike besides the Romaine they for all that did euer principallie and singulaly direct men alwaies to the Romane so also calling it by prerogatiue the Church Apostolike or See Apostolike that by that name it was no lesse knowen from all others as all can beare me witnesse that read antiquity then I say when there were also many other Churches or Sees Apostolike than now at this time it is when we haue none other Apostolicke See remaining After which manner also we know Virgil from all Poetes by the name of Poeta and Aristotle from all other Philosophers by the name of Philosophus S. Paule from all the other Apostles by the name of Apostolus Which thing well considered of anie indifferent man may giue him easily to vnderstand that the holy Fathers of the Constantinopolitan Councell in their Creede bidding vs to belieue the Church Apostolike did not only meane the RomaÌ„ Church but also none other but the RomaÌ„ well that I leaue to the consideratioÌ„ of such as be indiffereÌ„t But that which afore I saide is certaine as it is also most worthy to be considered that the Fathers in their times hauing manie Sees Apostolike yet chieflie looked themselues and directed others to the Apostolike See of Rome And now at this time when as there is none other of that sorte remayning in the worlde but onely the Roman and yet neuer none of them all more
contemned the right or embraced the wrong We then also at this present standing in like perill and euerlasting daunger of our soules haue we not neede to awake to shake off our slouth and to looke about vs I deale not now with them which say in their foolish heartes that there is no God no Christ no soule no heauen no hell no right way nor no wrong of whome God help the world is too too full Neither with them do I deale which thinke no way at all so wrong but that it may serue well enough to heauen All which sorts of vaine men how vvise soeuer that they seeme in their owne conceits haue most certainely all good reason all true wisedome and which amongst Christian men is most irrefragable all Diuine Scripture cleane against them For wheresoeuer the said Scriptures speake of Nicolaites and such like who is there that findeth left for such any hope of saluation Therefore to leaue these vanishing away in their foolish fansies and to talke with others that beleeue the Scriptures and therefore thinke well that some in those forsaid ages found the way to heauen that other some by walking by-waies are fallen into damnation of these I demaund if at least wise they care for themselues more thē for their pelfe that soone will forsake them whether they would not be glad to know these waies to walke the one and to auoid the other the matter is past with those aforetime it is we that are in daunger that stand of making or els of marring If happely we could light in the steppes of them that are in Heauen wee were made foreuer But if we walke on the same pathes that lead others to hel then are wee marred and vndonne foreuer Here therefore it would be known what way they that now are safe did then take when they were in perill In their seuerall times very many and verie great questions as I haue said vvere mooued by new deuisers and some allwaies there vvere that could and did trie the matters with them by learning but these very few if we compare them with the multitude besides that the said triall is very long and many before it can be made passe out of this world to their certaine damnation if they go vncertaine What other remedy what better way is there than for such Is there any or is there none If there be none let vs eate and drinke and make good cheare for we shall die to morrow But thankes be to God there is good remedie there are also other waies inough and not only for the vnlearned and vnskilfull multitude but also for them that are of greatest learning of deepest knowledge Onely needefull here it is that a mā be willing to be set in the right way and to hold him in it Who better learned than S. Augustine Who more surely now in heauen He then besides learning what other waies had hee to hold him right To the Manichees of whose sect once he was thus he saith Con. Ep. fund Cap. 4. In Catholica Ecclesia vt omittam sincerissimam Sapientiam ad cuius cognitionem pauci spiritales in hac vita perueniunt vt eam ex minima quidem parte quia homines sunt sed tamen sine dubitatione cognoscant caeterā quippe turbam non intelligendi viuacitas sed credendi simplicitas tutissimā facit vt ergo hanc omittam Sapientiam quam in Ecclesia esse Catholica non creditis multa sunt alia quae in eius gremio me iustissime teneant Tenet consensio populorum atque gentium Tenet authoritas miraculis inchoata spe nutrita charitate aucta vetustate firmata Tenet ab ipsa Sede Petri Apostoli cui pascendas oues suas post resurrectionem Dominus commendauit vsque ad praesentem Episcopatum Successio Sacerdotum Tenet postremo ipsum Catholicae nomen quod non sine causa inter tam multas Haereses sic ista Ecclesia sola obtinuit c. In the Catholike Church to let passe most pure wisdome and knowledge to the perceauing whereof a few spiritual men in this life doe attaine so that they perceaue it in a very litle peece pardie because they are but men but yet without all doubting for as touching the other multitude it is not quicknesse of vnderstanding but simplicitie of beleeuing that maketh thē most safe that I omit therfore this wisedome which in the Catholike Church to be you Manichees and other Heretikes doe not beleeue many other things there are which in her lap most worthily do keep me There keepeth mee consent of peoples and nations There keepeth me authority by Miracles begonne nourished by hope by Charity increased by Antiquity made firme and sure There keepeth me Succession of Priestes from the very See of Peter the Apostle to whome our Lord after his resurrectiō committed the feeding of his sheepe euen to the Bishop that now is There keepeth me finallie the very name of Catholike which not without cause amongst so many heresies this Church alone hath obteined c. And in an other place to the same he retiks he saith againe Christo esse credēdum credidi famae celebritate consensione vetustate roboratae Vos autem tam pauci tam turbulenti tam noui nemini dubium est quin nihil dignum authoritate praeferatis That Christ must be beleeued I beleued fame or authority fortified with vniuersality consent and antiquity But you Heretikes being both so few and so dissentious and so new risen no man doubteth but that you shew nothing that deserueth authority Here as wee see this most learned most holy most renoumed Father allegeth many most worthy reasons as hee tearmeth them to hold him still a Catholike As indeed vpon that matter he wrote his whole said booke De vtilitate credendi Concerning the vtility of beleuing So did Tertullian of the same mater write his book De praescriptionibus Haereticorum Of exceptions against Heretikes And also Vincentius Lyrinensis his booke Contra prophanas omnium haereseon nouationes Against the prophane innouations of al Heresies These their books they wrote of the most iust and worthy reasons which there are to mooue anie man to forsake al Heresies and to liue die a catholike which bookes I wish all such my deare Countrimen to read as will know the truth and specially the holy Scripture of the actes of the Apostles with Saint Beedes Ecclesiastical Historie of our own Nation What such reasons may to that purpose be gathered out of those Authors and their like grounded all vpon most certaine and diuine authoritie I in this Treatise haue in part declared shewing particularly in euery one of them some vndoubted cause to moue any man to beleeue vs and not the Protestants Puritants nor other Heretikes in all together that nothing there is to be demaunded of a Christian man but vvith vs it maketh plainely and against them plainely no such thing against vs no such thing with
Fathers then written against them and to this day extant So in their time the Nestorians the Macedonians the Eutichians the Pelagians the Donatistes and in breife all others that Heretikes were called Heretikes are proued Gal. 5. For which cause Saint Paule sayeth Manifesta sunt opera carnis The workes of the flesh are manifest which are fornication Heresies Murder c. For as Fornication Murder the rest straight vpon their naming are abhorred so the very name of Heresies and Heretikes is a manifest word of naughtines will they now say that Heretikes is our name Yea somuch as in their owne Lawes Bookes Sermons and common talke of vs Or vvill they denie that they be knowen themselues by that name But who I praie you in reading the Catholike Bookes of thys time there finding them commonlie so named sticketh at that terme not knowing or doubting who are named Or els why feared they in their Inglish translations of the Bible to set the name of Heresies and Heretikes where Saint Paul so hath it specially in the Greeke out of which they pretend to make their translations putting for it the worde Sectes and a man that is author of Sectes Is it not euident hereby that they know wel that the reader finding in Saint Paul the word Heresies or Heretikes would by and by thinke vpon them Againe why els did they in theyr Apologie of their Inglish Church alledge for their defence that S. Pauls doctrine also was by the Iewes called Heresie Act. 14. As though that bycause the vnbeleeuing and blinded Iewes so tearmed the faith of our Sauiour Christ S. Paul would haue vs not to thinke yll of them that by the Christians should so be called nor to regard what hee wrote to the Galathians that heresies be workes of the flesh keeping a man from the kingdome of God no lesse theÌ„ murder it selfe and fornication and to Titus likewise that an Heretike must be auoided as a most peruerse sinner Finallie vnlesse it had binne to to euident that they are named Heretikes and knowen immediatly by that name Luther their Grandsier would neuer in his booke intituled Notae verae Ecclesiae Markes of the true Church haue giuen vs for the seuenth marke that the people of God are spite of their teeth commonly called Heretikes Coguntur audire Heretici I stand to long vpon things that be plaine Name of Protestantes THirdly therefore who soeuer in respect of the doctrine which they professe haue a newe name made of some mans name or otherwise taken vp whereby they coÌ„monly terme them selues and in the world generally be termed and immediatly knowen thereby they vndoubtedlie are Heretikes And therefore Lutherans Caluinistes Protestants Precisians Vnspotted Brethren and Puritans most certainelie are Heretikes as were the Nicolaites of whom the Scripture it selfe maketh meÌ„tion Or let them giue mee an example to the contrarie Sure I am that they can not It is a rule that the Auncient Fathers in their times with great consent alwayes gaue the people to know Heretikes thereby as out of diuers of them I could shew but that I mynde not here nomore but brieflie to inscinuate vnto such as are desirous to learne or to teach the truth what waies they maie with ease and without error come to their desire Here after if any of the Heretikes more obstinat and venturous then hys felowes shall endeuour to make me answere I will with Gods helpe more largelie proue and declare this other my conclusions Now may Saint Hierome alone suffice Sicubi audierâ— saith he â—os Aduer Lucif Vide Chrisost hom 33. in Acta Iusâ—â—n â—n Tr sâ—â—â—ne Opt. li. 3. con Parm. Ire câ—n Haer. li. 1. ca. 20. Lact. li. 4. de vera sap ca 30 et Aug. de vtil cred cap. 7. qui dicuntur Christi non a Domino Iesu Christo sed a quopiam alio nuncupari vtpuâ—e Marcionitas Valentinianoâ— Monteâ—ses siue Compates scito non Ecclesiam Christi sed Antichristi esse synagogaÌ„ If any where thou he are theÌ„ which are said to be of Christ to be tearmed not of our Lord Iesuâ— Christ but of some other as Marcionites Valentinians Hil-brethren or Field-brethren be thou sure that they are not the church of Christ but the synagogue of antichrist Here I know they are wont to answere that amongst vs also some be called Benedictines Franciscans Dominicans Hieronimians Augustinians and such like But who seeth not that those some are not so called for profession of any special Doctrine brought vp by those holy meÌ„ Saint Benet Saint Francis Saint Dominicke Saint Hierome and S. Augustine but only because they professe to liue after a speciall rule of life deliuered vnto them by those Fathers to the better keeping of Gods commandements so as in the old Testament in figure of these Religious men Iere. 35. did the Rechabites But our Aduersaries haue their names I saie for doctrine and that is it that Saint Ierom and the other Fathers do giue vs as an vndoubted marke of Heretikes Wel but we are called Papistes they will say for doctrine To that I answere wee doe not so call our selues neither be wee so called in the world abrode but Catholikes euerie where as in Italie Spaine Fraunce c. VVhich they that trauaile can beare me witnesse but it is a name put vppon vs by the Heretikes as their vse hath alwaies binne to doe to tearme the Catholikes by certaine odious names So did the Arrians tearme vs Homousians others otherwise For that these be not our names it is most euident by this that wee were manie hundred yeares as they know themselues and confesse before those names were inuented and all that time were wee not without a name Let them name their eldest author or witnes of that name and if I proue not that vvee were then aboue a thousand yeare old let Papistes be our name I say therefore with Saint Augustine Quod quaerentibus satis est vna est Catholica cui haereses aliae diuersa nomina imponunt cum ipsae singulae proprijs vocabulis quae negare non audeant appellentur There is one Church Catholike vppon the which diuerse Heresies put diuerse names whereas they euerie one themselues are called by propre and speciall names which they dare not to denie And this is sufficient for such as seeke of whom to learne the truth If last of all they say that yet by our owne Confession we are called Catholikes which is an other name then Christians and therefore in danger of Saint Hieromes sentence aboue pronounced they trouble me sore I graunt and put me to my shiftes to answere it well But they doe withall ye wot as a man that would refuse to be sticked by mee with my sword and would runne vppon my speare For you know pardie by my first note that the name of Catholikes serueth well my turne quite to dispatch them what soeuer exception they pretend thereby
will they nil they a false point this is and to be found as I haue saied in none but Heretikes And therefore they doe well to be good to their companions in the case of S. Iames Epistle Saint Lukes Gospel and others moe bycause they are plainly vnder the same iudgement themselues specially for the bookes of the Machabees We on the other side most obediently receaue and beleeue all Scriptures Canonicall Whereby to any reasonable man yt may be manifest which in it selfe is most certaine that of the same there is no part to our doctrine repugnant but all without exception to vs agreing all against heretikes vndoubtedly and that in some partes so openly that they haue no other shift but by denying Traditions most certaine THE true Church alwayes hath together vvith the whole Scripture beleeued and embraced Traditions and vvhatsoeuer companie there euer vvas vvhich was faine to crie for onlie Scriptures and to denie most certayne Traditions of the Apostles theyr doctrine for whose defence they were fayne so to doe vvas euer Heresie and they most surely Heretikes and for such at length holden by all Christendom what so euer deceaued followers for a vvhyle they had For this cause saith Saint Paul to the Church of the Corinthians Laudo autem vos fratres 1 Cor. 11. quod per omnia mei memores estis sicut tradidi vobis praecepta mea tenetis I commend you brethren that in all things you remember me and euen as I deliuered vnto you you keepe my Traditions Tas paradoseis And to the Church of the Thessalonians Itaque fratres 2. Thes 3. state tenete Traditiones quas didicistis siue per sermonem siue per Epistolam nostram Therefore be constant brethern hold fast the Traditions which you haue byn taught either by our word or by our Epistle And for the same cause saith Saint Basile Dogmata De Spiritu san ca. 27. quae in Ecclesia praedicantur quaedam habemus e doctrina scripto tradita quaedam rursus ex Apostolorum traditione in mysterio id est in occulto tradita recepimus quorum vtraque parem vim habent ad pietatem Nec his quisquam contradicet quisquis sane vel tenuiter experous est quae sunt iura Ecclesiastica The matters of doctrine and preaching vvhich in the Church are kepte some of them vvee haue by teachyng committed to wryting some againe we haue receaued by the Apostles tradition in mysterie that is to saie in secret delyuered vnto vs both which are of like weight touching Gods seruice Neyther will anie man gaine-say these whosoeuer surely hath any sight in the Churches orders And that Saint Basile herein is not singular it is manifest by thys besides much els that might be sayed that the vvhole Church Aug haer 84. Epiph. haer 78. and the Protestantes also them-selues holde for Heretykes the Heluidians for the denying the Apostolicall Tradition of our Blessed Ladies Euer-more remayning a Virgin to say nothing of many other lykevvise condemned Heretikes for the like denying of Traditions So then hath the Church bysides Scripture certayne Traditions and them alwaies in great estimation But Heretikes contrariwise haue had the custome to make exceptiō against Tradition allowing nothing but only Scrypture Thereupon saied Maximinus a Bishopp of the Arrians to Saint Augustine Con. Max. li. 1. Si quid de diuinis Scripturis protuleris quod commune est cum omnibus necesse est vt audiamus Hae vero voces quae extra Scripturam sunt nullo casu a nobis suscipiūtur c. If thou bring any thing out of the Diuine Scriptures vvhich is common with all we must needes heare it But these wordes which are without Scripture in no case are of vs receaued And to the same effect did Constantius the Arrian Emperour gyue out an Edict Epiph. hae 72. Hila li. con Const Vt Episcopi nihil praeter diuinas Scripturas Ecclesiasticae fidei adderēt That Bishops should besides the diuine Scriptures put nothing to the Churches faith Many other Heretikes might here be brought forth vvith the lyke sayings but that my purpose is here rather to set short Conclusions plainly directing the meeke and humble into the truth and mightily cōfounding the stubborne enimy than with heaps of exāples to make great Volumes Now then that these Traditions be with vs and against the Protestants although it be manyfest ynough by this that we obediently embrace Traditions and they vnfaithfully refuse them and also otherwise vvell knowen to most men neither of themselues denied yet to satisfie all men it may for examples sake be remembred that S. Chrysostome saieth Ho 69. ad populum Antiochenum Ab Apostolis haec sancita fuerunt vt in tremendis Mysterijs defunctorum agatur commemoratio c. It hath byn by the Apostles decreed that at the dreadful Misteries so he calleth the holy Canon of the Masse there should be made a commemoratiō of the dead c. And that Saint Ierome calleth it Munus quod necessitate offertur Ep. 54. an oblation which we are bound to offer vnam quadragesimā secundum Traditionem Apostolorum toto anno ieiunare to fast one fourtie dayes in the yeare according to the Apostles Tradition And that Saint Ciprian saieth it is Dominica Traditio Li. 2. ep 3 our Lords Tradition that in offering the Chalice the wine be mingled Epi. 118. cap. 6. And that Saint Augustine saith of Saint Paul Totum illum agendi ordinem quem vniuersum per orberi seruat Ecclesia ab ipso ordinatum esse c. That by him was ordayned this order of doyng vvhich through the whole world the Church doth keepe in doing of Masse with sundrie other Traditions which I omitte plainly witnessed by antiquitie to haue come from the Apostles and in our Church to this daie vsed and of the Heretikes quite reiected A plaine Argument that ours is the Church that foloweth the steppes of Christ and his Apostles and theirs to be the heire of the Arrians and other damned Heretikes a lymne and Messenger of that lost sonne Antichrist The Churches Commaundement ALwaies since Christes Ascension who-soeuer haue at any tyme resisted the common knovven Visible Church graunting that in the beginning it was to be seene and to be obeied for that is so plaine in the Holy Scripture it selfe of the Acts of the Apostles that they cannot denie it but that afterward it became inuisible and fell from Christ and therefore no longer to be obeied who soeuer I say haue thus done and spoken they were euer Schismatikes and Heretikes and in the end forsaken of all Christian men one and other how soeuer for a time they deceaued the world Let our aduersaries bring forth if they can one example to the contrarie sure it is that they can not And therefore they are themselues such as I haue sayd Schismatikes and Heretikes and for such no doubt at length will generally
life in his defiance are the worst sort of damned soules in Hel. But contrariwise let all Catholike men that suffer reioice in Christ be of good coÌ„fort being assured that they are persecuted for the right faith as by this Tretise they see for the very same that was the faith of all holy Martyrs before this time And therefore to them pertayneth no lesse then to the Thessalonians thys saying of Saint Paule You brethren 1. Thes 2. are made imitators of Gods Churches that are in Iurie bycause the same things you haue also suffered of your own countrimâ—n as also they of the Iewes To them belongeth this saying also to the PHILIPPIANS Phil. 1. Be ye for nothing afeard of your aduersaries Which to them is cause of perdition but to you of Saluation that of God Faith and suffering both Gods giftes bycause vnto you it is giuen for Christ not only to beleeue in him but also to suffer for him hauing the same fight as both you haue seene in me and now you heare of me Finally the same fight that al Christs martyrs haue susteyned God by hys wonderful myracles wel declaring that they which pray vnto the Martyrs and the Martyrs that we pray vnto be all of one faith verily not the Protestants faith as themselus must needs and wil confesse but our only Catholike Faith Their Own Doctors HERE after so many so euident so vndoubted waies afore declared to finde the TRVTH by the Names of Catholikes and Heretikes by Miracles and Visions by the Scriptures by Traditions by the Church by the See Apostolike by Councels by the Auncient Fathers and Martyrs which all I haue brieflie but to any indifferent man sufficiently and clearelie shewed to make for vs most certainly to stand all in open field against our aduersaries novv for the next Motiue I would haue it considered by anie man that is not wilfull that the Protestantes and Puritans are out of the way euen by the iudgement also of their own adherents such as themselues doe in word and hart like well of as men of God and therefore consequently condemne them selues Which if I shall proue inuincibly against them will any man be so folish mad and desperat to walke theyr vvay a way I say contrary to so many good guides aboue rehearsed condemned by their owne Masters by themselues in hart misliked First then let their Graundsier Luther come forth and say his minde of these his whealpes who in theyr Apologie call him a man Diuinitus datum ad illustrandum orbem Apol. Eccl. Anglic. giuen by God to lighteÌ„ the world He falling first himselfe from the Church of God about the yeare 1517. seeing shortly after in the yere 1524. his owne Disciple Carolostadius fall againe from him to be the author of the Heresie against our Sauiours reall presence in the Blessed Sacrament who afterward of Zuinglius were called Zuinglians and now of Caluine be named Caluinists after that he had many yeares together written much and full bitterly against the sayed Heretikes of his owne descent many meanes also of agrâ—â—ment making betwene them being attâ—â—pted but al in vaine and to no puoposâ—â— theyr discord daily more more increasing two yeares before his death in the yeare 1545. gaue he them his blessing wherein amongest other vvordes thus he sayed Quicunque credere nolunt Libel in ZuingliaÌ„ panem Domini in caena illius esse verum ac naturale corpus quod Iudas impius non minus percipiat ore quam Diuus percipiat Petrus Sancti omnes hâ—c inquam quisquis credere noÌ„ vult is a me abstineat Epistolis scriptis vel sermone neque vllam meam expectet communionem Oleum enim operamque perdiderit Who soeuer will not beleeue the Lords bread in the Supper to be his true and naturall body which Iudas and the wicked receaueth with hys mouth no lesse then Saint Peter receaueth it and all that be holy this I say whosoeuer wil not beleeue let him refraine from me for Epistls for writing or for talking neither let him loke for any communicating of me with him And a little after he sayeth further Suermeris nihil contulerit quod circa SacrameÌ„tum pius unum illi nugantur de spirituali esu potati te Corporis Sanguinis Christi de Chrisâ—â— orum charitate atque vnitate Et frustra quâ—que illi in Deum Patrem Filium Spiritum sanctuÌ„ Christum Seruatorem credunt Omnia inquaÌ„ haec nihil illis prosunt quaÌ„tumuis sane incuipate ea mendaci ac blasphemo ore pronunciant quando hunc vnum negant articulum eumque falsi in simulant dum de Sacramento Christus ait accipite panem manducate hoc est corpus meum It shall nothing helpe the Suermerians that about the Sacrament they trifle very much vpon the spirituall eating and drinckyng of Christes body and blood and vppon Christian mens charity and vnity Yea they also in vaine beleue in God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and in Christ the Sauiour Al these thinges I say nothing auaile them how soundlie soe euer and vnblamedly they pronounce them with their lying and blasphemous mouth seeing that they denie this one Article He corrupteth the Scripture to help his Heresie of the bread to be Christs bodie and lay falshood to hys charge whereas Christ sayeth of the Sacrament take bread and eate thys is my body Thus you see what this man of God this light of the world maketh of our English Caluinistes Lyers Blasphemers voyde of his felowshipp men without our Sauiour Christ and the Blessed Trinitie Haue they not trow you in so praising Luther shewed men a candle to see by it their owne fowle faces and a light wherby to runne out of their coÌ„pany Let them loke wel therefore what excuse they will pretend at the last day to the Iudge of al that remaine stil with them that flie not from them For another example of their condeÌ„nation by their own folowers read who list the Compilers of the Centuries named Magdeburgenses Magdeburgenses in their Epistle dedicatorie of the seuenth Centurie There shall he see a long discourse against this that the Ciuell Magistrate should haue the Gouernment as well in causes Ecclesiastical as temporal Which is the very foundatioÌ„ of all our Protestants building in England and the only key of their whole Religion After many other wordes thus they say Sint sane ipsi Magistratus meÌ„bra partes ciues Ecclesiae Dei imo vt ex toto corde sint omnes precari decet Flagrent ipsi quoque zelo pietatis Sed non sint Capita Ecclesiae quia ipsis non competit iste Primatus The very Magistrates also let them hardly be lymmes and partes and Citizens of the Church of God mary that with all their hart they so may be it is meet for all to pray Let them also be
if need be As on the contrarie side for their owne confession of the truth of our Religion not onely in some part as in the two points afore touched of the Sacrament and Supremacie but also in the very whole well nere much may be alleaged out of their writings One place for this time may serue that out of Luthers booke against the Anabaptistes written many yeares after his fall where thus he saith An. 1528. we confesse that vnder the Pope-dome are manie good Christian thinges yea all good Christian thinges and that from thence we had them We confesse pardie that in the Popedome is the true holie Scripture true Baptisme true Sacrament of the Aultar true keyes to remit sinnes true office of preaching true Catechisme as the Lordes prayer and tenne Commaundements and Articles of the Faith c. I say moreouer that vnder the Popedome is true Christianitie yea the true kernell of Christianitie The Catholike Faith in England mightilie planted and lightly chaunged IN this place before I goe anie further to bring more light vnto our matter according to the example of S. Paules question to the Galathians changing their first religion from the faith of Christ to the law of Moyses Qui tribuit vobis Spiritum Gal. 3. operatur virtutes in vobis ex operibus legis an ex auditu fidei God giuing the Holy Ghost vnto you and working Miracles amongest you did hee it by workes of the Law or by preaching of the faith as if wee would say now by preachers of Protestancy or as they call it of Papâ—strie according to this example of S. Paule I say let it be first remembred what Religion that was in which was planted in our Countrey at our first conuersion vnto Christ by our Apostle Saint Augustine the Holie Monke that Saint Gregorie sent vnto vs about a thousand yeares agoe at which tyme wee English-men were first made Christians being before alwayes as other Paynims and Heathens without hope or knowledge of Christ and saluatyon giuen wholly to the seruing of Idols And to be short this matter may be soone knowen out of the Ecclesiasticall History of our owne Countryman Saint Bede a man of great holynes and learning of great credit fame throughout the vniuersall Church of God both in his life and euer since his death who lyued shortly after the time of our first Conuersion and vvrote the Historie of it in 5. bookes a worke very worthy S. Bedes Storie very expedient very profitable and verie necessarie to be read of all English-men that desyre to haue vnderstanding of things belonging much to their saluation There shall you finde it so plainlie that the Religion then brougt in vvas this very same that now the Protestants haue thrust out that no man either can or as I remember doth denie it For example in the first Booke Cap. 25. they came in with Crosse Image of Christ with ProcessioÌ„ cap. 26. in Dover they vsed to say Masse with many other points of our ReligioÌ„ that may there be found Goe on then consider how the said Monke our Apostle with his fellovves perswaded our Nation to that Religion In the first boke Cap. 26 you shall find that the King was brought to beleue to be baptized by their working of many Miracles and namely in the second Boke cap. 2. how that hee chalenged the stubborne Britons who being Christians yet dissented from the rest of the Church in peculiar practise of some certayne pointes of Religion to trie the truth betwene them by restoring a blind man to his sight in such maner as Elias vpon sure confidence in God chalenged the false prophets of Baal The Britons could not doe it 3. Reg. 28. but Saint Augustine did perfourme it as hee wrought also very many mo such wonderfull Miracles In somuch that S. Gregorie in an Epistle that hee sent him which is to be seene Lib. 1. ca. 31. thought good to admonish him of humilitie knowing that S. Paul him-selfe had neede to haue giuen vnto him an Angel of Satan to boxe and buffet him 2. Cor. 12. least that in the greatnes of hys VisioÌ„s he might haue chaunced to take pride Likewise that he had the gift of Prophecie and thereby foretold the destruction of those Britons which euen so came afterward to passe you shal find in the second Boke second Chapter Al this now wel considered whereas the Protestants for that they see this maÌ„ of God to haue byn so euidently on our side speake much horrible Blasphemie of him not fearing God at al who so coÌ„mended him for his true seruant let vs thinke that wee here him say vnto vs in hys ovvne commendation compelled thereunto by these our corrupters and his dispraysers as Saint Paul in the like case and vpon the like necessitie said of himselfe vnto his Corinthians 1. Cor. 9. Si alijs noÌ„ sum Apostolus tamen vobis sum Nam signaculum Apostolatus mei vos estis in Domino If vnto other people I be not an Apostle yet vnto you I am For the seale of my Apostleship you are put as it were to my letters Patentes by our Lorde through whose power I conuerted you to the faith of Christ 2. Cor. 12. And againe Nihil sum signa tamen Apostolatus mei facta sunt super vos in omni patientia in signis prodigijs virtutibus Nothing am I in deed yet the signs of an Apostle were wrought by me among you in all patience in Miracles and wonders deedes of power What wil we answere to this his saying or what can we answere Can wee denie his argument but it is Saint Paules It proued well Saint Paul to haue binne an Apostle whether those false masters of the Corinthians would or no. It proueth therefore Saint Augustine likwise to haue byn an Apostle a man sent of God vnto vs vvhether our false Preachers will or no vvhereunto no doubt they shal neuer be able to answere Let vs then againe consider vvhat causes or reasons haue carried vs awaie from his true Gospell into the false gospel of these men what Miracles what Visions what Scriptures what Catholikes what Traditions what Councels vvhat Bishopps of the See Apostolike vvhat other such thinges as afore I haue shevved to make for hys Gospell If none of all these thinges lead vs into this new Gospell but against them all we went into it say then what els did the deed An odious matter it is to rip all vpp in particular and wise men know all well only in generall doe I appeale to all mens consciences whether anie thing els first lead and now keepeth our vnhappie Countrie in thys false Gospell but only the world the flesh and the Diuell And therefore may our Apostle Saint Augustine say well vnto vs as Saint Paul the Aposte said to his Galathians Gal. 2. Miror quod sic tam cito transferimini ab eo
touching the very bokes of Heretiks In indice librorum prohibitorum regula vlt. Quod si quis libros Haereticorum vel cuiusuis authoris scripta ob haeresim vel ob falsi dogmatis suspicionem damnata atque prohibita legerit siue habuerit statim in excommunicationis sententiā incurrat Qui vero libros alio nomine interdictos legerit aut habuerit praeter peccati mortalis reatum quo afficitur iudicio Episcoporum seuere puniatur The bookes of Heretikes or writinges of any Author for Heresie or for suspition of false doctrine cōdemned and prohibited if any man reade them or haue them in his keeping wee ordaine that by and by he incurre the sentence of excommunication As for bookes that are for any other cause forbidden hee that readeth or hath them besides the guilt of mortall sinne wherof he is attainted let him according to the discretion of the Bishops be seuerely punished Now whether is worse I aske them and more daungerous to reade theyr bookes or to heare their Sermons No doubt to heare their Sermons both because the greatest foulest blasphemers of them al do preache who yet for lacke of learning or for other causes doe not nor are not alwaies suffred to write abstaining also in their Sermons from no blasphemy be it neuer so diuelish false because they feare to that no answere as to their bookes they doe And also because that viua vox word of mouth hath incomparably more force then the dead pen whether it be to edifie or to destroy 1. Tim. 2. Sermo eorum vt cancer serpet saieth Saint Paul Their preaching will creepe vpon you like a canker No man is so madd as to let poyson into his body be it neuer so little These then that goe to the places where most soules are poisoned and al in danger to be poisoned vnlesse they thinke themselues more safe and sure than was our mother Eue in paradise it selfe do plainly shevv that they care lesse for theyr soules then for their bodies and therefore lesse for the world to come then for this world lesse finally for God then for thēselues Yea as I said afore of such heretikes as had the true Seruice so although it should chaunce to be nothing els but truth that Heretikes preach yet should vvee not come at them For els why did our Sauiour for the same confession for which he saied to Peter Beatus es Simon Bar-Iona c. Mat. 16. Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Iohn say to a Diuel Obmutesce Luc. 4. Be thou dumme and hold thy peace Peters confession was Tues Christus Filius Dei viui Thou art Christ the Sonne of God the liuing And the Diuels was Scio te qui sis Sanctus Dei I know thee vvho thou art the HALOVV of God Moyses likewise in figure of this that I say Deut. 18. rekoned vp many darke Scholemaisters as Southsaiers Inchaunters Witches Wise-men Familiars Coniurers c. and charged the people not to seeke euen Truth it selfe of such And therefore whereas a wench possessed of a Pithon-sprite cried after Saint Paule and his companie isti homines serui Dei Excelsi sunt Act. 16 qui annuntiant vobis viam salutis These men are seruantes of God the Highest who shew to you the way of saluation what saieth the Scripture thereupon Dolens autem Paulus conuersus spiritui dixit praecipio tibi in nomine Iesu Christi exire ab ea Et exijt eadem hora. But Paul being grieued thereat and turning himselfe said to the sprite I commaund thee in the name of Iesus Christ to goe out of her And hee vvent out the same houre Much more might be here said to this purpose in commendation of Catholike and detestation of Hereticall both Seruice and Sermons But for my breuitie thus much shall suffice Proced we therfore to other Motiues Ecclesiasticall Monumentes and liuings CONSIDER moreouer what Church it is that hath furnished and beautified the faithfull Nations of the world vvith Vniuersities vvith Colleges vvith Hospitals vvith Abbies and Monasteryes vvith very Churches Chappels and innumerable other Monumentes of our only Religion Romain and Catholike and for vvhat Church like-wise all such Monumentes in all places by christian Emperours Kinges Queenes Princes and other persons of wealth and Dignitie at al times since theyr first conuersion to Christ haue beene erected for vvhat Church such honorable portions of lands and liuings and other earthly commodities haue by such persons beene sorted out Hath not our Lord God by his Euangelicall Prophet ESAIE told vs that to his Church such benefits and prouisions by such persons should be giuen Esaiae 49. Et erunt Reges nutricij tui Reginae nutrices tuae Kings saith he shal be thy fosterers Quenes shal be thy nurces Were then these magnificent Churches Colleges and Vniuersities builded either by Protestantes or for Protestantes by any one or for any one euer that was of their Religion VVere the Bishopriks Archedeconries Deanries Prebendes Personages and Vicariges instituted for their women and children to make them gentlewomen and gentlemen or to the honour and seruice of any Church but ours Were the tythes and other liuelyhoodes so religiously lotted and limited of euerie mans goodes for any Church but ours Such maintenance of study in Vniuersities and Schooles of Solemne Seruice in Chappell Church College Cloyster and Close did it proceede from their Church Or vvas any of these commodities made or meant towards any Church but ours Doth not the very condition of these fore-sayed thinges poynt ours to be the true and only Church of Christ and Christendome and giue terror and horror to the consciences of our Aduersaries against the fearefull day of Christes general Iudgement either for plucking downe and destroying or for vsurping the foresayed douries of his Catholike Church cleane against the meaning of all the first Founders Looke at the very forme and fashion of euery Church of euerie Chappell of euery Chauncell of euery Chalice of euery Aultar of euery Sepulchre of euery Stone of euery window giue they not euidence for our only Church and Religion Beare they not our cognisance and badges Crie they not out alowd that they be and haue bene alwaies some of them these twelue hundred yeares and vpward our goodes and possessions that the Heretikes be vsurpers theeues sacriligious men and robbers Apes AGAINE consider what Church that is vvhich as it is to it selfe sufficient and able to stand alone lacking in it no good Learning or knowledge no iust Law no necessarie order because it hath in it all things deliuered by Christ comming vnto it by the Apostles hands and their most certaine Successors euer hauing vvith it the Holy Ghost to assist it in all thinges to lead it into all truth to direct it into all good order and there to keepe it so is it of al Schismes and separated Religions imitated and apishly followed as without whose
darknes into the which he would not with hym that another Parable speaketh of wher it saith Mat. 22. Tunc dixit Rex ministris ligatis manibus pedibus eius mittite eum in tenebras exteriores ibi erit fletus stridor dentium Then said the King to his seruantes Bind him hand foote and cast him into more outward darknes there shall be weeping gnashing of teeth Sure To Continue Novv to go on your way in the vvhich vvee were before this last Motyue by the same places of Holye Scriptures there mentioned are vvee admonished agayne of another consideration what Church that is which as it hath so manifestly and gloryously lasted euer vnto this time so is it most sure and certayne from this time to last agayne euen continually till the world shall end And what Church that is on the other side which as it is lately start vp so is it most sure and certayne quickly agayne to fall to nothing Of the first was Saint Augustine bolde to say to his frind Honoratus a Manichee De vtili cred ca. 8. Si finem laboribus vis imponere sequere viam Catholicae disciplinae quae ab ipso Christo per Apostolos ad nos vsque manauit ab hinc ad posteros mana tura est If thou desire to make an end of al thy troubles folow the way of the Catholike doctrine vvhich from Christ himselfe by the Apostles euen to vs is descended and from hence to Posterity shal descend And againe to his coūtreymen the simple people of the Donatists Psal con Par. Don. shewing them the sure way to be againe grafted in Christ Numerate Sacerdotes vel ab ipsa Petri Sede Et in ordine illo Patrum quis cui successit videte Ipsa est Petra quam non vincunt superbae inferorum portae Count the Priestes hardly from the very See of Peter And in that order of fathers consider who to whom succeded That same is the Rocke which the proud gates of Hel do not ouercome If any man at that tyme or at any time had beene bolde so to haue said of any other Apostles See had he not by this time bene proued a lyer And were those other Sees more impugned I pray you by Tyrants and Heretikes thē vvas the See of Peter Yea hath not Peters See vvith all kindes of engyns by all sortes of enimyes ten thousand folde bene more impugned But all in vayne De. vtili cred .. 19. Frustra circumlatrantibus Haereticis saith Saint Augustine In vayne is the barking of Heretykes all about it All is in vayne And for what other cause Let them if with al their wits and wysdomes they can giue vs any other but only because Christ our Sauiour God Almighty hath said the word Tu es Petrus Mat. 16. super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam portae inferi non praeualebunt aduersus eam Thou art Peter or a Rock vpon vvhich Rocke I wil build vp my Church and that spite of Hel gates they shal not preuayle against it be they neuer so manie neuer so mighty neuer so politike neuer so eloquent neuer so hardie and vvhat soeuer els can be thought or named Vpon this most plaine and most sure word of him that is truth and might it selfe haue our Fathers bin alway bold to say that the See of Peter should neuer faile neyther in succession neyther in faith And vpon the same word be wee much more bold if more may be because we see that it hath held on almost two hundred forty Bishops whereas they say not forty And wee againe besides the fighting against it that they saw haue seen an infinite deale of more Therefore be we bold to say with them that neuer shal hell gates ouer come this Rocke but that both the Successiō shall endure also the very same faith of it endure Who can say so of the B. of Cāterbury of London or any other or either of these either I say that alwaies there shall be a Bishop or that for the time he is he shall not chaunge his faith These Heretikes all the world seeth how soone they fade faile one alwaies eating vp another as a great morsell of Luther eaten vp by Zuinglius of Zuinglius by Caluin of the Protestantes by the Puritans c. And so in themselues euery one vvonderfully diminishing in the meane time the Catholike vnitie meruailouslie increasing For example whereof wee need not to goe to India where the multiplication is miraculous nor to other Countries of Europe verie manie persons and partes vvhereof doe daylie repent theyr Heresie and returne to vnitie Euen in our owne Countrie vvho seeth not the gracious and incredible increase of Catholikes so that now after sixteene yeares preaching of the Heretikes as long silence of the Catholikes all libertie maintenaunce help and law for the one all restraint persecution and oppression of the other yet at this day thankes be to God there are innumerable moe Catholikes and they more godlie more learned more zealous more constant then they were what time Pharao first arose that knevv not Ioseph Whereby anie vvise man may coniecture what will be their increase within few yeares yea although the commādement of exponing the men children should continue specially then when it shall be free for all to depart them out of the house of bondage and to heare Moyses preach vnto them at libertie which by the grace of God to be quickly these wonders that hee worketh both in heauen and in earth and specially in the hearts of men vnlesse I be deceaued doe seeme to promise God graunt if it be his blessed will that whensoeuer it be it be with the Egyptians own saluation that they indurate not their owne hartes euen to the destruction of their Primogeniti Well be that generall deliuerie when God will euer or neuer easily may the Heretikes see by this that the people of themselues do see their follies that much more plainely much more generally would they see it if the Catholiks might be suffered for to shew it Which sufferance although God hithervnto for the infinite sinnes of vs and our Countrie would not haue to be yet hath hee by other meanes wee see and daily doth more more declare that they be such as S. Paule speaketh of where hee saith Sed vltra non proficient 2. Tim. 3. insipientia enim eorum manifesta erit omnibus But they shall not still proceed for theyr folly shall be manifest to all men at the length as was the folly of Iannes and Mambres the Magitians of Pharao who for a while with theyr sorcery withstood Moyses For so wee see that partly Catholike mens writinges and Councels of Bishops partly time it selfe all with the helpe of God hath and doth make knowen theyr folly euen there where by all reason of man they should haue rooted in themselues for euer and