Easter day then seeming very slender (t) The Churches of Asia not denying the feast of Easter but differing onely from the Romane Church in the day on which it should be kept wherin also they had as they presumed the fore mentioned example and tradition of S. Iohn for their warrant thought this no iust cause of excomunication excomunicate the Bishopes of Asia wherein saith Mr. Fulke (v) mr Fulke in his answere to a counterfaite Catholicke page 36 post med he passed the boundes of his Authoritie howso-euer the Bishopes of Asia in respect of the saide occasion seeming to them so slender censured Victor as ouer seuere (x) Euseb hist l. 5 c. 23 24 yet which is most to be obserued no one of them though thus in their owne opinion prouoked chargeth him as in all reason if they might they would with any vndue claime or exercise of vsurped authoritie (y) Euseb hist l. 5 c. 24. initio reporteth how Ireneus who thought Victor ouer sharpe herein admonisheth Victor by letters that he would not for the obseruation of a Tradition so long vsed quite cut of so many Churches from the bodye of the vniuersall Church in which wordes he doth not so much impugne as plainely acknowledge his authoritie for how could Victor so cut them of vnles he had authoritie therin euen Ireneus him selfe who stood most herein acknowledgeth so plainely els where the Primacie of the Romane see that he is therefore specially reprehended (*) Cent. 2. c. 4 col 64 l. 10. It is said NouitateÌ„ deinde quandaÌ„ illud recipere quibusdam videri posset quod in exemplaribus Irenei qualia nunc hâ—bemus extat libro tertio cap. tertio Ad hanc Ecclesiam propter potentiorem principalitatem necesse â—st omnem conuenire Ecclesiam c. And in the Alphabeticall table of that centurie at the word Ireneus speciall reference being there made to this saying of Ireneus it is withall saide therof Ireneâ— corrupta senâ—entia de â—r maâ—u Ecclesiae Romanae 64 12. by the Centurie writers of Magdeburge 2 Secondly Mr. Whitaker (z) Whitaker contra Duraeum l. 7. p. 480 giueth example In Zozimus Bonifacius and Celestinus Bishopes of Rome (a) mr Fulke in his answere to a counterfaite Catholicke pa. 37 circa medium Challenging saith Mr. Fulke Prerogatiue ouer the Bishops in Aphrica by forging a false Canon of the Nicen Councell Whereto we answere that the former example of Victor who liued about some 200. yeares before these fully auoideth this obiection for if Victor so long before them challenged primacie then did they but continue it and not first bring it in As for the suspition (b) The suspition which Protestantes enforce was this Zozimus Boniface and Celestinus to prooue vnto the Bishoppes of Aphrica appeales vnto Rome alleaged in behalfe therof the Nicene Councell whervpon saith mr Iewell in the 4. article of his replye The said Aphricane Bishopes wrote to the Bishoppes of the East to see their copies of the Nicene Councell vpon returne of which Copies from Cirrill Bishope of Alexandria and Atticus of Constantinople there appeared therein no such Canon As also say they neither in the 22 Canons set downe by Rufinus hist l. 10 c. 6 doth any such Canon appeare whereupon Protestants vrge this to haue bene a forgery and innouation in Zozimus Boniface and Celestinus of pretended forgery of the Canons of the Nicen Councell by Zozimus Boniface and Celestinus it is both vntrue (c) Vntrue for betweene the time of the Nicene Councell and of the foresaid Bishopes Cirrill of Alex andrra and Atticus of Constantinople The Arrianes had occupied those sees whereof see Socrates l. 2. Zozom l. 4. Theodoret. l. 2. and Niceph. l. 9 10 and corrupted the true originals of the Nicene Councell so as the Canons which Rufinus setteth downe and which Cirrill and Atticus sent howsoeuer those Fathers thought of them were false and corrupted which to be true appeareth many waies 1 First in that sondry auncient Fathers haue alleaged sondry Canons of the Nicene Councell which are not to be found in these As for example Ambrose ep 82 saith It was decreed in the Nicene Councell Ne bigamus in clerum asciscatur S. Austine ep 110 saith It was there decreed Ne Episcopus sibi successorem sufficiat Hierom. in praefat Iudith saith concerning the booke of Iudith Hunc librum Synodus Nicena in numero Sanctarum scripturarum legitur computasle And the Fathers of the second generall Councell of Constantinople which was 30 yeeres before Zozimus in their Sinodicall letters written to the Bishopes of Italye Damasus and others extant in Theodoret hist l. 5 c. 9. post medium affirme that there was sanctorum Patrum in Concilio Niceno decisio vt videlicet singularum Prouinciarum antistites vná cum finitimis modo ipsis ita visum fuerit Episcopis ministros ad ecclesiarum commodum in suis ipsorum prouincijs ordinent Iulius who was Bishope of Rome presently after the Nicene Councell in rescript contra orientales pro Athanasio c. which is in Isidors collection and a great parte thereof specially recited and alleaged verbatim by Zozomin hist l. 3. c. 7. whereof see Socrates hist l. 2 c. 11 saith Canonibus in Nicena sinodo Iubentibus non debere preter sententiam Romani Pontificijs concilia caelebrari And Socrates affirmeth accordingly that such a Canon was hist l. 2 c. 5 that it was alleaged by Iulius hist l. 2 c. 13 and so likewise doth Zozomine hist l. 3. c 9. also it is notoriouse and most certaine as appeareth by Athanasius in epistola de sinodis Armini Selenci by Eusebius de vita Constantini l. 3. c. 5. 17 18 and by Epiphan haer 69. that one principall occasion of the Nicen Councell was to determine the controuersie about the obseruation of Easter day and that accordingly those Fathers made a Canon therof To omitt sondry other like examples in that kind wherof read Concil Aphricanum Can. 14. and Leo ep 25. ad Theodosium Augustum And the Lord Archbishope of Canterburie in his defence c. page 334. post medium And to omitt likewise that the Canons alleaged by Rufinus do vary from the Canons sent by Cirrillus both in number order and matter diuers learned Protestants as Oecolampadius in libro epistolarum Occolampadij Suin glij page 664. 667. Caluin lib. 4. institut c. 17. sect 36. mr Iewell in his Apologie of the Church of England and mr Bilson now Bishoppe of Winchester in his true difference betweene c. part 4. page 555 ante med do acknowledge and mencion a Canon of the Nicene Councell concerning the Sacrament All which said Canons are wanting aswel in the 22. Canons set downe by Ruffinus as also in the 20 Canons sent by Cirrill in so much as Occolampadius vbi supra p. 664 ante med expresly chargeth our latine copies
4. also Oecolampadius in libro epistolarum Oecolampadij Suinglij l. 2. page 301. circa med saith hereof Parentum compatrum fides pueros sanctificat And Praetorius l. de Sacramentis page 108. saith Respectu fidelium parentum infantes fideles habentur c. Credunt igitur infantes sed in parentibus they are comprehended within the couenant of eternall life by meanes of the faith of theire Parents (*) In the propositions page 178 are for that cause to be Baptixed and that there-fore the Children of Iewes Turkes and such like professed Infidels are (u) In the propositions principles c. vbi supra sect 8. page 179. and mr Whitaker contra Duraeum l. 8. page 679. fine saith Infidelium liberos vt Turcarum Iudeorum Ethnicorum Caluinus meritò veré negat esse baptizandos and the like is taught by Kimnedoncius in his redemption of mankind l. 2. c. 15 page 167 fine and see mr D. Some in his defence against Penrye and refutation c. page 150. not to be Baptized as not being comprehended within the couenant by reason that their Parents do not beleeue All this yet notwith-standing they professe (x) Taught by mr Whit gifte in his defence c. page 623 ante med By mr Hooker in his ecclesiasticall policie l. 3. sect 1. page 131 by D. Some vbi supra page 149 150 and in the foresaide propositions and principles c. page 179. sect 9. It is saide by the Diuines of Geneua We are of minde that the children of Papists may be receaued vnto Baptisme to teach and practise their Baptizing of Infants Borne of Catholicke or as they terme Popishe Parents Not saith Mr. Hooker in regard of (y) mr Hooker vbi supra Gods promise which reacheth vnto a thousand generations for by this reason the Children of Turkes and as Mr. Hooker saith (z) Master Hooker ibidem all the worlde may bee Baptized in so much as no man is a thousand discents remoued from Adam But their saide Baptising of them is according to the other premises of their Doctrine by them selues practised and holden good though as Mr. D. Some affirmeth (a) mr Some in his foresaide defence c. cap. 22. page 165 167 to Penry they were the Children of Popishe west-Indians whose other former auncestors neuer knew the Christian faith and though saith hee those West-indians (b) Master Some ibidem page 167. were Baptized by Popish Shauelings yet they receaued true Baptisme and were ingraffed into Christ and for this reason because there is a Church in Popery for saith he (c) mr Some ibidem p. 149 post med saith And Amandus Polanus in partic theologic page 305 post med saith Hodierna Ecclesia Romana est adhuc Ecclesia Christi sed omnium impurissima c. alioquin ij qui in papatusunt baptizati extra ecclesiam Christi ac proinde nec baptismo Christi fuissent baptisati c. If there were no Church at all in Popery then the Infants of Papistes were not to be Baptized in any reformed Church By which premisses of their confessed practise it appeareth 1 that the Children of Catholicke or Popish Parents are to be Baptized 2 as being comprehended within the couenant of eternall life 3 and that by reason of their parents Faith So euidently in their Doctrine and practise is the faith of the Catholicke or Popish Parents houlden for auaileable to his Childe And shall it then be thought damnable to him selfe or houlden worthy to be yet further persecuted by our so implacable and vnrelenting aduersaries THAT PROTESTANTS CANNOT proue that the Romane Church did change her Religion since the first Conuersion thereto in the Apostles time § 7. AND for so much as it is your HIGHNES â‹ In the summe of the Conference before the Kings Maiestie pag. 75. circa med Constant and resolute opinion that no Church ought further to seperate it selfe from the Church of Rome then shee hath departed from her selfe wheÌ„ shee was in her florishing best estate In further probabilitie therfore of the Premisses we do presume hereby most humbly to submitte to your MAIESTIES most learned Iudgment this briefe discourse had thereof in the two sections next ensuing it is generally confessed that the Romane Church was once the true Church and professed the right faith whereto the (p) I thanke my God for you c. because your faith is renowned throughout the wholle worlde Rom. 1 8. To all that be at Rome the beloued of God called to be Saintes grace to you Rom. 1 7. That which is common to vs both your faith and mine Rom. 1 12. Your obedience is published in euery place Rom. 16 19. Apostle him selfe giueth full and assured testimonie where-vpon it euidently followeth that if the Romane Church haue not sithence changed her religion then she still retaineth and persisteth in the right faith Now as touching her supposed change we will breifely examine what our learned aduersaries who haue purposely and seriously laboured in discouery or proofe of this pretended change do most materially obiect in that behalfe 1 First then (q) Mr. Whitaker contra Duraeum l. 7 page 480 initio and mr Fulke in his answere to a counterfeite Catholike p. 36. post med the first saith Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Fulke That exercised Iurisdiction vpon forraine Churches was Victor whereto we answere as doth the Lord Archbishope of Canterburie concerning womans Baptisme saying to Mr. Carthwright (r) mr Whitgifte in his defence page 510 prope finem you say in the margent that Victor Anno. 198. did first appointe that women might Baptize by this you do add more credit to the cause then you are aware of for Victor was a Godly Bishope and Martir and the Church at that time was in greate Purity as not being longe after the Apostles whereto we further add that whereas Victor in the example now vrged did vpon occasion (s) The occasion hereof was that the Churches of Asia minor had receaued of S. Iohn the Euangelist to obserue our Lordes Pasch or Easter day not alwaies vppon Sonday but with the Iewes in regarde of theire knowne weakenes vpon the 14. of the moone as in like sorte vpon the same grouÌ„d was for the time tollerated Circumcision Act. 16 3. and abstinence from bloode and that which is strangled Act. 15 20. The Bishops of Rome who had receaued of S. Peter and Paule the other manner did accordinglye tollerate the Churches of Asia til such time as that certaine of them in Asia made this their obseruation necessarie in so much that the other manner was condemned by the Iudaizing hereticke Bâ—asius Tertulian de praescript circa finem and centur 2. c. 5 col 107. l. 12. hereupon Victor thought good to tollerate them no longer and therfore prescribed the Bishops of Asia to be excomunicated vnlesse they conformed them selues to the latine Church in the obseruation of
quosdam pontificios trucidarunt denique multa designarunt quae Hussus si in viuis adhuc fuâ—sset minime approbasset c. rebellion against their Soueraigne with the vnfitting title of (r) act mon. pag. 258. a. initio the ghospells increase THAT THOVGH VVALDO WICLIFFE and Husse had bene Protestantes yet theire examples are insufficient in this case SECT 6. HITHERTO we haue proceeded that neither Waldo Wicliffe nor Husse were of the Protestants Church and that therefore theire examples are impertinently alledged onely now we will suppose for the time that they had bene all of them full Protestants in opinion and withall yet appeall to your MAIESTIES learned iudgmeÌ„t whether their foâ—esaide examples be not altogether insufficient to proue a continuance of their Churches administration of the Word and Sacraments but so much as for those only times in which they liued and that for two speciall important reasons As 1 First in that neither they all nor so much as any one of them were before their first appearing members and professors of the said supposed Protestants Church and faith but were as appeareth by the premisses all of them originally professed and knowne Catholikes as in like maner were Arius Macedonius Nestorius Pelagius Eutiches and the other ould Sectmasters before their times who all being first Catholickes through Innouation afterwardes and noueltie of opinion (s) 1. Iohn 2 19. act 15 24. went out from vs the very brand or character wherwith the holy scriptures Protestants (t) Mr. Alison in his confutatioÌ„ of Brownism pag. 1. initio them selues doe note false teachers And therfore the foresaid example of Waldo Wicliffe and Hâ—sse who before their first appearing were Catholickes supposing they were afterwardes Protestants proueth in steed of continuance rather a manifest defection and not being of their Churches administration of the Word Sacraments at and imediately before the first begining of euery of them 2 Secondly as Luther saith (v) Luther vpon the epistle to the Galathianes englished in c. 1. fol. 10. b ante medium It is not enough for a man to haue the word and puritie of doctrine but al o he must be assured of his calling and he that entreth without this certainely entreth to no other end but to kill c. to which purpose the scripture saith (2) Rom. 10 15. How shall they preach except they be sent (3) Hebr. 5 4 No man taketh to him the honour of Priesâ—hood but he that is called of God as Aaron was (4) Iohn 10 1 Who so entereth not by the dore into the sheepfolde but climeth an other way is a theefe And for so much as the refuge of pretended extraordinary calling hath bene heretofore (x) See heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect 3 in the margent there at the letter z. and in the margent at the letter a. sufficiently discouered and reiected by learned Protestants Lutheranes and Puritanes the Churches ordinarie calling by man being as the auncient Fathers (*) Ciprian l. de simplicitate Prelatorum condemneth such as want the Churâ—hes calling saying Iâ— sunt qui se vltio apud temerarios conuenas sine diuina dispositione praesiciunt qui se praepositos sine vlla ordinationis lege constituunt qui nemine episcopatum dante Episcopi nomen sibi assumunt And Ciprian l. 1. ep 6. ad Magnum sayeth of Nouatianus Nouatianus in Ecclesia non est nec Episcopus computari potest qui Euangelica Apostolica traditione contempta nemini succedens a seipso ordinatus est habere namque aut tenere Ecclesiam nullo modo potest qui ordinatus in ecclesia non est and a litle afterwardes nemini succedens a seipso incipiens alienus fit prophanus Vpon this ground Tertulian in libro de prescrip vrgeth the Hereticks of his time saying Edant origines ecclesiarum suarum euoluant ordinem Episcoporum suoruÌ„ ita per successionem c. And Optatus l. 2. contra Parmen vrgeth in like maner the Donatisies saying Vestrae Cathedrae vos originem ostendite qui vobis vultis sanctam ecclesiam vindicare mistus est Victor ex Africa Romam erat ibi filius sine patre sequens sine Antecedente And St. Austine ex quaest in nouo vet Test quest 100. saith of Heretickes Ordinem ab Apostolo Petro caeptum vsque hoc tempus per traducem succedentium Episcoporum seruatum perturbant ordinem sibi sine origine vendicantes c. and them selues (y) Luther vpon the epistle to the Galathianes fol. 10. a. circa med saith God calleth vs at this day to the ministerie of his word not imediately him selfe but by man And Piscator volum 1 thesium theolog pag. 405. circa med saith Post tempora autem Apostolorum vocauit adhuc vocat ad finem vsque mundi vocaturus est Pastores Doctores Presbiteros per Ecclesiam c. And see D. Couel in his defence of Mr. Hooker page 86. fine 87. initio and in his examination c. page 131. fine 106 initio do yet further confesse the established course of the new Testament without which no man may vndertake the publique charge and administration of the word and sacraments To which end the now Lord Bishop of Winchester affirmeth that (z) Mr. Bilson in his perpetuall gouernment of Christs Church c. 9. pag. 111. ante medium the moderation of the keies and imposition of handes were at first setled in the Apostles and that they can haue no part of Apostolike Comission that haue no shew of Apostolicke succession c. and therfore that (a) Ibid. page 111 post med and see the like in Mr. D. Couel in his examination page 97. circa med 106 initio Pastors do receaue by succession the power and charge of the Word and Sacraments from and in the first Apostles against all which the vulgar obiections which some precisians vrge contrarie to scriptures and so many of their owne writers of (b) Obiected by master Fulke against the Rhemish Testament in Rom. c. 10 fol. 255. a. paulo post me Aedesius and Frumentius two lay persons Conuerting a great nation of the Indianes and of a captiue woman conuerting the nation of the Iberianes and grossely mistaken (c) Mistaken and impertinent for though it be reported that Aedesius and Frumentius did by priuate exhortation perswade the people of that Nation to the Christian faith a thing which Laye persons may do yet is there no mention that either of them did vndertake the administration of the Word and Sacraments vntill such time as Frumentius went to Alexandria to Athanasius who gaue to him the holy function of a Bishop Theodoret after Christofersons translation hist l. 1. c. 23. wherewith he returned to the said nation and so proceeded to their conuersion In like maner it is not said that the captiue woman did vndertake the administration of the word and sacraments but
made the world for the time subiect to such grosse illusion And thus much briefly to shew that our English Protestants may in no sorte challenge Luther to haue bene so much as but a member of their Church THAT ALSO DVRING THE 20 YEERES next before Luther which are yet in memory of this present age no example can be alledged of the Protestants but only of the Catholicke Churches administratioÌ„ of the word SacrameÌ„ts SECT 11. BVT admitting now for the time that Luther had bene a member of the Protestants Church we will as now yet further shew that his example is for all that of no force to proue a continuance of their Churches administration of the word and sacraments but so much as for that onely age in which he liued Wherein to make the equitie of this our Apologie as yet more perspicuous we will discend from all those foresaide seuerall ages before spoken of and will as now make examination but of one onely peculier time and that most euident as being yet within the memorie of this present age namely the twentie yeares that were next before Luthers first writinge against the Pope which happenned Anno Domini 1520. (f) Act. mon. pag. 402. 〈◊〉 the late and fresh occurrants whereof concerning the matter now in question can not be either mistaken or forgotten at the least not in all countries where Christian religion was professed And for so much as our aduersaries do collect and graunt from the scriptures that (g) Mr. Fulke against Heskins Sanders c. pag 536. paulo post med Pastors and Doctors must be in the Church till the end of the world euen (h) Mr. Fulke vbi supra pag. 569. initio from Christes time to Luthers age that they shall (i) Mr. Fulke in his answere to a countefeit Catholicke page 11. initio alwaies resist all false opinions (k) Mr. Fulke ibid. page 92. ante med with open reprehension that (l) Mr. Deering vpon the Hebrues in c. 2. vers 12. lectur 10. circa med c. 3. lectur 12. fine the religion being of God no feare of man shall keepe them backe that therefore (m) The Puritans words alledged in the Bishops of London Suruey of the holy pretended discipline pa. 44â— circa med the ministrie of the word and sacraments are in absolute degree of necessitie to saluation that (n) Mr. Willet in his sinopsis pag. 71. fine it is no longer a true Church then it hath these markes and that (o) Mr. Willet vbi supra pag 69. fine the onely absence of them doth make a nulletie of the Church that also (p) Hiperius in method theolog siue loc comun l. 3. pag. 548. ante med 552. prope finem these signes must be externall and visible that men may knowe where the true Church is and to which company they ought to adhere that lastly (q) Mr. Whitgiftes defence c. pag. 465. post med the Church of Christ is dispersed through the whole worlde cannot now be shut vp in one Kingdome All which hath bene (r) See before tract 2. c. 2. sect 1. heretofore more specially and at large declared out of our aduersaries owne writings we do here as now insist and as our aduersaries (s) The Deuines of Heidel berg in prefat in Protocollum FrankentaleÌ„se say to the Anabaptistes Sivos Ecclesia Dei sitis sequetur Deum sine sine populo Ecclesia fuisse c. nam si vel omnes historias perlegatis nullum ab exordio mundi populum inuenietis qui confessionem fidei vestrae similem habuerit quia verò neque deus a principio fine populo Ecclesia neque sempiternus ille Rex Iesus Christus sine regno fuit vestra autem Congregatio primuÌ„ Anno. 1522. caepit sequitur vos veram Dei Ecclesiam atque populum esse non posse So plainely do our aduersaries vrge the Anabaptistes to proue the continuance of their Church And Beza in epist theologic ep 16. and after the Geneua Print of Anno. 1573. pag. 127. paulo ante med vrgeth vpon the same ground saying Si verum est eorum dogma c. vbi tandem fuerit vnquam Ecclesia ipsos ostendere iub camus quum a pro pagato Euangelio facile fit demonstrare nullum vnquam eiusmodi quicquam sensisse quin perpetuò Ecclesiae consensu fuerit damnatus did vpon this ground charge and prouoke the Anabaptistes so we in like manner charge them demanding what pastors Doctors of their Church did accordingly impugne false doctrine preach the word and administer their sacraments and in what seuerall nations were the same visible and externall but during euen those foresaid xx yeares next before Luther where might any man as then haue performed Christs coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of (t) Math. 18 17. tell the Church which Mr. Carthwright confesseth to be (v) Mr. Carthwrite in Mr. Whitgifts defence pag. 635. fine necessarie and perpetuall or whereas then might a man haue found so much as any one of those (2) Foxe in Apocall c. 12. page 349. post med saith Scio ac fateor non adeo omnes terrae angulos sua seductione imposterem Demonem corripuisse quin Ecclesia semper habeat aliquot milia c. quae nunquam incuruauerunt genua ad Baal vide Whitaker de Ecclesia contra Bellarminum page 161. fine contra Dureum l. 3. pag. 259. fine thousandes or of that (3) Bullenger in Apocall serm 62. initio fol. 200. a. fine b. initio saith By the description of the Romish tyrrannie and reigne of Antichrist it should seeme that the Church and preaching of the ghospell had bene vtterly lâ—st c. He declareth therfore by a most excellent vision how Christ shall notwithstanding c. haue his Church cottinually and that right famouse Church not obscure but right famouse which as Mr. Foxe Mr. Whittaker Bullenger do collect from the scriptures were euermore to coÌ„tinue euen during the greatest persecution and seducing by Antichrist Luther him selfe imediatly before his first preaching against the Pope was not a professed meÌ„ber of any Churâ—h of Protestants theÌ„ known to be in being but was a knowne Catholicke euen (x) Simon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catallog c. pag. 180. an Augustine Friar and as him selfe protesteth (y) Luther saieth hereof Casu non voluÌ„tate in illas turbas incidi DeuÌ„ ipsum testor Witnesse hereof his owne schollers Timotheus Kirchmeruâ— in his thesaurus c. in epist nuncupatoria versus finem and Iacebus Andreas in confut disput Ioan. Iacob Grinaei c. pag. 312. He fell into the troubles or as he tearmeth it (*) Luther in loc commun Clasi 4. pag. 58. paulo ante med saith Initio Euangelij cum Deus in hanc vt sic votem factionem preter meam voluntatem per mirabiles occasiones me inuolueret faction of
Hâ—guenotes c. imprimee a Caen. 1590. en argum du liure pag. 2. Caâ—hâ—lâ— keâ— and H gâ—â—â—â—â—s to be of one saith and râ—l g â—n with whom agreeth another l ke â—riteâ— termâ—ng theÌ„ in like manner (n) Apologie Catholique c. part 2. pag. 26. 203 204. Domâ—stiâ—kes â—f oâ—â— faâ—â—h and braunchâ—s of one and the same Vine And hen e lastly it commeth that the lea ned Protestants as wee before (o) Heretofoâ—e tract 1. sâ—ct 6. haue sheâ—ed doe afford to our Câ—tho ike professors the ho efull promises of Salvation afâ—irming this to bee (p) M. D. Some vbi supra pag. 176. prope finem the iudgment of aâ—l â—â—a nâ—â— Prâ—â—eâ—tanâ— â—â—d (q) M. Bâ—nny in his treatiâ—e tending to Pacifiâ—ation pag. 93. circa medium â—are by the whâ—lâ— course of all â—heir writâ— gs in so â—uch aâ—â—hey doubt not to chaâ—ge such of their other head-strong brethren as affirme the contrarie even with (r) Mr. D. Couell in his defence of M. Hooker pag. 68. Paulo post medium Ignorant zeale A briefe repetition of â—he premisses of this second Chapter SECT 14. SINCE therefore most Gratiouse Souerâ—igne it appeareth by the second chapter of this second traâ—t grounded vpon the Scriptures and that confessed sense therof which our aduersaries themselues acknoâ—ledge 1 First that the Chuâ—ches Pastors and Doâ—toâ—s tâ—eir impugning of errors administration of the Word and Sacramentâ— must euermore (1) See heretoâ—ore tra 2. c. 2. sect 1. b. c. d. ibid. n o. u. ibidem x. y. z. continue in being 2 Secondly that where these are wanting there the true Church is (2) See heretofore tra 2. cap. 2. sect 1 y. z. not 3 Thirdly that the examples of (3) See heretofore tra 2. câ—p â— sect 7. Bertram the (4) See heretofore tract 2. c. 2. sect 3. Walâ—e s s 5 See heretofore tract 2. cap. 2. Sect. 4. Wiâ—liffe (6) See heretofore tra 2. cap. 2. sect 5. Huss â—nd (*) See heretofore tra 2. cap. 2. sect 10. and 11. Luther vpon which our adversaâ—ies doe most insist and all other (7) See heretofore tra 2. cap. 2. Sect 7. examples of former times are altogether impeâ—tinent to enable but so much a respecti ely for those times a continuan e of their Churches administratâ—on of the Word Sacraments in so much as themselues are vrged to coÌ„fesse that the same haue continued latent and (8) See hâ—retofore tra 2 c. 1. sect 4. p. q. r. s t. u. x. y. z. invisible to the world at the least for these 1000. years l st past 4 Fourthly whi h poâ—nt onely woâ—â—d suffice to convince our adversaries tâ—at not so much as an one eâ—ample thereof can bee found bâ—t during eveÌ„ the last xx (9) See heretofore tra 2. cap. 2. sect 11. yeares before Luthers first preaching agâ—inst the Pope which are yet within the memoâ—ie of tâ—is present age 5 Fifthly thâ—t in regard thereof our adversarieâ— a e for preservation of themselues vrged to flee (10) Heretofore tract 2. câ—p 2. sect 13 y. ibidem z. b c. d. e. f. g. h. i. to our Cathoâ—ike Church whose Pastors administration of the Word Sacraments haue accordâ—ng to their former confession continued (11) See heretofore tra 1. sect 2. tract 2. cap. 1. sect 4. q. r. s t y. knâ—wne and visible â—or 1300. yeares last â—ast so to acknowledge it for a true (12) See heretofore tra 1. sect 6. e. f. ibidem g. h. l. tract 2. ca. 2. sect 13 b. c. Church wherof Luâ—her at and after his sâ—â—d fiâ—st pre câ—â—ing was and (13) Heretofore tract 2. cap. 2. sect 13. y. continued â—ccording to their enâ—orced conâ—ession a knowne and profâ—ssed member We do most humb â—e now hereupon appeale to your MAIESTIE concerning the eqâ—itie of this our preâ—ent Apologie and whether â—h t we haue not her by greate cause to stand aâ— we do agaâ—nst our aduersaries in defence of our Catholike Church and whe her also that they are not in all senâ—e and râ—ason foâ—nde of all others most vnreasonable n theiâ— seeking further to afâ—â—ict persecute the same THE THIRD TRACT FIRST CHAPTER SECT 1. CONCERNING THE CONFESSED ANtiquitie of Catholicke Priest-hood Confe sion Absolution Masse c. and of the penall lawes made against them ALBEIT most gracious Soueraign that in regard of these so plâ—ine and â—onfessed premisses already alledged in beâ—alfe of our Catholike faith the same can appeare even to our enemies no lesse then worthie of all reuerend due estim tion such yet neverthelâ—s hath bin the calamity of our former tiâ—es th t even for this faith though thâ—s bewtâ—full with all this outward o naâ—et of coÌ„fâ—ssed probabilitie which being indeed but as it were th mother pearâ—e conteineth vnder it such further speciall proofe frâ—m Scriptures Fathers â—nd Protestant writeâ—s s is much more orient â—nd richly demonstratâ—â—e the particuleâ—s whereof we hâ—mblie pray but by this discourse mâ—de onely in generall daâ—e not presume to offer to your Maiestie we hâ—ue for many yeares past susteined the â—mpositioÌ„ of sundry pâ—nall lawes the Catholike (*) S. Chrysostom writ a â—peciall booke of this Priest-hood Priest hood of our spiritua l Pastors who as St. Austine saith are now not â—â—properlie but (s) Aug. de civ Dei l. 20. c. 10. post medium saith non vtique de solis Episcopis Presbâ—teris dâ—ctum est qui â—aÌ„ propâ—e vocaÌ„tur in Ecclesia Sacerdotes propeâ—lie called priests in thâ— Church and to wâ—om thereâ—ore the words Presbiter and Saâ—â—rd s are â—nd fferently (2) Aâ—gustâ—â— vt supra the Greek word Hiereus which signifieth Sacerdos is vsed and referred to Christian Priests by Dionisius Areopagita de eccles Hierarch c. 5. Epist 8. ad demophilum monachuÌ„ And Ignatius in his vndoubted Epistle ad Smyrnenses nowe extante wherof divers sentences are verbatim alledged vnder the name of Ignatius and title of this Epistle by Hierom. lib. de viris illustribus and by Eusebius lib. 3. cap. 32. as is more at large vrged and proued by the L. Archbishop of Canturburie in his defence c. pag. 408. circa medium he not so much as therin gaine-said by Carthwright affirmeth the Bishop to be as the high Priest Chrâ—sts Image in respect that he sacrificeth affirming further that in the Church nothing is greater then the Bishop who sacrificeth to God for the safetie of the wâ—ole world and Nazianzâ—â— in Epist 8. ad Simplicium Heret affirmeth the Priest to be the mediator betweene God and man and sacrificing togither with Christ this point is so evident and common in the Greeke and Latine Fathers that M. Whitaker lib. 9. contra Dâ—â—â—am pag. 813 initio acknowledgeth the same and answereth onely that the said Fathers vsed the words Hâ—â—reus and Sacerdos non proprie sed catacresticos not properly directly against
Ibidem pag. 1574. b. linea 14. 15. Dunne did at the time of their death when their conscience and religion was not to bee dissembled publiquely and most grievously repent them of their error diswading all Cathol ckes from attempting to restore râ—l gâ—â—n bâ— viâ—lence Did not Ioanes very earnestly as theÌ„ to the â—omiseratioÌ„ of the behoulders (k) Ibidem linea 60. prâ—test that althâ—â—gh he was a Catholicke yet he so deepely weigheâ—h libertie f his countrie as that he would be and euer was reaâ—y to sâ—eâ—d his life in withstanding any force Italishe Spaâ—â—sh or whatâ—oâ—uer Doth not the said Chronicle report â—n like sort concerning â—he conspiracie wherewâ—th aâ—râ— was charâ—ed that when he came to conferâ—e with the Sâ—minarie Priestes beyond the Seas (l) See Hollinsheads foresaid Chronicle volume 3. pag. 1385. b. linea 41. 42. Mr. Watâ—â—s a l arned Priesâ— plainely pronounced that it was vtterly â—nlawfull with whâ—m maâ—y Englâ—sh Priesâ—e did agre And that â—arâ—i in his letter to our late Soveraigne did confâ—sse that (m) Ibidem pag. 1387. A. linea 36. most of the â—â—gl sâ— Divines did vtterly mislike â—odemne it And also that William Chreichton the Scottish Iesuite in his private resolution thereof to Parrie (n) Ibidem pag. 1387. b. linea vult Beyond the seas did at sundry times answere him (o) Ibidem pag. 1388. a. linea 24. quod omnino non liceret that it was altogether vnlawfull and withall alledged vnto him sundry graue (p) IbideÌ„ linea 32. c. reasons to withdraw him froÌ„ that reported enterprise In like maner the book entituled the execution of Iustice in England c. penned as some thinke by a late deceased worthy (q) The late Lord Treasurer Magistrate of very honorable memory published by auctoritie and now since (r) It is inserted into Hollinsheades foresaid Châ—onicle volum 3. Anno Eliz. 26. pa. 1358. 1359. c. inserted into the foresaid Chronicle is it not pleÌ„tifull in testimonies of this kind doth it not affirme and say that (s) IbideÌ„ pag. 1360. b. linea 26. there be many subiectes knowne in the Realme that doe not forbeare to profâ—sse their religion yet doe also professe Loyalty and obedience to her Maiestie and offer readâ—ly to her Maiâ—stie defence to impugne and resist any forraine force though it should come from the Pope In respect whereof they receâ—ued favour that (t) Ibidem linea 35. of these sorts there haue beene and are a â—umber of persons not of base and vulgar note A for example (u) Ibidem linea 40. the first and chiefe by office saith the booke was Doctor Hâ—ath Archbishoppe of Yorke a faithfull and quiet sâ—biect Also (x) Ibid. lin 53. 54. c. Doctor Poole Bishâ—p of Peterborrow a very quiet subiect Doctor Tunstall Bishop of Durham a person of greaâ— reputatioâ— Doctor White and Doctor Oglethorpâ— the one of Winchester the other of Carlile Bishops and he of Carlile so inâ—â—â—ed to dutifulnesse to the Queene Maiestie as hee did the office 〈◊〉 the Conseâ—ration and Coronation of her Maiesty To these also are there added (y) Ibidem linea 65. Doctor Thurlâ—bey and Dâ—ctâ—r Watson the one of Eliâ— the other of Lincolne Bishops Besides some (z) Ibidem linea 69. pag. 1361. a. linea 2. Abbottes and Deanâ—s there mentioned and (a) IbideÌ„ pag. 1361. A. linea 61. a great number of Lay-men of good possessions and credit in thâ—ir countrie In like manner our (b) M. D. Bilson Bishop of Winchester in his true differeÌ„ce betweene Christian subiectioÌ„ vnchristian rebellion part 3. pag. 243. 244. aduersaries themselues do take notice and affirme that the Comâ—ns of this Land in the reigne of King Richard the secoÌ„d did in open ParliameÌ„t acknowledge in regard of spirituall Iurisdiction the (c) These words of the Comons are in the Statutes of King Richard the 2. Anno 16. C. 5. Bishoppe of Rome to be their most holy father and yet withall did at the very same time expresly deny that the (d) In the saide Statutes vbi supra and in D. Bilson vbi supra pag. 244. ante medium Crowne of England wh ch was immediatly subiect to God and to no other in all things touching the regalitie of the saide Crowne should be submitted to the Bishâ—p of Rome wherfâ—re say they we will be with our said soveraigne Lord the King and his said Crowne and his regalitie in the cases aforesaid and in all other cases attempted against him his Crowne and râ—galitie in all pointes to liue and die Is it not also testified concerning controversie moved in this kind in the time of King Edward the first that to vse Hollinsheades words hereof (2) Hollinshead in his second volume of the last edition pag. 309. b. line 66. All the Lords temporall of the Land assembl d in Parliament at Lincolne in name of all the Estates there gathâ—red did aâ—swere concerning the Popes râ—ght to beinâ—ge c. that they would not consent that their King should doe anie thing that might tend to the disinheriting of the râ—ght of the Crown of England And that (3) Hollinshead ibid. pag. 310. a. line 2. it was never known that the Kiâ—gs of this land had answered or ought to answere for their rights in the same Râ—alme â—fâ—re any Iudge Ecclesiasticall or Seculer Did not they in their letter hereof specially written to Pope Bonifacâ— by Hollinshead at large recited acknowledge and call Pope Boniface to whom they did so write (4) Ibidem pag. 310. a. line 11 Boniface by Gods providence high Bishoppe of the holie Romane and vniuersall Church themselues his (5) Ibidem pag. 310. a. line 14. devoute Sonnes and did they not also all that notwithstaÌ„ding yet further affirme that (6) Ibidem pag. 311. a. line 2. the Kings of England ought not to aunswere for their rightes in the saide Reâ—lme or for any their temporalties before any Iudge Ecclesiasticall or Seculer by reason of the free preheminence of the estate of his Royall dâ—gnitie and custome kept without breach at all times And that (7) Ibidem pag. 311. a. line 9. after full treatie and deliberation it was their common agreement and consent with one minde should be without faile in time to come that their foresaid Lord the King ought by no meanes to aunswere in iudgement nor ought to send any Proctoâ—s to the Popes presence especially seeing that the premises tended manifestly to the disenheriting of the Crowne of England and alâ—o to the hurt of the liberties lawes of their Fathers and the dutie of their oath made which say they we wil maintain with all our power defeÌ„d with all our strength will not suffer our foresaid Lord the King to doe or attempte the premisse being so vnaccustomed and before not heard of Hitherto concerning onely those testimonies which our very adversaries afford