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cause_n	bishop_n	call_v	church_n	2,062	5	4.1008	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13964	The trial of trueth or a treatise vvherein is declared vvho should be iudge betvvene the Reformed Churches, and the Romish in which is shewed, that neither Pope, nor Councels, nor Fathers, nor traditions, nor succession, nor consent, nor antiquitie of custome: but the onely written worde of God, ought to determine the controuersies of religio[n]: wherin also is declared which is the true religion, and Catholick church. Written for the pleasure of the Popes, Cardinalles, prelates, abbots, monkes: and speciallie the Iesuites, which of late were driuen out of Transyluania, by the states there. Published in Latine by a certaine Hungarian, a fauourer of the trueth: and translated into English by Richard Smith.; Oratio de constituendo iudice controversiorum religionis. English.	Smith, Richard, tr.	1591 (1591)	STC 24274; ESTC S100745	49,352	68

Pope thirtie thousand men of warre that might doe seruice in the field without any hinderance to their church-seruice But amongst other orders the Franciscans and Domicanes are taken to excell whereof the former beside other fables conteyned in the booke of conformities are not ashamed to call vpon their Captaine with this verse O Frances Iesus typicall or second Christ the guide Of Minorites who rulest them that they g●e not aside Graunt vs in heauen euermore with thee still to abide And the later doe not sticke not onely to compare their Dominick with our sauiour Christ but also to prefer him before him in many points There be published the legends of the Saints and sundrie other bookes of the lying counterfette miracles of Stanislaus Adelbert and other men Which bookes because the popes haue authorized and exhibited them to all Christendome to be imbraced with as great reuerence as the Scriptures hereby they also iudge them to be giltie of impietie The second cause for which the Gospellers denie that they will acknowledge the popes for their Iudges they alledge to be the sinne of tirannie vsurped ouer the Church For first he séeketh to be intituled the head husband and vniuersall Bishop of the Church which it is most certain agréeth to none but Christ Secondly in that they haue chalenged vnto themselues dominion ouer the whole world and all ciuil magistrates for as for the donation of Constantine wherby they cōfirm their soueraign authoritie besides that Antoninus bishop of Florēce N. Cusanus L. Valla Volateranus AEneas Siluius and other writers moe which in other pointes were great proctors for the papacie were not afraid some late hundred yeares since to disproue it the Gospellers auouch that they can also conuince it of forgerie by these reasons For sith no approued writer maketh mention of this donation sith Eusebius and others doe witnes that Constantine did deuide the thrée coastes of the world to his thrée sonnes sith the instruments or deeds of grant set forth by Volateranus and in the decretals doe far differ and their stile is much vnlike sith it is ridiculous that Peter Paul should appeare to Constantine in a dreame and that he should worship thē for gods sith Cōstantine neuer had the leprosie neither was he baptized at Rome by Siluester but at Hicomedia by ●usebius sith it is wicked to say that the hand of god was seen of Constantine sith he could not geue greater iurisdiction to the pope then he had himselfe neither could geue him autoritie ouer the patriarck of Constantinople there being then no such citie and finally sith those giftes which in that euidence are saide to be geuen to the pope by Constantine are the badges of Antichrist By al these seueral and those most forcible demonstrations it is cōcluded that y e same donation was not granted by Constantine but forged by the popes Now in those words which Christ spake to Peter other ministers of the word that they should féed his shéep he appointeth to them not a ciuil iurisdiction but a church-ministerie for in another place he nippeth and beateth back the pride ambition of the apostles desiring superiority when he saith The kings of the natious beare rule but it shal not be so with you Yea the Canons also haue expresly forbidden the Bishop of Rome to be called The chief Bishop or the vniuersall head of the church Wherfore they say y t they are conquered with their own weapons sith they claime to thē selues this dominion by diuers those also contrarie titles The third cause why the Gospellers refuse to stand to the iudgemēts of the popes they alledge to be this that they haue corrupted Religion and haue most grosselie erred not onelie in mane●s but also in doctrine For there are decrées extant concerning the popes that they are not men but Gods that they may not bée iudged by any mortall man y t they may dispense against the Apostle chaunge the nature of things make some what of nothing make righteousnes of vnrighteousnesse But in the meane space how true these things are the matter it selfe doth shew For the Lord himselfe witnesseth y t there is but one forme of Religiō namelie that which is recorded in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles whereunto nothing may be added or taken away no not by an Angell But the pope teacheth that y e order of the church consisteth in the traditions of our forefathers of the which sort are Agnus Deis christening of belles prayers of Saints single life of priests as they call them the taking away of the cup in the Lordes Supper the vsing of a straunge toung the Masse pardons and other such stuffe the which although they affirme to ha●e bene conuayed ouer to them from the Apostles by tradition yet that most of them were inuented by them selues the recordes of auncient stories doe plainlie proue For pope Innocent forbad the cup in the Lordes Supper by the decrée of the Coūsell of Laterane and instituted the Easter-Communion But Eugenius the fourth decréed the contrarie Innocentius the third and Honorius the third ordained that the Sacramentall bread should be curiouslie kept in the church for sundrie vses But pope Clement would not suffer it to be reserued to the next day Vitellianus the second and Agatho the first appointed the Masse to be said in Latin Nicolaus the first suffered the Slauonians and Polonians to haue Masse said in their own tongues Alexander the second decréed that Masse said by a priest that kept a cōcubine should not be heard But Lucius the third allowed it Siricius Pelagius the second and diuers others condemned the mariage of priests But Pius the second hath left in writing to this effect that it seemed there was great reason to debarre the priests from mariage but there was greater reason for the restoring of it againe Leo the first Gregorie the second third many others allowed the worshipping of Images But Iohn the 22. did mortallie hate Images Pictures Boniface the 4. graunted the Monckes authoritie to preach baptise and absolue Gregory tooke it from them Iohn the 24. held for sound articles of faith that the Apostles neuer vowed pouertie and single life Pius the second said that Friers were the deuils bondslaues in this double verse The deuill of hell himselfe dare not that thing to enterprise Which shameles Moncke beldame old with craft fraught will deuise Pelagius y e first ordained that clerkes should bestow euerie day seuē houres in Canonicall prayers Gregorie y e first commaunded that they should giue themselues not to chaūtings but to preaching Calixtus decréed y t it was not lawfull to dissent from the church of Rome Fabianus affirmed the contrarie Bonifacius the 8. commaunded that the yeare of Iubilie should be kept the hundreth yeare Clemens the 6. brought it to the fiftith Boniface the ninth to

shall vnderstand these thinges with conscience and without partialitie I will not be against it but that you may imbrace and follow that which is better of these two As for the first point then of our discourse the contro●ersies of each side concerning the chéefe articles of ●aith doe stand thus 1. Of the Scripture The reformed Church professeth that there is nothing necessarie to saluation which is not contained in the canonicall Scriptures But the Church of Rome saith that the scripture is maimed vncertaine like to a nose of war to a leaden rule that without the authoritie of the Church it hath no more strength then Aesops fables that it is the cause of heresies applyable to time and that therefore the common people are to be restrained from it 2. Of Traditions The reformed Church beléeueth that neither a councel nor any of the Fathers no nor a company of Angels must be credited if they teach any thing contrary to the written doctrine of Christ The Church of Rome professeth that Traditions not written are to be receiued with the same reuerence that the holy scriptures be as the ground of faith without the which the authoritie of the scriptures would vanishe into smoake and were not woorth a straw 3. Of the Lawe The reformed Church affirmeth that men cannot performe the law of God but by the imputation of the righteousnes of Christ and that all things are sinnes which are committed against the said Law But the Church of Rome teacheth that the law may be so fulfilled that men may also doe superfluous and vndue works and that all which is against this law is not sinne as concupiscence 4. Of Sinne. The reformed Church beleeueth that both the want of originall righteousnes and concupiscence and whatsoeuer is contrarie to the lawe of God is sinne and maketh men guiltie of the wrath of God The church of Rome saith that concupiscence and originall sinne is not properly sinne neither deserueth the hatred of God or any smarting punishment and penance 5 Of free will The reformed church beleeueth that men haue no frée will left them in those things which belong to obteine saluation except God by his holy spirite doe againe stirre and quicken it The church of Rome saith that a man may by the pure powers of nature loue God aboue all and that also being in mortall sinne hee may by proportion deserue to haue grace powred into him 6 Of Iustification The reformed Church beleeueth that the elect are iusti●●ed by faith onely in Christ without the works of the law yet so that that faith be not naked and dead but liuely and effectuall by the workes of charitie The church of Rome denieth that men are iustified by grace alone and by the imputation of Christes righteousnes but that there is required thereunto as a necessarie meanes to obteine saluation the keeping of the law 7 Of the Mediator Iesus Christ The reformed church beleueth that there is one mediatour betweene God and man euen Iesus Christ God and man who by his death blotteth out the sins of the faithful by his resurrection purchaseth for them euerlasting life The Church of Rome affirmeth that Christ died onlie for originall sinne and that Christ alone is not the mediator but other he-saints and she-saints also 8 Of the sacrifice of Christ The reformed Church beleeueth that the faithfull ar● reconciled to GOD the Father by the onely Sacrifice of Christ The Church of Rome saith that the death of Christ is not the alone propitiatorie Sacrifice but the masse also is one which blotteth out the sinnes and taketh away the punishments both of quick and dead and is profitable to procure all spirituall and temporall blessings 9 Of Penance and repentance The reformed Church beleueth that such repentance is accepted of God wherein there is the mortifying of the old man and the quickning of the newe man proceeding from a liuelie faith The church of Rome teacheth that for the obteining of saluation there is such a repentance or penance requisite wherein there is a sufficient contrition of heart confession of mouth and satisfaction of worke by the which saluation may be gotten 10 Of the Church The Gospellers say that there is the true church where the word is purely taught the sacraments rightly administred and obedience yeelded to the outward Discipline The Romanists teach that the certaine markes of the Church are First agréement in publike doctrine and outward seruice secondlie the personal succession of Bishops Thirdly the acknowledging of the Pope 11 Of Councels The reformed Church denieth that shée is bound vnto Counsels but vnto the written word of God from which if Counsels and Fathers doe swarue they may be deceiued But the Church of Rome tieth her selfe to general counsels as to those which can neuer erre 12. Of the Sacraments The ref●●med Church acknowledgeth but two Sacraments ordained by Christ namely Baptism and the Lords Supper But the Church of Rome teacheth that there are seuen Sacraments which minister saluation by the bare performance of the outward action without any good affection in the receiuer and also patcheth vnto them Ceremonies vnknowen to the scriptures 13 Of Martirdome The reformed church teacheth that the afflictions of the Godlie are either corrections for certaine sins or troubles of triall or testimonies for confirmation of the truth But the Church of Rome teacheth that the martirdoms of the Saints are a sacrifice for sinne and that they deserue an easing of eternall paines and life euerlasting 14 Of the Magistrates The reformed Church techeth that the ciuil magistrate ought to procure not onelie outward benefites but also the saluation of his Subiects by true religion But the church of Rome teacheth that Ciuill Magistrates are to be with held from the care of religion as Laie men and that they are vnderlings to the Pope and Prelates 15. Of Mariage The reformed Church teacheth that marriage is honourable amongst all men the forbidding whereof is a doctrine of deuils But the church of Rome teacheth that maried persons liue in the flesh and that mariage is not lawfull for Ministers but that it is more to be borne with if that a Prieste as they speake keepe whores then for to enter into lawfull mariage 16. Of mens constitutions The reformed Church denieth that confirmation extreame vnction and such other constitutions of men are agréeable to the word of God The Church of Rome saith that more grace is conueied to the faithfull by confirmation then by baptisme that extreame vnction doeth minister spirituall grace 17. Of vowes The reformed religion affirmeth that a man is iustified by no other meanes but by faith in Christ The Romish religion saith that the vowes of chastitie pouertie and obedience doe deserue euerlasting life 18. Of holie dayes The reformed church teacheth that

she is not bounde to holy daies and is satisfied with those daies that God hath appointed The church of Rome teacheth that the kéeping of holy daies euen without the case of offence may not be omitted without sinne and that many holie daies are to be celebrated for the praying vnto and worshipping of Saints 19. Of holie water The Gospellers beléeue that their sinnes are wiped away onely with the bloud of the Messias The Romanistes beléeue that there is not only a diuine force in their holy water but also that it worketh health briueth out deuils and preserueth all things 20. Of praier The reformed Church beléeueth that God the father with the sonne and the holy Ghost is alone to be called vpon in spirite and trueth The church of Rome saith that all angels and Saints are to be praied vnto and assigneth them seuerall offices that Saint Leonard should deliuer captiues Saint Valentine should geue health that Rome should haue Peter and Paul Hungarie Saint Marie Compostella Saint Iames for their patrones and protectors 21. Of reliques and images God commandeth that none should be worshipped and called vpon but himselfe The Pope commaundeth the worshipping of the reliques and pictures of Saints 22. Of fasting The reformed church saith that the forbidding of meats vsed vpon certaine daies is a doctrine of Deuils The church of Rome teacheth that fasting is a worke that maketh satisfaction for sinnes whereby the merite of Christ is applied vnto men 23. Of pardons The reformed church beléeueth that the bloud of Christ alone is a propitiation for our sinnes The church of Rome teacheth that men by the Popes pardons may obteine not onely for geuenes of temporall and eternall punishments but also saluation 24. Of the Popes supremacie The reformed church acknowledgeth but one head namely Jesus Christ crucified now raigning in glory But the church of Rome acknowledgeth Christ for the inuisible head and the Pope for the visible who also excelleth the Emperors as farre as the sunne doeth the moon or golde lead who is greater then Moises and Paul equall to Peter who is a God and not a man who may dispence against the foure first Councels and against the words of the Gospell c. 25. Of Spirituall assurance The reformed church beleueth that the faithful should not doubt of their saluation The church of Rome saith that they must alwais dout 26. Of Antichrist The reformed church beleueth that Antichrist is come alreadie and is he that denieth that Christ is come in the flesh or hee that iudgeth erroniouslie of the nature and office of the Messias whose seate is in the Citie situated vpon seuen hilles The church of Rome looketh for Antichrist out of Babylon of the tribe of Dan who shal raigne thrée yeares and shalbe killed in the mount O liuet 27 Of Purgatorie The Gospellers beléeue they shal passe presently from death to life euerlasting The Romanists teach that there is a fire of Purgatory so that there are fiue distinct roomes for soules to wit hell for the damned the second place for children dying vnbaptized the third Purgatorie the fourth Limbus patrum and the fifth the chiefest heauen This is the doctrin of both parties the deciding of which controuersie the See of Rome would submit to Popes counsels fathers the Church and traditions But the Gospellers refuse these iudges and alleage their reasons why they reiect each of them the which that you would patiently hears I entreate and beseech you as you will be saued good Readers whosoeuer of you in this priuat and domesticall war of disagreeing bretheren are desirous to take parte with the better cause And as for the first forte of Iudges The defendants say that they cannot admitte the Popes for iudges of this controuersie for most waightie causes for they say that they haue beene not only long since accused but also proued giltie by the greatest part of Christendome namely England Scotland Denmark Swethlande the greater parte of Germanie Heluetia Fraunce Transiluania yea and of those Churches and countryes also which in Africa Egipt Syria Greece the Easte and other coastes of the world doe recken themselues amongst the Christian Churches they haue I say by all these bene conuicted of eight most heynous crimes that is to say of impietie or prophane irreligiousnes of vsurped Tyranny of corrupting Religiō of Sacri●edge or Church-pillage of vnreuerent and vile abusing of Princelie Maiestie of Rebellion and conspiracie of Antichristianitie and of eight notorious and abominable vices in manners As for the Impietie or prophanenes of the Popes they say that they will prooue it by three reasons First in that they plainly arrogate and challenge vnto themselues a certaine Deitie or Godhead For there are expresse writings of theirs wherein it is affirmed that they are Gods that they are subiect to no man that they are the husbands of the Church that they can dispence against the Apostles and their rules that they may be against aboue without lawe that they are inuisible Gods and finally that none ought to demaund why they doe so although they dayly hurle and drawe whole heapes of soules to hell Secondly they proue the impietie of Popes by this that they haue often times made a mocke euen of their owne Religion For Gregory the seuenth brought one to this resolution by promising him mony that by letting downe a beame vpon the head of the Emperour Henrie the third while he was praying in the Church hee should crush him to peces Which while the executioner of this mischeefe made hast to doe the boord breaking vnder the beames both the stone and the Popes man fell downe The same Pope Hildebrand asking councell at the Deuils against the Emperour was not afraide to cast the Sacrament of the Lords body into y e fire the Cardinals speaking against it which thing the Bishop of Parme did openly publish Siluester the second obtained the Popedome by the magicall artes of the Deuils vpon this condition that after his death he would giue him selfe wholy to them Sixtus the fourth caused Bandinus Iulianus to be murthered by treacherous persons in the Church giuing them a watch-word by the host For that the Popes set nothing by their host is euident by this that they cause it to bee borne before them as a messenger of their comming being put vpon a hackenay and committed to a horse-grome Thirdly they say that the impietie of the Popes is declared by this also that they haue set vp aboue three score and fiue Religious orders each of which haue their seuerall fashions of hooded attires and their distinct rules and rites of Religion The number of ●riers in these orders is thought to amount to fiue hundred thousand in Europe onely which may easily be gathered by this that the Generall of the Franciscanes did often times promise the

themselues for iudges of the controuersies of the Churche For otherwise the Gospellers say that they will make the Popes that answere which long since Pope Iohn the 23. receiued from the Grecians vnto whom when he had written that he alone was the head of the Church and Christs Uickar they replyed thus bréefely We doe throughly beleue thy power to be soueraigne ouer thy Subiects Thy great pride we cannot brook thy vnsatiable greedines we are not able to satisfie The Deuill be with thee because God is with vs. It remaineth that the gospellers shewe why and how far foorth they acknowledge not the councels for iudges And they say that they do this moued thereunto with most waightie causes For first there haue béene many councels which haue wonderfully erred not onely in manners but also in poynts of doctrine And thereof it came that not afewe times prouinciall councels were amended by generall councels and contrarie wise Generall councels corrected by national councels Moreouer euen the best councels that haue béene haue not handled all the articles of the faith but onlye a few controuersies which specially were tossed beaten in their daies Besides this it is manifest out of stories that euen in those goldē times such was partlye the pride partlye the wilynesse partlye the ignorance and partly the wickednes of some Bishops that not the spirit of God but the spirite of discord may séeme to haue béen president in their councels Finallye we read that in these last times such councels haue been held wherin wicked opinions and either vnprofitable or hurtfull ceremonies haue béen brought in established not by reasons or authoritie of the woord of God but by force armes The which things least any man might say to be spoken slaunderously and falsely it may be shewed by a breefe bedroule of the councels For if a man shall peruse the stories of olde times he shal finde this to be most true that euen as according to the old tradition of the house os Elias the whole time of the vistble world is deuided by two thousands For there shall be sixe thousand yeeres and then the burning of all thinges two thousand voide two thousand vnder the Lawe two thousand the daies of Messias and for our sins which are manye and great there shall be wanting the yeeres that shall be wanting So likewise is the time of Messias deuided into thrée Circuits or portions within the which also almost all Kingdomes do féel an alteration Within these thrée circles the true religion and Catholick Church is found to weare and waxe like to the Moone For for the space of fiue hundreth yéeres after Christ although there fell out great contentions about the Sonne of God and other weightie matters by Ebion Cerinthus and others yet did the trueth preuaile and for the space of whole fiue hundred yéeres the Church flourished and continued as it were at the full moone For within this compasse there fel the four first Sinodes or assemblies of the Apostles and afterwards the foure generall councelles Wherof the first being called togither by Constantine the great condemned Arius The second helde at Constantinople assembled by Theodosius confuted the Macedonians The thirde kept at Ephesus summoned by Theodosius the second the Sonne of Archadius condemned Nestorius The fourth celebrated at Chalcedon commaunded by Martianus condemned Eutiches The créedes of these foure generall councels as expositions of the faith the reformed Church dooth willingly imbrace For they are grounded vpon the foundation of the holye Scriptures themselues But in the fiue hundred yéers next following errour did so wrastle with trueth that assoone as men had once stepped somewhat aside from the path of the Scriptures by and by many buddes of false opinions and hurtful ceremonies sprung vp and grew more and more For in the first general councell held at Constantinople assembled by the Emperour Iustinian they were confuted that said that the body of Christ was incorruptible In the sixt which Constantine the first surnamed Barbatus called together in the same place the Monothelites were condemned But the councels that afterwardes followed almost all of them decréee matters either childish or else flat contrarie to the word of God For in the seuenth general councel which at the commaundement of the Empresse was adiourned from Constantinople to Nice it was decreed not by the word of God but by mayne force of an armie leuied out of Thracia that images should be honoured and worshipped And in they eighth general councel which when Basilius was Emperour was assembled at Constantinople when Adrian Bishoppe of Rome had sent his deputies or Leuetenants thither and commaunded that the Church of Rome should be the head of other Churches and that the common people should be debard from all choise of their ministers there grew an inward grudge betwéene the Latin and Gréeke Churches for the supremacie which continueth euen vntill this day But in the other fiue hundred yeares that remayne there followed such councells wherein we see almoste no good thing but all wicked and fonde thinges rather established At the councell of Ments for let me out of each of these hundreds picke and cull foorth one sinod a péece for the manifesting of the matter whereat both the Pope and the Emperour were present with an hundred and thirtie Bishops there was consultatiō for the forbidding of priests marriage In the councel held at Brixia which was called by the Emperour Henry Gregorie the seuenth for his villanies before mentioned was deposed In the councell of Papia when the Emperour Fridericke would haue refourmed the election of the Popes there arose a schisme of twentie yeares continuance which lasted till the Pope had troad vpon the Emperours necke at Uenice In the councell of Lions Innocentius the fourth made an act against the Emperour Henrie the second and authorized the Cardinals to were red Caps and ride on horses At the counsel of Uienna in France Clemens the first did solemnly publish his Clementine constitutions which although at his death he had cōmaunded to be burned as those wherein he knewe there were many snares and errours yet Iohn the two and twentieth his successour did againe confirme and rati●●e them Sigismund the Emperour called a generall councell at Constance wherein Iohn the thrée and twentieth was deposed There were mooreouer burned at it contrarie to solemne promise Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage because they held the opiniō of Iohn wickliefe the Englishman who taught both many other pointes agréeable to the word of God and also that the Lordes supper should be ministred whole without the dreame of consubstantiation There was a councel assembled at Basil when the same Sigismund was Emperour wherein it was decréed that the Popes ought to be subiect to the councels Which whē it disliked Eugenius hee remoued the councell first to Bononia and then to Ferraria and

bread and wine in the Sacrament doth so remaine and not ceasse as there remaineth in Christ the Lord the nature of man ioyned to the diuine nature Augustine saith that it is rashnesse without plaine and manifest testimonies of the Scriptures to determine on either side matters of Rellgion that are doubtfull Calixtus deliuered the Sacrament to the whole church kept backe notorious wicked persons from it and condemned those which being present did not communicate Cyprian saith that the Christian people were not to be denyed the bloud of their Lord for the confessing of whom they were commaunded to shed their owne bloud Apollo amongest other herestes obrayded Montanus with this that he was the first that had prescribed the people lawes of fasting Paphnutius denied that y e Ministers of the church were to be forbidden mariage And auouched that the mutuall performance of mariage dueties betwéene man and wife was chastitie Cyprian sayd that onely Christ was to bee heard of whom it was said heare him and that it was not to be reregarded what others before vs haue either saide or doone but what Christ who was before all hath commaunded Augustine stoutly maintaineth that the Church ought not to prefer her selfe before Christ because he alwaies iudgeth truely but the Iudges of the Church as being men are oftentimes mistaken Ambrose saide that holy things néeded not golde neither were those things acceptable by meanes of gold which wree not bought with golde Acatius said that our God did neither eat nor drink and that therfore he néeded not cuppes or bowles Spiridion saide that he did therefore fréelye eate fleshe on that day wherin others did abstaine because he was a Christian Augustine saide that it was not lawfull for Monkes to liue at other mens cost although they were dayly occupied in meditations praiers and studies Epiphanius said that it was a horrible abhomination to sée the Image either of Christ or any other painted in the Churches of Christians These and other such bounds of the auncient Fathers sith the Sée of Rome her selfe hath ouer●strided by what right she maye enioyne others to keepe that which she her selfe neglecteth to doo all men may easily iudge Sith therfore neither the Popes neither the councels nor the Fathers can end this dissention is there any at last I pray you vnto whose iudgement we must stand Are they Traditions that must strike the stroke Why by the name of Traditions they must either vnderstand ceremonies or doctrines and as for ceremonies although they be auntient yet if they be either hurtfull or néedlesse and superfluous or repugnant to the woord of God or haue been abrogated at a certain time they are not to be suffered For the Lord giueth expresse commaundement that men woorship him not with doctrines deuised by mens braines and as for the traditions that are doctrinall they must either containe in them the written word of God it selfe Créedes and expositions gathered by necessary collection out of the foundations of the scriptures against Heretickes or else those things which either directly or indirectly are either put to or taken from the word of God If you meane the former who will not receyue such traditions If the later who may not without any breach of Godlines reiect them And how much Traditions doe auaile to appease and ceasse the contentions of the Church olde Stories doe plainly shew For when as in the most auncient times there arose a sturre in the Church concerning the feast of Easter with so great a doo that the whole world was shaken therewith both sides had recourse to the traditions of the Apostles which are not expressed in any certain Booke But when each side alleadged that they kepte the feaste of Easter on that time which was appointed by tradition of the Apostles the matter grew to this passe in the end that there was a flat fréedome for the Church in all such manner of matters vntill tiranny preuailed Loe what force traditions haue to determine the controuersies of Religion Will miracles then make manifest which is the better cause or the Catholick church Why the vse of miracles is now ceased For there is not now any new Eospell or new doctrine broached but that which Christ and the Apostles haue already confirmed with miracles and wonders Againe we doe not reade that all those that restored and as it were reformed Religion were famous for their myracles In the which number Iohn Baptist Asaph Ethan Iedithun Heman Core and other Prophets are to be reckonned Moreouer except the gift of miracles be lefte to the wise disposition of God they cannot confirme any doctrine For it is manifest that the miracles of Christ which otherwise were full of power did either nothing at all or very litle further the obstinate Iewes to faith and Godly nesse Finally how could miracles be necessarie signes of true Religion of themselues when as it is manifest that Antichrist and false Prophets shall excell with many miracles wherefore those miracle-mongers ought themselues to be taken for miracles and wounders who when the date and vse of miracles is past doe yet require miracles although the true doctrine is not euen at this day altogether destitude of great miracles What then can the perpetuall and continuall succession of the Bishops of Rome serue to discerne betwéene true and false Religion Surely no man will deny that there is one succession of true doctrine and another of persons wherefore if the succession of Persons be ioyned with the succession of the Prophets and Apostles doctrine it is manifest doublesse that the weight thereof is not small For in this sense the Fathers did alleage succession against the Hereticks For he that professeth the same doctrine saith Nezianzen is partaker of the same chaire also but hee that holdeth a contrarie doctrine ought not to bee counted a Successour and truely this later hath the name in déede but that former hath the trueth of succession Except perhaps a man call it succession in that sence that we say sicknesse succéedeth health light darknesse a storme fayre weather madnesse reason dregges wine and in a word Nero Augustus or Cambyses Cyrus Sith therfore the succession of the Prophets and Apostles doctrine was broken off long agoe in the popish Church surely the ordinarie continuance of Pope after Pope is of no force to shew which is the true religion But it may be they will demaund of the Gospellers the time and person wherein the succession of doctrine was altered Unto this the Gospellers answere that the Popes of Rome are to be distinguished into thrée especiall rankes or companies For they deny not that from Linus to Milchiades there were one and thirtie true Pastours of them in number who laboured in the Lords haruest euen vnto martirdome and therefore may well be called Starres in the right hand of

dialogo quodam See Socrat. The E●ag Ruffin Or●s Bedam Zozin hist par 2 Vol. li. Geor. 3. Alber. Kran in Sax. li. 2. ca. 1. Marcil in defe p●c cap. 1● Mant. li. 1. de p 1. cap. 30. Eus de vit Con. Ruf. l. 1. c. 11. Socr. l. 1. ca. 39. Vincen. l 24. hist The exposition of Christes words Barnard l. 2. de Cons Ni● l. 8. c. 4 Aug. in Io. tract 10. 124 de ver Dei ser 20. Cy●il in di●l de Trin. l. 4. ●mb in epist ad Ephe. c. 2. Chrisost hō 5● in Mat. Bar. Epist. 230. ●●si quis decre de petit Hared L. 1. c. de furt L. Titus D. 99. The third reas●n of insu●ficiencie Di●● 96. satis euidenter Can. 9. Quast 3. Dist 34. Can. Lec in Dist 82. Can. Presbyter Lib. 1 Decret Greg. tit 7. Can. 5. Io. 14. 2. Tim 3. Mat. 15. Ier. 7. Ir●n Epist 4. Athon in prin Lib. 2. Cō Grec Con. Trid. ses 4. c. 1. Li. 1. Cor. Pon. suc 7. See the complaints of Maximiliā of the cuppe of the Lords Supper Lib. 3. Decret Greg. tit 41. Cā sa● ●ū Dist 2. de consec can presb When and by whom the Popish ceremonies were ordained Of the reseruation of the Sacrament Of the Mass● in Latin Of the Masse of such as kept concubines Dist 32. praeter hoc itē Nullus Of the life of Ministers Of Images Of Monckes Caus 16. Quaest 1. adijcimus Dist 92. can in sancto Of Canonicall houres Of the yeare of Iubilie Can. 11. Quaest 3. qui omnipotem Decret Sym cap 8. Quaest 4. Of the electiō of the Pope Whores chose the Popes Tici●ensis Lib. 2. cap 13. Vnlearned laym●n Popes Of auriculat confession Lib. 5. decret tit 38. can omnibus vtriusque Of the eleuation of the Sacrament De consec Dist 1 cau vasa Dist 95. canubinam Of the hatred between pope and pope Platina de vitis pontificum The heresies of the popes Flauius Blōd. li. 3. Rom. inst Eu. 6. Breuiarij postulat Iud. 12. art 72. Abba● vrsper in vit Philip. nuper pag. 321. Theod. Nihem tract 6. c. 37. Alberic lib. bene a Zeno. 18. quad praes●●pt Alphon cōt her Lib. 11. cap. 4. Hiere Mar. Ecc. Iohn Gerson The fourth cause of insufficiencie The complaint of the French King The complaint of Princes The wonderfull treasure of Iohn 22. Pardons the occasion of reformation The first cause of insufficiencie namely the sinne of treason C. Vn. san● extrauag de maiorib obed Ca. 1. extrauata consuit C. solit extr dema ob Helmold Chron. 5. Cla. 8. Naucler Lib. 1. Geu 79. Barnus in vi●is Pontificum The Emperour the Popes horseman Nauclerus Ger. 39. Barnus de vit Rom. pont Funceus in Chronol The wonderfull pride of the Pope Platina The cronicles of Fr●un●e The Pope vsurpeth both Swoords Cuspinianus in vita Alberti Abba● vrsper gensis in parali●omenis Annales Gallie● Marius in eusebio cap. Abbas vrsperge●sis See for these thinges Platina Marius the Cronicles of Fraunce and of the Empire Emperours excommunicated All kings the Popes seruants Augstench lib. 2. dedonat Const pag. 138. The sixte cause of insufficiencie The cuning practies of popes Arnobius Ferro Guilie●nus Budaeus de Asse lib. 5. The Pope ●lingeth away Peters keyes and draweth out Paules sworde The br●●tish thunderbolt of Six●●s the fi●th against Henrie king of Fraunce and Nauarre The storie of the Spaniards viage into England 10. Morellius in lide eccles ab Ab. Antichristo per eius excidiū liberand The preparation of the Spanish flecte Bernardinus ●endoza Ambassador of Spain with the French king The successe of the Spanish viage The Popes chuse themselues Stella Venetus Plat. Lintpran dus Massaeus Vspergensis Three Popes togither Two heades at once in Rome The seuētenth cause of insufficiēcie namely Antichristianitie 2. Thes 2. The whole Chapter Iohan. Apoc. 17. 1. Cor. 1. 6. 2. Cor. 6. Eph. 2. Thes 4. The Pope proued Antichrist The criers proclaim before the Pope Bow downe bow down fall on your knees Dist 19. 22. 96. Bald. l. vlt. c. rescin sent Deciu c. 1. de Constit Felinus c. ego r. de iure Eberhardus Saelisb Arch. lib. 7. Ann. Io Auenti The eight cause of insufficiencie a heap of eight de testable viccs Popes haue been whoremongers and Buggerers Luitprandus Ticinencis li. 3. cap. 12 de gest Imperat. Petrus Premonstraten Platina Ticinens lib. 2. cap. 13. Luitprandus l. 6. Mantuau Valer volaterr Hier Marius in Eusebio cap● Joan Iouianus Pon. Actius Sanazarius In Alphons li. 3. Platina Functius Ianus Pannontus Episcopus quinqus Ecilesiensis tēpore D. Matthiae Regis nostri Vide Cemment Magist Barisiensi Grebellium Georgium Lilium Vergerius Episcopus Lustinop●litan 〈◊〉 The book was Printed at Venice by Trea nus Zanius Iohannes Riuius Johānes Rasis Baptist Māt l. b. 4. Alphonsi Volater in declarat ad Lou. Valer. Anselmus Vergerius Agripa Marius Eusebius capit Paulus Verger The admirable crueltie of the Popes Luitprandus in his whole sixt booke P●at Val. Ansel Stella Granzius Vicelius V●le Ansel Vo 〈…〉 Marul Luitprand lib. 3. cap. 12. The popes Magicians Hier. Mar. in Euseb Val. Pan. ●●ing Benno Card. The Popes Atheists Vitae Pontificum Exempla Huldrici August Pet. Pre Ben. Card. Benno Cardinalis Pant. Paul Verger Vergerius The Popes murtherers Mat. Patis Huld Hutten Grebel Gil. Duchinius Eras Colet See the Acts of the ma 〈…〉 s of England Fraunce Germanie c. The Popes traitors or betrayers See in the stories how the Emperour was taken and let goe againe by the Souldan Nauclerus Bernus 7. The Popes poysoners Vergerius Agrippa Contarenus Vergerius and such others Petrus de vineis li. 6. Epist The popes bastardes and whores children Sigebertus Vincentius Monsters sent of God for the abominations of the Popes Petrus Praemonstrat Benno Card. Abbas Vsper Mattheus Parisius 1260 135 Joannes Nouiomagus in illust Batauiae 1517 The miraculous punishments whereby God hath shewed his detestatiō of the Popes villanies See for these thinges the liues of the Popes in the authours aboue mentioned The definitiue and summarie causes of reiecting the Popes Distinct 40. Canon li. Papa L. Item si v 〈…〉 17. §. vlt. Why the counsels are reiected as iudges in religion and how farre foorth they are not refused The first cause The second cause The third cause The fourth cause The tradition of the house of Elias Three circles or diuisions of time in the new Testament The Church like to the Moone Apoc. 12. The circle of the first two hundred yeres Acts. 1. 6. 15. The foure seuerall counsels The councel of Nice 328. Of Constantinople 385. Of Ephesus 435. Of Chalcedon 455. The second circle of fiue hundred yeeres 788 869 The third circle of fiue hundred yeares 1049 1080 1160 1243 1311 1414 The death of Iohn Hus and Ierom of Prage 1431 1511 1552 Many contrarietes of councels Dist 32. Can.