embrace doctrine for this whole Kingdome were so renowned for constancie pietie and learninge and all this in their confessed puer time of Christianitie I will recite what doctrine in this poynt of Popes supreamacye they approued and receaued there for this and all nations to followe and obserue In the third Canon of this Concil Sardic can 3. their greate Councell it is thus decreed Bishop Osius said if any Bishop shall be iudged in an other cause and hee thinketh hee hath a Good cause that a Councell should be called againe if it please you lett vs honor the memorie of S. Peter the Apostle that they which haue examined the cause may write to Iulius Bishop of Rome and if hee shall adiudge that Iudgment is to be renewed lett it be renewed and lett him appoint Iudges but if hee shall allowe the cause to be such that the things that ar done shall not be examined againe such things as hee shall decree shall be confirmed Doth this please you all The Councell answeareth it pleaseth vs. Therefore all now in England ought to be pleased with the supreamacie of that highest See and appeales vnto it The 4. and next Canon Can. 4. sup immediatly beginneth thus Bishop Gandentius said lett it be added if you please to this sentence full of sanctitie that when any Bishop shall be deposed by the Iudgment of those Bishops that be in the places neare And hee shall demaunde to haue his busines handled in the citie of Rome that after his appeale no Bishop be ordeyned in his chaire that was thought to be deposed except his cause shall be determined in the Iudgment of the Bishop of Rome The 7. Canon declareth it to be in the Can. 7. sup Popes power to send a latere Iudges in such causes into any contry notwitstandeing any sentence of other Bishops And as these primatiue Bishops of this Kingedome with that learned and Holy assemble of that generall Councell receaued and approued that supreame power in the Pope of Rome so hee by these Ptotestants testimonie euer practized it in this nation For besides that which is written before they vse these words Celestine Pope of Rome sent his Archdeacon Palladius into Brittaine to withstand Theater lib. 4. cap. 1. pag. 138. n. 22. the Pelagian Heresie whoe at one time did driue out these enemyes of grace and ordayned a Bishop amonge the Scots whereby that Barbarous nation â—mbrâ—ced Christianitic This they cite and approue from Prosper Aquitan And againe in this maner Pelagius by birth a brittane by profession a Mouke by leude doctrine an Hereticke brought vp in the fame us Lib. 6. cap. 53. pag. 277. n. 10. monasterie of Bangor in Wales his Hereticall assertions were afterwards condemned by Innocentius the first Bishop of Rome Whose doctrines were 1. that man without the grace of God was able to fullfill all the commaundements 2 that man in himself had free will That the grace of God was giuen vnto vs according to out merits 4. That the Iust haue no synne 5. That children ar free from originall synne 6. That Adam should haue died though hee had not synned Concerninge the Towne of Stanford Lib. 1. cap. 31. pag. 59. n. 8. they make this relation from Ihon Hardinge it continued an vniuersitie vnto the comeing of Augustine at which time the Bishops of Rome interdicted it for certayne Heresies sprange vp amonge the Brittaines and Saxons They write futher thus Yorke hath challenged to haue beene sometime Pag. 6. n. 7. Metropolitane ouer all the Bishops in Scotland It was made equall in honor and power with Canterbury by Pope Gregory as Beda relateth and had twelue suffragan Bishopricks that owed obedience And againe Yorke was made a Metropolitane Pag. 78. n. 9. cittie by a pall sent vnto it from Honorius And to shew that the disposeing of these things was in the power of that highest See thus they testifie againe That Lichfeild was made an Lib. 1. cap. 3. pag. 6. n. 8. Archiepiscopall See by Pope Hadrian the first at the suite of Offa the greate Kinge of Mercia is manifested by Mathew of Westminister vnto whose IurisdictioÌ„ were assigned the Bishopricks of Winchester Hereford Leicester Siduacester Helinham and Dunwich Like were the condition of S. Dauids n. 6. 8. Dorchester by Oxford and others And to shew that these primatiue bishops were onely subiect to the Pope and no Prince in their spirituall proceedeings when the wicked Kinge Vortigern had put away his first lawfull Christian wife and maryed Rowena the daughter of Hengist a Pagan Theat l. 7. cap. 12. pag. 313. about the yeare of Christ 470 for declareing the remedie thereof they write in these wordes Which Pagan mariadge proued not onely the bane of the land but so ruinated the Church of Christianitie that a prouinciall Councell of the Brittaines was assembled in Ann. 470. to repaire those things that this mariadge had decayed Then Popes and not Princes by these Parker lib. antiq Britan nic pag. 329 Protestants euer had spirituall supreamacie in this Kingedome For their first Archbishop Parker An. 1536. writeth thus Potentia populis nongentis amplius Annu in Anglia durauit The power of the Pope continued in England aboue nyne hundred yeares And there ought to continue still as I haue made demonstration by these Protestants before to which I add this sentence of Isaac Casanbon ex oâ—e Isaac Casanb respons ad ep Cardinal pâ—r pag. 8. ipso ser Regis taken from the mouth it self of our moste syncere Kinge commaundeing him to committ it te writeinge and is as followeth Rebus ipsis probet Romanus pontifex lett the Pope of Rome proue by things themselues that hee doth not seeke his owne Pag. 67. supr but the glory of God immortall and the peace of people concord and saluation to be a care vnto him then our moste seâ—ene Kinge as hee hath longe since protested in his Admonitory epistle without delay primas illi deferet ipsumque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum Gregorio Nazianzenâ— dicet non inuitus will giue primacie vnto him and not vnwillingely say with Gregorie Nazienzen that hee hath charge ouer the whole Church To which I answeare that I wish and I trust with more deuotion and Religion then hee That not onely Popes but other Princes spirituall and temporall Bishops Preists and all men in authoritie and others did more seeke the glorie of God then their owne and were more carefull of the peoples peace concord and saluation then they now ar or many were euen from the time of Christ Then so many disorders and Impieties should not haue so full dominion where Protestancie Ruleth and the scripture had neuer saide omnes quae sua sunt quaerunt non quâ— Iesu Christi all men or all sortes of men seeke the things that be their owne and not of Iesus Christ And it chargeth vs againe to obey Magistrats and men in
authoritie though wicked sed etiam discolis And to say as you must doe otherwise you demonstrate against your English Protestant Church whose mouthe you so often vndertake to be and for the Pope of Rome that Magistrates falling into deadly synne cease to be Magistrates one of your brother Witkliffe his Heresies condemned by highest authoritie For otherwise if the present Pope Paulus the fift a Sainct in all Indifferent Iudgments as all his predecessors from Leo the tenth and the reuolt of Luther in respect of any Protestant succession might be thought worthie to be esteemed such or as your wordes prescribe in your Protestant Censure Yett except it were his due without that your adiudged sanctitie neither our Kinge of England nor all the Protestant Princes and Regiments in the world could by your Religion make the Pope or any other to be primate and haue the charge or â—uersight of the whole Church For by your owne doctrine of Princes or Presbyteries supreamacie none extendeth further then their owne temporall dominions much lesse ouer the whole Church or any greate part thereof And by Lord Cookâ— prot assert Iacob Reas your owne Rule of authoritie iustified both by the Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and your Ministers Nemo potest plus Iuris in alium transferre quam ipse habet No man can transfer or bestowe more Right vppon an other then hee himself hath Therefore by our sentence from our Kings Mouthe as you assuer vs all Popes euer were and this is supreame Heade and Ruler of Christs whole Church in England and all other partes of the worldes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the whole Church as your Greeke graunt with S. Gregory Nazianzen is And all that desire to be accompted the chosen and true sheepe and members of this greate flocke folde and Church of Christ ought to submitt themselues to this high sheephard primate and Ouerseer of the whole Christian worlde and to be Iudged by him and not to be Iudges ouer him And to this also D. Morton himself Morton App. lib. 4. cap. 7. must subscribe though hee will be singular aboue his fellowes as often times hee is For first hee alloweth this sentence of their so named Archbishop Whiteguist against Cartwright Victor in the yeare of Christ 198 was a godly Bishop and Martyr and the Church at that time was in greate puritie as not beinge longe after the Apostles And his Maiestie telleth him that this Church of Rome was then a Rule to all Yet D. Morton assureth vs that this godly Bishop and Martyr and Ruler of that Church which was a Rule to all did exercise the highest Act of Iurisdiction and power ouer all Churches in the world that did not yeeld vnto him in the Easter obseruation inflicting excommunication the greatest act of Iurisdiction by Protestants against them his wordes be these Morton App. l. 1. cap. 9. Pope Victor excommunicated all Churches both Greeke and Latine which differed from his Church in the obseruation of Easter This clayme and exercise of this supreame Iurisdiction was when the Church of Rome was a Rule to all in the Iudgment of these Protestants and a matter of so greate moment that the doeing of it if vniustly had beene moste damnable and yett hee liued and dyed an holy Saint Therefore I vrge D. Morton with these his Morton app pag. 298. owne wordes in the case of S. Ciprian This wee thinke might worke in our Aduersaries at least blush except they would intend to proue concerninge Sainct Victor that the same man of God and holy Martyr of Christ was neither Sainct nor Martyr But vndoubtedly a damnable scismaticke When D. Morton wittnesseth the quite contrary sayeinge they were condemned for Hereticks whoe after the Councell of Nice conformed not themselues herein to the Romane Order But D. Morton insisteth Mort. supr pag 76. further in these words S. Ciprian directly ordeyned in a Councell that euery mans cause should be hard there where it was comitted and Mort. sup pag. 296. therefore commaunded those men to returne home againe vnto Carthadge whoe had aduentured to appeale vnto Rome And yet Bellarmine vrgeth appealeinge vnto the Bishop of Rome from all the coastes of the world as a speciall Argument of the Popes absolute primacie D. Morton is answeared by himselfe before proueinge that the Bishop of Rome exercised this supreame power ouer all Churches both Greeke and Latine Then ouer Africke and Carthadge And in this very obiection againe confoundeth himself for hee telleth vs that in S. Ciprian his time they appealed to Mort. supr Rome and proueth by S. Ciprian whome hee would haue an enemy to such Appeales and supreamacy of the Church of Rome that such appeales were then vsed longe before any generall Councell or Christian Emperor to graunt such priuiledges to that Church And that the Popes and Bishops of Rome that claymed receaued and admitted such appeales namely S. Cornelius and others ware Holy Saincts and Martyrs Therefore if that had beene true which D. Morton writeth in these wordes Morton pag 296. Saint Ciprian directly ordeyned in a Councell that euery mans cause should behard there where it waâ— committed and therefore commaunded those men to returne home againe vnto Carthadge who had aduentured to appeale vnto Rome not alloweinge that any other Bishops should retract things done by them in Africke vnlesse saith Ciprian a few leude and desperate parsons thinke the Bishops of Africke to haue lesse authoritie by whome they haue beene allready Iudged and condemned If this allegation of D. Morton were true and certayne Yet it nothing preiudicateth the Authoritie and supreamacie of the Pope of Rome not to be censured and Iudged by Inferior Bishops such as those of Africke were vnto Rome by Protestants doctrine And D. Morton himself besides all that is said before is wittnes sufficient in this Matter for writeing of Pope Iulius in those allowed times hee hath these words Two points Morton pag. 286. would be obserued in this claime of Pope Iulius The first is what it was that hee challenged the second is by what right Bothe these ar recorded by Socrates His challenge was that hee ought to be called vnto the Councell and that without his sentence no decrees should be concluded The right hereof hee pretendeth to stand vppon the authoritie of an Ecclesiastical canon The wordes of Socrates his Author Socrat. histor ccclesiast circa An. 346. histor tripart lib. 4. cap. 9. because D. Morton is a knowne myncer of authorities ar these Regula Ecclesiastica iubeat non oportere praeter sententiam Romani Pontificis concilia celebrari The Ecclesiasticall Rule commaundeth that Councells he not celebrated without the sâ—â—tence of the Bishop of Rome And againe Canonibus iubentibus praeter Romanum nibil decerni Socrat. sup histor trip lib. 4. cap. 19. Pontificem The canons commaundeinge that nothinge be decreed without the Pope of Rome And yet D. Morton
will not haue any such canon or constitution his friuolous distinction in the Nicene Councell then lately ended then they must needs be of more auntient and vncontroleable antiquitie and authoritie by his owne censure and S. Ciprians Councell and decree against this highest power of no validitie if hee could bringe forth any such decree or Councell which hee doth not but onely alledgeth these words of S. Ciprian to Pope Cornelius statutum est omnibus nobis Which hee thus translated S. Ciprian directly ordeyned in a Councell Which Ciprian ep 55. ad Cornel. Morton App. lib. 2. pag. 296. S. Ciprian neither had done nor could doe to bynde S. Cornelius and the Church of Rome with all others For by D. Mortons owne Argument if Pope and S. Cornelius Pope and Saint Stephen with others Bishops of the Mother and commaunding Churche of Rome then by his Maiestie a Rule vnto all might not be a Rule and commaunder ouer the African Church much lesse could the Church of Africke subiect Ruled and dependinge make statutes and decrees to rule and commaund this Rule and commaunder of all And Mr Morton might haue concluded the contrary of his translation for the Church of Rome if hee had considered that S. Ciprians words be not Statutum sit ab omnibus nobis it is decreed of or by vs all â—â—t statutum sit omnibus nobis a decree is made for vs all Because S. Fabian Pope of Rome and predicessor to S. Cornelius had made such a â—abian â—â—ist 3. â—â—m 1. conc decree to bynde all as S. Ciprian spake of Ibi causa agatur vbi crimen admittitur lett the cause be hard there where the fault is committed Yet in the same place Appeales to Rome ar excepted in these words Wee forbid forreyne Iudgments by a generall decree reserued allwayes the Apostolicke authoritie And againe It pleaseth alsoe that if a Bishop accused hath appealed to the See Apostolicke that shall be decreed which the high Bishop of that See giueth sentence of All which as alsoe that whole epistle of S. Ciprian to S. Cornelius then Pope of Rome neuer denyeing appeales thither but excuseinge and defendeing and purgeing himself and other Bishops of Africke accused by Appellants at Rome as they had likewise done priori anno the yeare before sufficiently Ciprian ep 55. supr confirme the vndeniable supreame authoritie of that Church Which S. Ciprian there proueth to be of Infallible Iudgment and vndeceaueable by any Appellants or others in matters of Religion and so to be appealed vnto and supreame His words in the same epistle and concerning the same Appellants ar these Nauigare audent ad Petri cathedram They dare to saile euen to the chayre of Peter and to the principall Church from whence preistly vnitie is risen and cary thither letters from Scismaticks and wicked men nor to thinke that they be Romans whose faith by the Apostle preachinge is praised to whome false beleefe cannot haue accesse Hitherto the very wordes of S. Ciprian in that place and epistle which D. Morton alleadgeth against the Romane supreamacie by which is euident that S. Ciprian neither did nor could by his doctrine deny appeales to that Church which as hee writeth could not be deceaued with Hereticks nor false beleefe could haue accesse vnto it which could be for no other cause but for the Infallible Iudgment thereof and that God did assist it in truthe as other Protestants ar wittnesses before And D. Morton haueing first written Morton app pag. 296. in this order The Title of vniuersall Bishop of the Church hath beene long vsed of the Pope of Rome is as mutch to blame to speake thus S. Ciprian saith none of vs is called the Bishop of Bishops which not S. Ciprian onely but the whole Councell of Carthadge vnder Ciprian did professe furthermore callinge it a terror tyrannicall for any one Bishop to impose vppon his fellowe Bishops a necessitie of obedience For first D. Morton cannot but knowe that this Councell of Africke defendeinge Rebaptization was iustly condemned by the then Popes of Rome and recanted by the African Bishops present at it as is proued before Secondly D. Morton will be a Presbyterian if hee maketh equalitie in the cleargie and denyeth Archbishops primates and Patriarkes as his citation without better glosse implyeth Thirdly hee doth abuse his Readers to wish them to beleeue that S. Ciprian and the African Bishops decreed any thing against the clayme of S. Stephen then Bishop of Rome his predecessors and successors to be Bishop of Bishops Mort. sup pag. 296. in a right sence as hee there citeth from Binias for so against his owne words and citation they had called their owne decree a terror tyrannicall for any one Bishop to impose vppon his fellowe Bishops a necessitie of obedience For D. Morton dareth not to deny but S. Stephen and other Popes of Rome were at the leaste fellowe Bishops with those of Africke But S. Ciprian and those Bishops decreed no such thinge for D. Morton may so in that Councell that the sentence of S. Ciprian is the laste of all and after all the other Bishops and onely to condemne Baptisme by Hereticks after recanted and condemned And the words which hee cited against Bishop of Bishops ar in S. Ciprians Carthagin concil sub Cyprian to 1. concil init exhortation not decree to the Bishops of Africke begynninge Audistis Collegae Dilectissimi you haue hard ô moste beloued fellowes nothing concerning except affirminge or confirminge that clayme and Title in Pope Stephen an holy Saint and Martyr but alltogether about rebaptization and are these Superest vt de hacre quid singuli sentiamus proferamus Yt remayneth that euery of vs speaketh of this matter what hee thinketh Iudginge no man or remoueing any man from the Right of communion if hee shall thinke otherwise for none of vs there assembled constituted himself Bishop of Bishops Which seing S. Stephen an holy Pope and Martyr with others of that sacred See then a Rule to all by Protestants and D. Morton did by them also it must be yeelded to be iust and lawfull Neither must D. Morton be so hyperpapall as to deny the Councell of Sardyce where appeales to Rome ar warranted to be generall for his Masters the makers of their greate Theater haue so allowed and receaued it before Nor slander S. Cyprian by perswadeing the worlde that hee dyed out of the vnitie of the Church of Rome for recallinge of which his greate rashnes I referre him to better Authorities of S. Augustine S. Ierome Augustin ep 48. Hieron dialog cont Luciferian and the like And this sufficeth of this question By which the vniuersitie of Cambridg may easely resolue themselues by their owne Doctors of the second proposition offered vnto them by the Preists of Wisbich There is an externall Iudge in matters of faith whoe it is and of what authoritie his definitiue sentence is in such things
A BOOKE INTITVLED THE ENGLISH Protestants Recantation in matters of Religion WHEREIN IS DEMONstratiuely proued by the writings of the principall and best learned English Protestant Bishops and Doctors and Rules of their Religion published allowed or subscribed vnto by them since the comminge of our King IAMES into England That not onely all generall grownds of Diuinitie are against theÌ„ But in euery particular cheife Question betweene Catholicks them they are in errour by their owne Iudgments Diuided accordingly into two parts whereof the first entreateth of those generall Grounds The other of such particular Controuersies Whereby will also manifestely appeare the vanitie of D. MORTON Protest Bishop of Chester his booke called Appeale or Ansvveare to the Catholicke Authour of the booke entituled The Protestants Apologie Psal 126. v. 1. Except our Lord build the howse They labour in vayne that build yt With Licence Anno 1617. TO ALL HIS WELBELOVED CONTRYMEN ENGLISH PROTESTANTS especially persecutors of the Romane catholicke Religion DVely and moste frendly I remember my seruice and best loue vnto you In maladies and diseases desperate vsuall remedies will not â—uer in controuersies those that bee and wrongefully distressed when equall triall will not bee graunted must accept vnequall or none at all Your late commended history of the world recommendeth vnto vs for moste true this sentence nothing can bee a more excellent wittnessinge then where an Enemy doth approue our cause Your D. Morton doth testifie as much and no man will deny it neyther this that followeth that in controuersed questions and their tryall no condemnation is more approued then where men in their owne cause are condemned by their owne Iudgment Thus in our lawes confession of wronges and euill behauiour is conuiction And in matters of Religion a Recantation But without some high commaundinge cause how shall wee finde such enforceinge and forced wittnes Balaam his Asse spake not of himselfe nor Cayphas of himselfe did prophesye And in English Protestant Religion where euery one is made a Iudge ouer all that will gayne say him in their conceipts no man will suppose or once Imagine that any one will bee fownde amonge them to giue sentence against themselues whome they value and esteeme at so high a rate aboue all the world besides especially for the church of Rome which they hate and persecute so much Yett because no other meanes is left I must build vppon this vnleuell groundes and come for Iudgment at such a Consistory onely to take what they shall giue and haue nothinge but what they please to allowe Which I hope will bee that which is expressed in the Title of this booke the same to which they haue all sworne or subscribed ratified or confirmed printed and published for their doctrine and Religion I dare not goe hygher to the dayes of Queene Elizabeth nor bringe the testimonies of Protestants in other contries leaste I receaue for Answeare as others haue done that they stand not vppon what forreyne and former Protestants haue taught which though it bee a vayne and onely cauillons exception to bee at variance or defyance with them in faith of whose church as they name it they would bee members yett to auoide all suspition and colour of euasion though neuer so friuolous Because no protestant may deny but that is their protestant Religion in England vnder our Kinge supreame heade stiled of that Church which hee by his lawes and proceedings with their Consents and Assentinge hath here established and this their Bishops and Doctors by oath or subscription haue synce then confirmed and by their published printed writings defended or mayntayned or by their Religion ought so to doe I will onely insist in this their owne priuiledged and allowed testimonyes and authorities And assume by them to proue not onely that all grownds of Religion in generall doe proue and mayntayne the doctrine of the church of Rome and condemne this protestant Religion But further and demonstratiuely to manifest by true consequence that in euery cheife question betweene this ProtestaÌ„ts and Catholicks they ar in error and wee in truthe Which will be more then euident demoÌ„stration against D. Morton ProtestaÌ„t Bishop of Chester his Appeale or pretended Answeare to the Catholick Author of the Protestants Apologie And therefore being confidently assured that I haue truely and fully performed what I vndertake by their so greate aduantage as to make them both wittnes and Iudge in their owne cause I presume as it is soe to name this Booke The English Protestants Recantation in Matters of Religion I wish it were as easye and no more difficult labour to bridle their wills and Appetites from libertie ouermuch loue of this world and wanton delights thereof as it is to demonstrate to their vnderstandings that they bee in error many men ar able to doe this But God and themselues must reforme the other which of his greate mercy I moste humbly beseech him to grauÌ„t That they which so longe tyme haue onely talked of Reformed Churches and Religions may come to the true and reall practise of reformation both in mynde and maners Which I hope they may the soener attayne vnto if they shall duely consider how fowle and deformed the face of this their new doctrine is euen as it is poynted by their owne colours and pencell That which remayneth as my onely suite to you is this not to bee regardlesse of your best good not willfully to erre from the way of truthe to esteeme of the sacred Religion of the Church of Rome as the greatest enemyes to it and frends to you shall conclude it worthye and lett my self and labours enioy your loue as wee shall deserue it And so I shall euer rest Your most wellwishing Contriman and frend Author of this Booke THE ENGLISH PROTESTANST RECANTATION IN MATTERS OF Religion THE FIRST PART CHAPTER I. PROVEINGE BY ENGLISH Protestant writers since the begynninge of his Maiesties Raigne in England that the true Church of Christ is of Infallible Iudgment The Protestants not so and so not the true Church BECAVSE the cheefest and moste generall controuersie in Religion in this time betweene the Catholicks of England and their Aduersaries their contry persecutors and Innouators is concerninge the true Churche of Christ which where with whome and what it is what bee the properties true notes signes qualities authoritie office and commaunde of it I will first begin with that Question In which I argue thus Whatsoeuer Companie Societie Consistorye Iudgment or Authoritie is in time of difference about Religion moste necessarie to bee knowe followed and obeyed and is the companie of holy ones the howsholde of faithe spouse of Christ the piller and grownde of truthe whose communyon is to bee embraced directions followed and Iudgment to bee rested in must needes bothe bee priuiledged from error and to bee obeyed in Matters of controuersie But the true Church of Christ is such Therefore free from error and to bee obeyed in this busines
which cause D. Dâ—wname graunteth in this Downam l. 2. Antichrist pag. 105. 106. maner that S. Augustine and Victor Vticensis in Asrike were of opinion that to adhere to the Churche of Rome was a Marke of a true Catholicke in those times Which could not be except it were the commaunding Churche and enfranchised from error Neither doth this Doctor Down suâ— pag. 106. 107. Denye but the Bishops then did sweare obedience to the Pope And entreateing of a Bishopp recanteinge his Heresies hee writeth thus Hee sweareth to renownce his former Heresies and to professe and mayntayne that Faith And Religion which the Bishopp and Church of Rome did professe Which is a thinge in it self so absurde for Bishops in that best time to doe except they did hold the Popes Authoritie to be supreame and Iudgment in religeons controuersies Infallible that no man of vnderstanding can beleeue it Therefore Mr. Ormerod wittnesseth that S. Leo taught that Ormerod pict pap pag. 44. Sutcl suâ—â— pag. 19. God did assist and direct that See in decrees Concerninge Europe D. Sutcliffe giueth particular examples how S. Gregorie to vse his words commaunded the Bishops of fraunce And commaundeth also in England the constituting of our Archbishop S. Augustine and the verie See of that preeminence at Canterbury D. Couell writeth the like of Pope Gregorie his Couell against Burg. pag. 49. commaundeing authoritie in all Spayne who prouoked by the Heresie of the Arians commaunded that through all Spayne there should be but once dippinge in baptisme And if either a generall Cowncell in the primatiue Church to which Protestants will seeme to giue highest authoritie or the Emperor to Bilson Suru pag. 83. Mort. Apol. part 2. pag 340. Relat. c. 47. Suâ—cl subu pag. 119. Feild pag. 228. c. Doâ—n l. 1. Antich c. 3. pag. 36. whome by their proceedings they would highest power if they could procure any of their Religion could either giue or confirme this highest authoritie to the Pope of Rome Then D. Downame denieth not but that bothe the Emperor Iustinian and the generall Cowncell of Calcedon in the primatiue Church attributed to the Pope of Rome to be heade of the Churche which hee saith is the greatest style And addeth of that Church in that best estate Titles of honor and preeminence were giuen to the Church of Rome as the cheife or Heade of the Churches Againe I argue thus whatsoeuer power doth rightly ordaine in the Churche generally ceremonies by all to be vsed in it appointeth Metropolitanes Archbishops Bishops assigneth precincts to euery parishe and a certayne compasse to euery presbyter in the primatiue Church and best estate thereof musts needs be supreame But the power of the Pope of Rome is such Therefore it is supreame The Maior is euidently true for it conteyneth authoritie ouer all in the Churches The Minor is proued by D. Morton Mr. Ormerod Mr. Hull Mort. apol part 2. Orm. pict pur Couell exam Hull Rom. pol pag. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. and Doctor Couell telling vs that Lent Imbringe dayes Friday Altars Albes Corporalls Preists Robes Saincts Fastings euens Saincts Shrines Hymnes Pax Pascall Taper Masse for the deade Canonicall howers Processione Holy water Introite of Masse Annoyntinge Bishops crosseing with Chrisme in Baptisme were ordayned in the Church by these primatiue and holy Popes Telesphorus Calixtus Stephanus Syluester Sixtus Vigilius Honorius Boâ—ifacius Sergius Leo Innocentius Zozimus Vitellian Celestine Pelagius Vrbanus Agapitus Damasus Higimus Pius Alexander all which ruled the Churche longe before the exceptions of Protestants against it D. Couell doth not onely tell vs that Metropolitanes Archbishops c. came from thence and whoe to whome should be obedient or superior and were so vsed before the Nicene Councell Couell mod exam pag. 111. But further to vse his words either Euaristus Bishopp in the See of Rome in the yeare of Christ 112. or as some say Dionysius first assigned the precincts to euery parishe and appointed to eache Presbyter a certaine compasse whereof himself should take chardge alone Therefore that authoritie of the Pope which thus from Couell exam pag. 162. sup the begynninge and before councells were holden assigned limited and appointed to all spirituall parsons and callings their Titles honors precincts Iurisdiction and power must needs be supreame I argue againe That Churche whose Bishoppe was before the first generall Councell Cheefe Patriarke in the Church of Christ and in that and other generall Councells so allowed and confirmed by the confession of Protestants and whose Rulers when that Church was in her florisheing and best estate a Rule to all our mother Churche c. Did make and publish decrees and lawes to the whole Church and in the greatest affaires of generall and other Councells that they should not doe against the directions of that commaundeinge Ruler els to be accompted no Councells and that it were not lawfull for Bishops to doe any thinge against his decrees must needs be the supreame and commaundinge Church ouer all others But the Church of Rome by the testimonye of ProtestaÌ„ts is in this preeminent and priuiledged estate Therefore by them it is the supreame and commaundinge Churche of the whole Christian worlde The Maior proposition is euidently true for first hee that is the first and cheife amonge all others cannot be dependant therefore hee must needs be supreame otherwise D. Feilds vnities of the Churche could not possibly be kept as is proued before nor the graunt of his fellowes that there euer was since Christ one supreame in his Church cannot be iustified For if the first cheife and moste worthie is not hee the seconde lesse cheife or lesse worthy carnot be hee And if by Protestants a generall Councell is highest and supreame Iudge as D. Morton Morton Apol. part 2. pag. 340. Sutcl subu pag. 119. Feild pag. 228. saith a generall Councell is highest Iudge by D. Surcliffe generall Councells haue soueraigne authoritie in externall gouernment by D. Feild Bishops assembled in a generall Councell haue and onely haue authoritie to interprett scriptures and by their authoritie to suppresse all them that gainesay such Interpretation and subiect euery man that shall disobey such determinations as they consent vppon to excommunication and censure of like nature Then that Pope or prelate which in that true Chnrch where such vsurpation vniustly could not be that had authoritie to confirme ratifie or to frustrat and inualidate such and all other Councells must of necessitie be supreame and of the highest commaunding power ouer all The Minor proposition is proued by these Protestants first D. Feild writeth in these words The mayne Feild l. 3. c. 1. pag. 61. 62. diuision of the christian Church is presently and was formerly for certaine hundreds of yeares into the Latine and Greeke Church as most principall In the time of the Nicene Councell and before as appeareth Nicen. Concil can 6. by the Acts of the Councell limiteinge
triall of Doctrine is not to be fetched from the opinions and examples of men And agayne It may not seeme straunge if superstition were crept into the Church before Constantines time M. Ormerod scoffeth Ormerod pict pag. 78. at the authoritie and testimonie of S. Anacletus Pope of Rome that liued in the Apostles time and was a glorious Martyr for Christ because hee proueth the supreamacie Middleton papistem pag. 200. of the See of Rome from the graunt of our Sauiour M. Middleton doth the like by Papias lyueing with the Apostles for the same doctrine M. Hull condemneth for like causes allmoste all the blessed Popes Hull Rom. pol. and Martyrs Bishops of Rome from S. Peter the Apostle with in the first foure hundred yeares as shall be cited hereafter D. Couell before hath stiled S. Augustine with Part. 2. cap. Ceremonies Wotton def of perk pag. 8. pag. 17. 9. 88. the greatest commendation of learninge yet M. Wotton writeth Wee neede not feare S. Augustine though against vs. Eusebius is to be reprehended There was want of modestie and truthe also in the treatise of Hierome against Vigilantius The auntieÌ„t Fathers spake more like philosophers then dyuines It is more then I knowe that Gregory is a Sainct The Author of the Epistle to the Philippians attributed to S. Ignatius is an vnfitt Iudge in Wotton sup pag. 118. 224. 422. 440. 462. controuersies of diuinitie Tertullians wittnesse is of small authoritie Damascen is not greately to be respected Oâ—igen is generally condemned Ignatius epistle to the Romanes approued by S. Hierome and Protestants also is a counterfaite Ignatius for Pag. 340 Pag. 387. Pag. 467. Pag. 494. Pag. 495. teaching meritt of good workes Ciprian is toe farre caryed away since hee ascribeth to almes daes the purgeing of sinne Irenaus Iudgement is little to be respected Tertullians testimonie is not worthe answeareinge Tertullian and Origen may be ioyned together Chrisostoms Rhetoricke is better then his Pag. 499. Logicke Hieroms authoritie in case of single life is not murch worth Those Christian Fathers which condemned Pag. 500. Iouinian as S. Augustine Ambrose Hierome c. delt vnchristianly with him The Pag. 519. Pag. 520. authoritie of the auntient writers Athanasius Augustine Hierome concludeinge a worke of perfection from those wordes of Christ goe sell all c. is Pag. 543. not to be admitted The authoritie of Clement of Alexandria and Augustine with the schoole Doctors is inferior to the Iewes Origen and Theodoret whome before hee preferreth before S. Pag. 545. 546. 584. 594. Augustine ouerthrowe their owne distinction Lactantius though hee were an auntient Christian yett in his verses of worshipping the Crosse hee sheweth himself liker a light Poet then a graue writer And as hee hath vsed all the learned Fathers of the primatiue Churche for teacheing the doctrine of the present Church of Rome so he exclameth as barbarously and vndutifully against all Christian Kings of this and other nations for the same cause his wordes be these The Wotton def of perk pag. 53. Ormer pict pag. 44. Kings of England and Scottland c. were Sathanes Souldiers when they were of the Popes Religion M. Ormerod disalloweth S. Leo because hee taught that God assisted the See of Rome in decres For the like reason D. Downame reiected the authoritie of many holy Popes and Martyrs of that Church in her best dayes when it was a Rule to all accordinge to his Maiesties Censure Down lib. 1. Antichr cap. 3. pag. 35. 36. because to vse his wordes Diuers Bishops of Rome before the time of Socrates the Historian contented to haue the primacie ouer all other Churches and that is the cheife scope of many of their epistles decretall Yet this was as our Kinge Conference at Hampt pag. 75. Perk. problem pag. 4. hath told vs when it was a Rule to all and when no man might seperate himself from the doctrine of that Churche M. Perkins hath written thus The Fathers haue spoken many things incommodiously of holy thinges The auncient Fathers did Pag. 93. 94. Pag. 105. Pag. 184. synne in the Inuocation of Saincts yea were guiltie of sacriledge such were Paulinus Fortunatus S. Leo S. Ephrem S. Fulgentius Petrus Damianus Prosper The auncient Fathers sometimes speake inconueniently of the Article of Iustification Some of the auntient Fathers as Tertullian and Cyprian are Montanists or at the leaste doe erre filthely for making Confirmation a Sacrament D. Sutcliffe Sutel subu pag. 5. Pag. 8. Pag. 9. Whoe before made so much shewe of reuerence to the Fathers writeth thus Metaphrastes is a lyeinge pedant writeinge more lyes then leaues Bede reporteth to many thinges by heareasy Ado is a fabulous writer The Historie of Kinge Lucius his conuersion testified by so many authorities Pag. 19. May well be parogoned with the tales of Kinge Arthure Sir Tristram and Lancelot Duâ—acke The Brittaynes haue cause to detest the memorie of Augustine That holy Sainct syrnamed the Apostle of our nation for conuertinge iâ— M. Ormerod is not onely at defiance with Ormer paganop pag. 44. all Fathers for teaching that Christ descended to comforte the Patriarkes and Fathers deade before him but compareth the Article and beleefe of Christs descending into Hell for such purpose to the fable of Hercules fayned to goe thither and fetche from thence Theseus Peâ—ithous and Cerberus the greate dogge of Hell with three heades as the poets Imagine M. Middleton Middleton papistom pag. 40. writeth thus The credit of men is but a sandy foundatiâ—n to builde vpon Meaninge the holy primatiue Fathers of the Church and scoffingly telling that greate Sainct and Pag. 27. Doctor S. Epiphanius that hee loste the booke of Pag. 45. the Apostles Constitutions out of his bosome which hee cited Haeres 45. hee addeth of him thus I must craue leaue to say of Epiphanius many assertions hee counted for Heresies which were not Heresies many assertions hee counted not Heresies which are Heresies And all this because hee condemneth diuers Protestant opinions of Heresie and iustifieth the doctrine of the Church of Rome against them Against S. Middleton sup pag. 49. Dionysius the Areopagite for teaching prayer for the deade hee scoffeth in this maner Denys his aunsweare is shortheeld readie to fall backe When S. Ambrose approueth Christs reall presence in the blessed Sacrament and Transsubstantiation hee writeth of him thus Pag. 61. Pag. 64. hee is gultie of presumptuous and desperate blasphemye At S. Chrisostome hee scoffeth and teacheth him how hee should speake because hee teacheth the doctrine of prayer for the deade And vseth this mocke against him callinge Pag. 66. sup it an apostolicall Tradition well might Chrysostome say the Apostles knew what profite redownded to the deade by prayer for them for himself knew not And thus in generall The Fathers sometime went beyonde the boundes of sobrietie in the doctrine Middlet sup Pag.
is infallible otherwise the whole Church might erre which D. Feild Feild pag. 203. l. 4. cap. 5. with priuiledge denyeth in these words Wee thinke that particular men and Churches may erre damnably because not withstanding others may worship God arright but that the whole Church at one time cannot so erre for that the Church should cease vtterly for a time and so not be Catholicke beinge not at all times and Christ should some times be without a Church Therefore the Vniuersitie of Cambridge by warrant from our Kinge alloweinge the one and D. Feild with publicke applause in the name of all English Protestants as his words wee thinke ar wittnes attesting the other and all English Protestants before assureing vs that they and all their Churches doe or may thus erre they cannot haue or be this true Church of Christ And because there is no other in any probable Iudgment left to be free from such damnable erring but the Romane Church because there reason telleth vs the Church cannot cease but be Catholick in all times and Christ cannot be without a Church This externall and Infallible Iudge is in the Romane Church and that this freed from damnable error is the true Church of Christ but of this in the next chapter CHAPTER II. WHEREIN DEMONSTRAtion is made by these English Protestant Doctors themselues writing or allowed as before synce the begynninge of Kinge IAMES his Raigne in England that the Romane Church is the true Church of Christ NOw it will be no difficult thinge to proue euen by this Protestants themselues that the Romane Churche that I meane which submitteth it selfe to the Iurisdiction of the Pope of Rome as the vicar of Christ Successor to S. Peter and supreame heade thereof is the true Churche of Christ for being generally graunted by Protestants that either their conuenticle and congregation or the Church of Rome is the true Church of God and their clayme and title thus shamefully by them selues excluded and ouerthowne it must needs follow by iust consequence that the Romane Church is that blessed companie of holy ones howshold of faith spouse of Christ and Church of the liueinge God priuiledged with such Immunities and commaunding power as is declared and by English Protestants ascribed to the true Church in the former chapter whereupon the ProtestaÌ„t offerres of conference speake of themselues and Offer of conference pag. 16. their cause in these words If the ministers bee inâ—â—â—or they protest to all the worlde that the Pope and the Churche of Rome and in them God and Christ Iesus himself haue had greate wronge and Inâ—ignitie offered vnto them in that they ar reiected and that all the Protestant Churches ar Scismatiâ—all in forsakeinge vnitie and communion with them And a little before speakinge of some positions Offer sup pag. 11. amonge them offered then to bee disputed They write in these termes diuers of the propositions ar suche that if the ministers should not constantly holde and mayntaine the same against all men they cannot see how possibly by the Rules of diuinitie the seperation of our Churches from the Churche of Rome and from the Pope the supreame heade thereof can bee iustified But to mâ—ke particular and direct probation of the is Catholicke doctrine by these Protestants I argue thus from their owne diuinitie in the 2. Article of their Religion of Articles of Relig. articul 12. artic 19. the necessarie and vnseparable by them vnion of faith and good workes and their definition of the true Church in their 19. Article subscribed vnto by all English Ministers and it is in this maner Whatsoeuer Church hath in great multitude men vertuous learned fraught with the loue of God and the truthe aboue all thinges men of memorable Integritie of hart and affections preachinge much both of faith and pietie with wonderfull zeale and spirit That must needs be the true Church of Christ But the present Church of Rome is such Therefore it is the true Church of Christ The first proposition is euidently deduced from those two Articles of their Religion and cannot be denyed The Minor proposition consisteth of the expresse words of their Protestant Relator of the Relation of the state of Religion â—ap 48. state of Religion and so nothing remayneth to be further proued My second Argument is thus framed where The outwarde state and glorie of the seruice doth engender quicken encrease and norish inward reuerence respect and deuotion which is due vnto soueraigne Maiestie and power Where deedes of charitie be exceedinge the life of some of their Religions incomparable in seueritie where there is excellent order of gouernment singular helps for encrease of godlines and deuotion and profiting of vertue That is the true Church of Christ But the present Church of Rome is such Therefore it is the true Church of Christ The Maior proposition is manifestly true by Protestants in their Article of the Church in these words the visible Church of Articul 19. sup Christ is a congregation of faithfull men in which the pure word of God is preached c. in all those things that of necessitie ar requisite to the same All which ar conteyned in the first proposition The seconde is their owne expresse words Relation of the state of Religion c. 9. c. 22. c. 26. c. 48. written and published of the present Romane Churche by their Relator of Religion for confirmation of bothe which Arguments the same Protestant Author not ignorant of so many differences in Religion betweene the Romane Church and them persuading an vnion betweene them onely requireth Catholicks to giue ouer fyue things all dispensable and not any Relat. c. 48. one of them essentiall as hee teacheth Which is as greate testimonie as a true Protestant can giue to the true Church for their common doctrine to defend their manifest errors is this that the true Church may er in matters not essentiall and fundamentall The words of D. Willet Willet Antil-pagâ— 43. Art 19. Feild of the Church Sutcl against D. Kell Dâ—â—â— persuas Wotton pag. 28. Middles p. 201. Powell consid at these to errors of doctrine which ar not fundamentall euen the true Church of Christ is subiect So their booke of Articles of Religion so D. Feild ordinarily in his bookes of the Church so D. Sutcliffe D. Doue one of their Bishops Mr. Wotton Mr. Middleton Mr. Powell and all the rest that made Protestants and Puritans but one Church do and must acknowledge And the benefites which this Protestant Relator assureth his brethren to fynde by vnion with the Romane Church hee setteth downe in these termes they shall finde excellent order of gouernment singuler Relat. sup helpes for encrease of godlines and deuotion for the conquering of sinne for the profiting of vertue Which be all the happines that the true Churche can giue or man enioy in this life For all our combate is to conquer sinne to haue vertue
of D. Gâ—orge Abbot sup pag. 48. 52. Constance before by him and others generall did define Wickliffe to be an Hereticke Also Pope Iohn the 23 in a generall Councell at Rome did condemne him for an Hereticke Then by this graunt The protestancie of England being the same as these Protestants tell vs which was taught be Iohn Wickliffe and by these Councells generall by their owne assertions condemned for Heresie must needs be Heresie And the contrarie doctrine of the Church of Rome orthodoxall and Catholicke otherwise no doctrine euer at any time was or can be hereafter lawfully condemned for Heresie or iuridically approued and allowed for true and Catholicke For by their owne Censure the highest Iudgment in the Church generall Councells haue thus defined and by their doctrine before of the power of generall Councells bownde all Christians vnder penaltie of eternall damnation so to beleeue in these questions And allthough the generall Councells of the primatiue Church were assembled about other Heresies The Catholicke doctrine of these points now impugned by Protestants then generally receaued and not doubted of as will manifestly appeare in the Chapter of Holy Fathers and Doctors of the primatiue Church yet because the first fower generall Councells are by name receaued and authorized by Parlament both by Queene Elizabeth and our Statut. 1. Eliz. 1. Iacob c. Sutcliffe ag D. Kell pag. 102. present Soueraigne And D. Sutcliffe for Protestants hath answeared thus before wee hold all the Christian faithe explaned in the sixe generall Councells Then seing the first sixe haue gott this greate papall approbation first concerninge the first generall Councell of Nice all though Vitus and Vincentius were presidents there for the Pope of Rome yet it was further confirmed by that Apostolicke Conc. Rom. tom 1. concil See in these words Whatsoeuer is constituted in Nyce of Bithinia to the strength of our holy Mother the Catholicke Church by 318 Preists wee confirme with our mouth Wee anathematize all them that shall dare to dissolue the definition of the holy and greate Councell gathered together at Nyce The third Canon of that holy Councell Conc. 1. Nicen can 3. defineth thus Omnibus modis Interdixit sancta Synodus c. The holy Councell hath wholly forbidden that it shall be lawfull neither for Bishop Preist nor Protest Booke of makeing and Order Bish. Preists c. An 3. Edw. 6. 1. El. 1. Iacob can Iacob can 7. can 8. Socr. 1. c. 8. Sozom. Deacon nor any other of the Cleargie to haue with him any straunge woman except perhaps mother or Sister or Grandmother c. Where there be more Orders of the Cleargie then Bishops Preists and Deacons onely allowed with them and none of these to haue any other woman or wife but to lyue in chastitie Their Answeare that Paphnutius persuaded the Councell that wiues maryed before orders might be kept out of Socrates and Sozomen is directly against the words of the Councell l. 1. c. 22. Epip in Compend Basil epist 17. in addit Hier. in vigilant epist 50. ad Pammach cone Carthag 2. can 2. concil 6. generca 2. in Trull before cited against S. Epiphanius that glorious Saint and Father of the Greeke Church S. Basile also S. Hierome c. the second Carthagenian Councell confirmed in the sixt generall Councell allowed by D. Sutcliffe defineing thus Apostoli docuerunt ipsa seruauit antiquitas c. The Apostles taught and antiquitie it self obserued that Bishops Preists and Deacons and those that handle Sacraments should be keepers of Chastitie and abstayne from wiues And yet these Protestants vtterly deny the opinion of Paphnutius himself as they themselues cite hym for they Marry after Orders which they confesse both Paphnutius and the first Nicen Councell denyed to be lawfull together with Socrates Sozomenus and all Greeke authoritie and practice In the fourtenth Canon of that first generall Councell the sacrifice of Masse and Christs reall presence in the blessed Sacrament of the altare are taught in these Concil Nicen 1. can 14. words This neither the Rule nor custome hath deliuered that they which haue not power to offer sacrifice should giue the bodie of Christ to them that offer it vp The sixt canon deliuereth by their Concil 1. Nicen. can 6. owne Interpretation that the Pope of Rome is supreame heade of the Church of England and all others in this part of the world And in truthe of the whole Iohn Speed in Theatr. pag. â—06 concil Sardicen can 3. 4. 7. c. Theodoret. l 2. hist c. 8 hist trip l. 4. c. 24. 2â— 15. 16. Conc. Constantinopol 2. gener can 2. Can. 5. Christian worlde as is declared in the greate Sardican Councell generall and otherwise binding this Kingdome by our Bishops presence and assent there by our Protestant Theater where Appeales be graunted to the Pope from any Bishops or Councells themselues And the second generall Councell held at Constantinople maketh manifest that the Nicen Councell prescribed no limits to the Pope of Rome but to other Patriarkes and plainely deciareth Episcopuin Romanum habere primatum That the Bishop of Rome is supreame And by denying this to haue beene the decree of the Nicen Councell they proue the Popes supreamacie from the beginninge For Socrates Socrates in histor tripart lib. 4. cap. 9. writeing how the Antiochian Councell kept within twentie yeares of that of Nyce Was reiected because not approued by the See of Rome writeth thus Cum vtique Regula eâ—clesiastica iubeat non oportere praeter sententiam Romani pontifiâ—is Con ilia celebrare The ecclesiasticall Rule commaundeth that Councells be not called without the consent of the Pope of Rome Therefore their Bishop Bilson writeth thus The Canon Bilson true diff pag. 67 pag. 66. sup of the primatiue Church forbad any Councell to be called without the Bishop of Rome his consent The canon of the primatiue Church made euery thinge voide that was done without the Bishop of Rome Then what may wee thinke of the Protestants doeings in England where his Authoritie Nicephor Calix histecel in concil Ephes Prosper in Chron. An. 431. is so dispised In the third generall Councell at Ephesus the then Pope of Rome Celestiâ—â—â— constituted Cyrillus Patriarke of Alexandria to be president for him In the fourth generall Councell at Caleedon the cause of the Popes supreamacie is so cleare that D. Downame denieth not but it attributed Downam l. 1. Antichrist c. 3. pag. 36. concil Calcedon sess 8. to the Pope of Rome to be heade of the Churche In that Councell in the 8. session is thus registred Omnes Episcopi clamauerunt c. All the Bishops cryed out next vnto God Leo then Pope of Rome hath Iudged And the Pope himself not being present in that Councell his legates gaue sentence against Dioscorus The wordes of the Councell be these Et cum Concil Calced Act. 1. 2.
exercised when by Protestants confession is was in her Florisheing and best estate a Rule to all Anker of pietie cheife and onely Church that it still ought to enioy and wee to graunt vnto it But in that time it claymed and exercised supreamacie ouer all Therefore it ought now to enioy it and wee to graunt it The Maior is euident for that which is a Rule to all may not be crooked neither that which is confessed cheife be made Inferior And that the Church of Rome had those eminent priuiledges is thus proued by these Protestants our Kinge saith of this Romane Kings speach in Parlam Churche it is our mother Church it was a Rule to all bothe in doctrine and ceremonies when it was in her florisheinge and best estate D. Couell writeth thus The Churche of Rome was the cheife and Couell def of Hook onely Churche M ◠Ormerod calleth it the eye of the west in which diussion England is and Ormerod pict pap pag. 184. Down l. 2. Antichr pag. 105. the Anker of pietie D. Downame graunteth it was a note of a Good Christian to cleane vnto the Roman Apostolicall Churche The seconde proposition that the Church of Rome claymed and had supreamacie in that vnspotted and primatiue time of Christianitie is also proued in the former for that which is Mother Rule to all bothe in doctrine and ceremonies cheife Churche c. must needs be graunted supreame Yett to proue it further D. Sutcliffe citeing S. Sutcliffe subu pag. 57. Irenaeus lyueing neare the Apostles time and longe before any generall Cowncell or Christian Emperour to giue supreamacie to the See of Rome writeth thus Irenaeus saith that euery Church ought to haue respect to the Church of Rome for her eminent principalitie Mr. Ormerod ascendeth to Pope S. Anacletus lyuing withein one hundred yeares of Christ his words be these To proue that the Church of Rome hath the preeminence ouer all Churches Ormerod pict pap pag. 78. Anacletus alleadgeth Matth. 16. vers 18. vppon this rocke will I builde my Churche and hee expowndeth it thus super hanc Petram id est super Ecclesiam Romanam vppon this Rocke that is vppon the Church of Rome will I builde my Churche And who shall wee thinke was better acquainted with the priuiledge of that highest Apostle S. Peter Bishop of Rome then this so glorious a Pope Martyr and Sainct so neare succeedeing vnto him when especially these Protestāts before haue assured vs that this supreame power was not to dye with S. Peter but to continue in the Church for euer And this was not a singular opinion of that Holy Pope and Sainct but of others also the words of D. Downame be Down l. 1. Antichrist cap. 3. pag. 35. these diuers Bishops of Rome before the time of Socrates the historiam in her that best and florishing estate contended to haue the primacie ouer all other Churches and that is the cheife scope of many of their Epistles decret all And yett in that time the Protestants confesse those Popes for Saincts and if their Epistles be decretalls and lawes to the Church as this Doctor calleth them how had not these Masters of decrees and lawemakers vnto the Church also supreame and highest power in the Church for lawes and decrees ar made by Soueraignes and not by subiects And not onely Popes but other Saincts and Doctors before and to be cited hereafter by Protestants were of the same myndc for this time it shall suffice that M ◠Middleton Middleton Papistom pag. 200. writeth thus Papias lyueinge in the Apostles time taught Peters primacie and Romish Episcopalitye My next Argument or further confirmation of the former is thus That Church or gouernor that in the best and florishing estate of the Church by Protestants did clayme exercise and execute supreame highest spirituall Iurisdiction in all knowne parts of the worlde Asia Afrike and Europe was truely supreame and so still to be accompted But the Pope and Church of Rome was such Therefore supreame in authorine The Maior is euidently true for in this life no supreamacie can extend further then into the whole knowne world and all parts thereof The second proposition is thus proued by these Protestants and first of Asia amonge the Greeke Churches and priuiledges which they clayme D. Couell telleth vs that Pope Couell ag thea plea of the Inn. pag. 65. Victor a glorious Sainct and Martyr did in that best time authoritatiuely take vppon him supreamacie ouer all Asia excommunicating the Churches of it his words be inseperateing all Asia from the vnitie of the faithfull for being disobedient in the point and question of Easter And what greater supreamacie can be named in the Church then to excommunicate and purt forthe of the Churche so greate a part of the world Therefore seeing such Iurisdiction is not but in superioritie this supreamacie must needs be graunted to the Church of Rome for of all Churches of the world euen by the graunt of Protestants the Greeke Church next to the Church of Rome hath euer moste contended for superiotie and in the auncient cowncells next to the Church of Rome is moste priuiledged yett here they ar by a Sainct Bishop of Rome iustly excommunicated as by their superior for as these Protestants argue in an other place par in parem non habet authoritatem An equall against an equall hath not authoritie And Doctor Couell before hath told vs that they were thus censured by the Pope of Rome to vse his words againe for beinge disobedient in the point and question of Easter Which makes it playne in his opinion that the Pope of Rome was supreame and had highest power not onely to censure but to decree in matters of Religion and bynde others vnto it otherwise not to haue conformed themselues vnto him had not beene in these Greeke Churches disobedience which is onely against authoritie and superioritie And although S. Iraeneus disliked this proceedeing with the Asiaticall Churches Ob. as these Protestants vse to obiect yett it Answ was onely because hee thought there was not such seueritie then to be vsed not that hee denyed the power and authoritie of the Pope to doe it for of his opinion of the iustice of his supreamacie D. Sutcliffe Sucl subu pag. 57. hath wittnessed before that he saith Euery Church ought to haue respect to the Church of Rome for her eminent principalitie Therefore hee thought it had supreamacie For principalitie eminent ouer euery Church here mentioned must needs be supreamacie ouer all for euery Church being subiected vnto it none is priuiledged from subiection and obedience vnto it Next lett vs come to Afrike for which M. Perkins writeth thus Appeales were often made out of Afrike to the Popes of Rome in those Perk. problem pag. 237. 238. dayes of her best estate And yet appeales be all wayes to superiors and neuer out of forrayne kingdomes but to the highest for
languadges Latine and Greeke with the Hebrue beeing the learned tonges of the world and the Hebrues and Iewes especially in Iury for the moste part remayninge in incredulitie The learned and religeous Conuerters of contries to Christ often not vnderstandinge their barbarous languadges but preaching and persuading by Interpretors yett vseing a publicke Liturgie Masse or church seruice could neither practize it for themselues or frame it for others in their tonges vnknowne Of which D. Sutcliffe giueth vs a fitt domesticall example of this nation English his words of S. Augustine coming hither from S. Gregorie Pope of Rome to conuert vs are these comming alsoe into Kent hee was not Sutcliff Feb. Pag. 19. able to speake one worde of English nor to preache vnlesse it were by his Interpretor And yett hee doth and must needs acknowledge that S. Augustine vsed a publicke Liturgie and seruice which could be none in any equall Iudgment but that which was vsed in Rome hee brought from thence And in no wise English for this hee must either find among the Infidells which could not bee or els to be composed by him or his associats or by them translated which cannot be Imagined they neither as before vnderstanding our languadge to compose it for the Inhabitants or vse it for themselues But this they haue confessed before Againe thus I argue Such church seruice masse or liturgie and in such tonge as was sunge in the citie of Constantinople it self the cheefe citie of Greece and in the time of a generall Councell and yett not in Greeke may with as good reason or more be now vsed in England or any such nation But the latine Masse was then and there sunge Therefore it may bee still vsed in England and other nations The Maior is euident for by no probabilitie the commaunding citie of Greece and of the christian world at that time and a generall Councell there and then assembled would haue allowed a publicke absurditie in ReligioÌ„ hauing so much more shew of authoritie to reprehend and correct euen by Protestants sentence then they haue The Minor is proued by M Hull in these words Latine Masse was sunge at the sixt Synode Hull Romes polecies Pag. 83. at Constantinople in the yeare 666. Thirdly thus I argue all that allowe of the publicke church seruice in a straunge and barbarous tonge to people not vnderstanding ought in al reason rather to allowe it in the latine a learned and common tonge to all learned in this part of the world But the English Protestants allowe of the church seruice in such a barbarous tonge vnknowne Therefore by much more reason they must approue of the publicke seruice in the Latine tonge which allwayes the Preist and cheefest Auditors doe vnderstand The Maior cannot bee denied And the Minor is thus proued from D. Doue a Protestant Doue persuas pag. 24. Bishop in these words In Wales their mother tonge is welche in Cornewall cornish in Ireland Irish yett in all these places the publicke seruice is reade in English And yett hee will neuer proue nor with all his Protestants take such paynes in catechizing that the Ignorant people in those Prouinces those that most neede instruction will euer bee able to vnderstand the English seruice vsed among them or other more shorte and familiar things in our languadge so straunge vnto the. Fourthly supposing as often is proued before the primatiue Church and practize thereof to bee a warrant vnto vs as also that which no Protestant can deny the priuiledges of the Latine Church to bee at the leaste equal with the Greeke and that which all experience and obseruation by lyuing among Greeks and Romanes proueth that the present vulgare Greeke languadge common in Greece is altogether different from that learned tonge of Greece vsed in the primatiue Church with the holy Fathers of that Church in those times as S. Basile S. Chrisostome and such others thus I argue The present Greeke Church allowed for the true Church before by Protestants puâ—lickly vseth the Masses of S. Basile S. Chrisostome c. Which the common Grecians doe not vnderstand Therefore the Contries vnder the Latine Church may vse their auncient Latine Masses and Liturgies The consequence is not to bee denied And the Antecedent is proued from the Protestant Relator who speaking of the custome of the Greeke Church hath these words Their Liturgies bee Relation cap. 53. or 54. the same that in the olde time namely S. Basils S. Chrisostomes and S. Gregories translated without any bending of them to that chaunge of languadge which their tonge hath suffered Lastely in this point supposing the mayne graunde of Protestants against Latine seruice to bee because so the vulgare and ignorant not vnderstanding it remayne without due Instruction as they pretend I argue thus That Church whether it is the Catholicke or the Protestant which by confession and graunte of the opposites and Aduersaries doth much more duely truely and diligently instructe and catechise yong people and the ignorant both by word and writing in their knowne and common languadge then the other doth is not to bee condemned either of negligence or vnskillfulnes in this busines But the present Church of Rome by Protestants testimonie is in this case Therefore not to bee condemned The Maior is euident and the Minor proued from the same Relator of Religion who speaking of Catholick Preists vseth these words They bee of excellencie for pietie and reuerence Relation cap. 27. sup towards God zeale towards the truthe of loue towards this people which euen with teares they can often testifie they match their aduersaries Protestants in the best and in the rest farr exceede them And further to the same of Protestants and honour of our Religion thus hee writeth For bookes of prayer and pietie all Contryes are Cap. 27. sup full of them at this day in their owne languadge Their opposites Protestants by their weakenes and coldnes are enforced to take their bookes to supply theirs And againe in this maner Such is their diligence and Cap. 28. sup dexteritie in instructing that euen the Protestants themselues in some places send their sonnes to their scholes vppon desire to haue them proue excellent in those arts they teache This order hath alsoe their solemne catechizinge in their churches on sondayes and holydayes for all youth that will come or can bee drawne vnto it But this point of their scholes in instructing youth is thought of such moment by men of wisedome and Iudgment beeing taught so by very experience and triall thereof that the planting of a good Colledge of Iesuites in any place is esteemed the onely suer way to replant that Religion and in time to eate out the contrary Hitherto this Protestant Relator to his owne and his Associats shame and confusion in this cause And so I end his Questions hoping that himself with others of his so confounded Religion will vppon this so great satisfaction conforme
themselues to the Church of Rome and doctrine thereof as hee hath before aduised CHAPTER XIIII CONCERNINGE REVERENCE of holy Relicks WHEN I entreated before of the religeous vse of holy Imadges I would also haue spoken of this question the reuerence of holy Relicks being so neare and symbolizing doctrines had not the Relator of Religion before referred mee to an other course Therefore I will now speake thereof in which case the Catholick doctrine expressed in the Councell of Trent is this CoÌ„cil Trid. Sesi 9. Veneranda esse à fidelibus c. The bodies of Martyrs c. Are to be reuerenced of the faithfull According to which thus I argue in this Article by these Protestants That which was the doctrine of the primatiue Church in this question is true and what it coÌ„deÌ„ned for Heresie is false But the primatiue Church taught reuerence of Relicks as the present Romane Church now dothe and condemned the contrary of Protestants for Heresie Therefore the Catholicke doctrine is true in this controuersie and the contrary of Protestants false and Hereticall The Maior proposition is euidently true by often graunte before And the Minor is thus proued First D. Willet citeth and approueth S. Ambrose thus speaking Willet Antill pag. 201. Sutcliff Subu pag. 27. Pag. 50. of Valentinian deceased I will honor his Relicks and commend his gratious memorie D. Sutcliffe wittnesseth that S. Gregorie and S. Augustine that conuerted this nation esteemed much the relicks of Saincts And in their time Churches were built in the honor of Saints and their relicks worshipped And D. Willet with others Willet Antil pag. 13. acknowledge as they needs must that Vigilantius was condemned of heresie for denyall thereof in the primatiue Church and by the authoritie thereof Secondly I argue thus againe That which was the custome and doctrine of the primatiue Church may or is still to bee kept and defended But to pray at the monuments of Saincts and reuerence their Relicks was the custome and doctrine then Therefore still to bee kept and defended The Maior is euident and the Minor thus proued First M. Wotton Wotten def of Perk. pag. 9 hath these words It was the maner of the primatiue Church to pray at the Tombes of Martirs and the Christians assembled ordinarily where the Martirs were buried And to shew what they did there which hee would willingly haue concealed for hee loueth not prayers to Saints nor reuerence of their Relicks for which causes the primatiue Christians so there assembled hee citeth S. Hierome writing Wotten sup pag. 544. in this maner of holy Paula shee went into the Sepulchre and kissed the stone of his Resurrection which the Angell had remoued from the dore of the Tombe the place of his bodie where the Lord had lien as if shee had thristed for the desired waters shee liâ—kâ—d with her faithfull tonge D. Downame writeth the like of the holy pilgrimadge of that blessed woman And to giue moste conuincing instance and proofe in this matter M. Perkins in his Problema writeth thus Primitiua Perkins problem pag. 81. Ecclesia honorauit veneratione prosecuta est reliquias mortuorum The primatiue Church did honour and prosecute with reuerence the Relicks of the deade Thirdly thus I argue That vsadge and behauiour which was lawfull to the Iewes and practized of them towards their Reliks is now in the time of grace giuen by Christ as lawfull for Christians towards their holy Relicks and things But the true faithfull Iewes lawfully vsed reuerence and honour to their Relicks Therefore it is lawfull to Christians to doe the like The Maior is euident this beeing no ceremoniall or legall thinge abrogated by Christ but rather confirmed by making the things of his lawe and Ghospell more reuerentiall then the figuratiue was The Minor is thus proued by M. Wotton in these words You bringe diuers Wotton def of Perk. pag. 581. proofes that the Arke was had in greate reuerence all needlesse for whoe denies it and againe The Iewes saith Hierome in foretimes worshipped the holy of holies because there were the Cherubins and the propitiatorie and the arke of the testament Manna Aarons rodd and the golden altare and further in this maner Hee speakes not of worshippinge the Pag. 581. 582. Arke but the holy of holyes because of the things that were in it Hee makes the Propitiatorie Manna Aarons Rod and the golden Altare causes of that worship as well as the Cherubins In the words followinge hee counts the Sepulchre of our Lord more worthie of worâ—hip Then seeing those Relicks vnder the lawe and before Christ the meritorious cause of all grace and such excellencie were so worthie of worshipp and reuerence that they were not onely reuerenced in themselues but other things were worshipped and reuerenced because of them and yett by this Iudgment the Relicks in Christianitie as the Sepulchre no part of Christ but the place of his sacred bodies some few howers lyeing there are more worthie of worship as this Protestant writer confesseth wee may not deny this Reuerence and the Catholick doctrine thereof to bee holy euen by English Protestants sentence Lastely thus I argue from the generall practice of English Protestants if it is lawfull to giue ciuill reuerence to the bodie of a noble man or woman deceased because they were noble and honored when they liued much more reason there is to giue religeous and spirituall Reuerence to the bodie of a Saint holy and honored by God and man when hee lyued and now in Ioyes in heauen truely and for euer honorable But the Antecedent is true by English Protetestants whoe by their Heralds of armes allowe and practice that all Inferiours shall giue and yeeld the same honour to the bodie of the honorable parson deceased that was due vnto him lyuing his soule and bodie beeing vnited and this though in all morall Iudgment the soule of such an one is damned And this is the custome and ceremonie not onely with Heralds but vsed in Court ratified by their Bishops Doctors and Vniuersities as many and late examples teache which I will vrge no further but desire all may liue and die well that they may leaue behinde them sufficient or some motiue eyther to bee honored or helped by the prayers and deuotions of the lyuinge The consequence is euidently true and thus demonstrated for as excellencie is the cause of honor and ciuill excellency of ciuill and terrene honor so spirituall or religeous excellency of spirituall and such honor And much more for the ciuill honor and motiue thereof is onely ens rationis an inuention worthines and attribute of men and nothing at all Inherent in the bodie or soule of the partie so honored when the other excellency and cause of honor is both permanent and an Inherent dignitie as is proued before of inherent Iustice and for euer remayneth in the soule glorified in the presence of God his Saints and Angells in heauen and