religiously obserued since such not ouer partially resting in their owne natiue iudgmentes to what way soeuer they be inclyning do most diligently follow the supreme resolution current of the Church in part resembling herein the inferiour orbes which with greater speede sedulity and expedition performe the reuolutions of the highest Spheare wherunto they are subiect then they do accomplish their owne naturall perticuler motions The 9. Vntruth Against the Popes Primacy Page 185. The Doctor wryteth in his digression thus The Primitiue Church did not acknowledg the Popes Primacy Here I see that M Whyte will euer be M. Whyte I meane that he will euer be lyke to him self first in coyning and after mantayning most impudent vntruthes Now as touching the discouery of this his false position since to go through all the centuries of the primitiue Church would be needlesly laboursome I think it good to restraine my self onely to the fourth century or age after Christ an age wherein Constantine the first Christian Emprour liued and which for that respect not vndeseruedly seemes to be most entertayned and approued by the graue iudgment of the Kinges Maiesty Now for the greater clearing of this poynt it will be needefull to obserue what authority the Popes did exercyse by the acknowledgment of our learned aduersaries since the authority and soueraignty ouer all other Churches and Prelates is that which doth as it were organize and perfect the Popes Primacy Now then answearable hereto Cartwright wryteth that Iulius Bishop of Rome at the Councell of Antioch ouerreached in clayming the hearing of causes that did not appertaine vnto him Now this Iulius liued in the sourth age Againe the said Cartwright saith of S. Damasus who was Pope in this age that he spake in the dragons voyce when he shameth not to wryte that the Bishop of Romes sentence Was aboue all other to be attended for in a Synode So far was this sectaries censure different from the iudgment of S. Ierome deliuered of the same Pope in these wordes Ego nullum primum nisi Christum sequens beatitudini tuae id est Cathedrae Petri communione consocior super illam Petram Ecclesiam edificatam scio quicunque extra hanc domum Aguxm commederit prophanus est c. quicunque tecum non colligit spargit In lyke sort touching appeales to Rome an essentiall poynt of Ecclesiasticall Supremacy we finde that the Centurists do acknowledg that Theodoret a Greeke Father and one of this fourth age being deposed by the Councell of Ephesus did accordingly make his appeale to Pope Leo and thereupon was by him restored to his Bishoprick And to conclude the Centuristes do no lesse acknowledg that Chrisostom did appeale to Innocentius who decreed Theophilus Chrisostomes enemy to be deposed excommunicated Thus we fynd how dissonant this our ministers assertion touching the Primacy is to the practise of the Primitiue Church euen in the iudgment of those who are designed enemies to the said Primacy as might well be exemplifyed throughout all the Centuristes and ages of those tymes seing all reuerent antiquity no lesse then the Catholickes of these dayes was fully perswaded that S. Peter and his successors were euer to be accompted the visible Baseis or foundations of gods Church and all other Bishops but Columnâ—s And as this foundation immediatly supportes these pillers so these pillers the rest of this spirituall edifice and structure The 10. Vntruth That Gregory the great detested the Popes Primacy Page 193. M. Whyte descendeth to the example of S. Gregory the great and first Pope of that name in whose wryting he hopeth to fynd great sttrength for the impugning of the Popes soueraignty and among other thinges the D. saith Gregory had no such iurisdiction as now the Pope vsurpeth but detested it not only in Iohn of Constantinople but also in him self c. Where now the Reader may be instructed that the reason why this Gregory is by some supposed to disauow the doctrine of the primacy is in that he reiecteth in Iohn of Constantinople the title of vniuersall Bishop as sacrilegious which his saying was grounded onely in taking the name of vniuersall Bishop to exclude the true being of all other Bishops as it is confessed by Andreas Brictius But now that S. Gregory did both claime and practise the Primacy is acknowledged by our aduersaries for the Centuristes write of him that he said The Romane Sea appoynteth her watch ouer the whole world and that he taught that the Apostolick Sea is the head of all Churches that Constantinople it self is subiect to the Apostolick Sea Furthermore S. Gregory is charged by the Centuristes that he chalenged to him self power to commaund Archbishops To ordaine or depose Bishops at his pleasure that he tooke vpon him right to cyte Archbishops to declare their cause before him when they were accused That actually Gregory did vndertake to excommunicate such and such Bishops That in their Prouinces he placed his Legates to know and determine the causes of such as appealed to Rome Finally to omitt many other poyntes recorded by them that he vsurped power of appointing Synodes in their prouinces Here now I referr this point to the indifferent Reader whether he wil beleue M. Whyte denying to the benefyte of his cause the Primacy of S. Gregory of the Centuristes being diuers learned protestantes all confessing the same though to their owne preiudice The 11. Vntruth In proofe that Catholickes are more viceous then protestantes Page 209. For the extenuating and lesning of the sinfull liues of the protestants the Doctor much extolleth their imputatiue and supposed vertues and as much depresseth the liues of all Catholickes in generall and thus he entitleth that leafe The protestants people as holy as the papistes In lyke sort from page 213. to 218. he spendeth him self in gathering together whatsoeuer Catholick writers haue spoken touching the liues of some loose liuers thus scornfully entytling the leaues The holines of the Church of Rome deciphered most of which sayinges being found in sermons or exhortations and in heate of amplification deliuered generally as the custome is and this without any reference or comparison to the lyues of the protestantes can not iustly be extended to all Catholickes nomore then the reprehensions of the Prophets in the ould testament spoken without any restraint could be truly applyed to all the Iewes Wherefore for the further vpbrayding of this our ministers lye which is wouen vpon the threede of malice and for the more punctuall conuincing him of falshood I will proue from the Protestantes owne confessions that the lyues of Catholickes are generally more vertuous then those of the protestantes in which kind of proofe from the lyke acknowledgment of vs Catholickes in fauour of the protestantes the D. haith not brought so much as one lyne To this purpose then is not Luther forced thus to write to the eternall shame of
I conceaue his idle and fruteles aledging either of scripture fathers or Catholick writers to disproue thereby some poynt of our religion where my meaning is that allowing the sense and constructions to those authorityes which the wordes necessarily and truly importe yet they doe in no sort disable weaken the catholicke poynt for the impugning whereof they are there by our Minister produced so that it followeth that his illations drawne from those testimonies to the question intended are most absurd incongruous and inconsequent These three now are the seuerall particuler deliueries of our minister in his so much applauded worke himselfe in this his scene sometimes acting one part sometimes an other agreeable to the former heades but wee lesse maruaile since eich man knowes that whyte is successiuely capable of seuerall tinctures Now touching the number of these his impostures thou art good reader further to vnderstand that my meaning is not to displaye all those with which his booke is stored for this would require too painful a labour and rising to an ouer greate volume would be lesse fitting to be printed and diuulged Besides seeing my maine proiecte here is to decipher the dishonest dealing of our minister euery cleere iudgment will acknowledg that the true charging him euen with a few wilfull and vniustifiable corruptions doth condemne and proue him for such a man and euery one knoweth that who is found out of malice to corrupte some few places would in like sorte depraue as many authorities as opportunity might licence him Therfore touching his Corruptions or deprauations I haue contented my selfe onely with fourty which fourty are taken out of about some twenty different writers hauing in truth no more bookes alledged by him wherewith to examine it from which circumstance thou maist thus conclude that if restraining my selfe onely to twenty authours more or lesse I can find fourty most notorious corruptions of theyr testimonies how many scores in all liklihood of such like deprauations might be found in all the rest of the authors alledged by him which amount nere-hand to a hundred if diligent search weare made of them the rather considering that many bookes produced by him but omitted by me are most to be gotten and therefore he might corrupte their sayinges more securely and with greater bouldnes as presuming beforehand that such his corruptions through want of the bookes them selues could not easely be espied In like sort concerning his lyes I haue made choyce onely of such as are all of theÌ„ acknowledged for vntruthes by his owne learned brethren From which point thou maist also thus infer if M. Whyte his booke doth minister sundry such grosse lyes against our catholicke faith as that the most learned protestants that euer writ are forced though to their owne disaduantage to confesse them for such How many other vntruthes might be found therein which through some shewe or culour of answeare and euasion are such as though being lyes indeed wil not yet be so acknowledged by our aduersaries who are loth to confesse more in fauour of our catholicke religion then the vnauoidable euidence and clearenes of the truth it selfe constrayneth them Lastly all his impertinencies or weake absurd reasons hereafter set downe are taken out of lesse then twenty leaues of his booke from which thou maist in like maner thus collect that if twenty leaues and theese in the first part of his booke deuiding the whole into three partes do afford such a boundance of impertinent allegations and authorityes how many hundreds then in all probability of like nature are dispersed throughout his whole treatise it contayning aboue two hundred leaues And the rather seeing that diuers authours do commonly fortify and strengthen the first part of their wrytings with more forcible proofes and authorities then the latter part both thereby the sooner and with greater speede to inuade the iudgment of the reader as also knowing that many do peruse the beginninges of bookes who through a werisome carelesnes do neuer reade the latter part of them And thus much of my methode in this my treatise Here now thou seest curteous reader what I vndertake to performe that is to make euident that M. Whyte his first booke is stored with most shameles falsifications lyes and other such collusions the which if I doe not effect I am content to become a reproche and shame not onely to my particuler profession the sacred function whereof I hould my cheefest honour but also to the Catholicke cause in generall for here I protest in the sight of god and as I shall answere the truth or falshood of this my protestation at the most dreadfull daye that I neuer perused booke of this quantity wherein I did find more vnanswereable corruptions lyes and impertinencies then in this worke of M. Whytes And if so eminent a man as he is presumed by many to be doth stand chaâ—geable with such prophane and wicked deportments what shall we then censure of other inferiour wryters of his side Since if the light be darknes how great is the darknes or what may we iudg of thâ— iustnes of their cause seeing the faith of Christ is of that force as it scorneth to be vphoulden with the weake supporters of such deceatfull meanes it being no better then an impious deuotion or irreligious godlines to deferd truth with falshood or to blaze forth the light of the gospel by the workes of darknes And as touching his second booke which is fraughted with all base scurrility of wordes and railing I will onely say that seing there hath not bene as yet sufficient opportunity for the particuler examining of it yet I am assured that who shall impose that labour to himself shall find the same to stand chargeable with no lese store of impostures then this his other for if this his booke impugned by me being the strength and first borne of his cause be found so corrupt how can we probably coniecture that this other second feminine and lesse perfect labour of his should not pertake of the former blemishes and deficiences But now good reader I will detaine thee no longer from perusing this my accusation earnestly entreating thee euen for the good of thy soule that if thou vnderstand latin thou wouldest see the testimonies them selues as they lye in the authours the which I doe avouch to be here corrupted which if thou dost doubtlesly thou shalt be forced to confesse that M. whyte is a most egregious falsary and howsoeuer he enameleth his cause with the phrazes of the waye to the true Church of the enlarging of the Ghospell of Christ of rooting out superstition and blindnes and the like neuerthelesse thou shalt find that he is most conscious and guilty both of his owne weake cause as also of his perfidious and prophane mantaining and defending of the same so as in reguard of his hipocrisy and dissimulation herein thou shalt see the wordes of the apostle iustified in him all they are
coopling to the Atheist which your self M. Wayte haue heare assumed and practised and you shall finde strange positions well manteined by him For example the Psalmiâ—t speaking of your self and other such like saith Tâ—s foole haith said in his heart there is no god Now kindly allow him to blott out the word foole as you more theÌ„ folishly did the woord Grace to insert in steed thereof the wordes wyse man as you according to the wisdome of the world inserted the word Nature and then obserue how easely he will defende from the scriptures that there is no god seing according to your scriptures The wyse man said in his heart there is no god But to conclude this knowingly and deliberately to corrupt to the dishonour of your owne Catholick Religion and to the ruyne of your owne other ignorant soules is to me an argument most conuincing that you are one of those fooles who said in his heart there is noe god Paragr 3. Cardinall Bellarmine corrupted concerning Iustification IN the verie first page of his preface to the Reader so loth it semed he was to loose any tyme he sheweth vs an other trick somwhat like vnto the former Where by the way I must aduertise him that I hould him a man herein impolitick and incautelous that would not suffer the verie face or front of his Treatise to passe vnblemished since the first he rather should haue coueted to winne the eare of credulity with pleasing insinuations of truth and then the iudgment of his Reader being once possessed after to haue vented forth his more impure dâ—egs for we are taught Io. 2. that omnis homo primum bonum vinum apponit cum inebriati sunt tum id quod est deterius But to the deprauation pag. 1. of his preface M. Whyte falsly to intimate to his reader how much the Catholicks do disualew the passion of Christ thus wryteth The Church of Rome teacheth that iustâ—fication is wrought by the habite of our owne righteousnes not by Christes Thus you see how peremptorily he affirmeth without any reseruation that we reiect the righteousnes of Christ to concurre to our Iustification Now this he laboureth to proue from a testimony of Bellarmine de iustificat li. 2. ca. 2. which he thus setteth downe Our owne inherent iustice is the formall cause of absolute iustification not the iustice of Christ imputed vnto vs. That we may conceaue the true meaning of that learned Cardinall in this place I will set downe his owne wordes in latine who there discoursinge of the causes of our Iustification thus saith Ad quaestionem an vid. iustificamur propter meritum Filii dei an propter in châ—atam renouatioâ—em nostram Respondemus Si illud propter significet causam formalem nos iustificari propter noui tatem nobis inhaerentem non propter meritum Christi quod iuhaeâ—eâ—e non potest si veró significet causam meritoriam nos iustificari dicemus propter meritum Filii des non propter nouitatem in nobis haerentem That is In this question whether we be iustified propter meritum for the merit of the Sonne of God or for our owne renouation of lyfe I answeare If the word propter doe signify the formall cause then are we iustifyed through our owne newnesse of lyfe inherent in vs and not through the merites of Christ because they can not inhere in vs and these are the wordes alledged by M. Whyte but if the worde propter do here signify the meritorious cause then are we iustifyed propter meritum Filii deâ— through the merites of the Sonne of God not through any inherent newnes or iustice in vs And then presently concludeth ita iustificamur propter vâ—rumque c. So we are iustifyed by reason or through them both to wit through the merites of the Sonne of God meritorié meritoriously and through an inherent iustice in vs formaliter formally Thus Bellarmine Where you see the question is not as M. Whyte suggesteth whether Christes iustice doth concurre to mannes iustification which were a horrible blasphemy to deny but onely in what kynd of cause it concurreth the Catholickes teaching that it concurres as the meritorious cause not as the formall cause since if it did as the formall cause then euen according to philosophy it should really inhere in vs but so it doth not But now to obserue M. Whytes calumny fraude in alledging this testimony First he purposly concealeth the latter part of the sentence which sheweth how we ascribe our iustification to Christ as vnwilling that the reader should heare that in any sence we rely thereon Secondly that whereas this testimony of the Cardinales euen as it is set downe by M. Whyte him self excludeth onely Christes merites as the formall cause of our iustification and in none other sence yet our minister alledgeth it to proue that it is no cause thereof at all in this respect it is impertinently vrged for in his owne wordes immediatly before without any limitation of the cause he saith The Church of Rome teacheth that iustification of a sinner is done by the habite of our owne righteousnes not by Christes And then as I said alledgeth for proofe thereof such wordes of Bellarmine as excludeth onely the formall cause thereof But his sleight here was that perswading him self that the ignorant reader not knowing what the word formall cause is or how it is distinguished from other kinde of causes but thinking that it did signify any cause in generall should no sooner see the wordes of Bellarmine but then should instantly conclude with him self here Bellarmine the Church of Rome teacheth that mans iustification is in no sort or maner wrought by the iustice of Christ. And thus much of our Doctors deportement herein who through his subtill feaninge at his pleasure what we are supposed to mantaine doth in the meane tyme endanger and wrong the honour of the worthy and illustrious Cardinall till more full search and disquisition of the truth be made And thus our poetizing minister I meane our lyinge M. Whyte doth interest him self in the censure of the poet Ouid. li. 2. fast fraude perit virtus Heare now I end this deprauation assuring my reader that Bellarmine is so farre of from teaching that Christes iustice doth not necessarily concurre to our iustification that in the former alledged Chapter he thus writeth Iustitia homini a deo per Christi merâ—ta donata est c. That is Iustice is geuen by god to man through the merites of Christ. And then presently thus repiâ—hendeth Kemnitius for his deceipte vsed in this question Kemnitius fraudulenter egit c. kemnitius dealeth fraudulently herein in that to precure malice against vs he opposeth on the contrary side our late begon renouation or newnes of lyfe to the merites of the Sonne of God as if we prized more our owne change or newnes of lyfe though imperfect and late begon then the
at all and lying vpon the ground in steed of a bed 11 Abstinence from flesh wyne other dainty meates vpon deuotion 12 Keping set houres of prayer as in the morning at the Third the Sixt the Ninth Evensong and a Midnight 13 The difference of litle and greate sinnes 14 The vnlearned reading the Scriptures hauing a learned maÌ„ for their Maister 15 The learnedst confessing their doubtinge and ignorance in their explication of the Scriptures 16 Bishopes and Preistâ— a singing carying of Candles in the day tyme at the burials of the dead 17 Church seruice song vsed in the Hebrew Greeke Latin and Syrian languageâ— And for the Conclusion as including many thinges in one remember S. Ieromes prayer made to S. Paula after her death Vale o Paula Cultoris tui vltâ—â—am senectuâ—â—â— orationibus iuua fides opera tua Christo te sociant praesens facilius quod postulas impâ—trabis And now let any man iudge whether S. Ierome was a papist as also what wisdome learning or honesty M. Whyte sheweth in objecting that which but truly seene and considered doth manifestly confound and condemne himselfe The 2. Paragraph S. Cyrill of Alexandria abused for the same purpose It was the reproch saith Whyte pag. 22 that Iulian the Tpostatalaide on Christians that their women were medlers with the Scriptures and from him the papistes haue borrowed it for which he cyteth Cyril Alex. Iul. l. 6 If our Minister had cyted Iulian reprehending the auncient Christians of his tyme for not Adoring Iubiter adoring the Crosse and making the signe thereof in their forheades and vpon houses the lawfulnes and profit wherof S. Cyrill defendeth he might haue truly shewed what him self other heritikes had borrowed from Iulian in impugning the worship of the Crosse and signing therwith but in that which he obiecteth in the behalf of women medling with Scriptures him selfe borroweth from Iulian the libertie of lyinge for Iulian onely reprehendeth Christ and his Apostles for that for that they propouÌ„ded the heaueÌ„ly preaching vnto all calling vnto their doctrine men and women of baifer sorte which S Cyrill defendeth shewing thereby the benignity of our Sauiour but as for mention of the Scriptures or women medling therewith he haith no word at all our black-whyte haith only inuented it to proue him self a true Apostata Chapter 3. Concerning the Church the Pope The 1. Paragraph Vincentius Liâ—inensis wilfully corrupted in proofe that the true Church may erre WE will now take into our consideration his corrupt proceding concerning the supposed generall erring of the whole Church not remembring that in regard of Christes solicitude care affection to his Spouse it is said Cant. 1. My welbeloued is a cluster of Cypre vnto me in the vyneyardes of Engaddi That the vniuersall Church may erre he laboreth to euict from the testimony of old Vincentius Lirinensis whom our minister pag. 83. maketh thus to speake Aduers proph nouit ca. 4. Not onely some portion of the Church but the whole Church it selfe is blotted with some new contagion Obserue the true wordes of this Father and then you can not but admyre to fynd such Blacknes in Whyte and such perfidiousnes in him who styleth him self a minister of Gods word for thus the wordes doe lye in latin Quod si nouella aliqua contagio non iam portiunculam tantum sed toram pariter ecclesiam commaculare conetur What is to be done if some contagion shall endeuour to blot not any one parte but the whole Church then saith he further must a maÌ„ be carefull to cleeue to antiquity Now here our D. abuseth his reader in two sortes one way in concealing the word Conetur and so commaculare conetur he translateth is blotted and consequently making Vincentius to confesse for our minister most impudently saith that the whole Church is actually blotted with some contagion of heresy whereas at the most he saith that heresy may endeuour to blott the whole Church But who knoweth not that euery thing which is endeuored to be effected is not actually effected Another way in deliuering these wordes in a Categoricall and absolute Ennuntiation which are Hypotheticall or spoken merely of a supposal as appeareth by the first wordes Quid si which M. Whyte thought good not to translate The difference of which two kind of propositions is very markable as euery yong Sophister knoweth as for example if a man do say what if diuers of Suffolk do report that M. Whyte is extremely geuen to his bely to Epicurisme and to say Diuers of Suffolke reporte that M. Whyte is extremely geuen to his bely and to Eicurisme where we see the first is merely of a doubtfull surmise and supposition the second is a peremptory and absolute proposition that they do so reporteâ— the truth or falshode whereof notwithstanding any intelligence whatsoeuer I here quietly passe ouer The 2. Paragraph The Rhemistes corrupted for the Churches inuisibility Now to the next point which consisteth in the mantayning of a Mathematicall aety inuisible Church for the vphoulding whereof among others he strengthneth his cause with the supposed confession of the Rhemistes thus bringing the whole Colledg of Rhemes vpon the stage to speake in the dialect of protestantes and so sorteably thereto he styleth that page 88. and some other pages in this maner The Papists also say the Church it inuisible The words wherwith he chargeth theÌ„ in this point are these vpon the 2. Thes. ca. 2. It is very lyke be it spoken vnder the correction of Gods Church and all learned Catholickes that this great defection or reuolt shall not be onely from the Romane Empyre but especially from the Romane Church and withall from most pointes of Christian Religion for that neare to the tyme of Antichrist and the consummation of the worlde there is lyke to be a great reuolt of Kingdomes People and Prouinces from the externall open obedience and communion thereof For the few dayes of Antichrists reigne the externall state of the Romane Church and the publick entercourse of the faithfull with the same may cease Here good Reader let me entreate thee to arest stay thyne eye and iudgment a whyle to obserue what strange corruptions he is forced to practise before he 〈◊〉 make an Israelite to speake a Babilonians language This place as you fynd it here vrged beareth a faire show to proue by the Rhemistes confession that the Church may somtymes be inuisible and yet in this very place being truly set downe in their owne wordes they doe affirme that the Church shall at no tyme be inuisible Theire true wordes are these It is very lyke be it spoken vnder correction of Gods Church and all learned Catholickes that this great defection and reuolt shall not be onely from the Romane Empyre but especially from the Romane Church and withall from most pointes of Christian religion not that the Catholick Christians either in the tyme of Antichrist
him self a coople to answeare in his behalf But speake M. Whyte once in good sincerity why did you translate it euidently probable was it to make the Cardinall for his learning and sanctity most Illustrious to speake as ignorantly as a protestant minister Do not your so foule and frequent corrupting of his writinges make it more then probable yea euidently credible that no other meanes is left you to euade the force of his Argumentes Wel my wholesome aduyse is this if you presume to reade Bellarmine be lesse conuersant with Bacchus The 7. paragraph S. Thomas fouly corrupted concerning the popes authority M. Whyte is not ashamed to affirme that we take all authority and sufficiency from the Scripture geue it to the Church finally the Churches authority to the Pope and thereupon insinuateth that we houlde that the Pope at his pleasure is able euen to stampe or create a new faith or Crede neuer afore heard of To this end he alledgeth pag. 68. this saying out of S. Thomas 2. â—â— quest 1. ar 10. The making of a new Crede belongeth to the Pope as all other thinges doe which belong to the whole Church thus insimulating all Catholickes within this errour as houlding that the chang of the articles of our Crede resteth vpon the change of the Popes mynde therein For the fuller discouery of this diabolicall deprauation for I can terme it no better I will here set downe at large the wordes of S. Thomas Thus then he saith Ad solam authoritatem Summi Pontificis pertinet noua Editio Symbols c. A new Edition of the Crede belongeth to the Pope as all other thinges doe which concerne the whole Church And then some few lynes after foloweth which belyke the Doctors hand would haue aked to haue writen downe Haec noua Editio Symboli non quidem aliam fidem continet sed eandem magis expositam This new Edition of the Crede conteyneth not an other faith but the former more fully explicated Here our minister haith practised his profession of corrupting two wayes first in translating noua Editio Symboli The making of a new Crede whereas it should be The new Edition of the Crede thus causing the newnes to consist in the newnes of our beleefe or Crede and yet as you see in S. Thomas the worde new is ioyned onely with the Edition or explication of the Crede Secondly in retayning from the Reader those other latter wordes which doe expresse S. Thomas his meaning therein to wit that no new faith or Crede contrary to the first is decreed thereby but the former onely is more fully explicated the reason whereof he thus deliuereth euen in the same paragraph In doctrina Christi Apostoloris c. The truth of faith is sufficiently explicated in the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles but because wilfull men do peruert to their owne destruction the doctrine of the Apostles and Scriptures therefore it was necessary that there should be in processe of tyme an explication of faith against all ensuing erroures Here you haue manifested the true reason of S. Thomas his former wordes aud consequently here is discouered che vncharitable impudency of our minister to diuorce the said wordes from their legitimate and maine sence but it semeth that he professing him self a publick aduersary to the catholick Religion thinketh it iustifiable to impugne the same by any deceitfull or indirâ—ct stratagems whatsoeuer Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirat Virg. The 8 Paragraph Doctor Stapleton corrupted concerning the same subiect In lyke sort to shew to his Reader what sâ—pposed transcendency of soueraignty and power the Catholickes geue to the Pope he pag. 68. thus writeth Stapleton Praefat. princip fidei doctrinal saith The foundation of our Religion is of necessity placed vpon the authority of this mans teaching meaning of the Pope in which we heare god hâ—m self speaking In all that Preface I assure thee good Reader there is no such saying at al and therefore it is merely forged by our calumnious minister thereby first to suggest that we make the Pope the foundation of our faith which we asscribe to Christ Iesus onely Secondly that we beare the ignorant in hand that we accompt the Pope as an other God the nearest wordes in that Preface that can beare any resemblance at all to these I will here set downe Quae prima sunt fidei nostrae elementa c. Such pointes as are the first elements or principles of our faith and yet the baises or foundation thereof as the true Catholick and Apostolick Church of God the necessary and infallible power of the Church to teach and Iudg matters of faith the persons in whom this power remayneth the meanes which the said persons ought and are accustomed to vse in iudging and teaching the cheif heades or branches about which this power is exercysed as to determine some certaine and authenticall Canon of Scripture to geue the vndoubted and auâ—henticall interpretaâ—ion thereof and finally besydes the decreeing of the Canon of the Scripture to deliuer and command the vnwriten Articles of faith all these I say which are principia doctrinalia doctrinall principles of our faith and which do teach confirme and explaine the same the heritikes of our vnfortunate tyme haue most fowly denyed contaminated and depraued How many wheeles and deductions of inferences here neede we before we can draw out M. Whytes alledged sence and yet he deliuereth it in a different letter with the vshering wordes of Stapleton saith as though they were the very precise wordes of the said Authour or what is geuen more to the Pope then to the reste heare specifyed Yet our minister blushed not to particularyze what here is spoken in respect of the principles of faith in generall onely to the pope Againe his sleight further appeareth in taking the word foundation in an equiuocall and dooble sence for he will needes accept it to make the saying more odious for that which is an essentiall and primatiue foundation of faith which is Christ Iesus whereas D. Stapleton here meaneth according to the tytle of his booke Principia fidei doctrinalia onely Doctrinall principles or Secondary foundations which as him self saith fidem docent confirmant explicant doe teach confirme and explaine our faith Thus the further we dog him in his allegations the more we shall be assured that deprauing and strangely detorting the wrytinges of Catholick Doctors and the Fathers is among the rest those feble supportes whereupon his cause leaneth The 9 paragraph S. Ciprian strangely handled against Appeales to Rome It haith euer bene the course of former heritikes not onely with contumelies to disgrace the deserued renowne of the Popes and Church of Rome but also with their subtilty and corruption falsely to detracte from theire iust authority and prerogatiues In which kynd our minister to shew him self lawfully descended in proofe of his dislyke of Appeales from other Bishopes to the Bishopes
continentur nihil est notins nihil certius vt stultissimum esse necesse sit qui illis fidem esse habendam neget There is nothing more knowen nothing more certaine then the holy Scriptures which are contayned in the wrytiâ—ges of the Prophets Apostles in so much that it were a most foolishe thing for any man to deny them Here first to make Bellarmine insinuate that he houldeth the authority of the Church in any thing to be doubtfull and vncertaine our minister of his owne brayne haith added these wordes other meanes may deceane me whereas there is not a fillable thereof in Bellarmine Secondly this place as we see is produced by him against the authority of the Church whereas indeede it is directed against the Swink feldians who denying the Scriptures relyed vpon their priuate illuminations as hereafter shall appeare by displaying a strang corruption and wresting of Bellarmines saying practised by M. Whyte in pag. 17. at the letter q. of which place of Bellarmine this here alledged is a parcell Thus our minister extremely strayneth euery Authority that he setteth downe till at the length it burst out into an open and inexcusable corruption The 2 Paragraph Bellarmine corrupted in proofe that the Scriptures are the onely rule of Faith Againe pag 17. to proue that all poyntes in controuersy must definitiuely be determined by the writen word alone without any respect to the Churches Authority in the explication thereof he marcheth owte once againe making Bellarmine his buckler thereupon alledgeth these wordes of his The rule of Faith must be certaine and knowen for if it be not certaine it is no rule at all If it be not knowen it is no rule to vs but but nothing is more certaine nothing better knowen then the sacred Scriptures contayned in the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles wherefore the sacred Scripture is the rule of Faith most certaine and most saife and God haith taught by corporall letters which we might see read what he would haue vs beleue concerning him Obserue here the refractory and incorrigible frowardnes of our minister and how artificiall and exact he sheweth him self in his art of corrupting For Bellarmine in this Chapter as is aboue touched writeth against the Swinkfeldians who denyed the Scripture to be the worde of God and rested onely vpon their priuate and hiddeÌ„ reuelations and answearably hereto the Tytle of this Chapter is Libris qui Canonicâ— appellaâ—tur verbum dei contineri That the word of God is contayned in those bookes which are called Canonicall Now the wordes at large are thus in Bellarmine Regula fides certa notaque c. The Rule of faith ought to be certaine and knowen for if it be not knowen it can be no Rule to vs and if it be not certaine it can be no Rule at all But the reuelation of the priuate spirit although in it self it might be certayne yet to vs it can no way be certaine except haply it be warraÌ„ted with diuyne testimonies to wit true miracles And then some sixe lynes after At sacris Scripturis c. But nothing is more knowen nothing more certaine then the sacred Scriptures which are contayned in the bookes of the Prophets Apostles And some fourtie or fiftie lynes after Quare cum sacra Scriptura Regula crodendi c. Wherefore seing the holy Scripture is a most certaine and a most secure rule of beleefe doubtlesse he can not be wyse who neglecting the same committeth him self to the iudgment of the priuate spirit which is often deceiptfull but euer vncertayne And againe some twenty lynes after Non igitur omnes vulgó c. Teerefore God teacheth not all men by internall inspirations what he wonld haue the faithfull to beleue of him or what they are to doe but it is his pleasure to instruct vs by corporall letters which we might see and reade Here now I referre this point to the most earneste protestant in England if he be Candid and ingenious with what face M. Whyte could alledg Bellarmine in this place to proue from him that the Scripture onely is the Iudg Rule of Faith for so doth the minister entytle that page thereby to make Bellarmine to reiect all Authority of the Church in exposition thereof all Apostolicall Traditions where we see vpon what different occasion from that he writeth in this Chapter against the Swinkfeldians Now here let vs note the particuler sleightes vsed in this corruption First M. Whyte you tye together without any c. or other word or note signifying the contrary seuerall sentences of Bellarmine for your greater aduantage as though one did immediatly folow the other though they lye in Bellarmine distinct by interposition of many lynes Secondly you haue concealed three seuerall parcels of different sentences expressing Bel. true mynde herein and all these parcels are euen partes and therefore the fowler fault of the sentences alledged by you Your concealemeÌ„ts are these Porro priuati Spiritus reuelatio et si in se certa sit nobis tamen nota nullo modo potest nisi forte diuinis testimoniis id est veris miraculis confirmetur And againe Sanus profecto non erit qui ea neglecta vz. the Scripture spiritus interui saepe fallacis semper incerti iudicio se coÌ„miserit And finally Non igitur omnes vulgoó per internum afflatum Deus docet All which your omissions are impaled and marked in the said english authority O how happy M. Whyte were you if you neuer had bene scholler since the tyme will come that you shall say with the Romane Emprour after he had subscribed to an vniust cause Vtinam literas nescirem For good thinges as learning are most perniceous to him who declyneth the true vse of them as you doe And in this respect you are to remember that the Arcke which was a blessing to the Israelites was yet a curse and hurt to the Philistians that abused it The 3. Paragraph Eckius fouly abused concerning the Authority of the Church and Traditions As heretofore he laboured to ouerthrow the doctrine of traditions from the corrupted testimonies of Catholicks and auncient Fathers so heare he endeuoreth from their lyke abused testimonies to intimate that we ascribe to them a greater perfection then we doe And to this end pag. 145. thereby the rather to cast vpon vs an vnworthy aspersion of vnderualewing the Scriptures he bringeth in Eckius in Enchirid. ca. 1. saying The Scripture receaueth all the authority it haith from the Church and from Tradition The wordes of this Author are these Scriptura non est authentica sine authoritate Ecclesiae whereby we see the wordes and from Tradition are falsly inserted by our deprauing minister making vs thereby to geue with we doe not a greater prerogatiue to Tradition then to Scripture And though perhaps he could light vpon those wordes and from Tradition in some other place or Chapter in Ecckius though in a different
sence which hitherto I can not find yet it is no small dishonesty in M. Whyte thus vnkindly to match and ioyne together such disopting sentences without the parents consent Againe what a strange construction or translation is this Scriptura non est authentica sine authoritate Ecclesiae The Scripture receaueth all the authority it haith from the Church and from Tradition If this liberty be Iustifiable what errour so grosse may not easely be iustifyed against all Scripture thongh neuer so plentifull though neuer so manifest The 4. Paragraph Canus corrupted concerning Traditions Againe perusing his former proiect he pag. 2. fortifyeth him self with a wrest d authority of Canus whom li. 3. ca. 3. he bringeth in thus teaching There is more strength to confute heritykes in Traditions then in the Scripture yea all disputations with them must be determined by Traditions Here againe the proteruity of our Doctor more and more discouereth it self For thus Canus speaketh Non modo aduersum haereticos c. Not onely against heritykes Tradition is of more force then Scripture but also omnis fermè disputatio almost all disputation with them is to be reduced to Traditions receaued from our Auncestors For seing both Catholickes heritikes doe alledg Scripture for them selues the difference betwene them is in the sence and interpretation thereof Now which is the true and lawfull sence of it can not otherwise certainly be knowen then by the traditioÌ„ of the Church Here now our ministers sleight is three-fould for first Canus borroweth this saying from Tertulian of whom twenty lynes before this place Canus thus us writeth Tertulianus monet vt aduersus hareticos magis Traditionibus quam Scripturis disseramus Scripturae enim varios sensus trâ—huntur Traditiones non item TertuliaÌ„ counseleth vs that we hould dispute against heritikes rather with Tradition then with Scripture since the Scriptures are drawen into seuerall constructions whereas Traditions are not so Thus it appeareth that the opinion is Tertulians and borrowed onely from him by Canus yet M. Whyte thought it more conuenient to deliuer it as proceding onely from Canus so concealing Tertulian as vnwilling to haue it graced and countenanced with the Authority of so auncient a Doctor The second deceipt here lyeth in not translating but concealing the reasoÌ„ of Canus his IudgmeÌ„t therein though it be expressed by Canus in the wordes immediatly folowing the place alledged which shew that the cause why we are to dispute with heritykes with Traditions rather then with Scriptures is not as our minister falsly pretendeth our distrust in the Scripture or want thereof to proue our Catholick Faith but as Canus saith because the true sence of it is cheifely to be taken from Tradition warranted by the Church Thirdly and lastly he abuseth his Reader in concealing the aduerbe ferme in those words aboue omâ—is ferme disputatio almost all disputation whereas he translateth all disputations Thus Canus by vsing the worde fermè exempteth some points from being decyded onely by traditions whereas by our ministers translation not any one is excepted Thus haue we seene how our Doctor by his fowle collusions haith laboured seuerall wayes to depresse and obscure the worthines of gods Catholick Church as by making her become somtimes inuisible by falsly ascribing to her and her head in the catholickes name an vsurping soueraignty thereby to make her due Authority the more contemned to conclude by depryuing her of all Apostolicall Traditions and of all preheminency in explayning and expounding the Scriptures whereas she especially now in the tyme of the Gospell euer sendeth from her self most glorious beames and splendor of truth and perpetuitie according to that of the princely psalmist In sole pos uit Tabernaculum suum for indeede she is that Soon which contrary to our inuisibilistes for these sixteene hundreth yeres did neuer once set vnder the horizon of an vniuersall latency that Soon which neuer expatiates beyond the tropickes of Gods Traditionary or writen word that Soon which with it defyning and infallible authority in explicating the true sense of Gods word dissipates and dissolues all cloudes of errour exhaled through the weake influence of the reuealing spirit finally that Soon whose concentrous vniformity could yet neuer broke any Phaniomena or apparances of innouation and nouelty whereas all other sectes professing the name of Christians are in regard of it but as Planetary and wandring starrs producing many Anomalous irregularities of vncertainty dissention and confusion Chapiter 5. Concerning Faith heresy The 1. Paragraph Bellarmine verrupted against the necessity of true Faith BVT to returne to our Doctor from Traditions we will descend to such other his deprauations as concerne Faith in generall as pag. 212. suggesting that we exact not besides other vertues any true or inward Faith to denominate or make one a perfect member of Gods Church but onely an outward show hereof he introduceth Bellarmine thus speaking de Eccl. mil. lib. 3. ca. 2. Noe inward vertue is required to make one a part of the true Church but onely the externall profession of Faith And then M. Whyte ryoteth in great profusion of wordes that vpon this grounde in the papistes Iudgment all holines of lyfe and conuersation is superfluous and needelesse But let vs recurre to Bellarmines wordes them selues Not credimus in Ecclesia inueniri c. We doe beleue that in the Church are found all vertues at Faith Hope Charity the rest ver vr aliquis aliquo modo dicâ— possiâ— pars verae Ecclesiae c. That any one may be called in some sort or manner a part of that true Church whereof the Scripture speaketh we doe not think any inward vertue to be requyred but onely an externall profession of faith c. And in the folowing paragraph he saith that those who wanting all vertue haue onely an externall profession of Faith câ— are as it were de corpore but not de anima Ecclesiae of the body not of the soule of the Church c. He but sicut capilli an t mali humores in corpore humano So wrongfully here we see is Bellarmine traduced by our Doctor First in concealing the beginning of the sentence wherein he acknowledgeth all theologicall vertues euer to be found in Gods Church Secondly in suggesting to the Reader that Bellarmine requyreth no true inward vertues as necessary for a Christian soule but onely an externall faith this is a false and selanderous contumely for pulchra es decora â—â—lia Hierusalem Caâ— 6. And Bellarmine is so farre froÌ„ teaching that such doe take any benefite by this theire outward profession that he saith as we see they are but onely of the body of the Church not of the soule to which kynd of members internall vertues at least are necessary and that they are to be resembled to the lesse profitable and but excrementall partes of mans body as the hayres of the head the nayles and other such bad humors Thirdly
WHereas according to Catholick doctrine different degrees of honour are to be exhibited to god and his blessed Angels and Sainctes as to the first Adoration and to the other in a far lower degree not onely damned spirites but damnable beritykes their painefull schollers as enuious emulators of glorious Sainctes do euer labour by many subtiltyes to rob them quyte of all deserued veneration In which kynd M. Whyte willing to acte his part euen against the B. Virgin the Mother of God modele of all piety for better shadowing of his enuy pag. 344 he alledgeth Epiphanius c. her l. 3. haer 79. c. Collyridianos saying The Virgin Mary was a virgin and honorable but not geuen for vs to worship but her self worshipped him that tooke flesh of her But for the cleares reuealing of this illusion it is to be obserued that Epiphanius wryteth here purposly against certaine women who adoring a Chariot or foure squared seate and couering the same with linnen cloath did at one solemne tyme of the yeare bring forth bread and offer the same vp in the name of Mary which he proueth at large to be vnlawfull in that it was neuer permitted to women to offer vp sacrifice as also in that sacrfice is an honour onely peculiar to god yea he maketh an expresse difference betwene adoration and honour or woorship attributing the first onely to god and the second with vs Catholickes to the blessed Virgin and Sainctes which is further manifest euen by the wordes obiected being truly translated which are these Verily the body of Mary was holy but yet not God Verily the Virgin was a Virgin and honorable but not geuen vnto vs for adoration but her self adored him who was borne of her flesh As also Let Mary be honoured and the Father and Sōne and the holy Ghost adored Let no man adore Mary c. This mistery is due to God And againe Though Mary be must excellent and holy and honourable yet not for adoration And sundry other such lyke all which do euidently conuince that S. Epiphanius alloweth woorship and honour to be geuen to the B. Virgin but not adoration to wit with sacrifice which is an honour Peculiar onely to God The 2. Paragraph S. Gregory notoriously corrupted against the woorshiping of Images Speaking against Images pag. 152. he affirmeth that the Church of Rome forbade the woorship of them us appeareth saith he by the Epistle of Gregory to Serenus which he noteth in the margent to be Epist 109. li. 7. It is this ministers euill hap by most of his citatations to manifest to the world his foly and falshood For who not distracted would vrge that against his aduersary which impugneth him self and that in such a maner as will easely conuince him of fraude and wilfull malice For fiirst S. Gregory in the place cyted reproueth Serenus for breaking casting downe of Images which were set vp in Churches though the said Serenus did the same through zeale by reason of some who committed Idolatry thereby affirming further that therefore Pictures are vsed in Churches that those which know not letters at least should reade by seeing in the wales those thinges which they could not reade in bookes And then he concludeth Thy brotherhood therefore ought to haue preserued the pictures and to haue hindred the people from their adoration that so the ignorant might haue from whence to gather knowledg of the history and the people not sinne in adoration of the picture Here S. Gregory alloweth the vse of pictures in Churches shewing the commodity arrisinge thereby and withall reprehendeth Serenus though through zeale for breaking and casting them downe what may we thinke then he would haue said against Whyte and other his brethren who through heresy and malice prohibite all vse or place thereof in Churches if they had bene then extant and made knowen vnto him But though with Catholickes he allow the placing of them in Churches yet M. Whyte will vrge that he forbiddeth their woorship The woorship which he forbiddeth according to his owne wordes is adoration which word the Fathers frequently vse for that honour which is onely proper to God And that S. Gregory ment no other is manifest by an other Epistle writen to the said Serenus Ep. 9. l. 9. vpon the self same occasion where hauing repeated the forsaid vtility of pictures and adding that not without cause antiquity admitted Histories to be painted in the venerable places or Churches of Sainctes he directethe Serenus in him all pastors how to instruct the people in theire lawfull vse as shewing them by testimonies of sacred scriptures that nothing made with hand ought to be adored seing it is writen Luc. 4. The Lord thy god thou shalt adore c. As also By sight of the thing done or the history let them conceaue the feruour of compunction and let them be humbly prostrated in the adoration of the onely omnipotent holy Trinity By which it is most manifest that the woorship here forbidden by S. Gregory to Images is onely that adoration which is proper to god And that otherwise he thought Images duly to be worshipped appeareth by his 7. booke and 5. Epistle wheare wryting to Bishop Ianuarius concerning one Peter lately conuerted from Iudaisine to Christianity who violently had taken a Sinagoug from the Iewes and placed therein the Image of the Mother of God and our Lord and the venerable Crosse c. In redresse whereof he exhortethe the said Bishope that the Image and the Crosse taken away againe from thence with that veneration or reuerence which it meete to restore that which was violently taken away to wit the Sinagouge So that in steed of impugning due worship to Images these poyntes folowing may all heritikes learne of S. Gregory First that he proueth the vse thereof from antiquity Secondly that he alloweth the placing thereof in Churches and impugneth the breakers or pullers of them downe though their excuse or pretence be feare of Idolatry in the People Thirdly that the same in steed of hurt do much profit the ignorant that can not reade And lastly that in plaine tearmes he calleth the Crosse Crucem veneran dam Venerable And directeth that both the Image of our B. Lady and the Crosse should be remoued cum ea qua dignum est veneratione with that worship which is meete or they deserue So that I could wish our needy minister to be better aduysed hereafter in his citinge of S. Gregory against Catholick religion The 5 Paragraph The Councell of Eliberis corrupted against Images Here now I am come to the last corruption which I intende to display the which I haue purposly reserued therewith to close vp the taist of my Reader so notorious it is for the Authors depraued and so pregnant and dextrous in the conueyance As touching the first whearas euery one of the former deprauations those of the Rhemistes onely excepted resteth in abusing the authority of some one particuler man this stryketh at a whole
weightiest alterations of our publick English Lyturgy since the first entrance of protestancy into England And first it is euident that the Lyturgy of the Church of England in King Edwardes tyme at which tyme there was an euident bringing in of protestancy published by Crammer Peter Martir Bucer and approued by the authority of the Parleament kept almost all the prayers and ceremonies of the Masse the reall presence onely reiected with crossing of both their Sacramentes and the accustomed rites of Baptisme as a formall consecration of the water of Baptisme with the signe of the Crosse the vsing of Chrisme and the annoynting of the child Againe it retayned prayer for the dead and the offering of our prayers by the intercession of Angels But when Quen Elizabeth came to reigne the said Lyturgy was so altered as that it is needles to reste long in the discouery thereof for it tooke away prayer for the dead and prayer to Angels besides most of the former Ceremonies vsed in King Edwards time In lyke sort in the Communion booke of K. Edward we fynde confirmed baptisme by lay persons in tyme of necessity and grace geuen in that Sacrament the Confirmation of children and strength geuen thereby the Preist blessing the Bryde grome and the bryde euen with the signe of the Crosse. The Preistes absolution of the sick penitent by these wordes By the authority committed to me I absolue thee of all thy sinnes The speciall confession of the sick penitent and finally the annoynting of the sick Of all which particulers see the Communion booke of K. Edward printed in fol. by Edward whitchurch cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum An. 1549. All which dyuers of them including poyntes of faith and doctrine are now vtterly left out in the Communion booke published in Q. Elizabeths tyme In so much as Parker an english protestaÌ„t thus writeth thereof The day starr was not risen so high in their dayes when as yet Q. Elizabeth reformed the defects of K. Edwardes CommunioÌ„ booke Answearably hereto wryteth Cartwright saying The Church of England changed the booke of Common prayer twyce or thryce after it had receaued the knowledg of the Gospell Thus Cartwright in his 2. Reply par 1. pa. 41. who in that very booke laboureth yet for a fourth change And thus is M. Whyte not affrayd to suggest to the world euen in printe fonde man that could not be idle enough in pryuate talke such vnwarrantable vntruthes which course of his if it proceded from his owne inaduertency and ouersight as not hauing seene the Common prayer booke of K. Edward declaring the contrary then were it more pardonable but this I think him self out of his pryde and shew of much reading will not acknowledge therefore we may probably ascribe it to his mere wilfull forgery who to defend his owne heterogeneous and mongerell faith which mantayneth at different tymes different doctrines dare aduenture to broach falshoodes though neuer so eminent But let him remember that by so doing he with disauantage to his cause vainly spendeth his labour for Qui nititur mendaciâ—â— hic pascit ventos Who trusteth to lyes feedeth the wyndes The 6. Vntruth In proofe of the Romane Churches mutability in matters of Faith Page 150 he confidently auerreth that The Church of Rome is varied from her self in matters of Faith since she began to be the seate of Antichrist Thus charging our Church with great mutability of beleefe as before he laboured to grace and adorne his owne Sinagouge with all speceous constancy in the same Now for the better ouerthrowing of this vntruth it is necessary to recurr to those first supposed tymes of Antichristes being perusing the doctrine then taught to see if the Church of Rome haith made at this day any change thereof in any matters of Faith for euen so far doth the minister stretch out his lye First then the most receaued opinion of the protestantes touching Antichrist his coming for they are most various amonge them selues therein is that S. Gregory the great was the first Antichrist Now to obserue what his Religion was will be made euident by taking vew of the Religion which S. Augustine being a Monke of the Church of Rome and sent by this S. Gregory did here plant in England For the tryall of which poynt I will first produce D. Humfrey who thus writeth hereof In Ecclesiam verò c. What did Gregory Augustine bring into the Church c. A burden of Ceremonies c. They brought in the Pall for the Archbishop in celebrating of Masse and purgatory c. They brought in the oblation of the healthfull Hoast and prayer for the deade c. Relickes c. Transubstantiation c. A new consecration of Churches c. From all the which what other thing is gathered then that Indulgences Monachisme the Papacy and all the rest confusion of the Popes superstition was then erected all which thinges Augustine the greate Monk and taught by Gregory a Monk brought to vs English men Thus farr D. Humfrey In lyke sort the Triumuiri of Magdeburg whose censuring pennes haue controuled more ages then euer the Romanes Triumuiri gouerned Prouinces I meane the 3 Century wryters in the Index or Alphabeticall Table of the 6. Century after the first Edition thereof at the word Gregory do relate the particuler doctrine of S. Gregory as popish and erroneous For thus they here note with particuler references to the places of S. Gregories writinges prouing the same Eiusdem error c. The same Gregories errour of good workes of Confession of Wedlock of the Inuocation of Sainctes of hell of Iustification of Free will of purgatory of Penance of Satisfaction Now this former doctrine contayning the cheife pointes wherein we differ from the sectaries of this tyme being acknowledged to be the Faith of Gregory who is supposed to be the first Antichrist most articulatly at this day beleued of all Romane Catholickes I would aske M. Whyte with what forhead he can auouch his former wordes to wit that the Church of Rome is variâ—d from her self in matters of faith since she began to be the seate of Antichrist But all this ryseth from an inward repugning of the Min. against our Church in reguard of the vnchangeable certainty and constancy of faith professed by her whereas the want thereof in our aduersaries religion is most notorious as appeareth not onely from their seuerall confessions one euer impugning an other but also from their different translations of their Bybles still made to sort to the faith of their last Edition so as in respect of their wonderfull mutability and variance among them selues whereby indeede they indignify and wrong the nature of true faith we haue reason to demaund of any of the professors of what thinking he is rather then of what faith The 7. Vntruth In proofe of the protestantes concord in matters of Religion Page 139. To proue that protestantes haue true vnity
the auncient Fathers and among others whom for breuity I pretermit he alledgeth S. Chrisostome and vshereth his authority with this preface And that Chrisostome thought the Church might be somtimes inuisible appeareth by the 49. homily vpon Mathew where he saith Since the tyme that heresy haith inuaded the Church it can no way be knowne which is the true Church of Christ but by the Scriptures onely in this confusion it can no wayes els be knowne From which wordes I do collect a continuall visiblenes of the Church for if the Scriptures be euer able to make the Church knowne then by them it is euer made visible and consequently since the scriptures haue euer hitherto bene preserued and through Gods good prouidence no doubt shall be euen to the end of the world the Church haith bene and shall be at all times made knowne and visible through the meanes of the Scripture And thus disputing onely ad hominem do I turne the point of M. Whytes reason vpon himself And this may suffice touching M. Whytes weake prouing of the latency of Christes Church where the Reader may behould a longe teame as it were of his lame feeble and impotent authorities one still following an other taken from the writinges of Catholick Doctors and the Fathers whereof some do neither fortify nor hurt his cause and others do proue euen contrary to that for which he alledgeth them In reguard of which his dull grosse and absurd kind of reasoning and arguing if it be true in Philosophy that the vnderstanding doth work better or worse as the spirits are more or lesse pure and that the spirits are become more or lesse pure according to the quality of the nutriment that the body taketh I must then conclude that when M. Whyte penned this his Treatise particulerly for his deare Countrymen of Lancashyre as himself saith it semeth he then remayning there did vse to feede much on his Lancashire dish the Goose. The 4. Paragraph Wherein are discussed certaine proofes of M. W. in behalf of the protestantes markes of the Church M. Whyte in page 104. and some few leaues after discoursing of the notes of the Church vndertaketh to proue that The true doctrine of faith and lawfull vse of the Sacramentes are the proper and infallible markes wherby it must be iudged which is the true Church In proofe hereof he produceth diuers passages of Scripture where our Sauiour said My sheepe here my voice And againe Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them In lyke sort those wordes of S. Mathew You shall know the false prophets by their frutes And finally that saying of S. Paule As many as walk according to this rule meaning according to the rule of a true Faith peace vpon them and mercy and vpon the Israell of God Againe those wordes of the Apostle touching the Church that It is the howshold of God built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets As also where it is said that the Scripture is a shyning light Now what Alcumist in the world can abstract out of any of these textes that sense or meaning which shall prooue that true doctrine is a sufficient mark to vs whereby we may infallibly discerne which is the true Church of God He may as easely draw fyre out of water or earth out of ayre betwene which there are no symbolizing qualities For let vs see how probably we can inferre what is intended out of the said Scriptures as thus Christ saith My shepe here my voice Therefore true doctrine is to vs a signe of the true Church Againe Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them Therfore we are to learne the true Church from the true doctrine Strangely inferred for how shall we know euer abstracting the Authority of the Church who are Christes sheepe or who are they which are gathered together in his name If it be replyed they are those who haue true doctrine then I demaund how can we be assured who haue true doctrine If it be answeared they haue true doctrine who heare the word truly preached enioy a perfect ministration of the Sacraments then I aske how shall I be acertained that such do heare the word truly preached and enioy a perfect ministration of the Sacramentes But here my answear is at a stand and flieth for sanctuary to his Apocalypticall and reuealing spirit Thus it is cleare in what circles mazes M. Whyte or any other walketh through the vaine suggestions and imaginations of a light vaperous giddy braine The like connexion with the former conclusion haue the other places of Scripture aboue cyted The which after he haith set downe then page 107. he descendeth to the Authorities of Fathers and Catholick Authors labouring though most weakly to hayle from their wordes his former Illation To this end he bringeth in S. Epiphanius saying of an heritike This man is found altogether different from the holy Scriptures c. If then he be dissenting from them he is altogether an alyen from the holy Catholick Church Here we graunt that in the true nature of faith who dissenteth from the Scriptures dissenteth from the Church but yet this proueth not that the doctrine of faith or administration of the Sacramentes may serue to vs as markes to demonstrate out the Church Againe he produceth M. Raynouldes affirming that 13 The true Church and the true faith are so knitt together that the one inferreth and concludeth the other for from the true Church is concluded the true faith and from the true faith the true Church All this is true yet it followeth not from hence that faith is more knowne to vs then the Church and couseqnently that it ought to serue to vs as a cleare and euident mark to point out aswell to the vnlearned as learned which is the true Church Adde hereto that these wordes euen in M. Whytes sense asmuch impugne him as vs for if they imply faith to be a marke of the Church they also reciprocally imply the Church to be a marke of the true Faith Finally to omitte many other testimonies of Catholickes produced to the lyke end whose particuler answeares do ryse from the circumstances of the places and thâ—refore here omitted he labouring to shew that Faith is knowne before the Church and consequently that it is a note thereof bringeth in Picus Mirandula thus speaking of the Scriptures They do not moue they do not perswade but they enforce vs they dryâ—e vs forward they violently constraine vs. Thou readest wordes rudely and homely but such as are quick liuely flaming shyning pearcing to the bottome of the spirit and by their admirable power transforming the whole man Now who can inferr out of these wordes that the Scripture is knowne to vs before the Church seeing indeede the priority of the one or the other is not so
onely like the Centurion should slie to the boundlesse and infinite mercy of his diuine Maiesty Wherefore M. W. can not dispute thus from the Cardinals wordes In reguard of the vncertainty of our owne righteousnes and because of the daunger of vaine glory the saifest way is to put our sole confidence in the sole mercy of God Therefore workes in generall do not merite or therefore workes done in true humility and proceding from one that is righteous donot merite For the doubt here which Bellarmine intimateth resteth not in the doctrine of merite but in the vncertainty of our doing of them to wit whether thâ—y are performed by vs in that state and with all those due circumstances as are requisite for them that they may merite But it seemeth that M. W. can not fall vpon any obscure sentences of Catholicks but instantly he striueth to turne them as if they were the sayinges of his owne brethren like the fyre which coueteth to conuert euery thing it toucheth into it self This done M. Whyte page 159. descendeth to shew the different opinions of Catholickes touching some pointes of the reall presence as first whether after the bread and wyne being changed by the words of Consecration into the body and bloud of Christ the accidences do remaine without a subiect or that they haue their inherence in the quantity or that the body of Christ sustaineth them or the lyke Secondly how the accidents remaining after consecration haue power to nourish to wit whether the thing nourished therewith procede from the quantity or that the substance of bread and wyne returneth againe and so it causeth the nutrition or that the accidences by Gods power are changed into the thing nourished or some such lyke manner Thus our minister goeth on discoursing very soberly how it appeareth from these and the like examples that the papistes agree not in their doctrine and further thus saith You may see by these few examples how the papistes are deuided about the principall articles of their faith c. But here the iudiceous Reader may see that touching the fust sort of Catholick testimonies aboue explayned we finde no difference of iudgment at all betwene the Catholickes by him alledged and other Catholickes And as concerning their seuerall opinions about those secondary questions of the blessed Sacrament they are onely pointes of indifferency and do not at all imply any disunion in matter of faith For touching the B. Sacrament that which is principally an Article of our faith is whether bread and wyne be really and truly changed by the wordes of consecration into the Body and bloud of Christ the which all Catholickes whatsoeuer do iointly and constantly beleue And as concerning those other doubtes resulting out of the former confessed Article and vrged here by M. Whyte they are onely indifferences and philosophicall questions disputed in the schooles and by seuerall men seuerally mantained without any breach of faith But here I should make bould on the contrary part to put M. M. Whyte in mynd touching the diuision in doctrine among the protestantes a point heretofore touched in this Treatise that they are such euen by the acknowledgment of them selues as do wound the soundnes of Christian faith I think the displaying thereof would be litle pleasing vnto him gratefull to his cause But for this present I will forbeare and will onely adde hereto for the greater disaduantage of our aduersaries that when a Catholick obstinatly and pertinaceously mantaineth any heresy for such accompted by the Church he ipso facto deuideth him self from the Church and so seaceth to be a member there of as seuerall tymes we graunt it hapneth But the case is otherwise among the protestants For albeit each of them doth defend his seuerall opinions in the weightiest pointes of faith yet they neuerthelesse accompt one an other as members of one and the same Church as we see by experience it faleth out not only betwene the Lutherans and the Caluenistes but also betwene our English protestantes and the puritanes who notwithstanding the great disparity of faith and doctrine amonge them do in their owne opinions make vp one and the same protestants Church and do still repute each other as faithfull brethren of the said Church and zealous professoures of the gospell Here now I will close vp this third and last part of this small Treatise wherein I trust I haue discouered M. Whytes disioynted and loose kynd of writing all which his reasoninges and authorities seruing onely as a taist to the Reader what more he may expect in this kind if the ministers whole booke should be iudicially perused are taken out deuiding his booke into three partes onely of the first part and fewer then twenty leafes of the said part affordeth them all Many other scores there are which are scattered here and there by one or two as incidentally he taketh occasion to write but all such I haue omitted and purposly made choice of such passages within the former small compasse of his booke as do minister seuerall and diuers testimonies of this nature of one and the same subiect It were ouer laboursome to examine his whole book in this sort since indede it is throughout euen loaded with an oâ—ercharg of the like bootelesse testimonies he still filling vp many blankes and spaces thereof with such idle impertineÌ„cies the which 〈…〉 may seeme to crosse our Catholick doctrine yet indeede the transparency of them is such as they cause not so much as any reflection in the eye and vnderstanding of the iudiceons but in reguard of their emptines and want of force they may be resembled to speake in S. Peters wordes 2. Pet. 2. to wells without water and cloudes carried about with tempestes THE Conclusion WOrthy and iudiceous Academians here now I am to geue a fâ—ll stop vnto my pen since I hope according to my vndertaken taske I haue discouered such stoare of impostures in this my aduersaries booke as that they may in reason be sufficient to disopinion you of his supposed worth and estimation He is I graunt your sonne in respect whereof I know you can not but with a motherly and compassionate eye behould his blemishes and inwardly lament to see your Whyte thus soyled Notwithstanding it resteth on your part euen for the saluing of your owne honoures to withdraw hereafter your fauoures from so vndeseruing a branch since pittie it is that learning ingenuity and integrity whereunto your selues deseruedly pretend should become a sanctuary to collusion falshood and impurity And now seeing here I haue vntwisted the cheife threedes whereupon the whole loome of his Treatise is wouen I doubt not but out of your owne cleare-eyd Iudgmentes you will immediatly looke vpon the same as it is in it self fraughted with such vnworthy stuffe and not as it haith receaued light and grace from the weake opinion of the ignorant and seduced multitude which I rather expect peculiarly at your handes since your selnes know
that in a true vew of any thing refracted beames neuer afford a perfecte sight And thus to your owne censure and chastisment I remitt M. Whyte whom not without iuste cause I may well range in the Catalogue of those of whom God by his Prophet saith Non misi eos ipsi prophetabant in nomine meo mandaciter Ier. 27. And next to come to thee good reader here thou seest what scarres do remaine vpon the face of this our ministers reputation him self first playing the corrupter then a lyer and then a tryfling writer But seeing thou art now partly instructed of the ministers foule deportment herein I appeale euen to thine owne conscience whether thou art inwardly perswaded that he haith any honesty any faith any Religion finally any feare of God who is not affraid thus shamelesly prophanely and heathnishly to handle the highest misteries of Christianity And if thou seest reason to be induced so to thinke what stupor and dulnes of vnderstanding yea what madnes then is it in thy self to aduenture thy soules euerlasting saluation or damnation vpon the bare affiance and credit of so persideous and corrupt a writer Therefore let this mans want of sincerity and true dealing awaken thy iudgment in the disquisition of gods infallible truth Make triall by thine owne particuler search whether these deceiptes wherewith I charge the Doctor be true or no and if thou findest that he standes guilty thereof then retyre back and instantly cast of both him and his doctrine assuring thy self that the cause which he iustifieth is wrong in that God who ones said Ambulans in via immaculata hiâ— mihi ministrabat will not suffer his sacred will to be reuealed by such impostors and deceiuers Let not the already conceaued opinion of his learning ouer-sway thy Iudgment but rather say with thy self that faith must needes be erroneous which can not sufficiently be maÌ„tained by learning except withall it be mantained with lying seeing truth nedeth not the support of falshood Be assured that though for the tyme M. W. or any other of our aduersaries seeâ—e to make good their cause by their much writing whereby in a vulgare eye they vent out good stoare of litterature and reading yet after such their workes are diligently perused and answeared by laying open their falshoodes corruptions and such other collusions the Catholick cause as experience haith taught is greatly aduauntaged thereby them selues by this meanes running into greater disâ—stimation and contempt euen of their owne followers Such is the sweetnes of gods prouidence that the Israelites of the Catholick Church are euer in the ende deliuered from the handes of the Egiptians and see their enemies drowned in the red sea of shame and confusion Non commouebitur in aâ—ernum qui habitat in Ierusalem But now lastly M. Whyte to come more nearly to your self with whom I must in a word or two take leaue Tell me euen betwene god and your owne conscience if as yet you retaine any touch of conscience did you not write this your booke with a fearefull trembling hande in remembring that as god according to his Iustice doth euer punish all kinde of sinnes so particulerly he poureth out his vyols of wrath and indignation in greater aboundance vpon those who seduce the ignorant by such deceauable meanes How many poore soules shall ryse against you at the most dreadfull day who shall continew in eternall torments for being misled by this your most poysenous corrupt and lying writinges Are not your owne personall sinnes sufficient to draw on your perdition but you must be loaded with the euerlasting ouerthrow of diuers others soules to further the same If seuere punishmentes be to be inflicted vpon them who will expunge or deface any one publick record of ciuill and temporall matters what confusion then are they to vndergoe who not once not twice but many scoares of tymes haue wickedly corraded corrupted and belyed of which your selfe is found most guilty the auncient monumentes of the primitiue Fathers and the writinges of other most learned Doctors wherein next to the holy Scriptures is contained the spirituall tenure of our Christian faith and by the producing whereof we make good our tytle to the rich inheritance of mannes saluation Reflect vpon your owne case you euen you who remaines in the gaull of biâ—ternes in the bond of iniquity Your state yet is remediable since so longe as you haue tyme of repentance so longe your sicknes is not vnto death Wherefore make vse of that short remnant and suffer not earthly considerations of preferment ambition and the like any longer to interpose them selues betwene your sight and the truth I shall be glad as the light appeared to Adam to bewray his sinne and shame if this my discouery may be of force to dispell that spirituall darknesse of your malice against the Catholick Church so repentingly acknowledging your inexcusable faultines in your former worke Be not agreued at these my sharpe admonitions since the more seuere the more medicinable but remember that the sight of Toby was restored by the bitter gaule of the fishe I can not but bewaile your incorrigiblenes if this my councell proceding onely from Charity shall be so farre from winning you to a better course that as in some natures it hapneth it may be found to raise your malice hereafter against Gods Church to a higheâ— strayne like vnto some medicines which as the Phisitions say if they do not purge the humour intended them selues doe turne into the said humour But to conclude M. Whyte howsoeuer you entertaine my wordes fare well feare hell feare damnation and do not thus precipitately and desperatly runne vpon the dinte of gods most dreadfull comminations threates him self thundring Eritmanus mea super Pâ—ophetas c Mâ—handes shall be vpoÌ„ the Prophets that see vâ—ne thinges and diuine a lye in the Councell of my people they shall not be in the Scripture of the house of Israell they shall not be written neither shall they enter into the Lande of Israell And you shall know that I am the Lord God for that they haue deceaued my people saying Peace there is no peace Laus Deo B. Virgini Mariae c 1 Cor. 4. d Iac. 3. e 〈…〉 us 〈◊〉 nâ—l 〈◊〉 par 1 〈◊〉 74. â—â—â—eil in his â— sence of the Adology f Luth. tom 2. wittenb anno 1551 lib. de seâ—u ar bitr pag. 454 Beza in his preface vpon the new Testament dedicated to the Prince of Condy anno 1587. Doctor Humfrey li. de vita Iewelli g Esa. 2.60 Micheas 4. psalm 19. Math. 18. h Hiero. Epist ad Pammach i Doâ—tâ—r Humfrey in Iesuiâ— part 2. rat 3 pag. 240. Athanatius li. de decret nicen Sinod August lib. 3 de baptismo contra Donatum ca. 2. k Hebru 4. Roman 10. Iohn 10. l Doctor Couell in his defence of Hooker pag. 86. n 1 Cor. 12. Doctor Sarauia contra resp