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
praier in heauen The answer You should say Whereby S. Ierom goeth about or indeuoreth to prooue For euery word he speaketh is not by and by a proofe What the saints of God do in heauen for men that are aliue is a secret which God hath kept to himselfe and not reuealed to men Therefore the reasons from their dealings héere to their doings there are blinde hauing no ground to frame them on but mans wisedome There we do not beléeue S. Ieroms conclusions but where he hath better ground for his reasons Acts. 28. 1. The text And when we had escaped then we knew that the ⸫ Iland was called Mitilene The note This iland now Malta is the seate of the knights of the Rhodes The inhabitants wherof haue a speciall deuotion to saint Paul to whom both the cheefe church being the bishops seate is dedicated and the whole iland as they count it is consecrated Where the people shew yet to strangers his prison and other memories of his miracles The answer To leaue the manifest grosse error of your old interpretor in the name vntouched and to leaue your selues which will amend no errors nor vntruthes be they neuer so manifest To your note we say that we easily beléeue the inhabitants of Malta to be papists full of blind and ignorant deuotion 〈…〉 The text For the hart of this people is waxen grosse and with their eares haue they heauily heard and their eies ⸫ they haue shut least perhaps they may see with their eies and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hart and be conuerted and I heale them The note Heere also as Matth. 13. it is plaine that they would not see nor heare and that their excaecation is to be attributed to themselues and not to God See annot Iohn 12 40. The answer Their excecation as their fault is to be attributed to themselues and none other and to God as a iust iudgement and punishment for their former sinnes ROMANS Roman 1. 5. The text By whom we haue receiued grace and apostleship ⸫ for obedience to the faith The note Faith must not be subiect to sense reason arguing or vnderstanding but must command and be obeied in humilitie and simplicitie The answer It is true that euery word of the Lord is with reuerence to be receiued beléeued and obeied in humility and simplicity though it be neuer so far beyond our capacitie and the reach of our reason or the compasse of our sense or vnderstanding But yet so as that we beléeue not white to be blacke sower to be swéet neither yet that the whole bodie of man may be contained within the compasse of two or thrée inches For in things subiect to sense we are no where commanded not to beléeue and trust our senses Rom. 1. 5. The text ⸫ In all nations for the name of him among whom are you also the called of Iesus Christ. The note Saint Augustine vseth this place and the like against heretikes which would draw the common catholike faith of all nations to some certaine countries and corners of the world August ep 161. The answer Whosoeuer hold any faith that was not vniuersally planted by the Apostles in all nations and which hath not béene since generally imbraced of all true Christians the same hold not the true catholike faith And therefore the faith which the church of Rome at this day holdeth is not the true catholike faith For what Apostle taught or what church in their time beleeued that Christ after his ascension was bodily héere vpon the earth and that his bodie might be in many places at once in one place hauing the quantitie of a bodie in another place void of all quantitie I would our controuersies about the church and the bishop of Romes authoritie might be decided by this epistle For he is plaine in both cases Rom. 1. 9. The text For God is my witnes whom I serue in my spirit in the Gospell of his sonne that without ⸫ intermission I make a memorie of you alwaies in my praiers c. The note He praieth without intermission that omitteth no day certaine times of praier Aust. The answer He praieth for men without intermission that being diligent in praier is therein alwaies mindefull of them But your citing now of Augustine to what end is it but to make a shew of your reading Rom. 1. 11. The text For I desire to see you that I may impart to you some spirituall grace to ⸫ confirme you The note The Romaines were conuerted and taught by Saint Peter before Therefore he vseth that speech to confirme them in their faith Author Commen apud Hieronimum Theodoret. in 16. Rom. Chryst. The answer That the Romaines to whom Paule wrote were conuerted afore it is manifest but by whose ministerie that doth not certainely appéere We know that diuers fathers are of opinion that Peter tooke paines at Rome afore Paule wrote thither But bicause the time they assigne of his comming thither and of his continuance there can neither stande with the scriptures neither with other things which they report of him there is iust cause why in this point we should not beléeue them But bicause it is not material by whom they were conuerted I let this passe But one thing I muse of and I would faine be resolued in Why the holie Ghost so diligently setting out Paules writing to the Romaines afore he went thither Paules iourney thither his paines and diligence there doth not once signifie any thing to vs of Peters being there séeing there could be nothing more necessarie for a christian to know then that If poperie be good Christianitie and if by Peters being there such woonderfull priuiledges be left vnto the bishops there as they at this day chalenge Rom. 1. 17. The text For the iustice of God is reuealed therin by faith into faith As it is written And the iust man liueth by faith The note He meaneth not Gods owne iustice in himselfe but that iustice wherwith God endueth man when he iustifieth him Aug. de spir lit cap. 9. Whereby you may gather the vanitie of hereticall imputatiue iustice The answer Whereby you may gather the impudencie of the papists in applieng fathers to that they ment not The whole scope and circumstances of the place are against inherent iustice and for the righteousnes of Christ imputed to vs. But God endueth man with righteousnes when he doth iustifie him It is true But that righteousnes whereby he maketh men iust is the righteousnes of Christ. The other wherewith he indueth vs which we call sanctification being gods gift is not sufficient to make vs iust before God but to declare vs iust before men Rom. 1. 23. The text And they changed the glorie of the incorruptible God into a ⸫ similitude of the image of a corruptible man and of fowles and foure footed beasts and of them that creepe The note Lo these and the like are the images or idols so often
to shift of the reasons that the Arrians gathered out of this place against the diuinitie of Christ. Mark 14. 7. The text For the poore you haue alwaies with you and when you wil you may do them good But ⸫ me you haue not alwaies The note We haue not Christ here needing our almes as when he conuersed vpon the earth The answer And why haue we héere no doctors Bicause this shift to expound this text so that it should not make against the bodilie presence of Christ in the Sacrament is a late deuise It is true that if he be not here in bodie then it is not possible for him to néede reléefe But let vs see how your faith in this point agréeth with the ancient Christian Catholike faith Augustine willeth Dardanus to hold this Christian confession That Christ rose from the dead ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hande of the Father shall come from none other place but from thence to iudge the quicke and the dead and that he shall so come as the angels voice testified euen as he was séene go into heauen that is in the same forme and substance of flesh to the which he truly gaue immortalitie and tooke not away nature According to this forme he is not to be thought diffused euery where Fulgentius affirmeth that Christ according to the humane nature is comprehended in a place absent from heauen when he was vpon the earth and forsaking the earth when he ascended into heauen Uigilius writing against the heretike Eutiches saith that Christ is with vs and not with vs. For those whom he left and from whom he departed in his humanitie he did not leaue nor forsake in his diuinitie By forme of a seruant which he took from vs into heauen he is absent from c. And in another place when he hath prooued him to be euerie where according to his diuinitie and but in one place at once according to his humanitie he concludeth thus This is the faith and confession Catholike which the Apostles deliuered Martyres did confirme and the faithfull hitherto haue held And concerning these very words Me you shal not haue alwaies Augustine expoundeth them simplie to be ment of his bodily absence from the earth Now let our papists tell vs how their faith can be Christian and Catholike being directly against that which in these fathers daies was Christian and Catholike Mark 14. 23. The text And taking the chalice giuing thanks he gaue to them and they ⸫ all dranke of it The note All dranke to wit all the twelue for more were not present Wherebie it is euident that the words in Saint Matthew 26 27 Drinke ye al of this were spoken to all the apostles onely which here are said that they all did drinke And so it is no generall commandement to all men The answer And why haue we not here one doctor to say for you that Drinke yée all is not so general a commandement as Take and eate Can that be a catholike exposition which is contrarie to all expositions of catholike expositors for many hundred yéeres after Christ Take and eate stretcheth to laie men as the practise of your church doth shew And Drinke yée all that must be restreined to priests bicause no more but y e Apostles were present And if that cause be of force why shall it not restraine the other commandement also Take and eate to priests onely But the holy Ghost foreséeing what popish corruptions the diuell would bring into the Church did afore hand the more fully to preuent the diuels fraud héerein direct the pens of the Euangelists in the giuing of the cup to expresse the vniuersall signe all where in deliuerie of the bread he is content with an indefinite spéech take and eate Heere all antiquitie is vtterly against poperie Their doctrine of concomitance was not in the fathers daies hatched neither had they wit ynough to foresée the danger of spilling and hanging in lay mens beards and such other déepe considerations as the pope picked out long after out of his night cap. Mark 14. 25. The text Amen I saie to you that now I will not drinke of the fruits ⸫ of the vine vntill that daie when I shall drinke it new in the kingdome of God The note See annotations vpon Matthew chap. 26. vers 29. The answer Your annotations are not woorth the looking on yet such as they are they shall receiue answer by themselues Mark 14. 64. The text Who all ⸫ condemned him to be guiltie of death The note Here we may see that they were worthily reprobated and forsaken according to our sauiours prediction by the parable Mark. 12. The kingdome of God shall be taken from you c. The answer Their successors in impietie blasphemie and crueltie Annas and Caiphas of Rome and their adherents cannot be in better estate for they with no lesse consent and vnitie haue condemned Christ in his members and his truth for heresie and blasphemie Mark 14. 66. The text And when Peter was in the courte beneath there commeth one of the ⸫ woman seruants of the high priest The note He feareth not afterward Rome the ladie of the worlde that in the house of Caiphas was afraid of the high priests wench Leo in natiuitate Petri Pauli sermone 1. The answer In this weake fearefulnes of Peter we may sée our owne frailtie and in the change that God after made in him when he had indued him and others with vertue from aboue the power by which God can and doeth worke in weake and fraile vessels Rome was the ladie of the worlde therefore not the head of the church a place fearfull to the godlie or els Peters valure in not fearing of it had not béene commendable Marke 1◠29. The text And they that passed by blasphemed him wagging their heades and saying Vah he that destroyeth the temple and in three dayes buildeth it ⸫ saue thy selfe comming downe from the crosse The note So say heretikes of the blessed Sacrament if it be Christ let him saue him selfe from all iniuries The answer We whome it pleaseth you to call heretikes learne not from the scornefull Iewes but from good Ioash the father of Gedeon that your bread is not God bicause it can not plead for it selfe nor reuenge it selfe But you haue a god and a religion alike both of your owne creation Marke 15. 34. The text My God my God why hast thou ⸫ forsaken me The note See Matth. cap. 27. 46. the blasphemous exposition of Caluine and his followers and take heede thereof The answer Sée the exposition reape comfort thereof and learne with hart and minde to detest and abhorre the impudent and shamelesse pennes of lying papistes Marke 16. 7. The text But go tell his disciples ⸫ Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee The note Peter is named in speciall as often els where for prerogatiue The answer A poore prerogatiue it
chastened by your fasting daies but their whom néede or nigerdlines doth continuallie compell to borrow of their bellies Tit. 2. 15. The text These things speake and exhort and rebuke ⸫ with all authoritie The note Bishops must be stout and commande in Gods cause and the people must in no wise disobey or contemne them The answer So must also euerie minister of the word and their flockes do owe vnto them honor and obedience and you must remember that your popes cause is not gods cause Tit. 3. 5. The text But when the benignitie and kindnes towarde man of our sauiour God appeered not by the works of iustice which we did but according to his mercy he hath saued vs ⸫ by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie ghost The note As before in the Sacrament of holie orders 1. Timoth. 4. and 2. Timoth. 1. so heere it is plaine that baptisme giueth grace and that by it as by an instrumentall cause we be saued The answer Concerning your Sacraments of orders of your own institution and grace by them giuen you haue receiued answer before That baptisme is amongst the instrumentall causes of our saluation no man denieth And likewise we grant vnto you that by it grace is giuen to the woorthy receiuers so that you vnderstand by baptisme the whole sacrament and not the outward acte and worke of the minister onely as you commonly do Tit. 3. 10. The text A man that is an heretike after the first and second ⸫ admonition auoide Knowing that he that is such an on is subuerted and sinneth being condemned by his owne iudgement The note These admonitions and corruptions must be giuen to such as erre by our spirituall Gouernors and pastors to whom if they yeeld not Christian men must auoide them The answer If we were agréed of the church and gouernors thereof then we would not contende with you about your note But nowe so long as you wil not suffer the church to be discerned by the scriptures nor cleaue to that church which receiueth the doctrine in them deliuered the admonitions and correptions of your gouernors are to be contemned despised and disobeied PHILEMON Phile. 1. 5. The text I giue thanks to my God alwaies making a memory of thee in my praiers Hearing thy ⸫ charitie and faith which thou hast in our Lord Iesus and toward all the saints The note Faith and charitie commended alwaies togither both necessarie to make a compleate Christian man and to iustification and saluation The answer Faith and charitie alwaies togither but not alwaies commended togither both necessarie to make a compleat Christian faith for iustification and charitie for sanctification But you the better to blinde men confounde that which you should distinguish Phile. 1. 7. The text For I haue had great ioy and consolation in thy charitie bicause the bowels of the saints ⸫ haue rested by thee brother The note The duties of charitie and mercie done to Christs prisoners are exceeding acceptable to God and all good men The answer This is verie true and yet you the popes prisoners and not Christs Phile. 1. 1◠The text And ⸫ do thou receiue him as mine owne bowels The note All spirituall men ought to be exceeding propense and readie to procure mens pardon and reconciliation to all penitent The answer It is to be maruelled at that men shewing so little mercie as you are woont and so voide of all pitie as your tragicall doings haue shewed you to be should now become teachers of mercie and pitie to other men Phile. 1. 1◠The text I Paule haue written with mine owne hand I will repay it not to say to thee ⸫ that thou owest me thine own selfe also The note The great det and dutie that we owe to such as be our spirituall parents in Christ. The answer As to our parents we can make no sufficient recompense so much lesse are we able to requite those which are Gods good instruments of our regeneration HEBREWES Hebr. 1. 4. The text Being made so much more excellent than Angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name aboue them The note The excellencie of Christ aboue Angels The answer And therefore consequently his excellencie aboue Moyses the prophets and all creatures whatsoeuer Hebr. 1. 14. The text Are they not al ⸫ ministring spirits sent to minister for them which shall receiue the inheritance of saluation The note The holy angels saith S. Augustine to the societie of whom we aspire in this our peregrination as they haue eternitie to continue so also facilitie to know and felicitie to rest For they do helpe vs without all difficultie bicause with their spirituall motions pure and free they labor and trauell not De ciuitate lib. 11. cap. 31. The answer I would your doctrine of Angels were alwaies as this which here you learne of Augustine then some of your vnprofitable controuersies which now trouble the world would soone be cut of and throwen to the dunghill amongst other filth and mire of poperie But these and such other good things are defiled with the rest that you couple them with And more I haue not to say to you for this note Hebr. ◠1. The text Therefore more abundantly ought we to obserue those things which we haue heard ⸫ least perhaps we run out The note As that which runneth out of a broken vessel or that runneth by is lost The answer He is said to run out which doth not hold and kéepe the word which he heareth of whom we say in English In at the one eare and out at the other Hebr. 2. 9. The text But him that was a little lessened vnder the Angels we see Iesus ⸫ bicause of the passion of death crowned with glory and honor that through the grace of God he might tast of death for all The note This prooueth against the Caluinists that Christ by his passion merited his own glorification which they would not for shame denie of Christ but that they are at a point to denie all meritorious works yea euen Christs also And therefore they translate also this heretically by transposing the words In the bible printed 1579. The answer The force of this proofe resteth vpon the signification of the Gréeke preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which héere as often else where doth signifie the finall cause or end and is to be referred to his lessening which goeth before and not to his crowning which commeth after As if he should say we sée him that is Iesus bicause of his suffering or that he might suffer a little lessened vnder the Angels that is made man And thus your proofe faileth and commeth to naught Otherwise for Christs merits we do more highly estéeme of them than you But the holie Ghost hath taught vs that he tooke our nature vpon him not for himselfe but for our good so that whatsoeuer he did in our nature was not to gaine to him selfe but to vs not to his
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
proouing of the Sacrament to be a sacrifice propitiatorie which for that purpose you do craftilie and closely couple with the sacrifice on the cresse Iohn 18. 1. The text When Iesus had said these things he went foorth with his disciples beyond the Torrent Cedron where was a garden into the which he entred and his disciples c. The note The passion according to Saint Iohn is the Gospell at masse on good Fridaie So the passion is read in holie weeke foure times according to the foure Euangelists as Saint Augustine also appointed in his church at Hippo. Ser. 144. de tempore The answer To what purpose is your reading of the Gospels which verie fewe or none vnderstand Is it not as good for a man to hold his peace as to speake that which the hearers vnderstand not Did Saint Augustine appoint at Hippo the Gospels to be read in a language which the people vnderstood not We may in truth much better alledge Saint Augustine for the custome of our church which at the same time readeth the same Scriptures in the natiue naturall language of the common people and also teacheth and instructeth the people out of the said Scriptures as Saint Augustine did and you commonly do not Iohn 18. 17. The text The wench therefore that was portresse said to Peter Art not thou also of this mans disciples He saith to her ⸫ I am not The note It is all one for a man to denie Christ and that he is a disciple of Christ or a Catholike or a christian man when he is demanded Augustine tract 113. in hom Ioan. for so Peter heere denieth Christ in denieng him selfe to be his disciple The answer We graunt and we pray to God to giue vs strength boldnes and courage to confesse him before men whatsoeuer danger ensue of it But héere you vse a péece of your accustomed fraud in putting in the word Catholike which Augustine hath not which you did but to deceiue them withal whom you haue vntruly persuaded that there are none other Catholikes in the world but your selues Iohn 18. 35. The text Pilate answered why am I a Iew ⸫ Thy nation and the chiefe priests haue deliuered thee vp to me what hast thou done The note It pleased God that Christ who was to die both for the Iewes and the Gentiles should be betraied by the one and put to death by the other The answer Why doe yée not say that God did but permit and suffer it If it were Gods good pleasure that it should be so how was not God the authour of it Do you not sée then by your owne confession that God may be the authour of their fact though not of the fault thereunto adioyned Iohn 19. 14. The text And it was the parasceue of the Pasche about ⸫ the sixt houre and he said to the Iewes loe your king The note He meaneth midday counting from sunne rising for so doeth the Scripture count of the houres of the dâ—ie Matth. 20. Marke 15. Luk. 23. Iohn 4. Actes 3. 〈◊〉 10. The answer Your accompt of the houres as it is a matter of small moment so is it easie but we had rather haue heard some good reason why you durst not giue vs the english héer of Parasceue and Pasche but if anie had béene readie I am persuaded wée should haue had it aswell for this as afore for Amen amen But till such time as you better discharge your selfe thereof we shall still thinke that you would haue the scriptures so obscure and darke that poore men might be fraied from studieng of them Iohn 19. 20. The text This title therefore manie of the Iewes did read bicause the place was nigh to the citie it was written in ⸫ Hebrue in Greeke and in Latine The note These three tongues being for other causes most famous before in all the world are now also dedicated to God in the triumphant title of the crosse of Christ and in them the holie Scriptures are more conueniently written taught and preserued The answer I pray you shew vs by what reason you can collect this dedication out of this place or that it is not as conuenient also to haue the scriptures in other tongues it is strange you go about what you can to discredit the scriptures written in those toÌ„gues You would if you could abolish knowledge out of the world and bicause you can not doo that you labour to make the groundes of knowledge vncertaine to the end that the onlie oracles accompted of in the world may be the decrées of your holie father of Rome Iohn 19. 23. The text And his ⸫ coat was without seame wrought from the top throughout The note This coate without seame is a figure of the vnitie of the church Cyprian de vnit c. and Euthiâ—ius other write that our ladie made it The answer It is easie for men to deuise figures but when theâ— are deuised without ground or warrant they are but mens fansies Who made that coat iâ— no more materiall then who made his other garments Iohn 19. 25. The text And there stood beside the crosse of Iesus his mother and his mothers sister Marie of Cleophas and Marie Magdalene The note The great loue faith courage and compassion and sorrowes that our Ladie had who forsooke not the crosse and her sonne when so manie were fled from him and his chiefe Apostles denied him The answer So long as you doo but attribute a truth to our ladie and not adorne hir with that which appertaineth not to hir you can not heape vp too manie praises vpon her Iohn 20. 1. The text And the ⸫ first day of the Sabaoth Marie Magdalene commeth earlie when it was yet darke vnto the monument she saw the stone taken away from the monument The note That is the first day of the weeke as some interprete it taking saboath as somtime it is for a weeke This is our Sunday called dies dominica bicause of the Lords resurrection See the marginall annot Luk. 24 1. The answer If you had not héere brought a new interpretation we should not haue séene that you excell also in varietie if you had vouchsafed to haue told vs in plaine English that Sonday had bene called the Lords day bicause of the Lords resurrection we should haue thought you somewhat willing that the people shuld learne somewhat but now that you tell vs but in Latine wée thinke that you can be content that they be blind be blind still Iohn 20. 11. The text But Marie stood at the ⸫ monument without weeping The note The Sepulchers of martyrs saith Saint Hierome epist. 17. we do honor euerie where and putting their holie ashes to our eies if we may we touch it also with our mouth and be there some that thinke the monument wherein our Lord was laide is to be neglected where the diuell and his angels as often as they are cast out of the possessed before the said
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
triall you flie And if anie time you make a shew of comming to it then by and by your church must giue credite to your doctrine your church cannot erre your pope cannot erre we must beléeue your doctrine not bicause you can prooue it to haue come from the Apostles but bicause your church and pope haue giuen sentence for it but if you durst abide by your note we would easily shew your doctrin to be erronious 1. Tim. 6. 10. The text For the roote of all euill is couetousnes ⸫ which certaine desiring haue erred from the faith and haue intangled themselues in manie sorrowes The note As in the first chapter the lacke of faith and good conscience so here couetousnes and the desire of these temporall things and in the ende of this chapter presumption and boasting of knowledge are causes of falling from the faith heresie often being the punishment of former sins The answer It is very true that God punisheth sin by sin and that there be many causes for which wicked men are wont to forsake the faith which they do or did somtimes professe The causes in your note assigned lacke of faith and good conscience couetousnes presumption and boasting if all the world be sought from one end to the other there cannot any be founde in whom these causes haue so euidently concurred and wrought as in your most holy fathers of Rome wherein I referre my selfe to the credite of your owne stories 1. Tim. 6. 19. The text Command the rich of this world not to be high minded nor to trust in the vncertainty of riches but in the liuing God who giueth al things aboundantly to enioy to do wel to become rich in good works to giue easelie to communicate to heape vnto themselues a good ⸫ foundation for the time to come that they may apprehend the true life The note Almes deeds and good works laid for a foundation and ground to attaine euerlasting life So say the doctors vpon this place The answer If you had shewed vs what doctors had so spoken we woulde haue shewed you their meaning But we know that neither they nor the apostles ment by the word foundation to put Christ out of his office or place but onlie to oppose against the vncertaintie of riches here the certaintie of promised blessednes in the time to come According to the saieng of our Lord and Sauiour Christ Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtaine mercy 2. TIMOTHIE ◠Tim. 1. 6. The text For the which cause I admonish thee that thou resuscitate the grace of God which is in thee by imposition of my hands The note Heere againe it is plaine that holy orders giue grace and that euen by and in the externall ceremonie of imposing the bishops hands And it is a maner of speech specially vsed in this Apostle and S. Luke that orders giue grace to the ordered and that to take orders or authoritie to minister sacrament or preach is to be giuen or deliuered to Gods grace Acts. 14. 25. The answer Héere you say that that is plaine which no wise man can sée namely that holy orders giue grace in and by the externall ceremonie of imposing of the bishops hands For if that were so what néeded there be any choise of men furnished with gifts and graces for that purpose sith in the very ordering they should be sufficiently indued with gifts and graces necessarie and néedfull And how fel it out that there were so great a number of popish priests void and destitute of al gifts graces after their ordering when the bishop had conferred and bestowed vpon them all that he could It is euident by the manifold commendations that the Apostle giueth to Timothie as well for his owne studie in the scriptures as also for his bringing vp vnder his mother and grandmother that he was a man furnished with gifts afore Paul and the elders ordered him But bicause the praiers of the church in that his consecrating to the worke of God were not in vaine that blessing and increase of aptnesse and fitnesse which God at their petitions gaue him at that time is called the gift or grace by imposition of hands In the like order it is true that all those which be rightly ordered are deliuered to the grace of God bicause the same God who of his mercifull goodnes afore indued them with gifts made them fit and méete for the worke of his ministerie and mooued his church to call them thereunto afterward by and in the imploieng of their talents to his glorie and the benefit of his church and people increaseth and augmenteth their gifts 2. Tim. 1. 13. The text Haue thou a forme of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and in ⸫ the loue in Christ Iesus The note Faith and loue coupled commonly togither in this Apostles writing The answer Paul so speaketh of them bicause faith and loue be companions inseparable But such mates as you are bend themselues to vncouple these to the end they might haue some probable shew of matter to prate withall against iustification by onely faith 2. Tim. 1. 16. The text Our Lord giue mercie to the house of Onesiphorus bicause he hath often refreshed me and hath ⸫ not beene ashamed of my chaine The note What an happie and meritorious thing it is to releeue the afflicted for religion and not to be ashamed of their disgrace yrons or what miserie so euer The answer Put meritorious into your purse and vnderstand true religion and then we agrée to your note 2. Tim. 2. 10. The text Therefore ⸫ I sustaine all things for the elect that they also may obtaine the saluation which is in Christ Iesus with heauenly glorie The note Marke heere that the elect though sure of their saluation yet are saued by the means of their preachers and teachers as also by their owne endeuor The answer Marke héere the force and might of truth which hath héere wrested this confession of truth from you that the elect are sure of their saluation to which the whole course of your doctrine is opposite The ministerie of the word and mens owne endeuors to attaine the knowledge of the truth we acknowledge to be meanes appointed of God to saue those which be his 1. Tim. 2. 16. The text But profane and vaine speeches auoid The note See the annotation before 1. Timoth. 6. verse 20. The answer We haue séene your note and do sée that both your reasons and authorities there stand very well against your selues But I refer the answer of it to the answer of all your annotations 1. Tim. 2. 25. The text But the seruant of our Lord must not wrangle but be mild towards all men apt to teach patient with modestie admonishing them that resist the truth least sometime ⸫ God giue them repentance to know the truth The note Conuersion from sinne and heresie is the gift of God and of his speciall grace yet
brasse stone and wood can they see heare or walke haue you done penance from the works of your hands or will you wilfully go to the diuell Apoc. 10. ◠The text And I saw an other angell strong descending from heauen clothed with a cloud and a rainbowe on his head and his face was as the sunne and his feet as a pillar of fier The note Christ the valiant angell is heere described The answer I maruell that you followed not your Liranus to expounde this of the bishop of Rome but that flatterie you are ashamed of though in other things you excéede him But the circumstances make it plaine his dignitie power strength his decking from top to toe the greatnes of his voice the brightnes of his countenance his vnused steps comprehending lande and sea togither can not well agrée to any other Apoc. 10. ◠The text And when the seauen thunders had spoken their voices I was about to write And I heard a voice from heauen saieng vnto me Signe the things which the seauen thunders haue spoken and ⸫ write them not The note Manie great mysteries and truths are to be preserued in the church which for causes knowen to Gods prouidence are not to be written in the booke of holie Scripture The answer Farre fetched and déere bought is good for ladies Iohn was forbidden to write Ergo they are kept in the church When you can prooue that your church knoweth those things which Saint Iohn was forbidden to write and those things which Saint Paule heard and sawe in heauen and might not vtter then will I beléeue all your vnwritten verities Apoc. 10. ◠The text And the angell which I saw standing vpon the sea and vpon the land ⸫ lifted vp his hand to heauen and he sware by him that liueth for euer and euer c. The note This was the maner of taking an othe by the true God as Deut. 32. The answer There were diuers and sundrie maners of taking othes by the true God which I do not thinke so necessarie here to be noted as that you haue taught men to forsake God and to sweare by those which are not Gods and as the thing which is héere sworne that is that time shalbe no more which is most necessarie for men to consider that they flatter not them selues with the eternall continuance of the world Apoc. 10. ◠The text And he said to me Take the booke and ⸫ deuoure it The note By earnest studie and meditation The answer You say well adde this I pray you that it is not onlie to be read studied and thought vpon but also in as large measure as we are able to attaine to vnderstood and laied vp in our harts Apoc. 10. 9. The text And it shall make thy bellie to be bitter but in thy mouth it shalbe ⸫ sweete as it were honie The note Sweete in the reading but in the fulfilling somewhat bitter bicause it commandeth works of penance and suffring of tribulations The answer The promises of the most gratious fauour of God and good life to beleeuers are swéete and delectable but that we must passe through manie and bitter tribulations to come to life to flesh and blood can not be but bitter As for your satisfactorie workes of penance which your mind runneth on are not to be found any where in this booke but your hart is alwaies on your half penie Apoc. 11. 2. The text But the court which is without the temple cast foorth and measure not that bicause it is giuen to the Gentiles and they shall tread vnder foot the holie citie ⸫ two fourtie moneths The note Three yeeres and an halfe which is the time of Antichrists raigne and persecution The answer But that these moneths are to be measured here by our ordinarie moneths that resteth to be prooued The onlie thing that we can learne by this is that Antichrists raigne shall not endure alwaies but in comparison of Christes raigne which shalbe eternall if shalbe verie short But how long or how short so euer the time is this is certaine and plaine against the papists that during Antichrists raigne the holie citie that is the church shall be troden vnder foote Apoc. 11. 7. The text And when they shall haue finished their testimonie the ⸫ beast which ascended from the depth shall make warre against them and shall ouercome them and kill them The note The great Antichrist The answer The bishop of Rome who though in the eies of the world séeme to preuaile and to kill the witnesses of Gods truth yet he can not do it till they haue finished their testimonie that is the time that God hath appointed them for the execution of their office Apoc. 11. 8. The text And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the ⸫ great citie which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt where the Lorde also was crucified The note He meaneth Hierusalem named Sodome and Egypt for imitation of them in wickednes so that we see his chiefe raigne shalbe there though his tirannie may extend to all places of the world The answer How faine you would turne mens eies from Rome to looke for the great Antichrist els where Séeing the names and other attributes are spirituall descriptions of this citie and that Rome resembleth Hierusalem in killing Christ in his members is like Sodom in beastlie filthinesse and like Egypt both in ambition and superstition and in indeuor to hold the people of God in seruitude and thraldom I sée not why we should still thinke that to be the great citie here spoken of Apoc. 11. 10. The text And the inhabitants of the earth ⸫ shall be glad vpon them and make merrie The note The wicked reioice when holie men are executed by the tirants of the world bicause their life and doctrine are burdenous vnto them The answer This is verie true and taught by dailie experience vnder the Pope and such tirannous princes as bend their might force and authoritie to aduance his dignitie Apoc. 11. 15. The text And the seuenth Angel sounded with a trumpet and there were made loud voices in heauen saieng ⸫ The kingdome of this world is made our Lordes and his Christes and he shall raigne for euer and euer Amen The note The kingdome of this world vsurped before by Satan and Antichrist shall afterward be Christs for euer The answer This last trumpet summoneth all the dead to rise againe and so to come to iudgement at which time all enemies shalbe destroied and God sole seazed in quiet possession for euer and euer of the whole world Apoc. 11. 18 The text And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and ⸫ to render reward to thy seruants the prophets and saints and to them that feare thy name little and great c. The note To repaie the hire or wages for so both the Greeke word and the Latin signifie due to holie men proueth against