Paulinâ— 2. hist. Eccle. Ruffini libro ca. 11. Seuero Sulpitio in vita B. Martiâ—â— his miraculous election to the Bishopricke of Millan his long extasie with which he was taken at the altar when S. Martin Bishop of Turon dyed his prediction of the day of his death before hee fell sicke the three visions or admonishments giuen by the voyce of God himselfe to Honoratus bishop of Vercella for his repaire to the said saint when he lay a dying and for ministring vnto him his last Viaticum the body of our Lorde These wee say might be alleadged for testimony of his holinesse Neuerthelesse wee will content our selues with the rehearsall onely of that miracle which d Vbi supra Paulinus mentioneth of an obstinate Arian who being present at a sermon of saint Ambrose sawe and was thereupon conuerted an Angell to stand at his eare whilst he was preaching appeared to suggest vnto him the words he spake to the people All which are euident arguments of the saints true faith his peculiar fauor with God and of the vndoubted veritie of his doctrine Touching S. Hierom although both the ioynt censure of the a Sub Innocentio 1 anno Christi 402. Mileuitane Councel consisting of 59. Bishops whereof S. Augustine was one giuing him the attribute Holie in his life time and the b In decreto de apocryphis Scripturis circiter annum Christi 1495. testification of S. Gelasius and of 70 other Bishops in session with him surnaming him blessed and most blessed after his death bee argument sufficient to proue his sound faith and holinesse as also that our Sauiour most comfortably appeared vnto him in the houre of his death as Marianus Victorius and other writers of his life affirme Yet because we desire to be more full in this point wee thinke it necessary hauing choise of miracles to recite a fewe of many S. Hierom c Eusebius Cromonensis discipulus B. Hieron in epist de mort eius ad Damasum Portuensem episcop Habetur in calâ—e Tom. 9. creditur esse eiusdem teste Censura Reatim episcopi Amerini in eundem Temum drawing neere to his ende the blessed sacrament of the Altar was brought vnto him which hauing receiued and holding his armes acrosse ouer his breast sayd the Hymne of holy Simeon and presently as that was ended there appeared so glorious a light in the roome where hee lay as the exceeding brightnesse and splendor thereof piercing and dazeling the beholders eyes none that were present could any while endure to looke thereon which continuing some space companies of Angels were seene odoriferous smels felte and a voyce heard saying Come my beloued it is time that thou receyue thy reward for thy labours manfully sustayned in my cause Being dead the blind deafe dumb sick were d Ibidem healed some by touching some by kissing his body Likewise the possessed brought in presence of the corps the diuels going out of them cryed e Ibidem Holy Hierome why doest thou thus grieuously torment vs thou wert alwayes our scourge both liuing and now dead What neede more recitals God seemed so wonderfully tender and zealous of his seruants fame and honor as f Ibidem when a certayne Heretike enraged with enuy against the working of the foresaid miracles and wishing that the body were burnt himselfe was presently by fire descending from heauen consumed to ashes whereupon many other infected with the same heresie were perfectly conuerted Wonderful thinges but they are saintes that reporte them saintes that wrought them and g Psal 67. vers 36. God is admirable in his Saintes We haue beene long in the Narrations precedent wherefore our briefenesse in the two that follow must be the greater Possidius Bishop and disciple of S. Augustine who liued almost a Cap. vlt. de vita Augustin fortie yeeres familiarly with him as himselfe writeth affirms b Cap. 29. ibid. that he knew S. Augustine both when he was Priest after he was Bishop to haue being absent expelled diuels from out the possessed by meanes of his prayers and teares for them And that in his death-bed hee c Cap. eodem cured a sicke-man by laying his handes vpon him whome God by vision had commanded to repaire to that ende vnto him By which miracle his diuine goodnesse intended no doubt as it were with his owne hand and seale to testifie to the world and all posteritie the holinesse of his seruant and the trueth and pietie of the doctrine he had taught Concerning S. Gregorie his d Iohanne Diaconus lib. 2. cap. 22. de vita B. Greg. receiuing of an Angell and of e Ibid. cap. 23. the Lord of Angels in the persons of poore Pilgrimes to his table is sufficient proofe of his sanctitie and of Gods extraordinary loue towards him And that he taught no hereticall superstitious or false doctrine it is likewise manifest by the sitting of the holy Ghost on his head in forme of a Doue at the time of writing his boobes as f Apud Iohan. Diac. lib. 4. cap. 69. de vita B. Gregorij Petrus Diaconus a deare familiar friend of S. Gregories and much conuersant with him witnesseth to haue seen most often How powerable also this holy Doctors prayers were with God it well appeareth by this that for the g Idem lib. 2. cap. 41. conuersion of an incredulous and misbeleeuing woman thinking the bread which her selfe had made could not be chang'd into the body of Christ he both turned a sacred host into appearance of flesh and after againe into the forme of bread as it carried before Which with other manifold miracles of his most clearely testifieth that he was neither of ill life nor ill beliefe but holy in the one and Apostolicall in the other Neither did the said foure Doctors a consideration of much importance differentlie teach or one impugne the other in any of the points of doctrine aboue mentioned but they all concurred in one vniformitie of opinion without contradiction or least shew of dissent Yea not only these foure most renowned Clearks the chiefe lights of Gods Church next after the Apostles agreed most vniformelie as we haue said in the foresaid controuerted points of religion but all the primitiue writers conspired likewise in the same As in proofe of the sacrifice vse and holinesse of the Masse a Apostolicar constitut li. 6. ca. 23. epist 2. 3. de officio sacerdotum clericor Clement consecrated b Tertullian de praescript cap 32. Epiphanius haeresi 27. Ruffinus in praefati libri Recognitionum Bishop of Rome by S. Peter c Ecclesiasti Hierar cap. 3. Dionysius Areopagita S. Pauls d Act. 15. disciple and by him e Heldumus Abbas ordained Bishop of Athens f Epist ad Smyrn Ignatius S. Iohn Euangelists g Simeon Metaphrastes in vita eius auditor and by common coÌ„sent of the Apostles
the reclaiming of the lapsed l Circiter A. D. 1150. Ranulphus li. 7. ca. 22. Hungarians In the twelfth age the Pomeranians the Noruegians by Nicholas an English Moncke employed in that holie worke by Pope Eugenius the third The which Nicholas was afterwarde chosen Pope of Rome and named Hadrian the fourth and gaue the dominion of Ireland to king Henrie 2. Stow in anno 7. Henrici 2. with condition of propagating the Christian faith there of preseruing the rights of the Church entire and inuiolated and of paying a yeerely pension of a penny for euery house in the Kingdome In the 13. age the a Anno Dom. 1205. Liuonians by b Crantzius lib. 7. cap. 13. S. Medardes the c An. Dom. 1230. Lituanians by d Mâ—rtinus Chromer lib. 8. the knightes of S. Marie the e Anno Dom. 1270. Sabellicus Gâ—iliâ—lmus de Nangiaco Emperour Cassanes with innumerable Tartarians In the fourâ—teenth age f Anno Dom. 1300 Niceph. Gregor Histor. lib. 4. Azatines Emperour of the Turkes the Isles of the Canaries the g Anno Dom. 1344. Bozius lib. 4. cap. 5. reuolted Lituanians the h Anno Dom. 1346. Sebastiâ—nus Munsterus in Cosmograph Cumans the Bosnians the Lipnensians the Patrinians and other Sclauonian nations by Pope Clement the 6. and Lewes king of Hungarie In the fifteenth age the i Anno Dom. 1350. Michael Rit lib. 2. Bonfin deca 2. lib. 10. Samogetians the kingdomes of Bentonine Guinea Angola and k Anno Dom. 1412. Martin Chrom lib. â—8 Congo In the sixteenth and last age to speake in generall without descending to any particulars more 〈…〉 inces Nations and numbers of rich Kingdomes and Empires were brought to the knowledge of Christ and embracing the catholike Romane faith by the labours of the Dominican and Franciscan Friers and the fathers of the societie of Iesus God attesting his cause and trueth by seuerall miracles then all Christendom twice yea perhaps more then thrice tolde contayned before which beside the record of all Cosmographies and Histories of this subiect may plainely bee demonstrated in that before the last Centenarie or not many yeeres different the Christian Religion extended not it selfe beyond the riuer Ganges Eastward and the Isles of the Canaries in the West which scope and space is counted no more then of an hundreth and twenty degrees but the circuite of the world which is now sailed and euery or most where portes of Christians found therein is of three hundred and threescore degrees which is full out thrice l Anno Dom. 1485. as much The fewe precedents most renowmed Prince collected out of many that might be added doe very cleerely shew not onely that the aboue-rehearsed and other prophesies and promises of God of dilating the place of his Tents and of spreading Esa 54. â— out the curtaines of his Tabernacle that is the boundes of his Church Christs Spouse and temporall Kingdome are to the eye fulfilled in the encreasing societies and continuance of our religion but that also the Word of wisedome and the Worde of knowledge graces giuen by the testimonie of Saint Paul 1. Cor. 12. â— in the Church by the holy Ghost to the profite of others haue their residences in the teachers of our religion and that in how eminent and most powerfull manner the conuersion of the former Nations beareth most apparant witnesse for there can be no doubt made but that some if not the most parte of the foresayde Nations and sortes of people were of excellent dexteritie and iudgement and therefore very vnlike that they were ledde away specially from the religion and rites they were bredde and borne in without store of solide and substantiall reasons mouing them thereunto And it is as little questionable whether some of them were not also of a knotty vntractable or vntameable nature of a prowde obstimate and hawtie disposition drowned in vncleanenesse and delighting in the varieties of libertie lets and strongest impeachments of imbracing the discipline purenesse and austeritie of our Christian catholike religion and the conquering of them a plaine demonstration that their Conuerters all stoute professors of the Romane religion â—aught that doctrine which the Prophet calleth a lawe conuerting soules and the Apostle the liuely Psal 18. 8. Heb. 4. 12. and forcible word more piercing then any two edged sword Likewise that they fought not with the leather sheathe the letter onely of Scripture but with the letter and true sense which onely is the Sword of the spirit that reacheth vnto the diuision of Ephes 6. 17. Heb 4 12. Luke 1. 79. Esa 30. 23. the soule The bright Candle Luke 11. 37. that illuminateth those that sitte in darkenesse And the seede to which God promiseth to giue rayne for the rich fructifying thereof And finally that they were also true imitators of the Apostles in doctrine and office as becomming Fishers of mâ—n drawing them out of Matth 4. 1â— Mark 1. 17. the Sea of infidelitie into the harbour of Christianitie a badge or attribute giuen to the Apostles and verified in none but in catholike teachers Neither did then nor doth now the word of wisedomâ— and knowledge a gifte proper to Gods Church 1. Cor. 12. 8. worke in our catholike teachers vpon Infidels onely but the same extended and still extendeth his power and diuine efficacie to the bringing forth of as rare or more rare effectes vpon beleeuing Christians namely in exciting men and women of all ages and estates euen a â—amba King of Spaine Hugo King of Prouince Rachis King of Lombardie Sigismundus King of Burgundie Vâ—remundus King of Castile Ranimirus King of Aragon Ethelred and Kâ—neredus Kings of Mercia Sigebert Kings of Northumberland A frod Ceolulphus Egbert Sâ—bba Kings of England Offa and Ina. Henry he fourth King of Denmarke Carlomannus King of Almaine Trebellius King of Bulgarie Cazimirus King of Poland and others Kings b Radegund Queene of France Margaret Queene of France Brigit Queene of Sueden Etheldreda Queene of Northumbers Sexbarga Q. Q. of Westsaxons others Ethelburga Queenes c Lotharius Earle of Romans and others Emperours d Richardix wife of Carolus Crassus Emperour Chunegundis wife of Henry Emper. and others and Empresles to relinquish the world renounce the pleasures and delights thereof and deuote and binde themselues to a poore chast and obedient life vnder the command and direction of others Of which religious companies some eate no flesh but in time of sicknesse only or other necessitie and obserue both silence and solitarinesse as do the Benedictines some neuer eate flesh at all weare alwayes shirts of haire go not forth of their Cloysters nor speake to their fellowes but with leaue as doe the Carthusians some neither eate flesh egs nor whitâ—-meates and fast three parts of the yere as do the Bouhomes Some discipline themselues sundrie times in the weeke or daily go barefoote touch no money haue
nothing in proper nor in common and beg their foode from dore to dore as do the Capuccines some attend the sick in all diseases assist them with ghostly counsell prouide them Sacraments and burie their dead bodies as do certaine fraternities some clense vlcers and festered sores nor refuse any office how base and loathsome soeuer about impotent criples and lazars as do the Nunnes of S. Elizabeths order And all these with other diuers orders that after another manner labour to mortifie themselues and do good to others he vpon no other beds but of straw rise at midnight sleepe little and spend much time in prayer and meditation Which are no conditions of life that either a Rom. 13. 14 make prouision for the flesh in concupiscences or b Galat. 5. 16. do seeke to accomplish the desires or c Titus 3. 3. serue the voluptuousnesse thereof sinnes which the Apostle forbiddeth but rather formes of life that d Galat. 5. 24. crucifie the flesh with her vices and concupiscences do e Galat. â— 19. naile them to the Crosse with Christ and render both f Galat. 6. 14. the world crucifide to those that so liue and them to the world Vertues which by the testimonie of the same Apostle g Galat. 5. 24. make their dooers the seruants of Christ and h Galat. 2. 20. to liue now not they but Christ in them Effects of no false religion 30. A religion from which Countries eyther departing or mingling other doctrines with it made present wracke of their former felicities falling eyther into flatte Apostafie or most lamentable bondage or both The instances are The i Theodoretuâ— lib. 4. cap. 32. Sozomen lib. 6. cap. 37. Goths while they remained Catholike florished and enlarged their territories but becomming Arians were shortly expelled thence by the Hunnes then Infidels The like and by like occasion befell the k Iornandes de rebus gest Dacians Mysians and Pannonians by inuasion of the Hunnes Gepides and Rugians The l Ex Aenea Siluâ—â— in Eur. cap. 16. 17. Anto. Sabel Enne 10. lib. 6. ex Chronicis earundem Nationum alijsque Historijs Dalmatians Gaulls Britanes Spaniards and the Africans by superinducing or mixing one the heresie of Manichaes another the herisie of Vigilantius the thirde the heresie of Pelagius the fourth the heresie of Priscillian the last the heresie of Donatus with the catholike religion were conquered and supplanted the Dalmatians by the Turke the Gaules by the French the Britaines by the English the Spaniardes by the Goths the Africanes by the Vandals To which may be added the Germanes wasted and subiected by Aâ—tila to the seigniory of the Hunnes after the Arian heresie had rooted it selfe in seuerall quarters and prouinces of their Countrey The inhabitants also of the citie Iulinum who being conuerted to the Ortelius in Rugia ex Saxone Helmoldâ— Cranâ—zio Romane faith and falling againe from it were all consumed both cittizens and cittie with fire from heauen Touching the Countries in the East after they beganne to dishonour themselues with newe doctrines they so fast ratine headlong therein an inseparable propertie of all heresie because they are vnbounded and lacke a defining and binding power that in short while after to witte in the raigne of Heraclius the Emperour there were on foote d Nicâ—ph lib. 18. 45. Iacobitans Georgians Theopaschite Armeniaens Monophysites Agnoetans Staurablatans Monothelites Seuerites Aphtarthodocites Phantasiasts Manichaes Tetradites Tritheites Arians Nestorians sixteene seuerall sortes of beleefe but what followed First Chosroes king of the Persians sacked Ierusalem and much weakened the Empire Then Heraclius the Emperour turned Monothelite Mahomet that infernall monster being made the Captaine of the Saracens tooke Syria and Aegypt Anno Dom 635. Mesopotamia An. Dom. 639. and afterward all Africa Finally we thinke that in the reuolution of the fifteene first ages the Nation or kingdome cannot be named which forsaking the catholike Romane religion or not keeping it whole and inuiolated was either not conquered or miserably torne by ciuill diuision and slaughters 31. A religion whose professant companie or congregation hath bene euermore since the first planting thereof very visible and perspicuous as the seuerall resemblances parables and figuratiue speeches vsed in holy Scripture doe cleerely testifie that the true Church and Spouse of Christ should euer be comparing her to a a Psal 18. 5. tabernacle placed in the Sunne to a b Esa 2. 2. mountaine prepared in the toppe of mountaines to a c Matth. 5. 15. Citie scituated on a hill to a d Matth. 3. 12. Luke 3. 17. Floore to a e Mat. 13. 47. Nette a f Iohn 10. 16. Sheepefolde a g Luk. 14. 16. great Supper a h Mat. 21. 33. Luke 20. 9. Vineyard c. and her doctrine to a i Matth 5. 15. Candle put vpon a candlesticke shining to all that are in the house that is in the world as k Tract 2. in epist Ioan. S. Austen vnderstandeth the place things that are all most visible and obuious to weakest sense and therefore doe proue that the true Church ought to be alwayes visible and apparant to the view of others Neither is the word Church to be found throughout the whole body of Scripture to signifie other then a visible knowne multitude and the reason is plaine why it must so signifie because it were otherwise impossible for any one to ioyne himselfe to the true Church perseuere therein obey the head and be subiect to the Prelates thereof which all are bound to doe by the expresse word of God lawe of nature and vnder heauiest Matth. 18. 17. Ephes 5. 23. Hebr. 13. 17. curse and censure of damnation if the Church were or could be inuisible or not remonstrable For vnto things hidden inuisible there can be no repaire no adherence nor homage of duetie or tribute of obedience defrayed Nay to deny the perpetuall visibilitie and duration of the Church were in great parte to euacuate Christes passion and plainely to robbe him of the ende he suffered for namely to sanctifie and cleanse his Church as S. Paul witnesseth and to render Ephes 5. 26. it glorious vnto him It were the Church being as the same Ephes 1. 23. Apostle writeth Christs bodie and the fulnesse of him to make Christ a head bodylesse and take as it were his totalitie or perfection from him it were to diuorce our Sauiour from his dearely beloued spouse formed out of his side vpon the crosse Ephes 5. 29. and inseparably ioyned in marriage with him it were to bereaue his omnipotent Maiestie of his house kingdome lotte and 1. Tim 315. Colos 1. 14. Psal 2. 8. heritage vpon earth for such is his Church vnto him and so callâ—d in holy Scripture yea It were directly to charge the Prophets the Apostles and euen Christ himselfe either with vntrueths or absurdities The Prophets because these words are read
not nor can be euer proued to haue bene fulfilled in any other Church saue only in the Catholike Romane Church and in it most apparantlie demonstrable by the Ecclesiasticall histories of all ages and by the short space or rather momentarie blast of time that all other religions compared with ours haue indured 34. A religion whose doctrine is to be traced euen vp to the Apostles chaire by true and lawfull succession of Bishops euery one of them holding vnitie with his predecessor and keeping still as the Apostle directeth the depositum that descended from hand to hand vnto them Which vninterrupted line of succession neuer leaping ouer the head of any one age or yeare and drawing his originall from the Apostles can not but necessarily proue that our Church is only the true Apostolicall Church and that we continue and contend Coloss 1. 23. phil 3. 16. iude vers 3. as we are commanded in and for the faith which was first preached And it is also euident by the irrefragable authoritie of S. Paul that the Romanes had once the true faith affirming d their faith to be renowmed in the whole world and common to Rom. 1. 8. cap. 16. him and them Likewise it is euident by the vniforme report of all Ecclesiasticall histories and by the writings of all the Fathers a Theodoretus in ca. 16. epist ad Rom. Prosp carmine de ingr in principiâ— S. Leo de Nâ—t Petri. Aug. contr epist Fund ca. 4. Orosius lib. 7. ca. 6. Chrisost in Psal 88. Epiph. har 27. Prud. in hym 2. S. Laurentij hym 12. Optatus lib. 2. contr Donatist Ambr. lib. 5. epist de basilicis tradendis Hiero. in Catalogo Lactantius lib. 4. ca 21. de vera Sapien. Eusebius hist Eccle. li. 2. ca. 13. 15. Athanas de fugasua Cipria epist 55. nu 6. Tert. de praesâ—r nu 4. li. 4. Contr. Marcio nu 4. Origin in Gen. apud Euseb lib. 3. ca. 1. Irenaus lib. 3. ca. 3. Hegesippus lib. 3. ca. 2. de Excid Hierosolym Caius Papias Dionis Episco Corinth citati per Euseb lib. 2. ca. 14. 24. Ignat. epist ad Rom. Concil Calced act 3. and others Greeke and Latine yea and by the very sence and sight of sundrie monuments yet extant that S. Peter was at Rome suffred death there and was the first Bishop of that See Now if our Counterpleaders can sufficientlie shew as we are sure the whole world cannot either that the Romanes haue since that time left the faith which S. Paul commended in them or that any of the succeeding Bishops to S. Peter in that See haue changed the first faith by paring away any part thereof or by adding any new doctrine contrarie to the rule of the former or what was not taught before by the Fathers and after explicitiuely added as a more cleare and particular declaration of the same if this we say can be sufficientlie shewed by naming the Pope or other man who in such sort changed the primitiue faith and the point or points of faith that were so changed together with the time and place when and where the change was first made we yeeld our selues to be prophane Nouellers yea Heretikes and most worthie of the fagot 35. A religion whose doctrine so generallie symboliseth and holdeth the like absolute consent with all parts of holie Scripture that were euer receiued of the Christian world with the decrees of all confirmed Oecumenicall Counsels and with the ioint assertions of all auntient Fathers as she is not driuen like b The Lutheran and Caluinist reiect Baruch Tobie Iudith the booke of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus the Machabees certaine Chapters of Esther the last part of Daniel And the Lutherans the Epistle of S. Iames S. Paul to the Hebrews the Epistle of Saint Iude the second of Saint Peter the second and third of Saint Iohn other Religions for defending her positions to reiect either Scripture Councell or the vniforme opinion of Doctors but taketh the approbation of her doctrine from them all and teacheth all her children out of S. Augustine c Epist 118. ca. 5. Disputare contra id quod tota per orbem frequentat ecclesia insolentissimae dementiae est To call the lawfulnesse of that into question which the whole Church frequenteth throughout the world is most insolent madnesse 36. A religion which no persecution coulde any time vanquish nor the conioyned forces malice and machination of Pagan Iewe or other her most powrefull enemies nor yet that which is infinitely of far more force to this end the wicked liues of seuerall her professors and chiefe rulers either haue hitherto or shall to the worlds end as we assuredly beleeue euer be able to extirpate it wholie or so to darken the visibilitie or beautie thereof as to make it no where to appeere or not to shine Nay God hath alwayes bin so strong on her side as the more she was persecuted the more she multiplied An obseruation that long since caused a In Tryphone Iustinus to resemble our Churches persecution to the pruning of Vines which maketh them the more fertile and likewise moued b Cap. vlt. Apologetici Tertullian to call the bloud of her Martyrs the seed of Christians one dying and many rising thereof Neither can it be well doubted but that if our religion to speake with c Act. 5. 39. wise Gamaliel had bin of men and not of God it would haue bin dissolued long ere this as all other sects haue perished in much shorter while agreeablie to the saying of the Apostle S. Paule d 2. Tim 3. 9. They shall prosper no farther and to that of S. Peter e 2. Petr. 2. 3. Their perdition slumbreth not Sith therefore our Church is not only not sunck or obscured by any might or neuer so violent stormes of opposition but rather as the Arck of Noe the greater the deluge and waues the higher and more illustriouslie she mounteth it followes that of all others she must be that very Church against which by the promise of our Sauiour f Math. 16. 18. Hell gates that is the power and hatred of man and deuill shall not preuaile 37. A religion some of whose Professours haue had alwayes vpon euery neede occurring power and grace to cast out diuels of the bodies of the possessed the first of all other signes which our Sauiour himselfe gaue for hauing his true Mar. vlt. v. 17. beleeuers distinguished from others And this gifte is so well knowne by continuall execution thereof to reside in the Romane catholike church and neuer found in the companies of any other Professions as there needeth no recitall of particulars Pius Quintus Pope of late memorie dispossessed tactu Onuphrius de vita Pij quint. stolae data benedictione onely by touch of his stole and by giuing his benediction And how frequent these effectes not onely vpon persons possessed but in driuing away diuels