time an Oxe ledde to bee sacrificed brought forth a calfe in the middest of the Temple and the East doore of the inner temple made of brasse and so heauie that twenty men could scarcely shut it beeing locked with strong lockes of iron and barred with deepe barres let downe into a thresholde of stone opened of it selfe in the night before the setting of the same fierie Chariots and armed battailes were seene in the aire about the city and the Priests did heare a voice saying Migremus hinc Let vs go from hence And that which is a moste strange testimomy of Gods continued prouidence towardes them on Ihesus son of Anani foure yeares before the warre began when the City was in great prosperity and peace vpon the suddaine in their festiuall day began to cry in these wordes A voice from the East a voice from the West a voice from the foure windes a voice vpon Hierusalem and the Temple a voice vpon newe married husbands newe married wiues a voice ouer all this people And this day and night going about all the streetes of the city cryed and although he was chastised for this cry yet he neither spake any thing for himselfe or against them that punished him but still continued crying the same wordes And beeing led to the ruler of the Romanes to bee punnished and his flesh torne to the bones with blowes he neither entreated fauor or once wept but at euery blowe bending downe pittifully viterred this speech Woe woe to Hierusalem and neuer gaue ouer mourning for the miserable city and still complained in these words Woe woe to Hierusalem And thus he continued seauen yeares and fiue moneths but principally vpon the festiuall dayes vntill at the time of the siedge going about the wall hee cryed out with his lowdest voice Woe woe to the City and Temple and People and at last also hee added Woe also to my selfe and was presently killed with a stone throwne from the ennemies hitherto bee the wordes of Iosephus liuing amonge them at the same time And concerninge Rome where the Pope and high priest of Christians is residēt how vnprobable was it in humane iudgement before S. Peter a poore fisher came thither that the prophesie of Sibilla the Fishers hooke shoulde conquer the Romane Empire shoulde be fullfilled Was not Christ his master put to death by that authority was not he himselfe crucified by the same and all his successors vnto S. Siluester thirtie in number eyther actually put to death or most grieuously persecuted were not Christians at that time without any friend or fauourer were not the Romane Emperours the most potent of the worlde and ruled all places did not the persecuted Popes preach Christ crucified pennance and great austerity to the eares of licentious Gentiles And yet we see that the prophesie of Sibilla was performed and the especiall prouidence which Christ promised to his holye Apostle and his successors that theyr faith should not faile that it should conquer all enemies that the gates of hell should not preuaile against it is miraculouslie effected and still continued to that holy See I haue shewed in my Apologicall Epistle how all the Pagan Princes of the worlde one time or other were opposed againste it but they were confounded How many Infidell and Pagan Emperors persecuted it but they were punished and it preuailed manye hereticall Emperors plagued it but they were confounded diuers wicked Christian Emperours and Kinges both in Englande and other nations afflicted it yet it conquered them howe often it was sacked and spoyled by Gothes Vandals Saracens Immbardes and others yet it flourished still that hath beene infested with many schysmes and assaulted by aboue 400. sects of heretickes before Luther and yet condemned them and yet at this time warreth against almost 300. knowne heresies and yet it is more glorious and renowmed nowe after 1500. yeares then euer it was before and dilated farther by many degrees daylie encreasing then euer any other regiment spiritual or temporall was and not subiecte to the least suspition to be overthowne hereafter And no man can make other reason of these thinges then the extraordinary prouidence of God to that holy place the enemies it hath and euer had bee more and more mighty then euer any city fought against It vseth not temporall armour against them The souldiours and Captaines it vsed were vnarmed with corporall weapons their conquest ouer their enemies was by suffering themselues to be killed That which they taught was vnpleasing to potent Princes against whome they warred and carnall mindes with whome they fought That which they laboured to ouerthrow and did destroy was liberty and things tending to delight and yet that hath vanquished and daylie is more glorious and triumphant the other perish and become more contemptible Who will not say but these thinges proceede from God and his most holy prouidence and protection to that Religious Apostolicke See And thus I might exemplifie in other thinges I will passe so many thousands of miraculous operations whereof the whole worlde can witnesse which coulde not be effected by any limited or created power I haue spoken of them already and must entreate them as well in diuers chapters of this booke as also more largely hereafter against internall enemies and whereof euery Argument I shall alleadge for true Religion to God our chiefe gouernour giueth witnesse therefore it needeth no more euidence in this place Onely I will conclude euery creature in the worlde euery parte member organe quality act or operation it hath is a demonstration in this case God himselfe ordinarily and superordinarily doth witnesse it all reasonable and vnreasonable thinges in their sence affirme it The heauens all simple and compounded thinges giue inuincible proofe it is so This is the sentence of all Nations Countries Schooles Cities Townes and people Catholickes Heretickes Iewes Pagans Brachmans Mahumetanes all Christian Panym Philosophers late auncient of all ages and places agree in this None but beastly men whose opinion is no authority to excuse their filthines deny it and they rather in voluptuous desire wishing then in iudgment affirming it Neither let them alleadge what multitudes of errors about religion in particuler are and haue reigned in the worlde for as these errors are to be imputed to the wickednesse of the authors from whome they proceede so such great contention for that cause is an euident argument of worshippe and the dignity of true Religion otherwise euerie man woulde not contende and make claime vnto it with so great daunger to himselfe and contempt of others And the causes of their complaint that errors and sinnes doe reigne proceede from their owne and such mens impious demerits and are no more to bee imputed to God which neither can nor will deceaue or be cause of sinne then the wilfull ignorance of a peruerse scholer to a learned and painfull master or the disobedience of
admitteth no companion in equality of perfection And euery man and creature is so much more indebted and religed to him then to any inferiour agent parent Prince or potentate to whome we yeeld reuerence for benefits receaued by how much his infinit greatnesse and perfection exceedeth any limited and depending thing and by how much euery effecte is more beholding to the first and vniuersall cause without which absolutely it cannot be then to any secondary and particuler worker without which by the power of the former absolutely it may bee produced But if sence and experience may not bee admitted with these sensuall and beastlie men if no reason can haue allowance with such vnreasonable mindes and all naturall arguments demonstrations and daily experiments must be condemned with such vnnatural monsters if we should grant them al they can demande with so many impossibilities in ordinary connaturall things that inferiour causes could worke without dependance assistance of the superiour that no creature is depending either in essence or opperation that there is no first principall cause that chance and fortune which can be nothing but the accidentary concourse or effect of inferiour causes made all thinges and whatsoeuer impossibility any foolish and franticke braine can imagine to excuse their wicked and lasciuious liues Yet thousands of effects which haue beene and coulde not be by the production of any created cause must needes condemne them For all nations and people in the world Christians Iewes Mahumetanes Pagans and all estates of men haue prooued and must and doe acknowledge that infinite miraculous and supernaturall operations haue beene wrought which no limited power with all the coniunctions inclinations aspects constellations either of celestiall elementary or compounded thinges which they can deuise coulde possibly doe hauing no potentiality in them to effecte the meanest of those strange and meruailous operations onely able to be produced by an omnipotent and infinite agent And further to shewe an absolute dominion ouer all creatures to resist and restraine the most vsuall and naturall habilities of all inferiour causes as the most mooueable heauēs that they did not mooue but stand as it were amazed at so great a maiestie that the greatest planets which could be commanded of no inferiour agent haue changed their course and order The highest and ascending Element of fire hath descended euen to punnish the Irreligious The Aire hath denyed respiration to creatures The Waters in most huge quantities haue ascended against their natural propēsity to dtowne both particuler countries and the whole world in the generall inundation The whole earth hath trembled and all the firmaments and foundations of the world haue bin mooued at the pleasure of their Creator which no creature nor al creatures togither could effect yet all countries peoples and estates are witnesses to these thinges Thus we see all testimonies crie out there is a God infinite omnipotent and independing which hath effected these thinges This is the euidence of all creatures all nations and kingdomes all estates and degrees of men Patriarkes Prophets Priestes Kings Rulers Princes Philosophers Christians Iewes Mahumetanes Pagans al Rabbynes Doctors Sybilles Flamens Arch-flamens Calyphes Brachmans al that can be cyted for authority agree in this that there is a God This is the sentence vniforme consent of them all that disagree so much about his nature and religion in particuler Al good men allowe of this this all impious and wicked haue confessed except perhaps some fewe priuate men in so many generations times of the world which drowned in all licentious liuing haue to excuse their impieties rather wished it in will then affirmed in iudgement and those also when they came to death and miseries as I cited before acknowledged it And to conclude against barbarous and absurde people with absurdities if there is no firste omnipotent and most excellent cause then no religion which is onely due to so great a maiesty is to be rendred Then all nations and people of the worlde in all generations and so many thowsands of yeares that euer professed it were fooles and one Lucretius that liued and dyed mad or any particuler and beastly man that to tumble in filthinesse would wish so vnpossible a thing is only wise and holy If there is no first absolute and independing cause no operation can be effected nothing is now done nothing can be brought to passe hereafter because depending causes cannot worke without assistance so there neither is or can be any change alteration generation or corruption in the worlde but all thinges must needes returne to nothing If there is no God first and illimited cause to haue created the worlde there is no science knowledge or facultye in the worlde there neither is was or can be any creature or the least effecte because none of these limited and depending thinges coulde by any possibility bee of it selfe or any other depending cause And a thousand such impossible absurdities which follow this most blasphemous and sacriledgeous assertion there is no GOD if any barbarous and beastlie mouth durst be so impudent to pronounce it But this will bee more manifest in many chapters the whole treatise following to the confusion of al enemies to true Religion For which cause as also that I hope no man can be so vnreasonably blasphemous to make it a doubt I passe it ouer more brieflie in this place THE NECESSITY OF A DIuine prouidence towards man and other creatures ordeyned for him and his duety to render Reuerence and Religion ¶ CHAP. III. BVT to preuent the prophane and blasphemous excuses of this impious generation accusing the infinit wisdome of God of folly challenging his incomprehensible goodnes of improuidence If by impossibility thinges could be effected caused without any cause which nature generally reacheth for a most euident contradiction yet nothing coulde endure or be preserued without the prouidence and protection of an independing cause For duration and perseuerance of second causes is no lesse depending then their first creatiō Then how doth that infinit number of things which this worlde possesseth endure without corruption How can so many and diuers creatures not only wanting iudgment and reason for their rule and direction but all sense and life obtayne their endes and remayne in order so infallibly as they doe When by reason we knowe nothing wanting reason can make comparison conferre past present and future times and things iudge and discerne what is danger what is not what euill to be auoided what good and to be followed or by any possibility either knowe prosecure or imbrace that order and ende whereunto it is ordeyned And yet the certaine orderly and indefectiue motions of Heauens operations of Elements concourse of causes and workes of all inferiour and compounded creatures sensitiue vegetiue and such as haue neither reason sence or vegetation vtterly vnable to order and direct themselues giue testemony they are guided
borne vnder the constellation of our Kings that none but they enioyed the crowne Did not all the world bring forth one man when Clement the eight and Radulphus were borne that none other is a Pope or Emperour And if such Princes before their powers begun could prohibite others to be borne with them yet we see that many thousands daiely die with them whether they will or no as in so many battailes wherin hundreds of thousands of all estates ages and conditions differing from those Nobles haue beene slaine with Kinges And yet by these mens art all those that dyed with Kings should be Kings all of one age nature and condition Thus many thousands to one it is in their proceedings besides all other inuincible reasons that they are deceaued and God hath prouidence not onely of humane actions but all other thinges because no other cause can rule then experience telleth vs these thinges are true and their deuises false And the same experience is a tutor to euery priuate man that at all constellations he is of the same liberty of will to doe or not to doe and howe can the heauens and bodies more spirituall substances are they animated that they haue dominion ouer soules are they omnipotent that they can bring violence to our wils and freedome are they exempted from a chiefe gouernours authority and rule that they can gouerne all are they God and the first agent that they are independing and all depend of them these bee the absurdities of such people Besides which all reason and reasonable creatures Angels gloryfied Saints in heauen and the vnderstandings of all men of equal iudgment confirme it by their sentence all sencible thinges by their indefectiue order approoue it All insencible creatures simple and compounded the heauens elements and all others by their inuariable courses and proceedings euer haue ratified it to be so the meanest creature by the wonderfull composition of parts by which it is composed and certaine direction to come to those ends and perfections which for want of science it cannot knowe giueth euidence in this cause This mooued Galen that prophane and irreligious Phisitian attributing all to nature and nothing to the cause and ordayner of nature at last as himselfe is witnes to acknowledge the prouidence of God ouer these inferiour thinges and to make a Canticle in these wordes following in honour of our Creator Here trulie doe I make a song in praise of our Creaator for that of his owne accorde it hath pleased him to adorne and beawtisie his thinges better then by any art possible it coulde bee imagined Therefore if the prouidence of God is such to his meane basest creatures the common obiects of Phisitians most busied in bodies and more contemptible thinges what would be said if we should goe about to comprehende the least of so many â—housand glâ—â—â—ous creatures in the worlde What â—â—rticuler supernaturall prouidence and protection God hath alwaies vsed to his religious seruants aswell whole kingdomes countries and priuate persons deuoted to him in religious worship will appeare in the thirteenth chapter of this booke to the confusion of all Infidels and misbeleeuers In the meane time which I will omit that place let vs take for our example the cry of Hierusalem so renowmed for religious obseruations vnder the lawe of Moyses and the high Apostolicke See of Rome so famous for true worship since the time of Christ yet both odious amonge misbeleeuing people the first to Pagans the seconde both to them incredulous Iewes and Apostating Heretickes of all ages Concerning the first let vs passe ouer that miraculous prouidence God exercised towardes the Israelites his religious seruants inhabitants thereof from the time of Abraham to whome he made the promise to blesse him and his posterity and take especiall care of that nation whereof Christ was to descend vntil the time of building the Temple by King Salomon which was aboue 900. yeares I will not speake what blessings were bestowed vpon Abraham Isaac Iacob and their discent howe miraculously they were multiplyed in Egipt with what 〈◊〉 is their mighty enemies were confounded their meruailous deliuerye thence the drowning of their enemies their strange preseruation their miraculous life and protection in the desert the more then wonderfull conquests they obtayned ouer so many and potent enemies and other supernaturall fauors not onely recorded in holy Scriptures but remembred by other writers and manifestly knowne to many and great kingdomes But to passe these ouer what coulde be the fame of Hierusalem a city of Canaan a litle countrie when it was deuided into so many prouinces as it was before the Israelytes inhabited it what man maketh mention of anye honour or glorie it had but after religion was setled there how glorious was it to all nations it was the seate of the Kings and it was called the Citie of the King of Heauen the highe Priest with the greatest Maiestie of that lawe were planted there Sacrifices were there offered not onelie Iewes but Proselytes and conuerted Gentyles of all Nations honoured it with theyr accesse and presence Parthians Medes Elamites inhabitants of Mesopotamia Cappadocia Pontus Asia Phrigia Pamphilia Egipt Libya Cyrene Romanes Cretensianes Arabianes and others How sumptuous gloryous was the Temple to all Nations where all thinges were almost made of Golde how pretious and myraculous as manie write were the attyres of the Priestes how honourable was theyr Oracle and Propitiatorie moste straungely gloriefied with the Presence and Answeres of God himselfe with what holie Relickes of the Arke Manna and others was it sanctified to what a mighty nation did that people encrease what Prophets had they howe were their ennemies Antiothus and others punished of God howe gratious were they to the greatest Princes howe miraculouslie were they their holie City and Temple preserued a thousand yeares togither howe were they deliuered from captiuities howe strangely did GOD mooue the heartes of the mightyest rulers of the Gentiles to honour their sacryfices and Temple And when the time was come that their law in the Messias should cease and they most prophanely had denyed and put him to death not onely as their owne Prophets but the Sybils and others among the Gentyles had foretolde and they falne to such notorious impieties as their owne Historian Iosephus is witnesse that neuer any nation had come to that degree of wickednesse yet God ceased not his special prouidence to that people but gaue them many wonderfull signes for their conuersion Besides those which the holy Euangelists report of the miraculous Eclips quaking of the earth rending of the rockes and tearing of the vaile of the Temple arysing of the dead and others Iosephus giueth euidence that in their great festiuity before their desolution in the night there appeared such a light about the Altar and Temple halfe an hower togither that euery man thought it was day And at the same
to reade their bookes And Attilius himselfe Duum vir one of the two principall men to whome their custody was committed only because hee wrote them forth was sewed into a sacke and cast into the Sea If we make comparison betweene the writers of holy Scriptures and Diagoras and such Atheists as woulde deny them or the Panym Philosophers though wee single them forth that were accounted best there is no semblance of proportion The Prophets and writers of holy Scriptures were most holy and a spectacle of sanctity to all generations and many of them dyed for defence of those thinges they committed to writing Many of the Phylosophers were of such filthy liues that their sinnes are not to bee named and their errors intollerable and their chiefest men as themselues acknowledge did not as they did beleeue beleeuing one God with Scriptures and seruing Idols as Plato to Dyonisius giueth plaine witnesse of himselfe If we consider the efficacie of the doctrine of those holy writers although they entreated of harde most difficulte vnpleasing things to sensuall mindes and the Pagan Philosophers of pleasing and delightfull thinges yet the austere doctryne of them hath almoste conuerted the whole worlde to liue as they beleeued and these philosophers could neuer yet allure one Kingedome or Citie euen to thinke only as they taught And yet as I wil proue herafter they haue attempted it by all meanes they coulde If we talke of consent or disagreement in Wrighters vpon which in matters of Authoritie Trueth or Falsehoode may easilie be concluded No man is ignorant that not only all Pagan prophane Historians disagree amonge themselues and all Philosophers of the diuided Sects of Stoicks Peripateticks Accademicks and Epicures but the professors of euerie of these sectes were at warre among themselues and yet they entreated onely of naturall things proportionate to humane capacitie contrariewise not onlie the sacred histories of Scriptures agree but all theyr Writers Prophets Priests Euangelists and Apostles agree in one without any leaste difference or variance in doctrine and yet they all entreate of matters Supernaturall and aboue the reache of mans reason Wherefore I conclude in this Argument when so many holie writers as moyses Dauid Esdras Ieremie Ezechiell Daniâ—ll Zachary Malachie S. Mathew Marke Luke Iohn Peter Paule Iames and others were so diuided in time seperated in place as Egipt Hierusalem Babilon Rome and others where they wrote so distinct in natures and naturall conceits and iudgementes as all men are and yet in so many bookes as the Scriptures conteine and in so manie supernaturall misteries agreed vniformely together without the leaste dissent or contradiction this Direction must needes proceed of God who penetrateth al things and cannot lead into error When I see so miraculous agreement in the 72. that by the appointment of Kinge Ptolomy of Egipt translated the olde testament recorded by enemies and like assistance in later handlers of those sacred workes farther consider how in so many garboiles troubles of Nations many writings of the moste allowed Pagans haue perished yet these haue bin preserued in all the most famous languages of the worlde I cannot bee induced but they be the euidence of God and preserued by him Further when I perceaue the greatest humane Authoritie that can be cited for anie monument vsed for the crediting of these religious testaments as for the bookes of the first testament all Christians Iewes Mahumetans and many Gentiles consenting that they be holie and for euery booke of the new testament besides the authorities of all Schooles Vniuersities and thousands of pâ—ouinciall Sinods the whole Christian worlde in their moste learned Doctors and Fathers assembled twenty times in generall councells and confirminge them all by theyr sentence and neuer so any ten persons together iudiciallie agreeing to approoue any Pagan writer in all things I cannot be of opinion but these books were penned by holie instinct from God Moreouer when the light and law of nature and reason make me secure and all Philosophers Christians Pagans the learned of the whole world euer ageed togither in this giue it for a distinction betweene a limmited and infinite power that future thinges which haue no certaintie in their causes cannot certainelye bee knowne and foretoulde but by an infinite knowledge penetrating thinges more perfectly then they be in their causes and whosoeuer certainlie prophesieth of such things must needes receaue that facultie from God which can bee ignorant of no effect But the whole sacred Scripture is euidence that many things within their causes be moste vncertaine as depending of the freedome of mans will election and others more secret onlie to bee produced at the moste secret will and pleasure and by the Omnipotent power of god himselfe haue bin as certainely plainelie foretolde with their manner and circumstances manie years before they came to passe as if they had bin present witnesses of those things as so manye Predictions of Abraham Iacob Moyses Dauid Daniell Esaie Ieremie Zacharye Christ his Apostles and others and â—oâ—ie Scriptures of the Regiment of Iuda the diuisioÌ„ of the Land of Canaan the perpetuall desolation of Ierico of the birth and acts of Iosias three hundred years before he was borne the destruction of Babilon by kinge Cirus his name foretolde two hundred years before he came And two witnesses named of it Vrias and Zacharias which were not borne manie yeares after this was prophesied The captiuitie of the Israelites in Babilon the time of that continuance and their deliuery againe in the time of Esdras The destruction of Balsasar kinge of Babilon and the verie night of his desolation the time of the coÌ„ming of the Messias his life death resurrection ascention other misteries as they were effected in christ the miracles which happened then the reprobation of the Iewish people conuersioÌ„ of the Gentiles destruction of Ierusalem the pittifull miseries it did endure and the like which were vncertaine thinges and yet were as certainelie fortolde as they were certaine when they were performed therefore seeing these things be so vndoubtedlie come to passe we cannot make question of any other to be effected in his time hereafter the one being as difficult to be foreseene as the other consequently much more all other matters reuealed in those holye writings which be of more easie subiect are vnfalliblie true and so to bee beleeued Lastlie to put all out of doubt that euen from the firste time of committinge those misteries to writinge by the holye penne men of Sacred Scriptures euerie man might be secure they were spoken and reuealed of God which coulde neither be deceaued in himselfe or bringe others into error So manye miraculous workes and operations which none but a diuine power and such as had authoritie from him coulde effect were giuen vnto those chosen Scribes of this holye lawe and wrought by them to confirme the
Townes and Prouinces is inumerable there were before the comming of Christ infinite Idolatries in the worlde since his Incarnation besides Sectes amongst the Iewes Mahumetanes not to be numbred among Christians if we ioine these presēt heresies which now raigne almost 300. to those 400. and more which haue bin in formerages there haue bin 700. false professions in Christianitie and the impietie of men hath beene such especially in times of errors that there was neuer almoste any truth so euident but by one Cittie Towne Countrie companye of People or other it hath beene denied onlie this veritie of Religion and obligation of worshippe to God hath been so manifest that in so manie thousands of yeares in no one age yeare or day in so many vaste and populous Nations no litle Kingdome Prouince Citie Towne Village or priuate person but in such sense as I haue declared to their owne confusion called it into question TESTIMONIE OF ALL INTELlectuall Creatures ¶ CHAP. VII OR if the testimonie of all inferior thinges the witnesse of the whole worlde and all reasonable men from the first foundation till now so learned and wise euerie particular mans practise and experiēce by al sences powers of knowledge all reasons that can be aleadged all proofe in reason that can be vsed the vnyforme and euer agreeinge consent and example of al creatures wil not serue to dispute this questyon againste the blinde sencelesse and vnreasonablie deluded and wantonly bewitched appetites of some one or a fewe beastly and franticke men let vs seeke for a tryall to intellectuall and spirituall creatures which as by their perfection of nature they are of higher and more infallible iudgement so in respecte they are freed and exempted of corporall and bodylie composition from whence this blindnesse of sensualitie proceedeth are like to giue the truest sentence such be the heauenlye spirits seperated soules and the Diuels themselues though depriued of grace yet perfect in naturall vnderstandinge All Testimonies are recorde all Historians thousands and millions of men that haue beene present witnesses and euerye particuler person euen of this impious schoole it selfe hath prooued by one experimentall argument or other that there bee such perfecte intellectuall creatures The rare and wonderfull effects which bee daylie wrought by such meanes the apparitions of Angelles illusions of Diuelles their workes tempestes plagues and other miseries they haue procured theire possessinge bodyes both of men and women and beastes where their effects are manifest the appearing of soules deuided and separated from their bodies and still enduringe after death some miraculouslie vnited againe and telling what they endured in their seperation others not restored reporting either the ioyes they founde if they were trulie religious or the paines they endured if they were prophane and wicked haue testified these thinges The infinite miracles and supernaturall effects which the Angels and holy religious soules haue wrought in their apparitions haue euidently confirmed their sentence to bee true The vnspeakable torments of the wicked irreligious soules damned for impiety and irreuerence prooued by vndenyable arguments and the Diuels potent and wise conquered and cast out by poore religious men by nature their inferiors and these thinges seene prooued witnessed and written by millions of men of greatest iudgment Emperors Kings Princes Phylosophers Magitians and of all conditions not only priuate men and in secret but greatest assemblies in pubicke places are sufficient argument in this cause But in respect these Testimonies haue chieflie bin vsed to prooue true Religion in particuler and not the necessity of Reuerence in generall which for the euidence thereof needeth no such probation I wil passe it ouer to the proper place against externall Infidels and Heretickes where it shall be handled to the manifest confusion of all misbeleeuers not onely Atheists Epicures and deniers of worshippe but all enemies of Christian Catholicke Doctrine OF THE MYRACVLOVS AND most certaine Testimony of God ¶ CHAP. VIII I Will passe ouer in this place the testimony of the Creator and so manie thousands of miraculous and most certaine supernaturall Arguments of God which can neither bee deceaued in himselfe or be cause of erring vnto others both in regarde they are needlesse in this matter neuer called so farre into question that it craueth such extraordinary defence as also that they haue principally beene vsed to propose true worshippe in particuler to misbeleeuing Nations of which neuer any denyed a Religion in generall Therefore I am to make demonstration by that Argument hereafter against all professors of false worships which in some manner wil also appeare in my Chapters following of the extraordinary punnishment God hath inflicted vpon the Irreligious and the miraculous fauours wherewith hee hath honoured his holy and true worshippers in this place onely I affirme since the firste miraculous creation of man in the beginning and the supernaturall prouidence of God ouer him while hee continued in obedience and strange punishing of him for his neglecte of dutie therein he euer obserued the same order in all states and conditions The punishment of Adam drowning of the world confusion of the Tower of Babell destruction of the Egiptians abolishinge of Idols desolation of the Iews and a thousand strange miraculous punishments imposed vpon the Irreligious contrariewise as strange and wonderfull fauours towardes the godly exceedinge all limits of nature witnessed by millions of presēt wittnesses Princes and whole Cuntries and registred by moste credible writers both Pagan Mahumetan Ieweish and true beleeuers are euidence TESTIMONIE AND EXAMPLE of all creatures euen insensible ¶ CHAP. IX ANd this religious worshippe is so vniuersally due to be performed that if the verye sensible and insensible thinges that are not capable of vnderstandeinge were able to vtter that by wordes which they vniformelie practise in theyr operations or supernaturallye declare as often times they haue to the admiration of all and confusion of such men that naturall instinct and desire which is imparted to them all to doe homage reuerence to their Creator they would assemble thēselues in generall coūcell against this impious people and condemne them to be the moste vnnaturall senceles monsters of the world For the vnuiolable decree of nature is that euery effect must yeeld a certaine honor reuerēce to the cause by which it is produced exalted so in creatures of vnderstandinge the childe honoreth the parents by which he was begotten brought vp and norished the scholer his master by whom he was īstructed the subiect his soueraīe the seruant his master by whom they are ruled euery depēding thing that more exellent Regent of whom it hath dependance And al insensible things with one consent do answer by their acts deeds that they owe religion vnto god are boūd to worship him in their kind performe it for the heauens and celestiall spheres so all Eleaments and inferior creatures as well
performe it vntill they became irreligious and disobedient and at such times that they might knowe as he had often admonished them before that their Religion was cause of their prosperitie and irreligion woulde bring the contrary and vnfortunate miseries howe was that people punished howe often conquered and subdued spoyled of wealth Countrie Wiues Children Temple Altar Kinges Prophets and all comforts howe often led captiues and kept vassailes and since they fell to their laste irreligious apostasie from Christ how long time in how many Countries to howe many Nations haue they beene and at this time are the most miserable people in the worlde so that if a man woulde bee so incredulous that he would not beleeue the scriptures and promises and threates of God contayned in them towardes that people for those causes yet when the whole worlde doth witnesse these thinges haue beene so effected in so many generations no man can be so impious to denie it And this he performed not only to that people in generall but euen to the very particuler mē of that Nation as their Priests Kings and other priuate persons Who was so highly honoured and exalted of God as Moyses their Priest and Captaine was he not borne of meane parentage of the tribe of Leuie what patrimonie had hee left him what title had he to be so greate a man was he not condemned to death before he was borne was he not committed to the waters to bee drowned was hee not enforced to forsake his frendes and renounce his countrie to get his liuing among strangers by keeping sheepe And yet how was hee aduaunced honoured and exalted of God what miraculous and wounderfull priuiledges did hee graunt vnto him howe did he appoint him Captaine and Conductor of his people what victories and conquests did hee giue him oner Pharao and his Egiptians hovve did he ordaine him not onely superiour to depriue him of his riches life people but to vse the words of God constituted him the God of Pharao Constitui te Deum Pharaonis what misteries and secrets did he reueale vnto him how did he chuse and elect him alone among so manie hundred thousandes to conduct his people to the lande of promise And yet notwithstanding all this when hee shewed but one act of irreligion want of duty at the waters of contradiction he was for the same preuented by death and neuer entred in and Iosue was chosen to bee their guide So it happened to Noe to Abraham Loth Iacob Iosue Gedeon Sampson and the rest Religion was their exaltation and honour Thus it was and chaunced both to rulers and subiectes of that people as to exemplifie in their Kinges whose prosperities and harde fortunes and the causes of them were most knowne and famous What comparison was there betweene the felicities of the religious irreligious Kinges of Iuda howe honourable and prosperous vvere the raignes and regiments of their religious Kinges Dauid Asa Iosaphat Osias Ionathan Ezechias and Iosias if they be compared to the lamentable dishonors and miseries of their irrreligious Princes Saul Roboam Abias Ochozias Amasias Ozias and the rest that vvere impious Howe shorte and impotent vvere these mens regiments and kingdomes howe little vvas theire glorye hovve greate theire ignomye and dishonour when coutrarie how long and ample were the Empires howe noble and glorious was the honour of those religious Princes Such like were the successes and aduentures of the irreligious Kinges of Israell that falling from God and true Religion fell to Schisme and Idolatry they were but eighteene in number and tenne of them were miserablie slaine Nabath Ela Zamri Achab Ioram Zacharias Sellum Phacee Osee and the Scepter and Regiment was nine times translated from the families of the Kinges No family of them continuing the kingdome aboue the fourth generation that the curse and malediction of the irreligious might be imposed vpon them and there was but one onely familie of all those which enioyed it so long and that was of Iehu which drewe nearest to true Religion for he ouerthrewe the Altars Idols and idolatrous places of the Idoll Baall and put his Priests to death And although the Kinges of Israell descended of the same Imadge of Abraham as the Kinges of Iuda did and were for number of people farre aboue them beeing ten tribes and the Kingdome of Iuda only two yet howe were the irreligious Kinges of Israell tossed turmoyled and led captiues more then the other howe were they alwaies inferior their kingdome of lesse continuance The enemies of Religion Balthasar Aman and others came to vnnaturall endes and were lamentably depriued of all dignities and life it selfe So in the time of the Machabees it came to passe with the fauourers of Religion and contrary with the irreligious enemies and persecutors thereof Such relation may bee made of the proceedings of other children of Abraham descending of Cetura and from his sonne Ismael those which were vertuous and religious flourished as the others did and their persecutors were dishonourable And that it might be euident to all posterities that the promise of God is true that he rewardeth the Religious and debaseth the Impious the most holy and religious Patriarke Abraham when there were many more potent and mighty then he yet because he was so religious aboue the rest God promised for that cause to make him the father of many Nations and wee see how manie Kings and mightie Princes haue descended from him For not the ancient Kings of Iurie and Israel but of Arabia Ethiopia Idumea Egipt Colchians that most potent christian Prince Pret Ianne of Iude and all Christian Kings are either his spiritual or temporal posteritie And as a memorie of their discent from Abraham and not for anie religious ceremonie the inhabitants of the Christian Empire of Pret Ianne are circumcysed as also diuers other people as approued writers are witnes And who doubteth but many potent infidell and irreligious Princes as Turkes and Arabians although for them selues and their owne iniquities and irreligion they neither deserue either temporall or spirituall blessings of God Yet because they were as some suppose the carnall children of Ismael Esau the offspring of Abraham and Isaac although in holy Scriptures they are depriued of some spirituall faucurs graces and preeminences and commaunded to be cast out and haue no inheritaunce yet that they possesse and enioy there temporall felicities and possessions from the temporall benedictions of their religious auncestors Abraham and Isaac and the promise of God vnto them for concerning Ismael God said vnto Abraham Sed et filium ancillae c. But also I will make Ismael the son of thy hand-maide a great people which the Angel after promised to his mother Agar in me same wordes such was the benediction of the religious Isaac to his Irreligious childe Esau in temporall thinges when he was depriued of some spirituall
come to the Gentiles themselues not only the propheticall Sibilles who tolde most plainly of this distinction of persons in God but to others especially the Egiptians and such as liued in the confined and bordering countries to the Israelites For breuity I will onlie produce the wordes of the Oracle of Serapis to Thulis King of the Egiptians and Plotinus an heathen Philosopher The sentence of the first is this In the beginning God is then his worde and to these the spirit is added these are equall and tending into one The wordes of the second in his booke of the three principall Hypostasies or persons for so Christianlike it is intituled are these Before the worde not by priority of nature or time but onely by priority of origination is the fountaine and beginning of all diuinitye of this father the worde is begotten further euery thinge which begetteth loueth and desireth that which is begotten but that moste chieflie when the begetter and the begotten are alone Againste Mahumet I haue prooued a distinction of persons in God before out of his owne Alcaron and Sentence This beeing the greatest and chiefest Mistery I haue stayed longer therin and wil passe ouer the rest with more breuity The same Mahumet affirmeth that as Iesus was the Worde of God so hee was the most holy man that Prophet Messias which was promised in the lawe of Moises and was sent to supply the defect therof The Sibills as I haue prooued before haue set downe the whole lyfe of Christ and all the actions of his humanitye and tell how hee should die for the world and rise againe Other Prophesies among the Gentiles which I haue aleaged before affirme that Filius Dei nasceturex Virgine Maria et pro salute huminum patietur That the Sonne of God should be borne of a Virgine called Mary and should suffer for Mankinde The doctrine of the Rabbins before Christe so authentitall among the Iewes is most comfortable to this sentence Rabbi Haccados called for his learning and sanctitie our holy master affirmeth in his booke intituled a reueler of secrets where hee expoundeth that the Propheticall place of Esaye touching the Messias Emanuell God strong Prince of peace speaketh thus Because the Messias shall bee God and man his name is called Emanuell God with vs surely in our bodye and in our fleashe as Iob doth witnesse in my fleshe I shall see God For hee did deuise a māruailons counsayle of deliuering soules from the deuill which were damned for the sinne of Adam neyther coulde by any meanes bee saued except the king Messias should vndergoe most bitter death and many tormentes and for that cause he is called a man And because he hath all strength hee is called God strong And because hee is eternall hee is named the eternall father Also because in his dayes peace shall bee multiplyed he is called the prince of peace And because hee shall make haste to take awaye the spoiles of soules hee is called a swifte spoyler and taker of prayes And because he shall saue them and bring them to Paradise he is called Iesus that is a sauiour Hitherto be the woordes of that most holy and learned Rabbine Rabbi Ionathan who dyed before Christ was borne applieth the longe narration of Esay the prophet in his 53. chapter to the murther of the Messias by the Iewes and soone after him Rabbi Simion breaketh out into these wordes Woe be to the men of Israell for that they shall kill the Messias God shal send his sonne in mans fleshe to washe them and they shall murther him Rabbi Hadarsone vpon the prophesy of Daniell cōcerning the time of the comming and preaching of Christe vseth this speech Three years and a halfe shall the presence of God in fleshe cry and preach vpon the mount Oliuer and then shall hee be slayne Which the Iewes ordinarye commentarye vppon the Psalmes interpreteth of Christes preaching three yeares and halfe before his passion And the Thalmundists themselues haue set downe that the Messias shall bee put to deathe Concerning our moste holye Sacrifyce of the bodie and bloud of Christe as it is euidente before by the testimonye of the true prophets of GOD. The Sibbylles and Mahumet him selfe that in respecte of the lawe of Christe all their Religions and sacryfises were vnperfect and foretolde to cease in him and his oblation So that the Sacrifyce whiche should be offered in his lawe was to be his blessed bodye and bloud vnder the formes of bread and wine as Catholike Christians beleeue is moste plainely tolde out of those holie Scriptures by the auncient and approoued Rabbines before CHRIST The wordes of Rabbi Iudas speakinge of the Sacrifice of the lawe of the Messias are these The bread which is offered vppon the Altar is chaunged from the nature of breade and made the bodye and substance of the Messias But this bodye is inuisible with our eyes and free from all violence and not to bee touched Rabbi Symeon in his booke of searching secrettes hath the same discourse speaking euidentlie of transsubstantiating breade and wine into that moste sacred bodye and bloude and affirmeth it to bee the Sacryfice which shall bee vsed in the Kingdome and Religion of the Messias Rabbi Cahana vpon those wordes of Genesis hee shall washe his stole in wine and his cloake in the bloude of the grape vttereth this speech The Sacryfice which daylie shall be offered of wine shall not onlye bee chaunged into the substance of the bloude of the MESSIAS but into the substaunce of his bodye breade shall bee chaunged although externally there only appeare the collour of white Rabbi Hadarsan sayth that the bread which the Messias will giue is his bodye and there shall bee a conuersion of bread into his bodye Rabbi Barachias teacheth that at the comming of the Messias foode shall come from heauē like a litle cake Like be the sentences of Rabbi Ionathas and Rabbi Selomo teaching that a round cake of wheate as broade as the palme of an hand shall bee changed into the body of the Messias and vsed for the sacrifice of his lawe and bee listed ouer the heades of his Priestes All these Rabbins liued before Christ yet these be their expositions of the holye Scriptures concerning that most holy Sacrifice which Christiā Catholikes vse and such other misteries as depend from thence The Sibbills and Mahumet confesse that Christe shoulde and did abrogate the lawe of Moyses His Gospell was the perfection of that lawe that those sacrifices should cease in him yee he shall destroye Antechrist Pagannisme Iudaysme and Mahumetisme come in glory in the end of the worlde and be Iudge therof and only his religion to endure Thus I could exemplifye in other questions of christian doctryne but because these are the greatest and those which Infidels most dislyke in our religion I haue geuen instance in