the one shal bee the great Doctor of the church S. Augustin who as I haue once before shewed doth teach in formall tearmes that person to bee no member of the Catholike church who doth beleeue obstinatly anie falshood in matter of faith knowing it to bee such And the second shal bee Martin Luther whom albeit wee take for an Apostate Augustine frier yet the protestants esteeme him as a great man of God Hee for want of one article of beliefe condemneth all the Sacramentaries to the pitt of hell these bee his words It shall nothing profit the Sacramentaries to speake of spirituall eating nor to beleeue in the father the sonne Luther lib. quod verba Christi Stent and the holy Ghost so long as with blasphemous mouth they denie this article of faith which Christ hath proposed to vs by his owne holy mouth This is my bodie that shal bee giuen for you Behold no saluation to be possible if you deny but that one article of faith Among manie other causes why such misbeleeuers are esteemed worthy of so grievous punishments there bee two principall the first is that they will not beleeue God himself revealing his diuine misteries vnto vs The second because they will not giue credit to the church proposing vnto them the same truth All Divines hold that there is no matter of faith which is not reuealed vnto vs by God himself whether the same veritie had need to bee put downe in writing as the protestantes seeme to require or that it sufficeth to bee deliuered by word of mouth as we hold is a question betweene vs But wee all consent that what soeuer is propounded vnto vs to bee beleeued must needs bee first reuealed by God whence it followeth evidentlie that hee who denieth to beleeue any one article of faith is conuinced not to beleeue God himselfe in that point for hee it is principally that tendreth it vnto vs to bee beleeued wherfore he that refuseth to beleeue it is forced to this exigent that hee must needes confesse himself to bee perswaded either that God teacheth not the truth alwaies or els that wee are not bound to beleeue him in all things either of which is most irreligious and a very blasphemous crime For as S. Iames disputeth Hee that hath kept the whole law besides and doth offend but in one point therof is made guiltie of the whole Euen so hee that beleeueth God in all other articles yet in some one refuseth to beleeue him is made guiltie of the whole That is as S. Iames expoundeth it offendeth against the Maiesty and veritie of the law giuer not reputing him worthy of credit in all matters what soeuer But to thinke God not worthie to bee credited in anie one word or title that shall proceed out of his diuine mouth is in truth to make him no God at all For hee is no God that either will or can bee vntrue of his word Here the poore Christian trembling at this consequeÌ„ce will crye out that hee doth beleeue God in all things and God forbid that hee should once imagine him not worthy to bee credited in whatsoeuer it shall please his diuine maiesty to reueale But hee will say that hee knowes not that God hath reuealed this vnto him or at least is not well assured that he would haue him to beleeue it This I grant is the lesser faut of the two yet not in any sort tollerable For if it hath pleased his diuine bounty to reueale vnto vs for his owne honor and our instructioÌ„ such heauenly verities and misteries how can hee take it well at our hands that wee either will not vouchsafe to take notice of them or which is worse will not beleeue them to bee true They that will not beleeue are in the holie scriptures worthely called rebells because they band themselues against Gods truth according to that of Iob Rebelles fuerunt Lumini Iob. 24. v 13. they were rebells against the Light and therfore as Rebels and traitors must looke to bee punished The others that will not take the paines to learne according vnto the small measure of their capacity all such matters as appertaine to their owne estate calling must needs acknowledg their extreme vndutifull carelesnes in the highest matter that can bee and that which doth also most concerne them to wit in the onely necessary busines of their owne euerlasting either saluation or damnation And withall confesse that they are vnworthy to bee knowne of God their Soueraigne Lord and maker at the latter daie for that they neglected to know their dutie towards him whiles they liued here on earth Of them the Apostle hâ—th alreadie pronounced this sentence 1. Cor. 14 38 If any man know not to wit the things belonging to his dutie towards God hee shall not bee knowne of God but shal bee shut out of the gate of heauen And if they stand knocking there thinking to get in by their ouerlate importunity they shal bee answered as the foolish virgins were Math. 25 12. with a Nesciovos I know you not the force of this discourse in brief is whosoeuer refuseth to beleeue God in any one article by him reuealed shall not be saued but they that think to be saued in any religion refuse to beleeue some articles of faith reuealed by God ergo they caÌ„not be saued The secoÌ„d cause why wilfull refusers to beleeue any one arttcle of faith do incurre that heauie iudgment is for that they do offer great wrong vnto the true church of God his deerly beloued spouse and our spirituall mistresse and mother It is agreed on by men of all sides that the holie Catholike church is the temple of the holie Ghost the mysticall bodie of Christ and the piller fortresse of truth wherfore to offer her that affront and disgrace as not to giue credit to her testimony speaking specially vnto vs in the behalf of Christ 2. Cor. 5.20 pro Christo legatione fungimur for Christ wee are legates and in the name of the holy Ghost visum spiritui sancto nobis It hath seemed good to the holie Ghost and vs it not onlie to contemne her Actor 15. but to despise Iesus Christ also that hath ordained her to bee our instructer and directer to set naught by the holie ghost that speaketh vnto vs by her wee caÌ„not bee ignoraÌ„t what our Saviour hath said of the governors principall rulers of the church you shal bee witnesses to mee in IerusaleÌ„ in all Iury Samaria Act 1.8 vnto the vttermost coasts of the earth If Christ hath made choice of theÌ„ as of substaÌ„tiall honest meÌ„ sit to bee his witnesses do not wee offer him a great indignity if wee refuse to beleeue them namelie when wee know him to haue said of them Luc. 10.16 Hee that heareth you heareth mee and hee that despiseth you despiseth mee and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent mee Yea
Hee hath shewed his good will I confesse by giuing the essay but hath done litle more therby then bewrayed how vnable he is to performe it so that one may wonder at his simplicity shall I say or at his audacity or rather at both at his simplicitie for wanting wit to vnderstand when it was so plainlie told him how impertinentlie he dealeth in the matter At his audacity if seing his rash and raw Enterprise succeed no better he would neuertheles hold on still and proceed farther Let it bee by the waie obserued that M. Abbots intention was and is to describe the true Roman Catholike for that you shall heare him hereafter in the heate of disputation verie busie to proue that there is such an incompatible repugnance betwene the very tearmes RomaÌ„ Catholike that they can no more be coupled together theÌ„ particuler and vniuersall yet here more calme and better aduised he acknowledgeth that they may stand well ioyned together and be attributed to one particuler person and by the like reason to one particuler Church so that howsoeuer hee crie there against vs for couchnig together the Catholike Roman Church yet here he must needs approue it or els contradict himself and giue ouer his intended description of the true Roman Catholike well be it pardonable for a new ghospelling Minister to vnsaie that in one place which he saith in another yet that calumniation of my poore labors imployed in the seruice of the Catholike cause for my bellies sake as he writeth is not tolerable but the imputation is so grosse and palpable God be thanked that M. Abbot cannot chuse but receiue shame by it which I will declare by this briefe Antithesis between himself and mee hoping that the good Reader will giue me leaue being put to it to relate that of my self which is coÌ„monly knowen It is not vnknowen to manie that I did forsake the apparaÌ„t hope of a poore gentlemans estate to become a Roman Priest he to escape miserie crept into the Ministery I wittingly and willinglie made my self therby vncapable of all spirituall liuings and promotioÌ„s which our noble countrie doth afford in great plentie vnto men of the Church he contrarywise as it seemeth followed the studie of new diuinity to fill himself with fat benefices if the greedie apperite which his former penurie bred in him can be satisfied for hauing three or foure liuings already he is thought to gape still after some greater In a word I doe striue to walke in the narrow and hard path of fasting praier and contineÌ„cie from all corporall pleasures he liueth at large following the carnall libertie of Luthers Ghospell of wiuing eating fulfilling the desires of the flesh All which being dulie coÌ„sidered let the indifferent Reader iudge whether of vs two be likelier to contend about matters of religion for our bellies sake The same may be said for the point of honor and reputation he runing the full carriere of our countrie to highe dignities and promotions I treading in their foosteps who be they neuer so learned or vertuous may trulie saie with the Apostle I thinke that God hath shewed vs the last 1. Cor. 4. v. 9. as it were deputed to death and the drosse of all euen vntill this daie wherfore all wordly credit and belly commodities lying in M. Abbots way and against my profession were his wits at home thinke you when he vpbraided mee with them And if I would make deceiuing of soules my occupation as he for his credits sake and gaine seemeth to haue made it his I might perhaps haue been litle behind him in wordlie wealth and reputation But god forbid that to gaine all the good in the world I should once goe about so much as to endanger the saluation of myne owne soule so far of am I our blessed lord be praised therfore from being any whit disposed to follow M. Abbots trade and occupation in deceyuing of others R. AB VVHICH worke I most humbly desire may goe forth vnder the protection of your highnes who according vnto that eminent wisedome and knowledge wherwith God hath endued your tender yeeres I make the iudge of this quarrell and therfore the first part therof I do now tender at your highnes feete for a testimonie of my loyall and dutifull affection and for acknowledgment of my deuotions vnto Almightie God for the preseruation of your highnes and the continuance and increase of his graces and blessings towards you that your princelie name maie more and more grow great and be a terrour vnto the self exalting kingdome and Monarchie of the great Capitolian Priest at length to worke the vtter ruine and confusion therof which as we beleeue not to be far of so we hope that in that glorious reuenge of the cause of Almightie God your highnes shall haue a chief and honorable part and that God will strengthen your arme and giue edge to your sword to strike through the loynes of all them that are the supporters of that Antichristian and wâ—cked state which all other additions of honour and renowme both with God and men I wâ—ll neuer cease to further by my praiers vnto almighty God so I rest alwaies to your highnes seruice most humblie and affectionately deuoted R. Abbot W. B. AS wee do most freely confesse almightie Gods exceeding bouÌ„tifulnes towards that our gratious yong Prince Henry now deceased in powring out vpon him plentifully singuler naturall gifts of both valor and vnderstanding do dolefullie bewaile the great losse of such a glittering ornament and comfort of our infortunate country so we hartelie wish and do daily praie that it may please the immeÌ„se divine bountie to blesse that tender young prince Charles his deare and noble brother with the true knowledg of the Catholike and Apostolike faith that he may to God Almighties glory to the true honor and peace of our countrie and to his owne eternall saluation returne vnto the ancient and holie Religion of his best renowmed and most puissant progenitors that growing as in age so in vnderstanding and true pietie hee may become though no competent Iudge in matter of faith as M. Abbot too flatteringlie would make his royall brother in his nonage for the iudgment of those high supernaturall points of religion do belong rather to the vocation of godly and graue learned Bishops than to youthfull princes yet to be a deuout imbracer and à zealous mainteyner of that heaueÌ„ly ingraffed word which only can saue our soules for the defence wherof the glorious title of defender of the faith was annexed to the crowne of England In which and for which principally his most royall and gratious Grandmother was put to death which to haue been the now Roman faith and Religion no honest man can or will I thinke deny And who is such a stranger in the estate of our neighbour couÌ„tries that doth not clearlie behold the readie way to aduance his princely name and renowme and to
increase both the wealth and strength of our kingdome is to receiue or admitt of the Roman religion which spayne France and Flanders the richest and noblest regions adioyning next to vs do follow and vphold The ministers rare deuotions vnto the Almighty for the preseruation of the noble Princes life and encrease of honours were vayne and friuolous yea God send they were not hurt full and ominous for of such like the holie Ghost faith Prouer. 28.9 Oratio eius erit execrabilis their praier shal be accursed God comonly punishing them whom Satans seruants praie for and manie times cursing them whom they do blesse And what maruell if wee consider but the strange disposition of his Charitie shall I say or rather of his furie that would haue his Prince bath his sword in the bloud of innocēts and to sheath it in the Bowells not of some hundreds or thousands of such as neuer offended him but of innumerable hundreds of thousands of what sort nation or coūtrie soeuer so they be fauorers and supporters of the Roman religion was it any marvell I saie that the father of mercies and God of all comfort was highlie displeased at the pittiles petition of this bloudy Minister or rather monster From his deuotious and charity sutable to his profession let vs passe vnto his hope expressed in this passage his hope was that Prince Henries highnes should haue a chief part in the suppressing of this Roman religion Maie he not now as once he told mee crie out with the no-vaine poet O spes fallaces o false and deceitfull hopes o vaine confidence in earthly creatures be they neuer so noble and powerfull good reason hath he to do so seing he would not harken vnto the diuine prophet when he said Psalm 145. v. 2. Nolite confidere in principibus in filijs hominum in quibus non est salus Doe not put your trust in princes nor in anie sonnes of mortall men in whom there is no helpe principally for the atchieuing of any such vngodly merciles exployte I come now to the new article of M. Abbots belief that the vtter ruine forfooth of the Roman religion is not far of of which peraduenture he may bee as well assured as euerie protestant is of his owne saluation But bicause this seemeth to be rather a kind of prophecy then anie article of faith why maie not M. Abbot who is not yet knowne to be either a prophet or the sōne of a prophet as wel faile in this his beliefe as he was deceined in his hope And it being the diuination but of a blear eied if not of a blind prophet proceding rather out of his owne lōging then of anie foresight he hath of future euents no man I trow is bound to beleeue him vnles he list Some likelihoods there bee I grant in worldly mens opinions that the Catholike religion may be rooted out of England but when we lift vp our harts to heauen and weigh well the true qualities and nature of Christian religion we see noe euident cause to feare any such imminent daunger nay wee discouer rather motiues to perswade vs to the contrarie to witt that our redemption and the restauration of Catholike religion in our country is neere at hand Not to answer M. Abbot who hath brought no one reason for his surmise but for the consolation of manie heauily distressed and most pitifully afflicted Catholikes my most deare and best beloued countrimen I will briefly examine the causes that may moue worldlings to imagin their fathers old faith to be now in great hazard of vtter ruin and destruction that I may withall shew some reasonable grounds of hope for the speedie reparation therof The first principall cause of the decay of the Catholike faith in our coūtrie earthlie mē esteeme to bee the impouerishing of all them that constantly professe and maintaine the same for seing all Catholikes whom they call Recusants to bee fleeced and spoiled of all their goodes and to haue nothing left for themselues their wiues and their children to liue vpon they presentlie iudge that they cannot long hold out And all men of meanes being once impouerished neither priests who by doctrine administration of Sacraments and good exāple of life are great proppes and staies of religion can be harboured and interteined nor poore prisoners succoured and relieued and cōsequently all Catholikes in short space must needs be vtterlie extinguished Behold the presumptuous discourse of dust and ashes who being not able to raise their thoughts aboue the flatt of the earth or ouer the heades of their cattle doe seldome meditate vpon those words of our blessed Sauiour pauperes Euangelizantur the Ghospell is preached to the poore poore men do more readilie embrace the glad tidings of the ghospell then the rich or vpon that golden sentence of the chosen vessell of his grace videte vocationem vestram fratres 1. Cor. 1. v. 26. c. see your vocation brethren that not many wise according to the flesh not manie mightie not many noble but the foolish things of the world hath God chosen that he may confound the wise and the weake things of the world hath God chosen that hee may cōfound the strong and the base thinges of the world and contemptible hath God chosen and those things which are not that he may destroy those tings that are that no flesh may glory in his sight Being then assured by the truth it self that poore base contemptible creatures in the eie of the world be such as Christ maketh speciall choise of to receiue imbrace and preach his word How can it be probable to amy christian that the stripping men out of their goods is an assured waie to make them to flie from their faith If poore fishermen and others that voluntariely forsooke all they had were esteemed by Christ Iesus the grand master of that heauenly worke the fittest men to make pillers and chiefe members of his holie faith and religion how grosly are they deceiued in the estate and manageing of heauenlie affaires who do dreame that to make all Catholikes poore is to extirpate the Catholike religion when as it is in deed a readie way to make most absolute perfect christians discharged of all earthly clogges more nimble proper and at better leasure to employ themplues wholy and hartily in that spirituall busines And therby also indearing themselues vnto Almightie God for whose quarrell they haue lost all do become more capable and worthie of his greater giftes and blessings who can tell whither our forefathers did not through abundance and superfluitie of temporall wealth forget their dutie to God and by the sinnes that followed thervpon made way to that dissolution of religion which after ensued in our miserable countrie for so it hapned often in Israëll as Moises foretold my beloued waxed grosse and Kicked Deut. 32. v. 15. hee was grosse and exceeding fatt hee forsooke God his Creator and turned away from
with milke and hony Like wise did his diuine wisdome permitt the cruell and bloudy Emperours Diocletian and Maximiniā to doe all the mischiefe that the malice of man could devise to make hauock of all Christians and a finall extermination of all monuments of Christian religion neuertheles when they had powred out the extremitie of their outragious malice they died most miserablie and the great Constantine our most glorious countriman that succeeded them did very shortlie after triumphantly set vp the Christian religion vnto the vnspeakable comfort of all Christians wherfore albeit to the eie of man there do not appeare anie present redresse of our miseries yet reposing our trust in the might mercies and promises of God let vs confidently saie with S. Peter 1. Pet. 3.9 Our Lord slacketh not his promise as some do esteeme it but he doth patiently for you not willing that any perish but that all returne to penance It maie be very well that he hath stayd the longer partlie to scoure our the rust of our former fautes partly that the number of those glorious Martirs and confessors wherwith he will haue our realme fenced adorned maie be accomplished or that the conversiō of many that wēt astraie might be wrought by beholding the constant suffering of his seruants finally that the full measure of the impenitent maie be made vp The soveraigne lord of heauen and earth having vpon these or the like considerations knowen only to his vnsearchable wisdome made staie of our deliuerāce vntill this present must not therfore be thought to haue cast vs of for euer and to haue wholie forgotten his mercies but we must with longanimitie attend his good pleasure and leasure and in any case not leese our confidēce in him which he doth not onlie expect at our handes but doth also so much respect it that for it alone he promiseth deliuerance Psal 90. Quoniam in mesperauit liberabo eum protegam eum quia cognouit nomen meum I will deliuer him bicause he put his trust in mee I will protect and defend him bycause he knew my name that is my might my mercie my loue to all that call vpon mee and put their trust in mee Againe Our Lord will helpe them and deliuer them Psal 36. and saue them Quia sperauerunt in eo euen for that they trusted in him The house of Israël trusted in our lord and he was their helper and protector the howse of Aaron trusted in our lord and he was their helper and protector they that feare our lord let themtrust in our lord Psal 113. for he wil be their helper and protector Call vpon me in the daie of tribulation and I will deliuer thee Psal 49. and thou shalt honor mee behold God takes it for honour done vnto him to call vpon him in our distresse and to be so well perswaded of his honorable care ouerall his people that he will not let them perish vnder his handes These being words of comfort vttred by the spirit of God and recorded in his holy word would it not grieue anie Christian heart to heare some other wise good soules to say oh I shall never see any amendement things will neuer goe better while I liue Now poore spirited people why doe you to your owne griefe and others discomfort take vpon you to determine that which you are altogether ignorant of who made you priuie to Gods counsells what can you tell how long you shall liue your selues or what shall happen in your daies you may verie well saie that we haue not deserued anie such great grace at Gods hands nay rather that we are most vnworthy of it wherfore if God deale with vs after our deserts we shall never see that happie day but do not take vpon you to sett bonds to Gods infinite mercies the highest pointe wherof is to surpasse infinitly and to prevent all merit of man and to goe far beyond all humane expectation It troubleth me not to heare our persecutors saie of vs Psal 70.11 God hath forsaken them come let vs persecute and apprehend them for there is no bodie to deliuer them or to crie out with the children of Edom against Ierusalem rase it rase it euen vnto the foundation therof Psal 1 6.7 for they doe but shew blind Zeale and ouer great confidence in their bad cause But to see Gods seruants not to be as couragious in his quarrell and as hopefull in his helpe succour is a great sorrow to my heart which pusillanimity of ours springeth from no other roote then from want of deepe and often meditation of our blessed lords soueraigne power goodnes and mercy and for want of due consideration that it is onlie the true honor of God and the restitution of his holy religion which we so vehemently thirst after and earnestly desire to see once againe florishing in our countrie which wee doing our parts God will no doubt for his owne glories sake in time performe To those puling and deiected spirits let me be bold to speake in these words of the Apostle Heb. 10.35 Doe not therfore cast awaie your confidence which hath a great recompence of reward for patience is necessarie for you that doing the will of God you may receiue the promise for yet a litle and a verie litle he that is to come will come and will not slack or tarie and my iust liueth by faith And if any man draw back he shall not please my soule But we are not childrē of withdrawing to perdition but of them that beleeue to the sauing of the soule which words of the Apostle are taken out of the like of the prophet Abacuc who saith If he make delaie waite for him for coming he will come that is he will not faile but surelie come and will not staie long Abac. 2.3 behold he that will not beleeue this his soule is not right but the iust man shall liue in his faith Out of both which the prophets and Apostles words I gather a necessitie imposed vpon all right and good soules if not to belieue assuredlie yet to liue in great hope and confidence of speedie succour frō God for their deliuerie otherwise they not onlie want that speciall vertue of hope but also are in daunger according to the foraleaged testimonie of the holy Ghost of drawing back and falling awaie from the state of saluation to their owne everlasting perdition After these plaine testimonies taken out of the word of God I hope the good Catholike Reader will giue me leaue to imploy one probable coniecture taken out of the prudent obseruation of some vertuous iudgements It cannot be denied that priests and religious persons bee vnder God the chiefe planters and waterers of the Catholike Roman religion for they by preaching teaching administring of Sacraments and trayning vp of others in vertue and by their good example do settle vphold and confirme all the rest in matter of faith and religion
is coÌ„mitted do excomunicate and exclude thee and thy wife from the coÌ„munion of the immaculate and sacred misteries And do declare that what Bishop or priests soever shall presume after the knowledge had of these my letters to minister the same to you therby to fall from his dignity and function This learned and holie pope much coÌ„meÌ„ded by S. Austin doubted not but that the Bishop of Rome had sufficient authoritie not onlie to depose and restore patriarches but also to excommunicate Emperours Now to the patriarch of Antioch though Saint Iohn Chrysostomes testimony who had been thirteene yeeres preacher in that citie might suffice yet wee want not others First Flauianus patriarch of Antioch was suÌ„moned to appeare at Rome Flauianus apud Theodoret l. 5. c. 23. Cum eo agit Imperator vt Romam adiret cui respondit Si qui me O Imperator vt fidem minime sinceram ac sanam profitentes insimulent dicantve vitam me traducere indignam sacerdotio tuÌ„ illis ipsis iudicibus vtar tum pronunciatam ab eis sententiam lubens subibo there to answere vnto matters obiected against him who put not in the protestaÌ„ts plea that the Bishop of Rome had no authoritie over him being the highest Bishop in all Asia but made meanes vnto the said pope by the frindship of Theophilus patriarch of Alexandria and S. Chrysostome and so appeased that matter as the Ecclesiasticall historyes do testifie And Theodoret that renowmed Hstoriographer Theodoret Leoni Episcopo Romano Post loâ— sudores labores ne in ius quidem vocatus sum condemnatus Ego autem Apostolicae vestrae sedu expecto sententiam supplico obsecro vestram sanctitatem vt mihi opem ferat iustum vestrum rectum appâ—llanti iudicium iubeat ad vos accurrâ—re ostendere meam doctrinam vestigia Apostolica sequentem ante omnia rogo vt sâ—iam a vobis an in inâ—â—sta hac depositione me oporteat acquiâ—scere an non vestram enim expecto sententià m si iudicatis sâ—are me iusserie stabo nec vlli deinceps homini molestiam exhibebâ— being Bishop of Cirus vnder the patriarch of Antioch did neverthelesse fly by appeale to Leo the great pope of Rome for redresse Thus hee writeth vnto him I attend the sentence of the sea Apostolike and do humblie beseech your holines that you defend and protect me appealing vnto your iust and vpright iudgment seat If you comaund mee to submitt my selfe to their sentence that haue condemned mee I will yeeld to it and neuer bee troublesome to any other Let these suffice for thâ— patriarkship of Antioch There remaines only the patriarch of Ierusalem for whom Anastasius patriarch of the same sea Anastâ—sius pâ—triâ—â—cha Hieâ—osolymâ—â—â—lâ—us epist ad Foelicâ—m papam Fuit seâ—per â—postolicae sedis vâ—stre liâ—â—ntia â—â—iustâ— damnatos vel â—xcommuniâ—atos potestatis suae auctoritate restituâ—re sua omnia eu râ—dderâ— illos qui eos câ—â—demnarunt aut excommunicavâ—â—unt Apostolico punire priuilegio sicut etiam nostris anterioribus novimus factum tempâ—ribuâ— antiquis regulis sancâ—tum est â—t quicquid quamuis tâ—â—â—â—otu prouinâ—â—s super corum querduant accusationibus ageretuâ— non prâ—â—s tractandum vel accipiendum esset quam ad notitiam alma vestra sedis esset deductum vt huâ—us auctoritate iuxta quod fuisset faciendum infirmaretur aut firmaretur about the same time in his letters vnto foelix pope of Rome writeth in this manner It was alwaies the libertie of your Apostolike sea by the authoritie of your power to acquite them that were vniustly condemned and excommunicated and to restore them to all they had lost eveÌ„ as wee haue seene done in our times and haue heard in the daies of our predecessors for saith hee a litle after it is by ancient Canons decreed that whatsoever bee handled about the affaires of Bishops yea though in prouinces farre remote that the same should not bee fullie determined before it were brought to the notice of your holie sea and by the aucthority therof bee either confirmed or reiected This great and ancient Patriarch not only witnesseth such soveraigne power and authoritie to belonge vnto the Bishop of Rome but pleadeth also for the same out of the former approved Canons of the Church Among which that of the councel of Sardica I hold to bee the chiefest Ex concilio Sardicense c. 4. Quod si aliquis episcopus adiudicatus fuerit in aliqua causa putat se bonam causam habere vt iterum iudicium renouetur si vobis placet S. Petri Apostoli memoriam honoremus vt scribatur Romano Pontifici si iudicauerit renouandum esse iudicium renouetur det iudicos si autem probauerit talem causam vt ea non refriceutur quae acta sunt Quae decreuerit Romanus Pontifex confirmata erunt Si ergo omnibus placeat statuatur synodus respondit placet c. 5. Alter episcopus post talem appellationem in eadem cathedra no admittetur nisi causa fuerit in iudicio Romani Pontificis determinata where it is in expresse tearmes decred that if any Bishop of what countrie soever have his cause iudged otherwise then hee thinketh right hee may appeale vnto the Bishop of Rome who maie appoint new Iudges and send them to heare it againe and finallie determine it Now that they who haue lesse skill in ancient histories may vnderstand of what creditt that councell of Sardica is Let theÌ„ know first that it was called by Iulius Bishop of Rome Secondly there were present that famous Hosius who was one of the presidents of the Nicene councell And Athanasius with many other renowmed Bishops which had been members of the said first generall councell of Nice and above 300. Bishops came thither both out of the East and west as a Athan. Apolog 2 in medio Athanasius writeth wherfore hee tearmeth it instar Niceni such an other as the first Nicene councell was b Sulpit. l. 2. sacra histor Sulpitius Severus tearmeth it a councell called from all parts of the word c Socrat. l. 2 hist c. 16. Socrates in his history a generall councell Briefly the Centuriators of Magdeburg Centur. 4. cap. 99. do approve the same councell for Authenticall These few testimonies for the supreme power and authoritie of the Bishop and church of Rome being taken from verie eminent sincere and learned personages who in the florishing time of Christianity governed the patriarchall seas of the greeke and east churches confirmed also with the acts and sentences of the generall councell of Ephesus Chalcedon and Sardica cannot but giue full satisfaction vnto all true Christians that even in the purest antiquitie the popes coÌ„manding power and superioritie in government was beleeved practized and approved all Christendome over 14 After so many plaine demonstrations of the Bishops of Romes supremacie in causes ecclesiasticall I hope the curteous reader will
sunne as it is in the revelation drawing after him a great number of the starres and pulling them downe headlong with himself into the pit of hell Of Beza thus writeth Conradus Sclusselburg a famous superintendent of the Lutheran church Conrad de Theolog Calviniana lib. 2. arb 1. Theodore Beza in his sacramentary Basiliske against Heshusius which hee entituleth Chrâ—ophagia doth not onlie in the treatise it self take his leaue of all godlines and modestie letting loose all the reynes of railing but in the very title doth vomite vp his blasphemie and diuelish scoffes c in the first six pages and a half hee hath powred out such horrible filthy and beastlie taunts that euen souldiers of his owne band haue wished them to bee suppressed with his bawdy and most vnpure verses made in praise of his harlot Candida Beza hath with his rotten rayling and beastly belching assaulted the most holy testament of the sonne of God He revileth that worthy superintendent Heshusius most spitefully calling him a Buskin or tragicall Polypheme an ape an huge great capped Asse a dog in a bath a most doltish Sophister an impure sicophant a most impudent knaue Finally hee likeneth him to a deuil incarnate that hath belched vp such Satanicall blasphemies that hee trembleth to relate them This may suffice for a scantling to shew how the names of Luther Calvin Beza the great Rabbins of the protestant Gospell be already by no meane men of their owne coate so canuased disgraced and vilified that the iudicious reader may see how litle need we haue to trouble our selues to search after matter against them to make knowen to the world what odious companions they were seing their owne brotherhood do so fully paint them out to the life that any true Christian hart must needs abhorre them And they that will not vpon so faire warning take heed of them fly from them can haue no lawfull excuse of their wilfull and doting folly R. AB PEtilian the Donatist being offended that they were called Donatists retorted vpon the godly Bishops the names of Mensurists and Cecilianists deriued from two principall Bishops of their party Mensurius and Cecilianus Collat. Carth. 3. ca. 30. So the Papists being vexed at that name Papists giuen to them for being wholy at the devotion of the Pope seeke to disgrace vs with the names of Lutherans Zuinglians and Calvinists as though wee were in like sort devoted to Luther Zuinglius and Calvin W. B. HEere M. Abbot being at a low ebbe in steed of the body of the Donatists is fayne to lay hold vpon one of the companie named Petilian to patch vp a paltrie peece of a triviall resemblance where M. Abbots gentle spirit is to be obserued for before hee would touch vs for calling them by their right names either Lutherans Zuinglians or Calvinists because they left the communion of the whole church to imbrace those Arch heretiks doctrine and felowship Hee confesseth ingenuously that the ProtestaÌ„ts before hand had plaid with vs the part of that Donatist Petilian by nicknaming vs Papists For hee saith that wee being angrie with them for giving vs the name Papists did for a revenge call them Lutherans c Ergo hee granteth that they began with vs but were it before or after M. Abbots resemblance may bee most iustly returned vpon themselues For as the Catholiks of those times called those Sectaries Donatists for leaving the communion of the church spred ouer all to follow one Schismaticall fellow called Donate so the protestants that were so sottish as to forsake the faith of the Catholike church to cleave vnto the peevish opinion of some lewd or loose renegate are most worthy to bee called after their blind guids names either Lutherans Zuinglians Calvinists or such like And they to wreake their teene on vs nickname vs Papists wherin albeit they imitate the Donatists yet their inuention is not so proper as was the Donatists who of some one eminent person christened the Catholikes after their names but the protestants cannot tell vs of what one pope or other wee tooke our name If it bee of all the ranke of Popes then haue wee no need to bee ashamed of it for the protestants themselues are not yet become so impudent as to deny thirtie or fortie of the first of them to haue been right beleeuers yea very holy Martyrs or confessors And good reason it is that of the first and best of them the rest should take their names R. AB 8. Aug. co literas Petil l. 2. ca. 43. co Gaudent l 2. c. 28. THe Donatists complained that the revenues bestowed by their ancestors on the churches were taken a way from them and given to the Catholike Pastors The same complaint M. Bishop and his fellowes vse that Bishopricks Deaneries and other benefices founded by men of their religion and to the vse therof are now as they pretend wrongfully taken from them and given to vs. W. B. I Do not find in S. Austin alledged by M. Abbot that the Donatists were founders of Bishopricks or any such like church livings And heretiks bee seldome any such founders but as latter commers do rather intrude wroÌ„gfully into them that were before founded by the Catholiks They complayned without iust cause when they were worthely expelled out of them they pretended in deed that they were lawfully discended of the former Catholike Bishops and that therfore those livings were due to them which would bee iust the protestants case if it should please God to inspire into our Soveraigne Lord king Iames his hart to dispossesse them of their benefices as vsurpers and to restore the dignities and livings founded by Catholiks for the exercise of Catholike religion into the hands of Catholike Bishops and Priests who seeth not therfore how fairly the Donatists did in most things pourtraict their white sons the protestants R. AB 9. THe Rogatists being one part of the Donatists affirmed themselues only to bee Christians even as the Donatists did chaleng to themselues only to bee the church of Christ and so now the Papists esteeme themselues only to bee Christians W. B. THis hath been in effect both obtruded by M. Abbot and by me answered some foure or five times ouer already wherfore is to be now loathed as ouer stale what so me maÌ„ may say in some sense we do not much esteeme but the body of the Catholike church doth not deny heretikes to bee Christians because they bee christened and do hold some points of the Christian faith though such Christians as shall never vnles they amend haue any part with Christ in his kingdome For that they refuse to beleeue many articles of the Christian faith haue seperated themselues from the vnion and communion of Christ his true church R. AB 10. Aug co literas Petilian l. 2. c. 83 l. 2. cap. 71. Epist 106 THe Donatist provoking Emperors by their vntolerable outrages to make lawes against