Much more might be sayd to the same purpose but it shall not neede when as the thinge is so cleere that our mortall enimies confesse it for the Magdeburgian historiographers after relation how the Roman Legates with-stood the audacious attempt of Anatolius and his confederates write thus VVherfore the iudges of the Synod decreed that the Centur. 5. col 949. principall primacye and honour was to be left vnto the Bishop of Rome and that notwithstanding somethinge was to be giuen to the Church of Constantinople because that city was adorned with the dignitye of the Empire and was called newe Rome that it might haue power to ordayne Metropolitanes in the dioceses of Asia Pontus and Thrace yet so that it might be lawfull for the Metropolitanes of euery prouince to ordayne Bishops This was that dignity and equalitye of priuiledge which they desired which notwithstandinge they obteyned not Pope Leo wholy irritating that decree as hath bene saide Thus haue we not only conuinced Bell of lying and corruption but so far prâ—uayled against him that by meanes of that decree by which he would ouerthrowe the superioritye of the church of Rome we haue abundantly proued the contrary and so we may say with the Prophet The arrowes of litle ones are become their woundes Psal 63. Neuer had gallant Minister worse fortune for not only his blowe is still defeated but his weapon disgratiously beaten backe vppon his owne face What sayth he now to the famous Councell of Chalcedon The Popes authoritye maugre his malice is cleerely proued out of that as hath bene sayd and so nothinge found there that can relieue his cause but such Vnguentum baculinum as he list not to meddle with al and that not only touching the Popes superiority wherof we haue spoken sufficiently but also other matters for example that Councell decreed thus Virginem c. It is not lawfull for a virgine Sessi 16. â—â—n 16. which hath consecrated her selfe to God and likwise a Monke to contract Matrimonye But if they be found doing any such thinge let them be excommunicated Did Bell for all that neuer in his whole life heare of any such creatures that remayne so far from being excommunicated that they be highly commended as the principall aduauncers of the Gospell and doth he not knowe a deare freind of his that hath written See Bels suruey pag. 231. 235. c. in defence of such wicked and filthy wedlocke Gladly then would I be enformed how his Ministershippe can eyther defend such sacrilegious wretches from the force of that Canon or his friende from beinge opposite to the doctrine of that Councell To deny the authoritye of that Sinode which him selfe vrgeth calling it a famous Councell were a base shift and nothing becomming his grauity and constancy but rather the leuitie of some mutable minister especially that being authorised by Act of Parlament which for certayne reasons he must defende but how in this case God knoweth that knowes all things THE VII VNTRVTH IT followeth immediatly in Bels booke Eightly the Councell of Nice prescribed limites as well to the Bishop of Rome as to other Patriarches This is a manifest vntruth and that by the iudgment of any that is indifferent The place he meaneth Can. 6. for he noteth none is in the sixt canon in these wordes Let auncient customes be kept throughout Egipt Libia and Pentapolis that the Bishop of Alexandria haue power of all these because the Bishop of Rome hath that custome Out of which wordes so far of it is that the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome is confined within any limits that her ample and vniuersall superioritye is confirmed for nothinge is here determined concerning the church of Rome but that is made the rule of other churches as Pope Nicholas the first noteth who also affirmeth Epist. ad MichaëleÌ„ that the Nicene Councell appoynted nothing about the Romane church because the authoritye therof was not from men but from God In the former vntruth diuers times was it mentioned our of Pope Leo as also out of his legates in the Councell of Chalcedon that the Grecians went against the Nicene Canons in their presumpreous attempt But to make the matter most clere to wâ—tt that the Councell of Nice did not limitt the Popeâ— iurisdiction but contrary wise allowed and approued nis supreame authoritye beside the restimony of Pope Nicholas alread alledged I will demonstrate the same out of the Chalcedon Synode which Bell calleth a famous Councell as it was in deede and therfore worthyly admitted by our country In the sixtene session Paschasinus the Popes legate cited this very Canon for the Popes Primacye for after the iudge had sayd Let both sides propound Concil Chalced. Act. 16. canons â—t followeth in these words The reuerend man Paschasinus Bishop and vicar of the Apostolike sea recited The sixt canon of the three hundred and eightene holy fathers That the Church of Rome hath alwayes had the These wordes are more clere in â—hâ— Nicene Councel â—t selfe See a little before Primacye But let Egipt hould that the Bishop of Alexandria haue power of all because the Bishop of Rome hath this custome Behold Paschasinus proueth the Popes supremacye out of that canon from which Bell would deduce the contrary And the Grecian Bishops were so far from contradicting this which no question they would had the canon bene plaine to the contrary senâ—e as the minister maâ—ntayneth that their silence confessed it to be most true Yea the iudges them selues though desirous to aduance the dignitye of Constantinople yet were they so ouercome with the light of truth shining in that canon that vppon the former euidence they sayd VVeperfectly perceiue all primacy and principall Act. 16. honour according to the canons to be kept for the Archbishop of old Rome most beloued of God The true meaning â—nertore of the canon is that the Bishope of Rome before the definition of any Councell vsed to committ the gouernement of Egipt Libia and Pentapolis to the Bishop of Alexandria as Pope Nicholas the first doth expound it and is plaine out of the Councell of Chalcedon which being so Bell remayneth guilty of an vntruth and the Popes eminent authority confirmed by that very canon which he brought to ouerthrowe it What an vnlucky hand hath this minister that striking at others still woundeth him selfe THE VIII IX AND X. VNTRVTHES AFter Bell had produced many arguments against the Popes soueraigne superioritye he maketh a recapitulation of them all but so handsomly that for their better grace he doth florish them ouer with new lyes To stande vpon one that hath a couple of followers Fourthly quoth he seing Polycarpus S. Polycrates S. Ireneus and S. Ciprian with many Bishops of Europe Asia and Affrica contemned the Bishop of Rome his decrees and supposed supremacye That S. Polycarpus contemned the Popes decrees is most false and vntruly collected out of his former argument in
denance with as many challenges as will stand between Charing Crosse and Chester and as many dares as will reache from Darby to Darington These these dolefull newes haue cast him into such dumps that he hath small list to heare either of disputation or any indifferent Conference and therefore though he writeth still and vseth that as a poore proppe to vphould his fallinge reputation least the infamy of cowardize and dastâ—rdly feare with no small desgrace to theire cause should suddainly seaze vpon him yet the tickling stringe and mountinge Minekin of brauinge and challenging is not once touched that kinde of descâ—nie is now out of date He is no true friend of his that will so much as mention any such matter If this be not the cause what is the reason that he which was so furious before like a little lion is now become so gentle like a tame cosset Be it that his haughty and insolent maner of crakinge vpon better adiâ—ise of friends disliked him yet should he in temperat and modest sort still haue prosecuted his former quarrell for the creditt of their gospell and reputation of his learninge which in the opinion of his dependants is very great and in his owne incomparable and accepted of the offer of S. R. and vtterly confounded him in disputation for he nothing doubteth or at least in former tymes hath not yf his wordes did truly deliuer his meaning but that such an act would tend to the glory of God to the seruice of his Soueraigne the honour of his countrey the edification of his auditors and the comfort of his owne soule as in his Motiues he speaketh or if disputation Pag. 36. liketh him not why hath he not procured a Safeconduct for such an indifferent Conference for the due triall and examination of the authorities alleadged in his bookes as passed in Fraunce betwixt the reuerend Bishoppe of Eureux and now Cardinall and the Lord of Plessi Marlie for if that sincerity be vsed which he often protesteth what readyer way could he haue wished either for the procuringe to himself eternal renowme and vnspeakable creditt to his cause or euerlasting shame to me and thereby some disgrace to Catholike religion Seing then he is now so mute that before was so tonguy now so dead that before was so liuely can any other true cause thereof be assigned then that his owne conscience not ignorant of his bad quarrell and priuy to so many corrupt citations as be founde in his bookes maketh him willing after so great expectation moued in mens mindes to shift his haÌ„ds from any such busines slily to steale away as though EnglaÌ„ds Ioye were againe in actinge Or yf the humour of self love doth so dazele his eies that he can not yet see into what dangerous straigtes by his many manifest vntruthes he hath brought the reputation of the congregation and so would for his owne part still venture forward VVhat can be thought otherwise of any that penetrate into the matter as they ought but that superior authority hath commaunded the clapper to silence for his foolishe and daÌ„gerous iangling But he that hath hetherto behaued himself in such insolent and dominiringe manner odious to God and the world must not thus passe away wherefore I giue him once again to vnderstand that we expect the Safeconduct which he hath so often spoken of this we require vrge and exact at his hands wherein if he fayle well may his followers saye Farewell fidelity the glory of the Gospell is ecclipsed shame hath shaken handes with the congregation and no remedy but it must be proclaimed by vs in towne and country that Bell euen the Minister Bell that daringe Doctor that craking challenger that couragious champion that Larum ringer is desperately fled the field not daringe to indure the encounter of his auersaries and hath left all the fraternity egregiously cousined abused and gulled or els which turneth as much to his perpetuall infamy and disgrace that his mouth is musseled by authority for hauing spoken more then be can with his owne honesty or reputation to the common cause defend and maintayne VVherefore what remayneth but that hauing runge his Dolefull knell and left him speacheles and ready to giue vp his last gaspe and hauing also prouided here a winding sheet for the shrow dinge of his carcasse but that I should with what conuenient speed I can make reddy his Blacke Buriall that he may according to his deserts be interred to the perpetuall ignominy of his name and euerlasting confusion of the congregation Before I ende I can not gentle Reader but say somthinge concerning a booke that came lately to my handes of one Thomas Rogers which as it is a commentary vpon nine and thirtie articles contayning the faith and religion professed in England and concordably agreed vpon as he saith by the reuerend Bishoppes and cleargy at two seuerall Conuocations so is it graced with this Embleme Perused and by the lawfull authority of the Church of England allowed to be publique In this booke proceeding from so graue a man as he insinuateth himself to be from the chaplin to the principall of their cleargy intreating of so waighty and important a subiect as the Synodicall decrees of their church and commended to the world in such singular and speciall manner what can of reason be expected but that the truth should sincerely be sett forth without all suspition of cunninge conueyance all feare of sinister relation or any scruple or doubt of hatefull corruption seing the stayne of such crymes should not only touch Mr. Rogers but redound also as it were to the infamy of the whole body of their cleargy and religion For any yea of meane insight may soone make this discourse that if the religion of England were sounde and ours false and abominable no indirect proceding needed or woulde be practised either to the aduancinge of their owne or depressing of ours and contrarywise if corrupt courses be made the buckler to defend themselues and the weapon to offend vs what can be thought but that there is a flawe in that faith which is by that meanes maintayned and impregnable veritie in our religion which is by such godles shiftes assaulted now whether this be so or no and in that grosse manner as not only those which be of capacity and learninge but euen of the meanest and ignorant sort shall especially in som of them thinke vs to be notoriously abused iniuried remayneth to be hadled VVherefore to runne ouer briefly some fewe vntruths and a little to touch the corrupt dealing of Mr. Rogers as my short tyme shal giue leaue the straight coÌ„fines of a Preface will permitte Pag. 14. He setteth vpon vs in the manner One Mother A. short list of Mr. Rogers vntruthes Iane quoth he is the Sauiour of women a most execrable assertion of Postellus the Iesuit Nay rather it is a most execrable vntruth of Mr. Rogers the Preacher Can
who knoweth not that some â— his writings be erroneous though not errorneouâ— in that sence which Bell pretendeth and so hâ— sayth much but to litle purpose vnlesse it be tâ— shew with what facilitye he can cite authorâ— vntruely making them to iustifie that to which their wordes can not be drawne The premisses duly pondered the prudent reader can not but vnderstand that I haue dealt frendly with Bell noting him only for one vntruth when as diuers might very well haue runne vppon the reckoninge The rest of his Epistle conteyneth litle els but a recapitulation of the cheife contents of his bookes or a bundle of vntruthes trussed vp together which must be examined in the chapters following only here wheras according to his great modesty he sayth that he will sett before the eyes of all indifferent readers as clerely as a glasse of christall the originall and dayly excrements of Popery I can not but add that the excrements of the Catholicke church be principally such Apostates as Luther Bucer Peter Martir and many more that forsooke their professioÌ„ of chastitie a religioê° life and the better to lay the foundations of the new gospell betoke them selues to the mortification of new wiues drawne out of Nunneries or other places where they could best meete with such kind of cattle Had it not bene for these and such like other excrements of ours the congregation would haue had poore increments and hardly would they haue bene furnished with Apostles had not our church voyded forth such Apostates Veryly he might with far lesse harme to his soule employ his talent by setting downe their originall and procedinge then he doth in discouering the beginning encreasing of Popery especially Bel borne at Rascal in Yorkeshire if he would remember an old acquaintance of his one Sir Thomas of Rascall that excrementicall companion for I knowe not a man in the parish that can better performe it beinge furnished with a rude rusticall stile fitt for such a subiect and one that hath perfect intelligence of his heauenly conuersation and righteousnes of life The counts being cast and the summe sett downe what hath he gott by his voluntary error to degorge his malice against vs for his disposition considered and the qualitye of the fault I can not thincke otherwise or what hathe he gayned by his grosse girdinge and filthy fleeringe at the excrements of Poperie Bels I. chapter Of this name and worde Pope THE II. VNTRVTH DIsputing of this name Pope and shewing out of S. Ciprian and others that it was giuen in old tyme to other Bishops and not only to the Bishoppe of Rome he addeth these words But aster that the Emperour Iustinianus had in his legall constitutions named the Bishoppe of Rome Pope the arrogant Bishopps of Rome began to challenge the name as if it were proper to them alone An vntruth why did he not name those arrogant Bishops of Rome that challenged the propertie of this title or some author of creditt that reporteth it And what reason had the Bishops of Rome to lay hold vppon the Emperors words rather then the words of the generall Councell of Chalcedon which was many yeares before in which he was called by that name as shal straight be handled This therfore must remaine for one vntruth vntill he can better discharge him selfe One thinge I must here add which wil litle please the minister and that is albeit the name Pope was attributed also to other Bishops yet was it in such speciall manner giuen to him that it did sufficiently declare his supreame authoritye ouer all other which appeareth first because when any was called Pope without further addition it was vnderstoode only of the Bishoppes of Rome as is euident out of the Councell of Chalcedon where it Act. 16. is sayd The most blessed and Apostolicke man the Pope doth command vs this thinge Secondly because the Bishoppe of Rome was called Pope of the whole church as we reade in the same Councell where Leo is called Pope of the vniuersall church and Liberatus affirmeth Act. 16. In Breuiario cap. 22. that there is no Pope ouer the church of the whole world but the Bishoppe of Rome Thirdly because he is called the Pope or father of generall Councels and of the whole world but he calleth not other Bishops Popes or fathers but his brethren or sonnes as is apparant out of an epistle of Pope Damasus to the Easterne Bishoppes recited by Theodoretus and in the Epistle of the Councell of Lib. 5. c. 10. Chalcedon to Pope Leo. To this may be added that seing Pope signifieth father as Bell according to the truth confesseth it followeth that the Bishoppe of Rome was in old time reputed superiour to all in that he was called the Father of fathers for Steuene Bishoppe of Carthage writinge to Pope Damasus in the name of three Councells celebrated in Affricke giueth him this title To Pope Damasus our Epis ad Damrsam most blessed Lord exalted with Apostolical dignity the holy father of fathers And this may be the reason that albeit sometime in the Primitiue Church the name was also giuen to other Bishopps yet seing in foresayd manner it agreed peculiarly to the Bishoppe of Rome as declaring his soueraigue authoritye ouer others the former custome ceased and so it remayned alone to him THE III. VNTRVTH VVIth the former he hath copled an other saying thus And so in processe of time the Bishopps of Rome were solely and only called Popes and of late yeares Our holy father and His holynes is his vsuall name A grosse vntruth for the name of his holines is not of late yeares beinge long since giuen to the Pope by Iustinian the Emperour and Theodoretus writinge to In epis ad Ioaâ— 2. Pope Leo vseth the same phrase Obsecro vestram sanctitatem I besech your Holynes sayth that learned and venerable Epist. ad Leonem Papam father and the Councell of Chalcedon in their letters to the same Pope Leo inuaighing against Dioscorus the heretike that presumed to excommunicate the Pope sayth thus Etpost haec omnia Epist. ad Lenem â—apam And after all these things he did also extend his madnes against him to whom the custody of the vineyard was committed by our Sauiour that is against thy Apostolike holines And if S. Ciprian and S. Augustin were called most blessed Popes as Bell here confesseth can any maruaile that the title of holines should be giuen to their superior and yet doth he neuer make scruple to say that it is a title only of late yeares making it to haue sprung vp long after that the title of Pope was appropriated as he would haue it to the Bishoppe of Rome which appropriation as he saith was about the yeare of Christ 528. and so the name of his holines much later and yet is that title more auncient then the sayd yeare of Christ 528. as is euident out of Theodoretus and
the Councel of Chalcedon both which were long time before the sayd time as Bell will not denye THE IIII. VNTRVIH PRosecuting his former matter he sayth But this Emperour that is Iustinian liued after Christ his birth about 528. yeares Ergo this pointe of Poperie is a rotten ragge of the new religion In which words he venteth out an vntruth for be it that it was then appropriated to the Pope as he sayth yet how can it be new which by his owne confession was vsed an eleuene hundred yeares agoe that is so many ages before the foundations of his religion were layd or the name of a Protestant heard of in the whole world I omitt here how many ecclesiastical names haue bene brought into the church as Homousios or Consubstantiall against the Arrians Incarnation against other heretikes the better by a new name to declare an auncieÌ„t article of faith Will Bell for al that call these words rotten raggs of a new religion He nauer dare offer it yet with no lesse reason may he doe it then he doth here the name of the Pope As for his rustical scoffinge the special grace of his writinge at the sylly people for reputing the word Pope a most sacred thing though ignoraÌ„t as he saith what is meÌ„t by the name I say no more but that he may with like grace runne vppon the name of Iesus Christ for thousands amoÌ„gst the Protestants which reuerence theÌ„ for sacred can tel as litle what is vnderstoode by it as we can by the name of the Pope But we are beholding to Bell that he vouch safeth to explicate the originall of that name telling vs that it signifieth Father and for that after so terrible a persecution of those few letters as though some misterye of iniquitie had lurked in them in such sort that in the time of Henry the eight it was rased out of all bookes and after many spightfull termes and most odius conceipts framed in the minds of the vulgar sort concerning that name he hath discharged it from all suspition of secret venim assuring good people that it is indede venerable as that which was giuen to most holy and auncient Bishopps and might in his opinion be giuen to him selfe could he haue the lucke to finger that dignitye Thus much of the Popes name now we are come to talke of his office and authoritye Bels II. Chapter Of the Popes superoiall power THE V. VNTRVTH TO season the begining of his chapter with a litle of his mendacious powder he writeth thus Bonifacius Bishoppe of Rome and the third of that name aboue six hundred yeares after Christ obteyned of Phocas then Emperor of Rome that Rome should be the head of all churches Before which time no authenticall writer can be named who euer ascribed the headship and vniuersall gouernment of all churches to the church of Rome To conuince this manifest vntruth somethinge hath bene sayd in the precedent chapter but plentifully haue I proued the contrary in The doleful knell published not long since against his Ministership both Pag. 45. 46. c. out of other authorities as also by the confession of the Lutherane Centuristes his deere brethren and lastly out of his sweete selfe that more cannot be desired Somthinge also shall be sayd in the sequell his owne wordes ministring iust occasion and here I will adioyne a litle more In the Councell of Chalcedon Maximus Bishoppe of Antioch was Act. 7. confirmed by S. Leo the first Pope Iulius the first also restored Athanasius Patriarch of Alexandria to his seate Paulus Patriarch of Constantinople and Marcellus Bishoppe of Ancyra depofed vinustly by an Easterne synode as writeth Sozomenus whole words be these For as much as the care of all did belonge to him for Lib. 3. cap. 7. the dignitye of his sea he restored to euery of them their church And a litle after Athanastus and Paulus doe returne to their seates and sent the letters of Tulius to the East Bels best and most spedy answere to these prooffes will be to say that he was superiour to the Patriarches and other Bishops but had not any authority ouer inferior ministers Alas poore soule to what pityfull straights hath he brought him selfe whiles vpoÌ„ zeale he lyeth for the credit of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ THE VI. VNTRVTH IN his arguments propounded against the superiority of the Bishoppe of Rome wherof afterward I meane more fully to entreat this is one Seauently the famous councel of Chalcedon gaue the Bishope of Constantinople equall authority with the Bishope of Rome in all ecclesiasticall affaires In which words is one vntruth cunningly couched for he calleth that here the decree of the Councell which was by the ambition of Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople effected in the absence of the Romane legates Yf Bell can proue that this surreptitious decree of the Easterne Bishopes was euer confirmed then were it some thinge which he bringeth But the Bishop of Rome his legates withstood that their indirect proceedinge pronouncing it to be contrary to the decrees of the Nicene Councel and Lucentius in particular Se the 16. Action spake confidently saying that the Apostolicke sea ought not to be abased in their presence with other notable wordes tendinge to the same purpose And Pope Leo him selfe in his Epistle to Anatolius did bitterly inueigh against him for this his presumption and going against the Nicene canons admonishing him also how his legates which in his stead wer presidents of the Councell did withstand that his vnlawfull attempt for which cause he disclaymeth vtterly for giuing his consent Far be it â—pist 53. quoth he from my conscience that so wicked a desire should be holpen with my labor and of all that minde not high things but consent to the humble and he giueth the reason because it were as he sayth to infringe the Canons of the Nicene Councell and to depriue the sea of Alexandria of beinge the second in dignitye and Antioch of beinge the third and all Metropolitane Bishops of their honour About the same matter he wrott also to the Emperour shewing his great dislike of Anatolius ambition putting him in minde what special fauour he had afforded him concerning his consecration insinuating playnly how he deserued to haue bene deposed for falling into the heresie of Eutiches and for beinge wickedly promoted by Dioscorus of Alexandria to be Bishoppe of Constantinople yet because he renounced his heresie at the entreaty of the Emperour the Pope dispeÌ„sed with him VVe sayth Pope Leo hauing respect to your fayth Epist. 54. and intercession whereas the beginings of his consecration were not sound by reason of them that did it desired rather to be gratious then iust to the end we might thereby by applying of remedies pacifie all stirres which the deuill had procured which things ought rather to haue made him modest then immoderate in the end he exhorteth the Emperour to labour about the repressing of his insolencie Endeuour
which no mention is made of any decree concerninge the keeping of Easter the matter then in question as shall appeare afterwarde when we come to answere that argument how could he then contemne that which was not extant See the scrupulous conscience of the minister because before he passed ouer the matter without the marke of his occupation he hath here made lewde restitution clapping three vntruthes together one in the necke of an other The first is now recited and to make it the more manifest I will adioyne what he writeth of this matter in his Motiues His wordes be these In like manner quoth he though with more modesty dissented Anicetus pag. 145. an other Bishoppe of Rome from S. Polycarpe Bishoppe of Smyrna where I desire the good reader to note his malicious dealinge his rooted hatred against those Popes whom he confesseth to haue bene blessed Martyrs Anicetus quoth he dissented from S. Polycarpe and why I beseech him doth he not rather say that S. Polycarpe dissented from Anicetus I trust he will not deny but that S. Anicetus had the better quarrell except he list to condemne the church of Englād and the whole Christian world that obserue Easter according to the custome of Rome Besides this is it not most certayne that S. Polycarp was far inferiour in dignitye to S. Anicetus when as so much is euident out of the premisses in which we haue heard how the Patriarche of Constantinople did emulate some prerogatiues of Rome and not any of Smyrna An other tricke of his rācour also sheweth it selfe when as the one is with him plaine Anicetus the other S. Polycarpe why I beseech him was not blessed Anicetus also a martyr as well as S. Polycarpe it can not be denyed and yet doth this minister out of his damnable deuotion to the sea of Rome entreate him in this disgratious manner But sufficient it is for my purpose that he confessethe dissention betwixt S. Anicetus and S. Polycarpe to haue bene with more modesty to witt then it was betwixt S. Victor and the Bishops of Asia which argueth playnely that no decree was made by S. Anicetus for then the dissention could not haue bene conteyned within the limitts of modesty yf Polycarpus had resisted his decree neyther could he haue bene in better case then the Bishopps of Asia were who withstood S. Victors decree and so the dissention had bene as immodest which seing Bell denyeth consequently he graunteth that he hath dealt falsy in accusing S. Polycarpe to haue contemned S. Anicetus decree when as he neuer published any such what soeuer Bell with lying lippes affirmeth to the contrary This is the first vntruth The next is where he saith S. Polycrates contemned the Bishoppe of Rome his decrees for where doth he find him enrold for a Saint not in the Romane martyrologe not in Eusebius or S. Hierom. no nor in the Centuries of Magdeburge where they talke of him He is a Saint only of Bels canonization because he resisted the Pope which title if it will procure any such grace the minister him selfe is like to proue a great and monsterous Saint for neuer I dare say did Polycrates carry him selfe so insolently and in such vnspeakable contumelious manner as Sir Thomas doth The third vntruth is that S. Ireneus contemned the Bishoppe of Rome his decrees and his supposed supremacie for what father so auncient as he writeth more clerely for his supremacye Speaking of the Romane church these be his words To this church by reason of the more potent principalitye it is necessary Lib. 3. cap. 3. that euery church should come that is those faythfull people which be euery where in which that tradition which came from the Apostles hath bene kept of them which be in all partes Thus he writeth in defence therof but that euer he oppugned the Popes decrees or contemned his supremacy is most falsly affirmed by Bell as shall appeare when we come to examin his second argument against the Popes Supremacy from whence he would seme to haue collected this but before I come to that pointe I must here admonish the good reader that whereas Bell desperatly affirmed that the Bishoppe of Romes superioritye was not hearde of till six hundred yeares after Christ the contrary hath not only bene proued sufficiently before out of other authorityes but also out of those testimonies which he bringeth as most clere against it to wittout of the Chalcedon and Nicene Councels and also out of S. Ireneus as in the premisses hath bene sayd and yet further occasion will be offered to verify the same truth out of some of those arguments also which come now to be examined such is his great grace in beating downe of Popery and writing against him selfe The rest of his chapter consisteth of eight arguments culled together to shew that the Popes supremacy began in the tyme of Phocas the Emperour in the yeare of Christ 607 which in particular I will discusse But before I must haue a litle crash with him about the title which is of the Popes superroiall power for the word superroiall I suppose slylye mocketh at that which venerable antiquity confesseth and him selfe must not denye To content my selfe with the testimony of S. Chrisostom who speaking not only of Bishops but inferiour clergye men instructeth them how to deale with secular potentates comming vnworthyly to the Sacraments in this manner Yf a duke quoth he yf a Consull yf he that weareth Hom. 83. in Math. the crowne cometh vnworthyly stoppe and hinder him thow hast greater power then he and the minister denyeth that the late Quene might preach the Gospell or administer the Sacraments c. which Motiuos pag. 80. functions not withstanding other of their clergye might execute whereof it ensueth that in these spirituall pointes their power was aboue that of the Quenes and so truly in a good sence may be called superroiall which so much his superscoffing grauitye semeth to deride and taunt Now to his arguments An answere to Bels arguments against the supreame spirituall iurisdiction of the Pope FIrst then quoth he S. Polycarpus would not yelde to Anicetus Bishoppe of Rome in the controuersy abou◠Easter which for all that he would and must haue done yf the Bishoppe of Rome had had any true prerogatiue ouer him THE ANSWERE IT more argueth the Bishoppe of Rome his superiority that S. Polycarpus the scholler of the Apostles in his old yeeres vndertooke so longe a iorney to Rome to conferr with S. Anicetus then it proueth that he was not his superiour because S. Polycarpus retayned still his former opinion for why should he more haue trauailed to Rome then S. Anicetus haue gone to him to Smyrna being a man reuerent for his gray hayres and venerable for his acquaintance and conuersation with the Apostles had it not bene that he acknowledged superiority to Anicetus as being the successour of S. Peter But the reason why Polycarpus might
still keepe his former custome of celebrating Easter and also performe due obedience to Anicetus was because Anicetus would not for so smal a controuersiâ— or variety breake peace but was content to tolerate the same and therfore false it is that Bell sayth to witt that Polycarpus would and must haue yelded to Anicetus if he had acknowledged him for his superiour seing no such thinge was commaunded him but the matter left to his owne election Bels II. obiection SEcondly Ireneus and other holy and learned Bishopps of Fraunce ioyning with him reproued Victor then Bishoppe of Rome very sharply and roundly as one that had not due respect to the peace and vnity of the church which doubtelesse those holy and learned Bishops would not haue done if the Bishoppe of Rome had had in those dayes the supreame soueraignty ouer them THE ANSWERE HAd Bell recounted the cause why those Bishopps reprehended so roundly as he speaketh Pope Victor with other necessary circumstances he had marred all his market and proued the Popes superiority by that argument by which as he perfidiously handleth the matter he would ouerthrowe it The blessed martyr Ireneus with other reprehended Victor not for any wrong opinion about the keeping of Easter him selfe they being of the Popes minde as also the Prorestantes now be but for that he excommunicated the Bishops of Asia refusing to conforme them selues to the Church of Rome neyther did S. Ireneus this vppon conceipt that the Pope exceeded the limits of his power for no such thing appeareth in Eusebius from whom this story is fetched but for that he did vse it out of due season to the great trouble of the Church and for a small matter as he and they thought which sheweth playnely that they made no doubt of his authority otherwise many misliking his fact would easyly haue contemned his censure and iustly haue obiected presumption in vsurping that authoritye which belonged not to him where of no mention is made Superiours yea and the Pope him selfe may with due respect be admonished and reprehended especially by Bishoppes yf any great scandall or trouble of the Church be feared S. Paul resisted S. Peter in face because he was reprehensible Galat. 2. v. 11. wherof our Protestants absurdly gather that S. Peter had no sup riority ouer the Apostles a collection not known to an iquitye when as the matter was then so famous and certaine that wicked Porphiry that Paganicall philosopher reproueth S. Paul of sawcines for that he presumed Proaem com in Galatas epis 11. ad Aug. inter epistolas Augustini to reprehend Peter the Prince of the Apostles as S. Hierom reporteth S. Cyprian highly commendeth the humilâ—ty of S. Peter that tooke so quietly the reprehension of S. Paul being his inferiour For neyther Peter sayth S. Cyprian whom our Lord chose the first and vppon whom he built the church when Paul disputed with him about circumcision arrogantly tooke any thinge to him self saying that he had the primacy and therfore Epist 71. ad Quin. the latter disciples ought rather to obey him S. Augustin sheweth excellently by this example that S. Cyprian erring about rebaptization could not nor would not haue bene offended to haue bene admonished by others his followers or inferiours much lesse by Lib. 2. de Baptis cap. 1. a Councell VVe haue learned sayth he that Peter the Apostle in whom the Primacy of the Apostles by excellent grace is so praeeminent when he did otherwise concerning circumcision then the truth required was corrected of Paule the later Apostle I thincke without any reproach vnto him Cyprian the Bishoppe may be compared to Peter the Apostle howbeit I ought rather to seare least I be iniurious to Peter sor who knoweth not that the principalitye of Apostleshipp is to be perferred before any dignity of Bishoppe whatsoeuer but yf the grace of the chaires differ yet the glory of the martyrs is one These authorities shew two things the first is that S. Peter was reputed with the auncient fathers head and prince of the Apostles and also that the very Pagans were not ignorant of that thinge which I suppose will not greatly content Bell for certayne deductions that may be drawne from thence The second which is the cause why I haue alledged this of S. Peter and S. Paul is that dislike or reprehension of an other mans action doth not argue the man reproued not to be the others superior how soeuer Bell would inferr that when as hath bene sayd S. Paul inferiour to S. Peter reprehended him And therefor the most that can deduced out of the ministers idle discourse is that if him selfe wer a Bishoppe he would looke as the deuill God blesse vs is sayd to haue looked ouer Lincolne and none might without incurring of is mortall indignation admonish him of any fault or scandalous demeanure Great pitty surely it is that one qualified as he is and endowed with such an humble spirite should not be preferred to an Episcopale or to vse his owne phrase some ouerseing dignitye Thus by dismol destiny Bels argument hath rather hurt him then giuen him any help at all But one necessary adiunct belonged to this controuersie which he thought good not to touch for scalding of his fingers to witt that S. Victor excommunicated the Bishopps of Asia as I noted before for seing Bell confesseth that the old In his Fâ—neral lib. 2. cap. 2. Bishopps of Rome were very godly men and taught the same doctrine which S. Peter had done afore them and most certayne that S. Victor was one of those holy Martyrs it followeth that he vsurped no authority but exercised that which lawfully he might neyther that he taught any doctrine but that which S. Peter had done before him Out of which and the precedent discourse three or foure memorable notes may be inferred against Bell. The first and principall is that the Primacye of the Bishoppe of Rome began not six hundred yeares after Christ as befor he mayntayned hauing bene practised four hundred yeares before by S. Victor and descended to him from S. Peter The second is that Bels argumeÌ„t against the supreame authority of the Bishoppe of Rome being duly and truly examined proueth the cleane contrary The third is that the minister cunningly coÌ„cealed the cause why S. Ireneus reproued S. Victor as nothing fitting his purpose The fourth may be that most perfidiously he inferreth out of the reprehension of S. Ireneus that he contemned the Bishoppe of Rome his decrees and supposed supremacy as before hath bene noted I add lastly that whatsoeuer S. Ireneus and others thought yet blessed Pope Victor proceded most prudently for as much as he perceiued how that obseruation which in the time of Anicetus was only variety of rite without preiudice of religion began now to corrupt the soundnes of the Catholike fayth one Blastus who liued in Victors time as Lib. 5. hist cap. 15. De proscript in
the decree were otherwise where I wish the reader to obserue with me these two points seriously Frist that the Pope coulde not and therefore did not alleadge any better reason sor his vsurped and falsely pretended supremacy then the authority and decree of that famous Councell of Nice Secondly that the Pope Celestine falsified the canon and decree of the Councell so to gayne credit and authority to himselfe if it might be THE ANSWERE TO the first of these two points I answere that there was no question betwixt them whether the Popes iurisdiction did extende into Afsrike or no or whether appeals in rigor might not be made to Rome but whether it were a thinge coÌ„uenient for on the one side not to allowe appeales seemeth to giue occasion to Metropolitanes and Bishops to oppresse their subiects and on to the coÌ„trary to allowe appeales seemeth the next way to make endlesse quarells often to vexe Bishoppes without all cause of which inconuenience and great trouble of the church holy men haue complained This doubtfull pointe then was defined by the Councell of Nice or Sardica which declared that it was expedient for Priestes to appeale from their Bishoppes vnto a prouinciall Councell and for Bishoppes to appeale vnto Rome For that it was lawfull and vsuall before the tyme of this Councel to appeale vnto Rome is euident out of S. Cyprian who reporteth how Fortunatus and Felix deposed by himselfe appealed vnto Cornelius Bishope of Rome Lib. 1. ep 3. And one Basilides deposed in Spaine appealed to Pope Stephen as the same S. Ciprian recounteth Not to speake of Marcion that auncient heretike Lib. 1. ep 4. who excoÌ„municated of his Bishope in Pontus came to Rome for absolution as Epiphanius relateth and Heres 42. therefore Pope Leo calleth it an auncient custome to appeale vnto Rome This was the cause why Epist. 89. the Bishoppe of Rome vrged especially the decree of the Nicene councell to shewe that it was not only lawfull but also very expedieÌ„t sor albeit the Affricane Bishoppes desired that Appeales might not easily be admitted for the great iniury to iustice vaine protraction of sutes which they dayly perceiued to followe thereof yet knowing full well that they coulde not forbid such appeales of them selues they humbly made petition to the Pope for more moderation therein In their epistle which they wrote to Pope Celestinus these be their wordes The office of dutifull salutation premised wee earnestly beseech you that hereafter you woulde not easily giue audience to such as come from hence Had they bene of Bels minde they woulde neuer haue vsed any deprecatory petition but haue roundly and readily told him that he had no authority to admit any appeales neither was his iurisdiction ouer them and therefore that they did owe him no obedience or subiection But farre were they from any such conceipt as being not ignorant of his iurisdiction ouer them according to which beliefe they proceeded in like manner For which cause the same verie Bishops of Affrica when this matter of Appeales and the Nicene councell was one foote and Pope Sozimus had sent vnto their councell three legates wrote vnto Bope Bonifacius the Successour of Sozimus in this maner Because it hath pleased our Lord concerning such thinges as our holy hrethren haue handled with vs Faustinus our fellow Bishop and Philippe and Asellus our fellowe Priests that our humilitye can not write vnto Sozimus a Bishop of blessed memory from whom they brought both precepts and letters but to your veneration who by Gods ordinance are succeded in his place we ought briesely to insinuate those thinges which by the agreement of both parts were determined in which we stayed indeede without breach of charity but not without great altercation in which wordes making relation of their Acts to Pope Bonifacius and testifinge that they had receiued precepts or commandements from his predecessor Pope Sozimus what do they els but acknowledge their obedience and subiection to the Apostolicke sea Beside not longe after this Councell â—pist 87. Pope Leo writinge to the Bishops of Mauritania in Affrike saith that he restored the communion to Bishop Lupicinus because he appealed to him out of Affrike and likewise that he sent vnto them for his legate Bishop Potentius who shoulde in his steade haue care of the affaires of Affrike All which abundantly testify both the authority of the Bishop of Rome in Affrica and that appeales were made to him and also that the Affricane fathers denied not this though for the reason before alleadged they desired more moderation therein to be vsed And albeit S. Augustine was one of these Bishops and so his voyce passed in the common letters with others yet because Bell doth here so magnify him as though he had bene a mighty enemy to the Popes supremacy I will in particular shewe out of that venerable and learned father what reuerence subiection and dutifull respect he carried to the Pope contenting my selfe only with that which hee writeth of this very pointe or of the three Popes in whose tymes this matter of appeales was handled and some of which the minister very bodly yf not some-what saucily but out of all question most falsly pronounceth to haue corrupted the Nicene canons This holy father writinge most plainly how him selfe and other Bishops came to Cesarea by the commaundement of Sozimus what doth he but clerely proclaime his primacy ouer Affrica The same Augustine was most Epist 157. subiect and deare to Pope Bonifacius as we learne out of the beginninge of his first booke against the two epistles of the Pelagians directed to the same Bonifacius The same Augustine writing to Pope Celestinus referreth the cause of a certayne Africane Epist 221. Bishop to him after this manner O holy Pope most blessed Lorde venerable for piety and with dutifull charity to be receiued labour together with vs and commaunde all thinges which are sent to be recited vnto thee and on the contrary Pope Celestinus doth highly commende S. Augustine Epist. ad Gallos as one that had alwayes remayned in the communion of the Romaine church and had bene reputed alwayes of him selfe his predecessours for a great Doctor Out of that which hath bene saide the ministers first doubt is solued why the Pope rather alleadged the decrees of the Nicene Councel then any other prooffe out of the Gospell because as I said the question was not about his supremacy in generall as Bell cuningly or malitiously maketh it but of Appeales which though it be a thinge consectary to his supreame iurisdiction yet for the reasons before mentioned som doubt might be made about the exercise thereof for the satisfying of which no better resolution coulde be deuised then of a generall Councell The good reader also can not but sufficiently gather out of the premises an answere to the second question to witt that neither Celestinus the Pope nor any of his predecessors
forged any canons as Bell and such like with lying lippes affirme who measure others according to them selues both for that they appealed to Rome out of Affrike before the tyme of the Nicene councell and so litle needed they had they bene so wicked to forge any thinge to proue that which was practised before and for that straight after appeales were likewise admitted and also for that the Bishop of Rome had his Legate there resident amongst them for the dispatch of ecclesiasticall busines as out of Pope Leo hath bene declared The same thinge also appeareth in that neither the Affricane Bishops nor S. Austen euer obiected any such crime of forgery to any of those Popes as the ministeriall fraternity of forgers doe but contrariwise behaued them selues in most dutifull manner giuing them very reuerent honourable titles protestinge also their obedience and subiection to them as hath bene saide and so they be far vnlike to our Protestāt professours that persecute them with scrrilous and odius termes As therefore the vnseemely carriage and bitter accusation of our Gospellers doth manifestly argue their spighte to these Popes and that they condemne them as guilty of forgery so their dutifull and obedient deportment towardes those holy Popes giue the worlde to vnderstande that they were far from any such malitious conceipt and therefore albeit I might content my selfe with that which hath bene saide yet more to cleare them from the venim of Bels aspish lippes and to free them wholy from the malitious imputation of the minister and that in the iudgement of any indifferent reader I say further that these canons of the Nicen◠councell allowing appeales to Rome might be in that Councell though nowe not founde there nor yet extant then in those copies sent from the East to the Bishops of Affrike for as much as most certayne it is that there were diuers canons more then be nowe founde or were sent to Affrike many being perished either by the malice of the Arrians whose power ouerswaied the Easterne churches and were most mortall enemies to that Councell which is very probable els by some other dismoll accident of fire or otherwise How soeuer it be that many canons be wantinge is most certayne for one of the canons of that Councell was about the obseruation of Easter day as testifieth Constantine in his epistle and also Epiphanius Apud Euseb lib. 3. de vita Constantini Heres 69. Epist do Synodis Arimin Seleucien Lib. 10. hist cap. 6. Epist. 110. Lib. 1. cap. 8. and Athanasius but this canon is in none of those twenty which be nowe extant and of which only so many yeares since Ruffinus maketh mention in his history It was prohibited also in the same Councell that there shoulde be two Bishops in one place as S. Austen affirmeth but no such canon or decree now appeareth And to omitt diuers other particulars not only other Protestants but Bell also both in his other bookes and in this pamphlet in the next chapter obiecteth out of Socrates that a canon was made in the Nicene councell by the suggestion of Paphnutius which permitted Priests to remayne with their former wiues but this Canon is no where to be founde amongst amongst those twenty Wherefore yf Pope Celestinus must be condemned for a falsary because he cited a canon which is not now extant nor mentioned by Ruffinus by the same reason must Constantinus Athanasius Epiphanius Augustinus Socrates yea and not other Protestants only but Bell him selfe be sentenced of forgery for citinge of that canon which is not now extant amongst those twenty Albeit that which hath bene saide may giue full satisfaction to any man of moderation yet more to musle the mouth of the minister I adde and say that these canons of appeale being founde formally in the Councell of Sardica where in most ample and playn words both in the fourth seuenth canons Can. 4. 7. appellations to Rome are ratified and confirmed both Pope Sozimus and others call them by the name of the Nicene canons though they be founde in the Councell of Sardica and the reason is for that these two Councels are accounted for all one both because the same fathers that were present at Nice were also a great number of them at Sardica and also for that no newe thinge touching faith was there enacted whereas in other Councels newe heresies were condemned and this is the cause why it maketh not any number for being a generall and approued Councell it should be the secōd in order being celebrated an eleauene yeares after the death of Constantine the great as the Magdeburgians them selues relate out of Socrates Centur 4. col 747. Theodoretus and Sozomenus for they solemnely report the whole councell together with these two canons of appellations to Rome where Bell for his colde comfort may reade them it shoulde I say be the second being some yeares before that of Constantinople but that for the reason alleadged it is reputed all one with that of Nice and so maketh not any number This also is confirmed for that in the copie of one Dionisius who a thousand yeares since translated the Nicene Councell out of the Greeke tongue yet extant in the Abbey of S. Vedastus at Arras Lib. 2. de Roman◠pontif cap. 25. as Cardinall Bellarmine reporteth all the canons of the Coucell of Sardica are founde adioyned with those of Nice as of one Councell What maruaile then yf Pope Sozimus or Bonifacius cite the canons of the Councell of Sardica for the canons of Nice when as they were accounted for all one and in all probability founde them in their copies so ioyned together Bels great difficulty is dissolued and the Pope discharged from all forgery and false packing Now to come vpon him and to beate the ende of his owne weapon vpon his owne face what saith he to the canons of the Councell of Sardica or Nice which graunt appeales to Rome as the Legates of the Pope veryfyed to the Affricane Bishops were they founde formally in the Nicene councel Bell were ouerthrowne for euer but they be in the Councell of Sardica celebrated straight after which is reputed one with this of Nice and of soueraigne authority what starting hole will he finde out to auoyde this blowe O miserable minister whose carcase is still beaten like an anuile with the hammers of his owne arguments His other reasons out of the Councell of Chalcedon and Nice are answered before Bels III. Chapter Of the marriage of Priests and ministers of the Church THE VI. VNTRVTHE THe minister pleading here hard for the wiuing of Priests hath these wordes For this respect did holy Paphnutius stande vp in the Councell of Nice at such times as the Fathers then and there assembled together thought to haue seuered married Priests and Bishops from their wiues and tolde them according to gods worde that to forbidde marriage to Priests was too seuere a lawe He yelded this reason
parte of virgins or of vnmarryed folke or if those be not sufficient for the ministerye of those which conteyne them selues from their owne Heres 59. wiues And in another place But the Churche quoth he doth not admitt the husbande of one wife yet liuinge and begetting children S. Hierom likewise writing against Vigilantius saith VVhat shall the Churche of the Easte doe what the Churche of Egipte and the Apostolike sea which take virgins for their Clerks or contynent or if they be marryed giue ouer to be husbandes Will Bell for all this tell vs that Priests were euer marryed in the Easte churche and with out all respect giue S. Epiphanius and S. Hierom â— worde of disgrace it would beseeme him â—â—ch better quietlye to disgest it him selfe his iust desertes allotting him that speciall fauour Out of these two testimonies also the good reader may note whether Sozomenus and Socrates are to be credited affirminge that by permission of the Nicene Councell Easterne Priests marryed before orders might still haue the company of their former wiues as in the precedent section was handled Nay the same is most certaine out of the very Nicene Synode it selfe wher it Can. 3. is forbidden Bishops Priests and Deacons to keep any wemen in their house beside their mother sister or aunt no mention is made of any wife which yet should haue bene in the first place if any such tolleration at the suggestion of Paphnutius had bene graunted And if their former wiues were as our aduersaries pretend out of Socrates and Sozemenus permitted them why should the cohabitation of other wemen be interdicted Did they allowe them theire wiues and not suffer them to haue maydes for the dispatche of houshold busines and bringinge vp of the leuiticall frye which coÌ„monly is plentiful in that generatioÌ„ if we may gesse by those of our tyme who so simple as seeth not the incongruitye of these two or perceiâ—eth not that the Councell for biddinge any mayde seruante to dwell in Priests howses did neuer graunte them the cohabitation and carnall companye of their wiues as our Protestantes pretende Furthermore how can it be true that the Nicene Councell permitted as the same authors reporte Bishops to enioye the companye of their former wiues when as some hundred yeares after in the false Synode of Constantinople holden in Trullo Can. 48. howsoeuer the raynes were loosed to other of the Clergie yet Bishops were forbidden to dwell with their former wiues which conuinceth that no such leaue was graunted by the Councell of Nice and so crazeth the creditt of them which affirme that Synode to haue permitted Bishops Preists c. to remaine still with their former wiues To these former testimonies and reasones I will adioyne one more both against Bell that desperatlie mainteyneth that the mariage of Ecclesiasticall persons hath alwaies bene vsed in the Easte churche vntill these our dayes and also against Socrates and Sozomenus saying that the Councell of Nice did permitt them to enioye the company of those wiues which they hadd maried before takinge of holie orders and it shal be of a Greek Doctor that liued in the tyme of the Nicene Councell to witt Eusebius whose wordes be these Veruntamen Notwithstandinge it is meete that they should Lib. 1. Demonstrat euang cap. 9. refraine them selues from the companye of their wiues who are consecrated and busied in the ministerie and seruice of God What plentye of authorities mighte be brought to ouerthro We this palpable vntruth but what neede more when as these already tickle the Minister and fetche blood for they are so farr of to be auoyded any cauillinge shifte that the Lutheran Magdeburgians dislike two of these fathers bycause they speake not herein according to their mynde as is euident in their fourthe Centurye where they note S. Epiphanius as erringe CeÌ„tur 4. col 303. aboute that pointe citinge parte of his wordes before by me produced and afterwardes they accuse many doctors for inclyning too much vnto that opinion yea that they did publiklye professe that it was not lawfull for Priests to haue wiues and amongst others they tax Eusebius for one cyting the very wordes by me alledged But what doe I dispute in a matter so plaine when as the erraticall Councell of Constantinople holden in Trullo which Bell so solemnly alleageth in his Suruey Pag. 224. and 227. for the proofe of Priests mariage is in this pointe directly against him for thoughe it allowed such Priests as after mariage receiued orders to continue still with their former wiues yet did it vtterly forbid Priests after orders to mary as appeareth out of the sixth CanoÌ„ Nay to this day the Greeks haue no such custome which is sufficient to confound the bolde assertion of the minister if nothing els were added Thus much of his first vntruth THE XIII VNTRVTHE THe next vntruth fellowe to the former is that in the West churche the marryage of Priests was generally lawfull till the tyme of Siricius For refutation whereof I haue spoken so plentifullye in my late book against Bell that it is The Doleful knel. pag. 51. and pag. 97. 98. in vaine to say more There I haue by irrefragable testimonies proued that Priests marriage was prohibited before and by diuers reasons drawen out of Siricius owne epistle made it manifest that he was not the firste who enacted that lawe but that commaunded the due obseruation of that which Apostolicall antiquitie had in that behalfe ordeyned To that place thefore I referre the good reader for I loue not alwaies to be iangling of one thinge after the manner of the great Bell of Rascall Here sufficient it is to chamber his clapper to oppose vnto him the wordes a litle before alleadged out of S. Hierom against Vigilantius and to choke him with the authoritie of his Magdeburgian brethren who reprehend S. Hierom for writinge thus in defence of his bookes against Iouinian The Apostles are chosen either virgins or contynent Cent. 4. col 477. after marryage Bishops Priests Deacons are chosen either virgins or onely such as for euer remaine chaste after priosthood which wordes of Saint Hierom they much mislike and to hamper him with the graue authoritie of the second Councell of Arles celebrated about the yeare of Christe three hundred twentye sixe according to the accounte of the Centuristes Cent. 4. col 604. Can. 2. of Magdeburge which decreed that non ought to be assumed to Preisthood being maryed vnles conuersion were promised What conuersion could this be but the forsakinge of his wiues carnall company THE XIIII VNTRVTH SIr Thomas continuing still his declamation in behalfe of Priests marriage procedeth also forwarde in lying writing thus Yea Priests continued still marryed in Germany for the space of one thousand seuenty fower yeares vntill the dayes of the vngratious Pope Hildebrand who termed himselfe Gregorie the seuenth so soone as he had crept into the Pope dome by naughty meanes What
this graceles gospeller writeth of blessed Pope Gregorie whom generally the Historiographers of that tyme diuers of them saintes in heauen do highly cōmend litle importeth a sufficiēt argumēt for his innocēcie zeale of true religiō it is that all nouelling sectmasters bād against him neuer shall Bell shew that he crept into the popedome by naughty meanes thoughe most easie to proue that his ministership ran frō his priesthoode vpon no holie motiues But to the matter An vntruth it is that Priests still cōtinued married in Germanie for the space of one thousand seuenty sower yeares as he boldlye affirmeth which I haue proued most demōstratiuelie against him in the Dolefull knell For his pag. 101. 102. manner is againe and againe to inculcate the same thing so neuer lacketh matter for newe bookes thoughe botched together of such rotten raggs as were handled els where so that Bell cann make a new title and a litle chaunge of the order to begett a new pamphlet at any tyme vpon small warninge But I liste not to imitate his vaine thoughe iustely I mighte for why may not I singe the same songe if he fiddle still the same tune Wherfor referringe the good reader to the former place I will here only adioyne one testimony not mentioned before and it is of Pope Zacharie who liued eight hundred years agoe and so longe before the tyme he mentioneth This good Pope writing to S. Bonifacius our worthy countryman then Bishopp the apostle of Germany hath these wordes speaking of Priestes From the day of taking priesthode they are to be forbidden yea euen from their owne wiues Of this decree the Centur. 8. Cel. 704. Magdeburgians make mention True it is that they score it vp for one of his errors thatiudgement proceeding from the error of their doctrine but it giueth vs a sufficient warrante to score vp that also for a notorious vntruth which the minister speaketh of the longe lawfull liberty of Ecclesiasticall wiuinge in Germany THE XV. XVI XVII XVIII AND XIX VNTRVTHES NOwe followeth a litter of diuers lyes conteyned in three or fower lynes of which I must speake in particular Pleading still for the marriage of the clergie he saith For this respecte was it that many learned and holie bishops were maryed in the auncient tyme and flourishinge state of the Church vz S. Gregorie S. Clement S. Spiridion S. Philogonius S. Eupsichius and others This he bringeth to proue that they marryed after receiuinge of holie orders or at least vsed still the carnall company of their former wiues or els he proueth nothinge But in these wordes is conteyned a notorious lye with siue followers and others Why hath he not noted in his margent sufficient authoritie to iustify what he saith will these tricks of trustie sir Thomas neuer be lefte It serueth not the turne to tell vs that he hath done it in his Suruey and that for two reasons The first is because many haue not that booke and no reasone can he alleadge for not addinge the quotations here but onlye that he would haue his ignorant reader to take all vpon the reporte of his worde Secondly for that I finde not in all his Suruey any Clement noted for a marryed bishop and yet haue I viewed ouer the third and fourth chapters of his third parte where he entreateth of that matter But to runne ouer his particular catalogue That S. Gregorie the father of S. Gregorie Nazianzen did marry after he was Bishopp is one vntruth for he was marryed before euer he was christened as he may learne out of that funerall Oration of Nazianzen which in his Suruey he Pag. 222. citeth to proue him a marryed bishoppe That S. Clement after the dignitie of bishopp tooke any wife is a second vntruth for I challeng him confidently thoughe litle knowinge what Clement he meaneth That S. Spiridion was marryed I graunte but Bell must proue that it was after he was created Bishopp and not before or at leaste that he vsed the company of his wife which he will neuer doe and so that maketh the third vntruth The verie selfe same thinge I say of S. Cheremon and S. Philogonius which make vpp the fourth and fift vntruthes THE XX. VNTRVTH OF Saint Eupsichius more consideration is to be had for Bell not onely here maketh him a marryed bishoppe but also in his Suruey Pag. 222. saith that he was Bishopp of Cesarea and a marryed man and soone after his marryage martyred for lesus Christe For if this be true which so confidentlye he affirmeth it seemeth very plaine that his marryage did followe holie orders But out vpon the currupt conscience of this casta way I vtterly deny that he was euer Bishopp or in any sacred orders at all being only a laye man and of an honorable family How doth he proue the contrary For iustification of that he saith he quoteth in the margent the Tripartite historie and Nicephorus Lib. 6. cap. 14. Lib. 10. cap. 10. The wordes of the tripartite historie bethese Furthermore at that tyme they say that Basilius a Priest of the churche of Ancyra ended his life by martirdome and Eupsichius a citizen of Cesarea in Cappadocia hauing latelie marryed a wife being yet as it were a brydgroome Where is here any mention of his being Bishoppe Sozomenus from whom Cassiodorus the compiler of the triparaite historie tooke those Wordes saith that Eupsichius was ex patricys of the senators or nobilitie without any mention of his Episcopall dignitie Nicephorus his second authour deliuereth the story in this manner Hoc ipso tempore c. At this verie tyme Basilius also a priest of the Church of Ancyra ended his life by martirdome and likewise Eupsichius of Cesarea in Cappadocia borne of an auncient family and honorable kinred who a litle before had marryed a wife and was as yet a bridegroome And this is so certaine that the Lutheran Centurists who would as willinglie heare newes of a bishopp marryed after his consecration as Bell but being heerin not so impudent as he that seemeth to be ashamed of nothing but truth and honestie teporte him onely to haue bene a noble man Eupsichius say they was Centur. 4. Col. 1430. of the Cittie of Cesarea discended of the nobilitie of Cappadocdia slaine by the Citizens of Cesarea c. and they cite Sozomenus before mentioned Whether this be not a gallant vntruth meet for such a reformed minister and professor of the sincere gospell I referre me to the iudgement of the prudent and indifferent reader I cannot perswade my selfe but had he not wholy consumed his conscience with continuall custome of carelesse sinninge it could not posibly be that he would euer sette abroache such manifest grosse and shamelesse vntruths Bels IIII. Chapter Of the Popish execrable Pardons THE XXI VNTRVTH THis chapter though it be but short yet it lacketh not the seale of his occupation for his conclusion is adorned
with this notable vntruth The Popes pardon quoth he is a rotten ragge of the new religion brought into the churche after a 1300. yeares by Pope Bonifacius the eighte This very tale he hath tolde vs diuers times before and therefore the more reason I haue to challenge it for a rotten ly of the Ragge-maister of Raicall That it is suche a one I haue proued in the foresayd Dolefull knelle both by the testimony of Pag. 52. 53. c. other catholicke writers and also of Kemnitius the Lutherance of Germany and Perkins the Puritane of Englande his deare brothers in the Lord. And to say somthing in this place I will adde one testimony more and it shalle be of our mortall enemyes the VValdenses called also Pauperes de Lugduno Who appeared to the world about the yeare 1270. as testifieth Claudius Cussordius and Libro contra waldenses Lib. de heresibus 4. parte Examinis pag. 375. Guido one of whose heresies was against the Popes pardons as is moste certayne and Kemnitius confesseth whiche argueth that pardons were long in vse before the yeare 1300. and therefore be it knowen to Bell that he hath often runge out a notorious vntruth Bels V. Chapter Of Popishe Purgatorie THE XXII VNTRVTHE IN this chapter after he hath disputed against purgatory with the authority of Roffensis of which els where I entend to speake more he cometh to his recapitulation and saith Secondly that the church of Rome beleeued it not that is purgatory for the space of 250. yeares after which time it encreased by litle and litle This either he meaneth is gathered out of the testimony of Roffensis that is not true for nothing doth Roffensis speake of 250. yeares or deny that Purgatrory was alwaies beleeued in the church although he confesseth that the doctrine thereof was not generally so well knowen as now it is which is farre different from this proposition Purgatory was not beleeued of the church of Rome for the speace of 250. yeares after Christ Or els he affirmeth of himselfe that Purgatory was not beleued vntil that time which I make no doubt but it is his meaning for as muche as he teacheth the same thinge in other of his bookes and then I must be so bould to tell him that it is also a manifest vntruth as I haue proued against him in the Dolefulle knelle out of S. Denis S. Pauls scholler Pag. 55. 56. and Tertullian yea and to his vtter confusion conuinced out of himselfe in this place I wille adde the testimony of his brother Perkins Who in his Problem confesseth that Purgatory in the church was first receiued by Tertullian the Montanist Verbo Purgatorium pag. 185. wherein is one open vntruth to witt that he was the first for he onely affirmeth it but proueth it not and no marueil when he can not seing most certaine it is that it came from the Apostles Non Hom. 69. ad populum Praier for the doade commeth from the Apostles temere c. Not without cause saith S. Chrysostome these thinges were ordained of the Apostles that in the dreadfull mysteryes commemoration should be made of the dead for they knowe that thereby much gaine doth come vnto them and much profitte Much more to the same purpose might be produced An other vntruth he hath but more secretly conueyed vz that the doctrine of purgatory is a braunche of Montanisme which is moste false none euer of antiquity notinge that in Tertullian for any erroneous doctrine which no question they would had they reputed that of like quality with the other Bell for that great skille which he hath in auncient monuments and great dexterity in discouering the origine of Popery whereof Suruey epi stle Dedicatorie he vaunteth to the solace of his soule shall do well to iustify these two pointes of his precise brother or if his leisure serue him not for so much at least let him defend himself from lyinge when as Tertullian by the testimony of Perkins confesseth Purgatory who was dead before the yeare two hundred and fiftye Here the iudicious reader may also note how the minister contradicteth himself In his Suruaye intreatinge of Purgatory he sayeth Thus by litle and Bel cōtradicteth him solse litle it increased till the late Bishoppes of Rome made it an article of Popishe fayth Where in the margent he noteth the time thus In the yeare of our Lord 250. Heere he sayth that the church of Rome beleued it not for the space of 250. yeares after which as he telleth vs it encreased by litle and litle and so in this place he maketh the seede of Purgatory not to haue been sowen before the yeare 250 and after ward to haue encreased till it came to perfection there he affirmeth that the seede was sowen before and encreased by litle and litle vntille it became ripe and perfect Popery which was in the yeare 250 and so Purgatory was sowen not sowen growen and not growen an article of fayth and not an article of faith in the same one yeare 250. I will not deny but the minister hath som skill in botching together of ould endes of diuinity gathered out of the ragge markett of Caluin such like Ceneua-merchants yet I feare me it will be to hard for him so to cobble the sayings together that the flawe of a contradiction appeareth not THE XXIII VNTRVTH IN the same place he writeth thus Fistly that the Primitiue Church was neuer acquainted with the Popes pardons nor yet with his counterfette and forged purgatory A notable vntruth for not to speake of pardons but of purgatory was it not the Primitiue churche which beleeued purgatory when as himself confesseth that it was made an article of Popishe fayth in the yeare 250. Suruey pag. 297 Lib. 2. cap. 2. pag. 3. at what time all the Popes were martyred for Christ and in his Funerall he acknowledgeth the first thirty for godly men saying that both they and diuers others taught the same doctrine which S. Peter had done afore them and most certaine that one of these thirty liued in the yeare 250. and so I trowe they were of the Primitiue Churche The Minister is full of distinctions and his braine a shoppe of solutions hauing many I sayes for the answear of any obiection yet it is to be feared that no deuise will free him from a gorsse vntruth affirming here that the Primitiue Church was not acquainted with Purgatory and yet teaching in his Suruey that Purgatory was made an article of fiath by the late Popes of Rome in the yeare 250. I lett passe how purgatory must by his owne cōfession be Apostolicall doctrine when it was taught by those Popes which he graunteth to haue holden the faith of S. Peter as I haue vrged against him in the Dolefull Knell I omitt also how falsely and ridiculously he calleth the Popes that liued 1450 yeares ago the late Popes of Rome veryly it
custome as newly brought in and contrary to the practise of the Church or institution of Christ which is an argument that it is passing auncient and was neuer reputed for false doctrine or repugnarite to sacred scripture Bels XIIII Chapter Of Pope Martins dispensation for the brother to marry his naturall sister THE XLIX VNTRVTH SVch is Bels malice against the Pope that when better matter faileth he fetcheth lies out of the â—ard flint his words be these Pope Martin sayth Part. 3. tit 1. cap. 11. prope finem Antoninus the Popishe Archbishop and canonized Saint â—oke vpon him to bispense with one that he might marry his â—wne naturall sister A magnificall vntruth twice â— old before and shall againe if he haue any more â—ookes to publishe for his latter bookes be nothing els but certaine ragges drawen from the â—unghill of his former what he saith of Pope Martin is a notable vntruth as is apparante out of S. Antoninus owne wordes which for loue to sincerity he would not cite intierely in his Downfall where this knocker crept first foorth some he alleadged but so corruptly that hauing bene wel canuased for that his treacherie both in the Pag. 33. 34. c. Lib. 2. cap. 7. pag. 226. c. Forerunner and also in the Dolefull Knell and not knowing how to defend himself he hath for all that still intertayned the vntruth but wholy concealed the words for more sure dealing S. Antoninus his wordes be these hauing relation to others precedent which make also against Bell. Neuerthelesse it is found that Pope Martin the fift did dispense Part. 3. tit 1. cap. 11. with a certayne man who had contracted and consummated matrimony with a certayne naturall sister of her with whom he had committed fornication yet with great difficulty and because the matter was secret and the man not fitt for religion or to remoue into any other countrey and so scandall would haue followed of the diuorce if it had been made Pope Martin then dispensed not with a man to marry his owne natural sister but to remayne stille in marriage with her whose naturall sister before marriage he had carnally knowen this is so playne and perspicuous that the good reader can not but behould it and perceiue that the Minister had good reason not to alleage Antoninus words the more handsomly to conuay the vntruth Of this shamelesse dealing of his I haue in treated so plentifully in the Dolefull Knell Lib. 2. cap. 7. examining all the particular circumstances of Antoninus his discourse and answeared also what heâ— bringeth there out of Siluester Fumus Angelus Nauar and Caietan obiected also by him before in his Funerall that I take it for a vaine labour to intreate againe of the same matter Wherefore to proceede Bels XV. Chapter Of worshipping of Images THE L. VNTRVTH RVnning with his penne against the veneration giuen to sacred images he saith Yeâ— Gregory the great in his tyme sharply reproued the worshippâ— done to images albeit he disliked Serenus the good Bishop of Massilia for breaking the same in the Church Neither S. Gregory nor Serenus any thing help Bell and such I conomachall companions but both of them stande in mortall defiance against him S. Gregory Lib. 6. ep 5. seuerely reproued Serenus for his rashe breaking downe the images of the church attempting to doe that which as he saith neuer any Bishoppe had done before him Whereof I inferre that images in the Primatiue Church were in vse yea and kept in sacred places and consequently that our Englishe Protestans be coÌ„trary to venerable antiquitie that suffer not any such holy monumeÌ„ts in the Church out rase and deface them with all spight and cruelty contrary also to S. Gregory who reprehending Serenus though nothing so guilty would not I think haue spared Bell and his fraternity for their enormous impious proceeding herein Were I desirous to imitate the minister very handsomly might I come vpon him with a concludinge inference in this manner ergo this beating downe of images is a rotten ragge of the newe Caluinian religion borrowed from Iewes Mahometans and such misbeleeuing miscreants But S. Gregory saith Bell sharply reproued the worshippe done to images true it is but what kinde of worshippe was it The minister would haue the reader to thinke that it was the same which the Catholike Church alloweth and teacheth which is nothing so for it was passing far different for as much as S. Gregory allowed conuenient adoration as shal straight be said Cardinal Bellermin thincketh that this erroneous worship was giuen by certain new ChristiaÌ„s surely such were most likely to fall into that grosse sinne of whom it is not so much to be maruailed if accustomed before to idols they behaued themselfes in like maÌ„ner to wards sacred images and adored them for gods as in Paganisme they were taught practised Serenus vpoÌ„ this abhominable accideÌ„t moued with zeale but not according to knowledge ouerthre we those images which S. Gregory reproued in him for that he ought to haue instructed them reformed what was amisse and not so depely to haue scaÌ„dalized the Church with such a strange fact as S. Gregory in expresse wordes signifieth that he did and therfore aduiseth himafter due instruction giuen to the people to restore the images to ther former places This was the adoration which that holy Pope disliked VVhat adoratioÌ„ of images S. Gregorie disliked for that he denyed not all kind of veneration is most certayne for writing to one Ianuaring a Bishoppe about the image of the blessed virgin and the crosse which he willeth to be taken from the Synagogue of the Iewes where they had been putt he speaketh thus VVe exhort you in these words that the image and crosse be taken from thence with that Lib. 7. epis 5. veneration which is worthy And in an other place writing to one Secundinus who had sent vnto him for the image of our Sauiour his words be these I knowe verilie that you doe not therfore desire the image of our Sauiour that you may worshippe it as thoughe it were god but that by remembrance of the sonne of God you may wax warme in his loue whose image you see And we fal Lib. 7. epis 53. prostrate before it not as it were before the diuinity What hath Bell gott by vouching the authority of S. Gregory About the retayning of images in Churches he is directly against him as he can not deny concerning their adoratioÌ„ also he nothing helpeth him but teacheth that which nothing pleaseth his reformed spirit and therfore true it is not that he reproued the worshippe done to images as Bell affirmeth speaking of that worshippe which the Church alloweth as the minister would haue his reader to thincke for the other worshippe we detest as much as he Albeit sufficieÌ„t hath been said to she we that he wrongeth S. Gregory yet is not this the vntruth which I intended
quoteth Durandus in the margent whom notoriously he abuseth as also Pope Sergius For Durandus is so far from saying Lib. 1. cap. 6. that this was done that the Christian Romans should not be inferiour to the Pagan Romans in heathenishe superstition as Bell writeth that he affirmeth Pope Sergius to haue chaunged that Paganicall fashion in melius into a better thinge signifyinge playnely that this ceremony was instituted for the abolishinge of that heathenishe custome which is a thing so far from iuste reprehension that on the contrary it is most highely to be commended as a most religious pollicy tending to the distruction of superstition and encrease of piety and deuotion Neither doth Durandus make this the only cause of that ceremonie for the reckoneth vp six in all whereof this is the second in order Bels XXVII Chapter Of the doubtfull oath which Popish Bishoppes make to the Pope IN this chapter he complayneth that whereas Bishoppes had free accesse to Councels to speake the truth out of the scripture in former Anno Dō 1229. Decret Lib. 2. tit 24. cap. 4. tymes Gregory the ninth ordayned that none should haue voices in Councels but such as sware obedience to the Pope and promised with an oath to defend his Canon lawe adding that the expresse words of the oath the Reader may finde in the Downesall of Poperie but he should withall haue added also here that the forme of that oath is iustifyed against his cauils by one S. R. Art 7. chap. 14. in his learned answear to that booke of his where he sheweth that the like oath was made to Gregory the great Bell not hauing yet deuised with himself what to say in his owne defence dissembleth the answear though in an other place of his pamphlett he confesseth to haue seene S. R. his Chap. 9. booke and so he is freshe vp with this oath as though it had neuer bene answeared or he had neuer spoken of it before when as he had it also Pag. 60. vp in his Motiues and in his next worke not vnlikely but we may heare newes of it againe such is his grace in writinge and the great choise he hath of abundant matter Here I am to admonishe the good reader of newes which I receiued lately and that is after I had written thus much Bels reply called The Iesuits Antepast came piping hoat to mine hands from the pallace of his kitching in defence of his Douwnesall against the answear of S. R. and therefor making no doubt but that he had at least attempted to batter in pieces all that S. R. had said in defence of that oath and so spoiled also the grace of that which I had brought out of him I thought good to take a taste wherevpon I fell abord with his Antepast opened the dishes and found there a miserable poore pittance all the fatte through the cookes negligence being fallen into the fire for S. R. disputeth for the lawefulnes thereof Art 30. chap. 14. in this manner As for the oaths of Bishops made to the the Pope the lawfulnes thereof appeareth because it is made with all Catholique Princes consent and meant only in iust and lawfull things which are according to Gods lawe and holy Canons and it hath bene vsed aboue a thousand yeares agoe as is euident by the like oath made by a Bishoppe vnto S. Gregory the great and S. Bonifacius Lib. 10. ep 31. Baron ann 723. See cōcil Tolet an 11. can 10. the Apostle of Germany and worthyest man that euer England bredde did sweare when he was consecrated Bishoppe to concurre with the Pope and commodities of his Church in which words is contayned that which I said in defence thereof To all which this kitchin minister saith not one worde and yet in great brauery he writeth thus Say on good frier thou shalt be heard with all fauour To Antepast pag. 147. imitate his vaine may I not rather say it is not so Sir Lyer thou hast curtald a way the beginning of his answeare of good moment and very sufficient for the iustification of that oath in generall is this to be heard with fauour not so but it is with coosenage to abuse the good reader which carryeth with it a stinking sauour The rest of that which he iangleth about the oath I leaue to S. R. yet this will I briefly say that for as much I haue here readd his answear stādeth sound without the losse of any one droppe of bloud notwithstāding the terrible Cānon shott of Bels Antepast And the principall of that which he mustereth together for the refelling thereof is contayned in this his Triall about which I nowe labour in the eight chapter where he intreateth of the Popes fayth Let that be perused which I haue said before in the examination of that chapter and it will sone appeare that it is not the buckler of his Antepast that can defend our newe cooke from the wounding of his old carcas Thus much of his eleauen chapters Here for a conclusion I must adde a word or two The first is that how truly or falsely he hath alleadged authors I knowe not hauing perused the places of fewe because the subiect was not waighty but only of ceremonies or matters of small moment The second is which I noted also before that grauntinge authority to the Church to ordaine ceremonies he goeth against his owne doctrine in calling them rotten ragges of a newe religion teacheth others how to entertayne those ceremonies which either they haue borrowed from vs or els brought forth by a later generation The last is that where as he confesseth many of our ceremonies to be very auncient as the Introit of the masse which was instituted as he saith by Celestine the Pax brought in by Innocentius and the Paschall torch ordained by Sozimus all which Popes liued about some twelue hundred years agoe with what face or grace can he speake so scornfully of them calling them rotten ragges when as disputinge against the Puritanicall fraternity in defence of English ceremonies in his booke called The Regiment of the Church antiquity is vrged the practise of the Church inculcated with all his learning he laboureth to procure credit to their ceremoniall lawes institutions as is euident out of all that treatise And to speake som what in particular To proue the vse of the Surplesse or albe he alleadgeth a Can. 14. Canon of the fourth Councell of Carthage which he doth highly extol in this manner At this Councel In his Regiment cap. 8. pag. 82. quoth he were present two hundred and fourtene Bishoppes of which S. Augustin was one and yet all those holy men liuing in those dayes when no corruption of religion had crept into the Church affirme constantly c. Behould good reader ther chaūgable conditiō of this Chameleon The Albe or Surplesse is a commendable ceremony and reuerent rite because it was allowed in the tyme of