declared for the present it is expected by all Protestants that deale sincerely that their religion should be agreeable to the doctrine of the ancient and primatiue Fathers Therefore his Majesty esteeming them with due regard hath pleased to sentence these in Parliament k K. speach Parlia 1603 I will euer yeeld all reuerence to Antiquity And in the publike conference in these wordes l Conference pag. 73. For my part I knowe not howe to answere the objection of Papists when they charge vs with nouelties but to tell them that their abuses are newe And approueth the dayes and time of Constantine in the primatiue Church a rule of religion saying m Conference supr pag. 69. Constantine is not to be appeached of superstition but thinges then vsed may still be continued Also in his first speach in Parliament he would haue all nouelties renounced And of the same minde no doubt be all sincerely meaning Protestants which trust vnto and are directed by the sermons citations and bookes of these Doctors teachers among them But it will nowe appeare that they are so farre from justifying their former oathes protestations and assertions that they acknowledge those primatiue Fathers to be for Catholikes and both vvrite and censure those most holy and learned men for that cause with vnciuill contemptuous barbarous and irreligious speaches First M. Wotton expresly controleth the recited sentence of his Majesty concerning the time of Constantine and antiquity for a Catholike Authour citing n The Catholike Authour against Perkins in prefat and humbly accepting it for a rule of triall M. Wotton writeth thus o Wot def of Per. p. 15. 16. The triall of doctrine is not to be featched from the opinions and examples of men And againe p page 16. It may not seeme strange if superstition were crept into the Church before Constantines time Let vs proceede D. Couell a man not of the rashest judgement hath honoured S. Augustine before vvith the greatest commendation of learning yet M. Wotton writeth q W. sup p. 8. We neede not feare S. Augustine though against vs. r page 17. Eusebius is to be reprehended ſ page 9. There was want of modesty and truth also in the treatise of Hierome against Vigilantius t page 88. The ancient Fathers spake more like Philosophers then Diuines u page 118. It is more then I knowe that Gregory is a Saint x page 224. The Authour of the Epistle to the Philippians attributed to S. Ignatius is an vnfit judge in controuersies of diuinity y page 422. Tertullians witnesse is of small authority z page 440. Damascene is not greatly to be respected a page 462. Origen is generally condemned b page 340. Ignatius Epistle to the Romans approued by S. Hierome and Protestants is a counterfeit Ignatius for teaching merit of good workes c page 387. Cyprian is too farre carryed away since he ascribeth to almesdeedes the purging of sinne d page 467. Ireneus judgement is little to be respected e page 494. Tertullians testimony is not worth answering Tertullian and Origen may be joyned together f page 495. Chrysostomes Rhethoricke is better then his Logicke g page 495. Hieromes authority in the case of single life is not much worth h page 500. Those Christian Fathers which condemned Iouinian as S. Augustine Ambrose Hierome c. delt vnchristianly with him i p. 519. 520. The authority of the ancient writers Athanasius Augustine Hierome concluding a worke of perfection from those wordes of Christ goe and sell all c. is not to be admitted k page 543. The authority of Clement of Alexandria and Augustine with the schoole Doctors is inferior to the Iewes l p. 545 546. Origen and Theodoret vvhome before he preferreth m page 484. aboue S. Augustine ouerthrowe their owne distinction n page 594. Lactantius though he were an ancient Christian yet in his verses of vvorshipping the Crosse he sheweth himselfe liker a light Poët then a graue writer And no meruaile though this Protestant be so angry with the ancient Fathers for teaching and maintayning that doctrine vvhich the Roman Church nowe holdeth as appeareth before For he exclaymeth most barbarously and vvithout respect euen against all the Kings of this and other nations for the same cause his wordes be these o page 53. The Kings of England and Scotland c. were Sathans souldiers when they were of the Popes religion Hitherto M. Wotten next let vs come to M. Perkins whome he defendeth M. Perkins writeth thus p Perkin problem pag. 4. The Fathers haue spoken many thinges incommodiously of holy thinges q pag. 93. 94. The ancient Fathers did sinne in the inuocation of Saints yea were guilty of sacrilege such were Paulinus Fortunatus S. Leo S. Ephrem S. Flugentius Petrus Domianus Prosper r page 105. The ancient Fathers sometimes speake inconueniently of the article of justification ſ page 184. Some of the ancient Fathers as Tertullian and Cyprian are Montanists or at the least doe erre filthily for making Confirmation a Sacrament D. Sutcliffe vvho so much before reuerenced the Fathers in vvordes nowe writeth in this manner t Sutcl subuers pag. 5. Metaphrastes is a lying pedant writing more lyes then leaues u page 8. 9. Bede reporteth too many thinges by heare-say Ado is a fabulous writer x page 9. The history of King Lucius his conuersion testified by so many hystories may well be paragoned with the tales of King Arthure Sir Tristram and Lancelot Dulacke y page 19. The Brittaines haue cause to detest the memory of Augustine Let vs next come to M. Willet the great professor of Diuinity who hath taken so solemne an oath before that the Fathers be for his cause To shewe his just dealings I will only vse the testimony of a Protestant against him M. Parkes vvriteth of him in these wordes z Parkes against Limbomastix p. 170 He condemneth all the ancient Fathers for dreamers a page 151. Condemneth all the Fathers b Defen of the third testimony sect kkk He condemneth all learned and Godly Diuines for enemies of Christes Crosse and blasphemers of his passion He justifieth most wicked Heretikes and condemneth most holy Fathers c Defen of the first second testimony p. 2 5. sect 18. 21. pag. 181. 166 101. 100. defenc of the 2. place sect 10. 11. 20. defenc of the 3. testimony sect 7. 12. 15. 16. c. He falsly translateth corrupteth indignely handleth clippeth shamefully corrupteth injuriously handleth greatly abuseth vntruly alleageth misquoteth maymeth mistranslateth much abuseth notably corrupteth c. S. Augustine Origen S. Ambrose S. Chrysostome S. Leo S. Hierome Tertullian S. Bernard c. fathereth false-boodes vpon them peruerteth their true arguments corrupteth their wordes And further in particuler for those bookes which he hath written against Catholikes as his
and dignity ouer all Churches in all parts of the world and neither by Councell Emperor or such Donation but by old custome and the institution of Christ And the same Church as before still continueth the true Church of Christ I hope it is no offence to agree with it in this as in other questions Chapter 4. All bookes receiued for Scripture by the Roman Church are Canonicall THus hauing by the directions sentence of Protestant writers of so late memory as this present is found out that the Roman Church is the spouse of Christ his true Church and piller of truth whose communion we must embrace followe her directions rest in her judgement liuing dying therein to haue eternal life the only and chiefest happynes which we can seeke or find And that the authority of the chiefe Bishops of that holy Apostolike See hath euer bin so soueraigne chiefe commanding and supreame as these men haue taught vs in the former Chapters we might here by D. Fields censure and aduise confine our selues and vvade no further in so many intricate controuersies of religion But to giue a finall contentment to all curiosities let vs briefly enter into a particuler-like examination of all principall Articles in question And first of Scriptures vvhose authority is either only or chiefest with Protestants D. Couell writeth in these wordes a Couell def of Hook p. 31 The Church of Rome teacheth no bad opinion to affirme that the Scriptures are holy diuine in themselues but so esteemed by vs for the authority of the Church And againe That the Scriptures are true we haue it from the Church And further thus b pag. 32. 33. supr The Church hath foure singuler offices towardes the Scripture First to be of them as it were a faithfull register Secondly to discerue and judge betweene false and adulterate and that which is true and perfect The third to publish and diuulge to proclayme as a cryer the true edict of our Lord him selfe The last is to be an Interpreter and in that following the safest rule to make an vndiuided vnity of the truth vncapable of contradiction to be a most faithfull expositor of his owne meaning And concludeth thus c page 34. supr We say that we are taught to receiue the word of God from the authority of the Church we see her judgement we heare her voice in humility subscribe vnto all this Hitherto be D. Couels wordes for the major proposition of my Syllogisme But the minor or second position that the Roman Church is the true Church of Christ is allowed and proued by Protestants before Therefore this Protestant argument must be thus concluded All bookes which the Church of Rome proposeth for Scriptures the expositions which shee deliuereth c. In humility we must subscribe vnto them receiue them as the word of God from her authority D. Doue referreth the question what bookes be Canonicall Scripture to the two Doctors S. Augustine and S. Hierome His vvordes be these d Doue perswas pag. 15. Catholikes proue them to be Canonicall out of S. Augustine We that they be Apocrypha out of S. Hierome both which Doctors are of no small authority with the Church of Rome and therefore in this we differ no more from them then S. Hierome did from S. Augustine Therefore I hope for many causes Protestants will giue place vnto vs in this question It is knowne S. Augustine in calling was aboue S. Hierome In learning D. Couell telleth you e Cou. against Burg. pag. 3. he was farre the most learned Doctor that euer was or shall be in all likely-hood Thirdly your publike Conference f Conference infr to be after cited hath answered S. Hieromes authority for Catholikes Fourthly S. Augustine speaketh in the name of the whole Church for these bookes his wordes be these g August tom 10. ser 191. We receiue the old and newe Testament in that number of bookes which the authority of the holy Catholike Church hath deliuered And in the place where he deliuereth the Canon of Scriptures as Catholikes nowe doe hee giueth these rules to him that vvould knowe vvhich bee true Scriptures his vvordes bee these h Tom. 3. lib. 2. doct Christ cap. 8. In Canonicall Scriptures let him followe the authority of the most Catholike Churches among which those be which haue deserued to haue Apostolike Sees and to receiue their Epistles And so proceeding too long to be cited concludeth by all his rules that all those bookes vvhich the Roman Church nowe receiueth there remembred by S. Augustine are Canonicall But to be briefe The Protestant Surueyor of the communion booke affirmeth plainely i Suruey of the booke of common prayer pag. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. that the Protestants of England must approue for Canonicall these bookes with the Roman Church So likewise doe the 22. Preachers of London in their Petition k Petit. of 22. preachers except against homilies and except 4. against the com booke And D. Field is of the same opinion or must be for thus he vvriteth l Field lib. 4. c. 23. pa. 245. The ancient and true beleeuing Iewes before the comming of Christ especially such as liued in Greece and nations out of Iury commonly called Hellenists receiued those bookes for Canonicall Scripture And to vse his vvordes Hence it came to passe that the Iewes deliuered a double Canon of Scripture to the Christian Churches And speaking againe of that volume of the Hellenists he addeth m page 246. These bookes joyned in one volume were translated out of Greeke into Latin and read by them of the Latin Church in that translation And entreating of S. Augustine and the Latin Fathers especially in Africke and the third Carthaginian Councell vvhere this Canon is receiued he vvriteth thus They reckon the bookes of Scripture according as they found them in vse in the Latin Church Then D. Field hath absolutely graunted that in the Latin Church vnder vvhich England is these Scriptures vvere euer esteemed for Canonicall And being translated as he acknowledgeth out of Greeke into Latin this Gretian vvill not easily persvvade but the Greeke Church also first embraced them for he saith thus n page 245. supr The Greeke Iewes or Hellenists deliuered this Canon to the Christian Churches then first to the Greeke Church being in Greece among them and best vnderstanding those Greeke Scriptures before they vvere translated into Latin The Protestant Conference at Hampton-Court entreating of the Protestant exceptions against these Scriptures vseth these wordes o Conference pag. 60. Most of the objections made against those bookes were the old cauils of the Iewes renewed by S. Hierome in his time who was the first that gaue them the name of Apocrypha which opinion vpon Ruffinus his challendge he after a sort disclaimed the rather because a generall offence was taken at his speaches in that kinde Hitherto the censure of that publike
is a Sacrament by Tradition With the ancient Father S. Basil M. Wotton d Wotton def of Perkins p. 465. 466. so assuring vs of his opinion that the very profession of our faith by which we beleeue in the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost is a Tradition With D. Ceuell e Cou. against the plea of the Innoc. p. 104. That it was an Apostolicall Tradition or Ordination to ordayne Archbishops in their Prouinces as Bishops also in their Diocesse to rule the Church With the Bishop of Winchester f B. Bilsons Suruey of Christs sufferings p. 664. against the Puritans that the Article of Christes discent to hell and the Creede wherein it is contayned is an Apostolicall Tradition deliuered to the Church by the direction and agreement of the Apostles And to conclude briefly why may not we say with the Councell of Florence cited by M. Willet g Willet Synop controuers 1. q. 7. for generall and the Patriarkes of the Apostolike Sees there present with the Councell of Constance not of vnequal authority and the Councel of Trent to passe others with six Cardinals foure Legates three Patriarkes two and thirty Archbishops two hundred twenty eight Bishops and fiue Abbots there assembled as D. Doue telleth vs that Protestancy in all points is false and Catholike religion true when no Protestant Church can shewe any one such like authority for their cause And this of necessity D. Field with his Protestants must acknowledge or freely by their recited doctrine confesse that there neither is nor can be hereafter by his rules true and certayne Scripture Tradition or Religion in the world For if we neither haue Scripture exposition of the difficulties in it or Tradition but by Tradition as he hath graunted and those only three rules to knowe them if those rules may propose vnto vs false Scriptures false expositions of their obscurities and false Traditions in matters of faith faith cannot be certayne and religion grounded vpon it is ouerthrowne Chapter 8. Of the authority and commanding highest power of generall Councels prouing the doctrine of the Roman Church IT may sufficiently be gathered by that which hath beene entreated before both that generall Councels are of highest authority in the Church of Christ and their testimony for Catholike religion Therefore to be briefe in this question concerning their chiefest judgement and preeminence first the Bishop of Winchester writeth thus a B. Bils Suruey of Christs suffer pa. 83. The authority of generall Councels is most holsome in the Church and citeth S. Augustine to that purpose D. Morton writeth b Mortō part 2. Apol. pag. 340. l. 4. c. 18 That concilium publicum est summus judex a generall Councell is highest judge The Protestant Relator of religion is of the same opinion c Relation of the state of relig cap. 47. and calleth it the only remedie in such times of controuersies about religion D. Sutcliffe hath these wordes d Sutcl subu pag. 119. Generall Councels haue souer aigne authority in externall gouernement And againe e Sutc. against D. Kellison p. 41. 42. 102. False it is that we will admit no judge but Scriptures for we appeale still to a lawfull generall Councell f Sutcl subu epist dedicat We hold all the Christian faith explaned in the six generall Councels D. Field is so cleare in this question that he telleth vs first g Field pag. 226. cap. 16. Priuate interpretations doe not binde vs nor are proposed to that purpose secondly he teacheth h Field p. 228 that only Bishops assembled in a generall Councell haue authority to interpret Scriptures and by their authority to suppresse all them that gaine-say such interpretation and subject euery man that shall disobey such determinations as they consent vpon to excommunication and censures of like nature Hitherto of the highest dignity of generall Councels Nowe let vs examine by these Protestants whether they be for them or Catholikes That they be not nor can be for Protestants thus I demonstrate from themselues The wordes of the Protestant Relator of religion are these i Relation of religion c. 47 The Protestants are seuered bandes or rather scattered troopes each drawing a diuers way without any meanes to pacifie their quarrels to take vp their controuersies No Prince with any preeminence of jurisdiction aboue the rest no Patriarke one or more to haue a common superintendance or care of their Churches for correspondency and vnity no ordinary way to assemble a generall Councell of their part the only hope remayning euer to asswage their contentions Hitherto the Relator Where vve see that first the Protestants are diuided secondly they are without any meanes of vnion in controuersies there is no jurisdiction among them no way for that which is the only hope to end contentions in religion therefore this only and highest remedie by generall Councels cannot possibly be for them except they will haue an Vnion Church Faith Truth and Religion vnpossible The same is sufficiently also proued before from D. Couell in my Chapter k Cap. 3. supr Couell against the plea of the Innoc. pag. 103. 104 105. 106 107 108. 109. of the Popes authority where he alloweth of necessity one highest chiefe spirituall commander in the Church to such purposes And shewing how before the time of Constantine there could be no pretence of any Councell to be assembled but by the spiritual authority he addeth thus l Couell supr pag. 110. The Synode of Rome in the yeare 225 called by Cornelius Pope of Rome against Nouatus consisted of threescore Bishops many others of the Clergie And further in these wordes m page 109. And after when Princes came to embrace the faith the best meanes they could deuise to procure peace and aduance religion was by their lawes to referre Ecclesiasticall causes to Ecclesiasticall judges Nowe concerning the Roman Church first the Protestant Relator of religion which hath excluded Protestants from al hope of any generall Councell writeth of the Roman Church in the same place and in these wordes n Relation of relig supr cap. 47. The other Catholikes haue the Pope as a common father aduiser and conductor to them al to reconcile their jarres to appease their displeasures to decide their difference aboue all thinges to drawe their religion by consent of Councels to vnity And this is so cleare in the judgement of al these Protestants that when they denie the authority of generall Councels they haue no pretence of excuse but because they were called by the Popes authority so D. Field o Field booke of the church D. Sutcliffe p Sutcl subu against Kellison c. M. Willet q Will. Antil and the rest And yet D. Fields argument or rule of the Pastour of an Apostolike Church the primatiue Church and holy Fathers consenting doth warrant vs that priuiledge euer belonged to the See of Rome that without
the consent thereof no Councell could be called none confirmed as Pope Damasus r Damas epist ad Illiric hist tripart lib. 5. c. 28. vel 29. Theodor. hist Socrat. hist l. 2. c. 17. Sozō the ancient Fathers and Hystorians witnesse And the Bishoppe of Winchester graunteth these propositions ſ True differēce p. 66. 67 edit an 1586 The Canon of the primatiue Church made euery thing voide that was done without the Bishop of Rome And againe The Canon of the primatiue Church forbad any Councell to be called without his consent t Middleton papistom pag. 39. M. Middleton telleth vs that the first Nicen Councell did approue the dignity of Rome at the least ouer the West prouinces by old custome And if vve should enter into particulers First B. Bilson will tell vs that the Councell of Constance u p. 119 120. vvhere the Protestant doctrine was condemned in Husse and Wicliffe was a generall Councell So he witnesseth of the Councell of Basil x p. 124. 125. condemning the same for heresie M. Willet y Willet Synops controuers 1. q. 7. Limbomastix apud Parkes p. 137. 180. both in his Synopsis and Lymbomastix as M. Parkes is witnesse against him and himselfe also so accounteth it graunteth the same of the Councell of Florence where the seauen Sacraments Purgatory the Popes Supremacy c. were confirmed Of the Councell of Trent no man will question And yet D. Doue hath assured vs before z Doue persw pag. 14. that there were present in that Councell six Cardinals foure Legates three Patriarkes two and thirty Archbishops two hundred twenty eight Bishops The third part of such an assembly would haue beene a great countenance to Protestant religion farre greater then euer it had or is like to procure D. Couell a Couell def of Hook p. 21 and M. Parkes b Parkes against limbomastix p. 176 cite approue as a rule of faith the great Councell of Lateran where transubstantiation was defined and joyneth it with the primatiue Councels of Ephesus and Chalcedon and in the high matter of faith the Deity of the holy Ghost And to ascend to the first of Nice the Protestants haue confessed before c cap. 4. supr that Scriptures which we receiue and they denie were there approued M. Willet d Will. Antil pag. 88. 89. calleth the primatiue Councels of Neocaesarea Toletane the first and the fixt generall Councell allowed before by D. Sutcliffe wherein both generall and prouinciall precedent Councels vvere approued The Papall Church Popery doctrine in Popery And of the seauenth generall Councell he writeth thus e Will. Antil pag. 178. The Greekes in a generall Councell held at Nice confirmed and allowed the adoration of Images But this may suffice of this question for both the Popes supreamacy from the beginning and the authority of all ancient Councels Fathers and Hystories are so manifest for the present doctrine of the Roman Church That M. Middleton telleth vs f Middleton papistomast pag. 200. Papias liuing in the Apostles time taught Peters primacy or Romish Episcopality Concerning the second he vvriteth in these vvordes g page 193. supr Perusing Councels Fathers and Stories from the Apostles forward we finde the print of the Popes feete Whereby is manifest that euen from the Apostles to this present the doctrine of the Church of Rome was alwaies as occasion vvas giuen approued decreed and taught by the holy Councels Fathers and Hystories of all ages Chapter 9. The testimonie of ancient Fathers of great authority and for the doctrine of the Roman Church LASTLY in these generall questions or directions in religion let vs come to the testimony of the holy and learned Fathers of the primatiue Church although of these it appeareth by the former Chapter And consider first the value and dignity of their authority secondly to whose cause whether of Catholikes or Protestants it beareth witnesse The Bishop of Winchester in his Suruey of Christes sufferings writeth thus a B. Bilsons Suruey p. 85. The ancient consent of Godly Fathers is with great care to be searched and followed of vs chiefly in the rule of faith And againe b pa. 82. sup We rest vpon the Scriptures of God vpon the authority of the ancient Doctors and Councels And to the objection of those Protestants which say c page 83. The Canon of the Scriptures is perfect and sufficient in it selfe for all thinges therefore what neede is there that the authority of Ecclesiasticall interpretation should be joyned with it He answereth with Vincentius Lirinensis in these wordes Least euery man should wrest the Scriptures to his fansie and sucke thence not the truth but the patronage of his errour And he addeth that S. Augustine gaue this respect not only to generall Councels but to the testimonies of particuler Fathers Ireneus Cyprian Hilarius Ambrose Gregory Chrisostome Basil and others D. Sutcliffe writeth thus d Sutcl subuers pag. 87. We acknowledge the faith of the Fathers of the fourth fift and sixt ages and adjoyne our selues to that Church And against D. Kellison he vseth these wordes e Sutcliffe against D. Kellison pag. 17. The Fathers in all points of faith are for vs Protestants and not for the Pope M. Willet in the end of his Antilogie sweareth the matter in this manner f Willet Antilog p. 263. I take God to witnesse before whome I must render account c. That the same faith and religion which I defend is taught and confirmed in the more substantiall points by these Hystorians Councels Fathers that liued within fiue or six hundred yeares after Christ And in the page following his wordes be these g p. 264. supr It is most notoriously euident that for the grossest points of Popery as transubstantiation sacrifice of Masse worshipping of Images justification by workes the supreamacy of the Pope prohibition of Mariage and such other they Catholikes haue no shewe at al of any euidence from the Fathers within fiue hundred yeares of Christ And thus againe h Willet Antilog pa. 271. The ancient Fathers that liued within six hundred yeares after Christ are against them And thus I might alleadge from others especially triumphing in this manner either when they write against Puritans whome the Fathers condemne as the Bishop of Winchester is cited or when they speake in generall and the authorities of Fathers are neither to be answered as produced by Catholikes or alleadged for Protestants as it appeareth in those places of D. Sutcliffe and M. Willets great and glorious speaches of the Fathers But when these men are either to answere those primatiue Fathers cited for our cause or stand vpon their testimony in particuler for themselues the case is altered as is objected i Apud B. Bils Suruey p. 84 to the Bishop of Winchester by his Puritan opposite But howe truly they keepe their vvordes and oathes in these protestations shall be hereafter