ordaineth praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings will raise some glory to his Name from that second Childhood To which great God and his unspeakable mercies in Jesus Christ our common Saviour I do most heartily recommend this Church and all them that love it Lacies Court in Abington December 26. 1659. Peter Heylyn SYLLABVS CAPITVM OR The Contents of the Chapters CHAP. I. The severall Heresies of those who make God to be the Author of sin or attribute too much to the naturall freedome of Mans Will in the works of Piety 1 GOD affirmed by Florinus to be the Author of sin the blasphemy encountred by Irenaeus and the foule consequents thereof 2. Revived in these last Ages by the Libertines said by the Papists to proceed from the Schools of Calvin and by the Calvinists to proceed from the Schools of Rome 3. Disguised by the Maniches in another Dresse and the necessity thereby imposed on the wills of men 4 The like by Bardesanes and the Priscilianists the dangerous consequents thereof exemplified out of Homer and the words of St. Augustine 5. The error of the Maniches touching the servitude of the will revived by Luther and continued by the Rigid Lutherans 6. As those of Bardesanes and Priscilian by that of Calvin touching the Absolute Decree the Dangers which lye hidden under that Decree and the incompetiblenesse thereof with Christs coming to Judgement 7. The large expressions of the Ancient Fathers touching the Freedome of the will abused by Pelagius and his Followers 8. The Heresie of Pelagius in what it did consist especially as to this particular and the dangers of it 9. The Pelagian Heresies condemned and recanted the temper of St. Augustine touching the Freedome of the will in spirituall matters 10. Pelagianisme falsly charged on the moderate Lutherans How far all parties do agree about the Freedome of the Will and in what they differ CHAP. II. Of the Debates among the Divines in the Councel of Trent touching Predestination and Originall Sin 1. THE Articles drawn from the Writings of the Zuinglians touching Predestination and Reprobation 2. The Doctrine of Predestination according to the Dominican way 3. As also that of the Franciscans with reasons for their own and against the other 4. The Historians Judgement interposed between the parties 5. The middle way of Catarinus to compose the differences 6. The newnesse of St. Augustines Opinion and the dislike thereof by the most learned men in the Ages following 7. The Perplexities amongst the Theologues touching the Absoluteness of the Decrees 8. The Judgement of the said Divines touching the possibility of Falling from Grace 9. The Debates about the Nature and transmitting of Originall sin 10. The Doctrine of the Councell in it CHAP. III. The like Debates about Free-will with the Conclusions of the Councell in the Five Controverted Poynts 1. THE Articles against the Freedome of the Will extracted out of Luthers Writings 2. The exclamations of the Divines against Luthers Doctrine in that Poynt and the absurdities thereof 3. The severall judgements of Marinarus Catarinus and Andreas Vega. 4. The different Judgement of the Dominicans and the Franciscans whether it lay in mans power to believe or not to believe and whether the freedome of the Will were lost in Adam 5. As also of the poynt of the co-operation of Mans Will with the Grace of God 6. The Opinion of Fryer Catanca in the poynt of irresistability 7. Faintly maintained by Soto a Dominican Fryer and more cordially approved by others but in fine rejected 8. The great care taken by the Legates in having the Articles so framed as to please all parties 9 The Doctrin of the Councell in the Five Controverted Points 10. A Transition from the Councell of Trent to the Protestant and Reformed Churches CHAP. IV. The Judgement of the Lutherans and Calvinians in the said Five Poynts with some Objections made against the Conclusions of the Synod of Dort 1. NO difference in the Five Poynts betwixt the Lutherans and the Church of Rome as is acknowledged by the Papists themselves 2. The Judgement of the Lutheran Churches in the said Five Poynts delivered in the famous Confession of Ausberge 3. The distribution of the Quarrell betwixt the Franciscans Melancthonians and Arminians on the one side the Dominicans Rigid Lutherans and Sublapsarian Calvinists on the other the middle way of Catarinus parallelled by that of Bishop Overall 4. The Doctrine of Predestination as laid down by Calvin of what ill consequence in it self and how odious to the Lutheran Doctors 5. Opposed by Sebastian Castellio in Geneva it self but propagated in most Churches of Calvins Platform afterwards polished by Perking a Divine of England and in him censured and confuted by Jacob Van Harmin a Belgick Writer 6. A brief view of the Doctrine of the Supralapsarians and the odious consequences of it 7. The judgement of the Sublapsarians in the said Five points collected and presented at the Conference at the Hague An. 1610. 8. The Doctrin of the Synodists in the said Five points 9. Affirmed to be repugnant to the Holy Scripture as also to the purity justice and sincerity of Almighty God 10. As also subversive of the Ministry and all acts of Piety illustrated by the example of Tyberius Caesar and the Lant-grave of Thurin CHAP. V. The Doctrine of the Remonstrants and the story of them untill their finall condemnation in the Synod of Dort 1. THe Doctrine of the Remonstrants ancienter then Calvinisme in the Belgick Churches and who they were that stood up for it before Arminius 2. The first undertakings of Arminius his preferment to the Divinity Chair of Leyden his commendations and death 3. The occasion of the names of Remonstrants and Contra-Remonstrants the Controversie reduced to Five points and those disputed at the Hague in a publick Conference 4. The said five Points according to their severall heads first tendred at the Hague and after at the Synod of Dort 5. The Remonstrants persecuted by their Opposites put themselves under the protection of Barnevelt and by his means obtain a Toleration of their Doctrines Barnevelt seized and put to death by the Prince of Orange 6. The calling of the Synod of Dort the parallel betwixt it and the Councell of Trent both in the conduct of the businesse against their Adversaries and the difference amongst themselves 7. The breaking out of the differences in the Synod into open quarrells between Martinius one of the Divines of Breeme and some of the Divines of Holland and on what occasions 8. A copy of the Letter from Dr. Belcanquall to Sir Dudly Carleton his Majesties Resident at the Hague touching the violent prosecution of those quarrells by the Dutch Divines 9. A further prosecution of the Parallel between the Councell and the Synod in reference to the Artifices used in drawing up the Canons and Decrees of either and the doubtfull meaning of them both 10. The quarrelling parties joyn together against the Remonstrants denying
favour that opinion as also touching the number of Gods elect CHAP. X. The Doctrine of the Church concerning Reprobation and Universal Redemption 1. THE absolute Decree of Reprobation not to be found in the Articles of this Church but against it in some passages of the publick Liturgy 2. The cause of Reprobation to be found in a mans self and not in Gods Decrees according to the judgement of Bishop Latimer and Bishop Hooker 3. The Absolute Decree of Election and Reprobation how contrary to the last Clause in the 17. Article 4. The inconsistency of the absolute Decree of Reprobation with the Doctrine of Universal Redemption by the death of Christ 5. The Universal Redemption of mankinde by the death of Christ delivered in many places of the publick Liturgy and affirmed also in one of the Homilies and the Book of Articles 6. A further proof of it from the mission of the Apostles and the prayer used in the Ordination of Priests 7. The same confirmed by the writings of Archbishop Cranmer and the two other Bishops before remembred 8. A generality of the Promises and an universality of Vocation maintained by the said two godly Bishops 9. The Reasons why this benefit is not made effectual unto all sorts of men to be found in themselves CHAP. XI Of the Heavenly influences of Gods Grace in the conversion of a sinner and Man's cooperation with those Heavenly influences 1. THE Doctrin of Deserving Grace ex congruo maintained in the Roman Schools before the Councel of Trent rejected by our antient Martyrs and the book of Articles 2. The judgement of Dr. Barnes and Mr. Tyndall touching the necessary workings of Gods Grace on the Will of man not different from the Church of England 3. Universal Grace maintained by Bishop Hooper and proved by some passages in the Liturgy and book of Homilies 4. The offer of Universall Grace made ineffectual to some for want of Faith and to others for want of Repentance according to the judgement of Bishop Hooper 5. The necessity of Grace preventing and the free cooperation of mans will being so prevented maintained in the Articles in the Homilies and the publick Liturgy 6. The necessity of this Cooperation on the part of man defended and applyed to the exercise of a godly life by Bishop Hooper 7. The Doctrin of Irresistability first broached by Calvin and pertinaciously maintained by most of his Followers and by Gomarus amongst others 8. Gainsaid by Bishop Hooper and Bishop Latimer 9. And their gainsaying justified by the truth Article of King Edwards book and 10. the book of Homilies CHAP. XII The Doctrin of Free-will agreed upon by the Clergie in their Convocation Anno 1543. 1. OF the Convocation in the year 1543. in order to the Reformation of Religion in points of Doctrin 2. The Article of Free-will in all the powers and workings of it agreed on by the Prelates and Clergy of the Convocation agreable to the present Doctrine of the Church of England 3. An answer to the first objection concerning the Popishnesse of the Bishops and Clergy in that Convocation 4. The Article of Free-will approved by King Henry the 8. and Archbishop Cranmer 5. An answer to the last objection concerning the Conformity of that Article to the present established Doctrine in the Church of Rome CHAP. XIII The Doctrin of the Church of England concerning the certainty or uncertainty of Perseverance 1. THe certainty of Grace debated in the Councel of Trent and maintained in the affirmative by the Dominicans and some others 2. The contrary affirmed by Catarinus and his adherents 3. The doubtful Resolution of the Councell in it 4. The Calvinists not content with certainty of Grace quoad statum praesentem presume upon it also quoad statum futurum 5. The bounds and limits wherewith the Judgment in this point ought rationally to be circumscribed 6. The Doctrin of the Church of England in the present Article 7. Justified by the testimony of Bishop Latimer Bishop Hooper and Mr. Tyndall 8. And proved by several Arguments from the publick Liturgy 9. The Homily commends a probable stedfast hope but 10. allowes no certainty of Grace and Perseverance in any ordinary way to the sons of men CHAP. XIV The Plain Song of the second Homily touching the falling from God and the Descants made upon it 1. MOre from some other Homilies touching the possibility of falling from the Grace received 2. The second Homily or Sermon touching Falling from God laid down Verbatim 3. The sorry shifts of Mr. Yates to illude the true meaning of that Homily plainly discovered and confuted 4. An answer to his objection touching the passages cited from the former Homily in Mr. Mountague's Appeal 5. The judgement of Mr. L. Ridley Archdeacon of Canterbury in the points of Election and Redemption 6. As also touching the Reasons why the Word was not preached unto the Gentiles till the coming of Christ the influences of Grace the Co-working of man and the possibility of Falling from the faith of Christ CHAP. XV. Of the Author and Authority of K. Edwards Catechism As also of the judgement of Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr in the Points disputed 1. THe Catechism published by the Authority of K. Edward 6 1553. affirmed to have been writ by Bishop Poynet and countenanced by the rest of the Bishops and Clergy 2. Several passages collected out of that Catechism to prove that the Calvinian Doctrins were the true genuine and ancient Doctrins of the Church of England 3. With a discovery of the weakness and impertinency of the Allegation 4. What may most probably be conceived to have been the judgement of Bishop Poynet in most of the Controverted points 5. An answer to another objection derived from M. Bucer and P. Martyr and the influence which their Auditors and Disciples are supposed to have had in the Reformation 6. That Bucer was a man of moderate Counsels approving the first Liturgie of K. Edward 6. assenting to the Papists at the Dyet of Ratisbone in the possibility of Falling from Grace and that probably P. Martyr had not so far espoused the Calvinian quarrels when he lived in Oxon as after his return to Zurick and Calvins neighbourhood 7. The judgement of Erasmus according as it is delivered in his Paraphrases on the Four Evangelists proposed first in the generall view 8. And after more particularly in every one of the poynts disputed CHAP. XVI Of the first breakin gs out of the Predestinarians and their Proceedings in the same 1. THe Predestinarians at the first called by the name of Gospellers 2. Campneys a professed enemy to the Predestinarians but neither Papist nor Pelagian 3. The common practises of the Calvinists to defame their Adversaries the name of Free-will-men to whom given and why 4. The Doctrine of John Knox in restraining all mens actions whether good or evill to the determinate will and Councell of God 5. The like affirmed by the Author of the Table of
the stronger then to any clear and evident Authority which they can pretend to from that Father or any other ancient Writers of unquestioned credit which said I hope it will be granted without much difficulty that such a doctrine of predestination as neither directly nor indirectly makes God to be the Author of sin nor attributes so much to the will of man in depraved nature as to exclude the influences of Gods heavenly Grace is more to be embraced then any other which dasheth against either of the said extremes And that being granted or supposed I shall first lay down the Judgment of the differing parties in the Article of Predestination and the Points depending thereupon and afterwards declare to which of the sayd differing Parties the Doctrine of the Church of England seemeth most inclinable CHAP. II. Of the Debates amongst the Divines in the Councel of Trent touching Predestinations and Original Sin I. The Articles drawn from the Writings of the Zuinglians touching Predestination and Reprobâ—ation II. The Doctrine of Predestination according to the Dominican way III. As also the old Franciscans with Reasons for their own and against the other IV. The Historians Judgment interposed between the Parties V. The middle way of Catarinus to compose the differences VI. The newness of St. Augustines Opinion and the dislike thereof by the most Learned men in the Ages following VII The perplexities amongst the Theologues touching the absoluteness of the Decrees VIII The Judgment of the sayd Divines touching the possibility of falling from Grace IX The Debates about the nature and transmitting of Original Sin X. The Doctrine of the Councel in it I. IN such condition stood Affairs in reference to the doctrines of Predestination Grace Free-will c. at the first sitting down of the Councel of Trent in which those Points became the subject of many sad and serious Debates amongst the Prelates and Divines then and there Assembled which being so necessary to the understanding of the Questions which we have before us I shall not think my time ill spent in laying down the summe and abstract of the same as I find it digested to my hand by Padre Paulo the diligent and laborious Author of the Tridentine Historie only I shall invert his method by giving precedency to the Disputes concerning Predestination before the Debates and Agitations which hapned in canvasing the Articles touching the Freedome of mans Will though those about Free-will do first occur in the course and method of that Councel It being determined by the Councel as that Author hath it to draw some Articles from the Writings of the Protestants concerning the Doctrine of Predestination It appeared that in the Books of Luther in the Augustan Confession and in the Apologies and Colloquies there was nothing found that deserved censure But much they found among the Writings of the Zuinglians out of which they drew these following Articles Viz. 1. For Predestination and Reprobation that man doth nothing but all is in the will of God 2. The Predestinated cannot be condemned nor the Reprobate saved 3. The Elect and Predestinated only are truly justified 4. The Justified are bound by Faith to believe they are in the number of the Predestinated 5. The Justified cannot fall from Grace 6. Those that are called and are not in the number of the Predestinated do never receive Grace 7. The Justified is bound to believe by Faith that he ought to persevere in Justice until the end 8. The Justified is bound to believe for certain that in case he fall from Grace he shall receive it again II. In the examining the first of these Articles the Opinions were divers The most esteemed Divines amongst them thought it to be Catholick the contrary Heretical because the good School Writers S. Thomas Scotus and the rest do so think that is that God before the Creation out of the Mass of man-kind hath elected by his only and meer mercy some for Glory for whom he hath prepared effectually the means to obtain it which is called to predestinate That their number is certain and determined neither can there any be added The others not Predestinated cannot complain for that God hath prepared for them sufficient assistance for this though indeed none but the Elect shall be saved For the most principal reason they alledged that S. Paul to the Romans having made Jacob a pattern of the Predestinated and Esau of the Reprobate he produceth the Decree of God pronounced before they were born not for their Works but for his own good pleasure To this they joyned the example of the same Apostle That as the Potter of the same Lump of Clay maketh one Vessel to honour another to dishonour so God of the same Mass of men chooseth and leaveth whom he listeth for proof whereof S. Paul bringeth the place where God faith to Moses I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy and I will shew pity on whom I will shew pity And the same Apostle concludeth It is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth but of God who sheweth mercy adding after that God sheweth mercy on whom he will and hardneth whom he will They sayd further That for this cause the Councel of the Divine Predestination and Reprobation is called by the same Apostle The height and depth of wisdom unsearchable and incomprehensible They added places of the other Epistles where he sayth We have nothing but what we have received from God that we are not able of our selves so much as to think well and where in giving the cause why some have revolted from the Faith and some stand firm he sayd it was because the Foundation of God standeth sure and hath this seal the Lord knoweth who are his They added divers passages of the Gospel of S. John and infinite Authorities of S. Augustine because the Saint wrote nothing in his old Age but in favour of this Doctrine III. But some others though of less esteem opposed this opinion calling it hard cruel inhumane horrible impious and that it shewed partiality in God if without any motive cause he elected one and rejected another and unjust if he damned men for his own will and not for their faults and had created so great a multitude to condemn it They sayd it destroyed Free-will because the Elect cannot finally do evil nor the Reprobate good that it casteth men into a gulph of desperation doubting that they be Reprobates That it giveth occasion to the wicked of bad thoughts not caring for Pennance but thinking if they be elected they shall not perish if Reprobates it is in vain to do well because it will not help them They confessed that not only works are not the cause of Gods election because that is before them and eternal but that neither Works foreseen can move God to Predestinate who is willing for his infinite mercy that all should be saved to this end prepareth sufficient assistance for all which every man
all which things are absurd But for censure first the Authority of the Prophet was brought directly contrary in terms where God sayth That if the Just shall abandon justice and commit iniquity I will not remember his works The Example of David was added who committed Murther and Adultry of Magdalen and S. Peter who denied Christ They deâ—ided the folly of the Zuinglians for saying the Just cannot fall from Grace and yet sinneth in every work The two last were uniformly condemned of temerity with exception of those unto whom God hath given a special Revelation as to Moses and the Disciples to whom it was revealed that they were written in the Book of Heaven IX Now because the Doctrine of Predestination doth naturally presuppose a Curse from which man was to be delivered it will not be amiss to lay down the Judgment of that Councel in the Article of Original sin which rendred man obnoxious to the dreadful curse together with the preparatory Debates amongst the Scool-men and Divines which were there Assembled touching the nature and transmitting of it from Adam unto his Posterity and from one man to another Concerning which it was declared by Catarinus That as God made a Covenant with Abraham and all his Posterity when he made him Father of the faithful So when he gave Original Righteousness to Adam and all man-kinde he made him seal an Obligation in the name of all to keep it for himself and them observing the Commandment which because he trangressed he lost it as well for others as himself and incurred the punishent also for them the which as they are derived in every one and to him as the cause to others by vertue of the Covenant so that the actual sin of Adam is actual sin in him and imputed to others in Original for proof whereof he grounded himself upon this especially that a true and proper sin must needs be a voluntary Act and nothing can be voluntary but that transgression of Adam imputed unto all And Paul saying that all have sinned in Adam it must be understood that they have all committed the same sin with him he alledged for example that S. Paul to the Hebrews affirmeth that Levi payd Tythe to Melchisedeck when he payd in his great Grandfather Abraham by which reason it must be sayd that the Posterity violated the Commandments of God when Adam did it and that they were sinners in him as in him they received Righteousness X. Which Application as it was more intelligible to the Prelates Assembled together in the Councel then any of the Crabbed Intricacies and perplexities of the rest of the Scoolmen irreconcilable in a manner amongst themselves so did it quicken them to the dispatch of their Canons or Anathamatisms while they had the Notions in their heads against all such as had taught otherwise of Original sin then was allowed of and maintained in the Church of Rome but more particulary against him 1. That confesseth not that Adam by transgressing hath lost Sanctity and Justice incurred the wrath of God Death and Thraldom to the Devil and is infected in Soul and Body 2. Against him that averreth that Adam by sinning hath hurt himself only or hath derived into his Posterity the death only of the Body and not sin the death of the Soul 3. Against him that affirmeth the sin which is one in the beginning and proper to every one committed by Generation not imitation can be abolished by any other remedy then the death of Christ is applied as well to Children as to those of riper years by the Sacrament of Baptism ministred in the form and rite of the Church CHAP. III. The like Debates about Free-will with the Conclusions of the Councel in the Five Controverted Points I. The Articles against the Freedom of the Will extracted out of Luther's Writings II. The exclamation of the Divines against Luther's Doctrine in the Point and the absurdities thereof III. The several Judgments of Marinarus Catarinus and Andreas Vega. IV. The different Judgment of the Dominicans and Franciscans whether it lay in mans power to believe or not to believe and whether the Freedom of the Will were lost in Adam V. As also of the Point of the co-operation of mans Will with the Grace of God VI. The opinion of Fryer Catanca in the point of irresistibility VII Faintly maintained by Soto a Dominican Fryer and more cordially approved by others but in time rejected VIII The great care taken by the Legates in having the Articles so framed as to please all parties IX The Doctrine of the Councel in the V. controverted Points X. A Transition from the Councel of Trent to the Protestant and Reformed Churches I. THese Differences and Debates concerning Predestination the possibility of Falling away from the Faith of Christ and the nature of Original sin being thus passed over I shall look back on those Debates which were had amongst the Fathers and Divines in the Councel of Trent about the Nature of Free-will and the power thereof In order whereunto these Articles were collected out of the Writings of the Lutherans to be discussed and censured as they found cause for it Now the Articles were these that follow Viz. 1. God is the total cause of our works Good and Evil and the Adultry of David the cruelty of Manlius and the Treason of Judas are the works of God as well as the Vocation of Saul 2. No man hath power to think well or ill but all cometh from absolute necessity and in us is no Free-will and to affirm it is a meer Fiction 3. Free-will since the sin of Adam is lost and a thing only titular and when one doth what is in his power he sinneth mortally yea it is a thing fained and a Title without reality 4. Free-will is only in doing ill and hath no power to do good 5. Free-will moved by God doth by no means co-operate and followeth as an Instrument without life or an unreasonable Creature 6. That God correcteth those only whom he will though they will not spurn against it II. Upon the first Article they spake rather in a Tragical manner then Theological that the Lutheran Doctrine was a frantick wisdom that mans Will as they make it is prodigious that those words a thing of Title only a Title without reality are monstruous that the Opinion is impious and blasphemous against God that the Church hath condemned it against the Maniches Priscillianists and lastly against Aballardus and Wickliff and that it was a folly against common sense every one proving in himself his own Liberty that it deserveth not confutation but as Aristotle sayth Chastisement and Experimental proofe that Luther's Scholars perceived the folly and to moderate the Absurdity sayd after that a man had liberty in External Political and Oeconomical Actions and in matters of Civil Justice that which every one but a Fool knoweth to proceed from Councels and Election but denied Liberty in matter of
to God then he that is damned if God should use them both alike But notwithstanding all these Reasons the contrary Opinion had the general Applause though many confessed that the Reasons of Catanca were not resolved and were displeased that Soto did not speak freely but sayd that the Will consenteth in a certain manner so that it may in a certain manner resist as though there were a certain manner of mean between this Affirmation and Negation The free speech of Catanca and the other Dominicans did trouble them also who knew not how to distinguish the Opinion which attributeth Justification by consent from the Pelagian and therefore they counselled to take heed of leaping beyond the Mark by too great a desire to condemn Luther that Objection being esteemed above all that by this means the Divine Election or Predestination would be for Works foreseen which no Divine did admit VIII The Ground thus layd we shall proceed unto a Declaration of the Judgment of the Church of Rome in the five Articles disputed afterwards with such heat betwixt the Remonstrants and the contra Remonstrants in the Belgick Church so far forth as it may be gathered from the Decrees Canons of the Councel of Trent and such preparatory Discourses as smoothed the way to the Conclusions which were made therein In order whereunto it was advised by Marcus Viguerius Bishop of Sinigagli to separate the Catholick Doctrine from the contrary and to make two Decrees in the one to make a continued Declaration and Confirmation of the Doctrine of the Churches and in the other to condemn and Anathematize the contrary But in the drawing up of the Decrees there appeared a greater difficulty then they were aware of in conquering wherof the Cardinal of Sancta Cruz one of the Presidents of the Councel took incredible pains avoiding as much as was possible to insert any thing controverted amongst the School-men and so handling those that could not be omitted as that every one might be contented And to this end he observed in every Congregation what was disliked by any and took it away or corrected it as he was advised and he spake not only in the Congregations but with every one in particular was informed of all the doubts and required their Opinions He diversified the matter with divers Orders changed sometimes one part sometimes another until he had reduced them unto the Order in which they now are which generally pleased and was approved by all Nor did the Decrees thus drawn and setled give less content at Rome then they did at Trent for being transmitted to the Pope and by him committed to the Fryers and other learned men of the Court to be consulted of amongst them they found an universal approbation because every one might understand them in his own sense And being so approved of were sent back to Trent and there solemnly passed in a full Congregation on the thirteenth of January 1647. according to the account of the Church of Rome And yet it is to be observed that though the Decrees were so drawn up as to please all parties especially as to the giving of no distast to the Dominican Fryers and their Adherenrs yet it is easie to be seen that they incline more favourably to the Franciscans whose cause the Jesuits have since wedded and speak more literally and Grammatically to the sence of that party then they do to the others which sayd I shall present the Doctrine of the Councel of Trent as to these controverted Points in this Order following 1. Of Divine Predestination IX All man-kind having lost its primitive integrity by the sin of Adam they became thereby the Sons of wrath and so much captivated under the command of Satan that neither the Gentiles by the power of Nature nor the Jews by the Letter of the Law of Moses were able to free themselves from that grievous Servitude In which respect it pleased Almighty God the Father of all Mercies to promise first and afterwards actually to send his only begotten Son Jesus Christ into the world not only to redeem the Jews who were under the Law but that the Gentiles also might embrace the Righteousness which is by Faith and altogether might receive the Adoption of Sons To which end he prepared sufficient assistance for all which every man having free-will might receive or refuse as it pleased himself and foreseeing from before all Eternity who would receive his help and use it to Good and on the other side who would refuse to make use thereof he predestinated and elected those of the first sort to Eternall Life and rejected the others 2. Of the Merit and Effect of the Death of Christ Him God proposed to be a propitiation for our sins by his Death and Passion and not for our sins only but for the sins of all the World But so that though Christ died for all men yet all do not receive the benefit of his death and sufferings but only they to whom the merit of his Passion is communicated in their new birth or regeneration by which the grace whereby they are justified or made just is conferred upon them 3. Of mans Conversion unto God The Grace of God is not given to man by Jesus Christ to no other end but that thereby he might the more easily divert himself in the waies of Godliness and consequently merit and obtain eternal life which otherwise he might do without any such Grace by his own free-will though with more difficulty and trouble And therefore if any man shall say that without the preventing Inspiration of the Holy Ghost and his heavenly Influences a man is able to even hope love or repent as he ought to do that so he may be justified in the sight of God let him be Anathema 4. Of the manner of Conversion The Freedom of the Will is not so utterly lost in man though it be diminished and impaired as to be accounted nothing but an empty name or the name of no such thing existing in nature in that the Will of man moved and stirred up by the grace of God retains a power of co-operating with the heavenly Grace by which he doth prepare and dispose himself for the obtaining of that Justification which is given unto him And therefore if any one shall say that a man cannot resist this grace though he would or that he is meerly passive not acting any thing but as a stock or senseless stone in his own Conversion let him be also held accurst And so are they who have presumed to affirm and teach that it is not in the power of man to do evil but as well bad as good works are done not only by Gods permission but by his proper working so that as well the Treason of Judas as the Calling of Paul is to be reckoned for the work of Almighty God 5. Of the certainty or uncertainty of Perseverance No man is so far to presume
the far greater number must be damned necessarily and inevitably so that 't is not possible for them to be saved Which doctrine first makes God to be the Author of sin as both Piscator and Macarius and many other Supralapsarians as well as Perkings have positively and expresly affirmed him to be then concludes him for a more unmerciful Tyrant then all that ever had been in the world were they joyned in one A more unmerciful Tyrant then the Roman Emperour who wished that all the people of Rome had but one Neck amongst them that he might cut it off at a blow he being such in voto only God alone in opere VII But this extremity being every day found the more indefensible by how much it had been more narrowly sifted and inquired into the more moderate and sober sort of the Calvinians forsaking the Colours of their first Leaders betook themselves into the Camp of the rigid Lutherans and rather chose to joyn with the Dominican Fryers then to stand any longer to the dictates of their Master Calvin These passing by the name of Sublapsarians have given us such an order of Predestination as must and doth presuppose a Fall and findes all man-kind generally in the Mass of Perdition The substance of whose doctrine both in this and the other Articles were thus drawn up by the Remonstrants in the Conference at the Hague before remembred 1. That God Almighty willing from eternity with himself to make a decree concerning the Election of some certain men but the rejection of others considered man-kinde not only as created but also as faln and corrupted in Adam and Eve our first Parents and thereby the deserving the Curse And that he decreed out of the fall and damnation to deliver and save some certain ones of his Grace to declare his Mercy But to leave others both young and old yea truly even certain Infants of men in Covenant and those Infants baptized and dying in their Infancy by his just Judgment in the Curse to declare his Justice and that without all consideration of Repentance and Faith in the former or of Impenitence or unbelief in the latter For the execution of which decree God useth also such means whereby the Elect are necessarily and unavoidably saved but Reprobates necessarily and unavoidably perish 2. And therefore that Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World died not for all men but for those only who are elected either after the former or this latter manner he being the mean and ordained Mediator to save those only and not a man besides 3. Consequently that the Spirit of God and of Christ doth work in those who are elected that way or this with such a force of Grace that they cannot resist it and so that it cannot be but that they must turn believe and thereupon necessarily be saved But that this irresistible grace and force belongs only to those so elected but not to Reprobates to whom not only the irresistible Grace is denied but also grace necessary and sufficient for Conversion for faith and for salvation is not afforded To which Conversion and Faith indeed they are called invited and freely sollicited outwardly by the revealed Will of God though notwithstanding the inward force necessary to Faith and Conversion is not bestowed on them according to the secret Will of God 4. But that so many as have once obtained a true and justifying Faith by such a kinde of irresistible force can never totally nor finally lose it no not although they fall into the very most enormious sins but are so led and kept by the same irresistible force that 't is not possible for them oâ— they cannot either totally or finally fall and perish VII And thus we have the doctrine of the Sublapsarian Calvinists as it stands gathered out of the Writings of particular men But because particular men may sometimes be mistaken in a publick doctrine and that the Judgment of such men being collected by the hands of their Enemies may be unfaithfully related we will next look on the Conclusions of the Synod of Dort which is to be conceived to have delivered the Genuine sense of all the parties as being a Representative of all the Calvinian Churches of Europe except those of France some few Divines of England being added to them Of the calling and proceedings of this Synod we shall have occasion to speak further in the following Chapter At this time I shall only lay down the Results thereof in the five controverted Points as I finde them abbreviated by Dan. Tilenus according to the Heads before mentioned in summing up the doctrine of the Councel of Trent Art 1. Of Divine Predestination That God by an absolute decree hath Elected to salvation a very smal number of men without any regard to their Faith or obedience whatsoever and secluded from saving Grace all the rest of man-kinde and appointed them by the same decree to eternal damnation without any regard to their Infidelity or Impenitency Art 2. Of the Merit and Effect of Christs Death That Jesus Christ hath not suffered death for any other but for those Elect only having neither had any intent nor commandment of his Father to make satisfaction for the sins of the whole World Art 3. Of Mans Will in the state of Nature That by Adam's Fall his Posterity lost their Free-will being put to an unavoidable necessity to do or not to do whatsoever they do or do not whether it be good or evil being thereunto Predestinated by the eternal and effectual secret decree of God Art Of the manner of Conversion That God to save his Elect from the corrupt Mass doth beget faith in them by a power equal to that whereby he created the World and raised up the dead insomuch that such unto whom he gives that Grace cannot reject it and the rest being Reprobate cannot accept of it Art 5. Of the certainty of Perseverance That such as have once received that Grace by Faith can never fall from it finally or totally notwithstanding the most enormious sins they can commit IX This is the shortest and withall the most favourable Summary which I have hitherto met with of the conclusions of this Synod that which was drawn by the Remonstrants in their Antiâ—â—tam being much more large and comprehending many things by way of Inference which are not positively expressed in the words thereof But against this though far more plausible then the rigorous way of the Supralapsarians it is objected by those of the contrary perswasion 1. That it is repugnant to plain Texts of Scripture as Ezek. 33. 11. Rom. 11. 2. John 3. 16. 2 Tim. â— 4. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Gen. 4 7. 1 Chron. 28. 9. 2 Chron. 15. â— Secondly That it fighteth with Gods Holiness and makes him the cause of sin in the greatest number of men 1. In regard that only of his own will and pleasure he hath brought men into an estate in
to the judgement of Bishop Hooper 5. The necessity of Grace Preventing and the free co-operation of mans will being so prevented maintained in the Articles in the Homilies and the publique Liturgie 6. The necessity of this co-operation on the part of man defended and applied to the exercise of a godly life by Bishop Hooper 7. The Doctrine of Irresistibility first broached by Calvin pertinaciously maintained by most of his followers and by Gomarus amongst others 8. Gainsaid by Bishop Hooper and Bishop Latimer 9. And their gainsayings justified by the tenth Article of Kings Edwards Books And 10. The Book of Homilies 1. THis leads me unto the Disputes touching the influences of Grace and the co-operation of mans will with those heavenly influences in which the received Doctrine of the Church of Rome seems to have had some alteration to the better since the debating and concluding of those points in the Council of Trent before which time the Doctrine of the Roman Schools was thought to draw too near to the lees of Pelagianism to ascribe too much to mans Freewill or so much to it at the least as by the right use of the powers of nature might merit grace ex congruo as the Schoolmen phrase it of the hands of God Against this it was that Dr. Barns declared as before was said in his Discourse about Freewill and against which the Church of England then declared in the 13 Article affirming That such works as are done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spirit do not make men meet to receive grace or as the Schoolmen say deserve grace of Congruity Against which Tyndall gives this note That Freewill preventeth not Grace which certainly he had never done if somewhat to the contrary had not been delivered in the Church of Rome and against which it was declared by John Lambert another of our ancient Martyrs in these following words viz. Concerning Freewill saith he I mean altogether as doth S. Augustine that of our selves we have no liberty nor ability to do the will of God but are subject unto sir and thrals of the same conclusi sub peccato or as witnesseth S. Paul But by the grace of God we are rid and set at liberty according to the proportion that every man hath taken of the same some more some less 2. But none more fully shewed himself against this opinion then Dr. Barns before remembred not touching onely on the by but writing a Discourse particularly against the errours of that time in this very point ' But here saith he we will search what strength is of man in his natural power without the Spirit of God to will or do those things that be acceptable before God unto the fulfilling of the will of God c. ' A search which had been vain and needless if nothing could be found which tended to the maintenance of acting in spiritual matters by mans natural power without the workings of the Spirit And therefore he saith very truly ' That man can do nothing by his Freewil as Christ teacheth For without me ye can do nothing c. where it is opened that Freewil without Grace can do nothing he speaks not of eating and drinking though they be works of Grace but nothing that is fruitful that is meritorious that is worthy of thanks that is acceptable before God ' To which effect we also finde these brief Remembrances Mans Freewil without Gods Grace can do nothing that is good p. 263. that all which Freewil can do without Grace is but sin c. fol 269. In which passages of those godly Martyrs as there is nothing in it self not Divine and Orthodox so finde we somewhat in their writings which doth as truly and Religiously express the workings of Gods Spirit in the heart of man without depriving him of the ability of co-operation which afterwards was taught and countenanced by the Church of England Of which thus Tyndall in his Pathway ' When the Evangelion is prearhed saith he the Spirit of God entreth into them whom God hath ordained and appointed to Everlasting life and openeth their inward eyes and worketh such a belief in them when the woful Consciences feel and taste how sweet a thing the bitter death of Christ is and how merciful and loving God is through Christs Purchasing and Merits so that they begin to love again and consent to the Law of God how that it is good and ought so to be and that God is righteous that made it and desire to fulfil the Law as a sick man desireth to be whole ' According to which Doctrine the Church hath taught us to pray thus viz. ' O God forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee grant that that working of the Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts through Christ our Lord Amen ' More of which Prayers might be produced to the same effect were not this enough the point concerning the necessity of Gods grace towards mans Conversion not being in Dispute between the Parties 3. Now for Gods Grace according as it is set forth in the Church of England we shall consider it in the general offer and extent the efficacious workings of it and the concurrence of mans will in the beginning and accomplishment of his own Conversion And first as to the general offer of the Grace of God we finde Bishop Hooper thus discoursing in the sixth Chapter of his Exposition of the Ten Commandments ' Thus did S. Paul saith he convince the Gentiles of sin because they knew the evil they did was condemned by the testimony of their own Conscience for the Law of God to do well by is naturally written in the heart of every man He that will diligently search himself shall somtime find the same and in case man should behold his own misery both in body and soul although there were no Law correcting nor no Heavens over our heads to testifie the justice and judgement of God and the equity of an honest life mans Conscience would tell him when he doth well and when he doth evil ' ' Further saith he the judgement and discovery of Reason directs not onely to live just in this world but also to live for ever in Eternal Felicity without end And that cometh by the similitude of God which remaineth in the soul since the sin of Adam whereby we plainly see that those excuses of ignorance be damnable when man sees that he could do well if he followed the judgement of his own Conscience ' Our Articles indeed say nothing to this particular but our Liturgie doth and somewhat is found also of it in the Book of Homilies For what can be more clear and full than that clause in the Collect where it is said of God Almighty That he sheweth to all men being in errour the light of his truth to the intent they may return to the way of righteousness c.
they ought earnestly and with a fervent devotion and stedfast faith to aske of him which gave the beginning that he would vouchsafe to performe it which thing God will undoubtedly grant according to his promise to such as persevere in calling upon him For he is naturally good and willeth all men to be saved and careth for them and provideth all things by which they may be saved except BY THEIR OWN MALICE they will be evil and so by the righteous judgement of God perish and be lost For truly men be to themselves the AUTHOR OF SIN and DAMNATION God is neither the AUTHOR of SIN nor the CAUSE OF DAMNATION And yet doth he most righteously damne those men that do with vices corrupt their nature which he made good and do abuse the same to evil desires against his most holy will wherefore men be to be warned that they do not impute to God their vice or their damnation but to themselves who by Free-will have abused the grace and benefits of God All men be also to be monished and chiefly Preachers that in this high matter they looking on both sides so attemper and moderate themselves that neither they so preach the Grace of God as to take away thereby Free-will Nor on the other side so extol Free-will that injury be done to the grace of God 3. Such was the judgment of the Bishops and Clergy assembled in Convocation An. 1543. touching the nature of Free-will and the co-operations of it with the grace of God In which I can see nothing not agreeable to the present establisht Doctrine of the Church of England And if it be objected as perhaps it may that this Convocation was held in times of Popery and managed by a Popish Clergy it may be answered that the Bishops and Clergy then assembled were such as had a principal hand in the Reformation and generally subscribed unto the Articles of Religion agreed upon and published in King Edwards time Anno 1552. At which time fifteen of the Bishops which had been present at the Convocation Anno 1543. were not only living but present and consenting to the Articles in King Edwards time that is to say Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury Parfew Bishop of Saint Asaph Buchely Bishop of Bangor Bush Bishop of Bristol Sampson Bishop of Litchfield Butler Bishop of Saint David Goodrich Bishop of Elie Ship Bishop of Hereford Folgate Bishop of Landaff and afterwards Arch-bishop of York King Bishop of Oxon Chambers Bishop of Peterborough Cepon Bishop of Sarum Thiâ—bly then Bishop of Westminster Aldrich then Bishop of Caerlile and Bird Bishop of Chester By which proportion we may conclude that a farre greater number of the Deans and Arch-deacons who have a personal right of voting in all Convocations and coming to the number of eighty and thereabouts must be living and consenting also to the Reformation as being younger men than the Bishops were not to say any thing of the Clerks or Procurates of Cathedral Churches and those of the Diocesan Clergy as being variable and changeable from time to time though possibly a great part of them might be present and consenting also 1552. Nor stood this Book nor the Article of Free-will therein contained upon the order and authority only of this Convocation but had as good countenance and encouragement to walk abroad as could be superadded to it by an Act of Parliament as appears plainly by the Kings Preface to that Book and the Act it self to which for brevity sake I refer the Reader 4. But if it be replyed that there is no relying on the Acts of Parliament which were generally swayed changed and over-ruled by the power and passions of the King and that the Act of Parliament which approved this Book was repealed in the first year of King Edward the sixth as indeed it was we might refer the Reader to a passage in the Kings Epistle before remembred in which the doctrine of Free-will is affirmed to have been purged of all Popish errors concerning which take here the words of the Epistle viz. And forasmuch as the heads and senses of our people have been imbusied and in these days travelled with the understanding of Free-will Justification c. We have by the advice of our Clergy for the purgation of Erroneous Doctrine declared and set forth openly plainly and without ambiguity of speech the meere and certaine truth of them so as we verily trust that to know God and how to live after his pleasure to the attaining of everlasting life in the erd this Book containeth a perfect and sufficient Doctrine grounded and established in holy Scriptures And if it be rejoyned as perhaps it may that King Henry used to shift opinion in matters which concerned Religion according unto interest and reason of State it must be answered that the whole Book and every Tract therein contained was carefully corrected by Arch-bishop Cranmer the most blessed instrument under God of the Reformation before it was committed to the Prolocutor and the rest of the Celrgy For proof whereof I am to put the Reader in minde of a Letter of the said Archbishop relating to the eighth Chapter of this Book in which he signified to an honourable friend of his that he had taken the more paines in it because the Book being to be set forth by his Graces that is to say the Kings censure and judgement he could have nothing in it that Momus himself could reprehend as before was said And this I hope will be sufficient to free this Treatise of Free-will from the crime of Popery 5. But finally if notwithstanding all these Reasons it shall be still pressed by those of the Calvinian party that the Doctrine of Free-will which is there delivered is in all points the same with that which was concluded and agreed on in the Council of Trent as appears Cap. de fructibus justificationis merito bonorum operum Can. 34. and therefore not to be accounted any part of the Protestant Doctrine which was defended and maintained by the Church of England according to the first Rules of her Reformation the answers will be many and every answer not without its weight and moment For first it was not the intent of the first Reformers to depart farther from the Rites and Doctrines of the Church of Rome than that Church had departed from the simplicity both of Doctrine and Ceremonies which had been publickly maintained and used in the Primitive times as appears plainly by the whole course of their proceedings so much commended by King James in the Conference at Hampton Court Secondly this Doctrine must be granted also to be the same with that of the Melancthonian Divines or moderate Lutherans as was confessed by Andreas Vega one of the chief sticklers in the Council of Trent who on the agitating of the Point did confesse ingenuously that there was no difference betwixt the Lutherans and the Church touching that particular And then it must be confessed also
that it was the Doctrine of Saint Augustine according to that Divine saying of his Sine gratia Deâ— praeveniente â—t velimus subsequente ne frustra velimus ad pietatis opera nil valemus which is the same of that of the tenth Article of the Church of England where it is said That without the grace of God preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will we can do nothing that is acceptable to him in the wayes of piety So that if the Church of England must be Arminian and the Arminian must be Papist because they agree together in this particular the Melancthonian Divines amongst the Protestants yea and S. Augustine amongst the Ancients himself must be Papists also CHAP. XIII The Doctrine of the Church of England concerning the certainty or uncertainty of Perseverance 1. THe certainty of Grace debated in the Council of Trent and maintained in the Affirmative by the Dominioans and some others 2. The contrary affirmed by Calarinus and his adherents 3. The doubtful resolution of the Council in it 4. The Calvinists not coment with certainty of Grace quoad statum presentem presume upon it also quoad statum futurum 5. The bounds and limits wherewith the judgement in this point ought rationally to be circumscribed 6. The Doctrine of the Church of England in the present Article 7. Justified by the testimonies of Bishop Latimer Bishop Hooper and Master Tyndal 8. And proved by several arguments from the publick Liturgie 9. The Homily commends a probable and stedfast hope but 10. Allows noâ— certainty of Grace and perseverance in any ordinary way to the sons of men 1. OF all the Points which exercised the wits and patience of the Schoolmen in the Council of Trent there was none followed with more heat between the parties then that of the certainty of Grace occasioned by some passages in the writings of Luther wherein such certainty was maintained as necessary unto justification and an essential part thereof ' In canvasing of which point the one part held that certainty of grace was presumption the other that one might have it meritoriously The ground of the first was that Saint Thomas Saint Bonaventure and generally the Schoolmen thought so for which caule the major part of the Dominicanâ— were of the same opinion besides the authority of the Doctors they alledged for reasons that God would not that man should be certaine that he might not be lifted up in pride and esteeme of themselves that he might not prefer himself before others as he that knoweth himself to be just would do before manifest sinners and a Christian would so become drowsie carelesse and negligent to do good Therefore they said that uncertainty was profitable yea and meritorious besides because it is a passion of the mind which doth afflict it and being supported is turned to merit ' They alledged many places of the Scripture also of Solomon that a man knoweth not whether he be worthy of hate or love of Wisdome which commandeth not to be without fear of these sinnes pardoned of Saint Peter to work out our salvation with fear and trembling of Saint Paul who said of himself though my conscience accuse me not yet I am not thereby justified ' These Reasons and Testimonies together with many places of the Fathers were brought and amplified especially by Levipandus Vega and Solo. 2. ' But Calarinus and Marinarus had other places of the same Fathets to the contrary which shewed they had spoken accidentally in this particular as the occasions made most for their purpose sometimes to comfort the scrupulous sometimes to represse the audacious yet they kept themselves close to the authority of the Scripture They said that to as many as it is read in the Gospel that Christ hath forgiven sins to all them he said Believe that your sinnes are forgiven and it would be an absurdity that Christ should give an occasion of temerity and pride or if the contrary were profitable or a merit that he would deprive all men of it That the Scripture bindeth us to give God thanks for our justification which cannot be given except we know that we have obtained it for to give them when we are uncertain would be most foolish and impertinent That Saint Paul doth plainly confirme the certainty when he putteth the Corinthians in mind to know that Christ is in them except they be reprobates And when he saith we have received from God the Spirit to know what is given us by his divine Majesty and more clearly that the holy Spirit doth bear witnesse to our spirit that we are the sons God and it is much to accuse them of rashnesse who beleeve the Holy Ghost that speaketh with them For Saint Ambrose saith that the Holy Ghost doth never speak unto us but doth make us know that it is he that speaketh After this he added the words of Christ in Saint John that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost because it seeth him not nor knoweth him but that the disciples shall know him because he shall dwell in them Calarinus did fortifie himself strongly by saying that it was the opinion of a man in a dream to defend that Grace is voluntarily received when we know not whether we have it or not as if to receive a thing willingly it be not necessary that the willing receiver should know it is given him that he doth really receive it and that after it is received he doth possesse it ' 3. ' The force of these Reasons made them first retire a little that censured the opinion of Temerity and yield that there might be a conjecture though not an ordinary certainty yet they acknowledged a certainty in the Martyrs in the newly baptized and in some by special revelation and from conjecture they were brought to call it moral Faith And that Vego who in the beginning admitted probability only overcome by these Reasons and beginning to favour the certainty for fear of conforming himself to the Lutheran opinion said that there was so much certainty as did exclude all doubt and could not be deceived ' yet that it was not Christian Faith but humane and experimental But Calarinus and his party which were all the Carmelites not resting satisfied either in the termes of an experimental faith or a moral perswasion did presse the certainty so farre that many of the Prelateâ— began to encline to that opinion and to perswade themselves that certainty of Grace was founded upon such an assurance as might in some sort be called divine though when they came to draw up the Decree therein they found themselves involved in more perplexities than they were aware of For the Point being followed with great heat between the parties and each of them conceiving that the truth was clearly on their side it was found necessary to cast the Decree into such a mold as those of the two contrary opinions might
on the secret Mystery of Predestination as to account himself for certain to be within the number of the Elect as if he were assured of this that being justified he could neither sin no more nor were sure of repentance if he did And therefore no man is to flatter himself with any such certainty of perseverance though all men ought to place a constant and firm hope for the obtaining of the same in the help of God They which by sin have faln away from the grace received may recover their lost Justification if being stirred up from above they endeavour the recovery of it by sincere repentance or by the Sacrament of Pennance as the words there are And finally the grace of Justification or the grace by which a man is justified is not only lost by infidelity by which the Faith it self doth suffer Shipwrack but even by every mortal sin though Faith be not lost also at the same time with it X. Such is the Doctrine of this Councel in the Points disputed extracted faithfully out of the Canons and Decrees thereof one only clause being added to the Article of Predestination agreeable to the Opinion in the Conferences and Debates about it which prevailed most upon the Prelates and all others who were interessed and intrusted in drawing up the Products and Conclusions of it which how far it agreeth or disagreeth with or from that which is maintained by the opposite Parties in the Reformed and Protestant Churches we are next to see CHAP. IV. The Judgment of the Lutherans and Calvinians in these Five Points with some Objections made against the Conclusions of the Councel of Dort I. No Difference in Five Points betwixt the Lutherans and the Church of Rome as is acknowledged by the Papists themselves II. The Judgment of the Lutheran Churches in the sayd 5 Points delivered in the famous Confession of Ausperge III. The distribution of the Quarrel betwixt the Franciscans Melancthonians and Arminians on the one side the Dominicans Rigid Lutherans and Sublapsarian Calvinists on the other the middle way of Catarinus paralleled by that of Bishop Overal IV. The Doctrine of Predestination as layd down by Calvin of what ill Consequence in it self and how odious to the Lutheran Doctors V. Opposed by Sebastian Castellio in Geneva it self but propagated in most Churches of Calvins Plat-form and afterwards polished by Perkins a Divine of England and in him censured and confuted by Jacob Van Harmine a Belgick Writer VI. A brief view of the Doctrine of the Sublapsarians and the odious Consequences of it VII The Judgment of the Sublapsarians in the sayd Five Points collected and presented at the Conference at the Hague Ann. 1610. VIII The Doctrine of the Synodists in the sayd Points IX Affirmed to be repugnant to the holy Scripture as also to the Purity Mercy Justice and Sincerity of Almighty God X. And the subversion of the Ministry and all Acts of Piety illustrated by the example of Tiberius Caesar and the Lantgrave of Thurin I. SUCH being the Doctrines of this Councel in the Points disputed we need not take much pains in looking after the Judgment of the Lutheran Churches which comes so neer to that of the Church of Rome as to be reckoned for the same For in the History of the Councel it is sayd expresly as before is noted that in the Books of Luther in the Augustan Confession and in Apologies and Colloquies there was nothing found as to the Doctrine of Predestination which deserved to be censured And therefore they were fain to have recourse unto the Writings of the Zuinglian Party among which Calvin and his followers were to be accounted to find out matter to proceed upon in their Fulminations And in particular it is sayd by Andreas Vega one of the stiffest and most learned men amongst the whole pack of the Franciscans when the Points about Free-will were in agitation that between themselves and the Protestants there was no difference of opinion as to that particular How neer they came to one another in the other Points may easily be found in the Debates and Conferences before layd down compared with the Judgment of the Lutheran Doctors not only in their private Writings but their publick Colloquies But then we are to understand that this Agreement of the Lutheran Doctors expressed in their private Writings and their publick Colloquies and especially the solemn Confession at Ausperge relates to that interpretation of the Decrees and Canons of the Tridentine Councel which is made by the Jesuits and Franciscans and not unto the Gloss or Exposition which is made thereof by the Preaching and Dominican Fryers II. But not to leave so great a matter to a Logical Inference I shall lay down the Doctrine of the Lutheran Churches in the sayd Five Points extracted faithfully out of the Augustan Confession with the Addition of one Clause only to the first Article the Makers of the Confession declining purposely the point of Predestination out of the Writings of Melancthon and other learned men of the same perswasion Now the Doctrine of the sayd Churches so delivered is this that followeth Viz. 1. Of Divine Predestination After the miserable fall of Adam all men which were to be begotten according to the common course of Nature were involved in the guilt of Original sin by which they are obnoxious to the wrath of God and everlasting damnation In which Estate they had remained but that God beholding all man-kinde in this wretched condition was pleased to make a general conditional Decree of Predestination under the condition of Faith and Perseverance And a special absolute Decree of electing those to life who he fore-saw would believe and persevere under the means and aides of Grace Faith and Perseverance and a special absolute Decree of condemning them whom he fore-saw to abide impenitent in their sins 2. Of the Merit and Efficacy of Christs Death The Son of God who is the Word assumed our humane Nature in the Womb of the Virgin and being very God and very Man he truly Suffered was Crucified Dead and Buried to reconcile his Father to us and to be the Sacrifice not only for Original sin but also for all the Actual sins of men A great part of S. Pauls Epistle to the Hebrews is spent in the proving of this Point that only the Sacrifice or Oblation made by Christ procured for others Reconciliation and Remission of sins inculcating that the Livitical Sacrifices were year by year to be reiterated and renewed because they could not take away sins but that satisfaction once for all was made by the Sacrifice of Christ for the sins of all men 3. Of Mans Will in the state of depraved Nature The Will of man retains a freedom in Actions of Civil Justice and making Election of such things as are under the same pretension of natural Reason but hath no power without the speciall Assistance of the Holy Ghost
to attain unto spiritual Righteousness according to the saying of the Apostle That the natural man perceiveth not the things which are of the spirit of God And that of Christ our Saviour without me you can do nothing And therefore the Pelagians are to be condemned who teach that man is able by the meer strength of Nature not only to love God above all things but also to fulfil the Law according to the substance of the Acts thereof 4. Of Conversion and the manner of it The Righteousness which is effected in us by the opperation and assistance of the Holy Ghost which we receive by yeilding our assent to the word of God according to that of S. Augustine in the third Book of his Hypognosticks in which he grants a freedom of the Will to all which have the use of Reason not that they are thereby able either to begin or go through with any thing in the things of God without Gods assistance but only in the Affairs of this present life whether good or evil 5. Of falling after Grace received Remission of sins is not to be denied in such who after Baptism fall into sins at what time soever they were converted and the Church is bound to confer the benefit of Absolution upon all such as return unto it by Repentance And therefore as we condemn the Novatian Hereticks refusing the benefit of absolution unto those who having after Baptism lashed into sin gave publick Signs of their Repentance so we condemn the Anabaptists who teach that a man once justified can by no means lose the Holy Ghost as also those who think that men may have so great a measure of perfection in this present life that they cannot fall again into sin Such is the Doctrine of the Lutheran Churches agreed on in the famous Augustan Confession so called because presented and avowed at the Diet of Auspurge Augusta vindelicorum the Latines call it 1530. confirm'd after many struglings on the one side and oppositions on the other by Charles the fifth in a general Assembly of the Estates of the Empire holden at Passaw Ann. 1552. and afterwards more fully in another Dyet held at Auspurge Ann. 1555. A Confession generally entertained not only in the whole Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden but also in the Dukedom of Prussia and some parts of Poland and all the Protestant Churches of the High Germany neither the rigid Lutherans nor the Calvinians themselves being otherwise tolerated in the Empire than as they shrowd themselves under the Patronage and shelter of this Confession For besides the first breach betwixt Luther and Zuinglius which hapned at the beginning of the Reformation there afterwards grew a sub-division betwixt the Lutherans themselves occasioned by Flacius Illyricus and his Associates who having separated themselves from Melancthon and the rest of the Divines of Wittenberge and made themselves the Head of the rigid Lutherans did gladly entertain those Doctrines in which they were sure to finde as good Assistance as the Dominicans and their party could afford unto them The wisdom and success of which Councel being observed by those of the Zuinglian or Calvinian Faction they gladly put in for a share being not meanly well approved that though their Doctrines were condemned by the Councel of Trent yet they found Countenance especially in the Sublapsarian way not only from the whole Sect of the Dominicans but the rigid Lutherans And that the Scales might be kept even between the Parties there started ouâ— another Faction amongst the Calvinists themselves who symbolized with the Melancthonians or moderate Lutherans as they did with the Jesuit and Franciscan Fryers For the Abetting of which their Quarrel this last side calling to their Ayde all the Ancient Fathers both Greek and Latine who lived before the time of S. Augustine the others relying wholly on his single Judgment not alwayes constant to himself nor very well seconded by Prosper noâ— any other of great Note in the times succeeding Finally that Catarinus may not go alone in his middleway I will follow him with one of his own Order for he was afterwards made Bishop of Miâ—ori in Italy that is to say the right learned Doctor Overall publick Professor of Divinity in Cambridge Dean of S. Pauls and successively Bishop of Lichfield and Norwich whose Judgment in a middle way and though not the same that Catarinus went the Reader may finde in Mr. Playferts notable Piece intituled Apello Evangelium to which I refer him at the present as being not within the compass of my present Design which carries me to such Disputes as have been raised between the Calvinians and their Opposites in these parts of the world since the conclusion and determination of the Councel of Trent IV. And for the better carrying on of my Design I must go back again to Calvin whom I left under a suspition of making God to be the Author of sin from which though many have took much pains none more then industrious Doctor Feild to absolve and free him yet by his Doctrine of Predestination he hath layd such grounds as have involved his Followers in the same guilt also For not content to travel a known and beaten way he must needs finde out a way by himself which neither the Dominicans nor any other of the Followers of Augustine's Rigors had found out before in making God to lay on Adam an unavoidable necessity of falling into sin and misery that so he might have opportunity to manifest his Mercy in the electing of some few of his Posterity and his Justice in the absolute rejecting of all the rest In which as he can finde no Countenance from any of the Ancient Writers so he pretendeth not to any ground for it in the holy Scriptures For whereas some objected on Gods behalf De certis verbis non extare That the Decree of Adams Fall and consequently the involving of his whole Posterity in sin and misery had no foundation in the express words of Holy Writ he makes no other Answer to it then a quasi vero as if saith he God made and created man the most exact Piece of his Heavenly Workmanship without determining of his end And on this Point he was so resolutely bent that nothing but an absolute Decree for Adams Fall seconded by the like for the involving of all his Race in the same Perdition would either serve his turn or preserve his Credit For whereas others had objected on Gods behalf that no such unavoidable necessity was layd upon man-kinde by the will of God but rather that he was Created by God unto such a perishing estate because he foresaw to what his own perversness at the last would bring him He answereth that this Objection proves nothing at all or at least nothing to the purpose which sayd he tels us further out of Valla though otherwise not much versed as he there affirmeth in the holy Scriptures ' That this Question seems
which they cannot avoid sin that is to say by imputing to them the transgression of their Father Adam And 2. In that he leaves them irrecoverably plunged and involved in it without affording them power or ability to rise again to newness of life In which case that of Tertullian seems to have been fitly alledged Viz. In cujus manu est ne quid fiat eideputatur cum jam sit That is to say In whose power it is that a thing be not done to him it is imputed when it is done as a Pilot may be sayd to be the cause of the loss of that Ship when it is broken by a violent Tempest to the saving whereof he would not lend a helping hand when he might have done it They Object thirdly That this doctrine is inconsistent with the mercy of God so highly signified in the Scriptures in making him to take such a small and speedy occasion to punish the greater part of men forever and for one sin once committed to shut them up under an invincible necessity of sin and damnation For proof whereof they alledge this Saying out of Prosper Viz. Qui dicit quod non omnes homines velit Deus salvos fieri sed certum numerum praedestinatorum durius loquitur quam loquutum est de altitudine inscrutabilis gratiae Dei That is to sayâ— He which sayth that God would not have all men to be saved but a certain set number of predestinate persons only he speaketh more harshly then he should of the light of Gods unsearchable Grace 4. It is affirmed to be incompatible with the Justice of God who is sayd in Scripture to be Righteous in all his waies according unto weight and measure that the far greatest part of man-kinde should be left remedilesly in a state of damnation for the sin of their first Father only that under pain of damnation he should require faith in Christ of those to whom he hath precisely in his absolute purpose denied both a power to believe and a Christ to believe in or that he should punish men for the omission of an Act which is made impossible for them by his own decree by which he purposed that they should partake with Adam in his sin and be stript of all the supernatural power which they had in him before he fell And fifthly It is sayd to be destructive of Gods sincerity in calling them to repentance and to the knowledge of the faith in Jesus Christ that they may be saved to whom he doth not really intend the salvation offered whereby they are conceived to make God so to deal with men as if a Creditor should resolve upon no terms to forgive his Debtor the very least part of his debt and yet make him offers to remit the whole upon some conditions and binde the same with many solemn Oaths in a publick Auditory The like to be affirmed also in reference to Gods passionate wishes that those men might repent which repent not as also to those terrible threatnings which he thundreth against all those that convert not to him all which together with the whole course of the Ministry are by this doctrine made to be but so many Acts of deep Hypocrisie in Almighty God though none of the Maintainers of it have the ingenuity to confess the same but Piscator only in his Necesse est ut sanctam aliquam si mutationem statuamus in Deo which is plain and home X. And finally it is alledged that this doctrine of the Sublapsarians is contrary to the ends by God proposed in the Word and Sacraments to many of Gods excellent Gifts to the Sons of men to all endeavours unto holiness and godly living which is sayd to be much hindered by it and tend to those grounds of comfort by which a Conscience in distress should be relieved And thereupon it is concluded that if it be a doctrine which discourageth Piety if it maketh Ministers by its natural importment to be negligent in their Preaching Praying and other Services which are ordained of God for the eternal good of their people if it maketh the people careless in hearing reading praying instructing their Families examining their Consciences fasting and mourning for their sins and all other godly Exercises as they say it doth it cannot be a true and a wholsome doctrine as they say 't is not This they illustrate by a passage in Suetonius relating to Tyberius Caesar of whom the Historian gives this note Circa Deos Religiones negligentior erat quippe addictus mathematicae persuasionisque plenus omnia fato agi That is to say That he was the more negligent in matters of Religion and about the Gods because he was so much addicted to Astrologers fully perswaded in his own minde that all things were governed by the Destinies And they evince by the miseserable example of the Landgrave of Turinng of whom it is reported by Heistibachius that being by his Friends admonished of his vitious Conversation and dangerous condition he made them this Answer Viz. Si praedestinatus sum nulla peccata poterint mihi regnum coelorum auferre si praescitus nulla opera mihi illud valebunt conferre That is to say If I be elected no sins can possibly bereave me of the Kingdom of Heaven if reprobated no good Deeds can advance me to it An Objection not more old then common but such I must confess to which I never found a satisfactory Answer from the Pen of Supralapsarian or Sublapsarian within the small compass of my reading CHAP. V. The Doctrine of the Remonstrants and the Story of them untill their finall Condemnation in the Synod of Dort I. The Doctrine of the Remonstrants ancienter then Calvinism in the Belgick Churches and who they were that stood up for it before Arminius II. The first undertakings of Arminins his preferment to the Divinity Chair at Leiden his Commendations and Death III. The occasion of the Name Remonstrants and Contra Remonstrants the Controversie reduced to Five Points and those disputed at the Hague in a publick Conference IV. The sayd five Points according to their severall Heads first tendred at the Hague and after at the Synod at Dort V. The Remonstrants persecuted by their Opposites put themselves under the protection of Barnevelt and by his means obtained a collection of their Doctrine Barnevelt seised and put to death by the Prince of Orange VI. The Calling of the Synod of Dort the parallel betwixt it and the Councel at Trent both in the conduct of the business against their Adversaries and the differences amongst themselves VII The breaking out of the differences in the Synod in open Quarrels between Martinius one of the Divines of Breeme and some of the Divines of Holland and on what occasions VIII A Copy of the Letter from Dr. Belconyvel to S. Dudly Carlaton his Majesties Resident at the Hague working the violent prosecutions of those Quarrels by
aforementioned ' That our Saviour Christ according to the will of his Eternal Father when the time thereof was fully accomplished taking our nature upon him came into this World from the high Throne of his Father to declare unto miserable sinners the Goodness c. To shew that the time of Grace and Mercy was come to give light to them that were in darkness and in the shadow of death and to preach and give Pardon and full Remission of sin to all his Elected And to perform the same he made a Sacrifice and Oblation of his body upon the Cross which was a full Redemption Satisfaction and Propitiation for the sins of the whole world ' More briefly Bishop Latimer thus ' The Evangelist saith When Jesus was born c. What is Jesus Jesus is an Hebrew word which signifieth in our English Tongue a Saviour and Redeemer of all Mankinde born into the World This Title and Name To save appertaineth properly and principally unto him for he saved us else had we been lost for ever ' Bishop Hoâ—per in more words to the same effect ' That as the sins of Adam without Priviledge or Exemption extended and appertained unto all and every of Adams Posterity so did this Promise of Grace generally appertain as well to every and singular of Adams Posterity as to Adam as it is more plainly expressed where God promiseth to bless in the seed of Abraham all the people of the world ' 8. Next for the point of Universel Vocation and the extent of the Promises touching life Eternal Besides what was observed before from the Publique Liturgie we finde some Testimonies and Authorities also in the Book of Homilies In one whereof it is declared That God received the learned and unlearned and casteth away none but is indifferent unto all And in another place more largely that the imperfection or natural sickness taken in Adam excludeth not that person from the promise of God in Christ except we transgress the limits and bounds of this Original sin by our own folly and malice If we have Christ then have we with him and by him all good things whatsoever we can in our hearts wish or desire as victory over death sin hell c. The truth hereof is more clearly evidenced in the writings of the godly Martyrs so often mentioned as first of Bishop Latimer who discourseth thus ' We learn saith he by this sentence that multi sunt vocati that many are called c. that the preaching of the Gospel is universal that it appertaineth to all mankinde that it is written in omnem terram exivit soâ—us eorum through the whole world their sound is heard Now seeing that the Gospel is universal it appeareth that he would have all mankinde be saved that the fault is not in him if they be damned for it is written thus Deus vult omnes homines salvos fieri God would have all mankinde saved his Salvation is sufficient to save all mankinde Thus also in another place That the promises of Christ our Saviour are general they appertain to all mankinde He made a general Proclamation saying Qui credit in me habet vitam aeternam whosoever believeth me hath eternal life ' And not long after in the same Sermon ' That we must â— consider wisely what he saith with his own mouth Venite ad me omnes c. Mark here he saith mark here he saith Come all ye wherefore should any body despaiâ— or shut out himself from the promises of Christ which be general and appertain to the whole world ' The like saith Bishop Hooper also telling us ' There was no diversity in Christ of Jew or Gentile that it was never forbid but that all sorts of people and every progeny of the world to be made partakers of the Jews Religion ' And then again in the example of the Ninivites ' Thou hast saith he good Christian Reader the mercy of God and general promise of salvation performed in Christ for whose sake onely God and man were set at one ' 9. The less assistance we had from Bishop Hooper in the former points the more we shall receive in this touching the causes why this great benefit is not made effectual unto all alike Concerning which he lets us know ' That to the obtaining the first end of his justice he allureth as many as be not utterly wicked and may be helped partly with threatnings and partly with promises and so provoketh them unto amendment or life c. and would have all men to be saved therefore provoketh now by fair means now by foul that the sinner should satisfie his just and righteous pleasure not that the promises of God appertain to such as will not repent or his threatnings unto him that doth repent but these means he useth to save his creature this way useth he to nurture us until such time as the Holy Spirit worketh such a perfection in us that we will obey him though there were neither pain nor joy mentioned at all ' And in another place more briefly ' That if either out of a contempt or hate of Gods Word we fall into sin and transform our selves into the image of the Devil then we exclude our selves by this means from the promises and merits of Christ ' Bishop Latimer to the same point also ' His Salvation is sufficient to satisfie for all the world as concerning it self but as concerning us he saveth no more than such as put their trust in him and as many as believe in him shall be saved the other shall be cast out as Infidels into everlasting damnation not for lack of salvation but for infidelity and lack of faith which is the onely cause of their damnation ' One word more out of Bishop Hooper to conclude thiâ— point which in fine is this 'To the Objection saith he touching that S. Peter speaketh of such as shall perish for their false doctrine c. this the Scripture answereth that the promise of grace appertaineth to every sort of men in the world and comprehendeth them all howbeit within certain limits and bounds the which if men neglect to pass over they exclude themselves from the promise of Christ ' CHAP. XI Of the Heavenly influences of Gods grace in the Conversion of a sinner and mans co-operation with those heavenly influences 1. I The Doctrine of Deserving Grace ex congruo maintained in the Roman Schools before the Council of Trent rejected by our ancient Martyrs and the Book of Articles 2. The judgement of Dr. Barns and Mr. Tyndall touching the necessary workings of Gods grace on the will of man not different from that of the Church of England 3. Universal grace maintained by Bishop Hooper and proved by some passages in the Liturgie and Book of Homilies 4. The offer of Universal grace made ineffectual to some for want of faith and to others for want of repentance according
considerable which may seem to make for the advantage of the opposite party And have therefore brought in a discourse of the Martyrologist in favour of the Calvinian Doctrine I have also given a just account of the first breaking out of the Predestinarians in Queen MARIES time and of the stirs in Cambridge in Queen ELIZABETHS not pretermitting such particulars as may be thought to make for them in the course of this Narrative even to the Articles of Ireland and the harsh expressions of King JAMES against Arminius And therefore I may say in the words of Curtius Plura equidem transcribo quam credo nec enim affirmare aufuge sum quae dubito nec subducere sustinco quae accepi I have related many things which I cannot approve though I have not let them passe without some censure that so I may impose nothing on the Readers belief without good grounds nor defraud him of any thing conducible to his Information I was not to be told how much my first engageing in this business might offend those men who loved to countenance their extravagancy by the name of the Church and what loud clamours they had raised against the most Reverend Dr. Whitgift for encountring with T. C. in behalf of the Liturgy against Dr. John Bridges Dean of Sarisbury for standing in defence of the sacred Hirarchy against the most learned Bishop Bilson for crossing Calvins new device about Christs descent against Dr. Barce for opposing the Genevian Rigors in the points before us against Mr. Richard Mountague for separating the opinions of private men from the Churches Doctrins and finally against the late Renouned Archb. for labouring to restore this Church to its primitive Lustre And though I could not hope to be more favorably dealt withall in this â—ase then my Letters were yet I might reasonably expect to be used no worse But on the contrary I have lately seen a Scurrilous Pamphlet the Author â—hereof hath licked up all the filth of for◠〈…〉 els to vomit it at once upon me without â—esâ—â—ct to that civility which beseems a Scholar or that sobriety and modesty which adorns a Christian so Cocks are dieted sometimes with Garlick before they fight that they may rather overcome their Adversaries by the stinck of their breath then by the sharpeness of their spurs or the strength of their blows But I have been so long accustomed to the noise of this Rayling Rhetorick that I am now no more troubled at it then were the Catadupi at the Rorings of the River Nilus or Socrates to see himself derided and exposed to scorn on the publick Theatre Or could I be exasperated to a Retaliation that saying of St. Cyprian would recall me to my wonted temper who being bitterly railed at by some of his Presbyters retruned this Answer Non Oportet me paria cum illis facere that it becomes not me to answer them with the like revilings And yet I cannot but take notice of a mischievious project for throwing a Ball of discord betwixt me and some friends of mine Doctors in title and degree and by the Libeller declared to be of my own perswasion one of which is affirmed to say That I was an unhappy Writer and marred every thing which I medled with and for the finding of this one I have nothing but a blinde direction of Hist in the margin placed there of purpose as it seemeth to put me into a suspition of all eminent persons whose names begin with those two Letters It is recorded in the History of Amianus Marcellinus that certain men informed the Emperour Valence by their Devilish Arts that one whose name began with THEO should succeed in the Empire Which put the Jealous Prince into such a generall distrust of all whose Names had that beginning Theodoret Theodosius Theopulos Theodulos Theodore that he caused many of them though men of eminent worth and most exemplary Loyalty to be made the subjects of his fear and cruelty And such a Devillish Art is this of T. C. the younger by which two Letters he affects to disguise his name to work me into a suspition of some eminent persons and such as must be also of my own perswasions But I have no such jealousies as Valence had and therefore shall create no trouble to my self or others upon that temptation For first I know the parties pointed to in those two letters to be the masters of so much Candor and Ingenuity that I am confident they rather would excuse my infelicities or insufficiencies be they which they will then bring me under the reproach of any such censure as none of different judgement ever laid upon me And secondly so much they have descended beneath themselves as of their own accord to certifie me both by Letters and Messages how free they were from giving any ground to that base suspition which was contrived with so much malice and design to divide between us And so Autorem Scelus repetet the Calumny must be left at the Authors dore as the natural parent of it till he can find out more distinctly upon whom to charge it In the mean time I leave him to the mercy of the Laws as a common Barrator Drenched over head and ears in the waters of strife a sower of discord and discention amongst faithful friends But I have wasted too much time on this piece of impertinency and might perhaps have better studied my own fame if I had took no notice of the Libell or the Author either but that to have been silent altogether in so just a grievance might possibly be taken for an argument of insensibility For otherwise as there is nothing in the Author but the stolne name of Theophilus Churchman which descries my Pen so there is nothing argumentative in the Pamphlet either which was not bâ—th foreseen and satisfied in the following papers before it came unto my hands I return therefore to my Post which if I can make good by Records and Evidence the fittest weapons for this Warfare I shall not easily be forced from it by Reproach and Clamors as were the Ancient Gauls from surprising the Capitol by the noise and gagling of the Geese But whether I have made it good or not must be left to the Reader to whom I hope it will appear that Calvinism was not the native and original Doctrin of the Church of England though in short time it over spread a great part thereof as Arrianism did the Eastern Churches in the elder times Ubi ingemuit orbis as St. Hierom hath it when the world groaned and trembled under the calamity of that dangerous Heresie And I hope too it will appear by this discourse that I am not yet so far reduced ad secundam pueritiam as the Scorner taunts it as that my venerable back and buttocks pardon me for repeating such unmannerly language should be intituled to the Rod of this proud Orbilius Or if I be I doubt not but that God Almighty who
them any place in the Synod and finally dismiss them in a furious Oration made by Boyerman without any hearing 11. The Synodists indulgent to the damnable Doctrines of Macorius and as unmercifull in the banishment and extermination of the poor Remonstrants 12. Scandalously defamed to make them odious and those of their perswasions in other places ejected persecuted and disgraced CHAP. VI. Objections made against the Doctrine of the Remonstrants the Answers unto all and the retorting of some of them on the Opposite Party 1. AN Introduction to the said Objections 2. The first Objection touching their being enemies to the grace of God disproved in generall by comparing the Doctrine with that of St. Augustine though somewhat more favourable to Free-will then that of Luther 3. A more particular Answer in relation to some hard expressions which were used of them by K. James 4. The second charging it as introductive of Popery begun in Holland and pressed more importunately in England answered both by Reason and Experience to the contrary of it 5. The third charge of filling men with spirituall pâ—ide first answered in Relation to the testimony from which it was taken and then retorted on those who object the same 6. The fourth Charge making the Remonstrants a furious and seditious People begun in Holland prosecuted in England and answered by the most Religious Bishop Ridley 7. What moved K. James to think so ill of the Remonstrants as to exasperate the States against them 8. The Remonstrants neither so troublesome nor so chargeable to the States themselves as they were made by the Objector the indirect proceedings of the Prince of Orange in the death of Bannevelt and the injustice of the Argument in charging the practises of his Children against the Prince of Orange upon all the party 9. Nothing in the Arminian Doctrine that may incline a man to factious and seditious courses as is affirmed and proved to be in that of Calvin 10. The Recrimination further proved by a passage in the Conference of the Lord Treasurer Burleigh with Queen Eliz in a letter of some of the Bishops to the Duke of Buckingham and in that of Dr. Brooks to the late Archbishop 11 More fully prosecuted and exemplified by Campneys an old English Protestant 12. A Transition to the Doctrine of the Church of England CHAP. VII An Introduction to the Doctrine of the Church of England in the Points disputed with the removall of some Rubs which are laid in the way 1. THe Doctrine of the Homilies concerning the endowments of man at his first Creation 2. His miserable Fall 3. And the promised hopes of his restitution in the Lord Christ Jesus 4. A general Declaration of the judgment of the Church of England in the points disputed exemplified in the story of Agillmond and Lamissus Kings of Lombardy 5. The contrary judgment of Wickleff objected answered and applyed to all modern Heresies 6. The general answer of the like Argument pretended to be drawn from the writings of Frith Tyndall and Barns but more particularly 7. The judgment of Dr. Barns in the present Points and the grounds on which he builded the same 8. Small comfort to be found from the works of Tyndall in favour of the Calvinian Doctrin 9. The high flyings of John Frith and others in the Doctrine of Predestination reproved by Tyndall 10. A parallel between some of our first Martyrs and the blind man restored to his â—ight in the 8. of St. Mark CHAP. VIII Of the Preparatives to the Reformation and the Doctrin of the Church in the present Points 1. THe danger of ascribing too much to our ancient Martyrs exemplified in the parity of Ministers and popular Elections unto Benefices allowed by Mr. John Lambert 2. Nothing ascribed to Calvins judgment by our first Reformers but much to the Augustan Confession the writings of Melancthon and 3. unto the Authority of Erasmus His paraphrases being commended to the use of the Church by King Edward 6. and the Reasons why 4. The Bishops book in order to the Reformation called The Institution of a Christian man commended by King Henry 8. 1537. corrected afterwards by the Kings own hand examined and allowed by Cranmer approved by Parliament and finally published by the name of A necessary Doctrin c. Anno 1543. 5. The Doctrine of the said two books in the Points disputed agreeable unto that which after was established by King Edward 6. 6. Of the two Liturgies made in that Kings time and the makers of them the testimony given to the first and the alterations made in the second 7. The first book of Homilies by whom made approved by Bucer and of the Arguments that may be drawn from the method of it in the points disputed 8. The quality and condition of those men who principally concurred to the book of Articles with the harmony or concent in judgment between Archbishop Cranmer Bishop Ridly and Bishop Hooper c. 9. The Doctrin delivered in the book of Articles touching the Five Controverted points 10. An answer to the objections against these Articles for the supposed want of Authority in the making of them 11. An objection against King Edwards Catechism mistaken for an objection against the Articles refelled as to that late Schisme by John Philpot Martyr and of the delegating of their powers by the Convocation to a choice Committee 12. The Articles not drawn up in comprehensive or ambiguous termes to please all parties but to be understood in the Restrictive letter and Grammatical sense and the Reasons why CHAP. IX Of the Doctrin of Predestination delivered in the Articles the Homilies the publick Liturgie and the writings of some of the Reformers 1. THe Articles differently understood by the Calvinian party and the true English Protestants with the best way to finde out the true sense thereof 2. The definition of Predestination and the most considerable points contained in it 3. The meaning of those words in the Difinition viz. Whom he hath châ—sen in Christ according to the exposition of St. Ambrose St. Chrysostom and St. Jerom as also of Archbishop Cranmer Bishop Latimer and the book of Homilies 4. The absolute decree condemned by Bishop Latimer as a means to licentiousness and carnall living 5. For which and making God to be the Author of sin condemned as much by Bishop Hooper 6. Our election to be found in Christ not to be sought for in Gods secret Councels according to the judgment of Bishop Latimer 7. The way to finde out our Election delivered by the same godly Bishop and by Bishop Hooper with somewhat to the same purpose also from the book of Homilies 8. The Doctrin of Predestination delivered by the holy Martyr John Bradford with Fox his glosse upon the same to corrupt the text 9. No countenance to be found for any absolute personal and irrespective Decree of Predestination in the publick Liturgy 10. An answer to such passages out of the said Liturgy as seem to
Predestination in which and the Genevian Notes we finde Christ excluded from being the foundation of mans Election and made to be an inferiour cause of salvation only 6. God made to be the Author of sin by the Author of a Pamphlet entituled Against a Privy Papist and his secret Councells called in for the proof thereof both by him and Knox with the mischiefs which ensued upon it 7. The Doctrine of Robert Crawley imputing all mens sins to Predestination his silly defences for the same made good by a distinction of John Verons and the weaknesse of that Distinction shewed by Campneys 8. The Errors of the former Authors opposed by Campneys his book in Answer to those Errors together with his Orthodoxie in the point of Vniversall Redemption and what he builds upon the same 9. His solid Arguments against the imputing of all actions either good or evill to Predestination justified by a saying of Prosper of Aquitain 10. The virulent prosecutions of Veron and Crowley according to the Genius of the Sect of Calvin CHAP. XVII Of the Disputes amongst the Confessors in Prison in Queen Maries dayes and the resetling of the Church on her former Principles under Queen Eliz. 1. THe Doctrine of Predestination disputed amongst the Confessors in Prison in Queen Maries dayes 2. The Examination of John Carelesse before Dr. Martin 3. Considerations on some passages in the said Conference 4. A review made of the publick Liturgy by the command of Queen Eliz. and the Paraphrases of Erasmus commended to the reading both of Priests and People 5. The second Book of Homilies how provided for and of the liberty taken by the Gospellers and Zuinglian Sectaries before the reviving and confirming of the Book of Articles by the Queens Authority 6. Of the reviving and authority of the Book of Articles An. 1562. and what may be thence inferred 7. An Answer to the Argument drawn from omitting the ninth Article of King Edwards Book the necessity of giving some content to the Zuinglian Gospellers and the difficulties wherewith they were induced to subscribe the Book at the first passing of the same 8. The Argument taken from some passages in the English Catechisme set forth by Mr. Alexander Nowell and the strength thereof 9. Considerations made on the said Catechisme and the rest of that Authors making and what his being Prolocutor in the Convocation might adde to any of them in point of Orthodoxy 10. Nothing to be collected out of the first passage in Mr. Nowels Catechisme in favour of the Calvinian Doctrine of Predestination and the points depending thereupon and less then nothing in the second if it be understood according to the Authors meaning and the determination of the Church CHAP. XVIII A Declaration of the Doctrine in the Points disputed under the new Establishment made by Queen Eliz. 1. THe Doctrine of the second Book of Homilies concerning the wilfull Fall of Adam the miserable estate of man the restitution of lost man in Jesus Christ and the universall Redemption of all Mankinde by his Death and Passion 2. The Doctrin of the said second Book concerning Universal Grace the possibility of a totall and finall Falling and the cooperation of mans will with the grace of God 3. The judgment of Reverend Bishop Jewell touching the universal Redemption of Mankinde by the Death of Christ Predestination grounded upon faith in Christ and reached out unto all them that believe in him by Mr. Alexander Nowell 4. Dr. Harsnet in his Sermon at Pauls Crosse 1584. sheweth that the absolute decree of Reprobation tâ—rneth the truth of God into a lye and makes him to be the Author of sin 5. That it deprives man of the naturall freedome of his will makes God himself to be double-minded to have two contrary wills and to delight in mocking his poor creature Man 6. And finally that it makes God more cruel and unmercifull then the greatest Tyrant contrary to the truth of Scripture and the constant Doctrin of the Fathers 7. The rest of the said Sermon reduced unto certain Heads directly contrary to the Calvinian Doctrines in the points disputed 8. Certain considerations on the Sermon aforesaid with reference to the subject of it as also to the time place and person in and before which it was first preached 9. An answer to some Objections concerning a pretended Recantation affirmed to have been made by the said Mr. Harsnet 10. That in the judgment of the right learned Dr. King after Bishop of Reading the alteration of Gods denounced Judgements in some certain cases infers no alteration in his Councels the difference between the changing of the will and to will a change 11. That there is something in Gods decrees revealed to us something concealed to himself the difference between the inferiour and superiour causes and of the conditionality of Gods Threats and Promises 12. The accommodating of the former part of this discourse to the case of the Ninivite 13. And not the case of the Ninivites to the case disputed CHAP. XIX Of the first great breach which was made in the Doctrine of the Church by whom made and what was done toward the making of it up again 1. GReat Alteration made in the face of the Church from the return of such Divines as had withdrawn themselves beyond Sea in the time of Queen Mary with the necessity of imploying them in the publick service if otherwise of known zeal a gainst the Papists 2. Severall examples of that kinde in the places of greatest Power and Trust in the Church of England particularly of Mr. Fox the Martyrologist and the occasion which he took of publishing his opinion in the point of Predestination 3. His Notes on one of the Letters of Mr. John Bradford martyr touching the matters of Election therein contained and his perverting of the Text on which he writeth 4. The difference between the Comment and the Text and between the Author of the Comment and Bishop Hooper 5. Exceptions against some passages and observations upon others in the said Notes of Mr. Fox 6. The great breach made hereby in the Churches Doctrin made greater by the countenance which was given to the Acts and Monuments by the Convocation 1571. 7. No argument to be drawn from hence touching the approbation of his Doctrine by the Convocation no more then for the approbation of his Marginal Notes and some particular passages in it disgracefull to the Rites of the Church Attire of the Bishops 8. A Counter-ballance made in that Convocation against Fox his Doctrines and all other Novelismes of that kinde CHAP. XX. Of the great Innovation made by Perkins in the Publick Doctrine the stirs arising thence in Cambridge and Mr. Barrets carriage in them 1. OF Mr. Perkins and his Doctrine of Predestination with his recitall of the 4 Opinions which were then maintained about the same 2. The sum and substance of his Doctrin according to the Supralapsarian oâ— Supracreatarian way 3. The severall
censures past upon it both by Papists and Protestants by none more sharply then by Dr. Robert Abbots after Bishop of Sarum 4. Of Dr. Baroe the Lady Margarets Professor in that University his Doctrine touching the Divine decrees upon occasion of Gods denounced Judgment against the Ninivites 5. His constant opposition to the Predestinarians and the great encrease of his Adherents 6. The Articles collected out of Barrets Sermon derogatory to the Doctrin anâ— persons of the chief Calvinians 7. Barret convented for the same and the proceedings had against him at his first Convention 8. A form of Recantation delivered to him but not the same which doth occur in the Anti-Arminianisme nor to be found in the Records of that University 9. Severall arguments to prove that Barret never published the Recantation imposed upon him 10. The rest of Barrets story related in his own Letter to Dr. Goade being then Vice-chancellor 11. The sentencing of Barret to a Recantation no argument that his Doctrin was repugnant to the Church of England and that the body of the same Uuiversity differed from the Heads in that particular CHAP. XXI Of the proceedings against Baroe the Articles of Lambeth and the generall calm which was in Oxon touching these Disputes 1. THe differences between Baroe and Dr. Whitakers the Address of Whitakers and others to Archbishop Whitgift which drew on the Articles of Lambeth 2. The Articles agâ—eed on at Lambeth presented both in English and Latine 3. The Articles of no Authority in themselves Archbishop Whitgift questioned for them together with the Queens command to have them utterly suppress'd 4. That Baroe neither was deprived of his Professorship nor compelled to leave it the Anti-Calvinian party being strong enough to have kept him in if he had desired it 5. A copy of the Letter from the Heads in Cambridge to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh occasioned as they said by Barret and Baroe 6. Dr. Overald encounters with the Calvinists in the point of falling from Grace received his own private judgment in the point neither for totall or for finall and the concurrence of some other learned men in the same opinion 7. The generall calm which was at Oxon at that time touching these Disputes and the reasons of it 8. An answer to the objection out of the writings of Judicious Hooker as to the totall and finall falling 9. The disaffection of Dr. Buckridge and Dr. Houson to Calvins Doctrins an Answer to the objection touching the paucity of those who oppose the same 10. Possession of a truth maintained but by one or two preserves it sacred and inviolable from unfortunate times the case of Liberius Pope of Rome and that the testimonies of this kinde are rather to be valued by weight then tale CHAP. XXII Of the Conference at Hampton-Court and the severall encouragements given to the Anti-Calvinians in the time of K. James 1. THe occasion of the Conference at Hampton-Court and the chief persons there assembled 2. The 9 Articles of Lambeth rejected by K. James 3. Those of the Church being left in their former condition 4. The Calvinian Doctrine of Predestination decried by Bishop Bancroft disliked by King James and the reasons of it 5. Bishop Bancroft and his Chaplain both abused the inserting of the Lambeth Articles into the Confession of Ireland no argument for K. James his approbation of them by whom they were inserted and for what cause allowed of in the said Confession 6. A pious fraud of the Calvinians in clapping their Predestinarian Doctrines at the end of the Old Testament An. 1607. discovered censured and rejected with the reasons for it 7. The great encouragement given by King James to the Anti-Calvinians and the increase of that Party both in power number by the stirrs in Holland 8. The offence taken by K. James at Conradus Vorstius animateth the Oxford Calvinists to suspend Dr. Houson and to preach publickly against Dr. Laud. 9. The like proceedings at Cambridge against Mr. Symson first prosecuted by K. James and on what account that the King was more incensed against the party of Arminius then against their perswasions 10. Instructions published by K. James in order to the diminishing of Calvins authority the defence of Universal Redemption and the suppressing of his Doctrins in the other points why the last proved so unusefull in the case of Gabriel Bridges 11. The publishing of Mountagues Answer to the Gagger the information made against it the Author and his Doctrins taken by K. James into his protection and his Appeal licensed by that Kings appointment 12. The Conclusion of the whole discourse and the submission of it to the Church of England Historia Quinqu Articularis OR A DECLARATION OF The Judgement of the Western Churches And more particularly Of the Church of ENGLAND IN The Five Controverted Points Reproched in these Last times by the Name of ARMINIANISM PART I. CONTAINING The Debates and Determinations in the said Five Points amongst the Learned Romanists in the Councel of Trent as also of the Lutheran Churches the Supralapsarian and Sublapsarian Calvinists and the Arminians or Remonstrants LONDON Printed by E. C. for Thomas Johnson at the Key in St. Pauls Church-yard 1660. Historia Quinqu Articularis OR A DECLARATION Of the JUDGEMENT of the Western-Churches And more particularly of the Church of ENGLAND In the five Controverted Points c. CHAP. 1. The several Heresies of those who make God to be the Author of Sin or attribute too much to the Natural freedom of Man's Will in the Works of Piety I. GOD affirmed by Florinus to be the Author of sin the blasphemy encountred by Irenaeus and the foul Consequents thereof II. Revived in the last Ages by the Libertines sayd by the Papists to proceed fram the Schools of Calvin and by the Calvinists to proceed from the Schools of Rome III. Disguised by the Maniches in another dress and the necessity thereby imposed on the â—ils of men IV. The like by Bardesanes and the Priscilianists the dangerous consequents thereof exemplified out of Homer and the words of S. Augustine V. The error of the Maniches touching the servitude of the Will revived by Luther and continned by the rigid Lutherans VI. As those of Bardesanes and Priscilian by that of Calvin touching the Absolute Decree the dangers which lye hidden under the Decree and the incompetibleness thereof with Christs coming to Judgment VII The large expressions of the Ancient Fathers touching the freedom of the â—ill abused by Pelagius and his followers VIII The Heresie of Pelagius in what it did consist especially as to this particular and the dangers of it IX The Pelagian Heresie condemned and recalled the temper of S. Augustine touching the freedom of the Will in spirituall matters X. Pelagianism falsly charged on the Moderate Lutherans How far all parties do agree about the freedom of the Will and in what they differ 1. OF all the Heresies which exercised the Church in the times foregoing there
to be superfluous because both Life and Death are rather the Acts of Gods Will then of his Prescience or fore-knowledge And then he adds as of his own that if God did but fore-see the successes of men and did not also dispose and order them by his Will then this Question should not without cause be moved Whether his fore seeing any thing availed to the necessity of them But since sayth he he doth no otherwise fore-see the things that shall come to pass then because he hath decreed that they should so come to pass it is in vain to move any Controversy about Gods fore-knowledge where it is certain that all things do happen rather by divine Ordinance and appointment ' Yet notwithstanding all these shifts he is forced to acknowledge the Decree of Adams Fall to be Horribile decretum A cruell and horrible Decree as indeed it is a cruell and horrible Decree to pre-ordain so many Millions to destruction and consequently unto sinne that he might destroy them And then what can the wicked and Impenitent do but ascribe all their sinnes to God by whose inevitable Will they are lost in Adam by whom they were particularly and personally necessitated to death and so by consequence to sin A Doctrine so injurious to God so destructive of Piety of such reproach amongst the Papists and so offensive to the Lutherans of what sort soever that they profess a greater readiness to fall back to Popery then to give way to this Predestinarian Pestilence by which name they call it to come in amongst them V. But howsoever having so great a Founder as Calvin was it came to be generally entertained in all the Churches of his Plat-form strongly opposed by Sebastian Castellino in Geneva it self but the poor man so despightfully handled both by him and Beza who followed him in all and went beyond him in some of his Devises that they never left pursuing him with Complaints and Clamours till they had first cast him out of the City and at the last brought him to his Grave The terrour of which example and the great name which Calvin had attained unto not only by his diligent Preaching but also by his laborious Writings in the eye of the World As it confirmed his power at home so did it make his Doctrines the more acceptable and esteemed abroad More generally diffused and more pertinaciously adhered unto in all those Churches which either had received the Genevian Discipline or whose Divines did most industriously labour to advance the same By means whereof it came to pass as one well observeth ' that of what account the Master of the Sentences was in the Church of Rome the same and more amongst the Preachers of the Reformed Churches Calvin had purchased so that they were deemed to be the most perfect Divines who were most skilful in his Writings His Books almost the very Canon by which both Doctrine and Discipline were to be judged The French Churches both under others abroad or at home in their own Country all cast according to the Mold which he had made The Church of Scotland in erecting the Fabrick of their own Reformation took the self same pattern ' Received not long after in the Palatine Churches and in those of the Netherlands In all which as his Doctrine made way to bring in the Discipline so was it no hard matter for the Discipline to support the Doctrine and crush all those who durst oppose it Only it was permitted unto Beza and his Disciples to be somewhat wilder then the rest in placing the Decree of Predestination before the Fall which Calvin himself had more rightly placed in Massa corrupta in the corrupted Mass of Man-kinde and the more moderate Calvinians as rightly presuppose for a matter necessary before there could be any place for the Election or Reprobation of particular persons But being they concurred with the rest as to the personal Election or Reprobation of particular persons the restraining of the Benefit of our Saviours Sufferings to those few particulars whom only they had honoured with the glorious name of the Elect the working on them by the irresistible powers of Grace in the Act of Conversion and bringing them infallibly by the continual assistance of the sayd Grace unto life everlasting there was hardly any notice taken of their Deviation they being scarce beheld in the condition of erring brethren though they differed from them in the main Foundation which they built upon but passing under the name of Calvinists as they thus did And though such of the Divines of the Belgick Churches as were of the old Lutheran Stock were better affected unto the Melancthonian Doctrine of Predestination then to that of Calvin yet knowing how pretious the Name and Memory of Calvin was held amongst them or being unwilling to fall foul upon one another they suffered his Opinions to prevail without opposition And so it stood till the year 1592. when Mr. William Perkins an eminent Divine of Cambridge published his Book called the Armilla Aurea c. containing such a Doctrine of Predestination as Beza had before delivered but cast into a more distinct and methodical Form With him as being a Foreiner both by Birth and Dwelling a Supralapsarian in Opinion and one who had no personal Relations amongst themselves it was thought fittest to begin to confute Calvins Doctrines in the person of Perkins as many times a Lion is sayd to be corrected by the well Cudgelling of a Dog without fear of danger And against him it was his order in delivering the Decree of Predestination that Arminius first took up the Bucklers in his Book intituled Examen Praedestinationis Perkinsoniae which gave the first occasion to those Controversies which afterwards involved the Sublapsarians also of which more hereafter VI. In the mean time let us behold the Doctrine of the Supralapsarians first broacht by Calvin maintained by almost all his Followers and at last polished and lickt over by the sayd Mr. Perkings as it was charged upon the Contra Remonstrants in the Conference at the Hague Anno 1610. in these following words Viz. ' That God as some speak by an eternal and unchangable Decree from amongst men whom he considered as not created much less as falâ— ordained certain to eternal life certain to eternal death without any regard had to their righteousness or sin to their obedience or disobedience only because it was his pleasure or so it seemed good to him to the praise of his Justice and Mercy or as others like better to declare his saving Grace Wisdom and free Authority or Jurisdiction ' many being also so ordained by his eternal and unchangable decree fit for the execution of the same by the power or force whereof it is necessary that they be saved after a necessary and unavoidable manner who are ordained to Salvation so that 't is not possible that they should perish but they who are destined to destruction who are
the Dutch Divines IX A further prosecution of the Quarrel between the Councel and the Synod in reference to the Articles used in the Draught upon the Canons and Decrees of either and the doubtfull meaning of them both X. The quarrelling Parties joyn together against the Remonstrants denying them any place in the Synod and finally dismist them in a furious Oration made by Boyerman without any hearing XI The Synodists indulgent to the damnable Doctrines of Macorius and unmerciful in the banishment or extermination of the poor Remonstrants XII Scandalously defamed to make them odious and thâ—se of their perswasions in other places Ejected Persecuted and Disgraced I. HAving thus run through all the other Opinions touching Predestination and the Points depending thereupon I come next to that of the Remonstrants or Arminians as they commonly call them accused of Novelty but ancienter then Calvinism in the Churches of the Belgick Provinces which being Originally Dutch did first embrace the Reformation according to the Lutheran model though afterwards they suffered the Calvinian Plat-form to prevail upon them It was about the year 1530. that the Reformed Religion was admitted in the Neighbouring Country of East-Friezland under Enno the First upon the preaching of Hardingbergius a Learned and Religious man and one of the principal Reformers of the Church of Emden a Town of most note in all that Earldom from him did Clemens Martini take those Principles which afterwards he propagated in the Belgick Churches where the same Doctrine of Predestination had been publickly maintained in a Book called Odegus Laicorum or the Laymans Guide published by Anastasius Velluanus An. 1554. and much commended by Henricus Antonides Divinity Reader in the University of Francka But on the other side the French Ministers having setled themselves in those Parts which either were of French Language or anciently belonged to the Crown of France and having more Quicksilve in them then the others had prevailed so far with William of Nassaw Prince of Orange that a Confession of their framing was presented to the Lady Regent ratified in a forcible and tumultuous way and afterwards by degrees obtruded upon all the Belgick Churches which notwithstanding the Ministers successively in the whole Province of Vtrecht adhered unto their former Doctrines not looked on for so doing as the less Reformed Nor wanted there some one or other of eminent Note who did from time to time oppose the Doctrine of Predestination contained in that Confession of the year 1567. when it took beginning Insomuch that Johannes Isbraâ—di one of the Preachers of Rotradam openly professed himself an Anticalvinian and so did Gellius Succanus also in the Country of West-Friezland who looked no otherwise upon these of Calvin's Judgment then as Innovators in the Doctrine which had been first received amongst them The like we finde also of Holmanus one of the Professors of Leyden of Cornelius Meinardi and Cornelius Wiggeri two men of principal esteem before the name of Jacob Van-Harmine was so much as talked of II. But so it hapned that though these learned men had kept on foot the ancient Doctrines yet did they never finde so generally an Entertainment in those Provinces as they did afterwards by the pains and diligence of this Van-Harmine Arminius he is called by our Latine Writers from whom these Doctrines have obtained the name of Arminianism called so upon no juster Grounds then the great Western Continent is called by the name of America whereas both Christopher Collumbus had first discovered it and the two Cabots Father and Son had made a further progress in the sayd discovery before Americus Vespatius ere saw those shores As for Arminius he had been fifteen years a Preacher or a Pastor as they rather phrase it to the great Church of Arastandam during which times taking a great distast at the Book published by Mr. Perkins intituled Armilla Aurea he set himself upon the canvasing of it and published his performance in it by the name of Examen Praedestinationis Perkinsoniae as before was sayd Incouraged with his good success in this adventure he undertakes a Conference on the same Argument with the learned Junius the summe whereof being spread abroad in several Papers was after published by the name of Amica Collatio Junius being dead in the year 1603. the Curators or Overseers of the University made choice of this Van-harmine to succeed him in his place But the Inhabitants of the Town would not so part with him till they were over-ruled by the Entreaties of some and the power of others A matter so unpleasing to the rigid Calvinians that they informed against him to the state for divers Heterodoxies which they had noted in his Writings But the business being heard at the Hague he was acquitted by his Judge dispatcht for Leyden and there confirmed in his place Toward which the Testimonial Letters sent from the Church of Amsterdam did not help a little In which he stands commended Ob vitae inculpatae sanae doctrinae morum summam integritatem That is to say for a man of an unblameable life sound Doctrine and fair behaviour as may be seen at large in the Oration which was made at his Funeral in the Divinity Schools of Leyden on the 22. day of October 1609. III. Thus dyed Arminius but the Cause did not so dye with him For during the first time of his sitting in the Chair of Leyden he drew unto him a great part of the University who by the Piety of the man his powerful Arguments his extreme diligence in that place and the clear light of Reason which appeared in all his Discourses were so wedded unto his Opinions that no time nor trouble could drown them For Arminius dying in the year 1609. as before was sayd the heats betwixt the Scholars and those of the contrary perswasion were rather encreased then abated the more encreased for want of such a prudent Moderator as had before preserved the Churches from a publick Rupture The breach between them growing wider and wider each side thought fit to seek the Countenance of the State and they did accordingly for in the year 1610. the Followers of Arminius address their Remonstrance containing the Antiquity of their Doctrines and the substance of them to the States of Holland which was encountred presently by a Contra Remonstance exhibited by those of Calvins Party from hence the names of Remonstrants and Contra Remonstrants so frequent in their Books and Writings each Party taking opportunity to disperse their Doctrines the Remonstrants gained exceedingly upon their Adversarys For the whole Controversie being reduced to these five Points Viz. The Method and Order of Predestination The Efficacy of Christs Death The Opperations of Grace both before and after mâ—â—s Conversion and perseverance in the same the Parties were admitted to a publick Conference at the Hague in the year 1611. in which the Remonstrants were conceived to have had much the better of the day Now
lay open to such further informations as were offered to him which drew him to a better liking both of the Men and their Opinions then he had formerly entertained of either of them IV. It is objected secondly that these Doctrines symbolize so much with the Church of Rome that they serve only for a Bridge for Popery to passe over into any Church into which they can obtain admittance This Calumny first laid upon them in a Declaration of the States Generall against Barnevelt before remembred wherein they charge him with a design of confederating with the Spaniard to change the Religion of those Countreys and countenancing to that end the Arminian party as his fittest Instruments which clamor being first raised in Holland was afterwards much cherished and made use of by the Puritan or Calvinian party amongst us in England By one of which it is alleadged that Mr. Pym being to make a report to the House of Commons An. 1626. touching the Books of Richard Mountague after Bishop of Chichester affirmed expressely that the whole scope of his Booke was to discourage the well-affected in Religion and as much as in him lay to reconcile them unto Popery He gives us secondly a Fragment of a scattered Paper pretended to be written to the Rector of the Jesuites Colledge in Bruxells in which the Writer lets him know that they had strongly fortified their Faction here in England by planting the Soveraign Drug Arminianisme which he hoped would purge the Protestants from their Heresie Thirdly he backs this Paper with a Clause in the Remonstrance of the House of Commons 1628. where it is said that the hearts of his Majesties Subjects were perplexed in beholding the daily growth and spreading of the Faction of Arminianisme that being as his Majesty well knew so they say at least but a cunning way to bring in Popery To all which being but the same words out of divers mouths it is answered first That the points which are now debated between the Calvinians and the old Protestants in England between the Remonstrants and the Contra-Remonstrants in the Belgick Churches and finally between the rigid and moderate Lutherans in the upper Germany have been as fiercely agitated between the Franciscans and the Dominicans in the Church of Rome The old English Protestants the Remonstrants and the moderate Lutherans agreeing in these points with the Franciscans as the English Calvinists the Contra-Remonstrants and the rigid Lutherans do with the Dominicans So that there is a compliance on all sides with one of the said two differing parties in the Church of Rome And therefore why a generall complyance in these poynts with the Fryers of St. Dominick the principall sticklers promoters of that Inquisition should not be thought as ready a way to bring in Popery as any such complyance with the Fryers of St. Francis he must be a very wise man indeed which can give the reason Secondly it is answered that the Melanctonian or moderate Lutherans which make up infinitely the greatest part of the Lutheran Churches agree in these points with the Jesuites or Franciscan Fryers and yet are still as far from relapsing to the Church of Rome as when they made the first separation from it And therefore thirdly that if Arminianisme as they call it be so ready a Bridge for passing over to Popery it would be very well worth the knowing how and by what means it should come to passe that so few of the Remonstrants in the Belgick Provinces and none of those whom they call Arminians in the Church of England should in so long a time pass over that Bridge notwithstanding all the Provocations of want and scorn which were put upon the one and have been since multiplyed upon the other V. In the next place it is objected that the Arminian Doctrines naturally incline a man to the sin of pride in attributing so much to the power of his own will so little to the Grace of God in choosing both the means and working out of the end of his own salvation And for the proof hereof a passage is alleadged out of the History of the Councell of Trent that the first opinion that is to say the Doctrin of Predestination according to the opinion of the Dominican Fryers as it is hidden and mysticall keeping the minde humble and relying on God without any confidence in it self knowing the deformity of Sin and the excellency of Divine Grace so the Second being that maintained by the Franciscans was plausible and popular and cherished humane presumption c. The whole passage we have had before in the Second Chapter Num. 4. but we shall answer to no more of it then the former Clause Concerning which it may be said that though Father Paul the Author of the History hath filled the Christian World with admiration yet it is obvious to the eye of any discerning Reader that in many places he savoureth not so much of the Historian as he doth of the Party and that being carryed by the Interest of his Native Countrey which was the Signory of Venice he seldome speaks favourably of the Jesuites and their adherents amongst which the Franciscans in these poynts are to be accounted Secondly that either Father Paul did mistake himself or else that his Translator hath mistaken his meaning in making the Second Opinion to be more pleasing to the Preaching Fryers then the understanding Divines the name of Preaching Fryers being so appropriated in common speech to those of the Dominican Order that it is never applyed unto any other And Thirdly that the Authority of Father Paul is no otherwise to be embraced in Doctrinall matters what credit soever may be given to him in point of History then as it is seconded by Reason And certainly if we proceed by the rule of Reason that Doctrine must needs more cherish humane presumption which puffeth men up with the certainty of their Election the infallibility of assisting and persisting Grace the impossibility of falling from the attaining of that salvation which they have promised to themselves then that which leaves these poynts uncertain which puts a man to the continuall necessity of calling on God and working out the way unto his salvation with fear and trembling He that is once possessed with this perswasion that all the sins which he can possibly commit were they as many as have been committed by all Mankinde since the beginning of the World are not able to frustrate his Election or separate him from the love and favour of Almighty God will be too apt to swell with Pharisaicall pride and despise all other men as Heathens and Publicans when such poor Publicans as have their minds humble and relying â—n God will stand aloof not daring to approach too neer the Divine Majesty but crying out with God be mercifull unto me a sinner and yet shall be more justified in the sight of God then the others are For this we need produce no proof
we finde it in the supercilious looks in the haughty carriage of those who are so well assured of their own Election who cannot so disguise themselves as not to undervalue and despise all those who are not of the same party and perswasion with them A race of men whose insolence and pride there is no avoyding by a modest submission whose favour there is no obtaining by good turns and benefits Quorum superbiam frustra per modestiam obsequium effugeris as in another case was said by a Noble Britain VI. And finally it is objected but the Objection rather doth concern the men then the Doctrine that the Arminians are a Faction a turbulent seditious Faction so found in the United Provinces from their very first spawning not to be suffered by any Reason of State in a Common-wealth So saith the Author of the Pamphlet called the Observator observed and proves it by the wicked conspiracy as he calls it of Barnevelt who suffered most condignly as he he tells us upon that account 1619. And afterwards by the damnable and hellish plot of Barnevelts Children and Allies in their designs against the State and the Prince of Orange This Information seconded by the Author of the Book called The Justification of the Fathers c. who tells us but from whom he knowes not that the States themselves have reported of them that they had created them more trouble then the King of Spain had by all his Warres And both these backt by the Authority of K. James who tells us of them in his Declaration against Vorstius That if they were not with speed rooted out no other issue could be expected then the Curse of God infamy throughout all the Reformed Churches and a perpetual rent and distraction in the whole body of the State This is the substance of the Charge So old and common that it was answered long since by Bishop Ridly in Queen Marys dayes when the Doctrine of the Protestants was said to be the readiest way to stir up sedition and trouble the quiet of the Common-wealth wherefore to be repressed in time by force of Laws To which that godly Bishop returns this Answer That Satan doth not cease to practise his old guiles and accustomed subtilties He hath ever this Dart in a readinesse to whirle against his adversaries to accuse them of sedition that he may bring them if he can in danger of the Higher Powers for so hath he by his Ministers alwayes charged the Prophets of God Ahab said unto Elias art thou he that troubleth Israel The false Prophets complained also to their Princes of Jeremy that his words were seditious and not to be suffered Did not the Scribes and Pharises falsly accuse Christ as a seditious person and one that spake against Caesar Which said and the like instance made in the Preachings of St. Paul he concludes it thus viz. But how far they were from all sedition their whole Doctrine Life and Conversation doth well declare And this being said in reference to the Charge in generall the Answer to each part thereof is not far to seek VII And first it hath been answered to that part of it which concerns King James that the King was carried in this business not so much by the clear light of his most excellent understanding as by Reason of State the Arminians as they call them were at that time united into a party under the command of John Olden Barnevelt and by him used for the reasons formerly laid down to undermine the power of Maurice then Prince of Orange who had made himself the Head of the Contra-Remonstrants and was to that King a most dear Confederate Which Division in the Belgick Provinces that King considered as a matter of most dangerous consequence and utterly destructive of that peace unity and concord which was to be the greatest preservation of the States Vnited on whose tranquillity and power he placed a great part of the peace and happiness of his own Dominions Upon which reason he exhorrs them in the said Declaration to take heed of such infected persons their own Countrey-men being already divided into Factions upon this occasion which was a matter as he saith so opposite to unity which was indeed the only prop and safety of their State next under God as of necessity it must by little and little bring them to utter ruine if justly and in time they did not provide against it So that K. James considering the present breach as tending to the utter ruine of those States and more particularly of the Prince of Orange his most dear Allye he thought it no small piece of King-craft to contribute toward the suppression of the weaker party not only by blasting them in the said Declaration with reproachfull names but sending such Divines to the Assembly at Dort as he was sure would be sufficiently active in their condemnation VIII So that part of the Argument which is borrowed from the States themselveâ— it must be proved by some better evidence then the bare word of Mr. Hickman before it can deserve an answer the speech being so Hyperbolicall not to call it worse that it can hardly be accounted for a flower of Rhetorick The greatest trouble which the States themselves were put to all this businesse was for the first eight years of it but the hearing of Complaints receiving of Remonstrances and being present at a Conference between the parties And for the last four years for it held no longer their greatest trouble was to finde out a way to forfeit all their old and Native Priviledges in the deaâ—h of Barnevelt for maintenance whereof they had first took up Arms against the Spaniard In all which time no blood at all was drawn by the Sword of War and but the blood of 5 or 6 men only by the Sword of Justice admitting Barnevelts for one Whereas their warres with Spain had lasted above thrice that time to the sacking of many of their Cities the loss of at least 100000. of their own lives and the expense of many millions of Treasure And as for Barnevelt if he had committed any Treason against his Countrey by the Laws of the same Countrey he was to be tryed Contrary whereunto the Prince of Orange having got him into his power put him over to be judged by certain Delegates commissionated by the States Generall who by the Laws of the Union can pretend unto no Authority over the Life and Limb of the meanest subject Finally for the conspiring of Barnevelts Children it concerns only them whose design it was Who to revenge his death so unworthily and unjustly contrived and as they thought so undeservedly and against their Laws might fall upon some desperate Councels and most unjustifiable courses in pursuance of it But what makes this to the Arminian and Remonstrant party Or doth evince them for a turbulent and seditious Faction not to be suffered by any Reason of State in a well-ordered
Common-wealth Barnevelts Kindred might be faulty the Arminians innocent or the Arminians faulty in their practise against the life of the Prince of Orange under and by whom they had suffered so many oppressions without involving those in their Crimes and Treasons who hold the same Opinion with them in their Neighbouring Churches IX The reason is because there is nothing in the Doctrine of the Arminians as it relates to the Five points in difference which can dispose the Professors of it to any such practises And therefore if the Arminians should have proved as turbulent and seditious as their enemies made them yet we were not to impute it to them as they were Arminians that is to say as men following the Melanctonian way of Predestination and differing in those points from the rest of the Calvinists but as exasperated and provoked and forced to cast themselves upon desperate courses Quae libertatis arma dat ipse dolor in the Poets language But so some say it is not with the Doctrine of the other party by which mens actions are so ordered predetermined by the eternall will of God even to the taking up of a straw as before was said ut nec plus boni nec minus mali that it is neither in their power to do more good or commit less evil then they do And then according to that Doctrine all Treasons Murders and Seditions are to be excused as unavoydable in them who commit the same because it is not in their power not to be guilty of those Treasons or Seditions which the fire and fury of the Sect shall inflame them with And then to what end should Princes make Laws or spend their whole endeavors in preserving the publick Peace when notwithstanding all their cares and travails to prevent the mischief things could no otherwise succeed then as they have been predetermined by the will of God And therefore the best way would be Sinere res vadere quo vult in the Latin of an old Spanish Monke to let all matters go as they will since we cannot make them go as we would according to that counsell of the good old Poet. Solvite mortales animos curisque levate Totque super vacuis animum deplete querelis Fata regunt Orbem certa stant omnia lege That is to say Discharge thy soul poor man of vexing fears And ease thy self of all superfluous cares The World is governed by the Fates and all Affairs by Heaven's decree do stand or fall X. To this effect it is reported that the old Lord Burleigh should discourse with Queen Eliz. when he was first acquainted with the making of the Lambeth Articles Not pleased wherewith he had recourse unto the Queen letting her see how much her Majesties Authority and the Laws of the Realm were thereby violated and it was no hard matter to discern what they aimed at who had most stickled in the same For saith he this is their opinion and Doctrine that every Humane action be it good or evil it is all restrained and bound up by the Law of an immutable decree that upon the very wills of men also this necessity is imposed ut aliter quam vellent homines velle non possent that men could not will otherwise then they did will Which Opinions saith he Maddam if they be true Frustra ego aliique fideles Majestatis tuae ministri c. then I and the rest of your Majesties faithfull Ministers do sit in Councel to no purpose 't is in vain to deliberate and advise about the affairs of your Realm Cum de his quae eveniunt necessario stulta sit plane omnis consultatio since in those things that come to passe of necessity all consultation is foolish and ridiculous To which purpose it was also press'd by the Bishop of Rochester Oxon and St. Davids in a Letter to the Duke of Buckingham concerning Mountagues Appeal An. 1625. In which it is affirmed that they cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the Common-wealth or of Preaching and externall Ministry in the Church if such fatal Opinions as some which are opposite contrary to those delivered by Mr. Mountague shall be publickly taught and maintained More plainly and particularly charged by Dr. Brooks once Master of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge in a Letter to the late Archbishop bearing date Decemb. 15. 1630. in which he writes that their Doctrines of Predestination is the root of Puritanisme and Puritanisme is the root of all Rebellions and disobedient untractablenesse in Parliaments c. and of all Schisme and sawcinesse in the Countrey nay in the Church it self making many thousands of our people and too great a part of the Gentlemen of the Land very Leightons in their hearts which Leighton had published not long before a most pestilent and seditious Book against the Bishops called Sions Plea in which he excited the people to strike the Bishops under the fifth rib reviling the Queen by the name of a Daughter of Heth and for the same was after censured in the Star-Chamber to Pillory loss of Ears c. XI But because perhaps it may be said that this is but a new device excogitated by the malice of these later times to defame this Doctrine let us behold what Campneys hath delivered of it in the first or second year of Queen Eliz. at the first peeping of it out to disturb this Church Where saith he who seeth not the distraction of England to follow this Doctrine Who seeth not the confusion of all Common-wealths to depend hereupon What Prince may sit safely in the seat of his Kingdome What subject may live quietly possessing his own What man shall be ruled by the right of Law If there Opinions may be perfectly placed in the hearts of the People Which Corollary he brings in in the end of a Discourse touching the Rebellion raised by Martin Cyrnell and seconded by the Earl of Lincolne Martin Swarth and others against Hen. 7. For building on the Calvinian Maxim that as God doth appoint the end so he appointeth also the means and causes which lead unto it he thereupon inferreth that Martin Swarth and his men according to that Doctrine were destined by God to be slain at the Battle of Stoke In order whereunto first Sir Richard Simon the Priest must be appointed and predestinate of God to powre in the pestilent poyson of Privy Conspiracy and trayterous mischief of vain glory into the heart of Lambert his Scholar as a cause leading to the same end Secondly that he the said Lambert was appointed and predestinate of God to consent and agree unto the pestiferous perswasion of his Master * S. Richard in the pride of Lucifer to aspire unto the Royall Throne as another cause leading to the same end which God ordained Thirdly that the Irish men were appointed of God to be Rebellious Traytors against their Soveraign Lord the King of England and
to maintain the false and fithy quarrell of Lambert as another cause leading to the same end Fourthly that in order to the said end the Lady Margaret sister to K. Edw. 4. was appointed and predestinate of God to be a Traytoresse to England and to imploy all her wits forces and power to the utter destruction of her naturall Countrey And Fiftly in particular that the said Lady Margaret was appointed of God to hiâ—e the said Martin Swarth and his men to invade the Realm of England Sixthly and finally that the said Martin Swarth the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lorell the Lord Gerrard and divers others Captains of the Rebels weâ—e appointed and predestinate of God to be of such valiant courage in maintaining the false quarrel of traytetous Lambert that they were slain on the other side many a brave English mans blood was shed at the battell of Stoke which was the end of this wofull Tragedy Let them say therefore what they can or will this meer necessity which our men teâ—ch is the very same which the Stoicks did hold which opinion because it destroyed the state of a Common-wealth was banished out of Rome as St. Augustine declareth in lib. Quest Vet. Nov. Testam XII And thus the different Judgements of all the other Western Churches and the severall Subdivisions of them in the five controverted Points being laid together with such Discourses and Disputes as have occasionally been made and raised about them we will next shew to which of the said differing parties the Church of Englandâ—â—â—ms â—â—â—ms most inclinable and afterwards proceed in the story of iâ— Historia Quinqu Articularis OR A DECLARATION OF THE Judgement OF THE WESTERN CHURCHES And more particularly of the CHVRCH of ENGLAND IN THE Five Controverted Points Reproached in these last times by the name of Arminianism PART II. Containing the Judgement of the Church of England and the most Eminent Divines thereof in the Reign of King Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth By Peter Heylin D. D. London Printed for Tho Johnson 1660. PART II. The Judgement of the Church of England in the five controverted Points CHAP. 7. An Introduction to the Doctrine of the Church of England in the points disputed with the Removal of some rubs which are laid in the way 1. THe Doctrine of the Homilies concerning the Endowments of man at his first creation 2. His miserable fall 3. And the promised hopes of his Restitution in the Lord Christ Jesus 4. A general Declaration of the judgement of the Church of England in the points disputed exemplified in the story of Agilmond and Lamistus Kings of Lombardy 5. The contrary iudgement of Wicklif objected answered and applied to all modern Heresies 6. A general answer to the like Argument pretended to be drawn from the Writings of Frith Tyndall and Barns But more particularly 7. The judgement of Dr. Barns in the present points and the grounds on which he builded the same 8. Small comfort to be found from the works of Tyndal in favour of the Calvinian Doctrines 9. The falsifyings of John Frith and others in the Doctrine of Predestination reproved by Tyndal 10. A parallel between some of our first Martyrs and the blinde man restored to sight in the eighth of Saint Mark. 1. BEing therefore in the next place to declare the Judgement of the Church of England I shall prepare the way by laying down her publique Doctrine touching the Fall of Adam and the Restitution of mankinde in Jesus Christ that having cleared God from being the Authour of sin and having laid a sure foundation for the Restitution of Mankinde to Gods grace and favour and consequently to the hopes of Eternal life we may proceed with more assurance to the rest that followeth And this we cannot better do then by laying down the words of the Homily concerning the Nativity and Birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ where we finde it thus ' Among all the Creatures saith the Homily that God made in the beginning of the world most excellent and wonderful in their kinde there was none as the Scripture beareth witness to be compared almost in any point unto man who as well in body as soul exceedeth all other no less then the Sun in brightness and light exceedeth every bright and little Star in the Firmament He was made according to the similitude and image of God he was endued with all kinde of heavenly gifts he had not spot of uncleanness in him he was sound and perfect in all parts both outwardly and inwardly his reason was uncorrupt his understanding was pure and good his will was obedient and godly he was made altogether like unto God in righteousness in holiness in wisdom in truth to be short in all kinde of perfection ' 2. After which having spoken of mans Temporal 〈◊〉 relating to the delicacies of the Garden of Eden and the Dominion which God gave him over all the Creatures the Homily doth thus proceed viz. ' But as the common nature of all men is in time of prosperity and wealth to forget not onely themselves but also God even so did this first man Adam who having but one Commandment at Gods hand namely That he should not eat of the Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil did notwithstanding most unmindefully or rather most wilfully break it in forgetting the strait charge of his Maker and giving ear to the crafty suggestion of the evil Serpent the Devil whereby it came to pass that as before he was blessed so now he was accursed as before he was loved so now he was abhorred as before he was most beautiful and precious so now he was most vile and wretched in the sight of his Lord and Maker instead of the image of God he was now become the image of the Devil instead of a Citizen of Heaven he was now become the bond-slave of Hell having in himself no one part of his former purity and cleanness but being altogether spotted and defiled insomuch that now he seemed to be nothing else but a lump of sin and therefore by the just judgement of God was condemned to everlasting death ' 3. This being said touching the introduction of the body of Sin the Homily doth first proceed to the propagation and universal spreading of it and afterwards to the Restitution of lost man by faith in Christ ' This so great and miserable plague for so the Homily proceedeth if it had onely rested in Adam who first offended it had been so much the easier and might the better have been born but it fell not onely on him but also on his posterity and children for ever so that the whole brood of Adams flesh should sustain the self same fall and punishment which their forefather by his offence most justly had deserved S. Paul in the fifth to the Romans saith By the offence of onely Adam the fault came upon all men to condemnation and by one
mans disobedience many were made sinners By which words we are taught that as in Adam all men universally sinned so in Adam all men universally received the reward of sin that is to say became moâ—tâ—l and subject unto 〈…〉 themselves nothing 〈…〉 tion both of body and soul c. Had it been any marvel if mankinde had been utterly driven to desperation being thus fallen from life to death from salvation to destruction from Heaven to Hell But behold the great goodness and tender mercy of God in this behalf albeit mans wickedness and sinful behaviour was such that it deserved not in any part to be forgiven yet to the intent he might not be clean destitute of all hope and comfort in time to come he ordained a new Covenant and made a sure promise thereof namely that he would send a Mediator or Messias into the world which should make intercession and put himself as a stay between both parties to pacifie the wrath and indignation conceived against sin and to deliver man out of the miserable curse and cursed misery whereunto he was fallen head-long by disobeying the Will and Commandment of the onely Lord and Maker ' 4. Which ground thus laid we will proceed unto the Doctrine of Predestination according to the sense and meaning of the Church of England which teacheth us according to the general current of the ancient Authors before Augustines time that God from all Eternity intending to demonstrate his power and goodness designed the Creation of the World the making of man after his own image and leaving him so made in a perfect liberty to do or not to do what he was commanded and that fore-knowing from all Eternity the man abusing this liberty would plung himself and his posterity into a gulf of miseries he graciously resolved to provide them such a Saviour who should redeem them from their sins to elect all those to life eternal who laid hold upon him leaving the rest in the same state in which he found them for their incredulity And this I take to be the method of Election unto life Eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord according to the Doctrine of the Church of England For although there be neither prius nor posterius in the will of God who sees all things at once together and willeth at the first sight without more delay yet to apply his acts unto our capacitie as were the acts of God in their right production so were they primitively in his intention But Creation without p 〈…〉 did forego the fall and the disease or death which ensued upon it was of necessity to be before there could be a course taken to prescribe the care and the prescribing of the care must first be finished before it could be offered to particular persons Of which and of the whole Doctrine of Predestination as before declared we cannot have an happier illustration then that of Agilmond and Lamistus in the Longobardiaâ— story of Paul the Deacon In which it is reported That Agilmond the second King of Lombard riding by a fish-pond saw seven young children sprawling in it whom their unnatural mothers as the Author thinketh had thrown into it not long before Amazed whereat he put his hunting spear amongst them and stiâ—â—ed them gently up and down which one of them laying hold on was drawn to land called Lamistus from the word Lama which is the language of that people and signifies a fish-pond Trained up in that Kings Court and finally made his Successor in the Kingdom Granting that Agilmond being forewarned in a vision that he should finde such children sprawling for life in the midst of that pond might thereupon take a resolution within himself to put his hunting â—pear amongst them and the which of them soever should lay hold upon it should be gently drawn out of the water adopted for his son and made heir of his Kingdom no Humane story can afford us the like parallel case to Gods proceeding in the great work of Predestination to Eternal life according to the Doctrine of the ancient Fathers and the Church of Rome as also of the Lutheran Churches and those of the Arminian party in the Belgick Provinces 5. Now that this was the Doctrine also of the Church of England will easily appear upon a due search into the Monuments and Records thereof as they stand backed by those learned religious men who had a principal hand in carrying on the great work of the Reformation Among which those of the Calvinian party would fain hook in Wicklif together with Fryth Barns and Tyndal which can by no means be brought under that account though some of them deserved well of the Churches for the times they lived in They that desire to hook in Wicklif do first confess that he stands accused by those of the Church of Rome for bringing in Fatal Necessity and making God the Author of sin and then conclude that therefore it may be made a probable guess that there was no disagreement between him and Calvin The cause of which Argument stands thus That there being an agreement in these points betwixt Wicklif and Calvin and the Reformers of our Church embracing the Doctrines of Wicklif therefore they must embrace the Doctrines of Calvin also But first it cannot be made good that our Reformers embraced the Doctrines of Wicklif or had any eye upon the man who though he held many points against those of Rom yet had his field more tares then wheat his books more Hetrodoxies then sound Catholick Doctrine And secondly admitting this Argument to be of any force in the present case it will as warrantably serve for all the Sects and Heresies which now swarm amongst us as well as for that of Calvin Wicklif affording them the grounds of their several dotages though possibly they are not so well studied in their own concernments For they who consult the works of Thomas Waldensis or the Historia Wicklifiana writ by Hartsfield will tell us that Wicklif amongst many other errours maintained these that follow 1. That the Sacrament of the Altar is nothing else but a piece of Bread 2. That Priests have no more Authority to minister Sacraments then Lay-men havâ— 3. That all things ought to be common 4. That it is as lawful to Christen a childe in a Tub of water at home or in a Ditch by the way as in a Font-stone in the Churches 5. That it is as lawful at all times to confess unto a Lay-man as to a Priest 6. That it is not necessary or profitable to have any Church or Chappel to pray in or to do any Divine Service in 7. That burying in Church-yards is unprofitable and in vain 8. That Holy Days ordained and instituted by the Church and taking the Lords Day in for one are not to be observâ—d and kept in reverencâ— inasmuch as all days are alike 9. That it is sufficient and enough to believe though a man do no good works at all 10.
That no Humane Laws or Constitutions do oblige a Christian 11. And finally That God never gave grace nor knowledge to a great person or rich man and that they in no wise fâ—llow the same What Anabaptists Brownists Ranters Quakers may not as well pretend that our first Reformers were of their Religion as the Calvinists can if Wicklifs Doctrine be the rule of our Reformation Which because possibly it may obtain the less belief if they were found only in the works of Harpsfield and Waldensis before remembred the Reader may look for them in the catalogue of those Mala Dogmâ—ta complained of by the Prolocutor in the Convocation An. 1536. to have been publikely preached printed and professed by some of Wicklifs Followers for which consult the Church History lib. 4. fol. 208. and there he shall be sure to finde them 6. It is alledged in the next place that the Calvinistical Doctrines in these points may be found in the writings of John Frith William Tyndall and Dr. Barns collected into one volume and printed by Jâ—ha Day 1563. of which the first suffered death for his conscience An. 1533. the second An. 1536. and the third An. 1540. called therefore by Mr. Fox in a Preface of his before the Book the Ring-leaders of the Church of England And thereupon it is inferred that the Calvinian Doctrine of Predestination must be the same with that which was embraced and countenanced by the first Reformers But first admitting that they speak as much in Honour of Calvins Doctrine as can be possibly desired yet being of different judgements in the points disputed and not so Orthodox in all others as might make them any way considerable in the Reformation it is not to be thought that either their writings or opinions should be looked on by us for our direction in this case Barns was directly a Dominican in point of Doctrine Frith soared so high upon the wing and quite out-flew the mark that Tyndal thought it not unfit to call him down and lure him back unto his pearch and as for Tyndal he declares himself with such care and caution excepting one of his flyings out against Freewil that nothing to their purpose can be gathered from him Secondly I do not look on Mr. Fox as a competent Judge in matters which concern the Church of England the Articles of whose Confession he refused to subscribe he being thereunto required by Archbishop Paâ—ker and therefore Tyndal Frith and Barns not to be hearkned to the more for his commendation Thirdly if the testimony of Frith and Tyndall be of any force for defence of the Calvinists the Anti-Sabbatarians may more justly make use of it in defence of themselves against the new Sabbath speculations of Dr. Bond and his adherents embraced more passionately of late then any Article of Religion here by Law established Of which the first declares the Lords day to be no other than an Ecclesiastical Institution or Church Ordinance the last that it is still changeable from one day to another if the Church so please For which consult the Hist of Sab. l. 2. c. 8. Let Frith and Tyndal be admitted as sufficient witnesses when they speak against the new Sabbath Doctrines or not admitted when they speak in behalf of Calvins and then I am sure his followers will lose more on the one side thâ—n they gained on the other and will prove one of the crossest bargains to them which they ever made And then it is in the fourth place to be observed that the greatest treasury of learning which those and the Famerlines could boast of was lockt up in the Cloisters of the Begging Friers of which the Franciscans were accounted the most nimble Disputants the Dominicans the most diligent and painful Preachers the Augustinians for the most part siding with the one and the Carmilites or White Friers joyning with the other so that admitting Frith and Tindal to maintain the same Doctrine in these points which afterwards was held forth by Calvin yet possibly they maintained them not as any points of Protestant Doctrine in opposition to the errours of the Church of Rome which had not then declared it self on either side but as the received opinions of the Dominican Friers in opposition to the Franciscans The Doctrine of which Dominican Friers by reason of their diligent preaching had met with more plausible entertainment not onely amongst the inferiour sort of people but also amongst many others of parts and learning 7. And as for Barns the far most learned of the three he had been once Prior of the Augustinian Friers in Cambridge whose Doctrines he had sucked in at his first coming thither and therefore might retain them to the very last without relation to the Zuinglian or Calvinian Tenents or any differences then on foot between the Protestant Doctors and the Church of Rome Besides being of the same Order which Luther had quitted the might the more willingly encline to Luthers first opinion touching servitude of the will mans inability in cooperating with the grace of God and being forcibly drawn in his own conversion velut inanimatum quiddam like a stock or stone in which he was tenaciously followed by the rigid Lutherans though he had afterwards changed his judgement touching that particular So that beholding Dr. Barns either as one that followed Luther in his first opinions or travelled the Dominican way in the present points as an Augustinian it is no marvel if we finde somewhat in his writings agreeable to the palate of the Calvinists and rigid Lutherans From whence it is that laying down the Doctrine of Predestination he discourseth thus viz. ' But yet sayest thou that he giveth to the one mercy and the other none I answer what is that to thee is not his mercy his own is it not lawful for him to give it to whom he will is thine eye evil because his is good take that which is thine and go thy way for if he will shew his wrath and make his power known over the vessels of wrath ordained to damnation and to declare the riches of his glory unto the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared and elected unto glory what hast thou therewith to do But here will subtil blindeness say God saw before that Jacob should do good and therefore did he chuse him he saw also that Esau should do evil therefore did he condemn him Alas for blindness what will you judge of that which God foresaw how know we that God saw that and if he saw it how know we that it was the cause of Jacobs Election These children being unborn they had done neitheir good nor bad and yet one of them is chosen and the other is refused S. Paul knoweth no other cause but the will of God and will you needs discuss another He saith not I will have mercy on him that I see shall do good but I will shew mercy to whom I will He saith not I will
before the foundations of the world were laid he hath constantly ordered by his Council secret unto us to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation as vessels made to honour Furthermore we must receive Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture and in our doing the will of God that is to be followed which we have expresly declared to us in the Word of God 2. Of the Redemption of the world by the faith of Christ The Son which is the Word begotten of the Father begotten from everlasting of the Father c. and being very God and very man did truly suffer was crucified dead and buried to reconcile his Father to us and be a Sacrifice not onely for Original guilt but also for the actual sins of men The Offering of Christ once made is this perfect Redemption Propitiation and Satisfaction to all the sinnes of the whole world both Original and Actual 3. Of mans will in â—he state of depraved nature Man by Original sin is so far gone from Original â—ighteousness that of his own nature he is inclined to evil so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit and therefore Works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his Spiriâ— are not pleasant to God forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ neither do they make men meet to receive grace or as the School Authors say deserve graâ—e of Congruity 4. Of the manner of Conversion The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and good works to faith and calling upon God wherefore we have no power to do good works pleasant and acceptable to God without the grace of God by Christ preventing us that we may have a good will and working with us when we have that good will 5. Of the uncertainty of Perseverance The Grace of Repentance is nâ—t to be denyed to such as fall into sin after Baptism in regard that after we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from grace giâ—en and fall into sin and by the grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives and therefore they are to be condemned which say they can no more sin as long as they live here or deny the place of Repentance to such as truly repent 10. Now in these Articles as in all others of the Book there are these two things to be observed 1. What Authority they carried in respect of the making And 2. How we are to understand them in respect of the meaning And first for their Authority it was as good in all regards as the Laws could give them being first treated and agreed upon by the Bishops and Clergie in their Convocation and afterwards confirmed by the Letters Patents of Edw. 6. under the Great Seal of England But against this it is objected That the Records of this Convocation are but a degree above blanks that the Bishops and Clergie then assembled had no Commission from the King to meddle in Church business that the King durst not trust the Clergie of that time in so great a matter on a just jealousie which he had of the ill affections of the major part and therefore the trust of this great business was committed unto some few Confidents cordial to the cause of Religion and not unto the body of a Convocation To which it hath been already answered That the Objector is here guilty of a greater crime than that of Scandalum magnatum making King Edward the sixth of pious memory no better than an impious and lewd Impostor in fathering those children on the Convocation which had not been of their begetting For first the title to the Articles runneth thus at large Artâ—culi de quibus c. as before we had it which title none durst adventure to set before them had they not really been the products of the Convocation Secondly the King had no reason to have any such jealousie at that time of the major part of the Clergie but that he might trust them with a power to meddle with matters of Religion this Convocation being holden the sixth year of his Reign when Gardiner Bonner Day and Tunstall and others of the stiffest Romanists were put out of their places most of the Episcopal Sees and Parochial Churches being filled with men according unto his desires and generally conâ—ormable to the Forms of Worship here by Law established Thirdly the Church of England for the first five years of Queen Elizabeth retained these Articles and no other as the publike â—endries of the Church in point of Doctrine which certainly she had not done had it been recommended to her by a less Authority than a Convocation lawfully assembled and confirmed And Fourthly that it is true that the Records of Convocation during this King and the first years of Queen Mary are very defective and imperfect most of them lost amongst others those of this present year And yet one may conclude as strongly that my mother dyed childeless because my Christening is not to be found in the Parish Register as that the Convocation of this year was barren because the Acts and Articles of it were not entred in the Journal Book 11. To salve this sore it is conceived by the Objector that the Bishops and Clergie had passed over their power to some ' select Divines appointed by the King in which sense they may be said to have made these Articles themselves by their delegates to whom they had deputed their Authority the case not being so clear but that it occasioned a cavil at the next Convocation the first of Queen Mary when the Papists therein assembled renounced the legality of any such former transactions ' And unto this it shall be answered That no such defect of legality as was here pretended was charged against the Book of Articles it self but onely against a Catechism which was bound up with it countenanced by the Kings Letters Patents prefixt before it approved by many Bishops and learned men and generally voyced to be another of the products of this Convocation And therefore for so much as concerns this Catechism it was replied by Mr. John Philpot Archdeacon of Winchester who had been a member in the former and was now a member of the Convocation in the first of Queen Mary That he thought they were deceived in the Title of it in that it owned the Title of the last Synod of London many which were then present not being made privy to the making or publishing of it He added That the said former Convocation had granted the Authority of making excellent Laws unto certain persons to be appointed by the Kings Majestie so as whatsoever Ecclesiastical Laws they or the most part of them did set
the rest before that is to say the reconciliation of all men to Almighty God the universal redemption of Man-kinde by the death of Christ expresly justfied and maintained by the Church of England For though one in our late undertaking seem exceeding confident that the granting of universal redemption will draw no inconvenience with it as to the absoluteness of Gods decrees or to the insuperability of converting Grace or to the certain infallible perseverance of Gods elect after conversion Yet I dare say he will not be so confident in affirming this That if Christ did so far dye for all as to procure a salvation for all under the condition of faith and repentance as his own words are there can be any room for such an absolute decree of reprobation 〈…〉 and precedent to the death of Christ as his great masters in the school of Calvin have been pleased to teach him Now for the Doctrine of this Church in that particular it is exprest so clearly in the second article of the five before laid down that nothing needs be added either in way of explication or of confirmation howsoever for avoiding of all doubt and Haesitancy we will first add some farther testimonies touching the Doctrine of this Church in the point of universal redemption And secondly touching the applying of so great a benefit by universal vocation and finally we shall shew the causes why the benefit is not effectual unto all alike 5. And first as for the Doctrine of universal redemption it may be further proved by those words in the publick Carechism where the Childe is taught to say that he believeth in God the Son who redeemed with him all mankinde in that clause of the publique Letany where God the Son is called the Redeemer of the world in the passages of the latter Exhortation before the Communion where it is said That the Oblation of Christ once offered was a full perfect and sufficient Sacrifice for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD in the proper Preface appointed for the Communion on Easter-Day in which he is said to be the very Paschal Lamb that was offered for us and taketh away the sins of the world repeated in the greater Catechism to the same effect And finally in the Prayer of Conservation viz. Almighty God our heavenly Father which of thy tender mercies didst give thine onely Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our Redemption who made there by his own Oblation of himself once offered a firm and perfect and sufficient Sacrifice Oblation and Satisfaction for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD To this purpose it is said in the Book of Homilies That the World being wrapt up in sin by the breaking of Gods Law God sent his onely Son our Saviour Christ into this world to fulfil the Law for us and by shedding of his most precious blood to make a Sacrifice and Satisfaction or as it may be called amends to his Father for our sins to asswage his wrath and indignation conceived against us for the same Out of which words it may be very well concluded That the world being wrapt up in sin the Recompence and Satisfaction which was made to God must be made to him for the sins of the world or else the plaister had not been commensurate to the sore nor so much to the magnifying of Gods wonderful mercies in the offered means of Reconcilement betwixt God and man the Homily must else fall short of that which is taught in the Articles In which besides what was before delivered from the second and 31. concerning the Redemption of the world by the death of Christ it is affirmed in the 15 as plain as may be That Christ came to be a Lamb without spot who by the Sacrifice of himself once made should take away the sins of the world Then which there can be nothing more conducible to the point in hand 6. And to this purpose also when Christ our Saviour was pleased to Authorize his Holy Apostles to preach the Good Tidings of Salvation he gave them both a Command and a Commission To go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. So that there was no part of the world nor any Creature in the same that is to say no Rational Creature which seems to be excluded from a possibility of obtaining Salvation by the Preaching of the Gospel to them if with a faith unfeigned they believed the same Which the Church further teacheth us in this following Prayer appointed to be used in the Ordering of such as are called unto the Office of the Holy Priesthood viz. ' Almighty God and Heavenly Father which of thine Infinite Love and Goodness toward us hast given to us thy Only and Most Dear Beloved Son Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer and Author of Everlasting Life who after he had made perfect our Redemption by his Death and was ascended into Heaven sent forth abroad into the world his Apostles Prophets Evangelists Doctors and Pastors by whose Labour and Ministry he gathered together a great Frock in all the Parts of the World to set forth the Eternal Praise of his Holy Name For these so great Benefits of thy Eternal Goodness and for that thou hast vouchsafed to call thy Servant here present to the same Office and Ministry of Salvation of Mankind we render unto thee most hearty thinks and we worship preise thee and we humbly beseech thee by the same thy Son to grant unto all which either here or elsewhere call upon thy name that we may shew our selves thankful to thee for these and all other thy benefits and that we may daily encrease and go forward in the knowledge and faith of thee and thy Son by the Holy Spirit So that as well by these thy Ministers as by them to whom they shall be appointed Ministers thy Holy Name may be always glorified and thy Blessed Kingdom enlarged through the same thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ who liveth and reigneth with thee in the Unity of the same Holy Spirit world without end Amen ' Which Form in Ordering and Consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons I note this onely by the way being drawn up by those which had the making of the first Liturgie of King Edward the sixth and confirmed by Act of Parliament in the fifth and sixth of the said King was afterwards also ratified by Act of Parliament in the eighth year of Queen Elizabeth and ever since hath had its place amongst the Publique Monuments and Records of the Church of England 7. To these I shall onely adde one single testimony out of the Writings of each of the three godly Martyrs before remembred the point being so clearly stated by some of our Divines commonly called Calvinists though not by the Outlandish also that any longer insisting on it may be thought unnecessary First then Bishop Cranmer tells us in the Preface to his Book against Gardiner of Winchester
inconstant constant in our works And thereupon it is inferred in behalf of those who maintain the infallibility of such assurance that they mean no otherwise than this that is to say that in regard of God faithful and true in respect of his promises Yea and Amen every child of God renewed by Grace may and ought infallibly assure himself of his own salvation procured in Christ who yet in regard of his own infirmity and inconstancy cannot chuse but waver in his assurance and feare the worst though he hope the best And this if Bellarmine say right is Saint Augustines doctrine out of whom he collects thus much Ex promissione Christi potest unusquisque colligere se transisse à morte ad vitam in â—udicium non venire that is to say that every man he means it only of the regenerate man may collect from the promise of Christ that he is translated from death to life and shall not be brought unto the judgement of condemnation the Cardinal thereupon resolves that a man may collect so much by infallible assurance and divine if he look into theâ— faithfulnesse of him that promiseth but if he consider his own disposition we assigne no more but probable and conjectural assurance only 6. Which said as to the certainty and incertainty of the assurance which a man may have within himself not only concerning his present being in the state of Grace as his continuance and perseverance in it for time to come we must next look into the Doctrine of this Church in the point it self For having formerly maintained in the tenth Article of her Confession that there remains a freedome of the Will in man for laying or not laying hold upon those means which are offered by the Grace of God for our salvation she must by consequence maintaine also that there is a freedome from the Will in standing unto Grace received or departing from it Certaine I am that it is so resolved in the sixteenth Article for her Confession in which it is declared that after we have received the Holy Ghost we may depart from the Grace given and fall into sin and by the Grace of God we may arise again and amend our lives where plainly the Church teacheth a possibility of falling or departing from the Grace of the Holy Ghost which is given unto us and that our rising again and amending of our lives upon such a rising is a matter of contingency only and no way necessary on Gods part to assure us of a Doctrine so repugnant to that of the Calvinists that to make the Article come up to their opinion they would faine adde neither finally nor totally as appears by that of Doctor Reynolds at Hampton Court to the first clause of it By which Addition as they would make the last part of it to be absolutely unprofitable and of no effect so do they wilfully oppose themselves against the known maxim in the Civil Laws which telleth us Non esse distinguendum ubi lex non distinguit that no distinctions must be made in the explicating or expounding of any Law which is not to be found in the Law it self And therefore for the clear understanding of the Churches meaning we must have recourse in this as in other Articles to the plain words of Bishop Latimer and Bishop Hooper so often mentioned in this Work 7. And first we finde Bishop Latimer discoursing thus ' Let us not do saith he as the Jewes did which were stiff-necked they would not leave their sinnes they had a pleasure in the same they would follow their old Traditions refusing the Word of God therefore their destruction came worthily upon them And therefore I say let us not follow them lest we receive such a reward as they had lest everlasting destruction come upon us and so we be cast out of the favour of God and finally lost world without end And in another place I say there be two manner of men some there be that are not justified not regenerate not yet in the state of salvation that is to say not Gods servants they take the Renovation or Regeneration they be not come yet to Christ or if they were be fallen again from him and so lost their justification as there be many of us when we fall willingly into sin against conscience we lose the favour of God and finally the Holy Ghost But you will say How shall I know that I am in the Book of Life I answer that we may be one time in the Book and another time come out of it again as it appeareth by David who was written in the Book of Life but when he sinned â—oully at that time came out of the favour of God until he repented and was sorry for his faults so that we may be in the Book one time and afterwards when we forget God and his Word and do wickedly we come out of the Book which is Christ The like we finde in Bishop Hooper first telling us that the causes of Rejection or Damnation is sinne in man that will not hear neither receive the promise of the Gospel or else after he hath received it by accustomed doing of ill falleth either unto a contempt of the Gospel or will not study to live thereafter or else he hateth the Gospel because it condemneth his ungodly life After which he proceedeth to the application Refuse not therefore the Grace offered nor once received banish it with ill conversation If we fall let us hear Almighty God that calleth us to repent and with his Word and return let us not continue in sinne nor heap one sinne upon another lest at last we come to a contempt of God and his Word ' In the beginning of his Paraphrase or Exposition to the thirteenth Chapter of the Romans he speaks as plainly to this purpose which passage might here deserve place also but that I am called upon by Master Tyndall whose testimony I am sure will be worth the having and in the Prologue to his Exposition on the same Epistle he informs us thus ' None of us saith he can be received to Grace but upon a condition to keep the Law neither yet continue any longer in Grace than that promise lasteth And if we break the Law we must sue for a new pardon and have a new light against sinne hell and desperation yet we can come to a quiet faith again and feele that sinne is forgiven neither can there be in thee a stable and undoubted faith that thy sinne is forgiven thee except there be also a lusty courage in thy heart and trust that thou wilt sinne no more for on this condition that thou wilt sinne no more is the promise of mercie and forgivenesse made unto thee ' 8. But against all this it is objected that Montague himself both in his Gag and his Appeale confesseth that the Church hath left this undecided that is to say neither determining
threatnings of God as well believe the Law as the Gospel as well that there is an hell and everlasting fire as there is an heaven and everlasting joy as well they should believe damnation to be threatned to the wicked and evil doers as salvation to be promised to the faithful in Word and Works as well they should believe God to be true in the one as the other ' And for sinners that continue in this wicked living they ought to think that the promises of Gods mercy and the Gospel pertain not unto them being in that state but only the Law and those Scriptures which contain the wrath and indignation of God and his threatnings which should certifie them that as they do over boldly presume of Gods mercy and live dissolutely so doth God still more and more withdraw his mercy from them as he is so provoked thereby to wrath at length that he destroyeth such presumers many times suddenly for of such Saint Paul said thus When they shall say it is peace there is no danger then shall sudden destruction come upon them let us beware therefore of such naughty boldness to sin for God which hath promised his mercy to them that be truly penitent although it be at the latter end hath not promised to the presumptuous sinner either that he shall have long life or that he shall have true Repentance at the last end But for that purpose hath he made every mans death uncertain that he should not put his hope in the end and in the mean season to Gods high displeasure live ungodlily Wherefore let us follow the counsel of the Wise man let us make no sarrying to turn unto the Lord let us not put off from day to day for suddenly his wrath comes and in time of vengeance he will destroy the wicked let us therefore turn betimes and when we turn let us pray to God as Hosea teached saying Forgive all our sins receive us graciously And if we turn to him with an humble and a very penitent heart he will receive us to his favour and grace for his holy Names sake for his Promise sake for his Truth and Mercies sake promised to all faithful believers in Jesus Christ his only natural Son To whom the only Saviour of the world with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour glory and power world without end Amen ' 3. These are the very words of the second Homily touching falling from God in which we have many evident proofs not only that there is a falling and a frequent falling but also a total yea a final falling from the grace of God according to the Doctrine of the Church of England And hereunto I must needs say that I never met with any satisfactory and sufficient Answer how much soever some have slighted the authority of it or the strength rather of the Argument which is taken from it for Mr. Yates of Ipswitch from whose candle most of them that followed borrow all their light in his book intituled Ibis ad Caesarem writ against Montagues Appeal can finde no better answers to it or evasions from it then they four that follow viz. 1. That the Homily speaks of the visible Church and therefore is not to be construed in the same sense of all whereas the Homily speaketh of Gods chosen people his chosen Vineyard are the words and consequently not only of the mixed multitude in a visible Church He answers secondly That it speaks with limitation and distinction some beholding the face of Gods mercy aright others not as they ought to do the one of which may fall quite away the other being transformed can never be wholly deformed by Satan But this is such a pitiful shift as could not save the man from the scorn of laughter had he been dealt with in his kind the Homily speaking largely of those men which having beheld Gods face of mercy in Jesus Christ as they ought to do do afterwards neglect the same prove unthankful to him and order not their lives according to his Example and Doctrine c. for which consult the place at large in the former Church He answers thirdly that the Homily speaks conditionally if they afterwards c. that is to say if afterwards they neglect the same prove unthankful to him and order not their lives according to his Example and Doctrine c. and so concludes nothing positively and determinately which is a sorrier shift than that which you had before for if such conditional Propositions conclude nothing positively what will become of all those Propositions in the Scriptures by which we are assured That if a sinner do repent him of his sins and wickednesses he shall find mercy from the Lord Do they conclude nothing positively neither most miserable were the state of man if these conditional Propositions should conclude nothing to the comfort of a troubled conscience And finally he answereth thus that the Homily speaks of Gods dreadful countenance appearing in plagues sword famine and such like temporal punishments wherewith the Elect may be chastened as well as others that they may not for ever be condemned with the wicked the first part of which Allegation I confess to be true Gods judgements falling promiscuously on all sotts of people but the addition is unknown and is not to be found in the words of the Homily And secondly the Homily speaks not only of Gods temporal judgements with which the Elect be chastened as well as others that they may not for ever be condemned with the wicked but positively and determinately of taking from them his Kingdom and holy word as in the former so that they shall be no longer of his Kingdom governed no longer by his holy Spirit put from the Grace and benefit which they had c. 4. But Master Yates intends not so to leave the matter we must first see that he is as good at raising an Objection as at the making of an Answer and he objecteth out of another of the Homilies that though the godly do fall yet they walk not on purposely in sinne they stand not still to continue and tarry in sinne they sit not down like carelesse men without all fear of Gods just punishment for sinne through Gods great grace and infinite mercy they rise again and fight against sinne c. But first it may be hoped that Master Yates could not be ignorant how great a difference there is betwixt such passages as fall occasionally and on the by from the pen of a Writer discoursing on another Argument and those which do occur in such Discourses Sermons and other Tractates as purposely are made and fitted to the point in hand And secondly though it be affirmed in the said Homily that the godly man which shall adde sinne to sinne by Gods great grace and infinite mercy may arise again and fight against sinne Yet can it not be gathered thence that it is so at all times
them as the only ancient established and professed Doctrines of our Church and Articles or that can honestly affirme as his echo doth that both the Master and the Scholar declare themselves plainly in that Catechisme to be no friends to any of the Tenents which those of the opposite side contend for 4. Which said we will endeavour to finde out Bishop Poynes judgement in the points disputed or so many of them at the least as are touched upon as well from such fragments as are offered to us in the Anti-Arminianisme as from such passages as have been cunningly slipt over of purpose to subduct them from the eye of the Reader And first the Author let us know that God created man after his own Image that is to say in ea absolutissima Justitia perfectissima sanctimonia c. in such a high degree of righteousness and perfect holinesse as came most neare unto the nature of God himselfe that this Divine image was so defaced by the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve that those lineaments of righteousnesse holinesse truth and knowledge of God were disordered and almost obliterated that man being in this wretched case it pleased God to raise him to a new hope of Restitution in the seed of the woman that is to say in Jesus-Christ his only Son conceived of the holy Ghost and born of the pure and most immaculate Virgin Mary the Actions of whose life do so much redound to our benefit and commodity that if we cleave fast unto them with a true and lively faith they shall be as much ours as his and finally that as many as are in this faith stedfast were fore-chosen predestinate and appointed to everlasting life before the world was made 2. In the next place he lets us know which the Author hath amongst his fragments that the sacrificings cleansings washings and other Ceremonies of the Law were shadows types images and figures of the true and eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ made upon the Crosse by whose benefit alone all the sins of all believers from the beginning of the world are pardoned by the sole mercy of God and not by any deserts of their own But then he lets us know withal which that Author doth not that he did truly die and was truly buried ut â—ratum humano generâ— Patrem suavissimo sacrificio placaret that by so sweet a sacrifice he might reconcile his angry and offended father unto all mankinde 3. In the third place by asking this question viz. whether the Spirit alone and faith sleep we never so securely or stand we never so worthlesse or slothful work all things for us as without any help of our own to carry us to heaven He plainly sheweth first that some men there were who did so conceive it but that they were to be condemned for conceiving so of it And secondly that all men were to lend a helping hand toward their salvation not only by laying hold on Christ with the hand of faith but in being fruitful of good works without which faith is neither to be reckoned true and lively or animated by the holy Ghost 4. He telleth us finally that the Church is the company of them that are called to eternal life by the holy Ghost by whom she is guided and governed And yet it cannot but be feared that many of those who are called to eternal life by the holy Ghost and chearfully for a time obey the calling and live continually within the pale of the Church which is guided by the most blessed spirit do fall away from God and the grace received and thereby bring themselues into a state of damnation from which they never do recover by sincere repentance 5. As little comfort can be drawn from that Argument by which they hope to make the Articles in these points to speak no otherwise then according to the sense of Martin Bucer and Peter Martyr by whose Disciples and Auditors they are alledged to have been composed or at the least by such as hold consent with them in Doctrine but unto this it hath been answered that our first reformers were two old Arch-Bishops Deans and Arch-Deacons most of them to be put to School again to either of them Secondly the first Liturgy of King Edward the sixth which was the key to the whole work was finished confirmed and put in execution before either of them were brought over Dispatcht soon after their arrival to their several chaires Martyr to the Divinity Lecture in Oxon and Bucer unto that of Cambridge where he lived not long And dying so quickly as he did Luctu Academiae as my Author hath it though he had many Auditors there yet could he not gain many Disciples in so short a time Thirdly that though Peter Martyr lived to see the Death of King Edward and consequently the end of the Convocation An. 1552. in which the Articles of Religion were first composed and agreed on yet there was little use made of him in advising and much lesse in directing any thing which concerned that business for being a stranger and but one and such an one who had no Authority in Church or State he could not be considered as a Master-builder though some use might be made of him as a labourer to advance the work And fourthly as to their consent in point of doctrine it must be granted in such things and in such things only in which they joyn together against the Papists not in such points wherein those learned men agreed not between themselves and therefore could be no foundation of consent in others 6. For they who have consulted the Lives and Writings of these learned men have generally observed that Bucer having spent the most part of his time in the Lutheran Churches was more agreeable to the doctrines which were there maintained as Martyr who was most conversant amongst the Suitzers shewed himself more inclinable to the Zuinglian or Calvinian Tenents And it is generally observed also that Bucer was a man of moderate counsel and for that received a check from Calvin at his first coming hither putting him in remembrance of his old fault for a fault he thought it Mâ—dici consiliis Autorem esse vel approbatorem of being an Author or an approver of such moderate courses as the hot and fiery temper of the Calvinists could by no means like And governing himself with such moderation he well approved of the first Liturgie translated into Latine by Alexander Alesius a learned Scot that he might be the better able to understand the composure of it and passe his judgment on the same accordingly And yet it cannot be denied but that there are many passages in the first Liturgie which tend directly to the maintenance of universal Redemption by the death of Christ of the co-operation of mans will with the grace of God and finally of the possibility of falling from that grace and other the benefits and fruits thereof before received
In which last point it is affirmed that he amongst some others of the Protestant Doctors assented to the Doctrine of the Church of Rome at the Dyet at Ratisbone And it is more then probable that Peter Martyr was not Peter Martyr I mean that he was not the same man as the Zuinglian and Calvinian Doctrine is and his espousing the same being here as he was after his departure when he had spent some further time amongst the Suitzers and was thereby grown a nearer neighbour unto Calvin then he was in England For whereas his Book of Common-places and his Commentary to St. Pauls Epistle to the Romans are most insisted on for the proof of his Calvinisme it appeares plainly by his Epistle to Sir Anthony Coke that the last was not published till the year 1558. which was more then five yeares after his leaving of this Kingdom And as for his Book of Common Places although it was printed first at London yet it received afterwards two impressions more the one at Zurick and the other at Basil before the last Edition of it by Massonius after his decease An. 1576. By which Edition being that which is in Oxon Library and probably remaining only in the hands of Students or in the private Libraries of Colledges it will be hard if not impossible to judge of his opinion in these points when he lived in England 7. And now I am fallen amongst these strangers it will not be amiss to consult the Paraphrases of Erasmus in the English tongue which certainly had never been commended to the reading both of Priest People as well by the injunctions of Queen Eliz. as K. Edw. 6. if they had contained in them any other Doctrine then what is consonant to the Articles the Homilies and the publick Liturgie of this Church Now in his Paraphrase on the third chap. of St. Joh. v. 16. we shall find it thus Who saith he would have believed the charity of God to have been so great towards the world being rebelli us aegainst him and guilty of so many great faults that not only he did net revenge the ungracious acts that had been committed therein but also sent down his only Son from heaven unto earth and delivered him to suffer death yea even the most shameful death of the Crosse to the intent that what man soever would believe in him were he Jew Grecian or never so barbarous should not perish but obtain eternal life through the saith of the Gospel For albeit that in time to come the Father should judge the universal world by his son at his last coming yet at this time which is appointed for mercy God hath not sent his Son to condemn the world for the wicked deeds thereof but by his death to give free salvation to the world through faith And least any body perishing wilfully should have whereby to exercise his own malice there is given to all folks an easie entry to salvation For satisfaction oâ— the faults committed before is not required Neither yet obseration of the Law nor circumcision only he that believeth in him shall not be condemned for as much as he hath embraced that thing by which eternal salvation is given to all folk be they never so much buâ—dened with sins so that the same person after he hath professed the Gospel do abstain from the evil deeds of his former life and labour â—o go forward to perfect holiness according to the doctrine of him whose name he hath professed But whosoever condemning so great charity of God towards him and putting from himself the salvation that was freely offered doth not believe the Gospel he hath no need to be judged of any body for as much as he doth openly condemn himself and rejecting the thing whereby he might obtain everlasting life maketh himself guilty of eternal pain 8. By which passages and the rest that follow on this Text of Scripture we may have a plain view of the judgement of this learned man in the points disputed as to the designation of eternal life to all that do believe in Christ the universality of Redemption by his death and passion the general offer of the benefit and effect thereof to all sorts of people the freedom of mans will in co-operating with the grace of God or in rejecting and refusing it when it is so offered and relapsing from the same when it is so offered and relapsing from the same when it is received All which we finde in many other passages of those Paraphrases as occasion is presented to him But more particularly it appears first that he groundeth our election to eternal life on the eternal and divine prescience of Almighty God telling us in his Explication of the 25. ch of St. Matthews Gospel that the inheritance of the heavenly Kingdom was prepared by the providence and determination of God the fore-knower of all things before the world was made Secondly of universal Redemption in his glosse on the 1. chap. of St. John he telleth us thus This Lamb saith he is so far from being subject to any kind of sin that he alone is able to take away all the sins of the whole world He is so well beloved of God that he only may turn his wrath into mercy He is also so gentle and so desirous of mans salvation that he is ready to suffer pains for the sins of all men and to take upon him our evils because he would bestow upon us his good things Thirdly of the manner of the working of Gods grace he speaks as plainly in his Explication of the 6. chap. of the same Evangelist where he telleth us that of a truth whosoever cometh unto Christ shall obtain eternal life that by faith must men come to him and that faith cometh not at all aventures but is had by the inspiration of God the Father who like as he draweth to him mens mindes by his Son in such wise that through the operation of both joyntly together men come to them both the Father not giving this so great gift but to them that be willing and desirous to have it so that who with a ready will and godly diligence deserves to be drawn of the father he shall obtaine everlasting life by the Son No violent drawing in these words but such as may be capable of resistance on the part of man as appears by his descant on that plain song of our Saviour in Mat. 23. in which he makes him speaking in this manner unto those of Hierusalem viz. Nothing is let passe on my behalf whereby thou mightest be saved but contrariwise thou hast done what thou canst to bring destruction upon thy self and to exclude salvation from thee But to whom Free-will is once given he cannot be saved against his will Your will ought to be agreeable to my Will But behold as miserable calamity c. More plainly thus in the like descant on the same words in St. Lukes
necessitated to returne an Answer to it which he published in the second or third year of Queen Elizabeth In which Answer he not only cleares himselfe from favoring the Pelagian errors in the Doctrin of Freewill Justification by works c. but solidly and learnedly refuteth the opinions of certaine English Writers and Preachers whom he accuseth for teaching of false and scandalous Doctrin under the name of Predestination for his preparation whereunto he states the point of universall redemption by the death of Christ out of the parrallel which St. Paule hath made between Christ and Adam that by the comparison of condemnation in Adam and redemption in Christ it might more plainly be perceived that Christ was not inferiour to Adam nor Grace to sin And that as all the generation of man is condemned in Adam so is all the generation of man redeemed in Christ and as general a Saviour is Christ by Redemption as Adam is a condemner by transgression Which ground so laid he shows how inconsistent their opinions are to the truth of Scripture who found the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation on Gods absolute pleasure by which infinitely the greatest part of all mankind is precedaniously excluded from having any part or interess in this redemption reprobated to eternall death both in body and soule as the examples of his vengeance and consequently preordained unto sin as the means unto it that so his vengeance might appear with the face of Justice Which preordaining unto sin as it doth necessarily infer the laying of a necessity upon all mens actions whether good or bad according to that predeterminate Counsel and Will of God so these good men the Authors of the books before remembered doe expresly grant it acknowldgeing that God doth not only move men to sin but compell them to it by the inevitable rules of Predestination 9. But against this it is thus discoursed by the said Campneys that if Gods predestination be the only cause of Adams fall and filthy sin And consequently the only cause and worker of all evill yea even with compulsion and force as they shamefully and plainly affirm then will no man deny but that on the other side Gods predestination worketh as violently in all things that are good so then if Gods predestination work all without all exception both in evil and good then all other things whatsoever they be although they all appear to work and do some things yet do they indeed utterly nothing So that the Devill doth nothing Man doth nothing Laws do nothing Doctrine doth nothing Prayer doth nothing but Gods predestination doth all together and is the efficient cause yea and the only cause of all things He further proves that according unto this position they hold the errour both of the Stoicks as also of the Manicheans that is to say as St. Augustine declaeth that evill hath his original of Gods Ordinance and not of mans free-will for if Murtherers Adulterers Thieves Traitors and Rebels be of God predestinate and appointed to be wicked even as they are cannot chuse but of meer necessity by the Ordinance of God commic all such wickedness even as they doe then what is our life but a meer destiny All our doing God ordinances and all our immaginations branches of Gods Predestination And then we must have thieves by Predestination who remasters and Adulterers by Predestination Murderers and Traitors by Predestination and indeed what not if all mens actions are necessitated by the will of God and so necessitated that they can neither doe less evill nor more good then they doe though they should never so much endeavour it as some of our Calvinians teach us which opinion as Campneys hath observed is condemned by Prosper of Acquitaine in his defence of St. Augustine in these following words Predestinationem dei sive ad malum sive ad bonum c. That the predestination of God saith he doth worke in all men either into good or into evill is most foolishly said As though a certaine necessity should drive men unto both seeing in good things the evill is not to be understood without grace and in evill things the evil is to be understood without grace And so much touching Campneys and his performance in the points against the Gospellers some passages haveing before been borrowed from him concerning Lambert Gynnell and his Adherents For which see Chap. 6. Numb 11. 10. No sooner was this booke come out but it gave a very strong alarum to those of the Calvinian party within this Realm which had been very much encreased by the retiring of so many of our learned men to the Zuinglian and Genevian Churches in Queen Maryes dayes amongst which none more eagar because more concerned then Veron Crowly above mentioned The first of these being Reader of the Divinity Lecture in the Church of St. Pauls and one of the Chaplains to the Queen published his Answer shortly after called An Apology or Defence of the Doctrine of predestination and dedicated to the Queen in which Answer he gives his Adversary no better titles then the blind Guide of the free-will men p. 37. A very Pelagian and consequently a Rank Papist p 40. Suffering the Devill by such sectaries as Campneys to sow his lyes abroade c. and 41. The Stander-bearer of the free-will men His booke he calls a venemous and Railing booke upbraids him with his bearing of a fagot in K. Edwards dayes and chalenging him that if he be able to maintaine his own Doctrine and oppose that in the answer to it let him come forth and play the man Nor was it long before another Answer came out by the name of Crowly called an Apologie or defence of the English Writers and Preachers with Cerberus the three headed dog Hell Chargeth with false Doctrine under the name of Predestination printed at London in the yeare 1566. And by the title of this Book as we may see with what a strange Genius the Gospellers or Calvinians were possessed from the first beginning we may well conjecture at the Gentle usage which the poore man was like to finde in the whole discourse But if it be objected in favour of these two books that they were published by Authority and according to order when that of Campneys seems to have been published by stealth without the Name of Author or of Printer as is affirmed in Verons booke before remembred It may be since answered that the Doctrine of the Church was then unsetled the Articles of K. Edwards time being generally conceived to be out of force and no new established in their place when Veron first entered on the cause And secondly it may be answered that though Crowlyes Apologie came not out till the yeare 1566. when the new articles were agreed upon yet his treatise called a confutation of 13. Articles which gave occasion to the Quarrel had been written many years before And he conceived himselfe obliged to defend his
Doctrine get as good countenance to it as he could within a time especially intent on suppressing Popery might be no hard matter for him to doe And as to that part of the objections which Relates to Campneys and his suppressing of his Name I look upon it as a high part of wisdom in him in regard of the Great sway which the Calvinians had at their first coming over the prejudice conceived against him for his slipps and sufferings in the raigne of K. Edward and the Authority of the men against whom he writ Veron a Chaplaine to the Queen Crowly of Great esteem in London for his diligent preaching and Knox the great Directer of the Kirke of Scotland CHAP. XVII Of the Disputes amongst the Confessors in Prison in Queen Maries dayes and the Resetling of the Church on her former principles under Queen Elizabeth 1. THe Doctrine of Predestination disputed amongst the Confessors in Prison in Queen Maries dayes 2. The Examination of John Carelese before Dr. Martin in reference to the said Disputes 3. Considerations on some passages in the conference betwixt Dr. Martin and the said John Carelesse 4. Review made of the publick Liturgie by the command of Queen Elizabeth and the Paraphrases of Erasmus commended to the reading both of Priest and People 5. The second book of Homilies how provided for and of the liberty taken by the Gospellers and Zuinglian Sectaries before the reviewing and confirming of the Book of Articles by the Queens Authority 6. Of the reviewing and authority of the Book of Articles Anno 1562. and what may be from thence inferred 7. An answer from the Agreement drawn from omitting the ninth Article of King Edwards Book the necessity of giving some content to the Zuinglian Gospellers and the difficulty wherewith they were induced to subscribe the Book at the first passing of the same 8. The Argument taken from some passages in the English Catechisme set forth by Mr. Alexander Powell and the strength thereof 9. Several considerations on the said Catechisme and the rest of the Authours making and what his being Prolocutor in the convocation might adde to any of them in point of Orthodoxie 10. Nothing to be collected out of the first passage in Mr. Powells Catechism in favour of the Calvinian doctrine of Predestination and the points depending thereupon and lesse then nothing in the second if it be understood according to the Authours meaning and the determination of the Church 1. MOre calmly and with lesse deviation from the Doctrine of the Church of England were the same points disputed in Queen Maries dayes amongst the Confessors in Prison which coming to the knowledge of the Queen and her Councel a Commission was granted to one Dr. Martin a busie man in all such matters as appears by the story to make enquiry amongst many other things into this particular and he according to the power given by the commission convents before her one John Carelese borne at Coventry of no better quality then a weaver yet one that was grown very able to expresse himself when the matter came to examination by which examination it appears that as Carelese somewhat differed in the Doctrine of Predestination and the point depending thereupon from the Church assembled according as it was established in King Edwards time so Trew another of the Prisoners but of what quality or condition I am yet to seek seemes more inclinable to that opinion if Carelese understood them rightly which was defended all that time by the Popish Clergie And that the Reader may perceive the better how the difference stood I shall lay down so much of the conference between Dr. Martin and the Prisoner as concernes this businesse leaving the Reader to admire at Gods infinite goodnesse giving poor unlettered men such a measure of Christian courage as might enable them to speak both stoutly and discreetly in their greatest troubles Now the said conference was as followeth 2. The Examination of John Carelese before Doctor Martin Carelese I could wish that thou wouldest play the wise mans part thou art a handsome man and 't is pity but that thou shouldest do well and save that God hath bought I thank your good Mastership most heartily and I put you out of doubt that I am most sure and certaine of my salvation by Jesus Christ so that my soule is safe already what paines soever my body suffer here for a little time Yea marry you say truth for thou art so predestinate to life that thou canst not perish in whatsoever opinion thou dost die That God hath predestinate me to eternal life in Jesus Christ I am most certain and even so I am sure that his holy Spirit wherewith I am sealed will so preserve me from all heresies and evill opinions that I shall die in none at all Go to let me hear your faith in Predestination for that shall be written also Your Mastership shall pardon me herein for you said your self ere while that you had no Commission to examine my conscience I tell thee I have a Commission yea and a Commandment from the Councel to examine thee of such things as be in controversie between thee and thy fellows in the Kings Bench whereof Predestination is a part as thy fellow hath confessed and thy self dost not deny it I do not deny it but he that first told you that matter might have found himself much better occupied Why I tell thee truth I may now examine thee of any thing that I list Then let your Scribe set his pen to the paper and you shall have it roundly as the truth is I believe that Almighty God our most deare loving Father of his great mercy and infinite goodness through Jesus Christ did elect and appoint in him before the foundation of the Earth was laid a Church or Congregation which he doth continually guide and governe by his Grace and holy Spirit so that not one of them all ever finally perish When this was written Mr. Doctor took it in his hand saying Why who will deny this If your Mastership do allow it and other learned men when they shall see it I have my hearts desire Did you hold no otherwise then is there written No verily no nere did Write that he saith otherwise he holdeth not so that was written It was told me also that thou dost affirme that Christ did not die effectually for all men Whatsoever hath been told you is not much material for indeed I do believe that Christ did effectually die for all those that do effectually repent and believe and for none other so that was written Now Sir what is Trews faith of Predestination he believeth that all men be predestinate and that none shall be damned doth he not No forsooth that he doth not How then I think he doth believe as your Mastership and the rest of the
Clergy do believe of Predestination that we be elect in respect of our good works and so long elected as we do them and no longer Yet thou cannot deny but that you are at a jar amongst your selves in the Kings Bench and it is so throughout all your Congregation for you will not be a Church No Master Doctor that is not so there is a thousand times more variety of opinions amongst your Doctors which you call of the Catholick Church yea and that in the Sacrament for the which there is so much blood shed now adayes I meane of your later Doctors and new Writers as for the old they agree wholly with us 3. Now in this conference or examination there are divers things to be considered For first I consider Carelese as a man unlettered and not so thoroughly grounded in the constitution of the Church of England as not to entertaine some thoughts to which the doctrine of this Church could afford no countenance Amongst which I reckon that strong confidence which he had of his own salvation and of the final perseverance of all those who are the chosen members of the Church of Christ which was not taught him by the Church and could not be obtained in any ordinary way by the light of that doctrine which then shined forth unto the people Secondly I consider him as one so far instructed in the knowledge of Predestination as to lay the foundation of it on Gods great mercy and infinite goodnesse in Christ Jesus which plainly crosseth with the new Gospellers of those times who found the same upon his absolute will and pleasure without relation to Christs sufferings for us or our faith in him Thirdly I consider that the Doctrine of Vniversal Redemption by the death of Christ and the effectuality thereof to the sons of men was then so generally received and taught in the Reformed Church of England as not to be known to Artificers Tradesmen and Mechanicks and that they were so well instructed in the nicities of it as to believe that though Christ died effectually for all yet the benefit thereof should be effectually applied to none but those who do effectually repent Fourthly I consider that if the Popish Clergy of those times did believe no otherwise of Predestination then that men be elected in respect of good works and so long elected as they do them and no longer as Carelese hath reported of them the Doctrine of the Church hath been somewhat altered since those times there being now no such Doctrine taught in the Schooles of Rome as that a man continues no longer in the state of Election then whilest he is exercised in good works And finally I consider the unfortunate estate of those who living under no certaine rule of Doctrine or Discipline lie open to the practices of cunning and malicious men by whom they are many times drawn aside from the true Religion For witnesses whereof we have Trew and Carelese above mentioned the one being wrought on by the Papists the other endangered by the Gospellers or Zuinglian Sectaries For that Carelese had been tampered with by the Gospellers or Zuinglian Sectaries doth appear most clearly first by the confidence which he had of his own salvation and of the final perseverance of all others also which are the chosen members of the Church of Christ and secondly but more especially for giving the scornful title of a Free-will man to one of his fellow prisoners who was it seemes of different perswasion from him For which consult his letter to Henry Adlington in the Act. Mon. Fol. 1749. which happened unto him as to many others When that Doctrine of the Church wanted the countenance of Law and the Doctors of the Church here scattered and dispersed abroad not being able to assist them In which condition the affaires of the holy Church remained till the beginning of the Reigne of Queen Elizabeth and for some yeares after 4. But no sooner had that gracious Lady attained the Crown when she took order for the reviewing of the publick Liturgie formerly Authorized by Act of Parliament in the fifth and sixth years of King Edward the sixth The men appointed for which work were Dr. Parker after Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Dr. Grindall after Bishop of London Dr. Pilkington after Bishop of Durham Dr. Cox after Bishop of Elie Dr. May Deane of Pauls Dr. Bill Provost of Eaton after Deane of Westminister Mr. Whitehead sometimes Chaplaine to Queen Anne Bullen designed to be the first Arch-Bishop of this new plantation and finally Sir Thomas Smyth a man of great esteeme with King Edward the sixth and the Queen now Reigning By these men were the Liturgie reviewed approved and passed without any sensible alteration in any of the Rubricks Prayers and Contents thereof but only the giving of some contentment to the Papists and all moderate Protestants in two particulars the first whereof was the taking away of a clause in the Letany in which the people had been taught to pray to Almighty God to deliver them from the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities The second was the adding of the sentences in the distribution of the Sacrament viz. The Body of our Lord Jesus which was given for them preserve thy body and soul to everlasting life The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee c. which sentences exclusive of the now following words of participation as they were onely in the first so were they totally left out of the second Liturgie of King Edward the sixth Other alterations I finde none mentioned in the Act of Parliament 1. Eliz. â— 2. but the appointing of certain Lessons for every Sunday in the year which made no change at all in the publick Doctrine before contained in that Book and that the people might be the better trained up in the same Religion which had been taught and preacht unto them in the time of King Edward the sixth She gave command by her Injunctions published in the first year of her Reign An. 1559. that the Paraphrases of Erasmus should be diligently studied both by Priest and people And to that end it was required as formerly in the Injunctions of the said King Edward 1. That the Paraphrases of the said Erasmus and on the Gospel in the English tongue should be provided at the joynt charges of the Parson and Parishoners and being so provided should be set up in some convenient place of every Church so as the Parishioners may most commodiously resort unto the same and read the same out of the time of common service And secondly that every Parson Vicar Curate and Stipendary Priest shall provide and have of his own within the time therein limited the New Testament in Latine and English with the Paraphrases on the same conferring the one with the other And the Bishops by themselves and other Ordinaries and their Officers in Synods and Visitations shall examine
the said Ecclesiastical Priests how they have profited in the study of holy Scripture Evident Arguments that there was no intent of setling any other Doctrine in the Church of England then such as was agreeable to the Judgement of that Learned man 5. The next care was for making and perfecting those Homilies of which we finde mention at the end of King Edwards Book for the necessary edifying of Christian people and the increase of godly living both Books sufficiently provided for besides the confirmation of that first Article of the year 1552. in the Rubrick of the second Liturgie where it is said that after the Creed if there be no Sermon shall follow one of the Homilies already set forth or to be set forth by common authority which Rubrick being revised with the rest of the Liturgie put the said books of Homilies as well the second as first part of them into the service of the Church and thereby made them no small part of the publick doctrine But who they were which laboured in this second Book whither they were the same that drew up the first or those who in Queen Elizab. time reviewed the Liturgie or whether they were made by the one and reviewed by the other I have no where found though I have taken no small paines in the search thereof But those few doctrinals which were contained in the Book of Common Prayer or deducible from it not being much took notice of and the Homilies not confirm'd by that common Authority which was required in the Rubrick the Zuinglians or Gospellers took the opportunity to disperse their doctrines before the door of utterance should be shut against them or any publick course be taken to suppress their practices And this they did with so much diligence and cunning that they encreased exceedingly both in power and numbers of which more hereafter Notice whereof being took of those which were of most Authority in the Government of the Church it was thought necessary for the preventing of the mischief which might thence insue that the Articles of Religion published in King Edwards time 1552. should be brought under a Review accommodated to the use of the Church and made to be the standing Rule by which all persons were to regulate and confirm their Doctrines 6. And to this end a Convocation was assembled on the 13. of January An. 1562. which continued tâ—â—â— the 14. day of April the main business which was acted in it being the canvasing and debating of the Articles of King Edwards Book and passing them in the forme and manner in which now they stand which business as they took first into consideration on the 19. of January and diligently prosecuted from day to day by the Bishops and Clergie in their several houses they came to an agreement on the 29. of the same moneth on which the said Articles were publickly recited generally approved and subscribed by the greatest part of the Clergy which were then assembled And being so subscribed presented to the Queen and ratified by her Royal Authority were forthwith published to the same end for which they were made that is to say For the avoiding of diversities of opinions and for the stablishing of consent touching true Religion as in the title is declared In the composing of which Book though a clause was added to the twentieth Article and another taken from the third though some Articles of King Edwards were totally omitted and some new made as that amongst the rest for confirmation of the second Book of Homilies which were not in the Book before yet the the five Articles touching the Doctrine of the Church in the points disputed as they stand in the eight Chapter of this Book were left in that same state in which they found them And being left in the same state in which they found them were to be taken in the same sense in which they had been understood at the first making of them according to such illustrations as occur in the Book of Common Prayer such Explanations as are found in the Book of Homilies and the judgement of those learned men and godly Martyrs which had a principal hand in the Reformation so that the Articles being the same as to these particulars the paraphrases of Erasmus state the same the publick Liturgie and the first Book of Homilies in all points the same and the second book of Homilies agreeing exactly with the first in the present controversies as appears by the three first Sections of the seventh Chapter of this Book and that which follows in the next there is no question to be made but that the doctrine was the same in the said five points which had been publickly allowed of in the time of King Edward 7. But against this it may be said that one of the material Articles of King Edwards book in reference to the points disputed was totally left out of this and therefore that there was some alteration of the Churches judgement as to the sense and meaning of the present Articles which Article being the tenth in number as it stands in that Book is there delivered in these words viz. Gratia Christi seu spiritus sanctus qui per eundem datur c. ' The grace of Christ or the holy Ghost which is given by him doth take from man the heart of stone and giveth him a heart of flesh And though by the influences thereof it rendreth us willing to do those good works which before we were unwilling to do and unwilling to do those evil works which before we did voluntati tamen nullam violentiam infert yet is no violence offered by it to the will of man nor can any man when he hath sinned excuse himself quasi nolens aut coactus peccaverit as if he had sinned against his will or upon constraint and therefore that he ought not to be accused or condemned upon that account ' For answer whereunto it may first be said that the Composers of that Book thought it not fit to clog it with any unnecessary points in which the peace and safty of the Church seemeth not much concerned and therefore as they left out the present Article so they omitted the sixteenth touching the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost together with the foure last of King Edwards Book touching the General resurrection the stare of mens souls after death the Doctrine of the Millinaries and of a general salvation to be given to the wicked also after they had endured the paines of hell for a certain time Secondly they considered that the doctrine of mans free Co-operation with the grace of God had been sufficiently expressed and provided for by the tenth Article of this Book and the ninth of which illustrated by divers passages in the publick Liturgie accommodated and applied to the most encrease of piety in the Book of Homilies therefore that there was no great need to contend about it or to retain it in the Book And somewhat
benefit of our Saviours sufferings to a few particulars nothing of Gods invincible working on the hearts of his chosen ones or the impossibility of mans co-operating any further in his resurrection from the death of sin to the life of lighteousness then in that of his body from the grave to the life of glory nothing that teacheth any such certainly or infallibly of persevering in the faith and favour of God as all the sinnes of the world are not able to deprive them of it but that they shal must necessarily be brought again into the place and station from which they had fallen And as for the last of the said two passages being the very same with that in the Authours Latine and the English translation of the same there is nothing in it which either a true English Protestant or a Belgick Remonstrant may not easily grant and yet preserve himself from falling into Calvinisme in any of the points disputed For granting that the Church is the universal number and fellowship of all the faithful whom God through Christ hath before all beginning of time appointed to everlasting life Yet must it so be understood that either they were appointed to eternal life upon the supposition of their faith and repentance which may extend to the including of all those who are called to the external participation of the Word and Sacraments or else that it is meant specially of such as are appointed from all eternity to life everlasting without excluding any from the Dignity of being members of the Church who have received the outward call and openly joyne with them in all publick duties and thereby pass in common estimate amongst the faithful believers And then this definition will afford no comfort to our moderne Calvinists or create any inconvenience unto those whom they call Arminians CHAP. XVIII A Declaration of the Doctrine in the Points disputed under the new establishment made by Queen Elizabeth 1. THe Doctrine of the second Book of Homilies concerning the wilful fall of Adam the miserable estate of man the restitution of lost man in Jesus Christ and the universal redemption of all man-kinde by his death and passion 2. The doctrine of the said second Book concerning universal grace the possibility of a total and final falling and the co-operation of mans will with the grace of God 3. The judgement of Reverend Bishop Jewell touching the universal redemption of mankinde by the death of Christ Predestination grounded upon faith in Christ and reached out unto all them that believe in him by Mr. Alexander Powell 4. Dr. Harsnet in his Sermon at St. Pauls crosse Anno 1584. sheweth that the absolute decree of Reprobation turneth the truth of God into a lie and makes him to be the Authour of sinne 5. That it deprives man of the natural freedome of his will makes God himself to be double minded to have two contrary wills and to delight in mocking his poor creature man 6. And finally that it makes God more cruel and unmerciful then the greatest Tyrant contrary to the truth of Scripture and the constant Doctrine of the Fathers 7. The rest of the said Sermon reduced unto certaine other heads directly contrary to the Calvinian Doctrines in the points disputed 8. Certain considerations on the Sermon aforesaid with reference to the subject of it as also to the time place and persons in and before which it was first preached An Answer to some Objections concerning a pretended Recantation falsly affirmed to have been made by the said Mr. Harsnet 10. That in the judgement of the Right learned Dr. King after Bishop of London the alteration of Gods denounced judgements in some certaine cases infers no alteration in his councels the difference between the changing of the will and to will a change 11. That there is something in Gods decrees revealed to us and something concealed unto himself the difference between the inferiour and superiour causes and of the conditionalty of Gods threats and promises 12. The accomodating of the former part of this discourse to the case of the Ninevites 13. And not the case of the Ninevites to the case disputed 1. THese Obstacles being thus removed I shall proceed unto a Declaration of the Churches Doctrine under this new establishment made by Queen Eliz. And first all Arguments derived from the publick Liturgie and the first book of Homilies being still in force we will next see what is delivered in the Homilies of the second part establisht by a special Article and thereby made a part of the doctrine here by law established And first as touching the doctrine of Predestination it is declared in the Homily of the Nativity ' That as in Adam all men universally sinned so in Adam all men received the reward of sinne that is to say became mortal and subject unto death having in themselves nothing but everlasting condemnation both of body and soul that man being in this wretched case it pleased God to make a new Covenant with him namely that he would send a Mediatour or Messias into the world which should make intercession and put himself as a stay between both parties to pacifie wrath and indignation conceived against sin and to deliver man out of the miserable curse and cursed misery whereunto he was fallen headlong by disobeying the Will and Commandment of the onely Lord and Maker Nor secondly was this deliverance and redemption partial intended onely for a few but general and universal for all man-kinde the said Homily telling us not long after that all this was done to the end the promise and covenant of God made unto Abraham and his posterity concerning the Redemption of the world might be credited and believed to deliver man-kinde from the bitter curse of the Law and make perfect satisfaction by his death for the sinnes of all people ' For the accomplishment whereof ' It was expedient saith the Homily that our Mediatour should be such an one as might take upon him the sins of mankinde and sustain the due punishment thereof viz. death ' to the intent he might more fully and perfectly make satisfaction for man-kinde which is as plaine as words can make it and yet not more plaine then that which followeth in the Homily of the worthy receiving of the Sacrament Fol. 200. 2. Nor doth the Homily speak lesse plainly in another place concerning universal Grace then it doth speak to this in reference to universal redemption as appears evidently by the first part of the Sermon against the perill of Idolatry in which it is declared in the way of paraphrase on some passages in the 40. Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah ' that it had been preached to men from the beginning and how by the creation of the world and the greatness of the work they might understand the Majesty of God the Creator and Maker of all things to be greater then it should be expressed in any image or bodily similitude ' And
cause to condemn them Who doth not smile at the Grecians Conceit that gave their God a glorious title for killing of flyes Gods Glory in punishing ariseth from his Justice in revenging of sin and for that it tells us as I said a very sad and unpleasant tale for who could digest it to hear a Prince say after this manner I will beget me a son that I may kill him that I may so get me a name I will beget him without both his feet and when he is grown up having no feet I will command him to walk upon pain of death and when he breaketh my Commandment I will put him to death O beloved these glorious fancies imaginations and shews are far from the nature of our gracious mercifull and glorious God who hath proclaimed himself in his Titles Royal Jehovah the Lord the Lord strong and mighty and terrible slow to anger and of great Goodness And therefore let this conceit be far from Jacob and let it not come near the Tents of Joseph How much holyer and heavenlyer conceit had the holy Fathers of the Justice of God Non est ante punitor Deus quam peccator homo God put not on the person of a Revenger before man put on the person of an Offender saith St. Ambrose Neminem coronat antequam vincit neminem punit antequam peccat he crowns none before he overcomes and he punisheth no man before his offence Et qui facit miseros ut misereatur crudelem habet miserecordiam he that puts man into miseries that he may pity him hath no kind but a cruell pity ' 7. The absolute deâ—ree of Reprobation being thus discharged he shews in the next place that as God desireth not the death of man without relation to his sin so he desireth not the death of the sinfull man or of the wicked sinfull man but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live And he observes it is said unto the Coats in Saint Mathews Gospel Ite melidicti in ignem paratum he doth not say Maledicti patris Go ye cursed of the Father as it is Benedicti patris when he speaks of the sheep God intituling himself to the blessing only and that the fire is prepared but for whom Non vobis sed Diabolo Angelis ejus not for you but for the Devil and his Angels So that God delighteth to prepare neither death nor hell for damned men The last branch of his discourse he resolves into six consequences as links depending on his chain 1. Gods absolute Will is not the cause of Reprobation but sin 2. No man is of an absolute necessity the child of Hell so as by Gods grace he may not avoid it 3. God simply willeth and wisheth every living soul to be saved and to come to the kingdom of Heaven 4. God sent his son to save every soul and to bring it to the kingdom of heaven 5. God offereth Grace effectually to save every one and to direct him to the Kingdom of heaven 6. The neglect and contempt of this Grace is the cause why every one doth not come to Heaven and not any privative Decree Councel and Determination of God ' The stating and canvasing of which points so plainly curtly to the Doctrines of the old Zuinglian Gospellers and the modern Calvinians as they take up the rest of the Sermon so to the Sermon I refer the Reader for his further satisfaction in them I note this only in the close that there is none of the five Arminian Articles as they commonly call them which is not contained in terms express or may not easily be found by way of Deduction in one or more of the six consequences before recited 8. Now in this Sermon there are sundry things to be consisidered as namely first That the Zuinglian or Calvinian Gospel in these points was grown so strong that the Preacher calls it their Goliah so huge and monstrous that many quaked and trembled at it but none that is to say but few or none vel dâ—o vel nâ—mo in the words of Persius durst take up Davids sling to throw it down Secondly That in canvasing the absolute Decree of Reprobation the Preacher spared none of those odious aggravations which have been charged upon the Doctrines of the modern Calvinists by the Remonstrants and their party in these latter times Thirdly That the Sermon was preached at St. Pauls Cross the greatest Auditory of the Kingdom consisting not only of the Lord Major the Aldermen and the rest of the chief men in the City but in those times of such Bishops and other learned men as lived occasionally in London and the City of Westminster as also of the Judges and most learned Lawyers some of the Lords of the Counsel being for the most part present also Fourthly That for all this we cannot find that any offence was taken at it or any Recantation enjoyned upon it either by the high Commission or Bishop of London or any other having authority in the Church of England nor any complaint made of it to the Queen or the Counsel-Table as certainly there would have been if the matter of the Sermon had been contrary to the Rules of the Church and the appointments of the same And finally we may observe that though he was made Arch-Bishop of Yorke in the Reign of King Charls 1628. when the times are thought to have been inclinable to those of the Arminian Doctrines yet he was made Master of Pembrook hall Bishop of Chichester and from thence translated unto Norwitch in the time of King James And thereupon we may conclude that King James neither thought this Doctrine to be against the Articles of Religion here by Law established nor was so great an enemy to them or the men that held them as some of our Calvinians have lately made him 9. But against this it is objected by Mr Prin in his book of Perpetuity c. printed at London in the year 1627. 1. That the said Mr. Harsnet was convented for this Sermon and forced to recant it as heretical 2. That upon this Sermon and the controversies that arose upon it in Cambridge between Baroe and Whitacres not only the Articles of Lambeth were composed of which more hereafter but Mr. Wotton was appointed by the University to confute the same 3. That the said Sermon was so far from being published or printed that it was injoyned by Authority to be recanted For Answer whereunto it would first be known where the said Sermon was recanted and by whose Authority Not in or by the University of Cambridge where Mr. Harsnet lived both then and a long time after for the Sermon was preached at St. Pauls Cross and so the University could take no cognisance of it nor proceed against him for the same And if the Recantation was made at St. Pauls Cross where the supposed offence was given if would be known by whose Authority it was enjoyned Not by the
publick service if otherwise of known zeale against the Papists 2. Several examples of that kinde in the places of greatest power and trust in the Church of England particularly of Mr. Fox the Martyrologist and the occasion which he took of publishing his opinion in the point of predestination 3. His notes on one of the Letters of John Bradford Martyr touching the matter of Election therein contained 4. The difference between the Comment and the Text and between the authour of the Comment and Bishop Hooper 5. Exceptions against some passages and observations upon others in the said Notes of Mr. Fox 6. The great breach made hereby in the Churches Doctrine made greater by the countenance which was given to the Book of Acts and Monuments by the Convocation An. 1571. 7. No argument to be drawn from hence touching the approbation of his doctrine by that Convocation no more then for the Approbation of his Marginal Notes and some particular passages in it disgraceful to the Rites of the Church attire of the Bishops 8. A counterballance made in the Convocation against Fox his Doctrine and all other Novelismes of that kinde 1. IT was not long that Queen Mary sate upon the Throne and yet as short time as it was it gave not only a strong interruption for the present to the proceedings of the Church but an occasion also of great discord and dissention in it for the time to come For many of our Divines who had fled beyond the Sea to avoid the hurry of her Reign though otherwise men of good abilities in most parts of Learning returned so altered in their principals as to points of Doctrine so disaffected to the Government formes of worship here by Law established that they seem'd not to be the same men at their coming home as they had been at their going hence yet such was the necessity which the Church was under of filling up the vacant places and preferments which had been made void either by the voluntary discession or positive deprivation of the Popish Clergie that they were faine to take in all of any condition which were able to do the publick service without relation to their private opinions in doctrine or discipline nothing so much regarded in the choice of men for Bishopricks Deanries Dignities in Cathedral Churches the richest Bâ—nefices in the Countrey and places of most command and trust in the Universities as their known â—eal against the Papists together with such a sufficiency of learning as might enable them for writing and preaching against the Popes supremacy the carnal presence of Christ in the blessed Sacrament the superstition of the Masse the halfe communion the celâ—bratin of Divine service in a tongue not known unto the people the inforced single life of Priests the worshiping of Images and other the like points of Popery which had given most offence and were the principal causes of that separation 2. On this account we finde Mr. Pilkington preferred to the See of Durham and Whittingham to the rich Deanry of the Church of which the one proved a great favourer of the Non-conformists as is confessed by one who challengeth a relation to his blood and family the other associated himself with Goodman as after Goodman did with Knox for planting Puritanisme and sedition in the Kirk of Scotland On this account Dr. Lawrence Humphrey a professed Calvinian in point of doctrine and a Non-conformist but qualified with the title of a moderate one is made the Queens professor for Divinity in the University of Oxon Thomas Cartwright that great Incendiary of this Church preferred to be the Lady Margarets professor in the University of Cambridge Sampson made Dean of Christ-church and presently proptor Puritaxismum Exauctoratus turned out again for Puritanisme as my Authour hath it Hardiman made one of the first Prebends of Westminster of the Queens foundation and not long after deprived of it by the high Commissioners for breaking down the Altar there and defacing the ancient utensils and ornaments which belonged to the Church And finally upon this account as Whitehead who had been Chaplaine to Queen Anne Bulline refused the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury before it was offered unto Parker and Covâ—rdale to be restored to the See of Exon which he had chearfully accepted in the time of King Edward so Mr. John Fox of great esteem for his painful and laborious work of Acts and Monuments commonly called the Book of Martyrs would not accept of any preferment in the Church but a Prebends place in Salisbury which tide him not to any residence in the same And this he did especially as it after proved to avoid subscription shewing a greater willingnesse to leaue his place then to subscribe unto the Articles of Religion then by Law established when he was legally required to do it by Arch-Bishop Parker Of this man there remains a short Discourse in his Acts and Monuments of Predestination occasioned by a letter of Mr. Bradfords before remembred whose Orthodox doctrine in that point he feared might create some danger unto that of Calvin which then began to finde a more general entertainment then could be rationally expected in so short a time And therefore as a counter-ballance he annexeth this discourse of his own with this following title viz. Notes on the same Epistle and the matter of Election thereunto appertaining ' 3. As touching the Doctrine of Election whereof this letter of Mr. Bradford and many other of his Letters more do much intreat three things must be considered 1. What Gods Election is and what the cause thereof 2. How Gods Election proceedeth in working our salvation 3. To whom Gods election pertaineth and how a man may be certaine thereof Between Predestination and Election this difference there is Predestination is as well to the Reprobate as to the Elect Election pertaineth onely to them that be saved Predestination in that it respecteth the reprobate is called reprobation in that it respected the saved is called Election and is thus defined Predestination is the eternall decreement of God purposed before in himself what shall befal all men either to salvation or damnation Election is the free mercy and grace of God in his own will through faith in Christ his Sonne choosing and preferring to life such as pleaseth him In this definition of Election first goeth before the mercy and grace of God as the causes thereof whereby are excluded all works of the Law and merits of deserving whither they go before faith or come after so was Jacob chosen and Esau refused before either of them began to work c. Secondly in that the mercy of God in this Definition is said to be free thereby is to be noted the proceeding and working of God not to be bound to any ordinary place or to any succession of choice nor to state and dignity of person nor to worthinesse of blood c. but all goeth by the meere will of his own purpose as it is
which he hath marked out to reprobation the Scripture laying no such censure on Nachor or his Posterity as the Authour doth Or else the Authour must know more of the estate of Nachor then Abraham his brother did who certainly would never have chosen a wife for his sonne Isaac out of Nachors line if he had looked upon them as reprobated and accursed of God I observe Secondly that plainly God is made an accepter of persons by the Authours doctrine For first he telleth us that the elder son had a better will to tarry by his father and so did indeed but the fatted Calf was given to the younger son that ran away and thereupon he doth infer that the matter goeth not by the will of man but by the Will of God as it pleaseth him to accept I observe Thirdly that Vocation â—â—â— the Authours judgement standeth upon Gods Election as the work thereof whereas Vocation is more general and is extended unto those also whom they call the Reprobate and therefore standeth not on Election as the Authour hath it For many 〈◊〉 called though out of those many which are called but a few are chosen Fourthly I observe that notwithstanding the Authour builds the doctrine of Electionâ—â—â— â—â—â— Gods absolute will and pleasure yet he is faine to have recourse to some certaine condition telling us that though the mercy of God his Grace Election Vocation and other preâ—â—â—ent Causes do justifie us yet this is upon condition of believing in Christ And finally it is to be observed also that after all his paines taken in defending such a personal and eternal Election as the Calvinians now contend for he adviseth us to wrap up our selves wholly both body and soul under Gods general promise and not to cumber our heads with any further speculations knowing that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish c. 6. And so I take my leave of our Martyrologist the publishing of whose discourse I look on as the first great battery which was made on the Bulwarks of this Church in point of Doctrine by any member of her own after the setling of the Articles by the Queens Authority Anno 1562. the brables raised by Crowley in his Book against Campneys though it came out after the said Articles were confirmed and published being but as haile-shot in comparison of this great piece of Ordnance Not that the Arguments were so strong as to make any great breach in the publick Doctrine had it been published in a time-lesse capable of innovations or rather if the great esteeme which any had of that man and the universal reception which his Book found with all sorts of people had not gained more authority unto his discourse then the merit or solidnesse of it could deserve The inconveniences whereof as also the many marginal Notes and other passages visibly tending to faction and sedition in most parts of that Book were either not observed at first or winked at in regard of the great animosities which were ingendred by it in all sorts of people as well against the persons of the Papist as against the doctrine Insomuch that in the Convocation of the year 1571. there passed some Canons requiring that not onely the Deanes of all Cathedrals should take a special care that the said Book should be so conveniently placed in their several Churches that people of all conditions might resort unto it but also that all and every Arch-Bishop Bishops Deans Residentiaries and Arch-Deacons should choose the same to be â—laced in some convenient publick room of their several houses not only for the entertainment and instruction of their menial servants but of such strangers also as occasionally repaired unto them 7. If it be her eupon inferred that Fox his doctrine was approved by that Convocation and therefore that it is agreeable to the true intent and meaning of the Articles of the Church of England besides what hath been said already by Anticipation it may as logically be inferred that the Convocation approved all his Marginal Notes all the factious and seditious passages and more particularly the scorn which he puts upon the Episcopal habit and other Ceremonies of the Church Touching which last for the other are too many to be here recited let us behold how he describes the difference which hapned between Hooper Bishop of Glocester on the one side Cranmer and Ridley on the other about the ordinary habit and attire then used by the Bishops of this Church we shall finde it thus viz. ' For notwithstanding the godly reformation of Religion that was begun in the Church of England besides other ceremonies that were more ambitious then profitable or tended to edification they used to wear such garments and apparel as the Romish Bishops were wont to do First a Chimere and under that a white Rocket then a Mathematical cap with four Angles dividing the whole world into four parts These trifles being more for superstition then otherwise as he could never abide so in no wise could he be perswaded to weare them But in conclusion this Theological contestation came to this end that the Bishops having the upper hand Mr. Hooper was faine to agree to this condition that sometimes he should in his Sermon shew himself apparalled as the Bishops were Wherefore appointed to preach before the the King as a new player in a strange apparel he cometh forth on the stage His upper garment was a long skarlet Chimere down to the foot and under that a white linnen Rocket that covered all his shoulders upon his head he had a Geometrical that is a square cap albeit that his head was round What case of shame the strangenesse hereof was that day to the good preacher every man may easily judge But this private contumely and reproach in respect of the publick profit of the Church which he onely sought he bare and suffered patiently ' 8. Here have we the Episcopal habit affirmed to be a contumelie and reproach to that godly man slighted contemptuously by the name of trifles and condemned in the Marginal Note for a Popish attire the other ceremonies of the Church being censured as more ambitious then profitable and tending more to superstition then to edification which as no man of sense or reason can believe to be approved and allowed of by that Convocation so neither is it to be believed that they allowed of his opinion in the present point For a counterballance whereunto there was another Canon passed in this Convocation by which all preachers were enjoyned to take special care ne quid unquam doceant pro concione quod a populo religiose teneri credi velint nisi quod consent aneum sit doctrinae veteris aut novi testamenti quodque ex illa ipsa doctrina Catholici Patres veteres Episcopi Collegeriâ—t that is to say that they should maintain no other doctrine in their publick Sermons to be believed of the people but that which was agreeable
to the doctrine of the Old and New Testament and had from thence been gathered by the Catholick or Orthodox Fathers and ancient Bishops of the Church To which rule if they held themselvs as they ought to do no countenance could be given to Calvines Doctrines or Fox his judgment in these points maintained by one of the Catholick Fathers and ancient Bishops of the Church but St. Augustine only who though he were a godly man and a learned Prelate yet was he but one Bishop not Bishops in the plural number but one father and not all the fathers and therefore his opinion not to be maintained against all the rest CHAP. XX. Of the great Innovation made by Perkins in the publick Doctrine the stirs arising thence in Cambridge and Mr. Barrets carriage in them 1 OF Mr. Perkins and his Doctrine of Predestination with his recital of the four opinions which were then maintained about the same 2. The sum and substance of his Doctrine according to the Supralapsarian or Supra-creatarian way 3. The several censures past upon it both by Papists and Protestants by none more sharply then by Dr. Rob. Abbots after Bishop of Sarum 4. Of Dr. Baroe the Lady Margarets Professor in the University and his Doctrine touching the divine Decrees upon occasion of Gods denounced Judgement against the Ninivites 5. His constant opposition to the Predestinarians and the great increase of his Adherents 6. The Articles collected out of Barrets Sermon derogatory to the Doctrine and persons of the chief Calvinians 7. Barret convented for the same and the proceedings had against him at his first conventing 8. A form of Recantation delivered to him but not the same which doth occur in the Anti-Arminianism to be found in the Records of the University 9. Several arguments to prove that Barret never published the Recantation imposed upon him 10. The rest of Barrets story related in his own letter to Dr. Goad being then Vice-Chancelour 11. The sentencing of Barret to a Recantation no argument that his Doctrine was repugnant to the Church of England and that the body of the same University differed from the heads in that particular 1. THis great Breach being thus made by Fox in his Acts and Monuments was afterwards open'd wider by William Perkins an eminent Devine of Cambridge of great esteem amongst the Puritans for his zeal and piety but more for his dislike of the Rites and Ceremonies here by Law established of no less fame among those of the Calvinian party both at home and abroad for a Treatise of Predestination published in the year 1592. entituled Armilla Aurea or the Golden Chain containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation according to Gods word First written by the Author in Latin for the use of Students and in the same year translated into English at his Request by one Robert Hill who afterwards was Dr. of Divinity and Rector of St. Bartholomews Church near the royal Exchange In the preface unto which Discourse the Author telleth us ' that there was at that day four several Opinions of the order of Gods Predestination The first was of the old and new Pelagians who placed the cause of Gods Predestination in man in that they hold that God did ordain men to life or death according as he did foresee that they would by their natural free-will either reject or receive Grace offered The second of them who of some are termed Lutherans which taught that God foreseeing that all mankind being shut under unbelief would therefore reject Grace offered did hereupon purpose to chuse some to salvation of his meer mercy without any respect of their faith or good works and the rest to reject being moved to do this because he did eternally fore-see that they would reject his Grace offered them in the Gospel The third of Semi-palagian Papists which ascribe Gods Predestination partly to mercy and partly to mens foreseen Preparations and meritorious works The fourth of such as teach that the cause of the execution of Gods Predestination is his mercy in Christ in them which are saved and in them which perish the fall and corruption of man yet so as that the Decree and eternal Counsel of God concerning them both hath not any cause besides his Will and pleasure ' In which Preface whither he hath stated the opinions of the parties right may be discerned by that which hath been said in the former Chapters and whither the last of these opinions ascribe so much to Gods Mercy in Christ in them that are saved and to mans natural Corruption in them that perish will best be seen by taking a brief view of the opinion it self The Author taking on him to oppugn the three first as erroneous and only to maintain the last as being a truth which will bear weight in the ballance of the Sanctuary as in his Preface he assures us 2. ' Now in this book Predestination is defined to be the Decree of God by the which he hath ordained all men to a certain and everlasting Estate that is either to salvation or condemnation to his own Glory He tells us secondly that the means for putting this decree in execution were the creation and the fall 3. That mans fall was neither by chance or by Gods not knowing it or by his bare permission or against his Will but rather miraculously not without the Will of God but yet without all approbation of it ' Which passage being somewhat obscure may be explained by another some leaves before In which the Question being asked Whether all things and actions were subject unto Gods Decree He answereth ' Yes surely and therefore the Lord according to his good pleasure hath most certainly decreed every both thing and action whether past present or to come together with their circumstances of place time means and end ' And then the Question being prest to this particular What even the wickedness of the wicked The answer is affirmative ' Yes he hath most justly decreed the wicked works of the wicked For if it had not pleased him they had never been at all And albeit they of their own natures are and remain wicked yet in respect of Gods decree they are to be accounted good ' Which Doctrine though it be no other then that which had before been taught by Beza yet being published more copiously insisted on and put into a more methodical way it became wondrous acceptable amongst those of the Calvinian party both at home and abroad as before was said Insomuch that it was printed several times after the Latin edition with the general approbation of the French and Belgick Churches and no less then 15. times within the space of twenty years in the English tongue At the end of which term in the year 1612. the English book was turned by the Translator into Questions and Answers but without any alteration of the words of the Author as he informs us in the last page
is to say It was not the Will of God that they should perish if they did repent For God desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that he be converted and live and yet it was his will that they should peâ—ish if they did not repent for these two are one as for example It is the Will of God saith he that we should have eternal life if we believe and constantly persevere in the faith of Christ And it is not the will of God that we should have eternal life if we do not believe or believing only for a time do not persevere therein to the end of our lives which point he further proves by the condition of the message sent from God to Hezekiah by the Prophet Isaiah 2 King 20. 1. as before was said in Dr. King For which together with the rest of his discourse upon that occasion concerning the consistency of these alterations with the immutability or unchangableness of Almighty God I shall refere the Reader to the book it self 5. So far that learned man had declared himself upon occasion of that Text and the case of the Niâ—evites before the year 1574. being ten years before the preaching of Hâ—rsnets Sermon at St. Pauls Cross and more then twenty years before the â—â—irs at Cambridge betwixt him and Whitacres In all which time or at lest the greatest part thereof he inclined rather unto the Melancthonian way according to the Judgement of the Church of England in laying down the Doctrine of Predestination then to that of Calvin For fifteen years it is confest in a letter sent by some of the heads of Cambridge to William Lord Burleigh then Chancellour of the University bearing date March the 8. 1595. That he had taught in his Lectures preached in Sermons determined in the Schools and printed in several books a contrary Doctrine unto that which was maintained by Dr. Whitacres and had been taught and received in the University ever since the beginning of her Majesties Reign which last though it be gratis dictum without proof or evidence yet it is probable enough that it might be so Cartwright that unextinguished Fire-brand being Professor in that place before him and no greater care taken in the first choice of the other before recited to have had the place then to supply it with a man of known aversness from all points of Popery And it seems also by that letter that Baroe had not sown his seed in a barren soil but in such as brought forth fruit enough and yielded a greater increase of Followers then the Calvinians could have wished For in one place the letter tells us that besides Mr. Barret of whom we shall speak more anon There were divers others who there attempted publickly to teach new and strange opinions in Religion as the Subscribers of it call them And in another place it tels us of Dr. Baroe that he had many Disciples and Adherents whom he enboldned by his example to maintain false Doctrine And by this check it may be said of Peter Baroe in reference to that Vniversity indangered to be overgrown with outlandish Doctrines as the Historian doth of Cajus Marius with referrence to the state of Rome in fear of being over-run by the Tribes of the Cymbri which were then breaking in upon it Actum esset de Repub. nisi Marius isti seculo contigisset the Common-wealth had then been utterly overthrown if Marius had not been then living 6. Now as for Barret before mentioned he stands accused so far forth as we can discern by the Recantation which some report him to have made for preaching many strange and erroneous Doctrines that is to say 1. ' That No man in this transitory life is so strongly underpropped at lest by the certainty of faith that is to say as afterwards he explained himself by Revelation that he ought to be assured of his own salvation 2. That the faith of Peter could not fâ—il but that the faith of other men might fail our Lord not praying for the faith of every particular man 3. That the certainty of perseverance for the time to come is a presumptuous and proud security forasmuch as it is in its own nature contingent and that it was not only a presumptuous but a wicked Doctrine 4. There was no distinction in the faith but in the persons believing 5. That the forgiveness of sins is an Article of the Faith but not the forgiveness of the sins particularly of this man oâ— that and therefore that no true Believer either can or ought believe for certain that his sins are forgiven him 6. That he maintained against Calvin Peter Martyr and the rest concerning those that are not saved that sin is the true proper and first cause of Reprobation 7. That he had taxed Calvin for lifting up himself above the high and Almighty God And 8ly That he had uttered many bitter woâ—ds against Peter Martyr Theodore Beza Jâ—rom Zanchius and Francis Junius c. calling them by the odious names of Calvinists and branding them with a most grievous mark of Reproach they being the lights and Ornaments of our Church as is suggested in the Articles which were exhibited against him ' 7. For having insisted or at lest touched upon these points in a Sermon preached at St. Marys on the 29. day of April Ann. 1595. all the Calvinian heads of that Vniversity being lbid together by Whitaores and inflamed by Perkins took fire immediately And in this Text he was convented on the fifth of May next following at nine of the clock in the morning before Dr. Some then Deputy Vice-Chancellour to Dr. Duport Dr. Goad Dr. â—yndal Dr. Whitacres Dr. Barwell Dr. Jegon Dr. Preston Mr. Chatterton and Mr. Claton in the presence of Thomas Smith publick Notary by whom he was appointed to attend again in the afternoon At which time the Articles above mentioned were read unto him which we alleadged to be erroneous and false Et repugnantes esse religioni in regno Angliae legitima Authoritate receptae ac stabilitae that is to say contrary to the Religion received and established by publick Authority in the Realm of England To which Articles being required to give an Answer he confest that he had published in his Sermon all these positions which in the said Articles are contained sed quod contenta in iâ—â—dem Religioni Ecclesiae Anglicanae ut prefertur omnino non repugnant but denyed them to be any way repugnant to the Doctrine of the Church of England Whereupon the Vice-Chancellour and the forenamed heads entring into mature deliberation and diligently weighing and examining these positions because it did manifestly appear that the said positions were false erroneous and likewise repugnant to the ' Religion received and established in the Church of England adjudged and declared that the said Barret had incurred the Penalty of the 45. Statute of the Vniversity de concionibuâ— ' And by vertue and tenour of that
demonum is not alia a fide Christianorum which no man ever denyed for fides Demonum is not Donum at all so that it commeth not in Question so that I being here unsatisfied of one party meaning Mr. Chadderion and rather confirmed of the other party I do hold my positions as before And for the Retractation I purpose not to perform it Yet that the peace of the Vniversity and the Church may be preserved I do solemnly promise to keep my opinion to my self so that in this regard my humble suit unto your Worship and hearty prayer to God is this that you would suffer me to continue in the Vniversity without molestation though I live but in disgrace amongst you yet I regard it so I may be quiet For my intent is to live privately at my book untill such times as by continual conference with those that are of contrary Judgement I may learn the truth of your Assertions which when I have learned I promise before God and your Worship not to conceal But if you and the rest of your Assistants whom I reverence do purpose to proceed in disquieting and traducing me as you have done by the space of three quarters of this year so in the end mean to drive me out of the University I must take it patiently because I know not how to redress it but let God be judge between you and me These things I leave to your worships favourable consideration for this I must needs say and peradventure it may tend to your credit when I shall report it that above the rest hitherto I have found you most courteous and most just I leave your worship to Gods Direction and holy tuition expecting a gracious answrr Your dayly Beads man WILLIAM BARRET 11. But here perhaps it may be said that though Barret might be as obstinate in refusing to publish the Recantation as this letter makes him yet it appears by the whole course of those proceedings that his Doctrines were condemned by the heads of the Vniversity as being contrary to that which was received and established in the Church of England And that it was so in the Judgement of those men who either concurred in his censure or subscribed the letter to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh above mentioned in a thing past question But this can be no Argument that Barrets Doctrines were repugnant to the Church of England because these heads either in favour of Dr. Whitacres or in respect to Mr. Perkins were pleased to think no otherwise of them for if it be we may conclude by the same Argument that the Church of Rome was in the right even in the darkest times of ignorance and superstition because all those who publickly opposed her Doctrines were solemnly enjoyned by the then prevailing party to a Recantation and which is more it may be also thence concluded that the Doctrine maintained by Athanasius touching Christs Divinity was contrary to that which had been taught by the Apostles and men of Apostolical spirits because it was condemned for such by some Arrian Bishops in the Councel or rather Conventicle of Tyre which was held against him 2. It cannot be made apparent that either Dr. Duport the Vice-Chancellor who was most concerned or Dr. Baroe the Lady Margarets Professour for divinity there had any hand in sentencing this Recantation Not Dr. Baroe because by concurring to this sentence he was to have condemned himself Nor Dr Duport for I find his place to be supplyed and the whole action govern'd by Dr. Some which shews him to be absent at that time from the Vniverâ—ity according to the stile whereof the Title of Procancellarius is given to Dr. Soâ—e in the Acts of the Court as appears by the extract of them in the Anti-Arminianism p. 64. compared with p. 63. But thirdly admitting that the headâ— were generally thus enclined yet probably the whole body of the Vniversity might not be of the same opinion with them thoâ—e heads not daring to affirm otherwise of Barrets Doctrine in their letter to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh then that it gave just offence to many And if it gave offence unto many only it may be thought that it gave no offence to the Major part or much less to all for if it had the Writers of the letter would not have been so sparing in their expressions as to limit the offence to many if they could have said it of the most But of this we shall speak more in the following Chapter when we shall come to feel the pulse of the Vniversity in the great competition between Wotton and Oveald after Whitacres death Of which opinion Harsnet was we have seen before And we have seen before that Baroe had many Disciples and Adherents which stood fast unto him And thereupon we may conclude that when Dr. Baroe had for 14 or 15. years maintained these opinions in the Schools as before was shewed which are now novelized by the name of Arminianism and such an able man as Harsnet had preached them without any Controul when the greatest audience of the Kingdom did stand to him in it There must be many more Barrets who concurred with the same opinions with them in the Vniversity though their names through the envy of the times are not come unto us CHAP. XXI Of the proceedings against Baroe the Articles of Lambeth and the general calme which was in Oxon touching these Disputes 1. THe differences between Baroe and Dr. Whitacres the addresse of Whitakers others to Arch-bishop Whâ—tgift which drew on the Articles on Lambeth 2. The Articles agreed on at Lambeth presented both in English and Latine 3. The Articles of no authorty in themselves Archbishop Whitgift questioned for them together with the Queens command to have them utterly supprest 4. That Baroe neither was deprived of his Professorship nor compelled to leave it the Anti-Calvinian party being strong enough to have kept him in if he had desired it 5. A Copy of the Letter from the Heads in Cambridge to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh occasioned as they said by Barret and Baroe 6. Dr. Overalds encounters with the Calvinists in the point of falling from the grace received his own private judgement in the point neither for total nor for finall and the concurrence of some other learned men in the same opinion 7. The general calme which was at Oxon at that time touching these disputes and the Reasons of it 8. An answer to that Objection out of the writings of judicious Hooker of the total and finall falling 9. The disaffections of Dr Bukeridge and Dr. Houson to Calvines doctrines an Answer to the Objection touching the paucity of those who opposed the same 10. Possession of a truth maintained but by one or two preserves it sacred and inviolable for more fortunate times the case of Liberius Pope of Rome and that the testimonies of this kinde are rather to be valued by weight then tale 1. FRom barret pass we on
to Baroe betwixt whom and Dr. Whitacres there had been some clashings touching Predestination and Reprobation the certainty of salvation and the possibility of falling from the grace received And the heats grew so high at last that the Calvinians thought it necessary in point of prudence to effect that by power and favour which they were not able to obtaine by force of argument To which end they first addressed themselves to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh then being there Chancellor acquainting him by Dr. Some then Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the disturbances made by Barret thereby preparing him to hearken to such further motions as should be made unto him in pursuit of that quarrel Bat finding little comfort there they resolved to steere their course by another compass And having prepossest the most Reverend Arch-bishop Whitgift with the turbulent carriage of those men the affronts given to Dr. Whitacres whom for his learned and laborious Writings against Cardinal Bellarmine he most highly favoured and the great inconveniences like to grow by that publick discord they gave themselves good hopes of composing those differences not by the way of an accomodation but an absolute conquest and to this end they dispatcht to him certain of their number in the name of the rest such as were interessed in the quarrel Dr. Whitacres himself for one and therefore like to stickle hard for the obtaining their ends the Articles to which they had reduced the whole state of the business being brought to them ready drawn and nothing wanting to them but the face of Authority wherewith as with Medusa's head to confound their enemies and turne their adversaries into stones And that they might be sent back with the face of authority the most Reverend Arch-bishop Whitgift calling unto him Dr. Flecher Bishop of Bristol then newly elected unto London and Dr. Richard Vauhan Lord Elect of Bangor together with Dr. Tyndal Deane of Elie Dr. Whitacres and the rest of the Divines which came from Cambridge proposed the said Articles to their consideration at his house in Lambeth on the tenth of Novemb. An. 1595. by whom these Articles were agreed on in these following words 1. Deus ab eterno praedestinavit quosdam ad vitam quosdam reprobavit ad mortem 1. God from eternity hath predestinate certaine men unto life certaine men he hath reprobate 2. Causa movens aut efficiens predestinationâ—s ad vitam non est praevisio fidei aut perseverantiae aut bonorum operum aut ullius rei qui insit in personis Praedestinatis sed sola voluntas beneplaciti Dei 2. The moving or efficient cause of predestination unto life is not the foresight of faith or of perseverance or of good works or of any thing that is in the person predestinated but only the good will and pleasure of God 3. Praedestinatorum praefinitus certus est numerus qui nec angeri nec minui potest 3. There is predetermined a certaine number of the Predestinate which can neither be augmented or diminished 4. Qui non sunt Praedestinati adsalutem necessario propter peccata sua damnabuntur 4. Those who are not predestinated to salvation shall be necessarily damned for their sins 5. Vera viva justificans fides piritus Dei justificantis non extinguitur non excidit non evanescit in Electis aut finaliter aut totaliter 5. A true living and justifying faith and the Spirit of God justifying is not extinguished falleth not away it vanisheth not away in the Elect either totally or finally 6. Homo vere fidelis id est fide justificante praeditus certus est pleriphoria Fides de Remissione peccatorum suoâ—um salute sempiterna sua per Christum 6. A man truly faithful that is such an one who is endued with a justifying faith is certaine with the full assurance of faith of the remission of his sinnes and of his everlasting salvation by Christ 7. Gratia salutaris non tribuitur non incommunicatur non conceditur universis hominibus qua servari possint si velint 7. Saving grace is not given is not granted is not communicated to all men by which they may be saved if they will 8. Nemo potest venire ad Christum nisi datum ei fuâ—rit nisi pater eum tâ—axerit omnes homines non trahuntur a patre ut veniant ad filium 8. No man can come unto Christ unlesse it be given unto him and unlesse the father shal draw him and all men are not drawn by the Father that they may come to the Son 9. Non est positum in arbitrio aut potestate uniuscujusque hominis servari 9. It is not in the will or power of every one to be saved 3. Now in these Articles there are these two things to be considered first the Authority by which they were made and secondly the effect produced by them in order to the end proposed And first as touching the authority by which they were made it was so far from being legal and sufficient that it was plainly none at all For what authority could there be in so thin a meeting consisting only of the Arch-bishop himself two other Bishops of which but one had actually received consecration one Deane and half a dozen Doctors and other Ministers neither impowred to any such thing by the rest of the Clergy nor authorized to it by the Queen And therefore their determinations of no more Authority as to binding of the Church or prescribing to the judgement of particular persons then as if one Earl the eldest son of two or three others meeting with half a dozen Gentlemen in Westminster Hall can be affirmed to be in a capacity of making orders which must be looked on by the Subject as Acts of Parliament A Declaration they might make of their own opinions or of that which they they thought fittest to be holden in the present case but neither Articles nor Canons to direct the Church for being but opinions still and the opinions of private and particular persons they were not to be looked upon as publick Doctrines And so much was confessed by the Arch-Bishop himself when he was called in question for it before the Queen who being made acquainted with all that passed by the Lord Treasurer Burleigh who neither liked the Tenents nor the manner of proceeding in them was most passionately offended that any such Innovation should be made in the publick Doctrine of this Church and once resolved to have them all attainted of a Premunire But afterwards upon the interposition of some friends and the reverend esteem she had of the excellent Prelate the Lord Arch-Bishop whom she commonly called her Black Husband she was willing to admit him to his defence and he accordingly declared in all humble manner that he his associates had not made any Articles Canons or decrees with an intent that they should serve hereafter for a standing Rule to direct the Church but only had resolved
in such things as his Articles had charged him withal There is also since the former another Complaint preferred against him by certain Batchelors in Divinity that he hath not only in the Sermon but also for the space of this 14. or 15. years taught in his Lectures preached in his Sermons determined in the Schools and printed in several books divers points of Doctrine not only contrary to himself but also contrary to that which hath been taught and received ever since her Majesties Reign and agreeable to the errors of Popery which we know your Lordship hath alwayes disliked and hated so that we who for the space of many years past have yielded him sundry benefits and favours here in the Vniversity being a stranger and forborn him when he hath often heretofore busie and curious in aliena Republica broached new and strange questions in Religion now unless we should be careless of maintaining the truth of Religion established and of our duties in our places cannot being resolved and confirmed in the truth of the long professed and received Doctrine but continue to use all good means and seek at your Lordships hands some effectual Remedy hereof lest by permiting passage to these errors the whole body of Popery should by little and little break in upon us to the overthrow of our Religion and consequently the with-drawing of many here and else where from true obedience to her Majestie May it therefore please your Lordship to have an honourable consideration of the premises for the better maintaining of Peace and the truth of Religion so long received in this Vniversity and Church to vouchsafe your Lordships good aid and advice both to the comfort of us wholly consenting and agreeing in Judgement and all others of the Vniversity truely affected and to the suppression in time not only of these errors but even of gross Popery like by such means in time easily to creep in amongst us as we find by late experience it hath dangerously begun Thus craving pardon for troubling your Lordship and commending the same in praise to Almighty God we humbly take our leave From Cambridge March 8. 1595 Your Lordships humble and bounden to be commanded Roger Goad Procan R. Some Tho. Leg John Jegon Thomas Nevil Thomas Preston Hump. Tyndal James Mountague Edm. Barwel Laur. Cutterton 6. Such was the condition of Affairs at Cambridge at the expiring of the year 1595. the genuine Doctrine of the Church beginning then to break thorow the clouds of Calvinism wherewith it was before obscured and to shine forth again in its former lustre To the advancement of which work as the long continuance of Baroe in the Vniversity for the space of 20. years and upwards the discreet Activity of Dr. Harsnet Fellow and Master of Pembrook Colledge for the term of 40. years and more gave a good encouragement so the invincible constancy of Mr. Barret and the slender opposition made by Overald contributed to the confirmation and increase thereof For scarce had Overald warmed his Chair when he found himself under a necessity of encountring some of the Remainder of Baroes Adversaries though he followed not the blow so far as Baroe did for some there were of the old Predestination Leven who publickly had taught as he related it in the conference at Hampton Coutt ' all such persons as were once truly justified though after they fell into never so grievous sins yet remained still just or in the state of Justification before they actually repented of those sins yea though they never repented of them through forgetfulness or sudden death yet they should be justified and saved without Repentance Against which Overald maintained that whosoever although before justified did commit any grievous sin as Adultery Murder Treason or the like did become ipso facto subject to Gods wrath and guilty of damnation or were in the state of damnation quo ad presentem statum untill they repented ' And so far he had followed Baroe but he went no further holding as he continued his own story that such persons as were called and justified according to the purpose of Gods Election did neither fall totally from all the graces of God though how a justified man may bring himself into a present state of wrath and damnation without a total falling from all the graces of God is beyond my Reason and that they were in time renewed by the Spirit of God unto a lively faith and repentance and thereby justified from those sins with the guilt and wrath annexed unto them into which they had fallen nor can it be denied but that some other learned men of those times were of the same opinion also Amongst which I finde Dr. John Bridges dean of Sarum and afterwards Lord Bishop of Oxon to be reckoned for one and Mr. Richard Hooker of whom more anon to be accounted for another But being but the compositions of private men they are not to be heard against the express words of the two Homilies touching Falling from God in case the point had not been positively determined in the sixteenth Article But so it hapned notwithstanding that Overald not concurring with the Calvinists concerning the estate of such justified persons as afterwards fell into grievous sins there grew some diffidences and distrust between them which afterwards widned themselves into greater differences In so much that dissenting from them also touching the absolute decree of Reprobation and the restraining of the benefit of Christs death and Gods grace unto a few particulars and that too in Gods primitive purpose and intent concerning the salvation and damnation of mankind those of the Anti-Calvinian party went on securely with little or no opposition and lesse disturbance 7. At Oxford all things in the mean time were calm and quiet no publick opposition shewing it self in the Schooles or Pulpits The reasons of that which might be first that the Students of that vniversity did more incline unto the canvasing of such points as were in difference betwixt us the Church of Rome then unto those which were disputed against the Calvinists in these points of Doctrine for witnesse whereof we may call in the works of Sanders Stapleton Allyns Parsons Campian and many others of that side as those of Bishop Jewel Bishop Bilson Dr. Humpherys Mr. Novell Dr. Sparks Dr. Reynolds and many other which stood firme to the Church of England And secondly though Dr. Humpheryes the Queens Professor for divinity was not without cause reckoned for a non-Conformist yet had he the reputation of a moderate man a moderate non-Conformist as my Author calls him and therefore might permit that Liberty of opinion unto other men which was indulged unto himself neither did Dr. Holland who succeeded him give any such countenance to the propogating of Calvins doctrines as to make them the subject of his lectures and disputations In so much that Mr. Prinne with all his diligence can finde but seven men wâ—o publickly maintained
any point of Calvinisme in the Schooles of Oxon. from the year 1596. to the year 1616. and yet to make that number also he is fain to take in Dr. George Abbot and Dr. Benfield on no other account but for maintaining deum non esse authorem peccati that God is not the Author of sin which any Papist Lutheran or Arminian might have maintained as well as they 8. And yet it cannot be denyed but that by errour of these times the reputation which Calvin had attained to in both universities and the extreame diligence of his followers for the better carrying on of their own designes their was a generall tendency unto his opinions in the present controversies so that it is no marvell if many men of good affection to that Church in goverment and formes of worship might unawares be seasoned with his Principles in point of Doctrine his book of Institutes being for the most part the foundation on which the young Divines of those times did build their studies and having built their studies on a wrong foundation did publickly maintaine some point or other of his Doctrines which gave least offence and ouâ— of which no dangerous consequence could be drawne as they thought and hoped to the dishonor of God the disgrace of Religion the scandall of the Church or subversion of godliness amongst which if Judicious Mr. Hooker be named for one as for one I finde him to be named yet is he named only for maintaining one of the five points that namely of the not total or final falling away of Gods Elect as Dr. Overald also did in the Schools of Cambridge though neither of them can be challenged for maintaining any other point of Calvins Doctrine touching the absolute decree of Reprobation Election unto life without Reference to faith in Christ the unresistable workings of Grace the want of freedom in the will to concur therewith and the determining of all mens actions unto good or evill without leaving any power in men to do the contrary And therefore secondly Mr. Hookers discourse of Justification as it now comes into our hands might either be altered in some points after his discease by him that had the publishing of it or might be written by him as an essay of his younger years before he had confuted the booke of Homilies and perused every clause in the publick Liturgie as he after did or had so carefully examined every text of Scripture upon which he lays the weight of his judgment in it as might encourage him to have it printed when he was alive 9. Of any men who publickly opposed the Calvinian tenents in this Univesity till after the beginning of King James his raigne I must confesse that I have hitherto found no good assurance though some their were who spared not to declare their dislike thereof and secretly traind up their scholars in other principles An argument whereof may be that when Dr. Baroe dyed in London which was about three or four yeares after he had left his place in Cambridge his funerall was attended by most of the Divines then living in and about the City Dr. Bancroft then Bishop of London giving order in it which plainly showes that there were many of both Universities which openly favoured Baroes doctrines and did as openly dislike those of the Calvinians though we finde but few presented to us by their names Amongst which few I first reckon Dr. John Buckridge President of St. Johns Colledge and Tutor to Archbishop Laud who carried his Anti-Calvinian doctrins with him to the See of Rochester and publickly maintained them at a conference in York house An. 1626. And secondly Dr. John Houson one of the Cannons of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor of the University An. 1602. so known an enemy to Calvin his opinions that he incurred a suspension by Dr. Robert Abbots then Vice-Chancellor And afterwards being Bishop of Oxon subscribed the letter amongst others to the Duke of Buckingham in favour of Mountague and his Book called Apello Cesarem as before was said And though we finde but these two named for Anti-Calvinist in the five controverted points yet might there be many houses perhaps some hundreds who held the same opinions with them though they discovered not themselves or break out in any open opposition as they did at Cambridge God had 7000. servants in the Realm of Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal though we find the name of none but the Prophet Eliah the residue keeping themselves so close for fear of danger that the Prophet himself complained to God that he alone was left to serve him A parallel case to which may be that the Christians during the power and prevalency of the Arian Hereticks St. Jerome giving us the names of no more them three who had stood up stoutly in defence of the Nicene councell and the points of Doctrine there established viz. 1. St. Athanasius Patriark of Alexandria in Egypt St. Hillarie Bishop of Poictious in France and St. Eusebius Bishop of Vevelli in Italy of which thus the Father Siquidem Arianis victis triumphatorem Athanasium suum Egyptus excepit Hillarium e prelio revertentem galliarum ecclesiia complexa est ad reditum Eusebii sui lugubres vestes Italia mutavit that is to say upon the overthrow of the Arians Egypt received her Athanasius now returned in triumph the Church of France embraced her Hillary coming home with victory from the battle and on the returne of Eusebius Italy changed her mourning garments By which it is most clear even to vulgar eys that not these Bishops only did defend the truth but that it was preserved by many others as well of the Clergy as of the people in their several Countreys who otherwise never had received them with such joy and triumph if a great part of them had not been of the same opinions though no more of them occur by name in the records of that age 10. But then againe If none but the three Bishops had stood unto the truth in the points disputed at that time between the Orthodox Christians and the Arian Hereticks yet had that been sufficient to preserve the Church from falling universally from the faith of Christ or deviating from the truth in those particulars the word of truth being established as say both Law and Gospel if there be only two or three witnesses to attest unto it two or three members of the Church may keep possession of a truth in all the rest and thereby save the whole from errour even as a King invaded by a foraign enemy doth keep possession of his Realme by some principall forrtesse the standing out whereof may in time regaine all the rest which I returne for answer to another objection touching the paucity of those Authors whom we have produced in Maintenance of the Anti-Calvinian or old English doctrines since the resetling of the Church under Queen Elizabeth for though they be but few in number
and make but a very thin appearance Apparent rari nautes in gurgite vasto in the Poets language yet serve they for a good assurance that the Church still kept possession of her primitive truths not utterly lost though much endangered by such contrary Doctrines as had of late been thrust upon her there was a time when few or none of the Orthodox Bishops durst openly appear in favour of St. Athanasius but only Liberius Pope of Rome who thereupon is thus upbraided by Constantius the Arian Emperour Quota pars tu es orbis terrarum qui solus c. How great a part saith he art thou of the whole world that thou alone shouldst shew thy self in defence of that wicked man and thereby overthrow the peace of the Universe To which Liberius made this answer non diminuitur solitudine mea verbum dei nam olim tres solum inventi fuere qui edicto resisterint that is to say the word of God is not made the weaker by my sole appearing in defence thereof noâ— more then when there were but three he meanes the three Hebrew Children in the book of Daniel with durst make open opposition to the Kings Edict Liberius thought himself sufficient to keep possession of a truth in the Church of Christ till God should please to raise up more Champions in all places to defend the same not thinking it necessary to returne any other answer or to produce the names of anyothers of his time who turned Athanasius as much as he which brings into my mind a passage in the conference betwixt Dr. Ban Featly and Sweat the Jesuite in which the Jesuite much insisted on that thred bare question viz. where was your Church before Luther which when the the Doctor went to shew out of Scriptures and Fathers some of the Papists standing by cryed out for names those which stood further of ingeminating nothing but Names Names whereupon the Dr. Merily asked them if nothing would content them but a Buttery book And such an Answer I must make in the present case to such as take up testimony by tale not weight and think no truth is fairly proved except it come attended with a cloud of witnesses But what we want in number now he shall find hereafter when we shall come to take a view of King James his Reign to which now we hasten CHAP. XXII Of the Conferrence at Hampton Court and the several encouragements given to the Anti-Calvinians in the time of KING James 1. THE occasion of the conference at Hampton Court and the chief persons there assembled 2. The nine Articles of Lambeth rejected by King James 3. Those of the Church being left in their former condition 4. The Calvinian Doctrine of Predestination decryed by Bishop Bancroft and disliked by King James and the reasons of it 5. Bishop Bancroft and his Chaplain both abused The inserting the Lambeth Articles into the confession of Ireland no argument of King James his approbation of them by whom they were inserted and for what cause allowed of in the said Confession 6. A pious fraud of the Calvinians in clapping their predestinarian Doctrines at the end of the old Testament An. 1607. discovered censured and rejected with the reasons for it 7. The great Incouragement given by King James to the Anti-calvinians and the increasing of that party both in power and number by the stirs in Holland 8. The offence taken by King James at Conradus Vorstius animateth the Oxon. Calvinists to suspend Dr. Houson and to preach publickly against Dr. Laud. 9. The like proceedings at Cambridge against Mr. Simpson first prosecuted by King James and on what account that the King was more incensed against the party of Arminius then against their perswasions 10. Instructions published by King James in order to the diminishing of Calvins authority the defence of universal Redemption and the suppressing of his Doctrines in the other points and why the last proved so unusefull in the case of Gabriel Bridges 11. The publishing of Mountagues answer to the Gagger the information made against it the Author and his Doctrine taken by King James into his protection and his appeal licensed by the Kings appointment 12. The conclusion of the whole discourse and the submission of it to the Church of England 1. NOW we come unto the Reign of King James of happy memory whose breeding in the Kirk of Scotland had given some hopes of seeing better days to the English Puritans then those which they enjoyed under Queen Elizabeth Vpon which hopes they presented him at his first coming to the Crown with a supplication no less tedious then it was impertinent given out to be subscribed with a thousand hands though it wanted many of that number and aiming at an alteration in many points both of Doctrine and Discipline But they soon found themselves deceived For first the King commanded by publick proclamation that the divine service of the Church should be diligently officiated and frequented as in former times under pain of suffering the severest penalties by the Laws provided in that case And that being done instead of giving such a favourable answer to their supplication as they had flattered themselves withall he commended the answering of it to the Vice-Chancellour Heads and other learned men of the Vniversity of Oxon. from whom there was nothing to be looked for toward their contentment But being thirdly a just Prince and willing to give satisfaction to the just desires of such as did apply themselves unto him as also to inform himself in all such particulars as were in difference betwixt the Petitioners and the Prelates he appointed a solemn Conference to be held before him at Hampton Court on Thursday the 12. of January Anno 1603. being within less then ten moneths after his entrance on the Kingdom To which conference were called by several letters on the Churches part the most Reverend and right renowned Fathers in God Dr. John Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbuy Dr. Richard Bancroft Bishop of London Dr. Tobie Mathews Bishop of Durham Dr. Thomas Bilson Bishop of Winchester Dr. Gervase Babbinton Bishop of Worcester Dr. Anthony Ruâ—d Bishop of Davids Dr. Anthony Walson Bishop of Chechester Dr Henry Robbinson Bishop of Carlile and Dr. Thomas Dâ—ve Bishop of Peterborough as also Dr. James Mountague Dean of the Chappel Dr. Thomas Ravis Dean of Christ Church Dr. John Bridges Dean of Sarum Dr. Lancelot Andrews Dean of Westminster Dr. John Overald Dean of Saint Pauls Doctor William Barlow Dean of Chester Doctor Giles Tompson Dean of Windsor together with Dr. John King Arch-Deacon of Nottingham and Dr. Richard Field after Dean of Glocester all of them habited and attired according to their several ranks and stations in the Church of England And on the other side there appeared for the Plantiffe or Petitioner Dr. Reynolds Dr. Spark Mr. Knewstubs and Mr. Chatterton the two first being of Oxon. and the other of Cambridge apparelled in their
Election depend not upon any Qualities Actions or works of men which be mutable but upon Gods eternal and immutable decree and purpose yet such is the necessity of Repentance after known sins committed as that without it there could not be either Reconciliation with God or remission of those sins ' 5. But here methinks I hear it said ' that though the King being then unaquainted with the Lambeth Articles thought not meet to put them amongst the Articles of this Church yet he liked it well enough in his Clergy of Ireland that they took them into their confession and Bishop Bancroft had agreed to them before the conference and that when he was Arch-Bishop his Chaplain with his good liking and approbation published the Exposition or Analysis of our Articles in which he gives the Calvinist as fair quarter as can be wished ' But first beginning with the last so much of the objection as concerns Bishop Bancroft is extreamly false not agreeing to the Lambeth Articles nor being Bishop of London when those Articles were agree unto as is mistakeingly affirmed and that Analysis or Explication of our English Articles related to in the objection being published in the year 1585. which was ten years before the making of the Lambeth Articles and eighteen years before Bancroft had been made Arch-Bishop And secondly It is not very true that King James liked that is to say was well pleased with the putting of those Articles into the confession of the Church of Ireland though the said Confession was subscribed in his name by the Lord Deputy Chichester is plainly enough not without his consent for many other things were in the Confession to which the Lord Deputy subscribed and the King consented as affairs then stood which afterwards he declared no great liking to either of the Tenor or effect thereof For the truth is that the drawing up of that confession being committed principally to the care of Dr. Usher and afterwards Lord Primate of Ireland a professed Calvinian he did not only thrust into it all the Lambeth Articles but also makes others of his own opinions as namely That the Pope was Anti-Christ or that man of sin that the power of sacerdotal Absolution is no more then declatory as also touching the morality of the Lords day Sabboth and the total spending of it in religious Exercises Which last how contrary it is to King Jame's Judgement how little cause he had to like it or rather how much reason he had to dislike it his Declaration about Lawfull sports which he published within three years after doth express sufficiently so that the King might give consent to the confirming of these Articles amongst the rest though he liked as little of the one as he did of the other And he might do it on these Reasons For first The Irish Nation at that time were most tenaciously addicted to the errors and corruptions of the Church of Rome and therefore must be bended to the other extream before they could be streight and Orthodox in these ponits of Doctrine Secondly it was an usual practise with the King in the whole course of his government to ballance one extream by the other countenancing the Papists against the Puritan and the Puritan sometimes against the Papist that betwixt both the true Religion and Professors of it might be kept in safety 6. With greater Artifice but less Authority have some of our Calvinians framed unto themselves another Argument derived from certain Questions and answers printed at the end of the Bible published by Rob. Barker his Majesties own Printer in the year 1607 from whence it is inferred by the Author of the Anti-Arminianism and from him by others that the said Questions and Answers do contain a punctual Declaration of the received Doctrine of this Church in the points disputed But the worst is they signifie nothing to the purpose for which they were produced For I would fain know by what Authority those Questions and Answers were added to the end of the Bible If by Authority and that such Authority can be produced the Argument will be of force which it takes from them and then no question but the same Authority by which they were placed there at first would have preserved them in that place for a longer time then during the sale of that Edition The not retaining them in such Editions as have followed since the sale of that shews plainly that they were of no authority in themselves nor intended by the Church for a rule to others and being of no older standing then the year 1607. for ought appears by Mr. Prin who first made the objections they must needs seem as destitute of antiquity as they are of authority so that upon the whole matter the author of the book hath furnished those of different Judgement with a very strong argument that they were foysted in by the fraud and practise of some of the Emissaries of the Puritan Faction who hoped in time to have them pass as currant amongst the people as any part of Canonical Scripture Such Piae fraudes as these are we should have too many were they once allowed of Some prayers were also added to the end of the Bible in some Editions and others at the end of the publick Liturgy Which being neglected at the first and afterwards beheld as the authorized prayers of the Church were by command left out of those books and Bibles as being the compositions of private men not the publick acts of the Church and over since added as before 7. But to return unto King James we find not so much countenance given to the Calvinians by the fraud of his Printer as their opposites received by his grace and favour by which they were invested in the chief preferments of the Chutch of England conferred aâ— openly and freely upon the Anti-Calvinians as those who had been bred up in the other perswasions Trosse Tyriusque mihi nullo discrimine habentur as we know who said For presently upon the end of the conference he prefers Bishop Bancroft to the Chair of Canterbury and not long after Dr. Barlow to the See of Rochester On whose translation unto Lincoln Dr. Richard Neil then Dean of Westminster succeeds at Rochester and leaves Dr. Buckridge there for his successour at his Removal unto Lichfielâ— in the year 1609. Dr. Samuel Harsnet is advanced to the See of Lichfield and about ten years after unto that of Norwich In the beginning of the year 1614. Dr. Overald succeeds Neil then translated to Lincoln in the See of Coventry and Lichfielâ— Dr. George Mountein succeeded the said Neil then translated to Durham in the Church of Lincoln In the year 1619. Dr. John Houson one of the Canons of Christ Church a professed Anti-calvinist is made Bishop of Oxon. And in the year 1621. Dr. Valentine Cary Successor unto Overalâ— in the Deanry of Saint Paul is made Bishop of Exon and on the same day Dr. William Laud
last giving him leave to look about him and to discerne the dangers which did seeme to threaten him on the other side considering therefore with himselfe or being informed by tale of the Bishop and Divines as were then about him how great an adversary was Calvinius to Monarchicall interesse how contrary the Predestination doctrines were to all rules of Government he found it neeessary to devise or admit some course of the preventing of the mischiefe To which end he issued certain directions to the vice Chancellor and Heads of both Universities bearing date January 18. 1619. Requiring them to take speciall order among other things that all that tooke any degree in the ' Schooles should subscribe to the three Articles in the thirty sixt Canon that no man in the Pulpit or Schooles be sufferred to maintaine Dogmatically any point of doctrine that is not allowed by the Church of England that none be suffered to preach or lecture in the Towns of Oxon. or Cambridge but such as were every way conformable to the Church both in doctrine and discipline and finally which most apparently conduced to the ruine of Calvinism that young Students in divinity be directed to study such books as be most agreeable in doctrine and discipline to the Church of England and excited to bestow their time in the Fathers and Councels Schoolmen Histories and Controversies and not to insist too long upon Compendiums and abbreviations making them the grounds of their study in divinity ' This seemed sufficient to bruse these doctrines in the shel as indeed it was had these directions been as carefully followed as they were piously prescribed But little or nothing being done in pursuance of them the Predestinarian doctrines came to be the ordinary Theam of all Sermons Lectures and Disputations partly in regard that Dr. Prideaux who had then newly succeeded Dr. Rob. Abbot in the chair at Oxon. had very passionately exposed the Calvinian Interest and partly in regard of the Kings declared averseness from the Belgick Remonstrants whom for the reasons before mentioned he laboured to suppress to his utmost power And yet being carefull that the truth should not fair the worse for the men that taught it he gave command to such Divines as were commissionated by him to attend in the Synod of Dort Anno 1618. not to recede from the doctrine of the Church of England in the point of universal Redemption by the death of Christ A point so inconsistent with that of the Absolute and irrespective decree of Reprobation and generally of the whole Machina of Predestination and the points depending thereupon as they are commonly maintained in the Schools of Calvin that fire and water cannot be at greater difference But this together with the rest being condemned in the Synod of Dort and that Synod highly magnified by the English Calvinists they took confidence of making those disputes the Subject of their common discourses both from the Pulpit and press without stint or measure And thereupon it pleased his Majesty having now no further fear of any dangers from beyond the seas to put some water into their wine or rather a Bridle into their mouths by publishing certain orders and directions touching Preachers and preaching bearing date on the 4. of August 1622. In which it was enjoyned amongst other things ' That no Preacher of what Title soever under the degree of a Bishop or Dean at least do from hence forth presume to teach in any popular Auditory the deep points of Predestination Election Reprobation or of the Universality Efficacity Resistability or Irresistability of Gods Grace but rather leave those Theames to be handled by learned men and that modestly and moderately by use and application rather then by way of positive Doctrine as being fitter for Schools and Vniversities then for simple Auditors ' The violating of which order by Mr. Gabriel Bridges of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxon. by preaching on the 19th of Ianuary then next following against the absolute decree in maintenance of universal Grace and the co-operation of mans free will prevented by it though in the publick Church of the Vniversity laid him more open to the prosecution of Dr. Prideaux and to the censure of the Vice-Chancelor and the rest of the Heads then any preaching on those points or any of them could possibly have done at another time 11. Much was the noise which those of the Calvinian party were observed to make on the publishing of this last order as if their mouths were stopped thereby from preaching the most necessary Doctrines tending towards mans salvation But a far greater noise was raised upon the coming out of Montagues answer to the Gagger in which he asserted the Church to her primitive and genuine Doctrines disclaimed all the Calvinian Tenents as dis-owned by her and left them to be countenanced and maintained by those to whom they properly belonged Which book being published at a time when a Session of Parliament was expected in the year 1624. The opportunity was taken by Mr. Yates and Mr. Ward two of the Lecturers or Preachers of Ipswich to prepare an Information against him with an intent to prosecute the same in the following Session A Copy whereof being come into Mountagues hands he flies for shelter to King James who had a very great estimation of him for his parts and learning in which he had over-mastred they then though much less Selden at his own Philologie The King had already served his own turn against the Remonstrants by the Synod of Dort and thereby freed the Prince of Orange his most dear Confederate from the danger of Barnwell and his faction Arch-Bishop Abbot came not at him since the late deplorable misfortune which befell him at Branzil and the death of Dr. James Mountague Bishop of Winton left him at liberty from many importunities and sollicitations with which before he had been troubled so that being now master of himself and governed by the light of his own most clear and exellent Judgement he took both Montague and his Doctrines into his Protection gave him a full discharge or quietus est from all those Calumnies of Popery or Arminianism which by the said Informers were laid upon him incouraged him to procecd in finishing his just Appeal which he was in hand with commanded Dr. Francis White then lately preferred by him to the Deanry of Carlisle and generally magnified not long before for his zeal against Popery to see it licensed for the Press and finally gave order unto Mountague to dedicate the book when printed to his Royal self In obedience unto whose Command the Dean of Carlisle licensed the book with this approbation That there was nothing contained in the samo but what was agreeable to the publick Faith Doctrine and Discipline established in the Church of England But King James dying before the book was fully finished at the Press it was published by the name of Appello Cesarem and dedicated to King
of their new opinions about the Sabbath But whether the great truths of Christs Divinity the Divine Authority of Scipture or any Article of Religion here by Law established be embraced by them with the like passion as their new Saint Sabbath may be discerned by that impunity which is indulged by them to all Anabaptists Familists Ranters Quakers and all other Sectaries By whom the great Truths of Christs Divinity and the Divine Authority of holy Scripture and almost all the Articles of the Christian Faith have beene called in question And yet we cannot choose but know with what severity they proceeded when they were in power against all persons whatsoever whom they found travelling on the Sunday though their businesse was of more concernment to them then the lifting of the Oxe or Asse out of the ditch With what a cursed rigour a Victualler hath beene forced to pay ten shillings for selling a half-penny loafe to a poore man in the time of Sermon What penalty they procured to be ordained against Vintners Taylors Barbers for selling but a pint of Wine or carrying home a new suit of Cloathes or trimming the man that was to wear them on their Sabbath day And finally against all persons whatsoever for walking in the fields or streetes after all the publick duties of the day were ended They may tell tell me what they will of their giving the Right hand of Fellowship to some Divines of Transmarine Churches who differ in that Doctrine from them But quid verba audiam cum facta videam the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the Oxen will not out of my eares though preferred under a pretence of making them an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord their God But the maine endeavour of the Pamphlet is to bring me under the reproach of a Prophanation in using such words unto the King in a Petition of mine presented to him as it could not without sinne be applyed unto any but to God A greater crime then any of the other two and as falsely charged It is suggested in the Libell that upon the sense of some indignity which was offered to me in being disturbed in my possession of a Lodging in Magdalen Colledge I made complaint unto the King of the great wrong which had been done his Majesties creature and the workmanship of his hands and that for this expression I was checked by the Marquesse of Hertford who was then Chancellor of that University for proofe whereof we are referred to somewhat which was said in the Bursery of that Colledge before two of the fellows But first I hope that all things which we said in the Bursery before any two or more of the Fellows Ecce inter pocula quaerant Romalides Saturi c. must not passe for Gospel nor that all Table-talk fit onely for the Voider when the meale is done is to be preserved upon Record for undoubted Truths Secondly I am confident as I can be of any thing so long since done that no such expression ever passed my pen there being no visible necessity to inforce me to it I Conceive Thirdly that the Libeller cannot be so much a Stranger to the Assembly Notes on the 1. of Gen. 6. as not to know if he had learnt it no where else that it is a familiar phrase in the Style of the Court to say such an one was created Earle Marquesse or Duke c. upon which ground the Members of the House of Peeres were looked upon by our Republicans or Common wealths men not without some contempt as his Majesties Creatures Creatures of the Prerogative as they commonly called them And therefore Fourthly that the Marquesse of Hertford was not likely to reprove me for calling my selfe his Majesties creature or the workmanship of his hands in reference to my temporal fortunes and the place I held about the King that Noble person acknowledging with a loyal gratitude that he received his Creation to the Honourable Title of Lord Marquesse from the hands of his Majesty and that his being made Governour to the Princes Highnesse was the Kings sole workmanship Finally if all expressions of this nature must be laid aside and that we must be taught a new Court-Dialect because some Divines of the Assembly and other professed enemies of Monarchical Government do not like the old we must discharge the Titles of most High and Might of Majesty and sacred Majesty because disliked by Buchanan in his most seditious Book de Jure Regni By whom such adjuncts are reputed inter Barbarismos Solecismos Aulicos and amongst the Barbarismes and extravagancies of the Courts of Princes But for the clearer satisfaction of all equal and unbyassed persons I shall lay down the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth as to that particular In which the Reader is to know that at his Majesties first making choice of Oxon for his Winter Quarters Anno 1642. The course of my attendance carried me to wait upon him there as a Chaplaine in ordinary Where I had not been above a week when I received his Majesties command by the Clerk of the Closet for attending Mr. Secretary Nicholas on the morrow morning and applying my self from time to time to such directions as I should receive from him in order to his Majesties service Which command was afterwards re-inforced upon me when the time of my ordinary attendance of the Court was at an end for that yeare as can be proved by two several intimations of it under his owne most Royall hand with this charge super-added to it that I was not to depart the Town without speciall leave I found by this that my attendance at the Court was like to last as long as the Warre and therefore that it did concerne me to accomodate my selfe with Lodging and such other necessaries as might both encourage and enable me to performe those services which were required at my hands A Chamber in the Colledge being vacant within few moneths after by the absence of one of the Fellows and the death of the other I gained the free consent of the absent party Master Hobs by name in whom the sole right of it then remained to make use of it for my selfe and my little Company Five moneths I quietly enjoyed it without interruption But coming from the Court on Alhallow-day I found some souldiers in the Roome who told me that they came to take possession of it for Master D. who had succeeded in the Rights of the man deceased and that they meant to keep it for him untill further order This carried me back unto the Court where I acquainted Master Secretary with the indignity and affront which was put upon me desiring him either to defend me from contempt and scorne or that he would get me a discharge from that employment which had laine so long and heavy on me By his advice a short Petition was drawn up to his sacred Majesty briefly containing the particulars before