then generall defection of all ProtestaÌ„t Pastors was immediate and extraordinary and againe sayth the same Author had Luther had any Orthodox predecessor ther had needed noe reformation Doctor Whitackres Con. 4. qu. 5. C. 3. In tymes past noe Religion sayth he had place in Churches but Papisticall And therfore in another place he thus write h wee acknowledg Luther to be our father Brocarde in the 2. C. Apocal. sayth thus when the preachinge of the Gospell was allowed in Luther and his first onsett against the Papasie the knowledg of Christ was fownd missinge in all and every of his members D. Bancrofte in his Survay c. 4 hath these words both the Preists of all sorts and lykewise the people began in tyme to be drowned in the puddles of Poperie all of them together from the topp to the toe Calvin who in his Epistles affirmes that they weere inforced to departe from the whole world in his booke of the necessity of reformation thus writeth It is manifest that the whole world was bewitched with these wicked opinions before Luther appeared Morgastren in his Treatise of the Church avouâ—heth that it is ridiculous to thimke that in the tyme before Luther any had the puritie of doctrine and that Luther should receive it from them and not they from Luther Consideringe it is manifest to the whole Christian world that before Luthers tyme all Churches weere overwhelmed with more then Chimerian darknes and that Luther was divinely raysed vp to discover the some and to restore the light of true doctrine And Luther himselfe in the preface of his 1. Tom. Here see even by my case how hard it is to get out of errors which are confirmed by the example of the whole world and by longe custome as it were changed into nature And To 2. This is written his Epitaph Oh Christ he shewed thee when all the world was overwhelmed with darknes And li. 1. de captiu Babil beinge to wright against the Masse he sayth neyther lett it move thee that the whole world hath the Contrary opinion and custome And fo. 68. Ther is allmost this day nothinge more received or more settled in the Church then that Masse is à sacrifice Againe I sett vpon à thinge which beinge approud by the custome of soe many ages and consent of all is soo ingrafted as it is needfull to change almost the whole face of the Church But by the way will yow knowe by whose instigation and what spiritt moved him ther vnto Let Hospinian à learned Protestant speake Hist. Sacram. part ult. Luther Confesseth sayth he that he was taught by the Divell that Masse and cheifly private Masse is nought and that beinge overcome by the Divells reasons he abolished it And therfore noe marvaill if Luther li de Abrog Miss. fo. 244. thus writeth How often did my tremblinge hart quake and reprehendinge me obiected that their strongest and onely Argument Art thou onely wise what did all erre were soe many ages ignorant Behould how Luthers hart and conscience did tell him that he aloue knew Protestancie and was the first Pastor and Preacher therof Hence in his Epist. ad Argent Anno 1525. he maintaynes this point against Zwinglius sayeinge wee dare boast that Christ was first published by vs Soe playnlie doe the Protestants and Luther himselfe frely confesse an vtter defection and want of their Churches Pastors and preaches for administration of the word and Sacraments before Luther And indeed this manifestly appeareth out of the name of reformed Church For it is impossible the Church should be reformed except it first had perished and been deformed soe that Protestants teach and professe à Fayth formerly decaied and deformed afterward restored and reformed But the Catholique fayth of Christ Church foe firmely built on à rock that Hell gates shall never prevayle against it is an incorruptible Fayth of all tymes and consequently cannot be deformed or decay at any tyme and especialy in such essentiall matters which the reformers pretend the Catholique Church to haue been deformed Note Wherfore Protestants that doe teach à fayth which heretofore was deformed and decayed doe not professe nor teach Catholique fayth but à novitiall innovated Religion Seeinge then Luther was the first Pastor and teacher which reformed it it is evident that imediately before Luther they had noe Pastors nor Doctors of their Church But peradventure yow will saye that the Apostles Evangelists and all the auÌ„cyent Fathers pillars and lights of Gods Church of the first sixe hundred yeares were all Protestant Pastors and teachers of the reformed doctrine but afterward for the space of nine hundred yeares ther were none extant till Luther But this answere satisfieth not my argument but rather Confirmeth it to witt that the Protestant Church hath not in all ages ever enioyed Pastors and Doctors for the administration of the word and Sacraments Which is an insepable Marke of Christ true Church for were Protestants Christ true Church then should they haue had in all ages Pastors and Doctors to haue taught their fayth and not decline the Iudgment of the Pastors and Doctors of the Church which lived in the nyne hundred yeares before Luther and coÌ„municated realy with those of the 600. Secondly the answere is false if they will either be tryed by expresse Scripture or Fathers as it will appeare by the revnnige through of the principall points which are now controverted betwixt Catholiques and Protestants First then by Scripture Catholiques doctrine is there playnly confirmed and the reformers condemned for example Catholiques haue expresly If thou wilt enter into life keep the CoÌ„maundements Mathew 19 17. And that his Commaundements are not heavie 1 10. 5. 31. And againe In this wee know that wee haue knowne him if wee observe his Commaundements He that sayth he knoweth him and keepeth not his Commaundements is a lyer and the truth is not in him But he that Keepeth his word in him in very deed the Charity of God is perfected in this wee know that wee be in him 1. 10. 2. v. 3 4. 5. and 10. 17. 6. Protestants who brage they know God better and that they are Dearer to the spiritt then other men haue noewher any playne Scripture that they are either intollerable or impossible to be kept or that they may haue life everlastinge without keepinge of them Catholiques haue expresly whose sinns ye forgiue are forgiven whose sinnes ye retaine they are retayned Iohn 20. Protestants haue noewhere that Preists on earth caÌ„not forgiue sinns or retayne sinnes Catholiques haue expresly That à man is Iustified by workes and not by fayth only I am 2. and that the doers of the lawe shal be Iustified Ro. 2. Protestants haue noewher that man is Iustified by fayth alone noe nor that he is Iustified by fayth without works speakinge of workes that followe and presupposeih fayth of which the Controversie only is nor that the Law required at Christians handes is impossible and that the performance
Protestant Religion And seeinge fayth is à fupernaturall guifte descendinge from the Father of Light and the goodnes of the Allmighty of his parte is such that he would haue all saved and forsaketh none that Cordially humbly and perseverantly seeke him It was daylye my earnest and humble petition to him soe to illumenate me that if I were in the right I might be Confirmed therin If not to state me in that Church which is the pillar and foundation of truth assureing my selfe that in such à disposition and resignation of my selfe into the hands of God I should never be confounded but secured accordinge to that of the Royall Prophet hee that dwelleth in the aide of the heighest shall abyde in the protectioÌ„ of the God of heaven And therfore freely excite vs with an Accedite ad Deum illuminamini facies vestrae non confundentur Psal. 33. v. 6. Now then to the eye of the matter amongst many other motiues which warrants my aversion from the Englishe Congregation to omitt the many absurdityes and daingerous Consequences of Protestants Iustification by fayth onely the impossibility of Gods Comaundements the blemishinge the best works with sinne their impious impugnation and hatred to Gods dearly beloved freinds the heavenly Saynts the negation of Frewill the neglect of the Sacrament of pennance and the penitentiall Acts vzt humble confession harty Contrition and effectuall satisfaction the fcoffinge at fasts Corporall mortifications and such lyke Doctrynes of theirs tendinge to vitious liberty of lyfe As allsoe the manifould deceipts falsifications and impostures Protestant wrighters doe practice to support their Religion of whom Sir Edwin Sandes an eminent man amongst Protestants In his relation of matters of Religion pronounceth these words The Protestant writers in relation of things haue abused this present age and preiudiced posteritye Loue and dislyke haue soe dazelled their eyes that they cannot be beleiued Agreeable to which is the Confession of that Learned and ingenious Protestant Zantius in his 10. Epist. to Strumus in the end of the 7. booke and 8. of his Missellans wher he vttereth these words of the proceedings of Protestante wrighters Doctors and pillars of the reformed Church The state of the question that it may not be vnderstood wee often with sett purpose ouerclowde with darknes Things which are manifest wee impudently denye Things false without shame wee auouch Things playeinly impyons wee propose as first principalls of fayth Things Orthodoxal wee condemne of harisye Scripture at our pleasure wee detort to our dreames c. To omitt I saye the prementioned motiues with many more which exceedingly averteth me from the Protestant Congregation the prime motiues which warrante my aversion from Protestants are for that not onely I haue ofen heard them averre that the Church of Christ might erre in matters of fayth and read their many testimonyes that it hadd erred made an vniversall Apostasye and that for à longe space Truth was vnknowne before that Martin Luther an Apostata both from the holy order of S. Augustins Eremitticall Fryers and the Catholique Church became à new Apostle to them whom they tearme à man sent from God to illuminate the world another Elias First Apostle of the pure refined Gospell The father of Protestants and reformer which restored the decayed Church of Christ to the primitiue Modell which is most blasphemous contrary to the predictions of the auncient Note Prophetts contrary to the promises made by God and Christ touchinge the perpetuall existence and assistance of his Church yea distructiue of Christ himselfe The new Testament The Creed of the Apostles and exceedingly strengthennige and advantaginge the perverse Sinagogue of the Iewes as here after in place convenyent I will further declare not onely I saye this which principally moveth me aboue all but allsoe that I finde in the 39. Articles of the publique Confession of the fayth and Religion of English Protestants that particuler Churches as namely Ierusalem Antioch c. might as well erre in matter of fayth as in livinge and Ceremonyes Now seeinge in reallitye the Englishe reformed Congregation is but à particuler Church not onely for place but for that it is never able to demonstrate that any other Congregation of men in the vniversall World eyther before Luther or since Luther ever had Communion with them in the 39. Articles which is the propper essence of our Englisse Protestant Religion Note Howbeit by the way I doe graÌ„t that as ther are many falsityes howsoever different compared to each other yet all are against one truth Soe lykewise all Sects that formerly were and now are as Protestants Anabaptists Puritanes Brownists Sacramentaryes Hugonotes Arminians Gomorists Sosinians Semilutherans c. howsoever they iarr and impugne one another in many and werghty controuersies of fayth as appeare by their innumerable bookes eagerly writt against one another yet in this one thinge they accord by Common vnion or rather Conspire to witt against the Roman Church which clerely discovereth it to be the true Church of Christ were all Catholiques silent in her behalfe If then the English Congregation be but à particular Church For that it wants Communion with the Christian World in the 39. Articles of their Religion consequently by her owne acknowledgment shee may erre in matters of fayth Which beinge soe what infallable assurance generally I pray yow can the meÌ„bers of such à Church haue for their salvation Seeinge accordinge to the testimony of holy witt It is impossible to please God without fayth wzâ—t orthodoxall much lesse to inioy him Beinge then that the Certaynety of the salvation of the Churches members necessarily dependes on the Certaynty of à true fayth without which they cannot please God noe members that really tenders their soules salvation can with à secure Conscience followe or haue Communion with such à Church which by her owne confession is lyable to erre in fayth which is further thus demonstrated For eyther such à one followeth his whole Churches authority and doctrine or he dissents from it If he follow his Church and generall doctrine of his Pastors and teachers then hath he noe certaynty or securitie seeinge she is subiect to erre in matters of fayth accordnge to his owne Confession If he dissents from her then is he more perplexed and endaingered for if his whole Church be lyable to erre in matters of fayth how much more any private member therof and indeed it were intollerable pride for any inferior member to arrogate without showinge anye Divyne warrant such à privilidge of not erringe in fayth which his whole Church as he supposed accordinge to his owne confession doth not participate Now to come to the pretended foundation of Protestant Religion which is vsually to all other heretickes the more colorably to disguise their errors imitatinge the Divells transformation into an Angell of light and vsurpation of That it is written I meane the Byble which they soe much appeale too though with as little
out of the Apostle S. Paul A text for its Clearnes able to Comment its Comment to witt that Christ hath placed in his Church Pastors and Doctors to the Consummation of Saints till wee all meet in the vnitie of the fayth That is as Doctor Fulke à ProtestaÌ„t divine expounds for ever Calvin himselfe expowndinge it thus Concluds in these words The Church cannot at any tyme want Postors and Doctors Now that these Pastors and Doctors must not at any tyme in their office and dutyes be sylent It is not onely witnessed by the Holy Ghost I saye 62. but allsoe besydes the nature of their function requiringe it acknowledged by Protestants And therfore Doctor Fulke sayth well Truth cannot be continued in the world but by the Ministry of the Pastors and Doctors In lyke sort touchinge the administration of the Sacraments the same is more particulerly evicted from the cleare words of our Saviour and S. Paul seinge by the help of them wee shall Shew the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11. A point soe evydent that it lyeth out of the way of all contradiction And therfore Willett à Protestante in playne words mayntaineh that the absence of the Sacraments makes à nullity of the Church And againe in Doctor Whittakres phrase That The administration of the word and Sacraments being present Constitute à Church beinge absent doe subuert it And againe as the some Doctor styleth them they are Ecclesiae essentiales proprietates Thus doth Protestants ioyntly with Catholiques teach that not at same tymes onely the Church of Christ beinge his insepable and immaculate Spouse with whom he isto the Consummation of the world is to enioy Pastors and Doctors for the vse of the word and Sacraments at other tymes to be wholly destitute of them ague lyke havinge their accesses and remissions but that at all tymes and in all ages in all seasons the Church without any interruption is to Continew in his full Orbe by ever inioyinge the aforesayd meanes of salvation Hence it is that the Fathers to confound hereticall congregations presse heretickes to shew their contynuall succession of Pastors and professors of their doctrine because if they go to scriptures interpretating it according to their owne iudgement there can be noe determination or end Thus S. Ireneus confounded Valentinus Cedron and Marcion By this ordynation of succession sayth he the tradition which is from the Apostles received into the Church and the publishinge of fayth hath come even vnto vs wee beinge able to shew wee put all those to confusion that through vayne glory ond ignorance broach new doctrines in the Church l. 3. c. 3. 4. 5. For none of these Heretickes can deryue their succession from the Apostles nor shew how their doctrine was received by tradition from thence Thus Turtullian de praes. c. 11. confoundeth Valétinus Apelleus and other heretickes Lett them publishe the Origens of their Church sayth hee let them vnfould the order of their Bishopps soe proceedinge by successions from the begininge so that the first Bishopps haue predecessors some Apostle or Apostolicall man perseveringe with the Apostles in that manner they produce the sence of the Apostolicall Church In this sort doth S. Cyprian confound Novatian because he cannot proue his suâ—cession accordinge to Apostolicall tradition Novatian sayth he l. 1. Ep. 7. is neyther Bishopp nor member of the Church who Contemninge Evangelicall and Apostolicall tradition succeeding noe man is ordayned of himselfe Thus doth S. Augustin l. 2. cont. Retil c. 51. confound the Donatists and Sectaryes of his tyme Number sayth he Your Preists even from the seate of Peter and observe that order of fathers who succeeded one another and the Successions of Bishopps was one thinge amongst others that kept the same S. Augustin gloryous Doctor of the Church from departinge out of the bosome of the Catholique Church for thus he sayth in his Epistle to the Manicheans Many things most iustly retayneinge me in the bosome of the Church the succession of Preists from Peters seate to this present Bishopp keepes me in the Church the name Catholique keepes me c. Fynally hence it is that S. Ierome thus Counselleth In that Church wee ought to abyde which founded by the Apostles to this very day lasteth yea such an evydent veritie it is that Christ true Church shall never want at any tyme Professors and members therof as that it extorts this testimony from her aduersarie D. Whitakre Not without great ioy of mynde wee doe beleive that Christ Church hitherto hath endured neyther shall it perish soe longe as the world stands and the Contrary opinion wee esteeme as à prophane heresie From this established foundation is erected this discourse for my purpose Note The true Church of Christ which is but one shall in all ages ever inioye à succession of Pastors and Doctors for the administration of the worde and Sacraments Therfore the true Church of Christ hath ever remayned without interruption of such Pastors and Teachers from the Apostles tyme even vntill this daye But noe Church extant in the world can be assigned to haue remayned without interruption of Pastors for the administration of the worde and Sacraments saue only the Roman Church Therfore irrefragablie it followeth that the Roman Church only and those which haue CoÌ„munyon of fayth with her to be the only true Church of Christ or else which is most absurde and Blasphemous that Christ hath noe Church vpon earth but that the gates of hell to her destruction hath prevayled against her contrary to Christ promyse That there is noe Christian Church extant but the Roman Church that hath withont interruption in all ages enioyed both Pastors and Doctors is esilie demonstrated for neyther the Protestant Church nor the Iewes nor the Arians Donatists Manicheans Pelagians Wicklefians Graecians Mahometans or any other Church can be assigned but the Roman Therfore c. First concerninge the Protestant Church it is but new and began from Luther from whence it is called Lutheran and reformed which is manifest by the restimonies of the learned Protestants and Luther himselfe which I will here inserte Let then first their ChamppoÌ„ of the Englishe Church Iuell speake in the first place he in his Apologie of the Church of EnglaÌ„d in the fowerth parte and fowerth Chapter And in his defence of the Apologie Anno 1571 pag. 426. Truth sayth he was vnknowne all that tyme and vnheard of when Martin Luther and Vldericke Zwinglius first came into the knowledge and preachinge of the Gospell M. Perkins sayth in the exposition of the Creed and in his Reformed Catholicke Wee affirme sayth he that before Luthers dayes for many hundred yeares our Church was not visible to the world an vniversall Apostasie over spredinge the whole face of the earth In soe much as Bucer in his epistle to the Bishopp of Hereford calls Luther The first Apostle of the reformed Gospell whose vocation sayth Conradus Sohlussburg by reason of the
the Romane Church which is only remarkable with the cognisance and markes of Christ vnspotted Spouse whose infallible rules and prescriptions I will followe as à secure guide of my fayth to procure the peace of reconciliation and mercy of God And whosoever shall follow this Rule to speake with the Apostle peace be vpon them and mercie This is the way soe direct as that fooles cannot erre in it This is the Church whose Fayth as testifieth the Apostle was published through the world that is which had the Communion of the Christian World which truely makes it Catholick that is the Church with whom all the renowned Saints and Martyrs haue had vnion And of this they vtter such honorable testimonies as are agreeable to noe other thē Christ his Church S. Lucius B. and Martyr Epist. 1. thus speaketh of her The Romane Church is Apostollicall ād mother of all Churches which is never proued to haue erred from the path of Apostolicall traditiō nor depraued with hereticall novelties to haue fayled accordinge to the promise of the Lorde himselfe saying I haue prayed for thee that thy fayth fayle not S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr avoucheth in his 52. Epist. that to haue Communion with the B of Rome to be all one and the same as to Cōmunicate with the Catholick Church And in another place That to this Sea trecherie can haue uoe accesse beinge the Chayre of Peter S. Hierome alsoe that renowned Scripturist and Doctor of the Church thus writeth to Pope Damassus I beinge à sheep doe require from the Preist the host of salvation and from the Pastor fasafegard c. I speake with the Successor of the Fysher c. I follow none first but Christ and ioyned with Communion to thy Holynes that is to the Chayre of Peter vpon that rock I know the Church to be builded whosoever out of this howse eateth the Lambe is Prophane whosoever shal not be in the Arke of Noah shall perishe in the deluge S. Augustin in his 162. Epist. puttinge à Catalogue of the Bishopps of Rome beginnes first with S. Peter and sayth that the principallity of the Apostolicall Chayre hath ever florished in the Church of Rome And in another place aboue prementioned affirmes the succession of these Pastors from Peter amongst other motiues to haue kept him in the bosome of the Catholick Church S. Ambrose calleth the Bishopp of this Sea governor of the whole Church That holy Seate sayth Theodorett houlds the sterne of governinge the Churches of all the worlds S. Ireneus that great hamerer of Hereticks sayth That for the more powerfull principallity it is necessary that all Churches haue recourse vnto it S. Prosper avoncheth that the Apostles Peter and Paul founded the Church of the gentiles in the Cittie of Rome where they taught the doctrine of Christ our Lorde they deliuered vnto their Successors peacable and vnited together they consecrated it with their blood and memories accordinge to the passion of our Lorde à Christian communicatinge with this generall Church is Catholick but if he be seperated from it he is an Heretick Antichrist Soe this glorious Doctor in his Treatise de Promis Predict dei part 4. E. 5. finally both East and Westerne Fathers assembled together in the Councell of Florenee thus decreed wee define that the holy Catholick Sea And Bishopp of Rome haue the primacie over the whole world And that the Romane Bishopp is the Successor of blessed Peter Prince of the Apostles and the true viccar of Christ and head of the whole Church and Father and master of all Christians And that vnto him in S. Peter is given by our Lorde Iesus Christ full power to feed rule and governe the vniuersall Church Note If then the Romane Church bearinge the inseperable marke of Christ his Church be accordinge to the Fathers the Apostolicall Chayre of S. Peter Christes Vicar never depraved with hereticall novelties with whom à Christian communicatinge is Catholick from whome beinge seperated is an hereticke what shall I regard more the impious raylings and fictions of an ignominious Apostata Martin Luther and his adherent Sectaries against the Romane Church then the vncontroulable testimonialles of the venerable Auncient Fathers whose sanctitie and learnige the whole Christian world hath ever reverenced Or shall I adhere rather to à new reformed Congregation The Pastors and teachers wherof are never able more to make good their vocation of the Ministry of the worde and Sacraments then any other hereticall Intrudors clymeinge lyke theeves by an vndirect way Or shall I follow à Congregation of such teachers which confesseth her selfe lyable to Error in Fayth or rather cleaue to that Church which is founded vpon à Rock against which the gates of Hell shall never prevayle as beinge directed accordinge to the infallible promise of Christ by the ever assisting Spiritt teachinge all truth and noe falsehood Note Certainly to this Rock will I adhere otherwise shall I change à Certainty into an vncertainety an infallibilitie into à fallibilitie A securitie into à Ieoperdie yea otherwise in à matter that concernes my soules greatest good or ill I should effectually demonstrate that I make noe reckoninge of the dreadfull generall accountinge day nor haue any feelinge thougts of the hideous horror of the infernall Lake of the rauenige Devills wher it is true that tenn hundred millions of millions of yeares in vnsuportable torments is but the beginnige as it were of inexplicable dolors o Eternitie o Eternitie wher it is true that all the greuous paines that from the begnimge of the world all men vpon earth ever endured or could excogitate is but the greatest ease or consolation O extreame torments in the vnquenshable scorchinge flames of Hell fier O God what an Abisle is thy iust Iudgment in punishinge Scismatickes and Hereticks who for wordly endes willfull ignorance obstinate adheringe to their owne private spiritts will rather feele them then before hand prevent them by seekinge to incorporate themselues into the true Church of Christ which is the vyne out of which if any branch be it shall vndoubtedlie be eternall fuell for Hell fier But some will peradventure saye that feinge the Moderne Lawes of the realme inflicts such great penalties vpon Catholickes It had bin better for me to haue deferred my conversion vntill my death and then to haue repented me and then with harty sorow to haue confessed my sinnes bin reconcilid to the Catholike Church To these I answere that though true it be At what time soever à sinner hartely repents For soe longe communicatinge with Schismaticall and hereticall new Congregations he may finde favour yet consideringe the innumerable daingers which often vnespectedly depriues man of this liffe who is he that can promise himselfe Gods grace without which he cannot repent and be reconciled yea must he not rather thinke that he shall be debarred thereof when he shall refuse to come to the banquet of the holy Lambe in the Catholike Church beinge