And that it might was truely pronouncod by Caiphas that Christ was worthie of death And thus wickedlie they take part with Annas and Caiphas against Christ. Some other papistes say that they erred not in the sentence giuen against Christ for he was in deede guiltie of death hauing taken our sinnes vpon him but the error was in the manner of their proceeding which was done tumultuonsly and by suborning of false witnesses And this saith Bellarmin their great doctor is Probabilis sentētia a very probable opiniō de concilior authoritat lib. 2. pag. 8. Yea they speake yet more plainly Iudaei mortaliter peccassent nisi Christum crucifixissent the Iewes had sinned mortally if they had not crucified Christ. distinct 13. Itē in margine An other saith Petrus non fidē Christi sed Christum salua fide negauit Peter denied not the faith of Christ but his faith saued hee denied but onely Christ. Copus dialog 1. pag. 51. Is not here good popish diuinity that Christ may be denied without deniall of the faith The Rhemistes affirme that Christ did penance by fasting solitarines and conuersing with beastes Mark. ◠sect 6. This is great blasphemie for Christ was free from sinne therefore needed no repentance That Lazarus and Abraham were both in hell and not in the kingdome of heauen before Christ. Rhemist Luk. 16. sect 1. A blaspemie contrarie to scripture which saith that the rich man onely was in hell ver 23. and not that Lazarus was in hell They deny that Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is God of himselfe Rhemist Iohn 10. sect 3. Whereas the scripture speaketh plainely that as the father hath life in himselfe so likewise hath he giuen to the sonne to haue life in himselfe Iohn 5. 26. what is it to haue life in himself but to be God in himselfe The sufferings passions of the Saintes dedicated and sanctified in the blood of Christ haue a forcible satisfactiō for the Church the particular members thereof and are the accomplishment of the wantes of Christes passions Rhemist Coloss. 1. sect 4. An horrible blasphemy against the merite satisfaction of Christes death as though it were not sufficient in it selfe to satisfie for al his members but his wantes must be supplied by the satisfaction of others contrarie to the scripture which saith that Christ by him selfe hath purged our sinnes Heb. 1. 3. therefore not by any other but sufficiently in his owne person Bellarmine saith Non dubitantur multi esse fideles qui nondum iustificati nec redempti sunt It is not to be doubted but that there are many faithfull men which are not yet iustified or redeemed de Miss lib. 2. cap. 22. resp ad 4. obiect yea he saith most blasphemously Hominem cum vera fide damnari That a man hauing a true faith may for al that be condemned De baptism lib. 1. cap. 14. Great blasphemies contrarie to scripture being iustified by faith saith S. Paul we are at peace with God Rom. 5. 1. And we are saued by faith Ephes. 2. 10. If then faith bringeth peace of conscience and saluation how then is it possible that with this faith men notwithstanding should be condemned That we are not formaliter that is formallie iustified by the righteousnes of Christ. Bellarm. lib. 1. de baptis cap. 21. resp ad argum 4. yet S. Paul saith that Christ is our wisedome righteousnes 1. Cor. 1. 30. his righteousnes is our righteousnes what is this else but the verie forme substance and matter of our righteousnes And againe saith he sacrificium crucis non efficienter iustificat Christes sacrifice vpon the crosse doth not iustifie as an efficient cause de Miss lib. 2. cap. 4. Thus Christes death is neither formal nor efficient cause of our iustification with papistes I pray you then what is it But the Apostle I am sure saith otherwise That Christ hath recōciled vs in the body of his flesh Col. 1. 21. 22. he then that reconcileth ransometh or redeemeth vs what is he else but an agent efficient working cause of our redemption reconciliation Bellarmine also saith Accedente dei gratia vere possumus aliquo modo ex proprijs ad aequalitatem ac per hoo iuste ex condigno satisfacere By the grace of God we may make satisfaction truely in some sorte of our owne and to a full equalitie yea iustly and condignly de poenitent lib. 4. cap. 7. A most horrible blasphemie that man may satisfie God by his owne proper workes fully according to the exact rule of iustice Iob saith contrary That man can not aunswere God one thing of a thousand Iob 9. 3. Neither is this blasphemie much qualified by saying that wee may satisfie by grace For these two Gods grace and our satisfactorie workes cannot stand together as S. Paul sheweth If it be of grace it is no more of workes for then grace were no more grace but if it be of workes it is no more of grace for then worke were no more worke Rom. 11. 6. Our saluation then can not be of grace and workes together for the one excludeth the other And I pray you to what purpose died Christ if men receiue grace so fully to satiefie for them selues If righteousnes be by the lawe saith the Apostle Christ died without cause Galath 2. 21. And euē this righteousnes of the Law was also of the grace gift of God for the Lawe is holy iust and good Rom. 7. 12. And euerie good gift is of God Iam. 1. 17. Wherefore to say that a man by working well euen of the grace and the gift of God is iustified is to make the death of Christ needelesse and in vaine What greater blasphemie then can be vttered by any heretikes in the world then this Now in the last place commeth in wicked blasphemous frier Tecell the Popes pardoner who made his proclamations openly in the Churches to the people in this sort Although a man had laine with our Ladie the mother of Christ and had begotten her with childe yet were he able by the Popes power to pardon the fault Sleidan lib. 13. Vnto these blasphemies afore rehearsed we may adioyne such like popish stuffe out of their Ladie Psalter which was compiled by no small person among them but euen by that Seraphicall doctor of theirs Bonauenture a Cardinall of Rome who liued Ann. 1170. and was Canonized for a Saint by Pope Sixtus the 4. ann 1482. In this blasphemous Psalter such psalmes as the prophet Dauid endited to the honor of God are applied by the foresaid Doctor to the praise of his Ladie And therefore he in diuerse psalmes in steed of the name of the Lord hath put in the name of our Ladie Some fewe examples it shall not be amisse to see Psal. 4. Benedicta sis domina in aeternum maiestas tua in seculum glorificate eam omnes gentes Blessed be thou o Ladie for euer and thy maiestie for
the Church of Rome was in those daies of persecution deuided into cures and parishes whereof they shoulde haue their titles And this constitution seemeth rather to take his beginning at the Councell of Chalcedone where it was enacted that no priest no entituled should be ordained neyther is there any mention made in that place of any former decree prouided by Euaristus Fox pag. 39. To Zepherinus be 2. epistles ascribed one written to the Bishops of Sicilia the other to the Bishops of the prouince of Egypt which containe no manner of doctrine or consolation fit for those times but certaine rituall decrees to no purpose which argue the said epistles neither to fauor of that man nor to tast of the time for the poore persecuted Bishops in that time were so farre from hauing any lust or leisure to seeke for any primacie or to driue other Churches to appeale to the sea of Rome or to exempt priestes from the accusation of lay-men as in those epistles is to be seene that they would haue beene glad to haue had any couert at all to put their heades in Calixtus Bishop of Rome and martyr hath 2. epistles decretall appointed him wherein these ordinances amongest other are founde that no action or accusation against the teachers and prelates of the Church should be admitted And in the ende of the epistle hee confuteth the error of them which hould that they which are fallen are not to be receiued againe But Nouatus was the first author of this error wo followed in Cornelius time after Calixtus how then is it like that Calixtus could confute him And againe concerning actions and accusations it is not like that the time of so grieuous persecution would serue them to commense any law against their Bishops Vrbanus followeth to whome also is ascribed an epistle decretall comming out of the same forge containing not one worde of consolation fitte for those times but certaine straite preceptes for not transporting or alienating of the goods of the Church and to pay truely their offeringes which they vowe and such like But it is not like that in those heauie times of persecution the Church was so greatly enriched the constitution for tithes and oblations being not yet ordained and when as men sought generally rather to spoyle and take from the Churche then to giue vnto it that there needed such straite prouision for disposing of Church goods Pontianus who succeded Urbanus and was banished for the name of Christ is fained in his epistles decretall thus to write That God hath priestes so familiar with him that by them he accepteth the offeringes and oblations of other and forgiueth their sinnes and reconcileth them vnto him What could be said more of Christ whome the Scripture maketh our onely mediator and aduocate The decretall epistles of Fabianus Bishop of Rome are euen as good stuffe as the rest of that sort vnto him are ascribed these ordinances as of accusations against Bishops of appealing to the Sea Apostolike which decrees how vnfit and vnbesitting they were those times of persecution we haue shewed before as also of not marrying within the fift degree of communicating thrise a yeare whereas Augustine lyuing after this Fabian almost 200. yeares writeth thus of this matter Omnibus diebus dominicis communicandum suadeo hortor Vpon euery Lords day I doe perswade and exhort all men to communicate De eccles dogmatib cap. 54. How then is it like that Fabian decreed the contrarie of manie yeares before Also it is to bee seene that the most part of the third Epistle standeth worde for word in the epistle of Sixtus the third who followed almost 200. yeares after him Beside the vnseemely doctrine conteyned in the end of the epistles where hee contrary to the tenor of the Gospell applyeth remission of sinnes onely due to the bloode of Christ vnto the offerings of bread and wine by men and women euery Sunday in the Church Cornelius succeeded next to Fabianus who is slaundered with 2. epistles decretall which are apparant to bee none of his both by the stile which is most rude and barbarous but Hierome reporteth of him that hee was a verie eloquent man and partly also by the matter for in the first he writeth to all Ministers and brethren of the Church concerning the lifting vp of the bodies and bones of Peter and Paul De catechumenis transposed to Vaticanū In the second writing to Ruffus a Bishop of the east he decreeth that no cause of Priests or Ministers be handled in any strange or forraine Court without his precinct except only in the court of Rome by appellation Who seeth not now by this litle that these epistles were rather forged by the ambitious latter Bishops of Rome who labored altogether to aduance the dignitie of their Sea then by Cornelius whom the troubles of the Church would not suffer to thinke of any such matter And it is verie like that he would haue interserted some word of comfort and consolation fit for those times and made some mention of the great stirres betweene him and Nouatus whereof there is not one word in these decretals Vnto Lucius Bishop of Rome is referred by Gratian distinct 81. Ministri this constitutiō that no Minister whatsoeuer after his ordination should at any time reenter into the chamber of his owne wife Such homely stuffe is not like to haue proceeded from those good Bishops that died in Christs cause Vpon Stephanus Bishop are also fathered certayne epistles decretall which by this may be gathered to be none of his In the end of the second epistle hee saith thus Which thing is forbidden both by lawes ecclesiastical and also secular But what secular lawes could bee in that time in fauour of Bishops as that no accusation should be laid against them till they were restored to their estate when as the Iudges were all then heathen and their lawes tending to the destruction of the Christians and their faith Againe in the 5. canon of the said epistle he intreateth verie solemnlie of the difference betweene Primates Metropolitans Archbishops which distinction of titles and degrees rather sauouring of ambition then of persecution may verilie giue vs to suppose that these epistles were not written by that Stephanus Fox pag. 67. Of the same stamp are the epistles ascribed to Caius Marcellinus Eusebius Milciades Bishops of Rome Caius in his epistle decretal willeth and commandeth all difficult questions in all prouinces whatsoeuer emerging to be referred to the Sea Apostolike How is it like that this was decreed by Caius when as aboue an hundred yeare after ann 420. in the 6. Councell of Carthage where Augustine was present this priuiledge was denied to the sea of Rome and the contrarie concluded that no appeales should bee made thither from forraine countries Plura apud Fox pag. 96. col 2. The epistle of Marcellinus to get more authoritie with the reader is admixed with a great part of S. Pauls
yee saued through faith not of workes then it followeth ver 10. for wee are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath or deyned that wee should walke in Here the apostle excludeth euen workes of grace prepared and or dayned of God from being any cause of our iustification Distinct. 43. Some things doe iustifie Ex opere operantis by the worke of the doer Id est fide deuotione suscipientis That is by the sayth and deuotion of the recevuer so the sacramentes of the old law did iustifie Some things doe iustifie Ex opere operato by the very worke wrought as the Sacraments of the New Testament Bellarm. de effect sacr lib. 2. cap. 13. Contra. First there is one and the same efficacie substance and operation in generall of the Sacraments both of the olde and newe Testament For they did eate the same spirituall nieate and drinke the same spirituall drinke 1. Cor. 10. 2. 3. Secondly Yet neither of them do conferre grace or are causes of our iustification before God but are onely seales of the iustice or righteousnes that commeth by faith Rom. 4. 41. Yet wee graunt that in the Sacraments of the Gospell there is a more liuely resemblance and more full representation of spirituall things than there was in the other in which respect they are preferred before them Thirdly Wee are not iustified before God in part or in whole by any worke either operantis or ex operato of the doer or of the thing done But wee are iustified onely by faith all workes euen such as are wrought in vs by grace are excluded from being any cause of our iustification before God Ephes. 2. 10. 11. Fourthly And so farre is it off that any iustification can bee had ex opere operato by the worke wrought without respect to the faith of the doer that no such worke is at all acceptable to God much lesse able to iustifie for without faith it is impossible to please God Heb. 11. 6. And thus this Iesuitic all distinction is nipped in the head Distinct. 44. To extenuate eneruate the force efficacie of the death and passion of our Sauiour Christ as though it were not alone by it selfe a sufficient satisfaction for the sinnes of the world vnlesse other satisfactions as helpes were ioyned thereunto they haue forged and deuised impious and blasphemous distinctions of their owne First there is a kinde of satisfaction Pro amicitia restauranda for restoring vs to the friendship of God there is another Pro iustitiae restauranda for restoring of iustice lost and decayed in vs the first satisfaction is only wrought by the death of Christ the other must be wrought by vs Bellar. de poenitent lib. 4. cap. 1. Contra. Christ hath satisfied for vs in paying the raunsome for our sinnes and hath reconciled vs to God in imparting to vs of his righteousnes He hath made him to be sinne for vs which knew no sinne that wee should be made the righteousnes of God in him 2. Cor. 5. 21. therefore Christ hath by his death not onely redeemed vs and reconciled vs to the fauour of God but hath also clothed vs with his righteousnes who is made of God vnto vs our wisedom righteousnes sanctification redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. Not onely our redemption but our righteousnes hec hath therefore satisfied the wrath of God in restoring his friendship and hath repaired iustice decaied in vs by his iustice and righteousnes Distinct. 45 There is a satisfaction pro â—câ—â—â—a for 〈…〉 another kinde pro poena for the punishment The first was 〈…〉 by Christ 〈…〉 the other is our satisfaction to bee 〈…〉 mine ibidem So there is duplex 〈…〉 〈◊〉 double or twofold remission of sins the first in baptisme both 〈…〉 poena from fault and punishment the second from the fault but wee our selues must satisfie for the punishment Bellarm. depoenitent lib. 4. cap. 14. Contra. If our sinnes be for giuen vs the punishment likewise together with the sinne is remoued for sinne causeth death and all other punishments It should not therfore stand with the iustice of God to lay punishment vpon men hauing forgiuen them their sinnes for this were to say that their sinnes are not truely forgiuen Christ hath set vs at peace with God by the bloud of his crosse Coloss. 1. 20. Ergo hee hath satisfied both for the offence and punishment For if God punish stil then were we not at perfite peace with him his anger yet abiding And whereas they make the first remission of sinnes to be auailable both for the sinne and punishment the second but for the sinne the Apostle reasoneth cleane contrarie If while we were yet sinners and enimies Christ dyed for vs much more being iustified by his blood and reconciled by his death wee shalbe saued from wrath through him Ro. 5. 10. 11. Much more saith the Apostle if then in the first reconciliation to God we had remission of both being now reconciled wee shall much more Hence also it is manifest that Christ worketh all both before our reconciliation and after Distinct. 46. Men also may satisfie for the fault but ex congruo non ex condigno It is a satisfaction of congruitie not of condignitie Bellarm. li. 4. de poenitent cap. 1. Contra. There is no satisfaction wrought by man for his sinnes no not of congruitie First it is repugnant to the nature and propertie of satisfaction for that which is of congruitie is accepted of fauour but satisfaction is an exact compensation in respect of iustice by this God is iustly satisfied by the other hee is but enclined to fauour as they teach Secondly there is no satisfaction for sinne ex congruo for when we were enimies saith S. Paul wee were reconciled to God Rom. 5. 10. But nothing that enimies can do is acceptable vnto God therfore God cannot any waies no not ex congruo by our satisfaction be appeased before our reconciliation nor yet afterward for our sinne in the purchasing of our reconciliation was alreadie satisfied for by Christ. Distinct. 47. Man can not satisfie God for the eternall punishment due vnto sinne but for the temporall he may Bellarm. lib. 4. de poenitent cap. 1. Contr. Seeing our Sauiour Christ hath fully redeemed vs by his most precious bloud he hath not onely satisfied for our sinne but for our punishment both eternall and temporall due vnto sinne Heb. 10. 14. with one offring hath he made persite or as the Rhemistes read consummated for euer them that are sanctified If then he haue consummated vs by our redemption he hath satisfied for all for if any thing were left to be done by vs wee should not be consummated by him And as for the punishments and chastenings of this life S. Paul sheweth the ende of them not to make satisfaction but we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 1. Corinth 11. 32. Distinct. 48. There is
egerly prosecuted as dissentions among papistes haue beene for anno 1509. wee reade that the Franciscane friers pursued the poore Dominicks to death and the contention began about the conception of the Virgin Marie Fox pag. 802. Such rigour and fiercenes hath not yet beene seene among protestantes neither I trust shall But in saying that Protestants are Idolaters they make too lewd a lie for it is wel knowen vnto thē that we haue no Images or Idols of brasse woode stone siluer at all in our Churches as they haue nor any pictures carued painted or grauen set vp to bee worshipped If two men shoulde bee set before vs the one lifteth vp his eyes to heauen and calleth vppon the name of God hauing no similitude or resemblance before him the other praieth before a stocke or stone Image is anie man so senseles as to say the other is an Idolater rather then this But thus blinde and sottish are the papistes in their iudgement Take heede ye English pope catholickes doe ye not see how your ghostly fathers goe about to make fooles of you Now then to the intent our aduersaries slaunderous mouthes should be stopped and their falsehoode descried I haue giuen a seuerall taste in this worke in euerie kinde of their fraudulent dealing with vs and of their vnseemely behauiour vngodlie shifts which they vse in oppugning of the trueth and defense of their bad cause The whole booke I haue deuided into 4. partes shewing the foure principall pillers of papistrie and euerie piller conteineth diuerse partes beside as it is set foorth in the title of this booke I trust throughout this treatise that our aduersaries shall not iustly challenge me for dealing vntruely or deceiptfullie with them seeing I haue set downe their sayings and opinions as I find them quoting the places and citing the authors whence I haue them so that I doubt not to say with Augustine Ego omnia quòd bona fide coram deo dixerim sine vllo studio contentionis sine aliqua dubitatione veritatis sine aliquo praeiudicio diligentioris tractatus exposui I trust I may say with a good conscience before God that I haue set downe all things without desire of contention or doubting of the trueth and without preiudicing other mens more exact labours herein If sometime I shall seeme to speake somewhat roundlie or sharply I hope the discreete reader will iudge it to bee done not without cause to say as that good father in the like case Noui fratrem meum si quid in disputatione pro side sua dixit feruētius non illa contumacia sed fiducia dicenda est I know if our brother bee sometime seruent and hote in the defence of saith that it proceedeth not of contumacie but his full resolution in the trueth Concerning our aduersaries I would haue them thinke that I haue vndertaken these labours for their good if they could so construe it that seeing now the nakednes of their cause they may at the length be better aduised We haue not cast off all loue and care of our enemies We say of them as Augustine did sometime of Pelagius the heretike Nos non solum diligimus sed dileximus eos sed aliter vunc diligimus aliter aliquando dileximus tunc quia nobis rectae fidei videbantur nunc vt ab errore liberentur Wee both loue them now and loued them before but otherwise now then before then we loued them because we thought they were of a right faith but now we loue thē to the end they might bee deliuered from errour Now vnto my brethren of the same faith and religion thus much I say that whatsoeuer blasphemies heresies absurdities they reade here to bee affirmed and maintained by papistes they would take no offence thereby nor seeme to stumble thereat Sed facite inde quod fecit dominus cum illi obtulerunt amarum potum gustauit respuit sic vos audite abijcite But doe ye as Christ did when they offered him vineger to drinke he tasted and refused it so giue you the hearing and reading of these things but in iudgement cast them away and reiect them Thus I haue by the Lords assistance finished my taske ended my trauell for this time I will now sit me downe a while and rest my wearie penne and giue place to others This I haue done partly to discharge my duetie to God and debt to his Church partly to prouoke others by this example to put foorth their talent who for skill are more able for their leasure more fit for outwarde helpes haue better incouragement in respect of their reward are more bound I would we might now at the length spare our selues at home and forbeare to prouoke one another by writing and ioyne our strength against the common aduersarie If our wittes want whetting our pennes exercise our bodies labour our aduersaries abroad can and may afford vs worke enough we need not hew one at another Let vs do as Moses did slay the Aegyptian it is not seemely for one Hebrew to striue with another The timber that must make the house should be prepared and hewen in the fielde Prouerb 24. 27. when it commeth to be set together not so much as the noise of an hammer should be heard as we read of Salomons temple so we should labour to hew and cut off popish superstition corruption of manners as in the field abroad but we ought to build peaceably without noyse among our selues One saith well Omnia alia bona aurum argentum diuitiae diuidi possunt non potest diuidi pacem meam do vobis Al other goods gold siluer riches may be deuided this inheritāce onely cannot be deuided my peace I leaue with you And therefore saith he Christus noluit fiers iudex ad diuisionem Christ refused to be a iudge or deuider of the inheritance God grant that we may at the length learne as carefull children or faithfull stewardes to keepe whole Christes inheritance lent vnto vs that rich patrimonie of brotherly loue and peace that we may one yeeld to another in the trueth euerie one to studi◠to amend what is amisse and all ioyne together to seeke Gods glorie Thus shall we be sure to imbrace and enioy peace for what else is the cause of contention among vs Nisi as one saith quia displicet mortalibus angelica illa partitio qua gloria deo pax hominibus nuntiatur quonam modo stabit pax hominum coram deo si deo apud homines non potest tuta esse sua gloria Because mortall men like not that Angelical partition whē they pronounced glorie vnto God and peace in earth for howe can the peace of men stand in force before God when Gods glory is not kept safe and sound amongst men This then is the way to procure peace and to nourish it to remoue and auoid dissention euery one in his seuerall place and calling to labour
thereof That wee affirme the Church may faile in faith Annot. Luk 18. Sect. 8. Wee say onely that the Church may erre in some points of doctrine but not finally fall away from the faith Fulk ibid. That we pretend that God draweth vs against our wil without any respect to our consent Iohn 6. 2. God of vnwilling maketh vs willing by changing our will to embrace Christ gladly and otherwise we teach not That wee affirme the Holie Ghost to be none other but the gift of wisedome in the Apostles and a fewe other for gouernment Annot. Act. 8. Sect. 7. But none of vs sayth so It is a meere slaunder That wee allow no fasting but morall temperance and spirituall fasting from sinne Act. 13. Sect. 5. Whereas we do acknowledge a Christian vse of fasting and abstinence from all meates and drinkes for the taming of the flesh and making vs more fit to pray not an abstinence from flesh onely as they do superstitiously imagine That wee should saye that the preaching of the lawe and iudgement to come maketh men hypocrites Act. 24. Sect. 2. Whereas wee hold the preaching of the lawe to be necessarie to bring men to repentance But iustificatiō by keeping the law which they teach we vtterly condemne That wee would haue all men to be present and giue voice in Councels Act. 19. Sect. 5. We say not so for that were impossible But we hold against our aduersaries that as wel the learned and discreete amongst the lay men as the Clergie ought to be admitted to consult of religion And that not only Bishops but other Pastors also and Ministers ought to haue deciding voices in Councels That wee condemne good woorkes as sinfull Pharisaicall hypocriticall Rom. 2. Sect. 3. Whereas we acknowledge them to be the good gifts of God the fruits of iustification the way wherein all Christians must walke to saluation We onely exclude them from being any cause of our iustification before God Annot. Rom. 2. Sect. 4. That wee affirme that God iustifieth man that is to saye imputeth to him the iustice of Christ though hee bee not indeede iust or of fauour reputeth him as iust when in deed he is wicked impious and vniust And that we thinke it is more to Gods glorie and more to the commendation of Christes iustice merites and mercie to call and count an ill man so continuing for iust than of his grace and mercie to make him of an ill one iust in deede and so truely to iustifie him This is a great slaunder For wee thinke and saie that God of a wicked man by his grace and mercie doth make him iust in deede by the iustice of Christ neither calling no◠accounting him iust that continueth wicked as he was before but giuing him also the spirite of sanctification whereby after he is made iust by grace he doth the workes of iustice and keepeth Gods commaundements though not perfectly in this life Fulk ibid. That wee gather of those termes vsed by the Apostle Rom. 4. couered v. 7. not imputed v. 8. That the sinnes of men be neuer truely forgiuen but hidden onely Annot. Rom. 4. Sect. 7. Wee say that our sinnes are truelie forgiuen vs for Christes sake and our conscience freely discharged of them Christ hauing satisfied the iustice of God perfitly for them That wee teach that the Sacramentes of the Church giue not grace and iustice of faith but that they be notes markes badges onely of our remission of sinnes Rom. 4. Sect. 8. Wee say not that they are only markes and badges but as the Apostle saith seales of God to assure our faith of iustification by remission of sinnes And yet it followeth not that the sacraments should giue or conferre grace That to establish our fiction of confidence as they not without blasphemie call it wee make no account of the Articles of the Faith the beleeuing whereof onely iustifieth they say Annot. Rom. 4. Sect. 9. Wheras wee affirme that we are iustified by none other faith but that which is declared in those Articles not by a bare knowledge or beleefe of them that they are true which the diuel hath many reprobates but by stedfast beleeuing of them with a sure trust and confidence in Christ whereby we are made partakers of his precious merites and assured of the remission of our sinnes That we should say Man hath no more free will than a piece of clay Rom. 9. Sect. 7. Whereas we onely saie that our free will hath no power or strength at all to will or doe the thing that is good without the grace of God That we say the faithfull be sure they shall neuer sinne Rom. 8. Sect. 9. We saie onely that they are sure to be preserued from that sinne which is irremissible which is the sinne against the Holie Ghost That where the Apostle saith It is better to marrie than to burne that the Protestants thinke to burne is nothing else but to be tempted because they would easilie picke quarrels to marrie 1. Corinth 7. Sect. 8. Wee do not so thinke that to burne is onely to be tempted but to be so continually inflamed with lust that the will doth consent desire quenching Fulk ibid. That wee will not haue men woorke well in respect of rewarde at Gods hande 1. Corinth 9. Sect. 7. Wee say not so but that men ought not to worke well onely as hirelings for hope of rewarde but chiefely and principally of louing obedience and duetie as of children to their father That wee seeme by abandoning other names of the Communion sauing this calling it supper to haue it at night and after meate 1. Corinth 11. Sect. 8. Wee retaine other names of this Sacrament beside as the Communion the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ the Eucharist and such like and it is but a vaine conceit that wee encline it to haue it at night when they see our vsuall and dailie practise to the contrarie They say wee professe that wee make no consecration benediction or sanctification of the bread and wine at all in the Sacrament but let the bread and wine stande aloofe and that wee occupie Christes wordes by way of report onely and narration applying them not at all to the Elements proposed to be occupied 1. Corinth 11. Sect. 9. All this is vtterly false for wee professe that by praise and thankes-giuing for the death of Christ and by prayer vnto God that we may be partakers of the bodie and bloud of Christ we consecrate blesse and sanctifie the bread and wine to be the holy blessed Sacraments of the bodie and bloud of Christ. And wee doe also apply the wordes of institution to the Elements though not after their Magicall fantasie praying thus That wee receiuing the secreatures of bread and wine according to Christes holie iustitution which is rehearsed out of the Gospell in remembrance of his passion may be partakers of his most blessed bodie and bloud This is who seeth
as there was in the law 2 The scripture saith Where the remission of these thinges is there is no more offering for sin Heb. 10. 18. But they teach that their Masse is a sacrifice propitiatorie both for the quicke and the dead as though remission of sinnes were not already obtained by the oblation of Christ. 3. Also the scripture saith Without shedding of blood is no remission Heb. 9. 22. how then can their sacrifice giue remissiō of sins as they affirme where there is no effusion or shedding of blood for they cal it the vnbloody sacrifice Bellarm. de miss lib. 1. cap. 25. Their doctrine and superstitious vse of priuate masses where the priest receyueth alone the people onely gazing and looking vpon him neither eating nor drinking is altogether repugnant to the vsage and doctrine of the Apostles as Saint Paul witnesseth Wee that are many are one bread and one bodie in as much as wee are all partakers of one bread 1. Corinth 11. 17. There ought to bee therefore many at the communion which are made partakers of one bread They affirme that it is a necessarie thing to receyue the communion fasting Bellarm. de miss lib. 2. cap. 14. But the Apostle seeth no such necessitie in it giuing libertie vnto those that can not endure to fast to eate at home before 1. Cor. 11. 34. yet abstinence for them that are able is conuenient That it is lawful for the parties married to be dismissed each from other for diuerse causes beside fornication as for heresie for auoiding of offence for the vow of continencie Bellarm. de matrim lib. 1. cap. 14. yet our Sauiour Christes words are plaine to the contrary Whosoeuer doth put away his wife except it be for fornication causeth her to commit adultery Math. 5. 32. That the coupling in marriage of a faithfull partie with an infidel is not onely illicitum but irritum is not onely vnlawfull to be made but being made is voide Bellarm. de matrim lib. 1. cap. 23. S. Paul teacheth the contrarie The woman that hath to her husband an infidel if he consent to dwell with her let her not put him away 1. Corinth 7. 13. The marriage therefore of such is not in respect of the vnbeleeuers infidelitie if there be no other cause actually void Though we grant acknowledge also with S. Paul that it is not lawful for the faithful to match in marriage with an infidel 2. Cor. 6. 14. That it is not against the law of nature for a man to marry his brothers wife neither that it is simplie prohibited in the law of Moses but that in some cases it may be dispensed withal Caietan Bellar. Bellar. de matrim lib. 1. cap. 27. But Iohn Baptist the best expounder of the lawe openly reproued Herod saying It is not lawfull for thee to haue thy brothers wife Math. 14. Mar. 6. It is a generall reproofe without any exception or limitation at al. That we are not iustified onely by faith yea they say that workes are more principal then faith in the matter of iustification Rhemist Iam. 2. sect 7. Flat contrary to the doctrine of the Apostle Therefore we hould that a mā is iustified by faith without the workes of the law Rom. 3. 28. Workes are so far from being more principall then faith that they haue not to doe at all in the matter of iustification before God That some sinnes are veniall pardonable of their owne nature not worthy of damnation Rhemist Rom. 1. sect 11. Whereas the Apostle sayth that the stipend of sinne is death speaking generally of all sinne Rom. 6. 23. yet both great small sinnes are not onely pardonable but indeed clearly remitted and pardoned by grace in Christ vnto the faithfull and beleeuers which repent and study to amend The law by Christ say they is Ministratio vitae effecta is made the ministration of life Andrad lib. 5. And they call it verbum fidei the word of faith Trident. Concil sess 6. cap. 7. But S. Paule calleth it a killing letter ministerie of condēnation 2. Corinth 3. 6. 9. And that it serueth but as a schoolemaister to bring vs to Christ Galath 3. 24. And he saith flatly that the law is not of faith Galath 3. 12. How then dare they call it the worde of faith vnlesse they list to play with an aequinocation of the worde contrarie to the Apostles meaning But it were too long to rehe arse all their opinions which they maintaine contrarie to scripture such in a manner are all which they houlde wherein they dissent from vs. Let these therefore suffice for example sake which we haue seene and for the rest wee will take their owne confession who doe not denie but that they hold diuerse opinions which are not grounded nor gathered out of scripture as Gabriel Biel confesseth of transubstantiation Non inuenitur in canone bibliae expressum It is not found expressed in the canon of the bible In canon lect 40. Likewise Siluester Prierias Indulgentiae authoritate scripturae non innotuere nobis Pardons or indulgēces are not known vnto vs by authority of scripture lib. cont Luth. Bellarmine also graunteth that single life is not imposed vpon ministers by the word of God there being no precept neither in the old or new testamēt that forbiddeth ministers to marrie Declericis lib. cap. 18. Againe in an other case he confesseth that Matrimoniū inter fidelem infidelē non est iure diuino irritum That mariage betweene a beleeuer an infidel is not void orfrustrate by the law of God yet the papists generally hold the contrary De matrimon lib. 1. cap. 23. And many other such like opiniōs they haue which in their iudgment are not found in scripture but as we thinke are able to proue are cōtrary to scripture in so much that it is a cōmon saying of their schoole-diuines Thus wold I say thus would I hold being in schooles but yet be it spoken here amongest our selues It cannot be so proued by the holy scriptures Ex Paralipom Abbat Vrspergens Bellarmine also concerning the adoration of Images saith that in a sermon before the people it is not safe to affirme that images are to be adored Cultulatreiae with religious worship de sanctor imaginib lib. 2. cap. 22. and yet he graunteth that concerning the matter it selfe it may be admitted that images after a sorte and improperlie may haue that kinde of worship cap. 23. Is not this now an holy religion that in corners secretly whispereth one thing as in the care and publikelie maintaineth and teacheth an other I conclude then this place with that saying of Bernard as he said of certaine superstitious orders of monkes An regula non concordat euangelio vel apostolo alioquiregula iam non est regula quia non recta Doth not your rule agree with the gospell or the Apostle then is it no rule because it is not right Apolog. Bernard so may
punishment in purgatorie exceedeth the greatest torment in this life Bonauenture denyeth that and saith that the greatest paine of purgatorie onely exceedeth the greatest of this life And so thinketh Bellar. lib. 2. ca. 15. But this is a needelesse question to dispute of the paines of purgatorie for there is no such place as we haue elsewhere shewed That the Saints know our prayers though it be not agreable to scripture yet it is agreed vpon among papists yet about the maner how they come by the knowledge of our praiers it is not amongst them agreed Some thinke that mens praiers are at that instant reuealed to Saints when they are made Others that in the beginning of their happines so soone as they are receiued into heauen they beholde all things in God as in a glasse which appertaine to them And this Bellarmine taketh to be the more probable opinion ca. 20. yet it is but a prophane speculation for God himselfe onely knoweth the heart neither will he giue his honour to another Caietanus Cardinall confoundeth images idols taking them for all one Bellar. and the rest make great difference betweene them Images they say they haue but no Idols Bellarm. de imaginib sanctor lib. 2. cap. 7. Some papistes hold opinion that the Images of the Trinitie ought not to be made Abulens Durand Peresius Caranza who beside alloweth not the Image of Christ to be made Others hold the contrary that they may safely bee made and adored Caietanus Catharinus Sanderus and Bellarmine who for the most part holdeth with the worst opinion Concerning the worshippe of Images it is agreed amongest papistes to be lawfull and commendable though it bee flat contrarie to the second commaundement yet they disagree about the manner of worship Some holde that the Image in it selfe is not at all to bee worshipped but before the Image that onely whose Image it is Sic Durandus Alphonsus de castro Others that the Image is to be worshipped and adored with the same kinde of worship that the exemplar is whose Image it is and so the Image of Christ to bee worshipped as Christ himselfe Sic Caietanus Bonauentur Capreolus and others There is a third opinion that Images properly in themselues may bee worshipped yet with an inferior kinde of worship then that which is due to the Saint resembled by the Image Peresius Catharinus Sanderus to these consenteth Bellarmine de Imaginib sanctor lib. 2. cap. 20. The Papistes make two kindes of Religious worship the higher and more excellent kinde which is due onely vnto God they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the inferiour kinde which may bee giuen vnto Saintes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sic Bellarminus Yet Martinus Peresius a learned papist sayth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cannot signifie the worship of Sayntes for the worde is translated serâ—itude or seruice but we are not seruants to the Saints but their fellow-seruants Bellarm. lib. 1. de beatitud Sanctor cap. 12 Now concerning the sacraments Some of them thinke that the same definition of a sacrament cannot agree vnto the sacraments both of the old and new testament but improperly Sic Magister sententiar Albertus Bonauenture Others thinke that this definition of a sacrament est sacrae rei signum It is a signe of an holy thing may properly comprehende both the olde and new sacrament because it is not of the essence of a sacrament to bee a cause of sanctification but a signe onely Sic. Thom. Dominicus a Soto Martinus Ledesinius and this is the truer opinion But Bellarmine fully liketh neither lib. 1. de sacram cap. 12. Nowe whether the sacramentes doe consist ex verbis rebus of the wordes and the things or elementes as their matter forme it is a great question among papistes Some holde that they doe not but that any thing sensible whether it be the element or the word is the matter and the fourme to bee the signification Sic Dominicus a Soto Caietanus Others thinke that all Sacramentes consiste not of the worde and elementes but some onely Sic Durandus A thirde opinion is that the sacraments onely of the New Testament do consist of these parts not the sacrameÌ„ts of the old Sic alexand Alensis and others thinke that al sacraments doe consist of these parts either in themselues or some what instead or place of them Sic dominicus a Soto Bellarmine taketh somewhat from all these opinions Lib. 1. de sacram cap. 1 8. But to put the matter out of doubt there must be in euery sacrament both the word and element the word sanctifieth 1. Timoth. 4. 5. and therefore must needs be there nothing can serue insteed of it there must be also an elemeÌ„t beside the word to be sanctified and therefore the word cannot be the element The Iesuites do hold that the intention of the minister is necessarie to make a sacrament he must haue a purpose and intentioÌ„ Faciendi quod facit ecclesia to do that which the Church doth that is to make a sacrament Sic Bellar. cum alijs Catharinus a papist saith it is not necessary to haue such an intention but that a sacrament may be without it wherein he thinketh aright for the sacrament no more dependeth of the ministers intention theÌ„ the preaching of the word doth Concerning the efficacie of the sacraments they do all hold that they are causes of sanctification but not alike Some holde that the minister is the efficient and working cause of iustification the sacrament but the instrument Sic Caietanus Sotus Ledesinius Some contrariwise that the sacrament is the efficient cause the Minister but the instrument Ita Tho. Aquinas ex Bellarm. lib. 1. c. 27. and of these there are two sorts some thinke that the sacraments are but causes Sine quibus non without the which wee are not iustified Sic Bonauentur Scotus Durandus Others thinke that there is verily an effectuall power giuen to the sacraments to iustifie Sic Bellarm. lib. 2. cap. 11. What adoe is here about nothing the sacramentes are no instrumentall or efficient causes of our iustification but seales onely of the righteousnes of faith Rom. 4. 11. And it is faith whereby we are iustified Rom. 5. 1. As touching the sacraments of the law some deny that they did iustifie ex opere operantis that is by the faith and deuotion of the receiuer Sic Magister others thought they did And for Circumcision some held it did iustifie ex opere operato by the very worke wrought Sic Alexander Bonauenture Scotus Gabriel Others were of opinion that it did not iustifie of it self but as it was a protestation and application of faith Sic Tho. Capreolus Scotus to this Bellarmine enclineth lib. 2. ca. 13. But if these fellows would haue contented themselues with iustification by faith as the scriptures teach vs they needed not to haue made so many doubtes Concerning the Indeleble character which they say is imprinted in the soule by the sacramentes and can
neuer bee blotted out Durandus sayth it is no reall thing distinct from the soule or any absolute qualitie but a certayne respect and relation onely Scotus sayth it can not bee proued by scripture Gabriell doubteth whether the Church hath determined it Yet Bellarmine holdeth his owne still that there is such an indeleble character which is but a meere deuise and hath no ground out of scripture as Scotus saith ex Bellarm. lib. 2. de sacram cap. 20. Some papistes haue held opinion that in baptisme it is sufficient to baptize in the name of one of the persons in trinitie and especially of Christ Sic Hugo de S. Victor Nicholaus papa Bellarmine holdeth as the trueth is that baptisme must be celebrated in the name of the whole Trinitie Some hold that Martyrdome doth not giue grace Nisi ex opere operantis but according to the affection and disposition of the martyr Sic Dominicus a Soto Martinus Ledesinius Others that it was auailable ex opere operato by the verie worke wrought Ita Thom. Gabriell Iohan. Maior and Bellarm. lib. 1. de baptis cap. 6. The first is the truer opinion for without loue if a man giue his body to be burned it is nothing 1. Corinth 13. And yet neither martyrdome nor any worke else can be the cause of grace Some hold that Iohns baptisme was a sacrament of the new lawe and that they which were baptized there with and did not put their trust therein but had knowledge of the holy Ghost needed not to haue beene baptized againe by Christ Sic Petr. Lombardus Others thought it was a kind of sacrament such as were the sacramentes of the lawe It a Magister Thomas But Bellarmine will haue it neither sacrament of the olde nor new de sacram Baptis lib. 1. 19. The scripture putteth all out of doubt that saith Iohn baptized vnto repentance for remission of sinnes Luk. 3. and so was in substance and effect one and the same with the baptisme of Christ. That Christ in the 6. of Iohn treateth not of the Eucharist it is the opinion of many papistes Gabriel Cusanus Caietanus Tapper Iausenius wherein they say as the trueth is But Bellarm. and generally the papistes now a daies doe apply it to the Eucharist though indeed it maketh more against them then for them Lib. 1. de Eucharist cap. 5. ex Bellarm. As touching the Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist Durandus thinketh that the substance of Christ is there without magnitude or quantitie Others thinke that the bodie of Christ is there with the due quantity magnitude but there is no distinction nor order of the partes Sic Okam But Bellarmine and the rest do thinke that the bodie of Christ is in the sacrament in his due quantitie and distinction and order of partes Lib. 3. de sacram Eucharist cap. 5. of all these the first two opinions are more reasonable for how is it possible for the bodie of Christ in his due proportion and bignes to be contained in a thinne wafer cake But none of al these opinions are true for the bodie of Christ is no where else but in heauen til his second comming as S. Peter saith Act. 3. Some did hold that all the bread and wine in the Eucharist was not transubstantiate but so much onely as was receiued of the godly Others that the forme onely of the bread was chaunged not the matter Sic Durandus Some contrariwise that the matter was chaunged not the forme Others that the bread is assumed hypostatically vnto the word as the humane nature is sic Repertus Bellarmine with the rest that after the wordes of consecration the bread wine is transubstantiate wholly into the body of Christ the accidentes onely remaining Lab. 3. de Eucharist cap. 11. It is the general opinion of papistes that there ariseth no more spiritual fruit by receiuing in both kindes then by receiuing in one Yet there are some of the contrarie opinion Alexander Alens Gaspar Cassalius Ruardus And by a generall decree in the councell of Basile the vse of the cup was graunted to the Bohemians Bellarm. lib. 4. de Eucharist cap. 23. for if so the receiuing in one kinde were all out as full of comfort and as profitable as to doe it in both then were one superfluous and so they take vppon them to controule our Sauicur Christ who instituted both and vsed them at his last supper About the popish sacrament of extreame vnction arise these differences They haue but two places of scripture vpon the which they grounde that sacrament Mark 6. Iames. 5. About the former place they much disagree Some holding that when the Apostles annointed the sicke with oyle it was not the sacramentall vnction but an adumbration of it and a preparation thereunto Sic Ruardus Iausenius Dominicus a Soto Others that it is one and the selfe same kinde of vnction which is treated of in both places Sic. Thom. Waldens Alphons de Castro Bellarmine enclineth to the first opinion for no other reason but be cause the protestantes hold the vnctioÌ„ spoken of in both places to be the same Bellarm. de extrem vnction lib. 1. cap. 2. Some thinke that the corporall health of the body is the absolute and infallible effect of this their deuised sacrament Sic Dominic a Soto Others that it is but a conditionall effect if it be profitable for the soules health and that this ceremonie is not principally applied for the health of the bodie but for the health of the soule Concil Tridentin Sic. Bellarm. cap. 6. Some hold that in time of necessitie a lay-man may be the minister of extreame vnction Sic Thom. Waldens Others that a lay-man may annoint with holy consecrate oyle but without a sacrament Sic Dominicus a Soto A third fort thinketh that it is not lawful for the lay sort to do the one or the other Sic Iausenius Bellar. cap. 9. Now who will giue credite to these men that there is such a sacrament of extreame vnction when they cannot agree amongest them selues nor one beleeue another Some also thinke that to annoint the fiue senses together with the reynes and the feete is of the essence of extreame vnction and none ought to be omitted Some the contrary that none of them are of the essence but the annointing of any one may serue The third opinion is that the annointing only of the fiue senses is of the essence Sic. Thom. Aquin. Bellarm. ibid. cap. â—0 The Rhemistes hold the mixture of water wine in the Eucharist to be necessarie and say the protestantes in not vsing that ceremonie do most impudently damnably Annot. 1. Corinth 〈◊〉 sect 10. yet the Canonistes affirme that it is De honestate tantùm non de necessitate Of decencie onely not of necessitie De consecrat distinct 2 in gloss Scotus 4. sententiar distinct 11. quaest 6. Some denie that Episcopalis ordinatio the ordaining of Bishops to be a sacrament Dominicus a