the Church who then but miscreants and Heretikes can take it for a name of curse reproch and shame Is it not vntil this day set downe in the Apostles creed as the honourable title and epithite of the true Church I beleeue the holy Catholike Church Must he then not be rather an Apostata then a scholler of the Apostles â—hat blusheth not to auouch the very name Catholike to be the proper badge of Apostataes and Heretikes which the Apostles asscribe and appropriate vnto true Christianity If any proude and false fellowes doe vsurpe that name and challenge it to themselues wrongfully as many did euen in S. Augustines time when M. Abbot confesseth it to haue beene in greatest estimation let such vsurping companions be rebuked sharply and conuicted of their insolent and audatious folly but the name Catholike which the Apostles thought vvorthy and fit to be placed in the articles of our creede and principles of our religion must alwaies remaine and be among true Christians a name very glorious and desireable We therefore say with S. Augustine We receiue the holy Ghost if we loue the Church Tract 32. in Iohannem Lib. 1. cont GaudeÌ„t c. 33. if we be joined together by charity if we rejoice in the Catholike name and faith And they that doe not joy in that name but mocke at it doe blaspheme as the same most holy Authour intimateth The name Iewe being taken in the Apostles sence for one of what nation soeuer that fulfilleth the justice of the law neuer was nor neuer shal be a name of reproch so that M. Abbot is driuen to hoppe from one sence of that name to another to make it appliable to his purpose But and it please you the Protestants haue the kernel of the name Catholike and we but the shel Why doe they then so bitterly inueigh against it vvhy are they not more willing to extol and magnifie that renowmed title being of such ancient Nobility twenty pound to a peny that vvhat face soeuer he set on it yet in his hart he maruailously feareth the contrary himselfe If that faith and religion only be Catholike vniuersal as he acknowledgeth that hath euer beene and is also spread ouer al the world and shal continue to the worldes end then surely their religion cannot be Catholike euen by the vniforme confession of themselues vvho generally acknowledge that for nine hundred yeares together the Papacy did so domineer al the world ouer that not a man of their religion vvas to be found in any corner of the vvorld that durst peepe out his head to contradict it Could there be any Church of theirs then when there was not one Pastour and flocke of their religion though neuer so smal in any one country and euen now vvhen their Gospel is at the hottest hath it spread it selfe al the world ouer is it receiued in Italy Spaine Greece Afrike or Asia or carried into the Indians nothing lesse They cannot then cal themselues Catholikes after the sincere and ancient acceptation of that name which is as himselfe hath often repeted out of S. Augustine Quia communicant Ecclesiae toto orbe diffusae Because they communicate in fellowship of faith with the Church spread ouer al the world They must therefore notwithstanding M. Abbots vaine bragges be content with the shel and leaue the kernel to vs who doe embrace the same faith that is dilated al countries ouer yea they must be contented to walke in the foote-steps of their fore-fathers the Donatists euen according to M. Abbots explication and flie from the vniuersality of faith and communion of the Church spread al the world ouer vnto the perfection of their doctrine which is neuerthelesse more absurd and further from the true signification of the word Catholike then the Donatists shift was of fulnesse of sacraments and obseruation of al Gods commandements as hath beene already declared But let vs heare how clearely and substantially he wil at length proue their Church to be Catholike ROBERT ABBOT NOw as of this Catholike Church from the beginning to the end there is as appeareth in the vvordes cited by M. Bishop but Ephes 4. vers 4. One body euen as one Lord one God and Father of al so is there also but one spirit one hope one faith one baptisme one spiritual meate and drinke one religion Let vs then looke out those that haue beene before vs and consider Abel Noë Abraham Isaac Iacob and the rest of the Patriarkes and Fathers Let vs looke to Moises and the Prophets and the whole generation of the righteous and faithful of the old Testament and see what their faith was what was their religion and seruice of God vndoubtedly we find not a Papist among them we finde no shadow of that which they now obtrude and thrust vpon vs vnder the name of Catholike religion They did not worship Idols and Images they did not coÌ„ming after pray to Saints that were dead before them they vsed no inuocation of Angels they knew no Merits nor vvorkes of supererogation They vowed no vowes of Monkery they made no pilgrimage to Reliques and dead mens bones they knew no shrift nor absolution or any of that riffe-raffe-stuffe vvherein the substance of Catholike religion is now imagined to consist But what they did the same doe we as they worshipped God so sauing ceremonial obseruances vve also worship him as they beleeued so by the same spirit of faith vve also beleeue as they praied so vvith the same vvordes we also pray according to the approued example of their life we also teach men to liue therefore no Popery but our religion is the Catholike religion because it is that vvhich the Catholike Church hath practised from the beginning of the world and Popish religion not so The same faith and religion which they followed and no other our Sauiour Christ at his coÌ„ming further confirmed and only stripping it of those tipes and shadowes vvherewith it pleased God for the time to cloth it commending the same to his Apostles simply and nakedly to be preached to the nations They did so They added nothing of their owne they preached only the Gospel promised before by the Tertul. de Praescript Rom. 1. Prophets in the holy Scriptures saying no other thinges Act. 26. v. 12. Lib. 3. cap. 1. then those which the Prophets and Moises did say should come The Gospel which they first preached afterwardes by the wil God as Ireneus saith they deliuered to vs in writing to be the pillar and foundation of our faith Thus then vvhat Christ deliuered the Apostles preached vvhat the Apostles preached they wrote vvhat they vvrote we receiue and beleeue De praescript and beleeuing this as Tertullian saith we desire to beleeue no more because we first beleeue that there is nothing else for vs to beleeue And therefore as S. Augustine saith if any man August cont literas Petili lib. 3. cap. 6. nay if an Angel from
haue beene various in the transforming of his countenance In Germany beleeuing one thing in Heluetia another at Geneua turning the third way in Holland vvandering the fourth How many countries they infect with their new and prophane Gospel so many diuers professions of faith and distinct formes of Church gouernement they haue These changlinges that are so farre degenerated from their predecessors piety and doe disagree so much one with another Yea that doe in the same country often chop and change their owne religion are of al constant Catholikes to be auoided as vnstable and wauering soules caried about with euery blast of new doctrine But concerning dutiful obedience vnto the Prince vvho is Gods Lieutenant general in temporal causes Catholikes if they be compared to Protestants wil be found an hundred times more loyal and constant vvhich point because I haue touched in my answere vnto M. Abbots Epistle in the beginning of this booke I neede not here againe handle it at large And although some men of our religion haue now and then as fraile and sinneful creatures forgotten their duty both to God and their King yet they haue beene so few and that so seldome in comparison of the Protestants that for one of ours more then a thousand of theirs haue within this hundred yeares failed therein though we be in number a thousand of our religion for one of theirs if you take al Christendome ouer And albeit the state seeme now to be settled against the religion of our fore-fathers and not vnlike so to continue vntil it shal please God of his infinite mercies to alter and amend it vvhich notwithstanding as al the faithful know may be very shortly because his diuine power is infinite and no man able to resist his vvil yet we shal be by the assistance of Gods good grace so farre off from biting our tongues or the lip either thereat as M. Abbot fondly imagineth that vve wil rather pray to God to open our lips and to loose our tongues to magnifie his holy name that he hath giuen vs that true Christian happinesse and honour not only Phillip 1. vers 28. to beleeue a-right in Christ IESVS in these daies of infidelity but also to suffer disgrace and to sustaine persecution for the constant profession of his holy name and only true Catholike Apostolike Roman faith They who make profession of religion to please the Princes of the earth to heape vp honours and to rake riches togither haue great cause of griefe when they finde themselues therefore by the present state discountenanced impouerished and vtterly rejected But others vvho know our blessed Sauiour as al Christians ought to doe and the true honour vertue and riches of his Crosse doe more regard of his loue yea of one good looke of his then of al earthly Kinges countenances fauours and preferments And doe make a higher estimate of bearing his Crosse after him and of suffering persecution for his glorious name sake then of al vvorldly ease honours and commodities Imitating therein that generous and most noble minded Moyses Hebr. 11. vers 25. Who chose rather to be afflicted with the people of God then to haue the pleasures of temporal sinne esteeming the reproach for Christ greater riches then the treasures of the Aegiptians It doth not therefore so much trouble vs to behold the state settled against the Catholike religion for our owne temporal interest who haue thereby so manifold occasions to mortifie our euil passions to flie the temptations of the wicked world and to endeare our selues vnto our most louing redeemer But very great sorow and continual sadnesse of hart haue we to consider that Christian religion first planted in our country and euer since vntil our fathers daies most constantly continued is now banished thence and with it al honesty of life al good and charitable dealing with our neighbour is vtterly decaied and banished out of the City and Country And in place thereof swearing and forswearing drunkennesse dishonesty and al manner of deceit and knauery openly practised countenanced and without blushing professed That the goodly faire and stately Churches built by our Catholike Ancestors for Catholike assemblies at the blessed sacrifice of the Masse and for the due administration of the holy Sacraments and true preaching of Gods word be now prophaned and turned to places of dishonouring of our soueraigne Creatour and of seducing his poore creatures That the famous Vniuersities and other Schooles founded for instruction principally of Catholike doctrine and deuotion be now made shops of new errours loose manners and impiety Vpon these and such like spiritual considerations finding our poore country depriued in manner of al Gods blessings and our deare country-men made slaues of the Deuil and fuel for the flames of hel fire vve Catholikes are exceeding pensiue yet doe vve not therefore fare like madde men nor gnaw our tongues for anger as M. Abbot scornefully vvriteth but doe in bitternesse of soule most earnestly pray vnto the Father of mercies in vvhose handes are the harts of al Kinges to inspire our dread soueraigne King IAMES and the Lordes of his most honourable Councel vvith the true knowledge of his sacred vvil and word and to kindle in them so feruent a zeale of the Catholike Roman faith as that they may imploy those very rare and singular gifts of nature arte and experience which God hath plentifully powred vpon them towardes the reclaiming of our country from the new prophane heresies and most wicked conuersation of these miserable times vnto our Ancestours sound faith sincere honesty and most charitable and vpright dealing This chiefly is the heape of our heauinesse this is al the harme vve wish them this is al the treason that can be justly laid to our charge That vvith the aboundance of such honour and prosperity as this vale of misery affordeth them they might also be heires of eternal happinesse glory and felicity And albeit for this inestimable heauenly blisse vvhich we most hartily desire vnto our natiue soile and best beloued country we be stiled a thousand times traitours and euery way vsed most vnkindly yet we shal not surceasse by Gods grace to pray for them continually vvho doe day and night persecute vs yea ouer and besides be ready also by the assistance of the same his grace not only to bestow our best and most seruiceable daies to doe them good but also the dearest bloud in our bodies if it shal please our blessed Sauiour so to dispose of vs. And is it likely that men thus by the grace of God affected should cry out as M. Abbot malitiously surmiseth O fallaces spes O deceitful hopes doth he not here rather notably discouer the basenesse and corruption of his owne mind as exceeding far dissenting from the right temper and disposition of a sound and noble Christian who should be nothing daunted for seing the worldly state settled against him because our great Master Christ hath assured vs of that
of their Church Wherevpon if you demand of a French Catholike of what Church he is his answere wil be that he is of the Catholike Roman Church where he addeth Roman to distinguish himselfe from al Sectaries vvho doe cal themselues somtimes Catholikes though most absurdly and to specifie that he is such a Catholike as doth wholy joine with the Roman Church in faith and religion Euen as the vvord Catholike was linked at first vvith Christian to distinguish a true Christian beleeuer from an Heretike according to that of Pacianus an ancient Authour Epistola ad Simphorian Christian is my name Catholike is my surname so now a daies the Epitheton Roman is added vnto Catholike to separate those Catholikes that joine with the Church of Rome in faith from other sectaries who doe sometimes cal themselues also Catholikes though very ridiculously because they be diuided in faith from the greatest part of the vniuersal world Out of the premises may be gathered that the Roman Church may wel signifie any Church that holdeth and maintaineth the same faith which the Roman doth whence it followeth that M. Abbot either dealt doubly vvhen he said the Roman Church to be a particular Church or else he must confesse himselfe to be one of those Doctors vvhom the Apostle noteth 1. Tim. 1. vers 7. For not vnderstanding what they speake nor of what they affirme Now to this his second sophistication The Roman Church by our rule is the head and al other Churches are members to it but the Catholike comprehendeth al ergo to say the Roman Church is the Catholike is to say the head is the whole body Here is first a mishapen argument by vvhich one may proue or disproue any thing for example I wil proue by the like that the Church of England is not Catholike thus The Church of England by their crooked rule is a member of the Catholike Church but the Catholike Church comprehendeth al where fore to say the English Church is the Catholike Church is to say a member is the whole body Besides the counterfait fashion of the argument there is a great fallacy in it for to omit Fallacia accidentis that vve say not the Church of Rome but the Bishop of Rome to be the head of the Church it is a foule fault in arguing as al Logitians doe vnderstand when one thing is said to be another by a metaphore to attribute al the properties of the metaphore to the other thing For example Christ our Sauiour is metaphorically said to be a Lion Apocal. 5. vers 5. Vicit Leo de tribu Iuda now if there hence any man would inferre that a Lion hath foure legges and is no reasonable creature ergo Christ hath as many or is not indued with reason he might himselfe therefore be wel taken for an vnreasonable and blasphemous creature Euen so must M. Abbot be vvho shifteth from that propriety of the metaphore bead which was to purpose vnto others that are cleane besides the purpose For as Christ vvas called a Lion for his inuincible fortitude so the Bishop of Rome is called the head of the Church for his authority to direct and gouerne the same but to take any other propriety of either Lion or Head when they be vsed metaphorically and to argue out of that is plainly to play the sophister Wherefore to conclude this passage M. Abbot hath greatly discouered his insufficiency in arguing by propounding argumēts that offend and be very vitious both in matter and forme and that so palpably that if young Logitians should stand vpon such in the paruies they would be hissed out of the schooles it must needes be then an exceeding great shame for a Diuine to vse them to deceiue good Christian people in matter of saluation And if after so great vaunts of giuing ful satisfaction to the reader and of stopping his aduersaries mouth that he should not haue a word to reply he be not ashamed to put such bables as these into print he cannot choose but make himselfe a mocking-stocke to the world surely his writinges are more meete to stoppe mustard-pots if I mistake not much then like to stoppe any meane schollers mouth ROBERT ABBOT IT is therefore a meere vsurpation whereby the Papists cal the Roman Church the Catholike and the very same that the Donatists of old did vse Aug. Ep. 48. They held the Catholike Church to beat Cartenna in Africa and the Papists hold it to be at Rome in Italy they would haue the Church to be called Catholike Ibid. breu collat 2. cap. dici 3. not by reason of the communion and society thereof through the whole world but by reason of the perfection of doctrine and sacraments which they falsly challenged to themselues the same perfection the Church of Rome now arrogateth to it selfe and wil therefore be called the Catholike Church Cōt Crescon grammat lib. 2. cap. 37. Epist 48. From Cartenna the Donatists ordained Bishops to other countries euen to Rome it selfe And from Rome by the Papists order must Bishops be authorised to al other churches They vvould be taken to be Catholikes for keeping communion with the Church of Cartenna and so the Papists vvil be counted Catholikes for keeping communion with the Church of Rome They held Ibidem that howsoeuer a man beleeued he could not be saued vnlesse he did communicate with the Church of Cartenna And the Papists hold that there is no saluation likewise but in communicating vvith the Church of Rome The Donatists vvere not so absurd in the one but the Papists are as absurd and ridiculous in the other WILLIAM BISHOP IN the former passage M. Abbot bestowed an argument or two raked out of the rotten rubbish of those walles to vse some of his owne wordes vvhich vvere before broken downe by men of our side Now he commeth to his owne fresh inuention as I take it for it is a fardle of such beggarly base stuffe and so ful of falshood and childish follies that any other man I vveene vvould not for very shame haue let it passe to the print It consisteth in a comparison and great resemblance that is betweene the old doating Donatists and the new presumptuous Papists if M. Abbot dreame not The Donatists saith he held the Catholike Church to be at Cartenna and the Papists doe hold it to be at Rome in Italy False on both sides because we doe not hold it to be so at Rome as they did at Cartenna for we hold it to be so at Rome as it is besides also dispersed al the world ouer they that it vvas wholy included vvithin the straight boundes of Cartenna in Mauritania and her confines so that whosoeuer was conuerted in any other country must goe thither to be purged from their sinnes as S. Augustine testifieth in expresse tearmes Epistola 48. in the very place by M. Abbot alleaged False also in the principal point that the
censured a base and beggarly vassal for shewing my selfe sorrowful for my Princes misfortune what stile deserues he for such outragious reproches bealched forth against the highest Bishop of Christes Church Now whereas M. Abbot boldly auerreth That thereby his Majesty hath learned to cast off the yoke of bondage by which other Princes are enthralled to a beast sauing his reuerence I answere that other Kinges nourished in countries accounted as ciuil to say the least as Scotland vvil not change that their bondage vvith his Majesties supposed liberty and freedome because they hold it farre better to enjoy the direction and assistance of the Bishop of Rome for the vniforme and peacible gouernement of their Clergy according vnto the ancient Canons of the Church then either to take it into their owne handes or to cōmit it to the discretion of Consistory Ministers or to any other sort of late deuised Ecclesiastical plat-formes Godly wise and vnderstanding Kings vvil no doubt consider that some who perswade them to cast off such yokes are very false Parasites no sound and true harted subjects because it is said of Kinges out of il counsel in the second Psalme Let vs breake their bandes and let vs cast from vs their yoke vvhereas contrariwise in the same place the spirit of God speakes thus to Princes Apprehendite disciplinam Receiue discipline that is obserue al good orders and take correction least that our Lord waxe angry with you and then you perish from the right way And if they themselues should so much forget their duty to God and respect to his holy Church as to seeke the vtter ruine and subuersion of it yet very reason teacheth them that it is farre more safe orderly and expedient that there should be one only supreme Pastour assisted with the graue counsel of some of the wiser sort of euery Christian country as the Popes holinesse is with the counsel of his most graue wise and learned Cardinals to controule and correct them then to be left to the mercy of the Ministers of euery country and to the tumultuous reformation of the rash and giddy multitude who by the cōmon consent of the best learned Protestants must take their Prince in hand and belabour him if he goe about to oppresse the Gospel as hath beene before proued To proceede is it not a rare pranke of a parasite to auouch that an ancient student in diuinity must needes stand dumbe like an Asse before his Majesty and not be able to answere him one word in his owne profession but the Church the Church the Fathers the Fathers I vvish hartily that his excellent Majesty would match me with no meaner a man then Doctor Abbot he that professeth himselfe able to stoppe al mens mouthes to alleage not only the Church and the Fathers but the Scripture the Scripture and by his Highnesse authentike judgement approue him to haue the better cause that can pertinently cite most plaine texts of Scripture for their religion I make no doubt but the Protestant part notwithstāding their common craking of the vvord of God should goe to the ground Marry vvhen vve auouch holy Scripture for vs in as expresse tearmes as can be deuised they wil not yeeld but deuise most extrauagant glosses to fly from the euident testimony of Gods most holy word whereupon we are compelled to make recourse vnto the definition of the Church of God Iob. 16. v. 13. Which is guided by the spirit of God vnto al truth and vnto the learned commentaries of the most ancient holy and juditious Fathers vvho vvere for their times appointed by the holy Ghost to rule and instruct the same his Church that seing how they vnderstood the holy Scriptures vve may by their euen and vnpartial line and square direct our judgement in the true sence of holy Scripture vvhich is the principal cause why we rely so much vpon the Church and Fathers and for vvhich he so scornefully vpbraideth vs vvith the Church the Church the Fathers the Fathers And here to returne one of M. Abbots sharpe wordes vpon himselfe vvhat a dissembling hipocrite was he to say that when al was done we could not make any thing good by either Church or Fathers Sect. 9. 10. when as he himself doth plainly confesse that S. Augustine S. Hierome Epiphanius and diuers other Fathers be flat for vs and is driuen roundly to deny their authority and to preferre the opinions of condemned Heretikes Iouinian Vigilantius and Aërius before these most renowmed Doctors and Pastors As grosse and palpable an vntruth is that vvhich followeth That the Catholikes be not heauily persecuted by the state whereas al their goodes and chattels be vvholy confiscate and two partes of their landes their bodies at pleasure subject to prison there to lie without baile or mainprise their persons daily in danger of death for receiuing or any vvay maintaining their Pastours to omit al other their oppressions which be almost innumerable but belike because al Catholikes be not by most cruel death suddainly made away this Minister of bloud accounteth their persecution light and easie And vvhereas he so enlargeth the short and smal persecution of their bretheren I doe offer to joine with him in this issue that more Catholike Priests Religious men and others haue beene tormented murthered and most despitefully slaine by men of their religion within the compasse of two Realmes France and England during the only time of Queene Elizabeth her raigne then were of Protestants and men of al other Sects for a thousand yeares before in those countries yea take to them also al Spaine and Italy The Donatists and al other sectaries doe suffer persecution as S. Augustine truly saith for their obstinate folly vvhat of that ergo whosoeuer suffereth persecution for his religion is a foole what a foolish reason in this then were the Apostles and al the best Christians fooles But M. Abbot saith We be children and can yeeld no reason for that we suffer but what ignorance affordeth vs to wit we must cleaue to the Church and follow our fore-fathers Surely that were a foule fault that we as children should obey our Mother the holy Church and follow the faith and religion of our fore-fathers But first it is most palpably false that we can yeeld no other reason for our religion as our bookes euidently doe conuince Then if we had no other reason but that one it alone were sufficient for it is an article of our Creede to beleeue the Church and S. Paul assureth vs 1. Tim. 3. vers 15. That the Church is the pillar and ground of truth vvhereupon this is receiued as a principle of faith among the ancient Fathers allowed euen by Protestants themselues That he that hath not the Church to his Mother shal neuer haue God to his Father he therefore that cleaueth fast vnto the firme pillar of the Church and followeth her precepts as of a most faithful Mother can neuer goe astray
illum esse traditorem Who with their daily out cries were tedious to the Emperour affirming Foelix to be a traitour Whereupon because the Donatists would not admit of any ordinary judge of Bishops vvithin or without Afrike the innocent Bishop was content to referre his cause to be heard by any vvhomsoeuer for so it followeth in the very next vvordes of that same Epistle of S. Augustine For they that is the Donatists had made the Emperour arbitrator and judge of that cause who first sued to him afterwardes appealed vnto him and yet in the end would not stand to his judgements but seing that he gaue sentence against them they like frantike fellowes cried out against the same as vnlawful which vvas their owne seeking and then affirmed contrary to their former opinion and practise that a Bishop was not to haue his trial and purgation before a secular Iudge Whereupon S. Augustine inferreth If he be blame-worthy whom a temporal Iudge acquited when he himselfe sought after no such Iudge how much more are they to be blamed who would needes haue an earthly King to be judge of their cause Iudex eligitur Imperator The Emperour was by the Donatists chosen for their Iudge but the Emperour giuing sentence against them he was by them condemned thus S. Augustine Are not these shuttle and giddy headed Heretikes sure cardes for M. Abbot to build the Princes supremacy vpon a sandy and slippery foundation yet meete for such a peece of worke But S. Augustine doth say That the Emperour caused the matter to be diligently enquired of to whose charge whereof he was to giue account to God that matter did specially belong I answere that the Emperour hauing taken the matter into his handes by the importunate sute of the Donatists and by the consent of the other party was afterwardes bound in honour and conscience to see it throughly sifted out and most vprightly determined But this furthereth nothing M. Abbots pretence of the Emperours supremacy vvhen first the Emperour himselfe acknowledgeth most ingeniously and perspicuously that he judgeth in such cases against his wil and as it were vnder the correction of the Bishops And S. Augustine as manifestly teacheth that neither Foelix nor any other Catholike Bishop required the Emperour for their judge of their owne free choise but that being thereunto constrained by the impudency and head-strong wilfulnesse of the Donatists who would be judged by no other Neither yet vvould they finally yeelde to the Emperours owne judgement which they so earnestly sued for against the Canons of the Church Were not these head-strong Donatists a most perfect patterne of heretical obstinacy and fit men to be propounded for an example to follow by M. Abbot if any man desire to see more of S. Augustines minde in this matter let him reade his 48. and 166. Epistles and the first Chapter of his third booke against Iulian the Pelagian vvhere he cutteth those Pelagian Heretikes short who hauing beene once condemned by a Councel of Bishops in Palestine vvould haue appealed to the Emperour and did then alleage the Example of the Donatists for their President Lib. 3. cont Iulian. cap. 1. as M. Abbot now doth Not so saith S. Augustine your cause hath bad a competent and sufficient trial before many Bishops neither are you to be dealt withal any further concerning the right of examination and trial it only now remaineth that you quietly accept of the sentence pronounced of this cause so that in S. Augustines judgement the competent lawful and ordinary trial of Ecclesiastical causes is before Bishops from which none but Heretikes doe appeale and flie And touching the Donatists whose example the other Heretikes alleaged Ibidem this holy Father saith They were so violent and withal so stronge that we were forced to follow them appealing to the Emperour for they ranged and raged with such fury almost al Afrike ouer that they would not suffer the Catholikes to preach or to liue in peace by them but by fire sword and forrage put the whole country in garboile and combustion wherefore the Bishops were compelled for the suppressing their fury and for to bring them to reason to conferre with them before the lay Magistrate Thus much of M. Abbots former instance of the Donatists Now to his other borrowed from the Arrians who were assembled in a very wicked conuenticle at Tyre to condemne the most innocent Prelate and Saint of God Athanasius vvho besides also was Patriarke of Alexandria the chiefe seate of al the East and therefore rather to judge ouer them then to be judged of them yet those most malitious Arrians to wreake their teene on him inuented most strange crimes of Rape Murder and Treason against the man of God and had false vvitnesses in readinesse to testifie vvhat they would desire yet were they so prudently encountred and al their most wicked plots so plainly discouered by the grace of God and S. Athanasius most vigilant industry that they fel at last to conspire his death by open violence Al which being related to the Emperour he wrote a most sharpe letter to those bloudy conspiratours and willed them to come to the place where he then made his abode there in his presence and hearing to shew whither that which they had done there were equal and just He doth not say as M. Abbot falsly reporteth that the Bishops were to giue him account of that they had done but according to Athanasius request Socrat. lib. 1. Histor c. 22. vvhich was as it is set downe in the same letter Vt eo accederetis quo nobis praesentibus de injuria qua passus fuerit necessitate coactus posset expostulare That the Councel might be remoued to the Emperours Court to the intent that Athanasius compelled by necessity might expostulate and complaine in the Emperours presence of the injury done vnto him First note that the holy Patriarke compelled by necessity of the Arrians fury repaired to the Emperour Secondly that he desired the matter might be heard though in the Emperours presence yet by the Bishops assembled in that cōuenticle for he had reason to thinke that they vvould not for very shame suffer the matter to be so partially and furiously handled if that good Emperour were present and did but looke on them Thirdly note that there vvas no matter of faith in question but capital crimes and temporal affaires of the state objected against Athanasius wherein the lay Magistrate hath more special interest Briefly here is no mention of the Emperours judging ouer Bishops but only of a sending for them to come to him to handle so waighty a matter before him which any temporal Prince for aught I see may demand and also command of Bishops that be his owne subjects vvhen cause of the temporal state is touched Out of the premises it followeth most euidently that M. Abbot hath not one plaine word to proue the Emperour Constantine to be supreme judge in Ecclesiastical
by most holy Personages witnesse these his vvordes Homil. 37. in Euang. Most deare bretheren many of you haue knowne Cassius the Bishop of Maruiensis whose custome was to offer vp to God daily sacrifice so that almost no day of his life passed in which he did not offer to God almighty the propitiatory Host whose life also was very conformable therevnto and then declareth how in a vision he receiued a commandement from God to hold on and to continue to doe as he did And at the feast of S. Peter and S. Paul thou shalt saith God come to me and I wil repay thee thy reward Againe he relateth of the most blessed Pope Agapitus that hauing a dumbe and lame man presented vnto him by his friendes who professed their confidence in the power of God and authority of S. Peter he presently bent himselfe to praier And beginning the solemnities of Masse Lib. 3. Dialog cap. 3. he offereth vp sacrifice in the sight of almighty God which being ended he went from the Altar tooke the lame man by the hand and the people beholding of it he presently set him vpright vpon his feete and putting the body of our Lord into his mouth his tongue that before was dumbe then beganne to speake Besides of him selfe thus S. Gregory saith Homil. 8. in Euang. Lib. 4. Dialog cap. 55. Because we are by Gods grace this day of Christes Natiuity to celebrate Masse three times we cannot long speake of the Gospel And further He caused the sacrifice of the Masse to be offered thirty daies together for the soule of one Iustus a Monke vntil he was by the oblation of that comfortable sauing Host deliuered from paines This may suffice for his testimony of the sacrifice of the Masse that it is a true propitiatory sacrifice and to be daily offered both for the quicke and the dead Now touching the Real presence of which S. Gregory writeth in this manner Christ liuing now in himselfe immortally Dialog lib. 4. cap. 58. is yet sacrificed for vs in this mistery of the holy oblation for his body is there receiued his flesh is distributed to the saluation of the people his bloud is not now shed by the handes of Infidels but is powred into the mouthes of the faithful Item he saith vpon these wordes Homil. 14. in Euang. A good sheepe-heard giues his life for his sheepe Christ is that good Pastour who gaue his life for his sheepe that he might turne his body and bloud into the Sacrament and fil those sheepe which he had redeemed with the foode of his owne flesh Moreouer expounding these wordes of Iob Who wil grant vs that we may be filled with his flesh The Iewes saith he and the beleeuing Gentils doe both desire to be filled with Christs flesh the obstinate Iewes in striuing to extinguish it by spilling of it but the good Gentils in coueting to feede their hungry mindes with his flesh in the daily sacrifice This I hope be plaine enough for the Real presence Now to the Inuocaton of Saints and the worshipping their Relikes and Images S. Gregory perswades vs to pray to the Saints both because they are Patrones very gratious with our judge IESVS Christ and we very sinful creatures that without the fauourable helpe of others are most like to be condemned Hom. 32. super Euang. In fine Wherefore saith he sue to those blessed Martirs that they may helpe you with their praiers get them to be Protectours of your guiltinesse They looke to be requested and as it were seeke that they may be sought vnto In the same place he sheweth vvhat miracles were wrought at their tombes and what gifts God bestowed on them that came to pray there The sicke men saith he doe come and are cured perjured persons presenting themselues there are vexed by the Deuil men possed with euil spirits be there deliuered How gloriously then doe they liue there where they liue that is in heauen if they liue so miraculously here where they are dead He propoundeth this question how it comes to passe that Martirs doe many times shew greater fauours and worke greater miracles in places where their bodies lie not and answereth in these wordes Where holy Martirs rest in their bodies 2. Dialog cap. vlt. no doubt but that they can doe many miracles as they doe vnto them that with a pure mind seeke for them but because weake mindes might doubt whether they be present to heare there where their bodies be not it is necessary that there they worke greater maruailes least weakelings should doubt of their presence but they whose mindes be fastned vpon God haue so much the more merit for that they know them not to lie there in body and yet not to faile to heare them Doe you note how he reputeth it to be a weakenesse of faith to doubt vvhether the Saints in heauen doe heare our praiers or no vvhich very doubt he resolueth in proper tearmes in another place where treating of the knowledge vvhich the soules departed haue doth say of the blessed soules in heauen 12. Moral cap. 13. Seing that the soules of the Saints doe inwardly behold the brightnesse of God almighty we must in no case beleeue that there is any thing without it which they are ignorant off That Churches were dedicated in the honour of Martirs and holy daies kept in remembrance of their deathes he vvitnesseth in twenty places That Masse was also said daily in eorum veneratione to their worship Lib. 7. Epist cap. 29. That Candels were lighted in the honour of S. Paul to testifie that he with the light of his preaching filled the world Lib. 12. Epist 9. See the last Epistle of the same booke vvhere he ordaineth that lights be taken to serue the high Altar of S. Medard Now for the loue and reuerence vvhich we ought to cary to their holy relikes let this serue A most religious Princesse vvho had in her owne Pallace built a Church in the honour of S. Paul made sute vnto S. Gregory to haue S. Paules Head or Handkercheefe to sanctifie and inrich the same to vvhom S. Gregory vvrote this answere Lib. 3. Epist 30. that he was very willing to pleasure her yet as sorry that he could not doe it in that sort For saith he the bodies of S. Peter and S. Paul doe in their Church glister and lighten with so many miracles and terrours that no man dare approach neere them not so much as to worship them without great dread but he trusted shee should not want the vertue of those holy Apostles whom with al her hart shee loued to protect her And touching the hand-kercheefe which shee demanded it did lie with the body and could not be touched more then the body it selfe yet that her most excellent grace might not be wholy frustrate of her religious desire he would send her some part of those chaines which S. Paul carried both about his necke and
they thought then it was a seruice of God I omit here to bring any further proofes because this is not the place to stand vpon the matter of fasting but only to answere to M. Abbots naked objections vvhereof the fift is as M. Abbot saith that the Montanists thought by their fasting to merit at Gods hand Good reason had they for that if they did so teach and that the rest of their doctrine had beene answerable to it for our blessed Sauiour doth teach the very same expresly in these vvordes Math. 6. When thou doest fast anoint thy head and wash thy face that thou appeare not to men to fast and thy Father who seeth thee in secret wil repay thee Whereupon that graue and holy Father S. Ambrose saith Where be these new Masters that doe exclude the merit of fasting Epistola 82. ad Eâ—cl Here here Sir saith M. Abbot If they were new sect-masters in S. Ambrose time that denied the merit of fasting then surely the ancient Church of Rome did maintaine the merit of fasting Againe Epiphanius a more credible reporter of Montanus errors then his owne disciple Tertullian hath left written Haeres 48. coÌ„t Montan. That many of the Montanists did remoue the reward of vertue and crowne of glory from fasting where fore M. Abbot doth wrongfully attribute that vnto them Besides S. Augustine doth affirme De Ecclesiast dogm ca. 68. That to equal marriage with virginity and to beleeue that they who doe abstaine from wine and flesh to chastise their bodies doe thereby merit nothing is not the part of a Christian but of a Iouinian It is then more then manifest that the ancient Church of Rome did vphold the merit of fasting and that they were of old esteemed no better then Heretikes that denied it To come now to the last fained concord betweene vs and the Montanists They taught as he auoucheth fasting to be a satisfaction or expiation of sinne and a special meanes to appease Gods wrath towards vs which if they did they had good warrant in the word of God for it For the children of Israël 1. Reg. 7. fasting with Samuël appeased God and obtained victory of their enemies so did they againe and againe in the time of Hester 4. Iudith 4. Hester and Iudith The * Ionae 3. ¶ Niniuites turned away the wrath of God by fasting Daniël also as a Ser. de laps Lib. de Vtilit Iejunij ca. 3. S. Cyprian witnesseth by fasting promeruit Deum appeased his wrath did winne his fauor S. Augustine proposeth the delicate Protestants objection shewes vs how to answere thereunto What say they is God so cruel that he taketh pleasure to see thee torment thy selfe Answere saith that most learned Doctor I put my selfe to paine that God may spare me I punish my selfe that he may succour me that I may please his eies that I may delight his sweetnesse for the Host is hampered and vexed that it may be laid vpon the Altar c. Briefly vve haue by the euident warrant of Gods vvord and by sound testimony of the Nicene Councel S. Cyprian S. Ambrose and S. Augustine no Montanists but most holy juditious Prelates of the ancient Catholike Church that by fasting God is truly serued his just indignation against vs is appeased satisfaction is made for the temporal paine due to sinne and the increase of his grace and heauenly glory is thereby also merited Whence it followeth finally that when M. Abbot assaied by these common accidents and circumstances of fasting vvhich were as wel defended by the ancient Church of Rome as by the Montanists to proue the present Church of Rome to be turned Montanist his soare eies were piteously troubled with such a defluxion either of enuy or ignoraÌ„ce that had wel-nigh blinded him But if the discreet reader for his further satisfaction desire to know wherein lay the proper error of the Montanists concerning fasting for they held besides diuers other pointes of erronious doctrine I answere in briefe out of the Ecclesiastical history Euseb lib. 5. cap. 17. Epistola ad MarcelluÌ„ de fide nostra dogmate haeretico Montanus decreed new lawes of fasting vvhich did consist partly in the time and partly in the manner of fasting S. Hierome recounting the principal points of Montanus heresie as that they held but one person in the Deity and that al second mariages were wicked commeth to the third point of fasting and saith We Catholikes doe fast one Lent or fourty daies once in the yeare according to the tradition of the Apostles at a conuenient time They that is the Montanists make three Lents in the yeare as though three Sauiours had suffred for vs not that we may not fast any time in the yeare except betweene Easter and Whitsontide but that it is one thing to doe so voluntarily and another vpon necessity So that the fiâ—st nouelty of their fast was that euery man vvas bound to fast three Lents euery yeare Other daies perhaps they might haue proper to themselues vvhich I haue not read off but the manner of their fast Tertullian in the place before cited doth signifie that it was to hold out their fast vntil the Sunne were set without tasting of any thing and then to vse that Cherophagia mentioned by M. Abbot that is to eate only dry meates that had no juyce or nourishment in them Al vvhich must needes be done according to their doctrine by the commandement of the Paraclete or holy Ghost vvhich dwelt in Montanus and was powred out vpon his disciples as they fabled farre more pientifully then vpon Christes Apostles These indiscreete lawes then of fasting that few vvere able to indure enacted also by him that had no authority to make lawes and peremptorily published in the name of the holy Ghost to be obserued of al vnder paine of damnation vvere Montanus errours touching fasting Let M. Abbot if he can shew out of Philastrius Epiphanius S. Augustine S. Hierome or any other approued Authour who haue registred Montanus heresies either in his owne name or vnder the name of Cataphriges because he was a Phrygian borne and there his heresie did most rage that his errours about fasting were That he thought fasting to please Gâ—d to be meritorious or satisfactory and then he shal beginne to speake to some purpose But any auncient sincere Authour truly taken and reported wil not serue his turne they must be Heretiks or writing at least in an heretical vaine as Tertullian then did or else they wil â—fford him no helpe or comforr The Montanists indeed the more easily to intrappe Catholikes in their snares might perhaps pretend the same end and spiritual fruites of fasting vvhich the Catholikes liked wel off as al Heretikes doe mingle and blend many truthes with their errours the better to colour their trumpery and deceit like vnto Wolues that put on Sheepe-skinnes that they may thereby the sooner catch them vvhom
they seeke to deuour before they be aware of them But as S. Augustine aduiseth very prudently The sheepe must not therefore cast off his owne skinne because the wolfe doth sometime put it on no more must Catholikes forsake any branch or good circumstance of fasting because the Montanists vsed them If any man be desirous to know the true founders of the Protestant doctrine against fasting they are of record in right good authours but noted by them for very vvicked Heretikes Aërius saith both Epiphanius and S. Augustine vnto the Arrian heresie added some other errours of his owne to wit That we ought not to pray and offer sacrifice for the dead and that certaine standing fastes were not to be commanded but that men might fast when they pleased least otherwise they should be vnder the law Is not this the first part of the Protestant plea and opinion that there must be no standing and ordinary fastes Ioyne hereunto one branch of Iouinians heresie Hieron lib. 1. cont Iouin cap. 2. That there is no difference betweene abstaining from meate and receiuing of the same with thanks-giuing that is al is one before God and no more merit or satisfaction in fasting then in eating and then you haue the ful doctrine of the Protestants patched vp out of the rotten reproued ragges of two old condemned Heretikes Aërius and Iouinian The old Roman faith vvhich to this day doth remaine inuiolable walketh in the middest of these two extremities shee leaueth it not to euery mans discretion to fast when and how he pleaseth as Aërius vvould haue had it for then there vvould be little fasting with many as daily experience teacheth vs but cōmandeth certaine standing times of fasting prescribing also one vniforme manner to be obserued of al who be of age and in health which is done according to the tradition of the Apostles with that moderation of both time and diet that shee is as farre on the other side from the presumptuous and vndiscreet prescription of the Montanists as may be We can better defend our selues from Montanus errours then M. Abbot can doe the Protestants from one principal point of them vvhich was as S. Hierome reporteth that they at euery sinne almost Epist. 49. ad Marcellum de dogmate Montani did shut vp the Church dores that is did deny that there was in the Pastours of the Church power to absolue them from those sinnes And were so sterne and rough as S. Hierome saith not that they themselues did not commit more grieuous offences but because there is this difference betwixt the Montanists vs that they are ashamed to confesse their sinnes as men but we whiles we doe penance doe more easily merit and deserue pardon vvhere you see that the ancient Roman Church of which S. Hierome was an eminent Doctor did dissent from the Montanists about the Sacrament of confession The Montanists then as the Protestants now did not beleeue that Priests had power to forgiue many sortes of sinne and therefore vvould not goe to confession Contrariwise the Catholikes then beleeued as we doe now that Priests could pardon al sortes of sinne and therefore went to confession and did such penance as vvas injoyned them thereby to deserue pardon of their sinnes ROBERT ABBOT TO this heresie of Montanus the Church of Rome hath added the practise and defence of sundry other heresies which were condemned of old by the same Church Epiphan Haeres 78. Antid Idem Haeres 79. Collyrid The Collyridians were adjudged Heretikes for worshipping the Virgin Mary and offering vnto her Epiphanius calling it a wicked and blasphemous act a Deuilish worke and the doctrine of the vncleane spirit affirming that shee vvas not giuen vs to be worshipped that because men should not admire or thinke to highly of her therefore he spake to her in that sort in the Gospel Woman what haue I to doe with thee that if God vvould not haue the Angels to be worshipped much lesse a vvoman that the Sonne of God tooke flesh of the holy Virgin but not that shee should therefore be worshipped nor to make her a God nor that we should offer in her name That shee should be in honour but yet let no man worship her saith he let them not say we doe honour to the Queene of heauen Yet the Church of Rome that now is worshippeth the Virgin Mary praieth and offereth to her vnder the name of the Queene of heauen WILLIAM BISHOP Hierem. 13. WHEN the Aethiopian doth change his tanned skinne and the Leopard his speckled case as the Prophet speaketh then and not before I vveene vvil the Aethiopian blacke soule of this Tanners sonne leaue off to abuse the holy Fathers writinges and to deceiue his credulous readers Epiphanius a most holy man and a very learned Bishop in recounting confuting the heresies that vvere sprong vp in and before his time commeth at length vnto the erronious opinions which some held of the most blessed Virgin Mary the glorious mother of God which were in two extremities For some named Antidicomarianitae that is enemies to the sacred Virgin because they spake against her perpetual virginity whose blasphemy he checketh in the 78. heresie which is the first chapter cited by M. Abbot Wherein that holy Father doth most highly commend her stiling her an immaculate Virgin worthy to be made the pallace of the Sonne of God A holy pretious most excellent and admirable vessel comprehending him that is incomprehensible The Princesse of Virginity The Mother of the liuing and the cause of life preferring her before S. Iohn the Euangelist S. Iohn Baptist and Helias Adding finally That though shee were a woman and not in nature changed yet for her sence vnderstanding and other graces Honore honorata which according to the phrase of Scripture signifieth To be honoured with singular honour yea With as great as the bodies of the Saints or what else he could name more to her glory That it was affected madnesse in lieu of worshipping that holy Virgin and honourable vessel with Hymnes and glory to inueigh and raile against her Where you see that the reuerend Bishop Epiphanius doth intimate that it is the part of euery sober Christian to worship the holy Virgin Mary vsing these formal words Virginem sanctam vas honoratum colere To worship the holy Virgin and honourable vessel If M. Abbot then had not beene starke blinde with malice and madly bent to delude and beguile his vnwary reader he vvould neuer haue presumed to alleage Epiphanius vvordes against his owne declaration and meaning But what then meant he when he said that the blessed Virgin was not to be adored vvhich M. Abbot Englisheth alwaies vvas not to be worshipped marry you shal heare out of his owne discourse Euen as some Heretikes saith he declining on the left hand blasphemed the Sonne of God saying that he was not equal to his Father in nature Other walking too much on the right hand
censure and touch of reproach vpon the same his worke called Bibliotheca Patrum Lastly concerning the doctrine of Predestination I reade not that the Pelagians were called in question about it nor yet for Satisfaction vvherefore M. Abbot must first out of some good Authors shew their errours therein before he goe about to slander vs vvith the imitation of them but as I am vvel assured of the later so I thinke he wil not in hast performe the former ROBERT ABBOT I Omit many other matters that might here be added perswading my selfe that I said enough to trouble M. Bishop in the prouing of that that he hath so propounded that the principal pillars of the Church of Rome in her most flourishing estate taught in al points of religion the same doctrine that now shee holdeth c. only for conclusion let me aske him what Bishop of Rome there was for the space of a thousand yeares that practised or taught that concerning Pardons which is now practised and taught in the Church of Rome that the Bishop of Rome hath any authority to giue such libels of pardon or that it is in him to giue faculties and authority to others to graunt the like vvith reseruation of special causes to himselfe or that he can for saying such and such praiers or for doing this or that release a man from Purgatory for so many hundred or thousand yeares vvhat Bishop of Rome was there that did proclaime a Iubilee vvith promise that al that would come to Rome to visit the Churches that yeare should haue ful and perfect forgiuenesse of al their sinnes or that did charge the Angels as did Clement the sixt that vvhosoeuer should die in his journey thitherward they should bring his soule into the glory of Paradise Balaeus in Clem. sexto which of them did take vpon him to Canonize a Saint vvho euer beleeued or taught as it is now receiued in the Church of Rome that the Bishops blessing is the forgiuenesse of venial sinnes Sextus in proem in glossa Rhem. Test in Math. 10. vers 12. Other innouations I wil passe ouer to further occasion but concerning these matters in this place I would pray M. Bishop to let vs be satisfied how the principal pillars of the Church of Rome haue in al points taught the same that the Church of Rome teacheth now The truth is that as the name of Theseus shippe continued a long time vvhen as it was so altered by putting in of new plankes and boordes as that it had nothing left of that that was in it when it was first built by Theseus so the Church of Rome stil continueth her name and would be taken to be the same albeit by chopping and changing shee is come to that passe that shee hath in a manner nothing left of that doctrine for vvhich shee vvas first called the Church of Rome But M. Bishop taketh vpon him to proue the contrary let vs now examine what his proofes are WILLIAM BISHOP YOV doe wisely to omit many other matters that you might haue added if they be like vnto these vvhich you haue already put downe for they are proued to be nothing else in manner but falsifications of the ancient Fathers vvritinges or fond illations of your owne bolstered out with a huge and shamelesse troupe of vntruthes the more one omitteth of such baggage and paultry stuffe the more it maketh for his credit Wherefore if M. Abbot had let al this alone no doubt but he should haue saued much of his reputation which by such vnchristian like and vnhonest dealing he is like to leese with the indifferent juditious reader If he perswade himselfe that he hath put me to some paines and trouble to trace out the vntruth of his allegations he is not deceiued for he produceth them so corruptly with such additions substractions misconstructions and euil applications that euery place he cites must needes be turned vnto in the Authours owne workes before a man can repose any trust in him or shal know what answere to make I pray you good Sir if there be any sparke of Christian sincerity left in you let this admonition serue to intreate you not to put your aduersary or reader to such trouble any more Either for loue of the truth or for feare of Gods judgements and rebuke of honest men forbeare to misreport your Authours If it be a shame to bely the Deuil vvhat impudency and impiety is it to bely most reuerend holy and learned Doctors and which much increaseth that hainous crime thereby to blinde Christian people and to draw them along with him to the bottomelesse pit of hel It hath I willingly confesse more troubled me to spend my spare time in discouering vntruthes and dishonest shifts trickes then it should haue done to haue bestowed it in substantial arguing and in round debating of questions in controuersie with short and sound arguments But I hope by this the vpright reader hath seene that M. Abbot was so farre off from troubling me to proue The principal pillars of the Roman Church in her most flourishing estate to haue taught the same doctrine that the present Church of Rome no teacheth that he hath rather furthered it by ministring vnto me so fit an occasion yea omitting others which I could choose my self for my better aduantage I haue not refused to verifie and make good the present doctrine of that Church euen by the testimony of those very authours of vvhich M. Abbot himselfe made choise as of men that spake most against it If then by their verdict who are thought by our aduersaries to be most estranged from vs our cause is confirmed and proued to be most just and veritable vvho is so carelesse of his owne saluation that had rather follow a lying Master leading to perdition then to imbrace so manifest a truth drawing towardes saluation May I not here justly exclaime with the holy King and Prophet and say Psalm 4. O yee Sonnes of men how long wil you be so heauy harted why are you so farre in loue with vanity and seeke after leasing he that is the true light Iohan. 1. who doth illuminate euery man that commeth into this world of his infinite goodnesse and mercy lighten your vnderstanding and incline your harts that you may perceiue and receiue that ingrafted word that truth of Christ preached by his Apostles approued by the most honourable Senate of the ancient Fathers beleeued al the world ouer that hath also continued euer since inuiolably vvhich only and none other can saue your soules Now for a conclusion and vpshot of this matter M. Abbot would faine know What Bishop of Rome for a thousand yeares after Christ had authority to giue any such libel of pardons as are now giuen or that could graunt to others any such faculty with reseruation of special causes to himselfe c. I answere if these be the greatest difficulties that with-hold him from approuing the doctrine
no man of any other country might afterwards doubt of their so approued sanctity To M. Abbots question I then answere that euen by the order of S. Peter and S. Paul Clemens l. 8. Constit c. 39. S. Stephen was Canonized for a Martir and a festiual day kept in remembrance of his glorious death The like order was obserued for the Apostles and other Martirs And from that time downe to this time I could proue if neede were Canonization of Saints not only by the Bishops of Rome but by the testimony and practise of the best Bishops and Doctors of the Christian religion vvhat ignorance then in al antiquity doth this man bewray by this impertinent demand More impudent yet is this his next Who euer beleeued or taught as it is now in the Roman Church that the Bishops blessing is the forgiuenesse of venial sinnes He citeth in the Margent the Annotations in the Rhemes Testament vpon the 10. of S. Mathew and 12. verse vvhich being looked into doth conuince M. Abbot of vnspeakable impudency Lib. 9. in Lucam L. 22. de Ciuit Dei c. 8. He saw there S. Ambrose alleaged formally to confirme that the Bishops blessing doth remit venial sinnes He could not choose also but see S. Augustine and others quoted in the Margent in commendation of the Bishops blessing vvho else where vvith the Councel of Carthage reproueth the Pelagian Heretikes Epistola 90. for holding that the Bishops blessing was giuen to the people in vaine Seing then that both S. Ambrose and S. Augustine with other more auncient Fathers and Doctors of the Church did grounding themselues vpon Christes owne word and promise teach that the Bishops blessing vvas of great vertue and that it doth namely forgiue venial sinnes by the verdict at least of S. Ambrose that most holy and learned Bishop whose antiquity grauity and sanctity is more to be respected then a thousand of such light prophane Abbots was it not I say incredible and most shameful audacity to demand who euer beleeued or taught that when he saw before his eies such worthy Authours alleaged for it this passeth so farre al ordinary audatious impudency that I know not how to stile it Other innouations he wil of courtesie passe ouer to further occasion but for these jolly points whereof the greatest is scarce worth a pinne he requireth satisfaction vvhich being so readily and easily giuen him he wil belike become a new man if he could once be perswaded to giue ouer lying and trusting to his artificial colouring of lies In the meane season this which I haue said wil I hope serue to satisfie the indifferent reader that the principal pillars of the Church of Rome in her most flourishing estate haue in al points taught the same doctrine that the present Church of Rome doth now teach And it is one of M. Abbots truthes that is to say a most bright glistering vntruth that as Theseus shippe was in continuance of time by putting in of new plankes wholy altered so is now the doctrine of the Church of Rome For I haue before most euidently proued out of authentike recordes of the ancient Bishops of Rome that they beleeued and taught the Real presence and sacrifice of the Masse Praying to Saints Worshipping of their Relikes and Images Purgatory and praier for the dead Auricular confession Workes of satisfaction and supererogation Merit of good workes the Vowes of religious persons the Popes supremacy Briefly al the points in controuersie betweene the Protestants and vs as may more at large be seene in the reformation of M. Perkins Deformed Catholike vvherefore the similitude of Theseus shippe which M. Abbot borrowed of a Catholike treating of another subject vvil not serue his turne but may be more aptly returned vpon themselues vvho bragge and beare the world in hand that they haue reformed al the errours of the Church and brought it vnto the purity of the Apostles times vvhereas in truth they haue plucked vp most of the plankes and boordes of Christes shippe by oppugning most of the articles of the Christian faith and doe what in them lieth to build vp a rotten Thesean shippe of old condemned errours to steale away the golden fleece of Christes true shippe that is to pil and poul the true Catholike Christian of that white fleece of innocency which he receiued in baptisme or recouered by reconciliation to saile after Theseus towardes Paganisme and the infernal gulfe of hel Now because M. Abbot hath here indeauoured to staine the pure and cleane sanctity of our religion with the spots and yron-mooles of errors and heresie I wil to requite his paines giue a touch vnto some special points of erronious doctrine noted by the best Authours for such in expresse tearmes vvhich the Protestants haue as it were raked out of the dunghil of rascal and reprobate miscreants and doe now a-fresh deliuer the same nothing in manner disguised vnto their miserable followers for the purity of the Gospel Yea some of the same are so euident and cleare that they are constrained to defend the authours of them for learned and godly men though by al antiquity they vvere condemned for ignorant and infamous Heretikes and to note the most holy and best vnderstanding and juditious Fathers as lesse skilful then these other erring companions For example Aërius both a knowne and professed Arrian Heretike and also vnknowne to the world for any monument of learning or vertue and therefore likened by Epiphanius to a Beetle and Horse-flie only notorious for these his errours taught first That we ought not to offer sacrifice or to pray for the soules departed Secondly That we ought not to keepe any set times or appointed daies of fasting but when any man wil then let him fast that we may not seeme to be vnder the law For these two points specially that Arrian Aërius vvas Cronicled for a notorious Heretike both by Epiphanius a most holy learned and auncient Grecian Bishop and by S. Augustine one of the most famous lights of the Latin Church the later of whom liued 1200. yeares past Neuerthelesse the Protestants preferre the odde inuentions of that contemptible obscure and blinde Arrian before the judgement of these most renowmed Doctors of Christs Church Must he not then be a very simple or rather sencelesse creature that vnderstanding so much vvil notwithstanding follow them Againe Iouinian was so meane a scholler that he was not able to write his owne minde in good and congruous latin wherefore S. Hierome vvas faine to helpe him out with it and doth as he tearmeth it out of his darke vvorkes cast serpents as it vvere out of their holes into the light Lib. 1. cont Iouin cap. 1. that they may be seene and slaine What vvere these venimous blinde-wormes trow you you shal heare in that most zealous and learned Doctors owne words Iouinian saith first Lib. 1. cont Iouin cap. 2. That Virgins Widowes and married Women baptized if they differ not
heauen shal preach vnto vs any thing concerning Christ or concerning his Church or concerning any thing pertaining to our faith and life but what we haue receiued in the Scriptures of the law and Gospel accursed be he Our faith therefore because it is that which the Apostles committed to writing is the Apostolike faith and our Church ex consanguinitate doctrinae by consanguinity and agreement of doctrine is proued to be an Apostolical Church c. of this Apostolical Church his Majesty is the supreme gouernour vnder Christ As for M. Bishops religion it cannot be the Catholike religion because it is not that vvhich the Catholike Church that is the faithful of al ages haue practised His faith is not the Apostolike faith because it is not that vvhich the Apostles left in writing They make no mention of the Pope of his Supremacy of his Pardons of worshipping of Images inuocation of Saints Pilgrimages and a thousand such trumperies WILLIAM BISHOP WE agree in this that there is but one faith one baptisme one spiritual foode and one religion in the Catholike Church but M. Abbot is fouly ouer-seene about the time when the true Church beganne first to be called Catholike which was not before Christs time but afterwardes according to that alleaged out of Pacianus an ancient authour who writeth of the name Catholike saying Christian is my name Pacian epist ad Simphor de nomine Catholico Catholike is my surname For when among Christians some beganne to teach false doctrine and to draw others after them into sects they that remained sound did cleaue fast vnto the whole body of the Church were intituled Catholikes to distinguish them from Heretikes that did not joine vvith the vniuersal corps of Christians in faith and religion which M. Abbot before did in plaine wordes confesse see his text afore vvhere he beginneth to argue of the word Catholike And the reason is most perspicuous why the Iewes and their religion could not be called Catholike though it vvere right and according to the wil of God for that time because Catholike signifieth that which is spread al the world ouer and receiued of al nations so was not the law of Moises and the manner of seruing God therein prescribed but vvas peculiar vnto the children of Israel and as it were confined within the limits of one land and country vvherefore it could not be called Catholike and vniuersal And M. Abbot was greatly deceiued or else goeth about to deceiue others when for proofe of communicating with the Catholike Church he recoileth back vnto the beginning of the vvorld Why did he not rather shew that their new Gospel flourished in al countries assoone as the Christian faith vvas planted and that it hath continued in al ages since the Apostles daies vntil our time that had beene to haue spoken directly to the purpose which he seldome vseth But he saw that to be a worke to hard for Hercules and therefore to delude his reader and to lead him from the matter he flieth vp to the old farne-daies of Abel Noē Abraham c. as though they had reuealed vnto them al those particular points of faith which Christ taught his Apostles and the same religion and manner of vvorshipping God that we Christians haue which is flatly opposite to the doctrine of S. Paul who testifieth Ephes 3. v. 4. That the mistery of Christ vnto other generations was not knowne vnto the Sonnes of men as now it is reuealed vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets in the spirit Those ancient Patriarkes as men Hebr. 11. vers 13. looking a farre off at the daies of Christ the light of the vvorld did not discouer so distinctly the misteries of the Christian faith as the Apostles vvho vvere Iob. 6. v. 45. taught by his owne mouth and made to know Ioh. 15. v. 15. al his Fathers secretes and had ¶ * Rom. 8. vers 23. the first fruits of the spirit in best sort to vnderstand them and carry them away To be short our Sauiour hath decided this question and saith in expresse wordes Math. 13. vers 17. Many Prophets and just men haue desired to see the thinges that you see and haue not seene them and to beare the thinges that you heare and haue not heard them Obserue then how absurdly M. Abbot behaueth himselfe in this matter First he vseth tergiuersation in leaping so farre backe from the point of the question seeking communion with the Catholike Church some thousandes of yeares before there vvas any Church Catholike Secondly in auouching the ancient founders of the first world to haue beleeued clearely and particularly al the articles of faith that vve beleeue or else why doth he conclude that the Roman faith is not Catholike because in that old and hoare-headed world some branches of their faith were not sprong vp and of ful growth They did not saith he worship Idols and Images they did not pray to Saints c. But good Sir did they beleeue that al their children vvere to be baptised and that al persons of riper yeares among them were to receiue the holy Sacrament of Christes body yea can M. Abbot demonstrate that they had perfect faith of the most holy and blessed Trinity beleeuing distinctly in three persons and one God or that the redeemer of the world Christ Iesus was to be perfect God and perfect man the nature of man in him subsisting vvithout the proper person of man in the second person of the Trinity which are the most high misteries of our Christian faith I am not ignorant that albeit those ancient Patriarkes and Prophets had not cleare and distinct knowledge of many articles vvhich vve are bound to beleeue yet they beleeued some few of them in particular and had a certaine confuse and darke conceit by figures and tipes of most of the rest Touching these very points vvhereof M. Abbot would haue them vvholy ignorant if his bare vvord without any manner of proof were so powerful I affirme that they held the most of them vvhich I wil not stand here to proue at large for that were Protestant-like to runne from one question to another without order but I wil only giue a touch to euery one of his instances referring the reader for more ful satisfaction to the proper place of those head controuersies First no Catholike euer taught any man to worship Idols let that then passe as a Protestant slander but that Images are to be placed in Churches the examples recorded in the old Testament of hauing them both in their a Exod. 25. vers 18. Tabernacle and in the b 3. Reg. 6. vers 23. Temple of Salomon this sentence of the Psalmist c Psalm 98. vers 5. Adore his foote-stoole and many such like places and resemblances doe argue very strongly that Images are to be worshipped Secondly inuocation of Angels is most plainly practised by the holy Patriarke Iacob the Father of al