no such a threefold difference of righteousnes before God as the Papistes imagine 9 The righteousnes of the lawe and the righteousnes of the Gospell with their difference 10 The Papistes make Christe no more beneficiall vnto his Church then is the lawe 11 That the father doth not only offer our Saluation vnto vs wrought in Christ but also through him doeth effectually bestowe the same vpon vs by a liuely faith in Christ 12 That this faith wherby weare iustified is not of our selues neither depēding vpō our free wil as the papistes imagine but it is the gifte of God in Christ and the worke of his spirite by the Preaching of the Gospell and dependeth vpon our election 13 That this faith onely iustifieth beefore God with out the helpe of workes 14 That this faith respecteth onely the promise of God made vnto vs in the death and passion of Christ and not legall or temporall promises as the Papistes wickedly pretend 15 That the promises of the Gospell are free and absolute and not condicional as the legall and temporall promises are 16 That a liuing and iustifiyng faith is alwaies fruitfull and neuer idle or barren and although it onely alone doth iustifie yet is it neuer alone or voide of good workes 17 The distinction of the Iesuiticall first and second iustification with their termes and woordes of arre haue the same meaning and corruption that the schoolemen had 18 That the Papistes leaue nothing vnto Christ and his Gospell in the worke of our iustification but onely this that he teacheth how a man may iustifie him selfe before God 19 That the continuall remission of sinne through Christ is our onely iustification before God 20 That sanctification and renouatiō are not our iustification before God but the fruites therof follow the same 21 That renouatiō and sanctification are not perfected at one instant or moment of time as the Papistes imagine but by cōtinuance not throughly performed vntill by death mortalitie be put off 22 The true interpretation of the place of S. Iames that the Papistes abuse to proue iustification by workes 23 That Sherwin in the forme wordes of his confession meant not as they did pretend but meere contrarie and therefore like vnto the prophecie of Cayphas 24 Why the Papistes and especially these Iesuites refuse the termes wordes of the schoolemen and conforme their wordes like vnto the Scripture THE PREFACE To the Reader THe old serpent The red Dragon Gen. 3. Iob. 1. Apoc. 9.12.13 1. Cor. 1.2.3 Mat. 15. Esay 28. Sathan the deceiuer of the whole worlde the continuall selaūderer and accuser of Gods childrē hath no way gentle reader more molested Gods people and preuailed against his Church to the great hinderance of his true worship and glorie of his blessed name then by renting the vnitie of his Church into the sectes and factions of men couering neuerthelesse these manifolde sectes and factions vnder the Cloake and shadow of the Catholike Church when in deede there most times emong these factions either remaineth no part of Gods worship and true religion at all or els verie little and that so corrupted as therein the true glorie of God may no way appeare when the true glorie of God his worship and religion is truly founded in Christe Gen. 3 17. Deut. 18 Esay 8.9.10.13 Mat. 3 10.28 Rom. 1.3.4.5.10 1. Cor. 1. Iohn 1.6 Ephes 4. Collos 2. Epist Iohn cap 1.2 by whom the knoweledge of God the father wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption is denied vnto vs through operation of his holy spirit and ministerie of his worde and wee againe by the same meanes as it were by iointes and cooples inseparable conioyned vnto Christ in whom dwelleth the fulnes of the Godhead substancially and is the only head of his Church Sauiour of his bodie that in him and thorowe him we may both see and enioy the glorious presence of God essectually This craftie workeman Sathan so cunning li transsigureth himselfe as though he were an Angell of light 1. Pet. 2. 1. Tim. 2. Ebru 1.2.3.4.8.9.10.13 Apoc. 1.4.6.7.10.11.14 Cal. 1.2.3.4 Phil. 1.2.3 that hee often renteth the parts and mēbers of this bodie from Christ and God conioyning them vnto himselfe through the inuentions titles and holines of men treading downe the true doctrine of Christ his precious blood death and merits by the doctrine of mens deuises merits and other such like abhominations Thus began Sathan in Paradise to worke at the very beginning Thus so soone as the lawe was giuen vnder Moyses wrought hee by Corah Dathan and Abyran and hath so continued vntill this day Num. 16. and will doe vnto the worldes end Vnder the titles names traditions of Saduceis Esseans and Phariseis he aduanced so farre his owne kingdome that hee vtterly defaced the kingdome of God blinded both Priest and people that not onely the name of a true Israelite in respect of a Saducie Esseā or Pharisy was of no regard or estimation hee thereby so much blinded them that they knewe not Christ the true Messias whē he was come among thē but vtterly refused him and to their great condemnation reiected him whom they daily had in their mouthes and bragged themselues to be his people his Church and children of Abraham Iohn 1. vnto whom as vnto his peculiar inheritance he was especially sent The sonne of God found none more obstinate malicious against him his doctrine and kingdome then these men that continually vaunted and bragged of his name promises law Church and kingdome After Christes giorious Ascention by false Apostles Sathan set forward againe his aunciēt practice which although the great paine and diligence of the Apostles Apostolicall Pastors in their time mightily suppressed But when the Apostles and the Apostolical Pastors were taken out of this life to rest with the Lorde and that the faithfull workemen and diligent Pastors wared shant and thin in the Lordes vineyard then did Sathan go forward very busily with this practice Act. 20. 2. Thes 1 Apoc. 13 2 Tim. 4. Apoc. 9. and by such as came sorth of the very bosom of the Church speaking great thinges to the drawing of Disciples and followers after thē vntil he had set his chiefe Preudēt antichrist vicar general in his sente wherin hee in these sectaries stil pretendeth religion and godlinesse but alwaies denyeth and detesteth the substance thereof this well appeareth in the sectaries of all ages but especially after the first seuen hundreth yeered when the Monkish Locustes began to rise swarme out of the bothomles pit to spreade themselues into the worlde as the Benedictes Augustines Donstinians Cistrians with an infinite number beades some blacke some white and when the admiration of these began to decay then giueth the Deuill a fresh onset againe by a newe supplie of fryers Chanons Nunnes Ancorettes and Heremites a new band of other sectaries which termed thēselues schoolemen Canonists some Sententionaries Some
Iohn 5.8 Gen. 2. Deut. 32. Ezec. 18 Esai 43 50.59.64 Oâ—â— 13. Mat. 12 condemneth vs before him so remissioÌ„ of sinnes doth restore vs againe to Gods fauor and presence and iustifyeth vs before him and therfore is the remission of sinnes our onely iustification before God and not the renuing of inward maÌ„ as these deceiuers doe pretend For our renouation and sauctification folow the remission of our sins as an effecte or fruite of our iustification which in deed is the remission of sinnes for the tree being by gods fauoure through remission of sinnes made good the fruite thereof which is sanctification must necessarily follow And thus faith was imputed vnto Abraham for righteousnes not by deseruiâ—ge or receiuing infused righteousnes as Andradius Aâ—drad in coâ— trident Rom. 4 Iâ—n 3 Gâ—â— 12.15.17.13 18 32 the Iesuites imagine but by remission of sinnes and then followed sanctification and obedience with daily increase by the workinge of gods spirit witnessed by his workes as well appeareth by the storie of his whole life And all these graces Esai 41. Rom 9. Gâ—â—â— 18 Ierâ—m 18. Esai 45. 2. Tim. 2. Ephes 2. Gol. 2 Pet. 1 good thinges did still depende vpon Gods election that hee had ordeyned and called him therto in Christ no part thereof depending of him felf as the Lord by the prophet faith Who calleth the iust man from the East c. euen I the Lord that am with the first and with the last This also S. Paule euidentive prooneth in the election of Iacob and out of the Prophet Ieremie by the example of the Potter and his vessels And to Timothie he saith that the Electe are in the Lordes house vessels to honor thereunto created in Christ Iesu by whom they are quickned by remission of sins In theire seconde Iustification these Iesuits say their infused Charitie firringe vp good woorkes Con. trident de incre iust sess 6. can 9.10.11.12 which the Schoolemen call woorkes of Condigne deserne both remission of sinnes and eternall life They make a greater shewe greatlye pleasinge themselues and beguile the simple vtterly excluding onely Faith and free Remission of sinnes and punishment due for the same as thinges thereunto nothinge beloÌ„ging which is as if a man woulde say that in the beginning a Tree liueth by the Fatnes of the earth the strength of his owne Sappe but afterwards liueth by the Fruite as though the Fruite did not continually take life nourishment from the Tree but did giue life moisture vnto the tree which of it self the fruit hath not but is coÌ„tinually nourished kept in life by the sap moisture of the tree Such are the absurde opinions of our religious Iesuites who in effect together with the Schoolemen and latter Sorbonistes leaue vnto Christ nothing in the worke of our iustification but only this that hee openeth the way how enery maÌ„ may iustifie himselfe and so the gospel to teach nothing els Albert. â—ig de â—ust Ethius cont a Lutiâ—a but how men may iustify theÌ„selues by their own workes and this euidentlye appeareth vnto all men that will not bee wilfullye ignorant by these new and old termes or wordes of art which for this purpose the Papistes haue deuised Coun. trid sess 6 An raâ—dan con trident As workes of preparation or disposing causes of our saluation Charitie infused stirring vp our free wil and faith or the holy ghost knocking at the dore of our free wil which is also called the firste Iustice workes of congruence meeting with the first grace or with the preneÌ„ting grace These termes be equiuolent and haue all one meaning as also haue their second iustice and workes of condigne that answere the condition as well appeareth by the censure of the Iesuites of Colen the councell of trident sess 6 De operibus canon 7. cap. 6. canon 4. de fide ca. 5.6.7.8.9.12 13. Pigln de iust cont trident sess 6. de operibus can 7. et de imbecal iustificationss ca. 1. can 4. Pantheol g. Galâ— Bielan senten Durand in senten Li. The master of sentences lib. 3. distnct 19. Pantheologia ex sententia Thome Gabriel Biel lib. senteÌ„t 3. and 4. and out of others of the bottomlesse pitte an infinite table The like meaning haue they in their termes of faith Pighi de iust con trid de fide sess 6. Andrad ut con tridens formed vnformed begotteen of their free will and infused So that while in wordes they grant vs to be iustified by a formed faith as they terme if they pare the same so near that they leaue no thing therof but a naked name of saith void of Christs merits taking vtterly from vs iustifycation that is by the only faith in Christ which Iustification is the very sum of all true vertue and godlines But nowe forasmuch as Iustification before God is the continuall remission of our sinnes through the only faith of Christ as it is alreadye saide and that not in the beginning onely but continually so long as wee dwell in this life Mat. 6. and therefore Christ Iesus our Redeemer teacheth vs to cry from time to time forgeue vs our sinnes These Iebusiticall papistes and popish Sorbonistes doe herein therefore declare themselues to bee led by the three vnclean spirits as is alreadye saide of Anti christ and not by the spirit of god as they would pretend Gen. 12.17 Rom. 4. Galet 2.1 1. Cor. 1 For the spirit of god by S. Paul in the example of AbrahaÌ„ dauid vn to whom the remissioÌ„ of sins was accounted their only righteousnes before God and the a longe time after they were first ealied yea many yeares after they were reckned the seruantes and frends of god the the remissioÌ„ of sins is our only righteousnesse before god S. Paul applyeth the righteousnes of abrahaÌ„ that he speketh of vnto him 14. yeares after he was called out of carraÌ„ And further he saith the AbrahaÌ„ was at no time iustified by his owne workes for then he had somethinge wherein hee might haue gloried but he saith that AbrahaÌ„ was coÌ„tinually iustifyed before God by faith without works that he might always glory in the Lord. The same thing we finde in Dauid 〈◊〉 Reg. 18 Psal 81.32.18 â—0 143 Act. 15. Esai 6.64 that was a man eueÌ„ to the liking of God Of Esay also whom the Lorde had cleansed and yet saith he of himselfe among the rest of Gods Children we are all as an vncleane thing Mat. 20. Luk. 17. all our righteousnes are as futhie ragges And Christ our Sauiour saith that when wee haue done all that is commanded vs yet are we vnprofitable deseruing nothing For god is debtour vnto none And S. Paul of the regenerated man 2. Corrin 1.5 Psal 32. Coloss 2. Act. 13. in his owne person cryeth out saying Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodie of sin death He
saide not my workes of coÌ„digne or stirred vp by the firste grace as doe these Iesuites but he saide I thank God thorough Iesus Christ our Loid which dyed yea rather which is raysed againe which also is at the right hande of God making intercessioÌ„ for vs vnto his Father who is stil in Christ reconciling vs vnto him self thorough the remitting of our sins in Christ therefore is remission of sinnes continually preached vnto vs aswell after our regeneration as before els were it in vaine that euery where in the Scripture remission of sins freely in Christ is inforced as the very matter of our saluation and reconcilement to God 1. Iohn â— â— Mat. 3. Esai 35. If any man sinne saith Saint Iohn wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the righteous and he is the pacification or Propitiation for our sinnes and this not in the beginning but continuallye all our life long and therefore hee saide of himselfe and others already iustifyed If we walk in light c. The bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from al our sinnes If we acknowledge our sinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgeue vs our sinnes Philip. 3. 1. Cor. 4. And S. Paule fled vtterly from his own righteousnesse yea from that he might any way chaleÌ„ge either by obseruing the Law or by his painful trauell or labour in the gospell and claue only so the righteousnes of God that coÌ„meth through the onely faith of Christ And our sauiour Christ himselfe calleth sinners vnto him Rom. 1.7 Eze. 18. Mat. 11.18 promising continually remissioÌ„ and forgeuenes of sinnes so often as they repent yea to seueÌ„tie times seuen times that is continually Wee ought therefore at all times confidentlye through Christe to come vnto the seate of grace Esai 1.55 Apoc. 22. Heb. 4. assuring our selues to finde helpe in time of neede We saye to these Iesuites therefore with S. Augustine Aug. de circit de Bar. in cant can serm 23. and S. Barnard Iusticia sanctorum c. The righteousnesse of Saintes in this worlde standeth rather in the forgiuenes of sinne then in the perfection of vertue Ambro. de Iacâ—â— lib. 2. And with S. Ambrose as Iacob in the coate of his brother Esau was accepted vnto Isaac his father so we in that righteousnes of Christ are accepted before God And further with Austine we say Aug. ad Bonis lib. 3. cap. 5. we must still depend vpon the onely merite of Christ and this being our onely hope where is then confidence of workes Ber. super caâ—â— serm 16. And againe with Barnard we say Our merite is the Lordes taking of mercye this is the whole merite of man if he put his whole trust in him that saueth the whole man There is no cause why thou shouldest aske by what merite we shuld hope for good things when thou hearest in the prophet I will do it not for your sakes but for mine owne saith the Lord. Barnard in ps 91. Super. Cant. ser 23. And againe O solus vere beatus qui non imputauerit dominus peccatuÌ„ Ezech. 22.32.36 c. Sufficit mihi ad omneÌ„ iustitiaÌ„ solum habere propitium cui soli peccaui Barn super Cant. ser 23. O truely happy vnto whom god wil not impute sinne c. It suffiseth me vnto all righteousnes to haue him merciful whoÌ„ I haue only offended Idem ser 61 Ego fidenter quod ex me mihi deest exurpo mihi ex visceribus domini mei quoniam misericordiae effluunt nec desunt foramina per quae effluant I doe confidently take vnto my selfe that which wanteth vnto me of my self froÌ„ the bowels of my Lord for his mercies flow out abundantly neither do the conduites want wherby they may stil flow out And againe with Austen we say Aug. in confess Vae hominum vitaâ— quantumuis laudabili si remota misericordia indicetur Wo vnto the life of man be it neuer so laudable if it shal receiue iudgment without mercie Therefore propter illud imperfectionis vicium si dixerimus quia peccatum non habemus Aug. epist 26. ad Hieron 1. Iohn 1. c. propter illud etiaÌ„ vitium quantumlibet profecerimus necessarium est nobis dicere dimitte nobis debita nostra Because of that imperfection of ours if we shall saye we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues there is no trueth in vs yea for that imperfection of ours how much soeuer we go forward in vertue and godlines it is necessary for vs to say forgiue vs our trespases But these Iesuites herein deceiue theÌ„ selues also â—â—ncil trident sess 〈◊〉 sess 7 â—â—llen in his booke 〈◊〉 purgatorie as in their first second iustice that they imagine vnto themselues a ful and perfect regeneration or renouation in their first conuersion by the receiuing of the sacrament of Baptisme thervpon grounde this false principle of the second iustification For so long as the most perfectest liueth in this world so loÌ„g carieth he both in soule body â—â—ne lib. 4 â—abri byel â—urand in sent â—â—b 4. Mat. 5 â—â— Rom. 6 7.12. â—oloss the sinne and corruption of the olde man which the Apostle tearmeth earthly members which are daily more and more to be mortified that our regenerated part or inwarde man may increase to further renouation euen vnto a perfect man and therefore are we exhorted stil to this further mortifying of the olde man Ephe. 4.5 Psal 51.103 and pray earnestly to god that hee will by clensing vs more and more from our sinnes performe the same Esai 6. 1. Cor. 15. 2. Cor. 5. Galat. 2.5 2. Tim. 2. And thus Dauid S. Paule Esaie and all the godly continually expected knowing ' that when this body of sinne by death should be put of it shuld be performed through Christ Iesu by whom in the meane time they liued by a liuely faith in the worke of this newe birth in continuall mortification and renouation The performance whereof is the dailye remitting of sinne throgh the bloud of Christ For the last enimy that herein must be destroyed is death or mortalitie S. Paule confesseth Hebr. 9. that after his new birth and conuersion there still remayned a resistance which he called the law of his members 2. Ioh. 2.1 which although it did not raign in him yet did it marueilously vexe Apo. 1.7.8.14.12 let hinder him so that he coÌ„fessed he had not then already attained Rom. 7.6 either was alredy perfect 2. Cor. 12. but still followed the prefixed marke in Christ Philip. 3. throgh whom as he was in him comprehended 2. Tim. 4. so he fought a good fight fulfilled his course 2. Cor. 9. and kept yâ— faith Luk. 16. to the receiuing of that crowne of righteousnes 2. Cor. 2.5 which the Lorde the righteous iudge did giue vnto him at the day of his dissolution
blesse crosse him if he be there reallie present theÌ„ they desire the father to looke mercifullie and cherefullie vppon him then doe they desire that the Angels maie carie him vp into his fathers presence I praie you shall vvee thinke these thinges to agree vvith the Real presence of Christ What shall vve thinke that God is angrie vvith his sonne and that he needeth to be intreated for Or shall vve thinke that the deitie of Christ is not able without helpe of Angels to carie him selfe into heauen who rose from death and ascended into heauen by the power of his deitie Or shall vve thinke that the reall presence of Christ is at anie time absent from his father vvho continually maketh intercession for vs at the right hande of his father 1. Ioâ—â— 2. Act. 2 1. Tim. 3. No no this practise dothe declare vvwhat the first Church did thinke of the simbals namelie that they vvere sacramentes of Christes bodie and not his reall and naturall blood in deede and substance Fouthly Magister senten lib. 4. dist 11. this imagination of real presence vnder the formes of bread and wine confirmeth two maner of waies Guiller Vocill in sentto lib. 4. th'opinions of Marcion Valentinus Eutiches and suche like which either demed Christ to haue a naturall bodie Linwoode in prouinc lib. 1. or els that his naturall bodie vvas deified and so became one nature with his deitie Durand rational lib. 4. part 1. whereby the naturall prophets of his humanitie as to be put in one place at once to be locall to haue forme quantitie lineamentes and proportion of a naturall bodie vvere vtterly destroyed and done awaye This doth this real presence as I saide bring in againe for the Papistes say that this real presence in the bread and wine is without Quantum that is without forme proportion or any lineamentes or diuision of members that where the flesh is there is also the bloud and where the head is there are also armes body feete and all the rest By which confusion vvith Marcion and the rest they destroie the veritie of Christes humane nature For as the scriptures and fathers do teach vs Christes humaine nature was not nor could not bee otherwise proued then by forme quantitie lineamentes and proportion of his body He saide to Thomas bring hither thy finger and feele Iohn 2. Luk. 24. and to all his disciples when he was risen Feele and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me haue 1. Iohn 1. feare not therefore for it is I. And S. Iohn sayth That vvhich vve haue seene with our eyes handled with our handes Lambardus Scotus Dur. vndrs Gabriel Biel. Chclouius Hardingus eiusdent farragistis nelulones quampiurimi c. When accidentes by this meanes are taught to be vvithout substaÌ„ces as vvhitenes woundnes in the bread rednes in vvine and taste in them bothe and yet nothing is either vvhite found red or tasteth I praie you for as muche as this sacrament is a certaine a visible and sensible signe of Christes body natiuitie death and resurrection shall not the heretikes saie in deede he appeared to be borne to die and to rise againe but in truth he did not so For as in the sacrament of his natiuitie death resurrection there appeareth to our senses vvhitenes roundnes and taste and yet in trueth nothing is either vvhite rounde or tasteth Totul conera Marcio lib. 4. Ireneus contra bareses lib. 4. cap. 32. 34. Theodoret. contra Nest Gelasius contra Eutiche Chrysost ad Cesarium monac Contra Apollina euen so Christe appeared or seemed to do and suffer these things but in deede and trueth it vvwa not so Against this reason can there be no exceptioÌ„ taken for th' auncient fathers Tertullian Ireneus Theodorite Gelacius Chrysostome and others did by the reall substance of bread and vvine conumce these heretikes of falshoode and confirmed the trueth of Christes birth death resurrection and ascention into heauen Which thing surelie they could not haue done if the substance of bread and vvine remaine not in the sacrament For the heretikes would haue coÌ„cluded against them as aforesaid Fifthlie this opinion of real presence destroieth the nature and propertie of a sacrament whose nature and propertie is in signifying to be like the thing they do represent and signifie Aug. aei Bmis epist. 23. So saith S. Augustine Except saith he the sacramentes had some similitudes of those things vvherof they be sacramentes they trulie could be no sacramentes 1. Cor. â—th 10. And because of this similitude they obteine the name of those thinges vvhereof they be sacramentes as after a certaine manner of speache the sacrament of the Lords body is called the Lords body the sacrament of his bloud is called his bloud c. This analogie similitude standeth in feeding Aug. super Iohn cap. 6. tract 4 Ireneus lib. 4. cap. 34. nourishing comforting and in vnion or fellowship for bread wine do fede nourish comfort the natural body euen so the bodie and blood of Christ with the merits of his passion do spirituallie fede nourish comfort our soules Aug. ciuit lib. 10. cap. 4. 5. Crprtian de caeiae and as many cornes and grapes are vnited into one lofe one vvine euen so are vve vnited in one misticall bodie communion and fellowship vvith Christ vvho is our head But accidentes vvithout substaunces do neither doe nor shewe these things therefore haue not the nature and properties of a sacrament Againe a sacrament is a visible signe of an inuisible grace but accidentes vvithout substance can neither be seene nor yet possiblie be and sure I am they vvil not saie these accidents are fixed and staied in the real presence of christ Therfore the premises being true namelie that there must nedes be a similitude proportion analogie betweene the sacramentes and the grace signified the which similitude by the testimonie of S. Paul Tertullian 1. Corinth 10. Tart. Cotra Mad. Irens centra lib. 4. cap. 34. Cyprian manie others standeth in feding norishing coÌ„forting and vniting as aforesaid this reall presence therfore vtterly destroieth the nature and property of a sacrament Sixtlie it draweth vvith it manie blasphemous errours both against the deitie and humanitie of Christ whereof for breaitie sake I touch but a fewe First if Christ be reallie present in the bread Disâ—isnedus de erâ—ditonâ— Christi fidelium in sacramento ardinis then that thing beginneth now to be God vvhiche a litle before vvas bread and so with Arrius the seconde person is made a creature Thus in deede do Papistes vvith blasphemie speake of the sonne of God saying De haers inter Scotiscitas Thomistitas Sâ—â—konstitas locustarum exanâ—miâ— magna est concortatio the priest is the creator of his creator or him that made him Their practise also affirmeth that that thing which is God mase
skinne of a shepheard And againe among manie other thinges to this purpose he saith Hildebrandns ante annos centum septuaginta primus specie religionis Anti. christi imperij fundamentum iocit Hildebrande an hundred and seuentie yeres ago vnder the show cullor of religion did first lay the foundation of Antichristes Empire or kingdome And againe he saithe Pontifices Babilonis soli regnari cupiunt ferre parem non possunt credite experte non cessahunt donec imperatore in ordinem redacto Romani imperij honore soluto pastoribus veris oppressis per hune morem omnia extinguant omnia pedibut suis conculcent atque tui templo Dei sedeant extollanturque super omnia id quod colitur 2. Thess 2. Apoc. 9. The Bishops of Babilon desire to reigne alone they can abide no peere beleeue him that hath made a triall of them they vvill neuer haue done vntill they haue broughte th'Emper our vnto their bowe dissolued the honor or maiestie of th'Emper and oppressed the true pastors of Christ that in this sorte they maie extinguish all thinges and tread al things vnder their feete and that they maie sitte in the Church of God exalting the' selues aboue euerie thing that is vvorshipped To these maie be added Ioachim Abbas Franciscus Petrarcha Marsilius Patiuinus Michael Cecenus Baptista Mantuanus Laurentius Valla Hieronimus Sauonarola and before these foure hundred yeeres the Waldenses with manie other that shewe howe the Pope inuaded the church and oppresled the true ministers and pastors of the same whereby vvithout resistaunce bee might do vvhat he listed But these fewe out of manie haue I noted bicause the propounder of these questions vvould beare the vvorlde in hand that his Romish church euen from the Apostles time haue holden their faith or articles of religion vvithout contradiction or gainsaying of anie except those that he hath named that the Reader maie vvell perceiue when the resistance of errors vvaxed faint by vvhat meanes the Churche grewe vnto great decaie and also vvhat litle credite the papists deserue in their sayings and vvritings Thus also from the time of the Machabees vntill the comming of Iohn Baptist did the hipocriticall Pharisees vvithout controlement corrupte the lawes of God and yet I thinke no man vvill saie that they had the trueth bicause before the comming of Iohn Baptist and our sauiour Christ no man did controll them No more maie any saie that popishe errors be no errors because no man vvas able to vvithstand theÌ„ in these last fiue hundred yeres THE OBIECTION IT is not possible that all the vvhole Church which to that daie had bolieued the misteries to be consecrated vpon the altar to be no more but onelie bread and vvine to be onelie tokens of Christes bodilie absence in substance to be neither asacrifice propitiatorie nor the real bodie and bloud of Christ should sodenlie thoroughout all nations change their catholike and vniuersall beliefe vvithout anie trouble or tumult at all vvithout anie contradiction or disputation yea vvithout any man knowen or euer heard of vvhich should first commend vnto them the newe opinion of nine hundred yeres old Is it credible that so manie millions of Christian men as vvere in the Church at the ende of the first sixe hundred yeres belieuing the one yeere those halowed thinges vpon the altar to be stil bread and vvme should the next yere after altogether in al countries languages fal down prostrate or kneele or at the least bowe to the vorie same things as to the true bodie of their maker sauiour which before they had bin taught to be vnreasonable vnsensible creatures And did they al this without anie guide or preacher vvho mighte vvill them to do this Or did all the preachers in Christendome at one moment chaunge their mindes and bid the people do so Or did some fewe go through the partes of the vvorld and vvithout resistance of anie man preach that newe doctrine Were all the pennes of vvriters of histories so tied that none of them all was able to vvrite anie one mans name vvho after the sixe hundred yeres past taught first seconde third or at anie time that chaunge of beliefe throughout Christendome Was that Heretike so almightie that no man durst vvrite his name neither vvhilest he liued nor vvhen he was departed out of this vvorld If the man vvere vnknowen at the least vvhy had his sect no proper name Was not there one learned man in the Church of God either vvilling or able to resist the furie of nevve doctrine in the matter of Christes Supper THE ANSVVERE FIrst the true Churche of God did neuer thinke so singly of the reuerent mysteries as to saic they vvere no more but onlie bread and vvine onlie tokens of Christes body a bsent in substaÌ„ce but belieueh them and receiueth them to be holie misteries vvherby the Lords death is laide before out remembrance all the righteousnes and benefites of his death passion are offered vnto vs the vvhiche things being of vs by a liuelie faith receiued bring vvith theÌ„ remission of our sinnes renuing and feeding of our inwarde man to euerlasting life And thus after the bread and vvine beeing once altered from prophane vses vnto the nature of a Sacrament are no more saide to be onelie bread and vvine onlio tokens of Christes absence in his substance but they are the sacramentes of the Lordes death the bread of the Lorde and the cuppe of thankes giuing Corinth 10. 11. Aug. ep st 26. vvherein the vvorthie receiuer is made partaker of the Lordes bodie and of the Lordes bloud to his great ioy and comfort As concerning the Lordes presence absence there is sufficiently saide before neuerthelesse the first Church neuer acknowledged anie other presence in this sacrament then they acknowledged in the sacrament of baptisine Suche a presence as agreeth with the veritie of Christes body being in heauen and with the nature of a sacrameÌ„t Both the sacraments althogh they admit no real or naturall presence yet do they admit witnes such a preseÌ„ce as being spiritual and heauenlie is also most comfortable effectuall For as in baptisme Christ by the power of his spirite is present to washe away our sinnes to regenerate vs make vs members of his misticall boide Iâ—dom Eshel 5 Coloss 2. yea bones of his bones and fleshe of his fleshe and yet is there in this worke of our regeneration no reall persence of Christ or change of anie substance imagined Super Ioan homnilic 50. Gallst 3. but al is spirituall supernaturall and heauenlle Habes Christurrs in presentiper baptismaties sacriameÌ„tim saith S. Augustine thou haste Christ present by the sacrament of Baptisme We are saith Chrisostome in baptisme made flesh of Christes flesh Super epise ad Pip. chom 20. Ephes 5. bones of his bones And againe speaking of Christes presence in the bucharist Sic in baptismo Elien so is he present
time vvas suppressed banished and put to flight and driuen to hide her selfe These places I thinke were no corners Moreouer although no man before that time did so purposelie preciselie preach and vvrite against the reall prsence of Christ in the sacrament because no man did before that time of corruptiō drreame of suche a presence and therefore no neede of such preaching or vvriting yet did our Sauiour Christ in the institution of the sacramentes teache vs that he is absente in the reall substaunce of his bodie Matth. 16. So doth S. Paule 1. Corinth 11. So often as you eate of this bread and drinke of this cuppe saith he you set foorth the Lords death vntill his comming againe The selfe same thing do the Scriptures Fathers as it alreadie proued teache and vvrite concerning the absence of christ touching his humane presence from this sacrament as also from all other places heaucn onelie excepted vvhich must onlie enioye his presence vntill the daie of iudgement Act. 3. Purther where the papistes do imagine that this alteratiō must be in one yere or in a shorter time or els by no meanes it could be is childishe and foolishe toye to leade the simple into a maze 2. Thess 2. For as Antichrist did not in one moment of time or in one yere enter into the poslession of Christes Church But with long cōtinuance of time before he could enter although his mysterie vvas a vvorking in the Apostles time Epist Iohn 3. and yet preuailed not vntill a long time after euen so this error of reall presence was not in one yere receiued but with a long cōtinuance of time by a litle and litle as the sinceritie of doctrine decaied was it brought in and stablished vvith kneeling vvorshipping which before was not vsed of Christians tovvardes this sacrament Before that time Christians did vvorship Christ represented signified by that sacrament and vsed with reuerence to their comfort the outward simbals as the holie misteries by the which the death of Christ was laide forth to their remembrance But after this corruption stablished then cōmeth the mangling of the Lords supper and violating of his holie institution bringing it into one kinde that Christ ordeined in two kindes and making that priuate to the priest that was instituted especiallie for the people Then transubstantiation then sacrificing for the quick the dead yea for beasts and hogges which I am sure the papistes vvill not saie vvas done all in one moment of time or in one yere Do not the papists know that aster the Church of a long time had bin assalted by heresies and persecuting torments giuing them the ouerthrow alwaies contemning the chast spouse of Christ did at the laste receiue peace and quietnes which brought vvith it securitie idlenes Apoc. 9. And then fell that great starre from heauen spoken of by S. Iohn into the earth Which falling starre namelie the Bishop of Rome receiued of the beast the key of darknes and therewith opened the pit vvhence did yet dallie doth ascende the smoke of all superstition ignorance vvhich in time brought forth in finit swarmes of Monkes Friars and such like vvhich corrupted all true doctrine vvasted the same euen as Locusts consume all the grene things of the earth And in stead of true doctrine filled mēs eares vvith lyin dreams and superstitious fansies Thus came this real presence all other sonde and superstitious toyes into the Church not at one instāt but by long degrees of time not by faithful and ture preachers but by monkes and fivars and the infinite swarmes of false deceiuers THE OBIECTION IF none vvere learned inough to conquer it by preaching disputing or vvriting at the least vvise vvould none do his best to set foorth a bare historie of that tragidie Or vvho euer hath vvritten that the vvhole Church chaunged her faith in this matter So manie Councels haue bin kept in all ages and countries so manie heretikes names and opinions who vvere but in priuie corners haue bin of late yeeres vvritten vnto vs as Gogonuli Waldenses Petrobusiani Pseudo Napolitani Bogardi Beguinae vvith such like and could this herasie of Christes real presnece ouerrunne the vvhole Churche so farre that fiftie yeres past and vpward no small chappell can be named in the vvide vvorld where Christes supper was made vvithout adoration of his bodie bloud as present vnder the formes of bread and vvine and yet could no man vvpon the earth be found in the space of eight hundred fiftie yeres to leaue in monument of histories vvhen that heresie began or by vvhom it was promulgated or vvhat name vvas giuen to it Did Satā in those eight hundred yeres so stronglie oppresse Christ that his Gospell vvas cleane darkned and his kingdome loste Did hell gates preuaile against the whole Church Did the rocke it selfe faile Did the holie ghost cease to teach the people of God all truth I thinke it will be said the Bishop of Rome did preach cōmend set forth and maintein that heresie But they must shew which Bishop sirst began who writeth that of him and by what meanes he was so miraculouslie obeied that no resistance in the vvorld is read to haue bin made anie vvhere against him and yet surelie he neuer lacked enemies in the East Church THE ANSVVERE IT verie vvell appeareth by that I haue alreadie said that diuers learned men did both vvrite and speak against it as Bartrame and others yet after the botomles pit of Monkishe and Friarishe superstition vvas once by the bishops opened vvhose authoritie ruled in euerie Councel neither would writing or speking take place against those that abusing the name of Christe did gather Councels to suppresse Christ vntill the measure of their wickednes vvas fulfilled Apoc. 14. at vvhich time as vve nowe see Christ according to his promise hath to his owne glorie and the great comfort of his children Ihidem 17. opened their madnes and sollie vvherwith they haue a long time bewitched the Kinges and other inhabitants of the earth Likewise by these Waldenses and others vnto which a great number mo of al ages since these corruptiōs entered maie be added who euer spake against this matter of reall presence wel declare that ther was no time wherin this other corrup tions were not preached against although the preachers manie mo with them by the tyrannie of the Monkish locusts lost their liues But bicause the first authors deuisers of this carnal and grosse presence are so earnestlie called for I will more largelie laie them forth vvith their names and time First after the sixe hundred yeres ended diuers superstitions crepte into the Church Damas 728. whereof the adoring and vvorshipping of the bread in the sacrament vvas one among the rest against which superstition and idolatrie diuers learned men did both vvrite and speake Bert. 800. Beren 1049. as Bartrame Beringarius
Mardocheus serued Ammon and his posterity Finally as the Lord commaundeth the strumpet of Babilon to be serued â—poc 18. So shall they with peace and safetie raigne to the glory of God and comfort of his Church which they can neuer possibly doe so long as these Antichristian members doe abuse their clememcie and mercy as hetherto they to their great imboldening haue done Therefore of them Olim quod Vulpes oegroto cauto Leoni Respondet referam qua me vestigia terrent omnia te aduorsum spectantia nulla retrorsum As the wilie Fox aunswered the sicke Lion Well I say the steps of all men that trusteth theÌ„ maketh me afraid we see many noble personages destroyed by theÌ„ from their holy Caue returneth none in their felowship is nought but bloud and destruction We still therefore crie with the holy Ghost Tollite Vulpeculas Demoliuntur enim vineam Domini Out with the very Cubbs for they destroy the Lordes vineyard Fourthly as it were an other Hyrostratus by burning Diana her Temple or an other Curtius for a yeres pleasure with great pride and oftentation to leape desperatly into the Gulfe to win a vaine reporte or same emong the foolish people or as it were an other desperate Monke newe returned from hell shreuen and houseled to poyson King Iohn a most Noble and valiant Prince to the end he might through so vile and wicked a fact be accouÌ„ted amoÌ„g the popes Canonized saints doe these wicked and desperate Hipocrites attempt with losse both of body and soule to murther christiaÌ„ princes godly magistrats to be Regestred in the Popes Martyrologe to haue Graines Beades Medalles blessed plenary pardons giuen in their names These Hypocrites herein follow the steps of the desperate Iewes that wickedly and wilfully cast away themselues to saue the teÌ„ple which God would destroy Iosephus de bello Iudeico We may not therfore be deceiued with this desperate hipocrisie of theirs For hereof we haue infinite examples as of the Circumcilians in S. Augustines time of Thomas Becket Thomas More Iohn Fisher Fekton and such like Tertul. August whose desperate deathes may not commend them vnto vs for Martyres For not the death but the cause maketh a Martyre Last of all as these Iesuits the last brood of Antichrist doe with like hipocrisie seeme to forme their speeches vnto the Phrases of the Scripture and to vse the sentences of the holy scriptures to couer hide from the simple the vgly and Monstrous face of filthy popery that thereby they might with lesse suspition cure againe in the heartes of the people the deadly wounde of the beast which otherwise to doe the Diuell well seeth is vtterly impossible Thus Alberius Pighius Eruius Andradius the late Courcell of Trident and thus the late executed Iesuites attempted to perfourme But among the residue Raph Sherwin one of the foure executed at Tiburne for treason on Friday the first of December playeth this pageant most guilefully to the deceauing of a greate number then and there present 1581. and purchased by his deepe desperate Hipocrisse a commendation aboue the rest as though there had bin wrought in him before his death some fast of Christ and true religion But all was subtiltie an hipocriticall hipocrisse to leade the people from the detestation of his popery to a liking or a more tollerable iudgement thereof If Raph Sherwin good reader had meat according to the good fourme of words by him then vttered then woulde hee vtterly haue coÌ„demned mans merites inuocation of Saintes with the residue of his popety to that point belonging contrary to the persoÌ„ of Christe and free iustificatioÌ„ by his death This hee did not But contrariwise saieth he I die a good Catholique that is to wit an arrogant and an obstinate papist These last wordes of his gentle reader namely I die a Catholique doe well declare his meaning nothing to agree with his good forme of words by him first vttered Therefore one Master Edward Fleetewood a godly learned Preacher and I thought good by conference with Some of his fellowes yet remaining in the Tower to learne out by them his meaning in the good forme of wordes by him at his death vttred therby either to sift out the bottom of their Iesuitical practize or to giue occation vnto his fellows by his worses to repent and embrace the trueth and hauing coÌ„fereÌ„ce with Iames Bosgraue Iohn Hart Henrie Orton wee found their meaning in these good wordes vttered by Sherwin to be nothing lesse then to attribate our whole iustification wholly and onely vnto Christ as the good forme of his wordes did preteÌ„d but partly vnto Christe partly vnto them selues as in the discouery more plainely will appeare which thing all papistes haue heretofore done Sherwin therefore meant not and the rest of the Iesuites intend not to retract any thing from the grossenes of Poperie but guilefully and subrilly to vpholde the whole The Lorde of his great mercy speedily treade downe Sathan vnder our feete for the better ouerthrowe of this wicked king dome the full restoring of the beautie of Christes Church and comfort of his deare Children So be it Faultes in the First booke For Elegantur Legantur For gloriant gloriantur fol. 23 For purputea purpureâ— For aurea aureo For tui in fol. 25 For presed se presens For so let let fol. 32 For the dayes of Abraham he did in the dayes of Abraham fol 40. For Nicholas the second Leo the ninth and Nicolas the second fol. 40. For he had they had For his theirs For whosoeuer who euer fol. 41. Faultes in the Second Booke For wherein the exact rule of the Law Read wherein the righteousnes of man is compared wyth the exact rule of the Law fol. 2. For applicatum Read explicatum fol. 5. For your clamorous Read our clamorous fol. 11. For tempored Read tempered fol. 12. For credamor Read credamus fol. 16. For cum creditis Read per cum creditis fol. 17. For qui Read cui fol. 33. For their Read the. For leud tent Read leud entent fol. 37 For penerall Read generall For then deuils Read then the deuils fol. 38. For hec loquitur Read hic loquitur fol. 38. Sherwins confession I Acknowledge that in me and of me there is nothing but sinne and abhomination and J trust onelie to be saued by the death and blood shedding of Iesus Christ The discouerie of this Confession FIrst for the better vnderstaÌ„ding of their sudtilitie wee must remeÌ„ber that of iustificatioÌ„ before God they make three differences The first wherein the righteousnes of man is compared with the righteousnes that is in God Albertus Pighius de fide iuscifi Concil Trident sess 6. And thus they confesse that no creature is righteous before God compared with his righteousnes The seconde wherein the exact rule of the lawe that is absolute perfect And mans righteousnes compared vnto this they confesse
they whose sinnes are forgiuen and therefore not by workes If any works might be iâ—ined with faith to iustification then the workes of the Law Rom. 1.4 Gâ—lâ—â— 3.4 Phâ—â—â— 1. â—om 3 4. Gâ—lâ—â— 3. â— But iustificamur fide sine operibus Legis We are iustified by faith without the woorkes of the Lawe therefore without all other whatsoeuer If euer any was or might bee iustifyed with the helpe of workes before God then Abraham but Abraham was not therefore none other can be Also Rom. 2. Rom. 4. 1. Pet. 3. the faithful are iustifyed as theire father AbrahaÌ„ was iustifyed but Abraham was iustifyed before God by faith without workes by faith therefore without workes are all the faithfull iustifyed And thus the godly learned did alwaies thinke of our iustification Iustificati sunt gratis saith S. Ambrose quia nihil operantes Ambros super Rom. cap. 4. neque vicem reddentes sola fide iustificati sunt dono Dei They are iustifyed freelye because they worke nothing nor geue anye thing in exchange but are iustified by faith onely through the gifte of God Againe Ambrosâ— ibidâ—â— Obâ—deâ—â— Sic decretum dieit a Deo vt cessant Lege solam fidem gratia Dei posceret ad salutem So saith the Apostle it is decreed that the law geuing place the grace of God might require only faith to saluation Hoc ipsum monet exemplo prophetae vt sine labore aliqua obseruatione sola fide iustificantur apud ipsum This self same thing doth hee admonish by the Prophets example that without labour and any obseruation or ceremonie they may be iustifyed through onely faith before God Ambros super Rom. cap. 9 And in another place Sola fides inquit posita est ad salutem onely faith saith the Apostle is set downe to saluation Ambros super Rom. â— Manifesto beati sunt c. They are apparaâ—â—tlye blessed saith the Apostle vnto whom without any labor or worke their sinnes be conered and their sinnes remitted No workes of râ—pentaunce required of them but Faith onely And Hilarius Sola Fides iustificat Cano. 9 Faith only iustifyeth Origen also prooueth by the example of the thiefe Of Mary Magdalene Origen in Româ— cap. 4. And of the Publicane And by many other reasons that onely Faith doth iustifie The same doth Athanasius Basil homil de fidâ— Athen. in Galat. cap. 3. Basill Chrisostome and other of their time euidently prooue whome because I woulde bee shorte here I doe omitte That this iustifying Fayth in Adam Noe Abraham Piâ— de sule iustificatione fol. 85. or any other of Gods Elect respected or doth respect the Creation of the worlde the making of the Arke the multiplying of the posterity or any other promis whatsoeuer as the papists imagin it doth but onely yâ— promise of christ made vnto Adam Gen. 3 and stil renued vnto his Posteritie shal euidently appeare The righteousnes no doubt of God which is good before god commeth by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto al and vpon al that doe beleeue Rom. 3. Iustificantur autem gratis eius gratia per redemptioneÌ„ factam per Iesum Christum quem proposuit Deus placamen per fidem in sanguine suo For they are iustifyed freely by his grace throgh the redemption that is in Christ Iesu whom god hath made our pacification through faith in his bloud according as it was promised vnto Adam Et semen mulieris ipsum conteret caput serpentis â—en 3. Apocalip 12. The seede of the woman namely Christ shall breake the serpentes head And vnto Abraham Gâ—n 12.17 〈◊〉 3. Act. 3. In semine tuo benedicentur omnes gentes non dicitur in seminibus sed devno qui est Christus In thy seede shal all nations be blessed He saide not in sedes as of many Mat. 3. but of one which is Christ Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo mihi complacuit This is my beloued sonne in whoÌ„ I am well pleased Thus we see we are iustified in no other promises but onely in the promise of Iesu Christ that in the promise of his death and resurrection and therto the holy ghost referreth our faith Coloss 1.2 Heb. 1.2.3.4 Rom. 4. as ye plainly see He dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification We are regenerated into the hope of life 1. Pet. 1. per resur rectionem Iesu Christi ex mortuis by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from death Coloss 1. For it pleased the father that in him should all fulnes dwell and by him to reconcile all thinges vnto himselfe 2. Cor. 5 c. Neque sub coelo aliud datur nomen hominibus in quo opor tet nos saluos fieri Neither is there any other name or mean vnder heauen geuen vnto men wherein we must be saued Now what shall we thinke of these Papistes Act. 4. Pâ—ghi de side eâ— iusti sol 88. that tell vs Intelligis in iustificationis nostrae negotio vt nihil plus euergiae tribuat Fidei promissae iustificationis in Christo quà m fidei alterius cuiuscunque rei proditae aut promiâ—laâ— a Deo Thou vnderstandest therfore saith Pigh ius that in the matter of Iustifycation she Apostle may attribute no more vnto the faith of Iustification promised in Christ then vnto the faith of any other promise whatsoeuer foreshewed or promised by God Do they good reader make any other thing of Christ and the promises in him then of Legall transitorie Nay doe they not in effect say that whichis reported to be dissolutely vttered of Pope Leo 10. vnto BeÌ„bo his cardinall In vâ—ta Pâ—nâ— Quantum nobis ac nostro cetui profuerit ea de Christo fabula satis est seculis omnibus notum Lâ—o esteemed the gospel of Christ but a fable of small profite They shouâ—ll it among other Legall and temporall promises These men account the scriptures of the gospel as a nose of waxe Pig Hosâ—â—epres verbo but the holy Ghost accountes thereof as of the mightie power of God to saluation as of the word of life the immortal seed of our regeneratioÌ„ as of a two edged sword Hâ—â— â— Mâ—t. 8. that deuideth the marow and the sinewes in respect whereof they account al other things as drosse These felowes therfore though they couÌ„terfette the resemblance of the Lambe Apoc. 4.9.13 yet in deede they come out of the bottomles pit speake with the mouth of the Dragon and are led by the spirit of error â— Tim. 4. speaking great lyes in hipocrisie â— Tim. 3 but the Lorde will not suffer them to preuaile any longer But vnto vs that beleue the Apostle teacheth this faith to be of the promises of Christ his death and therefore he calleth the gospel not the word of creation of the flood of the goinge out of Charran of posterity or of any such thinge but hee
Philip. 1. which day he with all the rest of Gods deare children earnestly desired longed after 1. Pet. 1. as th end of all their trauel 〈…〉 the full perfecting of their regeneration to their euerlasting glory in Christ And to be short S. Augustine saith Aug. de peceatorl meritis remiss 2. Cor. 4. Non ex qua hora quisquis baptizatur omnis vetus infirmitas eius absumitur sed renouatio incipit à remissione omniuÌ„ peccatoruÌ„ c. sed si in ipso animo qui est homo interior perfecta in Baptismo nouitas fieret noÌ„ diceret apostolus etsi exterior homo noster corrumpi tur interior renouatur de die in dieÌ„ profecto enim qui de die in dieÌ„ adhuc renouatur nondum totus est renouatus Al our old infirmitie of concupiscence is not wyped away or consumed from that time that euery man is baptised but renouation beginneth at the remission of all sinnes But if perfect newnes might be wrought in Baptisme in the soule which is the inward man then would not the apostle haue said althogh our outward man be destroied the inward man is day by day renued for truly he that is yet daily renued is not as yet wholly renued And the verie forme of Sherwins confession doth euidently conuince these Iesuites and al other Papistes whatsoeuer of great blasphemie and wickednes For if there be nothing in vs nor of vs but sinne and abhomination and that we trust to be saued onely by the death and bloudshedding of Christe which is most true theÌ„ where is their infused righteousnes workes of congruence or preparations to forme fashion their faith where is their deseruing merits satisfying workes or works of condigne stirred vp and drawen foorth by their firste iustice There are none at all no not one they are all abhominable c. But this confession of Sherwins was vnto him selfe and is vnto the rest of his fellowes yet remayning as was their prophesie of Caiphas vnto him and the rest of the priests the Scribes and Pharisees which although it was both good and true the worke of the holy Ghost in that il man to declare the purpose of god for our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ in the death of christ yet had both caiphas the rest of the pharisies a lewd tent and a contrarie meaninge in the vttering thereof euen to the death of Christ and presernation of their own state euen so these Iesuites notwithstanding the forme of good wordes they here vse there lyeth hid in their heartes a wicked and deuelish meaninge to the ouerthrow of Christes office and glorie as by the discouery therof hetherto hath wel appeared Now where the Papistes papisticall Iesuites obiect saint Iames they doe by a double Sophisme beguile themselues and others Mark 3. Exod. 8 c. 10. Ioh. 6. Act. 8. Mat. 10.26 That is to wit in this word Faith in the word Iustification For faith in that place of S. Iames is taken for such a faith as the Deuill hath as Pharao had as the Capernaits and such others that for a time beleeued and such a one as Iudas and Simon magus had and like vnto the Iesuiticall faith and I thinke worse then the Deuils faith They should doe well therefore and finde lesse damnation if they forsake with Iudas in playne tearmes the name of Christ call themselues no more Iesuites after so good a name but Iscariozites and Magozites accordinge to the substaunce of theire Religion For where Iudas solde his Maister but once and Symon Magus woulde haue bought the holye Ghost but once they doe it infinitely and neuer make an ende thereof Now to their sophisme first where S. paul in the example of Abraham taketh faith for the knowledge of god the assente vnto his word with trust or coÌ„fidence therin wherby Christ is appreheÌ„ded S. Iames taketh it for a shadow of faith seperated from fiducia such a one as the papistical peneral or catholicke faith is which iustifyeth before God no more then deuils faith can iustifie S. Iames did not say that such men as hee spake of had Faith but hee sayeth What and if a man say he hath Faith which intrueth Saint Ieames importeth them to want Secondly Rom. 4. Gal. 3.4 S. Paul referreth iustification vnto God I haue saith he made thee a father to many nations euen before god And S. Iames referreth it vnto meÌ„ and therfore saith shew me thy faith by thy workes then bringeth the example of Abraham to conclude that by works in the sight and iudgemente of men we are iustified and not by knowledge which there hee calleth only faith And this agreeth with our sauiour Christ who saith Iam. 3 Mar. 5 1. Pet 2 Sic luceat lux vestra c Let your light so shine before men that they may see youre good woorkes and so glorifye your heauenly father Againe S. Paule and sainte Iames bring both an example but yet vnto diuers endes the one to proue that we be iustifyed by faith only without works and that before God the other to trie out a false hipocriticall shadow of faith froÌ„ a true liuelie iustifying Faith that neuer wanteth his works And this tryall hee maketh by woorkes which euer attend vpon a true Faith as the inseperable fruits thereof Etsi non precedunt iustificanduÌ„ August de Fr. operâ—bus sequuntur tamen iustificatuÌ„ Although workes goe not before him that is to be iustifyed yet truely workes follow him that is already iustifyed And thus also doth S. Augustine interprete this place of S. Iames so doeth Thomas Aquinas Quest 76 Haec loquitur saith S Augustine de operibus quae sequun tur Fidem c. Vnde Apostolus ait Fide obtulit Isaac cum tentaretur Haec oblatio est opus testimoniuÌ„ Fidei Iustitiae Saint Iames speaketh here of those workes which doe follow Faith Wherefore he saith Through faith Abraham offered vp Isaac wher he was tryed of God This oblation is the worke and Testimonie of his faith and iustificatioÌ„ Aquinas saith Opera iustificaÌ„t declaratiue Workes declare vs to be iustifyed Thus thou seest by the discourse of the Iesuiticall confession and opinion of Iustification drawen out of the Schoole of the Sorbonists that Sherwin meant nothing lesse in his late confession at his death theÌ„ that which the people for the most parte did suppose him to vtter If he had ment as the good forme of words doe to all good Christians importe why did he not first detest and condemn his Iesuiticall profession Why did hee not geue some open testimonie of repentaunce from his vile and detestable poperie For his forme of words is vnto his Iesuiticall Profession Popish Religion as contrarie 2. Cor. 6. Psal 37 Luk. 7.19.23 2. Reg. Mat. 3 Apoc. 14.19 as Light to Darcknesse trueth to Falshoode Christ to Beliall and he that will doe anye thing acceptable to God must first decline froÌ„ euil that he may do good So did Mary Magdalen Zache the Publican the Thiefe vpon the crosse and all peniteÌ„t sinners for so the Gospell teacheth But herein Sherwin followeth the practise of the holy Fathers of the Trident Councell and the sorboniticall Doctoures in whom the Deuil for the better vpholdinge of hys Antychristyan Sinagogue euen nowe beginninge to fall in all falshoode and Religious craftines goeth farre beyonde himselfe For they seeing the people beinge long oppressed with their superstitious Tyranny now by the continual preaching of the gospell in these last dayes to begin both to suspecte and to mislike the abhominations of their Popishe Religion thoughte it more then time to leaue the grosse and homelye tearmes of the Schoolemen and barbarous Predecessours in this matter of Iustification and to set a new Face and fine colour vpon that vile and corrupt matter by shewe of good woordes borrowed from the Gospell according to the time interlacing the same with new Distinctions and burnished Tearmes of arte so that except men do very carefully examine the same they are able to deceiue not the simple onelye but the wise and learned also Yea if it were possible euen the verye electe So skilfull are they to dissemble their meaninge by shewe and coloure of strange wordes and tearmes This maner of dealing thus dissemblinge and hidinge their owne meanings to the beguyling of the world is not good Reader that deuiding of Gods worde that S. Paule requyreth of the Lordes Ministers But contrariwise that braule of wordes and prophane clamors in vaine thinges tending vnto farther impietie wounding the conscience of the ignorant and greeuing the godlye like the frettinge of a Canker The Lord therefore deliuer his Church from the handes of such subtill workemen whose consciences are seared with obstinate hyyocrifie and guide it by his holy spirite in the labour of faithfull Pastors vntill the comming of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one eternall God be all glory and honor now and for euer LONDON ⧠Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe 1582.