chastened by your fasting daies but their whom néede or nigerdlines doth continuallie compell to borrow of their bellies Tit. 2. 15. The text These things speake and exhort and rebuke ⸫ with all authoritie The note Bishops must be stout and commande in Gods cause and the people must in no wise disobey or contemne them The answer So must also euerie minister of the word and their flockes do owe vnto them honor and obedience and you must remember that your popes cause is not gods cause Tit. 3. 5. The text But when the benignitie and kindnes towarde man of our sauiour God appeered not by the works of iustice which we did but according to his mercy he hath saued vs ⸫ by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie ghost The note As before in the Sacrament of holie orders 1. Timoth. 4. and 2. Timoth. 1. so heere it is plaine that baptisme giueth grace and that by it as by an instrumentall cause we be saued The answer Concerning your Sacraments of orders of your own institution and grace by them giuen you haue receiued answer before That baptisme is amongst the instrumentall causes of our saluation no man denieth And likewise we grant vnto you that by it grace is giuen to the woorthy receiuers so that you vnderstand by baptisme the whole sacrament and not the outward acte and worke of the minister onely as you commonly do Tit. 3. 10. The text A man that is an heretike after the first and second ⸫ admonition auoide Knowing that he that is such an on is subuerted and sinneth being condemned by his owne iudgement The note These admonitions and corruptions must be giuen to such as erre by our spirituall Gouernors and pastors to whom if they yeeld not Christian men must auoide them The answer If we were agréed of the church and gouernors thereof then we would not contende with you about your note But nowe so long as you wil not suffer the church to be discerned by the scriptures nor cleaue to that church which receiueth the doctrine in them deliuered the admonitions and correptions of your gouernors are to be contemned despised and disobeied PHILEMON Phile. 1. 5. The text I giue thanks to my God alwaies making a memory of thee in my praiers Hearing thy ⸫ charitie and faith which thou hast in our Lord Iesus and toward all the saints The note Faith and charitie commended alwaies togither both necessarie to make a compleate Christian man and to iustification and saluation The answer Faith and charitie alwaies togither but not alwaies commended togither both necessarie to make a compleat Christian faith for iustification and charitie for sanctification But you the better to blinde men confounde that which you should distinguish Phile. 1. 7. The text For I haue had great ioy and consolation in thy charitie bicause the bowels of the saints ⸫ haue rested by thee brother The note The duties of charitie and mercie done to Christs prisoners are exceeding acceptable to God and all good men The answer This is verie true and yet you the popes prisoners and not Christs Phile. 1. 1◠The text And ⸫ do thou receiue him as mine owne bowels The note All spirituall men ought to be exceeding propense and readie to procure mens pardon and reconciliation to all penitent The answer It is to be maruelled at that men shewing so little mercie as you are woont and so voide of all pitie as your tragicall doings haue shewed you to be should now become teachers of mercie and pitie to other men Phile. 1. 1◠The text I Paule haue written with mine owne hand I will repay it not to say to thee ⸫ that thou owest me thine own selfe also The note The great det and dutie that we owe to such as be our spirituall parents in Christ. The answer As to our parents we can make no sufficient recompense so much lesse are we able to requite those which are Gods good instruments of our regeneration HEBREWES Hebr. 1. 4. The text Being made so much more excellent than Angels as he hath inherited a more excellent name aboue them The note The excellencie of Christ aboue Angels The answer And therefore consequently his excellencie aboue Moyses the prophets and all creatures whatsoeuer Hebr. 1. 14. The text Are they not al ⸫ ministring spirits sent to minister for them which shall receiue the inheritance of saluation The note The holy angels saith S. Augustine to the societie of whom we aspire in this our peregrination as they haue eternitie to continue so also facilitie to know and felicitie to rest For they do helpe vs without all difficultie bicause with their spirituall motions pure and free they labor and trauell not De ciuitate lib. 11. cap. 31. The answer I would your doctrine of Angels were alwaies as this which here you learne of Augustine then some of your vnprofitable controuersies which now trouble the world would soone be cut of and throwen to the dunghill amongst other filth and mire of poperie But these and such other good things are defiled with the rest that you couple them with And more I haue not to say to you for this note Hebr. ◠1. The text Therefore more abundantly ought we to obserue those things which we haue heard ⸫ least perhaps we run out The note As that which runneth out of a broken vessel or that runneth by is lost The answer He is said to run out which doth not hold and kéepe the word which he heareth of whom we say in English In at the one eare and out at the other Hebr. 2. 9. The text But him that was a little lessened vnder the Angels we see Iesus ⸫ bicause of the passion of death crowned with glory and honor that through the grace of God he might tast of death for all The note This prooueth against the Caluinists that Christ by his passion merited his own glorification which they would not for shame denie of Christ but that they are at a point to denie all meritorious works yea euen Christs also And therefore they translate also this heretically by transposing the words In the bible printed 1579. The answer The force of this proofe resteth vpon the signification of the Gréeke preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which héere as often else where doth signifie the finall cause or end and is to be referred to his lessening which goeth before and not to his crowning which commeth after As if he should say we sée him that is Iesus bicause of his suffering or that he might suffer a little lessened vnder the Angels that is made man And thus your proofe faileth and commeth to naught Otherwise for Christs merits we do more highly estéeme of them than you But the holie Ghost hath taught vs that he tooke our nature vpon him not for himselfe but for our good so that whatsoeuer he did in our nature was not to gaine to him selfe but to vs not to his
not onely to God but also to Christ as man and our redeemer and so they here do The answer That the same honor glory and praise which is giuen to him that sitteth in the throne is also giuen to the lambe and that of all creatures both here and in other places manifestly prooueth that Christ as he was our priest and redéemer was both God and man For otherwise it had not béene lawfull to giue him the same honor and glorie which we giue to God Apoc. 6. 11. The text And white stooles were giuen to euerie one of them ⸫ one and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little time til their fellow seruants be compleate and their brethren that are to be slaine euen as they The note This one stoole signifieth the glorie and blisse of the soules onely but at the day of iudgement they shall haue it doubled by adding the glorie of their bodie also The answer We allow of this note as of our owne But is there nothing to be noted in the opening of the former fower seales and the horses and that this vision of the soules of the martyrs was deferred to the opening of the fift seale Is it not a declaration that persecution for religion for the testimonie of the truth should then haue his full force and swaie when the fourth monarchie grew to or toward an ende But if you would open your eies to espie this you woulde not so please your selues and delight in your persecuting church here shadowed or prophesied of 〈…〉 The text And I saw when he had opened the sixt seale and ⸫ behold there was made a great earthquake and the sunne became blacke as it were sackecloth of haire and the whole moone became as blood The note The tribulation that shall fall in the time of antichrist The answer As there be that enterpret this of the tribulation that hath or shall fall vpon the earth for the contempt of the word so comprehending the calamities that haue befalne since antichrist inuaded the papal seate so there be also that enterpret this of the end of the world and Christs comming to iudgement To whom I assent rather for these two causes One for that the signes here are the same which the Euangelists set downe to be signes of the end of the world The other bicause nothing but the sight of so great and excellent maiestie as our Lord and Sauior shall come withall to iudgement can daunt and in such order terrifie the great potentates and princes of the earth that they know not whether to turne them how to escape or where to hide themselues Apoc. 7. 3. The text Hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees ⸫ till we signe the seruants of our God in their foreheads The note It is an allusion to the signe of the crosse which the faithfull beare in their foreheads to shew they be not ashamed of Christ. Saint August tract 43. in Io. The answer Christians in the primitiue church when the confession of Christ was ioined with worldly ignominie did to shew how little they were ashamed of Christ crucified signe themselues with the signe of the crosse But since you papists haue brought in so many foule abuses about the crosse that where papists are it is very dangerous to haue any vse of it Howbeit in this place what is meant by the signe or seale of God I thinke it safest to learne of Saint Paule who telleth vs that the foundation of God remaineth sure and hath this seale that the Lord knoweth who are his Which knowledge of God causeth his to be safe at the last day when he executeth vengeance vpon the whole worlde besides Apoc. 7. 4. The text And I heard the number of them which were signed an hundred fortie foure thousand were signed ⸫ of euerie tribe of the children of Israel The note Of all the tribes put togither so many 144000. The answer To this I can say nothing but this your note is true your text is vntrue Apoc. 7. 5. The text Of the tribe of Iuda twelue thousand signed c. vnto the ninth verse The note He signifieth by these thousands and the multitude following all the elect of the Iewes to be in certaine number the elect of the Gentiles to be innumerable The answer Your collection for the number of the elect shall stand for me Apoc. 7. 11. The text And after this I sawe ⸫ a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and tribes and people toongs The note The elect of the Gentiles The answer This note might haue béene syared for they are starke blinde that cannot sée it without your direction Apoc. 7. 9. The text Standing befor the throne and in the sight of the lambe clothed in white robes and ⸫ palmes in their hands The note Boughes of the palme tree be tokens of triumph and victorie The answer These notes may be put amongst your works of supererogation Apoc. 7. 14. The text These are they which are come out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lambe c. to the end of the chapter The note The glory of martyrs The answer Which is more and greater than is possible for man to merit Apoc. 8. 3. The text And another Angell came and stood ⸫ before the altar The note The priest standing at the altar praieng and offering for the people in the time of the high mysteries Christ himselfe also being present vpon the altar is a figure of this thing and thereunto he alludeth The answer Now the masse is a figure of this vision the priest is a figure of the Angell and we must imagine Christ either hanging ouer the altar or lieng vpon the altar and to this saint Iohn alludeth héere And all this must néedes be true our Rhemists who cannot forge faine lie nor erre haue set it downe and we must receiue it on their credit And so their masse came from heauen as sure as they are honest men or as sure as if it were sealed with butter Apoc. 8. 4. The text And the smoke of the incenses ⸫ of the praiers of the saints ascended from the hand of the Angell before God The note If this be saint Michaell or any Angell and not Christ himselfe as some take it Angels offer vp the praiers of the faithfull as the 24. elders did chap. 5. For this word Saints is taken heere for holy persons on earth as often in the scriptures Though it be not against the scriptures that the inferior saint or Angell in heauen should offer their praiers to God by their superiors there but heerby we conclude against the protestants that it derogateth not from Christ that Angels or saints offer vp our praiers to God As also it is plaine of Raphael Tab. 12. 12. The answer Such premisses such conclusion You must haue that which you dare not certainly set
his disciples did plucke the eares and did eat rubbing them with their hands The note Saint Hierom Epist. 2. ad Nepotianum writeth of himselfe that being at Constantinople he asked his master Gregorie the Nazianzene the famous Doctor then bishop there what sabaoth this was Who by his answer declared that it was very hard to tell Neither is it yet knowen to the best learned Yet the Protestants are woont to say All is very easie The answer If Papists made any conscience of lieng and standering a great many of our controuersies would quickly be at an end Who euer said or wrote that all is easie But we do not vnder pretence of hardnes and difficulty fray poore men from searching after and séeking Christ in the Scriptures as you do but exhort men so vse more care and diligence to studie them with humilitie and to vse all helps which God hath lent them And that this was Saint Ieroms mind may appéere that in his Epistles he vouchsafeth the answering and opening of many a question and that to women whom he doth not dissuade or discourage from reading Luke 6. â—0 The text And ⸫ to euery one that asketh thee giue The note That is to euery one iustly asking For that which is vniustly asked may iustly be denied Augustine libro 1. cap. 40. de sermone Dom. in monte The answer He iustly asketh whom néede driueth to aske And we cannot iustly denie if God haue so blessed vs that we may spare that which is asked But the contributions of papists to maintaine traitors abroad are neither iustly required nor iustly giuen Luke 6. 48. The text Euery one that commeth to me and heareth my words and doth them I will shew you to whom he is like He is like a man ⸫ building an house that digged deepe and laid the foundation vpon a rocke The note He buildeth rightly and surely that hath both faith and good works he buildeth on sand that trusteth to his faith or reading or knowledge of the scriptures and doth not worke or liue accordingly The answer Against vaine boasters and flatterers of themselues no doubt Christ speaketh and not against true beléeuers For true faith worketh by loue and therefore endeuor of obedience is his inseparable companion Luke 7. 6. The text Lord trouble not thy selfe For ⸫ I am not woorthie that thou shouldst enter vnder my roofe The note See the annotations vpon S. Matthew cap. 8. 8. The answer Yée do but cumber vs with these references which when we sée them are to small purpose and shall be answered with your other annotations Luke 7. â—3 The text The ⸫ poore are euangelized The note Pauperes euangelizantur that is to the poore the Gospell is preached and they receiue it The answer It had béene no more shame for you to haue learned of vs to translate plainly then for to learne of vs to note aptly and truly according to the sense and meaning of the words For it is true that the poore receiue the glad tâ—â—ings of the Gospell But the proud pope his rich cardinals his fat greasie shauelings wallowing in the wealth of this world and puffed vp in a proud conceit of themselues as they are not poore so are they not apt to receiue the Gospell Luke 7. 25. The text But what went ye forth to see a man clothed ⸫ in soft garments Behold they that are in costly apparell and delicacies are in the house of kings The note Marke this well concerning Iohns apparell and diet See the annotations vpon Saint Matthew cap. 3. 4. The answer Concerning Iohns apparell we sée nothing héere but that it was not courtly Concerning his diet héere is nothing at all We haue looked for the annotations to which you refer vs and haue lost our labour for we can find none vpon that verse Luke 7. 30. The text But the pharisies and the lawyers ⸫ despised the counsell of God against themselues being not baptized of him The note As they that contemned Iohns baptisme despised Gods counsell and wisedome so much more they which make no account of the sacraments of the church despise Gods counsell and ordinance touching their saluation to their owne damnation The answer Your note is true But you vnder the color and name of sacraments do obtrude to the people that whereof God was neuer author but which resteth and is founded vpon your owne counsell and wisedome which we despise bicause we know it to be enimitie against God Luke 7. 37. The text And behold a woman that was in the citie a sinner as she knew that he was set downe in the pharisies house she brought an alabaster boxe of ointment and standing behind besides his feete she began to ⸫ water his feete with teares and wiped them with the haires of hir head and kissed his feete and annointed them with the ointment The note A perfect paterne of true penance in this woman who sought of Christ with open teares and other strange works of satisfaction and deuotion remission of hir sinnes The answer This sheweth your want of due and sound proofe for mens satisfieng for their sinnes when you scrape héere for satisfaction I pray you which call you a satisfactorie worke hir teares hir wiping his féet with hir haire or hir cost in annointing of Christ. As repentance is fained wherof no fruits can appéere so it is a grosse forgerie to imagine the outward testimonies of true repentance to be so many satisfactions for sinnes Draffe is good ynough for swine and any thing you offer is truth amongst your followers Luke 7. 47. The text For the which I say to thee Many sinnes are forgiuen hir bicause she hath loued much But to whom lesse is forgiuen he loueth lesse The note Not onely faith as you may perceiue but loue or charitie obtaineth remission of sinnes The answer And how may we perceiue it Forsooth loue is the cause that she hath many sinnes forgiuen hir This collection is but grating vpon a word contrarie to the plaine sense of the place For if they loue more that haue more forgiuen and they lesse to whom lesse is forgiuen then it is manifest that loue is a consequent of forgiuenes and not a cause And therefore you do but abuse men with the Coniunction causall which is héere as diuers times elsewhere a note of consequence as it is plaine by the words immediately following But to whom lesse is forgiuen he loueth lesse So according to the proportion of forgiuenes the proportion of loue followeth Luke 7. 49. The text And they ⸫ that sate together at the table began to say within them selues ⸫ who is this that also forgiueth sinnes The note As the Pharisies did alwaies caâ—pe Christ for remission of sinnes vpon earth so the heretikes reprehend his church that remitteth sinnes by his authoritie The answer It appeareth by the Pharisies busâ—e carping that it was a receiued truth that onlie God could pardon offences committed against God And they
vs not to apprehend Christs iustice by faith onlie but to be renued in our selues truly and to put on vs the new man formed and created in iustice and holines of truth By which freewil also is prooued to be in vs to worke with God and to consent vnto him in our sanctification The answer Who doth so teach iustification by faith onely that he doth not also teach sanctification as the ioined companion thereof But lieng and slaundering is your delight which I do not saie bicause you haue expresly vttered your minde but bicause you do couertly insinuate so much to your blinde followers Your proofe for fréewill is woorth thrée skips of a louse You may conclude it out of euerie exhortation as well as out of this it will follow all alike Ephes. 5. â— The text For vnderstanding know you this that no fornicator or vncleane or couetous person which is ⸫ the seruice of idols hath inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God The note See the hereticall corruption of this in the annot Col. 3. 5. The answer We haue séene your annotation and finde your quarrel stale as being mooued afore by master Martinius and answered by master Doctor Fulke And farther we sée that idolaters are beholding to you for you take as great paines as men may do to vpholde them in their idolatrie which in plaine English signifieth worshipping of images Ephes. 5. 23. The text Let women be subiect to their husbands as to our Lord bicause the man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the ⸫ church The note It is much to be noted that in the first English Bibles there is not once the name of Church in all the Bible but in steede thereof Congregation which is so notorious a corruption that themselues in their later Bibles correct it for shame and yet suffer the other to be read and vsed still See the Bible printed 1562. The answer Surelie Martinius was to blame that left you no quarel vnmooued to our translation it hath béene answered that our first translators translated aptlie and trulie when they translated congregation and that they therein committed no fault whereof they or others ought to be ashamed That the word Church was not shunned in anie sinister respect or meaning the translating of the same word church in the créede the vsing of the worde church in the notes of those first Bibles in our Catechismes alwaies in our latter translations as you confesse do manifestlie shew The cause whiâ— the translators did vse the word congregation rather then the word church was bicause in those times ignorance raigning the word congregation was more plaine and lesse ambiguous and doubtfull and therefore lesse danger in it of misconstruing or mistaking then in the other thus is your notorious corruption come to nothing Ephes. 6. 8. The text Knowing that euerie one what good soeuer he shall do that shall he ⸫ receiue of the Lord whether he be bond or free The note God leaueth no good worke vnrewarded The answer It is verie true and yet you neuer the nigher your merit Ephes. 6. 14. The text Stand therefore hauing your loines girded in truth and ⸫ clothed with the brestplate of iustice c. The note If man could not be trulie iust or hâ—â—e iustice in him selfe how could he be clothed with iustice The answer Men after this life are clothed with their habitation in heauen their habitation in heauen is not in them selues In like maner may they be clothed with the righteousnesse of Christ which though it make them trulie iust yet is in Christ and not in them selues The whole armour is Gods and by him giuen vs to defend our selues withall I maruell that you finde neither holiwater nor crosse nor anie such deuise of poperie among all this armour I thinke therefore that it followeth manifestlie that those péeces of armour neuer came out of Gods store-house Ephes. 6. 23. The text Peace to the brethren and ⸫ charitie with faith from God the Father and our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Saint Augustine noteth in sundrie places vpon this same text that faith without charitie serueth not to saluation Lib. 50. hom 7. The answer As for that faith which is without charitie we as we haue often told you estéeme it not woorth two strawes otherwise that a true faith onlie and alone iustifieth Saint Augustine will tell you if you will vouchsafe to sée it It is necessarie for a man that not onlie when he is wicked he should be iustified that is of a wicked man made iust when good things are rendered to him for euill but also when he is now iustified by faith that grace should walke with him and he rest thereupon least he fall And againe that Paul should be called from heauen and be conuerted by so great and effectuall a calling the grace of God alone was the cause thereof for his merits were great but euill PHILIPPIANS Philip. 1. â—7 The text And in nothing be ye terrified of the aduersaries which to them is ⸫ cause of perdition The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a manifest proofe and euidence The answer We thinke you can interpret a Gréeke word right if you list as you haue done this Philip. 2. 16. The text Conteining the word of life ⸫ to my glorie in the day of Christ bicause I haue not runne in vaine nor in vaine labored The note Such as haue by their preachings gained anie to Christ shall ioy and glorie therein exceedinglie at the day of our Lord. The answer And what shall they do that gaine from Christ to Antichrist Philip 2. â—7 The text But and if I be ⸫ immolated vpon the sacrifice and seruice of your faith I reioice and congratulate with you all The note Pastors ought to be so zealous of the saluation of their flocke that with Saint Paul they should offer themselues to the death for the same The answer Such example gaue the prince of pastors such strength hath God giuen to a number of faithfull ministers as our eies haue séene and infinite multitudes are able to testifie and the booke or monument of martyrs hath recorded to all posteritie Philip. 2. 21. The text For ⸫ all seeke the things that are their owne and not the things that are Iesus Christs The note Manie forsake their teachers when they see them in bonds and prison for their faith bicause most men preferre the world before Christes glorie The answer This is verie true and yet the text rather speaketh of them that should be carefull ouer the flocke that a number of them shranke away after the world and prouided rather for them selues then for the flocke And consider you well vpon this spéech whether Peters being at Rome then when Paul wrote this were likelie or no when Paul had there none like minded to him selfe And it is a very simple shift to say that Peter might then be absent from Rome
to you for your selues haue learned of God to loue one another The note All catholike christians make one fraternitie The answer Howsoeuer they differ in time or place whether they be dead or aliue and wheresoeuer they be scattered vpon the face of the earth 1. Thes. 4. 11 The text But we desire you brethren that you ⸫ abound more c. The note Christian men ought to proceed and profite continually in good works and iustification The answer If you had said sanctitie or sanctification your note had béene right but you are so gréedie and egerly bent vpon your inherent iustice that you care not what you confound for in the text there is no word of iustification 1. Thes. 4. 15. The text For this we saie to you in the word of our Lord that ⸫ we which liue which are remaining in the aduent of our Lord shal not preuent them that haue slept The note He speaketh in the person those which shal be aliue when our Sauiour returneth to iudgement The answer It is verie true and the cause why he so speaketh is to teach all men so to liue as if they were continually in present expectation of the comming of our Lord Sauior Christ to iudgement 1. Thes. 5. 8. The text But we that are of the day are sober hauing on the breast-plate of faith and ⸫ charitie an helmet the hop of saluation The note A Christian mans whole armour is not faith onely but all the three vertues heere named The answer And who but papists teach otherwise As for crosse and holiwater and such like there is no mention of them and yet these be the chéefe armour and weapons which our papists teach 1. Thes. 5. 17. The text ◠Praie without intermission The note To desire eternall life of him that onlie can giue it is to praie without intermission but bicause that desire is often by worldly cares cooled certaine houres and times of vocall praier were appointed See S. August e p. 121. ad Probam The answer You are not long in one minde One time to praie continually is to praie certaine times euerie daie an other time to pray continually is to aske life euerlasting at his hand that can onlie giue it And so it is what please you to make of it but this later enterpretation as I thinke dropped out of your pen ere you were aware For if God onlie can giue eternall life why do you request it of others As for appointed times to praie being a good meanes to stir vp our coldnes and negligence therein we both vse and like of 2. Thessalonians 2. Thes. 1. 5. The text So that we our selues also glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you sustaine for an example of the iust iudgement of God that ⸫ you may be counted worthy of the kingdome of God for the which also you suffer The note Note that by constant and patient suffering of afflictions for Christ men are worthy so the Greeke signifieth as the aduersaries them selues translate verse 11. of the croune of the kingdome of heauen and so doe merite and deserue the same See annot Luke 20. 35. And the Apostle heeresaieth that it is Gods iustice no lesse to repaie glory to the afflicted then to render punishment to them that afflict bicause of their contrarie desertes or merits The answer If you did not racke making worthie in English beyond the meaning of the spirit of God then to be made worthie of God to be counted worthie were all one for they whom God accounteth worthie are worthie indéed But yet it followeth not that they which are made worthie do deserue or merit the kingdome of God and the crowne of glorie by their inherent righteousnes which is the thing which both you would should prooue Your reason from the iustice of God followeth not Gods iustice indéede requireth that glorie be giuen or as you say repaied to the afflicted for his sake aswell as punishment to their afflicters not for the cause which you assigne but chieflie for his word and promise sake hauing promised that they which suffer with Christ shall also reigne with him and then also bicause it is iust that he put a difference betwéene the estates of those whome hée hath made so farre to differ your annotation or rather marginal note is answered before 2. Thess. 1. 10. The text When he shall come to be ⸫ glorified in his saints and to be made maruellous in all them that haue beleeued bicause our testimonie concerning you was credited in that day The note Christ shall be glorified in his Saints that is by the great and vnspeakeable honour and exaltation of them he shalbe honoured as now he is the honour which the Church doeth to them not diminishing Christs glorie as the aduersaries foolishlie pretend but exceedinglie augmenting the same The answer Bicause it is a glorie to Christ to aduance and exalt his saints in glorie doeth it follow therefore that it is lawfull for your church to giue to saints that which Christ giueth them not or that it is not sacriledge to rob Christ of al things due to him and to giue them to men be they neuer so holie We are not against anie lawfull aduancement of saints but against such as neither they can haue nor yet can stand with the glorie of our Christ. 2. Thess. 2. 3. The text Let no man seduce you by anie meanes for vnlesse there come a reuolt first and the man of sinne be reueiled the sonne of perdition which is an aduersarie and is ⸫ extolled aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth in the temple of God shewing him selfe as though he were God The note How then can the Pope by Antichrist as the heretikes fondlie blaspheme who is farre from being exalted aboue God that he praieth most humblie not onelie to Christ but also to his blessed mother and all his saints The answer The proud presumptuous prerogatiues giuen to the Pope and accepted of him doeth verie well declare this exalting of him selfe which particularlie héere to recite were too long Other men as the most Reuerend father in God Master Iuel Bishop of Salisburie and master Fore in our mother tongue for the benefit of the poore people of England haue in this matter taken great paines to whom also I referre my reader But if there were no more but that which you note as an argument proofe of his humilitie it is sufficient and inough to conuince him of Antichristian pride he that taketh vpon him to be wiser then God exalteth him selfe aboue God he that will make his praiers to anie other then God taketh vpon him to be wiser then God Ergo he that maketh his praiers to anie other but God exalteth him selfe aboue God The maior as I take it is cleare and manifest and néede no proofe The minor is
prooued thus the wisedome of God hath taught vs to praie to our father in heauen and not to anie other what is it then to teach men to praie to others but to controll that wisedome of God that it hath not taught the wisest way to pray and thus in that wherein you thought to shew his humilitie you set foorth his intollerable pride ◠Thess. 2. 11. The text Therefore ⸫ God will send them the operation of error to beleeue lieng c. The note Deus mittet saith Saint Augustine libro 20. de Ciu. cap. 19. quia Deus diabolum facere ista permittet God will send bicause God will permit the diuell to do these things whereby we may take a general rule that Gods action or working in such things is his permission See annot Rom. 1. 24. The answer Now Augustine must helpe you with a generall rule that expresselie both against the whole course of scripture and also against his owne minde if you meane by permission onlie permission for he saith who doeth not tremble at these horrible iudgements of God by which he doth in the hearts of the wicked what he will rendring to euerie man according to his merits And againe he saith it is out of doubt that God doeth worke in the mindes of men to encline their willes either to good according to his mercie or els to euill according to their deserts by his iudgement sometimes open and sometimes secret but alwaies iust This I trowe is somewhat more then only permission therefore you must racke some other for that generall rule for Augustine will not yéeld it you and it groweth out of a foolish nicenes for men to be afraid to speake as the holie Ghost hath spoken afore them 2. Thess. 2. 17. The text And our Lord Iesus Christ him selfe and God our Father which hath loued vs and hath giuen eternall consolation and good hope in grace ⸫ exhort your hearts and confirme you in euerie good worke and word The note This word of exhorting implieth in it comfort and consolation 2. Corinthes 1. verse 4. and 6. The answer Trueth doeth well but neuer when it is intermedled with vntruthes If this note were not defiled with the former these that follow but had passed alone then we would haue ioined with you 2. Thess. 3. 6. The text And we denounce vnto you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you withdraw your selues from euery brother walking inordinately and not according to the ⸫ tradition which they haue receiued of vs. The note Here also as is noted before 1. Thessalonians 2. 15. the aduersaries in their translations auoid the word tradition being plaine in the Greeke least them selues might seeme to be noted as men walking inordinatelie and not according to Apostolicall tradition as all Schismatikes heretikes and rebels to Gods church do The answer If corrupt vse had not in your times made tradition to bée commonlie taken of the people for a doctrine deliuered by word of mouth onlie and neuer published in the holie Scriptures by writing contrarie to the sense and meaning of the Apostle then had there not béene anie iust cause of auoiding the word But you can not iustlie blame vs though we flie a word corrupted by you and therefore dangerous to deceiue withall and set downe for it some other worde no lesse aptlie agréeing to the signification of the Gréeke word and better with more plainnesse expressing vnto the vnlearned the minde and meaning of the Apostle in that place But bicause you charge other men with inordinate walking contrarie to the traditions Apostolicall answer for your selues and yeeld vs reason if you can whie you breake those which you call the Apostles constitutions why do you not commonlie and ordinarilie choose married men to be Bishops why haue you kept the common people from reading the scriptures why suffer you women to baptize why fast you not continuallie on Wednesdaies whie doo ye exclude the people both from election and approbation of Bishops and priests If these bée not the ordinances of the Apostles why do ye abuse the world with alledging the authoritie of that booke for you if they bée with what face can you obiect to others wherein you are most manifestlie faultie your selues 1. TIMOTHIE 1. Tim. 1. 5. The text But the end of the precept is charitie from a pure heart ⸫ a good conscience a faith not fained The note Saint Augustine saith he that list to haue the hope of heauen let him looke that he haue a good conscience let him beleeue and worke well For that he beléeueth he hath of faith that he worketh he hath of charitie praefat in Psalm 31. The answer As you alledge Saint Augustine so I would that you caried his syncere mind and loue to the truth so should we not onlie agrée in this but throwing away all minde and desire of contending enter into a most earnest search for truth with al humilitie 1. Tim. 1. 19. The text This precept I commend to thee O Timothie according to the prophecies going before on thee that thou warre in them a good warfare hauing faith and a good conscience ⸫ which certaine repelling haue made shipwracke about the faith The note Euill life and no good conscience is often the cause that men fall to heresie from the faith of the Catholike church Againe this plainlie reprooueth the heretikes false doctrine seeing that no man can fall from the faith that he once trulie had The answer True and liuelie faith is one thing and the outward profession of faith is another You loue to dallie with equiuocations knowing that that hindereth the consecution of an argument The outward profession and not true faith is meant héere By such arguments as you make it is easie to prooue that the crowe is white 1. Tim. 2. 1. The text I desire therefore first of all things that obsecrations praiers postulations thankesgiuings be made for all men ⸫ for Kings and al that are in praeeminence that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all pietie and chastitie The note Euen for heathen Kings and Emperors by whom the church suffreth persecution much more for all faithfull princes and powers and people both spirituall and temporall for whom as members of Christes bodie and therefore ioining in praier and oblation with the ministers of the Church and priests more properlie and particularlie offer the holie sacrifices See Saint August de origine animae lib. 1. cap. 9. The answer The spirit that guideth and directeth the bishops of Rome now is full contrarie to the spirit that guided and directed Paul and the whole primitiue church For now such princes as punish papists or fauour not poperie must be murdered disinherited excommunicated deposed depriued giuen to the diuell and not praied for They may not looke for the dutie which was giuen to persecuting princes then For our holie father of Rome will not
but to our benefit but preposterous desire to stablish the merits of men carieth you you wot not whither For it maketh you to suppose that the maiestie of God which is proper to himselfe for that was the glorie wherewith Christ is crowned may be the deserued reward of mans works which is horrible once to thinke Hebr. 2. 16. The text For no where doth he take Angels but ⸫ the seed of Abraham he doth take The note The dignitie of man in that Christ tooke our nature vnto his person in deitie and not the nature of Angels The answer Nay rather the great and maruellous goodnes of God that was better to men than to Angels and that vouchsafed rather to vnite our miserable vile nature to his Godhead rather than the eternall excelling nature of Angels Hebr. 3. 3. The text For this man is esteemed woorthie of more ample glorie aboue Moises by so much as more ample glory than the house hath he that framed it The note The excellencie of Christ aboue Moises The answer Christ far excelled Moises but you make him far inferior For from Moises doctrine no man might swarue to the right hand or to the left no man might ad or take away but to Christs doctrine vnder the name of traditions you may make as manie additions as you list Hebr. 3. 14. The text For we be made partakers of Christ yet so if we keepe the ⸫ beginning of his substance firme vnto the end The note Faith is the groundworke of our creation in Christ which if we holde not fast all the building is lost The answer Such a faith as a man in some measure is able to render a reason of out of the word and not a blinde perswasion to beléeue as other men beléeue neither knowing what we beléeue and whie as the greatest number of your blinde followers do Hebr. 4. 1. The text For he said in a certaine place of the ⸫ seuenth day thus And God rested the seuenth day from all his workes The note If the Apostle had not euidentlie shewed that the Saboaths rest was a figure of the eternall repose in heauen who durst to haue applied that Scripture of Gods rest the seuenth day to that purpose Or how can our aduersaries now reprehend the like application manifoldlie vsed in all holie ancient writers to that end The answer What conscience is in you for applieng Scriptures without example warrant or anie other necessarie collection I know not but this I know that in your handling of the scriptures there appeareth none All things that happened to the fathers in the old Testament were figures as the Apostle teacheth of things happening in the new testament to vs. As therfore the diligence of the fathers was commendable in séeking and searching what was prefigured in the old law so the immoderate desire and delight of some to draw all things in both testaments into perpetuall allegories and to make figures where none are to wrest their fansies out of what place they list is iustlie by your aduersaries found fault withall Hebr. 4. 12. The text For the ⸫ word of God is liuely and forcible and more piersing then anie two edged sword and reaching vnto the diuision of the soule and the spirit of the ioints also and of the marowes and a discerner of the cogitations and intents of the hart The note Whatsoeuer God threatneth by his word concerning the punishment of sinne and incredulitie shalbe executed be the offence neuer so secret deepe or hidden in our harts bicause Gods speech passeth easilie searcheth throughlie euerie part power and facultie of mans soule The answer This note is true though but in a litle part expressing the meaning of the text and verie hardlie agréeable with other parts of your doctrine For if secret and hidden sinnes which by no meanes breake foorth and discouer them selues by acte can not escape the threatned vengeance of God then what sinnes can you can veniall Hebr. 6. 9. The text But ⸫ we confidentlie trust of you my best beloued better things and neerer to saluation although we speake thus The note It is euident by these words against the Nouatians and the Caluinists that Saint Paul meant not preciselie that they had done or could do anie such sinne where they should be put out of all hope of saluation and be sure of damnation during their life The answer It is euident by your words that you flatter your selues with mercie more then there is cause whie whiles you thinke that you can not commit anie such sinne as for which you should be sure during your life to be damned For herein you do not contend with the Nouatians and Caluinists as it pleaseth you to terme them onlie but with Saint Iohn and with our Lord and Sauior Christ. For what will ye say of those sinners which S. Iohn forbiddeth vs to pray for or of that sin which our Sauior Christ hath told vs shall neuer be forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come The same sinne the Apostle in this Chapter describeth not bicause the Hebrewes to whom he wrote had committed it but because it was possible for some of them to fall into it therefore he forewarneth them of the great and wonderfull danger of it Hebr. 7. 2. The text To whom also Abraham diuided tithes of all first in deede by interpretation ⸫ the king of iustice and then also King of Salem which is to say King of peace The note When the fathers and catholike expositers picke out allegories and mysteries out of the names of men the protestants not indued with the Spirit whereby the Scriptures were giuen deride their holie labours in search of the same but the Apostle findeth high mysteries in the names of persons and places as you see The answer That we deride the Fathers or anie other Catholike expositors is one of your woonted slanders but we saie that measure in all things is a merrie meane For though in the names of such speciall persons as were figures of Christ and in the names of other persons places and things as had their names giuen for some speciall causes and considerations the mysteries shadowed in the signification of those names are wel and profitably sought yet to do or endeuour the like in all names or in many other names is labor néedlesse causelesse and curious Hebr. 7. 8. The text And heere indeede ⸫ men that die receiue tithes but there he hath witnes that he liueth The note The tithes giuen to Melchisedech were not giuen as to a meere mortall man as all of the tribe of Leui and Aarons order were but as to one representing the sonne of God who now liueth reigneth and holdeth his priesthood and the function thereof for euer The answer Your note is true and bicause he holdeth his priesthood and the functions thereof for euer therefore you offer him great iniurie to appoint other priests to do
15. The text But if you haue bitter zeale and there be contentions in your harts glorie not and be not liers against the truth for this is not ⸫ wisdome descending from aboue but earthly sensuall diuelish The note The difference betwixt the humane wisedome specially of heretikes and the wisedome of the catholike church and hir children The answer If a man compare the fruits of heauenly wisedome with the fruits of the wisedome of your church he shall find them as contrarie as white is to blacke All stories testifie that your church hath béene the author of most of the wars and contentions in Christendome these thrée hundred yéeres and vpwards Your bookes in praise of Sodomitriâ— your curtesans maintained in the eies and bosome of your most holy father and the beastly life of your priests testifie the chastitie of your church The mercie of your church the massacres of France and the Marian storme in England not yet forgotten do sufficiently shew I might go thorough the rest but peace chastitie and mercie wanting amongst you doth sufficiently shew your wisedome to be earthly sensuall and diuelish Iames. 4. 6. The text And ⸫ giueth greater grace for the which cause it saith God resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble The note The boldnes of heretikes adding heere the word scripture to the text thus And the scripture giueth greater grace The answer The blindnes of you papists which thinke it a boldnes to set the nominatiue case before the verbe I pray you tell vs what it is that as saint Iames héere saith giueth greater grace if it be not the scripture But the place is plain the words afore and the words following do inforce that the word scripture must be supplied but there is none other cause of your wrangling in this but that you would haue euery thing left as obscure and darke as might be possible to fray poore men from studieng that which they cannot vnderstand Iames. 4. 8. The text ⸫ Approch to God and he will approch to you The note Free will and mans owne endeuor necessarie in comming to God The answer Why do you not plainly say that we must preuent and go before the grace of God by our will and our endeuor bicause Iames setteth our approching first That we know to be your meaning for that your sophisters commonly contend for But to answer you shortly we are commonly and vsually by the spirit of God exhorted to that which God must worke in vs therefore frée will is not prooued by those exhortations Iames. 4. 11. The text ⸫ Detract not one from another my brethren The note He forbiddeth detraction euill speaking and slandering The answer Uices wherein you set a great péece of your delight as in your annotations most manifestly doth appéere Iames. 4. 15. The text For that you should say ⸫ If our Lord will and if we shal liue we will do this or that The note All promises and purposes of our worldly affaires are to be made vnder condition of Gods good liking and pleasure and it becommeth a Christian man to haue vsually this forme of speech in that case If God will If God otherwise dispose not The answer If this note had come from Rome as it doth from Rhemes from Italie as it doth from France we should haue woondered how they teach others that which they haue not learned themselues It may be you know the common Italian prouerbe In despite of God And this I know that neither this good counsell of Iames was vsed in time of poperie and when in the time of the Gospell men began to leaue former corruptions and reformed their spéeches according to this rule the papists scorned at it and derided it as too much holines Iames. 5. 1. The text Go to now ye rich men weepe ⸫ howling in your miseries which shall come to you The note A fearfull description of the miseries that shall befall in the next life to the vnmercifull couetous men The answer But your religion giueth them hart of grace to contemne all threats for your father the pope will sell them heauen for mony â—ames 5. 7. The text Behold the husbandman expecteth the pretious fruit of the earth patiently bearing till he receiue ⸫ the timely and the lateward The note He meaneth either fruit or raine The answer It is an Hebraisme and therefore better expounded of raine than of fruit bicause the phrase is vsuall in the Hebrew and so vsually signifieth Iames. 5. 10. The text ⸫ Confesse therefore your sinnes one to another and pray one for another that you may be saued The note The heretikes translate Acknowledge your sinne c. So little they can abide the very word of confession The answer Héere is a knot sought in a rush To acknowledge and to confesse in English eares is all one That we cannot abide the word of confession is one of your impudent and shamelesse slanders from the which the vsuall and common vsing of it in our translations do sufficiently cléere vs. Iames. â— 20. The text My brethren if any of you shall erre from the truth and a man conuert him he must know that he that maketh a sinner to be conuerted from the error of his way shall saue his soule from death and ⸫ couereth a multitude of sinnes The note He that hath the zeale of conuerting sinners procureth heerby mercie and remission to himselfe which is a singular grace The answer You dreame still of mans procuring mercie and remission to himselfe by his owne works but S. Iames hath no such thing but onely this that the soule of the conuerted man is saued and his sinnes couered that is to say abolished 1. PETER 1. Peter 1. 13. The text For the which cause hauing the loines of your mind girded sober trust perfectly in that grace which is offered you in the reuelation of Iesus Christ. The note Chastitie not onely of bodie but also of mind is required S. Beda vpon this place The answer Then all chastitie doth not consist in single life for in mind none haue béene more impure than your single men 1. Pet. 1. 17. The text And if you inuocate the father him which without acceptition of persons iudgeth according to euerie ones worke in feare conuerseye the time of your peregrination The note God will iudge men according to euery ones works and not by faith onely The answer Who euer denied that in the iudgement of God that it may appéere as it is indéed iust the godly and vngodly shall be discerned a sunder by their works and yet you neuer the nigher to your merits 1. Pet. 1. 18. The text Knowing this that not with corruptible things gold and siluer you are redeemed from your vaine conuersation of your fathers ⸫ tradition but with the pretious blood as it were of an immaculate and vnspotted lambe Christ. The note He meaneth the erros of gentilitie or if he wrote to the Iewes dispersed he meaneth the
yoke of the law with the fond and heauie additions of their late masters called Deuteroses The heretikes to make it sound to the simple against the traditions of the church corrupt the text thus Which you haue receiued by tradition of the father The answer Two things we sée in your note First an exposition what is héere meant by traditions secondly a fond quarell to our translations First you affirme boldly without blushing that héere by tradition the errors of gentilitie are meant But bicause that carieth not so much as any probable shew therefore presently you flie from it saieng if he wrote to the Iewes then he c. As if any man could doubt to whom he wrote when both he was the Apostle of circumcision and also he nameth them to whom he wrote strangers of the dispersion of Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithinia It is manifest that the Iewes at that time dwelt in euery part of these countries as strangers dispersed héere and there which cannot with any shew for proofe be imagined of any nation besides Your yoking of Gods law with those traditions or additions called Deuteroses sheweth your vile and base estimation of Gods word But as whatsoeuer the Iewes had frō their fathers added to Gods lawe was cause of vaine conuersation so also your additions to the Gospell of Christ called traditions are causes of like vanitie and vnprofitable trauell and labor in them that vse them Your quarrell to our translations is but méere wrangling sith your translation hath the same in effect for how could the fathers deliuer except the sonnes receiued or how were they deliuered by Christ from their vaine cōuersation if they had not receiued it first But wranglers will neuer leaue cauilling 1. Pet. 2. 9. The text But you are an elect generatiō a ⸫ kingly priesthood an holie nation a people of purchase that you may declare his vertues which from darknes hath called you into his maruelous light The note The protestants can no more gather of this that all Christians be priests than that al be kings as is most plaine Apocalypse 1. 6. and 5. 10 Thou hast made vs a kingdome or kings and priests The answer We gather both the one and the other and we know of none other sacrifices now to be offered to God but those which euerie Christian man and woman are bound to offer and therefore we néed not your sacrificing priests with their paltrie 1. Pet. 2. 13. The text Be subiect therefore to euerie ⸫ humane creature for God whether it be to the king as excelling c. The note So is the Greeke but the protestants in fauor of temporal lawes made against the catholike religion translate it very falsely thus To all maner ordinance of man themselues boldly reiecting ecclesiasticall decrees as mens ordinances The answer The Gréeke scholiast whom I hope you will neither accuse of corrupt meaning nor denie that he vnderstood the Gréeke interpreteth it as we translate By ordinances of man we vnderstand not as you slander vs lawes of men but princes and magistrates elected appointed and created by men The decrées of your church we reiect as well bicause that they being but the ordinances of men are obtruded in the place and stead of Gods law as also bicause we acknowledge no dutie of subiection to the makers and ordeiners of them being to vs English men méere stangers to whom we owe no more dutie than to any other forrem potentates 1. Pet. 2. 17. The text ⸫ Loue the fraternitie The note In this speech is often commended the vnitie of al Christians amongst themselues The answer Which vnitie you haue broken many waies First in cutting your selues from the churches of the east parts of the world Secondly in falling from the ancient faith which the church of Rome it selfe first of all in old time professed Thirdly in your obstinate opposing your selues now to those that retaine kéepe and hold fast the ancient holie catholike faith deliuered by Christ and his Apostles to the church 1. Pet. 3. 1. The text In the like maner let the women be subiect to their husbands that if any beleeue not the word by the conuersation of the women without the word they may be woon considering your chaste conuersation in feare The note How women should behaue themselues towards their husbands The answer Which counsell and prescription all godly matrones imbrace 1. Pet. 3. 3. The text Whose trimming let it not be outwardly the plaiting of haire or laieng on of gold round about or putting on vestures c. The note Against the proud curious and costly attire of women wherein this ill time of ours exceedeth The answer Iniquitie decreaseth not towards the latter end 1. Pet. 3. 7. The text Husbands likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge as vnto the weaker feminine vessell imparting honor as it were to the coheires also of grace of life that your praiers be not hindered The note How husbands should behaue themselues towards their wiues The answer Which good lesson God grant all married men may kéepe and obserue In which lesson one thing is to be obserued that married men may so dwell with their wiues that their praieng be not thereby hindered contrary to that which in your notes you haue diuers times affirmed 1. Pet. 4. 6. The text For for this cause also was ⸫ it euangelized to the dead that they may be iudged indeed according to men in the flesh but may liue according to God in the spirit The note It hath the same difficultie and sense that the other word haue before 1. Chap. 3. See the annotation there v. 19. and S. August epist. 69. and Oecumenius vpon this place The answer Time is the daughter of truth and therefore things that somtimes seemed obscure are in time reuealed made open and plain and so is this The sense is plaine The Gospell was preached in former ages to them that are now dead Christ by his spirit preached to the rebellious and disobedient people which liued in the daies of Noe. Your annotation which you refer vs vnto is friuolous grounded vpon a malicious slander that we denie Christs descending into hell wheras we onely denie the popish sense and interpretation of that article And concerning Augustine your note booke once againe deceiued you For in the place which you quote there is nothing touching this matter but in his 99. epistle he handleth this place and especially the former in the thirde chapter at large concerning Christs preaching to disobedient persons in the daies of Noe. Where after that by many reasons he had prooued that your opinion whereby you apply this place to Christs descending into hell can by no meanes stand he enclineth though not fully and certainly that it is not ment at all of Christs descending into hell and rather thinketh that Peter meaneth that those times of Noe were a figure of our times and the generall disobedience then a figure
things which must be done quickly after these The note The second vision in which is represented vnto vs the glorie and maiestie of God in heauen and the incessant honor and praises of all angels and saints assisting him Which is resembled in the daily honor done to him by all orders and sorts of holy men in the church militant also The answer If all orders in heauen giue all honor glorie and power to God alone and his Christ how dare you then miserable caitifes part the glorie of mans saluation betwéene God and your selues Is that thinke you a resemblance of the incessant honor and praises of his angels and saints in heauen Apoc. 4. 6. The text And in the sight of the seate as it were a sea of glasse like to Christall and in the midst of the seat round about the seat ⸫ fower beasts full of eies before and behind The note These fower beasts and the like described in the first of Ezechiel by the iudgement of the holy doctors signifie the fower Euangelists and in them all true preachers The man Matthew the lion Marke the calfe Luke the eagle Iohn See the causes heereof in the summe of the fower Euangelists pag. 1. S. Gregorie in Ezechiel The answer The causes alledged why by the fower beasts fower Euangelists should be signified are in my iudgement very slender and friuolous But whether they be signified or els whether as other interpreters affirme they do represent Gods wisedome might diligence spéedinesse or facilitie in bringing all things to passe I will not contend neither with Gregorie nor you Apoc. 5. 1. The text And I sawe in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne ⸫ a booke written within and without sealed with seuen seales The note The third vision Saint Gregorie taketh it to be the booke of holie scriptures libr. 4. dialog 6. 42. The answer Saint Gregories interpretation doeth verie well please vs and I hope bicause you alledge it it can not dislike you we will therefore adde some thing which the text it selfe doth manifestly offer vnto vs to be obserued First in that it is written within and without it manifestlie appéereth that there is no roome left for your additions called traditions Secondlie it is fast and safe sealed that with seuen seales by which so diligent and so close sealing vp it is manifest that it is vtterlie vnlawfull to adde to diminish to alter anie thing for that to do in a sealed euidence is no better then méere forgerie Apoc. 5. 3. The text And no man was able neither in heauen nor in earth nor ⸫ vnder the earth to open the booke nor to looke on it The note He speaketh not of the damned in hell of whom there could be no question but of the faithfull in Abrahams bosome and in purgatorie The answer Surelie you can spie daie at a very little hole that can picke purgatorie out of this place he speaketh of men vnder the earth but he can not meane of hel and therefore he must néedes meane of purgatorie First graues are vnder the earth and therefore it may be he meaneth neither hell nor purgatorie But I pray you tell vs how do you know he meaneth not hell bicause it was out of al doubt and past question that among the damned there could be none found worthie to open the booke And doeth not the same reason prooue that he could meane purgatorie or Limbus patrum or may it be like to finde some worthier there then could be found in earth or in heauen You knowe well inough that your fond followers will not séeke to examine the truth of anie thing you set downe and therefore you dare deale thus looselie that euerie bodie that will not wilfullie be blinde may sée your absurdities But to leaue your follies I sée that you are amongst those to whom this booke is yet shut and not opened and therefore no maruell though you want vnderstanding Apoc. 5. 5. The text And one of the seniors said to me weepe not behold the ⸫ Lion of the tribe of Iudah the roote of Dauid hath wonne to open the booke and to loose the seuen seales thereof The note So did Iacob Genesis 49. call Christ for his kinglie fortitude in subduing the world vnto him The answer That Christ is called héere the Lion of the tribe of Iudah it is apparant but whether by allusion to that place of Genesis which you cite may be doubted but thereof I will not mooue anie contention Apoc. 5. 6. The text And I sawe and behold in the middest of the throne and of the foure beastes and in the middest of the seniors ⸫ a lambe standing as it were slaine hauing seuen hornes and seuen eies which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the earth The note So Christ is called for that he is the immaculate host or sacrifice for our sinnes The answer By allusion vnto Moises law bicause the lambe appointed for sacrifice must haue neither maime nor spot Apoc. 5. 9. The text Thou art worthie ô Lord to take the booke and to open the seales thereof ⸫ bicause thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy blood out of euery tribe and tongue and people and nation and hast made vs to our God a kingdome and priestes and we shall reigne vpon the earth The note This maketh against the Caluinistes who are not content to say that we merite not but that Christ merited not for him selfe Caluin philip 2. verse 9. The answer Let vs then sée how this prooueth that Christ merited for him selfe Thou art worthie O Lord c. bicause thou wast slaine Ergo his death and passion was the cause of his worthinesse and made him worthie I pray you you I say that thinke this so inuincible a proofe and so necessarie a consequence tell me whether Christ being the eternall sonne of the Father were vnworthie this honor afore his incarnation and consequentlie afore his death and passion I suppose you dare not say that he was vnworthie before especiallie séeing he durst not aske of his Father greater glory then he was afore possessed of with the father If he were worthie before and so continued then could not his merits which came after be the cause of his worthinesse and so consequentlie he him selfe in our nature did not merit for him selfe this worthinesse which he had before But his honor and glorie to the which he hath aduanced our nature was a consequent of his abasing and the coniunctions in those places note rather an order and consequence then a cause Apoc. 5. 13. The text And euerie creature that is in heauen and vpon the earth and vnder the earth and that are in the sea and that are therein all did I heare saieng To him that sitteth in the throne ⸫ and to the lambe benediction and honor glorie and power for euer and euer The note All the said creatures are bound to giue honor