if a Turke or Infidell should pleade before the same Christ his Iudge And why bycause the one is very much holpen by yeldyng his fayth to the promise the other hath none other ayde to trust vnto but the rigour of the law But let vs proceéde that we may come at the last to the pricke that is shot at I vnderstand therfore by these wordes of Christ what shal be betyed of thē at the last that haue liued well that vnto those that are founde such in the Iudgement shall geuen possession of eternall life I heare this well But I would fayne know at the length what the Cause should be why this mercyfull Iudge will vouchsafe to reward those workemen so highly For our controuersie consisteth not in this point that reward is geuen but in this for what Cause reward is geuen Whether of any desert or without all desert whether for the proper worthynesse of the workes them selues whiche you call good or rather for the Fayth of the person from whence those workes doe obteine both to bee called good and to bee esteémed for good You will say that the spring of this together working grace floweth vnto vs out of the founteine of Fayth from whence all abilitie to do good deédes is so aboundant within vs whiche being receiued afterwardes through the bountifulnesse of Christ fruites of holy workes do issue out from vs which do make vs worthy to be Iustified and to place vs in the possession of euerlastyng kyngdome I do aunswere that ye do neither speake as much as ye ought nor that altogether true that ye doe speake For albeit we confesse that all the good whatsoeuer we do proceédeth from the bountyfull gift of God yet this is farre wyde from the marke of our controuersie now in hand neither is this matter in handlyng now to know from whence the fruites of good workes do spryng but after they are come vnto vs the question is how much they do auayle vnto vs whether they them selues through their owne worthynesse do worke our Iustification before God or whether they stand destitute of any other ayde whereby they may be Iustified them selues whether doe ye thinke workes of their owne nature so effectuall as to bee able alone to endure the heauye burden of Gods Iudgement or that the operation of the Fayth of the beleuer rather thē of the worke doth present the persons together with their workes to Gods freé Imputation and so accomplish Iustification But I doe heare a continuall ianglyng of this Portingall Coockoe chatteryng alwayes one maner of laye in myne eares Not fayth but workes sayth hee wayed in the ballaūce of Gods Iudgement do purchase either Saluation or Damnatiō vnto vs. Where finde you this Out of the wordes of Christ And those that haue done well shall goe into euerlasting life but those that haue done euill into euerlasting destruction I aūswere it is most true that the Lord speaketh but most vntrue that Osorius concludeth hereof Christ comprehendyng the fruites of workes together with the whole treé and ioynyng the Causes together with the persons doth encourage them with the hope of eternall lyfe which do yeld their endeuour manfully to their vtterest abilitie to performe the rule of the Gospell not defiuyng what the proportion of their workes doe deserue but declaryng how bountyfully and manifoldly he will require their labours whiche haue suffered any kynde of afflictiō for his names sake Osorius framyng hereof meérely false propositions doth with his crafty conueyaunce wrest force those thynges to the workes them selues onely whiche the Lord doth apply to his faythfull that liue vertuously and so at length turnyng awry that is to say From the Concreto to the Abstractum to vse here the termes of Sophistry seueryng the persons from the thyngs doth conclude disorderly after this maner of false conclusion Faythfull and godly Christians liuing vertuously shal be rewarded with eternall lyfe Ergo Good workes by them selues wayed in the ballaunce of Gods Iudgement doe deserue eternall lyfe What cā be more falsely imagined or more foolishly cōcluded thē this lye In deéde workes are the fruites of Christiā fayth and tokens not causes of Saluation Euen as a treé that bringeth forth fruites if the treé be good it appeareth by the fruites not bycause the fruite maketh the treé good but bycause the treé maketh the fruite good In lyke maner the deédes of the godly haue nothyng in them selues that may enable them to stand vpright in Iudgemēt But if they finde any grace or reward the same may not bee ascribed to their owne merite but partly to Mercy partly to Imputatiō through the sonne that is the Redeémer to Mercy I say which doth forgeue our euill deédes to Imputation whiche accepteth our good workes though they be of them selues neuer so vnperfect as though they were perfect and doth reward them with a crowne of glory so that the glory hereof is not now to be ascribed to men but to God not to righteousnesse but to grace not to workes but to fayth not to Iudgement but to mercy For confirmation wherof if we seéke for authoritie who may require any one a more faythfull witnesse or of more approued authority then the Apostle who beyng sent vnto the Gentiles as to his proper peculiar charge what doth he preach vnto thē Not by the workes which we haue done sayth he but for his mercy sake he hath saued vs If wordes may obteine any credite with you what can bee spoken more playnely if the authoritie of the witnesse may preuayle what more assured testimony can be sought for then Paule that speaketh him selfe But Osorius lacketh not a shift of descante here thinkyng thereby to craze the force of veritie For whereas Paule affirmeth that we are saued for his mercyes sake he doth interprete this saying to be verified after this sort Bycause mercy doth endue vs with abilitie and power to worke that hereof those godly deedes of pietie doe ensue which may make vs vs righteous before God and that hereof likewise it commeth to passe that all whatsoeuer true righteousnesse appeareth in vs doth proceede from the mercy and bountie of God and not from our own nature Such is the doctrine that he scattereth abroad euery where in these bookes in those other also which he hath entituled De Iustitia followyng herein as it seémeth his forerunner Hosius who maskyng in the like maze doth affirme that life euerlastyng is geuē to men so farreforth through the grace of God as it is deliuered to mens merites which do issue out of the mercy and grace of God But Augustine will helpe to vnlose this knot easely so will also all the most famous and auncient interpretours of the Greeke Latine Churche who altogether with one voyce doe so ascribe all our saluatiō to the mercy of God not that which is obteined by doyng good deédes
Axe of the truth and vtterly rooted out with the vnuanquishable force of Gods scripture Therfore first Let vs heare what discourse he maketh of Gods Iustice and mercy against the Lutheranes For whereas Luther and all good men of Luthers opinion do professe that the regarde of merites is directly cōtrary to Gods libertie and power as touchyng his Election and Predestination Osorius on the cōtrary part doth enforce all his might possible to proue that it is not so vsing these Argumentes especially Whereas we were all wrapped vp in one brake of perdition so that beyng ones defiled with sinne we became all most worthy of euerlastyng destruction for our naturall hatred agaynst Gods law engraffed fast within the nature of our bodies subiect to the outrage of lust God in whō neither any rashnes not vnrighteousnes can fall beyng a most iust Iudge towardes all men indifferently could not of his vnuariable equitie with singular clemēcy so embrace some as he must hate others vnlesse there were some cause or reason to enduce him to extēde his mercy to some and to execute Iudgement agaynst other But God now doth perceaue the whole cause therof to consiste in the maner of liuing and workes not the workes which were already done but which God foresawe should be done For what is there that the wisedome of God in his infinite knowledge doth not comprehende euen as it were present though the same be to be done in the vttermost minute of ages And by this reason it may be that God accordyng to the seuerall conditions of men did of his clemency elect them to eternall life whō he foresawe would be obedient to his Cōmaūdementes And on the other side did exclude them from the fruitiō of his kyngdome which he foresaw would vnthankfully despise his heauenly benefites And by this meanes sayth he Gods Iustice may right well be defended all the defence whereof standeth vpon mercy which otherwise cā not by any meanes deliuered from due reproch What a mockery is this as though if God should follow his owne libertie and will in the order of Predestination without all workes foreseéne before his Iustice could not stand inuiolable nor garded safe enough from all slaunder or suspition of vnrighteousnesse I demaunde then what if God out of this huge lumpe hadd chosen no one man at all whiche he might lawfully haue done if him lysted what if he had duely Iudged to deserued damnation the whole masse of mankynde which did altogether deserue his indignation wrath to speake Augustines wordes could any man cōdemne him of iniustice Goe to May not he that oweth nothyng to any man of his owne meére liberalitie lawfully exempt vndeserued out of this corrupted loste masse whō him listeth or haue mercy on whō he will haue mercy could not hee indurate and reiect whom he would without respect of meritorious workes followyng whenas there was matter more then enough ministred by their former desertes to condemne all to destruction As for example Admitte that a mā haue two debtours whereof the one is indebted vnto him in an exceédyng great summe of money the other oweth not so much by a great deale and the bountyfull creditour vouchsafe to forgeue the greater summe to that first I pray you is there any iust cause here for the other to grudge agaynst the creditour If he doe shall not his mouth be forthwith stopped with that aunswere of Christ in the Gospell Is it not lawfull for me to doe as I will with myne owne is thyne eye euill bycause I am good The very same doth that place of Paule seéme in my simple capacitie to emply where treatyng of the Election of the yoūger and refusall of the elder and of hardenyng Pharaos hart withall he doth annexe immediatly vnto the same what shall we say then is God vnrighteous makyng this Obiection agaynst him selfe as vnder the person of Osorius after this maner If God did not worke after the proportion of foreseene workes and deseruynges Ergo God may seeme to be vnrighteous in his Election and should offend against Iustice distributiue This Argument the Apostle doth forthwith deny saying God forbyd and withall rendreth a reason of his illation negatiue namely that both propositions bee Iustifiable in God Both that God is not vnrighteous And also that God accordyng to the equitie of his Freewill doth take mercy on whom he will haue mercye not in respecte of anye mans deseruynges but of his owne freé bountyfulnesse benignitie and mercy And therfore for the better establishyng of this his defence he doth forthwith cite the same wordes that were spoken to Moyses I will haue compassion on whom I haue compassion and I will shew mercy to whom I do shew mercy So that hereby you seé good Syr that to the worke of Election and Predestinatiō the Apostle iudgeth Gods will onelye though there were no cause els matter sufficient to acquite his Iustice freé from all flaunder and reproch that in my Iudgement now the defence of Gods Iustice which you haue placed in Gods mercy seémeth more aptly applyed to his will For as he can will nothyng but that which is most righteous so nothyng is truly righteous in deéde but that whiche proceédeth from the will of GOD. So that now it shall not be neédefull at all to be inquisitiue accordyng to the coūsell of Augustine after any other principall causes besides Gods good will consideryng that no hygher cause can be founde of greater importaunce But what can be so well spoken but that some will be founde somewhat scrupulous without cause will not in most brightest Sunneshyne seé wtout a candle Therfore this cauillyng colcouerthwart creépeth yet foreward If it be true sayth hee that Gods Election is directed by his will onely in allowyng or makyng hardharted whom he will that no man cā resist his will It seemeth then that Pharao and others who of indurate contumacy of mynde are wicked whereas in that their wickednesse they do execute the will God that they are not the cause of their owne wickednesse nor that they can chuse but do the wickednesse whereunto they are violently thrust necessitie If it be so what iust quarell can God haue then agaynst those whom him selfe hath made to be stiffenecked wherefore he should condemne thē To be short The substaunce of the Obiection is for the most part knitte vp in this Argument If God do harden mens hartes then should not Pharao be the cause of his owne Sinne consideryng no man can resist the will of God Or to reduce this consequent into a Sillogisme No mā hath iust cause to blame him whom him selfe enforceth to offende God doth iustly finde fault with sinners Ergo God doth compell no mā to sinne nor doth make them endurate I do Aunswere First euen by the self same Obiections wh the Apostle vnder the person of the
of God do loue do wish and earnestly desire to be saued But yet we do call these the effectes not the causes of mercy who beyng now made the Uessells of mercy could neuerthelesse not haue bene able of thēselues to bryng to passe that they should haue attayned the first primitiue Election of God August sayth that men are worthely cast away for sinne Ergo On the contrary if men are reiected for their sinnes why should they not aswell be predestinate for their good workes Augustine doth not meane here that reprobation that is cōtrary to predestination but vnder this reprobation he doth vnderstand the last end effect of Reprobation namely damnatiō And in this sence it is true that men are dāned for their sinnes not forsaken as they are neyther predestinate for their good works Luther and Caluine doth deny that it is in mans power before grace receaued to seeke and desire it But Augustine affirmeth the contrary Nay rather what is more common in Augustines mouth then these speaches Couldest thou be conuerted vnlesse thou were called Did not he that called thee back agayne bring to passe that thou shouldest be cōuerted And agayn do not presume vpō thy cōuersion for vnlesse he had called the back agayne thou couldest not haue bene conuerted And in an other place God doth not onely make willing of the vnwilling but maketh also obedient of such as are stifnecked and stubborne The doctours of the popish faction although deny not that nature is very much corrupted in originall sinne yet yeald they not thys much that man can do nothyng els but sinne Neyther that any thing els is taken away from Nature besides the supernaturall gift onely whereby Nature might haue bene made more perfect if it had not fallen And therefore that Nature was beautified with those supernaturall giftes of the which she is now spoiled the naturall power and abilitie of will remayning in her force notwithstanding This is most vntrue whereas Nature and will it selfe not by alteration of Substaunce but by accesse of sinne and disposition is so depraued and reuolted from God so weakened and spoyled through it own operation as that it may be not conuerted but by the onely grace of God hauing of her self no part in thys work but as farre forth as it is preuented by God Whereupon Augustine doth witnes That will doth not goe before but is handmayd to well doyng Wherefore the same Nature and substaunce of will remayneth still not chaunged into a new shape by Gods creation but defiled with the corruption and filthe of Nature The same affections also do remayne that were before in respect of their substaūce but in respect of their disposition they be so putrified and stincking that nothing can be found in them now that bringeth not with it some matter of filthines Who soeuer is holpen he doth worke somewhat together with hym that helpeth hym and suffereth not him self to be applyed meerely passiuely Will beyng not renued is holpen of Grace Ergo Freewill euen sithence the first creation seemeth to bring much to passe and not to be altogether applyed passiuely In the Maior proposition should haue bene added perse by it selfe For what soeuer worketh by it selfe hauing the help of an other is not altogether plyed passiuely but with this exception the Minor must be denyed for freedome of choyse when as it selfe neuer preuenteth grace following her but is altogether holpen of Grace goyng before according to the testimony of Augustine what can it bryng to passe at all of it selfe Or if it can do any thing at all by it selfe that whiche it is able to doe it doth in morall good thinges externall and ciuill exercises certes to deserue eternall lyfe to purchase the fauour of God Saluation Iustification and the euerlasting kingdome Freéwill is altogether vneffectuall but is a meere sufferer onely nor hath any thing but that which it hath receaued and is altogether vnprofitable yea when it hath done all that it can possibly do And this is it that Luther seemeth to stand vpon Let hym be accursed that will say that God commaundeth thynges impossible Melancton doth aunswere what soeuer were the occasion of this saying surely those wh vouch the same so busily vrge it seéme voyde of vnderstanding in the causes why the law of God was geuen worldly wisedome supposeth that lawes are published onely because they should be obserued But the Lawe of the Lord was ordayned for this cause chiefly that the Iudgement and wrath of God should be layd open agaynst sinne that it should conuince vs of wickednes and increase the horror therof that wickednes might be restrayned from to much licensiousnes that putting vs in remēbraunce of our own weakenes frayltie it should in steed of a schoole master enstruct vs to Christ as it is declared before And there was no lye found in their mouthes Apoc. 14. to this August maketh aunswere aduertising vs how man may be in this sorte sayd to be true of hys worde through the grace and truth of God who otherwise of hym selfe without all doubt is a lyer As is that saying You were sometymes darcknesse but now are ye light in the Lord when he spake of darcknesse he added not in the Lord but when he spake of light he annexed by and by in the Lord. But Osorius will vrge agaynst vs here Ergo Nature beyng holpen through grace sayth he may eschew all lying and sinning To aunswere hereunto agayne out of Augustine he that will speake so let hym be well aduised how he deale with the Lords prayer where we say Lord forgeue vs our Trespasses which we needed not to say except I be not deceaued If our consents neuer yelded to false speaking nor to the lust of the flesh Neyther would the Apostle Iames haue sayd We are trespassers all in many thinges for that man doth not offend but he whom flattering lust hath allured to consent contrary to the rule of righteousnes Thus much Augustine Out of the wordes of Ieremy If I speake of any Nation that I may destroy them and they do repent them c. And if I say the word that I may plant them and they tourn away from me c. vpon this the Romanistes do build as followeth Euen as men behaue themselues such shall the potters vessels be afterwardes Ergo it is false that the Lutheranes teach that the regard of worke doth fight agaynst Freedome and the power of God in chusing or refusing The Prophet doth treate here properly of the punishment rewardes which do follow mens workes at the last Iudgemēt and not of the maner of eternall Electiō which doth preceéde all our workes either goyng before as August reporteth which were none at all or comming after which were not as yet If the aduersaries of Luther shall wrest these words of the Prophet to the cause of Electiō as though
the questions whereof ariseth our controuersie were so harde and intricate that they exceeded your capacities I would not haue entruded my selfe into your presence with this maner of persuasion but would haue referred my selfe rather to the censure of the learned But for as much as this Religion of Gods holy Gospell which we professe is so resplēdisant in the eyes and eares of all men as the bright shyning Sunne in whott Sommers day the doctrine I say wherewith we are enstructed which preacheth Repētaunce to the bruysed cōscience which agayne imputeth vnto the penitent persons free righteousnesse and deliueraunce from Sinne by fayth without workes in Christ Iesu onely which forbiddeth Idolatry which restrayneth to adde or diminish any title from the prescript rule of holy Scriptures which forbiddeth the inuocation of the dead and prayeng to straūge Goddes which acknowledgeth the humanitie of Christ the Sonne of God to be in no place but at the right hand of the Father which approueth honest and honorable estate of Wedlocke in all persons indifferently which hath made all foode and sustenaunce both fishe and flesh without choyse beyng receaued with thankesgeuyng subiect to the necessary vse of man which taketh away all confidence and affiaunce vsually ascribed vnto merites and workes which calleth vs away from the opiniō of soules health to be set in obseruation of prescribed dayes and monethes which reduceth vs from the naked elementes of the world from worshippyng of signes and outward ceremonies which I say cleareth our hartes and myndes from the bondage of mens traditions and dreames and doth ensure and establish vs in mearcy and grace which allureth all persons indifferently to the readyng of holy Scriptures which denyeth to no man the participation of the Cuppe of the new Testament in the bloud of Iesu Christ which abbridgeth all Ministers of the word from desire of all worldly superiority And to stay here frō the reckoning vpp of all the rest which are more notable and manisest then the bright shynyng Sunne in mydday what cann your Maiestie atchieue more worthy or more beseemyng your highe excellency then to admitt into the secrett closett of your soule this most euident trueth of heauenly discipline If your highnesse be not as yet made acquainted therewith or if ye know the same to be infallible and true that ye will no longer shrowde vnder your protection such pestilent errours allready disclosed and repugnaunt to the knowen veritie wherewith your grace may one day hereafter paraduenture desire to be shielded before the dreadfull Iudgemēt seate of the Lord of hostes accordyng to the promise of Iesu Christ. And the trueth sayth he shall deliuer you Iohn 8. And if your highnes shal be persuaded that this reformatiō of Religion whereof I haue treated doth not apperteigne to your estate or to the charge of seculer Princes what doth the wordes of Osori emporte thē wheras writyng of our gracious Queene Elizabeth he doth so carefully admonish her Maiestie to vouchsafe especiall regard to know what the glory of Christ meaneth what the law of the Lord teacheth how much the rule of sacred religiō doth exact of her highnes Again whereas in the same Epistle he doth very learnedly pronoūce that the speciall duty of Princely gouernemēt ought to be wholy employed to the preseruatiō of true and pure Religion Pag. 10. But els otherwise if your grace do thoroughly conceaue that is most true that the gracious restitutiō of gods holy word doth no lesse cōcerne the furtheraūce of the Gospell then the preseruatiō of your Royall estate Saluation of your subiectes I most humbly then beseech you most noble kyng by that redoubled linke of pietie wherewith you are first bounde vnto the Lord That as your Maiestie shall playnly perceaue this cause which we are entred vpon not to varye or decline any iote awrye from the true touchestone of the liuely word neuer so litle that your highnesse of your excellent clemency will vouchsafe to aduertize your Bysh. Osorius That being myndfull of his professiō he do behaue him selfe in debatyng the state of Religion in the vprightenes of iudgement so as the cause requireth and frō henceforth he desiste frō backbyting his neighbours with clamorous lyeng and slaunderous reproches who haue rather deserued well of him then in any respect offended him If he be of opinion that errours ought to be rooted out of the Church lett him first cōuince those for errours which he gaynesayth and shew him selfe abler man to make proofe by Argumēt thē to resist with onely cauillyng By such meanes will he be deemed a more profitable member of the Church and procure him selfe lesse hatred It is an easie matter for euery common rascall to vomitt out disdaynefull names of infamous persons as Protagoras Diagoras Cicloppes Blindsinckes Epicures gortellguttes and monsters But it fitteth comlyer for learned men and more profitable for the Christian congregation to lay aside distompered choler and instruct the vnlearned and reclayme the obstinate with sounde Argumentes and expresse testimonies of the Scriptures If this order be not obserued euery carter may soone by aucthoritie clayme to be a cōmon rayler An other methode of writyng was requisite in Osorius more effectuall to edifie then as he hath vttered in his bookes For this sufficeth not for him to reuile men with odious names as callyng them madd impudent childish and infaūtes and to declame whole cōmon places vsed agaynst heretiques I doe know and playnly confesse That it is most necessary to oppugne erronious sectes heresies But it is not errour forthwith that hath somewhat a bitter smatclie and is vnsauory to euery queysie stomacke neither is it allwayes trueth that is plausible to eche fonde and dotyng phantasie But wise men ought chiefly haue considered how euery mans assertiō is framed to the agreablenes of the word of God Yet now a dayes I cann not tell how the carte is sett before the horse and the preposterous frowardnes of some persons haue brought to passe that bycause men shall not be guided by the Gospell they will runne before it so mens imaginatiōs shall not obey but beare the principall Banner before But where as the right squaryer of Christian fayth hath none other sure foundation but that onely which is grounded vpon the holy Scriptures our dutie hadd bene to direct the buildyng of our Religion by this lyne and leuell and to ramme fast the wallworkes hereof with this cemente and morter But now I cann not tell how it is so come to passe that many do worke guyte contrary For they despise this well fenced order and hauyng as litle regarde to the meanyng purporte of the word they rayse to them selues a Church which they call Catholicke and the same they assigne to be the onely guide and gouernesse yet notwithstandyng they make no demonstration whether it be the Church of Christ yea or nay But measuryng the same by the onely Title of the Romish See
the Gospel a visitour as he reporteth of him selfe and an Inquisitour of heretiques O pleasaūt parasites O delicate deuises Tully hath a pretie sentēce worthy to be noted in this place which sayth That hee can not but wonder to ése how two Southsayers talkyng together can refrayne frō open laughter when they make mentiō of their blind superstitious opinions Euen so do I much marueile truely how you two worshipfull Prelates cā keépe your countenaunces when you meéte together vsing such fonde dotyng ceremonies touchyng the reiectyng of our bookes When I name you I comprehend you two alone your selfe and your sweéte brother Emanuell of the rest bicause I know no certeintie I conceaue frendly as reason requireth After this superstitious nycetie you begyn to declare the causes that moued you to inueigh against my poore defence And here you note if especiall causes wherof the one you assigne to the holynesse of Religion which beyng defiled by me you must of necessitie purifie agayne As though I accused your Religion and did not rather defend our owne or as though I moued this cōtrouersie first and not rather prouoked by you did vndertake the defence of my coūtrey agaynst your malicious snarling except perhaps ye be of opinion that a Porting all borne may with greater reason cauil agaynst Englād then an English man stād to succour the same But we will see hereafter whereunto this tendeth Your second cause you say proceéded of dutiefull charitie that so you might depraue me for some lacke of modestie in that to your iudgement my writinges doe represent I know not what arrogancie so that I seeme to you in some places to ouer reache so much as standyng still amased in myne owne cōceite I seéme to gape after my frendes cōmendations This is a new kinde of charitie truely with such viperous rācour of wordes to charge your Christiā brother of that horrible crime of arrogancie whom you neuer saw nor knew S. Paule doth detest this charitie pronouncyng that man inexcusable whiche iudgeth an other And therfore redreth a reason Bicause saith he in that he iudgeth an other he cōdemneth him selfe In this therfore Osorius being hym selfe a most vayne arrogant mā bewrayeth his owne beastly canckred stomacke vpbraydyng hawtines to Haddō especially sithēce the demeanour of Haddon by the testimonie I trust of such as doe know him doth as farre differre from all hawtines as the poysoned Pamphlet of Osorius is voyde of all ciuilitie shamefastnesse But what shall I say to this babler who is so captious that he will not admit one good word of my mouth For hee vtterly disdayneth the prayses that I do geue hym as where I denounce him to be artificiall in his wordes and phrases hee thinketh I mocke him or els that I doe so commende his vtteraunce in stile as otherwise I doe discommend him for lacke of iudgement and knowledge You are to to nyce Osorius to prye so narrowly into your own prayses And yet to cōfesse the truth simply you are not to be reprehended for it For thus I iudged at the first and euen the same I iudge of you still that you are plentifully flowyng in very apt wordes but are so drowned in them that you haue very slender or no vnderstandyng at all in science Neither shall I neéde any long search to discouer the same for in your gallant writyng euen at hand is there a very exquisite discourse vpon this worde Priuate the whiche I will so expresse by peéce meale that all the world may discerne how much skill and wit is in Osorius First you repeate my wordes in the whiche I seéme to reprehend your saweynesse that beyng a Priuate man a meére straunger to our common wealth so farre distaunt by land and sea would yet so malapertly write to the Queénes Maiestie And forthwith you moue a deépe questiō and desire to know what I thought this word Priuate might signifie There is no Carter but knoweth it and you if you doubt therof must be sent to women and childrē to schoole Then you demaūd whether it be a word of reproche As though you do at any time doubt hereof wherein you doe erre very childishly For this name Priuate doth alwayes signifie a difference in degreé but is neuer named by way of Reproche But you are not yet contented and require to be taught farther whether all persons that be not Maisters of Requestes ought to be restrained from their Princes presence Whom euer heard you say so And how came this into your braynes vayne Tritler As it seémely for an old mā yea and a bishop to daunce thus in a net And doth Osorius so openly shewe him selfe so vnskilfull in all mēs sight hearyng But at the last you come to the pricke that seémeth most to rubbe you on the gal Ye do vpbraide me say you with this name Priuate as though ye iudged it a word of Reproche This is your owne dreame Osorius very fitte for so rotten a mazer Did I name you to be a Priuate mā And what if I did were you not so in deéde Truly all mē knew this to bee true For when you wrote your letters to the Queénes Maiestie you had not yet purchased the dignitie of a Byshop as you are now yea long time after the receipt of your famous Epistle it was reported that you were a bishop elect But I did obiect this name Priuate as in Reproche ye say how I pray you whē as this name Priuate is in no respect contuinelious nay rather is many tymes applyed as your selfe doe know to most honest and honorable Personages That you may therfore know playnly what my meanyng was therein and withall learne some witte of me By this word Priuate I had respect to your estate onely as whē being a Priuate person scarse peépyng out of your cowle and not yet credited with administration of any publicke functiō it was nothing sitting for your personage to be an entermedler in fore in Princes causes such especially as were already established and most firmely ratified by expresse Edict and agreable cōsent of all Estates meanyng hereby to call you home from your vnaduised rashnes nothing seémely for your degreé This was my purpose This I thought and by this meanes of frendly aduise I supposed you would the better bee reclaymed to some modestie beyng otherwise vndiscreét by nature And yet ye make no end of your triflyng for immediatly you proceéde on this wise As though you would say that I came of some clownes race and fostered in some base Villadge and neuer beheld any kyng in the face and therefore had committed some haynous offence worthy of punishmēt that durst presume to write to Queene Elizabeth whom for the honor due to Princely Maiestie I alwayes name Gracious Are ye not ashamed of so many lyes couched into one sentence As though I tooke any exception to your birth or parentage or that I could be ignoraunt
els hereby but to be esteémed the most vnciuil person of all mē that cā finde in your hart to rēder so churlish a requitall for such gay benefites But I do not condēne all England say you I doe onely confute the errours of some whiche haue brought this new Religion into England You name England by generall wordes once twise thrise you barcke against the whole state of our religiō you accuse all the lawes made touchyng the same you doe violently rend in peéces our whole Ecclesiastical gouernement with most vnshamefast cauillatiō you inueigh against the honest conuersatiō of our maners with most outragious slaunders And yet to untwyne your selfe out of this manifest flame of cancred malice you would seéme to charge but a few whom you call seditious Schismatiques to their countrey Not so my good Lord you may not so escape England vnderstandeth the Latine toūg very well is also of a ripe iudgement and is myndfull what her selfe hath done and cā not forget how much and how greuously you haue diffamed her nor will not admit this your painted satisfaction in threé wordes especially beyng manifestly false when she throughly cōsidereth the ouerlauish backbytinges of the rest of your laboursome volume And whereas you persuade your selfe to haue iust cause of quarell bycause you write in the behalfe of Religion herein truly you bewray your ignoraūce euen as in all the rest of your doynges For albeit you be appointed a Sphepheard ouer the sheepe of Siluan in Portingall you may not therefore sheare the fliece frō English and foreine sheépe vnlesse you had bene called thereunto by lawfull authoritie vnlesse Paule paraduenture did appoint ouer euery congregation seuerall pastours in vayne especially when as the same Paul doth charge euery of vs with our vocation I vse here his own wordes and commaundeth vs to abyde in the same As for you Syr I beseéch you who hath called you vnto vs or how will you preach vnto vs beyng not sent for I doe here gladly vse the simple wordes of the Scriptures Your burnyng charitie I trow is so whote that if your bold bragges may be beleéued you will shed your bloud in the defence of Religiō Be not to bold Bayard It is an easie matter Osorius to despise a tempest in a quiet calme but if any perillous flaw shall happen the very sounde therof I feare me will make our glorious Thraso eftsoones to thrust his head in a mousehole But if you bee of such inuincible courage stand to your tackle at home and as neéde shall require hasarde your lyfe for your owne sheépe We haue pastours of our own and seuerall Seés we neéde no raungyng Prelate out of Protingall Afterwardes you beleue that I can not shew you how that you enforce your writyng of malice rancour and greedy lust to cauil bicause as you propes you were hereunto moued of very loue onely pure denotiō Truely if you may be a witnesse in your owne cause you will easely persuade what you list But if it be lawfull to vrge your owne Epistle agaynst you as reason requireth there is nothyng more easie then to shew by euident demōstration your incredible despight viperous hatred agaynst our Preachers Where euery sentence doth swarme with manifest stinges of Scorpion like venime At the last you come downe nearer to the flat accusation it selfe the which bycause I perceaued so farced with pestilent poyson and creépyng for couert into the Queénes highnes presence I tooke it in very ill part that my coūtrey was so cruelly and wickedly accused and slaūdered by you wherfore I desired to haue the causes set down the persons named the tymes noted and all circumstaunces to bee described that we might haue some sure grounde to begyn our controuersie vpon Here our clamorous titiuiller taketh occasiō to scorne my to to foreward diligence beyng him selfe most ridiculous in confounding all thinges making mingle mangle of all thinges distributyng nothyng into his partes openyng nothyng distinctly And beleueth forsooth that I came to late when Rethoricke was a dealing Surely my Lord you are come tyme enough to the dole For in this controuersie which is now betwixt vs I doubt not but I shal seare you with so good a whote yron that the very Printe therof shall remaine whiles the world doth endure as a perpetuall testimonie of your grosse ignoraunce Yet foreward proceédeth his worshypfull Maistershyp and deépely debateth vpon old rules and principles of schooles and at the last cōcludeth very grauely that in criminall and iudiciall causes due order of circumstaunces ought to be obserued But that his Epistle is of an other hewe altogether of the perswadyng kinde What do I heare is not your raylyng backbityng Epistle a most slaunderous accusation and execrable Inuectiue No you say for the Iudge and the place of Iudgement wāted and there was no trespassour somonned Ueryly you are a very vntoward scholer that haue so soone forgottē the lesson your Maister taught you especially beyng beaten into you with so many expresse examples A good fellowship Syr. What doth Cicero when hee declameth agaynst L. Piso and Gabinius doth he not accuse thē if you seéke for the Guildhall here and the offendours there was neither of them For the matter was determined in the Counsell Chamber amongest the Senatours And yet no man of any founde iudgement will deny that they were accused and that all circumtaūces of tyme and place were ripped vp against thē The same order is to be seéne in his second Phillip agaynst Anthonius and in the Inuectiue which he made agaynst Saluste Many like examples may be shewed but these beyng the Presidens of your Maisters shop chiefly will suffice to conuince you of Childishe ignoraunce But you affirme that your quarellsome Epistle lacketh no argument for that we yeld vnto all those haynous crimes which you throw out agaynst vs. It is vntrue we deny all in the same plight as you haue set them downe And for your own part if you had any sparcle of shame or honesty you would neuer haue defiled your paper with so manifest a lye You rush vpon me with a sharpe battry of wordes as though I did not perceiue what were comely nor could discerne what the cause doth require Those be yours Osorius your owne drousie dreames as I haue made manifest by your owne schoolemaister Tullie the same is also apparaunt enough by your own Epistle which I can vouche agaynst you for a most euident witnesse You say that you haue reckoned vp many monsters of Religion I confesse it in how much the number of them is the greater so much the more deadly haue you helped our pastours cōsidering none of them can be founde in England as your selfe seéme also somewhat to doubt for this your write If those monsters haue not inuaded England I do hartly reioyce in your commō wealthes behalfe and confesse my selfe to be in errour to thinke that your Ilād was
thynges are construed The callyng of the Apostles was equall one maner of function amongest them all the authoritie indifferent one selfe same holy Ghost poured vpon eche of them at one tyme the promises generall the reward proportionall The which though I doe knit vp briefly makyng hast foreward yet if any man will behold euery seuerall parcell and withall enter into a deépe consideration of the most pure and vndefiled Church of Christ and his Apostles as he shall perceaue an enterchaūgeable communion in that strickte societie of Apostleshyp so shall he soundly iudge of that Monarchie and superioritie in possessiōs in giftes and other functions and all other priuiledges of dignitie especially That they were vtterly renounced of Peter and of all that sacred Brotherhood These former positions therefore beyng now thus well fenced your cutted Apishe Sophisme is cut of by the rumpe wherewith you conclude so ridiculously If it be euidēt say you yea more apparaūt then the sunne in mid-day that Peter was aboue all the other Apostles in superioritie of degree then is it most manifest that the same honour and preheminence in dignitie is due to all them that suceede him in place O leaddagger Argumēt in which what shall I blame first If Peter you say were a Prince It is all one forsooth as if this our holy father had wynges perhaps he would flye like a Wildgoose But admit that Peter were placed in Pontisicalibus as you would haue it though it be quyte contrary as I haue already proued But we will graunt it vnto you for a tyme. What will you gayne hereby That the same dignitie is due to the Successours wherfore I pray you The priuiledge of the person is not extended beyond the person And therefore if the Maiestie of Peter were peculiar to Peter euen so it ended in him selfe But if you had no leysure to learne the Ciuill Law can not common reason teache you that whatsoeuer priuiledge is geuen to one person alone may not bee translated to his successours vnlesse it bee limited by name But if these two crooches deceaue you come of and learne of our Sauiour Iesu Christ him selfe what kinde of superiority that was wherof Christ made mentiō to Peter Blessed art thou Symon Bariona for fleshe and bloud haue not reuealed this vnto thee but my father which is in heauen Thou art Peter c. Which wordes doe playnly conuince that flesh and bloud were not partakers of this promise nor that any especiall choise was made of the person of Peter but of his fayth and confession onely For God doth not accept the person of any man In like maner neither flesh nor bloud may challenge any succession in this promise whether it be Iuly Boniface or any other But the fayth and confession of Peter is the true succession of Peter For if his succession were due vnto personages then should this dignitie be oftentymes committed to Sorcerors and heretiques but this is altogether repugnaunt to the sacred institution of our Sauiour Christ to builde his Churche vpon so stinkyng a puddle Therfore cast away this your patched conclusion lame and haltyng of euery legge For without all question Peter obteined no such interest in Principalitie or if he did it was but in his confession of fayth onely And therfore can no man clayme any other succession as lineally from him vnlesse perhaps you may cōmaunde God to loue an Italian Prelate because he is borne in Italic better then an English or Spanish Byshop or that ye will locke fast the holy Ghost to the Citie of Rome But the Spirite will blow where him listeth and the tyme commeth and is euen now already come that neither in this Mount nor in Ierusalem nor in any appointed place God shall be worshipped God is a spirite and his true worshippers shall worship him in spirite and truth But will ye come nearer home harken to your own Doctour Ierome whose iudgement I haue here noted worthy surely to he engrauen in letters of gold If authoritie bee enquired for the world is greater then a Citie whersoeuer a Byshop be either at Rome or at Eugubium or at Rhegium or at Constantinople or at Alexandria all be together equall of like merite and of like Priesthoode The power of riches or basenes of pouertie maketh not a Byshop higher or lower They all are the successours of the Apostles wheresoeuer they sit and of what estate so euer they be c. To the same effect writeth Cyprian in these wordes The same thyng verely were the Apostles that Peter was endued with like partakyng of honour and power But the begynnyng first entered by vnitie to the entent that the vnitie of the Church might be shewed to be one Is it euen so Cypriā is this thy verdite that all the Apostles were endued with like partakyng of honour and power But you my Lord affirme cleane contrary That Peter was appointed chief of all the Apostles and that this is more manifest then the Sunne in midday and that hereunto agree the Scriptures auncient fathers and that generall cōsent of antiquitie Truly you speake many wordes but no mā besides your fraternitie will beleue you not of any pleasure of gaynesaying but bycause you alledge nothyng that may enduce to yeld And bycause you seéme somewhat tymorous of the successe of your Diuinitie in this deépe principall cause of Monarchie you catch hold fast of a Sophistical target That in the church wiche is but one ought to be one chief Ruler vpon whom all men may depende by whose authoritie troubles may be appeased and outragious opinions may be suppressed c. There is in deéde but one Church generally as there is but one confession of Christian fayth yet this generalitie of the Church is distributed into many particular congregatiōs as all Nations haue their seuerall administrations of Iustice. Now therefore as euery dominion is deuided into seuerall distinctions of gouernement so to euery particular Church are ordeined seuerall Pastours and yet in the meane whiles finde no lacke at all of your new vpstart Monarchie whereof was neuer question moued in the golden age of the primitiue church But you Reply with pretie poppet reasons That contentious can not bee calmed nor outrages suppressed except some one be ordeined chief and head of the Church This fonde distinction the common course of humaine actions doth vtterly extinguish For euery seuerall Prince doth gouerne his common weale with wholesome distinct ordinaunces and yet make not so great aduauncement of this stately Monarchy as you do phantastically dreame But perhappes this is neédefull in matters of Religion why I pray you more then in temporall regiments The gouernement of Rome it selfe for the singularitie wherof you play the champion wil minister examples vnto vs of either part Augustus was an honorable Emperour Vespasian indifferent but Caius Caligula and Nero were horrible monsters who did not onely
that huge lumpe of idle wordes scattered abroad by you euery where without reason or measure more then the necessitie of the cause will require After that you haue waded in your accustomed grosse rayling agaynst the lyfe of our preacheâ—s imputyng vnto them all maner of wickednesse where with your Sinagogue swarmeth most euidently you recite at the last certeine of my wordes vouched out of Augustine which be as followeth Augustine doth greuously coÌ„playne that in his tyme such a rabble of beggerly ceremonies did ouerwhelme the Churche of Christians that the estate of Iewes was much more tollerable Osorius affirmeth that I did neuer read this sentence in Augustine This is well I will cite Augustine his owne wordes which are these For although it can not bee founde how they are agaynst the fayth yet doe they ouerwhelme Religion it selfe which the mercy of God willed to be freély exercised vnder a very fewe most euident Sacramentes with seruile burdens That the estate of the Iewes is much more tollerable who though knew not the tyme of libertie were subiect onely to the ordinaunces of the law and not to mens constitutions What say you haue I not cited Augustine truly doth he not speake the same and in the selfe same wordes playnly that I speake doth hee not render a reason also why the state of the Iewes was more tollerable in ceremonies then ours which beyng coÌ„fessed is not your ignoraunce linked with singular vnshamefastnes manifestly conuinced deny it if you can may rather bycause you can not yeld to the truth in the open light For manifest lyers are not to be winked at though they bee Byshops In lyke maner you be ouerseéne in that godly Father Ierome who requiryng all persons to searche the Scriptures and to learne them you would notwithstandyng coyne vs out of the same Ierome a contrary doctrine Bycuase he wrate vnto Paulinus that certeine persons hauing no vnderstandying nor being commendable in coÌ„uersation of lyfe did handle the Scriptures to licenciously In whiche speach of yours what would you haue vnderstoode els but that certeine wicked persons doe abuse the benefite of the Scriptures wherof no wise maÌ„ doth doubt You are ouerseéne therfore Ierome that will so foolishly and so wyde from the matter obiect Ierome agaynst hym selfe If you seéke to be further satisfied herein peruse Chrisostome who hath written of the same matter so much and so plentyfully as nothyng can bee more copious and more manifest I praysed Basile and besides him also those later Monckes which obserued Basiles rules as men that suffred lest losse Osorius denyeth it and affirmeth that we doe not contend with men but with chastitie it selfe What say you dotterell how happeneth that you rehearse the name of chastitie whereof I made no mention at all And with what face do you make our Nation guiltie of monstruous and barbarous crueltie as though it employed her whole endeuour to the rootyng out of chastitie from out our coastes whereas that kynde of sauagenes can not be seéne amongest the Turkes You proue it by the example of certeine Charterhouse Monckes forsooth whiche were worthely executed for hygh treasoÌ„ about xxx yeares past If those men say you would haue yelded to the wicked decrees of mariage then should they haue bene acquited of all other punishment As though the estate of Wedlocke were in any Realme accoumpted a punishment or as though we did constrayne Monckes to marry Wiues agaynst their willes or as though this most impudent father and shamelesse Byshop caÌ„vtter any thing in word or deéde sensibly When as he bealcheth out such foolish and filthy speaches agaynst our common weale beyng so voyde of all credite and truth as hauing no droppe of any probabilitie at all But let vs heare what a worthy conclusion this deépe wise man hath brought for his Lurdeines those mockemonckes But admit sayth hee that the greater part of them were full of all filthynes was it therfore forth with necessarie to suppresse the whole order First of all you doe notably defend your order which you confesse was full of all vice Then we deny that we subuerted any order but that those disorderous runneagates were reduced to the commoÌ„ societie of subiectes their own commoditie by meanes of our wholesome Statutes and Lawes In deéde traytours were executed accordyng to their desert as belonged to equitie The rest we remoued from their stinckyng Smynestyes defiled with all lazynes and fithynes deliuered whole and Iustie to publicke labour and exercise to prouide so for their liuyng accordyng to brotherly charitie But in the meane space say you they forsooke their orders of Dominicke and Benedicte Barnarde and Frauncisce of whom Portingall hath many perfect professours Let Portingall reteine such Ioselles a Gods name We hold our selues contented with that heauenly Oracle whiche was heard from heauen Thou art my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased Him doe we attende vpon we harken vnto his Prophetes and Apostles and withall do performe our profession in Baptisme as farre forth as the frayltie of mans nature will permit other teachers other rules other orders we neither esteéme nor admit So do we also feéle and throughly know your superstitious vanitie herein You do inueigh bytterly agaynst me bycause I do compare our later Deuines in all maner of commeÌ„dation to the auncient fathers and herein you turmoyle your selfe wonderfully You shoote at randone my Lord. I do not make comparison betwixt them nor euer thought to compare them together and therefore you striue here in vayne and your whole Turkish eloquence is not worthe a straw My meanyng was to declare that the auncient Fathers did agreé with out Deuines And for examples sake I noted specially some common places reseruyng the rest for more conuenient place bycause all can not be expounded at once Ouerthrow this my course if you can but abuse not your tyme nor myne nor the Readers with such friuolous lyes nor seéme to be ouer eloquent where you haue no aduersary You are highly offended bycause I prayse Luther Let not this couÌ„ber you I will prayse him for a very prayse worthy man so will all the posteritie also and his studious trauaile in the enlargyng of the Gospell will remaine to that worldes end to his euerlastyng renowme though you and such as you are chaufe and fume neuer so much agaynst him And yet I thinke there be few like vnto you besides that durty pigge of Angrence your sweéte cabbemnate resemblyng you as it seémeth in nature and maners nearest But as to that you accuse Luther as authour of the vprores in Germany herein you reporte a manifest vntruth for no man did more earnestly defend all obedience due to the Magistrates and higher powers then Luther Whereas you adde hereunto the tumultes in Sueuya You do erre therein more then childishly where as the Switzers are farre vnlike vnto him in nature in situatioÌ„ in maners and
brawlyng toung with the chaynes of holy Scriptres and tame your waywardnes Now therfore albeit God hath called him hence vnto him selfe let vs imagine that hee were alyue and in fewe wordes confutyng your cursed declamation after this maner First of all how may I take this reuerend Prelate that you beyng an old man a Deuine and a Byshop at the first choppe should call me most wicked man whereas I am not knowen vnto you nor haue euer bene sene o◠you nor haue deserued any euill of you Is this the brotherly loue which Christ requireth of his Disciples Is this the mildnesse and modestie of a Byshop wherof Paule maketh mention I haue written I confesse it haue spoken in the commō Argument of Religiō as seémed good vnto me I haue not offēded you in any thyng neither haue I had any disputation with you touchyng matters of Religion neither was any contention betwixt vs at any tyme. Wherfore then doe you storme agaynst me so vnciuilie why do ye call me most wicked which can not duely charge me with any wickednes at all But be it that your maners are so naturally of an euill disposed inclination that ye can not choose but oppresse your brother with infamous reproches whom of duetie you ought gently haue admonished beyng in errour why do ye haynously offende in the cause whiche you haue vndertakē that you must neédes stampe out so manifest a lye in the very begynnyng for ye write that the Sacrament of Euchariste is defaced defiled peruerted by me This is false and you herein are iniurious and slaunderous I call to witnes myne owne bookes let them be brought forth perused it shall euidently appeare that I haue beautified this excellent Sacrament with most honorable titles haue spoken therof alwayes with greatest reuerence But whereas you demaunde of me and my maisters with what face we durst attempt so execrable a fact contrary to so many former ages and where you also demaūde if so many Martyrs and so many Religious men haue strayed from the truth and we onely haue seéne the truth Truely I cā not coniecture what Maisters what Martyrs and what Religious men you doe meane Neither doe I presume any thyng vpon my selfe nor do derogate from any other man neither cā I iudge you to be sober enough which in matter of nothyng cā gush out such a Sea of idle words But you are come somwhat nearer the matter and would bee certified of me What great matter our Lord Iesus Christ did if in his last Supper he did leaue nothyng els vnto vs but a naked remembraunce of his death In this question I turne you ouer to the Anabaptistes whose speaches are these A bare signe bare bread and bare remembraunce which their nakednes of speach I do abhorre and condemne as well as you I do speake honorably iudge most reuerently of the excellencie of this godly Sacrament The Sacrament is the most excellent and effectuall visible signe of inuisible grace the heauenly bread mysticall bread the pledge and vessell of our redemption finally it is the true body of our Lord Iesus Christ euen in the same maner as the true body of our Sauiour may be present in a Sacrament spiritually by fayth and in a mysterie Therfore away with those your bare signes your bare remembraunce I call them yours bycause they are your slaūders your manifest quarels agaynst me for I do not acknowledge nor defend any such matter for myne As often therfore as you do repeate the same which you do very often so oftē you do repeate not myne errour but your owne lye You imagined in my writyng very monstruous interpretations and absurde disputations Wherof I neuer thought of once so much as in my dreame All whiche come to this onely effecte as if I had taught that nothyng had bene in the Sacrament but a bare signe of Christ Crucified for vs. Wherein you are very farre wyde not onely from the duety of a Byshop and person of a Deuine but also from the profession of a true Christiā man for you thrust vnto me a Bastard whelpe as it were myne own and the same also you tosse topsie tyruie from post to piller after your own 〈◊〉 as if it were mine But this whelpe is not myne it is a Bastard I hate it and abhorre it and will forsweare it also if you will haue me so do At the length you are come to the very bowels of the controuersie and do stoutly affirme that the matter is most manifest proue the same with the wordes of Paule But let a man first proue him selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cuppe alledgyng also these wordes of our Lord Iesu. This sayth hee is my body do ye this in remembraunce of me You will therfore that we should stand fast to these wordes beyng so notable and euident and accuse my wicked interpretation of Christes wordes affirme that I do make none accoūpt of the meanyng of Paule Doe I apply a wicked interpretation of Christes most sacred wordes Syr Ierome Do I esteéme the sence and mynde of S. Paule of no value shewe the place recite the wordes bryng forth in the face of the world this haynous crime that all men may abhorre myne impudencie detest myne impietie and spitte at myne ignoraunce If you can discouer nothing in so notorious an escape if you exclame against me without cause if you be clamorous without reason if none of all these be in me but if it be your foule and vnshamefast slaūder what maner of Christian what Deuine and what kynd of Byshop shall mē surmise you to be Now I will returne to your allegations whereby to deale in playne open tearmes with you if vpon those wordes you will haue it cōcluded that Christ is truely deliuered in the Sacrament to the true beleuers in fayth and spirite I will not gaynsay you But if you meane to grounde the foundation of your grosse Idolatrous Transubstantiation vpon the same wherof you make mention a litle after I must neédes tell you that I doe vtterly dissente from you and your Maisters the Schoolemen herein and do so nothyng refuse to debate this controuersie by the very selfe same testimonies whiche you haue alledged that I doe rather desire and most earnestly require the same This is therfore the sentence of Paule Let a man examine him selfe and so eate of that bread and drinke of that cuppe Which word Bread Paule through the whole discourse of that Chapiter once twise yea many tymes doth inculcate Whereby it appeareth playnly that when a man hath tryed him selfe to the vttermost when he hath done all that apperteineth to the due receiuing of the Sacrament he must yet at the last eate Bread So that after your consecrations Bread remaineth and neuertheles the Sacrament yea Bread remaineth euen to the last Wherfore the substaūce of the materiall Bread can not passe into an
our selues somewhat in the liuely wellsprynges of holy Scriptures wherewith we acknowledge our soules to bee throughly watered to eternall lyfe You are very much offended with me bycause I did write That Gregory would not acknowledge this extraordinary Papane preheminence and ye do beleue that I can not iustifie this to be true If therfore I do cite the place if I do direct your singer to Gregories own speaches wherein he doth mislike the name of vniuersall Byshop once twice thrise and more yea and as much as in him lyeth vtterly detect and reiect the same from him selfe what shall men deéme of you reuerend Prelate which either of a singular ignoraunce know not or of an horrible impietie of gaynsaying will dissemble so manifest a matter so confessed so often rehearsed and how dare you desire to bee credited in all the rest of your Protestations when as your selfe haue wiped away your whole estimation by facyng out so false a proposition Looke vpon Gregory who that list turne to the places that I haue noted in the Margent and iudge the honestie of this man Nay rather haue recourse therunto your selfe learne at the least to shake of this shamelesse custome of cauillyng I proued by the examples of the Apostles that the pure primitiue Churche did neuer acknowledge this Papall Monarchie I cited to the same effect their successours Byshops of Rome some that were godly men and Martyrs which did neuer aspire to that superioritie and hereupon I argued that the same principallitie beyng altogether vnknowen to those best purest ages of the Church might also haue bene let slip ouer of vs. What say you vnmeasurable brabler why do you quarell so bitterly why do ye so contumeliously stomacke agaynst me why report you that I proue nothyng when as I do make all thyngs euident with examples why do ye finde fault with the sequele of thyngs then the which there can be none greater or more assured Finally why do ye reiect those sayinges as meére false the falseshoode wherof ye endeuour not in one sillable so much as to discouer vnlesse paraduenture you be of opinion that your bare braules shal be receaued as infallibe truthes whiche I will neuer yeld vnto as I haue sayd before I added also a litle after that we might lacke this Papane Monarchie well enough yea that we ought to be without it aswell bycause the Gospell interditeth it as also bycause reason reclaimeth agaynst it At which wordes the Gospel enterdityng Our Syr Ierome sets vp his bristles although he know my meaning yet mooseleth at the wordes accuseth me that I can not expresse myne own meanyng sensibly what say you Osorius Are ye so sodenly fallen an old Doctour of Diuinitie to a punie Scholer and carper of wordes are ye so sodenly disgraded from a Reuerend Prelate and become a malitious and hungry fawconer of titles sillables O grauitie beseéming a Byshop O fuÌ„ctio most agreable for those gray heares But let vs view the matter it selfe We ought to lacke this Papane Monarchie the Gospell interdityngit that is to say bycause the Gospel doth enterdite it forbid it coÌ„mauÌ„deth the contrary letteth it hindereth it withstaÌ„deth it resisteth it openly exclaymeth that no such Monarchie be admitted Do I not speake after the Latin phrase doth not euery of these wordes properly and playnly expresse the thynges that I meane Enquire amongest all your Massemongers and of that betlehead Dalmada your familiar and companion They will all condemne you for tomme trifler And your sweét piggesnye Emanuell will smoyle close in his sleaue that somewhat is founde out in the world at the last that exceédes his filthy Commentaries and blockishnesse But our Aristarchus proceédeth notwithstaÌ„dyng Peacock-lyke and requireth proofe whereby the countermaunde may be manifest that we should now be subiect to this onely great Vicare of Christ First of all this do I aunswere that it is sufficient for me to deny all things with a bare nay to him that affirmeth all things by a bare yea for there is no differeÌ„ce of authority betwixt our estates but yeâ—urisdictioÌ„ of a Bishop whiche may hold your charge of Siluain to consent but toucheth not me And therefore after that you had packt together a tedious Epistle to the Queénes Maiestie full of reproches slaunders and had in the same vttered all your cankred malice agaynst the professours of true Religion yet all the whiles had vsed thereunto neither proofe nor probabilitie it sufficed for me to haue confuted that pestilent inuectiue fortified with bare affirmatiues onely euen by the contrary therof to witte bare negatiues But now for asmuch as you haue stopt vp a fewe shardes in these your last tedious Commentaries though very hardly and quyte from the purpose yet as well as you could I thought good to reply likewise with some Argumentes thereby to ouertake you at euery loupe hoale So that I haue now so entaÌ„gled and snarled fast in coupe your Lordly Ierarchy by force of holy scriptures eueÌ„ with the same tooles that you beleued to haue erected established it that I neéde nothing doubt of the consent of all the godly but that they are fully satisfied herein As for you nothyng can content you that are so captious in titles of wordes as to slippe from Diuinitie to extreme Sophistrie I affirmed that an Italian Monarche could not aptly be a ruler ouer vs and I alledged the cause in these wordes For the head caÌ„ not Conueniently be distaunt from the members so farre asunder Here Osorius playeth the man and vttereth all his skill at a brunt And beleueth that some monster I caÌ„not tell what lurketh in those wordes and therfore rusheth vpon me with pretie young questions Must ye be taught to speake Latine sayth hee for what meaneth this What is this coÌ„uenieÌ„tly to be distauÌ„t For that which agreeth with it selfe doth not dissent wherfore when you say that some one thing is conueniently distaunt ye doe not speake true Latine but vse a monstruous kynde of Latine phrase Listen hereunto agayne prattlyng Sophister I doe not affirme that any thyng doth conueniently disagreé as you doe maliciously imagine but I do playnly deny that the head caÌ„ conueniently be distaunt froÌ„ the members But you beyng ignoraunt what difference is betwixt an affirmatiue a negatiue proposition must be turned downe agayne behinde the Schoolehouse doore amongest the apsie boyes to learne this lesson agayne And bycause you are so grosse of coÌ„ceauyng that ye caÌ„ not perceaue a thyng spoken briefly and aptly I will rehearse my wordes agayne and will apply hereunto other phrases of the lyke effect That all men may know what a childishe and blockeheaded aduersary I haue This is it therefore For the head can not conueniently bee distaunt from the members so farre of That is to say it is not conuenient that the head should bee so farre asunder from the members A frend doth not conueniently
the whole which onely worketh all in all who thrustyng out workemen to preach the word doth frameth the wills of the hearers that they may beleéue Whereupō I do aūswere to that suttle Argument of Osorius briefly and playnly in this wise Whosoeuer worketh together with an other worketh actiuely and not passiuely onely The Ministers of the Gospell are together workemen with God Ergo The Preachers of the worde when they worke with God do not suffer passiuely onely I aunswere that in the Maior proposition should haue bene added these wordes Per fe inys que ngit That is to say Of him selfe in the things wherein he worketh For the thyng that of his owne power worketh together with an others helpe doth somewhat in deéde in those thynges whiche it doth and is not wrought onely That is true And for the same purpose the Minor proposition must bee denyed for the Freewill of Gods Ministers doth neither worke in Preachyng the word Per se of it selfe except it be holpen by Gods Spirite nor doth proceéde any further euen when it is holpen thē to the outward action of preachyng But as concernyng the inward fruite of preachyng namely nourishment of fayth and the operatiō of conuersion all this action proceédeth from the holy Ghost and not frō Free-will And this seémeth to bee the very meanyng of Luther to witte hauyng respect to those thynges onely wherein Freewill can not challenge to be any meane of effectuall operation either in workyng or in together workyng nor can make any title of clayme therein nor prescribe to bee any partener with the holy Ghost in the worke It remayneth that we arme our selues agaynst the other sutteltie of Osorius which he coyneth out of the Apostles wordes S. Paule writyng to the Phillipians doth counsell them in a certein place to worke euery of them their own saluation with feare and tremblyng I doe heare it and I awayte what this choppelogicke will stampe out hereof Ergo sayth Osorius we are able to worke our Saluation of our owne Freewill I doe aunswere The antecedent is true but the consequent most false and altogether sauoryng of Pelagius errour nor agreable with the antecedent For this word working which the Apostle vseth doth not signifie any such thyng as may vphold the force of Freewill or declare it to be the efficiēt cause of Saluation as though it did depend vpō the dignitie of our workes but is onely a word of exhortation to comfort them to goe foreward diligently and to perseuer carefully in the course of Saluation where they were now settled And withall teacheth them further how they ought to perseuer with feare sayth he and trēblyng to witte exhortyng them to take vnto them the feare of God in humblenesse of mynde which might hold them alwayes conuersaunt in good workes whiles they made hast to attaine the goale of Saluatiō Finally that no man might cauill say that this vertue of perseueraūce did farre surmoūt their weakenes he addeth forthwith callyng them backe as it were to a better hope through cōfidence of greater helpe For it is God sayth he which worketh in you both to will and to worke accordyng to his good pleasure c. If God do worke in vs Osorius both to will and to worke what is it then that Freewill can will or doe Furthermore if life euerlasting be the gift of God not for the workes sake whiche we haue done how shall Saluation be obteined by good workes wherefore you trippe twise in your Argument First whereas you place Saluation in good workes Then whereas you deriue good workes out of mans Freewill as from the sprynghead therof For thus ye conclude If it were not in our own power to witte in our Freewill which both are false and most friuolous And yet after all these manifest trackes of Pelagius playne footesteppes not vnlike that craftie varlet Syrus in Terence whiche cleareth him selfe to his Maister as vnacquainted with the Mariage of his sonne euen so least he should seéme to be defiled with some spotte of Pelagius errour addeth immediately What Are we such as will consent with Pelagius Did we say at any tyme that we were able to worke any godly or prayse worthy worke through our own strength and industry If you will abide by your wordes Osor. you haue so said in deéde For he that doth auow that it is in our own power to worke our saluation what doth hee meane els by these wordes but that we be able of our owne strēgth to worke somewhat worthy cōmendatiō But whether he agreé herein with Pelagius or no let the indifferēt Reader Iudge as seémeth him best But I pray you sir by what meanes do you affirme that to be in our owne handes which you deny agayne to be in our owne power Or how cā ye defend them both but you must neédes make a lye in the one or what slipper deuise will you vse here to couer your lye withall You say that Saluatiō is not obteined by our own strength but through Gods grace workyng within vs. And why then chaufe you so maliciously agaynst Luther Melancthon Bucer and Caluine which affirme the same that you do But a litle earst ye confessed the thyng which ye do now deny Be stedfast therfore and set downe your mynde whereunto you will stand that we may know once where we may finde you If you affirme that all consisteth in our owne handes then do you not agreé with Pelagius but you go farre beyond him If you ascribe all to the grace of God what neédeth any more scoldyng But you will deuide your meanyng perhappes and will allowe to Gods grace such a parte of the worke that Freewill also may occupy some part with all Yet doe ye not vntwyne this meashe notwithstandyng For if you will so cut asunder this shippe which can by no meanes bee vnioynted and will yeld ouer the forepart therof to mās guidyng the powpe to Gods tuition surely S. Paule will gayne say you euery way which yeldeth the whole interest of both aswell the former as the hinder partes to God whether Osori will or no Declaryng That it is God that worketh in vs both to will and to bryng to passe all thyngs accordyng to his good pleasure But you will finde out some meane thyng paraduenture betwixt both whiche you may attribute to Free-will But euen here agayne you shall be driuen backe whereas you may heare Paule pronounce That it is God that geueth the increase so that now not onely the originall of good will but the encrease also of well doyng the accomplishyng proceédyng and successes also flow from out the holy Ghost and not from man If it be so thē will you say that Gods grace doth worke all in all in vs to what purpose serueth the Freewill that is naturally engraffed within vs or beyng holpen by grace how is it sayd to doe
issue of thy body thou shalt haue one whether thou marry a wife or not marry a wife but if thou be predestinate to be childlesse thou shalt surely be childies though thou marry a wife neuer so much The deceite of this Sophisme lurketh herein Bycause our endeuours and Imaginations ought not to depend vpoÌ„ an vncerteine certeintie whiche may be applyable to good or euill indifferently or vpon chaungeable aduenture the successe wherof we know not but must be ordered by a direct assured rule of reason For albeit on the one side it may so come to passe that he that marryeth a wife shall haue no children yet on the other part for as much as it is impossible to haue children without copulation of man and womaÌ„ therfore that ought to be yelded vnto that seémed consonaunt to reason not that which the Argument concluded videl therfore he must not marry a wife In lyke maner fareth it with the other Argument concernyng the Phisition Although it may so come to passe that no Phisicke may helpe me yet bycause it is most agreable to reason that vnlesse Phisicke be ministred health will not bee recouered I will follow herein the most approued rule of reason and will not wilfully throw my selfe by an vncerteine Necessitie of destiny into that whiche seémeth impossible or at least lesse agreable to reason Wherfore as these assumptions be false thou shalt in vayne marry a wife thou shalt vse Phisicke in vayne in lyke maner I aunswere that Osorius Argument is Sophisticall where hee argueth that our endeuours are applyed in vayne that we do trauaile in vayne Well to go foreward to the other triflyng toyes of this Sophister An other Argument touchyng rewardes and punishmentes For as much as vertue and vyce doe proceede from out the free choyse of will it can not be but that he which doth bereaue will of her freedome must also dispoyle the lyfe of man of due reward for vertue and punishment for vyce Luther by byndyng all thynges to Necessitie doth bereaue will of her freedome Ergo by Luthers doctrine it doth come to passe that neither punishment shal be executed vpon malefactours nor vertue aduaunced with condigne reward The very same Argument did Pelagius long â—ithence vse agaynst August though not in the selfe same wordes yet all one in effect I aunswere the partes therof And first concernyng freédome of will mentioned in the Maior how it ought to be distinguished hath bene declared before already Then if in the Minor you respect that kynde of Necessitie whiche forceth vs to yeld whether we will or no your Minor is false As touchyng reward for vertue and punishment for vyce Celestius the Pelagian vrged agaynst Augustine in the same wise Man is not to be blamed sayth he for committing the Sinne which he can by no meanes auoyde Augustine maketh aunswere Nay rather sayth he man is therefore faultie in that hee is not without sinne bycause by maÌ„s Freewill onely it came to passe that he should fall into that Necessitie of Sinnyng which Necessitie by his owne will he can not withstaÌ„d Whereby you perceaue Osor. that Necessitie of sinnyng is neither vtterly abolished froÌ„ maÌ„s nature that malefactours are duely punished notwithstaÌ„dyng for their offences By what reason may this be iustified will you say sithence the Iudgement of our choyse whereby we fall into Sinne is not freé but subiect to thraldome Be it as you say but thorough whose default this seruitude came first is already declared Agayne whether offence be committed through frée or seruile choyse of will it maketh litle to the purpose for the quallyfieng of the punishment so that it appeare to the Iudge that the fact was committed of willfull and corrupt lust and affectioÌ„ But you will say agayne If the offence be voluntary Ergo the doing therof consisteth in our owne power For what soeuer is voluntary seemeth to be within the compasse of our habilitie I aunswere To will we haue in deéde naturally in vs but to will well we haue not So that habilitie to will is of our selues to witte We are able to will but to will well is not in the power of will for this soundenesse of will AdaÌ„ lost when he had receaued it through his own abuse As touchyng rewardes I Aunswere Albeit our deédes deserue not to be rewarded yet doth God righteously reward theÌ„ whenas he doth crowne his owne giftes in vs. Neither doth it follow hereupon bycause God doth reward good workes in vs that therfore those good workes are our own as proceédyng froÌ„ vs through our owne strength habilitie But bycause he hath vouchsaued to make those giftes to be ours bycause he powreth those good giftes into vs therefore worthely are those good giftes rewarded as his owne And yet neither is this reward geueÌ„ as due to desert in respect of the worthynes of the worke but of his gracious liberalitie which he hath bountyfully powred vpon vs vndeserued before to make vs obedient vnto him Briefly if this Aunswere though of it selfe very playne and manifest shall seéme but of small credite with you I will bryng you Augustine for an umpyer betwixt vs sufficient enough I trust who beyng long agoe assayled with the same Obiections by the Pelagians shall for the better maintenaunce of his owne credite fully auÌ„swere these cauillations of those heretiques like vnto your selfe For the PelagiaÌ„s did obiect agaynst him in this sort If it be true that all thynges froÌ„ the begynnyng are determined to their end by Gods foreordinaunce decreé that meÌ„s willes are directed by God to what purpose are lawes made punishment ordeined for malefactours why are men rebuked reproued reprehended accused for what do we that we haue not receaued what maruell is it if we be disobedieÌ„t to God wheÌ„ as he that commauÌ„deth to obey hath not geuen will to obey Euen as Augustine hath aunswered this Obiection long sithence so let Osorius coÌ„tent him selfe to be auÌ„swered in as few wordes For correcting of vyce sayth he punishment is ministred for two causes First bycause no man is euill but by his owne default for the euill that he worketh is euill voluntaryly and of his owne accorde And although it ought not to be doubted that maÌ„s will ought to be subiect to Gods will whom maÌ„ can not let to worke what him best liketh for as much as when him listeth he frameth mans will to worke after his will yet here is no cause to the contrary but that man should receaue due punishement for the offences which him selfe committeth willfully seyng that he is the worker of his owne Sinne for no man Sinneth agaynst his will The other cause why transgressours are worthely punished is bycause the trespassours either are regenerate and such beyng cleansed before and fallyng agayne to their former filthe of their owne accorde can not pleade for defence that they
neuer receaued grace as men who through their own Freewill haue made frustrate the Grace of God once receaued by their owne wickednesse But if they be not regenerate yet is that damnable originall sinne worthely punished that will through anguish of punishment may conceaue desire to be regenerate if at least the man that is so chastized be the child of promise That God by outward vsing this meane of scourge vexation and chastizement may by secret inspiration fashion and frame the will to obedience c. And thus much hetherto coÌ„cernyng lawes and ordinauÌ„ces for rewardyng vertue and punishyng vyce in Ciuill gouernement There followeth now an other absurditie to witte where he sayth that by Luthers doctrine man is altogether dispoyled of vnderstandyng depriued of Iudgement bereft of reason and driueÌ„ to that extremitie as to be no better then a naturall stoane throwen out of a mans hand Osorius Argument Whosoeuer do attribute the orderyng of all thynges to absolute Necessitie exemptyng freedome from will doe spoyle men of their vnderstandyng depriue them of Iudgement and bereue them of reason and do traÌ„fforme them into brute beastes and stoanes Luthers doctrine doth bynde mens actions and willes to Necessitie Ergo Luthers doctrine doth dispoyle meÌ„ of their senses and turneth them into stoanes I deny the Maior of this Argument In the Minor I distinguish this word Necessitie Lastly the Argument is altogether vicious and that for two causes Either bycause Osorius thinketh That no Necessitie at all byndeth thynges to be directed by the eternall prouidence and ordinaunce of God or els he supposeth this Necessitie to he such as must neédes exclude all freédome of will Both which are false And first touchyng Necessitie Luther other auÌ„cient writers do learnedly affirme That the actions of mans lyfe are not subiect to fortune but herein they do acknowledge the prouidence of God which they assigne to be the onely and principall gouernesse and guide of maÌ„s lyfe as which directeth maÌ„s purposes boweth and bendeth his will and ordereth all the enterprises thereof Moreouer they teach the same prouidence to be such as whiche is not whirled about through blynd and sudden motions wherein no place is left to the happenynges of fortune nor such a prouidence as must neédes depend vpon inferiour causes or vpon a necessary couplyng together of causes wherein destiny is excluded nor such a prouidence as is vnaduisedly vncerteinly tossed to fro accordyng to the wandryng chaunces of fortune wherein fortune chaunce is taken away but such a prouidence as consisteth in a certeine assured stedfast permanent order workyng so in the meane whiles by inferiour and mixte causes neuerthelesse not as though it were tyed to those causes with any such necessary bonde of couplyng that it may not possibly doe otherwise by her owne absolute and most freé motione neither as though those causes could not possibly doe otherwise but must of Necessitie follow the direction of the same prouidence whereunto they be subiect Whereby it commeth to passe that Freewill beyng occupyed in these meane causes neither ceaseth to be altogether freé as being forced by no forreine constraint but guided by her owne accord nor yet remayneth so absolutely freé but that it is constrayned whether she wil or no to yeld to the direction of Gods prouidence voluntaryly notwithstandyng not coactly Wherupon amongest the learned this Necessitie is called Necessitas immutabilitatis aut certitudâ—nis whiche though doe not vrge thynges with violent coaction yet for as much as nothyng is in al the creation of nature of so small substance as can be without the coÌ„passe of Gods knowledge therfore albeit many things seéme accordyng to our capacities to be done by chaunce yet in respect of Gods prouidence if wee duely consider the originall and principall cause of thynges that are done wee shall finde nothing done but which could not but be done of very Necessitie I make hast to the other absurdities to witte to Osorius his most friuolous brabblynges For in this sorte he crawleth from mans lawes and ciuill gouernement to Gods lawes arguyng as it were in this sort If will be nothing auayleable to good lyfe nor of it selfe can do nothyng but Sinne then are Gods lawes commaunded in vayne in vayne also are exhortatioÌ„s and aduertisementes ministred in vayne are blessinges and cursinges set downe in the Scriptures But no man wil say that these are coÌ„mauÌ„ded in the Scriptures in vayne Ergo this doctrine of Luther is false execrable whereby he leaueth none other habilitie to Freewill but onely to sinne whereby he bindeth all things to necessity This Maior must bee denyed beyng nothyng els but a most manifest cauillation to witte tendyng to this effect as though God commaunded vs to doe nothyng but that we might of our owne selues performe whereunto Augustine aunswereth in this wise O man in the commaundemeÌ„t learne what thou oughtest to doe in the punishment learne thy weakenesse through thyne owne default In the prayer learne from whence thou mayest obteyne c. By the law of commaundyng and forebyddyng therefore accordyng to Augustine we come to the knowledge of our Sinne and infirmitie not of our owne strength power yet is not the law therfore coÌ„maunded in vayne For to vs that aske in the Sonnes name and acknowledge our infirmitie is Grace promised which worketh in vs both to will and to doe accordyng as the same Augustine doth recorde in the same place Let vs remember that hee doth say make vnto your selues a new hart and nâ—w Spirite who hath sayd I will geue you a new hart and I will geue you a new Spirite How is it then that he that sayth make vnto your selues a new hart fayth also I will geue you a new hart Why doth he commaunde if him selfe will geue Why doth he geue if maÌ„ be the worker but bycause he geueth the thyng that he commaundeth and helpeth him whom hee hath commaunded that hee may do it For through grace it commeth to passe that man is endued with a good will which was before of an euill will c. Therfore by this Argument of Augustine appeareth that this word of admonition exhortation or of rebukyng vsed in the Scriptures is as it were a certeine meane or instrument which the holy Ghost doth vse in conuertyng the will of such as are not yet regenerate and in beautifying the first issues of his good giftes in such as are regenerate that they may grow to a more rypenesse through Repentaunce through Fayth and through Prayer And by what wrest of Logicke doth Osorius gather habilitie of Freewill out of the holy ordinauÌ„ces seyng Augustine doth in so many places so directly gayne say him but especially in his 2. booke agaynst the two Epistles of Pelagius writyng in this wise I can see nothyng in the whole Scriptures geuen by God in commauÌ„dement to man to proue that
and absolutely And yet neither may this be denyed in any wise that of the generall masse of all the creation any one thyng caÌ„ be without the coÌ„passe of Gods Deuine foreknowledge or done without his will albeit we must neédes confesse with Augustine that many thyngs are done agaynst his will Now therefore encombred as it were betwixt these two whirlepooles how shall we say that he doth either will Sinne which he doth forbyd and punish or that he doth not will sinne whenas nothyng can be done God not beyng wittyng and willyng thereunto Surely as touchyng Sinne God ought not to be named the Authour of Sinne properly Neither as Ambrose truely writeth can iniquitie issue from thence whence floweth all righteousnesse And yet can not God be excluded from the direction rule of Sinne altogether vnlesse we may thinke that somethyng may chauÌ„ce in mans lyfe which the almighty eye of God either seéth not or that his will willeth not If he do not seé it where is then his eternall foreknowledge if the thynges which he seéth be done without his knowledge and will where is his euerlastyng omnipotencie which worketh all in all and wherewith he is sayd to doe all thinges that he will in heaueÌ„ and in earth What shall we say then If God will not haue Sinne why is sinne committed so woÌ„derfully ouerflowyng If he will haue sinne how may it be defeÌ„ded that he is righteous for after this sorte reasoneth Osorius as though the righteousness of God could not be excusable if God may be supposed either to will Sinne or to be any cause or procurour of Sinne. Albeit this drift of Osori whereby he coÌ„cludeth that God willeth not sinne bycause hee is righteous may be in some respect yelded vnto so that it haue relation to the same will of God which hath discouered it selfe vnto vs in his expresse law which will the Schoolemen tearme VoluntateÌ„ sigui or if he argue on this wise God is righteous Ergo He is not a Sinner God is righteousnesse it selfe Ergo He can not sinne This Argument would hold well enough But this other Argument can not be good to say God is righteous and the founteine of all righteousnes Ergo God can not will Sinne in any others without preiudice to his owne righteousnesse As though God could not will Sinne in some respect not sinnefully with that most secrete and vnsearcheable will wherewith he orderâ—in and sweetely disposeth all thynges in heauen and in earth not empayring in the meane space any ioate of his own righteousnes at all Nay rather what if euen for the selfe same cause bycause he is righteous some kynde of actions do sometymes burst out whiche beyng committed of men in respect of mans nature are Sinne but in respect of God are not Sinne but punishementes of Sinne powred fromout his most iust Iudgement for it is not the least office of Iustice to punish sinne by sinne nor is it by and by necessary to Iudge alyke of the causes them selues whenas one selfe same action doth proceéde froÌ„ diuerse causes vnlesse the causes be altogether correspondent in action When the Magistrate doth execute the offendour he is both the cause of his death and doth willyngly cause him to be executed not bycause he delighteth in his death but enduced onely by necessitie of doyng Iustice he doth in that respect both rightfully and necessaryly minister Iustice. But if a priuate maÌ„ or a RussiaÌ„ should willyngly put a maÌ„ to death he should be deémed a murtherer When the parent doth chastize his vnthriftie child with the rodde he doth the same rightfully yea if he dyd it not he should Sinne. But if the brother should beate his brother or the seruaunt his felow seruaunt the same could not but be culpable Wherfore in all maner of actions regarde must be had not onely what is done but how it is done so must the ende and causes also bee considered whiche being in nomber many tymes many diuers not all of one nature do neuerthelesse concurre For it may be as it doth oftentimes come to passe that in causes beyng coÌ„currauÌ„t in one actioÌ„ may be great diuersitie So that one selfe same cause may be in one kynde of actioÌ„ wicked and in another actioÌ„ meére righteousnesse It may so come to passe that a man at a tyme may committe robbery or fall into some other haynous wickednesse where if you seéke for the very cause of executyng that action you may rightly impute it to the frayltie of mans nature If you seéke the procuryng cause that draue him to consent no doubt it was his wicked thought and corrupt mynde which is altogether replenished with sinne neither is it to be doubted but that Sinne is engendred out of the corrupt will of maÌ„ without the which as Anselme doth witnesse no wicked action is committed Whereby appeareth at the length that because no vncleannesse can be founde in the will of God therfore his most sacred nature can by no meanes be defiled with Sinne. But if you be desirous to learne from whence this corruption and euillnesse of the mynde imaginatioÌ„ doth proceéde Caluine him selfe whom you accuse very greéuously shall aunswere you in his owne behalfe This corruption of mynde sayth he commeth partly by the procurement of Sathan partly by the frayltie of nature which man did defile by his owne voluntary fall Whereupon he sayth when the cause of euill is sought for we ought not to seéke it els where then in our selues but the whole blame therof we must lay vpon our selues You will say then and how then will these wordes of Caluine agree with Luthers doctrine seing Luther maketh God the Authour both of good and euill and Caluine maketh man the cause of euill Nay rather by what meanes can you forge vnto vs such a crafty deuise of iarryng in so vniforme an agreement of IudgemeÌ„t betwixt Luther and Caluine Caluine supposeth that the cause of euill ought not to be sought for els where then in man Luther teacheth that no righteousnesse ought to be sought for els where then in God onely And where be these felowes now which either go about to make man excusable or God culpable of vnrighteousnes by any meanes for to this effect teÌ„deth the whole force of Osor. brablyng agaynst Luther as though God could not will sinne by any meanes but that the glory of his Iustice should by and by be blemished And bycause mans will imaginyng or doyng wickedly at any tyme can not imagine or do euill without Sinne therefore Osorius dreameth forthwith that it fareth in lyke maner in Gods will which is most vntrue For nothyng withstandeth at all but that many causes of semblable affections may concurre oftentymes all which nothwithstandyng may not altogether powre out semblable force of operatioÌ„ after one and semblable sorte And therfore this is no good Argument God accordyng to his secrete
vnsearcheable will doth sometymes encline the willes of men to committe horrible mischiefes and after a certeine maner willeth Sinne. Ergo God may be iustly accused of vnrighteousnes iniquity Which Argument applyed in the behalfe of mans nature might seéme to be of some validitie perhappes in the opinion of men But to transpose the same from men to God It can not holde And why so bycause there is great difference betwixt thynges wherof God is the Authour and thynges wherof man is the doer For euen Sinnes them selues and wickednesse as they come frō God are scourges yea and that most righteous and whatsoeuer is decreéd either by his couered or discouered will it is in this respect both holy and righteous bycause the will of God ought alwayes to be accompted for the very foundatiō of all righteousness Upon which matter let vs heare what Augustine speaketh in his thyrd booke De Trinitate euen his owne wordes The will of God is the chief and principall cause of all kindes of actions and motions For there is nothyng done whiche proceedeth not frō that vnsearcheable and intelligible wisedome of the most mightie Emperour accordyng to his Iustice vnspeakeable for where doth not the almightie wisedome of the highest worke as it willeth which reacheth from one ende of the world to an other mightely and ordereth all thynges sweetely and doth not these thynges onely which beyng in dayly practise and by reason of common vse are not much marked or marueiled at but thynges also passing all vnderstandyng and capacitie and whiche for the rarenesse of vse and straungenesse of successe seeme marueilous as are Ecclipses of the Sunne and Moone earthquakes mōsters and vgly deformed vnnaturall shapes of creatures such like Of the which no one thyng commeth to passe without the will of God though it seeme to be otherwise in the Iudgement of many persons And therfore it seemed good to the phātasticall Philosophers to ascribe such vnkindely operations to other causes beyng not able to discerne the true cause thereof which in power surmounteth all other causes to witte the will of God wherefore besides the will of God there is none other principall cause of health sickenesse reward punishment of blessinges and recompences This is therfore the onely chief and principall cause from out the which do flow all thyngs whatsoeuer and is it selfe without beginnyng but endureth without endyng Let vs now gather the Argumēts of Augustine into a short abridgement If the will of God be the souereigne and principall cause of all motiōs what remayneth but that Osorius must either deny that Sinnes are motions or yeld vnto this of necessitie that the same motions are not done without the will of God which will neuerthelesse must be adiudged cleare from all reproche Moreouer if the same motions which are on our behalfe Sinnefull be punishementes for Sinne What should lette why that euē the selfe same sinnes should not seéme to proceéde after a certeine maner frō God without any preiudice of his Iustice at all none otherwise truely then when as God is accompted the creatour of monsters Ecclipses of the Sunne Moone vnpassable darkenes vntymely byrthes and yet notwithstandyng no ioate of his maiesty and integritie empayred But we are vrged here with an Obiection out of the Scriptures where it is sayd that God is not a God that willeth iniquitie Aunswere As though Luther did not perceaue this saying of the Prophet well enough or that he were so impudent at any tyme as that he would cōtrary to the Prophet deny that sinnes raunge immoderately agaynst Gods will We rehearsed a litle earst out of Augustine that somewhat may be done agaynst the will of God which neuerthelesse cā not happen without his will In the one part wherof the vnsearcheable wisedome of his Deuine counsell is playnly discernable in the other the thyng that is naturally wicked displeasaūt in Gods eyes So that the thing which is of it selfe in respect of it selfe naturally euill may become good in respect of Gods ordinaūce in respect of the end whereunto it is directed by God The worke of our redēption from sinne and death is a good worke of Gods mercy But man should neuer haue stoode in neéde of this redēptiō vnlesse death sinne had happened Therfore death and sinne could not execute their malice wtout the foreknowledge ordinaunce of God So also no lesse notable is the worke of Gods Iustice in executyng his iust wrath agaynst Sinners which seueritie of Iustice had neuerthelesse neuer expressed his wonderfull brightnesse if sinne had neuer bene committed But here I suppose Osorius will not deny that men rushe headlong into wickednesse and Sinne if not by Gods prouidence yet by his sufferaūce at the least For it may be that many thynges may happen by a mans permission in the which he that did permit them may be blamelesse notwithstandyng I heare you well aunswere to the same that it is not altogether nothyng that Osorius doth alledge in deéde and yet this allegation of his comprehendeth not all For first I demaunde what if Osorius beyng a Bishop do suffer Gods flocke committed to his charge to starue by defraudyng thē the necessary foode of the word whom of duety he ought to cherish with all diligēce and care What if the Shepheard doe willyngly suffer the maggotte to pester the sheépe or what if the Maister should suffer the seruaunt to perish whose perplexitie he might haue releued by puttyng his hand to in tyme may not we iustly accuse Osorius of fraude for not feédyng or can Osorius acquit him selfe by any slipper deuise of negligence in this behalfe If in cōmon cōuersation of lyfe the man that will not repell iniury when he may be adiudged in euery respect as blameworthy as if he offereth the iniury him selfe by what meanes can God whō you say doth permit sinnes to be done either deémed be excusable in respect of this sufferaunce onely or how can you charge vs as accusing him of iniustice bycause we say that he doth not onely permit but also will sinne after a certeine maner Which thyng Augustine doth very well declare If we suffer sayth August such as are vnder our correctiō to doe wickedly in our sight we must needes be adiudged accessaries to their wickednesse But God doth permitte Sinne to raunge without measure euen before his eyes wherein if he where not willyng surely he would not suffer it in any wise and yet is be righteous notwithstandyng c. Wherfore your allegation of bare Sufferaunce doth neither helpe your cause nor disaduantageth ours any thyng at all But go to let vs somewhat yeld to this word of yours Sufferaunce whereupō ye stād so stoughtely yet will ye not deny but that this Sufferaunce of God is either coupled together with his will or altogether sundered frō it If ye confesse the will and Sufferaunce be ioyned together how can God be
sayd then either to suffer the thyng whiche he willeth not or to will the thyng wherof him selfe is not after a certeine maner the cause but if you sunder will from Sufferaunce so that Gods Sufferaunce be made opposite to his will That is to say contrary to the determinate coūsell of God in bringyng any thyng to passe Surely this way your bare Sufferaūce will not be sufferable but foolishe false and ridiculous For neither can any thyng be done without Gods Sufferaunce but must be done by his will and agayne nothyng soundeth more agaynst the conuenience of reason that any thyng may be done with his will otherwise thē as him selfe hath decreéd it to be done But if so be that ye set Gods Sufferaunce opposite to his will namely to that will wherewith he vouch safeth and accepteth any thyng veryly it may so be that some one thyng may be executed by Gods Sufferaunce yet altogether agaynst his will so that we forget not in the meane space that this Sufferaunce is not idle fruitelesse but altogether effectuall not much vnlike the orderly proceédynges in Iudgementes whenas the Iudge deliuereth ouer the trespassour to be executed it is cōmonly seéne that the Sufferaunce of the Iudge doth worke more in the execution of the offendour thē the acte of the executioner yet the Iudge is not altogether exempt from beyng the cause of his death though he be cleare of all blame in that respect And therfore to make you conceaue our meanyng more effectually Osorius you may vnderstand by the premisses That the will of God is to be taken two maner of wayes either for that vnsearcheable will not manifested vnto vs wherewith thynges may happen accordyng to to the determined decreé of his purposed coūsell whereunto all thynges are directed And in this sense or signification we doe affirme that God doth will all thynges that are done and that nothyng at all is done in heauen or in earth that he would not haue to be done Or els how should he be called Omnipotent if the successes of thyngs be other then as he hath decreéd them Secundarely the will of God may be takē for that which by expresse word and commaundement he hath reuealed vnto vs and which beyng done he accompteth acceptable in his sight And in this sense The faythfull and godly onely do execute the will of God euen that will wherewith he can not will nor allow anythyng but pure good After this maner is that will fully disclosed and ensealed vnto vs in his Scriptures wherewith God is sayd to be a God that doth not will Sinne. Accordyng to that former will which is hidden from vs and is neuertheles alwayes iust and discouered vnto vs but in part by his word as there is nothing done without his prouidence foreknowledge so in this sense we do affirme that he willeth nothyng at all but that which is of all partes most pure and most righteous be it neuer so secrete For euen as it is hidden frō the knowledge of all men what shall come to passe by the purposed appointement of God so shall nothyng come to passe but that which he hath decreéd vpon before neither should any thyng at all be done if he were altogether vnwillyng thereunto Finally to conclude in few wordes all whatsoeuer concerneth this present discourse God can not be sayd to be properly truely the very cause of sinne accordyng to that will which he would haue to be reuealed vnto vs in his Scriptures And yet if the cōcurraūce of causes must be deriued from the first originall surely God ought not be excluded altogether from the orderyng appointmēt of sinne Frō whence if we respect the meane second causes it is vndoubted true that mākynde doth perish through his owne default For no man liuyng sinneth vnwillyngly But if we tourne our eyes to the first agent principall cause by the which all inferiour causes haue their mouyng Then is this allso true that all second and subordinate causes are subiect to the eternall prouidence and will of GOD. And therefore both these may be true That mans destructiō commeth through his owne default And yet that therein the prouidence of God beareth the sway without any preiudice at all to his Iustice. But this prouidence notwithstandyng is altogether vnslayned for albeit Gods euerlastyng purpose be sayd to be the cause of our sinnesiull actions yet are those Sinnes in respect of Gods acceptaunce meare righteousnesse For GOD in most vpright disposed order doth by Sinne punish Sinne. And therfore with those Sinnes in that they are scourges of Gods Iustice God doth worthely execute his iust Iudgement agaynst mē which although his pleasure be to vse otherwise accordyng to his vnsearcheable counsell either to execute his Iudgement vpō the reprobate or to manifest his mercy towardes his elect neither is he iniurious to the one in exactyng that which is due neither culpable in the other sorte in forgeuyng that which he might haue exacted These two thyngs therfore especially be to be beleued to be inseparable in God though mās capacitie cā scarsely atteine hereunto the first That there is no wickednes with God Secondly That God hath mercy of whom it pleaseth him to haue mercy and doth harden their hartes whō he willeth to be hardened Now that we haue spoken sufficiētly in the defence of Gods Iustice and acquited it cleare from all quarellsome accusation to retourne agayne to our former question If Osorius doe demaunde now if God bee the cause of Sinne Bycause I will protract no tyme I aunswere in two wordes That in seuerall and sundry respectes it is both the cause not the cause Now let vs seé how this will hang together First I call him the cause not bycause he distilleth new poyson into man as water or other liquour is powred into empty caskes from somewhere els for that neédeth not for euery man ouerfloweth more then enough already with faultynes naturall though no new flames of corruption be kyndeled a fresh but bycause hee forsaketh our old nature or bycause he withholdeth him selfe from renewyng vs with grace Bycause nature beyng not holpen waxeth dayly worse and worse of it selfe without measure and without end Whereupon Augustine debatyng of mans induration speaketh not vnfitly on this wise But as touchyng that whiche followeth Hee doth harden whom hee will Here the force of mans capacitie is ouerwhelmed with the straungenesse of the word But it must not be so taken as though God did beginne to harden mās hart which was not infected before For what is hardnesse els then resistaunce of Gods commaundementes which who so thinketh to be the worke of God bycause of this saying He doth harden whom hee will let him beholde the first beginnyng of mans corruption and marke well the commaundemēt of God the disobedience whereof made the hart to offende and let him truely confesse that whatsoeuer
haue sucked this geare rather from Aristotle theÌ„ out of Christes Testament who teacheth in his 3. booke of Ethickes that Election which he calleth vnderstandyng Appetite is euer occupyed about good or euill And because in humaine actioÌ„s where choyse is made betwixt two or moe thinges preéminence is graunted to one of theÌ„ according to the difference of good and euill like as in coÌ„mon musters the Souldier that is most valiaunt in Maioralities and Baylywicks the richest Citizen in choyse of wyues the most beautifull in schooles of learning the most expert in sciences are vsually more esteémed and preferred formost the same surmyseth our Osorius to be betide with the Election of God and hys sacred decrees But here a distinction ought to haue bene made betwixt Gods choyse and mans choyse and the causes thereof likewise ought to be distinguished And therefore in this place especially Osorius doth notably bewray his singuler ignoraunce disputing of those thinges whiche lyke an vnskilfull Sophister he can neyther rightly deuide nor duely define But here perhaps some question will be moued whereas God and nature do nothing without cause what other cause els could there be here if God did not make choyse of the faythfull and of the Reprobates accordyng to the proportion of their workes foreseéne before But this reason can no man discusse better then Paule himselfe who after many his blasphemous persecutioÌ„s of Christ obtayning mercy at the length and yealding the reason of this great mercy doth franckly confesse that it was the onely clemency of God not any workes foreseéne in him before to the end that he might be a president to others of Gods mercy stretched out towardes them which would beleéue To be short if the naturall cause must be throughly searched out which are the very foundacion of Gods predestinatâ—on the Apostle Paule doth knit them vp altogether into iiij chiefe places first GODS POWER hath not the potter power of the clay 2. GODS PVRPOSE or GODS GOOD PLEASVRE for he doth vse both these speaches 3. GODS WILL. He will haue mercy on whom he will haue mercy and will harden whom he listeth 4. GODS MERCY OR LOVE It is not of hym that willeth nor of him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Rom. 9. So that you seé playnely that here is no mention made of works at all but that there be other much more weightie causes which will deliuer God cleare of all Rashnesse and vnaduizednes though foreseéne workes haue neuer anye place in the counsell of God I come now to the other argumentes of Osor. For after this sort doth this lumpish logician cauill agaynst Haddon that beautifull blossome of Bucer out of the 2. of Tim. 2. If any man purge himselfe from these he shall be a vessel of honor vnto the Lorde that is to say predestinated vnto honour and sanctified Euery man is of power of his own Freewill to purge him selfe Ergo Euery man is of power of his owne Freewill to be predestinate and made a vessell to honour The Maior must be vnderstanded that Paule treated not of the cause of predestination but of the execution and effect of predestination Neyther doth the wordes of the Apostle tend to this end to expresse the cause of predestination but to admonish vs by the effecte of predestination how weé ought to esteéme of the worthines and vnworthiness of persons in the congregation according to the saying of Christ by the fruites you shall know them c. Then the Minor is false for that which they inferre vpon these wordes of Paule as though it were in the power of our owne will to make our selues vessels of honour is not well concluded for it lyeth not in the will of the doer but of the caller not in the clay but in the potter who is of power to fashion the â—lay whereunto him listeth into a vessell of honor or of dishonor Furthermore neyther is our abilitie to be decyded by any hypotheticall proposition no more then if a man would conclude vp on thys hipotheticall proposition If you doe this or that or if you beleeue you shall bee saued Ergo to do this or that or to beleue we are of our selues sufficient inough And why then doth the Scriptures vse thys phrase of speech that men purge themselues if we haue no power of our own selues to purge our selues forsooth because God doth worke in men not as in stockes and stoanes whiche are not moued of any their own feéling or will WheÌ„ God worketh in men he doth so temper their mindes and willes whom himself doth regenerate that they willingly vndertake whatsoeuer they are commaunded After this mauner therefore are they sayde to to purge themselues by this very will not whiche is proper and peculiar to their owne nature but whiche is poured into them by grace And by this meanes at the length such as are regenerate are made afterwardes Gods together workemen and of their own accord leade a vertuous and holy life Finally God in his Scriptures commaundeth to purge our selues when notwithstanding it is he alone that purgeth So doth he commaund the people of Israell by the mouth of his Prophet Moses to sanctifie themselues whereas hee witnesseth of himselfe in an other place that it was he that doth sanctifie the people So also hee commaundeth vs to beleéue when as notwithstanding Fayth is the gift of God and not our owne nor is the cause of our predestination but the effect But let vs proceéde farther to your challenge Osor. wh challenge you haue vndertakeÌ„ to iustifie out of the depth of Diuinitie namely that there is nothing in gods eternall electioÌ„ but is accoÌ„plished vpon certeine conditions of reason and iudgement And yee suppose that the reason of Election is not to be sought els where but from the foreseene workes of the faythfull and reprobate And that if wee graunt not this that then ye think that our assertion of predestination cannot be iustified but that many thinges will ensue thereupon not onely erroneously false but also absurde to bee spoken incredible to be beleued First because Gods iustice cannot be acquired of iust reproche of parcialitie nor his mercy which is retched to all meÌ„ indifferently cleared of vnrighteous dealing You crye out afterwardes that it is both agaynst right reason that he should saue a very few in number and condeÌ„ne an innumerable company besides to destruction Moreouer euen in this choyse it selfe when coÌ„sideration is had why he should chuse these and why he should reiect the others the thyng it selfe doth seeme not to bee cleare of speciall acceptyng of persons nor of a certeyne extreme crueltie c. All which with others the lyke sithence be but weake sproughtes budding out of the sauadge woodbyne of the aduersary not issues of the true stocke will be so much the more easily cut of with the Razour and
he doth that no wrong Thy God he is thy potter what art thou to cōtend with him a weake man with thy most mighty God a lump of clay with the potter for this is the effect of your Argumēt Surely God willeth nothing that he willeth without most iust and righteous reason but in such sort that this very will cannot seeme to proceede from any els where or otherwise be defended in the order of predestination but of works foreseene and of the foreknowne well vsing of good giftes as the schoolemen do say Which saying how false and friuolous it is shal be declared both out of Augustine and more notably out of S. Paule for these are the wordes of Augustine discoursing vpon Esau If so be sayth Augustine that God did therefore predestinate Esau to become vassall to his younger brother because he did foreknowe that he would worke wickednes then did he also predestinate Iacob to become Lord of his elder brother because he did foreknow taht his works would proue good And therfore the saying of the Apostles is false Not of works c. And imediatly after enterlacing many other thinges betweene If you will once graunt quoth he that a man may be chosen or refused for the thing that as yet was not in him but because God did foresee what would be in him it followeth hereupon that he might haue been chosen for the worthines of his workes which God foresaw would be in him though as yet he had done nothing and this saying that they were not yet borne will not preuayle thee at all where it was spoken And the elder shall serue the younger to declare hereby that it was sayde Not of workes because as yet he had wrought nothing at all c. But to let passe August Let vs heare what Paule himselfe speaketh Who debating very largely vpon this poynt of Predestination doth amongst other at the last breake out into this speach touching the same If God willing on the one side to shewe his wrath and to make his power knowen hath with great sufferaunce and lenity borne with the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and on the other side do make knowne the riches of his glory towardes the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared to glory c. Let vs more exactly ponder the wordes of the Apostle where he sayth that God was willing therein you heare first that God doth will and withall the cause and reason why he willeth ye perceiue expresly set downe afterwardes But he is sayd to will wrath that is to say willing to shew the seueritie of his Iustice Where I pray you or towardes whom what towardes all creatures indifferently Certes this might he haue done according to his Iustice but this would he not do for his mercy sake Towards whom thē Towardes the vessells of wrath prepared vnto destruction Where you heare the name of a Vessell you doe withall conceaue a Potter bycause no vessells are made without the Potter Moreouer where this worde Prepared is annexed thereby forthwith commeth to remembraunce the will of the Potter not the will of the thyng fashioned For it standeth not in the power of the port it selfe to fashion and forme it selfe after it owne will but the fashioning therof resteth in the will and purpose of the Potter For if any sense or feélyng at all were in earthen vessells would any vessell fashion it selfe into a vessell of dishonour if it had power to fashion it selfe by any meanes into a vessell of houour whereupon it followeth consequently that the order and disposition of fashionyng resteth wholy in the will of the Potter and not in the will of the vessell Now therfore as concernyng the will of the Potter left any mā shall thinke that his will is vnaduised nor directed by equitie and reason The Apostle doth forthwith set downe the cause therewith the mouth of the slaunderous backbyter may be stopped To shew sayth he the riches of his glory towardes the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared vnto glory c. He doth not say bycause God foresaw the good workes of the godly and the euill doynges of the wicked that these were therfore ordeyned to dānation those other chosen to saluation but hee sayth that those are prepared to destruction whom he would haue to be vessells of wrath the others to glory And yet this notwtstandyng neither vnaduisedly nor contrary to equitie Wherein if any man be desirous to know the reason or the Iustice of God in his predestination let him heare Augustine herein The whole masse of mankinde was subiect sayth he to one state of perdition rightly deseruyng the scourge of Gods Iustice which whether be executed or pardoned proceedeth not of any vnrighteousnesse in God Now it pleased Gods good will of his mercy to make a choyse of some of these and to relinquish other accordyng to his Iustice. If you require a reason hereof the Apostle doth not hyde it from you To make knowen sayth he the riches of his glory towardes the vesselles of mercy which he hath prepared vnto Glory c. Wherein the principall and first cause of doyng is ioyned together with the last end therof In the meane space many meanes are enterlaced betwixt these two For euen as the will of God doth not otherwise preferre his elect to the honour of glory but as it were through many tribulations so neither doth he execute the seueritie of his Iudgement agaynst the Reprobate by by but by long sufferaūce much lenitie and tolleration of their wickednesse But as the afflictions of the elect is not the cause of their saluation so neither the lenitie and long sufferaunce of the wicked is the principall cause that moueth God to exercize the seueritie of his Iustice agaynst them And therfore are they called Vessells the one sorte vessells of wrath the other vessels of mercy prepared either to destruction or to saluatiō first and before either God did with patience endure the wickednesse of the one or with tribulations exercize the Fayth of the other To conclude therfore in few wordes briefly I come agayne to the Argument that was proposed which albeit he choppeth together without all order of teachyng yet in my conceite a mā may briefly reduce it into this forme For out of these wordes of Paule wherewith God is sayd to haue borne with the vessels of wrath in much lenitie Osorius doth gather his cutted Sillogisine with a wonderfull dexteritie of witte Gods deuine Iustice did scourge none but such as with much lenitie he did beare withall first Neither are any destitute of Gods mercy but such as forsake it beyng offred Finally saluation and the mercy of GOD is extended vnto all persones but vnto such as will not them selues be saued The defence of Iustice consisteth wholy in mercy And onely mercy doth acquite Gods Iustice from all reproche Neither doth any man perishe but beyng condēned
No say you for so much as nothing could more varie from the minde of the Apostle nor be more repugnaunt to the most milde nature of God then to conceaue that God should hymselfe frame vessels vnto dishonor seyng that no man runneth headlong into ruine but through hys owne voluntary blindenes And who did euer deny this yet doth this nothing more exclude the will of God from fashioning his vessels as him listeth As on the other side neither doth the will of God receaue vnto mercy those that haue offended so that nothing withstādeth now why the vessels of wrath should be lesse deémed to be fashioned vnto destruction by the will of God and withall that themselues also do procure to themselues their own destruction But why did not Paule say you set downe thys matter in expresse wordes which God himselfe did forme vnto destruction whiche he would surely haue done if he had thought that God had bene the Authour of destruction Truely I will aske you a question in as few wordes Osorius why the Apostle did choose rather to say Vessels Fashioned to destructiō then leauing out the word Fashioned to say Vessels of destruction for this would haue accorded farre fitter with your exposition if so be that he thought that the Vessels did perish without the will of God Agayne why did he call them Vessels and not creatures rather why did he annexe this supply to witte Wrath finally why did he bring in God himself willing to shew forth hys wrath agaynst the Vessels of wrath but that you should vnderstand that all those circumstances are to be reduced to the most sacred will of God euen as to the working hand of the Potter For first as I sayd before when you heare this word Vessels thereby you vnderstād the Potter Secōdly when you heare this word Fashioned therein the hand of the Artificer is cōceaued Thirdly when you heare Fashioned vnto destruction therin appeareth the certeinty of Gods will in his Predestination Whereas the Vessels do perish it is their own fault but where it is sayd that they are Fashioned thereunto this surely is not proper to the Vesselles but doth note a certayne other hygher cause and a more playne demonstration of the creator for Vessels are not wont to bee Fashioned of any but of the craftesman as I suppose what man is so madde to say that Vessels made are made of themselues namely to their owne dishonor and not formed thereunto by the workman rather and I maruell greatly that Osorius hauing any sense or feéling in him at all cannot quickly conceaue the meaning of the Apostle eyther by the comparyng of the text together or by the maner and order of speéch namely sith the matter it selfe doth so disclose so many manifest reasons to discusse the doubtfull signification of the wordes First you will not deny but that this will of God wherewith he had decreéd both to shew hys wrath that is to say the seuerity of his Iustice and his mercy also was euen from the beginning This will then beyng once determined vpon by God could neyther by any meanes be made of none effect nor againe by any meanes made discernable vnles it were poured out vpon some matter whereupon it might worke And euen here doth that wonderfull Electiō of God display it selfe at the first wherewith before the foundations of the world were layd he had predestinated them whom he would should be saued and reiected thē whō he would haue dāned Next vnto this Election immediately ensued the Creation wherewith the almighty Creator with a most singuler excellency and exquisit workmanship did forme all vessels out of one selfe lump of Clay and yet not those all ingenerall appoynted to one ende For some vessels he made to serue to shew forth hys mercy some other to shew forth his Iustice. These things being thus established immediately after Creation ensueth Vocation or Callyng the same two maner of wayes accordyng to hys purpose and not according to his purpose wherof the one is lynked with Grace making acceptable the other is voyde of Grace though not altogether yet destitute of effectuall Grace And hereupon doe issue Blindenesse Rebellion Hardenesse of hart Infidelitie Breache of the Law Execution of Iustice not by force of any coaction but by reason of the sequele or consequent For the grace of God once denying assistance what soeuer remayneth in man is nought els but the seéde of the Serpent or some vncurable Fistula wherewith man is deadly poysoned Agayne out of the other Vocatiō which is according to purpose springeth Fayth a will to obey forgeuenes of Sinne Iustification and such like inestimable treasures not ensealed into vs by nature but frāckly geuen vs from aboue Now out of that Infidelitie and execution of Iustice ariseth the destruction of the Reprobate of the which Paule treateth here which is not without the speciall will of God Or els in what sense doth he say God was willing to shew his wrath and yet not without their most due deseruing neither as on the other side Saluation and Glorification do spring of Fayth Iustification for asmuch as in them the cōmendatiō of his Iustice in the other the dignite of hys mercy doth shew forth their bright beames to the inestimable glory of gods maiesty who is the chief and principall ende and foundation of all workes Wherefore forasmuch as God was willing to shew both as well hys wrath as also hys mercy and this hys will could by no meanes be accōplished vnlesse there were some vpō whom both hys wrathe and hys mercy might make hys power on eche part discernable hereupon then is no small stoare of proofe ministred wherby may be perceaued from whence aswell the destruction of the reprobate as the Saluation of the elect doth proceéde And first of all your selfe do not deny that godly persons are predestinated vnto glory through the onely bountifulnes of God I demaunde now whether thys selfe same mercy of God haue predestinated to glory all creatures generally or not all I attend your aunswere If you will say all without exception where then are the vessels of wrath what shal be come of this saying God willing to shew hys wrath vpon the Vessels ordeyned to destruction Finally what shal be thought of that saying of Christ Many are called but few are chosen If so be that all are receaued by a generall Electiō how can this Election be made frustrate and vneffectuall or what kinde of Reiection can there be then But if you will not say all it followeth then that there must bee some Uessells of reiection of Necessitie as well as of mercy to witte by like agreablenesse of contraries Or els how shall a man vnderstand that some vessels are Predestinate to Glory vnlesse by the same Argument ye confesse that some vessels were also reiected to dishonor which beyng agreé vpon I demaund further of the reprobation
all do not apprehend fayth Agayne we heare also by the testimony of the same Paule That it is neyther of him that runneth nor of him that willeth but of God that taketh mercy finally of theÌ„ which are ordeined sayth Luke to eternall lyfe and whose harts as the same Luke recordeth God doth open to make them know the word of God And agayne the same Paule doth deny them to haue knowne the Lord of glory for if they had knowne hym they would not haue crucified Christ. But what was the cause that they knew him not but because the whole matter thereof rested not in their owne willes but because by Gods secret decreé it was not geuen to them that had eares to heare and eyes to seé For their eares were made deafe that they should not heare and their hartes were blynded that they should not vnderstand And therefore the Lord himself doth openly pronounce that manye were called but fewe are chosen Moreouer in an other place the same Lord calleth his flock a little flocke And why doth he call it a little flocke good sir I beseech you If Gods mercy so largely poured abroad and so freély offered as you seeme to blaze it out doe extend it selfe to all persons indifferently without exception why do not all persons then indeffereÌ„tly repayre vnto Christ at the least why is not the greatest part drawne vnto him forsooth because they will not say you You are come back agayne to the first question For I demaund what the cause is why they will not but because it is not geuen vnto them so that ye may perceaue now the very welspring of this fountayne springeth not from mans will but from the counsell of God Or els how doth Christ name them which be hys to be but few in number but that he foreknew assuredly that it would be so or how did he foreknow it but because it was decreed first of an infallible certeinty And therfore Christ teaching his disciples spake openly and playnly vnto theÌ„ That it was geueÌ„ vnto them to know the misteries of the kingdome but to others in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not heare Likewise Peter confirmed by the same spirite speaking of the rock of offence doth openly denounce not onely what they should do which should be offeÌ„ded at Christ but also that they were ordayned of very purpose so to doe And yet I will not deny that which they teach of the mercy of God I do know and confesse that it is farre and wyde dispersed abroad euery where and that the same mercy of GOD denyeth it selfe to no person as Augustine sayth but to such as will not receaue it But in thys same very mercy neuerthelesse two thinges are to be considered That God doth not onely offer those promises of benefites and blessings of his meére mercy bounteous liberalitie but also that he doth inspire the hart of man inwardly with hys spirite to receaue those thinges that be offered And so after the first maner of speakyng I do confesse that there is a certayne generall grace of God and a certayne freé choyse of Election layed open to all without exception that he may receaue it that hath a will to receaue it so that vnder thys word layd open Gods outward calling be vnderstanded which consisteth in preceptes in exhortatioÌ„s in Rules writteÌ„ either in the tenne CoÌ„maundementes or in the conscience or in preaching of the word And in this sense may we rightly say the Pharao hymself wanted not the grace of God nor Saule no nor any of the rest whom he did oftentimes allure with geÌ„tle promises terrifie with miracles reward with giftes enuyte to repentauÌ„ce with prolonging of punishment suffer with much patience alluring calling all men dayly to amendment of lyfe All which be infallible tokens of hys mercifull will called Voluntas Signi But after the second maner of speakyng if we behold the mercy of GOD and that grace which maketh acceptable or if we respect that will of his wherewith he not onely willeth all to be saued but wherewith hee bringeth to passe that these whom he will shal be saued the matter doth declare it selfe sufficiently that that Mercy and Grace of acceptyng those thyngs whereunto they are called is not layd open for all and euery one indifferently but is distributed through a certeine speciall dispensation and peculiar Election of God whereby they that are called accordyng to the purpose of his grace are drawen to coÌ„sent By meanes wherof it commeth to passe that the same callyng accordyng to Gods purpose fayling euery man hath not in his own hand to chuse or refuse that earnest desire and generall Grace indifferently offered but such as haue either receaued the gift of God or are denyed the gift of God Neither doth the matter so wholy depende vpon the choyse of our will either in chusing or refusing totally for then might it be verified that there was no Predestination before the foundations of the world were layd if our ElectioÌ„ were necessaryly guided by our willes and that our will were the foundation of our SaluatioÌ„ Therfore whereas they say that God doth accept them which will embrace his grace and reiect theÌ„ which will not receaue it is altogether vntrue Nay it rather had bene more coÌ„uenient to fetch our fouÌ„teine froÌ„ the wellspring of Grace then froÌ„ the puddle of our owne will So that we might speake more truly on this wise That God doth endue vs with his grace and fauorable countenaunce bycause we should be willyng to embrace his ordinaunces and Commaundementes on the contrary part as concernyng those that will not receaue his grace offered that such do worthely perish And that the very cause that they will not receaue it doth hereof arise bycause their will is not holpeÌ„ and that they do therfore not receaue it bycause they are not theÌ„ selues receaued first For as touchyng the Obiection vrged out of Chrisostome that God did as much vnto Pharao in deede as hee could doe to saue him if ye referre Gods doyng there to that will which is called Nâ—on signi but to beneplaciti which God could would vtter in those whom he made Vessels of mercy wherof S. Paule maketh mention treatyng of the mercy of Predestination surely the Scripture is quite repugnaunt agaynst it saying God did harden the hart of Pharao For if GOD did harden the hart of Pharao how then did he to Pharao as much as he might But if Pharao did harden his owne hart after that God had not mollified his hart had not tamed his insolencie and not bowed him to godly inclinations which he is accustomed to doe to his elect In what sence then is he sayd to haue done as much to Pharao as to his other Vessels of mercy whom Election had Predestinated to be saued But to let Chrisostome passe
substaūce of God what kynde of couplyng do ye desire to be had betwixt Reason and the will of God Who in deéde can will nothyng but that whiche is perfect sithe that nothyng is perfect but that which he willeth And whereupō then riseth this hauty crest of yours that can not be satisfied with the bare will of God beyng expressed in his playne word Neither seémeth it sufficiēt in your Iudgement that God should chuse any to saluation vnlesse his secret counsell herein may be made discernable by the deépe reach of your owne reason and that he should render an accoumpt and reason of his decreéd will herein vnto your Maistershyppe Albeit I doe not deny this to be true that the profounde wisedome of the Deuine Godhead can not be sundered from the knittyng together of his Reason and counsell that is to say from it selfe Yet out of what Schoole suckt you such Diuinitie O singuler Piller of the Romishe route so earnestly to require and to sift out the counsell and Reason of the Creatour euen in the very vnsearcheable wisedome of him that created you I suppose ye were thus schooled in your sacred confessions Surely you neuer learned it out of holy Scriptures If you neuer noted what aunswere the Lord made to Moyses in the Scriptures marke now somewhat more attentiuely I will haue mercy sayth he on whom I haue mercy and I will take compassion on whom I will take compassion c. Here you may seé a singuler Mercy of God in takyng compassion whereof you nor seé nor heare any other rendred in the whole Scriptures besides the onely will of God I will haue Mercy saith he will you know the causes and the persons the doth not say bycause I perceaue thē to be worthy of my benignitie whose foreseéne workes doe delight me now before I take Mercy but I do therfore take Mercy bycause I will take Mercy and I will take compassion on him of whom it pleaseth me to haue Mercy And therfore S. Paule addyng a very fitte conclusion Ergo sayth he God will haue mercy on whom he will haue mercy and will harden whom he will harden With these wordes bridlyng our nyce curiositie as it were and withall geuyng vs to vnderstand that it is enough for vs to know that so is the will of the Lord although there be no manifest demonstration made vnto vs of the cause wherfore he would so do For of what soeuer it shall please the Lord to bryng to passe albeit we can not atteyne the Reason yet ought we to grounde our selues vpon this for sufficient and lawfull Reason bycause the Lord hath brought it so to passe we ought also to learne of Christ this lesson Bycause it hath so pleased thy good will O Father For as much as it is not lawfull for any creature to presume to enquire any reason beyond the will of God Right well therfore and very profoundly doth Augustine geue vs this lesson It is not meete sayth he to search for the causes of Gods vnsearcheable will it is not lawfull to know it for that the will of God is the principall and highest cause of all thinges that are and therefore if when it is asked why the Lord did it it is to be aūswered bycause he so willed it if thou go further in asking why he willed it thou askest some greater and higher thyng then the will of God is Which can not possibly be founde out And agayne the same Augustine in an other place writyng of Predestinatiō and grace God sayth he taketh mercy on whō he will haue mercy and of whom be will not haue mercy he will not take mercy He geueth to whom him listeth and requireth that whiche is due vnto him of whom he will Here agayne ye heare the Will of God named yea and that alone wherewith if you be not yet satisfied bycause it is named alone harken what is immediately annexed by the same Augustine for thus it followeth He that shall continue to say God is vnrighteous let him harken vnto the Apostle O man what art thou that contendest with God man with God earth with the Potter c. Doth he herein not note you excellently Osorius and as it were poynt at you with the finger as that no man could possibly haue noted any matter more notably Paule the Apostle doth render no causes at all of Gods Election but his will onely Augustine dare enquire after none All the whole Scripture is throughly satisfied with his will onely Onely Osorius can not be satisfied nor thinketh it lawfull enough for God to doe that him lyketh best vnlesse with sutteltie of Reasonyng as it were with cutted Sophismes and Sillogismes mā mainteyne Argument with his GOD earth with the Potter Which thing how horrible it is learne at the least out of Esay the Prophet Woe sayth he vnto him that will contend with his maker a brittle pottesharde of the outcast potteshardes of the earth shall the clay say vnto the Potter why doest thou make me thus did thy handes fayle thee in thy worke c. As though there were any of the Creatures of God that doth vnderstand the mynde of the Lord or were euer counsellours vnto him or as though it were not permitted him to will as him lysteth or as though what soeuer pleaseth him were not lawfull for him to do vnlesse he did geue vs a reason and orderly render vnto vs the causes that moued him thereunto And what if he will not discouer it Osorius Yea and what if he ought not what if when him lysteth to display it most manifestly your balde mazer and the blockyshnes of your nymble capacitie can not be able to pearce into the vnsearcheable depth of his glory wisedome and counsell Ieremy the Prophet beyng commaunded to go downe into the house of the Potter and there to behold throughly the workemanshyppe of the runnyng wheéle and the hand of the craftesman when he saw the Uessell that was newly made and was by and by broken agayne neither doth he require a reason thereof of the workeman nor yet doth the Lord beyng the workeman rēder any reason vnto him onely he declareth his power in makyng new and renewyng agayne of that which was broken in these wordes Am not I of power to do vnto you as this Potter doth to his claye O house of Israell sayth the Lord. Behold as the clay in the hand of the Potter so are you in my hand O ye house of Israell And will Osor. dare be so bold beyng a fashioned lumpe of the Potters wheéle neither reuerencyng the Maiestie of his maker nor contented with his onely will to require a reason of his creation besides the lawfull will of the Creator and will he not permit it to be sufficient for God to doe in his owne workes what it pleaseth him best For what do these wordes of Osorius emporte els Where beyng squeymish at Luthers speache He doth
c. And these giftes of God in deéde as Augustine reporteth if there be no Predestination are not foreknowne of God if they be foreknowne then is there a necessary predestination of God which we do defend To conclude Christ doth aduertize hys disciples That God doth know well inough what they stand in neede of before they doe pray and yet he willeth them to pray notwithstanding shewing vnto them aforme of prayer also Sufficient aunswere is made nowe Osori if I be not deceaued vnto the obiections of your fraternity that is to say to your trifles and slaūders if not to all yet at the least to the very principall pillers and chiefe stayes of your vagarant disputation if not with such force and dexterity as may be able to putte your ouerthwhart obstinacy to scilence yet as much for the defence of Luthers cause as will satisfie the reasonable Reader I trust sauing that there remaineth one quarrell or cōplaynt of yours as yet agaynst Luther A hanger by of all the rest as it were whereunto I cannot tell what I shall say whether I were best to laugh at it or aunswere it for who can possibly resfrayne from laughter to reade that ridiculous counterfayte Prosopopoeia of yours wherein lyke a very foolish Rhetorician you haue thrust in vppon the stage a lusty Ruffler who in the person of a Swartrutter may accuse Luther for the vproares raysed by the countrey Boores in Germany As though of all that whole route of Clownes any one were heard at anye tyme to accuse Luther as Author of this tumulte or woulde haue vttered somuch as halfe a word of reproche against him for the same if he might speake for him selfe were not compelled to vse herein the counterfaite person of an other or as though the Hystories do not declare sufficiētly from whence the spryng head of all this mischief burst out at the first surely not from Luther but from an other Crowbyrde from an other Chayre of pestilence Osorius what soeuer it was But goe to Let vs heare what dronken eloquence this gallaunt counterfaite swart Rutter doth gushe out vnto vs out of Osorius drousie tankerd And with what flashes of thundryng wordes he meaneth to scorche vppe Luther withall O Luther why doest thou accuse the harmelesse and innocent why doest thou rage why art thou madde Truly I should haue wondered if Osorius would haue spoken any thyng agaynst Luther but with some haryshe eloquēce Nay rather Osori if your selfe be not starke madde what kynde of maddnes What rage what accusatiōs do ye tell vs of here Wherfore let it be as lawfull for Luther to aunswere for him selfe agayne and with like speéche not to the Germaine ruffler but to the Porting all Byshop whom if he might reproue agayn contrarywise after this maner O Osorius why do ye accuse the guiltelesse why doe ye keépe such a sturre why are you so franticke who if were well in your wittes would neuer reproche me with such madnesse But what haue I haue done what haue I deserued is it bycause I would not encline to the furious disorders of the rebellious what dyd I euer so much as moue a finger towardes that cause did I not reproue them forthwith with penne and speache very instauntly did euer man more earnestly bende the force of his arme agaynst them thē I did my writing If they would but haue harkened to my counsell and continuall admonitions the matter had neuer proceéded to so much bloudshead What And shall I receaue this recompence for my good meanyng towardes you to be accoumpted a madd man No say you not bycause ye wrote agaynst them doe we reprehend you but bycause you ministred the occasion of this vprore But from whence do ye gather this to be true Osorius Forsooth bycause they did learne this of you that we were not able of our selues to doe either good or euil for that God doth as you say worke all in all in vs. c. In deéde I haue denyed that to thinke good or euill is in our owne hād And what hereof I pray you in what respect are these wordes applyable to the Countrey Boores and to their rebellion Doth that man open a gappe of licentiousnesse and seditious treachery to husbandmen which doth abate that Freédome from mans will in doyng or atchieuyng any enterprise which your Deuines do falsely challenge as proper to mā Is it therfore lawfull to be wicked bycause many tymes men are hindered agaynst their wills from puttyng a mischief in executiō or shall the will be therfore not wicked in doyng wickedly bycause it is not freé but enforced to yeld to a necessary Seruilitie which of it selfe it is not able to shake away Is the wicked Spirite therfore excused bycause in doyng euill he doth it not so much of any Freédome as of Necessitie for how shall he be sayd to be freé which amiddes the race of his rudenes is now and then restrayned agaynst his will and is not Lord of his owne will not so much as in doyng euill yet doth this beyng not freé of him selfe nothyng withstād but that he continue euill still what and if I had sayd that the will of the wicked of it selfe is not freé but euery way captiue and bonde is it therfore to be imputed to God forthwith not to men whatsoeuer they shall do wickedly As though when men do thinke or committe euill they be compelled thereunto agaynst their willes are not willyngly and of their owne motion chiefly drawen thereunto For to confesse this saying to be most true That God is he that worketh all in all yet doth he bryng to passe nothyng in mā surely without their owne wills so that if there be any euill in them there is no cause why God should be accused for it but euery man must laye the fault of his owne folly and wilfulnes to his owne charge But say you for as much as God doth lead mens willes hereunto by what reason cā ye couple the stabilitie of your doctrine with the defence of Gods Iustice. I do aunswere First when we do ioyne the singuler prouidence of God workyng all in all in all the actions of mans lyfe we do set the same forth as all thynges may be referred to this as to the primer cause efficient which doth not worke properly but in respect of the last end of all thinges Here now for as much as God is of his owne nature most best and most perfect hereupon it commeth to passe that he which hath ordeined all thynges for him selfe can in no respect be the cause of euill 2. Then as touchyng the middle causes whereas there is no man that doth not fall through his owne default and the procurement of Sathan it shal be reason therfore that no man seéke for the cause of sinne without his own selfe and that he complayne not of God for the same 3. But yet to admit
doctrine were of such authoritie with you why did you shut vppe your eares from your Masters lessones If you betooke your selues to Armes through occasion of one sentence wrongfully vnderstoode or misconstrued why dyd ye not forsake the field for so many my exhortatiōs and notable exclamations to the contrary But go to Osorius bycause vnder the person of the Boores complaynte you do so vehemently wrest all this false suggestion of mischief agaynst me What if I deny your Assumpsit how will you be able to proue it perhappes by heare say amongest the clownes what of any that be liuyng or that be dead But when the poore clownes lyued and were drawen to execution tormented and stretched out vpon the rackes in which extremitie men are wont for the more part to vtter more thē they know If there were one so much of that whole rable muttered euer halfe a sillable of me such as your Carterlyke and senselesse Imagination hath deuised agaynst me I will willyngly yeld to this accusation of suspitiō But by your occasion say you this tumult might haue bene raysed easily So might the Blacke Moore chaūge his skinne And Osor. also might leaue his lyeng But all thynges are not by and by done that may be done But onward how proue you that it might haue bene so Bycause say you that God worketh all in all in vs accordyng to Luthers Assertion and we be instrumentes onely applyed and wrest with his handes hereupon followeth it therefore sithe God onely raysed vppe these tumultes and was the onely procurour deuisour and accomplisher of this sturre that the Boores of necessitie must be guiltlesse and innocēt hereof Go to And do ye suppose Osorius that these wordes were the whole seédeplotte of all this Rebellion what shall we say thē to that which we read in Paul That it is God that worketh all in all And agayne That worketh all according to the purpose of his will And in the Prophet Amos. There is no euill in the Citie that the Lord hath not done And agayne whē we heare on euery side aswell amongest the Prophetes as the Apostle That men are made blinde of God are deliuered ouer into a Reprobate mynde Why might not the Boores haue taken occasion of these wordes aswell as of myne Go to And what and if I had writtē these wordes also namely That it is in the power of our Freewill to dispose our selues whereunto we lyst either to make our selues earthen vessels or golden vessels in the house of the Lord would the Boores haue the sooner bene quieted for this cause And yet this is the generall proclamation of that notorious Seé of Rome dispersed throughout all Catholicke Nations the same doe all their Recordes and Canons noyse abroad wheresoeuer they crawle yea many yeares before Luther was borne and the very same also doth Osorius write at this day in Portingall and many other of the lyke fraternitie elles where what was there neuer any cōmotions therfore of the rude multitude before Luther was borne in Portingall none in Italy Germany Fraunce England Cycill other Nations Could this or any other portiō of Scripture or doctrine euē so bridle the affections of the vnruly but that they would at one tyme or other burst out into outragious extremities I adde moreouer Admit that my wordes beyng either misconceaued or misconstrued might suggest some matter of euill occasiō shall it be lesse lawfull therfore to beare testimony of the truth bycause there be some that are so beastly brutish that will mishandle the wordes and deédes of others be they neuer so well spoken By this reason away with the Bible bycause out of the same the most parte of heretiques haue sucked their poyson what dyd not Paule therfore not commende the Iustice of God aright by our vnrighteousnesse bycause there wanted not that would abuse his saying to occasion of euill Let vs doe euill say they that good may come thereby The auncient godly Christians were wont to assemble together and sing Psalmes before day light and to receaue the Sacrament of bread wyne Hereupon began rumours to be scattered abroad that the Christiās dyd worshyp the rysing of the Sunne dyd sacrifice to Ceres Bacohus And what hath bene so well spoken or established at any tyme that the peéuishenesse of peruerse and froward persons will not depraue◠if they lyst to pyke a quarell or slaunder the good wordes and well doynges of men The same came to passe with Augustine him selfe through the Pelagians who after had once brought in the name and commendation of grace hereupon forthwith they began to quarell with him as though he should affirme that men are made good by fatall Necessitie And agayne where he denyed that Grace was distributed accordyng to mēs deseruyngs this saying they gnawed at as though he should say That no endeuour ought to be looked for from the will of man contrary that saying in the Gospell where the Lord spake Aske and it shal be geuen you seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shal be opened vnto you for euery one that doth aske shall receaue c. And all this haue I debated with you euen as it were truth that your counterfaite imagination hath deuised to witte that I should be the originall of all that rebellious insolencie I come now to that pynche of my true defence Namely to deny that there is or euer was any Boore in all Germany that did euer Iustifie this slaunder agaynst me This was neuer the speéche of any Boore but the rude vnshamefastnesse of Osorius voyde of all matter of probabilitie to make me authour of all this mischief The very authour wherof if as yet you do not know and would fayne know him in deéde I will tell him you but briefly yet truly Osorius When Sathan perceaued that the kyngdome of your pride was ready to haue a fall and that the Romishe Prelate could now no longer mainteyne his erroneous sacriledges agaynst the glorious excellency of the gladsome Gospell he entred by a notable pollicie into this deuise vnder the pretence of the Gospell to tickle vppe madd braynes thereby to bryng the Gospell in obloquy and infamy the ouerthrow whereof he perceaued now past his compasse as the which he was now no longer able to withstand Then also vnlesse this lying Osorius had sett him selfe forth as an especiall Instrument of this wyly Serpent vpon whose shauen sconse not so much as a herebreadth may be founde growing of an honest or sober man ye would neuer haue so filthyly infamed the good reporte and credite of honest personages standyng in the defence of the Gospell with so many slaunderous lyes and cursed reproches If Luther should vse this or the lyke counterbuffe accordyng to the frankenes of his speéche agaynst your rusty clownish and illfauored false Diuinitie I do not aske what you could answere him agayne Osorius But I feare this rather least as he should not
to this your poore sheépe a litle whiles to accept of his seély bleatyng There was lately in these parties a very discrete person named Charles Miltitius your holynes Secretary and Chāberlaine with a greéuous complaint to the most renowmed Prince Fridericke touchyng my vnreuerent behauiour and vnaduised rashnesse agaynst the Church of Rome and your holynes requiryng punishmēt for the same the hearyng wherof greéued me not a litle sorowyng that my great and inward carefulnes of duetie and good will employed for the aduauncement of the honour and dignitie of the Churche of Rome was accused for vnreuerent and condemned for so maruelous wicked namely in the audience of the very head of the same Church But what shall I doe most holy Father I am altogether voyde of counsell herein I am not able to endure the power of your wrath and how I shall escape it I know not He doth require me to make a recantation of my disputations whiche if might be done to any such purpose as is imagined would come to passe I would do it wtout any let But whereas now through the unportunate resistaūce exclamations of my aduersaries my disputations are scattered farther abroad then euer I thought they would haue bene and withall are more deépely rooted in the hartes of many men then can easily be pluckt vp agayne besides this also sithence our countrey of Germany doth wōderfully floorish at this day with pregnaunt wittes sounde Iudgementes and aboundaunce of learnyng I perceaue that if I doe honor the Church of Rome I must be throughly aduised to make no recantation at all For in this maner to recant were nothyng els but to contaminate and defile the Churche of Rome much more thē before and to betray her to the open reproche and manifest infamy of all Nations and toungues Those euen those O most holy Father whom I withstoode to witte those which with their most vnsauory preachynges vnder colour of your holynes haue made a Relligion of those detestable marketts and haue defiled the holy place with the shamefull and abhominable Idolatry of Egypt haue wrought all this mischief and outrage with vs in Germany as though this were not villany enough do accuse me who withstoode them in their monstruous beggyng to be the authour of all their misdemeanour before your holynes Now most holy Father I doe here protest before God and the world that I neither was willyng nor at this present am willyng to impeach the Maiestie of the Churche of Rome nor the authoritie of your holynesse by any meanes nor by any colourable practize to deface the same but doe freély and frankely confesse that the Iurisdiction of this Church is aboue all thyngs and that nothing in heauen aboue or in earth beneath is to be preferred aboue the power of this Church sauyng onely Iesus Christ my Lord and my Sauiour To the contrary wherof let not your holynes beleéue any vntrue surmises deuised agaynst your poore Luther And that one thing which I am able to do herein I do vowe here to your holines That is to say to surcease her after from dealing any more with this matter of pardōs will become altogether mute so that mine aduersaries likewise will lay down their glorious and reprochefull slaunders raysed agaynst me will publish an instrument of my scilence herein that the cōmon people may know and acknowledge the dignitie of the Church of Rome and yeald due reuerence to the same and not to impute the rashnes of this beggarly pardoners to that honorable Seé nor to imitate the sharpenes which I haue vsed or rather haue abused agaynst the Seé Apostolicke wherein I was somewhat ouerlauish agaynst these lewde Lurdeynes This will I doe in hope that this disorder rashly raysed may by Gods grace and this meanes be alayed agayne if it be possible For in all that doyng myne onely endeuour was that our mother Churche of Rome might not be infamed for other mens couetousnes and that the vnlettered people might not be carried into errour and perswaded to set lesse stoare by charitie then by those Pardons All other thynges as beyng but matters indifferent I do make not great accompt of If besides this I can do any thyng or can learne how otherwise to please your holynesse I will yeld my selfe vnfaynedly at your commaundement Christ preserue your holynes for euer Frō Aldenburghe the iij. of Marche 1519. Now I beseéch you Osorius what can be more myldly written then these Letters of Luther more beseémyng a godly and well disposed mynde or on all partes more duetyfull in respect of humanitie The which I thought it not amysse to set downe in this place that the shamelesse slaunder of Hosius might be made more apparaunt hereby who produceth Luther into the open Stage standyng agaynst the whole world entryng into that combate for none other cause but of a greédy desire to purchase credite to hauke after the glory of the worlde and to plye the paūche who as one pricked in the buttocke with a boddkynne whē he perceaued this market of Pardons to come in question amongest the Dominicke Friers by the motion of the brothers of his own fraternitie begā therfore to sturre these coales And this he iustifieth to be true by wordes vttered out of his owne mouth For whenas in the beginnyng of his disputation agaynst Eckius he seémed somewhat to passe the boūdes of modesty and was aduertized therof by some that in Gods cause he should moderate him selfe in the spirit of lenitie he affirmeth that he brake out into these speaches namely that those disputatiōs were neither begon for Gods sake nor could be ended for Gods sake Which wordes to be either falsely imagine vpon Luther by his aduersaries neuer spokē of him or els not vttered in that sense as they be alledged by Hosius the matter it selfe doth expresse the same with open euident proofes And yet it may be that Luther both spake truly Iudged no lesse of Eckius whom he knew to be a notable Parasite of the Pope For what is he that wayeng duely both the glorious insolency of Eckius the manifest perill of Luther will dought hereof that all these broyles were neuer vnder taken of Eckius for Gods sake but begun ended also onely for the Popes sake Surely they can in no respect be construed vpō Luther not by any probable coniecture so much considering he was by Eckius forced to disputatiō very much agaynst his will But we will speake of Hosius an other tyme by gods permissiō To returne now to Osorius For as much as Luther demeaned him selfe so humbly as you seé and prostrated him selfe wholy euen vnder the feéte of the Pope what would you haue had him doe els Osorius I suppose veryly he should haue done this namely haue recāted and fallen vpon his kneés as boyes are wont when they feare the rodd should haue yelded a fault
your stoughtnes herein But because I neuer chaunced to see anye such Gospelles I do earnestly desire you O holy father for the loue ye beare to S. Fraunces to S. Bruno Finally for the loue of that fifth and euerlasting Gospell which the Dominick Fryers not long sithence beganne at Paris in the yeare of our Lord 1256. in the tyme of Pope Alexander the iiij That your holines will not be squeimish to acquaynte me what maner of gospells those be of Luther Melanchton Bucer Caluine c. whereof you make mencion If you can shewe none such it remayneth therefore that we hang vppe this accusation also vpon the file of your other staūderous lyes so long vntill in your next false inuectiues you acquite you of this cryme We haue heard touching the Gospelles Let vs now seé the fayth of hys Church Which he vaunteth franckly not to be of many coates but one Vniforme not lately risen vp and ioyned with vayne confidence but deliuered from the Apostles themselues not depraued with any peeuish interpretation or corruption of madde or franrick usage Go to and what if in like phrase of speeche I make euident that Luthers fayth was one and vniforme yea the same that all the Catholicke fathers of the primitiue churche did professe not start vppe yesterday or for a few dayes agoe not grounding vpō any variblenes nor toste to and fro by any vnsteadfast assurance but proclaymed by the Apostles themselues and wholly cleared from all madnesse and outrage What if I shall shewe playnely that all these quallities be in Luthers fayth what shall remayne then but that Osorius shall become a Lutherane whether he will or no if it be one vniforme fayth that he so much esteémeth or if he hold a contrary fayth then must he needes proue an open lyar But Osorius will not credite my wordes which I shall speake touching Luther and why then shall I creditte Osor speaking for his owne fayth namely sithe he voucheth nothing in proofe but bare wordes But if the truth thereof shall be decyded not with wordes but with substanciall matter by howe many euident demonstrations shall I be able to Iustifie that there is nothing in Luthers fayth but is agreable with the truth and the Auncient age of the primitiue Church in euery poynt And that in Osorius fayth be many thinges whiche do not onely vary cleane frō thē both but are also manifestly repugnaunt and contrary to them both But let vs drawe neere to the matter The fayth that you professe is vniforme you say If by this generall word Fayth you meane the Articles of the common Creéde forasmuch as there is no Churche of the Lutheranes but doth professe the same as well as you I seé no cause here why you should challenge a more speciall prerogatiue in vniformitie in this poynt then the Lutheranes And I would to God the Fayth of your Church would stay it self with the Lutheranes vpon those Articles onely where doughtles is matter sufficient enough for our saluation But now how many by hangers do you couple to this vniforme common Creéd how many new straunge stragglers bussardly blynde and vnknowne Raggmalles to the Auncient fathers And so couple them together as thinges most necessary to mans Saluation and for these also keepe a greater coyle then for the very articles of the Creéde Wherof we shall treate more at large in place fitt for it by Gods grace And therefore whereas you say that you obserue one vniformitie of fayth I would first learne what poynts you do ground this vniformitie vpon For although I may not deny but that in certayne Decrees and Decretalles is a certeine consent and agreément of conspiring doctrine such a one as it is yet if a mā will thoroughly sist many of thē wherein Luther doth dissent frō you he shall easily perceaue that Luth. hath not so much swarued from your vniformitie as your fayth is raunged altogether out of the right pathe of the true Christian fayth from the doctrine of both Testamentes from the Apostles and Prophetts yea and from the footsteppes of the Fayth of your owne predecessors of Rome whereby appeareth euidently that this fayth which you so gloriously vaunt is not auncient but new fangled not deliuered from the Apostles but patched together with mens Tradicious not grounded vpon any certaynty but full of vayneglorious braggery finally not vniforme but of many shapes and vtterly a Bastard vnlike the true vniformitie of Fayth Such as procure to themselues so many hyreling aduocates patrones and intercessours in heauen besides the onely Sonne of God Such as do worhip God otherwise then in spirite and truth with alters superalters Images Pictures Signes Formes and Shapes grauen in wood and in marble Such as before God do hunt after true righteousnes by other meanes and merytes then by onely fayth in the Sonne of God or do apply to themselues the effectuall grace of his great liberalitie otherwise then by this only Fayth Such as do promise Remission of Sinnes by any other meanes to themselues or to others but through the onely bloudshed of the Immaculate Lambe Such as with the price of pardons do sel that to others which Christ gaue freely Such as do dayly sacrifice him for the quick and the dead who by one onely oblation once for all did make attonement for all things in heauen and in earth such as make to thēselues a way passable to the kingdome of God life euerlasting by any other meanes and wayes to witte thorough the merites of Saintes through vowes Masses orders and Rules and through straightnes of profession by the merite of holy orders humble confessions mens absolutions and satisfactions through building of Abbyes and such other trumpery barganing as it were with God for merite meritorious and not for the onely death of Christ crucified for vs Such as do thrust into Churches other Sacramentes then Christ dyd euer Institute and commaund to be kept Such as robbe that lay people of one part of the sacrament contrary to the ordinaunce of the church and in the other part leaue nothing but that which can be no where els then in heauen and which if were present naturally ought not to be ministred as meate according to the veritie of the scriptures All these I say and an infinite table more of the same hiewe cleane contrary to the scriptures Such as do retayne in fayth mayntayne in vse clogge consciences withall and proclayme to be obserued in their Temples how dare they be so shamelesse to vaunt an obseruing of one vniforme Fayth agreéing with the Prophettes and Apostles vndefiled and cleare from all spotte of Noueltie or wrinckle of deformytie Wherfore you must either cōuince all these patcheries to be falsly burdened vpon your Church as I haue rehearsed them or els you must needes confesse that your fayth is neyther vniform nor Auncient nor sprong vppe with the Apostles nor yet consonaut to sound
doctrine And in the meane time to passe ouer that whereat I cannot choose but laugh I meane this addicion not ioyned with any rashe or vayne confidence As though any one thing vnder the heauens can be more arrogant vayne thē that perswasion of yours whereby you are wont to bring poore simple soules in beliefe that such as are buryed in the cowle weéde of a Francifcane Fryer are forthwith defensible enough agaynst all the Deuilles and furies of hell Againe in buing your pardōs who soeuer shall make best stake with you as soone as theyr coyne shall cry chink in your boxes shall haue as many soules as they will deliuered out of purgatory and send them vp presently fleéing rype to heauen To passe ouer in the meane tyme other gamboldes toyes not a few in nūber much more foolish apishe then these being desirous to make an end once not for lack of such good matter more then sufficient Euen as fruiolous and vayne may I say is all the rest that followeth concerning your Church vpon the which when yeé haue bestowed neuer so many delicate colours and besmeaared her with neuer so freshe and oryent oyles berduers yet shall you seeme to doe nothing but bedawbe olde rotten putrified walles with new morter Let no man sinisterly interprete of these wordes as spoken agaynst the true church of Christ. I do knowe and confesse that Christ neuer wanted neyther shall euer want his Church which shall continue one vniforme holy Apostolicke and truely Catholicke which being builded vpon the rock of the Apostles shall enioy generall participation in one body and within one bowells as it were with the whole cōmunion of all the saynetes and godly faythfull throughout all the whole world And I cannot wonder enough truely with what face you dare so hedge vp within the boundes of the Romish particuler Church onely this vniuersall Church which is not restrayned within any limittes of place nor tytles of persōs by the publique authoritie of the christian Fayth but is dispersed abroad generally and without compasse farre and wide vpon the face of the whole earth wheresoeuer the Apostolique Fayth is of any force in so much that to your seéming may beé no Catholique Church now but that Romishe at Rome from which your Church and Synagogue ye banish and expell all such as professe Christ after any other maner then after the Romish Fashion none otherwise then as if they professe no Fayth nor followed any order of any Church at all And hereof aryseth that your crabbed and snappish accusation agaynst Luther Melanchton Zuinglius Caluine Haddon and others not because they are not Christianes but because they are not Romanistes not because they haue swarued an heare breadth from the doctrine of the Apostles and Euangelistes but because they will not become treacherous traytours agaynst the Apostles and the expresse worde of God as your high Bishop is O singuler cause O profound and Catholique accusation But how wisely should you haue done in this if you hadde brought to passe that it might haue bene notified to the Christian people that your Romish Church were and is a sound member of the true Church of Christ rather then that the vniuersalitie of Christes Church should be forced to so narrow a hoale of subiection as Rome is For this sufficeth not Osorius though you cry out a thousād times wider the you do that your church was foūded by Christ established by the Apostles defēded with the army of Martirs amplified beautified with the traditions of godly men and made strong and for euer inuincible agaynst all the battery and countermoyles of Heretiques by power of the holy ghost without the whiche no hope of Saluation may be hoped for c. If besides vayne crakes of smoky speeches ye shewe no demonstration of sounde proofe why these bragges of yours should be true let vs graunt your saying Or els if onely speeches shall be credited and if to babble and prate whatsoeuer a man listeth may like you to allow of for an vndoughted Oracle Why may not I as well with the like lauishnes of tongue gene lill for loll and saye that thys Church of Rome whereupon you bragge so much was neuer erected by Christ but hath degēdered frō Christ vnto Antichrist from the auncient primer paterne of the primitiue Church of Rome to a certayne new fangled kynde of lyfe doctrine not Instituted by the Apostles but frō the Apostles quite fallen away into Apostasye not garded with the army of Martyrs but gorged embrued yea and drucken with the bloud slaughter of infinite Martyrs such so many as neuer any Nero or Maxentius did euer send more to heauē thē this Babilonicall strūpeth hath done Now where you adde beautified with the traditions of holy and godly men and made strong and for euer inuincible against all assaults and battrry of Heretiques and shall so continue permanent by the ayd of the holy Ghost Truely in these very wordes you feéme to resemble those persons which in the Prophett did call darcknes light and light darcknes euill good and good euill First as concerning mens traditions how holy those men were I know not this is most true that your Church is fully fraught with traditions and doctrine of men in deed in so much that who so shall vncloache your Church of those traditions and Implementes of mens patcheries shall leaue her altogether naked without all kynde of furniture to couer her shame except it be a poore ragge of Moyses Iaunitas solitudo Haue we not heard the Romishe church very notably defended by this Camille Camell I had almost sayd now sake an other vnuāquishable argumēt such as all the Heretiques wedges with all their Beatelles and malles can not beate abroad when they haue done all that they can where he knitteth vpp the knott forsooth on this wise Agaynst all the assaultes of Heretiques defensible by the power of the holy ghost shall cōtinue inuinciblefor euer How shall this be knowne forsooth because the Numa of our age Osorius doth Iustifie the same with hys wordes who is no more able to make a lye then the Pope is able to erre what remayneth therefore for vs to do but that beyng vanquished with the truth we become the Popes vassalles and worshippe the foothstoole of hys feete But to aunswere briefly to this Parrotte I will demaund this one thing first not of Osor. but of the whole brotherhood fraternitie of Shauelinges If they beleue themselues to be so garded by the power and force of the holyghost agaynst all the assaultes of heretiques as this reuerend Lord the Lord Bishop of Sylu doth boast why do they vphold their pylfe with such outrage and Tirannye with such boochery and blood with such horrible burninges stiflinges fryer fagotts emprisonmentes Rackinges Constrayntes to recantation Famine and sword Finally with all maner of horrible tortures without
determine vpoÌ„ an other Emperour to be chosen And when Themperour sent Embassadours to the Pope to be receaued into fauour The Pope drew him out an InstrumeÌ„t with these coÌ„ditions annexed to witte that he should confesse the errors and heresies of his Princes and Cytties which were none at all that he should depart froÌ„ his Empyre and should committe hymselfe his Children and all his goodes and possessions to hys mercy and from thenceforth should neuer meddle with any of them without hys permissioÌ„ and sufferaÌ„ce Which articles albeit TheÌ„perour was not vnwilling to yealde vnto yet because the Pope perceaued that the States of the Empyre woulde not accepte it hys owne sacred holynes vpon Easter day appoynteth an other Emperour Charles 4. At the last Ludouick beyng poysoned not without the procurement and practize of this most mercifull Clement departed thys lyfe as Ierome Marius doth record within a yeare after the Election of this Charles in the yeare 1347. At the length the same Charles whom the Pope annoynted Emperour contrary the ordinaunce of all the States to th end to confirme the dignitie Imperiall to hys sonne and hys Successors so ioyneth in league with the Electors what with fayre promises bribes that he passeth ouer the reuenewes of Th empyre to the Electors this did he to establishe the Succession in hym and hys posteritie as Aeneas Siluius doth report Agayne the Electors bound the sayd Charles by oathe that he shoulde neuer require restitution of those reuenewes agayne which the Electors do enioy euen to this day By meanes whereof it came to passe that the Romayne Empyre beyng thus embased and the Reuenewes of the same empayred The Turkishe outrage hath long sithence freely possessed a great part of Christendome without resistaunce and is like to preuayle further yet for as much as the power and force of the Christianes beyng rent asunder and skattered abroad there is now none other power or PoteÌ„tate that is eyther able or dare adueÌ„ture to withstand the mighty puyssaunce of that outragious furye And the verye cause of all these mischiefes haue for the more part issued out froÌ„ that pestilent sincke of Rome who building hys rauenous neast with none other furniture more then with the scrappes that heé skrapeth together through violent seditious partaking of factions and dissentions of Princes hath brought Christendome to so small a handful now at the last that the Christian Princes iarring alwaies emoÌ„gest theÌ„selues do seeme that they will neuer be williÌ„g to be at one and agreé togethers for prouisioÌ„ to be made against the Turckes nor will be able at any tyme to make their partyes good agaynst the coÌ„tinuall inuasuones and Roades whiche this Tyraunt doth dayly make into Christendome But we haue shewed Recordes and examples sufficient whiche if be not true Let Osorius himselfe confute them by hys Antiquitie whereof he vauÌ„teth so singuler a skill But if they be most true as they be in deéde if he shall neuer be able to disproue theÌ„ where is now become that wonderfull obedience to the lawfull Magistrate where is that consideration of the Maiestie which as he sayth refuseth no ordinaunce of the higher power but doth yelde that vnto Cesar that belongeth to Cesar that vnto God that is due vnto God he addeth moreouer For we beleeue according to the testimony of Paule that lawfull Magistrates are so established by the ordinaunce of God that he that resisteth the lawfull aucthoritie outh to be adiudged not so much to resiste man as to resiste God himselfe If these wordes were as hartyly and vnfaynedly vttered as you professe honorably in wordes I meruayle theÌ„ froÌ„ wheÌ„ce came that so cruell rebellion of that Ecclesiasticall Seignorie agaynst the Superiour powers and from whence those moÌ„struous turmoyles of Empires and so execrable alterations of States these many hundred yeares came at the first The principall causes of all whiche tumultes commotioÌ„s and alterations â—prang from no where els then fromout that boyling fornace of the Popes canckered contumacye agaynst their liege Lordes and Emperoures From hence came the warres of the Emperour Henry the 4. 5. then of Fridericke 1. and 2. from hence the battell of Ludowicke of Bauiere and Ludowicke of Austriche In which vproares the Maiestie of the kyngdomes was not onely violated the power of the same weakened Princes combatyng against ech other like the brethren of Cadmus destroyed but Churches also were miserably torne and many godly consciences driuen into greéuous anguish of minde and most perillous staggering vncerteintie through these outragies of the Byshops who to extoll and enlarge their false forged dominion conceaued by as false forged opinioÌ„ were in effect the very cankers and botches of the Church and of all Europe besides What stroake then shall the authority of Paule who forbiddeth all resistauÌ„ce beare amongest these ruffling Prelates who delightyng and sporting them selues priuely to seé Princes and their Subiectes together by the eares and to rende and teare a sunder common weales and the publique peace and tranquilitie of the Church with Ciuill discentioÌ„s seditious Bulles and pestilent Libelles who through their priuiledges and immunities exemptyng them selues from publique Iustice and Ciuill Lawes do vse abuse Monarches and Tetrarches lyke bondeslaues after their owne lust and pleasure do blesse them curse them commaunde them intreate them rewarde them punish them allow disallow set vp set downe treade vpon with the heéles yea with their Papane power and Maiesticall prerogatiue cast downe into hell betray theÌ„ poyson theÌ„ how true this report is the Grecian FreÌ„ch and Germany Emperours playne patternes of their fury doe euidently and aboundauntly declare the smart therof felt Chilpericke the French kyng whom the Pope deposed from his kingdome and thrust into a Monckery Henry the 2. kyng of EnglaÌ„d whose Princely crowne takeÌ„ froÌ„ his head you reteigned by the space of foure dayes Iohn kyng of England who was first driuen out of his kyngdome by Pope Innocent 3. at the length poysoned by a Monke Henry 7. Emperour of Germany whom ye destroyed by poyson as ye did Victor likewise whose lyfe also a certeine Relligious lozell of your owne order cut short of a white or a blacke Moncke for he was a Dominicane Friar by ministryng vnto him the Sacrament dypped before in deadly poyson What shall I say of Phillippe the French kyng agaynst whom Pope Boniface 8. did procure Edward kyng of England to mainteyne mortall warres what shall I speake of Henry 6. Emperour of Rome agaynst whom as rebelles reuolted the Byshop of Collen and Leodicensis in which tumult Leodicensis was slayne And for breuities sake to passe ouer infinite other Dukes and Princes of Sycile Arragon Tuscane Calaber Naples Venice Germany Fraunce England Boheme Italy Rome Emperours Kynges Princes Marquestes Dukes Counsellours Senatours Consuls whom I dare auow were neuer more horribly molested in all their whole lyues then
to witte That the Church is a multitude of people such as is bounde to obey the Pope of Rome seuered from other Nations by certeine Ceremonies which the Popes haue ordeyned fast tyed to the ordinary cōtinued course of Succession of Byshops and to that onely interpretation of Scriptures which the Byshops and Councels doe deliuer And this is the true proportion and full Definitiō of your Church if I be not deceaued But this Definitiō the learned in Logicke will deny to be good sounde where the thyng defined is not of all partes equiualēt with the Definitiō Which rule is not obserued here For to admitte this vnto you that in the true Church of Christ must be Popes Byshops who must be obeyed who also must haue an ordinary outward succession and who may challenge vnto them selues a speciall prerogatiue in the interpretation of the holy Scripture yet is not this by and by true that all Popes Byshops which are entituled by the name of Popes and Byshops which do pretende a continuall succession which do carry the countenaunce of consentes which do challenge a right in the interpretatiō of Scriptures are the true sheapherds of the Lordes flocke And why so forsooth bycause that thyng wāteth which makyng specially for the purpose you haue specially left out namely the truth of sounde doctrine which may be able to treade downe and crushe in peéces errour and hypocrisie That is to say That Byshops do truly and vnfaynedly become the same in the sight of God which in vtter shew they would fayne seéme in the sight of men Agayne that Succession be not of persons onely but a speciall Succession of Fayth vertuous lyfe that the obedience of the people may not proceéde so much of feare of punishment as of harty affection and willyngnesse of mynde that the interpretation of scriptures be not wrested to the maintenaunce of errour and mens sensualitie but be directed and aunswerable to the meanyng of the holy Ghost and the true naturall sense of the Scripture For these be the true markes Osor. whereby a true Church is discernable from a false not the title and name of a Church not the authoritie and Succession of Byshops not the opinion of a multitude besides the truth of Gods word But the very Rule of the word must be kept which will so describe vnto vs a true Church by true markes tokēs boundes and foundations That it be a Congregation dispersed abroad euery where ouer the face of the whole earth vnited agreéyng together in soūd◠doctrine of Fayth and the true worshyppyng of God which beyng sanctified by the holy Ghost and admitted by partaking the Sacramentes do truly beleéue in God through the Sonne of God Iesu Christ accordyng to the doctrine of the Gospell although some be enlightened with more spiritual graces gifts and some with lesse By this standard and Rule let vs measure now the Argumentes of Osorius Luther and Melancthon are fallen away from the Pope of Rome and his Cardinalles Ergo Luther and Melancthon haue rent in sunder the vnitie of the Church The onely Church of Rome hath an ordinary succession from Peter Ergo The onely Church of Rome is the true Church The great part of Christendome doth acknowledge the Church of Rome Ergo The Churche of Rome is the Mother Churche and Queene of all Churches The Churche of God hath a promise that it shall neuer erre Ergo He that doth interprete the Scriptures otherwise then after the meaning of the Church of Rome or that doth not acknowledge him selfe obedient to the Romish Decrees in all thynges is an heretique and doth sequester him selfe from the boundes and communiō of the Church To this aunswere shal be made briefly and logically These be meére fallacyes and deceites of the Equiuocation deriued from a false description of the Church and the succession thereof and from false markes For as touching the names and Tytles as touching the long pedigreés of neuer interrupted course of Succession as touching the consent of the multitude and the promises made by God if the other tagges were tyed to these poyntes and made suteable namely sound doctrine true godlynesse surely it would seéme somewhat to the purpose that Osorius mayntayneth But now whatsoeuer they bragge and vaunt of tytles and other reliques without the especiall coupling and cōioyning of the Euangelicall and Apostolicall doctrine is altogether nought els but smoake and winde nothing auayleable to establish the true vnity of the Church First as concerning the name of the Church we do heare Christ himselfe speaking Many shall come in my name Touching Successiō we heare out of Ierome Not they that sitte in the places of Sainctes c. Touching the multitude Augustine doth teach vs. That the consentes of voyces must be weyed and measured not numbred Touching Gods promise made for perseuerance in the trueth harken what Iohn Baptist speaketh Do not say we haue Abrahā to our Father For God is of power to rayse vppe sonnes to Abraham out of these stoanes If Osorius will argue after this maner why should not these arguments be of as great force The high Priest of the old law in the Iewish Regiment did beare the face and name of the Church with full allowaunce and cōmon consent of all the multitude yea euen in the tyme of Esay Ieremy Amos Elias and Christ. The same also did conuey theyr Succession from the priesthood of Aaron And did vouch also theyr authority seat lawe and the promise agaynst Ieremy agaynst the Prophettes and agaynst Christ. The Law say they shall not perish from the Priestes Ergo Those high priestes did enioy a true Church nor coulde possibly erre at any tyme. But if Osorius shall thinke with him selfe that these Argumentes were not forcible enough in the olde Church why should they be more effectuall in the new Churche In the olde lawe it was lawfull to examine the very prophettes themselues if they spake the word of the Lord yea certayne infallible tokens were set downe whereby they might be discerned In like maner euen in the new testament we are commaunded to proue the Spirites if obey be of God being forewarned by the spirite of God that we beleue not euery spirite And what kinde of people then be these Popes and Cardinals of Rome which of a more then Imperious Lordlynesse doe commaund and require all men to receaue and reuerence their Satutes Ordinaunces Ceremonies opinions and all theyr wordes and deédes ingenerall without exception and contradictiō vpon greéuous paynes and Penalties that shall ensue agaynst him whosoeuer dare presume to make a question of the right of their authoritye or to make any doubt of any theyr deuises and imaginations And so geuing the slippe to all those he commeth downe againe to our Church with a maruailous blaff of windy words but with no reason at all imagining to proue
fayne learne whether you thinke it stand more with reason that we should beleue you or beleue Saynt Paul If we shall credit S. Paul What aunswere then will you make to him that shall frame out of Saynt Paul an argument to ouerthrow the whole force and estimacion of your Purgatory on this wise Fe. Christ needeth no Purgatoriall Expiation Ri Christ is our Righteousnes out of S. Paul So. Ergo. Our Righteousnes needeth not any Purgatoriall Expiation Be well aduised now Osorius and consult with that your companion of Angren throughly If you doe not know that Christ is our righteousnes lett Paul teach you but if you confesse him to be so what degreés and increasings of purifying and clensing may you vaunt in those persons vnto whom Christ doth both impute and apply his owne righteousnes also not vnto them that doe satisfie for it but to them that doe beleue in him And thus much hitherto to that place cited out of S. Marke There remaineth yet a sentence or two of S. Peter that will serue to no small purpose for the maintenaunce of the creditt of Purgatory The first whereof is playne enough by these words of Peter written in the 4. Chapyter of his first Epistle If the iust man sayth he shall scarsely be saued what shall become of the wicked and vniust poynting iwis with the finger as it were and noting that by this difficultye of being saued saluation is not obtayned otherwise then by trauayles and labours and paynes endured before Surely this will no man deny vnto you as I suppose that such as will skratch for heauē by force must vndertake no small trauayles and labors For that crowne of glory is not atteined but by many tribulations and they that purpose to lyue godly in Christ Iesu sayth Paul must needes suffer persecution Goe to now what will this clouter patch together out of this at the last Marke now I pray you a wounderfull downishe conclusion meéte for such a clowting botcher Peter doth treat of the trauailes and affictiōs wherewith the holy ones are exercised before they attayne to be crowned in glory Ergo. Such as departed hence not washt clene enough in this lyfe must be new skowred in the Popes Purgatory Shall I laugh or shall I aunswere truely I cann not tell which I were best to doe Peter in deéde doth treate of the trauayle and tribulatious of the holy ones I confesse it to be true What afflictions I pray you good Syr If you meane the afflictions wherewith the holy ones are ouerladen and pressed downe in this myserable lyfe you say true If you meane other tormentes to be suffered after this lyfe your conclusion is false And least I may seéme to contend agaynst Osorius after Osorius accustomed guise with brabbling wordes and no matter at all and to maintayne my cause with taunting and snatching and not with sound argumentes I will vse for my proofe the most manifest testimony of the Scriptures whereby I will make it good without all gaynesaying that the speéch of Peter in this whole Epistle ought not in any wise be stretched to the paynes of Purgatory Peter doth in all this Epistle treate of those afflictions properly wherewith the faythfull are persequuted of the vnbeleuers for the testimony of Christ and for righteousnes sake as in the 3. Chap. If you suffer any thing for righteousnes sake you are blessed And in the 4. Chap. Least as straungers you be stryken downe and confounded with that tryall through fyer which is layd vpon you to proue you And agayne in the same Chap. If you suffer rebuke for the name of Christ you are blessed c. In Purgatory no paynes are layd vpon soules for Righteousnes sake but for wickednes and that not by men but by spirits Ergo. This place of Peter cann by no meanes be wrested to serue to establishe any paynes of Purgatory ¶ An other Argument Peter doth treate of those afflictions which doe beginne at the house of God and doe fall vpon the Apostles themselues 1. Peter Chap. 4. For it is tyme that Iudgemēt beginne at the house of God If it beginne at vs first what shall be the end of them which will not obey the Gospell But the torment of Purgatory fyer doth not fall vpon the Apostles Ergo the place of Peter cann in no wise be made appliable to serue for Purgatory I am constrayned gentle Reader to Combate hand to hand with Logicall conclusions agaynst this iangling cauiller because els we should haue no end of Chattering as also because he complayneth many tymes in his bookes that he is not confuted with any Reasons so that now he hath a Nutt to crack if he cann or els if he cann not that he cease hereafter to complayne without a cause And this much hitherto now of the first place of Peter Lett vs come downe to the other place The same Peter in the same Epistle To teache vs that there is no way foreclosed for the dead to come to Saluation doth say That Christ did preache the glad tydinges to the soules that were in prison We do so not deny that the dead haue no passable way to Saluation that withall we cōfesse with Paule that the liuyng shall not go before the dead in this iourney And where as you annex immediately out of S. Peter That Christ goyng in the power of his spirite did preach the glad tydinges of peace to the soules that were shutt vpp in prison There yet is no controuersie betwixt vs here at all And to what end at the last shall all this matter inferred confessed tende I pray you forsooth out of this flynte must the fier of Purgatory be stricken with this cutted gadd of steéle I suppose The glad tydynges of peace were brought to the soules of the vnbeleuers that were shutt fast in prison Ergo There were soules of vnbeleuers in Purgatory then A trimme Deuine truely and a profounde patron of Purgatory I warrant you Wherfore Goe ye to O ye Ghostly Confessours and worthypfull Massemongers O ye holy company of Monckes and Nunnes O ye honorable Cardinalles Catholicke Byshops and your sacred Synode of Fraunciscane Friers goodly brotherhoode of blacke powdred lyers finally all ye generation of cowled fraternities smoath and sweéte shauelyngs All you I say all you holy orders generall speciall I do call vpō and humbly beseéch you in the very bowels of those Seraphicall Sainctes S. Frauncisce S. Bruno and S. Benedict that you apply all your deuour and diligēce that ye can possible with mumblyng vpp of Masses Sacrifices Liturgies Prayers Uigilles Nocturnes Completories Diriges and Trentalles pray ye knocke ye ringe spryng holy water sing Masses for the quicke and the dead finde out some way bryng to passe that this treasure of this holy mother Church may amplifie and encrease dayly more and more through your most holy merites and whole mountaines of
but honoring the visible signes by the name and caling it his body and bloud whereby he might more liuely expresse to our sences the vertue and efficacy of his death and passion ensuing For it commeth to passe I know not how that as often as we are minded to expresse the excellency of any notable matter we doe not accustome our selues altogether to the naturall proprieties of speéches but apply sometimes vnproper and borowed speéches to make the matter seéme more Emphaticall which thing is vsually frequented not in sacred Scriptures onely but very often and much also in the continuall practizes of humaine actions ciuill societye Such as haue vsually called Money the very Synowes of warres such as haue named Scipio the sword of the Romaines he that sayd that Quintus Maximus was the shield of the Romaines It is not to be doughted but by these figuratiue speéches they did meane to expresse more then the wordes did emport The Parents of Tobias when they named their Sonne the staffe of their age did they forthwith chaunge their sonne into a staffe of wood or did they vnderstand him rather to be their comfort of their lyfe vnder the lykenes of a staffe to leane vnto Paul commaundeth vs to take the sword of the spirite which he doth call the word of God In lyke maner when Christ commaundeth vs to receaue into out mouthes that which he named to be his body why doe we not as truely and in deéde transubstantiate the sword of God into a materiall sword as the Eucharist into the naturall fleshe of Christ If we shall speake after the proper phrase of speéch it appeareth playnely that the same death of our Lord which he dyed for our sakes did purchase for our soules euerlasting sauetye fulnes of lyfe And it is not to be doughted by that the Lord himselfe at his maundy before he suffered foreseéing what was comming vpō him did long before certyfy his disciples thereof by some significant token But to thend his wordes should be more deépely engrauen into their hartes he vouchsafed to enstruct them with some similitude of sensible thinges rather then with wordes by demonstration rather then by speculation setting before their eyes not onely a denomination of bread and wine alone but also a visible example of a material eating to enstruct thereby not our mindes onely vut to endure our senses to perseueraunce much more effectually And hereof both the cause and the originall of the Sacrament begann to spring at the first Doe ye this sayth he in remembraunce of me Go to then let vs aduisedly consider what our Lord did in that Supper and what the Apostles lykewise and what we also ought to doe Christ tooke bread in his handes he brake the same bread which bread being broken he offred not to his Father but to his disciples not for a Sacrifice but for a Remembraunce not to satisfy for Sinnes which could not be accomplished without shedding of bloud but in Remembraunce onely of that bloud which was to be shedd Doe ye this sayth he in Remembraunce of me And this was the whole order of Christ his action at that Supper what did the Apostles they receaued the Sacrament of the body deliuered vnto them when they had taken it they did eate it eating it in a thankfull remembraunce of their Redeémer they gaue thankes Now if we following their example herein doe not doe the lyke accuse vs if we doe the same accordingly tell vs Diogines what is it whereat you snarle Now agayne for your partes what you Catholickes doe in corners either vouchsafe to declare your selfe Osorius or harken a litle whiles I doe expresse it First the Priest doth take the bread sett downe vpon a stony Altar taking it doth consecrate it the bread being consecrated he doth himselfe worshipp first afterwardes he lifteth it vpp aboue his head as high as he can betwixt his handes as it were betwixt two theéues to the gaze to be worshipped of others and withall offring the same bread to God the Father in steade of a Mediator maketh intercession betwixt the Sonne and the Father beseéching the Father that he would vouchsafe benignely to accept these oblations of the body and bloud of his owne sonne And this doth the Priest forsooth aswell for the quick as for the poore prisoners in Purgatory Hauyng offred the Sonne on this wise the Priest doth reteigne him thus offred vnto him selfe doth deliuer him to no body but breaketh him to him selfe into threé small peéces if I be not deceiued two partes whereof he placeth vnder his handes one ouer an other after the maner of a crosse the third he drowneth downe in the Challice O wondrous and vnspeakeable mystery of the Pope These thinges being on this wise ordered this Christemaker taking vpp at the last this hoste deuided so into threé peéces two partes he deuoureth vpp and the third he suppeth out of the Challice in such wise neuertheles as that not so much as a croome of this supper or apish Enterlude rather cann come to the peoples share who must be contented to haue their eyes only fedd as it were in playes and Enterludes whiles this whipstart alone haue played all the partes of the Pageaunt and at the last throwing out a blessing from out the bottome of this Chalice commaundeth his gazers euery one to departe whither they will For as much as those things are dayly and euery where practized by you with bigge lookes supported to the hard hedg may I be so bold to learne of you by what right by what title of antitiquitie by what grounde of Scripture or by what example at the last ye be able to defende this your deuouryng of fleshe and breadworshypp by any example of Christ or his Apostles but where did Christ euer institute in the Supper a Sacrifice of his body where did he consecrate bread into his body or where did he transforme bread into his flesh where did he lift vpp any hoste vnto his Father with outstretched armes towardes heauen to pacifie his Father or where did he make a shewe thereof to the people to be gazed vpon what did the Apostles where did they euer worshypp the bread that they did eate in the Supper or in their Communiōs where did they euer inuyte others to any Adoration of this Sacrament and not rather to the eatyng thereof onely where did they Sacrifice it for the quicke and the deadd where did they euer carry abroad the Eucharist in Procession and open assemblies or where did they reserue it for stoare where did they euer defraude the lay people of one part of the Sacrament Briefly how all the proceédinges of this your iugglyng Enterlude doth varry from the first Institution of the Apostles how it hath not any partakyng or acquaintaunce with the Communion of Christ nor any resemblaunce or affinitie with his holy Supper Let whole Christendome be Iudge
receiue a remēbraūce of that sacrifice celebratyng the mysteries accordyng to the ordinaūce deliuered by him selfe and rendring thankes vnto God for our safety And agayne We doe erect vnto him an Altar of vnbloudy reasonable sacrifices accordyng to new mysteries Furthermore he doth forthwith expresse what kynde of new Mysteries they be Christ did offer sayth he a wonderfull sacrifice for the safety of vs all That is to say he gaue vs a memoriall to offer to God commaundyng vs to offer a memoriall for a sacrifice c. What shall I say of Cyrill Who doth call the prayers and melodious singing of fayth full soules praysing God cōtinually vnbloudy sacrifices And the same Cyrill writyng agaynst Iulian We sayth he forsaking the grosse sacrifice of the Iewes haue a commaūdement that we shall make a simple spirituall and a pearcyng sacrifice And therfore we do offer vnto God for a sweete smelling sauour all kindes of godlynes fayth hope and charitie c. If this controuersie may be decided with the greatest part of voyces who would require more wittnesses if with authoritie who will demaunde more auncient and more learned if by expresse euidence of wordes what is he so voyde of Reason that cā not playnly conceaue by the premisses that there is no one thyng more vntrue then that which these braynesicke men haue by a most false and vnsauory inuention Imagined concernyng the application and propiciation of this Sacrifice for the vtter ouerthrow of which doctrine what will more fittly serue the oportunitie now offered what cā be applyed more aptly for this present and more agreable to Reason then to kill them with their own swordes and to catch them in their owne pittfall for whereas the chiefest substaūce of a Sacrifice especially such a Sacrifice as is offred for Sinnes consisteth in slayeng of a body and sheadyng of bloud I would therfore learne of them by what reason the denomination of a Sacrifice may be properly applyable to their Popish Masse whereas neither any slaughter of a body or any sheadyng of bloud is discernable But there is represented say they a memoriall of sheadyng of bloud I do graunt it The holy Euchariste therefore doth not expresse any actuall killyng of the body or actuall sheddyng of bloud in truth and in deéde but representeth it by a memoriall onely Which bycause can not be denyed we say that hereof it commeth to passe wheras Remission of Sinnes is not otherwise obteined then by killyng of some body and sheadyng of bloud that for this cause therefore the Euchariste which executeth no actuall sheadyng of bloud but representeth onely a memoriall thereof can not of it selfe geue forgeuenesse of Sinnes but onely represent vnto vs a memoriall of the true Remission of Sinnes by way of Representation onely And what accoumpt shall mē make now I pray you of that dreadfull Decreé of the Tridentine Fathers who haue hundred out such flashes of horrible lightenyng whereby they doe scorche cleane into powder with their cursed Bull all them whosoeuer dare vtter halfe a word so much to say that the Sacrifice of the Masse is onely a bare commemoration of that Sacrifice finished vpō the Crosse and not a propiciatory Sacrifice rather I draw now somewhat neare to the very Canō of the Masse whereunto as these godly Catholickes do sticke most earnestly and do settle in the same the chief prore and pewpe as the Prouerbe is and shooteanker of their whole Idolatrous Sacrifice So doe they also in the same shyppe bulge them selues most of all and with their owne cable ouerhale them selues into an vnrecouerable gulfe The Tenor of which Canon is this Commaunde these giftes to be carried by the handes of thy holy Angelles vnto thyne hyghe Altar c. What Can not Christ sitte on the right hād of his Father vnlesse he be posted ouer by the Priest to be transported by Angelles vnto the highe Altar whenas he hath bene in actuall possession of the highest heauens long sithence not holpen thereunto by any person and sitteth on the right hād of his Father farre surmoūtyng in power euen the most excellent ministery of Priestes and Aungelles It followeth in the same Canō Through whom thou doest alwayes create sanctifie and blesse all these good gifts What is this that I doe heare must Christ be created blessed and sanctified agayne I haue passed my boundes somewhat further perhappes in prosecutyng this controuersie then the proportion of this our Apology would well admitt But hereunto was I forced partly by the peruersnes of Osorius partly by allurement of necessary persuasion for as much as I perceaued that there is no one thyng throughout all the doctrine of this phātasticall Religion wherein our Catholickes doe sweate and turmoyle them selues more greédely and raunge at riotte more perillously And therfore I thought it not amysse to rippe abroad the whole matter euen frō the very rootes of the foundation and so to encounter the franticke attemptes and engynes of our aduersaries Wherein if I haue not satisfied all mens expectation yet I trust that I haue reasonably brought to passe by this simple discourse that the Reader may easily conceaue how peéuish a plattforme this glorious Peacocke hath forged for his peltyng Purgatory and mumblyng maskyng Sacrifice vauntyng them to be matters of such importaunce as which the Apostles did deliuer ouer by mouth and which their Disciples dyd deliuer ouer to the posteritie and which the greatest consent of auncient Antiquitie with most Religious obseruaūce hath reteyned and approued so many hundred yeares with the generall Fayth and allowaūce of the vniuersall Church without any disagreement But on the contrary part as touchyng the Lutheranes they are cōfuted with the authorities of the aūcient Fathers and confounded with the generall consent of the whole Church whō Osorius with his copemates haue vtterly discoūtenaunced and discomfited with vnuanquishable Arguments vncomptrollable testimonies vnreproueable examples and conuinced them of horrible impiety and wickednes c. In good sooth these be lofty glorious magnificall speaches but besides the bare soūde of wordes no matter at all which wordes if must of necessitie fleé into the Castle of creditt bycause they be naked wordes onely without feathers surely you are well furnished with a very ready pollicie of persuasion Osorius and with a speciall practize for the speedy conquest of the cause But by this very same deuise of yours what a singular plattforme haue you layed forth for others to finde out the way to persuade as matter of truth whatsoeuer they liste to blast out in bare wordes For what is more easie then to pretend in word in speach those two wordes onely Church and Antiquitie if men wil be contented to haue their mouthes choaked with such boanes If the world be come to this passe that whosoeuer cā with finest floorish of wordes lauish abroad in the Church whatsoeuer him listeth the same shall obteine greatest creditt and
he hath debated somewhat and so debated as himselfe doth confesse not of any gredy desire of flattering as speaking the thing that â—he doth know to be plausible to his Catholickes but hath written the very same doctrine which he doth firmely beleue to be true which I doe yeld vnto that you haue perfourmed accordingly For as much as hitherto you haue alleadged nothing but phantasticall conceiptes of your owne wandring imagination and fryuolous opinions of your owne gyddy deuise Thoroughout all your bookes no sparke of Scripture no sentence at all of auncient writers besides bare names onely is vouched able to geue any creditt to your cause And therefore you haue sayd well in deéde that your writing doth agreé with your meanyng in all pointes but there is nothing more corrupt then that iudgemeÌ„t of yours nor any thing more vayne then your writing And for the thinges themselues whereof you make mention hath bene spoken sufficiently allready to witt of the Popes supremacy of the Popes warres of Purgatory of Sacrifices of Marketts of Pardons of the vncleanesse of Priestes and of their filthy superstition All which disgracementes of Religion from whence they issued out at the first although Haddon affirmed that you were not your selfe ignoraunt albeit you dissembled the contrary yet surely of this you ought not to be vnskilfull except you list to be reputed an open counterfaite that all those Trincketts which you thrust vpon vs vnder the cognizaunce of Religion did sauour nothing of the foundation of Christes Religion of his Apostles or of the Prophetts doctrine but haue bene deuised by other men long sithence the comming of Christ and by couert creéping by litle litle into the Church are growÌ„e to this vnmeasurable Rable Which hath bene displayed abroad aboundantly enough before as I Iudge in these same bookes After all these ensueth a common place of the filthy and wicked lyfe of Priestes which being more notorious then can be couered more filthy then can be excused Osorius is driuen to this streight that he can not deny but many thinges are amisse in the maners of Priestes and many things out of order which require seuere and sharpe correction howbeit he doth so extenuate this cryme as that he shameth not to confesse but that the greater part of these Catholick shauelings doe liue most chastely without all blemish of worthy reproch Of the rest he hath good hope yea and doughteth not thereof vpon the confidence that he hath of the good beginnings of the most holy Father the Pope Pius the fifte whose wonderfull godlynes ioyned with marueilous zeale of true Religion cleare and voyde from all ambition greedynesse and rashe temerytye doth geaue vs especiall comfort that it will shortly come to passe that the disorders and dissolute misdemeanours of Superstition and Priestes will attayne to a better reformation But if happely this hope happen not to good successe and though all thinges doe runne into further outrage yea although also no man minister medicine and remedye to this diseased Church yet is not this forthwith a good consequent that good and godly ordinaunces shall for the retchlesse trechery of some euill disposed persons be vtterly taken away And that humaine actions did neuer staÌ„d in so blessed an estate as to be cleare froÌ„ all matter worthy of reprehension not onely emongest Priestes and MouÌ„ckes but also through all the conuersation of Christian congregatioÌ„s And that it standeth not therefore with Reason for the negligence of a few disordered Mounckes to roote out the whole order of Mounckerye and for the wickednes of some Priestes therefore to subuert the whole dignitye of Priesthood and authoritye of Byshopps None otherwise then as if in the holy state of Matrymony many thinges chaunce sundry tymes not all of the best and vnseemely handled yea and that wantonnes grow euen to brech of wedlock yet is it not reasonable that for this cause the whole bond and vowe of mutuall loue and lawfull vniting should be cutt asunder Semblably ought we to determine of the orders of Priestes and Mounckes Emongest whom though all thinges be not done orderly and decently yet such thinges are not by and by to be discontinued which were instituted for godly purposes nor followeth not forthwith if there be some festered members in the coÌ„mon weale which must of necessitye be cutt of that for this cause the whole state of the coÌ„mon weale shall be tourned vpsidowne but rather that the ouergroweÌ„ weeds be pluckt vpp and such as be scattering brauÌ„ches be applyed to better order and reduced to their first patterne And that there is nothing more perillous in Common Weales then the often innouation of good and commendable established ordinaunces and lawes which doth commonly breed not onely a generall contempt of wholesome statutes but for the more part procure an vtter ouerthrow of the whole state according to the testimony of Aristotel who did sometime openly withstaÌ„d the decree of Hippodamus Milesius made for the aduauncement of such as should deuise good and profitable lawes being of this opinioÌ„ that lawes should be comprised within measurable lymitts and boundes that the well keeping of tollerable lawes emported more safetye then the innouation of new To Aunswere this large discourse briefly Osorius could haue alledged nothing more coÌ„modious in the defence of Luthers cause and nothing more vehemently agaynst these newfangled Romaines For if Aristotel did worthely reproue Hippodamus Milesius Who being not contented with the present state of his owne Countrey did practise an alteration of the state What shall be sayd vnto you who haue so chopt and chaunged all things in the Church that there is not left therein one title so much of Apostolick antiquity or auÌ„cieÌ„t Doctrine Therefore if all matters must be reduced to the first foundations what one thing can preuayle more to further the LutheraÌ„s desire who in all theyr writings and wishinges haue neuer endeuoured any thing more carefully then that a reformation might be had of the Publicke abuses and corruptions of the churche according to the first most godly institutions to the vtter abolishing of all newfangled vpstartes wickedly supported And those first Institutions I doe call the very first foundations of the Apostolyque doctrine most godlye grounded vpon the holye ghost and the Testament of Christ. From the which how much your doctrine and Traditions do varry I haue sufficiently discouered before For whereas Christ is an infallible principle ground of the Apostolicke doctrine and whereas the chiefe pillers of the Euangelicall buildyng do stand principally vpon this poynt to preach vnto vs euerlasting life promised by the freé gift of God through fayth in Iesu Christ euen by this one marke may easily be discerned of what value and estimation the whole state of the Romish religioÌ„ may be accounted which doth not direct vs to Christ but to the Pope not to the onely sonne of God but to the sonnes of
Queéne despising those franticke furies of broylyng Bulles and crauyne curses would banish this proud Tarquine from out their kyngdomes territories Which if they did it were not to be doughted but that the publique tranquillitie of all Christian Nations would enioy a farre more ioyfull countenaunce of freédome and concorde And yet I speake not this to the end that I would haue godly Prelates dispossessed from their dignitie or would wish their authoritie empayred the value of a rush S. Paule doth not in vayne admonish vs to yeld double honour to Byshops and Rulers of the Church but with this prouiso annexed to witte if they rule well if they do labour mightely in doctrine and preachyng But what prerogatiue can the Romish Byshop clayme from hence more then any other particular Byshop The Pope hath his owne Prouince lett him guide that as well as he caÌ„ lett him not encroche vpon others nor hawke for hawtyer Titles of honour then beseémeth his function The Ecclesiasticall dignitie is a ministery not an Empyre a charge and a burden rather then a Lordlynes or superioritie wherein he that will presume to rule the roaste ouer others must looke aduisedly to him selfe first that he gouerne well that he labour mightely in the word doctrine If the Byshops and Priestes be not negligent and retchelesse in their owne dutyes they shall neuer be defrauded of their due honour and dutyfull obedience nor euer were denyed therof For eueÌ„ for this cause that valiauÌ„t kyng of England Constantine that noble Emperour Theodosius that famous Ludouicke Pius the French kyng and other like Princes did esteéme highely of good and godly Christian Ministers and obeyed them which instructed them in the word of God did enure them selfes to their godly exhortations as the Emperour Valentinian doth report euen as to wholesome potioÌ„s and medicinable restoratiues Euen so Theodosius beyng excluded from partakyng the holy Communion by Ambrose did most modestly obay The same Theodosius also beyng determined to exercize cruell reuenge against the Thessalonians and beyng counsayled by Ambrose that in geuyng sentence vpon lyfe and death he would take breath pause by the space of xxx dayes least in rage and fury he should accomplish that whereof he might afterwardes repent him did willyngly and obediently submitt him selfe to the graue exhortation of the godly Father Semblably many other notable Potentates also in many great and weighty matters did humbly yeld to the sweéte persuations of such as were farre their inferioursâ— Princes for the preseruation of their health do obay the direcâ—â—â—n of their Phisitions In the lawes positiue they be guided and ledd by the conduct of the Lawyers And yet for all this such subiectes do not cease to be subiectes still neither refuse their due obedience to their liege Lordes and Gouernours It happeneth oftentymes that the maister will be aduised by his seruauÌ„t and the husband guided by the discretion of the wife yet ceaseth not therefore the Maister to be Maister nor the Husband to be head ouer his Wife As in all well ordered common weales be Maior alties Bayliwickes and many degreés of Officers which doe seuerally employ their functions for the preseruation of common societie yet must there be one onely soueraigne emongest them of some greater couÌ„tenaunce who by his wisedome and authoritie may guide the inferiour Magistrates and bridle the insolency of the rude multitude But the Catholickes doe deny that the Catholicke Church ought to be subiect to this authority If vnder the name of Church they do comprehend the ordinaunces and ceremonies wherewith the Church is administred they do speake truly In deéde the word of God the Articles of doctrine and of fayth the administration of the Sacramentes and the discretioÌ„ of byndyng and excoÌ„municatyng is not attempered by the regiment and commaundement of Princes nor doth the Ciuile Magistrate entermedle with the administration of any of these thyngs But if they meane the personages of men who are exercized in this holy function or the charge dispositioÌ„ of particular matters that are incideÌ„t to the Ministery they do say vntruly for as much as there is no Ciuile potentate vnto whoÌ„ is not coÌ„mitted the order gouernement of all members of the coÌ„mon weale indifferently as well Ministers Preachers of the word as all other inferiour Magistrates Subiectes Otherwise the doctrine of Paule were in vayne Let euery soule submit it selfe to the higher power the truth whereof is to be Iustified by the most approued exaÌ„ples of both the old and new Testamentes If we begyn at Moyses who supplyed the office of a Ciuile Magistrate and from him descend to all the Ages of our owne Emperours Potentates Emongest all which Magistrates we shall finde none but hath receaued by Gods commaundement the gouernement of Ecclesiasticall persones aswell as of Ciuile Magistrates as inferiour Subiectes It would require a long discourse to treate throughly of all the names and gouernementes of Emperours and Ciuile Potentates To make a brief rehearsall of the chiefest First in the old Testament how many examples are extaunt of such Princes â—s do prescribe ceremonies for the Tabernacle which doe fetche backe agayne the Arke of the couenauÌ„t which make holy Sonettes and Psalmes Rule ouer Priestes builde Churches moreouer do cleanse them agayne after they were defiled do ouerthrow Temples Altares reforme abuses which also sometymes doe pronounce exhortations to the people touchyng the worshyppyng of God do aduertise the Priestes of their dutyes and ordeyne lawes for them to guide their lyues by which appoint Orders and obseruations in the Church which doe kill wicked Prophetes yea and many tymes also doe prophecy in their owne persones In the new Testament lykewise how many examples are to be seéne in the recordes of the best ages of kinges and Monarches who within their owne Territories and dominions haue ordayned godly and learned Byshoypes to rule ouer prouinces and haue deposed such as haue bene vnworthye haue suppressed the riott and insolencye of Priestes who haue not onely Sommoned Synodes and Councells of Byshops but do sitt emongest them geue sentence with them yea prescribe orders vnto them which they shall obay are presidents ouer their Councells doe depose hereticall Byshoppes which geue iudgement vpon matters of Religion which doe sett downe articles pronounce sentence disanull the opinions of heretiques and ratifie the Doctrine of the Catholicke fayth If the most auncieÌ„t and most Christian kinges Emperors did not entermeddle heretofore in all these causes the report of Historyes is false If our kinges and Queénes doe the lyke at this present what cause hath Osorius to frett and fume If the charge of Religion and Religious persons doe not pertayne to the ciuill pollicye in any respect surely Constantine did not behaue himselfe discretely who in his owne person decyded the causes and controuersies of Byshopps which did appeale to his Maiestye entermedled his authoritye in
of the very bowels of Hystories and philosophy wherein I do not so much mislike with him for his good councell But whereunto were these glorious flooryshes framed more for Queéne Elizabeth then for anye other Potentate or Prince of the world then for the King of Portingall or for his proper pigsnye the Pope When or in what place hath our soueraygne Lady whose Princely mildenes doth surmount all her Predecessors in lenity and temperaunce so demeaned her selfe in all her most fortunate and prosperous calme of happy Reigne that her Maiesty may seéme to stand in neéd of this your Philosophicall persuasions more then any other Prince Wherein hath she euer vaunted her Royaltye in such sort that she must be enstructed by this Portingall Solon to haue regard to the slippery state of this fickle life Declare a good fellowshipp Osorius what matter haue you noted at anye time or heard of by report done by her Maiesty wherin you may iustly reprehend want of wisedome in counsell or lacke of clemeÌ„cy in iustice beseéming the most vertuous prince of the world I will boldely also adde hereunto wherein this mayden Queéne may not worthely compare with the most mighty and auncient Monarche of most famous memory And if you thinke that this litle Isle of England is so voyd and barreyne of councell that Kinges and Queénes must of necessitye be enstructed of Osorius How happened it that you did not vtter your skill and signifye your good will rather to Queéne Marye her graces Sister whom you might haue persuaded to temperaunce and lenity whenas she executed Tyrannye without all measure and meane in shedding her owne subiectes blood where was theÌ„ this Portingall Clawbacke whiche should haue remembred the Queéne of humayne weakenesse and imbecillity that was so forgettfull of all humanity and her owne fraylty Reioyse therefore Elizabeth our most noble and vertuous soueraigne for this your Alcion dayes you may well seé nowe howe muche you be indebted for this your most prosperous raigne For if that mighty MacedoÌ„ King Phillipp were so ioyously affected in his sonne Alexanders behalfe that it chaunced him to be borne in the time of the famous philosopher Aristotle why should not ye rather clappe your handes for ioy in respect of your most happy happynesse more then AlexaÌ„ders felicity whom it happeneth to raygne now in the time of this notorious Solon the eighth wise in number or the third Cato of this age who is able to replenish your eares with most wholesome preceptes of life and fashion your fayth with true catholicke institution and doctrine who if your Maiesty will vouchsafe to beleue his lessons is able to direct your grace by lyne and by leuell to know the difference betwixt true religion and false howe your highnesse ought to discerne betwixt true and false Prophets how you ought to coÌ„ceiue of Purgatory of pardoÌ„s of auriculer coÌ„fession of compulsary single life of the sacrifice of the Masse of Images Pictures and Reliques of Saynctes Who cann restore your owne person to her auncient freédome from out of that Tyrannous bondage of false flatterers wherein your grace is now holden captiue To with that of a freé Queéne you may at the last become a seruile bondmayd of the Pope For vpon this onely bunch of thraldome hang all the Keyes of Osorius freé Manumissions And therefore sith the matter is come to this passe what remayneth Most renowmed and vertuous Queéne but that you finde meanes to send for this new Solon by all meanes possible and assigne him a place emoÌ„gest the chiefe of your priuye councell and alter the whole state of your Realme after his directioÌ„ and appoyntment who will guyde your Maiestye on this wise First that renouncing this Religion whereunto you haue bene enured euen from your Cradle you may now straggle away to the trimme Traditions of the Romish Religion which Osorius doth mayntayne that where as you haue begonne in the spirite you may end afterwardes in the flesh that you may banish the scriptures from your subiectes hearing That you may conuert your publique preaching into mumbling Massing That your subiects may beginn to learne to call vpoÌ„ God in an vnknowen toung that excluding that righteousnesse which doth consist in the fayth of Iesu Christ your people may be noosled in confidence and assuraunce of theyr owne workes and merites that you should dispoyle the communion of the one part of the Sacrament that you should dissolue lawfull marriages of Christes Ministers That in your owne Realme you should establish a kingdome to the Pope of Rome that he may gouerne your scepter and you carry his Crosier That he may haue full skope in your kingdome to distribute benefices to geue Byshopprickes to exact first fruites tenthes and yearely pencions that after he hath once swept away the cropp of English Golde you may come after gather the drosse Finally that you make a cleare dispatch of these Lutheran Heretiques kill them spoyle them â—â—ll England full of fagott fier so that the English blood being spilte and the name of English Nation being vtterly rooted out the Portingalles may freély be propt vpp in theyr possessions Surely this is notable councell Osorius and right well beseéming your dignity which whatsoeuer colourable shew it pretend in wordes doth in trueth and in deéd sound and breath forth nothing els but slaughter and bloud For hereof you can not be ignoraunt that this Romish counterfait could neuer be receiued into this Region without wonderfull disturbaunce of the state and losse of many liues And for this cause I suppose you directed your bloody and murtherous Inuectiues to our noble Queéne whereunto if she would haue bene pliable the whole Realme had bene long sithence replenished with fire and flame wherewith you would haue made boanefiers with the blood of many good Preachers But you come to late gentle Synon with these fables and bables and may keépe your breath to keale your potage The late lauish lewdnes of Queéne Maryes madd daies hath made vs to well acquaynted with that Romish Iennett to graunt him any grasing within English soyle or to permitt any pasture for such a popish palfray Christ Iesu be thanked for euer and euer now that this Romish Ruffler is excluded we liue in godly calme who as now cann neuer hope to haue anye footing here before concorde be exiled and peace vtterly banished Wherefore if that your superexcellent Byshopp of Rome be rauished with so hott a zeale of Ambicion that he can not reigne without a kingdome if he will follow my simple councell either lett him seéke out for some straunge vnknowen Islandes where he may rule ouer such as do not know him or els lett him chauÌ„ge the state of his Religion In like maner I would aduertize Osorius if he be of that courage that he can not stay the outrage of his quill but must neédes presume to perke and preach to kings and to Queénes
that either he recreate his spirites with some other exercize or cease here after do abuse our Gracious Queéne Elizabeth specially with such kinde of trumpery wherein to tell you the truth Osorius you haue lost your labor and cost for you preuayle no whitt thereby as you seé What successe you may haue hereafter we committ vnto the Lord Certes hetherto as yet you may putt all your winninges in your eyes and seé neuer a shine the lesse as the proofe it selfe doth declare And be it say you that I preuayle nothyng herein yet wanted not sufficient testimony of a well wishyng mynde which ought not be vnthankefully taken emongest gratefull and honest personages Of your good meanyng what shall I say which how ready and inclinable it is I do easily perceaue but to what effect I beseéch you For to what other end shall we Iudge it so ready but to procure our most gracious Queéne then whose nature nothyng can be more disposed to lenitie and gentlenes to be sett on fire none otherwise then as it were some flamyng firebrand contrary to the naturall disposition engraueÌ„ within her royall brest by the finger of God to seéke the spoyle of her natiue Countrey with cruelty tormentes and destruction of her subiectes by fier and fagottes like vnto the furious persecutions and madde outrage executed in the tyme of her sister Queéne Mary For what better successe could haue bene hoped for out of those wicked mischieuous counsell of yours for lett vs suppose and imagine in our conceiptes which yet her most excellent Maiestie could neuer haue suffred to haue entred in her thought that you might haue preuailed and obteined your purpose or at least as much as you hoped for what then Could you conceaue in your mynde that the matter had bene accomplished forthwith assoone as you had entred into the Castell of fauour as though her Maiestie alone be the onely enemy to the Pope within this her dominion Beleéue not so O Solon and hereof assure your selfe that there is within this litle Island a greater nomber by many thousandes more then any man would Iudge that will rather yeld their carâ—asses to tortures then suffer theÌ„ selues to be defiled with the marke of that Beast And what thinke you will become then of the rest of the multitude whose consciences are not yet fully settled of whom there is an infinite nouÌ„ber within this Realme you will say that the Prince must vse force force them to fagotte that will not obay Is this the couÌ„sell you geue to a Queéne Herein forsooth we poore wretched Englishmen are very much beholdyng vnto your sweéte Fatherhood for your gentle reward But what if fayth will not be forced yea what if it can not be brought to yeld what if her highnes it selfe be not Queéne ouer consciences nor any worldly creature els for fayth wil be enstructed can not constrayned I say also moreouer it can not be vanquished by death but euen then rather it triumpheth most And although it may lose lyfe in this world yet will it neuer yeld to earthly creature but to God and his truth Wherefore in as much as this your whole discourse which you prosecute so earnestly is of this condition that it doth no more concerne any Christian Prince whatsoeuer then the subiectes of his Realme for what is more agreable with the maners of the people then Fayth and Religion If you haue determined with your selfe to bestow any further trauaile in the like cause by word or by writyng I iudge it best and withall do aduise you that you trouble not her Maiesty from henceforth with any such matter but proclayme forth your challenge agaynst the Byshops rather agaynst the Doctours and Deuines finally agaynst the subiectes of England and the consciences of the people whom if you be able to enduce with force of firme doctrine and pytthe of substaunciall Arguments to the direction of their consciences you shall shewe your selfe herein a very honest man But then must you frame vs some other kynde of bookes and other maner of letters For the bookes that we haue hitherto receaued from you are such kinde of ware as neither delighte the Queénes grace nor like well the subiectes For this cause therefore my good Lord Ierome I do the more willingly aduize you not to cease wrytyng henceforth Nay rather write on a Gods name paynte on deuise on and coyne on as much as ye list I will not lett you For so long shall it be lawfull for you to haue will to endite vntill at the last it will not onely repente you of the losse of your labour but withall make you ashamed of so much good tyme so wickedly employed And therefore take me not as though I would wishe you to surcease from writyng to throwe away your penne but rather I wish you to write and to endyte vntill you be hoarse withall Hereof neuerthelesse I warâ—e you before that vnlesse you mainteyne the quarrell that you haue vndertaken with better furniture you shall both come to late as I sayd and lose your labour also For what doe you thinke to gayne in this cause of Religion wherein if you hadd none other aduersary yet the Lord him selfe doth warre agaynst you with the very breathe of his mouth the whole Scriptures fight agaynst you and the authoritie of auncient Fathers haue bent their force to ouerthrow you Your purpose was to pleade for the Popes proper Chayre But he is quite abandonned not out of our Churches onely but much further banished out of mens consciences nor can possibly by mans pollicy be restored to the possession of Christian consciences in despight of Gods word It is the Lord who hath by his deuine Inspiration cast a darkened cloud ouer this proude Prelates Chayre which all Portingall can not bryng to light agayne though it lighten all the Tapers torches and waxe lightes in Portingall when the Sunne is at the highest But Osorius vpoÌ„ confidence of his Rhetoricke doth dreame vpoÌ„ some dry Sommer nothyng mistrustyng his Tackle as it seémeth which shal be more stronger then any Cable or Anker but that he shall be able to enduce our most Souereigne Lady Elizabeth to like well with his Request at the leÌ„gth maugre the bearde of thousand Haddones for after this maner writyng agaynst Haddon he sayth What sayth he doe you suppose that her witte is so rude and so vnciuill when I shall haue discouered the practizes and coÌ„spiracies of treacherous traytours by inuincible Argumentes and Reasons clearer then the Sunne in mydday when I shall paynte out vnto her view eueÌ„ before her eyes the mischieuous filthynes and wickednesse of this new fangled Religion when by manifest proofe I shall make euident the foolish and illfauored scatteryng Reasons of these heretiques wherewith they attempt the maintenaunce of their cause that she will rather allowe of that most pestilent opinion coupled with vnauoydeable perill of her
marke of Circumcision haue glorified your Church carrying the marke of the Beast vpon your crownes that Barbour of Horace whatsoeuer he be will serue for your turne much more fittly Upon which wordes of the Poet you proceéde forewarde But by what meanes doe you know me so well Who did euertell you say you that I haue not bestowed longer tyme vpon the Readyng of holy Scriptures then vpon Cicero Demosthenes Aristotle and Plato Truly if you perfourme in deéde Osorius as your wordes do emporte you are much to be commended But your bookes declare otherwise Howbeit we do nothyng mistrust but that you are busily exercized in readyng the Scriptures as your function and dignitie requireth nor did Haddon obrayde you with any such matter as that you did litle or nothyng at all apply the perusing and conference of Scriptures and so also did he meane nothyng lesse then to forbidd you beyng a Byshop as you say and a Priest from the study and practize of Gods holy Testament Wherein you doe vnhonestlye slaunder him and belye him without cause And therefore I cann not seé to what end these wordes of yours which you inferre hereupon and wherewith you seéme to fight with your owne shadow as it were do preuaile on this wise Is it lawfull for you to geue full liberty to wemen to Porters and Carters to tattle and clatter without Iudgement of matters of Diuinitie and will you presume to prohibite me I do not say a Byshop I do not say a Priest finally I do not say a mā many yeares exercised in the most sacred Scriptures furnished with no small encrease of knowledge but as you doe affirme a man of vnderstandyng and wisedome that I may not medle with this most holy learnyng Abate somewhat of your courage good my Lord Byshop I pray you if you can And lett vs reason together vpon some true allegations Tell vs a good fellowshypp where in what place when and at what tyme in whose presence with what phrase of wordes did Haddon euer forbidd you the study of heauenly Philosophy in speach or in thought If you can not Iustifie agaynst him by any meanes to what purpose then is all this so gorgeous and glorious floorish of wordes about the Mooneshine in the water But this braue Marchaunt would neédes blaze out his bracelettes and Iewells lately transported vnto him from out the Calecutes and therefore on this maner ietteth forth this Buskine Portingall Moreouer by what law by what authoritye by what power may it be lawfull for you being a Cyuilian to pearch so presumptuously to handle Gods booke Renouncing the proctorshipp for old Rotten walles windowes and gutters vyle and base contractes Couenaunts and bargains and pleading with pelting libells and may not I who am called to this function to instruct my flock committed vnto me with the word of God be so bold to employ some labour and diligence vpon the interpreting and expounding thereof without your comptrollement c. You haue heard an accusation tragicall enough if I be not deceaued and a very haynous complaynt of this babler For the rest now harken to the Morall of the Fable You offer me a double iniurye sayth he for you doe both entrude vpon an other mans possession and you dispossesse me from my right with most iniurious prohibitions c. Yea but if a man may be so bold vnder correction by your leaue being so great a Byshop so wise a Priest so great a Clarke to speake as the trueth is your selfe haue made two lyes together Osorius without touch of breath For neither he beyng a Ciuilian forsaking his pleadyng of walles windowes gutters doth entrude vpon any other mans possessions nor yet doth force you out of your owne right nor doth prohibite you with any such kynde of prohibitions but that you may proceéde in that course of studies which beseémeth your age profession best bestow as much trauaile thereupon as you can by all meanes possible Yea rather he doth earnestly perswade your holynesse thereunto Enioy therefore a Gods name those possessions which you clayme as your right as much and as longe as you may Haddon will neuer interrupt your course no more will any Christian man els driue you from your interest therein But in the meane space lett vs behold what maner of possessions these be whereof you speake verely if you meane the knowledge of Christ the word of lyfe holy Scriptures readyng hearing of heauenly Pphilosophye Certes I seé no cause why you should haue any more especiall prerogatiue in these possessiōs then any other Nor why this treasure ought apperteigne more to Osori because he is a Priest then to Haddon being a Ciuiliā for as much as by Godes institution this one learning aboue all other is prescribed to all persons indifferently as the chiefe and principall rule of this lyfe vnlesse we will accompt this saying Search the Scriptures to be spoken to Priestes onely and that for this cause Lawyers and Ciuilians ought not intermedle therein But if it were lawfull for Bartillmew Latomes being a Lawyer to write agaynst M. Bucer in matters of highest Diuinitye If Iulius Phlugius a professed Ciuilian might be warrāted by themperour Charles the 5. to sitt in Synodes and disputations of Deuines If Albert Pius Earle of Carporites writing agaynst Erasmus a Deuine and a Priest If King Henry the 8. doing the lyke agaynst Luther and descending into disputation in matters of Diuinitye being neither a Byshopp nor a Priest was supposed neuerthelesse to doe nothing vnseémely his Regall magnificence nor contrary to order Why is Haddon accused then as an encrocher vpon other mens possessions because being a Ciuilian he dare presume to encounter with a priest in matters of Religion But he should haue yelded ouer the charge of writing against you to Deuines and Byshops rather Truely it is not to be doughted but he would haue done so Osorius If in this kinde of conflict he could haue bene perswaded that he should haue contended agaynst a Deuine But whenas he perceaued by the course of your writing that your whole discourse sauored of nothing but of a Rhetorician and a Philosopher and that in your treaty of Diuinitye you alleadged skarse any one sentence of true Dyuinytye and sound doctrine he being himselfe a Rhetorician and withall throughly studyed in the same kinde of exercizes did conceaue in his minde that there could be no fitter match for him then being a Rhetorician to deale agaynst a Rhetorician as Bithus did in tymes past with Bachius that so with one manner of weapō and one kinde of furniture he might encoūter your lyes wherewith you doe so nimbly seéke the ouerthrow of the verytye In this poynt therefore of Haddons determination touching the debating of this cause he did nothing vncomely or vnseémely for his personage nor did he for this cause relinquish his owne walles and encroch vpon your possession yea so much
speakyng infinite wordes he hath vttered litle or nought at all agreable with the truth and aunswerable to the cause so that the saying not of Thucidides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but that other tourned backeward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be aptly and worthely applyed And bycause it shall appeare more euidently Go to Lett vs Imagine that some one Logician either of the auncient Uniuersity of Philosophers or of the crew of these new Schoolemen did take in hand those bookes of Osor wherein he treateth so busily of Catholick Diuinitie who rippyng away this outward huske of gaye paynted speach may take a perfect view of the soundenesse of the shell and the inward kernell of his best Argumentes and reduce them by particularities to the playne rules forme of Logicke and may pare away all rotten and vnsauory subtilties may cutt cleane away all lyeng and vntruthes may pruyne all idle and vntymely applications wherewith his discourse is altogether bedawbedd may shrowde of all vnprofitable and withered superfluities and reduplications may banish away all slaunders reproches tragicall exclamations and Thrasonicall crakes quyte voyd and impertinent to the matter what will he leaue behinde then in all his whole threé bookes In so manifest a truth what neéde any probation I will describe one for example sake and from no where els but euen out of his principall and exquisite exhortation directed to our most Royall and noble Queéne of England In which Epistle if at least it may deserue the name of an Epistle then the which her Maiestie neuer receaued any one more talkatiue nor I euer sawe more wittlesse you seéme good my Lord Byshopp somewhat willyng and desirous to aduertize her highnes of matters of great emportaūce and highly Catholicke to witte That if the Queene will be wise if she will be desirous to haue especiall regarde and consideration of her person of the Realme and of the preseruation of her soule and body If she will vouchsafe to geue creditt to Osorius beyng a Portingall geuyng wholesome and godly coūsell proceedyng dutyfully from godly affection of pure loue What must she do at the length Forsooth That renouncyng in season this entangled crabedd doctrine of the Lutheranes maisters of misrule and errours Captaines of knauery and villany pernicious botches of auncient discipline counterfect coyners of a new Gospell open Enemies of publique and priuate tranquillitie she retourne agayne to the auncient obedience of the mother Church of Rome and yeld her humble obeysaunce to the Pope hygh Byshopp thereof as next vnto Christ and Christ his owne generall Vicar ouer all the face of the earth For if I be not deceaued this is the very scope of all your persuasion to this end tendeth the whole force of your glorious Epistle wherein if we shall haue regarde to your wordes I seé that you haue spoken very much but if we consider the matter it selfe you haue spoken nothyng at all or at the most no more thē may seéme to be compreheuded and concluded in threé propositious onely The Maior whereof maketh nothyng for your purpose The Minor is simply false and wickedly slaunderous The Conclusion such as may be more fittly reuersed agaynst you the rest of your Catholickes If you be desirous to haue a view hereof by some playne demonstration I will not refuse for your sake Osorius to represent to the Reader the whole substaunce of your Epistle and the whole force thereof concluded in a briefe forme in full proportionable partes and propositions Behold therefore the whole forme maner of your Sillogisme Maior Whosoeuer are enemyes of sounde doctrine and do procure assured destruction and decay of honest conuersation of cyuill society who may dought but that the Prince may banish them farre from out her Realme and that she ought not in any wise support them Minor The Lutheranes wheresoeuer they sett foote on groūd do infect the soundnes of doctrine as it were with a botche they do kill mēs bodyes they do destroy mens soules they do disturbe the state of the common weale in sowyng seditions they do ouerthrow lawfull Regimentes they do sow abroad euery where outragious and close kyndes of licentiousnes of lyfe they doe tourne vpsidowne and bryng to confusion all lawes spirituall and politique Conclusion Ergo Whosoeuer wil be adiudged a godly Prince especially Queene Elizabeth cā do nothyng better more cōmodious then to banish quyte frō out her Realme these pestilēt impostumes and Caterpillers of the earth and exclude them from all partakyng with the common wealth If this be not the whole drift of all your discourse lett the matter it selfe conuince me If it be so lett vs then take a tast how coldly and vnskillfully you haue behaued your selfe in prouyng this Argument For the proposition which you assume for matter confessed and make the surest foundation of your whole discourse what if we deny altogether at a word Osorius to what end then will all your tedious lofty lauishenes puffed vpp with so many vayne and triflyng amplifications and lyes tend You do assume that all Lutheranes ought to be abandoned from out all common weales as open enemies of Religiō ranke rebells common Barretours and Traytours On the contrary part whereas we do affirme boldy that all your vayne suggestion agaynst the Lutheranes is false on their behalfe most true on the Papistes behalfe hadd it not bene your part to haue Iustified first by probable and sure Argumentes the whole matter which we do by good right and duely deny yea with Scriptures and Doctours if you be a learned Deuine what did you accōpt this sufficient proofe to perswade your Assertion bycause your Lordshypp did boldly pronounce it to be so or suppose you that there is no more required in an Accuser but to rayle outragiously and slaunderously alleadgyng no firme or honest proofe of the crimes that be forged or forced agaynst the aduerse partie I beseéch you good courteous Gentleman tell me for your courteous modesties sake To hale men into hassard of their liues vpō trust of raungyng rumours if not altogether innocent yet altogether vnknowen to you agaynst whom you are altogether vnable to Iustifie any probable crime besides bare and naked affirmatiues Is this to deale with Princes and to write vnto Queénes Doe you behaue your selfe at home with your owne Kyng in this wise to accuse men whom you know not onely vpon Hearesay reporte And what if the Queéne her selfe who by dayly proofe may be acquainted with the dayly conuersation of her Subiectes better then Osorius beyng an alyen straunger do of her owne knowledge feéle all this to be vntrue which you so maliciously enforce and in her secret conceipt doe vtterly detest those your stinckyng lyes haue you not made then a fayre speake and geuen your selfe a foule fall without touche or trippe of your aduersary Goe to yet and what if some defect or disorder be in the Lutheranes lyues as
pag. 19. b. Peter Lombarde The Retractation of August There was no disagreement amoÌ„gest the Lutherans Coelest Anabap. Interem Math. 25. Osorius his ignoraunce in iudgement and triflyng about words Luce. 7. Cicero pro Mar. Coelio Osori fol. 24. August Epist 19 Osorius his vanitie také tardy Iero. ad Marcel in Epist. cuius initium est Mensur charit non habet Chrisost. in 1. in 3. Concione de Lazaro Of the suppression of Monkes Luce. 3 Luther vntruly charged with vprores in Germany George Duke of Saxone 1. Kyngs 18 Luke 18 Luther charged with the ouerthrow of the Hungarians most vntruly Tomorraeus Archb. of Tholosse Paulus Iouius in his 23 booke of Histories Osorius slauÌ„der touchyng the death of kyng Edward the sixt Of the ouerthrow of the Emperour Osor. slauÌ„derous lye touchyng the poysonyng of Queene Mary The death of Queene Mary The death of Cardinal Poole The foreine mariage of Queene Mary Osorius doth accuse Fraunce of highe treason Thraso The most miserable murthering of Henry the Scottish kyng Erasmus his commendable report of Luther The death of Luther which was most holy sinisterly depraued by the malicious slauÌ„derers In the Epistle to the Queene pag. 11. In myne aunswere pag. 8. Deut. 18. Math. 3. Iam. 4. Iohn 3. Deut. 4. Psal. 27 Psal. 25. Psal. 119 Exod. 3. Esai 53. Iaco. 1. Act. 20. Ad Galat. 1 Aristarchus was a great quareller Osorius a Proctour for monkes 1. Cor. 12. Ephes. 4. Act 10. and 11. Math. vlti Cicero in his booke of dueties Aristotle in his Ethickes Leuit. 21. Leuit. 19. 20.26 Deut. 27. Math. 28. Math. 5. 1. Cor. 7. Legenda Aurea Rom. 3. Rom 2. Iohn 4. Galat. 2.3 Osor. Fable of an hypocriticall Monckes Of the vowes of widowes 1. Cor. 7. Luke 19. Osorius fol. 37. Hoc tantum munus c. 1. Cor. 7. Gal. 2. Luthers Mariage reproued Gene. 1. Pope Gregory the 7. Hildebrand by name was the first that did establishe single lyfe by Decree Of Images The Images of Cherubins The brasen Serpent Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Ezechias Exod. 32. Sence in Hercul fur The Papistes are taken tardy in committyng manifest Idolatry Of the Images of the Crosse. 2. Tim. 3. Thomas of Canterbury Of Schoole Diuinitie The second CouÌ„cell of Nice Osori fol. 47. In myne answere to Osor. Epist. Luke 4. The last chap. of the Apocal. 1. Timo. Exod. 1â— Iohn 4. Hyperbole is called an excessiue vehemency of speach Whereunto the Apologie of Haddon had especiall regard Exod. 32. Rom. 9. Rom. 6. How we ought to esteeme of the Sacramentes Ex opere operat Rom. 4. Rom. 10. Sacraments are tokens of saluatioÌ„ but do not worke saluation 1. Cor. 1. ConfessioÌ„ Sacrament of the Altar Two Sacramentes Auâ—icular ConfessioÌ„ Heb. 9.10 Actes 2. Iames the last chap. Osorius Iames. 1. Psal. 22.30 Deut. 32. Mercenaâ—ie ConfessioÌ„ Iohn 1. Luke 17. 1. Cor. 4. Luce. 16. 1. Tim. vlt Ad Hebâ— vlt. Ezech. 33. Apoc. 21. Apoc. 3. Apoc. 1. Apoc. 5. Math. 28. Ad Cor. 4. Psal. 51. A true forme of Confession out of Dauid Publique CoÌ„fession Luce. 15. An example of priuate ConfessioÌ„ in the prodicall Sonne Heb. 4. Esay 11. 1. Tim. 3 The place of Esay wrongfully wrested by Osorius Luke 10. Esay 11. The place of Esay explaned Of the Sacrament of Euchariste Osori Tullyes couÌ„tersaite Cicero de natura Deoâ—um Actes 1. Hebr. 1. Osori Prolopopoâ—ia agaynst Peter Martyr The aunswere of Peter Martyr agaynst the Prolopopoâ—ia of Osorius 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 11. 1. Cor. 10. Actes 1. Iohn 6. Iohn 6. Iohn 6. August de doct christi Tertullian What tyme TransubstaÌ„tiation was brought in first A shew of Osorius pride Cyprian Actes 2. Actes 20. The confutatioÌ„ of the Transubstantiation Pope Innocentius the thyrd 1. Cor. 14. Of vnknoweÌ„ and straunge tounges in Churches Ibidem Gallat 4. Phil. 3. Luke 11. Math. 33. Osori fol. 69. 1. Cor. 14. 1. Cor. 14. Luke 3. 1. Cor. 14. Iohn 21. Luce. 4. 2. Timo. 3. The knowledge of Scriptures ignoraunce accordyng tâ— Osoriuâ— Iohn 4. Iames. 1. Peter 1. Psal. 12.19 1. Peter 1. Of Christ being a king and a Byshop 1. Pet. 2. A kyngly power Rom. 13. 1. Tim. 2. To the Hebrues euery where A shewe of Osorius slaunderous speach The bookes of Osorius De Iustitia Cardinall Pooles iudgement of Osorius bookes of Iustitia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hee hath sayd Gregor lib. â— Epist. â—0 24. lib. 7. Epist 3â— lib. 4. Epist. 34. 38. 36. c. To be conueniently distaunt Dominari Rom. 14. A miserable distinction of Osorius How far in what causes kynges doe beane rule 1. Timo. 2. Peter 1.2 Ilâ—â—ne Illi False Latin in Osorius puttyng Illi for Illos Ofori rayling agaynst our Bishops of England 1. Timo. 3. Thersites a notable brauler Homer in Iliad Out of the bookes of the Kynges and Paralipom The courtes of Princes subiect to flatterers The Popes Parasites Kyng Henry the viij Sueto in the lyfe of Nero. Rom. 13. Rom. 13. Math. 17. â—uce 20. Wherein the office of a kyng consisteth Numb 16. Distinct. 22. Cap. Omnes Decrees ful of blasphemie The Popes power Martin Bucer Peter Martyr The Idoll of Rome The bookes of Osorius de Iustitia Tenne Cardinall Poole his iudgement of Osorius his bookes This worde Osor. signifieth bolde in the Portingall toung Ascham StaÌ„meryng of â—he touÌ„g turned vpoÌ„ Osorius necke Of the cause of Iustification Psal. 13. Psal. 50. Rom. 13. Rom. 11. Math. 11. Gallat 3. 1. Iohn 1. 1. Peter 1. Apoc. 1. 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 7. Rom. 8. Luke 5. Rom. 10. Rom. 8. Rom. 13. Plinius lib. 35. cap. 10. That is to say coÌ„myng out of the Sea The decease of M. Haddon Osoria melancholycke brauler The summe of all Osorius worke briefly coÌ„prehended in three wordes Exclamatâ—oÌ„ of Osorius agaynst Luther Osorius pag. 141. The doctrine of desperation whether is it more proper to the Papistes or to the Lutherans Iohn Eckius with others Henry second FreÌ„ch kyng his death The affiaunce and assurauÌ„ce of saluation wherein is it to be placed Two kyndâ— of desperation The ende and office of the law The lawe vnprofitable to saluation A wholesome kynde of trust and mistrust Osori pag. 141. The trust of saluatioÌ„ depeÌ„deth vpoÌ„ promise not vpoÌ„ the Law Ergo the more assured Promise made before the Law and without the law Galat. 3. The promise of saluation free and simple without condition Fayth onely howe it doth exclude and not exclude good workes Tertull. Actc. 24. Christian peace and affiaunce Rom. 5. Ephes. 3. Hebr. 4. Iohn 16. Galat. 4. Esay 35. Esay 61. Esay 52. Ierem. 23. 32. Ezech. 39. Rom. 4. The righteousnesse of the law and of fayth Leuit. 18. Psal. 142. The affiaunce of workes Barnard How farre the workes of the lawe come short to true righteousnesse Augustine Aug. Confes Lib. 9. Cap. â—3 Gregor in Iob. Cap. 9 Gregor Com. Cap 11. Barnardu Osorius Pag. 142. Phillipica August Epist 105. pag.
Cap. 13. August de grat Christi contra Pellag Lib. Cap. 20. Luther de seruo Arb. Cap. 48.47 ObiectioÌ„ of the Defendours of Freewill taken out of the booke of Hyperaspistes Aunswere Iohn 8. In that men are called holy and wise must be referred not to their deseruyngs but to grace wholy Aug. Epist. 89. ad Hillarium August de serm Dom. in monte Lib. 2. An Argument out of the wordes of August to Hyllary In what sense Aug calleth will Freewill Will seemeth rather to bee termed voluntary theÌ„ free The Confession of Auspurgh Caluinus contra Alb. Phâ—gium Lib. 5. August de bono perseuer prosper Cap. 12 andâ— 21. A comparison of Luthers AssertioÌ„s and the Papistes The fruite and coÌ„moditie of Luthers doctrine Osorius Pag. 151. The man hath spoke Ibidem Osori Pag. 152. The manifold consideration of Necessitie What is Necessary Two beginnynges of Neccessitie Necessitie of CoactioÌ„ Pag. 151. The shamelesse and lyeng cauill of Osorius Osori Argument Aunswere Necessitie of sinnyng is not to be imputed to God but to our selues An other Argument of Osorius Aunswere Freedome taken two wayes Necessitie to be taken two maner of wayes The Necessitie that Luther teacheth doth take awaye fortune and chaunce but taketh not awaye freedome from will Freedome is taken away by coaction not by Necessitie Osori Argument Pag. 151. The CoÌ„futation Origene against Celsus 2. booke Our actioÌ„s must be guded by approued reason and not vncerteine certeinetie An other suttle Sophisme of Osorius is opened Pag. 151. The ObiectioÌ„ of Celestine the Pelagian agaynst Augustine Aug. Aunswere Obiection Aunswere August vpoÌ„ the wordes of the Apostle theâ— 2. Sermon August Epistle to Sixtus Celestius the Pelagian against Augustine August de Corrâ—pt grat Cap. 6. Osor. cauill Pag. 151. Aunswere Osori double errour All thyngs are subiect to Gods prouidence Chaunceable thingesâ— Destiny fortune chauÌ„ce be excluded from beyng the causes of actions The order of superiour and inferiour causes Freewill is neither altogether boÌ„d nor altogether free Necessitie vnchangeable and of certeintie In respect of Gods prouidence all thynges are done of Necessitie and not by chaunce Obiection An Argument taken froÌ„ the preceptes and exhortatioÌ„s of Gods law Pag. 15â— Aunswere August de gratia libero arbit Cap. 16. August agaynst the 2. Epistles of Pelagius Cap. 10. Why the Commaundements of the law were ordeined out of S. Paule Rom. 3.5 Mans infirmitie doth not take away the Necessitie of the law The Necessitie of certeintie doth not diminishe mans endeuour The foreknowledge of GOD doth not take away freedome from man Osorius Pag. 152. Aunswere Of the truth of Gods Predestination and foreknowledge How thynges may be tearmed chaunceable Luther falsely accused to make GOD the Authour of wickedness Luthers assertion defended agaynst the cauill of Osorius An admonitioÌ„ to the Readers August Enchirid 100. To be the cause of Sinne properly ought not to be imputed to God Ambrose of the callyng of the Gentiles the second booke the last Chapter CoÌ„mittyng of sinne can neither be without the knowledge of God nor without his will altogether by what reason Will to be distinguished in God Osor. Drift It is no repugnancie to Gods righteousnes to will sinne in some respect without sinne There is many tymes great diuersitie in causes of oneselfe same action Anselm de casu Diabo li. Cap. 19. Caluine agaynst Pighi Lib. 5. Luthers Caluines doctrine true and agreable touchyng the cause of Sinne. Gods will is not to be measured by the affection of maÌ„s will wherein Osorius doth erre Aug. Lib. 3. de Trinit The will of God higher then all other causes An Obiection out of the Psalm Aunswere Agaynst Gods will without Gods will August agaynst Iâ—liaÌ„ the Pelag. Lib. 5. Cap. 3. Gods will taken two maner of wayes The secrete will of God that is vsually called his good pleasure Gods will discouered in his word is termed Voluntas Signi God is not cause of euill accordyng to his will reuealed by hiâ— word Gods will can not be exempt altogether from the orderyng of causes MaÌ„ 's destruction commeth of himselfe yet not without Gods prouidence Certayne actions in respect of man may be sinnes in respect of God may be righteous God is the cause not the cause of sinnes in sundry respectes August de Praedest grat Cap. 4 How blynding and hardning is to be taken with God Aug. de lib. Arb. grat Cap. 21. 2. Thessa. 2. The true cause of sinne is properly in man not in God August Enchirid Cap. 95. An Argument out of August August against Iulyan the Pelagi 5. book Cap. 3. 1. Kinges Cap. 12. 1. Kings 12. 2. parillipo Cap. 25. 1. Paralipo 12. 2. Paralipo 24. Esay 63. Ezech. 14. Iob. 1. Iob. 1. The meanes of Gods prouidence is notified by example Not to striue agaynst Luther but to warre agaynst God hymselfe Cicereos discourse agaynst Gods prouidence is detestable Cicero de natur deor lib. 2. August de Ciuitat dei 5. Booke Cap. 9. Aug. de Ciuitat dei lib. 5. Cap. 9. Aug. in the same booke and Chap. A suttle Sophisme practizyng to persuade meere absurdities An execrable conclusion The suttletie of the Sophisme is disclosed August de Ciuit. Dei Lib. 5. Cap. 9. Luther doth neither teache euery Necessitie absolutely nor take away freedome from all men August de Natur. Grat. Cap. 22. Osorius pag. 152. An answere to the false diuinitie of Osorius Aug. de Correp grat cap. 14. August de Ciuitat dei lib. 5. Cap. 9. Aug. de peccatis meritis lib. 2. Cap. 5. Oso Cauiâ— August in hys treatise vpon Gen. agaynst Manichaeus lib. 1. Cap. 2. How causes are called onely and proper causes Rom. 3. Pag. 154. Paules meanyng expouÌ„ded accordyng to Osorius Rom. 9. Rom. 10. Rom. 11. The disposicion of Paules discourse of predestination and election after the interpretation of the faithful Osorius pag. 152. Examples of Isaac and Iacob Ismael and Esau. Rom. 9. The example of Pharao All reward of merites excluded Osorius Pag. 155. Maior Minor ConclusioÌ„ Election what signifieth after Osorius logick August Ephes. 1. The ordina-Glose vpon the 1. chap. to the Ephe. Whether Gods Election doe depend vpoÌ„ our actions to come Pag. 256. How Osor. doth define the purpose of God Pag. 156. The cause and reason of Election according to Osor. and the new pelagianes The crafty cauillation of Osorius Pag. 156. Aunswere Rom. 11. Rom. 9. Workes foreseene are not they which are done but whiche are to be done accordyng to the schoolemeÌ„ Workes foreseene are in no respect the cause of Gods election The second Reason The third Reason The fourth Reason The fift reason The sixth Reason The seueÌ„th reason Ezech. 1.16 Corinth 1. August ad Simplicianum The eight Reason the 9. Reason Aug. retract lib. 1. cap. 19. The 10. reason Aug. contra Iulia. pelag lib. 5. cap. 3. August ad Simplici Lib. 1. Quaest. 2. Osori
Argument Aunswere Aristot. Ethic Lib. 3. Cap. 3. The Fallax from that whiche is not the cause to the cause 4. Causes of Election or Predest by Paule Rom 9. Ephe. 1. Rom. 9. Osor. 2. argument The argument pag. 153. Aunswere The Aduersaries obiect resolued Leuit. 20. Numer 11. Marc. 1. The reason of the aduersaries touching the mercy and iustice of God and the cause of the same expounded and confuted The respect of merites are directly against Gods free power Pag. 156. 157. Osori Obiection Aunswere August de nat grat Cap. 5. Math. 12. Rom. 3. Arguments Both the propositiōs of the arguments are denyed All the defence of Gods iustice doth consist in hys will Aug. de Trinit lib. 3. Obiectiō of a Sclaunderer The argument of the Aduersary Maior Minor Conclusion An Aunswere out of S. Paule The Apostle doth aunswere two manner of waies Rom. 9. The similitude of the Potter Rom. 9. S. Paules Argument against foreseene workes The aunswere of this Proctour and others The confutatiō of the aduersaries aunswere Rom. 9. August de Praedest grat Cap. 7. Electiō depēdeth not vpon fayth in our workes but fayth and workes depende vpon Election The stinolous cauillation of Osorius hys ouerthrow Rom. 11. Rom. 9. Rom. 11. Aug. depredest grat Cap. 7. Osorius taken tardy as Enemy to Grace Osori pag. 257. The summe of Christian doctrine doth consist in foure thynges chiefly Electiō and Predestination Vocation Conuersiō Iustificatiō and lyfe euerlastyng Glory of immortalitie Osori doth couer an Enemy of Grace vnder a glorious praysing of vertue Rom. 9. Osori pag. 157. August ad simplicia Lib. 1. Quest. 2. The meanyng of Paule opened by Augustine The defēce of Gods Iustice consisteth not in any thing els thē in the onely mercy of God according to Osorius Esau. Iacob The hardenyng of Pharao Osorius Pag. 158. The confutation of Osori Obiection The chief meanes wherewith Gods Iustice may be defended Rom. 9. An other exception of Osorius confuted Osorius pag. 158. The reason of Osorius touchyng the cause order of predestination Aug. ad simplici lib. 1. quest 2. Rom. 9. The words of Paul expounded August ad simplici Lib. 1. Quaest. 2. In Predest the first cause must be coupled with the last end Osori pag. 158. 159. 160. The aunswere to Osorius cōclusion Pag. 161. Osori pag. 161. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The office of a Iudge of a creatour farre diuerse Rom. 9. Osori pag. 161. The Argument of Osori out of S. Paule The aunswere with an explication of S. Paule Osori Cauill vpō the wordes of Paule Fashioned The will purpose of God the first cause Election Predestination Creation Calling accordyng to his purpose Vocation accordyng to purpose Fayth Iustificatiō The Glory of God the last end Pag. 161. Osori Obiection pag. 161. Aunswere Aunswere Whether vessels of honour be made of wickednes onely as of the first cause Pharaoes Reiection proceeded not of his Rebellion but his Rebellion rather of his reiection A double consideration of the Vessels of wrath Rom. 9. Cauilles of the aduersaries An answere to Osorius Cauils Gods will taken two manner of wayes Psal. 113. Luke 10. Gods will is the beginning and rule of all thinges How wicked men do the will of God I. Thessa. 4. The order and processe of causes Rom. 9. The place of Paule to the Rom 9. expounded The cause effecient The cause deficient How the causes of Election and damnation do differr agree betwixt them selues How Gods will doth behaue it self in the Elect. The damnation of the wicked ought not to be imputed to God In the damnacion of the wicked two thinges are to be cōsidered Malum culpae Malum poenae How the damnation of thē that perish thorow their owne default tourneth to good in the sight of God Aug. Enchi Cap. 95. Aug. Enchi Cap. 100. How the efficient cause of saluation and damnation do differre The efficient cause The deficiēt Cause out of Aug. lib. de Ciuit. dei 12. Cap. 6.9.7 Question Answere The promise of God is generall with a promise Singuli generum Gunera singulorum The end of Creation to Godward The prouidēce of god ought not to be accused in the destruction of the Reprobates How Gods sufferaunce dealeth in mens actions or life Whether Gods sufferaunce or hys will beare more rule in mans lyfe A dubble obiection The originall of sinne is to be ascribed vnto the Creature not vnto the Creatour God dyd not create man to the ende he should perish Frō whēce the cause of damnation sprang at the first The Obiections confuted The cause of eche mās dānation is within him selfe Infidelitie proceedeth rather of ignoraunce thē of will Fayth being the gift of God springeth not frō mans will 1 Peter 2. 2. Thessa. 1. Actes 13. 1. Cor. 2. Esay 6.9 Math. 20. Luke 8. 1. Pet. 2. Two things to be considered in Gods mercy Whether Gods mercy be generall to all indifferently and how it is generall Grace of Vocation Grace of Election Fayth and Saluation take their originall from Grace rather then from our owne will An Aunswere to the place of Chrisostome The secret will of his good pleasure vnreuealed i. Beneplaciti The expresse will of God reuealed i. Voluntas Signi Vocation taken two maner of wayes accordyng to Augustine◠August ad Simplici Pighius touchyng the equalitie of Gods Grace towardes all Pighius similitude taken out of the Epistle to the Hebrues The Reason of Pighius and Osor. is cōfeted Whether it be of God or of man that the good and the euill do differre An answere Pighi similitude The place out of the Epist. to the Hebrues An other Reason of the aduersary leading to absurdity An acceptiō of persones The aduersaries obiections are mett withall That those that are not chosen doe not come how mans will gods predestination do seuerally work Selfe power or libertie to liue after her own will Aug. contra 2. Epist. pela lib. 1. Cap 3. Aug. de predest 1. sancti Cap. 3. Mans will is neuer so free but that it is alwaies coupled with Necessitie The strēgth of Orignall sinne Gods predestination both elder in tyme and in power surmonnting all mās will The obiections of the Aduersaries The aunswere Aug. ad bonifacium lib. 1. Cap. 19. De lib. arb Cap. 2. 17. Aug. de correp grat Cap. 1. epist. 107. ad victalem Wherein effectuall Grace doth consiste Aug. de gra libe arbit Cap. 5. Aug. contra 2. Epist. pela lib. 1. Cap. 18. Osori pag. 162. The complaynt of Osorius agaynst Luther touchyng the subuersion of Ciuill societie The Tyrannicall state of the Pope somewhat troubled by Luther The Pope The Cardinalls Mytred Byshoppes Droues of Monckes Friers The Wolfe doth accuse the Lambe for troublyng the water Gene. 26. The seat of the beast in the Apocali Apoc. 16. 2. Thessa. 2. Amos. 7. 3. Kyngs It is declared by exāples what and how
of Epicharmus Seuen SacrameÌ„ts ordeined by the pope but by Christ two onely were Instituted There is no cause to the coÌ„trary but that the Churche may be gouerned in the best maner though we be neuer acquainted with the popes supremacy Haddon a Babe in the Latine touÌ„g but Osor. a Gyaunt in Eloquence Osor pag. 193. Cyprian in his 4. booke and 2. Epistle The Papistes doe wrongfully define the Church of Christ. Cipria in his 4. booke and 2. Epist. Apoc. 18. Esay 52. 2. Cor. 6. The peace and the vnitye of the Church according to Cypriane The definition of the Church after the meaning of the Romishe Church The Popish definition is confuted What is required to the true definition of a Church The description of a true church according to the rule of the scripture Osorius Reasons The fallacy in the AequiuocatioÌ„ that is to say in the word of diuers significatioÌ„ A necessary coniunction of souÌ„d doctrine with vnitye Vnitye of the Church Succession Multitude Gods promise made vnto the Church Popes and Cardinalles will not admitte examinatioÌ„s of their cause Osori pag. 195. Papane Redeeming of Sinnes Markett of Purgatory Worthy ppyng of images Pilgrimage goyng Masses Sacrificatory for the quicke and the dead Osori pag. 196. Osori doth deale with wordes and no matter Apocal. 14 17. 18. Of Fayres and markets of Pardons Pag. 196. Out of Chris. Masseus Iohn Sleidonne M. Luther What darnell groweth in the Popes fieldes Putt in putt in putt in Masseus Iohn SleidoÌ„ M. Luther The horrible impudencye of the Romanistes Out of the Decretalles Gregory 5. in the title of Repentaunce and RemissioÌ„ of Sinnes Cum ex co Chrisosto Homel 38. vpon Math. Tridentine Councell The pardoÌ„s of the popish church Nicene Canon 11. Antycira Canon 21. Antycira Canon 22. Agathe Councell Canon 37. Eusebius 6. booke Cap. 35. Cyprian 3. booke Epistle 15. 16. 18. Antyciran Canon 5. Nicene couÌ„cell Cannon 5. New satisfactioÌ„s crept into the Romishe Church vnknowen to the Antiquitye Burchard How much the order of the old discipline doth varry from the Romish Nouelty The errours of the Popish discipline The ordinaunces of the Pope are contrary to Christ his Scriptures Act. 20. Collos. 1. Iohn 1.2 Iohn 1. Heb. 10. Rom. 3 4. The absurditie of the Romishe doctrine Eccius interpretation vppon the Popes decretalls Out of the Commentary of M. Luther to the Galath cap. 2. The Papisticall absolutions How great an absurditie is in the popes pardons Math. 16. The Keyes and Chayre of Peter Lucian 2. part pag. 525. Orpheus Harpe maketh not a Harper not doth Peters Chayre make an Apostle The succession of Peter the Apostle The circuÌ„stauÌ„ces must he considered wherefore the keyes were deliuered vnto Peter Math. 16. The foundatioÌ„ of the Churche is fayth the knowledge of the Sonne of God What Circumstaunces do goe before the true keyes of Christ what doe come after Peter receiued the keyes first but not onely Out of Eusebius third book cap. 7. The Succession Apostolique is not to be measured by place or tyme. The nature of the Gospell is altogether spirituall nor regardeth earthly and carnall thinges The spirite of Christe The succession of Peter doth consist in spirite not in externall thinges Pardons Succession The Keyes The 5. Canon of the councell of Ancyra Ex titulo de penitent Remiss cap. cuÌ„ ex eo The fulnes of power first brought in by Innocent .3 first Authour therof The fulnes of power Esay 55.12 Out of a decree in the Lateran Councell Anno. 1215. A decree of Boniface 8. Extraua A shamelesse abuse of the keyes The Byshops of Rome can challenge to themselues fulnes of power by no Argument of proofe Apoc. 3. An obiection The state of the Question is mistourned by-the Romanistes The wordes of August vnto Peter haue no playne application vnlesse they be referred to the churche Thomas Aqui. lib. 4. distinct 18. Extrauade Re. paen Cap. Cum ex eo nostro Thomas Aqui lib. 4. dist 18. Extrau de Re poeni ca. Cum ex eo nostro The Keyes were geuen for the necessary benefite of the Church nor to meÌ„s lust nor yet to Reuenge The Iudiciall vse of Keyes Tho. lib. 4. dist 18. Actes 2â— The power of the keyes how great and to whom are geuen Whether no RemissioÌ„ of sins is in the Church without the vse of the keyes How much the publike keye and how much euery mans fayth is effectuall to the Remission of Sinnes Rom. 5. Luke 8. Math. 9. When the vse of the Keies ought to be ministred Thomas lib 4. dist 18. The error of Thomas Aquinas The discoÌ„modities of the Shauelinges confession Iohn Scotus The Rom. See doth sell nothing forsooth Mantuan in his booke of Lamentation The matter doth agree if you reade the verses backward CanoÌ„s penitentiall described by Burchard and Gratian. When began fayres and markettes of Pardons first Ex CoÌ„cillo Latera Extran de poena Remi Cap. Cum ex co The Councell of Vienna 1311. Ex ClemeÌ„t 5. Lib. 6. Deâ—creta Cap. Abusionibus Ex ClemeÌ„t Cap. Abusionibus in Glossa The first 〈◊〉 of â—uâ—â—â—â— instituâ—â—â— Extrauag de Pâ—nit Remi Ca. AntiquoruÌ„ Out of the GreuauÌ„ces of Germany Out of Polydore Virgill The pardoÌ„s of Boston A History of Flaunders The Papists flee to denyals Osori pag. 196. It is one thyng to prayse Martyrs and an other thing to worshyp Images The Oration of Gregory Nissenus in the prayse of Theodorus Martyr Osorius Argument pag. 197. Osorius ill-fauoured Argument deriued froÌ„ Resemblaunce to worshipping Who be called Saintes Saintes not to be worshypped Apocal. 22. Of Purgatory the Popes Kater Why the Papistes doe striue so earnestly for Purgatorye Osorius great sturre about Purgatory The popes Pnrgatory Mores folly The new IlaÌ„d of Purgatory newly found by the Deuines What day Purgatory was made Gregory Alcuinus At what tyme the flame of Purgatory was kyndled at the first Whether God be author of Purgatory or the Pope Other questions of Purgatory Thomas Aquinas opinion of Purgatory Luther is vouched to defend Purgatory Osor. pag. 197. Roffensis agaynst Luther in praefatione veritatis Luther in the 15 Conclus Osor. pag. 198. Osor. subtill Sophisme Ex Thoma secunda secunduÌ„ dist quest 110. cap. 1. Diâ—ers kindes of lyes Abraham Iacob Rebecca The Midwiues of Egipt Dauid Luther is not cleared from all error Iohn 1. Osor. pag. 198. Truth is alwayes one Errour ought to be refuted by Scripture doctrine not with tauntey and reproches Faultes layd Luthers charge Osor. mainteineth his cause with slauÌ„ders nor with Argumentes Osori pag. 199. Luther doth deny that Purgatory can be proued by the scriptures in the declaration of his 37. Articl Mar. 9. Osori pag. 200. Lynceus was a man that could eâ—ery a ship at the Sea xxx myle of Osorius reason of Salt very fresh and vnsauery Osorius pag. 200. The words of Osorius pag. 200. Wordes of Blasphemy
to God we despise and set them at naught And enen so we doe allow of Luther Bucer and of the rest so long as they explane the mysteries of the sacred Scriptures vnto vs wherein those famous men haue oftentymes trauailed very coÌ„mendably though you iangle neuer so much agaynst them As for those beggerly fragmentes of mans inuention beyng without all couer of Scriptures yea rather contrary to the same though they and you also doe warraunt them vnto vs we will not receaue them Now you are taught sufficiently enough I thinke how we haue forsaken those peltyng phantasies of men likewise how we conceaue of those notable learned fathers whose workes wil be thaÌ„kefully embraced whiles the world doth endure though you slauÌ„derously barcke at them neuer so much And yet I deny not but they were subiect to sinne and errours which happened also to the auncient fathers Augustine Tertullian Origine Cyprian Who sometymes wandred out of the way were estranged from the truth Yet do I not now compare nor at any time heretofore did compare our â—ate writers with those auncient fathers as you cauill agaynst me but I iudge of them as beseémeth me and I professe that they were the seruauntes of God Whereas you vpbrayde vs with our maner of lyfe by the reportes of our cursed enemyes such as you are you follow herein your owne gyddy brayne For true innocencie will neuer desire better witnesses then such filthy and slaunderous backbyters wherin your request to be pardoned is so much the more vnreasonable by how much you do boldly defend without all regarde of the grauitie of a Byshop or the naturall duetie of an honest man such scattered rumours rashly conceaued of headles report in steéde of well knowen and approued offences This also you seéme to mislike in me as a matter intollerable that I commende the prosperous raigne of our Queénes Maiestie and herein your couÌ„sell is to for seé the tyme to come the troublesome estate of other Princes The Queénes highnes belike without the aduise of Osorius can not coÌ„ceaue those matters wherof no man can be ignoraunt that is but meanely practized in the dayly actions of maÌ„s life Haue an eye to your owne charge of Siluan and be ye carefull for them Her Maiestie surmountyng in knowledge and wisedome regardeth not your peéuishe and dotyng counsell especially beyng conceaued rather of malice to true Religion then of any loue to her safetie Ye keépe a great sturre about the Tumultes in Fraunce and complayne much of treason conspired agaynst the kyng and safetie of his person and with all that his aduersaries required not his bloud onely but that the whole bloud Royall should be rooted out of Fraunce O licencious venemous touÌ„g worthy to be pluckt out by the rootes from out that execrable mouth except it recant in tyme. Dare you presume so impudently to make guiltie of so cruell and horrible treason so many worthy personages of the florishyng Realme Namely when as the kyng him selfe by his open Proclamation acknowledged some of them agaynst whom you rayle so pestiferously to be his deare kinsmen the other his beloued subiectes and that their beyng in armes concerned the generall safetie of FrauÌ„ce Many variable vnciuill and malicious rumours haue bene blowen abroad in many places touchyng those ciuill warres but neuer was any man heard to haue spoken so blockishly so barbarously so voyde of reason and so monstruously as this Gentleman speaketh beyng a Byshop an old man And therfore we shall the lesse wonder at your rashnesse and impudencie in controuersie of ReligioÌ„ hereafter seyng your sauadge boldnesse in this detestable bloudy accusation of the greater part of Fraunce without cause without reason and without proofe When matter and reason doe openly fayle you then you wrangle about wordes Bycause I named Luthers doctrine yours agaynst the which you stand stoutely and doe most deadly hate it What shall I say to so captious and bussardly a Sophister I terme it not yours as though you defend it but bycause you depraue it bycause you peruert and iumble it with lyeng that it can not be discerned as you haue mishapen it whereas otherwise of it selfe it is a most comfortable treasure of the Gospell somewhat infected with poysoned contagioÌ„ of childish errours but in these latter dayes through the inestimable benefite of God discouered and clensed by the commendable industrie of those singular learned Diuines Luther Bucer Caluin Melanchton and others whom though you despise at your pleasure yet wheÌ„ Osorius shal be dead and rotten and the name of this reuerend Prelate of Portingall out of all remembraunce their names wil be commended to eternitie to their immortall prayse For what man will esteéme of you who besides your foolish and vnskilfull handlyng the matter wherof you entreate are altogether ignoraunt in the proprietie of wordes wherein you may seéme to make a pretie shewe You thinke this spokeÌ„ vnproperly by me videl that your sluggishnes should be awakened and your dulnes pricked forward what say you drousie Prelate Truly you sleape so souÌ„dly that you snorte agayne that caÌ„ deny this kynde of speach A maÌ„ may be awakened out of sleape and be pricked forward beyng dull Learne out of the Gospell The blynd do see the lame doe walke leapers are cleansed the deafe do heare the dead do ryse agayne Which wordes of our Sauiour doe not argue that the blynd do see or that the lame doe walke but that those whiche were blynde and lame were restored to sight and walkyng Learne againe of Cicero who speaketh on this wise Let youÌ„g men obserue the boundes of their owne chastitie lest they defile the chastitie of others lest they consume their patrimonie be deuoured with debt Let them not offer force to virgines nor dishonestie to the chast nor infamie to the vertuous c. what Can virgines be defloured no surely not so long as they are virgines but by allurements they may be carried froÌ„ their shamefastnes CaÌ„ the chast be defiled no truely but yet this chastitie may be seduced in processe of tyme to loosenesse Learne at the last what the old Prouerbe emplyeth whereby is forbidden to pricke foreward the willyng which Prouerbe if we do admit this also is spoken properly enough The dull are to bee pricked foreward and the sluggish to be awakened Neither would you haue euer gaynsayd the same vnlesse the malice you owe vnto me had drowned your sences In good sooth I am ashamed of you Osorius and so haue bene loÌ„g agoe neither would I contend any further with so bluntish blockish a person if I were not determined to open euideÌ„tly what a senselesse aduersary of this holy father England hath and how vnmeasurable a bragger he is in whom besides a vayne sounde of friuolous wordes no mettall can be founde at all Hereafter therfore I will spende as litle labour as I may nor will willyng touche ought of all
Will then may it be auoydeable Augustine maketh aunswere That sinne is not of Nature simply but of Nature corrupted and of will depraued wherevpon ensueth vnauoydeable Necessitie to dwell in sinne vntill a Release be sealed and deliuered from the Grace of GOD through Iesus Christ our Lord. And therefore that man may be acquited of this Necessitie he is to be called vpon vnto whom the Psalmist cryeth out Set me at libertie O Lord from my Necessities c God doth neyther forbid nor commaund any thing in vayne He shoulde prohibite in vayne if the thynges that are contayned in the Lawe might not be eschued or fulfilled by vs. Ergo We be of power to accomplishe or to eschew the things which God doth commaund or prohibite Augustine doth aunswere The whole Lawe which is comprehended in these two commaundementes in not coueting and in louing To do good and to eschew euill doth com̄maund things that ought to be done in deede and forbiddeth the contrary nor so much because that we are of power and abilitie to accomplishe the same of our selues but because when as man feeleth hys owne disabilitie and weakenes to performe them he shoulde not swell nor be pufft vppe with pryde but beyng weryed and faynt in his trauaile should seeke for relief at Christs handes and so the law holding him in a couenable feare should in stead of a schoolemaister leade to the loue of Christ. God doth commaund nothing but that which is in our power to performe God doth commaund spirituall thinges chiefly Ergo Thinges that be most spirituall are in our power The Maior were true if the will were sound or such as was at the first in the first man Adam before the fall whiche was of power to enforce her selfe wholy to the keeping of the lawe nowe sithence all the powers of the soule are weakened and vneffectuall altogether to do any good we must seek for abilitie that may satisfy the law in heauen and not in our selues If man were not of power to be obedient God shoulde enstruct and exhort in vayne In vayne I confesse if he should vse none other meanes but externall preceptes to lead to the true profiting in Godlines But as now sithence he maketh hys doctrine effectuall through the inspiration of the holy Ghost it is farre of that his dotrine should be fruitlesse God commaundeth nothing that is out of our power True it is if you meane of that power not which is engraffed in our naturall corruptiō but that power wh God doth geue to hys holy ones peculiarly from aboue In the conuersione of a sinner God himselfe doth not by hys own will cōuert him alone but doth allure and exhort hym that he may cōuert hymself for in much lenity patient suffering he doth not punish hym but graūteth space place of repentance prouokīg solliciting pricking him forward to repentaunce vseth many occasions exhortations and corrections And therefore it is our part to be conuerted and to tourne agayne and hys office to receaue the sinner that retourneth and to quicken him The collusion and fallax of thys reason is in the insufficient nombring of partes or deriued from the cause insufficient for albeit God do work all these in the conuersion of a sinner yet doth he not vse these externall meanes onely but ministreth also in the meane space the motione of the harte withall and the inspiration of a secret renouation In the regeneration and conuersion of man euery of vs haue of our selues sufficiently to be obedient to the calling It is in euery man I confesse but not of euery man but proceédeth frō an other who calleth inwardly before that man doth outwardly obey The Tridentine Fathers doe obiect that man may refuse to geue hys consent and to reiect grace when it is offred That is true in deede and to true Neyther doth any man Imagine that Grace is so thrust vppon man in hys conuersion as though he shoulde be constrayned to receaue it whether hee would or no which neyther he can refuse though he will But this is the meaning hereof That the holyghost with hys secret effectuall operation doth so enlighten the hartes of hys elect that the Grace which he graunteth of hys owne liberalitie shal be receaued that the will cannot choose but receaue it with an harty desire and earnest willingnesse yea most ioyfully and gladly But if it happen that grace be forsaken that proceadeth from the corruption of our own fleshe and our naturall faultines naturally engraffed within vs. Agayne it is also in our power to geue our consent In vs in deede but not of our selues as Augustine reporteth who sayth that grace doth not finde good will in vs but doth make them to be good c. And in an other place Who ronneth to the Lord for Grace but whose foot steppes are directed thereunto by the Lord And therefore to craue the assistaunce of Grace is the very beginning of Grace God hath set before all men indifferently a ctrteine generall grace and promise and a free desire of choyse that all men may conceaue it that will We do not deny that we haue altogether a generall grace of God that calleth vs to eternall saluation But this must be confessed withall that Grace to embrace the thinges whereunto we are called is not graunted to all ingenerall without exception but distributed by a certayne peculiar Election and Predestination of God to some whereby it commeth to passe that it is not in euery mans power the will to refuse or take hold fast of this grace so generally offered but in their power vnto whom it is geuen for to take or refuse Grace offered is not in our own power Otherwise what place were left for Gods Election before the foundation of the world were layde If our will were a a rule of hys Election or the cause and beginning of our saluation And therefore this their cauillation that God doth receaue them that will be receaued and doth reiect them that will not be receaued is vntrue It had bene more agreable with reason to beginne rather at the Grace of God then at our owne will and it had bene more conuenient to haue sayd that the Grace of God is graunted vs to the end we may will those thinges that he commaundeth vs and that such as forsake it are worthely reiected in deede but in that that they are forsaken cōmeth hereof because they are not first holpen that they may be able to receaue If all the worke of our conuersione be in God onely that our endeuour auayle nothing thereunto what remayneth then for vs but that we must become no better then stocks and stoanes There is none of vs that affirmeth that men do nothing towardes their conuersion This is it that we do affirme that men when they be conuerted do consent to the worde
Iudge them not worthy to be heard in any wise whiche will affirme that God doth chuse whom he will vnto Saluation out of the whole masse of mankynde for none other cause but bycause it so pleaseth hym Pag. 163. First where hath Luther any such Assertion Why do ye not set it downe good Syr and admit that he hath what is it that your carpyng cauillation cā gnaw at here if you interprete it aright For although Luther seéme in your goodly conceipt to be more then a thousand tymes madd whom ye can neuer name without some gall of raylyng speache yet was he neuer hetherto so foolish as to haue a will to spoyle the most wise workes of God of Reason and counsell in any wise There is with God a most perfect stable vnchaungeable knowledge of all the workes of his owne handes but such a knowledge as doth altogether surmount the greatest reach of our nymblest capacities and seémeth rather to be wōdered at then to be searched out by vs. Surely it is farre beyond the Reason that you make vnto vs. For deliberately notyng with my selfe and entring into a very deépe viewe and consideration of the thynges which are spoken of Election of purpose of Gods prouidēce for this word Predestination as scarse fine enough for a Ciceronian you abhorte neither dare ye so much as once to name in all your bookes hereūto all your drifts seéme to tende that ye suppose that Gods Iustice can by no meanes be defended in makyng a differēce betwixt them whom he reserueth to be saued those whom he adiudgeth to be damned but by foreknowledge of those workes which God doth behold shall be in them As though Osorius would seéme to argue with God with such an Argument as this is There must be alwayes with God a stable assured and vpright reason in euery choyse to be made There can be none other iust cause of Reason of Gods Election and Reprobation but in respect of the merite that must follow Ergo To the attainyng the grace of Election some preparation of merite must needes go before First I do aunswere out of Augustine that it is a most pestilent errour to say that the Grace of God is distributed accordyng to merites this is one of the errours of Pelagius Then as touchyng the Maior There is in deéde with God a perfect sounde vnchaungeable Reason of all his workes But by what reason be ordereth his workes may not be subiect to the Iudgement of the claye as Augustine sayth but of the Potter Now I come to the Minor Which we do vtterly deny for where you make a definition of Gods prouidence in chusing or refusing whom he will to be none other then such as dependeth vpon the foreknowledge of workes this is altogether most brutishe and vnreasonable For albeit that preuēting for eknowledge of things which out Deuines doe call foreknowledge is vnseparably knitte together to the will of him that doth Predestinate yet do we not graunt the same to be the cause of Predestination For first as concernyng the cause efficient for as much as the will of God is the very substaunce of God aboue the which there cā be nothyng more highe there can be no efficient cause thereof rendered either before it in limitation of tyme or aboue it in Maiestie but the materiall and finall cause therof may after a sort be assigned The materiall cause about the which it doth exercise her force is mākynde and those thynges which God doth geue vnto men by Predestination namely Vocation Faith Iustification Glorification The finall cause is two maner of wayes either that which forceth him to doyng by the preuentyng will and reason of the first Agent or els that which is produced out of action And bycause there may be many endes of one thyng it may be that there is one end of Predestination an other end of him that is Predestinated and an other of him that doth Predestinate As for exāple As Saluation and life euerlastyng is the end of Predestination the end of him that is Predestinated is to beleue and to lyue well and the end of him that doth Predestinate is his owne glory and the manifestation of his Iustice power and mercy As we do reade in Salomons Prouerbes God doth make all thinges for himselfe and the wicked man also for the euill day And therfore if it be asked whether God do predestinate for the workes sake it may be aunswered with S. Paule that the holy ones are predestinated not for their good workes but to do good workes so that now the respect of workes be vnderstanded not to be the cause efficient of predestination but the effect rather For thus we heare the Apostle speake Euen as God hath chosen vs in hys sonne frō eternitie that we should become holy to the prayse of hys glory c. not because we were or should be holy sayth he but that we should become holy to the prayse of hys glory c. So that no reason of Election may appeare but that which is to be sought for in the freé liberalitie of hym that doth make the Election neyther that any other last end may be conceaued but the prayse of the manifestation of hys heauenly grace So that as without God there is no cause efficient which may enforce predestination so if weé seeke for the very beginninges of eternall predestination we shall perceaue that S. Paule doth reduce them to iiij principall heades chiefly 1. to hys power Where he sayth hath not the Potter power c. 2. to hys purpose or hys good pleasure For so we reade in the Epistle to the Ephesianes where he vseth both these wordes because he hath predestinated vs sayth he according to the good pleasure of hys will c. And immediately after whē we were predestinated sayth he according to hys purpose c. 3. to hys will Rom. 10. he will haue mercy on whom he will haue mercy and will harden c. 4. to hys mercy or loue Where he sayth Rom. 10. It is neyther of hym that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that taketh mercy Last of all if you demaund further for some reason of Gods Election who shall more liuely expresse the same vnto you then the Apostle Paule writing to the Romaynes on this wise If God sayth he willing on the one side to shew his wrath and to make his power knowne did with much lenity beare with the Vesselles of wrath prepared to destructiō and on the other side to make knowen the riches of hys glory towardes the Vessells of mearcy which he hath prepared to glory c. Unlesse you haue ceased long sithence to be a reasonable man Osorius what more perfect reason can be made vnto you or more manifest of Gods workmanship then this that is here set downe in Paule Whereby you may playnly perceaue that all these councells and workes