fruit of Christs Passion of such infinite value is bounde to doe This satisfaction and paines I say Saint Paul did not only for himselfe but for all the faithfull people the misticall boof Christs Church that so they mightfully be pertakers of Christs merits and passions of such infinite value and so be released quite from sinne and payne due thereunto These satisfactory paines of S. Paul and other holy Saints who satisfied and did more penance for sinne then euer they deserued as I saide before be properly called the treasure of the Church in which Church because we be members all of one body that is as we beleeue there is a communion of Saints so therefore we by Gods grace be pertakers of the merits and prayers of I meane this participation taketh effect in such as be in state of grace For according to our due dispositiō euery one is pertaker of anothers good actions merits prayers the Saints in heauen as we in earth be pertakers of an others good actions and prayers and they in Purgatory of our merits and of the merits and prayers of Saints in heauen because there is a communion of Saints in Gods Church and being all members of one body vnder Christ our head we thus mutually helpe one another wherevpon it is I say that these satisfactory paines putte into the treasure of Gods Church not only help vs to release vs and satisfie our paines due vnto sinne which perhaps we are not able of our selues in this life to satisfie but also bee a release by meanes of suffrage for those in Purgatory Chap. XLVI By what meanes Pardons may be applyed to our soules and that we must iustly doe that which is appointed vs to be pertakers of the same NOw the Pope as hauing the keyes of this spiritual treasure giueth out thereof to all faithfull people so they apply it to themselues or the departed by such ordinary meanes as by him is ordained as by fasting prayer almesdeedes pilgrimage or the like as for example to those that be contrite confessing and receauing and saying but only our Ladies Psalter or the Beades once ouer or the 7. Psalmes or Letanies hauing but only a token on them as it were from the Pope that is a Crosse holy graine a bead sanctified or blessed or the like that bead o◠Crosse is a signe and certaine token to the party so disposed and doing that the Pope graunteth he hath so many daies or yeares of Pardon yea perhappes a full Pardon for all his sinnes past that is the paine due vnto sinne for as I said the eternall trespasse of sinne is forgiuen before in Confession which debt or paine is to be paied either in this life or in Purgatory The heretikes slaunder the Pope and the Church and say he graunteth Pardon to such for mony but they bely him for most commonly Pardons be graunted to such as deuoutly confesse receaue and say certaine godly prayers for the Popes intent and benefit of the whole church If any almesdeed be at any time required it is not for the Popes coffers as being God be blessed that so exalteth his Church spite of all infidels heretikes an absolute Prince of himselfe needing no such matter but rather maintayning as a generall father poore people children of the Church of al nations in the world but if any almes be giuen as very seldome is when pardons be graunted the Pope assigneth the parties to giue it with their owne handes to their poore neighbours or to the building of some notable ornament to all Christendome as to S. Peters Church or for the defence of Christendome against our great enemy the Turk and the like These Pardons Stations and the like how frequent or much vsed they were in S Gregories time a thousand yeares agoe it appeareth to those that be conuersant in his workes and other mens holy writings of olde and though in the primatiue Church they were not so needfull then when men were more charitable and feruent in Gods loue the bloud of Christ being yet warme in their harts and because when any offended they of themselues did such penance as might suffice yet in the very Apostles time these Pardons were giuen For S. Paul after excommunication of the incestuous Corinthian whome he gaue to Satan in body 1 Cor. 5 5 to be punnished that his soule might be saued after a time when he sawe his sorrowe and amendment least the enemy might haue too much power ouer him and least with sadnesse hee might be ouerwhelmed gaue him pardon remitting his paine for the rest of his penance due saying To whome you pardon 2. Cor. 2. 20. or forgiue any thing I likewise did the same who if I pardoned any thing I did it in the person of Christ What other thing was this then giuing of pardon Chap. XLVII Of Excommunication and how dreadfull a thing it is how heretikes being excommunicated in the highest degree their excommunication of others is ridiculous contemptible BY which words not only appeareth the value and practize of Pardons euen in the Apostles time but the heauy rod of Excommunication the heretikes so little feare by which excommunication the Diuell had power ouer the Corinthians body to torment it as he hath ouer the heretikes soules that despise it who though they feele not the smart in this life and by miracle to the terror of others as they did in the primatiue Church yet doubtlesse it is a leprosie which will sticke to their soules in the next life farre more fearefull then any torment can be here to the body For all Heretickes and Schismatickes be excōmunicate that is cut off from all grace of God the Sacraments good deedes and prayers of the Church and bee in the handes of Satan Heretickes that woulde doe like Catholickes as Apes would be like men they forsooth being excommunicate themselues would excommunicate others but they haue no authority their excommunication is nothing feare it not a straw a happie thing it is to be excluded out of their Sinagogue to be out of their company with whome in prayers diuine seruice none ought to conuerse seare excommunication of the Church in deede obey her truly and care not for any censure of the wicked Church of Satan Chap. XLVIII Of some abuses about Pardons and of the late reformation of the same and of the couetous humors of English Ministers BVt for these Pardons I spake of before I deny not but some abuses might be in those that carried them vp and downe called Pardoners some of them seeking their owne gaine but the Pope or Pardones ought not to be blamed for that but the abuses and faults taken away the good vses ought to be left still for nothing is so good but it may be abused yea the very Sunne in the firmament by light whereof as good men vse to worke good works and their Saluation so euill men a buse it to the workes of darkenesse
his holy waies yea so louing bountifull and gratious is God and so desirous of mans saluation that it is not the worst person in the world but somtimes he shall haue good motions and holy inspirations to amend his life and the more a man hath and yet followeth them not but is hardened and dyeth in sinne the greater shall bee his damnation Marke then O man whosoeuer the motions and stirrings of thy hart and noli contristare spirituns doe not as it were make sadde the holy Ghost by ingratefully repelling his most blessed and holy instincts beware you put not backe Gods holy motions nothing falleth on the earth without Gods will and holy disposition no not the very bird neither can any thing bee done without his permission whereof if we may make good and therefore nothing can happen to vs in this life good nor ill but if we will we may take occasion thereof to remember our ende and and dispose our selues more and more to our saluation and therefore I say to you especially for whome I haue taken this labour to write this treatise it ought to be a more euident and effectuall motiue and sufficient warning for the perfect amendment of your life by your reconciliation to GOD vvho because it is he that as hee straightly commandeth vs to keepe his commandements and followe his holy waies so without his grace and helpe wee cannot fruitfully doe nor execute the same For whether Paul or Apollo plant or water yet Deus incrementum dèdit God is he that euer hath and must giue the increase And therefore seing vpon this ground S. Augustine said vnto GOD good Lord giue that which thou commandest and command what thou wilt Let vs then followe his counsaile who said Aske and you shall haue seeke and you shall finde knocke it shall be opened vnto you Let vs therefore not cease to knocke humbly and instantly to craue grace and mercy at his hands that the sweete and seasonable raine of his gratious fountaine may bee plentifully instilled into our harts yea let vs make instance at least to obtaine one droppe of grace to mollifie and strengthen our hard weake harts Open then the eies of our soules O Lord and they shall be opened water them with the dewe of thy heaueuly grace strike our harts vvith thy feare and loue that wee euer may be so watchfull ouer our soules that we neuer preferre any pleasure of the flesh any worldly riches credit or honour before thy true seruice and euerlasting glory Let vs then worke busely our saluation as the matter of greatest importance whilst this life indureth for as saith our Sauiour the night will come when no man can worke from which darke night of sinne hell death and eternall damnation CHRIST the euerlasting truth of his infinite mercy deliuer you and vs all conuert all heretickes and poore deceaued soules make vs all members of one body his deare spouse the Catholicke Church that as heretofore by diuersity of minds a number haue beene deuided from Christ so knitting our selues altogither in the knot of peace vnity and charity in Christs holy Catholicke Church here on earth wee may then once enioy his endlesse glory altogither in his triumphant and most glorious Church in heauen where all errors sadnesse sorrowes paynes lamentations and mournefull teares shall quite cease and passe away where more ioy felicity and true happie blessednesse then euer eie hath seene eare hath heard or mans hart can imagine or conceaue whereunto hespeedely bring vs our Lord and Sauiour CHRIST IESVS To whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glory A SHORT TREATISE AGAINST ADIAPHORISTS NEVTERS SVCH AS SAY THEY MAY be saued in any sect or religion would make of many diuers sects one Church AMongst many shiftes of Heretickes and Schismatikes which by the example of their Master that old wily Serpent be commonly versipelles one is that they would beare Catholikes in hand they be of one Church with them still that so more easely they may draw the simple into their nettes perdition For the Maiesty of the church is so great that the very name thereof maketh the enemy appalled either to seeme to resist it or to liue with out it for though oftentimes in their pulpittes writinges especially amōgst themselues heretiks wil not stick most impudētly to affirme the visible Church especially was decayed for a thowsand yeeres and more glory that they be the men sent from God to restore it againe Yet when they be pressed by the learned to shew their vocation who sent them because as I declared before they haue neither extraordinary vocation by miracle nor ordinary by succession as is plaine and so euidently to all learned men shew thēselues false Prophets not sent of god for no man according to the Apostles doctrine ought to preach vnlesse he be sent by lawfull authority which the Heretikes perceiuing so plaine by Scriptures they cannot deny diuers shiftes they haue vsed some to shewe their vocation like the Apostles extraordinarie by miracle As Luther that by miracle would haue expelled the Diuell out of one possessed but in his exorcismes was driuen to such hard shiftes as hardly he could get honestly out of the place himselfe cleane a merry iest but scarce honest to be reported so Caluin killed a man which he hyred to faine himself dead and to rise at his call to confirme his Apostleshippe who by GODS iudgement falling dead indeede his wife bewrayed with exclamation the matter therefore these two new Apostles hauing no better successe for their mission and extraordinary calling Beza Caluins successor deuised another shift for his lawfull embassage and ordinarie calling and election For in that great and solemne meeting and most famous dispute in Fraunce betwixt Catholickes and Hugonots at Poissee Cardinall Guise being In conuētu Poissiaceno lib. 1. de stat religionis in Gallia sub Carolo 9. part 1. lib. 3. moderator himselfe asked Beza who sent him from whence come you but Beza being not able to answere he fell to this shift and most seely refuge that hee was lawfully called and chosen of those people that chose him to bee their Pastor leauing so Luther and Caluin his forefathers in the lurtch who were chosen neither of the Clergie nor people to preach hauing none to preach to and therefore intruded themselues first not sent like theeues that by violēce enter into another mans house or the adulterer that by stealth ascending another mans bedde corrupteth his wife so corrupteth these false Apostles Luther and Calum the Churches they inuaded the seely poore people the flock and spouse of Christ in some particular countries and citties with adulterous and false doctrine so sending themselues before they could be chosen and receiued of the people which Beza Calums honest successor said he was called of But such a calling as this is both Marcion Ebion Arrius Photinus Sabellius Pelagius
grace the sweet liâ—our of his holie Sacraments without this Church of Christ no saluatioÌ„ can be found this Church is worthily called the ship of S. Peter out of which whosoeuer at death shall be found shal bee ouerwhelmed without all doubt in those flouds of eternall damnation For as at Noes floud none were saued but those only that were in the Arke eight persons euen so we cannot pas through the Sea of this troublesome world nor arriue to the sure haueÌ„ of rest with god in his kingdome vnlesse we saile in Noe and Saint Peters ship Christs holy Church which church is nothing else but a congregation of al faithfull people liuing in one faith or vnity of beleif vnder Christ their head his Vicar the cheif Pastor of our souls Saint Peters successor heare in earth keeping that faith and beliefe that Christ and his Apostles taught and hath beene euer openlie preached in Christs Church without intermission euen from Christs Assention vnto this day shal be so without faile euen to the end of the worlde For against his Mat. 16 Church Christ promised The gates of hel that is the Diuel and al his power that is al Infidels Turkes Iewes Heretâ—kes Schismatikes should neuer preuaile but the true Catholike church hath more manifestly shall haue in the end the vpper hand though for a time for our sins in this and other countries it hath beene sore persecuted and oppressed yet can it neuer be vanquished or suppressed because Christes worde shall neuer faile who promised to be with it and assist it with his holy spirit to the end of the world Nay the more it is persecuted the more in the end it will florish as the vine that is pruned afterward bringeth out branches more perfectly and more plentifull fruit This ship of Saint Peter hath bin sore tossed with stormes of persecution froÌ„ time to time but yet by the good guiding of Christ her head neuer ouerwhelmed How sore was it shaken when Nero that bloudy tirant and persecuting Emperour slew the chief Captaines therof Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome in which city now Christs Religion by his special grace and by the merits praiers of these Apostles most florisheth What bloudy battailes afterward made Domitian Diocletian and rhe rest of those persecuting Kings and Emperours against the same Church slaying by thousands of ChristiaÌ„s in one day The Arrian Heritickes aboue a thousand yeares agoe that denied the Son of God to be of the same substance with his father as the Heretickes of our time now deny him though not altogither alike but in another manner and in another article of our beliefe according to his worde to be heare with vs in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar Those that were true Christian Catholickes especially Bishopps Preists were for the truth by them persecuted with fire and sword both by Sea and land Yet by the valiant death and constancie of Martirs and worthy Confessours who were robbed spoiled of goods landes liberties and liues by long imprisonment death as many in this countrie for the same cause now be they in the end obtayned ouer the enimies of the truth the victorie that euen in those very places where greatest persecution bloodshed was for the truth there afterward was of all sorts of people greatest confession of the truth Churches and houses of prayer being raised in those very places where many Martirs were hanged shed their blood the bloody persecutor dying and being buried in hell in eternal obliuion The glorious Martir now triumpheth and reioyceth with God in Heauen with perpetuall praise and memory of his name here on earth When the ghospel in this country was first preached a blessed man harboured Amphibo lâ—s by Saint Albon nere to Christs time that blessed Martir for his receipt of Christs messenger and for becoming a Christian shed his bloud and yet in that very place was afterward a goodly Abbey built where Christ was serued both day and night and the towne of Saint Albons as of whome it tooke the name for many hundred yeares honoured God in him in that place who before as a traitor and enimie to the Realme and state they put to death Afterward about a thousand years agoe when Saint Augustine the Moncke was sent by Saint Gregorie then Pope of Rome to restore preach christs faith and religion here amongst English men then a mongst the Britons in some sort partly decaied for sinne as now in a great part of the whole Isle it is if not worse in manie mens hartes though God bee thanked a Church though litle poore and afflicted wee haue still manye mockes buffets and blowes that holy Moncke with the rest of his fellowes had before they could recall this Country to the right way of saluation The storme against them was sharp for a time But afterwardes with long patience Christ bad the winde cease and there became a great calme The Church of England hauing great tranquility flourishing after in religion virtue almost a thousand years togither till wicked Luther a many of his fellowes runagate Friers and forsakers of their order and religion for the desire they had to liue as they lust in al liberty pleasures of the flesh broched a new gospel I would say raised vp a moÌ„strous storme of heresy infidelity troubling the peace of the christian world quite ouerthrowing the coÌ„mon state of ReligioÌ„ here in our Country till it please God to bid the raging storme cease which no doubt hewil do wheÌ„ it semeth best to his good wil pleasure who after a storme sendeth faire weather when he hath beaten his children wel knoweth to cast the rod into the fire in the meane time in this perilous storme it behoueth vs to bee well armed least we be ouerwhelmed with al vertues but first cheifly with true faith and religion Chap. II Of the first certaine note of the true Church WHerfore because heretiks the enimies of truth deceiue simple soules vnder the shewe of truth glory of the Church as though they only were true meÌ„bers of the same which notwithstaÌ„ding they oppugn pul down Therfore the first note wherby you may knowe the true church of Christ froÌ„ the Church of Satan is this that the Church of God is called Catholike which word Catholike is deriued froÌ„ the Greeke and in Latine is asmuch as vniuersalis that is vniuersall and generall common as it were to al true beleuers of all nations so that the true Church of Christ is commonly called the Catholike church or at least knowne The proper etimologie of this word Catholik is vniuersall or generall of all sorts so to be called as we are taught in our Creed to beleue the holy Catholike Church so that true ChristiaÌ„ beleuing men are commonly called catholikes those that be deuided from this knowne common faith and Church of Christ in
opinion be properly termed Heretikes Now lett vs see to which Church this marke Catholike is proper and agreeth and you shall find it to belong to no other but only to that church which Heretikes call the Popish or papistical church but she it is which they so scornefully miscall which is in deed the true Catholike church For our church and true Catholike faith and religion which they terme Papistry is common to all countries wheresoeuer heretikes be but yet Protestants or to speake more plainly heretikes be not in euery place where catholikes be as â—or example heretikes as Lutherans Caluinists or Protestants Puritans Anabaptists and the like sectaries deuided from the Catholike church be here openly in England Scotland Ireland Denmarke Switzerland Iseland partlie in Bohemeland yea in some corners of France Polony Hungary and in some prouinces free states rebells to their lawfull Princes in the inferior and higher Germany For in very few places else in all Europe saue these by me reckoned shall you find any hereticall estate To omitt then that all these countries many hundred years togither before they euer hard of these new heresies were al catholike yet at this day be they neuer so heretical you shall finde amongst theÌ„ some opeÌ„ church of the catholiks such as stick not to profes their faith with losse of liberty goods liues as here in England though Gods church be opressed by heretiks with taxes impri sonments death more then any christians be in the world yea worse thaÌ„ vnder that open professed enimie of Christ the Turke who permiteth Christians to liue with liberty of coÌ„scieÌ„ce to haue their churches Masse opeÌ„ly wheras you see how Catholiks here for their faith lose al their goods two partes of their lands cannot enioy that quietly neither but pilledwith euery apparitor purseuant cast in prison restrained of their liberty and susteining the like notable iniu stices disgraces knowne vnto you already to long to speake yet notwithstanding be they neuer so sore opressed beggered or consumed yet they liue after their death new arise in their places so that you wante not at euerye assises and sessions in euery shiere towne in England Catholikes that there be openly called vpon and ready to professe their faith besides many hundreds that lye this day in prison as in Yorke Hull Norwitch Wisbitch where be aboue thirty priests together most learned and reuerend men whereof some haue beene prisoners thirty yeares and aboue an hundred Priests or there-abouts haue beene within the same time hanged drawen quartered for the same cause though it is giueÌ„ out to the people it is for treason wherof they be most innocent as may appear by their milde death where they euer pray for conuersion of the Queene and Realme for recouery only whereof to the Catholike Faith Religion they be trained vp in virtue and learning in other countries and sent hither backe againe besides many lay men and weomen yong and olde of all degrees most noble personages and of interiour sort and condition haue and doe suffer to the open testimony of the world imprisonment and death for the Catholike cause So that you see here for example in England though neuer so poore and persecuted yet by Gods gratious mercy and prouidence be Catholikes and an open professant Catholike congregation The like might be saied of Scotland Ireland Germany and other countries that looke wheresoeuer heretikes be yet Catholikes be amongst them openly I say knowne to the world But yet the church of Christ is in farre more large noble worthy countries wher no heretike dare openly shew his head no nor at all or rarely be found as in the greatest countries of Europe the corpes of Christendome as in those most noble Countries In france god he blessed though the state publike be Catholicke yet both publikly and priuatly I graunt heretikes chiefly Italy Spaine Sicily and for the most part in the chiefe and famous cities of Fraunce Portugall and the like prouinces Kingdomes and dominions adioyning by North and South of those Countries where God be blessed the Catholike faith and Church hath free liberty vse for preaching Sacraments and ceremonies but very few heretikes or none to account in respect in the most of those mighty Regions that dare opeÌ„ly avouch their absurd monstrous heresies which they deceaue the simple souls with al here in EnglaÌ„d other obscure corners of the world like lurking theeus that be ashamed to shew their faces before men In somuch that at the last generall councel of Christendome holden at Trent where the most of all the learned Bishopps and Doctors of Chistendome were gathered together to dispute and appease controuersies in religion the heretikes of this country and of all others in the world being sommoned to appeare and hauing free liberty giuen them to say what they could for themselues with sufficient securitie of their saufe conduct to and fro they like men of cancred and guilty consciences knowing the naughtines of their own cause durst not appeare nor shew their faces before the lawfull Iudge graue Senate and councell of Christendome but like subtill foxes in their dens kept theÌ„selus at home so by the consent of all christendome were iustly condemned for obstinate Heretikes Ouer and besides al these couÌ„tries abouenamed where you see by Gods grace the Catholike church is openly persecuted or free and in peace there be other countries in the world neuer heard of but of later yeares which now be of late with wonderfull :: For miracles vidâ— OsoriuÌ„ dâ— LusitanoruÌ„ gestis IteÌ„ MaffeuÌ„ maxiâ—e Epistolas Indicas Iaponicas ver bi gratia The Reuâ— rende Father Franc. Zâ—uier his body was found vncorrupte sweet and of an odoriferous sauour some months after his death I omit the report how he raysed a dead maÌ„ This holy Zauier first in our age preached Christ in Iaponia The Iaponians though they be as faâ—re or rather farther distant from the Roâ—anes theÌ„ the Anâ—ipodes yet they be not properly Antipodes but in â—ome sort Antiesi or quasi Antiesi for that part of the world which is directly oppositâ—â—o Rome is partly it seemeth Sea partly terra incognita miracles conuerted to Christs faith religion both in the East and West Indians insomuch as about 9. yeares past in the latter end of the time of Gregory the thirteene of blessed memory I my self saw there three young Princes come to Rome that came from the vttermost coasts of the earth out of a Country called Iaponia who bee Antipodes to the Romanes that is their feete contrary to theirs they were 3. yeares in comming and all to visit the bodies of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul to acknowledge their dutifull obedience to the Apostolike Sea and to worship Christ his Vicar here on earth they were as worthy receaued with great applause of all Christian states and Princes in Christendome
forsake them for their taunts For though God bee not delighted with the number of prayers so much as with discreete affefection and desire to him yet these misticall and godly numbers help to encrease our deuotion and affection and therefore we had now more neede to vse Beades then euer when as deuotion waxeth cold both to pray for heretikes amendment and that we fal not in their blindnes for diuers other holy godly and reasonable causes and things Chap. LIX Of the Aue Maria how it is a most deuout prayer gratefull to God ioyfull to Angelles terrible to the Diuell and most healthfull and comfortable to all mankind AS for the Aue Maria it is the very wordes of the Angell Gabriell Elizabeth and the holy Church now where as heretickes say it is no prayer but a salutation they bewray their ignorance for many sentences and wordes be in Scriptures that seeme no prayers and yet effectuall prayers as in the Psalmes and other places may appeare where Gods mercy justice might bounty loue and the like is praysed or called on not in forme of prayer but yet a most effectuall prayer to obtayne his mercy goodnes bounty grace So in the Auâ— Mary our B. La is saluted to the intent to pray for vs thanks giuen to god that voutsafed by that vnspeakable mistery of his incarnatioÌ„ of her body to be incarnate made maÌ„ for vs wherby man is recouered froÌ„ damnatioÌ„ the Deuill ouercome the ruines of Angells bee repayred so that the Aue Maria was the most ioyfull tidings that euer was brought from God to maÌ„ No meruaile then though Infidels heretikes meÌ„bers of the Diuel abhor the Aue Mary for as often as it is deuoutly said as it is ioyful to Angels in heauen so it maketh the Diuel and al' his Angels to tremble and quake But some Puritanes woulde haue no Pater noster neither nor any stint praier so long they haue babbled of the Lord and spirit that now you see they deny Ladies praier Lords praier too I am afraid in their corrupt consciences Christ and God too neither doe I meruaile for improbity wickednes neuer consisteth in one degree as one said Sed cum incipit labi ruit praecipitat till it come to the deapth of all euill and mischiefe For beeing fallen from the Church and hauing once lost the high way they must needes euer bee further from the truth wanting a sure ground and foundation to stay themselues vpon that is the true Catholicke Church 1. Tiâ— 3. 15. of God which Saint Paul calleth the foundation and piller of truth til once they returne back againe Chap. LX. Of diuers holy ornamentes and thinges belongîng to the Church as of lightes in Churches of insence Dedication of Churches and such like godly ceremonies AS for sacred and holye bells vestmentes holy vessells as Chalices and the like Heretickes beat them in peeces make gunnes of them chamber pots and fill their purses The like did heretickes and infidells of olde espeacially Iulian the Apostata that made water in the Chalice wherein the bloud of Maries Sonne for so the Infidells tearmed it in contempt of him and her was offered but he his fellowes had foule ends as these fellowes haue wil haue vnlesse God giue them grace to amend For if the people of God before Christ had their holy Trumpets to call the people togither the Leuits Priest their holy vestiments sacred cups and Phyals and other vessels though wee follow not now Iewish ceremonies as heretickes be-ly vs yet why should wee not haue our ornaments Sanctified by Gods word and that in more deuoute exquisite sort then the Iewes had by how much Christes law exceedeth the Iewish ceremonies For wee see these outward ceremonies much help to increase inward deuotion as for example the very candles and Church lights do signifie vnto vs the light of Gods grace the Gospell the purity of conscience good workes wee ought to haue with manye moe significations which well weighed excite and stir vp deuotion The Maiesty of our temples or churches adorned with sumptuous ornaments and Images of Christ and his Saints in a liuely history as it were setting before our eyes by their glorious death and martirdome their triumph and victories ouer hell and death these temples I say thus adorned being solemnlie dedicated to God yea their dedication yearely renewed or remembred do they not teach vs to dedicate our bodies and soules wholy to the seruice of God as being liuely temples of the holy Ghost and daylie to clense them more more from sinne to adorne them with vertues and to renew confirme and furnish them vp eftsoones with those effectuall signes and seales of our redemption those diuine misteries the healthfull Sacraments Yf God promised to heare the prayers of those that called vppon him in Salomons temple how much more will hee heare our prayers and lawfull petitions thus made in our Churches who serue God now in spirite and truth and not in presence of that vmbraticall Arke of the old testament but in that most high misterye before Christs most B. body our only mediator and redeemer whose intercession is euermore acceptable in his fathers sight the Arke of the liuing God that raigneth for euer Yf when two or three in Christs name bee gathered together hee hath promised to heare them how much more when manye hundred or thowsands bee so collected vnited in prayer in one Church will God bee amongst them and performe their good desires surely heretickes that thus ruinate despise and pollute Monasteries Oratories and christian Temples set vp an Idoll in their owne imaginations in steede thereof and prepare the way for that general and Antechristian abhomination of desolation which vvas prophesied by Daniell the Prophet O Christ wheÌ„ thy signe shal appeare in the cloudes that lightneth the whole world then Church robbers Image breakers the razers downe cursed enemies of thy Crosse then then shal come to confusion wheÌ„ thou shalt make al thy enemies thy footstoole Moreouer wheÌ„ as in our Churches any ceremonies of inceÌ„se and sweete perfumes which signifie betoken the sweet odour and sauour of good life that ought to bee among vs be vsed it is well and commendable which and the like ceremonies though in some sort of olde they were vsed yet seing that Christ came not to break the law but to ful fill it any such ceremonies as be not euacuate and frustrate by Christs comming as the bloudy sacrifice circumcision and the like are now not to be obserued because wee haue the things themselues whereof those ceremonies and sacrifices were figures yet I say any thing that tendeth to nourishing of pieâ—y deuotion and charity are to bee kept still as fasting knocking kneeling or any such godly ceremonies which concerne the body as deuotion doth the mind both which we must offer to God as being all his owne and due
incurable with his shadowe and strooke two dead at his word to the terror of all excommunicate and sacriledgious persons and to declare the authority he had to binde and loose to kill and raise againe wonderfull were the thinges that GOD wrought by those that succeeded in his place 30. and moe of the first Popes were all most glorious Martyrs One of I meane Marceline who in that per secutio of DioclesiaÌ„ Thus ad hibuit de orum simulacris ex Damas Platina the Popes indeede with his predecessor S. Peter denyed Christ for fetre of death but with S. Peter presently rose againe condemned his owne fault whereas other Bishops for that he was the high Bishop would not condemne him saying in the Councell Prima sedes a nemine indicatur The first seate or S. Peters chaire is iudged of no man Wherefore before the prosecuting Tyrant confessing his fault and accusing the deniall of his Master with just reproofe of the Infidell and incredulous persecutor the impious and cruell Tyrant put him to death so he dyed a glorious Martir Another Pope there was as some affirme a fauourer of the heresie that holdeth that soules before the day of judgment shall not see God and was about to haue ascended the chaire that is to haue made a decree intending to bind the whole Church thereunto for This story haue I hearde 〈◊〉 to my remeÌ„brâ—ce I neuer reade it neither câ—n I call to memory the 〈◊〉 of thâ—â— Pope of 〈…〉 by relation of others I heard this matter as also of his sode death maintenance of that erronious opinion But it pleased God to strike I am vvith sodaine death that he could not do his intended purpose See the prouidence o God how he defended his Church and how faithfull he is in his promise that told S. Peter his faith thou d neuer 〈◊〉 For though Peter and Marceline of frailty for feare denyed their Master and this other Pope as a priuate man became a fauourer of heresie and did erre as men some in act of themselues and another in opinion Yet when they came to make publike decree inteÌ„ding to bind the whole Church thereunto â—o giue judgment as it were ex Cathedra in that place which is the highest tribunall seat in Gods Church wherein they spake in the persoÌ„ of Christ there o they neuer did nor any successor of S. Peter caÌ„ euer possibly erre as partly appeared by this dreadfull example of this aforesaid Pope preuented with death so that if there were any one Pope amongst an hundred as they be but men of euill life or conuersation Gods truth of hereticks ought not to haue bin slaundered therefore neither hath the true faith in the Apostolike seat of S. Peter fayled though any ill man for the sinnes of the people may haue possessed the same but ordinarily the Popes haue beene and be God be blessed for it the most godly and vertuous men vpon earth as I before shewed by the glorious number of those that be Martyrs and Confessors such Saints as the heretickes cannot deny Chap. LXXI What most admirable vertuous holy zealous and most worthy and charitable men many Popes haue beene of olde and of late yeares also euen to this present day FOR example of what vertue vvas Leo the Pope that meeting Attila a great and mighty tyrannicall King that had spoyled almost al Italy and coÌ„ming to Rome to haue destroyed it Leâ— then Pope desired him to returne who though he came like a Lion he obeyed the Popes words and returned as meeke as a Lamb his souldiers meruailing their Master woulde bee so ruled by a Priest he answered that hee durst doe no other For whilst Leo the Pope talked with him hee saide hee sawe one stand by the Pope in Priestly attire with a drawne sworde threatning him death if he would not obey the Pope By the same vertue and holinesse another time hee put backe Gensericus from the burning and sacking of Rome Yet we doe knowe though Rome were destroyed that Saint Peters successor shoulde neuerthelesse be Pope of Rome though hee were in any place of the worlde As for Rome it hath often beene sacked and the Popes persecuted driuen away and yet God hath had euer care to prouide a Pastor for his Church though God hath oft and as we may well thinke will for his seruants sake aboue other places defende that Cittie what shoulde I speake of that Apostolike spirit that was in Gregory the great first Pope of that name and our Apostle of England His religious acts and worthy workes extant to this day declare the excellency of the man for all eternity when heretikes that call him the first Antechristian Pope shall with confusion be buried in hell to omit most famous and worthy men and be short what singuler vertues had Gregory the thirtenth of blessed memory what Seminaries did he erect what learned Colledges did he maintayne what seedes of vertue and learning by religious Apostolike Fathers and men did he sowe almost throughout the vvhole vvorld vvho vvith infinite expences sought the conuersion of heretikes and the whole world besides especially our country to whom he was a most louing father oft lamenting the miserable state thereof and that with teares How miraculous and worthy the acts were of Pâ—us Quintus his predecessor against the Turkes all Infidelles and Heretickes all the worlde knoweth I neede not speake of the vertue and religious piety of our holy Father Clement the eight that now is Pope of Rome for all good men there know it what excessiue expences he hath bin and daily is at in defending the whole Christian worlde against the commou enemy the Turke what fatherly care he hath vpon those Princes and States that bound vppon him what gifts and dignities hee hath bestowed on such as haue shewed them selues valiant Champions in defence of Christs truth and christian countries how with sighes and teares hee hath lamented such Princes and countries that haue withdrawne themselues from their christian brethren winking at the Turke finallye to their owne harme and ruyne with what Apostolike serious zealous and most prudent diuine letters and graue messengers to the contrary hee hath exhorted and admonished them to bee briefe Fraunce and Spayne yea and all Europe to their comfort and ioy seeth and feeleth the fruits of his labours in reconciliation of Christian Princes quieting of Countries seeking to the vttermost of his power for perfect peace betwixt God and man throughout the whole world a man surely right worthie his name a right Clement full of Clemency mercie and piety in charitable almes good deedes and most worthy thoughts towardes all men The Popes sometimes after a great and sure proofe of their Godly liues and miracles haue canonizd good meÌ„ departed for Saints heere to be accounted reuerensed in earth as they be with GOD in honor aboue in heauen but the glorious actes of these holy Popes not only