the body in which it is norished a certaine disease that doth penetrate the intralles and doth corrupt and infest the soules of Christians and not only doth kill with her touche as the Viper doth or with her sighte as the Basilike or with her belching as the dragon but after all these fashions and many more doth destroy confounde and cast away all that approache it neither is there any other remedie but to flie nor any other refuge then to departe from such a one as is intangled with it no other security then to be far from such an infernall and contagious mischeefe which with the name of Christe destroieth Christ in our hartes and vnder the pretence of faith destroyeth faith And S. Augustine saith let euery Catholike flie and abhor them with whom the Church communicateth not for we ought not saieth he to haue parte with them that haue no participation with themselues and which are not vnited to the body of the whole Church and to conclude with our Sauiour one should neuer otherwise accompte of them then as of heathens and publicans and his holy Euangelist S. Iohn forbiddeth vs to salute them 11. Therfore gentle Reader these be sufficiēt reasons wherfore we should be loath to dispute with Protestantes which through their fall from godes Church are voide of all humility intoxicated with pride and are so blinded with malice that they cannot learne or imbrace the trueth or haue any trewe wisdome For as the holly scripture saith into a malicious soule wisdome shall not enter For in all ciuill conuersation or disputation especially in matters of religion we should intend nothinge els but the consolation of our soules and the edification of our neighbours and as the Apostle saith Non nosmetipsos sed Iesum Christum praedicamus not our selues or our owne glory should we ayme at but that of Christ Iesu whose cote without seame is rente in peeces by so many wilfull inuēted opinions of protestāts whose mysticall body I meane his Church is despised forsaken persecuted the fruite of whose doctrine and the proiect of their strange deuises tendes to nothinge els then to shake the very pillars stroungest foundations and fortresses of all Christianity and at lenght to bringe in all coldnes and doubtfulnesse in our beleefe and misbeleefe in the principaleste misteries in our Catholike religion plaine Athesime and confusion of all Christian piety a gate for all disorders and dissolution of life and manners a shipwreacke of Conscience and other marckable and sutable effectes to their doctrine and behauiour which are practised by them daily in all places where they beare sway And although euery man as S. Naz. saith may thinke of God but not euery man dispute of him so euery man ought not to dispute or doubte of the cheefest misteries of Catholike religion but beleeue them simply with the vniuersall Church which is accordinge the Apostle the firmamente and foundation of trueth and therfore can not in any sorte deceaue vs. Lib. I. CHAPTER I. WHether the Religiō which Protestants professe be a newe Religion or whether the Romish Religion be new and that of the Protestants be ancient and ould CHAPTER II. The occasion of Luthers and of other heretiques fal from the Catholike Church fol. 13 CHAPTER III. By what deceite hypocrisie and dissimulation this heresie crept in to other Countries by what periurie and forgerie they were deluded by it and what destruction and desolation it brought with it fol. 21 CHAPTER IV. That heresies are the cause of Reuolutiō of Countries and destruction of state fol. 30 CHAPTER V. A prosecution of the laste Chapter that heresies are the causes of troubles and disquiettnes fol. 49 CHAPTER VI. That God doth extende the rodde of his wrath vpon Princes and common welthes infected with heresies fol. 43 CHAPTER VII Of the miserable death and endes of such as deuised and defended the protestant Religion as also other heresies fol. 61 Lib. II. CHAPTER I. Whether there be nothing that the Protestantes affirmatiuely beleeue confesse and professe but the Church of Rome doth beleeue the same and cannot be denied by Catholiques but that they are most auncient and consonant to the word of God fol. 71 CHAPTER II. A further Confirmation that these new ghospellers tende directly to Turcisme f. 83 CHAPTER III. Whether Papist Priestes do amisse in taking any thinge for their Masses fol. 86 CHAPTER IV. Of prayinge vnto Saints And whether the Church doth offend in praying vnto them fol. 91 CHAPTER V. Whether Papistes doe err in worshipping and adorning the reliques of Saints whether they sell their Masse and praiers for tēporall gaine fol. 102 CHAPTER VI. Whether Papists do commit Idolatrie in worshipping the Crosse of Iesus Christ f. 129. Lib. III. CHAPTER I. Whether Papistes blaspheme against God in sayinge that any man can merite fol. 150 CHAPTER II. Protestants say that a Christian though neuer so vertuous or so acceptable to God hath no grace or vertue inherent in him because they would haue no good acte to come from man by reason of that grace fol. 157 CHAP. III. In that heretiques reprehend the Catholique Church yea cōdemne her of great folly for endeuouring her selfe to receaue godes graces they by this meane take away free will from man and all due preparation and disposition to receaue godes grace and diuine influence fol. 161 CHAP. IV. Whether we derogate from the merites of Christ in making our merites partakers of his merits fol. 169 CHAP. V. The absurdity of this doctrine that euerie one should assure himselfe that he it predestinated vnto life euerlasting and that we ought to be as certaine thereof as we should not once feare the contrary or to misdoubt the same is discussed fol. 186 Lib. 4. CHAP. I. Whether the holy scriptures be for Protestantes and not for Papistes and whether we rely vpon traditions not warranted by holy Scripture fol. 193 CHAP. II. Whether euery man ought to be iudge of the scripture and rely altogether vpon his owne iudgement touching the interpretation therof being inspired by the holly ghost concerning the same fol. 208 CHAP. III. How heretiques would faine take away all tradition alleadging for their purpose that of S. Math. 15. In vaine you worship me teaching for doctrine mens precepts fol. 213 CHAP. IV. Certaine obiections answered against traditions taken out of the first Chapter of S. Paule to the Galathians fol. 231 CHAP. V. Whether we prohibit the scriptures to be translated into the vulgar tounge fol. 234 CHAP. VI. Whether we forbid the ignorante to pray in a languadge which they vnderstand f. 240 CHAP. VII Whether a man ought not to pray either by himselfe or by another but in a language he vnderstandeth fol. 251 Lib. V. CHAP. I. Whether the Church vniuersall can be charged with errors contrary to the first institution of the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist fol. 259 CHAP. II. Whether the Catholique Church doth add to this Sacrament in making it
But to those wordes of our Sauiour S. Basill doth aunswere saying Nihil aliud ijs recepi verbis intelligi Bas in Ethicis quam quod humanis traditionibus ad mandatum Dei reprobandum obsequendum non sit that nothinge else is meante by those wordes then that wee ought not obey such traditions as are repugnant to Godes lawes as many obseruations of the Iewes and alsoe of the pharisies were then and the like traditions of heretiques are nowe yet we ought to obey the custome of the church otherwise wee should be counted by the wordes of Christe as Ethnicks and Publicans But the traditions deliuered to vs by the pastors and fathers thereof which are the foundation of our faith and which are not repugnant to Godes precepts nor to his lawes or scriptures but doe rather confirme the same are not meant by those wordes for Godes worde doth not consiste onlie of the scripture Vppon what occasion heraesie did growe but also of tradition for such as were old heretiques did not gainsaie the written word but because they did not beleue the tradition of the church and the definition thereof they were soe counted and accursed 2. That the sonne is of the same substance with the father the catholique fathers haue defined by godes word but because the heretiques did not finde the same written they would not beleue the church which did grant it was nor written but deliuered by tradition Soe as you may see the difference betwixt the heretique and the catholique Felix Pontifex writinge to Benignum 130. yeares before the councell of Nyce saith that it was an Apostolicall tradition that the sonne was of one substance with the father and that the holie Ghoast is to be adored as the father and the sonne and that he is of the same substance with the father and when the same heretiques did aske where it was written the church did answere them that it was deliuered vnto them by tradition which two pointes continued afterwardes by the 2. councell of Nyce and Constinople Articles of faith by traditions Also in the councell of Ephesus that the blessed Virgin Marie should be called the mother of God In the councell of chalcedon that there are two natures in Christe In the 3. councell of Constantinople that there are in him two wills and two operations In the second councell of Nyce against heretiques that the church should vse Images In the generall councell of florence that the holy ghoast proceedeth from the father and the sonne And when heretiques did relie all vpon the scripture the catholique fathers did conuince their interpretation of scriptures by tradition of the successiue doctors and fathers in all ages The tradition also that easter daye should be obserued vpon the sondaie next after vnto the 14. daie of the new Moone as some doe write S. Peter and S. Paule ordained so as in all pointes of doctrine wee recurr to the tradition of our ancestors and when you teache that all thinges are â—on by necessitie not by the free will of man wee recurr vnto the successiue age and wee find out that the first author was Symon magnus next vnto him was Marcion next vnto Marcion was Manichaeus next vnto him was Petrus Adelhardus Next vnto him was Iohn Wicklief Next after whome followed your great master Martyne Luther so that we find in all antiquitie of tymes that this doctrine was detested by the holy doctors that liued in those ages 3. Againe when you obiect vnto vs your tradition of your imputatiue iustice where you say that our faith is imputed vnto vs by the iustice of Christ as if it had bene our owne iustice as also that euery one vnder paine of damnation is bounde to beleue Tradition of protestantes and to be certaine that his sinnes be forgiuen him that he should not mistrust his proper infirmitie therein also that not any one is iustified but he that beleues for certaine that he is iustified and that his iustification and absolution of his sinnes is effected by faith onlie without any relation to the Sacraments and that euerie one is bound to beleue that he is in the number of those that are predestinated and that by all infallible certitude he hath the guifte of perseuerance to be the true seruante of God vnto the last gaspe of his life this and such like wee can not find in the scriptures nor in the fathers nor in the doctors of the churche but rather the contrarie and that which the holie catholique churche calles pennaunce All things peruerted by the protestants you call terror of conscience and that which she calles Sacraments and sacrifice you call it the Lords supper wee search the fathers and wee can finde noe such wordes and although somtimes they make mention of the supper yet more often doe they call the same a sacrifice Did not S. Paule wish Timothy to keepe his depositum to auoide the prophane nouelties of voices and oppositions of false tearmed knowledge For the scripture is not subiecte to loftie skill or arrogant or presumptuous mindes who I pray hath greater skill or knowledge and vnderstandinge of the scriptures then the deuilles and yet it auaileth them nothinge because their mindes are possessed with malice and their hartes are emptie of charitie soe as men doe not sinne so much by the ignorance of the vnderstanding as by the malice of the will Aug. de doctrina Christi an cap. 35. and accordinge to S. Augustine the summe scope of all the scriptures is charity whosoeuer saith he that seemes to vnderstaÌ„d the scripture or any parcell thereof soe that his vnderstandinge doth not edifie that knott I meane the loue of God and our neigbors he hath not as yet vnderstoode the scriptures 4. Now all your manner of administration and ministerie is your owne tradition and inuention without scripture or warrant of godes worde but the traditions of the Apostles and ancients and all the preceptes of holie churche were comauÌ„ded to be kepte and they are not prescribed by man only but are made by the holie ghoast ioyninge with our pastors in the regimente of the faithfull Luc. 2.37 Matt. 18. where Christe saith he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me they are made by our mother the churche which whosouer obeieth not wee are warned to take him as a heathen 2. Cor. 3. S. Paule willed the people to keepe the decrees that were decreede by the Apostles and auncientes at Ierusalem he commaunded the people to keepe the precepts of the Apostles You are saith he written in our hartes not written with Incke but with the finger of the holy ghost S. Paule wrote many thinges not vttered in any epistle as some of the Apostles wrote the christian religion in the hartes of their hearers Wherfore Ireneus saith Iren. l. 3.4 what if the Apostles also had lefte noe scriptures ought wee not to followe
scriptures to our auncestors to aske knowledge of them Interroga patres tuos Deut. 32. Eccles 8. dicent tibi c. aske thy Fathers and they shall declare vnto thee and thy auncestors Eccles 8. and they will tell thee Non te praetereat narratio seniorum ipsi enim c. Omitt not to heare thine elders for they haue learned of their parents that of them you may learne vnderstandinge Prou. 2â— Non transgrediaris terminos antiquos quos posuerunt parentes Doe not you transgresse the old limittes which your pareÌ„ts haue prescribed Are not the Rechabites praised for followinge the tradition and preceptes of Ionadab Haec dicit Deus exercituuÌ„ Hier. 35.18 pro eo quod obedistis praecepto Ionadab patris vestri c. Thus saith the Lord of hoastes because that you haue obeyed the precepte of Ionadab your father and haue kepte all his commaundements therfore the Lord of hoastes the God of Israell saith there shall not faile one of the stirpe of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab that shall stande in my presence 7. In the dolfull and damnable debate and discorde that Martyne Luther Caluine and others haue raised vp by which they plunged themselues and the worlde into such an intricat laberinth of errors and heresies where shall the poore silly sheepe haue resolution of their doubts but of their parentes and pastors which God hath placed in his churche to gouerne and directe his flocke from all errors shall not the children beleeue their fathers and the sheepe their pastors Wee must not only flie vnto the scriptures as S. Vincentius Lyrinensis saith Vincent 9 â—eres c. 1. but vnto traditioÌ„ of the catholique church notwithstandinge saith he in that place that the scriptures are of themselues sufficient yet saith he because all men doe not conceaue the loftines of the scripture a like but accordinge to euery mans phantasticall censure and humorous passion as soe many heades soe many mindes for men as they be deuided in sects or factions soe they deuide the sense of the scriptures Nouatianus Photinus Sabellius Donatus Arrius Eunomius Macedonius Apollinaris Priscilianus Iouianus and Pellagius haue eche of them grounded their proper heresies vpon the scripture Nan videas eos volare per singula quaeque sanctae legis volumina sacrae scripturae You may see them flie ouer all the bookes of the holie lawe both in publique and priuate in their sermons in their bookes in their banquettes in tauernes in the streate nothinge did they euer produce which was not shadowed by the scriptures for they knewe verie well that their errors coulde neuer be pleasing vnto the people without the scriptures with which as with sweete water they sprinckle the same euen as soure drincke is teÌ„pered with sweet honny so as when children drincke therof hauinge once felte the sweetnes they haue noe loathsomnes of it though neuer soe bitter But the more scripture they bring the more wee ought to feare them saith S. Vincentius and to shunne them Magnopere curandum est in ipsa Ecclesia Catholica vt id teneamus quod vbique quod semper quod ab omnibus creditum est For in the catholique church wee must alwayes beware that wee keepe that which is beleeued alwayes euerie where and of euerie body haec est verè propriè Catholica which is properlie and trulie catholique And in the 9. chapter he saith Quo quisque religiosior est eò promptius nouellis adinuentionibus contrariatur the more vertuous that a man is the more prompte ready he opposeth himselfe against newe inuentions and soe he saith our maister S. Stephen in his epistles to the Bishoppes of Affricke touching rebaptisinge of infants that were baptized by heretiques nihil innouandum est nisi quod traditum est Apud Cypri li. 2. cap. 7. the good and religious man would haue vs children to inuente noe religion but what wee haue receaued of our fathers and whose steppes he would haue vs to followe in all thinges 8. This said author expoundinge 1. Timoth. depositum custodi keepe in depositum what I haue left in your custodie the religion and the obseruation thereof that I deliuered vnto you shunninge prophane noueltie of voices he doth not saye shunn antiquitie or ancientie or continuance but noueltie and innouation of thinges nam si vitanda est nouitas tenenda est antiquitas c. For if wee oughte to auoide noueltie wee shoulde imbrace antiquitie if noueltie be a prophane thinge antiquitie is a sacred thinge keepe the depositum saith he which is giuen vnto thee and to the whole church to be kepte from theeues and enemies least they should sowe cockell or darnell amouÌ„gest the cleane wheate The depositum which you haue receaued not which you haue inuented The deposituÌ„ which is not coyned by thy witt but deliuered by my doctrine Not any mans priuate vsurpation but the common and vniuersall tradition in which you are not the author but the keeper not the instituâ—or but the follower not the mayster but the disciple The depositum saith he Catholicae fidei talentum keepe the talent of the catholique religion vnspotted Exod. 36. inuiolable and vndefiled by you saith he the rosarie of the spirituall tabernacle Pretiosas diuini dogmatis geÌ„mas exculpe fideliter comptè VinceÌ„tius cap. 27. adoâ—â—a sapienter adijce splendorem gratiam venustatem do you garnish turne faithfully and adorne with the pretious Iewell of the diuine decree doe you add therunto splendor grace and beautie 6. All this I haue alleadged out of Vincentius Lyrinensis word by word for his whole booke against heresies hath noe other obiecte but the tradition of our auncestors by which he confuteth and conuinceth the prophane noueltie of heretiques and their arrogant insolent ostentation of scriptures vpon which they grounde all their hereticall cauillation which as all our forfathers before vs soe wee after them doe finde by experience that the interpretation and meaninge thereof as they doe produce them is of greater difficultie then the controuersie it selfe the fathers did vrge them with a shorter way by askinge Hil. 2. ad Const Aug. lib. â— de trinitate cap. 3. quid prius posterius what is first and laste for that heresie is grounded in noueltie and euer cometh after the Catholique trueth first planted And for that euerie heresie pretendeth his heresie to be auncient and from the Apostles the fathers doe alleadge that this trueth muste not onlye be eldeste but also must haue continewed from tyme to tyme at the leaste with the greatest parte of Christians Tertul. li. aduers prax c. 20 And therfore Tertulian saith lib. De praescriptione quod apud multos vnum inuenitur non est erratum sed traditum that wherin moste men doe agree vppon it is not an erronious opinion but a common tradition For the Church of God is a most liuely ghospell for with the Apostles there was the Church of
it it is found oute how such a footestoole of our Lord should be adored and worshipped and that wee doe not only not sinne in aâ—oringe and worshipping it but wee sinne in not adoringe and not worshippinge the saâ—e Therfore when thow dost bowe downe and prostrate thie selfe vnto any such earth doe not behould it as earth but behould that holie one whose footestoole that is which thou doest adore and worshipp because for his sake thow dost adore worshipp it Aug. cont Iul. Pela lib. 1. Amb. de ijs qui misteriis initiantur cap. vlt. 12. S. Ambrose that blessed Bishopp of Millane of whome Sainct Augustine saith Veneror vt patrem in christo c. I reuerence him as a father for he through the ghospell in Christe Iesu begott me doth plainly confirme this truethe saying Ipse clamat Dominus Iesus Hoc est corpus meum c. Our Lord Iesus himselfe crieth This is my body before the benediction of those heauenly woordes another kinde of nature is named after consecration the bodie is signified or mentioned he himselfe called it his blood before consecration it is named an other thinge after consecration it is called blood And thow saidst therunto Amen that is to say it is trewe let thie inward minde confesse that which thie mouth speaketh and let thie affection thincke that which thy speech soundeth And in that chapter he saith But perchaunce yow will saie I see an other thinge with myne eyes how then doe yow tell me that I receaue the bodie of Christe this then remaineth yet by vs to be proued how many examples therfore doe wee vse to shewe that this is not that which nature formed but that which benediction consecrated And that the power of benediction is greater then the power of nature for so much as nature it selfe is changed Moises held in his hand a rodd he cast the same foorthe and it was made a serpent againe he tooke vpp the serpent by the taile and the same retourned to the nature of the rodde yow see then by the grace giuen to that prophett that nature both in the rodd and serpent was twice changed the riuers of Egipt rann with pure and cleane water blood sodainlie brake out from the springes and fountaines there was drinke to be hadd out of the riuers and at the prophetts prayers the blood of the riuers ceased the nature of the water retourned All the rest of the holie fathers and doctors that liued before these and such as came after doe confirme with one vniforme consent this sacred doctrine 13. S. Andrewe the apostle as Aloysius Lipomanes a moste graue and learned aucthor doth gather out of the approued aucthors when he was to be crucified said these wordes Ego omnipotenti Deo c. I doe daylie sacrifice to the omnipotent God the vnspotted lambe who beinge trulie sacrificed and his fleash also eaten of the people remaineth both sounde and aliue Ignat. ep ad Smyrnenses S. Ignatius which was disciple vnto S. Iohn the Euangeliste writing against the heretiques Symonianus and Menandrianus who as they denied the Incarnation of Christe soe they did alsoe denie the misterie of this blessed Sacrament Sic ait Eucharistias oblationes non admittunt quod non confiteantur Eucharistiam esse carnem saluatoris c. Soe they doe not admitt eucharistes and oblations because they doe not confesse the Euchariste to be the flesh of our Sauiour which flesh did suffer for our offences Theo dialog 3. which the Father accordinge to his benignitie hath raised vpp this place is cited by Theodoretus Tertull. lib. 2. ad vxorem in libro de Idolatria Tertulian also reprehending wicked priests exclaymeth against them sayinge Semel Iudei Christo manus intulerunt vos c. The Iewes did offer violence vnto Christe but so yow doe also violatt and handle his bodye moste irreuerentlie such irreuerent handes should be cutt of c. And how should he saie these wordes if he should thincke that in the Eucharist should be only the figure of Christs bodie So Orig. homil 13. in Exod. expoundinge the 25. of that booke homil 7. libr. numeri in caput Math. 26. Math. vbi sic legimus homil 7. Leuit. homil 9. in Leuit. concita in cap. 15. Matth. So Cyp. who suffred death Anno Domini 259. sermone de lapsis So Athanas who is citted of Theodoretus Theod. 2. Dialog Cyrillus Hieroso initio Cathechesis 4. mistagogice in tota ferè Cathechesi Greg. Nyss in lib. de vita Moysis So. S. Optatus Milleuitanus which did florish in sanctitie and learninge in one tyme with S. Ambrose Quid enim est tam sacrilegum what is more detestable then to destroie and defile the alter on which somtimes yow haue offred your selues in which the desires of the people and the members of Christe are carried and a little after what is the alter but the seat of the bodie and blood of Christe S. Naz. liuinge also in the same tyme Nazianz. oratione de Pascha absque confusione dubio c. without confusion and doubt we eare his bodie and drincke his bloode 14. S. Ephrem the familiar frinde of S. S. Hieron in Cathalogo scrip Basill of that authoritie that in the church after the scriptures his woorks were read as S. Hero doth wittnesse saith Quid scrutaris c. whie should yow search the inscrutable thinges of God if you curiously search them yow ought not to be accompted a faithfull christian but a curious companion be faithfull and innocent be pertaker of the vnspotted body of oure Lord and assured with a sounde faith that yow eate whole the lambe himselfe S Epiphanius which was a familier frinde of S. Athanasius doth compare the heretiques that denie Christs bodie to be in the Sacramente with Aesops dogge who hauinge a peece of flesh in his Iâ—wes passinge ouer a riuer and behoulding the shadowe thereof in the water did let goe the trewe flesh striuinge by duckinge vnder the water to gett only the shadowe and soe he had neither the one nor the other soe the heretiques let ts goe the trewe flesh of Christe only for a figure and soe they haue neither benefitt by the one nor by the other Io. Diaco lib 2. vitae sanctit q. Sainct Gregorie as Ioannes Diaconus doth write did proue by a miracle that was don that the bread was turned into Christs fleshe Damascen which liued in the tyme of Leo the Imadge breaker in the yeare of our Lord God 740. saith Panis vinumique c. Bread wyne and water by the inuocation of the holy ghoste are supernaturally turned into the bodie and blood of Christe and they are not two but one and the selfe same thinge bread and wyne are not the figure of the bodie and blood of Christe God forbid but it is the selfe same bodie of our Lord deified Theophil in cap. Math. 26. Vnto this agreeth
saith that the Christians would not haue praied for the dead if they had not bene instructed by the preceptes of Christ and his Apostles The said Vrbanus which was the cheefe instrument with Luther to sowe Lutheranisme in Sueth-land and in the Dukedome of Lumburge à parte operum in formula cautè loquendi when the Apostle reproued the Thessalonians for howlinge and cryinge after the manner of GeÌ„tiles for their dead he tooke not awaye the care or memorie for the dead De locis communibus c. 19. but confirmed the same The same Vrbanus affirmeth that Luther was of this opinion sayinge that it belongeth to Christian pietie that wee should commend vnto Christe by deuout prayers our Christian bretheren as it hath bene the custome of the church allwayes withall the doctors and holie fathers thereof The same Vrbanus further affirmeth in the place aboue cited that wee ought not to depart from the practise and beleefe of the fathers here in vnlesse wee will contradict the word of God 3. This Protestant citeth many fathers also to confirme his doctrine as S. Nazianzenus in the funerall oration vnto Cesarius his brother concerninge his mother and Gregorie Nissenus Chrysost homil 69. S. Ambrose of the death of Theodosius Emperor the councell of Affricke cap. 8. S. Aug. confess lib. 19. which praid for his mother and in the booke de ciuitate Dei cap. 9. in libro de cura pro mortuis agenda cap. 4. vid. in the booke which he did write for the care wee should haue for the dead in lib. de haeresibus haeresis 53. in lib. de cura pro mortuis habenda cap. 1. he writes that a certaine heretique did giue out that wee ought not to praie for the dead Idem locis communibus cap. 18 de purgator Idem prima parte Damascenus in sermone de ijs which departed this life in faith saith that the Apostles and disciples of our sauiour admonished vs that in the dreadfull and liuinge Sacrament wee should haue a speciall remembrance of the faithfull departed this life and saith that this is the receaued and generall decree of the catholique church and the obseruation and old custome of all christians for the which are cited the bookes of the Machabees Dionysius Areopagita cap. vltimo ecclesiasticae hierarchiae S. Nazian z S. Chrisostome S. Gregorie Nissen S. Athana and S. Basill The said Vrbanus also verie earnestlie proued that the Apostles of Christ taught the same out of Tertulian S. Athanasius and S. Ambrose He declared also that Asia and Muscouia doe praie for the dead 4. It is also manifest that the Greekes doe praie for the dead by the confession of the Greekes sent to the Lutherans of Germanie by Hieremie Patriarch of Constantinople Purgatory anno Domini 1579. Did not Christ praie his father for Lazarus that was dead Did not the widdowe of Naim praie vnto Christ for her child that was dead although shee prayed for restoringe him vnto life yet much more for remission of his sinnes doth not S. Iohn say Io. 1. cap vlt. There is a sinne vnto deathe there is another sinne also not vnto death of these as Oecumenus saith vppon that place they which die in deadlie sinne for them I say lest noe man praie S. Augustine sayes Aug. lib. de cura pro mortuis ageÌ„da that the soule departes from our bodies in one of these three degrees The first degree is of those that departe perfect and good The second of those that are imperfect and impenitent the third of those that are in a meane betwixt both neither altogether good nor altogether badd For the first wee neede not to praye of whome it is said Cum dederit dilâ—ctis suis somnum ecce haereditas Domini c. when it shall please God to giue the elect reste and quiettnes behold they possesse their inheritance c. I meane such as are hollie in deede either holye by their deathe as Martyres or such as otherwise in their liues shewe both to God and man extraordinarye holines and compleatt perfection of them there are fewe in respect of those Qui ducunt in bonis dies suos in puncto ad infernum descendunt that made themselues slaues vnto the apparent but false shewe of worldlie and transitorie goodes and in a moment they doe goe downe into euerlastinge damnation For the ioy of an Hypocritt is measured by an instant for which people wee may not praie for our sauiour said they receaued their rewarde in this miserable life with the richman But for the other in the third rancke wee praie as S. Dionis Areopag saies Diuinus sacerdos pro mortuis orans c. Dyonisius Areop c. 7. eccles hierar the diuine priest prayinge for the dead he praied for such as liued holie yet they hauing contracted some blemish by reason of their humaine infirmitie are detained in purgatorie and as S. Augustine sayes Aug. Euc. ca. 110. tom 3. our suffrages proffitts them that are in a meane betwixt good and badd of which kinde of people S. Paule saith saluus tamen fiet sed tamen per ignem he shal be saued 1. Cor. 3.15 Cypr. Ep. 52. but yet through fire Accordinge to which S. Cyprian saith Aliud est missum non exire inde c. It is not all one beinge sent to prison neuer to depart thence vntill the last fardinge be praied and to receaue presentlie the reward of faith and vertue it is not all one to be purged and clensed by the torments of a longe fire and to haue all his sinnes whatsoeuer already refined purged by sufferaÌ„ce And because wee doe not knowe certainlie the state of euerie one that departs this life S. Augustine saith Aug. lib. de curapro mortuis habenda Pro mortuis siue altaris siue orationum sacrificijs solemniter supplicamus quamuis non pro quibus fiunt omnibus prosint For the dead wee make our supplications aswell by the sacrifice of the alter as by our prayers althoughe euerie one receaues not proffitt thereby but such as when they liued merited the same but because wee doe not discerne what they be for whome wee ought to offer the same none such as are regenerated may be omitted vnto whome this benefit may or ought to be due for it is better it should be superfluous vnto them that receaues noe proffitt or harme therby then it should be wanting vnto theÌ„ which may reape benefit by it Cyrill Cathe mist 5. 1. S Ia. coli liturgia 5. But let vs further see what other holie fathers say S. Cyrill saith let vs pray for all that departed amoungest vs. S. Iames saith Dominum oremus lett vs make our prayers to our Lord that our parents and brethren which departed before vs Clemens Romanus lib. 6. coÌ„st apost cap. 30 may rest in peace Also S. Clement of Rome saith that the Deacon at Masse did praie for the
from saint Peter to saint Damalus saint Cyprian from saint Peter to Cornelius saint Bernard from saint Peter to Eugenius saint August from saint Peter vnto Anastatius who was Pope in his time lib. contra epistolam fundamenti cap. â— Tenet me in Ecclesia c. The successioÌ„ of priestes from saint Peter the Apostle vnto whome Christe comended the feedinge of his sheepe vnto this present Bishop holdes me in the church the same alsoe doth saint Hierom proue For wee must note that such are true Bishopps in the churche who descende from the Apostles aswell by succession as by ordination but the sectes of Lutherans and Caluinistes haue neither succession from any lawfull Bishopps or lawfull ordination therfore they haue not succeeded in any Apostolique order or succession And for this cause as saint Cyprian said Nouatianus is not in the church Cyp. lib. â— epist 6. ad magnum nor oughte to be called a Bishoppe who despisinge apostolique tradition succeded noe Bishoppe and himselfe tooke that order vppon himselfe 8. The 6. 6. Note note is the vniuersall consent of the Catholique church in euerie point of doctrine of faith as it is said in the Actes Muâ—titudo credentium erat cor vnum anima â—na and contrariwise the errors alterations and dissentions of these sectes in euerie article of their faith as you may see in the first Chapters and 9. Lib. 9. c. 1. Lib. 2 c. 1. bookeâ— also in the 2. booke cap. 1. 7. Note 9. The 7. note is the sanctifie of this Catholique doctrine for the Catholique church is holie in her doctrine and profession as the councell of Constantinople saith which profession containes noe falshoode touchinge faith nor any iniustice touchinge good manners but these sectaries hould soe many absurdities against faith good manners The 9. book caâ— Aug. lib. 2. de ciuitate Dei as in the 1. li. Chapter 9. you may reade But the Catholique church containes noe error absurditie or turpitude nor doth it teach any thing against reason although it teacheth many things aboue reason and therfore saint Augustine saith Nihil in Christianis ecclesijs turpe flagitiosum there is nothinge in Christian churches that is either filthie or obhominable either wheÌ„ godes precepts be insinuated or miracles declared or giftes praised or benefitts asked 8. Note 10. The 8. note is the efficacie of the catholique doctrine in conuertinge the whole worlde vnto the standert of Christe and that by poore weake and sillle persons without armour or munition withoute feare of tormente or punishment only by praiers fastinge charitable woorks miracles and all good examples of hollines of life By these meanes all nations were conuerted to the catholique church from impietie and all wickednes vnto pietie and religion from beastlie pleasures vnto angelicall coÌ„tinency from the fleshe to the spirite from beinge loâ—ers of the worlde to despise contemne and forsake the same and to followe Christ their spouse But these sectaries subuerted many nations not by sounde doctrine or good examples of life but by terror and feare they caused many to forsake Christe and followe the worlde I am sure these holie Saincts that conuerted the world neuer drewe foorth any sworde when they preached I am sure when Sainct Vincent conuerted soe many when saint Aug. conuerted Englande to the faith beinge sent by saint Greg. or when saint Killian an Irishe saincte conuerted the Francks beinge sent from Conon Pope or when saint Patricke conuerted Ireland beinge sent by saint Celestine Pope they neuer killed or murthered burned or spoiled nor made the subiectes to reuolte against their princes or the princes to make tirannicall lawes against their subiects But Caluine and Luther did sowe their pestilent heresie by burninge and spoilinge kingdomes robbinge and ransakinge cittâ—es killinge and murtheringe manny millions of people castinge downe and razinge to the earth manny churches and monasteries rauishinge and deflouringe many Nunnes and Virgins and by bringinge euerie kingdome where the same was nourished to a pittifull confusion 9. Note 11. The 9. note is the hollines and sanctitie of life of such as founded our religion for the holie Patriarches Apostles Doctors Pastors and such as conuerted any countrie to the faith of Christ were mirrours and spectacles of all sanctitie and religion as saint August wittnesseth of the Mouncks of his tyme. Isti sunt Episcopi pastores docti graues sancti Aug. lib. demorib Eccl. c. 31. lib. 2. in Iulian. c. these were learned Bishopps and graue wise and holly pastors most earnest defenders of the trueth by whose planting settinge wateringe and buildinge the holy catholique church did increase but the sectaries of these times as in their doctrine they were most irreligious soe in their liues and manners moste wicked and abhominable In responsione ad libr. quem inscripsâ—rat Lutherus contra Zuing disputatione habita lipsie contra Eck. Luther in postilla super euaÌ„ super euaÌ„ Dominic Aduentus as the protestant authors themselues doe auerre The ministers of Tigur doe write that Luther sought nothing but his owne priuate gaine that he was insolent and stubborne and Luther himselfe confessed that his pretence was not for the loue of God In an other place he said that such as followed this newe gospell were farr woorse then when they were Papists more couetous and more giuen to reuenge Smidelinus in Coment 4. super caput 21. lucae said Lutherans doe peruerte all thinges that they turned fastinge into feastinge surfeâ—inge prayers into swearinge and blasphemies adding that Christe is not soe much blasphemed of the verie Turcks Erasmus also saith thaâ— this gospell neuer reformed any vice in these newe gospellers none that was an epiâ—ure became sober by it norâ— none that was cruell became meeke or gentle by it 12. The like censure the ministers of Madelâ—urge doe giue of them saying Madebur Centuria 11. cap. 11 Cen. 10. When these people were Papistes they were religiouslie addicted they were giuen to much praâ—ers deuotion and sanctifienge the saboâ—th daie they shewed great reuerence towardes churchmen parents were carefull in the education of their childrenn they were liberall and mercifull towardes the poore and there was great obedience in the subiectes The same Caluine wittnesseth Calu. inst lib. 4. cap. 10. scanâ— pag. 118. and in bis booke of scandalls he saith when soe many thousandes doe pretend the gosâ—pell fewe of them euer were refourmed of their wicked liues and hauinge lett the raynes loose to all wickednes Musc in cap. de decalogo de ministris verbis Luth. tâ— 5. Erasm ad fratres inferiores Germanicae they are not woorthy they should become Papists Musculus doth confirme the same Luther the first founder of this vnfortunate gospell said that such as followed the same were odibile genus hominum A hatefull kind of people and althoughe they speake of the gospel in their woorcks they are
very diuills Erasmus said that such as he knewe to be vertuousâ— innocent without deceite or craft when they were papists becoming gospellers were most wicked craftie deceitfull and of viperous behauiour If all these gospellers deliuered this censure of protestant religion God almightie soe disposinge the enemies of trueth to declare the trueth how much oughte Catholiques to confirme the same for as all the heretiques that euer were at anny time are by them in heresie soe all the wickednes and vices of all the wicked damnable people that euer were dispersed throughoute all the world at any tyme are also by them and in them linked and vnited together And Caluine himselfe declared the same when he said that these gospellers which had made shippwracke of their conscieÌ„ce Calu. de scanda pag. 128 haue also made shippwrack of their faith 10. Note 13. The 10. note or marcke is the glory of miracles miracles are verie necessarie for the confirmation of anny newe faith Exodus 4. or for to make any extraordinarie mission allowable for it is written in Exodus when Moises was sent from God vnto the people he said they will not beleue me nor heare my aduice and God did not answere him that whether they will or nill they should beleue him but to the intent they should beleue him he gaue him power to woorcke miracles Matt. 10. vt credant quod apparuerit tibi Deus that they may beleeue that God appeared vnto thee In the newe testament also it was said vnto the Apostles heale the sicke reuiâ—e the dead cleanse the lepers cast foorth diuills and in saint Iohn Christe said Iohn 15. if he had not wrought greater woorks then anny other the Iewes had not sinned in not beleeuinge in him This is also declared in the last of saint Marcke where our Lord is said to confirme the preachinge of the Apostles by signes and tokens that did follow S. Augustine yea Melancton himselfe said Hebr. 2. Aug. lib. 22. de ciuitate Dei cap. 8. Melancth cap. 3. Matth. that miracles were necessarie for the confirmation of the faith of any newe doctors or newe doctrine for trewe miracles cannot be wrought but by the power of God for miracles doe exceede the power and force of all creatures 14. For this cause Luther sought to delude the people by false miracles for goinge about to dispossesse a maide that was possessed of a deuill he coulde not doe it but was in danger to be slaine himselfe of the deuill as Staphilus saith Staphilus absoluta responsione Cochleus in actis Lutheri who was present at that that time Also the said Luther as Iohn Cochleus writeth went aboute to restore to life one that was drowned but could not doe it and beinge frustrated of his purpose none coulde abide to be present through the filthie stinche that was in the place An. 1523. copus l 6. dialogor Also Allanus Cope setteth downe the historie of one Mathewe in the borders of Hungarie who beinge perswaded by a certaine minister to faine himselfe dead and that as it were he should be raised vpp by him in conclusion was found dead in deede The like fiction Caluine vsed who perswadinge one to faine himselfe dead to the intent he might make the people beleeue that he could worke a miracle vppon him but when he thoughte to bringe his fiction to passe the partie was found dead indeede 5. But here protestants say that S. Iohn Baptiste wrought noe miracles Hieron Bolse in vita Caluiniâ— 13. Wherto I aunswere that God wroughte wonderfull thinges aboue the capacitie of our naturall vnderstandinge by which his missioÌ„ should not be suspected the austeritie and sanctity of his behauiour and conuersation was a sufficient token that he was sent from God but the Catholique church did florishe with miracles in all ages First in the time of the Apostles Secondarillie in the time of M. Aurelius by the Christian souldiors that were in his army vide Tertull. Thirdlie wee haue the miracles Tertul. in lib. ad Scapulum in apolo cap. 5 Euseb l 5. hist. Oros l. 7. hist of Gregorie Thaumaturgus an S. Basil setts downe lib. de Spiritu Sancto cap. 29. and saint Gregorie Nissenus in his life Fourthlie wee haue the miracles of saint Anthonie saint Hillarie saint Martine saint Nicholas and others written by saint Athanasius saint Hierom and Sulpitius soe that in all ages of the church wee haue miracles Bernardus in vita cius saint Bernard wrote manny miracles of saint Malachias and this age we haue miracles of Francis Zauier prieste of the Societie of Iesus the Apostle of the easte Indies and of many others 16. The 11. marke is 11. Note the perfection of life that Catholique religion doth teach the dissolution and wanton behauiour that protestant religion tendes vnto The trew Christian religion ought to withdrawe and remooue our loue and affection from these vilâ—e base and transitorie thinges and to eleâ—ate and lifte vppe our hartes mindes and thoughtes to the consideration and contemplation of celestiall and heauenlie thinges to abstaine from the filthie exercise of wanton delightes and raginge concupiscence to set at naught all suche baites as prouokes the fleshe to rebell against the spiritt to despise and contemne all worldlie honors promotions and riches of this fraile life Also it â—oth teache perswade fastinges praiers almesdeeds wearinge of heare cloath austeritie of life and other afflictions of the corruptible and rebellious flesh by which the damnable allurements thereof should be restrained and extinguished Also it doth teach voluntarie pouertie perpetuall chastisie and perfecte obedience But the doctrine of the protestant saies that these exerciâ—es are but meere follies and that they be but humane traditions by which God is not pleased that all abstinence from fleshe is but superstition that vowes and votaries are but fained hollines that it is impossible to liue chaste or continente that euerie one ought to haue a wife and that it is as necessary for a man to haue a woman Lutherus de vita coniugali as meate or drincke 17. The true catholique religion teacheth that good woorcks are necessarie for our saluation the protestant saies that man deserues nothinge by any good woorcke he doth before God and the more badd woorcks yow doe the more yow are in godes fauour soe as it makes the professors of this doctrine to runn headlounge to all kinde of mischeefe takinge awaie all the meanes by which he should be reclaimed as the sacrament of pennance contrition and satisfaction which they say were not instituted of Christe but fained of the people with such like soe also they take away free will from man affirming god to be the only cause of the sinnes that wee comitt That none can keepe godes comaundemeÌ„ts and that wee are not bounde to keepe them Caluin 2. instit c. 7. Also the protestant religion takes from
vs all feare of God or of hell and soe giueth a scope to all mischeefe That the comaundements pertaines not to the christians That there is noe sinne but incredulitie and that all are deceaued if they thincke to be saued by good woorcks with many such vild and absurde doctrines which make a man careles of his saluation rechles of his behauior and nothinge willinge to doe anny good when neither he that doth them is not recompensed or rewarded or God offended or displeased by the saide doings For as by the catholique religion Christ reformed the wicked inclination of man gaue hoalsome precepts and councells to amend his desolute misdeamenor instituted also SacrameÌ„ts to cure all diseases of our soules and to purge our conscience from all filth of sinne now by these carnall and wicked doctrine all ragged conuersation and discomposed misbehauiour is reuiued and as Ouid saieth Iâ— quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolique Metamorphose Insidiaeque vis aâ—â—â— sceleratus habendi In place of simple dealinges and honestie Were brought into the world by heresie â—eceite couetousnes and leacherie 18. The 12. note is the perfecte rule that the Catholique church Io. 20. Luc. 10. Matt. 23. Matt. 19. Iacob 4. and Catholiqueâ— haue to direct them in their faith for the church of Christe hath the holy ghoaste to instruct her in all trueth and to guide her from all errors Iohn 14.16 and wee Catholiques beleeuinge the church as wee are taughte in the Creede when wee saye I beleeue in the holy Catholique church obeyinge her in all thinges as wee be comaunded by our Sauiour wee cannot be deceaued by her nor is it possible we can offend God in submittinge our selues to her doctrine Matt. 18.3 Reg. 4. Actor 15 beinge comaunded by God to hearcken to her and as Rebeca vnder tooke for Iacob to rid him of his fathers malediction if he should followe her aduise soe the Catholique church which Rebecca figured shall deliuer vs from the enormitie of godes malediction if wee shall obey her But the protestants haue noe rule of their faith for they doe not beleeue the churche neither the traditions and generall councells thereof neither the auncient holye doctors of the same The onlie rule they as themselues saie is the scripture But this is noe certaine rule for that wee are bounde to beleeue manny thinges which be not in the scripture Matt. 13. Hebr. 13. yea that which the scripture doth teach the contrarie as the obseruation of the saboath daye and thinges strangled Againe in many places the holy scripture doth wante explication of manny thinges 2. Petr. 3. for saint Peter saith that the epistles of saint Paule are verie hard to be vnderstoode which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue as alsoe the reste of the scriptures to their owne perdition Alsoe all heretiques doe alleadge the scriptures for themselues as saint Augustine sayes Aug. li. 1. de Trin. Hier. aduersus Lucifer for as saint Hierom saith the scripture doth not consiste in readinge but in the sense and vnderstandinge thereof and as for the vnderstandinge and sence of the same there may be a thowsand controuersies as for the trewe sense of these woordes Hoc est corpus meum this is my bodie I am sure Luther and Caluine are against one another touchinge the sense a and meaninge of those woords Therfore S. Augustine saith he would not beleeue the ghospell had he not bene moued therunto by the auctoritie of the churche 19. Soe as these protestants forsakinge the church they haue noe rule of their faith as may appeare by the deadly contention and debate which is daily betwixt them as betwixt Lutherans Caluinists and Anabaptistes for they charge on an other with heresies soe as each of these sectes is diuided into manny sectes for there are 13. sects of Lutherans differinge in opinions one from the other Also amoungest the Caluinists there are many as the world can tell for some of them would haue the kinge to be supreame head of the church others doe repine against it as the puritans doe The Anabaptistes are diuided vnto 14. sects and eche of them haue seuerall and contrarie opinions touchinge the principall pointes of their faith how can two lawiers pleadinge one against the other and ech of them alleadginge lawe for himselfe determine the righte of the cause and the sincere meaninge of the lawe without there were some iudge vnto whome they should referr the controuersie to be decided and debated And because these sectaries will haue noe other iudge but the scripture ech one alleadginge and interpretinge the sense thereof accordinge to his priuate opinion and corrupt affection their controuersie can neuer be decided nor their faith can neuer be setled or made certaine 20. The 13. note is the lawfull authoritie and mission of catholique pastors and preachers whereof the Protestants are wholie destitute no heretique being euer able to shew his next predecessor For as the holie doctors affirme There is no accesse to God but by Iesus Christ No accesse to Iesus Christ but by the church No accesse to the church but by the Sacraments No accesse to the Sacraments but by a Priest None can be a Priest vnles he be ordained by a Bishopp Neuer was there lawfull Bishopp ordained out of the catholique roman church Wherfore as saint Ierom said vnto his aduersarie you are out of the communion of the church of Iesus Christ because you haue not a priest of the order of the Mediator This marke of the vocation and perpetuall succession of pastors in the church of Christ hath euer ben most terrible vnto all heretiques for euen as Baptisme is the only doore to enter into all other Sacraments a Sacrament not reiterable and whose character is indellible euen so this Sacrament of holie Orders and of entring into steward-ship ouer the flock of Iesus Christ was ordayned by our Sauiour as necessarie for distinguishing and discerning such as be vsurpers and robbers from true and lawfull pastors then the other of Baptisme to knowe and discerne sheepe from Wolues and Christs flock from the troupes of infidels 21. This argument doth so gaule and pinche the Protestants that they are forced to fetch all the authoritie they haue for their vocation only from the temporall prince alledging the wordes of saint Paul that all authoritie is from God then saint Matth. that wee must giue vnto Cesar that which is Cesars then saint Peter that wee should be subiect to euerie humaine creature for godes sake all which places aswell the puritantes as the Catholiques doe interprete and vnderstand of temporall authoritie only for gouerning the common weaâ—th and not of spirituall direction and instruction of our soules in articles of our faith and saluation for that all Princes and kinges were then and 300. yeares after Christs passion infidels and especially the Romaine Emperor of whome this was principally intended Otherwise saint Peter and the Apostles who were
put to death by them for their religion were damned in not obeying and conforming themselues vnto those Princes in matters of faith and in the doctrine of saluation The puritanes which are called the reformed and seuere Caluinistes doe grounde themselues vpon the election of the people and that the common and vulgar sorte should make appointe and elect cleargie or pastors to feede and gouerne them and alleadge the first and 6. chapter of the Actes of the Apostles Act. 1. 6. where it is said that it pleased the people to make choice of saint Mathias insteede of Iudas and saint Stephen Philipp Procherus 4. others to supplie the offices of Deacons and afterwardes in the primitiue church wee finde that the people did choose or nominate their Bishoppes But to this puritanticall foundations both the Catholiques and protestantes doe aunswere that those elections or nominations were permitted to the people by the Apostles for their comfort and that the parties so chosen receaued authoritie and spiritual iurisdiction from the Apostles and not from the people as wee see this daie that in manny places the people are permitted to make choice of their encombents but are inuested and consecrated of the Bishoppes of euerie diocesse where the parishioners are permitted to haue this priuilege That there are many excellencies and effectes which should allure euerie one to follow and imbrace the Catholique religion And contrariwise many enconueniences and blasphemies which the newe religion houldeth and teacheth The first excellencie CHAPTER II. 1. THe first and cheefest excellency is to beleeue that God is the first trueth and first cause from whome proceedeth all trueth and by whom all causes haue their operation and their influence The first goodnesse and sanctitie of whom all goodnesse and sanctitie doth depend And as it is the proprietie of the sunne to giue light of the fire to giue heate of the water to make colde so it is the nature essence and proprietie of God with farr greater excellency to do good and to communicat and impart the same vnto his creatures And so saint Augustin saith O God thow art perfect without deformitie great without quantitie good without qualitie eternall without time strong without infirmitie trew without fastshood thow art present euerie where with out ocupieng any place and thow art inward and intimat to euery thing being tyed or fastened to nothing 2. Butt the new religion maketh God crwell without mercy in that he doth encomber his people with lawes and preceptes which they cannott keep wicked without goodnesse in that they make him the cause of all the euill and wickednesse which the wicked doe comitt and for the which they are so seuerely punished The 2. excellencye is the pure and holly doctrine which it professeth CHAPTER III. 1. SVch is the perfection of catholique doctrine that it nether admitteth nor alloweth any thing against the light of reason godes glory or the good of our neghbors it teatcheth the law it comandeth vnder paine of damnation the perfourmance therof and the morall precepts of the tenn commaundeth which are certaine conclusions deriued from the same But Luther saith they pertaine nott to them and all the schoole of protestantes do teach that wee cannott keep or obserue them that God respecteth them nott and that the good woorckes of a christian do preiudice and derrogat from the merites of Christs passion And so they take away all the meritorious woorckes of the iust and all the force and industrie of mās proper merites and consequently al graces and inherent iustice of a sanctified soule by the extrinsicall and imputatiue iustice of Christ and saith that so they haue faith God regardeth nott their woorkes which is a wide gappe and dangerous gulfe to all wickednesse dishonestie loosnesse of life and dissolute behauiour a quite defacing dissanulling and abrogating nott only of the law of nature butt of all other lawes whatsoeuer and therfore most pernitious and dangerous doctrine 2. Besides these holy precepts it perswadeth though not commandeth the Euangelicall counselles of our Sauiour the cheefest wherof is perpetuall chastitie which is a celestiall vertue by which a man forgoeth many encombrances of worldly cares troubles and perturbations of minde 1. Cor. and affliction of his spirit as saint Paule saith The 2. counsell which our Sauiour gaue was to a certaine yong man sayeng vnto him if thou wil be perfect go and sell all that thow hast giue the same to the poore and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen follow me By this counsell a christian doth eschew many tentations and snarres of the diuill into which such as be rich do fall hedlong and ar deliuered from troubles vexations and anxietis of minde and of many contentious and litigious strifes and debates with his negboures which for the most part is incident to worldly people which blessed counsell was obserued of the christians at Hierusalem Acto 2. at Alexandria in Aegipt and at the lake Marian as Philo the Iew reporteth Matt. 5. The 3. counsell is to render good for euill and to pray for our persecutors The 4. counsell is to giue almesse and to pittie the poore to be mercifull to releeue the distressed no vertue is so often inculcated as this no vice so often discommended or with greater punishmentes threatned thē inhumanitie and crweltie The 5. counsell is to exercise our selues in continuall praiers Matt. 25. 1. Tim 2 Luc. 18. Luc 11. and so the Apostle wisheth vs alwaise to pray and our Sauiour also counselleth the same by 3. examples The first of a carnall father in respect of his sonne which yeldeth to his sonnes demande The 2. of a frind that was vrged at the earnest inintreatie of another frind to rise out of his bedd at night to giue vnto him what so earnestly he sought for The 3. of an inflexible iudge that neuer yelded to any mans desire yett at the earnest and importunat suite of a poore woman he was perswadeed to take comisseration of her 3. The religion of protestantes not only barketh all the obseruations of the precepts of the lawe but also forbiddeth and reiecteth all euangelicall counselles sayeng that no man ought to accomplish them As for virginitie they say it is impossible As for the poore they may starue for them for any relefe or comfort they receaue of them For they pull from them all that they haue As for mercy of all people none are so blouddy or so crwell yea the very first preachers of this new religion as you may read As for praiers they cannot abide any order of time or deuotion for performing them for they do nott only barcke as another Vigilantius against euensongs Masse and mattens and against any obseruation of times as att midnight morning and euening but also against the English comon praier booke as you see The 3. Excellencie most diuine Sacraments which confer grace CHAPTER IV. 1. THe 3. Excellencie be the sacramentes
not only of England but of all the world against the decree of all the generall counsells therof against all sacred doctors against common sense and honestie against all lawes both ciuill and cannon not only against catholiques but against protestants in all other countries yea against the puritans of England against these constant confessors and blessed martyrs aboue recited which acknowledged no such supremacy in spirituall or ecclesiasticall matters to any king or prince whatsoeuer that did putt them to death whose blessed blood was patiently shed for the defence of Catholique religion and lastly against the practise of all former ages and antiquitie For from Donaldus the first Christian king of the Scots according to saint Victor Anno 197. there were 84. Christian kinges from Ethelbert being made Christian according to saint Aug. an 600. vnto Edward the confessor 1006. there were 80. kings Christian in EnglaÌ„d after the coÌ„quest ther were 20. vnto king Henry the 8. so as none were euer called head of the church before king Henry after him Edward Elizabeth and king Iames. What shall I say of other holy and valiant martyrs that suffered in these later persecutions raysed vpp by Luther and Caluins heresie and by the Princes that embraced the same How many thousandes suffred confiscation of their goodes and landes effusion of their blood confusion of the world desolation and destruction of their wiues children woe and wreake and dissolution of all things such a masse of miserie and callamitie wherin their miserable and forlorne life was plunged withall as no man can rehearse without greefe nor none can see without teares How many thousand did rotâ— in vgly prisons die in banishments suffred patiently the crewelest tormentes and yrcâ—somest death that could be imagined rather then they would preferr the vaine fauor of man before the fauor of God antiquitie before noueltie to forgoe their auncient Catholique religion to become of the new to forgoe the firme Rocke of Christs church to build their faith vpon them that haue neither grownd or foundation of any supernaturall or theologicall faith at al no certitude in their doctrine no deuotion in their religion no honestie in the profession therof no vertue in their liues no pietie in their schooles or synagoges no charitie in their woorckes no mortification in their members or passions and consequentlie no conscience in their doings THE CONCLVSION 1. I Haue gentle reader exposed to thy vew the Theater of catholique and protestant religion where thou maist plainly behould and see the of-spring beginning growndes foundation practise mischeefe and inconuenience of the one and the excellency of the other Liu. 13. Math. 13. by which thou maist perceaue that the catholique religion ought to be compared to the wise husbandman which did sow the good side in his grownd or farme the protestant to resemble the enimie which sowed the badd cockle and darnell the one ought to be called positiue the other negatiue the one ecclesia malignantium the other militantium the one plantation of religion and deuotion the other supplantation or rooting vp of the same 2. The first subiect of corruptible and materiall things which the philosophers doe call Materia prima which neuer holdeth her selfe setled or contented in any certaine course of any forme or composition but is eueâ— more mutable and changeable by a certaine naturall reuolution from one forme and fashion to another for that shee being disgusted with the one euer more seeketh another is not so vncertaine and vnconstant as protestancy which by a certaine fatall reuolution and babilonicall confusion groweth from one errour to another from one mischeefe to another from one sect to another as appeareth by so many sectes forged and coined by this new religion within these 80. yeers which are 240. in number all in differrence and variance amongest themseluees not in ceremonies or things indifferent but in the cheefest articles and substance of their religion as many of themselues do auerre the one detesting condemning and pronouncing their cursed sentence of Anathema against the other as you may read aboue in the â—â— booke cap. 1. The same may be confirmed by a certaine Prince of Germany who being demaunded of what religion his bordering neighbours were he answered he could describe of what religion they were the last yeere but this yeere he could not well tell their religion in respect of the mutabilitie and in constancy therof see the preface and cap 1. lib 2. 3. But the catholique religion is alwaies one and the selfe same alwaise retaineth and holdeth the same continwance and vigour of trueth not in diuersitie of sectes but in simplicitie and vnitie of beleefe and profession without duplicitie or disparitie or contradiction of doctrine or without absurditie or dishonestie in her maners and customes because she hath the holy ghoast to assist and direct her in all trueth and to protect and to defend her from all errors misbeleefe and infidelitie For not only this new religion is changeable and variable in profession and doctrine but also in condition custome and behauiour for alteration in faith and religion procureth also a great alteration and inconstancy in mindes and affections in life and maners as wee may knowe by such nations who when they were catholiques were mercifull chast sober liberall temperat children were obedient to their parentes and people faithfull of their promisse But when they were turned protestantes as they selues do affirme they became most crwell bloody insolent lecherous riotuous couetuous barbarous luxurious and intemperat 4. For when protestancy laboreth to stoope and intercept all the channells and fountaines of Gods grace the enfluence of Christs passion all the inspiration of the holy ghoast from the soules of christians by which they should be inwardly and formally iustified to whome ought to be applied that which was spoken of the Iewes that they resisted the holy ghoast when it an â—ulleth all the excellencies vertues operations effectes of the blessed Sacramentes all the applications of the merites of Christes passion the vallour and vertue of his blood which the eternall and euerlasting father would haue to be religiously and deuoutly applied by religious meanes and our owne proper endeuours to our owne sanctificatioÌ„ when it destroieth reiecteth all the woorkes and merites of the iust as proceeding and hauing their force worth and valloure from that blessed passion and death of Christ and all the blessed rewardes correspondent and proportionable vnto those merites by vertue of the foresaid passion and blood which they deny to be of that force to abolish and blot out our sinnes wickednesse and punishmentes due vnto the same and so reiecting the force and vertue of Christs passion and transferring and building the same vppon another fundation which they call imputatiue iustice of Christ saying that Christ imputeth not vnto vs our offences and as it were couers them by that iustice by which he is iust himselfe nott by which he maketh vs iust when vppon a kind of an arrogant faith and presumptuous predestination without any relation or referrence to his owne endeuoures so as he beleue that Christ suffred for him or that he is predestinated to be saued he must be such When I say protestancy is blinded and nusled in this peruerse doctrine it being the only and cheefe article of their beleefe which is against scripture good life comon reason sense the definition of the catholique church honestie of a christian and the pietie of a catholique yea against operation of grace or instinct of nature it must run headlong vnto all desperat blasphemies and damnable mischeefe their vnbrideled concupiscence and crwell dispositions impelling them therunto For when the transgression of no lawe or the attempt and consummation of no acte though neuer so exorbitant or so abhominable is punished nor the good woorkes or merites or any execution or exercise of vertue or mortification of any their passions is not regarded for that as they say the merites of Christ his passion doe abrogat them nay such worckes or mortifications are iniurious to the same and doe as they say derogat from them Wee must thincke them to be no otherwise then they are taxeâ— with the imputation of all those cruell and vnchristian like Epithethes by their owne gospellers and when their religion is nothinge els then a path way to all dissolute libertie and licentiousnesse their liues and maners must be such for the corruption of the one engendreth the dissolution of the other 5. Finallie this is the cause that wee see many lawes decrees and dishonest plottes daylie deuised with their rigorous and cruell executions nott against transgressors of godes lawes the lawe of nature but against honest and vertuous people so as the reputation of an honest conscionable and well disposed person cannot be without the imputation of a dangerous traitour whose life goodes and landes must waite and lye open as a pray and bootie for euerie miscreant who as he exceedeth others in villanie and wickednesse must excell them also in promotion and authoritie cuius maledictione os plenum est amaritudine dolo sub lingua eius labor dolor Psal 9. whose tonge is full of malediction bitternesse and deceit Idem so as the decay and downefall of the good must be the raising vpp and aduancement of the badde Exurge Domine non confortetur homo Psal 9. iudicentur gentes in conspectu tuo Constitue Domine legislatorem super eos vt sciant gentes quoniam homines sunt Arise Lord let not man be strengthned let the Gentiles be iudged in thy sight Appoint Lord a law-giuer ouer them that the Gentiles may know that they be men FINIS
it seemed the lightest was extended vnto that which was most sacred holie which those ympious sacrilegious and Sathannicall Bishoppes haue violated they cas◠the Eucharist vnto dogges not without manifest tokens of Godes diuine reuenge for those dogges beinge enkendled with rage and madnes insulted vppon their maisters Hi sancti corporis guilty of the holy body and toare them in peeces and some of them did cast forth out of a windowe a boxe of holy Chrisme to breake it but the angelicall hande by Godes protection preserued it from beinge broken amoungest the stones The like sacriledge the hereticks of our daies beinge misled by the same Sathanicall spirite doe cōmitt and perpetrate And hauinge recorded other wickednes of those hereticques in all these execrable procedinges said this blessed Author the Bishoppes and priests felt their greatest smarte soe that the Bishoppes and priestes beinge taken away the people would be vtterlye and easilye deluded and ouercome for how can the flocke defend themselues when a multitude be gouerned without a rector noe otherwise then the Pastor beinge taken awaye the sheepe would be a bootie for the wolfes by your wicked aduise the faithfull are disarmed the priestes are dishonored and spoyled of that reuerence which ought to be giuen vnto them in honor of his holy name by whome they were ordayned For they were made perfecte by him and worthie of all reuerence and therfore you abuse Godes vocation and with all hostilitie you proceedee vtterlie defacinge Godes worcke destroyinge by the engines and inuentious of your malice Psal 10. Godes diuine ordinance and therfore of you it is said Quoniam quae tu perfecisti ipsi destruxerunt for whatsoeuer thou ô God broughtest to perfection they brought to destruction What is more wicked then to exorcise the holy Ghoast to breake altares to cast the Eucharist vnto brutish beasts And in the 9. booke he saith Quid enim tam sacrilegum est quam altare dei in quibus vos aliquando obtulistis frangere radere remouere What is more sacrilegious then to breake to cutt and remoue thoses altares vppon which somtimes your selues did offer in which the suffrage of the people and the members of Christe are caried in which the omnipotent God is called vpon in which by your praiers the holy ghoast comes and descendes Vnde à multis pignus salutis aeternae c. from whence comes the pleadge of euerlastinge saluation the safeguarde of our faith the hope of our resurrection is receaued for what is the alter but the lodginge and seate of the body and blood of Christ All these you in your furie and rage haue either torne or brocken or remoued wherein hath Christe offended you whose bodie and blood dwelled there for certaine momentes You haue brocken Challices which carried the blood of Christe and conuerted the vse therof and forme into Lumpes exposinge them to a wicked sale and haue herein redoubled your villanie by sellinge them to filthie women pagans haue boughte them to tourne them for to make sacrifice to their Idolls O wicked acte ô vnspeakable villanie to take from God that which you haue dedicated to Idolls to robbe Christe to the end you might exercise more sacriledge What horrible feates haue you practised towardes sacred Virgins consecrated and dedicated to almightie God from whome you haue taken away they veyle of their dedication Thus farre this blessed Saincte Optatus Milleuitanus Caes tom An. Christi 362. as Cesar Baronius doth relate The like tyrannie was exercised and atchiued by Iulian the Apostate Emperor for he made an edicte which he diuulged in all places to robbe and spoyle Churches againste whom S. Nazian framed his speech thus Naz. oratione prima in Iul. Your edict was aswell priuatlie and actually executed as it was publiquely diuulged and proclaymed against sacred and religious howses For that I should let slippe the spoylinge and ransakinge of Altares takinge awaye of all religious ornaments and donatiue◠from sanctuaries and holy places which were a bootie vnto his vnsatiable and greedie desire which was putt in execution by wicked instrumentes his impietie and couetousnes instigatinge him thereunto he determined alsoe to depriue the Christians of all libertie and trust in the common wealth and to inhibitt them of all Councells marcketts assemblies and iudgmente neither could any haue the benefitt of thies thinges but such as woulde sacrifice to Idols O lawes and law makers and kinges who as the beautie of the heauens and splendor of the sunne yea as the brething of aire by common clemencie exposed to all and that truly superabundantly do you so make the vse of lawes equall to all free men and reuerenced of all that you decree to depriue Christians of it that beinge euen tiranically oppressed they may not be able to exact the penalties nor to sue any one for any wronge or extortion done against them For to practise these thinges the hangman yea that homicide said the said Sainct pretended iustice Matt. 5. Rom. 12.1 Cor. 6. Matt. 10. and did vse a collorable defēse of scripture in soe doinge For he alleadged the places of scripture that Christians ought patientlie to beare all wronges to suffer al iniuries rather then once offend any That wee should possesse nothing or haue any propriety and that we should despise and sett at naughte all thinges that either the eare doth heare or the eye doth see or the flesh can feele that wee should render good for euill if a man would strike vs vpon the one cheeke wee should turne the other and that wee should possesse nothinge but our Cloake Ruff. lib. ◠cap. 32. Annianus lib. 22. or our Coate with many such places 7. But that of all most to be deplored he inhibited Christians the schooles of Rhetorique or Grāmer wherfore the said Naz. did most bitterlie inueigh against him sayinge what reason haue you of all men most incōstant to goe about to take away from Christians the vse of learninge thus far S. Naz. against Iulian. Alsoe in the yeare of our Lord 366. when the Arrian heresie was promoted by the fauor of the Emperor Valens the said holy man made a most eloquēt Oration the title whereof is called Ad sancta Laminia when that heresie said he was guarded and adorned with the ymperiall crowne of Valens and soe like a sawsie princocke grewe soe insolente not vnlike the daughter of Herodiades beinge not contented with the gift of the head of one S. Iohn Baptist was made droncke with the bloode of many Bishoppes and holy people in the repressinge whereof the blessed Sainct shewed his great desire and as in the state of the Easte Church in those daies if the Lord of hoastes non reliquisset Hobis semen c. had not left some seede with vs wee had bene like to Sodom and Gomora and as they had S. Naz. and holy Basill so we haue most vertuous holy and learned Doctors to represse this wicked heresie
which as it doth exceede all the heresies that euer were in ympietie of Doctrine and wickednes of life so it doth alsoe surpasse all Heretiques Infideles Turcks and Iewes in all bloody feates cruell exploites Babilonian confusion tragicall desigmentes diuelish purposes and plottes yea and strange inuented lawes newer heard of before with their most rigorous execution You see the fruite of heresie the complotters and compassers thereof the cheefe Architects of her detestable practise her effiminacye luxurious wantones her inducementes to all abhominable pleasures and licentious libertie her bloodie imbrumentes and lamentable tragedies in euerie countrie where shee was nourished and inuented which brought a masse of miserie and calamitie with it to those places that receaued her the shipwracke of whose opulente and aboundante fortunes can beare wittnesse thereof obstinate pride presumptuous and turbulent spirittes dislike and disdaininge of good order and sound discipline contempte and despising of authoritie curiositie and affectation of noueltie discontentment and disquietnes of mindes through ympatience of filthie luste and other malignante priuate humors which were neuer inspired by the spirite of God but by the suggestion of the diuill who was the cause thereof Of the miserable death and endes of such as deuised and defended the protestant Religion as also other heresies CHAPTER VII 1. THe first plotter of this heresie was Martine Luther Luthers death whose life as it was most wicked soe his ende was noe lesse miserable He after that he had surfeyted through one nightes gossopinge himselfe beinge fild intemperatlie vpp to the throate was found dead in the morninge with his wife and as it is suspected was choaked by her Henrye Zuthphan which was the first that brought Lutheranisme into Breame was afterwardes burned at Meldorphe in Thretmarsse Anno 1524. Hulderique Zuinglius an Apostate Priest in a furious skirmish beinge leader of the Tigurians whome he brought to that dolefull battle animatinge them to the combatte as surmountinge their aduersaries in multitude of souldiers were all ouerthrowen and he himselfe was found dead amoungest the dead carcases and was cast into the fire Zuinglius death Conrad in Theolog. Fox pag. 444. soe as he suffred a double death by fire and sworde Of whome the Epitaph was made thus Occul uit patrio bellator Zuinglius ense Et gressa est armis gens populosa suis Zuinglius the Warior was slaine in the fielde And the sword of his Countrie did pierce Genebrardus in Chron. 2. fol. 72. His side by many bloody batles fought His Country vnto ruine he brought CoÌ„radus a Lutheran protestant writeth that God manifested his iudgmente vppon Caluine euen in this world whom he visited in the rodde of furie and punished him horribly before the dreadfull hower of his vnhappie death Caluins dreadfull death for saith he God by his powerfull hand did soe stricke this heretique that beinge in desperation blaspheminge and cursinge the name of God and calling vppon the diuills he yelded vpp his wicked ghoaste hauinge an vglye and filthie apostume in his priuie partes out of which there issued such a number of loathsome and stinckinge woormes Carolostadius his death Epistola de morte Carolastadiâ— OecolaÌ„padus death that not any could abide to come nere him this farre the said Author Carolastadius was slaine by the diuill as the ministers of Basill themselues doe witnesse Oecolampadius also a married Mounque of the order of S. Brigget and one of the firste and principalest Architectes of the protestante religion was founde slaine in his bedd by his wyues side and that by her or rather by the diuill himselfe Luth. lib. de Missa priuata as Luther thincketh The Duke of Saxonie and the Lantgraue of Hesse which were the cheefe promotors and Patrons of lutheranisme were in battell vanquished by Charles the fifte depriued of their dominions and kepte in prison by him many yeares The Prince of Condye The prince of Condys death and the admirall of France which were the Patrones of the secte of Caluine or hugnottes in that Countrye were alsoe vanquished and ouerthrowen in the field with their kinge after many other ouerthrowes and slaughter of their adherentes the one I meane Condie was slaine in the battell of Iarnan the other was kild in a triumph at Paris his carcase beinge caste from the topp of a high howse his necke beinge broken and his body torne was drawen by a rope through the streates and hanged not much vnlike to Iezabell where also the Prince Montgomery was beheaded beinge a great defender of Caluinisme 2. The death of such in EnglaÌ„d as were â—atrons of Protestancie The same miserable end they tasted alsoe that were the patrones of this wicked ghospell in England as Queene Anne Bullen Thomas Cromell the Duke of Somersett and Thomas Cranmer Bishopp of Canterburie The first was accused arraigned and conuicted of a filthie incest her supposed Father beinge the iudge thereof and by his sentence putt to death who was so besotted of her filthie loue The next was condemned and putt to death for heresie and high treason by kinge Henry the eighte vnto whom he yealded himselfe both soule and bodâ—e before by the lawe he made himselfe videlicet whosoeuer should be cast into the tower he should be put to death without examination Fox act and monuments 563. whome he called the wall and defense of the protestant Chruch The third which was the Duke of Somersett beinge vncle vnto kinge Edward his vicar generall in all ecclesiasticall causes and protector and as it were kinge of the whole Realme was depriued of all auctoritie and publiquelie beheadded The last which was Cranmer after abiuringe his wicked heresie at Oxford by Queene Marie Robert Barnes Thomas Gerrard William Ierom beinge the first cheefe instruments that Kinge Henry the 8. had to perswade the people touching the kinges supremacie in ecclesiasticall causes were by the said kinge Henrye burned afterwards and the said Barnes beinge there at the stake and the flame readie to lay hould vppon him said these words By our meanes the kinge was made absolute kinge of England whereas before he was but halfe a kinge and for our paynes this is the rewarde wee haue Anno Domini 1540. Prince of Aurengs death 3. The Prince of Aurenge that was the author and enginer thereof in flanders was slaine with a pistole in his newe wyues lappe by Balthazer Gerard. Ludouicus Nalconius brother to the said Prince and the cheefe author of the rebellion of the said lowe Countries in the battle of Mokens which he lost the Spaniardes hauinge gotten the victory was burned in a little cottage aliue whether he fledd for safeguard In that battle also his Brother Henry perished as his brother Adolphus did perishe a little before in FrislaÌ„d William Lumenus the Earle of Mansfil after defilinge his murtheringe hands with the cruell death of many religious persons priests and Catholiques in Holland and Zeland and