Gospell these words who was of Cainan though all the Greeke copies both of the old Testament and of the new haue the words with full consent Wherby we learne the intolerable saucines of the Caluinists and their contempt of holie Scripture that dare so deale with the verie Gospell it selfe The answer If this be such intollerable boldnes of Beza as you account it to correct the Gréeke by the Hebrew and to prefer the authoritie of Moyses the Hebrew text then condemne Saint Augustine who taught that boldnes to him and others De Ciuitate dei libro 15. cap. 13. 14. Luk. 4. â— The text And Iesus ful of the holie Ghost returned from Iordan and was driuen in the spirit into the desert ⸫ Fortie daies and was tempted of the diuell The note The churches fast of fortie daies called Lent commeth of this and is an apostolicall tradition Clem. Constit. Apost Lib. 5. cap. 13. Hier. ep ad Marcel adu erro Montani Leo serm 6. 9. de Quadragesima The answer Now the example of Christ and the authoritie of the Apostles must confirme our Lenten fast of fortie daies Two waighty reasons and therfore néed to be well considered of Christs faste was miraculous and therefore they that propound this for an example to imitate may as well appoint vs to imitate him in commanding both winde and sea But the apostles appointed it as Clement Hierome and Leo saie Clemens is a counterfait and he and Hierom name Quadragesima but what number of daies they ment thereby that appéereth not But the impudencie of them appéereth that obtrude vnder the name of Clemens constitutions Apostolicall that which their owne church obserueth not but reiecteth But that your fortie dais faste was not an apostolicall tradition appéereth many waies First for that the heretike Montanus as Eusebius testifieth was the first that appointed certaine times and daies to faste in Secondly bicause Augustine knew not of any daies or times appointed by the Apostles to be kept as fasting daies Thirdly bicause the obseruation of fasting daies and namely of fasting afore Easter was frée and was diuers according as euerie particular church sawe good Which Augustine séeing when he was yet but a nouice in Christ asked the aduise of Saint Ambrose who willed him to do as he saw him do afterward explaining his minde willed him to frame himselfe therein to the maner of ech church that he should come to so should he neither giue nor take offence Irenaeus as Eusebius reporteth wrot to Uictor bishop of Rome of the great varietie of the churches fasting afore Easter which dissent in fasting did not saith he break their coÌ„sent in faith The churches where Epiphanius was conuersant kept their faste of Quadragesima but seauen daies afore Easter The church of Rome kept it thrée wéekes afore Easter as the Tripartite story telleth vs. Finally the libertie and diuersitie of the churches in kéeping of it was so diuers and great that Socrates one of the authors of the tripartite storie marueileth that in such difference of time and daies the name of Quadragesima in all places remained one Now sée how truelie you thrust vpon vs vnder the name of Apostolicall tradition that which neither your church of Rome neither yet the most part of Christs church did obserue and kéepe for foure hundred yéeres after Christ that is your fortie daies faste Luk. 4. 8. The text ⸫ Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God and him onelie shalt thou serue The note See the annotations in Saint Matthew cap. 4. vers 11. The answer We haue séene your annotation not woorth the looking on which shall receiue answer with his fellowes Luk 4. 10. The text For ⸫ it is written that he hath giuen his Angels charge of thee that they preserue thee and that in their hands they shal beare thee vp least perhaps thou knocke thy foote against a stone The note If the diuell alledge Scripture against Christ no maruell that heretikes do so against Christs church The answer They no doubt be heretikes which do not think that to be the best way to refel the diuelish wresting of scriptures which Christ himselfe vsed that is by the Scriptures Therfore papists flieng that trial and taking vpon them to deuise wiser better means then Christ gaue example of cannot choose but be presumptuous proud heretikes Lukâ— 4. 16. The text And he came to Nazareth where he was brought vp and he entered ⸫ according to his custome on the Saboath day into the Synagogue and he rose vp to read The note Our Sauiour Christ vsed to preach in their synagogues The answer You might haue added on the Saboath daies and haue set downe that your Romish Church spendeth the saboth in a few superstitious and idolatrous actions and that those being done then their people sit downe to eate and drinke and rise againe to play and so a great part of their Saboath they consume in lasciuâ—ous wantonnes As for preaching they were woont to kéep it for high daies Luke 4. 22 The text And al giue testimonie to him And they ⸫ maruelled in the words of grace that proceeded from his mouth The note He had maruellous grace and an extraordinarie force in moouing the harts of his hearers The answer But the hardnes of their harts the more appéered in that so few of them were pearced and truly conuerted And bicause the same corruptions rest in vs which were in them we sée that it is not the excellencie of any mans gifts that can truly winne to God except he by his almightie power inwardly worke a reformation and create new harts and renew right spirits in vs. Luke 5. 1â— The text And he commanded him that he should tell no bodie but goe ⸫ shew thy selfe to the priest and offer for thy cleansing as Moyses commanded for a testimonie to them The note See Saint Mathew cap. 8. 4. The answer Your references are not worth the looking on as will appéere when they receiue answer togither Luke 5. 3â— The text ⸫ I came not to call the iust but sinners to repentance The note Christ came not to call those which presume of their owne iustice and that count them selues to haue no neede of Christ. The answer Then Christ came not to call Papists for they can merit heauen by their owne inherent iustice which if it be not a proud presumption then I know not what presumption meaneth And though in word they will séeme to néede Christ yet that néede can not stand with the rest of their doctrine Luke 5. 33. The text Why do the disciples of Iohn ⸫ fast often and make obsecrations and of the pharisies in like maner but thine do eate and drinke The note See Saint Matthew annotations c. 9. 15. The answer We haue séene it and answered it before Luke 6. â— The text And it came to passe on the ⸫ sabaoth Second-first when he passed through the corne
good things to them that aske him The note These good things are graces and all spiritual giftes and whatsoeuer pertaineth to the health of the soule The answer If al these things be giuen vs of God and so are of his franke and free liberalitie then with what face teach you that your own merites must get vs heauen and gaine vs the saluation of our soules Matth. 9. 2. The text And Iesus ⸫ seeing their faith said to the sicke of the palsey c. The note We see that the faith of one helpeth to obtaine for another The answer It is very true that there is mutuall helpe giuen by the faithfull whiles they liue one to another both by prayer to obtaine good things at Gods hand and also to comfort and confirme one another mutually in faith and all goodnesse but what maketh this for that which you teach fooles to looke for that is helpe by them which are dead and gone Matth 9. 15. The text But the dayes will come when the bridegrome shall be taken away from them and ⸫ then they shall fast The note Christ signifieth that the Church shall vse fasting dayes after his Ascension Epiphanius in Compend fid Cath. August epist. 80. The answer Christ doeth not prescribe any certaine day or dayes euery wéeke to fast in howsoeuer occasions doe fall out neither doeth he appoint men when they fast to abstaine from one kinde of meate to fill their bellie with another your fathers you might haue spared The fasting dayes there set downe by Epiphanius vnder the name of Apostolicall tradition for verifying and fulfilling this place your church obserueth not As for Augustine he knewe of no such tradition that is of any daies appointed by Christ or his Apostles to fast in Matth. 9. 32. The text But Iesus turning and seeing her said haue a good heart daughter ⸫ thy faith hath made thee safe The note Loe her deuotion to the hemme of his garment was not superstition but a token of greater faith so is the deuout touching of holy relikes The answer It is true that her deuotion was not superstition but a token of faith mixt with many infirmities which infirmities it pleased Christ for such is his mercie toward his not to impute but to forgiue And where you draw from this example an approbation of your superstitious touching holy relikes you doe amisse For her acte is not set downe for a common rule for others to follow and though it were yet it could not serue but where the principall things to be considered of are alike which wil farre disagrée in any relike that you can name vsed in Poperie Matth. 9. 34. The text But the Pharisees said ⸫ in the prince of diuels he casteth out diuels The note In like maner say the heretikes calling all miracles done in the Church the lying signes of Antichrist The answer It is but vaine to quarell with you for giuing vs the odious names of heretikes and vsurping to your synagogue of Satan the glorious name of the Catholique church We doe not call all miracles done in your synagogue lying signes for God diuers times by miracles hath disclosed the impietie and hipocrisie of your Antichristian captaines of Rome as the miraculous discouerie of sixe thousand infants heades afore murdered by adulterous priestes constrained to single life in the dayes of Gregorie the great and the appearing of an owle in a councell holden at Rome by pope Iohn the xxiiii after the masse of the holy Ghost solemnly song at the beginning of the councel and such like But those which either by the illusion of the diuell haue bene done or by your auncestors fained to be done to vphold popish corruptions contrary to the manifest trueth of the word whereof some are babish some ridiculous some so foule and filthie as that they would loathe any honest eare to heare we do and may well call lying signes of Antichrist Of these whosoeuer vouchsafeth to waste some time in your legenda aurea or in promptuario exemplorum or in mille miraculis beat Mart. or such like bookes shall find store to your shame Matth. 10. 5. The text Into the way of the ⸫ Gentiles go ye not and into the cities of the Samaritans enter ye not The note They haue here commission to preach onely in Israel the time being not yet come to call the Gentiles The answer Whereby we sée the depth of the counsell and wisedome of God to be such as no man can render a reason of and that in his wisedome he sometime withdraweth the light of his Gospel and communicateth it in comparison but to a â—ewe and sometime againe he causeth it to shine foorth brightly and the knowledge of it to spread farre abroad Matth. 10. 16. The text Be ye therefore ⸫ wise as serpents and simple as doues The note Wisedome and simplicitie both necessarie in preachers Bishops and priestes The answer But you ioyne wisedom and double dealing together hold it for a principle that you are not bound to deale simply and truely with your aduersaries as both that conclusion of the councell of Constance that faith giuen to heretikes is not to be kept and also the continuall practise of your church doeth very well testifie And you doe well in reckening bishops and priestes beside preachers because skant the tenth or tithe of your bishops and priests were wont to preach Mat. 10. 28. The text And ⸫ feare yee not them that kill the bodie and are not able to kill the soule The note A goodly comfort for christians and catholikes and all good men in the persecutions of Turke of heretikes of all wicked men The answer Which comfort did animate and encourage all those whom you haue burnt and killed for religion to testifie the truth against you with losse of their liues and shedding of their blood Mat. 10. 41. The text And he that receiueth a ⸫ iust man in the name of a iust man shall receiue the reward of a iust man The note The reward for harboring and helping any blessed iust person suffering for his iustice and conscience The answer To this we agrée but your meaning we are far from For your meaning is that wheresoeuer reward is expressed there also merit of worke should be vnderstood As if it were not possible for God to be more bountiful in rewarding than we are meritorious in deseruing Otherwise it were a simple sillie rewarde that a cup of colde water could deserue Mat. 12. 7. The text And if you did know what it is I will mercy and not ⸫ sacrifice you would neuer haue condemned the innocents The note See the annotation chap. 9. vers 13. The answer You are loth your note should passe vnuiewed and therefore you make this reference Well we haue séene it and finde that which any yoong schooler with verie small studie would haue set downe The best commendation it deserueth is that it sauoreth not so
and Sinods or publike praiers is of more force than of any particular man The answer It is true that the vnitie and agréement of Gods Saints ioyned in praier and the consent of many gouernors of the Church in executing discipline is of more force than if the same be done of a very few And yet your proud prelate of Rome will haue his doings being but one stand and be of force against all consent whatsoeuer Matth. 19. 11. The text Not all ⸫ take this word but they to whom it is giuen The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 capiunt The answer This most plainly sheweth that the vertue of continencie is not in euery mans will but a rare gift of God and that therefore they not onely deale rashly but also directly against Gods will and pleasure that vowe perpetuall single life And I doo not doubte but that your other annotations shall shortly be answered Matth. 19. 17. The text But ⸫ if thou wilt enter into life keepe the commandements The note I see not saith Saint Augustine why Christ should say if thou wilt haue life euerlasting keepe the commandements if without obseruing of them by onely faith one might be saued Augustine de fide operi cap. 1â— The answer Augustine in that place speaketh not against those that ascribe iustification to a true and a liuely faith but against the papistical opinion of them which vnderstood by them that build vpon Christ hay and stubble such Christians as liue wickedly whom they affirmed that they should passe through purgatorie fier and so be partakers of saluation through the merite of their foundation Against these Augustine replieth that he séeth not to what purpose Christ should exact the kéeping of the commandements if such a faith that is a bare profession of Christianitie might saue What is this against that faith which worketh obedience in beléeuers as it is written By faith Abraham obeyed God who then séeth not your vanitie in applying against vs that which was spoken against the patrones of purgatorie Matt. 19. 24. The text And againe I say to you it is easier for a camel to passe thorow the eie of a needle ⸫ than for a rich man to enter into the kingdome of heauen The note Saint Marke expoundeth it thus rich men trusting in their riches cap. 10. verse 24. The answer This as farre as I now remember is the first note saue one giuen vs by conference of places of Scripture And if this kind of gathering were more in vse with you we should haue a great many fewer controuersies betwixt vs. Matt. 19 29. The text And euery one that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or ⸫ wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receiue an hundred folde and shall possesse life euerlasting The note Hereof is gathered that the Apostles amongst other things left their wiues also to followe Christ. Hierom. lib. 1. aduer Iouinianum The Answer The Apostles were neuer taught by Christ to leaue those dueties vnperfourmed which God had imposed vpon men therfore not their dueties towardes their wiues Further to leaue these things was not absolutelie to leaue either possession or vse of them but onelie so to bridle them selues as that the hauing of these things were no withdrawing of them from cleauing to Christ folowing their calling For Matthew had stil his house in which he feasted Christ. Lazarus and his sisters dwelt in their owne at Bethania Ioseph was ritch and yet a disciple and if Peters wiues mother were cared for and healed of her feuer it is not likelie that her daughter was cast off Further what say you to the canons which you say are the Apostles which forbid priestes to leaue their wiues vnder pretence of religion But you tell vs that Hierome gathereth it what then must we therefore of necessitie beléeue it He telleth vs in the same booke that the end of marriage is death and the ende of single life is life and I am sure you therein beléeue him not But this is your practise such absurd collections as you are ashamed to set downe as your owne gathering ye gladlie shroud vnder the name of some Father to abuse your followers with Matth. 20. 11. The text And receiuing it they ⸫ murmured against the good man of the house saying The note The Iewes are noted for enuying the vocation of the Gentiles and their rewarde equall with them selues The answer It is true that the Iewes enuied the calling of the Gentiles as the papistes at this day can not abide that reformed Christians take the name of Catholike christians and Church of God but that by this murmuring that enuying of equalitie of reward is meant is your bare surmise which you can not proue For the purpose of the parable is nothing els but to shew that it is frée for God to reward whom he will though they deserue it not Matth. 20. 25. The text And Iesus called them vnto him and said you knowe that the princes of the Gentiles ouer rule them and they that are the greater exercise power against them The note Superioritie is not here forbidden amongest Christians neither ecclesiasticall nor temporall but heathenish tirannie is forbidden and humilitie commended The answer Christ here distinguisheth the regiment of his church from ciuill gouernment and denieth that any of the Apostles shalbe aduaunced ouer his fellow apostles in dignitie as kings ouer their subiectes which â—latlie striketh downe your supposed primacie of Peter As for heathenish tirannie the popes of Rome haue excéeded all that euer went before them for they haue not onelie put their Cardinals into sackes and throwne them into the sea but also they haue not suffered one another to rest in their graues Matth. 21. 12. The text And Iesus entred into the temple of God and cast out all that sold and bought in the temple The note How much the abuse of the churches by marchandizing walking or other prophane occupying of them displeaseth God here we may see The answer Prophane occupying of the church displeaseth God but héere is a further thing meant namelie buying and selling vnder pretence of religion and seruice of God as héere the selling of such things as perteined to the seruice of the temple and with you the selling of masses diriges trentals and pardons such like stuffe Where couetousnesse of sacrificing priests is the expresse cause of prophaning the temple which you sâ—ilie passe ouer bicause it toucheth your selues very nighlie Matth. 21. 19. The text And seeing a certaine ⸫ figge tree by the way side he came to it and found nothing oâ— it but leaues onelie The note The Iewes hauing the word of the lawe and not the deedes were the figge tree full of leaues and voide of fruit Aug. de verb. dom serm 44. The answer In the fig trée he did set out what end and issue remaineth for hypocrites which make a
shewe of that which they haue not Matth. 22. 10. The text And his seruants going forth into the waies gathered together all that they found ⸫ bad and good and the mariage was filled with guestes The note Not onelie good men be within the church but also euill men against the heretikes of these dayes The answer To which we answer that though in the outward participation of the word and sacraments many wicked are ioyned with good yet in trueth none are of the church but such as to whom the promises of remission of sins and resurrection to life eternall do pertaine And also we saie that this is a friuolous collection drawen from the outward calling to the truth of being in the church For many are called but few chosen Further nothing can iustly be gathered out of this parable but that the Iewes which were first called made themselues vnwoorthy of their calling and that in calling the Gentiles into their roomes place there was no respect had how bad they were afore their conuersion But the grossest sinners for the most part did soonest and gladliest receiue the promise of grace and fauor offered in Christ. And they that racke the calling and comming beyond this racke it beyond the meaning of Christ. And the bad that come without amendment shall be sure to be serued as he that came without his mariage garment Matth. 23. 5. The text But they do all their works to be seene of men For they make broad their ⸫ philacteries and enlarge their fringes The note These philacteries were peeces of parchment wherein they wrote the ten commandements and folded it and caried it on their fordhead before their eies imagining groslie and supersticiouslie that so they fulfilled that which is said Deut. 6. They shall be immooueable before thine eies Hierom in 23. Mat. The answere It is well that you so diligently tell vs the meaning of the worde philacteries but the simpler sort must take it vpon your owne credit for they can not looke into Hierom for it But this they may sée that the Pharisées neither in apparell nor otherwise hunted more for estimation of holines amongst men than your sectaries I should haue said religious do most manifestly Matth. 23. 37. The text Hierusalem Hierusalem which killest the prophets and stonest them that were sent to thee how often would I gather thy children as the hen doth gather hir chickens vnder hir wings and thou ⸫ wouldest not The note Freewill The answere It is true that men of their owne will do fréely and franklie sinne and refuse grace but this is their greatest slauerie bondage that can be For so they shew themselues slaues of sin And therefore if that be the fréedome of will you so much contend for you may take it to your selues Matth. 24. 11. The text And manie ⸫ false prophets shall rise and shall seduce many The note There were in the people false prophets as among you also shall be lieng masters which shall bring in sects of perdition 2. Peter 2. The answer If lieng and denieng the benefit of Christs death by which we were bought be good and true notes to know false prophets by as they are for that purpose there by Peter deliuered then all the gouernors of the popish church be false prophets Their lies are so grosse as that they themselues are ashamed of them and how they giue to others the glory of our redemption onely due to Christ he knoweth nothing that knoweth not Matth. 24. 23. The text Then if any man shal say to you Lo ⸫ here is Christ or there do not beleeue him The note Whosoeuer draweth Christ or his Church from the communion or fellowship of all nations Christened to one corner towne or countrie beleeue him not Augustine de vnit Ecclesiae cap. 3. The answer Augustine there teacheth vs to séeke the church in the Scriptures not at Rome but diffused euerywhere thorough the whole world They therefore that leade vs to Rome to seeke Christ and his church there by this rule of Augustine are not to be beléeued bicause Rome is but one litle corner countrie or rather towne of the world We embrace that doctrin which the Apostles planted in all nations and we hold that God since the calling of the Gentils hath had alwaies his church generally dispersed thorough the world though in all places and in all times not alike and though to vs which liue at this time and in one corner of the world a great number of the churches children or rather particular churches haue béene and are hidden and vnknowne But this we know that Rome somtimes a faithful citie is now and hath béene many yeeres become a harlot Matth. 24. 30 The text And then shall appeere ⸫ the signe of the sonne of man in heauen The note This signe of the sonne of man is the holie crosse which then shall appeere to the Iewes to their confusion Chrys. in Matt. homilia 77. It shall be no lesse confusion to heretikes which can not abide the signe thereof The answer This is but Chrysostomes coniecture for neither he nor you can bring any good reason why it should be so The glorie and maiestie wherein he shall come set out in the words immediately following by al reasonable coniecture should make plain the words before and declare what was meant by the signe of the sonne of man What heretikes you meane that cannot abide the signe of the crosse I know not The idolatrous abusing of the crosse in poperie and the attributing to the signe thereof the vertues which it cannot haue that no good Christians can abide who yet haue learned to glorie in nothing but in the crosse of Christ. Matt. 25. 8. The text And the foolish said to the wise Giue vs of ⸫ your oile bicause our lamps are going out The note If we be not in the fauour of God and haue not our owne merits we shall not be holpen by other mens deserts at the day of iudgement The answer If the fauour of God might so easily be procured or promerited as some papists write by saying of Aue Maria or offering to our Ladie a taper or seruing some saint I thinke few would die out of the fauour of God But to that which I take to be your meaning if men be in the fauour of God and haue some merits of their owne then they may be holpen by other mens deserts Which collection is tied to this place with points For though we should vnderstand as you do by oile meritorious works yet the quite contrarie is flatly héerof gathered First they are héere condemned for fooles that go a borrowing or séeke helpe at the merits of others Then they that b◠wise dare spare none from themselues for feare of wanting themselues And from whence then may men get that supplie of merits when they which are wisest and best can spare none But bicause you haue no manifest scriptures to
how to shift it For somtimes he doubteth whether they were baptised with the baptisme of Iohn or no or whether they did but faine that they were so baptized somtimes he saith that those which Iohn baptized had not their sins forgiuen them yet he addeth that he will not contend with them that thinke they were indéed remitted Which argueth Augustine in this matter not to be resolute Mark 1. 15. The text The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of heauen is at hand ⸫ be penitent and beleeue the Gospell The note He doth not preach beleefe or faith onely but penance also The answer And I pray you who euer preached faith without repentance If we be taught to beléeue the promise of remission of sinnes we be taught also that that promise is not made but to the penitent And so you seuer things inseparable The word penance you do but blear the eies of the simple withall to make them imagine of a satisfaction But that your dealing hath béene already learnedly laid out by Master Doctor Fulke against Martinius to whom I refer you Mark 1. 44. The text And he saith to him see thou tell no bodie but go shew thy selfe ⸫ to the high priest and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moises commanded for a testimonie to them The note Our Sauiour euen when he healed the leaper by extraordinarie miraculous power would not yet breake order but sent the partie to the priest The answer The orders which God hath appointed to his Church are with all reuerence and diligence to be obserued and our care is to kéepe them You cannot iustly accuse our Church of any wilfull or willing breach of them Mark 2. 5. The text When Iesus had seene ⸫ their faith he saith to the sicke of the palsie sonne thy sinnes are forgiuen thee The note Our Lord is mooued to be mercifull to sinners by other mens faith and desires and not onelie by the parties owne meanes alway The answer This note is once answered alreadie Matthew 9. And nowe againe we say that amongst the manifold meanes which God vseth in preuenting vs with grace fauour this is not the least that he maketh amongest men liuing one an instrument of an others saluation euen then often times when they that haue their saluation procured least thinke of it What is this to confidence in dead mens prayers and helpe which you draw yours to as much as in you lieth Mark 2. 20. The text The dayes will come when the bridegrome shall be taken from them and then shall they ⸫ fast in those dayes The note He foretelleth that fasting shalbe vsed in the church no lesse then in the old law or in the time of Iohn the Baptist. See Matt. c. 9. verse 15. The answer This note also hath alreadie bene answered in the place to which you referre vs. And for further answer we say that Christ doeth not prescribe that men vnder colour of fasting shall abstaine from one kinde of meate as prophane and fill their bellies with another sorte as more holy neither doeth he preferre fish and fruite before flesh egges and whit meate in abstinence from which the common fast of papistes doth consist and stand Otherwise fastes commaunded by Christ to his church both publique and priuate are in vse with vs as place time occasion serueth Mark 2. 28. The text Therefore the sonne of man is ⸫ Lord of the Sabaoth also The note The maker of the Lawe may abrogate or dispence when and where for iust cause it seemeth good to him The answer This note is true though it come out of season but the pope is not the maker of Gods lawe therefore he can not abrogate it or dispence with it as he taketh vpon him most presumptuously Mark 3. 10. The text For he healed many so that there preased in vpon him for ⸫ to touch him as many as had hurtes The note The onely touching of Christes holy person or any part of his clothes or whatsoeuer belonged to him did heale all diseases The answer This note néeded no replie if there were no secret serpent lurking vnder the grasse but bicause it is well knowen that by this and such like places the papistes séeke to maintaine their relikes and the gainfull marchandize that thereupon doth follow therefore we answer that these miracles were so many confirmations of the doctrine of Christ at the first spreading of it which after the doctrine sufficiently confirmed ceased and therefore none is not to be looked after Besides it is apparant that then the vertue and power whereby those miracles were perfourmed were neither in any other person or thing but onelie in the person of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Mark 3. 21. The text And when they had heard of it they went forth to lay hands on him for they said that he was become ⸫ madde The note See here the conceit of worldly friendes who thinke the zeale of religion madnesse and therefore count them mad that are zealous in Gods cause and for the Catholike faith and the more zealous the more mad The answer Alwayes worldly wise men thought the profession of Christian truth madnesse or follie and godlie wise men do thinke the like of them that are zealous they wote not for what and can giue none other reason of their faith but they beléeue as the church beléeueth which implicate faith you count Catholike and allow verie well in your blind followers Mark 4. 11. The text And he said vnto them To you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the kingdome of God but to ⸫ them that are without all things are done in parables that seeing they may see and not see The note Such as be out of the Church though they heare and read neuer so much they can not vnderstand Bede in 4. Marci The answer This note of Bede is manifestly collected out of this place and therefore we accept of it And we maruaile the lesse at your grosse ignorance and blindnesse though you count your selues great clarks bicause you haue seuered your selues from the true church of God Marke 4. 21. The text And he said to them Commeth a candle to be put ⸫ vnder a bushell or vnder a bed and not to be put vpon the candlesticke The note Christ came not to teach his doctrine in corners and hucker mucker as heretikes doe but to lighten the whole world therewith The answer It is true that the same doctrine which Christ taught in priuate houses and places he taught also in the Temple and synagogues And what heretikes they bée that teach not openlie where they may be suffered and séeke not to make their heresie as common as they can I know not And if teaching in corners and hucker mucker that doctrine which can not be openlie suffered to be taught be alwayes a necessary note of heresie then how excuse you Campion and your other champions héere in England from being
goodlie thing This doth the mount Carmel of Helias teach Iohns desert and that mount vnto which Iesus often retired and was quietly alone with himselfe Ser. 26. de amore pauperum The answer Gregorie Nazian neuer imagined or thought of any such superstitious persons as your eremites be neither for such solitarines as they vse can any thing be soundly brought from these examples Luke 22. 20. The text ⸫ This is the chalice the new testament in my blood which shall be shed for you The note The Greeke is heere so plaine that there was very blood in the chaliceshed for vs that Beza saith it is a corruption in the Greeke See the annotations vpon this place The answere The Gréeke is so plaine that no papists of you can by any necessarie consequence prooue out of this place that very blood is in the cup. The defence of Master Beza and a more full answer to your cauill about this place I refer to the learned answer of that reuerend man master Doctor Fulke against Martinius Luke 22. 30. The text And I dispose to you as my father disposed to me a kingdome that you may eat and drinke vpon my table in my kingdome and may sit ⸫ vpon thrones iudging the twelue tribes of Israel The note Straight after the former louing checke and admonition he promiseth to them all that haue been partakers with him of his miseries in this life greater preheminence in heauen than any potentate can haue in this world and therefore that they need not be carefull of dignitie or supremacie The answer If Christ had appointed Peter in supreme authoritie ouer the rest how happened that the Apostles were stil ignorant of it and contended stil amongst themselues for superiority so that Christ is faine still to giue them new checks and new admonitions for that matter Further touching the louing promise of Christ wherewith he comforted them they had béen much to blame if they would haue doubted of it as you teach other Christians to doubt of his promises Luke 23. 45. The text And the ⸫ sunne was darkened and the veile of the temple was rent in the middes The note This eclipse was seene and woondered at as a thing aboue nature of Dionisius Areopagita at Thebes when he was yet a pagan Dionis ep ad Policarp epist ad Apollophanem The answer The iudgement of men concerning this eclipse is diuers som thinke that it was vniuersall others bicause the stories which do diligently exactly set out the notable things of those times do not mention it thinke that therfore it was but in Iewrie onely And the authoritie of Dionysius whom men know to be a counterfet doth nothing mooue them to the contrarie But whether it were vniuersall or particular all consent that at that time it must néedes be a worke aboue nature and therefore woonderfull and miraculous And if you had respected the benefit of your reader rather than the maintenance of the vaineglorious opinion of your much reading you in the margent in stéed of citing a bastard autoritie would haue giuen vs some good lesson or obseruation what that so woonderfull worke of God at that time might betoken Luke 24. 1. The text And in the ⸫ first of the sabaoth very early they came to the monument carieng the spices which they had prepared The note That is first after the sabaoth which is saith saint Hierom q. 4. ad Hedibiam dies Dominica our Lords day wherin he arose For the weeke is diuided into the sabaoth and the 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. of the sabaoth And the Apostle 1. Cor. 16. 2. commanded a collection of money to be made on the first of the sabaoth Whereby we learne both the keeping of Sunday and the churches count of daies by the 2. 3. 4. of the sabaoth to be Apostolicall which saint Siluester afterward named 2. 3. 4. feriam c. Breuiar Roman Decemb. 31. The answer That our Lords day in common spéech called sunday is meant by the first of the sabaoth and that the obseruation of that in the churches of Christians was instituted by the Apostles is cléere their reckoning of the other daies they left frée to euery countrie their maner If your church had had nothing apostolicall left in it your defection had béene without all colour plaine and grosse But now these and such like silly remnants as they serue somewhat to shadow and to hide you so are they horribly poisoned with a multitude of trash of your owne deuising and bringing in Luke 24. 46. The text And he said vnto them that so it is written and it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe from the dead the third day and penance to be preached in his name and remission of sinnes vnto all nations beginning from Hierusalem The note As he shalbe Anathema saith Saint Augustine which preacheth that Christ neither suffered nor rose againe bicause we learne by the Gospel that it behooued Christ to suffer and to rise againe the third day so he shall also be anathema whosoeuer preacheth the church to be else where then in the communion of all nations bicause by the selfe same Gospel we learne in the words next following and penance to be preached in his name and remission of sins through out all nations Aug. epist. 48. The answer How happened it that in so many conflicts as Augustine hath with the Donatists that he neuer doeth pronounce Anathema against them for appealing from the sentence of the Bishop of Rome And why doth he neuer vrge against them that the bishop of Rome could not in giuing sentence and iudgement erre For if he had beléeued the principles of popish diuinitie these had béene very materiall points against the Donatists But in this anathema here by you rehearsed he doth as directlie strike the Romanists as the Donatists For Rome hath rent hir selfe from the churches of the East parts also from as many of the West as do not consent to her abominations and fornications so that whosoeuer at this day do place Gods church there doeth forsake the communion of the church of all nations which was is and shall be And if Augustine were aliue againe now he would impugne the church of Rome with the same reasons that he vsed against the Donatists then IOHN Iohn 1. 15. The text This was he of whom I spake He that shall come after me ⸫ is made before me because he was before me The note He is preferred and made of more dignitie and excellencie then I bicause he was before me and all things eternall God The answer I know that diuers and sundrie good men and excellent interpreters of the scriptures do explane this as you doo yet notwithstāding I rather assent to them which do not refer it to the time or eternitie of Christes being but to the dignitie and excellencie of his person Iohn 1. 22. The text Art thou ⸫ the prophet and he answered no. The note Belike
and one pastor The note He meaneth the Church of the Gentils The answer It is true that Christ made of Iewes and Gentils one folde and of both he and not the pope is the one only pastor and head Iohn 10. 29. The text My father ⸫ that which he hath giuen me is greater then al. The note Another reading is my father that hath giuen me c. The answer In diuers readings you choose that which is most obscure and can not carie any true sense if it be weied with the circumstances of the place and leaue that which is plaine and carieth an inestimable comfort to all that loue God and best agréeth the Gréeke originall Iohn 11. 44. The text Iesus said to them ⸫ Loose him and let him go The note S. Cyril lib. 7. cap. vlt. in Ioh. and Augustine tract 49. in Ioh. applie this to the Apostles and priests authority of absoluing sinners affirming that Christ doth reuiue none from sinne but in the church and by the priests ministerie The answer Wée beléeue that the promise of life eternall pertaineth to none but to such as are or shalbe of the Church of God and that the ordinarie meanes whereby God effectuallie calleth men to be of his church is the ministerie of his woord But we dare not tie God to his ordinarie meanes sith he extraordinarilie called Paul and others But how well this place is applied to the ordinarie authoritie of ministers or priestes in absoluing I will spare to speake for reuerence of them whom you alledge It is well that the church hath plaine euidence of scriptures for the authoritie of binding and loosing for if it staid it selfe vpon the authoritie of men wresting such places as this to that purpose it were but a poore sillie comfort that the conscience of a poore penitent sinner could reape by the churches absolution Iohn 11. 48. The text If we let him alone so all will beleeue in him and the Romans will come and ⸫ take away our place and nation The note All men but speciall nations must take heed that whiles to saue their temporall state they forsake God they loose not both as the Iewes did August tract 49. in Io. The answer Therefore we vndergo all the perils and dangers which by your stirring vp the force and might of all the popish princes in the world can bring vpon vs rather than to displease God by giuing ouer his truth wherwith he hath blessed vs least we should prouoke his heauie indignation against vs and so perish as the Iewes haue done before vs. Iohn 12. 3. The text ⸫ Marie therfore tooke a pound of ointment of right spikenard precious and annointed the feete of Iesus and wiped his feete with hir haire and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment The note Of this womans extraordinarie offices of deuotion and how acceptable they were to Christ See the annot Mat. 26. The answer Bicause those annotations are to receiue answer by themselues therefore I thought not good to touch them here Iohn 12. 7. The text Iesus therefore said Let hir alone that she may keepe it for the day of my ⸫ buriall The note The deuout offices of balming and annointing the dead bodies of the faithfull are here also allowed The answer And we do not disallow whatsoeuer in buriall serueth either for comfort of them that be aliue and for the honest and comely bringing the dead to the graue being the last duties that men can do to their faithfull friends Iohn 12. 8. The text For the poore you haue alwaies with you but me you shall not haue alwaies The note Not in visible and mortal condition to receiue almes of you and such like offices for supply of my necessitie The answer And why do you not say not in bodie nor in humanitie Bicause you would faine with some color shift of Christs bodily absence from the earth for the better safetie and defence of your reall preseâ—ce in the sacrament You are full of fathers in matters nâ—edlesse why do you not in this place so often repeated bring vs at the least one plaine place of some father affirming that he is not simply absent in bodie from vs but onely in such sort as you do imagine Is it not a secret confession that all antiquitie is against you I maruell that you are so impudent still to glory and to cry that your faith hath continued almost xvj hundred yéeres when you know that in a number of things you are not able to bring foorth any true authoritie of halfe the age Iohn 12. 20. The text And there were certaine Gentils of them that came vp to adore in the festiuall day The note We may see there a great difference where a man pray or adore at home or in the church and holy places When the Gentils also came of deuotion a pilgrimage to the temple in Hierusalem The answer Now pilgrimages are prooued and that full pithily For the Gentiles came to adore at Hierusalem When you can find such expresse commandement of God for running to saint Iames of Compostella or our Ladie of Walsingham or visiting the holie sepulchre as was for al both Iewes and conuerts then to appéere before the Lord at Hierusalem then your reason will hold Otherwise it is as much as if I should say The Iewes and conuerts of the Gentils obeied the commandement of God in going to Hierusalem at the feast daies to worship Ergo it is lawful for me to go a roging to what place of pilgrimage in the world séemeth best in mine owne eies without further warrant As for the difference of publike and priuate praier and of seruing God at home and in the common assemblies are both knowen and practised amongst vs. Iohn 12. 40. The text Therfore they ⸫ could not beleeue bicause Esay said againe he hath blinded their eies and indurated their harts c. The note If any man aske saith saint Augustine why they could not beleeue I answer roundly bicause they would not Tract 33. in Io. See annotations Matth. 13. 15. Mark 4. 12. The answer It is true that the corruption of mans will is the cause of all euill and wickednes in man But héere either your printer made a fault or your note booke deceiued you for it is in 53. treatise And I muze why you should so much couet so force Augustine to speake for you séeing that you know that of all other he is most earnest in this cause of frée will against you For in the same place he acknowledgeth the iust iudgement of God vpon them in leauing them in blindnes and not helping them to sée And teacheth vs in inquiring why God would so leaue them to crie out with the Apostle O the depth of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God c. Which exclamation sheweth that Augustine had an eie to somwhat more than their will yea and to such a somwhat as was not
sense that you take it in is true that he suffred no paines there though all of your side be not yet resolued what to vnderstand by hel in the Créed nor whether he suffred there or no. But that this place of scripture hath no reference to that article it is plaine and euident by the exposition of Peter immediatlie following who can gather nothing to be prophesied in this text but the short and quicke resurrection of the bodie of Christ out of the graue Acts. 2. 38. The text But Peter said to them ⸫ do penance and be euerie one of you baptized in the name of Iesus Christ for remission of your sinnes and you shall receiue the gift of the holie Ghost The note Not onely amendment of life but penance also required before baptisme in such as be of age though not in that sort as afterward in the sacrament of penance Augustine de fide operibus cap. 11. ep 108. The answer Wherefore do you cite Augustine To prooue a sacrament of penance Seauen sacraments were vnknowen in his daies I pray you what penance did Peter inioine these men tell if you can Forsooth not such as afterward was woont to be inioined in the sacrament of penance I beléeue you But if there were then a sacrament of penance instituted how excuse you Peter for inioining penance not according therto And if there were no such sacrament then tell vs in good earnest when it began who had authoritie to appoint it and whence he had that authority Haue they béene better replenished with the spirit of God since than Peter was Thus you sée the rat perisheth by hir owne bewraieng of hir selfe And least your ignorant readers should conceiue that saint Augustine whom you alledge doth speake in those places of the sacrament of penance they are to be admonished that if they be able to view the places themselues they shall be sure to find there no such thing Acts. 2. 41. The text They therefore that receiued his word were baptized and there were added in that day about ⸫ three thousand soules The note Three thousand were conuerted at the first sermon and they were put to the other visible companie and church The answer Under the name of visible lurketh poison For thereby you would perswade yours that the church of Christ could neuer lie in corners hidden and knowen to few or none but themselues Which doctrine of yours if it were true would exclude the Apostles after the resurrection being in a house with the doore fast shut to them and the congregation of beléeuers gathered secretly togither and kéeping closely in a chamber from being the church of God Your champion Stapleton who for his writing of all English papists hath deserued most praise is driuen of force to confesse the hidden and secret church but that he will haue to endure but a while wherby he supposeth he hath salued the matter But that little while is sufficient to ouerthrow all your reasons for perpetuall visibilitie in that sense which you take it Acts. 2. 42. The text And they were perseuering in the doctrine of the Apostles and in the communication of ⸫ breaking of bread and praiers The note This was the blessed sacrament which the Apostles daily ministred to the Christians at the least in one kind See chap. 20. 7 The answer And why say you at the least in one kind Was it euer heard of in the world that the sacramâ—nt was ministâ—ed in lesse than one kind But you would haue said if you durst for shame that they ministred but in one kind And then if you had had any fathers that fauored that exposition we should also haue heard of them But your doctrine of concomitance the groundworke of your halfe communion was then not hatched in hell The fathers were vtterly ignorant of it Acts. â— 1. The text And Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple at the ⸫ ninth hower of praier The note This maketh for distinction of canonicall howers and diuersitie of appointed times to pray in See annot cap. 10. 9. The answer Let people pray in the language which they vnderstand to him to whom they are commanded to offer vp their praiers in faith according to his will and then times appointed for praier may haue their right and true vse Acts. 3. 16. The text And in the ⸫ faith of his name this man whom you see and know his name hath strengthened and the faith which is by him hath giuen this perfect health in the sight of you all The note This faith was not the faith of the lame man for he looked onely for almes nor a speciall faith of the Apostles owne saluation but the whole beleefe of Christian religion The answer How prooue you that this was not the faith of the lame man Forsooth he looked for nothing but almes At the first he did not What then Nay he looked not for almes when they had told him that they had neither gold nor siluer to giue But as he cast away the expectation of almes so did he gréedily imbrace the gift of health offered him in the name of Iesus Christ. And this is the faith which Peter héere speaketh of If Peters hearers had so vnderstood the matter as you take it they might haue concluded that they néeded not beléeue other mens faith might make them safe as it did this man How happened it that the lame man of Lystra néeded his owne faith to be saued or healed Was not Pauls faith as good as Peters if a man might be healed by another mans faith without his owne The residue of your note is a riddle For what is Christian religion Is it not the imbracing of the promises of saluation by faith And then how is that distinguished from the faith or beléeuing of a mans owne saluation But bicause you papists want the comfortable assurance of Christians therefore you deuise a new kind of faith to flatter your selues withall void of that comfort and assurance 〈◊〉 3. 21. The text Whom ⸫ the heauens truly must receiue vntill the times of the restitution of all things which God spake by the mouth of his holie prophets from the beginning of the world The note Some heretikes fouly corrupt this place thus Who must be contained in heauen of purpose as they protest to hold Christ in heauen from the blessed sacrament Beza As though his presence there drew him out of heauen Neither can they pretend the Greeke which is word for word as in the vulgar Latin and as we translate The answer This bable hath béene sufficiently plaied withal alreadie The Gréeke being the meane verbe is indifferent to be translated actiuely or passiuely The sense in both translations resteth one and the same Prating Martinius made this quarrell â—tale and the learned and reuerend master doctor Fulke hath cléered it I pray you shew vs thus much fauour as to giue vs one sentence of a doctor for sixe
deuotions The answer Héere is a blind quarrell to vphold blind deuotion of blind papists Why may not that which is deuoutly worshipped be called his deuotion that worshippeth Except you can prooue that the word deuotion ought not to be vsed but in good part which will be hard for you to do But this fond quarrell hath béene afore broched by Martinius and learnedly answered by master doctor Fulke Acts. 17. 24. The text The God that made the world and all things that are in it he being Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth ⸫ not in temples made with hands c. The note God is not concluded in temples nor needeth them for his necessitie of dwelling or other vses of indigence See annot c. 7. Acts. ver 48. The answer If God cannot be concluded in temples much lesse can he be shut vp in pixes or expressed by the art of your painters and caruers Your babish annotation I passe ouer to the general answer of the annotations Act. 19. 3. The text But he said in what then were you baptized Who said ⸫ in Iohns baptisme The note Iohns baptisme not sufficient The answer Conclude this out of the text if you can You thinke that these were baptized againe by Paule And we thinke that Paule onely instructed them in the doctrine that Iohn did teach them whom he did baptise Your error groweth in referring the participle that signifieth they hearing to these to whom Paule speaketh to where as it ought to be referred to them that heard the doctrine of Iohn and were baptized by him Which reference maketh the text plaine and taketh away a number of scruples and doubts which rise vpon the other reference Acts. 19. 4. The text Hearing these things they were baptized in the name of our Lord Iesus The note Christs baptisme necessarie The answer And who doubeth of that Acts. 19. 6. The text And when Paule had imposed ⸫ hands on them the holie Ghost came vpon them and they spake with toongs and prophesied The note Saint Paul ministred the sacrament of confirmation See ann c. 8. 17. The answer Saint Paule laide his hands on them the holie Ghost came vpon them and they were myraculouslie endued with the gift of toongs That this was the ministration of a sacrament we deny and you haue nothing to prooue it with all Your annot we refer as we haue done the rest Acts. 19. 18. The text And manie of them that beleeued came confessing and declaring ⸫ of their deeds The note They made not onely a geuerall confession wherin all men shew themselues alike to be sinners as our protestants do but euerie one confessed his proper deeds and faults The answer There was then no auricular confession or shrift Otherwise you slander the protestants when you make this difference betwéene them and these beléeuers For we hold that confession of sins in particular is also necessarie as appéereth in all enioined penances But the numbring vp of all a mans sins in particular as it is impossible so I holde also vnnecessarie Acts. 19. 21. The text And when these things were ended Paule purposed in the spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Hierusalem saieng After I shall haue beene there I must see ⸫ Rome also The note Of taking awaie the Gospell from Hierusalem the head citie of the Iewes and giuing it to Rome the head citie of the Gentiles The answer This note is printed in a letter by it selfe that it may be noted aboue all the rest Therefore a man would thinke that it should be soundlie and substancially collected and gathered out of this place And yet here is nothing in this text once sounding towards the taking away of the Gospel from one and giuing it to another But we may sée that you can stretch the text on the tenters and make it stretch to what please you Acts. 19. 〈◊〉 The text For one named Demetrius a siluer smith that made siluer ⸫ temples of Diana procured to the artificers no small gaine The note The protestants translate shrines anno 1577. to make the people thinke that it toucheth the holie shrines of saints most corruptly in the Greeke signifieng plainly temples and that of heathen Gods The answer What name soeuer it had by reason of some similitude or portraiture that it was framed vnto yet the circumstances of the place are plaine that temple it was not But as your shrines and such superstitious toyes were gainfull to your workemen so these brought in dailie profit to Demetrius and his companie Acts. 19. 35. The text And when the Scribe had appeased the multitudes he saith Yee men of Ephesus for what man is there that knoweth not the citie of the Ephesians to be a worshipper of great Diana and ⸫ Iupiters childe The note Here heretikes adde to the text this word image more then is in the Greeke to put a scruple into the peoples minde concerning holy images The answer Small quarrels must serue where better want The addition of a substantiue vnderstood to an adiectiue expressed is when you you list an heinous fault I praie you tell me was it not the image or idole of Diana that was there spoken of And may we not now call an image an image We néede not put scruples into the heads of the people against your holie images for they detest and abhorre them And good cause why For sacrifices excepted what madnes did the Gentiles about their images which you did not about yours Acts. 20. 7. The text And in the first of the sabaoth when we were assembled to ⸫ breake bread Paule disputed with them being to depart on the morow and he continued the sermon vntill minight The note Saint Paul did heere breake bread on the sunday as it is broken in the sacrament of the bodie of Christ and had both before and after the celebrating a sermon to the people August ep 86. ad Casulalum Vener Bed in 20. Act. The answer To what purpose do you cite héere Augustine and Bede To prooue that the sacrament was héere ministred by the Apostle Paul We confesse it your proofe is superfluous Or to prooue that the sacrament then and there was ministred vnder one kind and no more That is a matter that neither of them euer thought of Paul brake bread doth it follow thereof that he did not minister the cup also Your maner of breaking bread was in their daies vtterly vnknowen and vnheard of Acts. 20. 17. The text And sending from Miletum to Ephesus he called the ⸫ ancients of the church The note That is priests as Act. 15. 4. See the marginall annot there The answer The word or name of priest being deliuered from your abusiue signification we abhorre not Your marginall annotat hath béene alreadie answered Acts. 20. 21. The text Testifieng to the Iewes and Gentils ⸫ penance toward God and faith in our Lord Iesus Christ. The note Apostolike preaching commendeth not faith onely
praier in heauen The answer You should say Whereby S. Ierom goeth about or indeuoreth to prooue For euery word he speaketh is not by and by a proofe What the saints of God do in heauen for men that are aliue is a secret which God hath kept to himselfe and not reuealed to men Therefore the reasons from their dealings héere to their doings there are blinde hauing no ground to frame them on but mans wisedome There we do not beléeue S. Ieroms conclusions but where he hath better ground for his reasons Acts. 28. 1. The text And when we had escaped then we knew that the ⸫ Iland was called Mitilene The note This iland now Malta is the seate of the knights of the Rhodes The inhabitants wherof haue a speciall deuotion to saint Paul to whom both the cheefe church being the bishops seate is dedicated and the whole iland as they count it is consecrated Where the people shew yet to strangers his prison and other memories of his miracles The answer To leaue the manifest grosse error of your old interpretor in the name vntouched and to leaue your selues which will amend no errors nor vntruthes be they neuer so manifest To your note we say that we easily beléeue the inhabitants of Malta to be papists full of blind and ignorant deuotion 〈…〉 The text For the hart of this people is waxen grosse and with their eares haue they heauily heard and their eies ⸫ they haue shut least perhaps they may see with their eies and heare with their eares and vnderstand with their hart and be conuerted and I heale them The note Heere also as Matth. 13. it is plaine that they would not see nor heare and that their excaecation is to be attributed to themselues and not to God See annot Iohn 12 40. The answer Their excecation as their fault is to be attributed to themselues and none other and to God as a iust iudgement and punishment for their former sinnes ROMANS Roman 1. 5. The text By whom we haue receiued grace and apostleship ⸫ for obedience to the faith The note Faith must not be subiect to sense reason arguing or vnderstanding but must command and be obeied in humilitie and simplicitie The answer It is true that euery word of the Lord is with reuerence to be receiued beléeued and obeied in humility and simplicity though it be neuer so far beyond our capacitie and the reach of our reason or the compasse of our sense or vnderstanding But yet so as that we beléeue not white to be blacke sower to be swéet neither yet that the whole bodie of man may be contained within the compasse of two or thrée inches For in things subiect to sense we are no where commanded not to beléeue and trust our senses Rom. 1. 5. The text ⸫ In all nations for the name of him among whom are you also the called of Iesus Christ. The note Saint Augustine vseth this place and the like against heretikes which would draw the common catholike faith of all nations to some certaine countries and corners of the world August ep 161. The answer Whosoeuer hold any faith that was not vniuersally planted by the Apostles in all nations and which hath not béene since generally imbraced of all true Christians the same hold not the true catholike faith And therefore the faith which the church of Rome at this day holdeth is not the true catholike faith For what Apostle taught or what church in their time beleeued that Christ after his ascension was bodily héere vpon the earth and that his bodie might be in many places at once in one place hauing the quantitie of a bodie in another place void of all quantitie I would our controuersies about the church and the bishop of Romes authoritie might be decided by this epistle For he is plaine in both cases Rom. 1. 9. The text For God is my witnes whom I serue in my spirit in the Gospell of his sonne that without ⸫ intermission I make a memorie of you alwaies in my praiers c. The note He praieth without intermission that omitteth no day certaine times of praier Aust. The answer He praieth for men without intermission that being diligent in praier is therein alwaies mindefull of them But your citing now of Augustine to what end is it but to make a shew of your reading Rom. 1. 11. The text For I desire to see you that I may impart to you some spirituall grace to ⸫ confirme you The note The Romaines were conuerted and taught by Saint Peter before Therefore he vseth that speech to confirme them in their faith Author Commen apud Hieronimum Theodoret. in 16. Rom. Chryst. The answer That the Romaines to whom Paule wrote were conuerted afore it is manifest but by whose ministerie that doth not certainely appéere We know that diuers fathers are of opinion that Peter tooke paines at Rome afore Paule wrote thither But bicause the time they assigne of his comming thither and of his continuance there can neither stande with the scriptures neither with other things which they report of him there is iust cause why in this point we should not beléeue them But bicause it is not material by whom they were conuerted I let this passe But one thing I muse of and I would faine be resolued in Why the holie Ghost so diligently setting out Paules writing to the Romaines afore he went thither Paules iourney thither his paines and diligence there doth not once signifie any thing to vs of Peters being there séeing there could be nothing more necessarie for a christian to know then that If poperie be good Christianitie and if by Peters being there such woonderfull priuiledges be left vnto the bishops there as they at this day chalenge Rom. 1. 17. The text For the iustice of God is reuealed therin by faith into faith As it is written And the iust man liueth by faith The note He meaneth not Gods owne iustice in himselfe but that iustice wherwith God endueth man when he iustifieth him Aug. de spir lit cap. 9. Whereby you may gather the vanitie of hereticall imputatiue iustice The answer Whereby you may gather the impudencie of the papists in applieng fathers to that they ment not The whole scope and circumstances of the place are against inherent iustice and for the righteousnes of Christ imputed to vs. But God endueth man with righteousnes when he doth iustifie him It is true But that righteousnes whereby he maketh men iust is the righteousnes of Christ. The other wherewith he indueth vs which we call sanctification being gods gift is not sufficient to make vs iust before God but to declare vs iust before men Rom. 1. 23. The text And they changed the glorie of the incorruptible God into a ⸫ similitude of the image of a corruptible man and of fowles and foure footed beasts and of them that creepe The note Lo these and the like are the images or idols so often
wait for the comming of the Lord you would not wilfully serue his enimie and oppose your selues to his knowen truth 2. Corinthians 2. Cor. 2. 10. The text For my selfe also that which I ⸫pardoned if I pardoned any thing for you in the person of Christ That we be not circumuented of satan For we are not ignorant of his cogitations The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though he did great penance saith Theodoret yet he calleth this pardoning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a grace bicause his sinne was greater than his penance The answer It is happie you will confesse one man pardoned of grace which had not by gretnes of penance deserued it Theodorets meaning was not to part his pardoning betwixt penance and grace And the text prâ—â—ueth cléerly that how great testimonies so euer man giueth of true repentance yet remission and pardon of sinnes is not merited but procéedeth méerely of grace and fauor 2. Cor. 4. 17. The text For that our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall waight of glorie in vs we not considering the things that are seene but the things that are not seene The note The English bible 1577 doth falsely translate Prepareth The answer This translation although not so proper in word yet all one in sense with the rest is alreadie iustified by master D. Fulke against Martinius The reason which he yéeldeth for your fault finding is to be noted for it sheweth that you would haue that which is momentanie and light to deserue that which is eternal and of great waight and so make a small matter to deserue eternall life and glorie So lightly you thinke to come by heauen â— Cor. 5. 8. The text But we are bold and haue a good will to be pilgrimes rather from the bodie and to be ⸫ present with our Lord. The note This place prooueth that the saints departed now since Christ sleepe not till the day of iudgement and that they be not holden in any seuerall place of rest from the fruition of God till the resurrection of their bodies but that they be present with God in their soules The answer You would say that this prooueth that the soules of the saints sléepe not with their bodies till the day of iudgement I maruell much why the apostle speaketh nothing héere of purgatorie sith by your churches doctrine the soules of the greater part of Gods saints after the earthly house of this habitatioÌ„ is dissolued go for a time to the paines of purgatorie which is directly against the apostles doctrine in this place deliuered For he immediately after our dissolution appointeth vs an house to dwell in not for a time but eternally nor in pugatorie but in heauen not seuered from the fruition of God but in the presence of our Lord from which he placeth none absence but whiles we are héere in the bodie 1 Cor. 5. 2â— The text Him that knew no sin for vs he made sinne that we might be made the iustice of God in him The note That is to say a sacrifice and an host for sinne See the last annot of this chapter The answer If men should héere without all reason sticke vpon the letter as you do in This is my bodie what can you say for this exposition that might not be iustly returned against you in that Your annotation you send vs vnto is a childish cauill grounded vpon this that the scripture calleth him iust that doth iustice But doth it call none else so The publican departed better iustified than the pharisie I pray you what iustice had he done God iustifieth the wicked He is iust or blessed to whom God imputeth no sin The iust man liueth by faith So obteined the théefe vpon the crosse to be iustified and saued You sée then that the Scripture speaketh of some other kind of iustice besides that which consisteth in our owne doings Leaue therefore your foolish cauilling 2. Cor. 5. 10. The text As sorrowfull but alwaies reioicing as needie but enriching manie as ⸫ hauing nothing and possessing all things The note Saint Augustine in Ps. 113 gathereth hereby that the Apostles did vowe pouertie The answer Wilfull pouertie bicause you sée no reason to gather it out of this place you make Saint Augustine your buckler for it but I thinke your note booke deceiued you I take it that there is no such matter in the exposition of that Psalme But he saith there that in calling images by the names of those whom God created men turne the truth of God into a lie and that their forme and shape their honorable placing and setting a loft in the church hath more force to draw people to idolatrie then the consideration that they haue no life nor vse of their parts and members hath to induce men to the contrarie I do not remember that I haue reade any thing in Augustine that fauoreth wilfull pouertie But in his booke of the worke of moonkes he is verie earnest against such idle bellies as thought it vnlawfull for them to gaine any thing by worke or labor but would liue altogither vpon the offerings and liberality of others and he both telleth them that they refuse to obey the Apostle Paul and confuteth their foolish reasons 2. Cor. 6. 14. The text ⸫ Beare not the yoke with infidels The note It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with heretikes and infidels See S. Hier. câ—ont Iouian lib. Cocil Laod. cap. 10. 31. The answer It is not lawfull for catholikes to marrie with papists or other heretikes or infidels For this there néedeth no authority of men for the word of God is plaine and it is not called into question â— Cor. 7. 10. The text For ⸫ the sorow that is according to God worketh penance vnto saluation that is stable but the sorow of the world worketh death The note Contrition or sorowfull lamenting of our offences is the cause of saluation Not onely faith then saueth as the heretikes affirme The answer You deceiue your selues and others whiles of euerie consequence you make a cause It is verie true that faith and repentance must be ioined companions in them that shall be saued and yet neither of both properly the cause of saluation 2. Cor. 8. 5. The text And not as we hoped but their owne selues they gaue first to the Lord then ⸫ to vs by the wil of God The note The principall respect next after God is to be had of our masters in religion in all temporall and spirituall duties The answer If there were not iust cause of suspicion of your euil and lewd minde and meaning this note might passe without controlement as an hyperbolicall spéech tending to the reuerence and credit of Gods ministers But bicause your whole course of dealing bewrateth manifestly that you séeke to preferre your pope and your selues to be regarded and respected aboue princes in temporall duties therefore the reader is to be admonished that
that meaning procéedeth out of diuellish pride and hath no ground nor warrant out of this place For the Apostle héere doth nothing else but commend the liberalitie of the Macedonians in contributing to the reléefe of Gods afflicted saints Whereby they gaue good testimonie that they had wholy addicted themselues to God to be ruled and aduised by the Apostle and other ministers of Gods word All which the Apostle doth to that end to stirre vp them of Achaia to the like liberalitie 2. Cor. 9. 4. The text Least when the Macedonians shall come with me and find you vnreadie we that may not ye may be ashamed in this substance The note That is in this matter of almes Chrysost. Theophilact The answer This is well noted you might haue spared your fathers 2. Cor. 9. 9. The text As it is written he distributed he gaue to the poore his iustice remaineth for euer The note The fruit of almes is the increase of grace in all iustice and good works to life euerlasting God giuing these things for reward and recompence of charitable works which therefore be called the seed or meritorious causes of these spirituall fruits The answer I pray you tell vs how you collect this What necessarie consequence out of this place you can make thereof Otherwise wée must estéeme it as we estéeme of the most part of your other notes as of collections tied to your texts with poynts that will scant hold the tieng 2. Cor. 11. 2. The text For I haue ⸫ despoused you to one man to present you a chaste virgin vnto Christ. The note The Apostles and their successors did despouse the people whom they conuerted to Christ in all puritie and chastitie of truth and wholy vndefiled and void of error and heresie The answer The pope and his cleargie do despouse the people whom they seduce to the purpled whoore of Babylon in all spirituall impuritie and fornication and vntruth full of error and lies 2. Cor. 11. 4. The text For if he that ⸫ commeth preach another Christ whom we haue not preached or you receiue another spirit whom you haue not receiued or another Gospel which you haue not receiued you might well suffer it The note The note of a false teacher to come that is without lawfull calling or sending to thrust and intrude him selfe in another mans charge The answer This note is true but not well collected out of this text For I suppose you do not thinke that false teachers may well be suffered But howsoeuer you haue gathered it your note doth most liuely describe your wandering Iesuits and seminarie priests which without all lawfull calling or sending do secretly thrust themselues into other mens charges preach a new Christ and a new Gospell vnheard of in the daies of Paul 2. Cor. 11. 13. The text For such Apostles are ⸫ craftie workers transfiguring themselues into Apostles of Christ. The note A proper terme for heretikes that shape themselues into the habit of true teachers specially by often allegation and commendation of the scriptures Read the notable admonition of the ancient writer Vincentius Lirinensis in his golden booke against the prophane nouelties of all heresies The answer It is indéed a proper terme and no heretike euer did beare a more glorious shew than the papist Uincentius Lirinensis was carefull both to auoid all heresies himselfe and also to admonish others to take héed thereof His lessons be good such as we practise and you refuse For first he alloweth the canonical scriptures as perfect and sufficient to determine al controuersies which you refuse Secondly to auoid the wrangling of heretikes about the true interpretation of them he adioineth tradition which he doth not take to be vnwritten verities not spoken of in the scriptures as you do but for the sense and interpretation of them which was held and beléeued in the first churches planted by the Apostles by the Apostles I say and their coadiutors direction Thirdly he thinketh that not only the men of greatest fame and estimation in the church might erre but also that the whole or greatest part of the visible church might erre contrarie to your assertion which hold that the church cannot erre and that in that case he that will not be caried into error with multitude and companie must repaire vnto antiquitie which is far from suspition of prophane noueltie euen as we at this day appeale to the scriptures and primitiue church Now then if you will be iudged by his rules it will appéere that papists are craftie workers and so consequently heretikes and bringers in of profane nouelties 2. Cor. 11. 28. The text My daily ⸫ instance the earefulnes of all churches The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Chrysostom and Theophilact interpret it of daily conspiracie against him Others of the multitude of cares instant and vrgent vpon him The answer Your latter exposition whereof you kéepe close the authors is the better and to be preferred bicause it is Paules owne who so interpreteth his owne meaning in the next words following 2. Cor. 12. 2. The text I know a man in Christ aboue fourteene yeeres ago whether in bodie I know not or out of the bodie I know not God doth know such a one ⸫ rapt euen into the third heauen The note By this we may prooue that it is neither impossible incredible nor indecent that is reported by ancient fathers of some that haue beene rauished or rapt whether in bodie or out of the bodie God knoweth and brought to see the state of the next life as well of the saued as of the damned The answer Bicause that which hath béene done may be done and it is neither impossible nor incredible must we therefore beléeue all fabulous narrations whereof great number are forged vnder the names of fathers others too readilie receiued and beléeued of men not espieng at that time the subtiltie of the diuell in working those illusions If this foundation faile you your purgatory goeth to the ground Paul vttereth nothing of that he heard and saw there bicause they were secrets vnlawful to be vttered Shal not that condemne the rash boldnesse of others that take vpon them to vtter and tell all and more then all 2. Cor. 12. 21. The text Least againe when I come God humble me amongst you and I mourne manie of them that sinned before and ⸫ haue not done penance for the vncleannes fornication and incontinencie that they haue committed The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Saint Augustine epist. 108. is spoken heere of doing great penance for hainous sinnes as paenitents did in the Primitiue church So that it is not onlie to repent or amend their liues as protestants translate it The answer You haue béene often inough answered for our translations in this case If amendment of life true repentance could be without anie tokens or testimonies of heartie griefe and sorrow for sinnes passed then your quarrell might haue some probable shew in it
to you for your selues haue learned of God to loue one another The note All catholike christians make one fraternitie The answer Howsoeuer they differ in time or place whether they be dead or aliue and wheresoeuer they be scattered vpon the face of the earth 1. Thes. 4. 11 The text But we desire you brethren that you ⸫ abound more c. The note Christian men ought to proceed and profite continually in good works and iustification The answer If you had said sanctitie or sanctification your note had béene right but you are so gréedie and egerly bent vpon your inherent iustice that you care not what you confound for in the text there is no word of iustification 1. Thes. 4. 15. The text For this we saie to you in the word of our Lord that ⸫ we which liue which are remaining in the aduent of our Lord shal not preuent them that haue slept The note He speaketh in the person those which shal be aliue when our Sauiour returneth to iudgement The answer It is verie true and the cause why he so speaketh is to teach all men so to liue as if they were continually in present expectation of the comming of our Lord Sauior Christ to iudgement 1. Thes. 5. 8. The text But we that are of the day are sober hauing on the breast-plate of faith and ⸫ charitie an helmet the hop of saluation The note A Christian mans whole armour is not faith onely but all the three vertues heere named The answer And who but papists teach otherwise As for crosse and holiwater and such like there is no mention of them and yet these be the chéefe armour and weapons which our papists teach 1. Thes. 5. 17. The text ◠Praie without intermission The note To desire eternall life of him that onlie can giue it is to praie without intermission but bicause that desire is often by worldly cares cooled certaine houres and times of vocall praier were appointed See S. August e p. 121. ad Probam The answer You are not long in one minde One time to praie continually is to praie certaine times euerie daie an other time to pray continually is to aske life euerlasting at his hand that can onlie giue it And so it is what please you to make of it but this later enterpretation as I thinke dropped out of your pen ere you were aware For if God onlie can giue eternall life why do you request it of others As for appointed times to praie being a good meanes to stir vp our coldnes and negligence therein we both vse and like of 2. Thessalonians 2. Thes. 1. 5. The text So that we our selues also glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations which you sustaine for an example of the iust iudgement of God that ⸫ you may be counted worthy of the kingdome of God for the which also you suffer The note Note that by constant and patient suffering of afflictions for Christ men are worthy so the Greeke signifieth as the aduersaries them selues translate verse 11. of the croune of the kingdome of heauen and so doe merite and deserue the same See annot Luke 20. 35. And the Apostle heeresaieth that it is Gods iustice no lesse to repaie glory to the afflicted then to render punishment to them that afflict bicause of their contrarie desertes or merits The answer If you did not racke making worthie in English beyond the meaning of the spirit of God then to be made worthie of God to be counted worthie were all one for they whom God accounteth worthie are worthie indéed But yet it followeth not that they which are made worthie do deserue or merit the kingdome of God and the crowne of glorie by their inherent righteousnes which is the thing which both you would should prooue Your reason from the iustice of God followeth not Gods iustice indéede requireth that glorie be giuen or as you say repaied to the afflicted for his sake aswell as punishment to their afflicters not for the cause which you assigne but chieflie for his word and promise sake hauing promised that they which suffer with Christ shall also reigne with him and then also bicause it is iust that he put a difference betwéene the estates of those whome hée hath made so farre to differ your annotation or rather marginal note is answered before 2. Thess. 1. 10. The text When he shall come to be ⸫ glorified in his saints and to be made maruellous in all them that haue beleeued bicause our testimonie concerning you was credited in that day The note Christ shall be glorified in his Saints that is by the great and vnspeakeable honour and exaltation of them he shalbe honoured as now he is the honour which the Church doeth to them not diminishing Christs glorie as the aduersaries foolishlie pretend but exceedinglie augmenting the same The answer Bicause it is a glorie to Christ to aduance and exalt his saints in glorie doeth it follow therefore that it is lawfull for your church to giue to saints that which Christ giueth them not or that it is not sacriledge to rob Christ of al things due to him and to giue them to men be they neuer so holie We are not against anie lawfull aduancement of saints but against such as neither they can haue nor yet can stand with the glorie of our Christ. 2. Thess. 2. 3. The text Let no man seduce you by anie meanes for vnlesse there come a reuolt first and the man of sinne be reueiled the sonne of perdition which is an aduersarie and is ⸫ extolled aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he sitteth in the temple of God shewing him selfe as though he were God The note How then can the Pope by Antichrist as the heretikes fondlie blaspheme who is farre from being exalted aboue God that he praieth most humblie not onelie to Christ but also to his blessed mother and all his saints The answer The proud presumptuous prerogatiues giuen to the Pope and accepted of him doeth verie well declare this exalting of him selfe which particularlie héere to recite were too long Other men as the most Reuerend father in God Master Iuel Bishop of Salisburie and master Fore in our mother tongue for the benefit of the poore people of England haue in this matter taken great paines to whom also I referre my reader But if there were no more but that which you note as an argument proofe of his humilitie it is sufficient and inough to conuince him of Antichristian pride he that taketh vpon him to be wiser then God exalteth him selfe aboue God he that will make his praiers to anie other then God taketh vpon him to be wiser then God Ergo he that maketh his praiers to anie other but God exalteth him selfe aboue God The maior as I take it is cleare and manifest and néede no proofe The minor is
the protestants that they did trulie merite the same in this life The answer Whatsoeuer it pleaseth you to conceiue in your imagination that is by and by sufficientlie prooued The signification of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath beene often examined and yet it could neuer be shewed that it alwaies signifieth hire or wages due and that for worke for that must be prooued afore merit can follow For that which is not otherwise due but by promise may prooue the liberalitie of the giuer but not the merit of the receiuer And thus your proofes prooue nothing but that brag is a good dog and doth diligently serue your turne Apoc. 12. ◠The text And a great signe appeered in heauen The note The dragons incredulous persecuting multitude and Antichrist the chiefe head thereof The answer You haue deliuered a briefe summe of this chapter in my iudgement both bréefly and truly Apoc. 12. 1. The text ⸫ A woman clothed with the sunne and the moone vnder hir feet and on hir head a crowne of twelue stars The note This is properly and principally spoken of the church and by allusion of our blessed Ladie also The answer There be some of your side which least they should be driuen to admit Ecclesiam latentem an hidden church wrangle hard for the contrarie and so your doctors are not agréed on the case Apoc. 12. 3. The text And there was seene another signe in heauen and behold ⸫ a great red dragon hauing seuen heads and ten horns on his head seuen diademes The note The great diuell Lucifer The answer Bicause my purpose is but to answer you where cause is and not to write commentaries therefore I will not meddle with that which might be noted vpon the description of the diuell vnder the forme of a dragon Apoc. 12. 4. The text And his taile drew the third part of the stars of heauen and cast them to the earth The note The spirits that fall from their first state into apostasie with him and by his meanes The answer The taile of the dragon be hypocriticall false prophets As dragons and serpents carie their venim that they sting and poison withall in their tailes so the diuell seduceth and beguileth by his false lieng prophets The stars of heauen cast downe to the earth are the most noble and notable men that séeme far to excell all others brought to be altogither earthly minded and to refuse celestiall things Apoc. 12. 4. The text And the dragon stood before the woman which was readie to be deliuered that when she should be deliuered he might ⸫ deuour hir sonne The note The diuels endeuor against the churches children and specially our blessed Ladies onely sonne the head of the rest The answer It is true that the diuell that is so great an enimie to the children of the church beareth also a speciall malice to Christ the head of the church and would haue deuoured him but could not And bicause he knoweth that he cannot otherwise hurt nor harm Christ therefore he séeketh to swallow and deuour vs Christs brethren by the séed of the word and mightie working of Gods spirit begotten and borne of the church to God Apoc. 12. 1◠The text And ⸫ they ouercame him by the blood of the lambe and by the word of their testimonie and they loued not their liues euen vnto death The note When the Angels or we haue the victorie we must know that it is by the blood of Christ and so all is referred alwaies to him The answer You should haue said if you would haue spoken truly and so as much as please vs is referred to him For for to haue all referred to him is al that we contend and striue for Faith in his blood is the victorie whereby we ouercome the world and all our enimies The strength of nature the abilitie of frée will merits of our works crossing holie water indulgences pardons masses and whatsoeuer trumperie you striue for beside do nothing auaile to this Apoc. 12◠14. The text And there were giuen to the woman two wings of a great eagle that she might flie into the desert vnto hir place where she is nourished ⸫ for a time and times and halfe a time from the face of the serpent The note This often insinuation that Antichrists reigne shall be but three yeeres and an halfe Dan. 7. 25. Apocalipse 11. 2. 3. and in this chapter v. 6. c. 13. 5. prooueth that the heretikes be exceedingly blinded with malice that hold the pope to be Antichrist who hath ruled so many ages The answer Master Saunders in his demonstrations hath as doughtily done for you as so darke proofes out of such doubtful places could suffer and hath already receiued answer sufficient at the hands of that learned and reuerend man Master Whitakers You know how doubtfully all expositors expound these descriptions of the time and must we néedes credit you that it must be taken according to our vsuall supputation As for the ages which you suppose your pope hath ruled you may cut off the one halfe of them which I am sure you imagine Apoc. 13. 3. The text And all the earth was ⸫ in admiration after the beast The note They that now follow the simplest and grossest heretikes that euer were without seeing miracles would then much more follow this great seducer working miracles The answer They which learne of them that preach the word truly and sincerely cannot be seduced by miracles Bicause they know and haue learned that whatsoeuer miracles serue not to the confirmation of that doctrine which is taught vs in the word they are but illusions of the diuell and lieng signes of Antichrist which God doth send permit and suffer to shew who they be which constantly cleaue to him and his truth But on the contrarie part it is no maruell though your followers be easily seduced and beguiled First bicause they be ignorant and know nothing secondly bicause they depend vpon men who as they say cannot erre and not vpon the word of truth and therefore beléeue many things wherof they haue no ground but either lies or illusions Apoc. 13. ◠The text And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemies toward God ⸫ to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and those that dwell in heauen The note No heretikes euer liker Antichrist than these in our daies specially in blasphemies against Gods church sacraments saints ministers and all sacred things The answer Lay away lieng and speake the woorst you can truly of those whom you call the heretikes of these daies and I am sure you cannot prooue your slanderous spéeches by them But in truth none be so like Antichrist as the pope and you his friends Wherin we will report nothing maliciously by any of contrary religion vnto you deuised but truly testified reported and witnessed by friends and fautors of the Romish power in their stories and writings One poisoned his God another cast his God into the fire
thankesgiuing that the saints of God vse for his benefits It is called the song of Moyses and Christ bicause the benefits of all times of the lawe and of the Gospell are therein considered the deliuerie of the children of Israel and the redemption of all nations vnder heauen It consisteth of thrée parts namely in considering the woonderfulnes and gloriousnes of Gods works the iustice and truth of God in his waies and the terriblenes and fearefulnes of his iudgements Apoc. 1◠6. The text ⸫ Bicause they haue shed the blood of the saints and prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are woorthie The note The great reuenge that God will do at the later daie vpon the persecutors of his saints The answer The great reuenge that God hath done and shewed vpon all the persecuting tyrants of the primitiue church And this withal is to be diligently remembred that Gods arme is not shortened and his hand is stretched out still And therefore still blood must be the drinke of them that delight in blood and they that loue darknes shall haue their rewarde in the kingdome of darknes and they that loue not the truth must be giuen ouer to beléeue lies Apoc. 16. 9. The text And men boiled with great heate and ⸫ blasphemed the name of God hauing power ouer these plagues The note The desperate and damned persons shall blaspheme God perpetuallie which shall be such onely as do not repent in this life The answer If I did not perceiue that these plagues are referred to former times I would referre this to you whome I sée blinded with hipocrisie and drunken with the confidence of your owne merits so that when you intend and purpose to serue God you commit idolatrie and bicause you sée not your sinnes you can not abide anie admonition or reproouing and when God striketh and punisheth you bicause you vnderstand not the cause you are neuer the better but grudge and blaspheme and runne headlong to the diuell without repentance But when I looke vnto those former times which are here spoken of I finde the same rootes of euill in them which are in you although not so déepe rooted in them as in you that is the philosophicall doctrine of frée will and confidence in them selues and their workes which made them suppose that they pleased God when they killed his saints enemies to those opinions and bicause they did not imagine that they did amisse therefore no maruell though they repented not but grudged and blasphemed at the plagues which God powred vpon them For the same causes must néedes in euerie one haue like effectes Apoc. 16. 11. The text And they blasphemed the God of heauen bicause of their paines and woundes and ⸫ did not penance from their works The note See chapter 9. verse 2. in the margent The answer The foole will not giue his bable for the tower of London for then he should misse a great deale of good sport Your marginall annotation hath bene viewed and answered the substance wherof being friuolous and foolish you haue repeated I knowe not howe oft in these annotations Apoc. 16. 13. The text And I sawe from the mouth ⸫ of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet three vncleane spirits in maner of frogges The note The dragon is the diuell the beast Antichrist or the societie whereof he is the head the false prophet either Antichrist him selfe or the companie of heretikes and seducers that follow him The answer That by the dragon the diuell is signified and by the beast the Pope or the societie whereof he is the head we easilie consent with you but the false prophet here we suppose to be Mahomet that hath seduced the whole empires of the Turkes and Persians And al these by euill wicked and seducing spirits bend them selues and all their force against the Church and kingdome of Christ. Apoc. 16. 16. The text And he shall gather them into a place which in Hebrewe is called Arina-gedon The note The hill of theeues by Saint Hieroms interpretation The answer The coniectures of interpreters is very diuers vpon this word but this is plaine that being in the time of the sixt Angels powring foorth his viall it is a matter to be accomplished néere about our times and it is therefore the diligentlier to be considered and weighed of vs with the issue of it The summe of it is that the diuell and Antichrist shall by their false prophets perswade the Kings of the earth to bend all their whole force against the church and against the Gospel of God to extinguish and destroy it By all likelihoode the time of accomplishing this is nowe at hand for I suppose there was neuer afore anie such conspiracie of princes for that purpose But God who drewe Iabin and Sisera to Magiddo which bicause it was placed by a mountaine is called héere Arma-gedon to giue them and all their great armie into the hand of a woman to destruction hath promised to doe the like héere to the great comfort and consolation of his church and people especiallie of those which are now gouerned by Deborah Apoc. 16. 19. The text And ⸫ the great citie was made into three parts and the cities of the Gentiles fell The note The citie or common welth of the wicked diuided into three partes into infidels heretikes and euill Catholikes The citie is here called Babylon whereof see the next chapter verse 5. The answer The citie still I take for Rome called héere Babilon The diuision of it I take to be into Epicurean Atheists close hipocrites and cruell superstitious and yet openlie wicked ignorant people Apoc. 17. ◠The text And there came to me one of the seuen Angels which had the seuen vials and spake with me saieng Come I will shewe thee the damnation of the great harlot The note The small damnation of the whole companie of the reprobate called heere the great whore The answer The finall damnation of the popes of Rome and their church there so euidentlie described by their maners nature properties conuersation of life apparell power ouer the kings of the earth that neither man nor place vpon the earth can be found to which euerie part of this description can so aptlie agrée to as to these Open therefore your eies and espie her whom the holie Ghost laieth out so openlie before you and flie from her betimes least you be partaker of her plagues and damnation Apoc. 17. 1. The text Which sitteth vpon ⸫ many waters The note These many waters are many peoples verse 15. The answer Héere you haue found scripture for your vniuersalitie The whoore hath a large dominion and many people vnder hir euen as many as without all iudgement receiue whatsoeuer it pleaseth the bishops of Rome to obtrude to them Apoc. 17. 8. The text The beast which thou sawest ⸫ was and is not and shal come vp out of
thing or such a thing in the scriptures is also in your church seruice It were too great a disgrace for you to say or sing in plaine English praise yée the Lord. Apoc. 19. 7. The text Let vs be glad and reioice and giue glorie to him bicause ⸫ the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath prepared hir selfe The note At this day shall the whole church of the elect be finally and perfectly ioined vnto Christ in marriage inseparable The answer In the meane space we had néed to take great héed of being seduced by your perswasions and so of forsaking Christ and coupling our selues to another man that is to the pope which is both the popes and yours whole endeuors Apoc. 19 9. The text And he said to me write Blessed be they that are called to the ⸫ supper of the marriage of the Lambe The note That is the feast of eternall life prepared for his spouse the church The answer And not for you which imbrace another head and spouse in his stéede to whom you haue giuen greater preheminence then to Christ himselfe Apoc. 19. 13. The text And he was clothed with a garment sprinckled with blood and his name is called the word of God The note The second person in Trinitie the Sonne or the word of God which was made flesh Io. 1. The answer Who shall confound antichrist and all the power of the earth which taketh his part euen with the sword that procéedeth out of his mouth Apoc. 19. 16. The text And he hath in his garment and in his thigh written king of kings and lord of lords The note Euen according to his humanitie also The answer Our Lord and Sauior Christ God and man after his resurrection is aduanced aboue all principalities and powers and euery name that is named in heauen and in earth Apoc. 20. 1. The text And I sawe an angell descending from heauen hauing the key of the bottomlesse depth and a great chaine in his hand The note See in S. Augustine lib. 20. de ciuit ca. 7. 8. seq the exposition of this chapter The answer Your referring men to the doctors sheweth that your care is not for ignorant men to profite them for they are not the better for this reference and the learned néedeth it not Apoc. 20. ◠The text And I sawe seates and they sate vpon them and iudgement was giuen them and the soules of the beheaded for the testimonie of Iesus and for the word of God and that adored not the beast nor his image nor receiued his character in their foreheads or in their hands and haue liued and reigned with Christ a thousand yeeres The note Quid in millenario numero nisi ad proferendam nouam sobolem perfecta vniuersitas praestitae generationis exprimitur hinc per Iohannem dicitur Et regnabunt cum illo mille annis quia regnum sanctae ecclesiae vniuersitatis perfectione solidatur D. Gregorius libro 9. moral cap. 1. The answer Your poore countrimen are greatlie beholding to you they are much the better for your note they vnderstand it as well and are edified as much by it as by your church seruice And for my part bicause you haue not vouchsafed to turne it into English your selues and bicause it toucheth no matter of controuersie betwixt vs I will also take mine ease and leaue it as I finde it Apoc. 20. 7. The text And when the thousand yeeres shall be consummate Satan shalbe loosed out of his prison and shall go foorth and seduce ⸫ the nations that are vpon the foure corners of the earth Gog and Magog and shall gather them into battell the number of whom is as the sand of the sea The note Saint Augustine thinketh that these do not signifie anie certaine nations but all that shall then be ioyned with the diuell and Antichrist against the church lib. 20. de ciuitate cap. 11. See Saint Hierome in Ezechielem lib. 11. The answer We agrée with Augustine that all enemies of the church are signified open as Turkes and such like priuie as the Pope papists and such like who vnder the name and title of Christ persecute the members of Christ which the text it selfe doeth plainlie insinuate which saith that they are the nations which are vpon the foure corners of the earth Apoc. 20. 11. The text And I sawe a great white throne and one sitting vpon it from whose sight ⸫ earth and heauen fled and there was no place found for them The note They shall then be new not the substance but the shape changed 2. Peter 3. See Saint Augustine lib. 20. de ciuit cap. 14. The answer That this is to be expounded of the innouation of heauen and earth we consent but I muse for whome you gathered your notes The learned without you know whither to repaire for resolution in their doubts The vnlearned can not consult with Augustine though they would These references to sée the iudgement of Doctors haue no profit but to make a shew of your reading Apoc. 20. 12. The text And I sawe the dead great and little standing in the sight of the throne and ⸫ bookes were opened and another booke was opened which is of life the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their works The note The bookes of mens consciences where it shalbe plainlie read what euerie mans life hath bene The answer Our owne consciences and thoughts at that day shall either accuse or excuse vs. Looke therefore well into your consciences and take héede that you trust not too much and to farre to your Pope of Rome for it is well knowen that he is but a mortall man and not God Apoc. 20. 15. The text And ⸫ he that was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the poole of fire The note Such as do no good workes if they haue age and time to do them are not found in the booke of life The answer Your note is neither gathered out of this place neither warranted by anie other He that liueth to mans state hath age and he that liueth long hath time to do good workes but suppose they haue done none shal we cut frō them hope of mercie afore the last gaspe may not the like grace be shewed them that was graunted to the penitent theefe The time therefore of working must begin at their conuersion and true turning to God whether it be earlie or late otherwise this place sheweth nothing but that onlie the elect shalbe saued Others though in shew they haue led a painfull religious life though they shalbe able to say Lord haue not we done thus and thus in thy name yet shall haue answere depart from me ye workers of iniquitie I neuer knew you Apoc. 21. 2. The text And I Iohn sawe ⸫ the holie citie Hierusalem new descending from heauen prepared of God as a bride adorned for hir husband The note The Church
for persecution or for businesse séeing that both the actes of the Apostles the Epistle to the Romains euery epistle that Paul wrote from Rome minister good reasons against Peters being there so that if he were bishop so long as your stories testifie of him he was a notable non Resident but I had rather imagine that he came thither but a litle afore his death Philip. 3. â— The text See the dogges see the euill workers see the ⸫ concision for we are the circumcision which in spirit serue God c. The note By allusion of words he calleth the carnall Christian Iewes that yet boasted in the circumcision of the flesh concision and himselfe and the rest that circumcised their hart and senses spirituallie the true circumcision Saint Chrisostome Theoph. The answer Either you should set downe nothing without authorities alledged or els if you would spare your paines in anie place you should do it in those whereof the sense is not in controuersie but confessed on both parts Philip. 3. 1â—â— The text And may be found in him not hauing my iustice which is of the Lawe but that which is of the faith of Christ which is of God iustice in faith to know him and the vertue of his resurrection the societie of his passions configured to his death ⸫ if by anie meanes I may come to the resurrection which is from the dead The note If Saint Paul ceased not to labour still as though he were not sure to come to the marke without continuall indeuour what securitie may we poore sinners haue of heretikes perswasions and promises of securitie and saluation by onlie faith The answer We are verie sure that they which after they are called to knowledge do not continuallie indeuour to walke in those good workes which God hath prepared for men to walke in shall not come to the marke of life euerlasting which is set before all chrians And we know none but papists that teach such securitie to make men trust to that faith which is idle and doeth not worke by loue a diligent indeuour of obedience to Gods holy lawes And yet this continuance of our indeuour is no argument of doubtfulnesse of our saluation neither yet of trust in our deserts but that Christ liueth in vs and by his spirit leadeth and guideth vs effectuallie And it is not to be passed ouer though you be not disposed to sée it that the Apostle for all his indeuour yet flieth from his owne righteousnesse to the righteousnesse of Christ which God hath made his by faith so that it is euident that the Apostles confidence rested vpon the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to him Philip. 3. 17. The text Be followers ⸫ of me brethren and obserue them that walke so as you haue our forme The note It is a goodlie thing when a pastor may say so to his flocke Neither is it anie derogation to Christ that the people should imitate their Apostles life and doctrine and other holie men Saint Augustine Saint Benedict Saint Dominicke Saint Frauncis The answer It is a verie good thing when the Pastors are examples to their flocke in life and doctrine but yet the best men are to be followed with exception namelie no further then they follow Christ. As for your frierlie fathers whom you recken and whom you follow in wilworship are vnméete to be matched with Paul and others partners of Christian obedience to them among whom they liued Philip. 4. 3. The text Yea and I beseech thee my sincere companion helpe those women that haue laboured with me in the Gospel with ⸫ Clement the rest my coadiutors whose names are in the booke of life The note This Clement was afterward fourth Pope of Rome from Saint Peter as Saint Hierome writeth according to the common supputation The answer This is to be marked that the reckoning and supputation of Popes succéeding one another is a matter not agréed on though it be the maine foundation and principall pillar whereupon the Romish church will séeme to staie her selfe For as it is a matter verie vncertaine whether Peter was euer Bishop of Rome so is it also vncertaine who was first second third or fourth If we may beléeue the constitutions ascribed to the Apostles the testimonie whereof you can not refuse citing the authoritie of them in other matters verie often then Peter was neuer Bishop there but Linus was the first ordeined by Paul and not by Peter Clemens the second Eusebius reckoneth Clemens third and Euaristus fourth after both Peter and Paul For I do not perceiue that he reckoned one of them more for bishop there then the other Nicephorus maketh Peter the first Linus the second and Anacletus third and Clemens fourth Hierome reckoned in the same order sauing that he addeth that manie of the Latines did count Clemens next after Peter Sabellicus writeth that Peter Linus Cletus and Clemens were all Bishops of Rome at once and striketh quite out Anacletus out of the number Ireneus reckoneth next after Linus Anacletus And Optatus Mileuitanus setteth him that is Anacletus next after Clemens And thus your famous succession whereof you so greatly glorie resteth vpon a rotten vncertaine foundation the progresse thereof if it were examined is more diuerse and vncertaine and that manie waies and therefore no maruell though so vncertaine a succession must serue to vphold so vile a congregation as the church of Rome is at this day which bicause you know you referre the matter to the common supputation which must be that which you commonlie at this day follow Philip. 4. 10. The text And I also reioiced in our Lord exceedingly that once at the length you haue ⸫ reflorished to care for me as you did also care but you were occupied The note This reflorishing is the reuiuing of their old liberalitie which for a time had beene slacke and dead S. Chrysostom The answer This was Paules thankfulnes as well for the care they presently had of him as for their liberalitie afore time bestowed on him Philip. 4. 1â— The text And you know also O Philippians that in the beginning of the Gospell when I departed from Macedonia no church coÌ„municated vnto me in the account of gift and ⸫ receipt but you onely for vnto Thessalonica also once and twise you sent to my vse The note He counteth it not meere almes or a free gift that people bestoweth on their pastors or preachers but a certaine mutuall traffike as it were and interchange the one giuing spirituall the other rendering temporall things for the same The answer Your note is true though the pastors of your church giue stones for bread for fish scorpions and in stead of milke strong and ranke poison COLOSSIANS Colos. 1. 6. The text That is come vnto you as also ⸫ in the whole world it is and fructifieth and groweth euen as in you since that day that you heard and knew the grace of
God in truth The note He sheweth that the Church and Christs gospell should daily growe and be spred at length through the whole world which cannot stand with the heretikes opinion of the decay thereof so quickly after Christs time nor agree by any meanes to their obscure conuenticles See S. Augustine epist. 80. in fine The answer It is true that Christs faith did grow and spread in the whole world yet you your selues will confesse that it doth not alwaies spread alike For I know you will except our times And we wil except the times wherein the Arrians florished who as you report continued longer and was better defended by princes and worldly power than we are now Then it cannot be a question how quickly some corruptions grew but whether any great diminution or lessening of the number of true Catholikes may be But the ancient testimonies of stories do also put that out of doubt This repugnance you speake of we sée not Neither haue our conuenticles as it pleaseth you to terme them béene at any time more obscure than the assemblies of Christians in the primitiue church as you your selues cannot choose but confesse S. Augustine whose authoritie you alledge in his latter daies saw a greater decay of the Christian faith by the cruel inuasion of many barbarous nations that did ouerrun both Europe and Affrike than he did thinke when he wrote that Epistle possible to haue béene in so short a space And further if we consider the stories of the times since we shal find that that the bounds of Christendom haue béene greatly lessened and diminished since saint Augustines time Flat contrarie to his opinion in that Epistle Colos. 1. 10. The text That you may walke ⸫ worthie of God in al things pleasing The note See S. Ambrose and the Gr. doctors Or thus woorthily pleasing God The answer What néed you haue of Ambrose or any other great doctors for this I cannot imagine Colos. 1. 10. The text Fructifieng in ⸫ al good works and increasing in the knowledge of God The note Many things requisite and diuers things acceptable to God besides faith The answer This is your accustomed dealing to make ignorant men beléeue that your aduersaries allow of nothing but faith When as we confesse many things requisite for Christians and acceptable to God besides faith but nothing without faith Colos. 1. â—â— The text Giuing thanks to God and the father who hath made ⸫ vs woorthie vnto the part of the lot of the saints in the light The note We are not onely by acceptation or imputation partakers of Christs benefits but are by his grace made woorthie thereof and deserue our saluation condignly The answer You prate much of your owne woorthines and prooue nothing The benefits of iustification and saluation we haue by imputation onely other benefits as newnes of life sanctification and whatsoeuer pertaineth to that change alteration which God by the gracious working and guiding of his holy spirit maketh in those which be his be really and actually in vs. We are made woorthie indéede in respect of Christs righteousnes wherewith we are adorned and in respect of our selues none otherwise than the hungrie are said to be woorthie of meate and the thirsty woorthie of drinke not bicause they deserue it but bicause they earnestly desire it The deseruing therfore of our saluation condignly as you haue learned of your schoolemen to terme it might haue béene kept in your purse for héere is no place to vent it in our market serueth not for the sale thereof Colos. 2. 4. The text But this I say ⸫ that no man deceiue you in loftinesse of words The note Heretikes do most commonly deceiue the people with eloquence namely such as haue it by the gift of nature as the heretikes of all ages had and lightly all seditious persons which draw the vulgar sort to sedition by the allurement of their toong Nothing saith saint Hierom ep 2â— ad Nepotian is so easie as with volubilitie of toong to deceiue the vnlearned multitude which whatsoeuer it vnderstandeth not doth the more admire and woonder at the same The Apostle heer calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persuasible speech The answer Héere is long labour about washing of a tile Who knoweth not that papists and such heretikes as they are by fine retoricall persuasible spéeches do carrie poore ignorant men after them and to the intent they may as saint Ierom saith be the more admired and woondered at of the people that vnderstand not they not onely endeuor to kéepe the people without knowledge but also hunt after strange and vnwoonted words such as the eares of the people haue not béene acquainted withall and their intelligence reacheth not vnto whereof this your translation is a good euidence Turne therefore this note against your selues examine well your owne consciences and repent whiles you haue time Colos. 2. 18. The text Let no man seduce you ⸫ willing in the humilitie and religion of Angels walking in the things which he hath not seen in vaine puffed vp by the sense of his flesh The note That is wilfull or selfe willed in voluntarie religion For that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof commeth the word following 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Superstition v. 23. See annotations v. 21. The answer If voluntarie religion and will worship were quite and cléere banished from amongst all those that call themselues Christians then where should poperie become For you your selues cannot for the greatest part of it shew any other ground but the will and deuise of men Colos. 2. 19. The text And not holding the head whereof the whole bodie by ioints and bands ⸫ being serued and compacted groweth to the increase of God The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is taking subministration of spirituall life and nourishment by grace from Christ the head The answer The Gréeke word signifieth our strait coniunction in Christs mysticall bodie as our bodies are ioined and knit togither by ioints and sinewes and so your note declareth the consequence of that ioining being drawen from the truth of the signification of the word Colos. 3. 15. The text And let the peace of God exult in your harts wherein you are also called in one bodie and be thankfull The note 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 triumph and haue the victorie The answer By a metaphor drawen from the games of the Ethnikes wherein some had pricke and praise for actiuitie and strength Colos. 3. 24. The text Knowing that you shall receiue of our Lord the retribution of inheritance The note Retribution or reward for good works 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth rendering one for another The answer Out of Gods rendering or rewarding meriting cannot be collected and in this place the word of inheritance cléereth all For if it be our inheritance we haue it not by our deseruing Colos. 4. 3. The text Be instant in praier watching in it with thansgiuing praieng withall ⸫ for