ought thereby to haue espied their owne error in imagining that Christ was no more but a méere man Such remission as Christ gaue his church power to vse is in daily practise amongst vs and for my part I know no professor of the Gospel that findeth fault with it but your proud presumption beyond any authority giuen to the church of God in binding whom you list and loosing whom please you with your gainfull marchandize made therof that with all our harts we abhorre and detest Luke 8. 10. The text To you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the kingdome of God but to the rest in parables ⸫ that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not vnderstand The note See the annotations vpon Saint Matthew cap. 13. 14. The answer We haue alreadie giuen answer to that annotation Luke 8. 13. The text For they vpon the rocke such as when they heare with ioy receiue the word and these haue no roots bicause ⸫ for a time they beleeue and in the time of tentation they reuolt The note Against the heretikes that say faith once had cannot be lost and that he which now hath not faith neuer had The answer If either you had the feare of God before your eies or els regarded your owne estimation afore men you would not thus without all cause cauill We say that those whom God by his owne wil hath begotten by the word of truth which is an incorruptible séed to beléeue in the name of his sonne and so to become the children of God it is impossible that their faith should bée quite lost and that he which hath not this faith neuer yet had it what is this to the faith here spoken of which is for a time a ioyfull and readie accepting of the doctrine preached and is therefore improperlie called beléeuing because it hath some similitude with true beléeuing But you make of the Scriptures an exercise to whet your wits to wrangle and cauill for such is your reuerence towards them Luke 8. 21. The text Who answering said to them My ⸫ mother my brethren are they that heare the word of God and doe it The note He did not heere speake disdainfullie of his mother but teacheth that our spiritual kinred is to be preferred before carnall cognation Hilar. in 12. Mat. The answer This néedlesse citing of the fathers you vse to deceiue the simple withall and to make them imagine that your aduersaries hold that Christ spake disdainfully of his mother For they do not thinke that you vse this and other authorities but onlie where you néed by that meanes to winne some credit to that which you write which in this matter was altogether néedlesse Luke 8. 24. The text And ⸫ they came and raised him saying Master we perish The note See the annotations vpon Saint Matthew cap. 8 24. The answer We haue for your pleasure lost so much labour as to looke into the place and there finde no such matter Luke 8. 43. The text And there was ⸫ a certaine woman in a fluxe of blood for twelue yeeres past c. The note See the annotations vpon Saint Matthew cap. 9. 19. The answer Your annotation is séene and shall be considered of in the answer to the rest Luke 8. 45. The text And all denying ⸫ Peter said and they that were with him Master the multitudes throng and presse thee and doest thou say Who touched me The note It is an euident signe of prerogatiue that Peter onlie is named so often as chiefe of the companie Marke 1. 36. Actes 5. 29. Luke 9. 32. Marke 16. 7. 1. Cor. 15. 5. The answer It is a very sillie argument Peter onlie is named ergo he is named as chiefe of the companie It is a poore prerogatiue that can be wonne for Peter by such kinde of reasoning The Apostles amongst whom he was conuersant knewe nothing of this his prerogatiue and superioritie as appeareth by their reasoning of the case diuerse times which of them should be greatest or chiefe And therefore it is plaine and euident that you want better helpes when you are faine to staie vp Peters authoritie with such weake proppes Luke 8. 50. The text And Iesus hearing this woord answered the father of the maide Feare not ⸫ beleeue onlie and she shalbe safe The note See the annotations vpon Saint Marke cap. 5. 36. The answer We haue looked and sée there a great péece of learning Forsooth that is an vsual spéech to saie onely do this when we meane chéefely To which we replie that it is most vsuall to saie onely do this when we require onely that which we speake of and no more And againe it is a verie sillie shift for you to flâ—e to chéefely in stéede of onely when in other places you will haue charitie chéefely required and preferre if greatly afore faith Luk. 9. â— The text And calling togither the twelue apostles he gaue them ⸫ vertue and power ouer all diuels and to cure maladies The note To command diuels and diseases either of bodie or soule is by nature proper to God onely but by gods gift men also may haue the same euen so to forgiue sinne The answer And why do you not saie euen so to create heauen and earth men and angels God doth impart to men whatsoeuer pleaseth him to giue and to bestowe and not what it pleaseth proud men to chalenge Shew to vs that God hath giuen any man authoritie to sell remission of sins Otherwise I haue alreadie answered that we vse this authoritie of remitting sins so farre foorth as God hath giuen it Luk. 9. 5. The text And whosoeuer shall not receiue you going foorth out of that citie shake of the dust also of your feete ⸫ for a testimonie vpon them The note A great fault to reiect the true preachers or not to admit them into house for needfull harbour and sustenance The answer But no fault to reiect traiterous and vndermining papists who secretlie stir vp subiects to murther their soueraignes the Lords annointed and to séeke the subuersion and destruction of their owne countrie Luk. 9. 16. The text And taking the fiue loaues and the two fishes he looked vp to heauen and ⸫ blessed them and brake and distributed to his disciples for to set before the multitude The note Here you see that he blessed the things and not onely gaue thanks to God See annot Mark cap. 8. 7. The answer Who can better tell what is ment by blessing then the holie Ghost himselfe who in the fiftéenth of Matthew in the sixt of Iohn expresseth the same by giuing of thanks Neither is there any cause or reason in this place why any farther matter should be thought or imagined to be ment by blessing And as for the seuerall blessing of the bread first and then the fishes afterward is but your dreame without warrant Your annotation shall be considered of with the residue of the same sort Luk. 9.
wait for the comming of the Lord you would not wilfully serue his enimie and oppose your selues to his knowen truth 2. Corinthians 2. Cor. 2. 10. The text For my selfe also that which I ⸫pardoned if I pardoned any thing for you in the person of Christ That we be not circumuented of satan For we are not ignorant of his cogitations The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though he did great penance saith Theodoret yet he calleth this pardoning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a grace bicause his sinne was greater than his penance The answer It is happie you will confesse one man pardoned of grace which had not by gretnes of penance deserued it Theodorets meaning was not to part his pardoning betwixt penance and grace And the text prâ—â—ueth cléerly that how great testimonies so euer man giueth of true repentance yet remission and pardon of sinnes is not merited but procéedeth méerely of grace and fauor 2. Cor. 4. 17. The text For that our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall waight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but the things that are not seene The note The English bible 1577 doth falsely translate Prepareth The answer This translation although not so proper in word yet all one in sense with the rest is alreadie iustified by master D. Fulke against Martinius The reason which he yéeldeth for your fault finding is to be noted for it sheweth that you would haue that which is momentanie and light to deserue that which is eternal and of great waight and so make a small matter to deserue eternall life and glorie So lightly you thinke to come by heauen â— Cor. 5. 8. The text But we are bold and haue a good will to be pilgrimes rather from the bodie and to be ⸫ present with our Lord. The note This place prooueth that the saints departed now since Christ sleepe not till the day of iudgement and that they be not holden in any seuerall place of rest from the fruition of God till the resurrection of their bodies but that they be present with God in their soules The answer You would say that this prooueth that the soules of the saints sléepe not with their bodies till the day of iudgement I maruell much why the apostle speaketh nothing héere of purgatorie sith by your churches doctrine the soules of the greater part of Gods saints after the earthly house of this habitatioÌ„ is dissolued go for a time to the paines of purgatorie which is directly against the apostles doctrine in this place deliuered For he immediately after our dissolution appointeth vs an house to dwell in not for a time but eternally nor in pugatorie but in heauen not seuered from the fruition of God but in the presence of our Lord from which he placeth none absence but whiles we are héere in the bodie 1 Cor. 5. 2â— The text Him that knew no sin for vs he made sinne that we might be made the iustice of God in him The note That is to say a sacrifice and an host for sinne See the last annot of this chapter The answer If men should héere without all reason sticke vpon the letter as you do in This is my bodie what can you say for this exposition that might not be iustly returned against you in that Your annotation you send vs vnto is a childish cauill grounded vpon this that the scripture calleth him iust that doth iustice But doth it call none else so The publican departed better iustified than the pharisie I pray you what iustice had he done God iustifieth the wicked He is iust or blessed to whom God imputeth no sin The iust man liueth by faith So obteined the théefe vpon the crosse to be iustified and saued You sée then that the Scripture speaketh of some other kind of iustice besides that which consisteth in our owne doings Leaue therefore your foolish cauilling 2. Cor. 5. 10. The text As sorrowfull but alwaies reioicing as needie but enriching manie as ⸫ hauing nothing and possessing all things The note Saint Augustine in Ps. 113 gathereth hereby that the Apostles did vowe pouertie The answer Wilfull pouertie bicause you sée no reason to gather it out of this place you make Saint Augustine your buckler for it but I thinke your note booke deceiued you I take it that there is no such matter in the exposition of that Psalme But he saith there that in calling images by the names of those whom God created men turne the truth of God into a lie and that their forme and shape their honorable placing and setting a loft in the church hath more force to draw people to idolatrie then the consideration that they haue no life nor vse of their parts and members hath to induce men to the contrarie I do not remember that I haue reade any thing in Augustine that fauoreth wilfull pouertie But in his booke of the worke of moonkes he is verie earnest against such idle bellies as thought it vnlawfull for them to gaine any thing by worke or labor but would liue altogither vpon the offerings and liberality of others and he both telleth them that they refuse to obey the Apostle Paul and confuteth their foolish reasons 2. Cor. 6. 14. The text ⸫ Beare not the yoke with infidels The note It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with heretikes and infidels See S. Hier. câ—ont Iouian lib. Cocil Laod. cap. 10. 31. The answer It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with papists or other heretikes or infidels For this there néedeth no authority of men for the word of God is plaine and it is not called into question â— Cor. 7. 10. The text For ⸫ the sorow that is according to God worketh penance vnto saluation that is stable but the sorow of the world worketh death The note Contrition or sorowfull lamenting of our offences is the cause of saluation Not onely faith then saueth as the heretikes affirme The answer You deceiue your selues and others whiles of euerie consequence you make a cause It is verie true that faith and repentance must be ioined companions in them that shall be saued and yet neither of both properly the cause of saluation 2. Cor. 8. 5. The text And not as we hoped but their owne selues they gaue first to the Lord then ⸫ to vs by the wil of God The note The principall respect next after God is to be had of our masters in religion in all temporall and spirituall duties The answer If there were not iust cause of suspicion of your euil and lewd minde and meaning this note might passe without controlement as an hyperbolicall spéech tending to the reuerence and credit of Gods ministers But bicause your whole course of dealing bewrateth manifestly that you séeke to preferre your pope and your selues to be regarded and respected aboue princes in temporall duties therefore the reader is to be admonished that
but now it hath vtterly none Penitents in the primitiue church did but giue testimonie vnto the church of their heartie and vnfained repentance and not as you would haue men imagine satisfie for their sinnes and deserue at Gods hand remission and pardon therof Augustine neuer dreamed of any such matter but he wrote against the Nouatians who denied repentance to them that sinned after they were baptized against whom he prooueth by the example of Peter which had denied Christ by the authoritie of this present text that men after baptisme were not to be excluded from repentance and so maintaineth the custome of the church in admitting penitents which had béene afore for their faults excommunicated what is this to that you alledge him for against our translation 2. Cor. 13. 10. The text Therefore these things I write absent that being present I may not deale hardly according to the power which our Lord hath giuen me vnto edification and not vnto destruction The note Ecclesiastical ⸫ power to punish offenders by the censures of the church The answer Which power we reuerence and kéepe offenders in awe withall though we contemne and despise the vsurped power of the Romish church and care not for her thunderbolts GALATHIANS Galat. 1. 6. The text I maruell that you are so soone transferred from him that called into the grace of Christ vnto another Gospel which is not another vnlesse there be some that trouble you and will ⸫ inuert the Gospel of Christ. The note New Gospellers that peruert corrupt or alter the one onlie true and first deliuered Gospell are to be auoided See Saint Augustine contra Faust. libro 32. cap. 27. The answer The Gospel of God is the power of God to saluation to euery beléeuer whosoeuer therefore doeth preach any power of pope of man of fréewill or of anie other creature or thing whatsoeuer to saluation preacheth a newe Gospell and not the Gospell of God and therefore are to be auoided The whole doctrine therefore of the Popes church is to be auoided for it is nothing els but a new coined Gospell Your note booke still deceiueth you there are not so many chapters in that booke Galat. 1. 19. The text But other of the Apostles sawe I none sauing Iames ⸫ the brother of our Lord. The note Saint Iames was called our Lords brother after the Hebrew phrase of the Iewes by which neere kinsemen are called brethren for they were not brethren in deede but rather sisters children The answer If vpon this you should méete with men as froward as your selues are in expounding this is my bodie they might make you worke by not admitting any interpretation and therefore you might sée how fond a thing it is so to sticke to the letter that you will not admit the mind of the speaker Galat. 2. 11. The text And when Cephas was come to Antioch I resisted him ⸫ in face bicause he was reprehensible The note That is in presence before them all as Beza him selfe expoundeth it yet the English Bezites to the more disgracing of saint Peter translate to his face No. Testamen anno 1580. The answer It is somwhat that once in your liues you are content to acknowledge that you haue learned somwhat of master Beza but I thinke he should not haue béene spoken of héere but to take occasion by him to vtter your choller and to ease your stomacke a little vpon those whom you call English Bezites whose intent as you surmise was in their translation to disgrace S. Peter As if it had béene greater disgrace to saint Peter to be told of his fault to his face than to be told of it reprooued for it in the presence of the multitude But howsoeuer it was we sée plainly S. Peter went awry and brought others into the like danger And further we sée that his authoritie was not so great but he might be reprooued Yet though the pope go headlong to hell and lead thousands of souls with him thither no man may say Why dost thou this Gal. 2. 16. The text But knowing that a man is not iustified by the ⸫ works of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ we also beleeue in Iesus Christ that we may be iustified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law for the which cause by the works of the law no flesh shall be iustified The note By this and by the discourse of the whole epistle you may perceiue that when iustification is attributed to faith the works of charitie are not excluded but the works of Moises law that is the ceremonies sacrifices and sacraments thereof principally and consequently all works done meerly by nature and free will without the faith grace spirit and aide of Christ. The answer Helpe helpe Paul hath set the popes kitchin on fire Our Rhemists bring water but it runneth out by the way For both by this and the whole course of this epistle we sée that this new Gospell into the which the Galathians were translated was a péece of poperie Namely that they ioined in the cause of iustification saluation their works with Christ the law with the gospel But our Rhemists tel vs first that not the works of charity but the works of the law are excluded by S. Paul As who should say that there were any works of loue that are not commanded in the law And therefore if the works of the law be excluded the works of loue and charitie must be excluded also But to helpe this they adde that ceremonies sacrifices and sacraments are meant principally But against that Paul maketh him accursed that abideth not in all that is written in the law to do it If blessednes and iustification be our deliuerie from that curse who séeeth not that the whole law and euery part of it and euery worke of it must be excluded But further they adde that al works done méerely by nature and frée will are excluded wherein the word méerely is to be noted bicause it expresseth that their meaning is if there be a little helpe of faith or grace that then works be not excluded To the which I say this was the case of the Galathians and the very matter against the which the Apostle bendeth his whole force for that they being Christians and so beléeuers did not exclude their works and méerely ascribe their iustification to the grace of Christ for that they parted the matter as the papists do betwixt Christ and their works the whole maner of the Apostles reasoning in the next chapter doth plainely shew And therefore I will conclude with the Apostle By grace we are saued through faith and that not of our selues for it is the gift of God not of works that no man glorie Galat. 3. ◠The text O senselesse Galathians who hath ⸫ bewitched you not to obey the truth before whose eies Iesus Christ was proscribed being crucified among you The note For any people or
and one pastor The note He meaneth the Church of the Gentils The answer It is true that Christ made of Iewes and Gentils one folde and of both he and not the pope is the one only pastor and head Iohn 10. 29. The text My father ⸫ that which he hath giuen me is greater then al. The note Another reading is my father that hath giuen me c. The answer In diuers readings you choose that which is most obscure and can not carie any true sense if it be weied with the circumstances of the place and leaue that which is plaine and carieth an inestimable comfort to all that loue God and best agréeth the Gréeke originall Iohn 11. 44. The text Iesus said to them ⸫ Loose him and let him go The note S. Cyril lib. 7. cap. vlt. in Ioh. and Augustine tract 49. in Ioh. applie this to the Apostles and priests authority of absoluing sinners affirming that Christ doth reuiue none from sinne but in the church and by the priests ministerie The answer Wée beléeue that the promise of life eternall pertaineth to none but to such as are or shalbe of the Church of God and that the ordinarie meanes whereby God effectuallie calleth men to be of his church is the ministerie of his woord But we dare not tie God to his ordinarie meanes sith he extraordinarilie called Paul and others But how well this place is applied to the ordinarie authoritie of ministers or priestes in absoluing I will spare to speake for reuerence of them whom you alledge It is well that the church hath plaine euidence of scriptures for the authoritie of binding and loosing for if it staid it selfe vpon the authoritie of men wresting such places as this to that purpose it were but a poore sillie comfort that the conscience of a poore penitent sinner could reape by the churches absolution Iohn 11. 48. The text If we let him alone so all will beleeue in him and the Romans will come and ⸫ take away our place and nation The note All men but speciall nations must take heed that whiles to saue their temporall state they forsake God they loose not both as the Iewes did August tract 49. in Io. The answer Therefore we vndergo all the perils and dangers which by your stirring vp the force and might of all the popish princes in the world can bring vpon vs rather than to displease God by giuing ouer his truth wherwith he hath blessed vs least we should prouoke his heauie indignation against vs and so perish as the Iewes haue done before vs. Iohn 12. 3. The text ⸫ Marie therfore tooke a pound of ointment of right spikenard precious and annointed the feete of Iesus and wiped his feete with hir haire and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment The note Of this womans extraordinarie offices of deuotion and how acceptable they were to Christ See the annot Mat. 26. The answer Bicause those annotations are to receiue answer by themselues therefore I thought not good to touch them here Iohn 12. 7. The text Iesus therefore said Let hir alone that she may keepe it for the day of my ⸫ buriall The note The deuout offices of balming and annointing the dead bodies of the faithfull are here also allowed The answer And we do not disallow whatsoeuer in buriall serueth either for comfort of them that be aliue and for the honest and comely bringing the dead to the graue being the last duties that men can do to their faithfull friends Iohn 12. 8. The text For the poore you haue alwaies with you but me you shall not haue alwaies The note Not in visible and mortal condition to receiue almes of you and such like offices for supply of my necessitie The answer And why do you not say not in bodie nor in humanitie Bicause you would faine with some color shift of Christs bodily absence from the earth for the better safetie and defence of your reall preseâ—ce in the sacrament You are full of fathers in matters nâ—edlesse why do you not in this place so often repeated bring vs at the least one plaine place of some father affirming that he is not simply absent in bodie from vs but onely in such sort as you do imagine Is it not a secret confession that all antiquitie is against you I maruell that you are so impudent still to glory and to cry that your faith hath continued almost xvj hundred yéeres when you know that in a number of things you are not able to bring foorth any true authoritie of halfe the age Iohn 12. 20. The text And there were certaine Gentils of them that came vp to adore in the festiuall day The note We may see there a great difference where a man pray or adore at home or in the church and holy places When the Gentils also came of deuotion a pilgrimage to the temple in Hierusalem The answer Now pilgrimages are prooued and that full pithily For the Gentiles came to adore at Hierusalem When you can find such expresse commandement of God for running to saint Iames of Compostella or our Ladie of Walsingham or visiting the holie sepulchre as was for al both Iewes and conuerts then to appéere before the Lord at Hierusalem then your reason will hold Otherwise it is as much as if I should say The Iewes and conuerts of the Gentils obeied the commandement of God in going to Hierusalem at the feast daies to worship Ergo it is lawful for me to go a roging to what place of pilgrimage in the world séemeth best in mine owne eies without further warrant As for the difference of publike and priuate praier and of seruing God at home and in the common assemblies are both knowen and practised amongst vs. Iohn 12. 40. The text Therfore they ⸫ could not beleeue bicause Esay said againe he hath blinded their eies and indurated their harts c. The note If any man aske saith saint Augustine why they could not beleeue I answer roundly bicause they would not Tract 33. in Io. See annotations Matth. 13. 15. Mark 4. 12. The answer It is true that the corruption of mans will is the cause of all euill and wickednes in man But héere either your printer made a fault or your note booke deceiued you for it is in 53. treatise And I muze why you should so much couet so force Augustine to speake for you séeing that you know that of all other he is most earnest in this cause of frée will against you For in the same place he acknowledgeth the iust iudgement of God vpon them in leauing them in blindnes and not helping them to sée And teacheth vs in inquiring why God would so leaue them to crie out with the Apostle O the depth of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God c. Which exclamation sheweth that Augustine had an eie to somwhat more than their will yea and to such a somwhat as was not
But their care is far vnlike for they are seldome in their charge they visit once in thrée yéere most commonly by their deputes neither to reforme life nor maners but either to shewe themselues abroad like lords or else to fill their purses This I am sure they neither learned of Paule nor Barnabas Act. 15. 41. The text And he walked thorough Siria and Cilicia confirming the churches ⸫ commanding them to keepe the precepts of the apostles and ancients The note Not onely the things commanded by Christs expresse word or written in the Scriptures as our heretikes hold but whatsoeuer the apostles and rulers of the church command is to be kept and obeied So these words repeated againe cap. 16. 4. and that in the Greeke least any man cauill bicause here the Greeke hath them not The answer You do well to ioine apostles with rulers else no man would beléeue you But I pray you where may we â—inde those things which the apostles haue commanded and are not expressed in the scriptures If you obtrude those things which you falsely call the canons and constitutions of the apostles then we bid you first reforme your church by them For though there be some corruptions in them vnknowen in the apostles time yet your church if it had no more should want at least thrée quarters of her corruptions It were woonderfull if other men should credite your forgerie which you your selues haue small regard to If you alledge this present text it is manifest that the precepts which the apostles commanded to be kept were sent in writing by the hands of Paule and Barnabas which writing is set downe by Luke word for word How then can you gather from hence anie defence of your vnwritten verities or any credite to your deuises not warranted by the Scriptures Act. 16. 4. The text And when they passed through the cities they deliuered vnto them to keepe the ⸫ decrees that were decreed of the Apostels and ancients at Hierusalem The note Here againe they take order that the decrees and articles of faith agreed vpon in the councell of Hierusalem should be executed and obserued whereby we see both the great authoritie of councels and the diligence that all prelates ought to haue to see the decrees and canons of the councels put in execution The answer In the former note these decrées you did insinuate to be matters vnwritten and now in this note they are articles of our faith and so consequently some articles of our faith are not written O miserable men What state are they in whom you lead When you pull from them the foundation and groundworke of their faith The authoritie of lawfull councels we reuerence as much as is lawfull to reuerence men But by this councel we gather that a councell may be lawfully called though the bishop of Rome call it not and that it is not néedful that he or his legate à latere should be president in councels and that it is not of necessity requisite that he should confirme and ratifie councels For it is manifest that no bishop of Rome bare stroke in this councel Acts. 16. 6. The text And passing through Phrigia and the countrie of Galatia they were ⸫ forbidden by the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia The note This people had not the Gospell denied vnto them altogither but for a time bicause as venerable Bede thinketh God foresaw they would not beleeue and so should haue beeâ— more grieuously damned The answer Modestie requireth that you leaue the Lords secrets to himselfe The holie Ghost hath not reuealed the cause why he forbad them to preach in Asia and permitted them not to go into Bithinia and therefore we are to leaue it as a thing which God hath not thought necessary for vs to know But this is manifest that the good desires of Gods saints are not in their owne power to bring to passe when they will Acts. 16. 12. The text And from thence to Philippie which is the first citie of Macedonia a ⸫ Colonia The note Colonia is such a citie where the most inhabitants are strangers sent thither from other great cities and states namely from the Romans The answer Your interpretation of Colonia we receiue as a thing wherof our Grammar boies are not ignorant Acts. 16. 17. The text The same following Paul and vs cried saieng These men are the seruants of the high God which preach vnto you the waie of saluation The note Either the diuell was compelled by vertue of Paules presence to saie truth or else as such do often times he spake truth now that they might the more trust him and he better beguile them at other times The answer Your later coniecture I receiue as a thing that you can speake in by great experience as hauing learned that péece of cunning of the diuell neuer to vse truth but to the end to giue color and credit to lies withall Acts. 16. 3â— The text Masters what must I do to be saued But they said ⸫ Beleeue in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saued and thy house The note It is none other faith that saueth but that which worketh by charity August Enchirid. cap. 67. The answer Grant vs that that faith is the onely hand whereby we take hold of Christ our saluation and then a great part of our controuersie is at an end Acts. 16. 33. The text And he taking them in the same hower of the night ⸫ washed their wounds and himselfe was baptized and all his house incontinent The note Happie gailers that do mercie toward their godly prisoners and receiue againe by them such spirituall benefits The answer It was the greatest happines that could fall vpon him and his house to receiue such vnder his â—oofe by whom God so blessed him and his On the contrarie side it is a dangerous matter for gailers and keepers to be cumbred with wicked seditious and traiterous Iesuits and seminarie priests Acts. 17. 5. The text But the Iewes ⸫ enuieng and taking to them of the rascall sort certaine naughtie men and making a tumult stirred the citie and besetting Iasons house sought to bring them foorth vnto the people The note Zelantes This is the zeale of heretikes and a liuely paterne of their dealing at this day against the catholike priests and preachers and the good Iasons that receiue them The answer Looke vpon the late storie of France and there you shall sée that it is the practise of you papists to stir vp the rascall sort to misuse nay to kill and cut the throtes of Gods déere saints Acts. 17. 23. The text For passing by and seeing your idols I found an altar also whereupon was written To the vnknowen God The note The aduersaries in the new Testament 1580. translate your deuotions most corruptly against the nature of the Greeke word 2. Thes. 2. 4. and most wickedly against the laudable deuotion of good Christians calling the pagans idolatrie and superstition their
to you for your selues haue learned of God to loue one another The note All catholike christians make one fraternitie The answer Howsoeuer they differ in time or place whether they be dead or aliue and wheresoeuer they be scattered vpon the face of the earth 1. Thes. 4. 11 The text But we desire you brethren that you ⸫ abound more c. The note Christian men ought to proceed and profite continually in good works and iustification The answer If you had said sanctitie or sanctification your note had béene right but you are so gréedie and egerly bent vpon your inherent iustice that you care not what you confound for in the text there is no word of iustification 1. Thes. 4. 15. The text For this we saie to you in the word of our Lord that ⸫ we which liue which are remaining in the aduent of our Lord shal not preuent them that haue slept The note He speaketh in the person those which shal be aliue when our Sauiour returneth to iudgement The answer It is verie true and the cause why he so speaketh is to teach all men so to liue as if they were continually in present expectation of the comming of our Lord Sauior Christ to iudgement 1. Thes. 5. 8. The text But we that are of the day are sober hauing on the breast-plate of faith and ⸫ charitie an helmet the hop of saluation The note A Christian mans whole armour is not faith onely but all the three vertues heere named The answer And who but papists teach otherwise As for crosse and holiwater and such like there is no mention of them and yet these be the chéefe armour and weapons which our papists teach 1. Thes. 5. 17. The text ◠Praie without intermission The note To desire eternall life of him that onlie can giue it is to praie without intermission but bicause that desire is often by worldly cares cooled certaine houres and times of vocall praier were appointed See S. August e p. 121. ad Probam The answer You are not long in one minde One time to praie continually is to praie certaine times euerie daie an other time to pray continually is to aske life euerlasting at his hand that can onlie giue it And so it is what please you to make of it but this later enterpretation as I thinke dropped out of your pen ere you were aware For if God onlie can giue eternall life why do you request it of others As for appointed times to praie being a good meanes to stir vp our coldnes and negligence therein we both vse and like of 2. Thessalonians 2. Thes. 1. 5. The text So that we our selues also glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you sustaine for an example of the iust iudgement of God that ⸫ you may be counted worthy of the kingdome of God for the which also you suffer The note Note that by constant and patient suffering of afflictions for Christ men are worthy so the Greeke signifieth as the aduersaries them selues translate verse 11. of the croune of the kingdome of heauen and so doe merite and deserue the same See annot Luke 20. 35. And the Apostle heeresaieth that it is Gods iustice no lesse to repaie glory to the afflicted then to render punishment to them that afflict bicause of their contrarie desertes or merits The answer If you did not racke making worthie in English beyond the meaning of the spirit of God then to be made worthie of God to be counted worthie were all one for they whom God accounteth worthie are worthie indéed But yet it followeth not that they which are made worthie do deserue or merit the kingdome of God and the crowne of glorie by their inherent righteousnes which is the thing which both you would should prooue Your reason from the iustice of God followeth not Gods iustice indéede requireth that glorie be giuen or as you say repaied to the afflicted for his sake aswell as punishment to their afflicters not for the cause which you assigne but chieflie for his word and promise sake hauing promised that they which suffer with Christ shall also reigne with him and then also bicause it is iust that he put a difference betwéene the estates of those whome hée hath made so farre to differ your annotation or rather marginal note is answered before 2. Thess. 1. 10. The text When he shall come to be ⸫ glorified in his saints and to be made maruellous in all them that haue beleeued bicause our testimonie concerning you was credited in that day The note Christ shall be glorified in his Saints that is by the great and vnspeakeable honour and exaltation of them he shalbe honoured as now he is the honour which the Church doeth to them not diminishing Christs glorie as the aduersaries foolishlie pretend but exceedinglie augmenting the same The answer Bicause it is a glorie to Christ to aduance and exalt his saints in glorie doeth it follow therefore that it is lawfull for your church to giue to saints that which Christ giueth them not or that it is not sacriledge to rob Christ of al things due to him and to giue them to men be they neuer so holie We are not against anie lawfull aduancement of saints but against such as neither they can haue nor yet can stand with the glorie of our Christ. 2. Thess. 2. 3. The text Let no man seduce you by anie meanes for vnlesse there come a reuolt first and the man of sinne be reueiled the sonne of perdition which is an aduersarie and is ⸫ extolled aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth in the temple of God shewing him selfe as though he were God The note How then can the Pope by Antichrist as the heretikes fondlie blaspheme who is farre from being exalted aboue God that he praieth most humblie not onelie to Christ but also to his blessed mother and all his saints The answer The proud presumptuous prerogatiues giuen to the Pope and accepted of him doeth verie well declare this exalting of him selfe which particularlie héere to recite were too long Other men as the most Reuerend father in God Master Iuel Bishop of Salisburie and master Fore in our mother tongue for the benefit of the poore people of England haue in this matter taken great paines to whom also I referre my reader But if there were no more but that which you note as an argument proofe of his humilitie it is sufficient and inough to conuince him of Antichristian pride he that taketh vpon him to be wiser then God exalteth him selfe aboue God he that will make his praiers to anie other then God taketh vpon him to be wiser then God Ergo he that maketh his praiers to anie other but God exalteth him selfe aboue God The maior as I take it is cleare and manifest and néede no proofe The minor is
but to our benefit but preposterous desire to stablish the merits of men carieth you you wot not whither For it maketh you to suppose that the maiestie of God which is proper to himselfe for that was the glorie wherewith Christ is crowned may be the deserued reward of mans works which is horrible once to thinke Hebr. 2. 16. The text For no where doth he take Angels but ⸫ the seed of Abraham he doth take The note The dignitie of man in that Christ tooke our nature vnto his person in deitie and not the nature of Angels The answer Nay rather the great and maruellous goodnes of God that was better to men than to Angels and that vouchsafed rather to vnite our miserable vile nature to his Godhead rather than the eternall excelling nature of Angels Hebr. 3. 3. The text For this man is esteemed woorthie of more ample glorie aboue Moises by so much as more ample glory than the house hath he that framed it The note The excellencie of Christ aboue Moises The answer Christ far excelled Moises but you make him far inferior For from Moises doctrine no man might swarue to the right hand or to the left no man might ad or take away but to Christs doctrine vnder the name of traditions you may make as manie additions as you list Hebr. 3. 14. The text For we be made partakers of Christ yet so if we keepe the ⸫ beginning of his substance firme vnto the end The note Faith is the groundworke of our creation in Christ which if we holde not fast all the building is lost The answer Such a faith as a man in some measure is able to render a reason of out of the word and not a blinde perswasion to beléeue as other men beléeue neither knowing what we beléeue and whie as the greatest number of your blinde followers do Hebr. 4. 1. The text For he said in a certaine place of the ⸫ seuenth day thus And God rested the seuenth day from all his workes The note If the Apostle had not euidentlie shewed that the Saboaths rest was a figure of the eternall repose in heauen who durst to haue applied that Scripture of Gods rest the seuenth day to that purpose Or how can our aduersaries now reprehend the like application manifoldlie vsed in all holie ancient writers to that end The answer What conscience is in you for applieng Scriptures without example warrant or anie other necessarie collection I know not but this I know that in your handling of the scriptures there appeareth none All things that happened to the fathers in the old Testament were figures as the Apostle teacheth of things happening in the new testament to vs. As therfore the diligence of the fathers was commendable in séeking and searching what was prefigured in the old law so the immoderate desire and delight of some to draw all things in both testaments into perpetuall allegories and to make figures where none are to wrest their fansies out of what place they list is iustlie by your aduersaries found fault withall Hebr. 4. 12. The text For the ⸫ word of God is liuely and forcible and more piersing then anie two edged sword and reaching vnto the diuision of the soule and the spirit of the ioints also and of the marowes and a discerner of the cogitations and intents of the hart The note Whatsoeuer God threatneth by his word concerning the punishment of sinne and incredulitie shalbe executed be the offence neuer so secret deepe or hidden in our harts bicause Gods speech passeth easilie searcheth throughlie euerie part power and facultie of mans soule The answer This note is true though but in a litle part expressing the meaning of the text and verie hardlie agréeable with other parts of your doctrine For if secret and hidden sinnes which by no meanes breake foorth and discouer them selues by acte can not escape the threatned vengeance of God then what sinnes can you can veniall Hebr. 6. 9. The text But ⸫ we confidentlie trust of you my best beloued better things and neerer to saluation although we speake thus The note It is euident by these words against the Nouatians and the Caluinists that Saint Paul meant not preciselie that they had done or could do anie such sinne where they should be put out of all hope of saluation and be sure of damnation during their life The answer It is euident by your words that you flatter your selues with mercie more then there is cause whie whiles you thinke that you can not commit anie such sinne as for which you should be sure during your life to be damned For herein you do not contend with the Nouatians and Caluinists as it pleaseth you to terme them onlie but with Saint Iohn and with our Lord and Sauior Christ. For what will ye say of those sinners which S. Iohn forbiddeth vs to pray for or of that sin which our Sauior Christ hath told vs shall neuer be forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come The same sinne the Apostle in this Chapter describeth not bicause the Hebrewes to whom he wrote had committed it but because it was possible for some of them to fall into it therefore he forewarneth them of the great and wonderfull danger of it Hebr. 7. 2. The text To whom also Abraham diuided tithes of all first in deede by interpretation ⸫ the king of iustice and then also King of Salem which is to say King of peace The note When the fathers and catholike expositers picke out allegories and mysteries out of the names of men the protestants not indued with the Spirit whereby the Scriptures were giuen deride their holie labours in search of the same but the Apostle findeth high mysteries in the names of persons and places as you see The answer That we deride the Fathers or anie other Catholike expositors is one of your woonted slanders but we saie that measure in all things is a merrie meane For though in the names of such speciall persons as were figures of Christ and in the names of other persons places and things as had their names giuen for some speciall causes and considerations the mysteries shadowed in the signification of those names are wel and profitably sought yet to do or endeuour the like in all names or in many other names is labor néedlesse causelesse and curious Hebr. 7. 8. The text And heere indeede ⸫ men that die receiue tithes but there he hath witnes that he liueth The note The tithes giuen to Melchisedech were not giuen as to a meere mortall man as all of the tribe of Leui and Aarons order were but as to one representing the sonne of God who now liueth reigneth and holdeth his priesthood and the function thereof for euer The answer Your note is true and bicause he holdeth his priesthood and the functions thereof for euer therefore you offer him great iniurie to appoint other priests to do
not onely to God but also to Christ as man and our redeemer and so they here do The answer That the same honor glory and praise which is giuen to him that sitteth in the throne is also giuen to the lambe and that of all creatures both here and in other places manifestly prooueth that Christ as he was our priest and redéemer was both God and man For otherwise it had not béene lawfull to giue him the same honor and glorie which we giue to God Apoc. 6. 11. The text And white stooles were giuen to euerie one of them ⸫ one and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little time til their fellow seruants be compleate and their brethren that are to be slaine euen as they The note This one stoole signifieth the glorie and blisse of the soules onely but at the day of iudgement they shall haue it doubled by adding the glorie of their bodie also The answer We allow of this note as of our owne But is there nothing to be noted in the opening of the former fower seales and the horses and that this vision of the soules of the martyrs was deferred to the opening of the fift seale Is it not a declaration that persecution for religion for the testimonie of the truth should then haue his full force and swaie when the fourth monarchie grew to or toward an ende But if you would open your eies to espie this you woulde not so please your selues and delight in your persecuting church here shadowed or prophesied of 〈…〉 The text And I saw when he had opened the sixt seale and ⸫ behold there was made a great earthquake and the sunne became blacke as it were sackecloth of haire and the whole moone became as blood The note The tribulation that shall fall in the time of antichrist The answer As there be that enterpret this of the tribulation that hath or shall fall vpon the earth for the contempt of the word so comprehending the calamities that haue befalne since antichrist inuaded the papal seate so there be also that enterpret this of the end of the world and Christs comming to iudgement To whom I assent rather for these two causes One for that the signes here are the same which the Euangelists set downe to be signes of the end of the world The other bicause nothing but the sight of so great and excellent maiestie as our Lord and Sauior shall come withall to iudgement can daunt and in such order terrifie the great potentates and princes of the earth that they know not whether to turne them how to escape or where to hide themselues Apoc. 7. 3. The text Hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees ⸫ till we signe the seruants of our God in their foreheads The note It is an allusion to the signe of the crosse which the faithfull beare in their foreheads to shew they be not ashamed of Christ. Saint August tract 43. in Io. The answer Christians in the primitiue church when the confession of Christ was ioined with worldly ignominie did to shew how little they were ashamed of Christ crucified signe themselues with the signe of the crosse But since you papists haue brought in so many foule abuses about the crosse that where papists are it is very dangerous to haue any vse of it Howbeit in this place what is meant by the signe or seale of God I thinke it safest to learne of Saint Paule who telleth vs that the foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale that the Lord knoweth who are his Which knowledge of God causeth his to be safe at the last day when he executeth vengeance vpon the whole worlde besides Apoc. 7. 4. The text And I heard the number of them which were signed an hundred fortie foure thousand were signed ⸫ of euerie tribe of the children of Israel The note Of all the tribes put togither so many 144000. The answer To this I can say nothing but this your note is true your text is vntrue Apoc. 7. 5. The text Of the tribe of Iuda twelue thousand signed c. vnto the ninth verse The note He signifieth by these thousands and the multitude following all the elect of the Iewes to be in certaine number the elect of the Gentiles to be innumerable The answer Your collection for the number of the elect shall stand for me Apoc. 7. 11. The text And after this I sawe ⸫ a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and tribes and people toongs The note The elect of the Gentiles The answer This note might haue béene syared for they are starke blinde that cannot sée it without your direction Apoc. 7. 9. The text Standing befor the throne and in the sight of the lambe clothed in white robes and ⸫ palmes in their hands The note Boughes of the palme tree be tokens of triumph and victorie The answer These notes may be put amongst your works of supererogation Apoc. 7. 14. The text These are they which are come out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lambe c. to the end of the chapter The note The glory of martyrs The answer Which is more and greater than is possible for man to merit Apoc. 8. 3. The text And another Angell came and stood ⸫ before the altar The note The priest standing at the altar praieng and offering for the people in the time of the high mysteries Christ himselfe also being present vpon the altar is a figure of this thing and thereunto he alludeth The answer Now the masse is a figure of this vision the priest is a figure of the Angell and we must imagine Christ either hanging ouer the altar or lieng vpon the altar and to this saint Iohn alludeth héere And all this must néedes be true our Rhemists who cannot forge faine lie nor erre haue set it downe and we must receiue it on their credit And so their masse came from heauen as sure as they are honest men or as sure as if it were sealed with butter Apoc. 8. 4. The text And the smoke of the incenses ⸫ of the praiers of the saints ascended from the hand of the Angell before God The note If this be saint Michaell or any Angell and not Christ himselfe as some take it Angels offer vp the praiers of the faithfull as the 24. elders did chap. 5. For this word Saints is taken heere for holy persons on earth as often in the scriptures Though it be not against the scriptures that the inferior saint or Angell in heauen should offer their praiers to God by their superiors there but heerby we conclude against the protestants that it derogateth not from Christ that Angels or saints offer vp our praiers to God As also it is plaine of Raphael Tab. 12. 12. The answer Such premisses such conclusion You must haue that which you dare not certainly set