liued at least on thowsand yeares before these controuersies began cannot be esteemed partiall on our side Thirdly that I expect and exact of him or them that shal goe about to answer this treatise the same roūde sincere and direct dealinge which I haue here vsed Remembringe before all things that he first set doune his faith in direct positions and then proceed inlike methode as I haue done for the rest To whom I willingly graunt this large libertie aboue that which I haue vsed that he tye not himself vnto the first 500. yeares for the fathers interpretations but that he take boldly 1500. yeares so that he bringe not condemned heretiques for his auctours and with all obserue the point followinge Fourthly that it shall not be to anie purpose in waye of answer that anie aduersarie bring another interpretation of some father upon the places of scripture alledged by me besides that which I haue brought For it is not denied that one the same place of scripture maie be and is often diuersly understoode not onely of diuers fathers but of one and the same father But if he will saye anie thinge to the purpose in this kinde he must bring an interpretation contradicting that which I haue brought and withall labour rather to proue his owne Doctrine thē to impugne that of the Catoliques For seeinge it is as all men Knowe à far more easie thīge to impugne anie doctrine though neuer so true then to proue the same no truth espetially of faith being so euidentlie clere but that some thing with shew of probabillitie maie be obiected against it it is not now expected that anie aduersarie should stand to answer those auctorities of scripture and fathers wich I haue alledged for proofe of the Catholique Doctrine or to impugne the same but rather to bring others in proofe of his owne that the iudicions reader maie compare our groundes in scripture both together and by the uieu of his owne eie trie whether of them be more conformable to Gods sacred worde And when anie one shall haue produced his proofes for Protestantisme in the like maner as I haue done in the behalfe of the Catholique religion if he can so doe yet shall he gaine no more therby but an euident demonstration against the cheefest ground of the Protestātes doctrine that ether to the true and full decision of controuersies in matter of faith is necessarily required some other iudgment or triall then the only wordes of holy Scripture or ells that therere is no meanes at all to end cōtrouersies of faithe which later neuertheless to affirme is no less iniuriouse to gods wisdome goodness or power then to saye that he hath prouided noe sufficient meanes for men to know the way to saue their soules For both parties bringing scripture for them selues whoe shall finallie determine whether of them doth applie the said Scriptures more sincerlie and accordinge to their true meaninge Fifthly that wheras before I can proue anie point of Christian beliefe by scripture I should first by good order proue that there is a holy Scripture and secondly in what bookes of the Bible it is contained yet because nether of these two pointes can be proued by scripture vnless wee first beleeue some scripture without proofe therfore that I may proue those pointes of faith wherin the Catholique Romane church doth differ from the Protestantes by holy scripture which our aduersaries vrge me ūto I must necessarilie to satisfie their disordered desire proceede disorderlie and suppose that for truth without proofe which requireth most to be proued I say without proofe if no proofe be good but that which is made out of scripture And here occurr by the way two things worthie of note Thone that the scripture cannot be an vniuersall rule of our faith seeinge some thinges are to be beleeued with out proofe of scripture as are for example that there is a holy scripture contayninge gods word and reuelation and that these and these bookes be suche therfore must there of necessitie be some other rule of our faith more vniuersall then the scriptures and consequently before the scriptures And this cannot be but the aucthoritie of godes church which is clerly S. Augustins Doctrine who was not afearde to saye I would not beleeue the Gospell but that the auctoritie of the church doth moue mee Seeinge therfore the authoritie of the church is a sufficient motiue for vs to beleeue what is scripture why should it not haue the like aucthoritie with vs in other pointes of faith which is also S. Augustins argument in the same place but I will notwithstanding satisfie our aduersaries in their owne humoure The Secund thing to be noted is that they that beleeue nothing but that which is proued by Scripture are euidently conuinced to beleeue nothinge at all For they that cannot beleeue that there is à holy Scripture or what bookes be holy Scripture cannot beleeue anie thinge because it is proued by scripture For it is euident that before they beleeue anie thing because it is proued by scripture they must beleeue that there is a Scripture and what bookes are scripture but they that beleeue not anie thing but that which is proued by Scripture cannot beleeue that there is a scripture nor what bookes are holy scripture for nether of these two can be proued by Scripture Thefore they that beleeue not anie thinge but that which is proued by scripture cannot beleene anié thing at all This Argument is a plaine demonstration and compelleth the Protestantes ether to confess that they haue no faith at all or to acknowledge this their positione to witt that nothinge ought or can rightly be beleeued but that which may be proued by Scripture to be false which notwithstandinge is the maine ground of all their religion But now haueing shewed the absurditie of their Doctrine in this point I will ioyne with them in the Scriptures as they themselues do desire obseringe this method First I sett downe the Catholique Roman belief in direct and playne positions then I bringe in proofe of it one two or moe places of holy Scripture citing the auncient vulgar translation and often times I ad the testimonie of some auncient father of the frist 500. yeares vnderstandinge such Scriptures as I cite in the same sense and meaninge that I cite them for Furthermore those fewe places of Scripture which seeme to sounde directly against the Catholique faith I shewe in brief how they are to be vnderstood And last of all I put downe the position contradictorie to the Catholique doctrine to the end that the indifferent reader be he Catholique or otherwaies may more easely iudge whether Doctrine hath better ground in holy Scriptures And further that he that will impugne this treatise may see what he hath to proue if he wil proue anie thinge to purpose who is to vnderstand that though the Protestantes doe maintayn the negatiue part in almost all the positions
A manifest promise of the spirit of god to continue for euer in the church 2. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earthe Goinge therfore teache yee all nations teachinge them to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue cōmaunded you Loe here commission to teache giuen to the Apostles and in them to all pastores 3. He that heareth you heareth me and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me Loe here obligation for others to heare and obaye that which they who haue the former commission shall teache 4. Behould I am with you all daies euen to the consūmation of the worlde Loe here the assurance of Christs asistance to his church and the lawfull pastores therof till the ende of the worlde who can now doubt of the infallibilitie of the doctrine of godes church 5. I will aske the father and he will giue you another Paraclet that is an aduocate or comforther that he may abyde with you for euer The spirit of truthe loe here the spirite of truthe promised to abide with the church for euer By warrant of which promised the first generall coūcell that euer was houlden which was at Hierusalem sayth thus Yt hath seemed good to the holy ghost and to vs to laye no further burthen vpon you then these necessarye thinges 6. In respect of the singuler priuiledges of the church and spetiallye of the infallibilitie it hath in doctrine sainct Paule callethe it the howse of god the church os the liuinge god the piller and grounde of truthe 7. He that will not heare the church let him be to thee as the Heathen and the publican Touchinge which pointe of the infallibilitie of the church sainct Augustine hath this excellent doctrine Althoughe Saith he no example is brought out of canonicall Scripture of this thinge Speakinge sf the validitie os Baptisme ministred by heretiques yet doe we followe the truth of the same Scriptures in this pointe whilst we do that which pleaseth the whole church which the auctoritie of the Scriptures doth cōmēd And because the holy Scripture cannot deceaue whosoeuer feareth to be deceaued by the obseurite of these questiones let him consult ther vpō with the church which without all doubt the Scripture doth shewe Protes Pos. The sense and meaninge of the holy Scriptures giuen or approued by the Catholique churche is not alwaies true nether are the definitiones and declarationes of faythe deliured by the same vnfallible truthes Here the reader may marke à strāge peruersitie or blindness in the Protestantes who graunt the gift of interpretinge the Scriptures to priuate beleeuers and yet deny it to the whole chuche THE FIFTH CONtrouersie of the marKes of the true Churche THe true Churche of god is but one This being not denyed by the Protestantes needethe no proofe The question is which of all those Churches which doe challenge vnto them selues the name of the Churche is that one true churche which doubt will easelie be cleared by the notes and markes fololwinge Vniuersalitie Catho Positions The true Churche of Christ is Catholique or vniuersall aswell in respect of place as of tyme That is the true church of Christ hath euer continued since his gloriouse ascention into heauen till this day and shall doe till the end of the world which is to be Catholique or vniuersall in respect of time And it hathe or shal be spred throughe all kingdomes and countries that are vnder heauen which is to be vniuersall or Catholique in respect of place Proofe in respect of place Aske of me and I will giue thee the gentiles for thin inheritance thy posessione the endes of the earthe By this promise of god to Christ S. Augustine conuīceth the Donatistes and in them the Protestātes that they haue not the true Chruche because theyrs is not vniuersall in such sorte as here is promised 2. He shall rule from sea to sea and from the riuer euen to the endes of the rounde worlde These Prophesies are clearely vnderstoode of the inheritance and kingdome that is the Churche of Christ as he is man Accordinge to which prophesies our sauiour saythe All power is giuen me in heauen and in earthe Goeinge therfore teache yee all nationes baptisinge them in the name of the father and of the sonn and of the holy ghost 3. You shall receiue the vertue of the holy Ghost comminge vppon you and you shall be witnesses vnto me in Hierusalem and in all Ieury and Samaria and euen to the vtmost of the earthe See Sainct Augustine Learned reader if thou pleas Proofe in respect of tyme. 1. In the dayes of those Kingdomes the god of heauen will rayse vp a Kingdome that shale not be dissipated for euer and this Kingdome shall not be deliuered to another people 2. And he shall reigne in the howse of Iacob for euer of his Kingdome there shall be no ende 3. Behould I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world 4. Vppon this Rock will I build my Churche and the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it A faithful sayinge Saith Sainct Athanas. and not à waueringe promise and the Church is an inuincible thinge althoughe hell it self should be moued The vniuersalitie of the church all christians profess to beleeueī the creed of the Apostles and of the first councell of Constantinople sayinge I beleeue the holy Catholique church protes pos The ttue Churche of Christ is not necessarily Catholique or vniuersall nether in respect of place nor tyme. This positione most cleerely against holy Scripturs must the Protestantes defende and proue yf they will proue and defende they re Churche to be the true Churche of god and consequentlye theyr religione to be true Visibilitie Catho pos The true Churche of god ys visible and apparant both to the faithfull beleeuers that are in it and to heretiques and those that are out of it Proof 1. A Citie cannot be hid situated vpon à mountayne He put his tabernacle in the Sunn S. Augustine proueth our positione by these textes say inge The true churche is hid to no man whence is that which he our sauiour Sayth in the Gospell A Citie sett vppon à mountane cannot be hidd And therfore is it sayd in the Psalme hee hathe put his tabernacle in the sunn that is in manifest 2. In the latter dayes the mountayne of the howse of our lorde shall be prepared in the top pof mountaynes and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and all nationes shall flowe vnto it 3. Men doe not light à Candell and. put it vnder a bushell but Vpon à Candlesticke To these textes doth S. Augustine allude when he saythe what ells am I to saye then that they are blinde that doe not see so great à mountayne that shutt they re eyes against the lampe sett vppon the candlesticke 4. If thy brother offende against thee
A MANVAL OF CONTROVERSIES wherin the Catholique Romane faith in all the cheefe pointes of controuersies of these daies is proued by holy Scripture By A. C. S. Search the Scriptures for you thinke in them to haue life euerlastinge and the same are they that giue testimonie vnto me Ihon cap. 5. vers 39. Printed at Paris by Peter Buray M. D. C. XIV THE EPISTLE to the reader I Haue courteous reader taken some paynes to put together this litle manual of controuersies entending nor pretending anie other thing therby then thy profit yf thou reape anie by it my trauayle shal be richly recompenced Howsoeuer in requitall of my good-will let me intreat this fauoure of the that if thou wilt dayne it the reading thou wouldest doe yt with some attention and such intention as the subiect requireth which howsoeuer or by whomsoeuer it be handled is of that weyght and moment that may duly demaūd thy best most setled sincerest thaughtes The insuing preface wil acquaynt thee both with the drift and motiue of this treatise and also with those few pointes which I haue thaught worthie of remark concerning the same Therfore haue I nothing more to trouble the with but only to entreat thee to take some heede in decerning the Catholique Positiones from those of the Protestantes because they are not so euidently distinguished in character especially before the page 76. as they might haue beene and also to pardon the faultes escaped in the print but most of all those in the margent as most important In the latter end of the booke they are all corected and therfore may more easely be born with Farewell Thy freind as thou art a freind to truthe howsoeuer thy well willer A. C. A TABLE OF THE CONTROuersies 1. SCriptures pag. 15. 2. Traditiones pag. 20. 3. Difficultie of scriptures pag. 26 4. Churches infallibilitie pag. 31. 5. Churches markes vniuersalitie p. 43. 6. Visibilitie pag. 39. 7. Succession pag. 42. 8. Consecration and vocation of Pastores 45. 9. Supremicie of S. Peter and Pope 49. 10. Honoure of sainctes 57. 11. Prayer to sainctes 59. 12. Reliques 63. 13. Images 67. 14. Purgatorie 76. 15. Of the Sacraments 81. 16. Necessitie of Baptisme 84. 17. Ceremonies of Baptisme 85. 18. Eucharist reall presence 86. 19. Transubstantiation 89. 20. Adoration of Christ in the Eucharist 91. 21. Communion vnder one kinde 93. 22. Sacrifice of the Mass 98. 23. Confirmation 102. 24. Pennance with indulgences 107. 25. Holy orders 118. 26. Extreame vnctione 120. 27. Matrimonie 122. 28. Effect of the Sacraments 125. 29. Character 127. 30. Iustification and concupiscence 128. 31. Iustice once had may be lost 141. 32. Certayntye of Saluation 142. 33. Merit of workes 145. 34. Free will 148. 35. Commaundementes possible 152. 36. Euangelicall counsels 155. 37. Preistes single life 159. 38. Seruicce in the vulgar tongue 162. FAVLTES ESCAped in the margent PAge 23. for cap. 27. Read cap. 23. 24. sert sect 29. degenesi ad literam lib. 2. lib. 7. 30. 2. Petri cap. 2. v. 7. cap. 1. v. 20 30. Malachie v. 2. 3. v. 7. 30. Math. v. 27. v. 2. 32. Luc v. 16. 20 v. 16. 33. Math. v. 28. cap. 20. cap. 28. v. 20. 33. Actes 15 is placed to high 36. Cresco cap. 3. cap. 33. 37 Psal 27. 71. 37. Math. cap. 18. cap. 28. 40. Math. 19. 18. 41. corin v. 18. v. 28. 45. Act cap. 13. cap 14. 46. Rom cap. cap. 10 55. epla 65. epla 165. 61. Apocalip cap. 3. cap. 2. 64. Act. v. 18. 12. 69. psal 9. 98. 86. after 24. add Luc 91 Psal 69. 96. 95 Smaforward forward 100. Malachic v. 1. v. 10. 11. 102. Act v. 20. v. 17 109. Act. v. 6. v. 3. 109. pag. 10. pag. 109. 120. want these citations Iames cap. 5. v. 14. 15. Chrisost De Sacerdotio lib. 3. ad initium 122. 5. v. cap. 31. cap. 5. v. 31. 126. Actes cap. 22. v. 17 v. 16. 128. ser sect 128. oncu concu 132. contra Iuliam c. 5. c. 15. 136. is omited De spiritu litera cap. 27. 137. Ephesios cap. 3. cap. 1. 143. is omitted the citation of Ecclesiastes cap. 9. v. 1. 146. 2. Timo. cap. 5. cap. 4. 1. Regum v. 45. v. 4. 5. FAVLTES ESCAped in the text Page 7. for hall read shall 13. cotrouerted controuerted 19. this that 21. nothinges nothing 42. word world 44. then them 46. In the secund line wanteth this word inward 62. sayed saued 62. sod so 68. placc place 68. the. he 73. his is 78. eueire euerie 96. sam chapter same chapter 96. cheest cheefest 135. whose prayse is not of god For whose prayse is not of men but of god A MANVALL OF CONTROuersies Wherin the Catholique Romane faith in all the cheefe pointes of controuersies of these daies is proued by holy Scripture The Preface to the Reader THis brief treatise courteous reader being at the request of à friend speedely compiled may serue to conuince them of manifest calumnie who no lesse vntruly then boldly doe affirme the Doctrine of the Catholique Roman Church to be ether against holy scriptures or at least to haue no ground or proofe frō them And it maie also giue satisfaction vnto such as more vpon the confident boldness of them that affirme the Roman Religion to be destitute of scriptures then vpon anie other reason are drawne ether to think this to be true or at least to doubt of the truth of the contrarie But before thou proceede to vieue the thinge it selfe I desire thee to consider well these fewe pointes followinge First that no proofe of anie one point of Christiā beliefe can be so direct and full out of holy scripture that may not be deluded by false interpretation For the damned Arrianes and most other heretiques could interpret all places of holy scripture brought by the Catholiques against theire heresie in such sense as beinge so vnderstood they made nothinge against it yea that as seely as peruers heretique Legate burned in smithfield not long since for Arrianisme could not be conuinced of heresie by onelie scripture Such proofes therfore of Catholique Doctrine as cannot be deluded by anie interpretation are not to be expected out of holy scripture Secondly that though Protestātes maie alledg textes of holy scripture for the proofe of some pointes of theire Doctrine yet that alone is not sufficiēt to make it true Both because the same pointes are proued false by other places of scripture and also for that all heretiques haue euer brought scripture for their heresies and none more apparant or frequent then the blasphemous Arrianes to say nothinge of the Deuill his citinge of scripture euen against oure blessed sauiour By all which it is more then euident that the sense of holy scripture besides the wordes is necessarely required to make sufcient proofe of true doctrine For which reason I oftē bringe the vncorrupt testimonie of some holy father for the sense of the place alledged by me who haueinge
cotrouerted betwixte them and the Catholiques yet is he not for all that to be excused from the proofe of those pointes vnless he will withall confess that in them the Protestantes haue no faith at all but onely a mere deniall of faith For faith beinge not a simple denying or not beleeuing but a possitiue assent and belief of such articles as are reueled vnto vs by God it hath possitiue groundes wherby it may and ought to be proued euen in those pointes which are negatiue And therfore as Catholiques doe proue theire faith in these negatiue pointes that onely faith doth not iustifie that we are not certayn of our iustification or saluation and the like so likewise are the Protestantes to proue theyr faith in these that there is no Purgatorie no reall presence no sacrifice of the Mass and the rest Vnless as is sayd before they will confess that they haue no faith in these pointes but onely a mere deniall of faith Haueinge thus aduertised thee good Reader of these fewe things I leaue thee to peruse the treatise it self desiringe thee to expect onely the bare positiones proued with the self text of holy Scripture and some fewe fathers without anie florishe of wordes at all The worke being such as doth rather resemble the bare bones of a great bodye tied together with dried Sinewes then a bodie throughly furnished with flesh and orher habiliments of friendly narure For which cause though to such as rather respect fashion then substance it may happ to appeare hideous yet to others of contrarie appetite for whose contentment it is speciallie intended it will not paraduenture be iudged altogether without forme THE FIRST CONTROuersie Of Holy Scriptures IT is Knowne that the Catholique Roman Church doth admitt more bookes and percells of holy Bible for Scripture then the Protestantes doe and consequently acknowledgeth a larger canon then they and yet notwithstanding shee teacheth Chatolique PositioÌ„ 1. That all such articles as by her and the Protestantes themselues are beleeued and holden for articles of faith are not so expressly contayned in holy Scriptures as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof Proofe The articles which the Protestantes doe beleeue to be of faith as well as Catholiques and yet are not contayned expresly in holy scriptures are many but wee will giue instance onely in a fewe 1 That there are three distincte personnes and one onely substance in god 2. That the secuÌ„de and third personns are of the same substance â—nd equall gloire with the first â— That the third personn proceedeth from the seconde and from the first 4. That there are two distinct and compleat natures in our sauiour Christ and but one onely personn 5. That there are in him two willes and two operations to witt of god and man about all which pointes haue been diuerse heresies as is well Knowne to the learned And thoughe all these articles haue most true ground and proofe in holy Scriptures yet are they not soe expressly contayned therin as they may be fully prooued by them alone One example shall serue for all To proue the sonn to be consubstantiall or of one substance with the father the Catholiques doe alledg and truly this testimonie I and the father are one yet because there are moe meanes of beinge one then in substance as namely to be of one will desire and affection of which sorte of vnitie specially the Arrianes did explicat this place alledging for them selues that testimonie I pray that they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that they also in vs may be one which cannot be vnderstood of vnitie in substance Therfore this testimonie without the interpretatioÌ„ of the Church which is the piller of truth doth not fully proue the father and the sonn to be one in substance The like may be sayd of the other articles here mentioned Catho posi 2. All such articles as are of faith and so holden by the ProtestaÌ„tes them selues are not contayned so much as indirectly or implicitly in holy Scriptures but onely so farr as the Scriptures contayne and testifie the auctoritie of the Church and traditions Proofe That all the Bookes of the Bible and euerie parte therof which are acknowledged for canonicall scripture ioynthy of Catholiques and Protestantes be such indeed That the most blessed mother of our Sauiour Christ continued perpetually a Virgin That it is lawfull for Cristians to eate strangled things and blood which were expresly forbidden them acts cap. 15. vers 20 are not so much as indirectly contayned in holy Scriptures otherwaies then is mentioned in our position But this being more amply proued in that which followeth of traditions this which wee haue sayd already shall suffice for the present The Positions which the Protestantes in this question are to proue be these ProtestaÌ„t position 1 All articles of faith are so expressy contayned in scripture as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof 2. All articles of faith are at least so contayned in holy scriptures as with out anie testimonie or auctoririe of the Church or traditions they may thence be plainlie and distinctly deduced TE SECOND CONtrouersie of Traditiones Catholique Positions 1. THe holy Apostles deliuered by worde of mouth moe thinges to be beleeued and obserued by the Church then ether they found written or wrot them selues And these thinges are vsually called traditiones Proofe 1. Haueing moe things to write vnto you would not by paper and â—â—â—e for I hope shall be with you and speake mouth to â—outhe 2. And the rest I will dispose when I â—ome where the holy Apostle euidently sheweth that he reserued something more to be ordayned by worde then he wrote 3. The Apostles were commaunded to teache all nationes to obserue all things which our sauiour had commavnded which doubtless they fulfilled but they were not commaunded in anie place to write all the same nether doth it appeare by anie Scripture that they did write all thinges which they taught men to beleeue and obserue This is à demoÌ„stration that they taught more then they wrote if nothing be to be beleeued but what is contayned in holy Scripture 4. They taught Baptisme giuen to infants to be good and lawfull or ells the Anabaptistes are not heretiques for rebaptising them 5. They taught the sonday to be solemnised and the Iewes Sabbathe to be left without all solemnitie though most strictly commaÌ„ded by god to be solemnised as an euerlasting couenaÌ„t 6. They deliuered and taught the creed by worde and not in writing which from they re tyme till now hath continued in the church by tradition onely 7. They taught Baptisme ministered by heretiques to be good and therfore S. Augustin speakinge therof saith Manie things which are not founde in the Apostles writinges nor in latter councells yet because they are obserued by the whole church are beleeued to be deliuered and recommended
by none but by theÌ„ Agayne he sayth There are many thinges which the whole church doth hold and therfore are well beleeued to be commaunded by the Apostles albeit they be not found written Catholique positi The Catholique church doth ought to beleeue those things which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde without writinge in the same degree of faith with those which are written Note that the proofes of this position doth also proue thother going à fore Proofe 1. Therfore Brethren stand and hold the traditions which you haue learned whether it be by worde or by our epistle S. Basile saith I account it Apostolique to continue firmly in vnwritten traditions and alledgeth this place of S. Paule S. Chrisostome cited by Fulke himself saith thus Hereof it is manifest that they the Apostles deliuered not all by Epistles but many things without letters and the one is of as great credit as the other Therfore we think the tradition of the church to be worthie of credit It is à tradition inquire no more 2. O Timothee keepe the deposituÌ„ That is that which is comitted to thy trust not certes by writinge For litle or nothinge writren of the new testament was knowne to Timothee then See à large discourse herevpon in Vincentius lirenensis 3. But if anie man seeme to be contentious wee haue no such custome nor the church of god where S. Paule alledgeth the custome of the church as à sufficient disproofe of anie practise why not therfore for the proofe of anie The things which thou hast hearde of me by many witnesses these commende to faithfull men which shall be fitt to teach others also loe no word here of writing but of hearing teaching by worde of mouthe Nowe haueinge proued by Scripture it self and euident instances that many thinges are to be beleeued that are not directly contayned in Scripture it appeareth à sensless thinge to demaunde direct proofe of euerie thinge we beleeue out of Scripture Protestants Positi The holy Apostles deliuered not by word of mouth moethings to be beleeued and obserued by the church theÌ„ theyether founde written or wrote them selues And therfore are there no traditions to be holden or beleeued 2. The Catholique church ought not to beleeue those thinge which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde of mouth without writinge in the same degree of faithe with those which are written THE THIRD CON trouersie of the difficultie to vnderstand the Scriptures Catho positiones 1 All places of holy scripture conteyninge articles of fayth the obstinate misbeleife wherof is Damnable are not easâ—â— to be vnderstoode but requiâ—â— some rule to be interpreted by Proofe 1. Philipp sayd to the Eunucâ— whom he founde readinge thâ— Prophet Esay Trow est thou thâ—â— thou vnderstandest the things which thou readest who sayde how can vnless some man shewe me 2. Our Sauiour accordingly â—pened the vnderstaÌ„dinge of his Apostles that they might vnderstand the Scriptures see therfore what à speciall grace it is to â—nderstand the Scriptures in there true sense and meaninge In the which the Epistles of sainct Paule are certayne thinges hard to be vnderstoode which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue as also the 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures to theyr owne perâ—â—ione Sainct Hierome explicatinge â—â—e text now cited out of the actes concludeth thus These thinges haue I breifly touched as the limitts of an Epistle would permitt that thou mayest vnderstande that with out a guide and teacher thou canst not enter the pathe of holy Scriptures which is easie to conceaue seeinge as he notethe in the same place no trade nor mechanicall art is learned with out à maister Certes it is not onely an heresie but à meere frensie to saye that all scriptures conteyninge poyntes of faythe necessary to be beleeued are easie to be vnderstoode of priuat beleeuers sithence all heresies whatsoeuer haue bene begoÌ„n and maynteyned for want of true vnderstandinge of holy scriptures wherof Vincentius Lirenensis sayth thus Some man may peraduenture aske foâ— asmuch as the canon of the scriptures 〈◊〉 perfect and in all pointes very sufficient in it self what neede is ther tâ— ioyne therunto the authoritie of the ecclesiasticall vnderstandinge For this cause surely for that all take not the holy scriptures in one and the same sense because of the deepness therof bâ—â— the sayinges therof some interpret one way and some another way soe thaâ— tbere may almost as manye senses bâ— picked out of it as there be men Foâ— Nouatian doth expound it one waye and Sabellius another waye otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other wayes Photinus Apolinaris Priscillianus otherwayes Iouinian Pelagius Celestius lastly otherwayes Nestorius Thus far that auÌ„cieÌ„t father to whom we may ad otherwais wicliffe Luther Caluin Anabaptistes with the rest and this most truely seing of these fewe wordes This is my Bodye there are found aboue 80. diuers senses besides the Catholique â—ense and meaninge S. Augustine also auoucheth the samesayinge For no other reason are heresies made but because men not rightly vnderstandinge the Scriptures doe obstinatly affirme they re owne opiniones against the truthe of them Catho pos 2. Priuate personnes though true beieeuershaue not the spirit of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meaninge of the same Proofe 1. No prophecie of scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. The lippes of the Priest shall keepe knowledg and the lawe they shal require of his mouthe be cause he is the Angell that is the messeÌ„ger of the lord of hostes loe here the office of interpretinge the lawes of god giuen to priestes and not assured to euerie faythfull person 3. Vpon the Chaire of Moyses haue sitten scribes and Pharisies all thinges therfore whatsoeuer they shall saye to you obserue yee and doe yee loe here à commaunde to heare the prelates pastoures of the church and no man lefte to followe his owne fantasie in matters of faythe and manners Protestantes PositioÌ„ 1. All places of holy Scripture â—onteininge articles of faith the obstinate misbelief wherof is daÌ„nable are easie to be vnd er stood therfore require not anie rule to be interpreted by 2. Priuat persounes that are true beleeuers haue the Spirit and gift of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meainge therof THE FOVRTH CONtrouersie Of the infallibilitie of the churche Catho pos THe sense and meaninge of holy Scriptures giuen or aproued by the holy Catholique church is vnfallibly true as are also the definitiones and declarationes of faithe deliuered by the same and euery one is bounde vpon his damnatioÌ„ not to reiect the iudgment therof Proofe 1. My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouthe shall not departe out of thy mouthe and out of the mouthe of thy seede and out of the mouthe of thy seedes seede sayth our lord for this present and for euer
tell the churche therfore must it of necessitie be apparent and visible 5. The Churche consistethe of Pastores and sheepe Superiors or rulers and subiectes And he gaue some Apostles and some Prophetes and other some Euangelistes other some pastores and Doctores Are all Appostles are all Prophetes are all Doctores But superiores and subiectes must be Knowne to one another as also Pastores and they re sheepe Therfore must the Churche of necessitie be visible and apparent Protestantes posit The true Church of god is not necessarily visible nor apparent ether to the faithfull beleeuers that are in it or to heretiques and those that are out of it This position must the Protestantes also proue and defend though directly against the holy Scriptures vnless they will confess their church not to be the true Church as if the Scriptures be true it cannot be seeinge that before Luther it ether was not at all or was inuisible and therfore no true church of Christ Catholique Positi The true church of Christ can neuer want à lawfull personall succession of Pastors from her first institution till the end of the world Proofe 1. And he gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and othersome Euangelistes and othersome pastores and Doctores To the consummation of the saintes vnto the worke of the ministerie vnto the edifyinge of the bodye of Christ Vntill we meete all in the vnitie of faythe Loe here Pastores giuen for the Churche till all meete in vnite of faythe which is till the ende of the worde 2. Goinge teache all nationes baptiseinge them in the name of the Father c. and behoulde I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the worlde Loe here Christ promiseth to be with the pastores of the Churche whom he sendethe all dayes till the ende therfore there shall alwayes be pastores 3 For thy Fathers there are borne sonnes to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer all the earthe Vnderstoode by S. Augustine of the successione of pastores in the churche Sayinge The Apostles begott thee ô Christian Churche they were sent they preached they are thy fathers But could they bee alwayes corporally with vs could any of them tarye here till this tyme could they tarie till the time yet to come But was therfore the Churche left desolate by theyr departure God forbidd For thy fathers sonnsare borne to thee what is this for thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee The Aposstles were seÌ„t fathers inplace of the Aposstles sonnes are borne to the Bishoppes are appointed For whence were the Bishoppes borne that are att this daye in the worlde the church her selfe callethe them fathers shee begate them and appoynted them in the seates of the fathers Doe not therfore think thyself desolate O ChristiaÌ„ church because thou seest not Peter seest not Paule for thou seest not them by whome thou wast borne but of thyn issue fatherhoode is spronge to thee For thy fathers sonnes are borne to thee thou shalt make them princes ouer all the earthe This is the Catholique church Her children are made princes ouer all the earthe her sonnes are constituted for fathers lett them acknowledge this that are cut of let them come to the vnitie be they brought into the temple of the kinge Thus S. Augustin prote pos The true church of Christe may be without a lawfull personnall succession of Pastores This position they must alsoe proué or ells theyr church cannot be anie true churche For they cannot shew any Pastores of theyr religion before Luther to whom he succeeded Catho pos This lawfull succession of Pastores in gods churche is not withovt consecration and authenticall mission or sendinge by an ordinarye power residing in the churche Proofe 1. when they S. S. Paule and Barnabas had ordayned to them Priestes in eueri churche and had prayed with fastinge they commended them to our lord in whom they beleeued 2. Nether doth any man take the honoure of priesthoode to himself but he that is called of god as Aaron Note that if Luther CaluiÌ„ and Beza with the rest who say they are called of god as Aaron can shewe the like proofes of they re calling that Aaron did and besides the externall consecratioÌ„ which he also had notwithstanding his internall callinge of god they shal be beleeued to haue godes caling Tough Aaron being the first of his order and therfore could not haue his callinge by succession his case is farr vnlike to our newe maysters vnless they will coÌ„fess a truthe and saye that they are also the first of their order wherin they shal be beleeued and therby conuinced not to be preachers of Christ but of themselues because they haue no mission from him but come of them selues beinge sent by none 3. Howe shall they beliue him whom they haue not hard And howe shall they heare without a preacher But howe shall they preach vnless they be sent Amen Amen I saye vnto you he that entereth not by the dore that is by the ordinarie waye into the fould of the sheepe but climethe vp another way he is a theefe and a robber But hee that enterethe by the Dore is the Pastore of the sheepe The Prophets prophesie lyes in my name I haue not sent them I haue not sent these Prophets yet they rann with many such like wherby it appeareth that we are not to beleeue euerie one that preteÌ„deth to come from god vnless they shew their mission and coÌ„missioÌ„ To which purpose heare this notable saying of the auncient Ireneus It behoâ—uethe to obaie those priestes that are in the churche those who haue the succession from the Apostles as we haue shewed who together with Episcopalitie haue receiued accordinge to the will of the father the assured certayne gift of truthe But to suspect the rest that stande of from the originall succession in what place soeuer the are assembled ether as heretiqueâ— and of bad doctrine as makeinge schisme and as highe mynded and pleasinge themselues and of S. Cypriane If the church was with Cornelius whâ— succeeded the Bishope Fabiane and whome beside the honoure of Preisthoâ—â— our lord glorified with martyrdomeâ— Nouatian is not in the church nor caâ— he be esteemed à Bishope who dispising euangelicall and apostolicall tradition succeeding to none is sprongâ— out from himselfe For nether can 〈◊〉 haue or houlde by any meanes the churche who is not ordered in the churche Protestantes Pos. The lawfull succession of Pastores in gods churche may be with out consecration and authenticall mission or sending by any ordinarie power residing in the churche THE SIXTHE CONtrouersie of the supremicie of S. Peter and of the Pope or Bishope of Rome Catho Positions 1 SAint Peter was by our sauiour Christ constituted supreme head and souraigne Bishope or Pastoure ouer his whole churche militant Proofe 1. Our sauiour sayd to S. Peter Symon of Ihon louest thou me Feede my sheepe
of mere mercie and grace the incestu ouse corinthiane of the rest of his Pennance which with out the same pardone he was bouÌ„de to haue performed though his sinn was already forgiuen him Protestant Positions 1. Pennance consistinge of contrition confession and satisfaction of the penitent and absolution of the preist is not truly properly à Sacrament of the newe lawe 2. It is not necessarie for the penitent to confess all his synnes or that coÌ„fession is not necessarie for obtayniÌ„g remissioÌ„ of our synnes 3. The guilt of the synn being pardonned there remainethe no temporall payne to be suffered or other satisfaction to be made ther in this life or in the next â— The temporall payne reâ—ayning cannot be redeemed â—y anie workes nor are there â—nie satisfactorie workes â— workes done for Satisfaction â—or synn or for the payne due to â—t doe derogate from the satifaction of our Sauiours passion â— There is not in the churche of Christ anie power to giue indulgence or graunte pardon of anie parte of the the temporall payne or pennance to be performed after the guilt of the synn be pardoned and remitted OF HOLY ORders Catholique position HOly orders wherby power is giuen both to consecrate the true body of Christ as the catholique church doth beliue also to minister other Sacraments in the churche which is the mysticall body of Christ to exercise other ecclesiasticall functiones is truly and properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe Proofe Holy order is giuen by a visible or sensible signe with the effect of grace therfore properly a Sacrament Proofe 1. Neglect not the grace that is in thee which is giuen thee by prophecie with imposition of the handes of preisthoode â—gayne 2. I admonishe thee that thou resuseitate he grace of god which is in thee by the â—mposition of my handes Further. 3. Then they fasting and praying and imposing handes vpon them dismissed them S. Ambrose vpon the wordes before cited out of the first to Timothee 4. sayth thus The imposition of handes is mysticall wordes where with the elect is confirmed to this worke receauing auctoritie his conscience bearing witnes that he may be bould in our lorde steede to offer sacrifice to god M. Bilson proueth by the auctoritie of Caluin holy orders or creating ministers as he tearmeth it to be a Sacrament which Caluin doth not only affirme but proue if the other cite him truly by these reasones because it is a visible signe with grace Protestans positions Holy orders wherby power iâ— giueÌ„ to minister other SacrameÌ„tâ— and exercise other ecclesiasticall functiones is not properly truly a Sacrament of the newe lawe OF EXTREAME vnctione THe anoylinge of the sicke with the forme of wordes ioyned ther with vsed in the Catholique Roman churche is truly and properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe Proofe It is a sensible signe with the effect of inuisible grace therfore properly a Sacrament Proofe 1. Is anie man sicke amonge you let him bring in the priestes of the churche and let them praye ouer him anoyleing â—im with oyle in the name of our lord Loe here the externall signe And â—he prayers of fayth shall saue the sick â—nd our lord shall lift him vp and if hee â—e in sinnes thei shall be remitted to him Loe here the internall grace of which S. Chrisostome saythe â—hus They to witt preistes haue auctoritie to forgiue sinnes not only when they regenerate vs but after wardes also For is anie sick amonge you â—aith the Apostle let him bringe in the Preistes c. Protestantes position The anoyleinge of the sick with the forme of wordes adioyned vsed in the Romane churche is not properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe OF MATRImonie MAtrimonie contracted betwixte christianes is not a bare ciuill contract but truly properly a SacrameÌ„t of the newe lawe Proofe It is a Symbole or signe of a holy thing with the effect of grace therfore a Sacrament For this cause shall man leaue his father mother shall cleaue to his wife they shal be two in one fleshe This is a great Sacrament I speake in Christ in the churche Note that Catholique auctores vrge not this worde Sacrament to proue that matrimonie is properly a SacrameÌ„t but to proue it a holy signe or a signe of a holy thing and therfore not a mere ciuill contract and this doth the text euidently importe declareing that the ioining together of maÌ„ woman as it is vsed in Christ his church is a Symbole or signe of the inseparable vnione aÌ„mitie of Christ his churche The effect of grace in this Sacrament is also shewed by the same wordes For matrimonie is not onely a signe of the vnione of Christe and the churche in conformitie of nature but also by spirituall charitie wher with Christ loued his churche gouerneth it holily the church doth inseperably adhere vnto Christ by faythe hope charitie and is subiect to him by obedieÌ„ce which spirituall vnione mariage cannot signifie vnles there be betwixt man and wife a spirituall vnione of mindes beside the ciuil contract and therfore the Apostle doth warne that husbandes should loue they re wiues as Christ doth his churche and that wiues should obaye they re husbandes as 〈◊〉 churche doth Christ S. Augustine to omit other fathers saythe thus of this Sacrament In the mariage of our people meaninge Christianes the holiness of the Sacrament is of more worthâ— theÌ„ the fertilitie of the wombe Agayne The good of mariage in all nationeâ— and men is in the cause of procreation and fayth of chastitie but for as muâ—â— as pertaynethe the people of god it is 〈◊〉 in the holines of the Sacrament which places besides others manifestly shewe that he speakethe of a Sacrament properly for els these sayinges were not true Protestant Position Matrimonie contracted betwixt Christianes is but a bare ciuill contract and not anie Sacrament properlye OF THE EFFECT OF the Sacraments Catholique Position 1. THe Sacrament of Baptisme as it is a Sacrament of the â—ewe lawe therfore all the SacrameÌ„ts of the newe lawe giueth grace ex opere operato or of the worke it self or is the true cause of grace in those that receaue it worthilie which is to giue grace ex opere operato or of the worke wrought and is not onely a signe or a seale of godes good will to vs or a bare meanes to stir fayth vp in vs as the preaching of the Gospell is Proofe 1. Vnless man be borne agayne of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of god Loe here our regeneration ascribed to Baptism as to a true cause 2. Doe pennance and be euerie one of 〈◊〉 baptised in the nâ—me of Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 remissioÌ„ of your sinnes Loehere remission of sinnes atributed to baptisme as to a true cause as yf one should saye take medecin for your health The like or more