Now touching the Authority of S. Gregory in all the foresaid Poynts we haue reserued the confessions of them to this last place both because he liued many years after the other fathers as also in that his iudgment in all the said Articles is made manifest by two acknowledgments the one of D. HuÌ„frey the other of the Centurists D. Humfrey (y) In Iesuitis p. 2. rat 5. p. â— speaking of the sayth first planted in our Countrey by Gregory and Augustin whom he sent thus answereth himselfe In Ecclesiam quid inuâ—exerun Gregarius Augustinus intulerun onus Caeremoniaâ—uÌ„ c purgetorium c. oblationeÌ„ salutaris hostiae preces pro mortuis Transubstantiationem c. The Century (z) See the alphabeticall table of the fixt Century at the word Gregory Wryters agreeing heereto witnes that Gregory preached in England by the sending of Augustine hither the doctrynes of prayer for the dead the Reall Presence Inuocation of Saintes the vowes of Chastity besydes al the other Articles of the Roman Religion mantayned at this day Thus far cheifly of these foure poynts of the Catholyke Religion taught besydes by others by the former foure pillars of Gods Church euen by the free and vncoacted acknowledgmeÌ„ts of such of our Brethren as are of no vulgar note or ranke but most accomplished with all good literaâ—â—re And heere though my intended breuity suffereth me only to run ouer some few points taught by the Fathers who are reiected by vs yet I will somewhat enlarge my selfe in the Article of the Sacrifice of the Masse as being one of the cheifest poynts controuerted betwene our Aduersaryes vs and contayning in it selfe the dayly worship of God And heere it is manifest that throughout all the ages of the Primitiue Church without exception of any it was generally taught by the Fathers of euery such age yet are those Fathers for this very doctrine reiected by vs Protestants And to begin at the end of the first fiue hundred yeares and so to ascend for after that tyme â—ill Luthers dayes it is graÌ„ted by most Protestants that the Masse reygned in all the Churches of the West part of the World which point is further proued from our owne acknowledged doctrine of the inuisibility of the Protestant Church during all that tyme. First then Anno Domini 501. Symmachus (a) Cent. 6. c. 10. câ— 664. was Bishop of Rome of whome our Centurists thus speake Notas Antichristi Symmachus habâ—is MissaÌ„ enim in forman redegit that is Symâ—â—â—â—â—â— had the notes of Antichrist for he reduced the Masse into a forme Before Symmachus was the Councell of Carâ—hage whereat S. Augustine was present of which CouÌ„cell Pelargus a Protestant thus speaketh Haec (b) In his schola sidei tract de Concil p. 3. Synodus carthaginensis intercessioneÌ„ Missam pro defunctis iniunxit This Synod of Carthage did ordaine intercession of prayers and Masse for the dead Ambrose liued in the yeare 370. of whome the (c) Cent. 4. cap. 4. col 295. Centurists thus Ambrosius locutionibus vtitur quibus ante cum ex Patribus nemo vsus est vt Missam facere offerre Sacrificium Ambrose did vse certaine speaches the which no Father before him did vse as to say Masse to offer vp Sacrifice Gregory Nissen in the yeare 340. whome Andreas (d) Lib. 1. de opisie Missâ— sect 104. Crastâ—uius a Protestant thus reprehendeth Nyssenus ille ait cùm dedit Christus discipulis suis corpus suum ad comedendum c. iam latenter ineffa biliter inuisibiliter corpus immolatum erat Gregory Nissen sayth That when Christ gaue to his disciples his body to eate c. that then his body was immolated and offerd vp latently ineffably and inuisibly Cyrill of Hierusalem one of the Greeke Church liued Anno 320. whome (e) Histor Sacram. p. 167. Hospinianus a Protestant thus speketh of Quoad Cyrillum Hierosolymitanum attinet dicit ille quidem pro sui temporis consuâ—tuâ—â—ine sacrificium Altaris maximum iuuamen esse animarum Concerning Cyrill of Hierusalem he sayth indeed according to the vse of his tyme that the sacrificé of the Altar is a great help to soules Cyprian liued Anno 240. him the (f) Cent. 30. c. 4 Col. 33. Magdeburgenses or Centurists thus charge Sacerdotem Cyprianus inquit vice Christi fungi Deo Patri sacrificium offerri and heereupon they reproue (g) In the alphabeti table of the third entury vnder the letter S Cyprian of superstition In like sort D. (h) Against Heskins Sâ—nders p. 10â— Fulke thus confesseth of Cyprian It is granted that Cyprian thought the bread and wyne brought forth by Melchisedech to be a sigure of the Sacrament and that heerein Melchisdech resembled the Priesthood of Christ. Terfullian liued Anno 220. whom thus Luke (i) Cent. 3. l. c. 9. Osiander accuseth Teâ—tullianus approbauiâ— oblationes prodefunctis Tertullian aid allow of oblations for the dead meaning the oblation of the sacrifice of Masse who also for this his sayd doctrine is with other Fathers thus reprehended by D. (k) In his confutatioÌ„ of Purgatory p. 302. Vide p. 103. â—3 Fulke Tertullian Cyprian Augustine Hierome and a great many more doe witnesse that sacrifice for the dead is a Tradition of the Apostles Irenaeus liued in the yeare 170. whom the Centurists thus censure De (l) Cent 〈◊〉 c 4. col â—3 oblatione Irenaeus l. 4. cap. 23. satis videtur lequi incommode cùm ait Nouâ— Testamenti nouam Christus docuit oblationem quam Ecclesia ab Apostolis accipiens in vntuersomundo offers Deo Irenaeus in lib. 4. cap. 23. sâ—â—meth to speake in conueniently inough of oblation or sacrifice when he sayth that Christ hath taught a new oblation in the new Testament the which the Church receauing from the Apostles offereth to God throughout the whole world Of this Father (m) De vera Eccles resorm exâ—ant in tract theolog p 389 Caluin thus writeth Obijciunt locum Malachia de missae sacrificio ab Irenae exponi breuiter responsum est ita ridiculè vt nos dissentire cogat ratio verit as The Papists doe obiect to vs that the place of Malachy is expounded by Irenaeus of the sacrifice of the Masse but the answere is at hand to wit it is so ridiculously expounded as that all reason and truth force vs to dissent from him Ignatius the Apostles scholler liued Anno whome the Centurists thus censure (n) Cent. 2 c 4. col 63. QuaedaÌ„ ambigua incommodè dicta in quibusdam occurruntâ— vt in epistola â—gnatij ad Smirnenses non licet inquit Ignatius sine Episcopo neq offerre neque sacrificium immâ—lare There are certaine doubtfull and inconuenient sayings which do occurre in diuers places as in Ignatius his epistle ad Smirnenses where he sayth it is not lawfull without a Bishop to immolate or offer vp Sacrifice which very wordes of Ignatius
ministred Touching the doctrine of the inuisiblity of the Protestant Church for many ages we do find our Brother D. Parkins (l) In his exposition of the Creed And Lut. ep ad Argentin sayth Christum à nobis primò vulgatum audemus gloriari thus to write During the space of nine hundred yeares the Popish heresy hath spred it selfe ouer the whole earth And further For many hundred yeares our Church was not visible to the world an vniuersall apostasy ouerspreading the whole face of the earth With whome accordeth D. (m) In his answere to a counterfeit Catholik pag. 16. Fulke saying From the tyme of Boniface the third which was Anno Domini 607. the Church became inuisible and fled into the wildernes there to remaine a long season But M. Napper (n) In his treatise vpon the ReuelatioÌ„ pag. â—8 ryseth higher teaching That between the years of Christ 300. and 316. the Antichristian and Papisticall raigue began raigning â—niuersally without any debatable contradiction one thousand two hundred sixty yeares M. Brocard (o) Vpon the Reuelation p. 110. affirmeth that during the second and third age after Christ the true temple of God and light of the Ghospell was obscured by the Roman Antichrist himselfe But Sebastianus (p) In epistola de abrogandis in vniuersuÌ„ on nibus statutis Ecclesiasticis Francus otherwise a learned Protestant stretcheth farre further saying For certaine through this worke of Antichrist the externall Church togeather with the fayth and Sacraments vanished away presently after the Apostles departure and that for these fourteene hundred yeares the Church hath not beene external and visible with whom conspireth D. (q) In his answere to a counterfeit Catholike p. â—5 Fulke in these wordes The true Church decayed immediatly after the Apostles tyme. A strange and inconsiderate assertion thus to insimulate and charge the tymes next to the Apostles since besides the Scripture (r) Isa 2 Miche as 4 Psalm 19. Matth. 5. witnessing in many places a continuall visibility of the Church and true fayth at all tymes it was Gods good pleasure that his Church concerning true fayth and doctrine should contrary to the course of other things enioy her greatest strength and force in her greatest infancy But to the point From all these testimonyes may be inferred that if the Protestants Church was for so many ages inuisible and that the true fayth and Sacraments thereof were vanished away for so long a tyme then during the length of so many ages there were no Doctours to preach the Protestants fayth nor Pastours to minister their Sacramentes though the same euer to haue beene in the Catholik Church the Protestants forsayd testimonyes do necessarily and implicitely witnes and consequently that the aboue alleadged Prophesy touching the continuance of Pastours Doctours in the Church of Christ at all tymes till the end of the world is not accomplished in the Protestant Church Thus farre heerof only for greater perspicuity I will wind vp the two different parts of all the foresayd Prophesyes in this ensuing argument Then thus It is prophesyed of the true Church of Christ that she must conuert heathen Kinges Kingdomes and Nations vnto her fayth and Religion Aâ— also that she must in all tymes and ages without interruption entoy aflours and Doctours and an administration of the word and Sacraments But by the confessions of our learned Brethren the Protestants the Protestant Church hath neuer as yet conuerted to it any one Heathen King kingdome Nation for many ages togeather by the ProtestaÌ„ts like acknowledgments it hath wanted Doctours and Pastours â—â—preach the Protestants fayth and to minisâ—er the word and Sacraments Therefore the Protestant Church is not that true Church of Christ which is figured out in those foresayd Prophesyes The inference I vrge this I presse in this I make my station It is drawne from acknowledged Scripture on all sides and from the acknowledged sense of the sayd Scripture on all sides Let any learned Protestant or all the learned Protestants liuing sincerely and plainely without subtile euading and declyning the point vrged giue any satisfactory answere heereto and I will indisputably become recreant in my fayth The demonstration is vnauoydable such as that seueral markable ProtestaÌ„ts one way not coÌ„fessing out of their implacable hatred the former Prophesies to be fullfilled in the Catholike Church another seeing by al proofe of historyes whatsoeuer that they haue not beene performed in the ProtestaÌ„t Church 1. s Dauid George Professour at Basil did from hence conclude a thought horrible to be entertained that the Christian Religion as wanting the accomplishments of the foresaid Prophesyes was a false Religion 2. Beruardin Ochine a man highly commeÌ„ded by caliâ—â—n l. de scandalis pag. 111. ouâ— Sauiour a seducer and themselues thereupon sinally became s Iewes I execrate a Iew therefore seeing there is no other Medium I will dye heerein a Roman Catholike 3. Neuserus chiefe Pastour of â—eideâ—hergc 4. Almanus a Zuinglion all which throught the reasons aboue touched forsooke the Christian fayth See of these some others Conradus Schluffelburg in his Theolog. Calu. and Osiander Cent. THE III. MOTIVE That generall Councells confirming Catholike Religion are reiected by Protestants IT is certaine that the spirituall Enemy of mans soule though hating Order yet in impugning the Truth obserueth order For after his reiecting of Canonicall Scripture and expounding falsly by his Ministers confessed scripture he next maketh violent incursions vpon sacred Oecumenicall Councels they being in matters of fayth the highest Iudgements vpon earth whose semences are aboue all appeale and whose testimonyes I hould as so many sealing arguments Therefore I much grieued to find the first and chiefest of our Religion peremptorily to sindicate and censure next to that of the Apostles the first and chiefest generall Councell I meane Luther the Nicen styling it (a) â—uth l. de Concil decrees fâ—enum stramen ligna stipula c. But no meruaile since so long as we continue in condemning the articles of Catholike religion so long are we forced to breake with those Primitiue generall Synods To exemplify in some few for the truths sake though it be more hard to erect a truth by proofes then to confute an errour Who is so Alphabeticall yong a Controuersist but he knoweth that the doctrine of Peters Primacy and his successours is confirmed in the Canons of the second generall (b) Epist ad Damal quae exstat apud Theodor Councell of Constantinople and the third of (c) Apud Eugagrium lib. hist c. 4. Ephesus In the one by plainely acknowledging the doctrine in the other by deposing Nestorius by the authority of the Sea of Rome That Apostolicall traditions are warranted by the first second Nicen Councel the first condeÌ„ning the (d) In actis eiusdem Concii heresy of Arius besydes by Scripture euen by force of Traditions the other (e) Epst.
Cyrill ad Nestor by teaching in expresse wordes the doctrine of Traditions That Baptisme wherein man is borne but not borne the sonne of Adam euen by force and vertue of the Sacrament it selfe taketh away sinne is euident out of the first of (f) Cap. de Baptism Nice and the first of (g) In symbol Constantinople That vowed Virgins Monks are to be in the Church of Christ and that such cannot marry is decreed by the Councell of (h) Can. 16. Caâ—â—edon Lastly that appeales to Rome which implicitly inuolues the Primacy of that Sea were ratifyed by the Councell of (i) Can. 7. Sardis Thus much for instance though the same might be iustifyed in many other Catholike articles where I haue restrained my proofes only to generall Councels and such as were celebrated within the first fiue hundred yeares after the diuine Maiesty vouchsafed for our good to embase himselfe by putting vpon the poore ragges of our humanity But heere I must needs take leaue to cast a more fixed eye vpon the dignity of generall Councels abstracting them from all priority and laternes of time since then our owne Brethren absolutly reiecting all such Councells as subiect to errour will needes ascribe that respect to their owne Priuate spirit which by all reasons both diuine and humane hath beene euer due to generall Councells vnto which perhaps they haue beene sooner moued partly through the infelicity (k) Many synods of ProtestaÌ„ts haue been but without any good euent not any one yet succeeding we as that at Maspurge anno 1529. at Smalâ—ald at Mull ruÌ„ at Montbelgard at Heidelberg at Aldeburge at Herizburg at Hamburge at Tubinge and finally besydes deuers others this last at Dort of their owne so many Prouinciall at most but Nationall Conuenticles in Germany and els where as yet neuer hauing good successe I hould it therefore not impertinent to display in some particulers the aduantages betweene a generall Councell and any Sectaryes priuate iudgment where no doubt we shall find that as easily may the lowest shrubs compare in height with the Cedars of Libanus as the sentence of any Priuate man who lyke a mastles ship is tossed with euery wind of InnouatioÌ„ contend in authority with a generall Councel Thus then If an Oecumenicall Councell indicted confirmed by lawfull authority representing the Maiesty of Gods Church as being the supreme Tribunall (l) So doth Augustin tearme a generall Councell ep 162. thereof assured by promise (m) where tow or three are gathered togeather in my name c. Matt. 18. of Christ his assisting presence warranted with the first example of that kind by the blessed (n) Act 15 Apostle highly reuerenced and magnifyed by the ancient (o) Aug. vbisupraâ— l. de Bapt. 6.18 Athan ep ad Epictet Basil ep 78. Ambr. ep 32. Leo epist 53. Hieron l. contra Luciferian c. Fathers acknowledged for the only meanes of determining Controuersy by some of our learnedest Protestants (p) Doct. Bilson in his perpetuali gouernement pag. 174. D. Couell in his modest examinat pag. 110. and ethers consisting of seueral of hundreds of most venerable Prelates conspicuous for vertue readynes in the Scripture variety of tongues and infinitenes of reading gathered from the most remote opposite regions of Christendome and therefore the lesse probable vpon their such sudden meeting ioyntly to imbrace any one point of Innouation battering dayly vpon their knees at the eares of Almighty God with most humble and feruerous prayer seconded with austere fasting and all this to the end that it would vouchsafe his diuine Goodnes so to guide and sterne this reuerend Assembly with his holy spirit as what expositions it giues of the Scripture or what otherwise it determines for vndoubted fayth may be agreable to his sacred Word and Truth Now notwithstanding all this if such a celebrious concourse and confluence of Pastours being the Mart or Rendeuous for the tyme of Vertue and Learning shall so fayle therein as that they may and haue sundry tymes most fowly erred as our supercilious contumacious Sectaryes (q) D. VVhitak l. de Conc. contr Bellarm q. 6. D. Fulke in his answere to a counterfait Catholike pag. 35. D. VVilet in his syaopfis p. 29â— auouch in their constructions of Scripture and resolutions of fayth though all such their decrees be otherwise warranted with a iudiciall conference of Scripture the generall practise of the Church and the conspiring testimonyes of all Antiquity If this I say may happen the best meanes thus producing the worst effects what shall we then conceaue of an obscure Syr Iohn a man engendred in the slyme of pride and ignorance who in some pointes euer subdiuideth himselfe from the rest of his brethren thus being resolued from whome to flye but not whome to follow so as he is truely condemned of heresy euen by the lying mouth of Heresy A man but competent in learning sometymes of a disedifying life not hauing any warrant from God for his proceeding nor president from his holy church yea one to whome God flatly denyeth r No prophesy of sâ—riptur is of any priuate interpretatioÌ„ 2. Pet. c. 1. this presumed certainty of his expounding his word and determining which is true fayth and further of whose spirit we are commanded to (s) Dearly beloued belieue not euery spirit but try the spirits 1. Ioan. c. 4. to doubt which is more of whose seducing we are most cautelously (t) These thinges I haue written vnto you concerning those which deceaue you Ioan. 1. c. 2. premonished Now if this man being in his Pulpit vpon the Lordes day in the presence of his ignorant yet censuring and psalming Auditory a fit Pathmos for his ensuing Reuelations there opening the Bible for thus falshood is forced to begge countenance from truth and vndertaking to expound some text or other for the establishing of his late appearing fayth though contrary to the iudgment of all ancient Councells affirming him selfe to be secured by special Euthysiasmes and illuminations from God for the better iudging the point controuerted rysing from his owne explication of Scripture Which being done what assurance may we haue of the truth of this his al-defyning spirit and is there not reason to expect more errours then sentences to drop from this mans mouth And what stupor then and dulnes is it to allow to such an one that infalibility of spirit which himselfe denyeth to a generall Councell Yet such is the forward blindnes of our enchanted Nouellists heerin who mantaine (u) So teach D. VVhitik lib. de Concil contra Bellar q 6. Peter Mar tyr lib. de votis D. Fulke in his answere to a counterfaite Catholike pag. 80. 90. D. VVillet in his synops pag. â—â—0 And Beza in his Preface of the new Testament anno 1587. thus saith Euen in the best tymes the ambition ignorance and lewdnes of Bishops was such as that the blind may easily
Vocation and Mission and yet withall most vncertaine in it selfe since euery Heretyke stamping any new blasphemyes whatsoeuer may with the lyke indifferency and freedome assume to himself this extraordinary Calling or Mission to preach his said blasphemyes And thus far heerof where we see that without any example since the Apostles tymes till the dayes of Luther we reduce the warraÌ„tablenes of our owne Callinge to the Ministery to our owne bate and naked iustifying of it as at other tymes we presume to recall the authority of the Scripture the exposition of confessed Scripture the testimonyes of the Fathers and the continuall practise of the whole Church to the ballance and examination of our owne priuate Spirit Such a Fastus Magistrality we do take to our selues in laying the first fundamentall stones of Protestancy But in the last place when all other shews of answers are wanting rhen we flatly peremptorily reiect their authorityes pronouncing them to be absolute maÌ„tayners of Papistry Touching our sharp seuere condemnations passed vpon them both in particular and in generall I referre the Reader to the former chapter concerning our reiecting of the Fathers But euen heer we show our selues not impoliticke and thus we varnish ouer our bad cause with this borrowed colour When our Aduersaryes charge vs for reiecting the Fathers testimonyes in proofe of the present Roman Religion our accustomed shift is to turne the question controuerted from the authority of the Father alleadged to the authority of the Scripture saying in such and such a doctrine the Papists relye vpon the Fathers men subiect to errour whereas we (a) Answerabey heereto Beza thus sayth If any shal oppose against me the authority of the encient Fathers I do appeale to the word of God So related by D. Bancroft in his Suruey p. 219. Protestants in the same poynts rest vpon Scripture thus subtilly making an Antithesis opposition between the Scripture and the Fathers And we appeale to all learned men say they whether the Scripture is not to be preferred before the Fathers This reason in a cleare eye is transparent for the Question heere is not whether the Scripture is to be preferred before the Fathers since the Catholyks grant that the Scripture as being most diuyne certaine and infallible is to ouerballance by infinite degrees all other wrytings whatsoeuer but the touch of the point heere controuerted is whether the auncient Fathers vrging the Scripture are to be preferred before the Protestants vrging the Scripture that is whether the expositions of the Fathers giuen vpon places of scripture in proofe of the Papists religion as we call them are to ouersway the contrary expositions of the same texts giuen by our nouellizing Brethren And heere the question resteth But I will close this poynt touching the Fathers with a cautelous and pregnant obseruation of our Brethren Whereas we reiect the Fathers for maintayning the Papists religion the articles of the same religion as they are beleiued by our Aduersaryes we (b) This different apâ—ellation is precisely obserued by Illyriâ—us and the other Century wryters by D. VVhitak and by diuers other ProtestaÌ„ts vsually tearme Heresyes Idolatry blasphemyes c. therby to show that the Papists are no members of Christs Church the which very articles being taught by the Fathers we gently style them in the Fathers naeuos naeniae and at the most eâ—rores sears blemishes and errours to the end to intimate that we do not separate our selues from that Church in which the Fathers are Deceitfully and withall vnlearnedly either Heresyes in all or but blemishes and errours in all since it is the doctryne which denominates and giues appellation to the Man not the Man to the doctryne Hitherto we haue taken in part a view of the seuerall sleights practized in our answeres to the Catholyks authorityes Next we will call to mynde our lyke carriage houlden by vs in impugning our Aduersaryes and their doctryne And first touching Councells or Definitions of the Pope When we make show to produce either of these authorityes against the Catholykes we commonly vrge some Prouinciall or Nationall Councell vnder the name of a generall Councell the difference wherein an ignorant Reader doth not easily discouer Or els we produce some one or other Councell which for number of Bishops assembled may be tearmed Generall yet Schismaticall that is a Councell not celebrated and allowed by the cheife Pastours of Gods Church and thus we vrge the Councell of Constantinople assembled against the doctrine touching Images Anno Dom. 730. it being very numerous but celebrated without the authority of the Pope or any Patriarch the Patriarch of Constantinople only excepted who for assenting to the Councell was depriued of his Patriarchship Sometymes againe we insist in the authority of a lawfull generall Councell to proue the beginning of som poynt of our Aduersaryes doctrin but then our vrging of it is commonly attended on with a wilfull mistaking for the Councell doth but only first impose the name of the article the doctryne it self being beleiued many ages before Thus doth D. (c) Lib 7. contra Duraeum pag 480. Whitaker besyds diuers others of vs alleadg the Councell of Lateran for bringing first in the doctrine of Transubstantion Whereas this Councell only imposed the name of Transubtantiation as the Councell of Nice did the name of Trâ—nity the doctryne being receaued longe afore the doctryne of Transubstantiation being generally many ages afore beleiued and taught by Cyrill (d) Peter Martyr contra Gardiner part 4. p. 724. Cyprian (e) The treatise attributed to Vrsinus called Commonefactio cuiâ—sdaÌ„ Theologi de sancta Coena p. 2.1 Eusebius (f) Centurists Ceut 4. col 10. pag. 980. Emissenus (g) Centurists Cent. 5. col 517. Chrysostome (h) D. Humfrey Iesuit sm part 2 â—at 5. Gregory the great euen by our owne Confessions When we obiect the Decree of any Pope thereby to shew the first Institution of such a Catholyke poynt we often make choyce of some Catholyke articles where the Decree of the Pope toucheth only the execution or practise of the doctrine afore partly intermitted through negligence and not the doctryne it self In this sort we fynd D Whitaker who hath much dishonored his good parts by these vnworthy proceedings to alledge Innocentius the third Pope of that name saying (i) Contrâ— Duraeum l. 7. p. 490. Innocentius the third was the first that instituted anâ—icular Confession for necessary Whereunto our Aduersaryes doe answere that this Innocentius commanded that the practise of Confession should be better and more often obserued they further prouing euen by the confession of our owne Centurists that Tertullian and Cyprian who liued longe before Innocentius the third did teach to vse the Centurists (k) Cent. 3. c. 6. c. 27. words Confession euen of thoughts and lesser Sinnes With the same fraud doth e D. Whitaker charge Pope Calixius (l) Lib 7. centra
Duraeum pag. 480. with the first instituting of the fast of Lent being in his tyme negligently obserued the doctryne of which fast was so auncient that (m) Exam Coucil Trid part â— pag. 89. Kemnitius thus writeth heerof Ambrose Maximus Taurinensis Theophilus Ierome and others do affirme the fast of Lent to be an Apostolicall Tradition Now the Collusion heere vsed in these examples resteth in a willfull confounding of the first Institution of a thing with a renouation of the practise of the said thing Againe we sometymes obiect thereby to intimate an vncertainty of Catholike Religion some canon or sentence decreed afore by a lawfull Councell and true Pope and after impugned by another lawfull Councell and true Pope But this then which the vulgar doth not obserue doth concerne not matter of fayth and doctrine which neuer fuffereth any alteration by Popes or Councells but only matter of fact the sentence whereof though afore giuen may without any impeachment of the Churches authority vpon better and later information be altered Such were the alterable decrees of the Popes Formosus and Stephanus the seauenth in their seuerall Councells grounded principally vpon matter of fact vsually obiected by vs against our Aduersaryes of which point see Sigebert in his Chronicle Whereas our Aduersaryes as aboue is deliuered show that many of our Protestant doctrines were condemned for heresyes by Augustine Hierem Epiphanius others in those primitiue tymes Now we by way of recrimination do confidently auouch the same of diuers Catholike articles to wit that euen in those dayes they were condemned for heresyes by the sayd Fathers but how truely we auerre this good Reader obserue and if thou be a Protestant blush in thy brethrens behalfe Two examples shall serue for many Well then D. (o) In his Chalenge concerning the Roman Church p. 113. Sutcliffe and D. (p) In his answere to a counterfeit Cath. pag. 22. Fulke insimulate the Catholikes with the heresy of the Collyridans who according to Epiphanius were condemned as these men say for worshipping the Virgin Mary But let (q) Haeres 79. Epiphanius heere explaine himselfe his wordes are these Hi qui hoc docent qui sunt prae terquam mulieres Who teach this except they be women So as this fect consisted only of women of whome Epiphanius thus further writeth Sellam (r) Vbi supra quadratam ornantes panem proponunt offerunt in nomine Mariae c. that is These women adorning a square table do set bread thereupon and offer it in the name of Mary Thus their errour consisted in instituting a feminin Priesthood in sacrifying to Mary belieuing her to be a God And thereupon Epiphanius in the very same place thus censureth heerof Deo ab aeterâ—o nullatenus Mulier sacrificauit c. And againe Neq Deus est Maria c. nemo in nomine eius offerat How farre distant are the Catholikes from mantayning this Heresy either in their doctrine or practise Againe for a second example D. (s) In his answere to a Counterfeit Catâ— pag. 22. Fulke thus speaketh to the Catholikes Of the Heretikes Caiani you haue learned to calvpoÌ„ the Angels he alleadging Epiphanius for the same But Epiphanius wordes are these farre different from D. Fulkes application Non (t) Haeres 38. posse aiunt aliquos saluari nisi c. The heretiks Caiani taught none could be saued till they had gone through all sinnes and committing thereupon wicked thinges and actions they called vpon the name of such as were true Angells and of such as were by them vntruly tearmed Angells referrin to this Angell and that Angell proprian actionem their peculiar action saying when they committed their wickednes O tu Angele vtor tuo opere O Angell I now vse or execute thy worke c. Thus their errour consisted not in calling vpon the Angells but in calling both vpon true false Angells as making them Patrons of their wicked actions Would any man thinke we should wrong our owne reputation and honours in vsing these willfull and iniustifyable misapplications and forgeryes against the Catholikes We are scholars and should remember that as learning beautifyeth the mind so candor and integrity learning And therfore it is strange to see D. Willet in his Tetrastyson Papiseni D. Fulke and D. Sutcliffe in their afore alleadged bookes thus to bloâ— paper in labouring by these and other such like detortions of the Fathers words to perswade their Readers that many articles of Catholike Religion were condemned for heresyes in those ancient tymes But to proceed to other passages of this our Scene whereby we seeke thus to bleare the iudgementes of our credulous followers The better to grace our Religion with the venerable title of Antiquity some of vs (u) D Pulk in his answere to a counterfeit Catâ— passim M VVotion in his desence of D. Perkins pag. 500. touching â—ouâ—nian are not ashamed to insist in the former old registred heretiks of the primitiue church aboue rehearsed vrging them for Protestants But what gaine we heereby For first not any one of them did hould more then two or three points of Protestancy in all others being Catholike Againe such their points of Protestancy though first broached so long since were instantly condemned by the whole Church of God And who knoweth not that erring Antiquity is no better then late appearing Innouation I heere passe ouer our alleadging for these later ages as partly aboue touched of Waldo Wicklifse Husse Polydor Virgil Nilus Cassander and the like for members of the Protestant Church of which not any one was a perfect Protestant both because euery one of them euer belieued most articles of the Catholike Church dissenting from it only in two or three as also in that diuers of them mantayned sundry grosse (x) Whereof see their owâ— books yet extant and absurd doctrines both in our and the Catholikes iudgements and this with great stifnes and pertinancy of will which pertinacy euer consummates perfects an heresy And thus by this their obstinancy contemning the authority of Gods Church they became as I may tearme them formall and positiue heretikes though heresy be but a priuation To proue that Catholikes do disagree in matters of Fayth we obiect some differences among them but such if they be well obserued doe not rest in the Conclusion it selfe of the doctrine belieued but in the manner or some other circumstance of the Conclusion or article of faith which manner except it be defy ned by the Church may be disputed of and seuerally mantained without breach of fayth Thus they all conspyre and agree in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Schoolmen speake though not in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which later point is commonly reduced and tryed by scholasticall diuinity Thus for example when Christ descended into Lymbus Patrum to deliuer the soules of the Iust from thence some few Catholiks mantaine that he descended efficacioussy
continued in the world but by the Ministery of the Pastours and Doctours In like sort touching the continuall administration of the Sacraments the same is more particulerly euicted from the cleare wordes of our Sauiour and S. Paul seeing by the help of them we shal show (*) 1. Cor. 11. the Lords death vntill be come A point so euident that it lyeth out of the way of all Contradiction and therefore we Protestants in plaine wordes mantaine That the absence (f) Doctor VViles in his Synopsis pag. 1. of the Sacraments doth make a nullity of the Church And againe in D. Whâ—takers (g) Centra Duâ—aâ—â—m l. 3. p. 249. phrase That the administration of the word and Sacraments being present doth constitute a Church being absent doth subuert it and againe as the same Doctour (h) Vbi supra pag. 260. styleth them that they are Ecclesiae essentiales proprietates Thus do we and Catholikes ioyntly teach that not at sometymes only the Church of Christ being his intemerate immaculat spouse is to enioy Pastours Doctours and the vse of the word and Sacraments at other tymes to be wholy destitute of them ague-like hauing thus accesses and remittings but that at all tymes in all ages in al seasons the Church without any interruption is to continue in it full Orbe by euer enioying the foresayd meanes of mans saluation Now this being the true and confessed sense of all sides of the former Prophesyes We are to examine if in the Protestant Church the administration of the word and Sacraments haue for any ages or yeares beene interrupted since such an interruption being once proued it then ineuitably followeth that the Protestant Church is not that true Church of Christ which is delineated and descrybed in the former wordes by the Apostle To euict this our Aduersaryes the Catholikes do instance in the last hundred years before Luther vrging that if any such administration of the Word Sacraments had been in that age some one history or other would haue mentioned the Pastours and Doctors of those dayes But all historyes and relations of that age say they are most silent therein What answere can we giue heereto To produce any one Historiographer of that age but intimating so much we are not able Shall we then say as some of vs haue not beene ashamed to suggest that the Pope did determinately cause all such narrations both of former tymes and of that age aboue instanced concerning Protestancy to be suppressed thereby to bury in obliuion all memory of Protestant Religion It is a phantasy it is a dreame The personall faults and vices of some Popes are (i) So was Gregory the seaâ—eÌ„th wrote against by Bâ—nno Benedictus 3. by the Councell of Constance Eugâ—nius 4. by the Councel of Basil and sâ—m others recorded in Historyes yet to be read Is it then probable that the Popes were so solicitous to extinguish all remembrance of the Protestant Payth and yet content to suffer the lesse warrantable liues of themselues and their Predecessours to be recorded for all posterity Againe in the Canons of the CouÌ„cells of euery age there is frequent mention made of particuler heresyes which then embroyled the Church condemned by the sayd Councells Can we then thinke it possible to speake morally not metaphisically that the Pope and the Councells should be so distracted in iudgment as carefully to register all other impugned Heresyes and on the other side as carefully to suppresse all arysing opinions of Protestancy It is improbable it is absurd Lastly besides that the particuler subiect of all Ecclesiasticall historyes in the relation of new doctrins recorded in the sayd historyes are not the writinges of Husse Wykcliffe and others wherin they first disgorged forth some few pointes of Protestancy yet extant euen to these dayes So transparent in a cleare eye the former answere is Or shall we secondly labour to euade our Aduersaryes pressing vs by clayming Waldo VVikcliffe Husse and such others for pastours of the Protestants Church in their tymes Durum telum necessitas our challenging of them ryseth from our extreme want and penury It is most cleare that the foresayd men were no true Protestants since not only they euer retained most of the points of Catholike religion comparting with vs Protestants only in three or foure articles but also they broached diuers errours vniustify able in our owne and our Aduersaryes iudgments with which their owne writinges do still vpbraid them So much haue some of vs (k) Pox Act. Mon. pag. 618. p. 85. diuers other ProtestaÌ„ts wronged the reputed honour of our owne Church by pretending those former Heterogeneous and mongrill Sectaryes to be true meÌ„bers therof Againe suppose them to be entyre ProtestaÌ„ts it but iustifyeth the being of ProtestaÌ„t Doctors Pastours only for their own tymes we not being able to instaÌ„ce the like for diuers ages before them But sooner shall the seas ebbing and flowing forsake the moones course then the true Church of Christ be depriued but for one age yeare or day of her Pastours and an answerable administration of the Word and Sacraments Or shall we say that in the age aboue instanced as also in many other ages before there were Pastours and Doctours of the Protestant Church notwithstanding by reason of the tyranny of the Pope they were latent and vnknowne How inexplicable or rather contraditory is this Did those Pastours conceale their owne fayth through seare of persecution the strongest pulse which beateth in weakest mindes ioyning in outward show with the supposed Idolatry of the Church of Rome Then were they dissemblers forsakers of their owne Religion and no good members of the Church Ore (*) Rom. 10. fit confessiâ— ad salutem Did they openly professe notwithstanding the imaginary rage of their enemyes their fayth and exercise the Word the SacrameÌ„ts Then by so doing they were made most eminent for what Church is better known theÌ„ that Church which liueth vnder the hatches of persecution resembling the Sunne which is best subiect to the eye in it lowest descent Or what man can for his religion be persecuted which is not knowne Eye-witnesses heereof are those Countryes wherein the Catholike religion at this day suffereth pressures tribulations But to draw towards an end the doctrine of the Churches inuisibility mantayned by many of vs Protestants is a Supersedeas to all our former answeres since it irrefragably euicteth the want of Pastours and Doctours and consequently an interruption of the Word and Sacraments except we wil misapply to the Pastours and Doctours those words of Tacitus Eo ipso praefulgebant quod non visebantur For if the Protestant fayth for many ages was absolutly extinct and no such religion was then mantayned in any Countrey then followeth it that there were neither men in the world to preach the Word and minister the Sacraments according to that religion nor any to heare it preached or receaue theÌ„