disturbe the peace of the vniuersall world Whereunto Liberius did not take exception saying that the visible Church stood for him and Athanasius but rather giueth another reason to make good his being alone Be it that I am alone notwithstanding for that the cause of the faith is not the worse for a great while agoâ—e there were three onely found who would resist the Kings commandement Heere the Church for any external shew was low brought for if any body held it vp it was Athanasius who then played least in sight and durst not appeare For this Liberius who did for a time second him did afterward shrinke He went at first into banishment in defence of the truth but after that he was solicited and laid at by Fontunatianus that he relented and condiscended to subscribe to the Arrian heresie as Hierom witnesseth who liued in that age and was long conuersant in Rome and therefore could better report what was the issue of Liberius his constancie then some others who doe relate it otherwise What can be said for him Bellarmine hath but yet inforced by the euident testimony of Athanasius Hillary and Hierome he confesseth so much as I haue here set down but couer it he would that he only consented to the externall act of subscribing but remained in heart Othodox Why should it then bee a maruell if in processe of time Antichrist growing to greater strength the Church should bee in couert It is no more then often fell out vnder the Iewish Synagogue hath bin exemplified to haue been since among the Christians and was so euidently foretold before In so much that by the example of the woman it can not bee the true Church vnlesse it should be hidden in the wildernesse Which while our Popish teachers deny to agree to their Romish Church but professe that it hath euer been in sight they themselues doe by a consequent proclaime that they are not the pure and vndefiled flying woman but another painted harlot and strumpet The true Church is for a time out of sight in the wildernes but so say they was their Church neuer and therefore will they nill they their Church is not the true Church And here to the end that the slaunderous calumniation of our aduersaries may the more be manifested to all those who wil not wilfully close their eyes against truth I will a little shew the vanity yet maliciousnes of their obiection when they say there was neuer any of our faith before the daies of Luther who in the yeare 1517 began for his part to display the kingdome of Antichrist Where I pray the Reader to consider that the most part of those whom I shall cite are Popish Writers and no way partially affected towards vs. We say then that Martine Luther was not the first brocher of those points which he taught again't papistry but as he did originally deduce them from the Scriptures out of the works of the ancient Fathers so he did derine them also hereditarily from other who immediatly before him had taught the same doctrine left it both in books the hearts of men recommended vnto him as principal parties herein I name Iohn Hus Hierome of Prage and all such as were their schollers in or about Bohemia who before Luthers time oppugned the beliefe of the church of Rome their profession was not extinguished vntill his dayes howsoeuer it before had bin mainly assaulted If we could learne this no where els yet Fr. Guicciardine an Italian Florentin Historiographer would informe vs of it who writing of the yeare 1520 saith plainly that Luther did set abroad the Heresies as he tearmeth them of the Bohemians and hee nameth there Hus and Hierome as former diuulgers of the same and Petrus Messias a Spaniard therein agreeth with him who mentioning the opinions of Hus and the Bohemians saith they were the seed of those errours which were afterward in Germany alluding to the doctrine of Luther There is no man whose testimony in this behalfe may be of more worth then Ioh. Cochleus First because he wrote a large story of purpose concerning the Hussites therfore by his long search reading and writing in that argument may be persumed to know as much as any Secondly because it may be well imagined that he would fain nothing to do Luther good in as much as he also wrote a volume purposely against that worthy seruant of God intending to rip vp his whole life from yeare to yeare and to censure all his works yet this enemy of his in the Story of the Hussites doth plentifully satisfie vs about the matter now in question One where he telleth vs that Hus did slay soules for an hundred yeares together neither yet doth he cease to slay them by the second death Within an hundred yeares after him came in Luther according as the said Iohn Hus did prophecie not long before his death And when it is added that yet he doth not cease to slay it is manifest that his Doctrine remained till the dayes of Cochleus In another place he relateth that Luther did stirre vp seditions in Germanie by the Books of the Hussites Afterward he calleth those who were in Germany in his time New Hussites And againe Hus did so rent the vnitie of the Church that vnto this day there remaineth a pitifull diuision in Bohemia He proceedeth in the same matter elsewhere saying That the people of Germanie are now by Luther partakers of the Heresies of Hus and Hierome One sort of the followers of this Iohn Hus did call themselues Thaborites and these were they who most dissented of all from the Doctrine of Rome Of these he speaketh thus Vnto this day remaineth the Sect of the Thaborites in many places of Bohemia and Morauia vnder the name of Picards and Waldenses Lastly the same Cochleus in the yeare 1534. doth wish that hee may see the remainders or leauings of the Hussites to returne to the Church and the Germanes to cast out all new Sectes VVhat can bee more euident then that the Doctrine of Iohn Hus was sensibly and apparantly continued somewhere euen till the dayes of Martin Luther Vnto which may bee added that whereas Luther began to shew himselfe but in the yeare 1517 that very yeere was ended the Councell of Laterane held at Rome and finished by Pope Leo the tenth And there consultation was had of reforming the manners of the Church and of recalling the Bohemians to the vnity of the Church of Rome And as these Testimonies doe conuince that the Christian Confession of Hus was not extinguished at the comming of Martin Luther so may there be good reason assigned why it did so long continue in as much as it was imbraced by many and earnestly maintained euen vnto the death When Hus began first to preach the people which vsed handy craftes did with
great desire heare his sermons did read the scriptures being turned by him into their mother tongue so that they could dispute with the Priestes which the very women were able to doe yea and one woman did make a Booke Not long after three of the schollers of this Preacher did affirme that the Pope thē liuing was Antichrist who had proclaimed a Croisado against a Christian King that was Ladislaus King of Naples then infesting the lands of the Church of Rome These three persons were martyred for this speech and tooke their death patiently In small processe of time this Doctrine so multiplied that as Onuphrius hath the Councell of Constance was called principally for two things the one was against the Hussites the other to take away the Schisme between the Popes These of liklihood grew great that now a generall Councell was called against them Neither did the people only agree in faith with Iohn Hus but the Nobles of Bohemia stood apparantly for him in so much that they sent two seuerall and solemne supplications to the Councell of Constance in his behalfe And when these their request were neglected and Iohn Hus and Hierom of Prage contrary to the Emperors safe conduct giuen to the former of them were burnt the Nobles of Bohemia did mightily murmure against the Fathers of the Councell in so much that Sigismund the Emperour to giue them satisfaction on his behalfe did write vnto them excusing himselfe touching the death of these men and laying the fault vpon the Councell But this gaue not contentment vnto the Bohemians now robbed of their principall Pastor but being mooued at the perfidiousnesse of those at Constance they assembled themselues together to the number of thirtie thousand and in the fields vpon three hundred Tables erected for that purpose they receiued the Eucharist in both kindes Afterward they rushing into the Churches and Monasteries did breake downe the Images there It was not long after but that vnder Iohannes Zisca a Noble and victorious Warriour these Hussites grew to bee of Souldiers fortie thousand in one armie who got into their hands the Castle of Prage the chiefe Citie of Bohemia Then not long after did Pope Martin the fift publish a Croysado against these whom hee called Heretiques promising remission of their sinnes to such as could destroy them Notwithstanding these hated persons did still prosper getting many Victories vnder Procopius and other Captaines but especially vnder Zisca who was of that dexteritie and felicitie in his Warres as that Cochleus almost amazed at his strange successe sayeth That scant any Historie of the Greekes or Hebrewes or Latines doeth mention such a Generall as Zisca was Hee built a new Citie as a refuge for his men and called it Thabor whereof diuers embracing the Doctrine of Hus were afterward called Thaborites A second time did Pope Martine proclaime a Croysado against them graunting remission of sinnes to all who did either fight or contribute money against them Vpon which there were at one time fortie thousand Germane Horse men gathered to destroy them but such was the terror of their name that vpon the approaching to them the Horsemen of their owne accord turned their backes and fled The Popish Authour saith that there was in this some secret Iudgement of God but hee thinketh the cause of their ill successe was that they had Bishops and Priests to their Leaders and Captaines By this time came on the Councell of Basil which as Onuphrius saith was held against the Hussites This sheweth that there were many which may also appeare in that the Fathers at Basil did by an Indulgence graunt to the Bohemians this dispensation That contrary to the Act of the Councell of Constance they might receiue the Eucharist both in Bread and Wine Genebrard who was euer a true seruant to the Pope confesseth so much but addeth withall that the Cup was permitted vnto them because that alwaies before had beene their custome so to communicate yet saith he all was on that condition That they should not finde fault with the contrary vse nor seuer themselues from the Catholique Church in other Rites and Doctrines Cochleus nameth no such condition Nay to shew that simply and directly it was yeelded vnto them hee reporteth that the Legates of the Councell of Basil did thus expound that which was concluded in the Bohemians behalfe The Councell doeth permit the Eucharist vnder both kindes not tollerating it onely as a thing euill as to the Iewes was permitted a Bill of Diuorce but so that by the authoritie of Christ and his Church it is lawfull and profitable to the worthy Receiuers Where is it likely that vnlesse the Bohemians now after Husses death had beene a strong partie the Antichristian rabble would haue yeelded to their importunitie so directly against the Canon of the next precedent Councell Indeed the Emperour Sigismund did afterward take a course to lessen their number when he sent many of them into Hungaria against the Turkes that there they might either conquering winne to him victories or being conquered themselues so be destroied and perish He who list to see more concerning the multitude of these Professors let him but looke on diuers places in the workes of Aeneas Syluius who was afterward Pope by the name of Pius the second and hee shall finde him reporting of his owne knowledge as trauailing himselfe into Bohemia that they were many and very earnest also in their Religion If heere it should bee replyed that these perhaps were base people and of the vulgar who thus followed Iohn Hus but men of learning and knowledge or persons of authoritie they had none to ioyne with them the course of the Story will easily cleare the same and shew that they had both learned Pastors and great Magistrates who beleeued as they beleeued and stood wholly with them Of what literature Hus himselfe was is euident by his workes yet remaining and by his personall withstanding the whole Councell of Constance And what learning what eloquence what memory all admirable were in Hierom of Prage as also with what singular patience he tooke his death is most significantly deliuered in an Epistle of Poggius who as an eye witnes beheld him and seemed to be much affected with the singular parts of the man Which noble testimony of that worthy Poggius is acknowledged by Cochleus Whilst these two liued there were diuers Priests and Preachers which agreed in their doctrine and in their Sermons reproued the Popish Clergy for their Simony keeping of Concubines auarice ryot and Secular-like pride But after the death of those two famous seruants of God their followers got to them a Bishop who was a Suffragane to the Archbishop of Prage and by him they put into holy Orders as many Clerkes as they would Which the Archbishop tooke so ill that he suspended his Suffragan But it
but Alphonsus the King of Arragon came in his owne person to his succour as beeing his kinsman and his friend And when all these were met together the report is saith Du Haillan that the Armie of these Hereticks did consist of about the number of one hundred thousand fighting men These things beeing thus discouered by men of your owne part bee ashamed you Papists and blush to spread among your simple and credulous Followers that neuer men did as we doo nor beleeued as wee beleeue before Luther's time but that all Christendome formerly liked of the papisticall doctrine and proceedings But because you shall heare one testimony further touching these Albingenses and Waldenses how honest and truely religious they were I will cite what one Reinerius a man who did hate them and was as it is supposed an Inquisitor against them reported concerning them now 300 yeers ago or thereabout Thus then among much other matter he saith of them There were many Sects of Hereticks long ago among all which Sects that are or were there is not one more pernicious to the Church of God than that of the poore men of Lyons for three causes First because it is of longer continuance some say that it hath endured from the time of Syluester others say that from the time of the Apostles The second is because it is more generall for there is almost no Land into which this Sect doth not creep The third that whereas all other by the immanity of their blasphemies against God doo make men abhorre them this of the Lyonists hauing a great shew of godlinesse because they doo liue iustly before men and doo beleeue all things well of God and all the Articles which are contained in the Creed onely the Church of Rome they doo blaspheme and hate which the multitude is easie to beleeue And as Sampson ' s Foxes had their faces seueral waies but their tails tied one to another so Hereticks are diuerse in Sects among themselues but in the impugning of the Church they are vnited There can hardly be found a more honourable testimony out of the mouth or penne of a bitter and bloudy Aduersary as he was who wrote this much more concerning those good seruants of God We shall not need to ascend any higher since hee giueth witnes of the antiquity of their profession long before his time which otherwise to make plain is as easie as to deliuer that which hitherto I haue spoken And it is not to bee conceiued that Petrus Waldo of whom the Waldenses tooke their name at Lyons had his doctrine from no body but that of himselfe he attained to his owne knowledge since he was not deeply learned Berengarius indeed was onely called in question for denying Transubstantiation in the Sacrament but it may well bee thought that in something else he dissented from the Church of Rome and albeit by his owne weaknes and the importunity of the Clergie he yeelded once or twice to recant and abiure the true doctrine which hee held yet hee had many scholars who by his example would not bee driuen from the right beleef which they had apprehended These scholars were in France in great numbers and in diuerse other lands and Genebrard cannot conceal it but that about the yeer of our Lord 1088 Basilius the Monk did set on foot again the errour of Berengarius And might not the doctrine of both these bee sucked from Bertram who wrote so learnedly and so directly out of the Scriptures and Fathers against the reall presence and Transubstantiation that the Index expurgatorius cannot tel what to make of him But the Bishop of Eureux vnder the name of Henry Constable tearmeth him The great fore-runner of all the Sacramentaries and Richcome the Iesuit disclaimeth him plainly as a Sacramentarie Heretick Then Caluin and Zuinglius were not the first who gain-said transubstantiation Before our ascending thus high we might tell you of Saint Bernard whom although it is likely at the first dash you will challenge as your owne yet when you haue well aduised on him you may let him goe again for albeit hee had his errours which he suckt from the age wherein he liued and we may not in all things subscribe to his iudgement but say of him as commonly it is spoken Bernardus non vidit omnia yet wee finde in him saniorem partem a liberall profession of many good sound points agreeable to the Gospell Hee for a fashion acknowledgeth many matters to be in the Pope and giueth him greater titles than any Papist can iustifie but it is by such insinuation to win him more attention frō Eugenius and then hauing procured liberty or rather taken it to himself he schooleth and lessoneth the Pope plainly shewing that he liked not of their ordinary courses neither did hee repute him to haue that preeminence or prerogatiue which his Parasites did allow him But touching the matter of merit by good works for iustification alone by Christ of free-will for certain assurance of saluation in the death and by the strength of our Sauiour and for disliking then the vile life of the Clergie how cleer how learned how copious is hee These things wee teach together with him and notwithstanding his other slips we doubt not but his soule doth rest with the Lord God pardoning vnto him his errours and his ignorances which hee being carried with the stream of that Time did neuer discusse but took them as they were deliuered to him without scanning or examining And to this good hope we are firmly induced by that Saying of Saint Paul Other Foundation can no man lay but that which is laid which is Iesus Christ and if any man build on this Foundation gold siluer precious stones timber hay or stubble euery mans work shall bee made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be reuealed by fire and the fire shall try euery mans work of what sort it is If any mans work that he hath built-vpon abide he shall receiue wages if any mans workburn he shall lose but he shall be safe himself He held the Foundation of iustification onely by faith in Christ and that our best deeds are but via Regni non causa regnandi the way to the Kingdome not the cause of raigning and for that cause we doubt not but his soule is safe though his hay and stubble of praying to Saints and such other stuffe as cannot endure the fire of the holy Ghost's triall doo burn and consume And this is our iudgement touching many other both before and after the time of Saint Bernard that holding Christ the Foundation aright and groning vnder the heauy burden of humane traditions satisfaction and other popish trash they by a generall repentance from their errors and lapses knowne and vnknowne and by an assured faith in their Sauiour did finde fauour with the Lord. Such as these were we hold to be