not your nature be estraunged neyther goe yée about to thrust into this land for reine power such people as curse not only y â— ground wée tread vpon but also our bodyes and soules and are ready to cut all English throates if they might haue accesse vnto vs. Yée say ye haue vowed yet heare what your law saieth In malis promissis rescinde fidem in turpivoto muta decretum quod incuatè vouisti ne facias impia est promissio que scelere adimpletur In euill promises breake thy fayth in a shamefull vowe alter thy minde which thou hast vnaduisedly vowed doe not that vowe is wicked which is performed with mischiefe The rules of your order are not as yet come to my hands but the oth which all you take that professe the Romish religion I may not conceale from the reader and reading it I cannot chuse but lament to sée your flauerie and bondage and the liuely caracter of Antichrist therby imprinted not onely in the hand of the labourers but in the forehead of professours and consciences of all those y â— buy and sell traffike in his countries dominions In english thus I. N. do firmly admit embrace the Apostolike and Ecclesiasticall traditions and the rest of the obseruations and constitutions of the same church Also I doe admit the holy scripture according vnto that sense which the holy mother the Church hath and doth hold it to whome it appertaineth to iudge of the true sense and interpretation of the holy scriptures neyther will I euer receaue or interpret it but according vnto the vniforme consent of the fathers I doe also professe that there are truely and properly seauen sacraments of the new law ordayned by Iesus Christ our Lord and for the saluation of mankinde though not all to euery one necessary To wit baptisme confirmation the Lords supper penance extreame vnction order and matrimonie and that they conferre grace and of them baptism confirmation order without sacriledge may not be reiterated I doe also receiue and admit the receiued and allowed rites of the catholike church in the solempne administration of al the aforesaid sacraments I doe embrace and receiue al euery the things which of original sinne and iustification haue beene defined and decreed in the holy synode of Trent I professe in like sorte that in the masse there is offered vnto god the true proper propicia tory sacrifice for quick dead And that in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist there is truely really and substantially the body and blood together with the soule and diuinitie of our Lord Iesus christ and that there is a conuersion of the whole substance of bread into the bodie and the whole substance of wine into blood the which conuersion the catholike church calleth transubstantiation I confesse with all that vnder one onely kind whole and perfect Christ and the true sacrament is receiued I doe constantly hold purgatory and that the soules there detayned are relieued by the prayers of the faythful and in like sorte that the Saintes raigning to-together with christ are to bee honoured and callled vppon and that they pray vnto God for vs and that theyr relyques are to bee worshipped I doe firmely auouche that the Images of Christ and the mother of God alwayes a virgin and also of other Saintes are to bee had and retayned and that we are to giue them due honour and worshippe I doe affyrme that the facultie of pardons hath beene left by Christ in the church and that the vse of them is very wholsome to christian people I doe acknowledge the holy catholike Apostolike church of Rome for the mother and mistresse of all churches I doe promise and sweare true obedience to the Byshop of Rome successour of blessed Peter prince of the Apostles Vicar of Iesus Christ I do also vndoubtedly receiue and proâ—esse al that haue beene delyuered defined and declared by the holy cannons generall councelles and specially by the holy Synode of Trent and withal al things contrary and haeresies whatsoeuer haue by the church beene condemned reiected and accursed I also doe condemne reiect and accurse This true catholike fayth without the which none can be saued the which I doe presently willingly professe and truely holde the same wholy and imaculate vnto the last gaspe most constantly to retaine teach and preach as much as in me shall lye I the same N. do promise vowe swere so God me helpe the holy Gospels of God New commeth Pope Impius 4. with his farewell Let it not be lawfull therefore for any man at all to infringe this page or leafe of our ordinaunce inbibition derogation will statute decree and commaundement or with rash enterprise to contrary the same if any therfore presume to attempte the same let him knowe that he incurreth the indignation of almightie GOD and of blessed Peter and Paule the Apostles Dat. Rom. apud 5. Petrum Anno 1569. Id. Noâ—em Pontific nostri annâ— 5 Good God what periurie Idolatrie heresie blasphemy there is contained in the aforesaide oth And the spirit of Antichrist is plainly reuealed in the cursed conclusion folowing after In trueth such traditions as are contrary and besides the word of God though they be called Apostolike are not to be receiued that sense and exposition of the scriptures which the Church of Rome deliuereth is not the right and perfect vnderstanding the Church and especially as you deliuer it the Church of Rome is not iudge of the scriptures there are but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lordes supper the rest by you added art of an other kinde and nature in which sense wée may say as Ierome saide of the Reuelation Looke howe many wordes we finde there so many Sacramentes there are The Sacraments confer not grace as you imagine Ex opere operato the rites in the administration of the Sacraments retained in the Church of Rome are childish superstitious and impious that doctrine of originall sin and iustification lately decréed in the councell of Trent is plasphemous and abhominable The Masse is an Idoll and the sacrifice there pretended for quicke and dead is a deceiuing of the people the Eucharist is not reall substantiall with the soule and diuinitie of Jesus Christ neither transubstantiated the Sacrament is not perfect when it is deliuered vnder one kinde Purgatorie is a fable neyther are the soules of the departed relieued by the prayers of the lyuing the Saintes are not to be inuocated their reliques are not to be worshipped neither Images to be adored Popes pardons are to no purpose but a deluding of Gods people and the filling of the poke Rome is neither catholike apostolike nor the Lady and mistresse of al other Churches the Pope is not the true successour of Peter neither the Uicar of Jesus Christ to receiue what Rome receiueth and condemne what shee condemneth is â—o deliuere Barrabas and crucifie Christ to embrace
to improue to correct and to instruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect vnto all good workes Search the scriptures sayeth Christ for in them ye thinke to haue eternall lyfe What soeuer thinges are written before time are written for our learning that we through patience comfort of the scriptures might haue hope Iohn the Euangelist closeth vp y â— whole where he seaseth to write saying Many other signes also did Iesus in the presence of his disciples which are not writâ—eÌ„ in this booke but these things are written that ye myght beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the sonne of God and that in beleeuing ye might haue lyfe thorow his name As much to say though other miracles were wrought by Christ and not here layd down yet as much as is thought necessarie for yée to beléeue is here written Whereby wée gather the sufficiencie of holy scripture to saluation And whereas the woman of Samaria confessed the opinion then generally receiued saying I knowe well that Messias shall come which is called Christ when he is come he will tell vs all thinges Iesus sayd vnto her I am he that speake vnto thee In an other place to his Disciples hée saide All thinges that I haue heard of my Father haue I made knowne vnto you Againe where hée promiseth his Disciples to sende them an other comforter which shoulde teach them all thinges and shoulde bring all thinges to their remembraunce that hée had tolde them the same after the the ascention of Christ rested vppon the Apostles in the forme of fire tongues and was plentifully shed in the heartes of the faythful and continueth vnto the end assuring the children of God that they are his and dayly opening lighting vnto them y â— laÌ„tern caÌ„del of his word Lastly least any should surmisse any fradulent dealing or imperfection to rest after the departure of the Apostles that they spéed not their commissioÌ„ in so ample a maner as they were inioyned by our Sauiour saying Goe teach all nations c. Teach them to keepe all thinges that I haue commaunded you Their own protestations shall stand for sufficient euidences Paule for himselfe and his fellow labourers saieth The thinges which eye hath not seene neither eare hath heard neyther came into mans heart c. GOD hath reuealed them vnto vs by his spirite Againe wee haue the minde of Christ In an other place taking his leaue of the Elders of Ephesus hée saieth Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia after what manner I haue beene with you at all seasons and how I kept back nothing that was proffitable but haue shewed you and taught you openly and throughout euery house In a while after hée saieth Wherefore I take you to recorde this daye that I am cleare from the blood of all men For I haue kept nothing back but haue shewed you al the counsel of GOD. The conclusion is this Séeing that the holy scriptures of the olde and new testament which we imbrace are vndoubtedly the worde of GOD séeing the holy men of olde haue deliuered none other to the posteritie séeing that the sufficiencie thereof and euery parcell therein contayned is such as the premisses declare to make the man of GOD perfect séeing that the Messias is come and reuealed all things séeing that the promised comforter is become our guide and assureth the faythfull consciences séeing the Apostles and Disciples of Christ haue receiued the sense and meaning of Christ and deliuered the same simply and fully as their Euangelies and Epistles doe testifie wée are to reiect the Iesuiticall opinion receiued at Rome and to confesse in the trueth of Gods spirite that the holy scripture is no nose of ware no leaden rule no lame maimed neyther vnperfect doctrine but a perfect sounde sufficient absolute and contayning all thinges necessary to saluation I neede not stand confirming the same with testimonies of fathers the scriptures themselues are copious enough in this behalfe 2 The Iesuites doctrine THe want that is in holy scripture must be supplied by peecing therevnto traditions Censur Colon. This doeth Andradius the Iesuite defend allowing of the former sentence where hée writeth The brethren of the Societie of Iesu meaning the Censurers of Colen haue defined both godly and wisely that the traditions of the church are necessarily to bee annexed vnto the holye scripture Oâ—hod explic lib. 2. pag. 101. The late councell of Trent hath most blasphemously made traditions of equal authoritie with the scriptures Their wordes are these All the bookes of the old and new testament yea and also the traditions appertayning as well vnto fayth as manners as if they had beene vttered by Christ and endited by the holy Ghost conserued by continual succession in the catholike Church this Synode doeth receiue and honour with lyke affection of pietie and equall reuerence Sub. Paul 3. sess 4. cap. 1. The same also is found in the Censure of Colen and in the Catechisme of Canisius allowed in the councell of Trent 2. The Catholikes doctrine THe holy scriptures are perfect sufficieÌ„t of theÌ„selues and neede not to â—e pâ—â—ced with traditions This dependeth vpon that which goeth before therefore it requireth not so large a discourse There are too wayes to attaine vnto the knowledge of GODS worde the one inward by inspiration of the holy spirite the other outwarde by reading and hearing of the scriptures the thirâ— place I finde not for traditions toâ—â—â—d neyther may they bée ioyned as 〈…〉 to drawe in the viâ—â—eyarde of the Church Israel was charged not â—â— plâ—we with an Oxe and an Asse not to make their garmentes of linsie wolsie the Passoâ—er was to be eaten with swéet bread the leuen of the phariâ—aicall traditions being sayde aâ—â—â—â— The Prophet complayneth that the fountaine of the water of lyfe was leâ—t and that the people had dâ—gged them broken cesterâ—â—s Ieremy would haue the chaffe of mens dreames seuered from the wheat of Gods word S. Paule woulde not haue the faythfull ioyned with the infidell righteousnesse and vnrighteousnesse light and darkenesse Christ and Belial the temple of God and the groue of Idolles as much to say in the whole the worde of God may not bée linked with the traditions of man To this effect are the iniunctions of the holy Ghost so oft repeated in holy scripture Beware of false Prophetes beware of the leuen as the Disciples vnderstand it the doctrine of the Pharises and Saduces Become not the slaues of men O Tymothy keepe that which is committed vnto thee and auoyde prophane and vaine bablings Persistin those things which thou hast learned For other foundation can no man laye then that which is layde which is Iesus Christ Euery plant saieth Christ which my heauenly Father hath not planted shalbe rooted vp He turneth him vnto the forfathers of these Iesuites saying Why doeye transgresse
of heauen 8. The Iesuites doctrine THE regenerate in this life are able by their workes to attayne vnto the perfection of the Law Censur Colon. Andrad Canis Agayne Whosoeuer shall say that the commaundements of God to the man that is iustified and in the state of grace are vnpossible to be fulfilled let him be accursed Concil Trident. sess 6. canon 18. 8. The Catholikes doctrine THE regenerate in this life cannot by their works attaine vnto the perfection of the Lawe but are found iust before God onely by fayth in Christ Iesus who of God as S. Paule sayth is made vnto vs wisedome and righteousnes and sanctification and redemption Wee know that whatsoeuer the Law sayth it saith vnto them that are vnder the Law that euery mouth be stopped and all the worlde be culpable before God Therefore by the workes of the Lawe shall no flesh bee iustified in his sight As many as are of the woorkes of the Lawe are vnder the curse For it is written cursed is euery one that continueth not in all thinges which are written in the booke of the Law to doe them and that no man is iustified by the woorkes of the Law before God It is euident for the iust shall liue by fayth Whosoeuer yee bee that are iustified by the Lawe yee are fallen from grace For if Abraham were iustified by woorkes hee hath wherein to reioyce but not with God For what sayeth the scripture Abraham beleeued GOD and it was counted to him for righteousnes Nowe is it not written for him onely that it was imputed to him for righteousnes but also for vs. The Israelites beeing ignoraunt of the righteousnesse of GOD and going about to establishe their owne submitted not them selues to the righteousnesse of GOD for Christe is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnesse vnto euery one that beeleeuâ—â—h Againe the wisedome of the fleshe is not subiecte to the Lawe of GOD neither in deede can bee Our sauiour sayde vnto the Iewes did not Moses giue you a Lawe and yet none of you keepeth the Lawe The like hath Saint Paule to the Galathians They them selues which are circumcised keepe not the Lawe Peter sharply rebuked the Pharises which thrust in among the christians the obseruation of the Law and the confidence reposed in the righteousnes which they thought came thereby saying Why tempt ye God to lay a yoke on the Disciples neckes which neither our fathers nor wee were able to beare For wee beleeue through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ to be saued aâ— they doe The like hath Saint Paule in a large discourse among other thinges saying of Iesus Bee it knowen vnto you men and brethren that through this man is preached vnto you the forgiuenes of sinnes and from all thinges from which yâ— could not be iustified by the Law of Moses by him euery one that beleeueth is iustified It is of his fulnes as Iohn sayeth and not of our owne that all wee haue receiued He is the fulfilling of the Law for righteousnes vnto euery one that beleeueth 9. The Iesuites doctrine NOT onely in morall affayres and ciuill actions hath the will of man much sorce but also in matters appertayning vnto saluation so that man can doe nothing vnlesse his will be yelding prompt and readie to receiue the grace of God Censur Colon. Canisius Catechis Andrad Orthodox explic lib. 4. Agayne Whosoeuer shal say that the free will of man after the fall of Adam is lost and extinguished or that it is a thing hauing a bare title or rather a name without the thing and last of al brought into the church as a figment of Satan let him bâ—e accursed Concil Trident. sess 6. canon 5. 9. The Catholikes doctrine NOT onely in morall affayres and ciuill actions tending to good hath the wil of man little force but also much lesse in matters appertaining vnto saluation so that man can doe nothing that good is vnlesse his will be tempered by the spirit of God to yeeld made prompt and readie to receiue the grace of God No man sayth Christ can come vnto mee vnlesse the Father whiche sent me doe drawe him Agayne sayeth hee vnto the Iewes Therefore sayde I vnto you that none can come vnto mee vnlesse it bee giuen him of my Father Saint Paule saieth No man speaking by the spirite of GOD calleth Iesus exâ—â—rable Also no man can saye that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holye Ghoste Iohn the Baptist tolde the Pharises that weeâ—dred at the dâ—oinges of Christ A man can receiue nothing except it be giuen him from aboue Then let no man bragge neither of will neyther of woorke For what hast thou sayth Sainte Paule whiche thou haste not â—â—câ—iâ—â—d if thou hast receiued it why doest thoâ— glory as if thou haddest not receiued it This haue I found sâ—â—â—â— Solomon that GOD hath made man righteous but they haue sought many inueâ—tions He that made man from the beginning left him in the power of his counsell and gaue him his commaundementes and preceptes he layâ— before him water and fire life and death man chose the woorst yeelded vnto the woman whome the serpent had woon lost his integritie was expelled paradise and inioyned in miserie to till the earth and in the sweat of his browes to eate his bread His power to reach his hande to the tree of life was cut of his libertie of walking in paradise was by his fall stopped his giftes corrupted and himselfe together with his posteritie became the slaues of Satan being brideled with the â—urâ—e of sin So that nowe we confesse with Ierenâ—ie O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe neither is it in man to walk and to direct his steppes Euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue Not I saith S. Paule but the grace of God which is within me Againe Thus I liue yet not I but Christ liueth in mee Not the good which I would doe I but the euil which I hate that doe I. It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercie Neither is he that plantâ—th anything neither he that watereth but God that giueth the increase O generation of Vipers saith Christ vnto the Pharises How can you speake good thinges when ye are euil Can the Blackâ—â—Moone change his skinne or the Leopard his spottes then may ye also doe good that are accustomed to doe euill saith the Lord. The steppes of man sayth Solomon are ruled by the Lorde howe can a man then vnderstand his owne way Againe The kings heart is in the hand of the Lorde as the riuers of waters he turneth it whither so euer it pleaseth him Therefore is it that the Church calleth most humbly vpon the Lord saying Turne thou vs vnto thee O Lorde and we shalbe turned heale me O Lorde and I shalbe whole saue me and
disswadeth For he allureth and calleth none but onely sheweth it Yet Paule sayth I giue counsell neither doeth hee allure any but rather disswade and withdrawe while hee sayth euery man hath a proper gift of GOD neyther doeth hee counsell neyther disswade but leaueth it beetweene both Fyrst I note your malice in that you alleadge Christe and Paule as ioyntly alleadged by Luther whiche hee hath not doone Secondly in that yee deliuer not simplye his meaning expressed in these fearmes Playnely and Rather Lastly in that yee conceale his conclusion whiche resolueth the whole and layeth downe the right vnderstanding of the holye Ghoste according vntoo the exposttion 〈…〉 Luther writing It is as necessary for euery man that cannot containe to haue a wife as iâ— iâ—â—â— care drinke or sleepe What fault finde yée with this doctrine there is none that wroâ—te more reuerently of blessed wedlock and holie virginitie then Luther hath done In that place by you alleadged and in sundry other his learned discourses he intreateth of the soule and the faculties thereof he displayeth the bodie with the senses passions and affections of the minde the disposition inward and outward not forgetting diet rayment with other necessaries thervnto appertaining and amongst al with great modestie he layeth downe the necessitie of matrimonie for those that cannot keepe their vessels staâ—â—ch and 〈…〉 Nienthly yee bring in Luther saying All christians are as holy and as iust as the mother of GOD and as the Apostles were You haue practized so long to flaunder his person and falsifie his wordes that yée cannot leaue it he hath written not as you say but as followeth Because we are borne againe and in this newe birth become the sonnes and heyres of GOD wee are equall in dignitie and honour with Saint Paule Saint Peter and the blessed virgine and all the Sayntes We haue the same treasure of GOD and all good thinges as largely as they For it behoued that they shoulde bee borne agayne as well as we wherfore they haue no more than any of the other Christians These woords doe not establish your imagination neither can yée grounde here that comparison For without derrogation to any of the Saintes bée it spoken all y â— beléeue rightlie in Christ Jesu are borne againe are become the sonnes and heyres of God are the blessed of the father they shal follow the Lambe whither soeuer hée goeth shal receiue their pennie in the life to come as well as y â— blessed Uirgin the holie Apostles or any of y e saints of God alredy departed to rest But as for their special graces namely y â— Mary should beare Christ that Paule should be a choseÌ„ vessel so extraordinarily be called by a voyce froÌ„ heauen y â— Peter with the rest of y â— Apostles should haue the holie Ghost in the forme of slrrie tongues rest vpon them w t other rare gifts we learn to humble our selues not to stand too high in our own conceites to imbrace y â— measure of faith which y â— Lord hath geueÌ„ vnto vs. For euery one hath a proper gift one thus another thus One hath fiue talents an other two another one The summe is this Mary the Apostles all the Saintes and faithful people of God eyther alreadie praising God in the triumphant church or presently in the flesh and congregation militant waiting for the bridegroom to enter into the celestial Ierusalem are partakers of that one only sacrifice offred vpon the crossr for the saluation of mankind haue no righteousnes neither merits of their owne but are al equallie saued by the righteousnes merits passion of Christ Iefus This is the doctrine of y â— catholike church this hath Luther taught this teach we and none other This is christian humilitie w tout comparing of graces But to let passe your slanders seeking to discredit al by the doctrine of one if yee could haue found him to haue erred I will not speake of that erroneous doctrine where some of your side holde simple fornication to be no mortall sinne some maynteine the the stewes and curtezans of Rome some haue dispensed with incest and murther some holde of Thomas some of Scotus some of Occam some of Lombard and other some with the saying Hic non tenetur Magister your recoÌ„ciling of writers your patching of canons your iumbling of decrees your iarring of glosses with infinit enormities concerning priuate persons sole opinions We néed not ouer busie our selues to worke your discredit by disgracing som perticuler writer of your side seing y â— there is no lewd opinion amoÌ„g you but hath infinit fauourers nay we may truely say of you with the Prophet From the sole of the foote to the crowâ—â— of the heade there is no health Your profession is but a 〈…〉 or lâ—â—pe of all abhomination Or wee may saye with Petrarcha Rome is a temple of errour and a schoole of heresie One thing heere I may not let passe which you lastly and in the tenth place haue annexed vnto your collections out of Luther I meane your storie of the Diuell You dealt fauourably with him you made vp the diuels messe with the coÌ„panie of Lindan Godens Claudius de Sanctes you bring in Hosius with salt and spoones and bearing the candls when Luther as yet say went drunke to bed The summe is this all you together with Satan haue conspired against Luther disâ—râ—diting his life his doctrine his death As for his life â—nce hee sincerely embraced the Gospell none of you no not one shalbe able in truth to stain him his doctrine is knowne vnto the world his great tomes and godly labour is to be seene as for his ende he died in his bedde being thréescore and thrée yeere olde or there about in the yeere 1546. the. 18. of Februarie His sicknes whereof hee chiefly complayned was the oppression of humours in the Orifice or opening of the stomacke which of a long time had troubled him There were then present in the chamber at his departure his thrée sonnes Iohn Martin Paule with Ambrose their schoolemaister There was Doctor Ionas there was also Albert earle of Mansfield with his wife and diuerse others that loued him well These as they haue done heretofore so will they be witnesses vnto the posteritie and geue euidence also at the day of iudgement against all those that discredite his person deface his doctrine After sundry godly meditations he gaue vp the Ghost with this prayer My heauenly father eternall and merciful God thou hast made manifest vnto me thy deare sonne cut Lord Iesus Christ I haue taught him I haue knowne him I loue him as my life my health and my redemption whome the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with iniutie afflicted Draw my soule to thee I commend my spirite into thy handes thou hast redeemed me O GOD of trueth God so loued the world that he gaue his onely sonne
the commaundemente of God by your tradition Hâ—e applyeth vnto them the complaint of olde made by the Propet Esay In vaine they worshippe me teaching for doctrines mens preceptes The shéepe of Christ will follow him A stranger they will not follow for they are commaunded the contrary Ye shall put nothing vnto the worde which I commaund you neyther shall ye take ought there from Againe Take heede that yee doe as the Lord your God hath commanded you turne not aside to the right hand nor to the left Again ye shall not doe after al the things that ye doe heere this day that is euery man what seemeth him good in his owne eyes Put nothing saieth Solomon vnto his wordes least hee reproue thee and thou be found a lyer A mans will or couenaunt saith S. Paule when it is confirmed no man doth abrogate it or adde any thing thereto Much lesse may the will of God be abrogated or adde any thing thereto The coâ—â—â—ation is terrible in the end of the Reuelation where Iohn saieth I proteste vnto euery man that heareth the wordes of the prophecie of this booke if any man shal adde vnto these thinges GOD shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke and if any man shall diminish of the wordes of the booke of this prophecie God shall take away his parte out of the booke of lyfe and out of the holy citie and from those things which are written in this booke Who then dareth offer straunge fire before the Lord with Nadab and Abihu which the Lorde hath not commaunded I dare not saieth S. Paule speake of any thing which Christ hath not commaunded I dare not saith Saint Paule speake of any thing which Christ hath not wrought by me Ha protesteth vnto the Galathians that hée preached not the doctrine of man neither the Gospell of Jesus Christ after the manner of man that is as it may be gathered by mingling the same with traditions To be short the holy Ghost hath commaunded vs to lay aside traditions with the leauen of the Pharises God hath threatned plagues to light vpon them that adde or diminish his word the Apostles and Saintes of God durst not presume to doe it the word of God is perfect and néedeth no péeceing the Authour is omnipotent and his word mightie in operation then is the Romish opinion to be reiected and the trueth as it appeareth in the premisses in humility of spirit to be embraced 3. The Iesuites doctrine ALl and euery the thinges contayned in holy scripture are so wrapped in obscurities that the best learned can gather thence no certeine knowledge wherefore for the preseruation of religion they must altogether and that in the whole forbidde the laitie the reading of Gods word Censur Colon. That this is the generall opinion of that societie I reporte mée to Andradius the Iesuite who saieth The Iesuites of Colen doeth shew that the holy scripture containeth so many and so great difficulties that it may euidently appeare not to be the wisest way to admit al sorts to the reading therof Orthod expliâ— Lib. 2. pag. 12. His owne iudgement is this Many places of the holy scripture written in the vulgar tongue are no lesse obscure vnto vs then the Hebrew vnto the ignoraunt in the same Pag. 128. Againe Many hauing tyred themselues through continual laboures in the studie of holy scripture coulde neuer attaine vnto certaine misteries of the holy Ghost the which are liuely seene to be painted out in the life of holy men pag. 58. His discourse tendeth to perswade men that by the working of miracles visions and reuelations there is more good done then by the reading of the worde where in mine opinion hée shaketh handes with the Anabaptists who wilbe fedde from aboue by the spirite as they say and not by direction of the written word Againe least any doe denie the latter parte of the former opinion to bée Jesuiticall hée saieth The Iesuites of Colen doe forbid the vnlearned laitie the reading of holy scripture I doe confesse it pag. 125. They nouzell vp in ignoraunce this sorte of people and defende with Cardinall Caietan that if an ignoraunt man bée an Heretike and haue learned that opinion of such as hée thought to bée catholike hée is not to be charged with heresie for the fayth of the church doeth saue him pag. 149. Caietan 2 a. 2 a. quast 2. artic 3. 3. The Catholikes doctrine ALl and euerie the thinges contained in holy scripture are so vnfolded and opened by the comming of Iesus christ that the simplest christian may finde there sure and certein knowledge for the edifying of his soule and therfore for the preseruation of religion and enlarging of Gods kingdome the laitie must not be barred from reading the same if our Gospell be hidde saieth S. Paule it is hidde to them that are lost in whome the GOD of this world hath blinded the eies of the infidelles that the light of the glorious gospell of Christ which is the image of GOD shoulde not shine vnto them Againe It is the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth To them that perish it is foolishnes but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God In another place Seeing then that we haue such trust we vse great boldnes of speech And not as Moses which put a vaile vpon his face that the children of Israel should not looke vnto the ende of that which shoulde be abolished Therfore their mindes are hardened for vntill this day remaineth the same couering vntaken away in the reading of the olde Testament which vayle in Christ is put away But nowe in Christ Iesus ye which once were farre off are made neere by the blood of Christ For he is our peace which hath made of both one and hath broken the stop of the partition wall S. Danle had to deale with wauererâ— and scrupulous people and such as depended vpon treditions and the woorkes of the law and were loth to admit the light burthen and caste yoke of Christ where hee writeth The righteousnes which commeth by fayth speaketh on this wise say not in thine hearte who shall ascend into heauen that is to bring Christ from aboue or who shall descend into the deepe that is to bring Christ again from the dead but what sayth it the word is neer thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart this is the woord of faith which we preach We haue saith S. Peter a most sure woord of the Prophets to the which yee doe well that ye take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place Wisedome standeth in the streeses to receiue all those that will embrace her Christ would haue all them that are loden to come vnto him here the yong man is to learne his way héere is milke for the yongling and sound meat for the strong Into such as the
the afore sayde doctrine is daungerous maliciously to impugne the trueth of the contrary and with Pharao therin to harden the heart against the Lord and lastly to deny the trueth and blaspheme the maiestie of Iesus is vnpardonable for euer It is a dreadfull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God Your Cannon law in a certaine case vseth a shifte to auoyde periurie where the partie sweareth and secréetly with himselfe vnderstandeth si obseruandum est if it bee lawfull to be obserued Peraduenture ye may be sound in the number of the two hundred which went with Absalon from Ierusalem to Hâ—bron as he made them beléeue to perform his vow They were as the storie saieth of simple heartes and mindes and altogether ignoraunt of the cause which in very déede was to rebell against Dauid their soueraigne the annoynted of God Of whome it is thought when they vnderstood the preteÌ„ce y â— they repented but if by the way they had béene taken they had béene to be charged with rebellion Examine I beséech you the nature of your vowes and othes it happily may fall out that yée shall find your self deceaued and abused by others if in time ye conforme your selfe there is hope of grace The question is not whether vowes are to be kept but what vowes they be that are made and stand with the word of God and are true vowes To vow and sweare with the Pharises neither to eate bread neither to drinke wine afore they had killed Paule is very impious and contrary to the commandement therfore no godly promise neyther to be performed I woulde wish you vsed meanes by calling your selfe home and to auoid the heauy hand of the Lord withstand al errours that impugne the manifest trueth in the word of God and fly from them Peter answered the high priest we ought to obay God rather then men Augustine teacheth vs to answere the Emperour if he prescribed ought contrary to the word of God Pardon O Emperour thou threatnest prison but God threatneth hell Saint Paule saieth Though we or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you otherwise then we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed Ambrose sayeth We condemne al new thinges which christ hath not taught for Christ is the way vnto the faythful If therfore Christ hath not taught that which we teach yea we our selues will account it detestable I will not stand presently to confute the seueral pointes of the aforesayde permtious oth but refer them to the last tract of this booke where I purpose to examine your doctrine In the meane while take the Censure of Cardinall Vergerius Pope Paulus 3. legate that confirmed your order Popterea repudianda tanquam falsa quia a Romana creduÌ„tur ecclesia quae â—â—mirum solet credere diuersa contraria hijs quae docuit Dei filius Therefore are those thinges to be reiected as false because they are belieued of the church of Rome which truely is wont to beleeue repugnant and contrary things to these which the sonne of God hath taught The hypocrisie and superstition of the Iesuites Cap. 3. IT woulde require a longe tyme and great leasure sufficiently to dilate of this Jesuiticall sect the hypocrisie and superstition of Monkes and Fryers with all other irreligious orders But that I may orderly procéede herein by way of preamble I will consider of the present occasion which moued mée so spéedily to take penne in hand The Author of the Pamphlet entituled A briefe Censure printed as hée saieth at Doway by Iohn Lyon and that Cum priuilegio playeth his part egregiously Their dealing in saying they come from far and that their booke was printed beyond the seas together with that which they reporte of the antiquitie of their doctrine wée may beholde in the craftie Gabaonits who being neighbours of Iosua and adioyning vpon Israel came to entreate of peace taking old sackes vpon their Asses old bottels for wine old clouted shooes old rayment saying vnto Iosua we are come from a very farre country all was old so would they make vs beléeue For they loade Romish Asses with old sackes full of traditions their old bottelles are broken cesterns their wine is egre their Masse is an old clouted shâ—â—e their old rayment iâ— an â—â—â—ite full of counterseite holynes al is so old that it stâ—â—â—s for staines And now forsooth they come from far I seare me it is from the deuil and that is very sarre from God Paulus Florenus saieth of the Iesuites This our Iesuiticall religion is altogether made of superstition hypocrisie and a certaine faigned and painted holynes Againe there is no man at all fit for this religion but he that hath a naturall inclination to hypocrisie and superstition gotten either by seruâ—le education or taken by some bâ—ockishnes of minde This we may sée in Ignatius Layola the Spaniard which of all other nations is most superstitious and tyrâ—annous in vrging the dregges of Rome and the drunken cuppe of the strumpet of Babylon For a true christian and a professor of the Gospell be hee an Englishman or what other nation soeuer shall finde more fauour among the Papistes in Fraunce with the Pope at Rome and the Turke in his dominions then among the inquisitors in Spayne And whome hath Satan thought fittest to sow his tares of hypocrisie and suspition now in the end of the world then Layola the spaniard and father of Iesuites They make an Idoll of the Pope so that Christian Franken being a Iesuite and séeing the worship that was done vnto him saieth I verily tooke him for christ or rather some greater thing I wil passe ouer their Idolatrie and superstition in worshipping La Madonna di Loreto our Lady of Larctum in Italy Gregorius de Valentia the Iesuite is not ashamed to defend in thrée seuerall tractes that the adoration of the sacrament the honouring of Saintes and the worshipping of Images and reliques is no Idolatrie concluding most blasphemously in on respect prayse be vnto God and to the most blessed virgin Mary ioyning the creâ—â—tâ—re as partaker of prayse with the creator I will not speake of the two brasen pyllers at Rome fall as they say of holy earth died with the blood of Christ so that they haue two Christes the one dead and dissolued to earth the other aliuâ— and sitting at the right hande of the father Franciscus Xauir the Iesnite hauing nuztled the heathenish Indians in Idolatrie was recounted among them saieth Payua as an other Frauncis the Father of Minorites so that they honour and worship most religiously his corpes which as yet not without a miracle is kept whole Beléeue if who will The Jesuiticall miracles of Goncallus de Siluerià the Portingale are very ridiculous where it is reported that hée tyed his holy vestments be like the Cope and surplesse about his head and sâ—â—â—mme ouer a great water in the Indies againe thathée went