seeth not that he concurreth rather with Pelagius then holdeth with S. Austine The Heracleonites vsed to giue Extreme Vnction to their followers mumbling certaine prayers ouer them in a Tongue not vnderstood But for this S Austine sheweth they were condemned as Heretikes de Haeres c. 16. Doth the Apostate then thinke S. Austine is of his partie who alloweth Extreme Vnction and the barbarous ministring of it in a Tongue not vnderstood Like wise commending bare-footed Fryars and Nunnes and esteeming their worke in so going meritorious is hee not rather to be condemned among the nudipedale Heretikes so esteemed by S. Austine de Haeres 68. then reputed a Disciple of that holy Father Vae etiam laudabili vitae hominum si remota misericordia discutias eam saith S. Austine Lib. Confess 9. c. 13. Yet this Apostate and his glorious Companions standing on their Merites thinke they need not Gods mercie in meriting Heauen They talke also of the Blessed Virgins Conception without originall sinne but S. Austine held that originall sinne passed ouer all and would not free her from this originall corruption Finally the whole Booke of S. Austines Confessions and the forme and frame of it doth plainely conuince this Apostate and his fellowes to be of a diuers Religion from S. Augustine Hee dedicated no Booke to the Virgin Mary as doth this Apostate Hee confessed his sinnes to God onely they to Angels Saints and the Virgin Mary Hee called vpon God onely and not vpon Saints and Angels and the Virgin Mary These pray more to the Virgin Mary to Angels and Saints then to God Hee esteemed that Christ was our onely Mediator these flye to the mediation of Angels and Saints Hee called vpon God his Father they vpon the Virgin Mary that is not so much as their Mother Hee held the Vnitie of the Catholike Church these are onely called Catholikes being departed from the Catholike and Apostolike Faith CHAP. III. That the Apostate and his consorts holding what the Church of England rejecteth are neither Catholikes nor hold the Cathosike Faith IN this Booke in his Preface and notes and all his idle talke the Hereticall rinegate presumeth to arrogate to himselfe and his fellowes the name and title of Catholikes And that is the scope of his Preface and the end of his Translation to iustifie himselfe and the Faith of the Romish Church to bee all Catholike a matter so impudently presumed and so falsely affirmed as nothing more For first None are Catholikes but such as hold that Faith that is truly Catholike and Apostolike But the Faith of this Apostate his fellowes is neither They belieue the Popes Decretals and the doctrine of Trent published against the true Faith which neither the Apostles taught nor ancient Catholikes euer beleeued nay it is not receiued by all Papists No Heretikes can be reputed Catholikes S. Austine de ver Relig. c. 8. saith They are without the Church And in the end of his Tract de heresib hee saith Haereses qui tenuerit Christianus catholicus non est but Papists holding the Popes particular sect and submitting themselues to his command are directly Heretikes For first they hold diuers Doctrines contrary to canonicall Scriptures which are generally beloued of all Catholikes which Robert Grosthead in Heur 3. apud Matth. Paris Durand and diuers others hold to bee heresie 2. They commonly interpret Scriptures contrary to the meaning of the Holy Ghost which Hierome in his Commentaries vpon S. Pauls Epistle to the Galatians holdeth to be heresie Now that they interpret Scriptures contrary to the meaning of the Holy Ghost it appeareth by the Cap. solitae de major obed and Vnam Sanctam extr com de major obed and infinite other decretale Epistles by the decrees of Trent and Schoole disputes 3. With the Simoniaens and Carpocratians and Valentinians they worship Images and burne incense to them 4. With the Angelickes and Caians they worship Angels and call vpon them 5. With the Collyridians they adore the Virgin Mary and offer consecrated Hoasts or Cakes in her honour 6. With the Marcionites and Manichees they destroy Christs humane nature giuing him a phantasticall Bodie in the Sacrament 7. With the Pelagians they make mans free-will the cause of mans predestination and saluation and hold that man is able to prepare himselfe to grace and with grace to liue without sinne 8. With the Catharists they beleeue their workes are cleare without sinne and perfectly iust 9. With the Audeans and Donatists they teach that their Priests forgiue sinnes 10. With the Staurolatrians they worship the Crosse 11. With Capernaites they beleeue that Christs flesh is eaten with the mouth Finally with the Pharisees they beleeue the iustice of Workes Christ giuing his Apostles commission to goe forth into the World bad them teach all Nations whatsoeuer he had commanded them But neyther did the Apostles teach nor was it our Sauiours meaning that all Nations should beleeue and obserue the Doctrine of Trent the determination of Schooles and the Popes Decretals concerning the bodily Reall presence of Christ vnder the accidents of Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Transubstantiation and Auricular Confession the inuocation of Saints and Angels the worship of the Crosse of the Images of the Trinitie and the Sacrament the adoration of Reliques the consecration of holy Water of Agnus Dei and Paschall Lambes and such like Romish Traditions All true Catholikes professe one Catholike and Apostolike Faith how then can the Apostate and his Companions the Popes Disciples challenge to themselues the name of Catholikes beleeuing the traditions of men to be the Word of God and receiuing the Doctrine of Trent and Schoole-sophisters concerning Purgatory Indulgences priuate Masses halfe Communions Transubstantion and such like that is neither Catholike Apostolike nor Christian As we know an Artificers worke by the rule so we know and discerne faithfull Christians and Catholikes by holy Scriptures which are the rule of Faith who then can iustly esteeme Papists to be Catholikes that rayle vpon Scriptures and flye from them and admit traditions and the Popes decretals as the rule of their Faith are Gods holy canonicall Scriptures no rule without these additions True Catholikes which are also the true members of Christs body adhere onely to Christ as their head spouse and most firme foundation of their Faith But Popish Catholikes admit the Pope as the head spouse and foundation of their supposed Catholike Church Basil in Epist. 80. ad Eustat and S. Augustine de nupt concupisc c. 33. Would haue the canonicall Scriptures and Christ speaking in them to iudge of a point of Christian Doctrine Those therefore which contrary to these Catholike Fathers iudgement decline the iudgement of Scriptures and would haue the Pope to be supreame iudge in matters of Faith cannot be Catholikes Athanasius in his Creed setting forth that Faith which he iudged and all good Christians receiue as Catholike did not so much as in one word touch the
but this may serue for a tasse in the interim vntill we discourse hereof more particularly in the second Chapter of the Treatise following Now this is sufficient to shew the falsitie and pouertie of the Translator and his Notes and Obsernations vpon S. AVSTINES Confessions wherein most simply and weakely hee endeuoureth to make that worthie Father of his partie Quid est egere sayth S. AVSTINE de Vit. Beat. And he answereth Sapientiam non habere And againe he sayth Nihil est aliud habere egestatem quam habere stultitiam So that by Saint AVSTINES iudgement this man being void of Wisdome and full of Foolerie is but a poore Translator wracking himselfe vpon S. AVSTINE vpon whom he meant to lay the ground of his foolish and vaine Religion Therein also we may percciue how vainely our Aduersaries boast of Fathers and especially of S. AVGVSTINE who in all important matters of Faith are directly opposite vnto them But leauing all further preambular speeches we will now begin to handle such matters as the rinegned Translator doth principaelly insist vpon THE VNMASKING of a Masse-monger WHO In the counterfeit habit of S. AVGVSTINE hath cunningly crept into the Closets of many English Ladyes OR The Vindication of S. AVGVSTINES Confessions from the false and malicious Calumniations of a late noted Apostate CHAP. I. That S. AVSTINE neuer knew either the Decrees of the conuenticle of Trent enacted against vs or that part of the Romish Religion which the Church of England admitteth not and which the Apostate and his consorts hold to bee Catholicke MVch doe our Aduersaries insist vpon the name of Catholikes and title of the Catholike Church So doe also all other Heretikes as saith Lactantius lib. 4. Diuin instit c 30. Singuli quique haeriticorum caetus se potissimum Christianos suam esse ecclesiam eatholicam putant But if that be Catholike which at all times of all Christians and in all places hath beene holden as Vincentius Lirinensis aduers haeres teacheth vs then certes the Doctrine of the Church of Rome is not Catholike In the judgement of S Augustine it cannot be accompted either Catholike or soundly Christian For first S. Austine referreth himselfe in all matters of faith to holy Scriptures and speaketh most reuerently of them Canonica scriptura veteris noui Testamenti saith he Lib. 11. contr Faust c. 5. Est in sede quadum sublimiter constituta cujus authoritati seruiat omnis fidelis pius intellectus Hee placeth their Authoritie aboue all Councels Fathers and Popes and would haue all pious Christians to submit their vnderstanding vnto them but such as rayled vpon them and called them a dead and killing letter and said they were imperfect obscure ambiguous and flexible he neuer did acknowledge to be Catholikes or Christians He neuer beleeued nor knew the traditions of the Church of Rome concerning the consecrating of Crosses and Images their greasing and crossing of Altars their-hallowing of Churches with oyle holy-water and ashes their consecrating of paschall Lambes Salt Holy-water Ashes the baptizing of Bells the blessing of Priests garments the mysseries of the Masse their shauing and greasing vsed in giuing Orders nor the rest of their traditions He beleeued not that traditions not written were to be receiued with like affectiō as we receiue holy Scriptures Nay contrary he gaue the highest place to Canonicall Scripture That traditions should be added to the rule of Faith was more then he could euer imagine Sancta scriptura saith he Debon viduit c. 1. Nostrae doctrinae regulam figit Holy Scripture giueth vs a fixt and certaine rule And l. 2. con Donatist He accounteth the Scriptures to be a diuine ballancer wherein Doctrines may be justly weighed But other ballancers he accounteth deceitfull Non afferamus stateras dolosas saith he Vb◠appendamus quod volumus quomodo volumus pro arbitrie nostro dicentes hoc graue hoc leue sed afferamus diuinam stateram de Scripturis sanstis tanquam de the sauris Dominicis in illa quid sit grauius appendamus imò non appendamus sid à Domino appensam recognoscamus The Church of Rome beleeueth that the old vulgar Latine translation of the Bible is authenticall and neither the Hebrew text of the old nor the Greeke of the new Testament But S. Austine gaue no such credit to that or any other tranflation Nay contrary lib. 15. de ciuit D.c. 13. hee preferreth Originals before all Translations Ei linguae potius credatur saith hee vnde est in aliam per interpretes facta translatio And lib. 2. de doctr Christ c. 11. He would haue men to haue recourse to the Hebrew and Greeke text for the variety of Translations Lib. 2. de doctr Christ c. 15. he saith Translations ought to giue place to the Greeke text of the New Testament To come to the Pope who is the founder of the grand Idoll of the Masse and the Oracle from whom his followers deriue the certainty of their Romish traditions S. Austine neuer knew the man Nay if any man in his time had said that the Bishop of Rome had two Swords and power to depose Kings and dispose of their Kingdomes and that he was the Vniuersall Bishop of the Church the head foundation and Spouse ministeriall of the same and finally that hee was the supreame judge of Faith and had Authoritie to make new Articles of the Faith doth any man thinke that so holy and wise a man could haue contained himselfe within the limites of patience hearing such monstrous Paradoxes The Schoole doctrine concerning Merites of congruitie and condignitie Iustice by workes bodies being in many places at once and filling no place accidents nourishing like substances and yet subsiding without any subiect Popish dispensations for all flagitious sinnes Diuels tormenting just mens soules in Purgatory satisfactions for sinne by Whipping and going Bare-foot washing away sinnes with Holy-water and expiating them by knocking the brest and the Priests blessing and such other Schoole-points were not knowne to S. Austine nor heard of in his time All the authenticall Doctrine of the Romish Synagogue is contayned in the Popes decretals and decrees and was published and confirmed in the second Nicene Synode in the assemblies of Laterane Constance Florence and Trent How then could that holy Father know a Faith that was so long after his time established Could he Prophecie that the men of Trent would decree that Christians should be justified by the Popes law That the Images of the Trinitie should bee worshipped with Latria That Saints and Angels should be inuocated That men should beleeue Transubstantiation auricular Confession seauen Sacraments and such like late doctrines S. Austine lib 11. contr Faust c. 5. Would haue all pious vnderstanding made subiect to the high authority of Scriptures Neither did he beleeue that the same might be confirmed by any mans writing Is it then likely that he should teach or thinke that Scriptures in respect of vs receiued their
Doctrine of Trent concerning Traditions Iustice of workes Freewill dispositions 7. Sacraments worshipping of Saints and Images and other heresies reiected by vs. How then can Papists pretend that their Religion is Catholike which that Catholike Father admitted not as catholike The Catholike Church euer prayed and administred Sacraments in a tongue vnderstood of the hearers The Friers Monkes and Masse-Priests therefore that pray and administer Sacraments in a tongue not vnderstood of their hearers declare themselues and their adherents not to belong to the Catholike Church To hold that Christ hath a body that can neither bee felt nor seene nor can it selfe either feele or see is a Doctrine not of Catholikes but of hereticall Papists contrary to our Sauiours words Luke 24. inuiting his Disciples to feele and see They are also Heretikes and not Catholikes that destroy Christs humane nature and that giue him a body like a Spirit But so doth Bellarmine and his Disciples the Papists Without mee saith our Sauiour you caen doe nothing and this all true Catholikes beleeue But the Apostate and his consorts hold that by force of Freewill they can turne to God and prepare themselues to grace and doe good Catholikes thinke and speake reuerently of Christ But Papists blaspheme and say his holy Body is eaten of brute beasts eating the Sacrament and that it may be troden vnder feet and cast into vncleane places Catholike Christians neuer admitted 7. Sacraments or beleeued that men were iustified by Matrimony order Confirmation Confession or extreme Vnction S. Austine said the Sacraments issued out of Christs side which cannot bee verisied of the fiue Romish new Sacraments True Catholikes confesse their sinnes to God and so doth Scriptures and catholike Fathers teach them Papists contrariwise confesse to Angels Saints and the Virgin Mary They thinke themselues also bound to confesse in the Priests care contrary to the practice of true Catholikes Catholikes doe beleeue that God onely doth forgiue sinnes Are they then Catholikes that teach that Priests not onely intercede for sinne and declare sinnes forgiuen but also forgiue sinnes as did the Audean Heretikes mentioned by Theoderet haeret Fab. lib. 4 This Apostate and his mates beleeue that the Virgin Mary in body is assumed vp and crowned Queene of Heauen therefore they call vpon her as their Mediatrix But this will not be proued to be a Catholike doctrine or practise Holy Martyrs and true Catholikes in time past suffered death because they would not serue and worship Creatures and fall downe before dumbe Images Are they then Catholikes that worship Creatures and adore Images Not Catholikes but the Priests of Baal and Cybele vsed to lance whip and beat themselues thinking thereby to expiate sinne Are they then true Catholikes that practise this Heathenish custome and commend it as Christian Discipline Heathen men in time past fell downe and prayed before their Images and can they pretend to be Christian Catholikes that say Pater Noster and Aue Maria before Stocks and Stones practising this Heathenish custome Papists doe also fall downe before their Lord and God the Pope kissing his foot but this was neuer practised by ancient Catholikes or true Christians True Christians receiued deuoutly the holy Sacrament and neyther put it into Pyxes nor carryed it in Procession But these false Catholikes put it into Pyxes carry it about on Corpus Christi day and worship it as a God The Apostle 1. Tim. 4. accounteth it a Doctrine of Diuels to forbid Marriage and to command Christians to abstaine from certaine Meats Foolishly therefore Papists repute themselues to be Catholikes that forbid Marriage to Priests and Votaries and restraine certaine Orders from eating Flesh and forbid all men to eate certaine Meates in Lent and on Fasting-dayes Catholike Christians neuer beleeued they should be saued by eating Salt-Fish and Red Herrings or forswearing Marriage or keeping Holy-dayes and the Precepts of the Church of Rome How then are Papists Catholikes that beleeue such fooleries Jesus Maria were neuer ioyned together in the Prayers of Catholikes neyther did they prayse Mary as well as Jesus In this coniunction therefore Papists make a separation of themselues from true Catholikes True Catholikes vsed alwayes in time past to burie the Bones and Reliques of Martyrs A plaine argument that such as digge dead men out of their Graues and worship them vpon Gods Altar are Heretikes and Idolaters and not Catholikes Neyther did ancient Catholikes beleeue that an Agnus Dei was good against Lightening and did as well purge sinnes as Christs bloud Which is another euidence that Papists so beleeuing are not Catholikes S. John 1. Epist 1. teacheth vs that Christs bloud doth purge our sinnes and that is a point beleeued of all Catholikes Papists therefore that beleeue that the bloud of Saints and their owne bloud and Satisfactions yea that holy Water doth purge sinne are but sorry Catholikes Sorry Catholikes also and poore Christians they are holding that the paines of sinne are purged away in the fire of Purgatorie For how are they purged when they are imposed And where did ancient Catholikes teach such a Purgation Farre also were Catholikes from beleeuing that Salt and holy Water did driue away euill spirits Ancient Christian Catholikes did not say Masses for sicke Horses and Hogges nor did they sing Masses of the Crowne of Thornes or of the three Nayles or de praeputio Christi nor had they seuerall Masses for Saylers Hunters Trauailers Barren Women Maides and Women with Child Are not Papists then degenerated quite from ancient Catholike Religion True Catholikes neuer blessed Crosses nor beleeued that any Woodden or Stone Crosse consecrated by them was the Foundation of Faith or a Defence in Aduersitie or Victorie against the Enemies as Papists professe in their Pontificals plainely declaring themselues therein to be idolatrous Heretikes They doe also beleeue that our Ladies Image can helpe such as pray before it and that it is a remedie against Thundering and Lightening inundation of Waters and tumults of Warres and that the Euangelist S. Iohns Image can expell Diuels and bring to vs the assistance of Angels matters neuer heard of or beleeued by Catholike Christians In a Booke called Antidot arium animae ignorant Papists are taught to pray to the Image of Christs Face called Veronica to be purged from all blemishes of sinne to obtaine grace and the fellowship of Saints And this Prayer as they say was made by Iohn the two and twentieth Pope of that name But neyther can the Apostate nor all his Masters the Iesuites prooue that such a Prayer was vsed by any ancient or true Christian Catholike Papists also are taught to consecrate Bells to cause Tempests to cease and to driue away Diuels They doe also salute consecrated Oyle saying Aue sanctum Chrisma But if the Apostate were all greased with Oyle and signed with Crosses yet shall he neuer be able to shew that this was a practise of true Catholikes The Apostle Ephes 4. sayth Christ
gaue the Church Apostles Prophets Euangelists Pastors and Teachers and true Catholikes beleeue that these onely are sufficient for the worke of the Ministerie and building of the Church But the Papists beside these haue in their Synagogue vniuersall Popes Cardinals Inquisitors dumbe Woluish Prelates that neyther feede nor worke any good sacrificing Priests Monkes Fryars and Nunnes which haue no institution from Christ How then are they Catholikes Among Catholikes none were chosen Bishops in time past but by the Clergie and People nor consecrated but by conprouinciall Bishops as our Aduersaries themselues confesse c. nulla ratio Dist 62. and c. in nomine Dist 23. And this was an Ordinance allowed also by Leo the first But Popish Bishops are intruded into their Seats by the Pope without any allowance of the Clergie or the People or any conprouinciall Bishops and the Pope himselfe is neyther elected by the Clergie or People of Rome but onely by a few Cardinals the most part strangers And doe you call them Catholikes that haue no Pastors lawfully instituted by Christ or called by the Church The Apostles and their successors were sent by Christ to preach the Gospell to baptize and to administer the Eucharist according to Christs institution and those are only true Catholikes whole Prelates and Priests doe performe that Office which Christ enioyned them But among Papists Priests are ordained not to preach but to sacrifice for quicke and dead and Prelates are not ordered by the Church but by Antichrist the Aduersarie of Christ and the Church and preach not the Gospell but humane Traditions and the Popes Decrees Further they obserue not Christs institution in administring the Sacraments according to Christs institution How then are they true Catholikes among whom neyther the Word is truly preached nor Sacraments are duly administred and where in Doctrine and Chayre there is no Apostolicall succession Among ancient Catholikes onely the successors of the Apostles preached and baptized but among Papists Monkes and Fryars preach albeit they be no successors of the Apostles nor instituted by Christ but by Antichrist and Women sometime are permitted to baptize as if Women could succeed the Apostles Faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God sayth the Apostle Rom. 10. and this Faith onely is the Catholike Christian Faith But among Papists no Faith is allowed as good but that which commeth from the proposition of the Church as Canisius teacheth in Catech. c. de Fide Now this Church is nothing but the Pope and their Faith is grounded vpon Traditions not written and the Decrees of the Pope Can this Faith then be Catholike and Diuine Tiue Catholike Faith is also ioyned with firme Hope and assurance of faluation together with the certaine knowledge of God and his will and with feruent Charitie towards God and our neighbour But the Faith of the Apostate and his consorts is onely a bare assent to the word of God Knowledge of God they haue little contenting themselues with an implicite Faith and denying all assurance of saluation and warring against all that submit not themselues to the Pope and his sect But such a Faith is a dead faith a diuelish faith an erronious and wicked perswasion and not a true Catholike and Apostolike faith Finally if any man did well vnderstand the particulars of that Faith which the Apostate seeketh to commend to his Countrimen and which the Church of England reiecteth as comming from Antichrist hee might plainely see that the Papists are neither Catholikes nor hold the Catholike Faith in any thing which the Church of England disliketh Wherefore least any hereafter should boast that his Popish religion is Catholike I will hereafter specifie diuers points thereof which themselues will be forced to confesse to bee vncatholike An Appendix vnto the third Chapter contayning some principall points of the vncatholike moderne Romish Doctrine WHen wee speake against the Church of Rome and her Doctrine wee vnderstand not either the ancient Church of Rome or any Article of her Faith but the new Church of Rome as shee is subiect to the Pope and embraceth his new Faith contained in his Decretals and established in the late conuenticle of Trent and is maintained by the Schoole-men and other his factors And of this Doctrine these are some of the chiefe heads First as wee acknowledge Christ to be the author and finisher of our Faith so Papists deriue their Faith from the Pope as the Author and principall Founder thereof For whatsoeuer God speaketh to vs in Scriptures yet they allow nothing but what the Pope propoundeth We beleeue no head of the Church but Christ Iesus who is also the Sauiour of his body They professe the Pope to be the head of the vniuersall Church Wee are taught 1. Cor. 3. That Christ Iesus is the onely foundation of the Church Stapleton and his followers beleeue That the Pope and his determinations are the Churches foundation also And this is also the Doctrine of Bellarmine The Church being a chast virgin admitteth no Spouse but Christ Iosus But the adulterous Sinagogue of Rome receiueth the Pope as her Spouse as appeareth C. Vbi periculum de elect in 6. When any question ariseth about matters of Faith the Church of Rome will haue the Pope to be supreame Iudge a matter vnreasonable that an Heretike and an enemy should sit judge in matters of Faith and in his owne cause When Christ ascended into Heauen they say he left the Pope to be his Vicar But of this he sheweth no commission or proofe They beleeue also that the Pope is S. Peters onely Successor and the vniuersall Bishop and chiefe Monarch of the vniuersall Church But neither doth he teach or loue Christ. as did Peter nor doth hee demonstrate how this vniuersall Monarchy came vnto him They say he hath power to dispense against the Law the Gospell and the Apostle And so he doth indeed dispensing with periured and most flagitious men and neither regarding Law nor Gospell nor what the Apostle teacheth Suarez lib. 6. Defens Cath. Apost fid c. 4. 6. Teacheth that the Pope hath power not onely to depose Kings but to command them to bee killed Christ fled away when the people sought to make him King But the Pope challengeth not onely to be a Bishop but a King also The Popes Decretals concerning matters of Faith they say are cleare from all errors so doe the Turkes also thinke of their Alchoran Of holy Scriptures they speake euill calling them a dead Letter a dumbe Judge matter of strife a killing Letter a Nose of Waxe a Lesbian Rule They receiue the vnwritten Traditions of the Church of Rome with equall affection as they receiue holy Scriptures and yet doe they not certainly know them nor can demonstrate to others what they are The Doctrine of the Church of Rome they say is the Rule of Faith But what Rule then hath this Doctrine Some say Traditions not written added to the Scriptures make vp
also more euidently appeare by the answer made to his Obiections and by the whole Discourse ensuing The second shall manifestly bee demonstrated as well by our publike Confessions which containe nothing but sound Catholike doctrine as by his vayne friuolous and calumnious opposition in his Preface and idle Annotations See then I pray you the pride and presumption of this rinegate who at his first setting forth taketh that as granted which in all his tedious Discourse he shall neuer be able to proue For how can hee call himselfe and his fellowes Catholikes whose Doctrines reiected by vs are a composition of old and new Heresies And how can hee deny vs that title whose Faith is wholly Catholike and Apostolike Hee presenteth vs as hee professeth with a translation of S. AVSTINES Confessions A poore present God wot and nothing worth our acceptance being first as it seemeth rather turned out of Spanish then Latine and next differing from the Originall in diuers places and thirdly being corrupted with false Notes and glosses Hee presumeth it will be profitable and not vnpleasing so Geefe beleeue their owne Goslings to be goodly birds He addeth that the subject will bee now and then hard As if euery Schoole-boy could not translate S. Austines Confessions as well as hee or any Discourse could be more easie As the beauty of a person saith he consisteth in Complexion proportion and motion So he would proue S. Austine to bee excellent in the complexion of his Soule the proportion of the parts of his Booke and the actions of his Life A similitude borrowed from his skill in discerning the beautie and complexion of his out-landish Mistresses but euill befitting this Subiect For first what likenesse is there betweene Men and Bookes Secondly when did he euer see the complexion of S. Austines Soule Thirdly what beauty is there in the distinction of the Chapters made by some ignorant transcriber of S. Austines Confessions Lastly what maketh this tale of faire Complexion decent proportion and motion to his euill fauoured translation and jeiune Preface and Notes He pitieth some Critickes offended as hee saith with some tautologies of this Booke But such Critickes pitie rather the translators Morologies and Pseudologies handling an argument vnfit for such a person and with diuers lies commending his owne friends and taxing his aduersaries Vanting of his labours he saith It was not in his will to commit the least fault but what if ignorance and partialitie haue caried him into faults and errours shall wee accept his will for excuse In the Preface and Translation you shall find faults lyes and corruptions such as will easily conuince this vayne brag Hee taxeth some for falsifying and corrupting S. Austines bookes De ciuit Dei and his Meditations But his reproofe is easily answered For first he doth not nor cannot shew any proofe of the corruption of S. Austines bookes de ciuit Dei Secondly the booke of Meditations attributed to him is not his I haue seene it vnder the name of Anselme Others attribute it to some later Schoole-man and Master Rogers doth not so much translate the booke of Meditations as frame a new Discourse vpon that ground But that the beleefe and practise of S. AVGVSTINE and the Church of his time is fully agreeable to the Roman Church at this day and different from the Church of England as he affirmeth cannot bee proued out of any of S. Augustines workes This I haue cleerely demonstrated before Now I say onely hee cannot proue eyther the mysteries of the Masse or the Popes vniuersall Monarchy or the 7. Sacraments and Indulgences or the Decrees of Trent which wee refuse Onely it is easily proued that hee is an aduersary of this Church of England and so hee professeth himselfe to bee He is also an enemy of his Countrey and the State and a slaue of Antichrist albeit hee doth not professe it Hee complaineth of the great difficulty of Translating this Booke and yet a Child of 15. yeares old might well haue translated a harder Booke then this And if his betters thought so as well as himselfe both hee and his betters were poore weake and ignorant Translators The sentences of S. Austines Confessions are no such deepe matters but they may easily be vnderstood But to find Sentences that grew on the tree of S. AVSTINES soule and to gather them with Flewers and dowe vpon them is an absurd conceit and altogether impossiâ—le Neuer were any such Trees Flower or Dew heard of but in the Apostates harsh stile Let him rather beware of sentences growing out of Tiburne tree and of treacherous Doctrines taught him by Masse-Priests Monkes and Ignatians Hauing finished the Translation he found as he confesseth That hee had much mistaken the sence of diuers places And euery man that is not obdurat will yeeld that hee sayth it truely But that he reformed his mistakings it apeareth not Nay we iustly doubt he made the matter worse By his most significant and sententious soule saith hee his penne is thrust into so little roome A strange and monstrous kind of guibrish for who euer heard before of a significant and sententious soule and a penne thrust into a little roome but if S. Austine spoke significantly how could hee speake so obscurely as is pretended If the Apostates tongue were wedged in a wimble hole would he speake darke sentences thinke you The Heresie of the Manichees saith he is layd vnder the ashes of obliuion And yet in his Popish doctrine concerning prohibition of Mariage to elected Priests in the extending of Christs body into diuers places in the destruction of Christs humane nature and the Communion vnder one kind it is againe reuiued The arguments of the Chapters hee saith are not S. Augustines A very profound Speculation He might also haue added that the meaning expressed in his Translation is not S. Augustines but that shall appeare hereafter Going about to commend his Booke of Confessions hee saith He will borrow the wordes of Ribadineira And I doubt hee borrowed some light from his Spanish translation But if he had chosen out a hundred hee could not haue encountred a more wicked enemy of Religion and the State nor a more false and treacherous companion then that Jesuwide who translated and amplified that scandalous Libell of Sanders De schismate deuised of purpose to the disgrace of the Kings of England and this State The Iesuite compareth his Learning to a Spring that riseth and runneth perpetually And yet Masse-Priests and Fryars drinke rather of the puddle Decretals of the Pope then of S. Austines cleare Spring Hauing vowed Chastitie to God sayth the Translator he retyred in the companie of two friends into a solitarie house where he spent three yeeres in meditation of Scripture Prayer Fasting and other Penance But first it is most vntrue that he vowed Chastitie or other Monkish Vowes secondly he was no longer there then he pleased himselfe thirdly he read Scriptures which Monkes vse not much to doe now
Catholike visible Church but of one blinde Pope that is the Enemie of the Church Fiftly how can the Vniuersall Church conuene to iudge all Controuersies And what reason hath any to follow the Church before Christ or to heare the Church iudging in her owne Cause Sixtly the Traditions of the Romish Church concerning the Popes power the Masse and siue new Sacraments and their formes and matter were neuer knowne eyther to the ancient Church or to Saint Austine Seuenthly hee neuer knew the Moderne Church of Rome or beleeued that the Catholike Church was visible or supreme and finall Iudge Hee declareth what a pestilent thing Heresie and Schisme is as the Apostate confesseth But what is that to vs that are true Catholikes and maintaine the Vnitie of the Apostolike Church It toucheth rather the pestilencie of this Apostate and his Companions who hauing abandoned Christ adhere to Antichrist and beeing diuided from the Apostolike Church embrace the Heresies of Trent and Schooles in part condemned or else not knowne to the ancient Catholike Church or to S. Austine S. Augustine held that which in his time was taught by the Fathers and was beleeued by the vniuersall Church But this Rinegate and his adherents embrace the nouelties of Schooles and errors of the Pope and the Conuenticle of Trent albeit they were neuer beleeued by the Church nor taught by the Fathers And of these erroneous Doctrines I haue touched many particulars heretofore That holy Father Lib. de vnit Eccles declareth how the Church was knowne by Scriptures and not by those false Markes which the Pope and his Supporters thrust vpon it By Scripture also wee plainely discerne that the Apostate and his fellowes are a packe of wicked Heretikes and Schismatikes and no Communion of Saints or Catholike Christians The Donatists denyed the vniuersalitie of the Church and sayd it was perished in all places saue in Afrike and in the Communion of the Donatists S. Austine therefore disputing against them confoundeth this Rinegate and his Apostaticall fellowes who confine the Church within the Limits of the Popes Diocesse and Territories of the Roman Obedience holding it to be fallen and vanished away in all other places As for vs we neyther denie the Church to be vniuersall nor hold that Christs Catholike Church can perish or faile although this shamelesse Companion doth impose this Error vpon vs whom he maliciously calleth Caluinists and Lutherans foming out his rage against his Parents Friends and Countreymen That the true visible Church is Judge of Controuersies and cannot possibly erre is not any Doctrine of S. Augustines but an absurd Error of this Rinegate For first eyther the Church iudgeth her owne Controuersies and so sitteth Iudge in her owne Cause or the Causes of Strangers and Infidels who will not heare her Sentence Secondly S. Austine neuer appealed to the Pope but to Christ and his Apostles Thirdly neuer doth the Church meet to iudge any mans Cause nor ought Bishops to iudge otherwise then according to holy Scriptures iuxta Legemâ—eius as Moses sayth Deut. 17. Fourthly the Church of Afrike of which S. Austine speaketh contr Epist Fundam c. 5. is not now visible nor extant in the World Fiftly it followeth not because the Church moued him to beleeue the Gospel that therefore the same is supreme Iudge for any man or woman may induce a man to beleeue the Gospel yet euery one is not a supreme and infallible Iudge Sixtly the Church of Ephesus Corinth and Galatia was sometime a true visible Church and yet it is now fayled and subiect to grosse Errors and neuer was the supreme Iudge of matters of Faith Neyther is it materiall that the Truth remaineth in the Belly of the Church as S. Austine sayth in Psal 57. for the Truth remained in the Church of the Colossians Thessalonians and Philippians yet neyther were these Churches supreme Iudges nor did they alwayes abide in Truth and whatsoeuer wee thinke of them yet the Truth abideth not alwayes in the Head Belly Legges or Chayre of the Pope If any feare to be deceiued sayth S. Austine Lib. 1. con Cresc c. 33. let him consult the Church which without doubtfulnesse the holy Scripture doth demonstrate And therein we willingly follow his aduice consulting the Church of England But the Aduersaries doe contrarie consult the Synagogue of Rome composed of Popes Cardinals Inquisitors Woluish Prelates Masse-Priests Monkes Fryars Nunnes and ignorant people knowing nothing of the Faith which neyther Scriptures nor Fathers demonstrate vnlesse it be in Babylon Apocalypse 17. He sayth further that no man can be saued but in the Catholike Church and so say wee But wee denie the Synagogue of Rome despising holy Scriptures and adulterating the Doctrine of Sacraments giuen vs by Christ to be that Church They may pretend to be Catholikes as other Heretikes doe and sing Alleluia De Profundis Aue Sancta Crux and Salue Regina but out of the Catholike and Apostolike Church as they hold the new Creed of Trent and Doctrine of Schooles they cannot be saued Greased and salued they may bee but saued they cannot be And hereof he bringeth another reason De vnit Eccles c. 16. because they haue not Christ for their head and this is proued because they haue the Pope for their head nay they haue Antichrist for their head They also hold the heresies of the Simonians and Carpocratians Angelikes Collyridians Nudipedales Manichees and Pelagians The bookes of Tobia Judith Wisdome Ecclesiasticus and the Machabees S. Austine neuer made equall to the Law and Prophets Nay he denyeth them to haue beene reputed Canonicall by the Church before Christ albeit in regard they contayned Precepts of manners they were read in the Church and in a generall signification might be called Canonicall Of S. Peters primacie this prime Disciple of Antichrist hath little reason to prate For first S. Augustine giueth him no command or superioritie ouer the Apostles but onely a prime Place in order in respect of his feruor Age and Vertue Secondly hee had no power to depose Princes or to make Lawes This belonged to the Councell that neyther to any Apostle nor any Councell Thirdly the Pope neyther feedeth Christs sheepe nor loueth Christ nay he is more like to Nero then to Peter Fourthly the Bishops of Rome had no Apostolicall Prerogatiue nor had they power ouer Scriptures mens Consciences Princes or all other Bishops Lastly the Bishops of Afrike and among others S. Austine thought themselues in no degree inferiour to the Bishops of Rome S. Austine contr part Donat. where hee speaketh of the Rock against which the proud gates of Hell cannot preuaile vnderstandeth S. Peters Confession and Doctrine and not the succession of Popes as this Popelin would haue it For against Marcellinus the gates of Hell preuayled and no strength is there in the Succession of the rest Secondly neither doth hee call S. Peters feat an Episcopall feat of Peter as this false Translator hath turned it but onely an
them which are nothing but huskes for swine and hoggish and ignorant Papists S. Austine applyeth these words to God this Apostate applyeth them to himselfe and his idle fantasies Intimating that his Booke was printed Permissu superiorum by the permission of his Superiours hee maketh a plaine declaration that like a false-hearted fellow hee renounceth his allegiance to his Prince and submitteth himselfe to traiterous Masse-Priests and Iesuites and other the Popes forraine factors enemies to the Prince and State Now come we to the Epistle dedicatory directed to the Virgin Mary a worke full of presumption and vanity For how could so holy a Virgin accept of such an impure companion or so faithfull a Christian allow of this disciple of Antichrist endeuouring to draw Christians from Christ to serue Belial Further how can so spotlesse a Virgin approue so corrupt a Translation and so wicked a Preface and notes sauouring of nothing but the spirit of Sathan seeking by lyes and impostures to abuse the simple This blessed Virgin hee slileth the most glorious Queene of Heauen A stile neyther giuen to her by the Apostles nor allowed by any Catholike further it is a vaine imagination to turne the Kingdome of Heauen into an earthly Princes Court and to suppose that God is married to a woman He addeth that shee is the joy of coelestiall Spirits and vnder Christ the highest hope of humane creatures As if Angels turned themselues from God to ioy in the Virgin Mary or men were chiefly to hope in her Where did this man learne this tradition and how doth hee proue that Angels and men are to ioy in a Creature and to trust in her and not to place their glory and hope in God onely Is this a Catholike point of Doctrine and will his holy Father define it to bee true Behold sayth hee a prodigall Child of thine As if such a wanton young-man that hath so often runne from his Father were the Sonne of a Virgin and a glorious Queene as he calleth her who neuer had any sonne but him that was also the Sonne of God A prodigall Child hee may well call himselfe as one that hath dissipated his substance viuendo luxuriose and which hath deuoured his substance cum meretricibus as did the Prodigall mentioned Luk. 15. But let him forbeare to call himselfe a man so debauched the holy Virgins sonne In stead of a glasse of Flowers as he sayth hee layeth vpon the altar of the Virgins goodnesse a booke of Pictures which haue the fame to bee well limned But first it is boyes play to make sport with Glasses Flowers and Puppets Next in earnest he declareth himselfe to bee an Idolater that erecteth an Altar to the Virgin Mary and offereth sacrifice vpon it Thirdly were he not an Ideote hee would not make S. Austine a limner and if he were not vayne-glorious he would not suppose that this vayne Translation were a picture well limned or compare such brutish conceits to Flowers odoriferous and Pictures beautifull and glorious Going on in his absurd allegorising vayne hee telleth vs That the colours of the Pictures were mingled by no worse hand then of the holy Ghost and layd by one of his fore-fingers As if this absurd and mishapen translation were painted out with fresh colours or such a discolute and discomposed Painter were a fore-finger of the Holy Ghost or the Holy Ghost had hands and fore-fingers to paint withall Further to speake of S. Austine himselfe he was not so bold as to say his Confessions were indited by the Holy Ghost which belongeth onely to the sublime authority of holy canonicall Scriptures Neyther was he so grosse conceited as to make the Holy Ghost in the forme of a man or to attribute to him the Art of Limning This is the worke of this painting Apostate who hauing rinegued Chris maketh no scruple to blaspheme the holy Ghost Further hee sayth his wandering youth in faith and life doth not discourage him from venturing his translation before the-Virgins eyes He would haue sayd venting if he could haue hit vpon the word for Marchant venturer he was neuer neyther had he reason to venture the sight of so baudie a Worke before such a Queene as he imagineth her to be and so contemptible a translation before her curious iudgement Further how doth he proue that the Virgin Mary would or could reade his Booke below shee reigning in Heauen aboue And what testimonie can he produce that he doth not now more wander and goe astray both in faith and life then he did in his most youthfull time Italy and Spaine certes are no places to teach reformation eyther in Doctrine or manners Thou flowest from that Sea of Mercie sayth he speaking of the Virgin Mary as a most noble and nauigable Riuer bearing Bottomes of all Burthens So he blasphemeth that holy Virgin supposing her to be a nauigable Riuer bearing Popish Turkish and Pagan Bottomes and dishonouring her Virginitie whom he would seeme to magnifie Further like a ridiculous Sot he maketh nauigable Riuers to flow out of the Sea which his sences if hee haue any might haue shewed him to flow into the Sea He doth also make the Virgin Mary to flow from the Diuinitie as if she were a fourth Person in the Trinitie or as if she were her Sonnes Image Christ sayth hee payd the price of our redemption out of the stocke of his flesh and bloud which he tooke from his Mother As if our Sauiour acted nothing with his Diuinitie and holy Soule in the Act of our Redemption and all his stocke had come from her and shee and not Christ had broken the Serpents head These are not Elegancies but Blasphemies of which he hath no small stocke the stocke of his substance being formerly spent in foraine Countries His mercie sayth he so lookes as if his iustice did receiue thereby some wrong as if Christs iustice could not stand with his mercie Further he diminisheth much of Christs mercie making not Christ but the Virgin Mary a nauigable Riuer of Mercie capable of all Bottomes It may be he thinketh that as Christ saued all Christians so the Virgin Mary saued Turkes Infidels and Apostates This Saint repayred the ruines of his former life and as a broken Bough being bound about exceeded in strength as hee telfeth the Virgin Mary But S. Austine neuer told the Virgin Mary so much nor did he confesse to her as this Apostate doth confesse for him but without commission Further it was not in S. Austines power to repayre himselfe nor are broken Boughes being ingrafted stronger then they were before were he and his companions ingrafted in Tiburne Stocks they would neyther grow strong nor long S. Augustine retracted some of his words But what hath the Virgin Mary to doe with his retractations this should rather be an example for the Translator to retract his Heresies and repent himselfe of his Apostacie He addeth that he reuersed all the impure workes of his heart as if
order of Bishops In ordine illo Patrum quis cui successit videte are his wordes Thirdly hee doth signifie that other Bishops were as well Successors of Peter as the Bishops of Rome To end this point concerning his Judgement of the Church and the visible head thereof saith this visible and palpable Sot as if S. Augustine had euer taught that the Pope was the visible head of the Church or that his Decrees and Determinations were the determination of the Church What a brainlesse head and brazen face hath the Apostate to affirme this The succession of Priests saith S. Austine kept him in the Church But not the personall Succession of them nor the Succession of Popes as this Rinegate impudently affirmeth Further vntill S. Austines time the Bishops of Rome and other the Successours of Peter continued in the Catholike Faith But now the Popes are Apostated from the Faith and haue abandoned the office of Bishops professing new Doctrine and assuming to them a new Office S. Austine De anim ejus Orig. lib. 3. c. 4. beleeued not That Iufants dying without Baptisme could obtaine remission of originall sinne But neyther hee nor the Schoole-men say that all not Baptised are necessarily damned holding that beside the baptisme of Water there is a baptisme of Blood and of the Holy Ghost S. Ambrose doubted not of the saluation of Valentinian albeit hee dyed vnbaptised And the same is the opinion of the vnbaptised and beleeuing Thiefe and such Martyrs as shed their blood for CHRIST For the Popish reall and externall Sacrifice of the Masse S. Austine speaketh no one word howsoeuer it pleaseth this slaue of Antichrist to vouch him for it He doth not so much as once name the Masse or say that Christs Body was really offered vnder the accidents of Bread and Wine The sacrifice he speaketh of was onely a memoriall of the sacrifice of Christs death and Monica was onely remembred at the Altar as other Christians Patriarkes and Martyrs were albeit her soule was not in Purgatorie Papists also build Churches to Martyrs and Saints and call vpon them contrarie to the Doctrine of S. Austine Lib. 22. de Ciuit. Dei c. 10. who albeit they were named in the Mysteries yet denyeth that eyther they were called vpon or had Temples built vnto them Lib. 17. de Ciuit. Dei c. 20. hee admitteth none to be Priests after the Order of Melchisedech or Mediators of the New Testament but CHRIST IESVS Sacerdos ipse Noui Testamenti secundum Ordinem Melchisedech But this Apostate supposeth that his Masse-Priests are after the Order of Melchisedech and that Saints canonized by the Pope are Mediators of the New Testament albeit neyther New nor Old Testament was established in their bloud We adore Christs flesh sayth S. Austine allegorically expounding the words of the 98. Psalme but not in the Mysteries as this Patron of the Mysterie of Iniquitie affirmeth nor doth he speake of the Sacrifice of the Masse as this Dreamer imagineth for he speaketh of the spirituall eating of Christs flesh that is adored when it is beleeued and spiritually receiued by Faith That Christs flesh was vnder the accidents of Bread and Wine and really contained in the Priests hands neyther did S. Austine or other Fathers beleeue for that were nothing else then to betray Christ as did Judas into the hands of Theeues That Christs Body is to be eaten with the mouth he vtterly denyeth Non hoc corpus quod videtis mandueaturi estis sayth he Againe in Conc. 1. in Psal 33. expounding these words Ferebatur in manibus suis he vnderstandeth them of the Sacrament in Christs hands for speaking properly he sayth No man is carryed in his owne hands which words the Prefacioner eyther marked not or wilfully diffembled Prayers for the dead inferre not the Doctrine of Purgatorie as the place of the 2. Machab. 12. albeit corrupted and his Booke de cura pro Mortuis doth declare for neyther doth he there mention any Purgatorie nor did he euer thinke that his Mothers soule was in Purgatorie In Enchirid ad Lament hee speaketh of purging small faults but very doubtingly but that Christians were to satisfie in Purgatorie for sinnes whose guilt was remitted hee neuer taught nor imagined Aërius was condemned as an Heretike as Augustine relateth Haeres 53. de Haeres ad Quoduultd but it was because he was an Arrian He was reproued also for denying not Sacrifices and Prayers for the Dead as this Apostate lying most deadly and impudently affirmeth but a Commemoration for the Dead then vsed wherein Martyrs and holy Saints were mentioned As for the Sacrifice 2. Machab. 12. it will profit the Apostate but little being offered for the Damned In his second Sermon vpon the 88. Psalme S. Austine would haue Saints Feasts celebrated with sobrietie But what maketh that for innocation of Saints or celebrating Masses in their honour Further these words seeme to be patched to the end of the Psalme by some idle Monke that was zealous for his Belly and more willing to feast then fast for neyther haue they any connexion with the words going before nor was it the vse to celebrate Feasts in S. Austines dayes for other Saints then Martyrs as appeareth Lib. 20. contra Faust c. 22. That S. Austine proued Prayers to Saints and Angels out of Scriptures is a most grosse Vntruth vttered by a lying Apostate In the 21. Booke de Ciuit. Dei c. 27. alledged by him is no such matter sound Nay in the 22. Booke de Ciuit. c. 10. he condemneth the inuocation of Martyrs And Lib. 10. Confess c. 42. 43. sheweth that the Office of Reconciliation and Mediation betweene God and man belongeth to Christ onely and not to Angels or Saints In the 22. Booke de Ciuit. Dei c. 8. diuers Miracles are reported as wrought some by holy Earth some by Reliques and some by other meanes But the whole Discourse sauoureth rather of the Veine of some Monke or writer of Legends then of so learned and graue a Father Howbeit whosoeuer is the Author of that Addition he neyther mentioneth the Masse nor inuocation or prayers to Saints for which by the Apostate it is vainely alledged nor sayth that Miracles were wrought by such superstitious Tricks In his Booke de Grat. Lib. Arb. c. 16. he sayth It is certaine we keepe Gods Commandements if we will But he sayth not it is in the power of the will to keepe Gods Commandements or as the Apostate inferreth that man hath possibilitie to keepe Gods Commandements For presently the holy Father addeth That our will must be prepared of the Lord and that we can doe nothing vnlesse it be giuen vs of God Further to hold that man by his will can fulfill the Law of God is Pelagianisme Lib. de Nat. Grat. c. 43. Wee must as he counselleth vs demand grace of God that we may doe that which we cannot otherwise But what need Grace if the Will had power sufficient to
doe well In his first Booke of Retract c. 21. S. Austine doth vtterly ouerthrow the Popish Doctrine concerning the power of Free-will in doing good For if man cannot change his will vnlesse it be giuen him nor doe good but by grace as hee teacheth then doth it not lye in the power of Free-will to doe well more then it lyeth in the power of the Apostate to be made a Cardinall which is a grace bestowed by the Pope on his fauourites and not obtained by euery loose companions free-will S. Austine doth also confound the Heresie of the Apostate holding iustification by Faith and Workes for if Workes follow him that is iustified and goe not before then doe not Workes iustifie vs. Yet hold we not that Faith deuoid of Workes doth iustifie but that Faith liuely by good Workes doth onely apprehend Christs Mercy and lustice and not our Workes effect Iustice That S. Austine with other Fathers of the Church teach that our Workes are meritorious of Eternall life as this Apostate auoweth is an impudent assertion disauowed by them and meritorious of a sharp censure S. Austine neither in his 105. Epist nor in his 46. Epist ad Valent. doth in one word signifie that Workes are meritorious of Eternal life Nay contrary albeit he doth mention Merits yet he saith men are justified by Grace without merits Which ouerthroweth the Doctrine of Merites de congruo and the Decrees of Trent concerning mens preparations to Iustice Jn Epist 46. ad Valent. he saith Man is conuerted by mercy grace In Conc. 2. in Psal 36. he denieth our Workes to be meritorious of that we shall receiue And in Psal 83. That what soeuer he hath promised he promised to such as are vnworthy And Ser. 16. de verb. Apost He is made our debtor saith he not receiuing anything from vs but promising what pleased him And thus it appeareth that S. Austine is little propitious to Papists euen in those points in which they thinke him to be most fauourable But their maine grounds hee eyther knew not or contradicted them as hath been formerly demonstrated Most idle therefore is his whole Discourse ensuing First he wondreth that any should be so silly or impudent as to auouch S. Austine as a Patron of the Faith which wee professe whom he like a Calfe of the Popes Buls calleth Caluinists But I haue alledged against him so many particulars that I hope he will cease his wonderment I haue also deriued our Faith from Christ his Apostles and not from Caluin or any late teacher S. Austine argued against the Manichies that held Fate and the Pelagians that magnified Free-will and made an Idoll of it But what doth that concerne vs who detest all the Heresies both of the one and the other It rather toucheth the Apostate and his consorts who according to the Doctrine of Thomas 1. P. q. 116. Art 1. 2. allow Fate and with the Manichies condemne Mariage in Priests and giue to CHRIST a phantasticall body that is in many places at one time and refuse Flesh and other meates They also magnifie Free-will as being the Cause of mans conuersion and hauing power to prepare vs to Iustification and hold that the Virgin Mary and some others were borne without Originall sinne and that Iust men may liue without sinne for some time and the vniust doe any good by their Free-will all which are Heresies of the Pelagians He addeth that S. Austine beleeued the inuocation of Saints and Angels to bee a Catholike Doctrine and that hee did not onely approue Prayers made to Saints but also recounteth many Miracles wrought by them Lyes idly repeated and formerly refured See S. Austines Confes lib. 10. c. 42. 43. lib. 22 de ciuit Dei c. 10. and you shall finde hee teacheth contrary The miracles reported Lib. 22. de ciuit c. 8. are thrust in there by some falsary and yet is it not there sayd they were wrought by Saints He supposeth that wee inferre that Scriptures containe all things necessary to saluation because as S. Austine saith lib. Confes c. 5. they are excellent meanes whereby God may hee both beleeued and serued But his supposall is ridiculous and false for neyther hath S. Austine in that place any such words nor doe we ground our selues vpon any thing therein contained but vpon diuers other place Lib. 3. de doctr Christ. c. â— Tract 49. in Joan. Lib. 1. de cousens Euangel c. 35. lib. 3. centr lib. Petil. c. 6. and lib. 3. cantr dâ—â—s epist Pelag. c. 4. Farre hee was saith the Apostate from holding Scripture to hee the supriame Iudge of Controuersies Yes lib 3. de Nuâ—â— Coâ—oâ—pâ—â—… c. 33. hee appealeth to Christ and his Apostle He doth also try all questione in all place by Scriptures and no where by the Pope or his 〈◊〉 That the Gospell with hâ—n had beene no Gospell if the authority of the Church had not obliged him is a wicked speech of this blasphemous Apustate and no saying of S. Austine Hee said onely the Authority of the Church moued him which hee might haue affirmed of any godly Preacher yea of his Mother If S. Austines or other Fathers words seeme to fauour vs the Rinegate pretendeth That so many other places are plaine and expresse for his Romish Religion insomuch that some confesse they contradict themselues Both grosse and impudent leasings For the first we haue refuted by many vnanswerable arguments the second hee cannot chuse but confesse vnlesse he can produce such as charge the Fathers with contradictions But saith he The Roman Church hath preserued S. Austines Workes vntouched secondly shee preserued two Orders of Religious men instituted by him thirdly shee permitted his Images and Reliques to bee kept and honoured his Festiuall to bee solemnized and Churches and Altars to bee erected to God in his name I answer that the first is most vntrue for the Popes factors haue not onely added to his Workes many suppositious Bookes but also haue falsified his true works and if any sinceritie haue beene vsed in the edition of his writings it is much against the Popes minde But suppose the Romanists should haue vsed diligence in preseruing his Writings yet is not the same comparable to the diligence of the Jewes in preseruing the Old Testament by which notwithstanding they are plainly conuinced 2. It is false that eyther Hermites or Chanons regular were instituted by S. Austine they hauing receiued their Originall and Lawes from the Pope 3. The Jewes honored the Prophets albeit they regarded not their admonitions and counsailes 4. It is guibrish to say that Churches and Altars were built to God in S. Austines name for S. Austines Church is built to Saint Austine as Baals Church to Baal 5. Not Gods Church but the Sinagogue of Sathan maintaineth the Idotrous worship of Saints of their Reliques and Images He saith wee disclaime S. Austine and call him superstitious and scornefully trample vpon the head and heart of this
to bee followed Was not then this Rinegate impudent that tooke the Authority which S. Austine bestowed on Scriptures and by a tricke of Legierdemaine conueyed it to the Church of Rome and to euery blind Pope That one place of Scripture hath diuers sences as the Apostate blindly auoweth in his Notes on the 12. Booke of S. Austines Confessions Chap. 18. hee shall neuer bee able to proue by the testimony of that Father who confirmeth that to be the sence of Scripture which the Enditor meant who is Truth and speaketh but one thing Thus wee see for a Translator we haue here a corrupter falsifier of S. Austine Afterward lib. 12. c. 20. he sayth diuers Expositors may diuersly interprete one place but he sayth not that one place hath diuers sences as the Apostate without all sence inferreth For how can that which differeth be true And how can God in one sentence vnderstand diuers things he being alwayes one and vnchangeable The Postiller vpon the Margent of this 12. Booke c. 25. sayth Truth is a Catholike Benediction and S. Austine there confesseth that Truth belongeth not to any one man but is common to all the louers of Truth But he is an absurd fellow to suppose the Pope and his followers embracing the refuse Doctrine of Trent and the Schooles to be Catholikes or Truth to be a Benediction bestowed on Papists that wee haue found and declared to be forgers lyars slanderers and a packe of Heretikes Further if Truth belongeth not to any one man why doth euery false Pope that is but a priuat man pretend that he is the onely supreme Iudge of Truth and infallible interpreter of holy Scriptures In the Title of the 30. chapter of the 12. Booke of S. Austines Confessions the Translator sayth Charitie is to be maintained among men of contrarie opinions So hee pronounceth sentence against the Pope and his Inquisitors and all their Faction which persecute Christians and cut their throats for not holding euery one of their trifling Heresies S. Augustine would haue Truth to make friends But the Apostaticall Sect will not heare him being offended for nothing more then that we teach Truth against the Brood of Antichrist and their wicked Errors Lib. 13. Confess c. 1. the Postiller noteth that without Gods inspiration a man cannot thinke a good thought which is also S. Austines Doctrine and both contrary to the Popish Doctrine of Papists that giue free-will to a naturall man both to say well and to doe well Cap. 7. the Translator intimateth that man riseth from sinne and is iustified by the helpe of Charitie inherent in vs. And this he endeuoreth to picke out of S. Austine but sooner shall hee picke Gudgeons out of Flint stones for that holy Father doth not speake there of Charitie inherent in vs but of Charitie giuen vs and working in vs by Gods holy Spirit Lib. 13. c. 9. ridiculously he endeuoreth to proue his Popish Procession by the example of the Jewes who as he sayth did sing Psalmes as they went vp the stayres of the Temple As if euery Masse-Priest singing Letanies as they goe vp Newgate stayres or as they goe to Tiburne doe walke in Procession By the Psalmes of the Jewes this Apostate will neuer proue his Letanies or Procession for they sung Psalmes to God Masse-Priests in their Letanies pray to dead men Where S. Austine lib. 13. c. 13. speaketh of the expectation of adoption and the redemption of his body the false Postiller noteth that S. Paul saued Christians by praying for them after his glorification of which that Father giueth not the least signification nay contrarie he expected the fruits of his owne adoption and the redemption of his owne bodie of which other Christians were no members Cap. 14. he sayth the Caluinists affirme their Church to consist only of the elect But the lying Apostate sheweth not who these Caluinists are and where they write so much as he chargeth them with Caluin himselfe saith only that the Catholike Church is a Communion of Saints and properly consisteth of the Elect to whom remission of sins eternall life belong albeit many wicked men may seeme to be of the Catholike Church in regard of their profession are reputed members of particular Churches Quis nisi tu Deus noster fecisti nobis firmamentum authoritatis super nos in scriptura tua diuina saith S. Austine Lib. 13. Confes c. 1.5 that is who but thou our God hath giuen vs a foundation of authority aboue vs in thy diuine Scripture which clearely refuteth the blasphemous Postill of this Apostate who saith the Church that is the Pope hath power to make Scriptures Canonicall to vs. For if they receiue authority from God only how commeth the Pope or the Church to giue them authority and how doth the Church know them to be Canonicall but by diuine Authority Cap. 19. the Translator corrupteth S. Austines text by adding to it about the middle of the Chap. these words a word of Counsell following as it seemeth his Spanish notes and translation He intimateth also that Fryers and Monkes the scum and refuse of the world are an elected generation which S. Austine neyther meant nor could speake of Finally he saith Religious men and Priests are a middle kind of Creatures as you would say Centaures Satyrs Monsters being neither Saints therfore not belonging to the Church that is a Communion of Saints nor ordinary Christians and therefore not belonging to Christ or to the King because they clayme themselues to bee exempt By creeping things Confes lib. 13. c. 20. the Postiller vnderstandeth Masse-Priests Monkes Friers who indeed creepe and crawle like Snakes leape like Toades and swarme like Lice But yet hee is much deceiued if he thinke there were any such vermine in the world in S. Austines time Lib. 13. c. 21. the Translator seeketh for Masse-Priests Monks and Friers in S. Austine and in the 1. of Genesis declaring that they are men as it were seuered from the world But the poore Ideot is as farre wide as Genesis is from the Apocalipse where he may find Locusts newly come out of the bottomlesse pit and Masse-Priests are no where found but in the Popes Decretals and Pontificall Both most noxious Serpents and giuen to carnality and worldly pleasures Spirituales ergo siue qui praesunt siue qui obtemperant spiritualiter iudicant sayth S. Austine Lib. 13. Confess c. 23. that is spirituall men iudge whether they rule or obey but of the sublime authoritie of Gods Booke he will admit none to iudge but would haue all men to submit their vnderstanding vnto it How then doth the Pope take vpon him to be that spirituall man that iudgeth all things Can Boniface the eight c. vnam sanctam extr com de Maior Obed. iudge better then S. Austine What audacious boldnesse is it for euery Pope to challenge a power to himselfe ouer Scriptures to make them authenticall to vs Euery Preacher may expound