to be wished I haue charitably and faithfully penned it principally and chiefly for thy sake And I nothing doubt but through the power of God it will so sufficiently perswade thee to use the ordinary meanes of thy salvation that is humbly to read the holy scriptures which hath not heretofore bene thy custome diligently to frequent godly sermons which are nowe common in this Realme God be thanked and often to conferre with zealous preachers for thy better instruction and sound confirmation as thou wilt shortly be a greater enemy to popery then thou wast before a friend thereunto For in this small volume thou shalt perceive evidently that not only popish monkes fryers and Iesuites but also their schoolemen their Summists their Canonistes their Thomistes their Scotists their Abbots their Byshops their Archbishoppes their Cardinals yea and their greatest popes themselues haue all in their domesticall dissentions and ciuill warres so battered and made equall with the ground the bulwarkes of their popery as no forraine enemy shall henceforth need either to stand in feare of their fortresses or to make assaults against the same So surceasing to speak of their muttering upon beads their praiers in straunge tongues their consecrations of bells Churches altars chalices patines corporals copes vestments albes girdles tunicles chesibles miters their exorcismes or incantations ouer oyles chrismes ashes palmes candles salt water bread their sacrificing upon such altars in such Churches before such relikes to which their sacrifices such sanctimony and merits are ascribed as that seminary is deemed best disposed for English long intended invasion who hath occupied himselfe most busily in that their superstitious kind of doting their reservations of their bread-gods often putrified and now and then of myse devoured their idolatricall adoration of reliques especially of their so termed vultus sanctus surceasing I say from speaking of these and like popish deliraments and instantly wishing thy christian conversion in Christ Iesus I bid thee heartily fare-well The names of the auncient writers and holie fathers alledged in the treatise follovving DIonysius Areopagita Irenaeus Tertullianus Origenes Cyprianus Iustinus Lactantius Athanasius Hilarius Eusebius Caesariensis Basilius Ambrosius Hieronymus Augustinus Chrysostomus Beda Euthymius Ruffinus Platina The names of popish vvriters alledged in this volume who all are of great estimation amongest the papistes and highlie renowmed in the church of Rome Popes or Bishops of Rome Clemens Gregorius magnus Adrianus Innocentius Cardinalles to the popes or Bishops of Rome Caietanus Turrecremata These were popish archbishops of great learning Antonius Panormitanus Popish Bishops excellentlie wel learned Ioannes Roffensis Ambrosius Catharinus Melchior Canus Popish Abbots Rupertus Bernardus Popish Canonistes Gratianus Angelus Navarrus Covarruvias Popish summistes Sylvester Fumus These were popish monkes or Popish friers Alphonsus Victoria Dionys. Carth. Carranza Ioseph Ang. Bellarminus Popish scholemen Lombardus Albertus Alensis Richardus Bonaventura Aquinas Durandus Dom. Soto Paludanus Mayro Popish writers who though they were not equal in dignitie yet not inferiour in learning to the rest Lyranus Gersonus Almaynus Cusanus Abulensis Viguerius Snoygoudanus Burgensis Ben. Arias Matthias Thoring Ioan. de Combis Bryto These were popish Synodes Conc. Constantinopolitanum 6. Conc. Constantinop 8. Conc. Basiliense Conc. Lateranense 1. Conc. Later 2. Conc. Tridentinum Catholike Councels Concilium Nicaenum Conc. Chalcedonense Popish constitutions or bookes equall with popish synodes Decreta Decretalia Liber sextus Missale Romanum Popish commentaries of great accompt in the Romish Church Glossa decretalium Glossa decretorum Glossa ordinaria Glossa interlinialis THE FIRST BOOKE CONTEINING CERTAINE preambles for the better satisfaction of the simplie seduced Papistes as also that the motyues in the other booke following may be read with greater profite The first Preamble IN the church of Rome for many yeares together were learned and godly byshops vvho lived orderly preached the vvord of God sincerely and fed their flocke carefully but in successe of time by litle and litle the Romish bishops did degenerat from the godly life and holie doctrine of their auncestors and became vvolues vnto their flocks tirants vnto the vvorld This is prooved at large by the testimonies of approved popish doctors in the second booke and third chapter in the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. conclusions The great popish scholeman and Spanish Frier Victoria vvriteth in this manner by litle and litle not all at once vve vvere brought to this in ordinat course and to this so miserable state that novv vve are neither able to endure our griefs nor such remedies as the church of Rome assigneth for the same but if vve had this day such good bishops or Popes as Clemens Linus and Sylvester vvere then might vvee commit all things safely vnto them but alas to say the best of them because I vvould not vvillingly reproove them the Popes novv are farre inferiours to the auncient bishops of Rome Read Victoria his ovvne vvordes in the fourth conclusion of the fift chapter in vvhich chapter the reader shall find much other vvorthie matter to the like effect as that the dissolute practise of the church of Rome is novv so intollerable that the vvorld is not able to endure it that not onely the simple sort but even the best of all are greatlie scandalized therevvith that none seeke for dispensations vvhether it be for mariages or for irregularities or for spirituall benefices but they roundlie obteine their suites that not so manie keepe the lavve as are dispensed to breake the lavv adde hereunto the seventh preamble for more perspicuitie The 2. Preamble BLinde Byardes that neither had anie thing neither knevv anie thing desirous to speake placentia and to flatter the Popes for their ovvne preferment began to vvrite glosses vpon the popish lavve and therein to ascribe lordlie and more then royall titles to the Pope so doubtles saith their religious Frier Victoria Reade his vvordes in the sixt chapter and third conclusion So then through ignorance and povertie our holie father aspired to his tyrannie The 3. Preamble THe Pope hath no povver coactive over anie king but is the Emperours subiect and ovveth him obedience Pope Gregorie surnamed the great doth confesse no lesse read the sixt Chapter The 4. Preamble POpe Iohn vvas enforced to recant his false doctrine before the king and the learned at Paris Read the third chapter and the fift conclusion ergo Peters faith failed in the Pope The 5. Preamble THe Pope in S. Cyprians time vvas esteemed but as fellovv and companion to other bishops for vvhich cause S. Cyprian contemned his opinion and reiected his determination though set dovvne by the consent of a provinciall councell vvhich doubtles S. Cyprian vvould never have done if hee had acknovvledged or graunted anie such authoritie to the Pope as the Pope this day chalengeth to himselfe Nay S. Cyprian thought himselfe everie vvay the Popes equall and the African counsel to be of as good authoritie as the Italian or Romish sinode and therfore reprooved the
faciunt peccatum The children of God both love and doe iustice but the children of the deuil both loue and do sinne and againe Manifestum fit studium bonorum operum effectum esse preaestinationis It is manifest that studie to liue well and to doe good workes is the effect of predestination and an hundred such like places the same author hath which I let passe for brevitie sake neither doth anie other of the learned amongest vs hold contrary to this doctrine nay all the pulpets God be thanked found out and extoll the praise of good workes yea which is more to be admired of the papistes who thinke so baselie of our religion wee affirme the good workes of the regenerate to be so acceptable in Gods sight that he will not suffer the least therof to be vnrewarded further we teach affirm in our religion that the regenerat childrē of God cā not cōtinue in gods favour vnles they detest sin striue against the concupiscence of the flesh do good works yet further we auouch cōstantlie that none cā beleeùe truly in Christ which doth not love Christ which doth not emploie his whole care studie industrie to doe the will of Christ and to keepe his commaundements And that this is the faith and doctrine of the Church of England verie manie God be thanked for it haue left to their posteritie livelie testimonies of the same wherof I will onelie name one who as hee did inwardlie in his heart beleeue the gospell so did he outwardlie in his life professe it and after his death confirme the same with a most charitable and christian testimonie of immortall memorie I speake of that honourable and zealous christian Sir VValter Mildmey the late foūder of a most famous colledge in the vniuersitie of Cambridge which he tearmed not after his owne name as the greater part vseth but Emanuell that is God with vs giuing vs to vnderstand therby that as hee beleeued and loued God so he would testify the same to al posterities by that worthie act as by the effect and fruite of a liuelie faith Now then how doe we differ from the papistes herein Zanchius shall answere Atque hic est vnus ex praecipuis vsibus bonorumoperum quod ijs non tanquam salutis causis sadtanquā effectis predestinationis fidei tum nos tum proximi certiores fimus nostrae electionis eoque salutis And this is one of the chiefest vses of good works that both wee and our neighbours are assured by them of our election and salvation not as by the causes of salvation but as by the effectes of predestination and of faith But the papistes will say if good woorkes cannot merite glorie nor iustifie wherefore then must we do them I answere that we must liue well and doe good workes for the loue and dutie we owe to God and because so is his holie will and good pleasure so saith the Apostle in these words ipsius enim sumus factura creati in Christo Iesu in operibus bonis quae preparavit Deus vt in illis ambulemus for wee are his workemanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which God hath ordained that we should walke in them so then we thinke as reuerentlie and esteem as worthilie of good works as doth anie papist in the world for we grant that none can be saued or sanctified without good workes and further that none is truelie iustified which hath not good works yet for all that do we constantly affirme and that by the authoritie of holie writte that no man is or can be iustifyed by vertue of his good works the error of the Papistes consisteth in this that they do not distinguish betweene sanctification and iustificatiō the truth of our doctrine which is the verity grounded in the sacred scriptures is this that sanctificatiō iustificatió are inseparably vnited in one the same subiect in eodē instanti tëporis nōnaturae as the scholes speake that is we are freelie iustified sanctifyed also in the same instāt of time but first iustified in prioritie of nature for example fire and the heate are both at one and the same time though fire be before in prioritie of nature that is though fire goe before as the cause of euerie thing is before the effect of the same and as fire is not before heate in time and yet the cause of that heate so is our iustification not before our sanctification or our inherent iustice in time and yet is it the cause of our sanctification of our inherent iustice and of all the good workes we doe which thing if the papistes would once seriouslie observe they would not differ from our opinion in this behalfe vnlesse they haue fullie resolved to oppose themselves desperatlie against the truth The 12. Preamble VVHo so euer will but euen superficiallie consider the vncertaintie of popish doctrine shall thereby without further discourse find svfficient matter to abhorre and detest the same as most friuolous most ridiculous most irreligious For example in the sacrament of the altar as they terme it if certaine questions be propounded vnto them the best learned know not what to answere but so simply and so sottishly as euerie child may espie the follie of their doctrine If anie papist can truely and without blushing say the contrarie let the same be notifyed by his ansvvere to these my briefe demaundes 1. First I demaund how they excuse the people that adore with diuine worship the thing eleuated ouer the priestes head at Masse from idolatrie from heresie from false beleefe For if either the Priest want intention to consecrate vvhich often chaunceth by reason of vvandering imaginations or of purpose meaneth not to consecrate or of negligence omitteth any vvord of consecration then by popish religion the thing adored is but pure bread so the adorers thereof become idolaters vvorshipping a peece of bread for the euerliuing God And if the people either refuse to adore or doubt if they may adore they are deemed heretiques ipso facto for their pains because as the Popes disholie canons tell vs he that but doubteth of Romish definitions concerning faith and maners is an heretike 2 Secondlie I demaund what it is that the priest receiueth and deliuereth to the communicants when he hauing 40. breads before him supposeth them to be but 38. or 39. and so intendeth to consecrate no more for beyond the priestes intention consecration cannot extend as all wise Papistes graunt neither is his intention more limited to one bread then to an other and therfore can no more consecrate one bread then another 3 Thirdlie I demaund which part of the host as they terme it is the popish made God when the sacrificer intendeth indefinitelie to consecrate the one halfe of the said host and how there in adoring they can avoid idolatrie 4 Fourthly I demaund howe many gods or how many times God is made in
which perteine to his office and to his proper subiects he can doe as much as the Pope Loe this great learned Papist who for his learning is reverenced of all Papists in the world ascribeth no lesse auctoritie to every Bishop in his diocesse then to the Pope himselfe Againe he affirmeth that no bishops authoritie is dependent vpon the Pope but is immediately from Christ so that papistrie is still confuted and confounded by it selfe and that by the best doctours of greatest authoritie even in the Church of Rome Iosephus Angles though otherwise he flatter the Pope and advance his auctoritie yet hath Gods Spirit enforced him to testifie the same truth These are his wordes Si comparemus B. Petri aliorum Apostolorum potestatem ad gubernationem omnium credentium tantam alij Apostoli habuerunt potestatem quantam B. Petrus habuit it a quod poterant quemlibet Christianum totius orbis sicut modo Rom. Pont. excommunicare in qualibet Ecclesia Episcopos sacerdotes creare ratio est quia omnis potestas B. Petro promissa tradita fuit caeteris Apostolis collata hoc sine personarum loci vel fori discrimine If we compare the power of S. Peter and of the other Apostles to the government of all the faithfull other Apostles have even as much power as S. Peter had so that they could then excommunicate every Christian in the whole world as the Bishop of Rome doth now and also make Bishops and Priests in every Church The reason is because all power promised and given to S. Peter was also given to the rest of the Apostles and that without difference of persons place or consistorie This is the sentence of fiyer Ioseph who vnwittingly and vnwillingly such is the force of veritie doeth wonderfully advance the trueth even while he seeketh to oppugne the same 1 For first he graunteth that every Apostle had as much auctoritie as S. Peter 2 Secondly that every Apostle had then as much auctoritie as the Pope chalengeth now 3 Thirdly that every Apostle had auctoritie from Christ to create Priests and Bishops every where 4 Fourthly that all this their authoritie was given them without difference of person place or consistorie O mercifull God blessed be thy holy Name for ever such is the maiestie of thy holy Gospell that the enemies thereof iustly infatuated for their sinnes doe vnwares even then illustrate thy trueth when they thinke the most to obscure the same This I did not see O God when I was abandoned from thee this I nowe behold O God when thou of thy mercy hast called me to thee Graunt O sweete Father that all seduced Papistes may behold the same with me to the glorie of thy holy Name the honour of thy Church and the eternall solace of their owne soules For more then the Popes owne deare doctours doe teach vs we desire not at the Popes hands The generall Councels of Constance and Basil decreed this matter in these manifest tearmes Ipsa synodus in spiritu Sancto legitimè congregata generale concilium faciens Ecclesiam militantem representans potestatem immediatè à Christo habet The Synode lawfully assembled in the holy Ghost making a generall Councell and representing the Church militant hath power immediately from Christ. Thus saith the Councell and doubtlesse where power commeth immediately from Christ it can not be derived from the Pope Thirdly S. Paul had speciall auctoritie over the Gentiles and largely as much as Peter if not more and consequently since all Christians now were Gentiles then the Pope if he will needes have superioritie over his brethren Bishops must reduce his succession from S. Paul For thus saith S. Paul of himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gospell of the vncircumcision was committed to me even as the Gospell of circumcision to Peter The third Conclusion KInges have power coactive over Popes but Popes have no coactive power over Kings albeit Popes of late dayes have not onely excommunicated Princes but deposed them also For proofe of this conclusion many texts of holy Scripture are consonant King Salomon deposed Abiathar and placed Sadock in his roome For so the booke of Kings saith Abiathar quoque sacerdoti dixit rex vade in Anathoth ad agrum tuum quidem vir mortis es sed hodie te non interficiam quia portasti arcam domini dei coram David patre meo sustinuisti laborem in omnibus in quibus laboravit pater meus eiecit ergo Salomon Abiathar vt non esset sacerdos domini paulò post Sadoc sacerdotem posuit pro Abiathar Then the King said to Abiathar the priest goe to Anathoth vnto thine owne farme for thou art worthie to die but I will not this day kill thee because thou barest the Arke of the Lord God before David my father and because thou hast suffered in all where my father hath beene afflicted Salomon therefore cast out Abiathar from beeing priest vnto the Lord and set Sadock the priest in the roome of Abiathar King Iosaphat appointed both Ecclesiasticall and secular Magistrates commanding them strictly to looke vnto their charge These be the words of holy writ In Hierusalem quoque constituit Io saphat Levitas sacerdotes principes familiarum ex Israel vt iudicium causam domini iudicarent habitatoribus eius Praecepitque eis dicens sic agetis in timore domini fidelitèr corde perfecto King Iosaphat appointed in Hierusalem Levites and Priests and Princes of the families of Israel that they should iudge the iudgement and cause of the Lord to the inhabitants thereof And he commanded them saying Thus shall ye doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart And it followeth in these wordes Omnem cau sam quae venerit ad vos fratrum vestrorum qui habitant in vrbibus suis inter cognationem cognationem vbicunque quaestio est de lege de mandato de caeremonijs de iustificationibus ostendite eis vt non peccent in Dominum Every cause which shall come vnto you of your brethren which dwell in their cities betweene kindred and kindred where soever question is of the law of commandement of ceremonies of iustifications tell them that they sinne not against the Lord. It followeth thus Amarias autē sacerdos Pontifex vester in his quae ad deum pertinent praesidebit porro Zabadias filius Ismaelqui est dux in domo Iuda super ea operaerit quae adregis officium pertinent Amarias the Priest and your Bishop shall beare rule in those thinges which perteine to God and Zabadias sonne of Ismael captaine in the house of Iuda shall be over those workes which belong to the office of the King These are the expresse words of holy Scripture which I have alleadged at large because if they be once applied effectually they can not but proove my opinion fully 1 First therefore as the Queenes
most excellent Maiestie that nowe is appointeth Bishops and Priests so king Iosaphat appointed Priestes and Levites so king Salomon appointed Sadock 2 Secondly as her Maiestie deposeth Priests so king Salomon deposed Abiathar 3 Thirdly as her Maiestie commandeth her Bishops in Englande to preach the Gospell to administer the Sacraments to reforme abuses and to execute censures Ecclesiasticall according to the Scriptures so commanded king Iosaphat his Priests in Ierusalem to decide all controversies arising about the lawe about commandements about ceremonies about iustifications and to teach his people their duetie therein 4 Fourthly as king Iosaphat appointed Amarias ruler in spiritual causes and Zabadias governour in secular affaires distinguishing their offices and limiting their iurisdictions so doth her Maiestie referre Ecclesiasticall affayres to her cleargie men and matters of state to her secular lords neither confounding their functions nor disabling their persons 5 Fiftly as King Iosaphat did neither beare the Arke nor burne incense nor offer vp sacrifice nor initiate his priests so neither doth her Maiestie preach the Gospell administer the Sacraments consecrate her Bishops or personally execute any Churchly function And therefore are the Iesuite Bellarmine his words most absurd when he saith Et iam reipsa Calvinistis in Anglia mulier quaedam est summus pontifex And nowe in very deede a woman is Pope of the Calvinists in Englande Hee might more probably have saide that a woman was once Pope to Romish Iesuits his brethren For so much he may read this day painted vpon the Church walles in Syenna which in the late repairing of that famous Church the Bishop would not suffer to be defaced albeit the Iesuits made such request vnto him I will omit to speake of king David king Iosias king Ezechias and others who all practised like iurisdiction in Ecclesiasticall affaires one onely text of the Scripture shalbe sufficient with popish glosses vpon the same Thus therefore is it written by the holy Prophet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To thee to thee alone haue I sinned Where the gemination of to thee after the Hebrew manner and custome argueth the vehemencie of the subiection and gravitie of the trespasse that is David beeing king sinned onely to the king of all kings God him selfe Which Euthimius in his glosse vpon the same words confirmeth in this manner Tibi soli peccavi cum sim rex te solum commissorum à me scelerum iudicem habeam tibi soli peccasse videor hoc est tibi soli iudici subiicior caeterorum enim omniū ego dominus sum ob potentiam meam licere mihi videntur quaecunque libuerint To thee onely have I sinned because beeing a king and having thee onely iudge over my trespasses I seeme to haue sinned to thee only that is I am onely subiect to thee as to my iudge For I am lord over all others and in respect of my magnificence whatsoever doth please me seemeth to be lawfull for me Raynerius Snoygoudanus and divers others have set downe the like interpretation vpon this portion of Scripture The popish glosse vpon the same text hath these words Tibi soli quia rex omnibus superior tantum à deo puniendus est To thee onely because the king is above all men and can onely be punished of God Nicolaus Lyranus a man of no small account with the papists glosseth the said text in this manner Tibi solipeccavi scilicet tanquam iudici punire potenti peccaverat enim contra Vriam alios occasione huius interfectos tamen quia er at rex non habebat iudicem superiorem qui posset eum punire nisi Deum To thee onely have I sinned that is to say to thee onely as to the iudge and him that can punnish For he had no we sinned against Vrias and others whom he caused to be murdered by that occasion but because he was a King he had no superiour iudge that could punnish him save God alone What can be more plainly spoken for if none but God be superiour to the King if none but God can iudge the King if none but God cā punish the King all which the Popes owne doctours affirme then doubtles can not the Pope depose the King The King therefore by popish resolution is greater and above the Pope Yea which is wonderful Thomas Aquinas who is as it were the platforme and patterne or Idaea according to which the Popes of late yeares doe fashion and frame their lawes and whose doctrine is as the Gospell with the Papists doth confirme Lyra his exposition in these words Tibi soli peccavi dicit glossa quodrex non habèt hominem qui sua fact a diiudicet sed quantum ad vim directivam legis princeps subditur legi propria voluntate To thee onely have I sinned the glosse saith the King hath no man that can iudge his doings but yet touching the directive force of the lawe the Prince is subiect of his owne accord vnto the law Which Victoria vttereth wisely and learnedly in these words Leges latae à rep obligant omnes ergo etiam sifer antur à rege obligant ipsum regem confirmatur quia in aristocr atico principatu senatus consulta obligant ipsos senatores auctores illorum in populari regimine plebiscit a obligant ipsum populum ergo similiter leges regiae obligant ipsum regem licet sit voluntarium regi condere legem tamen non est in voluntate sua non obligari aut obligari sicut in pactis libere enim qui squis paciscitur pactis tamen tenetur Lawes which the common-weale maketh binde all therefore if the King make them they binde him also And it is confirmed because in the aristocraticall government the lawes of the senate binde the fenatours the auctors thereof and in popular regiment the decrees of the common people binde the people ergo in like manner the kings laws binde the king And although the king make lawes voluntarie yet is it not in his will to be bound or vnbound as in covenants for every one maketh covenants voluntarily and yet is every one bound by his covenants Ambrose who freeth Kings from all lawes made by man shall conclude this point Thus doth he write Qui tenentur legibus audent suum neg are peccatum de dignantur rogare indulgentiam quam petebat qui nullis tenebatur legibus humanis They that are bound to lawes dare denie their sinne and disdaine to aske forgivenesse which he desired that was bound to no law of man And againe he saith Rex vtique erat nullis ipse legibus tenebatur neque enim vllis adpoenam vocantur legibus tuti imperij potestate homini ergo non peccavit cui non tenebatur obnoxius He was in deede a king he was bound to no lawes for kings beeing free by the power of Empyre are not punnished by any lawes He therefore finned not to
est quodolim non erat vsque adeo ecclesiae notum purgatorium Imo Graecis inquit adhunc vsque diem non est creditum whereof the first reason is that in old time purgatorie was not so well knowen vnto the church yea saith he the Greekes do not to this day beleeue it And doubtlesse if there were anie purgatorie besides Christs passion the thiefe that lived wickedly to the last houre should have had his part therein who yet went incontinently to paradise as saith the holie scripture The third Conclusion AFter this life is neither place to merit demerit or satisfaction This conclusiō is proved out of Ecclesiasticus where it is writtē Ante obitum tuum operare iustitiam qui a non est apud inferos invenire cibum Before thy death worke iustice because there is no reliefe to be found among the dead Correspondent hereunto is this saying of Aquinas Dicendum quod mereri demereri pertinent ad statum viae vnde bona in viatoribus sunt meritoria mala vero demeritoria in beatis autem bona non sunt meritoria sed pertinentia ad eorum beatitudinis premium sic mala in damnatis non sunt demeritoria sed pertinent ad damnationis poenam we must answere that to merit demerit perteine to the state of the way wherefore good workes are meritorious to suche as be viatores and liue in this world and likewise euill workes demeritorious But in the saintes of heaven good vvorkes are not meritorious but appertaine to the reward of their beatitude And in like manner euill workes in the damned are not demeritorious but perteine to the paine of their damnation Dominicus Soto commenting vpon the maister of sentences holdeth the selfe same opinion For which cause saint Paul exhorteth vs to doe good dum tempus habemus while wee haue time This the preacher confirmeth in these words Viventes sciunt quod morientur mortui nesciunt quicquam non est eis amplius merces in oblivione enim est memoria eorum The living know that they must die and the dead know nothing at all neither haue they henceforth a rewarde for their memorie is forgotten Vppon which wordes saint Hierome hath this glosse Viventes metu mortis possunt bona operaperpetrare mortui uero nihil valent adid adijcere quod semel secum tulere de vita Sed dilectio eorum odium aemulatio omne quod in seculo habere potuerunt mortis finitur adventu nec iuste quippe possunt agere nec peccare nec virtutes adijcere nec vitia The living may doe good woorkes for feare of death but the dead can ad nothing to that which they once tooke with them out of this life Their loue also and their hatred their emulation and what soeuer they could haue in this world all is ended with death For they can neither doe well nor sinne neither addevice nor vertue All which Saint Cyprian comprised in these fewe golden words Quumistine excessum fuerit nullus iam locus paenitentiae est uullus satisfactionis effectus VVhen vve shall depart out of this life there will be no place to penance no effect of satisfaction Saint Augustine teacheth the course of Gods iustice to be such as wee must either attaine remission of our sinnes in this world or never to expect the same These are his wordes Morum porro corrigendorum uullus alius quam in hac vit a locus nā post hanc quisque idhabebit quod in hac sibimet conquisierit There is no other place but this life to reforme our manners For after this life everie one shall have that which hee purchased for himselfe in this life many other like sayinges the said holie father hath to the like effect and purpose which I now let passe with silence thinking that sufficient which is alreadie said hereof Most miserable therefore are the soules in popish purgatorie as who by popish doctrine can neither merite nor satisfie for their sinnes For if soules in purgatorie can satisfy or merit then can they also demerite because the selfe same reason holdeth in both alike and if they can demerite they can also sinne mortally and so perish eternallie contrarie to popish doctrine Again if any mercie can be found after this life the reason made by saint Paul to the Corinthians which was grounded vpon the chiefest misterie of our Christian faith is doubtlesse of no force at all to wit when hee concludeth of the faith vpon Christ his resurrection from the dead Thus standeth the Apostles discourse they that die in the faith of Christ are either saved or damned who if they be saved then is Christ risen againe and become a true saviour but if they be damned then doubtlesse is Christ not risen againe neither become a true saviour Now to confesse a thirde place where soules remaine neither saved or damned but in a perplexe manner that indeed may stand with popish doctrine but is flatte against Saint Paules discourse Againe to hold a third place doth overthrovv another of Saint Paules reasons when he affirmeth the being in this bodie to keepe the faithfull from Christ. For if popish purgatorie be admitted the soules suffering there shall be as well absent from Christes presence as when they were in Christes bodie But perhaps saint Paul knew not how to conclude his purpose or at least was not in love with papistrie Yet the papistes will say that it is verie common with the fathers to pray for the dead To this I say that in verie deede it cannot be denied but that sundrie of the fathers have both praied themselues for the dead and haue also approved the praiers of others to the like end But this will neither establish the popish purgatorie nor their manner of praying for the dead VVhich obiection because it seemeth to carrie a great maiestie with it and indeede seduceth many a one as which is plainly set downe in verie expresse termes in many places of the auncient writers I purpose a litle to stand vpon it nothing doubting but to satisfy the indifferent reader therewith through the power of God so he will yeeld attentiue eares vnto my words 1 I therefore say first as is proved elswhere in this treatise that what writer so euer affirmeth any doctrine contrarie to that which is taught in the holy scriptures he who soeuer he be must be reiected and his doctrine in that point contemned VVhich thing I doe not barely say but I haue prooved the same out of the doctrine of the fathers by the flat and expresse wordes of the fathers themselues peruse the ninth chapter of credit to be giuen to writers 2 I say secondly that it is a seemely good and godly maner to pray for the dead so our hearts bee rightly disposed and our praiers framed accordingly As for example when it is said of some friend departed out
of the Church all the Churches of Asia together with others adioyning and very bitterly inveigheth against them by his letters Which fact of Victor Irenaeus and other Bishops sharpely reprooved in their letters to the said Victor Which thing Ruffinus plainely testifieth in these words Sed hoc non omnibus placebat Episcopis quin potius è contrario scribentes ei iubebant vt magis quae pacis sunt ageret concordiae atque vnanimitati studeret denique extant ipsorum literae quibus asperius obiurgant victorem velut invtiliter ecclesiae commodis consulentem Yet this his dealing pleased not all Bishops but contrariwise they wrote vnto him bidding him to practise rather that belonged to peace and to studie for concord and vnitie Finally their letters are also extant in the which they sharpely chide Victor as one that respected vnprofitably the good of the Church Thus saith Ruffinus In like manner though with more modestie dissented Anicetus an other bishop of Rome from S. Polycarpe bishop of Smyrna Of which variance thus writeth Eusebius Neque tamen Anicetus Polycarpo poterat persuadere vt suum observandi morem deponeret neque Polycarpus Aniceto persuasit vt consuetudinem Asiaticam vllo modo observaret Neither could Polycarpus perswade Anicetus to keepe the custome and tradition of Asia Now gentle Reader what neede more to be said for the vncertentie of traditions 1 For first these Bishops that thought thus diversly of traditions lived within one hundred yeeres of Christ at what time the Church was in good estate and stained with very few or no corruptions at all 2 Secondly the one side doubtles was seduced with false traditions 3 Thirdly S. Polycarpe and other holy bishops of that age made no more account of the bishop of Rome his opinion or authoritie then of an other mans 4 Fourthly they were so farre from acknowledging him to be the supreame head of the Church that they all reputed them selves his equals and controlled him as sharply for his doctrine as S. Paul reprooved S. Peter for his conversation 5 Fiftly if S. Polycarpe had cause in his time beeing the flourishing age of the Church to doubt of Romish traditions much more have we cause in these latter daies to stand in doubt thereof For now hath iniquitie the vpper hande nowe are corruptions more frequent no we doe errours in every place more abound Let vs therefore follow S. Augustines advise let vs admit nothing rashly let vs examine all doubtfull traditions and doctrines by the touchstone of veritie the holy Scriptures And least any man thinke S. Augustine to be of another minde these are his owne expresse wordes Non audiamus haec dico haec dicis sed audiamus haec dicit dominus sunt certe libri dominici quorum ant horitati vtrique consentimus vtrique credimus vtrique servimus ibi quaeramus ecclesiam ibi discutiamus causam nostram Let vs not heare I say this thou saiest that but let vs heare this saith the Lord for our Lord hath bookes whose authoritie we both admit we both beleeve we both obey let vs there seeke the Church let vs there decide our cause But what neede many words For either popish vnwritten traditions are repugnant to the Scriptures or consonant to the same If they be repugnant then is there great reason to reiect them if they be consonant that must be tried by comparing them to the Scriptures which is the conclusion I defend But the Papists perceiving them selves to be convinced by the Scriptures tell vs plainly that they must have their cause tried by other meanes For so writeth my L. of Rochester in these expresse tearmes Contendentibus itaque nobiscum haereiic is nos alio subsidio nostram oportet tueri causam quam Scripturae sacrae When therefore heretikes he meaneth all not Papists dispute with vs we must vse other helpe in defense of our cause then the Scripture Loe they dare not be tryed by the Scripture Which if a papist had not spoken who would haue beleeved it The Corollarie FIrst therefore since the written Word conteineth in it selfe every thing necessarie for our salvation secondly since no traditions are to be admitted but such as are consonant to the holy Scripture thirdly since Papists load vs with huge numbers of traditions without warrant of the written word fourthly since popish traditions were in old time most doubtfull and vncerten I conclude that it is a sufficient motive for me to renounce the Romish religion as false erroneous and pernicious doctrine Thus much of the ninth Motive CHAP. ix Of Popish auricular confession ALthough popish doctours doe wonderfully magnifie their auricular confession perswading the vulgar sort that they can not attaine salvation without the same yet is it in deede a meere invention of man the bitter torment of conscience and the readie way to desperation For manifest probation whereof I proceede in this manner The first Conclusion ALL Christians must confesse their sinnes to God with internall contrition of heart with full purpose to amend their lives and with stedfast hope of remission by the mercie of God through the merites of Christ his Sonne our sweete redeemer Of this kinde of confession the Scripture speaketh abundantly Delictum meum cognitum tibi feci iniustitiam meam non abscondi dixi confitebor adversum me iniustitiam meam domino tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei I have made my sinne knowne vnto thee and mine iniustice I have not hid I said I will confesse to the Lord my iniustice against my selfe and thou hast forgiven the impietie of my sinne Qui abscondit scelera sua non dirigetur quiautem confessus fuerit reliquerit ea misericordiam consequetur He that hideth his offenses shall not be directed but who shall confesse and forsake his sinnes shall attaine mercie Sidixerimus quoniā peccatum non habemus ipsi nos seducimus veritas in nobis non est si confiteamur peccata nostra fidelis est iustus vt remittat nobis peccata nostra If we say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs but if we confesse our sinnes c. That this confession must be ioyned with hope of remission S. Chrysostome teacheth in these words Quid proderunt lachrymae confessio sinulla adsit abolitionis fiducia What shal teares confession availe if there be no hope of forgivenes And that we must adde herevnto amendment of life S. Hilarie teacheth vs when he saith Quid aliud est confessio erroris quam confessio desinendi ab errore What other thing is the confession of errour then to confesse that we will forsake errour So then when we be wayle our sinnes confesse them and purpose to amend our former lives with stedfast hope of Gods mercie through attonement made in Christes bloode wee shall doubtlesse have remission of our sinnes Then though our