the Faith Word of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ vpon Earth to the great Content Ease and Rest of thy minde and assurednesse of knowing diuine Truths and Verities without deceit because God Almightie cannot deceiue thee nor faile of his Oath and Promises whereupon they are grounded So Saint Paul telleth the Colossians and in them all Christians that they shall be holy and immaculate and blamelesse Col. 1. 27. before God if yet you remaine in the Faith grounded and stable and vnmoueable from the hope of the Gospel which you haue heard which is preached among all Nations that are vnder Heauen CHAP. VIII How our Catholike Faith is so founded vpon the Oathes and Promises of God that it is not possible for any man to be an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort without affirming in effect and deed that God Almightie is periured and forsworne OVR Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is not founded vpon Men as Protestant Ministers tell thee but vpon two things immoueable The Oath of God and That it is impossible for God to lye By my selfe Gen. 22. haue I sworne saith our Lord I will multiply thee and I will multiply thy Seede as the Starres of Heauen and as the sand which is by the Sea-shore thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth Not only the Brittans in an Iland diuided from the whole World but all the Nations of the Earth The Scripture foreseeing that God Gal. 3. 8. iustifieth the Gentiles by Faith by Faith that worketh by Gal. 3. 22. Charitie shewed vnto Abraham before that in thee shall all Nations Gal. 5. 6. be blessed For God promising Heb. 6. 13. to Abraham because he had none greater by whom hee might sweare hee sware by himselfe saying Vnlesse blessing I shall blesse thee and multiplying shall multiply thee c. for mensweare by greater then themselues and the end of all their controuersie for confirmation is an oath So God meaning more abundantly to shew the heires of the Promise the stabilitie of his Counsell hee interposed an Oath that by two things vnmoueable whereby it is impossible for God to lye wee may haue a most strong comfort who haue fledde to hold fast the Hope proposed That in the Seede of Abraham our Sauiour not one or few Nations but all the Families of the Earth Act. 3. 25. should be blessed Vpon these two things vnmoueable are founded our Catholike Church holy Faith the Oath of God That it is impossible for God to ly or violate his Oath Promises euery where spoken of in the Scriptures to be fulfilled vpon Christians beleeuing in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ of the Seed of Dauid of the Seed of Abraham that in his Seed Gen. 22. Luc. 1. 55. should be blessed all the Nations of the Earth as hee spake to our fathers to Abraham and his Seed for euer So that it is not possible for any man by any means to become an Heretike or Protestant of any Sect or sort vnlesse he affirme in effect and deeds that God Almightie is a lyer and forsworne nor possible for any man sincerely to maintaine or defend in effect and deeds that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworn but he must be of that Religion which Protestants call Papistrie doe what hee can Whereupon S. Paul sayth An Heretike sinneth being condemned 1. Tit. 3. 10. by his owne iudgement For that he knoweth that he preacheth against the Oathes and Promises of God and pronounceth in his workes and deeds God Almightie to be forsworne and a lyar and hereupon our Sauiour sayth He that doth not beleeue is alreadie iudged Hee that will not beleeue God Almightie when hee sweareth and reneweth his Oath so often as hee doth in the Scriptures there are no meanes left to conuince him but by Aristotles argument viz. Punishment and Paines Those who Li. 1. Top ca. 9. doubt sayth Aristotle whether they should honour the Gods or no stand in need of Paines And according to this are the words of our Sauiour where Luc. 16. 30. hee sayth If they heare not Moyses and the Prophets neither if one should rise from the dead will they beleeue Such as will not beleeue the Oathes of God Almightie recorded by Moyses and the Prophets there is no other meanes left for to make them confesse truth but by eternall Torments Eua beleeued the Deuill that God Almightie could lye when he told her No you shall not die whereas God Almightie Gen. 3. 4. had told her that shee should if she eate of the forbidden fruit and by this meanes deceiuing her hee depriued her and all her posteritie of the Ioyes of Paradise and brought them to Miseries and temporall Death Take thou example by thy Mothers fall and doe not beleeue the Deuill or Sectaries when in effect and deeds they shall perswade thee that God Almightie can lye or be forsworne and suffer his Catholike Church to erre faile and decay contrarie to his Oath and Promises that they draw thee not from the Content and Happinesse of Grace in this life and Glorie in the other into the horror of all temporall Discontents and after death into eternall Torments Saint Augustine in his time vrged the Donatists with this foundation of our Catholike Faith the Oath of God and the Impossibilitie for him to lye saying to them as wee in his wordes say now to Protestants changing onely Donatists for Elizabethians and Africa for Brittanie To you Elizabethians the Catholike Church doth say O sonnes of men how long are yee of heauie heart Why doe you loue vanitie and seeke after a Lye Wherefore haue you diuided your selues by a wicked sacrilegious Schisme from the vnitie of the whole World You giue eare to Falsehoods which are told you of Man either lying or erring from the tradition of the Scriptures that you may die in your Hereticall Seperation And doe not attend what the Bookes themselues say that you may liue in Catholike 〈◊〉 Wherefore doe you open your eares to Men telling you that which they could neuer proue and are deafe against the Word of God which saith Our Lord Ps 2. 7. said to me Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee Aske of me and I will giue thee the Gentiles for thine Inheritance and thy Possession the ends of the Earth To Abraham are the Promises Gal. 3. 16. made and to his Seed hee doth not say to his Seedes as in many but as in one and to thy Gen. 22. Seed which is Christ In thy Seed Gal. 3. 8. shall be blessed all Nations Lift vp the eies of your hearts and consider the whole Globe of the Earth how in the Seed of Abraham all Nations are blessed Then it was beleeued of one when it was not yet seene now you see it
or enioy God or haue anie true content that hath anie vice or iniquitie in his soule as S. Paul sayth If any man 1. Tim. 6. 3. consent not to that doctrine which is according to pietie he is proud knowing nothing because all men may and ought to know that God Almightie is of infinite pietie and so cannot plant a Faith or Religion which is not pious and teaching all vertues as necessarie to saluation and vnion of heart with him their happinesse Thirdly that Faith and Religion in all reason must be the Faith and Religion planted by God which teacheth and sheweth men the most and best meanes how to loue God this being an Argument in Nature and Grace That euerie one loueth his owne 3. Reg. 3. 26. Ioh. 5. 19. Whereby is manifest that our Catholike Religion is the true Faith for that it teacheth vs how to loue God with all our hearts and how to obtaine Saluation and Happinesse by louing God VVhereas Protestants doe teach Saluation by onely Faith and that it is impossible to loue God or keepe the Commaundements And can there be a more vile and wicked Religion inuented then to teach that it is impossible to loue God Almightie with all our hearts Fourthly by generall consent of all People and Nations though of different Religions who all generally say and affirme That Catholikes liuing according to their Faith and Religion may be saued and haue a sparing as some tearme it sauing Faith And the consent of all People and Sects and Nations cannot erre in Reason CHAP. VII That it is as certaine that our Catholike Faith which Protestants call Papistrie is the Faith of God planted by our Sauiour as it is certaine that God Almightie cannot lye or be forsworne and how easily to end and determine all Controuersies by maintaining the Oath of God as true BY my own selfe haue I sworne Gen. 22. 16. saith the Lord to Abraham because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thy onely begotten sonne for my sake I will blesse thee and I will multiply thy Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the sand that is by the Sea shoare thy Seed shall possesse the gates of his enemies and in thy Seed shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth because thou hast obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Isaack saying In thy Seed Gen. 26. 4. shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth for because Abraham obeyed my voice Againe our Lord promised to Iacob Thy Seed shall be as Gen. 28. the dust of the Earth thou shalt be dilated to the West and to the East and to the North and to the South and in thee and thy Seed all the Tribes of the Earth shall be blessed Of these Promises the Prophet Esay speaketh saying Israel shall flourish and spring Isa 27. 5. and they shall fill the face of the world with Seed Againe I Isa 61. 8. the Lord that loue Iudgement and hate Robberie in Holocaust And I will giue their worke in truth and make a perpetuall Couenant with them And they shall know their Seed in the Gentiles and their Budde in the middest of Peoples All that shall see them shall know them that those are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed And of this Oath the same Prophet speaking sayth As in the dayes of Noe is this thing Isa 54 9. to me to whom I sware that I will no more bring the Waters of Noe vpon the Earth so haue I sworne not to be angrie with thee and not to rebuke thee for the Mountaines shall be moued and the little Hills shall tremble before the Day of Iudgement but my Mercie shall not depart from thee and the Couenant of my Peace shall not be remoued said our Lord thy Miserator Of this Oath the Prophet Daniel in the Captiuitie of Babylon maketh mention saying Take not away thy Dan. 3. 35. Mercie from vs for Abraham thy beloued and Isaack thy seruant and Israel thy holy one to whom thou hast spoken promising that thou wouldest multiplie their Seed as the starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is in the Sea shoare Of this Oath the Prophet Dauid speaking sayth I will Ps 88. 28 put him the first begotten high aboue all the Kings of the Earth I will keepe my Mercie vnto him for euer and my Testament faithfull vnto him I will put his Seed for euer and euer and his Throne as the dayes of Heauen But if his children shall forsake my Law and will not walke in my Iudgements if they shall prophane my Mercies and not keepe my Commaundements I will visit their Iniquitie with a Rod and their sinnes with stripes But my mercies I will not take away from him neither will I hurt in my Truth Neither will I prophane my Testament violate his Oath Againe speaking of this Oath and these Promises hee sayth He hath beene Ps 104. mindfull for euer of his Testament of the Word which he commaunded vnto thousand of Generations which he disposed to Abraham and his Oath to Isaac and he appointed it to Iacob for a Precept and to Israel for an eternall Testament That this Oath of God and Promises to the Patriarkes were to be fulfilled in Christ Iesu and in Christians maintaining and professing the Faith of God planted by our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ the Scriptures abundantly do testifie Our Lord expounding the Parable of the Cockle of the field sayth He that Mat. 13. 37. soweth the good Seed is the Sonne of Man and the Field is the World and the good Seed those are the Children of the Kingdome dispersed ouer the World according to the Oath of God to Abraham Againe our Lord sayth Doe Mat. 5. 18. not thinke that I come to breake the Law or the Prophets I am not come to breake but to fulfill Againe All things must needes Luc. 24. be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moyses and the Prophets and the Psalmes of me Our Blessed Ladie speaking of the fulfilling of this Oath in our Sauiour and his Seede the Christians saith Hee hath receiued Israel his Luc. â— 54. Child being mindfull of his mercie as he spake to our Fathers to Abraham and his Seede for euer And Zacharie replenished with the Holy Ghost prophecied saying Blessed be Luc. 1. 68. our Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people as he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets that are from the beginning to remember his holy Testament the Oath which he sware to Abraham our Father Of the fulfilling of this Oath and these Promises in our Sauiour and Christians S. Peter speaketh saying You are the Children of the Act. 31. 24. Prophets and of the Testament which God made to our Fathers saying to Abraham And in thy Seed shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed That this Oath of God
saith the Apostle Phi. 4. in him that comforteth mee Comfort vs O Lord and wee can doe all things yea loue our heauiest Persecutors as our selues Since from God Almightie proceedeth all our good and strength the first means of atteining vnto the loue of our Persecutors as our selues is much to loue his Diuine Maiestie To them Rom. 8. that loue God all things cooperate in good Againe If any Io. 14. 23. loue me he will keepe my word loue his Enemies and pray for his Persecutors Loue is Cant. 8. 6. as strong as Death The Loue of God nothing can ouercome Many Waters of tribulation Cant. 8. cannot quench Charitie neither shall Flouds of Persecution ouerwhelme it Wherefore the first meanes is much to loue God Almightie and often to make the aforesaid Acts of Loue and Charitie towards God set downe in the eleuenth Chapter and then thou wilt easily loue thy most alienated enemies with all thy heart The second meanes is often to reflect vpon the prouidence of God Almightie who since hee intendeth to crowne none but such as 2. Tim. 2. shall ouercome in combate first giueth the grace and force to ouercome and then permitteth myserable people to practise cruelties and persecutions vpon thee that thou by his grace ouercomming them and remaining through Patience and Charitie a Conquerour he may crowne thee with abundance of temporall Content in this life and after death in the other with eternall glory according to the words of S. Iames saying Blessed is the man that suffereth Iam 1. 12. temptation for when he hath beene proued he shall receiue the Crowne of life which God hath promised to them that loue him Insomuch as by ouercomming thy gaine is so great that if a persecuting King Prince or Potentate should spoile himselfe of his Scepter and Crowne and bestow them both on thee together with his Kingdome yet thou shouldest not receiue by his meanes so great a benefit as the Martyr whō he putteth to death either publikely or by long priuate imprisonment or other distresses for our Catholike Faith My Num. 23. 10. soule die the death of the iust and my last ende be made like to them So in truth and veritie there is no cause why thou shouldest hate or wish any euill vnto thy seuerest Persecutors but much cause why thou shouldest wish well vnto them and loue them tenderly since that by their meanes and by their losse both of temporall and eternall Content and Happinesse thou perseuering in Charitie art to receiue a greater benefit then otherwise thou couldest expect euer to haue receiued viz. to be crowned with a Crown of Apoc. 3. 10. eternall glory to rest in the ioy of our Lord before the throne of God and serue him Apoc. 7. day and night in his Temple and be conducted by the Lambe our Sauiour to the liuing Fountaines of Waters And for this cause the wisest men that be vpon the face of the Earth haue a pious enuie at our happinesse here in England For that we are killed Ps 43. 22. all the day we are esteemed as Sheepe of slaughter for the Catholike Faith which wee professe and goe continually as the Prophet Dauid sayth With our liues alwayes Ps 118. in our hands to offer them to God Almightie in Sacrifice knowing that our reward is very great in Heauen for so Mat. 5. 12. they persecuted the Prophets Apostles and Martyrs that were before vs To whom our Sauiour sayth You are they that haue remained with me in my temptations and I dispose to you as my Father disposed to me a Kingdome that Luc. 22. 28. you may eate and drinke vpon my Table and in my Kingdome and may sit vpon Thrones iudging the twelue Tribes of Israel Thou seest what labour paines and dangers euerie worldly man would be content to take if he might but hope to ascend vp to be an earthly King or Prince or come to attaine some grace and fauour in the Court where in truth and veritie their greatest Pleasures are mixt with so many Woes that if they would but looke vpon them with reason they haue more cause to lament their euill mishap then to take glorie in their seeming high estate How much more shouldest thou be content gladly and willingly to suffer some seuen yeares paines and persecution in hope to enioy the Kingdome of Heauen the glorie of the other life and that eternally A third meanes is to stirre vp and reuiue thy Faith in thee by making many Acts of Faith founded vpon the Promises to patient suffering Iniuries and Persecutions for the loue thou bearest to God as often to make these or the like Acts. He that will saue his life Mat. 16. 25. shall lose it and he that shall lose his life for me shall finde it What doth it profit a man if Mat. 16. 26. he gaine the whole world and sustaine the dammage of his Soule What permutation shall a man Mar. 26. giue for his Soule What wilt thou take that the Deuill may haue thy Soule for to burne in Hell eternally and trie but for a quarter of an houre how thou canst endure thy hand or foot to be burnt in this fire vpon Earth And then thou wilt laud the mercies of our Lord that by his Grace and thy suffering patiently so little paines he hath ordained to redeeme thee from eternall Torments Wee suffer with Christ Iesu Rom. 17. that we may be glorified also with him The sufferings of this time are not condigne to the glorie to Rom. 8. 18. come that shall be reuealed in vs. Our tribulation which is momentarie 2. Cor. 4. 17. and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs. If 2. Tim. 2. 11. wee be dead in Christ then wee shall liue also together with him If we shall sustaine we shall also reigne together So to liue by Faith according as it is written The iust Gal. 3. 12. liueth by Faith for without Faith it is impossible to please God For hee that commeth to God Heb. 11. 6. must beleeue that hee is and is a rewarder of them that seeke him And this is the Faith of the Saints so renowmed and often spoken of in the Scriptures the Faith of Henoch Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph Moyses Gedeon Barac Sampson Iephte and the Apostles who by Faith ouercame Kingdomes wrought Iustice obtained Promises stopped the mouth of Lyons extinguished the force of Fire repelled the edge of the Sword recouered of their Infirmities had triall of Mockeries and Stripes of Bonds and Prisons were Stoned Hewed Tempted dying in slaughter of the Sword went about in Sheepe skinnes and Goats skinnes needie in distresse afflicted of whom the World was not worthie wandering in Desarts in Mountaines and Dennes and in Caues in the Earth As thou seest Religious men and Priests and Lay Catholikes doe in the time of this our persecution
in the great Multitude which no Apoc. 7. 9. man could number of all Nations Tribes and Peoples and Tongues which are to be signed with thy Marke and to be conducted Apoc. 7. 17 to the Fountaine of liuing Waters O Lord of infinite Maiestie let the petition of thy seruant be accepted in thy sight and graunt that this my King and his Seed may be numbred amongst that Seed to which thou promised I will put his Seed for euer and Ps 88. 30. his Throne as the dayes of Heauen Thou art faithfull deare Lord and iust and right without any iniquitie and hast promised That whosoeuer shall 1. King 2. 30. glorifie thee thou wilt glorifie him and they that contemne thee shal be base Graunt deare Lord that this my King Queene and Prince may so glorifie thee in all their actions and deeds that thou mayest glorifie them vpon Earth and in Heauen eternally Most mercifull Lord I beseech thy infinite Goodnesse so to illuminate the hearts of all sinners that they may come to doe heartie penance for their sinnes and seeke to loue thee with all their hearts Graunt deare Lord for the Passion of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ that all those Schismatikes and Heretikes who in effect defend that thou hast fayled in maintaining thy Oath and Promises to Abraham the Prophets and Patriarkes for many hundred yeares may see their errors and returne vnto our Catholike Church in which are abundantly fulfilled all thy Oathes and Promises Forgiue sweet Sauiour all those who persecute me and graunt that they may come so to loue thee in this life that after death they may for euer enioy thee in Heauen I beseech thee my Lord by the bowels of thy infinite mercie that all such as seeke after Ambition and earthly Dignities may turne all their Affections vpon thee who art their onely true felicitie Graunt deare Lord that I may rather die then not heartily loue and pray for my seuerest Persecutors Deare Lord for thy infinite mercies I beseech thee so to illuminate the hearts of all the Protestant English Clergie our deare Countreymen that they may see thy Oathes and Promises fulfilled in our Catholike Church and returne vnto it with all their hearts CHAP. XIIII Of the wretchednesse and miseries into which those fall who liue in breach of the Commandements of God and doe beleeue that it is not necessarie or impossible to keepe them HAuing shewed thee deare Reader that it is not possible for thee euer to be happie or find any true Content Ease or Rest vnlesse thou keepe the Commaundements of God and also hauing set downe vnto thee the meanes by which thou mayest easily keepe them Now it resteth to set downe the miseries and wretchednesse into which those fall who liue in breach of them and esteeme it a thing impossible for to keepe them that either for the loue of thine owne good and content or else for feare of thy falling into miseries torments thou mayest be woon to keepe them zealously so be happy which is that I heartily wish vnto thee First those who doe not loue God with all their hearts and keepe his Commaundements are spirituall Idolaters and doe liue in spirituall Idolatrie For our Sauiour explicating of the first Commaundement which is made against Idolatrie and the hauing of Exod. 20. 1. strange Gods sayth Thou shalt Mat. 22. 37. loue the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soule and with thy whole mind This is the greatest and the first Commandement sayth our Sauiour So if thou wilt beleeue our Sauiour himselfe thou must confesse that those who doe not loue God with their whole hearts and keepe his Commandements are Idolaters And the part of Idolaters Apoc. 21. 8. saith S. Iohn shal be in the Poole burning with fire and Brimstone An Idoll of it selfe is not 1. Cor. 10. 19. any thing as witnesseth Saint Iohn but the loue affection which any one beareth to any creature imagination or conceit more then to God contrarie to the first Cōmandement whereupon couetous men are called Idolaters because that Col. 3. 5. they loue Gold and Riches more then God and lasciuious Men or Gluttons are said Phil. 3. 19. to make their bellies their God And according to this our Sauiour sayth You cannot Mat. 6. 24. serue God and Mammon God will haue all thy heart and loue or none Whereupon S. Iohn sayth Euery one that In his 2. Epist Ver. 9. reuolteth and persisteth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God that is hath no true God but is an Idolater Againe He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar Whereupon it commeth to passe that howsoeuer these who thinke it impossible to keepe the Commaundements of God seeme to adore laud and praise God and haue the Lord the God alwaies in their mouths sing Geneua Psalms in their Congregations yet they doe neither serue their God nor acknowledge him in their words or song but commit spirituall Idolatrie apprehending vnder these termes the Lord the God c. such a God as they haue feigned and not such a God as he is indeed All Heathen and Cicero de Leg. li. 1. Pagan people that euer were haue acknowledged a God and haue sung songs in praise but they did not acknowledge him to be as he is but as they feigned him to be as those doe who affirme that they are assured to be saued without keeping the Commandements of God confesse that there is a God a Trinitie c. but doe not confesse him to be such a God as he is that is a God who curseth all these who decline from his Commandements Psal 118. according to his Mat. 25. word but such a God Trinitie as they haue feygned that is to say a God which will admit and receiue into Heauen filthie soules stained with Pride Idolatrie Fornication Couetousnesse c. when there is no such God but onely in their imaginations as witnesseth Saint Paul saying Doe not erre neither ◠Cor. 6. Fornicators nor seruers of Idols nor Adulterers nor the Effeminate nor the Lyers with mankinde nor Theeues nor the Couetous nor Drunkards nor Raylers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God For he that hath done iniurie shal Col. 3. 25. receiue that which he hath done vniustly and there is no acception of Persons with God There shall Apoc. 22. not enter into Heauen saith S. Iohn any vncleane thing or that doth abhomination or maketh a lye Whereby is manifest that all those who do liue in the breach of the Commandements of God do beleeue that either it is not necessary or else that it is impossible to keepe them are spirituall Idolaters and doe adore and serue strange Gods in their soules and spirits contrary to the first Commandement as it is also manifest to experience for aske of any one of these
of God with all our hearts and our neighbour for Gods sake as our selues And first it is necessarie to speake of temporall blessings and contentments and after of spirituall and eternall The practise of this our Doctrine of louing God with all our hearts and our neighbours for Gods sake as our selues yeeldeth such abundance of temporall Happinesse and Content as that it taketh away all the causes of temporall discontent and miseries from amongst men and planteth in their places all temporall Happinesse and Contentments for supposed that this our Doctrine were practised amongst men and that euerie one would loue God with all his heart and his neighbour for God as himselfe first it would take away all Vsurie Theft Murder Fornication Adulterie Suits in Law Sects Controuersies Rebellions Conspiracies Enuie Hatred Malice Emulations Oppressions Contentions and whatsoeuer miserie is in any Kingdome State or Common-wealth and all the euils which are prohibited and forbidden by Lawes For if we did loue God Almightie with all our hearts wee should be verie sorrie to offend him As wee see by experience euerie one hath great care not to offend him whom hee loueth So if men loued God Almightie with all their hearts there would bee no such sinnes committed as are spoken of in the Tenne Commaundements or in anie other Ciuill or Common Law According to the wordes of our Sauiour saying If any loue mee hee Ioh. 14. 23. will keepe my Word Againe Hee that loueth me not keepeth Io. 14. 24. not my wordes So establish the loue of God in the hearts of men and you take away all Idolatrie Theft Fornication Adulterie Couetousnesse Extortion Iniustice Sinne and Wickednesse forbidden by any Law To the verifying of the vvordes spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Iustice shall be Isa 11. 5. the girdle of his Loynes and Faith the girdle of his Reynes The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe and the Leopard shall lye with the Kid The Calfe and Lion and Sheepe shall abide together a little child shall leade them The Calfe and the Beare shall feede their young ones shall rest together And the Lion shall eate Straw as it were an Oxe And the Infant from the Breast shall be delighted vpon the hole of the Aspe and he that is weyned shall thrust his hand into the hole of the Cockatrice They shall not hurt and they shall not kill in all my holy Mountaine because the Earth is replenished with the knowledge of our Lord the loue of God and Man for he that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his Commaundements 1. Ioh. 2. 4. is a lyar and the truth is not in him Whereby thou seest deare Reader that the practise of our Doctrine taketh away all temporall miseries and wretchednesse from amongst men insomuch as if that it vvere practised there vvould bee no neede of Lawes nor any vse of any Lawyers Againe supposed that euerie one would loue his neighbour as his second selfe then all would relieue the poore and euerie one would reioyce at others good and prosperitie as at his owne and all seeke to aduance one and one all and found a perfect Monarchie in defence inuincible and in offence against the enemies of their common good alwayes conquerors euery one faithfully seconding of his companion as his second selfe they would remaine inuincible and euerie one louing his neighbour as himselfe euerie one would willingly supply to his power his neighbours wants and by this meanes they would all liue in happie and quiet temporall Content like perfect friends confirmed in sociable amitie according to the Prophecies Thy People all Isa 60. 21. iust for euer shall inherite the Land the Budde of my planting the worke of my hand to glorie The least shall be into a thousand and the little one into a most strong Nation the Lord in the time thereof will suddainely doe it Againe I will make thy visitation Isa 60. 18. Peace and thy Ouerseers Iustice Iniquitie shall no more be heard in thy Land Waste and Destruction in thy Borders and Saluation shall occupie thy Walls and Praise thy Gates And this wee see fulfilled in the Christians of the Primitiue Church Of whom it is said The multitude Act. 4. 32. of Beleeuers had one Heart and one Soule neyther did any say that ought was his owne of those thinges which hee possessed And is euen vntill this day fulfilled in all poore reformed Religious Orders dilated ouer the World who neuer stand in need to vse Suites or Lawyers And it is also fulfilled in all Countreyes more or lesse accordingly as they are Christians Catholike or stayned with spots of Heresie All the temporall Blessings of Monarchies Kingdomes and States are founded vpon the keeping of the Commaundements of God according to that Pact or Couenant which Moyses made with the people of Israel which now wee Christians are saying If thou wilt heare Deut. 28. the voice of our Lord thy God that thou doe and keepe all his Commandements which I commaund thee this day our Lord thy God will make thee higher then all Nations that be on the Earth and all those Blessings shall come vpon thee and ouertake thee yet so if thou heare his Precepts Blessed shalt thou be in the Citie and blessed in the Field blessed shall be the fruit of thy Wombe and the fruit of thy Ground and the fruit of thy Cattell the troopes of thy Heards and the foulds of thy Sheepe c. Our Lord will raise thee vp vnto himselfe to be a holy People as he sware to thee if thou keepe the Commaundements of our Lord thy God and walke in his wayes And all the people of the Earth shall see that the Name of our Lord is inuocated vpon thee and they shall feare thee c. And our Lord will make thee the Head and not the Tayle and thou shalt be alwayes aboue and not vnder yet so if thou wilt heare the Commandements of our Lord thy God which I commaunded thee this day and keepe and doe them c. Which wee see to haue beene fulfilled in all Ages amongst Christian People Emperours Kings Empires Kingdomes and States insomuch as that these were alwayes the most renowmed happie blessed and fortunate Kingdomes who most followed the Doctrine of the Catholike Church and attended to the keeping of the Commaundements of God As of Constantine the Great Saint Augustine writeth saying Ciuit. Dei li. 5. ca. 6. Constantine the Emperour not suppliant to Deuils but worshipping the true God receiued so many gifts and blessings from God as none durst presume to wish This one Augustus held possessed and defended the whole Romane Empire In administrating of Warre he was iust and victorious in vanquishing and repressing Tyrants wonderfull prosperous being of great yeares he died of sicknesse and old age his sonnes Emperours to succeed him Of Theodosius the elder S. Augustine sayth That hee De Ciuit. Dei li. 5. ca. 26. had wonderfull
thee deare Reader abundance of Charitie that thou maist beare much Fruit of the holy Ghost and be abundantly Happy and Content For with the same Mat. 6. 38. measure you doe mete it shall be measured to you againe saith our Sauiour OF THE SECOND Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Ioy. THe second Fruit which the Holy Ghost produceth in the hearts of such as loue God is Ioy not such base ioyes as haue gaping hunters when they haue found their prey or sensuall Men in the Lute and Harpe and 〈◊〉 â—0 Timbrell and Psalme and Wines in their Banquets for which cause Hell hath dilated his Soule and opened his Mouth without all measure or limitation and the Strong and High and Glorious ones shall descend into it but Ioy in our Lord according to the words of the blessed Virgine Mary saying My Spirit hath reioyced Luk. 1. 46. in God my Sauiour An exultation of the Heart and Soule in the liuing God according to the words of the Prophet Dauid saying My Psal 83. 5. Heart and my Flesh hath reioyced in the liuing God who is all Pleasure Content and Good An inestimable Ioy and content of Minde and Spirit to finde our Lord there according to his Promise Now indeed you haue Io. 16. â—â— Sorrow but I will see you again and your Heart shall reioyce and your Ioy no man shall take from you Because it shall be in their inward soules with God Almightie which death will not take away but increase according to the words of our Lord saying As my Io. 15. â— Father had loued me I also haue loued you abide in my Loue If you keepe my Precepts you shall abide in my loue as I also keepe my Fathers Precepts and doe abide in his loue These things I haue spoken to you that my Ioy may be in you and your Ioy may be filled with so great Content that in this life you are neither capable nor would receiue or desire more Of this Ioy our Sauiour â—â— 17. 11. further speaking saith Holy Father keepe them in thy Name whom thou hast giuen me that they may be one as also We and these things I speake in the World that they may haue my Ioy filled in themselues Of this Ioy S. Augustine speaking saith God forbid Con. li. 10. ca. 22. my Lord that with what Ioy soeuer I should reioice I should thinke my selfe happie There is a Ioy which is not giuen to the wicked but to such as serue thee gratis whose Ioy thou thy selfe art and that same is happie Life to reioice at thee of thee and for thee this is it and other there is none Againe Con li. 10. ca. 23. Such as will not reioice of thee who only art happie Life will not be happie for happie Life is Ioy of thee who art Truth God mine illumination the health of my face â—nd my God And out of this Ioy are the abundant Prayses and Ioyes of the Prophet Dauid saying Come let vs reioyce Ps â—4 to our Lord Let vs make iubilation to God our Sauiour The habitation in thee as it Iâ— 8â— â— were of all reioycing Light is risen to the Iust and Ioy to the right of heart Be glad ye Iust 〈…〉 1â— in our Lord and confesse ye to the memorie of his sanctification Of this Ioy the Prophet A 〈…〉 〈…〉 writing saith I will 〈…〉 our Lord and will reioice 〈…〉 my IESVS Of this Ioy the Prophet 〈…〉 Isay speaking saith The ioy of 〈◊〉 Asses the pastures of flocks vntill the Spirit be poured out vpon vs from on high and the Desart shall be as Carmell and Carmell shall be reputed for a Forrest and Iudgement shall dwell in the Wildernesse and Iustice shall sit in Carmell The Ioyes and contentments of Men before they he endued with the Spirit of God are as the Prophet saith like the ioyes of wilde Asses all placed in eating drinking sleeping and following their carnall and sensuall appetites but after the Holy Ghost be poured out vpon them then they who were without Fruit and as such abandoned and forsaken and left to the ioyes of wilde Asses shall be as Carmell or Carmelites which is to say knowledge of Circumcision or a Circumcised Lamb and shall abandon and cast off all their wilde Asses pleasures to become partakers of the Promises of God to our Fathers saying Our Lord thy God will circumcise Deut. 30. 6. thy heart and the heart of thy Seede that thou maiest loue thy Lord thy God in all thy heart and in all thy soule that thou maiest liue Whereof S. Paul speaking Rom. 2. saith Circumcision of the heart in Spirit Againe Wee Phi. 3. are the Circumcision which in Spirit serue God and keepe the Commandements And Carmell the Mount from which wee take our Name and vpon which our Fathers Elias Elizeus and the sonnes of the Prophets liued in contemplation and adoration of God in Spirit and veritie shall be so dilated as a Forrest manie giuing themselues to contemplation all ouer the World And Iudgement shall dwell in contemplatiue Men and Iustice shall sit in Carmell in Carmelites or Men hauing circumcised hearts by the Spirit of God As in another place the same Prophet speaking saith Shall Isa 22. not yet within a little while and in a short time Libanus another more waste Mountaine in Palestina be turned into Carmell and Carmell reputed for a Forrest and in that day the deafe shall heare the words of the Booke and out of the Darkenesse and Mist the eies of the blinde shall see and the meeke shall adde ioyfulnesse in our Lord and the poore men shall reioice in the Holy One of Israel c. Againe of these Ioyes Ease and Rest which men endued with Charitie should attaine vnto the Prophet Isay further speaking saith When Isa 2. thou shalt poure out thy Soule to the hungrie and shalt fill the afflicted Soule thy light shall rise vp in darkenesse and thy darkenesse shall be as the Noone-day And our Lord will giue thee Rest alwaies and will fill thy Soule with brightnesse and deliuer thy bones and thou shalt be as a watered Garden and as a Fountaine of Waters whose Water shall not faile And the Desarts of the World shall be builded in thee Thou shalt raise vp the foundations of Generation and Generation and thou shalt be called the builder of the Hedges turning the Paths into Rest. If thou turne away thy foote from the Sabbath from doing thy will in my Holy day and call the Sabbath delicate and the Holy of our Lord glorious and glorifie him whilest thou doest not thine owne waies and thy will be not found to speake a word Then shalt thou bee delighted vpon the Lord and I will lift thee vp aboue the heights of the Earth and will feede thee with the Inheritance of IACOB thy Father for the Mouth of our Lord hath spoken If the
Ioy of wilde Asses be so highly esteemed by the Princes and adorers of the Earth as that they put either all or the most part of their content in them how much more are to be esteemed the Ioyes of the holy Ghost which doe so farre exceede all the Ioyes of wilde Asses and carnall pleasures of the censuall Men of the Earth as the Soule doth the Body The one being common to pious Men and Angels the other proper to carnall Men and Beasts OF THE THIRD Fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Peace THe third Fruit which the holy Ghost doth produce in the hearts of them that loue him and their neighbour for him is Peace not such Peace as is giuen to the wicked who can finde no other Rest or Peace but in the following and feeding of their inordinate appetites with sensuall pleasures like the beasts of the Forrest But the Peace of God which passeth Phil. 4. 7. all vnderstanding an Ease Rest Repose of heart and minde in God Almightie which exceedeth the capacitie and vnderstanding of all sensuall men which S. Paul describeth to be an vnion of our hearts and all the vnderstanding Phil. 4. powers of our soule in Christ Iesus Peace which was promised by the Prophet Isay saying When the Spirit shall be poured Isa â—2 17. out vpon vs then the worke of Iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of Iustice Silence and Securitie for euer And my People shall sit in the beautie of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie Rest Resting of their Hearts and all the powers of their Soule in Christ Iesus as a Stone in his Centre Peace spoken of by the Prophet Dauid saying Praise â—â— 147. â— thy God O Syon because hee hath strengthened the Locks of thy Gates he hath blessed thy Children in thee who hath set thy borders Peace and filleth thee with the fat of Corne. Againe In Peace in the self-same I will sleepe and rest Whereupon S. Augustine reading this verse after his Conuersion from Heresie cryed from the bottome of his heart O in Peace O Con. li. 9. 8. ca. 4. in the selfe-same O what did he say I will Repose and take Rest Thou O Lord art the selfe-same exceedingly who art not variable in thee is Rest forgetting of all labours for that there is no other with thee neither are there many more things to be had which thou art not But thou O Lord hast singularly setled me in hope I did reade and did burne in loue Neither did I finde what I should doe to the deafe dead Heretikes amongst whom I had beene an vnsauourie yeller forth of infectious Doctrine and blinde against the Letters honyed with the hony of Heauen and lightened with thy Light O that they could see the inward Eternall Light Which I because I had tasted I was angrie at my selfe for that I could not shew it them if they should bring vnto me a heart in their owne eies without thee and should say Who will shew vs good things So Saint Augustine The Peace spoken of by our Sauiour saying Peace I Io. 14. 27. leaue to you my peace I giue to you not as the World giueth doe I giue to you Againe In me you may haue Io. 16. 55. Peace in the World you shall haue Distresse Whereof the Prophet Isay speaking saith For this cause shall my people Isa 52. â— know my Name in that day because I my selfe that spake Peace I leaue you loe am present How beautifull vpon the Mountaines are the feele of him that euangelizeth and preacheth Peace of him that telleth good preaching Health that faith to Sion the Soule which loueth God with all his heart Thy God shall Isa 9. 5. raigne Because all violent taking of prey with tumult and garment mingled with blood shall be burnt and foode for the fire For a little Childe is borne to vs and a Sonne is giuen to vs and his name shall be called Prince of Peace His Empire shall be multiplied and there shall be multiplied and there shal be no end of his peace At this Peace the Angels reioyced to see it prepared to be planted in the Hearts of Men vpon Earth And Luk. 2. the Angels said I euangelize to you great Ioy that shall be to all People beeause this day is borne to you a Sauiour which is Christ our Lord you shall finde the Infant swadled in Clothes and layd in a Maunger And suddenly these was with the Angell a multitude of the heauenly Armie praysing God and saying Glorie in the highest to God and in Earth Peace to Men of good will For Eph. â— hee our Lord himselfe is our Peace who hath made both one and dissoluing the middle Wall of the Partition the enmities in his Flesh And comming he euangelized Peace to you that were farre off and Peace to them that were nigh for by him we haue accesse both in one Spirit to the Father This is the Peace which Saint Paul wished to the Thessalonians saying The 2. Thes 3. 16. Lord of Peace himselfe giue you euerlasting Peace in euery place And this is the Peace which our Lord often wished to his Disciples after his Resurrection saying Peace be to you This Peace saith S. Augustine In epist ad fratres in eremo Christ left by a Testament to the Apostles as the chiefest good without the which none ought to liue c. This is that glorious Peace which expelleth the fruit of euill Thoughts preserueth the wauering Minde from hurt and purgeth the Conscience He who hath not the peace of Heart of Mouth and Worke ought not to be called a Christian O Peace thou art the serenitie of the Minde the tranquilitie of the Soule the simplicitie of the Heart the bond of Loue and companion of Charitie This is that high Felicitie which taketh away Enmities appeaseth Warres oppresseth Anger 's treadeth downe the Proud loueth the Humble endeth Strifes maketh Enemies friends acceptable to all Men. So S. Augustine And if the Peace of the Earth which is but a cessation from worldly troubles or affaires and a satisfying of thy passions be pleasing vnto thee of how farre greater Content and Happinesse must the Peace of God be which passeth all vnderstanding and keepeth as S. Paul saith Our Hearts and all the Phi. 4. 7. vnderstanding powers of our Soule in Christ Iesus which God of his goodnesse grant thee Reader OF THE FOVRTH fruit of the Holy Ghost which is Patience THe fourth fruit is Patience of which it is said In Patience shall you possesse Luk. 21 19. your Soules Then a man is said to enioy a thing when he receiueth Content in it and vseth it according to the end it was created for he that possesseth a thing to vexe and afflict hath it not to enioy and possesse but to torment Whereupon it commeth to passe that angrie and chollericke men doe not possesse themselues nor
In the same book against our wills that now men are become worse and more irreligious more ingrate more vnfaithful more shamelesse and that greater wickednesse and sinnes cannot bee found in the whole world no not amongst the Turkes truly or the Iewes or Pagans then in those places where the worde of the Lord of Protestants is most diligently preached Againe I am compelled to say because Musculus in Prophetia Christi it is true that there are not to bee found no not among the heathen Iewes or Turkes men more selfe-willed in whose mindes the sparkes of all vertues are extinct and amongst whome sinne is accounted nothing then amongst the professors of the Gospell of Protestants amongst whome the Deuill altogether loosed from his chaynes and in free libertie doth florish And that I may in few words tell all it is euen so and this is the estate of vs Lutherans that if any be desirous to see a great multitude of Knaues Athists Vsurers and Coseners hee must goe to some Citty where the Gospell of Protestants is preached and there he shall finde of this sorte of men by multitudes and repeating almost the same wordes in another place he saith The case standeth thus with vs Lutherans that if any bee Musculus Domi. 1 Aduentus desirous to see a great table of Knaues of persons turbulent deceitfull coseners vsurers let him go to any Citty where the Gospell is purely Preached and he shall finde them there by multitudes for it is more manifest then the day light that there were neuer among the Ethnicks Turkes and other Infidels more vnbridled and vnruely persons with whome all vertue and honestie is quite extinct then are among the professors of the Gospel And Iacobus Andreas another Protestant saith The other part and multitude Andreas adu 11. Luc. of Germans doe giue libertie indeede to the Preaching of the worde But there is not perceiued an amendment of manners amongst them but horrible Epicurisme beastly life is seene amongst them in their conuersations compositions of body desires c. In stead of fasting they attend wholly to feastings and drinkings night and day And Melancton a Protestant saith The thing it selfe doth speake Ad cap 6. Math. that in these Countries where the Protestant Gospell was preached almost all their studies are imployed in sumptuous preparations for banquets drunkennesse and exceeding great cuppes c. Such barbarousnes is in the people that the most part perswade themselues if they should fast one day the night following they should dye So these Protestants of the fruites of their owne Doctrine Of the comming of these Epicures Libertines and loose liuers three of the Apostles prophecied saying In the last daies 1 Tim. 3. 1. shall approch perilous times and men shal be louers of theÌ„selues Couetous Haughtie Proude Blasphemous not obedient to their Parents vnkinde wicked without affection without peace accusers incontinent vnmerciful with out benignity Traytors stubborne puffed vp and louers of voluptuousnes more then of God hauing an apparance indeed of pietie euery one his Bible but denying the vertue thereof the keeping of the Law Againe In the last dayes shal come mockers in deceit walking 2 Pet. 3. 3 according to their owne concupicenses Againe my dearest bee mindefull of the Iud. 1. wordes which haue been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ who told you that in the last times shall come mockers according to their owne desires walking in impietie These are they which seperate them selues Sensuall hauing not the Spirit of God whose fruits are Charitie Ioy Peace Patience Gal. 5. 22 Benignitie Longanimitie Goodnes Mildenes Faith Modestie Continencie Chastitie but the Spirit of the Deuill and Flesh whose workes are FornicatioÌ„ vncleannes wantonnes Gal. 5. leacherie seruing of Idols Witchcraft enmities Contentions emulations angers brawles dissention Sects enuyes murders drunkennesse banquettings and such like forbidden workes by the Commandements of God For the discouering of whose deceits out of loue to my Countrey and desire to gaine some who out of ignorance are fallen into these follyes and deceitfull contentments in Carnall liberty and sensuall life I haue written this our Second part of Ease and Rest to shew vnto them the meanes how to attaine vnto true Ioy of minde and Content of heart and suppresse these base desires which are common to men with Beastes that all euills Contentions Strifes Suites in Law the lamentable Ciuill warres of this Land being taken away and true goods and pleasures ingrafted in their places Without feare being deliuered out of the handes of Luc. 1. 74 our enemies wee may serue God in Holines and Iustice Isay 32. 17. before him all our dayes And the workes of iustice shall be Peace and the seruice of iustice Silence and securitie for euer And my people saith God shall sit in the beauty of Peace and in the tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthie rest According as it was promised to true Christians by the Prophets in both Testaments saying There shall arise Psal 71. 7 Rom. 14. 16. in his dayes Iustice and aboundance of peace vntill the Moone bee taken away for the Kingdome of God vpon earth is not saith St. Paul meate and drinke but Iustice and Peace and Ioy in the holy Ghost according to the wordes of our Sauiour saying Peace I leaue to you Iohn 14. 27. my peace I giue you not as the world giueth doe I giue to you Not such a Peace or Content as the world giueth to her fauorites doth our Sauiour giue vnto his followers but â—uch a Peace and Content as is â—ithout trouble and seruile â—eare as followeth immediately in his worâ—es saying Let not your hearts bee troubled or Luc. 1. 74 feare Without feare saith the Prophet Zacharie deliuered from the handes of our enemies we may serue him in holines and iustice all our dayes This is the Ease Rest and Peace which euery where is promised to Christians the followers of our Lord and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST a peace or content without seruile feare or trouble not as the world giueth peace doth our Sauiour giue peace and Content The peace which the world giueth to worldlings is a feeding of their inordinate Concupiscenses and carnall desires with a Carnall and Sensuall delight mixt with seruile feares Ielousies and troubles The peace and content which our Sauiour doth giue vnto his followers is a peace without seruile feare Iealousie or trouble A Peace which as the holy Ghost saith passeth all vnderstanding A Peace Rest Repose Phil 4. 7. and Content to their bodyes by bringing their passions appetites and carnall affections vnder the obedience of right reason that they may liue in Corporall peace and rest and keepe their bodyes free from seruile slauerie and vile subiection to their inordinate passions which are vnreasonable Masters Peace to their hartes and soules by possessing all good Peace with God by louing him
with all their hartes and keeping of his Commandements Peace with their Neighbours by louing them as themselues no man commencing a Suite against himselfe Peace with their enemies by patient suffering whatsoeuer iniuries they shall lay vpon them Peace with the Angels and Saints in Heauen by Vnion with them in a mysticall body Peace with the Deuills in Hell by hauing authoritie ouer them Peace with all the Creatures of the earth by vsing them according to the end they were created That it may bee verified which was spoken by the Prophet Isay saying Isa 66. 12 I will decline vpon her a floud of peace Againe And I will make thy visitation Isa 60. 17 peace and thy ouerseers Iustice Iniquitie shall no more be heard in thy Land waste and destruction in thy borders and Saluation shall occupie thy walles and praise thy gates This is the Ease Rest Repose Content and Happines which wee speake of and desire to Preach vnto all Phil. 4. 7. people The peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding The Legacie which our Lord and Sauiour left vs saying Peace I leaue to you my Iohn 14. peace I giue to you A true Ioy and Content of heart and minde which hee commanded vs Math. 10. 11. to Preach vnto all the Families of the earth saying Into whatsoeuer Citty or Towne you shall enter enquire who is worthie and there tarrie And when you enter into the house salute it saying Peace bee to this house according to whose commaundement wee Preach it vnto thee deare Reader and say Peace be to thee and so rest thy humble Seruant OF EASE REST REPOSE CONTENT and Happinesse CHAP. I. That Man hath a complete Ioy and Content proportionable to his being ALmightie God hauing created all things of Ps 113. 1â— nothing according to the disposition of his will as a pious Parent and mercifull Creator hath giuen to euerie thing a Content and Happinesse which had then it is so well satisfied that it seemeth to desire no more but resteth and after his manner reioyceth as content and well pleased As wee see by experience that he hath giuen to a Stone a Content to be in his Centure Water a Rest in the hollow places of the Earth Ayre a Repose in his Region and Fire in his Sphere Trees Plants and Hearbes a Delight in the fat and firmenesse of the Earth tempered according to their properties Birds Beasts and Fishes a Pleasure in Meates Places Companie and sensuall Delights And out of his infinite goodnesse in creating euerie thing hath also annexed vnto it such a disposition to order and such a propension to his good and content that take but out of his place a piece of Earth which of all the creatures of God Almightie is the meanest and giue it all things you can deuise and make the most of it that possible you can inuent yet it will tend thither and neuer be quiet vntill it returne insomuch as doe but take away that which holdeth it vp presently it goeth thither of it selfe and that infallibly And if by some accident a subtile Vapour become to be inclosed in some hollow place or caue of the Earth where it hath as it were a chamber prepared for to rest in it will be so vnquiet that it wil teare in pieces Rockes and Mountaines ouerthrow Castles and Towers and as angrie shake the whole Earth to ascend vp to his place and if it find but an issue or you make but a passage it is gone Or if a grosse vapour by the heat of the Sunne be drawne vp into the Region of the Ayre as though it should be exalted to higher dignitie and there come to be enuironed about with clouds that it cannot descend but must stay there it taketh his exalting in such disdaine and stayeth with so great discontent that by collision of bodies and through earnest pressing it throweth fire downe from Heauen and causeth such a thunder as though it would teare the Heauens in pieces and all to descend to his place of rest there to remaine where it was ordained that it should be in his first creation And the same we may obserue in Birds Beasts and Plants put them in a Soyle not accommodated to their properties and they die or take from Birds or Beasts their naturall Companie Foodes Places of abode c. and giue them what other thing else you can yet out of anguish and grief they wil pine away and let them but loose they are gone to their ordained Companie Meat and Rest Whereby wee may inferre that since all creatures whatsoeuer haue a Content and Rest which once had then they seeme well pleased and desire no more that also Man hath his Rest Happinesse wherein also he may be satisfied and well pleased And seeing God Almightie as a most prudent Creator hath giuen to euerie thing a Content proportionable to his being it must needes be that Man being a farre more excellent creature then any of the Elements Birds Beasts Fishes and Plants must haue a more excellent Content then any of them vnlesse we should esteeme God Almightie iniurious to the nature of Man which cannot be His Mercies to Man exceeding all Ps 144. his Workes being duely considered So hauing found out that Man hath a Happinesse and Content it will be worthie of our labour to seeke wherein it consisteth and set downe the meanes how to attaine vnto it which wee will doe by Gods grace in the ensuing Chapters CHAP. II. That there is a God THe foole hath said in his Ps 1â— heart there is no God Fooles whose grieuous sinnes and horrible crimes haue extinguished the right vse of Reason denie the first Cause Agent Mouer and Creator of all things and descend to such grosse ignorance as that they attribute that to Nothing Chaunce Fortune or Accident which proceedeth from God as though Nothing or that which hath no being were more potent then that which is and could giue being beginning and motion to all things To dispute against fooles obstinate and wilfull people who haue lost wit and reason is but to become foolish To conuince them there is no better argument then to put them to the practice of their Doctrine as when they are sicke hungrie afflicted or want any thing to let them haue no other helpe or succour then their Nothing or Chance to helpe them vntill they change their Opinions since in their iudgements Nothing is so potent and actiue as that it can giue being motion and action to all things it must of necessitie also in their iudgements be of sufficient force to helpe them in their necessities to rest and content without any other assistance Aristotle setting downe common places and meanes how to find out arguments to conuince errors and establish truths against Atheists would not dispute but set downe this for an argument saying Such as doe doubt whether Top. lib. 1. c. 9. they should honor the
thy blessing All things created being finite and hauing limited perfections cannot satiate the heart of Man as wee see by experience in the most famous Mynions and greatest Potentates of the Earth who though the world ambitious to shew and set forth her pride and iolitie hath raised to the highest fortunes and greatest glorie shee had yet could she neuer bestow vpon them one moment of true Content or Rest but forced them to march like galld-backt Mules couered ouer with painted Saddles and burdened with heauie burdens of Cares and Iealousies all the time of their liues after death to descend into eternall Miseries and Torments And to begin with Nynus who liued in the third hundreth yeeres after the Floud and was the Earths first famous Mynion exalted by her to that height of worldly honor and dignitie that his Father Belus and his Grandfather Nemrod were stiled Gods his Father called Iupiter and his Grandfather Saturne as Sator Deorum the Father of the Gods that for Nobilitie of Birth Stiles Titles Discents and Dignities he was not inferiour to the highest that euer was vpon the Earth and that his earthly power and might might be correspondent to his Styles Oros li. 1. c. 1. et 4. and Titles he was aduanced to the Monarchie of the Assyrians Medes and Persians so large Dominions that vpon the first view hee alone seemed to enioy all the pleasures and best commodities of the Earth from the South vnto the Sea Euxinus of foure Empires Yet if wee seriously looke into the Content hee had in this his Greatnesse you shall find nothing but that the poore man was deceiued with bare Imaginations liued fortie yeeres the time of his reigne vnder a heauie burthen of Cares Iealousies Warres and Dangers to die a miserable death wounded with an Arrow shot from his enemies without any other benefit of all his worldly Greatnesse Maiestie and Might then encrease of eternall Torments The same we shall find in 4. Reg. 18. 19. Senacherib the Earths second Fauorite whom shee raysed to the Monarchie of the Assyrians and made Conqueror of manie Kingdomes and Vanquisher of manie Kings to adorne him with all their Treasures and Pleasures All which could not endue him with one moment of true Content but loadened him for eighteene yeeres the time of his reigne with manie Troubles and much Discontents afterward to be miserably murdered by two of his owne sonnes so to descend into eternall Torments The like we read of Nabucadonosor Dan. 2. another Mynion of the Earths Monarch of the Chaldeans and ouer so many Countries and Nations that Daniel affirmed of him that he had all earthly things vnder his power yet this was so farre off from yeelding him true Content that he was put to liue like a Beast Cyrus so high a fauorite of 1. Esd cap. 1. Iust lib. 1. Oros li. 2. c. 6. et 7. the Earths that hee had the Monarchie of the Medes Persians and Chaldeans conquered King Cressus and posfessed all his Wealth yet therein could finde so little content that after two and twentie yeeres the time of his reigne passed in Warres Troubles and Afflictions of Minde he was killed miserably by a woman and so descended into eternall Torments The like wee shall finde in Alexander the Great Iulius Caesar Aniball and all Heathen or Christian Kings who liued vnchristian liues and did not seeke after God with all their hearts that they liued in this life in perpetuall anguish and affliction of minde and died Wretches discontent and miserable This is the generall maladie of all the sonnes of Adam but especially of the Princes and Nobles of the Earth who pretend to be wise and will by no meanes seeme to be deceiued and yet all deceiue themselues and that so egregiously as that by pretending pleasures they are turned into paines and by seeking for Riches Ease and Content they fall into Penurie Disgusts and eternall Torments for that they seeke them where neuer yet they were found in the sensual pleasures of the earth and vgly pretentions of sinne which obtained loathe and ended breed affliction when they are onely to be found in God Almightie who being of infinite wisdome beautie riches honour glorie with all that is great precious and delicious that thou canst wish is able to endue thy soule with Happinesse and thy body with true Content So that hauing him thou mayest haue all things and possessing him possesse all things and knowing him know all things and louing him be filled and rauished with all diuine delights Seeke him and He healeth all Ps 10◠3. thy infirmities follow him and He redeemeth thy life frō deadly falling serue him and He crowneth thee with Mercie and Commiserations loue him and He replenisheth thy desire in good things enioy him and thy youth shall be renewed as the Eagle As the Soule is life of the Body from whom the Body hath his liuely motions sensible gustes and pleasures so God Almightie is God life of the Soule from whom in whom and by whom shee hath her spirituall diuine motions heauenly gustes pleasures delights Wherupon the Prophet called our Lord The God of his Ps 4. ◠life And as the Bodie howsoeuer it may haue some false and deceitfull contents of his owne without the consent of the Soule or Spirit as witnesseth S. Paul saying For that Rom. 7. 15. which I worke I vnderstand not for not that which I will the same I doe but that which I hate that I doe Yet it cannot haue any full Content Pleasure or Delight without the consent pleasure and concurrence of the Soule or Spirit as is manifest by experience when the will of the Mind resisteth the desires of the Flesh so the Mind or Spirit howsoeuer it may haue some false and deceitful contents which it may enioy without the will and consent of God Almighty such as are Ambitious Thoughts vaine Imaginations and pride of Mind yet it can neuer haue any true Content perfect Pleasure or Delight without the full consent and concurrence of the will and consent of God Almightie according as it is written Without me you can Io. 15. 5. doe nothing that is good or of true content Againe Our 2. Cor. 3. 5. sufficiencie is of God So our Sauiour exhorting vs sayth Seeke first the Kingdome of God Mat. 6. 3◠and the Iustice of him which is his Will and Law and all these things Meat Drinke Apparrell c. shall be giuen you besides Whereupon S. Augustine De Ciuit. Dei li. 19. c. 25. et 26. sayth As it is not of the flesh but aboue the flesh that which maketh the flesh liue so it is not of man but aboue man which maketh man to liue happily Wherefore as the life of the flesh is the Soule so the happie life of man is God Whereby it is manifest that happy life cannot be without the enioying of God Almightie CHAP. IIII. That Faith or
to eate of the tree Apoc. 7. â—7 of life which is in the Paradise of my God And the Lamb shall conduct them to the liuing Fountaines of Waters Tenthly their Touch and whole Bodie shal be delighted with delitious Rayment And I saw saith S. Iohn a Apoc 7. 9. great multitude which no man could number in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white Apoc. 19. 7. Robes for the mariage of the Lamb is come his wife hath prepared her selfe And it was giuen to her that she clothe her selfe with silke glittering and White for the Silke are the Iustifications of the Saints Those who lose their liues for the loue of God and innocencie of his Law and othes made to the Prophets shall be crowned with Crownes of glory according to the Scriptures saying Be Apoc. 2. faithfull vntill Death and I will giue thee the Crowne of Life and also they shall for euer beare Palmes of victorie and triumph ouer their Persecutors in their hands as S. Iohn witnesseth saying I saw a great multitude which no man could number standing Apoc. 7. 9. before the Throne and in the sight of the Lamb clothed in white robes Palmes in their hands c. These are they which come out of great tribulation and haue washed their robes and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe And Virgins who die in Charitie shall sing a Song which none else in Heauen shall sing but they and also they shall accompany our Sauiour wheresoeuer he shall goe according to the words of S. Iohn saying I heard a voice from Apoc. 1â— Heauen and the voice which I heard was as of Harpers harping on their Harpes and they sung as it were a new Song before the Seate of God c. and none could sing the Song but those These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These follow the Lambe wheresoeuer he shall goe Eleuenthly the Phantasies of the Charitable shall be delighted with beautifull formes of glorious Bodies according to the words of Saint Paul Now I know 1. Cor. â—3 12. in part but then I shall know as also I am knowne Twelfthly their Memorie shall be pleased with a forgetfulnesse of all Disgustes and Discontents whatsoeuer and with an easie Remembrance of all thinges which belong vnto their Happinesse which shall be easie for that in Heauen there shall be no more Was or Shall be or this Past or To come to be troubled with searching for them in the Memorie but Present for euer and altogether an Eternall Felicitie and Life Mat. 25. euerlasting which is as Boetius sayth a perfit possession Boet. li. 5. Pro. 6. altogether of an endlesse Life The Thirteenth Their Vnderstandings shall be delighted with Diuine Wisedome Vnderstanding Counsell Knowledge c. according to the words of Saint Peter saying If you 1. Pet. 4. be reuiled in the Name of Christ you shall be blessed because the Spirit which is his shall rest vpon you which is as the Prophet Isay sayth the Spirit of Isa 11. Wisdome and Vnderstanding the Spirit of Counsell and Strength the Spirit of Knowledge and Pietie and the Spirit of the Filiall feare of our Lord. The Foureteenth their Wills shall be delighted and fully satisfied and content with the enioying hauing and possessing of God Almightie who is all the good they can desire and shall be as S. Paul saith all in all the 1. Cor. 15. 25. Saints The Fifteenth their Minds and whole Man shall be fully and compleately made happy by the seeing of God Almightie whom they haue and possesse according to the words of our Sauiour saying Blessed are the cleane Mat. 5. in heart for they shall see God August epist 111. 1â—2 not as they did in this life vnder that likenesse which his will had chosen and not his nature formed But they shall see him saith S. Iohn as he is in his Diuine Nature Essence and Glory as further witnesseth S. Paul saying We see now by a glasse 1. Cor. 23. 1â— in a darke sort but then face to face This seeing of God whom they possesse all in all is as Saint Augustine saith their chiefest good for though Aug. li. trinit ca. 13. many things do concurre together to the making of vs Happy and Content Yet this seeing of God Face to Face and as he is in his glorie is the Fountaine of all good and the accomplishment and perfection of full Happinesse which our Sauiour signifieth saying This is Life euerlasting that Ioh. 17. 3. they know thee the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ And the reason is for that God Almightie is onely He which is as he said I am which Exod. â— 14. am and all other thinges being by participation from his Goodnesse depending vpon his Will As it is written For thy Will they Apoc. 4. 11. were and haue beene created All other Pleasures and Contentments which are not God are farre more excellent in God himselfe then they are in themselues or in their owne natures So that take whatsoeuer true Pleasure which in this Life thou art capable to receiue either in Body or Soule and when by happie Vision thou commest to enioy God as I desire thou shouldest thou shalt enioy that same in another degree much more perfitly according to the words of the Prophet saying I shall be filled Lord Ps 16. 15. when thy glory shall appeare And hereupon it commeth to passe that the seeing and enioying of God by blessed vision as he is in himselfe is Happinesse it selfe for that whatsoeuer may truely delight either Body or Soule is there in him found altogether alwaies most perfitly euen in such sort as that it is not possible for thee to imagine wish or desire any Ioy Content or Happinesse whatsoeuer but the same is found in God in his full perfection Whereupon our Sauiour saith If you keepe my Ioh 15. 10. precepts you shall abide in my loue as I also haue kept my Fathers precepts and do abide in his loue These things I haue spoken to you that my ioy may be in you and your ioy may be filled Againe He Ioh 14. 12. that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loueth me and he that loueth me shall be beloued of my Father and I will loue him and will manifest my selfe to him that is he will bestow vpon him all Goods Contentments and Happinesse that can be imagined or desired according to the words of God to Moses saying I will shew thee all good Exod. 3â— â—â— and shewed vnto him Himselfe The Sixteenth they shall be confirmed in this perfect Happie estate that they cannot but loue it and possesse it for euer so our Sauiour calleth it euerlasting life Mat. 25 46. and S. Peter calleth iâ— an eternall Kingdome where â— Pet. â— â—â— there are no Temporal Ioyes or Contentments which are no sooner had then passed But an Eternall Ease Rest Repose and Happinesse and all goods and pleasures alwayes and for euermore remayning without End Which I heartily wish vnto thee deare Reader and so conclude this our Second Part of Ease and Rest with the words of Moyses the Prophet and faithfull Seruant of our Lords humbly beseeching thee to consider That I haue Deut. 30. set before thee Life and Good and contrariwise Death and Euill That thou mayest loue our Lord thy God and walke in his Wayes and keepe his Commaundements and thou mayest liue in the Happinesse of Grace in this Life and Glorie in the other But if thy heart be auerted and thou wilt not heare and deceiued with Error thou adore strange Gods in Spirit and serue them eyther by puplike or priuate breaking of the Commandements of the true and lining God I fore-tell thee this day that thou shalt perish and the Wretchednesse and Miseries spoken of in the foureteenth Chapter of this Booke shall fall vpon thee And I call for witnesse Heauen and Earth that I haue proposed to thee Life and Death Blessing and Cursing choose therefore Life that thou mayest liue and mayest loue our Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleaue to him for he is thy life and the length of thy daies To whom be all honour and glory now and for euermore Amen FINIS IESVS MARIA IOSEPH Errata Page 1. line 18. for this manner â—ead his manner p. 7. l. 1. seeke wherein â— seeke out wherein p. 7. l. 16. as that they â— as they p. 32. l. 21. sinne and malice r. sinne of malice 49 in Chap. 6. the Faith of God planted r. the Faith planted 67. 19 aboue all the r. aboue â—he 77. 22. there hath beene r. there â—ere 78 8. hath so r. haue so 106. 16. Faith the Faith of r. Faith and the Charitie of 109. 14. foun r. founded 112. 16. necessitie be r. necessitie mâ—st be 123. 4. that r. true 139. 16. in thee r. â—n this 153. in the margent Mal. 3. 7. 203. 15. 8. Iohn r. S. Paul 205. 6. serue â—heir God r. serue God 205. 17. in praise â— in his praise 208. 2. he doth not r. he doth 244. 13. may be r. must be 245. 8. I answere r. I inferre 291. 21. thy low r. thy two l. 22. low Faunes r. two Faunes 333. 16. Mines r. Ruines 369. in the Margent Exo. 33. 397. 14. wast r. vast 417. 1. saith r. say 4â—9 2. liberalitie â— liberally
finger For graunt me but that God Almightie cannot be forsworne nor violate his Oaths and in euery opinion of Faith and Religion as a creature of God Almighties maintaine in act and deed that he cannot be periured or forsworne and thou caust not be a Protestant of any Sect or sort by any means possible but of necessitie be of that Faith and Religion Protestants call Papistrie As for example the question is whether our Catholike Church or your Protestant Congregation bee the true Church of God Let vs goe to the Oath of God and as creatures of God Almightie let vs in actions and deeds firmely and faithfully beleeue this Oath of God to Abraham to be true and submit our vnderstandings and iudgements vnto it as vnto the most infallible and most certaine truth that can be and as willing to honour God without passion or malice let vs simply seeke whether this Oath of God By my selfe haue I sworne I will blesse thee and will multiply thy Seed as the Starres of Heauen and as the Sand that is by the Sea shoare Thy Seede shall possesse the Gates of his Enemies and in thy Seede shall be blessed all the Nations of the Earth be more verified vpon our Catholike Church or your Protestant Congregation First for Temporall blessings all the Christian Kings and Kingdomes that euer haue beene flourishing vpon the face of the Earth before Henrie the eight were so Catholike that thou canst not name me one who was in Faith and Religion a Protestant and held the Religion Protestants now maintaine For spirituall blessings we haue written in all Ages Bookes and Volumes of the Spirituall blessings and gifts of God the gifts of the holy Ghost bestowed vpon vs Exercises of Spirituall life loue and vnion of heart with God amongst you there is not any one professing such things all denying inherent grace and infused vertues And whether the Seede of Protestants or Seede of Catholikes haue beene multiplied as the Sand that is by the Sea-shore possessing the Gates of their enemies not only all the Chronicles and Histories of Countries and Nations doe beare witnesse for vs but euen Protestants themselues conuinced with truth doe confesse it Perkins vpon the Creede pag. 307. affirmeth That during the space of nine hundreth yeares the Popish Heresie hath spread it selfe ouer the whole Earth Fulke in his Treatise against Stapleton pag. 25. affirmeth That some Protestants haue written that the Pope hath blinded the World these many hundreth yeares some say a thousand some say one thousand two hundred some nine hundred yeares And Napper in his Treatise vpon the Reuelations pag. 68. affirmeth That betweene the yeare of Christ three hundreth and three hundreth and sixteene the Antichristian and Papisticall reigne begun reigning saith he vniuersally and without any debatable contradiction twelue hundred and threescore yeares pag. 145. saith The Pope and his Clergie during all that time possessing the outward visible Church of Christians So these English Protestants And it is a thing of it selfe so manifest that Protestants are not able to name any one Minister or Preacher for one thousand foure hundred yeares together who held and maintained the Doctrine they now teach And to let passe other States Countries and Towns and make instance in the Citie of Venice The Gothes Michele Zappulo in his Historie of Venice afflicting Italy many Catholike Italians flying the fury of those barbarous people did retire themselues into that place of Venice which is now called Riualta before called Lupa which being then not inhabited and vnknowne to the Gothes with the consent of the Senate of Padoa chose three Consuls Alberto Faliero Thomaso Candiano and Canone Dauolo and by their help begun the Foundation of the Citie of Venice vpon the fiue and twentieth day of March in the yeare of our Lord foure hundred twentie and one which hath continued euer since in the Catholike Faith vnion of the Church of GOD dilated ouer the World without alteration or change in Religion or State or hauing beene sacked or spoiled as their Histories and succession of Men from age to age doe abundantly testifie Whereby thou seest that our Catholike Church is so manifestly the true Church that vnlesse thou wilt first affirme in effect and deed that God Almightie is periured and forsworne thou canst not denie it that the Church of the Protestants is so manifestly the false Church that without affirming in effect and deeds that God Almightie may be forsworne it cannot in any one Article bee defended And the same thou shalt finde in any other question as for example thou wouldest examine whether Catholike Priests that offer to God the Sacrifice of the Masse or Protestant Ministers who haue no externall Sacrifice be true Christian Priests admit but of the Oathes of God for true without malice and passion and the Controuersie is ended and it is as manifest vnto thee by both the Oathes of God that Massing Priests are true Christian Priests as it is manifest that God Almightie cannot be forsworne Of the first Oath we haue spoken before The second Oath is Ps 109. Heb. 7. Our Lord hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer according to the Order of Melchisedeck First of Protestant Ministers there were none for many hundreth yeares together visibly knowne in the World as they confesse so this eternall Priesthood of Christ could not be verified in them as in his Priests or Ministers Secondly they haue no externall Sacrifice That Catholike Priests haue beene these many hundreth yeares offering to God as Ministers of his Sonne his Bodie and Bloud vnder the formes of Bread Wine according to the Order of Melchisedeck as they doe now that Protestants confesse as wee haue immediatly before set downe So do but admit that God Almightie is not forsworne in both these Oathes and of necessitie thou must defend that Massing Priests are true Christian Priests and Protestant Ministers false And in all other Questions Controuersies firmely beleeue the Oaths of God which are the most certaine and infallible truths that may be and such as wherevpon all the rest of the Scriptures depend and honour God Almightie by maintaining them in words and deeds and thinke that thy Vnderstanding Wit and Iudgement may deceiue thee as they many times doe but the Oathes of God cannot and thou canst not but be a Roman Catholike or Papist So manifest it is that our Catholike Faith is founded vpon the Oathes of God and Protestantisme of all Sects and sorts is founded vpon Publike profession in acts and deeds that God Almightie is periured and forsworne that if passion and malice doe not blinde the light of reason in thee thou canst not but see it and confesse it Thus hauing laid the foundation of our Ease Content and Rest vpon the surest foundations which are to be found in Heauen or Earth the Oathes of God hoping thou desirest to finde that
Ease Content and Rest and wilt not bee offended for that I plainely defend the honour of my God I proceed CHAP. IX That hope in God is also necessary to the Content and Happinesse of Man but not only Hope without other vertues And how acts of Hope made by Catholikes include Sacraments and other Vertues and not exclude them THat it is impossible to be saued or finde Content without hope in God is manifest by reason First for that no man laboureth for that which he no waies hopeth to obtaine nor yet is carefull to keepe that which he esteemeth impossible to inioy Againe vpon want of hope ariseth despaire and pusillanimitie of mind both which being passions of sadnesse and discontent depriue vs of the Ioy and Content we seeke after Secondly it is manifest by the Scriptures which in plain tearms affirme That by Hope we Rom 8. 39. Rom. 15. 4. are saued Againe What things soeuer haue beene written to our learning they haue beene written that by the patience and consolatiof the Scriptures wee may haue Hope So Saint Paul saith The Rom. 15. 13. God of Hope replenish you with all Ioy and Peace in beleeuing that you may abound in Hope In the Psalmes it is said They that Ps 124. hope in thee shall not be confounded Againe They that trust in Ps 33. 9. our Lord as Mount Sion he shall not be moued for euer Againe Blessed is that man that hopeth in Ps 36. 4. God Againe He will take them Ps 144. away from Sinners and saue them because they haue hoped in him Whereby is manifest that without the vertue of Hope no man can be happy or saued But as wee said before of onely Faith that Faith without other vertues is dead to Grace in this life and Glorie in the other and serueth such as haue it for nothing but for the increase of eternall torments so also it is manifest that onely Hope without other vertues is a vaine and dead Hope without any true Content in this life or in all eternitie as is manifest first by reason Because Hope endeth with Death so if the Content and Happinesse of Man should consist in onely Hope there should be no Content in the other life Secondly we see some few excepted who fall into vtter despaire that all men of all Sects and sorts and how wicked soeuer hope for Happinesse and Content So if Hope without the assistance of other vertues were sufficient to Happinesse men might be happie and wretched both together which is contrarie to experience Thirdly to hope for Happinesse is not to be happie since none hopeth for that he hath but enioyeth Whereby is manifest that onely Hope is not sufficient to be happie Againe the Scriptures say Not euerie one that saith Lord Mat. 7. 21. Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heauen Againe Many shall say to me in that Day Mat. 7. 22. Lord Lord haue not wee prophecied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Deuils and in thy Name wrought many Miracles And then I will confesse vnto them that I neuer knew you depart from me you that worke iniquitie And our Sauiour compareth those who hope to be saued and are negligent in gaining other vertues and vsing the meanes he hath ordained for the saluation of mankind vnto foolish Virgins who inuited to a Mariage neglected to prepare themselues for the Mariage vntil it was too late and so were shut out with this answer Amen I say to you I know you not Mat. 25. 12. Whereby is manifest that the Promises are not made to a dead Hope which is void of other vertues but to such a Hope as is conioint to all other vertues and is void of all iniquitie Heere thou mayest obserue deere Reader the error of many Protestants who being driuen from the impious Doctrine of Iustification by Faith only fall vpon Iustification by Hope onely without Faith Charitie Sacraments or other vertues and not knowing nor regarding what Faith they ought to professe nor what Commandements they haue broken presume to be saued by a vaine Hope in the Passion of our Lord and so perish in their presumption thinking that to say onely I hope to be saued by the Passion of our Lord Iesus Christ without Faith Charitie Sacraments c. is sufficient to remit their sinnes and saue their soules how euill and wicked soeuer they haue liued and so die Heretikes and Infidels of no Faith nor Religion for all their hope When Catholikes say they hope to be saued by the merits of the Passion of our Lord and Sauiour they doe not exclude the Sacraments Faith and other vertues but suppose them and include them all other meanes whatsoeuer God Almightie hath giuen or left vs for our Saluation yea the whole merit or benefit of his Passion and things gained for vs as Faith Hope Charitie Sacraments assistance of the holie Ghost c. And the sense of the words are I hope to be saued by no other meanes then those which thou hast gained for me by thy Passion And so likewise in all other acts of vertues or Sacraments Catholikes doe include the whole merit of the Passion of our Sauiour as whether they make acts of Contrition as Lord bee mercifull to mee a poore sinner or of Loue as I desire to loue thee deare Lord with all my heart or of Hope as I hope by the helpe of the Sacraments to be saued they doe not exclude any other vertue or meanes but in all and euery one of these Actes doe include all the meanes and benefits of our Lords whole Passion offering vp these Actes and whatsoeuer Christian worke they doe to God the Father in vnion with the Passion of our Lord vpon the Crosse for the remission of their sinnes and vse these Acts Sacraments and good Deedes done in Grace as a meanes which God Almighty hath ordained they should vse for the receiuing of the merit and benefit of the Sacrifice of the Passion of our Lord. For though our Lord died fo all the World yet none receiue the benefit of his Passion but those who diligently and carefully vse the meanes he hath ordained should be vsed for the receiuing of the benefit thereof which are Faith Sacramēts good Deeds and acts of vertue by these as by instruments receiuing the merit and benefit of our Lords Passion his graces and fauours purchased for vs. So Saint Paul exhorting vs saith Our desire is that euery one of Heb. 6. 11. you shew forth the same carefulnesse to the accomplishing of hope vnto the end that you may become not slouthfull but imitaters of them which by faith and patience shall inherite the Promise The slouthfull seruant receiued of our Lord a Talent Mat. 25. 15. yet because he did not encrease it he was cast into vtter Mat. 25. 30. darkenesse where there shall