auouch can prooue because we are authorised by Christs holy word that in S. Peters chaire that is when any of S. Peters successors defineth a matter of faith intending to binde the vvhole Church though in priuate as a man he may erre otherwise yet therin he neuer hath nor can erre as being assisted by Gods holy Spirit For the benefit of the whole Church I haue prayed for thee Peter Luc. 22. 32. that thy saith may not faile said Christ in somuch that we reade of none that euer herein quailed that gods word may be true Nay in the olde Testament before Agg. 2. 12 Christ when there was doubt of any matter of religion they had recourse to the high Priest those of the stocke of the Leuites in whome God euer conserued true faith though in a number it quailed in Israell But the heretikes wheÌ„ they cannot answere by reason authority then they turne to scoffing rayling either commonly by lying or else like cursed Cham as he did at his fathers secrets scoffe in scoffing and deriding the same So doe they in discouering sinnes and defects of Popes Prelates of the Church deride their parents though in deede aboue thirty of the Popes next after S. Peter did all suffer martyrdome for Christ and many glorious Saints and Doctors were of them since that time Who more eloquent then S. Leo who more holy then S Grâ—gory which both were Popes with many moe But these heretiks maliciously conceale if there were any that as men had sins or defects those they publish to the world We graunt in deede that Popes as they be men may sinne but why for that O heretike dost thou slaunder the chaire of S. Peter wherein the Catholicke faith shall euer vndefiled continue Why dost thou not remember that God can shewe the truth by an euill man yea by a dumb beast what did not Caiphas though an euill man yet for that he was the Bishop and high Priest spake true prophecying of Christ that it was expedient that one Ioh. 11. 50 shoulde die for the people that the whole should not perish Nay did not Christ him selfe say Vpon the chaire of Moyses doe Math. 23 2. 3. sit the Scribes and Pharisees doe that they say but doe not as they doe for they say and doe not If therefore any Pastors of the Church lead euill liues they shall beare their owne burden neither ought wee to follow them therein but to doe as they bid vs that is to follow the truth touching matters of faith wherein the the chiefe Pastor cannot erre yet if we see defects in our spirituall Pastors it is not for vs as heretiks doe to slaunder them vncouer their defects and that which is worse to forsake the true faith for their sakes but rather with holy Sem and Iaphet to couer their nakednes or as that Christian Emperour Constantine did who said that if hee saw a Bishop doe a thing inconuenient he would rather couer it with his cloake then reueale it The reason is that Godâ— name the truth for mannes fault should not be blasphemed Yet God be blessed the Church of Christ hath euer in al Countries had some good Pastors wheras amongst heretikes can possibly be none good Chap. XXXIII Of Gods seuere punishment of diuers for arrogating to them selues Priestly office and howâ— wee are to obay our Pastors BVt admit that many were bad of life must therefore Gods ordenance bee altered and therefore any temporall King or Prince yea that which is more absurd tinckers and coblers take vpon them to be Pastors and rulers in spirituall causes O why doe they not remember and be afraide how Allmighty God of olde from time to time punished such Luciferian pride and intollerable presumption and arrogancy Chore Dathon and Abyron with Numeri cap. 16. a number more of their conspiracie who being not called or chosen of God to the high Priestly office and function and yet sacrilegiously would presume to to offer insence and doe Sacrifice did not fire from heauen consume them the earth swallowe them vp quick to hell to the terror of al generations That false King Ieroboam that vpon the Altar 3. Reg. 13. in Samaria offered sacrifice did not god strike him lame And in like sort did he not plague those perfidious treacherous kings of Israel with sundry plagues from time to time for their rebellion against that Catholicke Iâ—da that Preistly Princely tribe his holy Church Nay did not God strike Oza with sudden Oza 2. Reg. 6. death but for only touching with desire to vpholde the same the arke of God but a figure only of Christs very or misticall body the Church not to bee touched or gouerned by lay men but by Preists Bishops lawfully called by God as Aaron was For to them and to none other Christ gaue charge of his â—locke at his departure nay there was neither King nor mighty Prince of many yeares after Christs time that were Christians and yet the Church neuer waÌ„ted her head gouernours in spiritual matters those were the Apostles Bishops their lawful successors vnto whoÌ„e the holy Apostle exorteth vs to submitt our selues saying Obedite praepositis vestris Heb. 13. 17. subiacete eis obey your Prelats c. for they watch as to giue account for your soules such Priests as rule gouerne the Church wel the holy Apostle 1. Tim. 5. 17. accouÌ„teth worthy double honour those that labour in doctrine in preaching the truth For to them the holy Apostle gaue the charge Attend saith he Act. cap. 20. 28. to your selues and the whole flocke wherein the holy Ghost hath ordeyned you Bishoppes regere Ecclesiam Dei to rule or gouerne the Church of God By these and many like places of holy Scripture it appeareth that not temporall Kings Princes but lawfull Bishops be gouernours and haue supereminent power and authority in the Church This that noble Emperour Constantine that was the first Christian Emperour that most honoured enriched the Church sonne to S. Helene that noble Empresse that went pilgrime to Hierusalem and miraculously founde out the holy Crosse this I say he well considered that it was the office of a King to be head of temporal matters in the common weale only as to execute iustice to punnish the offenders to rule and commaund in taxes tribute and in martiall affaires but not to be ruler at the Altar not to be head in the Church not to giue first censure or iudgement in spiritual causes in so much that this noble Emperour being called to that first and most holy general Councel at Nice where in the Arrian heretickes 1300. yeares agoe were condemned vvoulde sitte at that Councell in no other place but in the lowest place of all acknowledging right worthely Priests and Bishops in spirituall causes his farre betters and superiours he well knew his duty and would
Body which shal be betrayed or deliuered vp for you so likewise he spake of the cup calling it his blood And both the Euangelists Saint Paul doe agree that Christ bad his Apostles sacrifice or doe that which he had donne in memorie of his death and Passion not to offer a peece of bread in memorie of his death and Passion for that should be to base and slender a memorie as the heretikes your ministers be-lie the truth but to consecrate sacrifice and receiue after an vnbloody maner the very self-same body that the day after was bloudely once for all offered on the Crosse there as a full price of our redemption and here as a mean to make vs pertakers of that high price and ransome there once bloudely offered here the very selfe same flesh and bloude that there once bloudely was offred but here after an vnbloudy maner not deuided or not cut in peeces as the Iewes vnderstoode and the heretikes doe blaspheme but whole Christ though reallye and substanciallye here present yet after a spirituall and deuine maner that cannot be sufficiently expressed in wordes not one Christ here other there or in heauen not one to day a nother to morow but one and the self same which was offred vpon the Crosse and now sitteth at the right hand of his father is daily offred vp here in the Church in diuers places at once that by the mighty power of his Godhead which is al in al * In saying vnited to his sacred Body Videtur praeposte ra locutio For his sacred Body is vnited to his Godhead not confounded but knit and ioyned together o insigne miraculum two natures in one person vnited to his sacred body to whome nothing is impossible Wee doe not substitute then or ordeyne many * There is but one Sacrifice though daily yea oft euerie day in the Catholike Church renued by the ministrie of Preists .. 1. Cor. 11. 26. Sacrifices of Christ as the heretikes be-ly vs for so we might be iniurious to his Passion but one and the selfe same sacrifice though different in the maner with that vpon the Crosse is daily here offered vnto God there once bloudely here vnbloudely by the ministrye of Preistes heere in earth to appease Gods wrath renue in vs the fruit of his death and Passion wrought by that sacrifice once all bloudy vpon the Crosse for all Doe this that I haue donne saith Christ in memorie of me that is you shal represet or shew by this sacrifice the death of our Lord as sayeth S. Paul to his comming againe By which wordes of Christ Doe this that I haue donne he gaue his Apostles and Priests authority to consecrate his Body by vertue of his holy word For what did Christ He tooke bread blessed gaue to his Disciples said This is my Body and wine saying This is my Bloud And bad them doe that he had donne that is by power of his mightye worde to consecrate his blessed Body So by those verye wordes that heretickes abuse when hee saide Doe this in memorie of mee to make the holye Sacrament to bee but a bare figure and remembrance of Christ by those verye wordes I saye you see by uery reason and as holye doctors euer vnderstood Christ gaue authority to the Apostles and to all Preists and Bishopps their lawfull successors to offer vp daily that pure and vnbloodye sacrifice in consecrating his body and blood to represent and renue in vs his death and Passion till his comming to Iudgement againe And therefore at the holy Sacrifice of the Masse euery ornament and action of the Preist reduceth to our memory some thing Christ said or did during his life bitter death and Passion Chap. XXII That heretickes which deny Christs body in the Sacrament euacuate the fruites of Christs death and Passion in mens soules and prepare the way to Antechrist THe heretiks therfore that do blasphem haue abolished the holy most blessed dread full pure most honorable Sacrament sacrifice of the Masse doe as much as lieth in them to put out of mens minds the Passion of Christ and make voide in our soules the fruit thereof wherefore they in deed be very forerunners of Antechrist that shall denye Christ and all and yet like shamelesse blasphemous wolues and deceiuers are not affraid to call the high Preist of God Christes Vicar here in earth the Pope Antechrist who is in deede the cheife piller head of the Church here next to Christ spreading and vphoulding Christs faith against Turkes Iewes Heretickes and all Infidles throughout the whole worlde But these impostors call the Vicar of Christ Antechrist that they Antechristians and their Master Antechrist the vessell of Satan when hee commeth may be the lesse suspected so pull downe Christianity But Gods Church Christes kingdome shall not faile though we are to feare now in the later ende of the worlde Antechriste is neare hand as these certainlie bee his forerunners whoe at his comming shall raise a greater persecution against the Church then euer was before For hee shall deny Christ and God and also exalt himselfe aboue God with such false deceits and wordes that if it were possible the very elect should be deceaued and the holye and continuall sacrifice of the Masse shall in his time cease to be offered openly as the holy prophet Daniell foretould What other thing then Dan. 12. Heb. 7. 12 The turks though perhaps sometimes they baue some voluntary externall superstitious sacrifice yet no ordinarye set sacrifice-publike for as much as euer I red or heard do these hereticks but prepare a way for Antechrist whoe denying the blessed Masse ordained and first said or celebrated by christ at his last supper would leaue vs neuer an externall Sacrifice to worship God withall like very Turkes to whome being without externall sacrifice they bee most like Translato enim according to the Apostles doctrine Sacerdotio necesse est vt legis translatio fiat So that take away Preisthood take a waye sacrifice and so consequentlye God and all For that by externall sacrifice God is chiefely knowne and worshipped the want and honor most due vnto which sacrifice maketh vs you se so many Atheists that now a daies make a scoffing against Christ God to But Lorde be mercifull vnto this Countrey whether is it fallen for sinne and blinde heresy the worste weede that euer was sowne To be briefe you see here how in an eleuen plaine places in the fower Euangelistes and Saint Paul Christ calleth that most blessed Sacrament he ordained at his last supper his very bodye and blood Caluin Beza and the Protestantes and other heretickes of this time say it is but a figure shadowe or bare remembrance In a peece of bread of his body and blood must we beleeue Christes and Saint Paul then or your wise ministers and new vpstart heretikes of this time O Christ if I should forsake
forsake the Diuell are vnited and made one body with Christ in his holy Church and so thereby are deliuered from euerlasting death and are made heires of the heauenly kingdome without which Sacament in deed or in will and affection at least that is if a man in no sort can possibly come vnto it none can be saued as saide our Sauiour Nisi quis natus fuerit denuo non potest Ioh. 3. Mat. 28. Mar. 16. videre regnum Dei Vnlesse a man be borne againe that is by Baptisme he cannot enter into the kingdome of God and againe Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua spiritu Sancto non potest intrare in regnum Dei and againe Christ bad his Disciples goe and baptise in the name of the Father and of the c. Vnlesse a man be borne againe of water and the holy Ghost saith Christ he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Christ you see saieth that without water the holy ghost we cannot be saued The Protestants your ministers a nuÌ„ber of theÌ„ teach you that christian mens children without Baptisme may be saued wherein they be contrary to Christ the Gospell and the common receiued saith of the holy Catholike Church of all ages who with all speede euer hastened her children in danger of death to be baptised knowing for certaine that if they departed without Baptisme they shoulde be damned not to so great a damnation as those shall haue that after Baptisme dye in deadly sinne but yet those vnchristened children shall be shutt from the sight of God for-euermore who is the full ioy delight of the soule which is an vnspeakeable losse Whereby you see the vnmercifull dealing of the heretikes of this time who hinder poore infants from Baptisme so vtterly cast them away The heretikes of this time especially Protestants * I meane the Puritanes especially who in their opinions leaue almost no Sacrament at all This as I remember I haue hard reported of the Anabaptistes Puritanes and Anabaptists haue lest with them but one Sacrament amongst seauen that is Baptisme only and yet good Lorde how many damnable heresies holde they about that The * Anabaptists would haue folkes to be christned often which is against the scriptures and as much as in them lieth is to naile Christ to the Crosse againe for by Baptisme we be buried with him in his death to true mortification and once for al washed in his blood I meane in Baptisme which can not be itterated as once for al he died so that I say to be rebaptisede is to deny that vertue of Christs passion once giuen for al in Baptisme For there is but one God as saith the Apostle one Faith one Baptisme and all Protestants and other heretikes of this time commonlye holde that Baptisme doth not quitt vs from our sinnes and make vs iust indeede as Christ and his Church teacheth but say that it but raseth as it were our sinnes that they be not imputed to vs and that God as it were wincketh at them but yet neuerthelesse the blott remaineth in soule still which be two most damnable opinions the one derogating cheifely from the Passion of Christ the other from his honor and perfection of his worke who cleanseth mens souls in deede by his Sacraments that they may be fit vessells to be replenished with his glorye and made pure in his sight may see him for euer Chap. XII Of the impiety abuse of heretikes about Baptisme MOreouer many as I said be fore of your ministers teach that if they haue Baptisme it is wel if they haue it not it is no matter some will scarsely sprinckle water vpoÌ„ theÌ„ but make a preaching some care not whether they vse Christs words in Baptisme or no as for the signe of the Crosse as beeing enemies indeede to the Crosse of Christ and not deseruing the name of Christians that be ashamed of Christe our Masters ensigne and banner they thinke and account it but a papisticall and supersticious ceremony though in deed it is a most auncient and Apostolâ—â—â— tradition neither doe they shew them-selues Christianes I say but rather Turkishe and members of Satan that be afraide and ashamed of their Masters badge the Crosse of Christ wherby you see how litle reckoning they make of Baptisme without which we be Infidells and heathenishe Turkes as it were bee a man borne neuer so much of Christian parents For we receiue our souls from God aboue not of our parents that which we take of our pareÌ„ts is a peece of fleash only conceiued brought out in sinne in our selues I meane soiled with that generall fault and blott wee all take of Adam For though our fathers sinnes be to their soules forgiuen by Baptisme yet in their bodies stil remaine the same infirmities they contracted by originall sinne before Baptisme though those infirmities pacientlye borne and resisted be not as I saide before in our Parents sinne but rather cause of merite yet we being conceaued of their bodyes rebellious by concupiscence bearing Yet I meane not that concupiscâ—nce in the regenerate is sin so we consent â—ot to it those infirmities receiue flesh body of them with the same infirmities and defects in vs that they of olde Adam sustained and bore before Baptisme so that spirituall substance creature which is our soule being by God newly created and infused or put into our bodies newlye formed laden with infirmities of Adam then presentlye by GODS secret iustice and iudgmente contracteth the same originall sinne is soiled with the same blott Adam our first father was till it bee washed away by Baptisme The heretikes that see not this shew themselues either very ignorant or els most malicious that deceiue the ignorante people and damne many poore soules who because they be borne in that sinne of Adam in some sorte without their owne free wil therefore God ordained most present remedies to saue them by and that without their owne procuring if they be infants the matter as water being so common the wordes so easie to be spoken and that any reasonable person whosoeuer may bee minister of it when a lawfull Priest cannot be had that is I mean in necessity when the child or person to be christned is in danger if death for otherwise it ought not in any wise to be sent to your new Ministers to be christned nor Schismatike preists nether if any Catholike Christian can be had til you caÌ„ meet with a Catholike priest tâ—ough the child of whomsoeuer may be truly christned nether ought to be christned againe being once baptised the parents do offend that send their children to be christned of such woolues vnlawfull ministers which be most vnfit of al christian men to christen children as holding teaching so many monstrous heresies about that holy Sacrament and with al so litle reckoning of it vsing it so vnreuerently as scoffing at it contemning many
darknes conquere the world and themselues and win an euerlasting Crowne Chap XIIII of the holy Sacrament of Penance and of the three parts therof and of the necessitie thereof to all sinners after Baptisme But as you see in a dangerous fight a most valiant souldier may sometime take a deadly wound whereunto a plaister and most soueraigne salue is most needfull that so after he may fight more manfully Euen so Christ the good phisition knowing the dangerous warrefare man hath here vppon earth with those most mighty enimies the flesh the world the diuell whereby somtime in soul he may take a deadly wounde that father of mercye then and God of all comfort knowing the weakenes of our vessells and taking compassion of our infimitie to cure our deadly woundes hath ordained a nother most wholsome Sacrament called Penance which Saint Hierome calleth Secundam tabulam post naufragium the second table after shipwrack For euen as if in the Sea a shippe burst there is no other remedy but take some bord swimme out EueÌ„ so in this troublesome Sea of this wretched world which like the Sea is alwaye stormy if a man after Baptisme fall againe to sinne as we be all sinners and need the grace of God then loe there is no other refuge to besaued but only by Penance as our Sauiour teacheth vs Nisi penitentiam Luc. 13. vers 3 egeritis omnes simul peribitis Vnlesse you doe penance you shall altogether perishe which fall of ours by sinne as it especiallye consisteth in three thinges in Thought Worde and Deede So hath Gods mercy ordained this Sacrament of Penance as a remedy which consisteth of three parts that is first of Contrition of heart in beeing sorrowfull for our sinnes with full-purpose to amende secondly of Confession of mouthe in confessing the same to a lawfull Priest as the Vicar of Christ and thirdlye in Satisfaction of workes which bee Fasting Prayer Almes-deedes and the like which the Holye Scripture tearmeth fruites or workes of Penance At this Heretikes when they cannot aunswere scoffe but we proue them by Godes worde and authoritye of the Holie Catholike Church Wee proue then the first part of Penance that is Contrition of heart by many places of Holye Scripture Iâ—â—l â— as where we are commaunded to conuert and turne our selues to GOD in Fasting Weeping and Lamentation And agayne Scindite corda uestra non vestimenta vestra c. Rent your heartes and not your garmentes c. Tolet. sum lib. 2. Cap. 4. conc Trid. sess 14. cap. 4 Which sorrowe of hart is of such force when it is donne in Charitye and pure loue to God that by vertue thereof it some-time may be so great that mans sinnes may thereby be forgiuen Whereupon Almighty God sayeth by his holye Prophet Conuert to me and I will bee conuerted to you And againe In quacunque hora ingemuerit peccator c. At what howre soeuer a sinner lamenteth from the bottome of his heart I vvill heare him But vvhat neede we then saieth the Heretickes to confesse our sinnes to a Preiste I aunswere for diuerse causes first because it is the ordinance of Christ in his Newe Testament who knoweth best howe to Order Mat. 5. 21. Christian iustice I grant far exceedeth that of the Pharisies in moe thinges then one which words declare the perfection of the new testament which to get Confession is a great meanes Rule and Gouerne his people who telleth vs * Wherein is euer vnderstoode Confession included to be made in due time Vnlesse our iustice exceedeth that of the Scribes and Pharisees wee shall not enter into the kingdome of GOD c. For a-fore Christ indeede Penance was not a Sacrament as nowe it is neither were they of the olde Testament that was before Christ bound to confesse all their sinnes Saluo meliori iudicio to the Preist but compunction inward repentance and sorow of hart with amendment and restitution for iniustice done woulde suffise though euen then we read that manye would openly confesse yet in that state when the prophet spake those words we grauÌ„t that in what howre soeuer a sinner with due repentance or contrite sorow and compunction of harte conuerted himselfe to God he would forgiue him yea and moreouer wee graunt the same still now in this law of grace since Christ that when-soeuer a man hath perfecte contrition or sorrow for his sinnes they be forgiuen him but true contrition or perfect repentance with perfect loue and charity to God can no man haue but hee that hath will to keepe Godes Commaundementes and to doe that Christ hath bidden But Christ hath commaunded that we confesse our sins as after I will proue by the Gospell and therfore no man can haue perfect contrition or conuersion to God but he that is sorowful for his sins that assoone as he can meete with a lawful Preist or in due time he wil confesse theÌ„ that so Christs ordinance being fulfilled by meanes of the Preist they may bee forgiuen him But if a man be in danger of death or in such place that hee cannot come possiblely by any meane to coÌ„fession before a Priest then no doubt if he haue perfect contrition and sorow for his sins Christ the high Priest who as I saied before is not so bound to his SacrameÌ„tes but that without them he can giue his grace giueth in such time of necessitye perfect absolution from sinne yea so great the sorow of hart may bee that both sinne yea and paine due vnto sinne in this life and in the next may bee forgiuen And I doubt not but that there be many good men that perhappes come to Confession once euerye weeke that before they confesse to the Preist haue their sinnes forgiuen at Godes hands so great is their loue to God sorowe for their sinnes for that they haue offended him that is chiefly to be be loued yet because of Christes ordinance in their contrition is allwayes Confession included or vnderstood which was plainely signified vnto vs and taught by our Sauiour by two especially of his wonderfull miracles the one was when he had healed the leapers hee had them goe and shewe themselues Luc. 17. 14. to the Preistes whereby wee bee taught that though our sinnes which be leprosie to our soules bee already in Gods sight by perfect sorowe forgiuen yet wee must shewe them by confession to the Preist Gods Vicar because it is Christes holye ordinance who hath lefte that power his father gaue him to his holie Church Againe when Christ raysed Lazarus that was fower dayes deade who signifieth a man deeplye deade in sinne when he was aliue and rose vp hauing yet his handes and feete bound Christ bad his disciples Loose his bandes and suffer him to goe a Iohn 11. 44. way So when Christ by his grace inwardly in mannes hart hath wrought sorow and repentance and so made the sinner aliue agayne in
hath offeÌ„ded deadly yet the holy Church commaundeth once a yeare to recieue before which Confession in lay-men but much more in Preists if they finde their consciences guilty is commonly presupposed which vnlesse euery one obserue vnlesse he haue some iust impediment he grieuously sinneth and though a man cannot finde himselfe guilty of deadly sinne yet of some smal sinnes wherein we daily al offend and without which this life can hardlye be led the best maye accuse themselues may very well confesse them and ordinarely good men some euerye wâ—eke do confesse such small sinnes as light thoughts vaine wordes and the like which be commonly called veniall sinnes and whereof Christ saieth we shal make account at the daye of iudgement if wee first iudge not our selues here which though not of necessity because other-waies they maye bee forgiuen yet they may be matters of confession But a deadly sinne if one after due discussion of his conscience can remeÌ„ber it come to a lawful Priest euery one vnder paine of damnation is bound to confesse to a lawfull Preist a deadlye sinne I say that is the transgression or breach of Godes Commaundement it is called deadlye because it draweth to euerlasting death vnlesse wee confesse it in the holy Sacrament of Penance if in any sort we can come to the Priest Deadly sinnes be many but especially these following bee called capitall and principall sinnes whereof all other sinnes proceede Pride Couetousnes Leachery Gluttony Wrath Yet these sins some of them especially be not alwaies mortall but in some deepe or high degres Enuy Slouth Moreouer false beleife infidelity heresie these three be most grieuous deadly sins likewise witches or those that goe or send to witches or such you call wisemen coniurers those offend deadly Likwise those that speake euil of God our Lady or his holy Saints or against the Pope Christs vicar heer in earth or against the holy Sacraments especially the B. Sacrifice of the Masse those be all or some of them sacrilegious blasphemous sinners excoÌ„municate cannot be forgiuen without Confession at least in will when a Preist caÌ„not be had for those sinnes be most deadly against the first CoÌ„mandement of God that coÌ„maundeth no God but one to be worshiped as for Images or Pictures of Christ his holy saints they be no more forbidden vs therein than to carry the Image of our Queene in our mony or the like God forbad all Idolatry worshiping of false Gods vncleane false Idoles Images not true Images that be liuely memories of our Redemption vertuous personages therefore be called Lay-mens books as holy Fathers tearme them Nay God himselfe as you shal reade in holy Scripture commaunded Images to be made of Angels which were set vpp in Salomons Temple 3. Reg. 6. wherefore Christians right worthily set in their temples the Images of Christ his Saints For many a simple vnlearned man knoweth not how Christ died vpon the Crosse but only by seing his picture vpon the Crosse therfore heretikes that haue pulled it out of Churches doe that which lieth in them to put Christs Passion out of mans mind bragge they neuer so much in wordes of the same We then offend not against the first commaundement of God that religiouslye keepe and set vp holy pictures to imprint Christes memory in our hartes but they that breake and pull them down be impious heretikes who therefore in general Councels many hundred yeares before by the consent of all Christendome haue beene condemned Who in deed bee worse then olde Idolators as worshipers of their owne opinions an Idolatry far worse then that of the gentils Againe great swearers and forswearers offend deadlye and ought to confesse for an oathe ought not to be vsed but in Iustice and Iudgement whereby God is called to witnesse Likewise those that breake their vowes as of chastity and the like Let Schismatike Preistes that after their vowes haue taken whoores to their concubines which they tearme their wiues looke to this as for Ministers they haue no damnation for mariage which Preistes with their so tearmed wiues haue because they neuer made vow of chastity for they good men thinke it impossible to bee chast whereas * Cor. 7. 7. Ministers I meane so that they would forsake their hereticall ministerie and become Catholikes should not sin in taking vppon them honest mariage or in being maried Saint Paul wisheth all men to be so as himselfe that was chast As for vnlawful oathes when where before whomsoeuer they be taken they ought not to be kept for they doe euill in taking them but worse in keeping them if the matter be of importance and vniust As when Herod swore his daughter should haue what she asked and she like an enuious caytiffe by her mothers suggestion asked Saint Iohns head Herode did euill in swearing rashly but he offended worse in keeping his oath deliberatly * Mar. 6. Chap. XVII Of the rest of the Commaundements and of some sins against them to be confessed to the Preist LIkewise wheÌ„ one goeth as oftas he goeth to the heretiks Church to heare or bee present with them at seruice it is a deadly sinne and Schisme and a deniall of Christ which is the truthe and much more grieuous a sinne it is in recieuing that wicked and most blasphemous communion of theirs which is haynous Idolatry for that a man taketh a peece of bread reposing therein his saluation contrary to Christes holy ordinance that left vs his body and blood in the holye Sacrament to bee receiued which they like traitors to God and his Church haue abolished and deceiue with a peece of bakers breade the simple people giuing it them in steede of that bread of life that came downe from heauen whereby we all doe liue So that this communion of theirs being quite contrarye to Christes ordinance to receiue it is most horrible and deadly sinne And as by a worthye receiueing the blessed Sacrament a man is made one body with christ so to recieue their coÌ„munion it maketh a man one body with Antechrist the diuel wherfore I cannot find or caÌ„ hardly find a greater sin than to go to the heretiks Church receaue with them For receiuing the coÌ„munion as the Diabolicall Samaritanes the ministers therof do raise vp an Altar as it were against the true Altar of God which God euer so abhorred terribly punished so the receauers of that communioÌ„ I say make a publike professioÌ„ of the deniall of the B. Body Blood of Iesus in the holy Eucharist of the catholike Faith Religion yea take a signe seale of the same incorporating theselues therby to the synagogue of Antechrist the diuell as the worthy receauers of the B. SacrameÌ„t be incoporate knit or made one body with Christ Likewise not to come to Masse euery Sonday Holy-day if a man can conueniently is deadly Sinne. So
ful authority to forgiue sin as they had For euen as the lawful heire vpoÌ„ his fathers death hath the same power authority ouer his land people if he be a king that his father had EueÌ„ so to the worlds end the words of the holy Prophet be fulfilled in the Catholike Church the true inheritance land of the liuing Pro Psal 44. patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii To these true sonnes and heires of the Apostles in the house of God which shall continew to the worldes end be giuen Apostolike power and authoritye to the same end which the Apostles had it Ad consummation Ephes 4. 12. sanctorum in opus ministerii To the edifying perfectioÌ„ of the Church of God which shall not wante her pastores and gouernours to the end As therefore God said once Increase and Gen. 1. multiply all things haue done so since as he said once to his Apost Go teach Mat. 28. 19. all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost and by those wordes Priestes to this daye haue had authoritye to teach and Baptize Euen so saying to his Apostles Whose sinnes you forgiue they be forgiuen hee gaue in those wordes authority to lawful Priestes to the worldes end to doe the same Thus you see by the plaine wordes of the holye Gospell Preists haue power giuen them to forgiue sinne by vertue of the Sacrament of Penance but they cannot knowe as lawfull Iudges in Gods stead what sins to forgiue and what penance to enioyne vnlesse the sinner confesse his sinne For no maÌ„ knoweth the secrets of mans hart but God alone therefore that a mans sins may be forgiueÌ„ he must confesse theÌ„ plainly to the Preist The minister then of this sacrament is a lawfull Preist with iurisdiction the forme is I absolue thee the matter called Remotior or the out ward matter belonging to this sacrameÌ„t be sins as wood is matter to the fire the matter of this Sacrament called Vicinâ—or or the inward matter is the sorowe of the penitent Contrition Confession and Satisfaction manye other thinges appertaine to this holye Sacrament of Confession that I cannot stand to reckon the fruites whereof bee many and vnspeakeable as that thereby wee be deliuered from damnation and to vs therby is opened the gates of Saluation thereby followeth purenes and ioye of soule and hart and to be briefe whereas before by sinne a man was the limme of the Diuell now by Penaunce he is made a member of Christ and childe of Saluation Those that bee Masters and haue charge of house-hold and children by experience know what the want of Confession bringeth a number vnto For in times past when the discipline of holy Church in Confession tooke place here in our countrey seruants children were affraid to offend God and that for confcience-sake did their labours as for God Hard it was to heare of a fellon executed a foure-score yeares ago at an Assise but now a number for want of due instruction feare of God make conscience of nothing so they may escape the halter Chap. XXI Of the most Blessed Sacrament and Sacrifice of Christs Bodie Blood substantially really truly vpon the Altar THe fourth Sacrament which is in the middest of the seauen Sacraments is the most high noble most excellent and worthy Sacrament that is the Sacrament of the Alter and as the sonne in the middest of the Plannets giueth light to the other starres and plannets and exceedeth the same in glorie So the blessed Eucharist wherin is Christ himself the fountaine of all grace excelleth the other Sacraments in dignity and is farre more excellent then any other Sacrament by how much the fountain exceedeth any litle riuer that proceedeth from it for in this most blessed Sacrament I say is contained the fountaine and wellspring of all grace and goodnes our Lorde Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe his Blessed Body and Bloud who at his last supper when he was to depart this worlde the night before his Death Passion deuised the wayes meanes according to his promise to remain with vs stil leauing vs vnder the forme or likenesse of bread wine his very Body Blood in perfect memorie of his death and Passion Protestants other heretikes o monstrous blasphemous heresy holde teach you that this Sacrament is but only a bare signe figure remembrance of Christs Body and his death But we most stedfastly according to Christs words the gospel do holde beleeue as sure as Gods worde and the trueth cannot fail that the very selfe same Body Blood which was borne of the B Virgin Mary suffered death vpoÌ„ the Crosse is giuen vs in this B. Sacrament that it is not a bare peece of bread as it seemeth to the eye outwardly or is in the mouth by tast but far aboue reason contrary to our sensuall feeling wheÌ„ the preist in Christs persoÌ„ hath once spoken Christs words ouer that creature which before was bread it is theÌ„ wholy really substaÌ„tially turned into the very body blood of our redeemer christ by his mighty vvorde vvhich made all thinges of nothing and to vvhome nothing is impossible and this vvhosoeuer vvill bee saued barke the heretikes neuer so much to the contrary must stedfastly beleeue for vve proue it by Gods vvorde that cannot faile the Apostolike doctrine so to be First theÌ„ the foure Euangelists be plaine The sixt Chapter of S. Iohn hath so many plaine places vvhereby this holy Sacrament was promised that I cannot haue time to reckon them as in one place Christ there saith The bread which I will giue is my flesh for the health of the worlde for my flesh is verily meat my bloode is verily drinke he that eateth my fleshe drinketh my blood dwelleth in me I in him I will raise him vp againe at the last day vnlesse you eate the flesh of the sonne of man drinke his blood you shall not haue life in you Lo heare no figure or remembrance only is named as heretikes say I know not truly how our Sauiour coulde vse any plainer vvords againe in the other three Euangelists in as plain Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. vvordes is mention made hovve our Sauiour instituted or ordained this holy Sacrament in this manner the night before he suffred after he had made anend of the Paschal lamb and olde Testament hee tooke bread blessed and gaue to his desciples saying Take and eate for 1. Cor. 11. this is my Body likewise when he had blessed the Chalice he said This is my Blood Likewise Saint Paul affirmeth that that which he receiued of our Lorde heâ— gaue to the Corinthians for our Lorde Iesus saieth hee the same night hee was betraied tooke breade and giuing thankes brake and gaue to his disciples saying This is my
high God whose father and mother is vnknowne so our B. sacrifice then though not bread and wine but the very body and bloud of Christ is consecrated and offered vnder the likenesse of bread and wine Which blessed Sacrament was offered at Christs laste supper a sacrifice also hee our Redeemer in his Disciples giuinge Priestes authority to consecrate and offer the same and so hee remaineth in them being daily offered vp by their ministery A Priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech who vvas without mother according to his Godhead and without father according to his manhood and so figured and foreshewed by Melchisedech whereof holy Dauid in spirit called our Sauiour Psal 109. Christ foreseeing our blessed Sacrifice A priest for euer according to the order of Melchisedech if he be a Priest then hee must needes offer sacrifice but he neuer offered sacrifice saue only at his last supper I meane after the order of Melchisedech Wherefore we offering or doing the same he did at his last supper that is consecrating his body and bloud it followeth that this Sacrament of ours is also a sacrifice yea and that propitiatorye both for the quicke and the dead which as prophecied Daniel the prophet is Iuge sacrificium A continuall sacrifice that neuer shall cease to the worldes end saue that the publike administration thereof by Daniels prophesie Daniell Cap. 12. Malachy cap. 13 shall cease in Antechristes time but shall as prophesied Malachie the prophet Be offered a pure oblation and sacrifice in euery place What other is that but the holye Sacrifice of the Masse Which sacrifice of it selfe though the Priest may often be vnworthy is euer acceptable Ex â—pere operato as diuines tearme it in Godes sight because this sacrifice is his only sonne in whome hee is well pleased If they saye the Prophet meant the sacrifice of a pure harte it is not so for no man can saye his hart is alltogether pure from sinne at least from a soule or light thought if they say it was the sacrifice vpon the Crosse which the prophet foretolde that cannot be because it was but in one place wherfore it must needs follow the prophet foretolde the one onlye pure and vnbloudy Sacrament and sacrafice of the Altar at Masse offered in euery place and in steed of all those blouddy sacrifices of olde From the rising Psal 112. of the sonne to the setting of the same againe Whereby you see this B. Sacrament was instituted by Christ not only as a healthfull medicine and food of our soules but also that it might be offered continually as the cheife and proper sacrifice of the new testament for a sufficient thanksgiuing to God the father and continuall memory of our L. Iesus his bitter Passion till his comming againe wherby we eschew the euills of this life obtaine remission of sins with the grace of God glory in the world to come And because Christ bad the Apostles and Priestes of the newe Testament doe or sacrifice this in memorie of him his Incarnation Life Passion Resurrection therefore as by Christs institution it is a sacrifice and liuely representation especially of his death and Passion So euerye thinge about the Altar as the ornaments ceremonies actions of the preist at Masse do chiefly represent and reduce into our memories the same And if I would stand to recite the Scriptures Councels and Fathers to this purpose that call it an host an oblation a pure and vnbloudy Sacrifice the price of our Redemption a healthfull Sacrifice and the like I might fill great volumes but I must be briefe Neither is it my purpose to answere here all hereticall obiections neither to make any long discourse of so vnspeakable a matter for to giue or set downe the full doctrine hereof would require and fill as I said many and lardge bookes which already of most learned men bee written My purpose is here but to instruct the simple and vnlearned who ought rather to ground them selues in true faith and beliefe then to looke into such high misteries to comprehend Gods mighty workes by reason For what is man to compare as it were himselfe with God to think to containe him whome heauen and earth cannot holde for what is one man in respect of so many men or what be al men in respect of God Man is as it were a mite like a vanity a puff of winde God is mighty incomprehensible yea great in the least thinges without variance or inconstancie at a becke of whose finger the very heauens and earth do tremble and quake the deapth of whose mightie workes we cannot reach vnto no not in the least thinges or creatures wee daylie see here before our eyes Who can number the starres or giue a iust accompt of their swift course without going one iote out of order from the beginning of the worlde to this day the very herbes plantes and trees wee see doe daily grow and increase Who is so wise that can discerne or say nowe at this very instant I perceaue the increase Againe vvhen they bee as it vvere deade in vvinter who can say they shal so flourish in sommer but he that hath experience Imagine some man brought vp in some caue vnder the earth neuer seeing light nor conuersing with men If one should come vnto him on a sodain and discourse with him of collours blacke and greene and the like tell him of the spring the course of the sonne moone and starres would he not wonder and think them aboue reason till he sawe and perceaued them as we doe If then these thinges so familiar to vs seeme so admirable to those that be vnaccustomed to see them or if we our selues cannot giue a reason to the depth of the least things can wee thinke to comprehend God in the greatest would we haue God so litle that he cannot exceed our reasoÌ„ And yet o blasphemy malicious blindnes such be the heretiks of our time who because they cannot attaine by humane reason to the depth of this mistery of Christs body in the Sacrament therefore they forsake faith beliefe in Christ herein against both truth and reason O hereticke shal Christ cease to be with vs according to his promise because thou art vnable of reason Nay he shall be when thou art not Chap. XXIX Of the great loue and humility of Christ in this Blessed Sacrament and of the deuotion of Christians of olde towards the same THis Blessed Lord Iesus theÌ„ perfect God man which enclosed himselfe for our sakes in the wombe of the most Blessed Virgin when as him the heaueÌ„ of heauens cannot comprehend is also with vs according to his word in the least particle of the B. Sacrament whole perfect Christ entreth into the Cottage of our homely bodies is allwaies delighted to be with the sonnes of men and yet is stil incomprehensible al glorious with his father in heauen that by his
Witches haue openly and secretly calling vpon the Diuell but by the worde of God and authority giuen him by the Church The fourth of the lesser orders is called an Acolite that may bring in cruets wine water to the altar to serue the Priest cloathes candels incense lights and other things necessary And these 4. orders be degrees toward the 3. higher orders of Priesthood which declare what a soueraigne thing it is and that no mā ought rashly or presumptuously to ascend to so high a dignity without due consideration preparation and by degrees For if in the olde lawe the Priests had their Leuits and other inferior ministers to serue them in their bloudy sacrifice how much more conuenient is it in this lawe of grace that Priestes which serue the liuing God with the pure vnbloudy sacrifice of Christ at the Altar haue due Ministers seruitors which none but they so authorized can properly exercise These inferiour orders in the Primitiue church it seemeth were better knowne practised with more solemnity then nowe they bee though in Cathedrall Churches to this day in Catholicke countries they be solemnly vsed neither without them can any take Priesthoode without sinne Chap. XXXII Of the higher orders and howe necessary by Gods ordinance one head is ouer the rest THree higher orders there bee that binde to chastity yea the lowest of them which when any taketh ipso facto he is bound to perpetuall chastity The first is called Subdeacōship which is a degree vnder a Deacon hath authority giuen him by the Bishop solemnly to read the Epistle as the Deacō hath authority likewise so emnly to read and sing the Gospell and so to prepare the Chalice with other thinges about the Priest at Masse Likewise the order of Deacōship was in the primitiue Church of great authority as appeareth by S. Stephen who was a Deacon and others The highest order is Priesthood which office and function is giuen by the Bishop when hee giueth the Pattyn and Chalice with bread wine vsing the wordes whereby hee giueth authoritye from Christ to consecrate the very body and bloud of Christ and to remitt sinnes when he said Receaue ye the holy Iohn 20. Math 18. ghost Whose sinnes you remit they be remitted and whose sinnes you retayne they be retayned This Sacrament of order is one of the three Sacraments whereof Baptime and Confirmation be the other two that imprinteth in mans soule a charecter that is a note or signe distinctiue for euer from all other persons 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 1. that haue not receaued those sacramēts which three sacramēts cannot be itterated that is one person cannot take them twice For be a mā neuer so euil if he be baptised hee is euer a Christian though he forsake his faith and shal be so iudged of Christ at the last daye from others that are infidells and hee that is once a Priest become he neuer so euill let him take a strumpet and doe what he will yea though he were degraded yet hath he still that note in his soule of Priest-hood and if hee would attempt to consecrate in neuer so euill state of life he doth it as verily as anye good Priest though to his owne damnation For the dignity of the Sacrament dependeth not of the power of man but of God yet if we know the Priest to be a Schismaticke Hereticke or openly excommunicate wee ought then in no case to bee present at his Masse The Bishop hath jurisdiction ouer the Priest and the Archbishop ouer many Bishoppes and the Patriarche ouer manye prouinces and the Pope as much to say Father of fathers is the highe Priest of God Vicegerent here of Christ in earth Bishop of Bishops Head and chiefe ruler in spiritual matters ouer all Princes Priests Bishops and ouer the whole Church vnder Christ her head and who so gainesaith this obstinately is a proud rebellious heretike and traytor to Iesus our chiefe head Lord and King and the sweete spouse his Church and deserueth seuere punishment of bodye also as by such obstinacy as long as he continueth therein hee is already damned in soule yea in the olde lawe before Christ it was death to disobey the high Priest He that is proud saith holy Scripture Deut. ca. 17. and will not obey the commandement of the Preist let that man die the death that so mischiefe may bee taken out of the people of God For none bee so pernitious members to Christian religion as those that goe about to breake the peace of the Church and breake vnity and concorde which all those doe that barke against the Pope Godes Lieuetenant Christes Vicar here on earth yea and as the holy Fathers of olde doe record it hath euer beene the custome of heretikes to barke against the rock of S. Peter that Apostolike Sea the Pope because that against that rock heresie neuer hath nor can possibly preuaile but falling vpon it is burst asunder yea and sayeth S. Ierome Christ chose one Head amongst the rest that a head being made and so ordained ouer the rest all occasion of Schisme or diuision might be taken a way for we see yea in very policy that no kingdome no common weale or house with out one head can stand much lesse it is fit that Gods house so well ordered and sure that it may not bee moued should be without her head or steward But to bee head in spirituall matters belongeth neither to king nor temporall Prince to no temporall man much lesse to a woman to whome it is Mulieres in Ecclesia dei taceant 1. Cor. 14. 34. not lawfull to speake in the Church as by Gods word I could proue at large much lesseto gouerne in the Church This power was chiefly giuen to S. Peter and his successors and to the rest of the Apostles in their degrees whereunto other Bishops succeede Peter and his successors and as a secondary rocke chiefe piller head vnder Christ gouerne the whole Church and others his brethren and fellowe workemen be gouernours of particuler Churches as he is of the vniuersal Church chiefe Pastor Father hauing thereof the chiefest charge For vnto S. Peter after christ had asked him thrice whether he loued him he gaue charge to feed his vniuer sall flocke young olde seed my lambes Iohn 21. Math. 16. 18. saith he feede my sheepe Vpon S. Peter likewise as the rocke most sure vnder next vnto himselfe he laid the foundation of his Church promising his faith should neuer faile which neuer hath done to this day neither in S. Peter nor his successors or euer shall to the end of the worlde Let any heretike if he dare auouch this of any of their Patriarkes at Geneua or else where if any would be so impudent as in deed they be shameles all the world may know him for a liar as knowing their beginning euil proceding which will haue a worse ende But we dare
in such like daunger of death nor to such as are presently to be executed but only to the sicke in whome is oft a great fault that they neuer send for the Priest til others doe for them till they be at the last gasp so that theÌ„ they can neither receaue this holy Sacrament with such deuotion nor fruit as being in perfect reason they might The sick then ought to desire this Sacrament which manie fondly do not thinking if then they do they can liue no longer not coÌ„sidering one fruit effect thereof which is that if God see it expedieÌ„t it is a meane they may the more spedely recouer their former health The second and chiefe fruit and effecte thereof is that it forgiueth all such sinnes we could not remember in ConfessioÌ„ as appeareth by the words likwise of Saint Iames who saith If the sick be in sinne it shal be forgiuen him Lesser sinnes then and defects yea greater too if we could not remember theÌ„ bee herein forgiuen VVherefore our good Lorde Iesus is euer to bee blessed that by this Sacrament thus maketh perfect the worke of our Saluation For by meanes hereof in that last hovver of death wheÌ„ tentations commonly be diuers most great dangerous the Diuell most busy to get his pray then lo I say by this Sacrament our tentations be infeebled made lesse our souls more strengthned and comforted that we be not dasled with temptations nor ouercome but may ioyfully in God passe this life For as in the olde time ChampioÌ„s before the combat had wont with oyle to annoint their naked bodies that theyr aduersaries might take lesse hold so by meanes of this SacrameÌ„t the outward matter whereof is oyle the soule being inwardly annointed by the grace of the holye Ghost that subtill aduersarie the Diuell canne take lesse holde of it that so it may passe out of the troublesome warfarre of this life to that enlesse glory where it shall receaue a crowne of endlesse reward for euer This Sacrament is ministred vpon those outward sences wherby we most vsually offend and vvhereby sinne is drawne into our soules as by our eyes handes and the like The forme of the holy words vsed is By this holy anointing and his most pittifull mercy our Lord pardon and forgiue thee vvhat thou hast sinned by the eyes mouth and so forth is said of the rest of the members that maye vvith decency be named VVhereby you see hovv fitlye and accordinge to the Apostles Doctrine this SacrameÌ„t is ordeyned ministred First instituted by Christ both prayer and the holy matter concurring togither yet this holy Sacrament though none vnder paine of damnation may despise it but euery one in time ought to desire it yea often times if the party fall sicke and recouer againe it may be giuen yet I fay it is not of such necessity if a man cannot with desire and sufficient meanes made haue it but he may be saued without it by the speciall mercy and grace of God Author and Institutor of all these seauen Sacraments and giuer of all grace to whome be all honour and glory Chap. XXXIX Touching briefly by the way the matter of Iustification and by whome and howe we be iustified THus you see good Sir I haue touched briefly all the Sacraments which that good Samaritane curing the sicke and wounded by powâ—ing in wine and oyle that is Iesus Christ full of mercy and justice ordeyned as vesselles of grace and committed to Priests and Pastors of his Church to be dispenced and bestowed by them on his people for their saluation These seauen Sacraments I say haue I briefly touched and the grounds thereof prouing euery one by the very and expresse worde of God tradition and generall consent of the whole Church which may suffice any simple or vnlearned maÌ„ desirous to know the truth for in behalfe of such like especially I haue taken these paines with as much plainenesse and simple stile as possibly I might in so high matters neither was it my intent to giue any full doctrine of these matters but only to touch the principall groundes If any desire morefull and large discourse I referre him to the bookes of the learned wherein he shall finde many treatises in all tongues of some one Sacrament or other and of euery matter almost or altogither at large by me here briefly touched and so passed ouer But because the Sacraments be for the most part the principall points of our religion next to the B. Trinity Incarnation and Passion those briefly for your sake because you desire to know the truth for your saluation I thought good to touch For as God almighty by Christ Iesus our meritorious Sauiour is the chiefe efficient cause of our justification So his Sacraments be the ordinary meanes and instrumentall causes whereby a man in receauing theÌ„ if he be well disposed by the grace of God and put no let of his part of a sinner and childe of the Diuell is made a iust man and the childe of God renewed and raysed vp againe in Baptisme especially from Orjginall sin by Christ the second Adam as he was vitiated and fell from originall iustice by Adam our first father And though God worketh commonly his grace in matter disposed yet he it is that so preuenteth disposeth and freely giueth the grace first to dispose a mans selfe So that when man first receaueth Gods grace whereby ex impio fit iustus that is of a wicked man and vessell of perdition hee is made a iust man which is called justification and the first grace preuenting a man that I say by grace of God is wrought of his meere loue and goodnesse vvithout any worke meritte or desert of man for otherwise grace should not be grace which is first giuen without any desert or merit of our part wherby wee bee so made iust And hereof the holy Scripture saith as from Gods ovvne mouth Quia dilexite ideo attraxite miserans Ier. 31. 3. because I loued the therefore said God to man I haue drawen thee vnto mee hauing mercy and pity vpon thee by the which loue of his he chose man before all worldes But vnderstand me well I pray you when a man hath first of gods goodnes thus receaued his first grace the true foundation and meritte of all our good workes then lo by mans true faith hope charity good workes and endeuours being thus first preuented and after holpen by God hee may and must if euer hee will bee saued not only conserue that first grace of God wrought in him by his goodues by fleeing sinneand imbracing vertue but also in so doing greatly increase Gods grace in him once receaued whereby hee is rightly said to meritte and deserue his saluation and in this respect it is said Qui iuscus est iustisicetur Apocalip 22. 11. adhuc hee that is iust let him yet be more iust VVee once then by Christ our Sauiours grace
they cannot answere Catholike arguments nor touch the Pope for or in his life yet will they slaunder all the Popes assistantes Bishoppes and Priests with their old worne out termes of Papists popery c. The Cardinals as is well knowne be Princes men of no small vertues of the greatest grauity learning and ciuility in the world maintaining vertue and learning and iustly punishing vice and heresies in all places refusing many of them no labours nor paines to helpe the poore vphold Gods Church amongst whome our late Cardinall Allen of blessed and worthy memory a most rare man and father to this country as all good english men the Christian world besides knoweth deserueth not the least praise and they be called Cardinals amongst other reasonable causes for this reason because euen as the doore is stayed and hangeth of the bookes so vnder Christ and his Vicar the safegard health wel doing of the flock of Christ is sustayned and dependeth much vppon the vigilant care and wisedome of this most graue senate their prudent mature ounsel Yf any of them as men do offend as is seeldome seene the Pope as iudge ouer all next to God leaueth it not vnpunished As for Bishoppes and Priests heere in our country of old though many of them most reuerend vertuous men yet wee are not bound to defend the liues of all but such as were naught indeede be the shame of your ministers and their new broched heresie for who but loose Priests and religious men of lewde life were ready so greedely to teceiue heresie yea became the first brokars of heresi as in Germany Luther a runnegat naughty Fryer Bawdy Bales heere in England many mo not worthy memorie And who resisted and dyed rather then they would yeeld to sinne and heresie but good vertuous mē indeede Who more learned wise graueand vertuous then John Fisher ate Bishop of Rothester who for that hee would not yeelde to the Kinges vnlawfull desier nor conseut to abrogate the Popes authority who neither would nor could dispence with the King in a thing contrary to Gods law whereof he fell out with the Pope and so you see vpon what groundes here in England begane heresie This holy Bishope I say nothing consenting vnto the Kinges vnlawfull desier in putting away his wife forsaking the lawfull Pastor of his soule the Pope whereby hee forsaw all heresie and mischiefe would follow Most gloriously in the defence of the Catholike and Apostolik faith apposed him selfe as a wall for the house God and sealing that in acte which before hee had preached and thaught by worde most constantly and victoriously shed his bloud So did that wise and honorable learned man Sir Thomas Moore so the Moncks of the Charter-house who at their death praying for the King and realme sealed likewise the truth with their bloud not like heretickes in Queene Maries time that at the stake like hell-houndes barked against the Pope and rayled against the Queene and state dying as furiously and obstinatly as these Martyrs in King Henries time our Priests in this Queene his daughters time die meekely and constantly and no meruaile for heretickes be Martyrs of the Diuell as Catholickes bee Martyrs of Christ For as S. Augustme saith It is not the death but the cause that maketh the Martyr For heretickes in his time were punished justly by Christian Princes yea some desperatly of olde killed themselues as we see now some wicked peruerse persons doe so that voluntary to die you see is indifferent both to good and badde So that our Sauiour called not euery one blessed that suffer persecution but such as suffer for righteousnesse sake Chap. LXXV Of Antechrist forerunnners of his falselymg signes deceits of his intollerable Luciseriā pride subtilty and short raigne though most violent persecution of his life birth death and ministers HEretikes then dying against the truth which is Christ what other be they then Martyrs of Sathan very Prophettes and fore-runners of Antechrist which most wicked man against the latter day shall come in all salse and lying signes and wonders flatly denying 2. Thes 2. Christ and God extolling himselfe above God as saith S. Paul with such subtilty that the very elect if it were possible should be deceaued But our good Lord IESVS for his elect sake will shorten those perilous dates For as we gather out of the holy Prophettes especially the Apocalips of Saint Iohn he shall Dan. 11. leb 12. 13. 14. 17. 19. 20. raigne but three yeares and a halfe whome our Lord IESVS shall destroy with his power yet in that short time he shall so persecute the Church that all the persecutions we now seele or that euer were since Christ be but as it were a shadow in respect of that of Antichrist For as the power of God was in Christ to conuert and win soules So by Gods sufferance all the power of the Diuell shall be in Antechrist to peruert and deceaue men Though the Diuel shal not be incarnate in Antechrist as God was in Christ wherein not by confusion of substance but by vnity of person two distinct natures in Christ bee but one person This persecution shall bee both openly and secretly openly in might power slaying the innocent and secretly in his fore-runners that prepare his way before his comming and after his cōming in his ministers that by sleights wiles vnder the colour of vertue shal bring in all horrible sin vice deceauing the innocent simple sheepe He shal be borne as many affirme of a Iew of the tribe of Dan. See how far all these qualities be frō the Pope of Rome which the heretikes call Antechrist For Antechrist is as much to say as contrary or against Christ The Pope he most honoureth preacheth and causeth Christ to be preached Antechrist shal cal himself God the Pope calleth himself seruāt of the seruants of God Antechrist as some gather out of Genesis Fiat Dan. Coluber in via c. Shal be borne of a Iew. The Pope is cōmōly an Italian Frenchmā or Spaniard borne chosen for his vertue and learning out of these or some other christiā country The Iewes chiefly shall receaue Antechrist at his cōming whom they looke for as their Messias Sauiour to come conquer the whol world with great pomp and glory as our Sauifore told them that another should come in Ioh. 5. his owne name him they woulde receaue which al Fathers vnderstād to be Antechrist that the Iewes shal receiue in steed of Christ whom they crucified cōming in his fathers name To be briefe there hath from Christs time to this day bin many Popes but Antechrist borne of the tribe of Dan or of some other tribe shall be but one man as S. Iohn in the Apocalips affirmeth he shall slay Enoch Apocal. cap. 11. and Helie whome Christ shall sende to preach against his false miracles and to comfort his
head singeth in those diuine Canticles Meliora sunt vbera tua super vino fragrantia vnguentis optimis The sweete milke of these two breasts of the Church be Gods word and the blessed Sacraments First haue not heretickes vvith their false corrupt interpretations and translations framing scriptures to their owne fantasies most wickedly peruerted the same but also haue quite pulled out and razed whole bookes and notable members thereof which most flatly condemne their damnable heresies and therefore they plainly deny those most sacred bookes of Scripture to be holy Scripture at al. As for the Sacraments though they confesse two yet in effect they deny al saying they be but bare signes conferring no grace at all though Baptisme they haue still but not without daÌ„nable heresies about the same in their opinions yet their communion bread is poyson which they crect and set vp against the true Altar sacrifice of God in his church which sacrifice of the Altar they blasphaemously cal an Idol treading those diuine misteries left for the foode of our soules by christs holy institutioÌ„ vnder their feete The rest of the Sacraments they vtterly deny contemne the sacred Virgins which the church as the deare darlings of Christ imbraceth in her bosome they prophane religious persons by vowes dedicated to God they deride their Oratories and sacred places they pull downe riotously consume bestowe their liuings the sacred Priests of God in great numbers for professing of their faith and execution of their function they most cruelly persecute and put to death This England can testefie that besides the consumption of many in prison of al sorts within this forty years hath had aboue an hundred Priests be sides women and lay persons some of them after long and most hard imprisonment rack and torment at length all of them most cruelly put to death hanged drawne and quartered the most of them aliue In the inferiour Germany but in France especially haue Priests there founde more fauour falling into the Hugonots handes surely no it will seeme to posterity almost incredible what the holy annoynted of God haue there suffered for the Catholicke faith some of them haue had their bowels drawne out quicke and that on spittes winding them out before their faces to their greater torments and lingring death from others they cut off their members and gaue them rosted to eate others they buried quicke leauing out their heads as pretty markes to bowle and play at with many moe exquisite torments by those most cruell Caluinists full of instinct and spirit of Beza exercised vpon the seruants of God and shall these bee accounted of one Catholicke Romane Church with vs whome Iewes Turkes Vandalles Gothes nor most barbarous Scythians coulde neuer more cruelly persecute Shall these I say inherit and be pertakers of the fruit of that vine-yard of Christ that with cursed Cham reueale their fathers nakednes as if there were any Pope Bishop Prelate Priest or religious person that shewed some infirmities as we be but men most scornfully odiously they set it out to the scandall of the infirme and reproach of the whole host of God his Church whose ordinances and lawes which all Christen men ought to obey otherwise they be heatheÌ„s publicans they breake whether it be in fasting prayer or any other good order that most spightfully for that it is commanded by the Church to giue a plaine instance hereof The old Lord Treasurer Cecill thought it in policie meete or at least mooued the matter that the late GregoriaÌ„ Calender should be receaued Elmer start vp and said though otherwise Superintendent of London it were requisite yet would he neuer consent to receaue it because it was ordayned by the Pope With more moderatioÌ„ the Treasurer replyed My Loâ—if any thing good laudable be instituted by the Pope why may not we follow it Surely quoth he it is vnbishoply spoken but Iohn of London learned this lesson of his grandsire Luther to hate thâ— Pope in all things knowing that where the Popes laws may take force their heresie can haue no sway nor entraÌ„ce Insomuch that Luther being dead buried in hell though the Pope according to Christs promise shal liue gouerne the house of God to the worlds end yet to shew his blody mind of his followers thus haue I heard is it written of his Sepulchre Morstua ero O Papa c. See whether these be not fitte children and members for the Catholike Romane church the death of whose chiefe father and Pastor they imagine and intende to their vttermost power last breath yea if it were possible euen in their graues Shall any Protestant ministers theÌ„ be Pastors of Christs flocke whose true Pastors they so mortally hate whose sheepe they infect and deuoure indeed they shall haue their hire but with Chore Dathan Abiron and their complices whome hell deuoured swallowed vp for euer that for a lesse sclusme pride and disobedience then Protestantes daylie and now many yeeres haue vsed most obstinatly against the whole Church of God of whome they are no more meete to be members then those rebellious Châ—rites were to be of the host of Israell the army of the liuing GOD if we be so straitely commaunded in holy Scripture to flâ—e the heretik not to salure or conuerse with him if Saint Paul did bidde auferte malum de medio vestri For feare of corrupting the rest if the excoÌ„municated the Corrinthian for a lesse fornication then heresie is and if the whole Church of God neere the Apostles time haue cut of lesse heretiks then these from her society yea for holding the same heresies that these heretiks of our times do these holding withall many worse besides will now then the same Church contrary to her selfe her Masters precept and Apostolike doctrine yea al sence reasoÌ„ ingraffe such rotten members so virulent an pestiferous euery way in her body yea will Christ her spouse I say imbrace them in the lappe and bosome of his Church then surely will he admitt Turks and all and then wherefore was he incarnate suffred for vs on the crosse which blessed passion as the Turks deny so do Caluinists the effect thereof that in more blaspheamous sort then Turks Insomuch that I may safely affirme that protestant puritanes be further of from the true Church of God and haue lesse excuse to make of their Apostacie at the day of iudgement then the very Turks As for example the Turkes haue to shew almost a thowsand yeeres now for their antiquity continuance in great glory prosperity and victories especially now within these two hundred yeeres with the applause consent and following of many nations with great shew of almes hospitality long prayer fasting and other good deedes all which our heretiks want As for the Turkish opinions though in a grosse and carnall sort yet they beleeue there is one God all good iust creator of all thinges
not author Dissentionis fed pacis they would agree togither and with their first masters especially who many of them in the beginning since quite disclaime from our Church as quite decaied and come they now to vs with their foule feete when many of their fautors and all wise and honest men are weary of them Seauenthly such heretiks as can 7. admit any sect in their Church shew themselues to be of no conscience no feruour no faith no religion and beÌ„ the most daungerous persons in the world commonly the worst hardest to be reclaimed to good These be the persons God most abhorreth wishing they were either hot or cold Sed quaniam taepidus es because thou art luke warme saith he I wil euen spue thee out of my mouth signifying GOD can digest no such Neuter Nullifrdian sots in figure whereof it was forbidden in the law to haue a garment wouen of linneÌ„ wollen signifying that the mixture of contrary sects Christ cannot admit in his garment his spouse the Church which though it was well imbrodered whollie ouer declaring how his Church should be adorned glister with variety of all noble goldeÌ„ vertues in euery state degree yet should they all tend to charity end in one signified by the same garment whole with out seame which the cruell souldiers yet deuided not then which heretiks be worse that rent teare with barbarous cruelty sundry heresyes asunder the misticall body and garment of Christ his Church and this to doe the better nowe in the latter end of the world and most dangerous dayes by subtilly creeping into her they vvoulde make of her as it vvere a linsey vvolsey medley garment for themselues a while to maske in till they might if it were posible rob spoyle her of al vertues and heauenly treasures of scriptures Saints sacrameÌ„ts God all such drone bees that seek to their owne ruyne and of others to suck the sweete of other mens labours CHRIST IESVS will euer haue his watchmen to dryue back from his sacred inclosed garden whereinto none shall truly enter but the right in faith nor any enioy the fruits thereof euerlastingly but the righteous in hart for if the Church as I said hath iustly shurt out at all tymes before and since Christs tyme heretiks for lesse heresies then these of our dayes be by many degrees yea if God himself hath not spared iust reueÌ„ge of many of them in this life yea sometymes to the terror of others hath inflicted terrible sudden death for lesse sinnes then heresie yea spared not Angells in heauen for that vice proper to all hereticks which is pride then though he be long patient lett no heretik think he shall in the ende scape the heauy hand of God in token of whose heauy wrath and iust indignation for this sinne of heresie all good Christian Emperours Kinges Magistrates haue most seuerely punished it with fire to the terror of the wicked and preseruation of the good Lastly heretiks 8. Heretikes be most fit to bee linked in one Church with the Turk who haue pulled downe that most noble religious order of the Knights of the Rhodes ordayned to defend Christendome against the Turke to whom Protestantes now shewe al homage in most humble letters gift and other tokens of beneuolence yea coÌ„plotting with him to the ruin of Catholick states princes as both by their letters intercepted euident actions apâ—eereth that would be of one Church with Catholiks by what ioyntes sinnewes would they be knit to and with them surely they haue lest none for if they run as many of them haue done to the primitiue Church and the Apostles tyme they may indeede falsely and foolishly bragge of the head but then they must absurdly without body and other members ioyne their soule feete to their monstrous Chymerical head of that old dragon but not of Christ whose Church hath euer visibly continued shall do to the end of the world but if they will ioyne themselues with vs now that by Gods grace be Catholiks I see not one bond of faith Hope nor Charity left in them to make this coÌ„nextion betweene vs they that haue rased out or defaced the whole Scriptures which by Gods grace we keepe to our defence they that coÌ„temne whole general councels where on we stand firmely they that nothing regard all holy Fathers which as watchmen in GODS house teach vs how to gouerne our selues they that take away Sacraments that â—oster and feede vs to life euerlasting they that abolish sacrifice whereby we are to worshippe God only they that blaspheame God the blessed Tâ—inity on whome we are to beleeue they that take away Saints in heauen from praying for vs and the Church of GOD heeâ—e from all authority to guide and gouerne vs all which articles and diuerse others which they deny we stedfastly beleeue heere is no way left you see to conioyne vs in faith As for hope with vs in GOD they haue none left neither but in themselues only who they make iudges ouer themselues of their owne fancies Knowing without all doubt as they say they shall be saued before CHRIST come to iugement and so they be past hope As for Charity how can they agree with vs so quite contrary to them that can agree in no one point amongst themselues sauing that they in one point coÌ„spire together yea all heretiks in the world that is to raile against and impugne the Pope our chiefe pastor vnder Christ the Bishop of Rome him the Lutherans him the Caluinists him Protestants him Anabaptists him Trinitaries him the family of loue cry out of with one vniforme consent crucifige but in other matters how many men so many opinions coÌ„monly raigne cursing one another like deuils whome they serue deriding and scoffing ech one another see but only the inuectiues of puritanes against protestants heere in England goe no further note how they be entertayned againe by Whitgift others and it wil giue some tast of the rest how they agree first amoÌ„gst themselues goeing about to thrust one another out of temporall possessions yea to cut one anothers throte As for their charity towardes vs it is no other then that of Iulian the Apostate towardes Christians of his tyme who spoyling them of their goods and many of their liues said hee did them a benefite because according to their Master CHRISTS promise they should receaue a hundred fold for thinges lost so heere in this life and after the Kingdome of heauen Such charity heretiks shew to vs that imprison vs spoile vs of goods and liuings consume many with a lingring persecution most terrible dispach others with violent death infame vs slaunder vs make vs odious to the state and Princes where we liue as traytors impouerish our widowes beggar oâ—r children infeeble corrupt our youth prophane our virgins robbe our churches kil murder our Preists be these in peace