giue them a milder appellation of Romanistes and Papistes or in Lâ—…in Pontifiâ—…ij because they fetch their Dictates and Oracles from Rome and more respect the voice of their Pope then the voice of Almightie God they not sparing to thrust that miserable man into Christs place and to make him not so much a ministerial aâ—… 〈◊〉 monstrous head of their vn-Catholike Congregation And since the name of Papists doth so please the that in the former Chapter they â—…ssume it and in this Chapter they 〈◊〉 it giving reason vvhy they shoulde haue it as beeing all one vvith their pretended Catholikes wee will not envy it them but vvith good liberty they may take it Neither shall they neede to trouble themselues so farre as to cite Saint Chrysostome for the ratifying of it His words are these f Homil. 33 in Acta But if we wil also haue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of any man it is not as from the beginners of heresies but as from those who are rulers â—…ver vs do governâ—… the Church The reason of which speech in that reverend Father I cannot hastily gesse at since wee finde not that in or before his time the Christians were called by the name of any of the Rulers over the Church not Petrians noâ—… Paulians nor any such name Only his owne adversaries tearmed theÌ„ who did sticke close vnto him g Soâ—…omen lib. 8. 21. Iâ—…ita his proper name being Ioannes and the appellation of 〈◊〉 beeing afterwarde given vnto him as a Cogâ—… for his eloquence In which respect it is probable that for the defence of himselfe and those which followed him in the truth he did vse the words before cited T. HILL BVt yet the Catholikes are not called Papists but only of a few Lutherans in Germany and of some other their adherentes in other countreyâ—…â—…ere about for in Greece Asia Afrike and in the Inâ—…s as iâ—… Italy Spaine Sicily and in other countreyes of Europe the 〈◊〉 of Papists iâ—… vâ—…terly vnknowne The name therefore of Papists is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsed but only of a few and never heard of before Luther 〈◊〉 for that hee coulâ—… not call them after the proper name of any one man because there was nevâ—…r any such in the Church which â—…ther brought vp any new doctrine or changed the Religion of his Predecessours G. ABBOT IF you would you might quickly know that names are given for distinction sake wheÌ„ those persons to whom the names belong are to bee distinguished from a generall sort they haue names more generall but when from a speciall comprehended in their own generall they are to haue appellations more special In Greece if a man had beene disposed to put a difference betweene one that was learned and the vulgar vnlearned people it had been a good note of distinction to say he is a Philosopher But when the question grew betweene several Sects their opinions then for more particular difference it was not enough to say that Diogenes was a Philosopher but he was a Cynick such a one was an Epicurean another a Peripaâ—…eticke this an Academike that a Platonicke In some sence it is enough to say that in the yeare 1588 her Maiesty of England had against the Spaniard a campe of so many thousand English resolute meÌ„ religious and well appointed but when there is question of particulars in that campe then the Oxford-sheere men had those Captaines the Wilt-shire men these and their colours were several So if in India or Asia the opposition must be betweene the Infidels or Mahumetans on the one side and the servants of Christ of what sort soever they be on the other side it is enough to say in generall thus or thus do the Christians But if there be occasion to particularize any thing then the Christians in Spaine or those in Germany are thus and thus affected VVhen speech is of the doctrine of Mahomet opposed to Christianity the name Mahumetane will comprehend the Persian and his subiects the Turke and his vassals the kings of Argier Tunis and Marocco and all that are vnder them But when we talke of the difference in Mahomets profession betweene the Turke and the Persian vvhich hath on either party cost much bloud we say the Persian thus holdeth the Turke beleeveth thus Wheresoever in Christendome there is disagreemeÌ„t in ReligioÌ„ some holding for the Pope and some other against him there the name Papist is frequent this is not only in Germany but God be praysed for it in Norway and Sweden and Denmarke in Polonia in Fraunce England Scotland the Low Countryes whersoever else the Gospell is knowne either openly or secretly Yea in Italy Spaine and Sicily not only the name of Papistes but the whole doctrine of Popery woulde quickely come in question were it not for your bloudy Inquisition or cruell massacring otherwise of such as bend not that way And yet they be not able to extirpate Gods truth As for the Greekes they loue you not neither like of your Religion and Asia Africa and the Indies knowe very little of our differences in Profession vnlesse it bee by the Christians themselves and that onely heere and there as at Aleppo peradventure or some other Marte towne except you vvill name a fewe creekes or corners of Africa and the East Indies where the Portingales have incroched or those partes of the VVest Indies where the Spaniards have devoured vp almost all the olde inhabitants and planted themselues and to aske of these Portingales and Spaniards whether they bee ought but Catholikes is not to aske a mans felow but to aske a mans selfe whether he be a theefe or no But surely the Infidels or Turkes or Greekes do neither call you nor know you by that name And if Luther were the first who gave you that title of Papiste which pleaseth you so much you are behoulding to him for fitting you so right not that you might not lustly have bin so called before But hee having occasion to display your impiety to the full and God inableing him with learning and knowledge as also with spirit and wit for that purpose hee gave you a name most sutable to your nature which is the truest vse of appellations and names It very well agreeth with you for if Christians be those who harken vnto Christ and are directed by him you may well be Papists who depend on the onely voice and direction of the Pope T. HILL WHereas 〈◊〉 Heretikes have â—…ver take their names of some one who began that Havesy as the Nestorians of Nestorius the Pelagius of Pelagius Lutherans of Luther Calvinists of Calvin c. And although Luther tearmed them Papistes yet knevve hee so vvell in his conscience that they ever had beene and ought to bee called Catholikes as that he caused his followers to change their Creede in saying I beleeve the Christian Church and not I beleeve the Gatholike 〈◊〉 Mo. 1. Church for feare least they should be thought to
idolatry But while you receiue such as haue had education otherwise howsoever it hath beene neglected by them you are rather the Partridges of whom Saint Austen by remembraÌ„ce of the words of the Prophet e Ier. 17. 11. Ieremy doth speak such Partridges as gather the young which you brought not forth as your Seminaries doe declare But God be praised for it some of them doe serue you as Saint f Heâ—…mer lib. 63. Ambrose reporteth that the Partridge is served For whereas one Partridge doth steale away the egges of another Partridge and hacheth them if the opinion of that learned Authour be true divers of the g Epist. lib. 7. 48. young being hatched when they afterward heate the voice of their owne and naturall dams in the field leaue their step-mother and come againe to her to whom by original right they belonged So many of your infection after true grace imparted from aboue doe returne from your Seminaries and adioine themselues sincerely and laboriously to the Church of England They are bound to blesse God who delivereth them in such sort even as h Ion. 2. 10. Ionah was freed out of the whales belly They are come out not of the Doue-house which fertilely bringeth forth Pigeons but from Babylon where i Is. 13. 21. Zâ—… and Oâ—… be and Ostriches Dragons For as the old bee there so are the most part of the young Malicorvimalâ—…â—…vum A bad crow a bad egge And now telling you that a great part of this your fourth Reason is taken out of M. Bristowes fiue and twentith Motiue I let you go play you though but for a turne or two 24 BVt to come to the Reader whereas here the tearme of Heretikes is so oft vsed against vs we briefly aunswere with Saint Gregory k Moral lib. 10. 16 ex Exod. 8. 26. That is service vnto God which to the Egyptians was â—…nation And whereas among so many other foolish ones that is made a reason why the Popish religion should be truth saving M. Doctours vnpointed and vncoÌ„cluding discourse what can there by sound argument bee enforced therevpon What shal be the ground that must be stood on For cannot Heretikes pervert The Apostles haue told vs that their l 2 Tim. 2. 17 words fret as a Canker that m Cap. 3. 6. they creepe into houses yea that n 2. Pet. 2. 2. many shall follow their daâ—…able waies And you heard before what the Arrians did Or is it not vnto truth Why as touching this disputation that is the maine question betweene the Romanists vs. And to build vpon that is but Petitiâ—… prinâ—… to seâ—…ke to haue that graunted which is mainely and especially denied We do not yeeld that any of them winning their Converts to the subiection of the Papacy do bring them to Christ but rather to Antichrist Or is it a necessary coÌ„comitant of verity in doctrine that such as haue 〈◊〉 among them should be bound to convert Nations to the faith TheÌ„ to say nothing of the Iewish Church which had the word appropriated to it alone for so long a time what shall we thinke of France and England and Ireland and many other provinces of Europe which for a thousand yeares togither are not knowne to haue converted any one countrey to Christ but haue had enough and perhaps too much to do to keep theÌ„selues in the integrity of piety And yet our Pseudo-Catholiks make no doubt but that al that while they had the right beliefe These things do manifest the ficklenesse and vnstaiednes of thâ—… foundatioÌ„ heâ—… laid But if to turâ—… men to Christ be so necessary 〈◊〉 duety what wil they say to such a strange bringing home of so many kingdomes and regions of Europe within these huÌ„dred yeares and that by a few at first and those weake ones when Sathan and the Bishop of Rome and many potent Princes confederated with him did leaue no meanes vnsought to stifle Truth as in the cradle When the sword hath not beene spared the fire hath not beene forborne when their mighty men haue stroue their learned men haue written there haue beene wanting no libels no slanders no defamations yea no rebellion and treason and massacting and poysonfull attempts and yet neverthelesse Truth standeth vpright You talke of conversion but all the lovers and wel-willers of the whore of Babylon may and do stand amazed and gaze wonder at the ruine of their kingdome by so many millions going from them And we trust in Iesus Christ the conserver of the faithfull that in peace in warre in al things that can come this Arke of Noe shall swimme in safety floate being beaten vpon with many billowes but yet evermore bee preserved God hath not in his mercy given so much light that it should be extinguished or the glory of it much dimmed before his sonnes appearance With the breath of his month hee hath 〈◊〉 Thess. 2. 〈◊〉 ken and blasted that man of sinne and it now remaineth that he should be vtterly abolished at Christes comming Gaze therfore you Romanists till your eies and heartes doe ake to see the â—…ine and confusion of the Gospell and yet as wee trust in Almighty God you shall never haue your purpose THE FIFTH REASON Largenesse of Dominion through the multitude of Beleevers T. HILL THE Church vvhich the Mâ—…ssias vvâ—… to plante must bee 〈◊〉 is aforesaide dispersed through all nations and kingdomes 〈◊〉 the Holy Proâ—…ts â—…st plâ—…ly fore-shewed and namely the Royall Prophet speaking of the Apostles and Preachers vvhich shoulde succeede them saith Their sound went forth into all parts of the Psal. 18. Earth and their wordes vnto the ends of the circle of the earth And â—…st â—…festly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…sse of Christian domiâ—… in thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psâ—… And S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 beasts and the fâ—…e â—…d twenty Elâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before the Lâ—…be â—…ging thus Thou art worthy Lord to take the booke and to open the seales therof Apoc. c. 5 for thou hast bin slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy bloud out of every Tribe and people Language and Nation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her plâ—… After these things saith he I saw a great company which no man 〈◊〉 able to number of al Nations Tribes and Peoples and Tongues Cap. 7. G. ABBOT IT was long since saide that whereas our blessed 〈◊〉 Saviour whcÌ„ he was takeÌ„ vp to an exceeding high mountaine and shewed all the kingdomes Math 4 8 of the world and the glory of theÌ„ did refuse that offer of SataÌ„ Al these will I give thee if thâ—… wilt fall downe worship me the Pope coÌ„ming long after hearing that such a liberal profer was made tooke the Devill at his word in hope of such a wide exteÌ„ded dominioÌ„ did fal down and adore him You come in this place to plead for your Grand-maister the Bishop of Rome by the validity of this DonatioÌ„ but forgetting that
you would haue laid freely at them Dare you strangers and captiues and boyes and vpstart companions set your selfe against a million of wise men Princes and Counselours They should haue had your voice to haue gone to the fiery Furnace Doe you not pity your selfe when you reason in this fashion Among them that be wise pendenda sunt suffragiapetius quà m numeraÌ„da voices are to be weighed rather then to be numbred I can say no more vnto you but that when this is your best Divinity Lorde haue mercy vpon you Saint Austen would haue tolde you for o Epist. 19. all these and aboue all these we haue the Apostle Paule T. HILL NEither may the Protestants now at length glory in their great number as some of them haue done for that their Religion is there in England and in Scotland and some thereof in â—…aland and in the Lowe Countries and in some partes of Germany and a few of them in Fraunce Apol. Eccl. Anglic. for they never yet passed into Asia nor into Africa nor into Greece nor into many places of Europe much lesse into the Indies But indeede if you rightly scanne their doctrine you shall finde that your Religion ProtestaÌ„tine of England is no where in the world else and that English service contained in your booke of Common praier is vnknowne and condemned of all other Nations and people vnder the cope of Heaven So that in very deed the doctrine of your Protestantes is taught or received no vvhere but in England and the Puritant Doctrine of Scotlande the contrariety therof duely considered is no where but in Scotlande the Lutherane Doctrine taught in Denmarke is no where but in Denmarke and in a few places of Germany the Libertine doctrine taught in the Low Countries is no â—…here but in the Low Countries and the like may be said of other sectes G. ABBOT 26 YOV are mis enformed that the Protestants doe glorie in their great number they know that truth is truth be iâ—… in more or few As for M. Iewell whose Apologie you quote in your margent hee hath no such matter Onely where as it is obiected that our Religion overturneth kingdoms and governmentes hee answereth there vnto that there p Apol. Eccl. Anglican doe remaiue in their place and ancient dignitie the Kings of England Denmarke Sweden the Dukes of Saâ—…cony the Cunties Palatine c. This is to answere to an obiection by giving many instances to the contrary and not to glory of any multitude And if any other of our Church do note in breefe that the Gospell hath taken roote in some large nations that is to stop the mouth of the clamorous adversary and to satisfie the weake as also not least of all to praise God who so spreadeth the beames of his compassion but it is not to boast vainely as you ignorantly imagine Yet who doubteth but a good Christian may ioy in his hart exceedingly and thankfully expresse it in his tongue that many who sate in darkenesse may now behold the light and the sheepefold of Christ is more and more filled But if we would be too forward you will plucke vs backe againe Although it be say you in some places of Europe yet in some other it is not As who should say your Popery is generall in all Where I pray you in Greece is your Papistry It is not in Asia and Africa and much lesse in the Indies The East Indies are part of Asia if you could think vpon it By what means your Idolatry came into those Countries I haue shewed before and how plentifully there it is If we would talke idly as you for the most part doe we might say that in every place where the Marchants of Holland trade and haue people residing our religion is accepted But since the English Merchants haue companies houses in Russia in Constantinople in Aleppo in Alexandria sometimes in Barbary in Zacynthus in Venice and Legorne we might say after the fashion of your boasting that our religion is in those parts But we desire to make no more of things then indeede they are Yet we tell you for those remote provinces that as now one hundred and twenty yeeres agone they knewe not one whit of your faith so it may please God before one hundred and twenty yeeres more bee passed if it so seeme good to his most sacred wisedome to plant the truth which we reach in the East Westerne world especially if a passage by the North ende of America or that by Asia beyond Ob may bee opened vvherein our q M. Hacluiâ—… vnges Nation hath much adventured and speng good summes of treasure vvhich also the Hollanders haue done But the issue of this whole matter must bee leste to the divine providence which is to bee magnified therefore if hee adde this blessing to his Church And if he deny it either there or in any other place we must not be caried too farre with griefe or pitty since it doth not please him who is the father of mercie to condescend vnto it Nowe vvhereas you avouch that our doctrine is onelye in England I knovve not vvhither I shoulde put that in your ignoraunces or rather in your malicious cavils Truth it is our common prayer booke is vsed onelye by those who are of Englishe allegeaunce but is there anie pointe of doctrine in it vvherevnto other Churches reformed in Europe doe not condescend The Catechisme of the Councell of Trent doth differ in words from the Catechisme of Canisius and both of them from that of M. Vaux yet you would thinke it a wronge if anye man should tell you that they disagree in pointes of doctrine So the service of the reformed Congregations in Europe as in England Scotland Fraunce Switzerland in the dominion of the Palsgraue in the Regiments and free cities of Germany which are of the Pallsgraues confession as also in a good parte of the low Countries is the same in all pointes of moment not differing one intâ—… their Professions are the same There is no question among these in anie one pointe of religion The Ecclesiasticall policy being different as in some places by Bishops in some other wâ—…thout them doth not alter ought of faith The Apostles in that they were Apostles had a kinde of governement vvhich the Church had not afterward in the very same particular In the auncient Church some cities and Countreyes vvere immediately ruled by a Patriarke Grande Metropolitane some other by an inferiour Bishoppe vvho was subiected to the greater yet they all might agree in the faith The cheefe at Rome immediately is the Pope at Millaine for spirituall thinges the Arch-bishoppe in some places bee but Suffragaines in some other Iurisdictions a Deane or Priour by Privilege hath almost Papall auctoritie vvhich also in times past vvas in the Chauncellours or Vice-chauncellours of our English Vniversities some fewe thinges beeing excepted and reserved Yet will you say that these doe differ in
vvriting against u Contra 18 articul Wiolif VViclif maketh y In articulo 11. 12. tvvise mention of a booke of his ovvne sent to the Bishoppe of Hereford Dâ—…num Ersordenseâ—… he calleth him in confutation of the booke of VValter Britte 27 While I wrâ—…e these thinges I cannot but thinke vpon the audacious absurdnesse of my ignorant Doctour who blusheth not to vtter that is is y Ration 1. most manifest that all in England vvere Papistes vvithout exception from the first Christening thereof vntill this age of King Henry the eight Hee is doubtlesse an honest man and worthy to be trusted on his word It is not only manifest but most manifest not that the greatest part but all yea beâ—… shal not be scanted all wâ—…ut â—…ption were â—…apistes c. Were Iohn Wiclifâ—… bones burnt because he was a Papist were the Bulâ—… of the Pope against him for that cause and were the Archbishop Arondelâ—… Costâ—… against his followers so severe because they were Papists The man is hâ—… to be pittied for his simplicity A man may know by the lawes ProclamatioÌ„s letters proceedings by the State against some as against Heretickes As also by the Records of Bishops yet extant by the manifold executions burnings afterward that even in that deepe time of ignorance England did give most noble testimony of Christs truth against Popery eveÌ„ so farre as to the fiery trial If the Christian Reader peruse the Ecclesiastical History of M r. Foxe he shal find how z 〈◊〉 An. 1400. sub K. Henrie 4. before the Coâ—… William Saâ—… a Priest was burnt after him Iohn Baâ—…y and that because they were Wiclevists oâ—… Lâ—… as they the â—…ed them and not because they were Papists There are the reasons also and asseveratioÌ„s of Pâ—…y and Thorpe against Popery with diverse other matters And is it â—…ot to bee thought that the Heretikes increased when a â—…ynode a 〈◊〉 Sub Reg. Henric. 5. was assembled in Sâ—… Pâ—… Church at London into the vvhich â—…me 〈◊〉 Inquisitoâ—… who in a former Synode were appointed to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the vvâ—…gs of VVâ—… vvherein they found 24â—… Conclusions an vvhich they supposed to bee Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 â—…eere of K. Henry the 〈◊〉 dâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ward the L. 〈◊〉 was â—…ge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 had beene a â—…de of Traiâ—… but hee was then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ed Hâ—… So was oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for his 〈◊〉 consumed to 〈◊〉 Not longâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 besideâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sub 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Religion 〈◊〉 and VVâ—… tvvo 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 followed afterwardâ—… Neither â—…d â—…he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of King 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 escape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of sundrie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHRISTâ—… 〈◊〉 sake 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 profession of the â—…hy the particular stories of vvhome may bâ—…â—…ounde in the Authour abouâ—… 〈◊〉 The Clergy of these times did beare much sway with their Princes and lefte no meanes vâ—…ught no stone vnâ—…ned to keepe vp the dignitie and preheminence of their Romish Hierarchy and the superstitions Idolatry vvhich then vvas in vse Novve â—…in the raignes of all these Princes so many were slaughtered for the testimonie of a good conscience hovve manie weake brethren vvere there vvho did not make open profession of their faith and hovve many did there lie hid diverse of them in probabilitie having confederates and some of them being Priestes and therefore not vnlikely to have learning both to confirme themselves in the truth and such other as hearde them Thus have I both in England and else-vvhere brought vp the doctrine of the Gospell vntill the time of Iohn VViclef who flourished in the yeere 1371. 28 Heere it may please the Reader to remember that the iudgment before cited of â—…vo c Gregor 11. Gregor 12. Popes vvas that VViclef taught the doctrine of Marsilius of Padua and of Iohn of 〈◊〉 Of the later of these there yet appeareth no monument vvritten But hee ioyned in d Catalog test verle lib. 18. opinion vvith the former But as for Marsilius Patavinus our Adversties cannot but acknovvledge him to bee a verie learned man after the measure of the age vvherein hee lived vvhich vvas in the yeere 1324. Hee vvrote a e Defensor pacis booke against the vsurped power of the Bishope of Rome vvhich argument hee entred into in behalfe of the Emperour Levvis of Bavâ—…e vvho vvas mightily laide at by three Popes successiuelie There the Authour avovveth as right and iust the supreme authoritie of the Emperour displaying the iniquitie of the Popes vsurpation over Christian Princes and Generall Councels The booke is vvoorth the reading to see vvhether all in times past did allowe of the Popes doctrine and proceedinges or not His opinions are these That the Pope is not superiour to other Bishoppes and much lâ—… the Emperour and civill Magistraâ—… That thing as are to bee decided by the â—…ure Thâ—… 〈◊〉 men of the laiâ—… 〈◊〉 in Councels That the Clergy and Pope himselfe are to bee subiect to Magistrates That the Church is the 〈◊〉 companie of the faithfull That CHRIST is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Church and appointed 〈◊〉 to bee 〈◊〉 Uiâ—… That Priestes may bee â—…ryed That Saint Peter was 〈◊〉 at Rome That the Popish Synagoge 〈◊〉 a dâ—… of theeves That the doctrine of the Pâ—… not to bee follovved because it leadeth to everlasting destructâ—… In the time of this Marsilius lived that noble Poet Danie vvho vvrote also a booke against the Pope f Petrus Messias in Ludovico Câ—… the Monarchie of the Emperour but for taking part vvith Lewes of Bavâ—…ere hee vvas condemned for an heretike and his booke â—…hereticall Then also vvrote g Catal. test verit lib. 18. Occam directly to the same purpose but for his labour therein and his large reproofe of the Papâ—…cie in other pointes hee was excommunicated by the romane Bishop vvhich he so much contemned that hee not vnwillingly dyed vnder that sentence Aboute that time vvere here and there dispersed sundry godly men who sawe more then the common sorte touching Religion As h Ibid. ex Hen. de Erford Hayâ—… a Minorite vvho frequently saide in his Sermons that the Church of Rome vvat the vvhere of Babylon and that the Pope and Cardinals vvere meere Aâ—… vvhich propositions were helde somevvhat before also by i Ibidem Gerâ—… and Dulcinus tvvo learned men This Duâ—… may be thought to haue had many followers since k Hist. Hussit lib. 2. Cochleus coulde say that Iohn Hus committed spirituall fornication with the Wâ—…sts and with the Dulâ—…nists The same opinions concerning the Pope and Rome did that rare man l Epist. 20. in Poesi Italica Franciscus Petrarche seeme fully to embrace as may appeare to any who will reade his vvorkes hovvsoever Cardinall
answered truely say that it was in England in France in Spaine in Italy yea in Rome it selfe Spiritus vbi vult spirat The holy Ghost breatheth Ioh. 3. 8. where it pleaseth For who cannot conceiue by the writings of many in former ages or by such touches as other doe giue concerning them that diverse who lived nearest the whore of Babylon did most detest her abomination finding that the weakenesse and impurity of her doctrine could not truely satisfie the hungry thirsty soule did according to that knowledge which Christ out of his word reveiled to theÌ„ seeke some meanes which was not ordinarily professed in that time And if it be asked who they were and how could they lie hid from the world it may truly bee answered that their case was like the case of them in the daies of s 1. Reg. 19. 18. Elias who were not known to that State which would haue persecuted them Now why should not we thinke but as God had his secret and invisible company at that time in that most idolatrous country so in the time of the deepest darknesse he had those who saw light this Christian children among Antichrists broode such as embraced true religion among the superstitious So that Italy and Rome and these Westerne parts had some of Godâ—… Saints in all ages who like sea-fish most fresh in the faltest water and being removed in their affections though not in their persons did with 〈◊〉 Lot vexe their righteous soules in the 2 Pet 〈◊〉 8. middest of a spiritual Sodome and kept themselues 〈◊〉 vnspotted â—…am 1. 27. of the world And yet it is not to be taken that we coâ—…rctate the Church within those Provinces onely which looked toward the See of Rome but know that God had thousands of his elect elswhere Osor. li. 3. de gest Emanuel Christians haue beene in 〈◊〉 India even by perpetuall dilcent from the daies of the Apostles and so in Africa among the 〈◊〉 Abyssines in 〈◊〉 and huge-companies besides Li. 9. Dam. 〈◊〉 Goes de morib Aethiop such as haue continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asia the lesser Aegypt but especially in the Greeke Church which was never so much as in shew extinguished and from whome the Russians and Muscovites had their faith Our Popish lads would gladly shut al these out of Christs fold because they acknowledged not the Bishop of Rome for their vniversall Pastour but we should do wrong to Almighty God to pinne his iudgment vpon the Popes sleeue and to offer to pull from him so many ample Churches whereas charity and common sence might put vs in minde that hee might there haue thousandes throughout all ages Looke to these places yee Papists and imagine that if there had been none but these yet the wordes of the Scripture which in generality speake of a spowse had beene true and Christ had there had his body on earth and the Church had not beene vtterly extinguished if neither we nor the Synagoge of Rome had beene extant 32 But in as much as it cannot be denied but that the Prophecies concerning Antichrist doe most touch the Westerne world y Apoc. 17. 18. Rome being by the holy Ghost evidently designed to bee the seate of the whore of Babylon as also because our Romish standard-bearers are more willing to talke of those partes then of any other I will once againe returne to the Countreies neere adioining Then in some parts or other of Christendome how many men were there in al ages who loâ—…thed both the See of Rome the whole courses of it as the Israelites did loath the Aegyptian bondage Matthew Paris alone giveth vs many notable experiments that way as relating the Actes of the z In Hen. 3. Emperour Frederike who put out diverse declarations in detestation of the Pope and adding else where farther of his owne that a Ibidem Pope Gregory did absolve from the oth of fealty all who were bound vnto the Emperour perswading them that they should bee faithfull in vnfaithfulnesse obedâ—…nt in disobedâ—…ence But somuch deserved the Romane Churches lowdnesse which is to be exâ—…ed of all men that the Popes authority did meritâ—… to bee harkened vnto by few or none He reporteth also of a certaine b Ibidem Carthusian Monke aâ—… Cambridge who cryed out against the Pope and said that he was an heretike and that the Churches were profaned And of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lancolne who was a man both holy and learned in his time This Lincolniensis while hee lived had many Combates with the Bishoppe of Rome and openly resisted his barbarous tyranny in dominering so farre in Englande as to inioyne Provision of the best Benefices to be taken vp for Italian boyes which for a c Lincolniens epistol Prebend in his Church at Lincolne hee vvould not yeeld vnto and for that cause vvas by the Pope excommunicated But vvhen he was d Matth Paris in Hen. 3 dying hee most bitterly inveighed against the Romane Bishop and the Ecclesiasticall Persons as being the most wâ—…ked men that did liue In the same e Ibidem Authour you may also find the conceite which the most Reverende Arch-bâ—…shop of Yorke Sewaldus had of them and their proceedings VVhat should I mention f Hoveden parte secuÌ„da loachim who said that in his time Antichrist was already borne and was in the Citty of Rome Or that Bishop of g Platina in Paschal 2. Florence who lived about the yeare 1100. and did vse to say that Antichrist was then in the worlde which mooved Pope Paschalis so much as that he thought fit to enquire of him in a Councell and did there castigate him for it Notable in this kind are the contentions of Philippus Pulcher the King of Fraunce and his whole Cleargy against h Pap. Masâ—…on in Bonifac 8. Boniface the eighth I might adde to these Petrus de Brus and many other learned men who laid the axe to the very roote of Popery and some in set Treatises oppugned one of their documents and some assaulted other but that the writer of the Catalogus Testium veritatis as it is lately enlarged and i In Histor. Ecclesiast Master Foxe and Master k In Catal. script Brit. Laur. HuÌ„â—…r â—…uitism part 1. Bale and diverse 1 other haue largely handled this to the reading of vvhose bookes I doe referte them who in particular desire to bee more advertised in this behalfe Now if these things doe appeare much by their owne witnesse and by the confession of Papistes themselues as also by such few Records as by Gods providence so disposing doe yet remaine howe many illustrious argumentes might there haue beene of the confession of our faith if the Clergy and Magistracy of those darke times had not burned suppressed all things which made against thâ—… as I shewed before touching the bookes of Iohn VViclef and Reginald Pecocke in Oxford The Clergy in those dayes did almost
question it When the Iesuites mainetaine that the Excommunication Consistorially given against her late Maiesty is a right and Papall sentence but the Seminarians their abetters avouch it to bee a matter of fact and not of faith and therefore the Pope may there in erre And is there one beleefe when you caÌ„not doctrinally agree whither the Pope or the Generall Councell be the greater When not long since m Pigh Eccles Hier. lib. 1. 2. Papists did mainetaine that the authority of the Church was aboue the Scriptures but the n Bellar. de Concil lib. 2. 12. Iesuites now deny it and the o In Gal. 2. 2. Rhemistes as moderatours cannot well tell what to make of it but in some sences rather bend to the prerogatiue of the Church And as you haue reformed many other things in Popery so is your service the same When your Breviaries or Porteises are so much altered since the time of the Councell of Trent and so many shamefull things put out which if they were impious or idolatrous your people before those daies were in a pretty pickle As Georgius Timotheus being more nasute then their predecessors did purge their p Socr. Eccles Hist. 7. 6. Arrianisme and cleared it of many the blasphemies of Arius retaining such as were more plausible so Pius the 5. cleansed the Breviary of many absurdities and helde only those things which he supposed were more defensible q Bellar de verbo Dei lib. 2. 11. In your new Missals also many texts are altered from that which was in the old Your LegeÌ„daries in former times were read in the midst of your Congregations accepted for good truth yet now you reiect your ancient books insomuch that r Motiv 5. Bristow himselfe disclaimeth vncertaine or false Miracles which they reade saith he in I know not what Legenda Aurea so contemptuously he speaketh of it and now that only must goe for currant which s De Vitiâ—… SanctoruÌ„ Surius Lippoman haue revised and allowed Nay hath the Church of Rome ever had one beleefe when the foundations of their faith in which vvill they nill they their soule and salvation must bee acknowledged to consist are and haue beene so and such among them that no man can well tell what to make or determine of them I meane the Scripture which is vnto them as a deade law and the Pope which is as the living Magistrate For first touching the Scriptures we know that with them the Latin Vulgar Edition is only authenticall and so the s Session 4. Councell of Trent hath defined it whereas the Originals of the Hebrew and Greeke which are the first and clearest fountaines are but basely esteemed by many of them insomuch that they t Prolog ad Lector ante li. 1. Esdr. who put out the Complutensian Bible say that they haue set the Latin there betweene the Greeke and Hebrew as Christ was vpon the Crosse betweene the tvvo theeves Now what can any man make of this their Latin Copy when besides the difference of it from the Originals against which we most except it is in it selfe so often altered and chopped and changed for besides the Castigations Corrections of the Lovanists and Coleinists and I cannot tell how many the Pope Sixtus 5. did cause it to be revewed 〈◊〉 professing that hee had amended very much of it he made it to be new printed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praefixa Biblijs Sixti quinti. prefixed a Bul before it testifying that he in his own person had gone through the whole Copie and iudged of it yea amended the faultes escaped in the Printers Presse with his owne hand therfore did give charge by that his ConstitutioÌ„ which was evermore to stand in force that it should never afterward bee altered or any other Copy of the Vulgar Edition bee vsed And if anâ—…e did attempte contrary to his Decree then hee shoulde incâ—…rre the displeasure of Almightie GOD and of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paule This vvas published but in the yeere 1589. and vvithin three yeeres after Anno 1592. commeth Pope Clement the 8. and vnder a coulour that his Predecessour Sixtus had inteÌ„ded torevise his Bible once againe but that hee dyed before hee could effect it hee putteth out another in many hundreds of textes differing from the former so that the diversities compared togither doe make a 〈◊〉 prettie booke and there is little more variety 〈◊〉 Bellum Papale Thomâ—… Iames. for materiall pointes betweene the translation vsed in the Church of England and the Rhemish Testament then is betweene these two And since the nexte Pope vvho succeedeth vvill thinke scorne but to have as much auctoritie as his Anteceslour it may bee chopped not onely once more but many times so that the Romish Church may bee saide to bee so farre of from Vnitie in Veritie that of certainty they have not the Scriptures vvhereon their faith must bee builte but they in former times and these in this present age have various groundes to rest themselves vpon Secondly as nowe it is with the Scriptures so it hath beene heeretofore vvith the Popes when they have had 23. severall Schismes Antipapes being erected the one against the other and those broyles sometimes continuing for scores of yeeres togither vvithout interruption so that all Christendome by partaking vvith them hath beene in an vprore and thousandes by that meanes have beene murthered Novve if it bee such an Article of faith that the Church must bee beleeved yea beleeved in and this Church is the Romane Church and is ministerially inspired by the heade and the heade is not onely like bifidus 〈◊〉 a hill vvith tvvo toppes but triplex Gerion or tricâ—…ps 〈◊〉 vvitlâ—… three partes as it was a little x Vide Câ—…cil Constantions before the Councel of Constance three Popes vsurping at one time and everie one of these doe eurse to the deepest bottome of the lovvest hell all that stande against them nay all vvho are not vvith them and in their Consistories if they bee Popes they cannot erre Will any man vvho hath his vvittes about him thinke that here is one Faith and one 〈◊〉 in the Romish Cocke-pit And especially when these Popes shall against the Antipapes proclaime Croisadoes that men are to marke themselves with the signe of the Crosse and fight against their adversaries as against Turkes Saracens and Infidels the knowne enemies of the Christian profession Heare this yee Papists blush when you mention your Vnity T. HILL BVT on the other side if you looke into the dâ—…ings of Protestants you shall see such dissensions such divisions such schisâ—…s such contraâ—…tie of opinions as the like was never among the Arrians among the Eutychians among the Donatists among the Nestorians among the Valentinians 〈◊〉 yet amâ—…ngest the most â—…arring Heretikes that ever were So as you may plainely beholde in Luther his seede the selfe same thing that the Poets faine of
do that is put vp your pipes make no more noise Yet I cannot so leave you but put you in mind coÌ„cerning Protestants Puritanes that it is probable that the Controversies which then were by your slie secret coÌ„veiances were the more forwarded at the least you Romanistes did your best by hypocrites and other your naughty instruments to coÌ„tinue them For the practise of your religion being of late nothing else but mischievous policie your Emissaries were instructed at their comming into England to sooth both sides and to commend them that so they might persist in their opinions And heere I shall open to the vvorlde some thing of your cunning vvhich is not knowne to every body There g At Rhemes Anno 1579. are certaine instructions vvhich Doctour Allen in a longe continuated speech vvhich hee dictated to his auditours and they in vvriting tooke it from his mouth did bestovve on such Priests as vvere then to bee sent from the Seminarie in Fraunce into England And these vvere to informe them hovve they should deale vvith all sortes of people to pervert them from their faith Thus therefore hee advertiseth them If you chaunce to deale vvith a Puritane you must say vnto him Truely brother for you there is more hope then of these that be Protestants because they for feare of the Prince and the lawe are ready to say and beleeve any thing and therfore me thinketh they be Atheistes but for you there is more hope being either hote or colde If you deale vvith a Protestant tell him there is more hope of him then of such rash brained Puritanes because they with Religion have put of all humanitie and civilitie vvith all other good maÌ„ners Who would not thinke that for mischievous devises this head of Allens was soone after worthy to be covered with a Cardinals hat But by the leave of our Seculars who strive to magnifie him he did not learne this of Saint Peter but rather of Sir Nicholas Machiavel a man of their good acquaintance Heere with our Seminarie Preests both Protestants and Puritanes were for a purpose honest men I would that we had cause so to repute of thâ—…se Romanists 9 Now whereas you call the faith which we professe our Parliamentary Religion you are for that tearme behoulding to diverse of your good maisters For yoâ—… chiefe schoole-master Bristow longe since bestowed that phrase on vs intituling one of his Chapters h Brist Motiv 42. The Parliament Church and Parsons vvho coulde ever readilie enlarge an vntruth i Wardword ca. 4. saith that Peter Martyr and Maister Bucer at their comming into England in King Edvvardes daies vvere conditioned vvith to teach that Religion vvhich should bee established by the Parliament approaching It is vvell confessed by him that our Realme in that Kinges enteraunce was not so weake in the knowledge of Divinity that they needed to be guided by any from beyond the seas but they themselves could search the k Ioh. 5. 3. 9 Scriptures to sifte out what vvas the truth It vvas not so happie vvith that Conventicle at Trente whereas it seemeth all the learned men were so simple that they did nothing but almost verbis concepâ—…is from Rome which gave occasion to that meriment that the holie Ghost who should have bin President of the Councel was brought from Rome in a boxe But the Religion which was then and is now established in England is drawne out of the fountaines of the word of God from the purest orders of the Primitive church which for the ordinarie exercise therof wheÌ„ it had bin collected into the booke of common Praier by the paines and labour of many learned men and of mature iudgment it was afterward confirmed by the vpper and lower house yet not so but that the most materiall points were disputed and debated in the Convocation house by men of both parties and might farther have bin discussed so long as any Popish Divine had ought reasonably to say l Holinshed An. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But there in the beginning of Q. Elizabeths raigne the Antichristian Bishops to their everlasting infamie to the perpetuall preiudice of their cause refused the disputation or conference and crying creake for sooke their cause in the plaine field knowing right well that when Popery must bee brought to the touch-stone of Gods word it will proove base and counterfeite And then it being intended to adde to Ecclesiasticall decision the corroboration of secular governemeÌ„t according to the auncient custome of this kingdome as appeareth by m An 20. 25 38. Râ—…gis Edvard 3 Record froÌ„ the time of K. Edward the 3. the Parliament which is the most honorable Court of Christendome did ratify the same That so all of all orders and degrees might be bound to serve the Lord of heaven not after their owne fancies but as himselfe had prescribed And that this heretofore hath bin the custome of good Princes to cal their Nobles and their people to ioyne with them for the establishing of Gods service every man may know who will but looke into the stories of the Bible For there it will appeere that n Iosuah 〈◊〉 2. Iojuah being olde minding as farre as in him lay to perpetuate the sincere service of the Lord to all succeeding generatioÌ„s did assemble all Israel their Elders their Heads their Iudges their Officers to give consent therto So did o 〈◊〉 Chron. 28. 1. David not onely minding to commend to all his subiects the succeeding of Salomon in the crowne after him but aboue all things pure Religion And was not this the course which Asa did take for the reforming p 2. Chron. 15 9. of those errours wherwith Gods service was intaÌ„gled when assembling all Iudah and Beniamin to Ierusalem hee did cause them by an othe of association and as in way of a stronge covenant to binde themselves to God yea and that vnder the paine of death to flie Idolatrie and to embrace true piety and devotioÌ„ The like might be saide of other Princes who were god ly And these meetings no doubt being such assemblies as our Parliament is or rather being some more generall matter hee who should have termed their conclusions a Parliamentary Religion might have bin reputed no better theÌ„ a scoffing enimy And so may you Doctor Hill be accounted and Bristow in like sorte but Persons over and aboue that may have the name of a slaunderer who can glose and invent any thing which may serve for his purpose as that is that P. Martyr and M. Bucer were indented with all to teach as the Parliament should decree implying that whatsoever it had bin they must have condescended vnto it This lying Iesuite can shew no letter no Acte of Record no testimony of semblaunce of truth to averre this his calumniation But the matter indeed was that the reformers of Religion heere intending to level all by the line of Gods word knew that those two
manifest that all 〈◊〉 which ever beleeved in Christ were first converted to his 〈◊〉 by such 〈◊〉 either 〈◊〉 precisely sent or 〈◊〉 the least wise had their authority from the 〈◊〉 which lived in the time in which they were conâ—…rted 〈◊〉 thing is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 set dowâ—… in the History of the first convâ—…rsion of every countrey as no Protestâ—… vvere 〈◊〉 â—…ver so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 G. ABBOT 1 TO deale favourably with you and not to answere you as in this place you deserue is there any man of tolerable learning or any whit seene in the Ecclesiasticall story who doeth not heere thinke that you want some body who may not only exagitate you but excoâ—…te you also when as if you were become some Aquaviva or General of the Iesuits you so and aciously giue downe such generall propositions not onely farre from truth but much estraunged from the very shewe and semblance thereof I do lesse pity you because the farther I goe the more I perceiue you to be a sworne servant to Antichrist therfore there is nothing which may advance your masters credit but you aâ—… devoted to him must say it do it But in my very bowels I pity take compassioÌ„ of divers my bewitched couÌ„treymen sily women and young fondlings who receiving from you such stuffe so boldly asse verantly averred haue not the skill to discover you nor the grace to repaire vnto such as may lay open the Ambuscadoes and snares which you haue prepared for them Where there needeth no other proofe to descry this your dealing then to obserue that in this your so potent and puissant challenge you cite not one author you name not one particular you single not out the Pope you point not out the countrey you assigne not the preachers by whom it is done you mention not the time nor yeeld vs any reason wherefore you do say it but only this that you doe say it Wherein you over-lash beyond the most that ever wrote on your side for other assumed somewhat but you throw at all and losing haue nothing to pay The Iesuites whom afterward you commende in this Chapter doe not vse to extenuate their holy Fathers commendation but to set it as high as may be and a Controv. cap. 2. 〈◊〉 Wats Quodl 8. 4. Costerus among theÌ„ being one who had a 〈◊〉 deale more reading and learning and iudgment theÌ„ you seeme to haue pretermitting as he telleth vs the Churches of the East and of the South saith it is certaine that Germany and Fraunce were first converted by such as Peter sent And afterward he would bring in the kingdoms of England Scotland as brought to the faith by the successours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter in the see of Rome and to those he addeth Africa meaning as 〈◊〉 should seeme some paâ—… thereof lying neere to Italy for hee himselfe alloâ—…h Aethiopia to Saint Matthew and Aegypt Libia the Africanes there about to Simon and Saint Marke the Evangelist But the conversion of Spaine he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S t. Iames of Thracia and Scythia Europâ—…â—…o Saint 〈◊〉 oâ—… Scythia Asiatica to Philip of Armenia and the hither part of India to Bartholomew of Parthia Media Persia 〈◊〉 the Brachâ—…ane Bactrians vnto Thomas as also the farther part of India which is yet beleeved in that couÌ„trey as b Osor. degest Eman. lib. 3. Maff Hist. Iudic. lib 2. appeareth by such as haue written the navigations of the Portingales into those partes And at these things are witnessed by some of the old writers so c Eccl Hist. lib. 3. 1. Eusebius hath this farther that Asia fel to Iohn the Evangelist meaning Asia the lesser or Natolis but that Peter as it seemeth did preach the word to the Iewes who were d 1. Pet. 1. 1. dispersed in Pontus Galâ—…tia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Asia 2 Thus in the time of the Apostles the greatest parte of the known world had heard of the faith of Christ in some good measure embraced it that being verified that e Rom. 10. 1â—… their sound that is the Apostles went out through all the earth and their wordes into the ends of the world and Christs Prophecie being fulfilled that f Mat. 24. 14 the Gospell of the kingdome should be preached through alâ—… 〈◊〉 world for a â—…nes vnto all nations and then should the end come which was done before the destruction of Hierusalem that g Vers 34. generatâ—… beeing not yet passed which lived in Christs time And this is so vndoubted a truth that Costerus saith The h Controv. cap 2. Catholike Church as first was propagated by the Apostles themselues almost through all knowne countreyes Now all this while there was no Pope and if it should bee obiected as no other shift there is in the world and that is but a simple one that Peter as Pope sent the rest of the Apostles some to this place some to that I require one text oâ—… scripture to bee shewed or one monument of antiquity to be produced which maye confirme so much It is not vnlikelye but that the Apostles in some assembly at Hierusalem did consent what regions each of them should betake themselues vnto but that any one did appoint to the rest their charges we no where find Nay plaine it is that Peter himselfe had his portion assigned him to preach to the i Gal. 2. 7. Iewes as Paule had to preach to the Gentiles which was the greater charge And whither this were appropriated to him by God as the text seemeth well to encline or whither by the consent also of the Apostles Paule had his Commission in the same manner which he so little thinketh inferiour to the others that he k Ibidem nameth it before Peters and standeth vpon l ver 8. 9. tearmes of equality in power and fellowship in action But that I may force the authour of this libell to say Penne thou writest vntruth Samaria received Christ by the preaching of m Act. 8. 5. 14. Philip before that Peter knew of it and the n 27. Eunuch of Aethiopia on the way was in like sort brought to religion by the same Philip and he went home immediately and planted the faith in his Countrey as o Eccl Hist. Lib. 2. 1. Eusebius sheweth which was done without Peters privity for a good space after that hee made doubt whither the Gentiles might haue the worde opened to them vntill that by a vision q Act. 10. 10. from heaven that scruple was removed And I pray you was there nothing done by Saint Paul whose authority was immediate from r Galat. 〈◊〉 1 God not froÌ„ man he beeing not set on worke from other but receiving his commission from Iesus Christ himselfe The history of whose labours in turning men to Christ although Saint Luke doth particularly relate in the Actes of the Apostles yet for brevity sake we will looke to one place only of his owne
accident hee bee compelled to flye into forraine Countreyes hee maye not travaile excepte his prettye parâ—…ll goeth vvith him but such a one to goe simplye and as they saye bona fide to convert others vvas yet never 〈◊〉 G. ABROT 13 You wil tell vs anone that the children of this y Luk. 16 18 world are wiser in their generatioÌ„ then the childreÌ„ of light And this wee knew before as also that you are more diligent to doe evill then many of vs are to doe good But the Protestants haue a vocation and keepe themselues in their watches where God hath placed every one of them and doe not stirre from it but when as by the godly Magistrate they are imployed They are not assured that to leaue their owne charge and leade a Circumcellian life without speciall appointment is acceptable vnto God Antiochus indeede being striken by Gods hande is reported to professe that he z 2. Maâ—…hab 9. 17. would become a â—…ew himselfe goe through all the worlde that was inhabited and preach the power of God But wee propose not to our selues the example of Antiochus But the Apostles did so And had they not a a Matth. 28. 19. commission so to doeâ—… Yet might they not goe till they had that Commission and sometimes they were restrained by the spirit of the Lorde from b Act. 16. 6. 7 such and such places Yea and the calling of the Apostles is ceased Doe you read that Saint Ambrose or Saint Austen or the old fathers in the Primitiue Church did take any such course And whereas Gregory sent some into England it was vpon a speciall occasion c Eccle. hist. lib 1. 23. Bede saith that Gregory was warned there-vnto by an instinct from God Indeede it is probable that d Cap 26. Berta wife to King Edilbert then of Kent had secretly a finger in that busines for shee being of the French nation was a Christian woman before and would not condescend to be marryed to Edilbert but on condition that shee might without impeachment retaine her religion and a Bishop which shee brought with her for that purpose It may wel be supposed that her French friends being nere to Italy or her selfe might sollicite that affaire But whereas you say that never any of our faith did leaue his pleasures at home adventure abroade the Proverbe Mâ—…dacom opâ—…rtet esse memorem Alyar had neede of a good memorie hath seized vpon you for in this very Chapter you mention the sending of Ministers abroade by the advise of Iohn Calvine which was amonge the e Lerij Navigat in Brasil Tâ—…pinambaliij in Brasilia such a iourney every way considered as never Frier or Iesuite vndertooke a more dangerous as is evident by the extreme famine endured in their returne besides the vexation and perils sustained there And if French-men had beene planted in f Expeditio in FloridaÌ„ Florida there had of likely-hood gone many more But there the purpose of many FreÌ„ch was to have resided had not the murtherours and massacring cruelty of the Spanyards hindered it they contrary to their owne word and honor cutting the throats of all whoÌ„ they could lay hould vpoÌ„ Yea if it had pleased God to have prospered our English g See Hacluits viages Colonies in Virginia there would not haue bin waÌ„ting meÌ„ of the Ministery to have adveÌ„tured speÌ„t their lives there so it may be said for any other place where God shall dispose the heartes of our Prince couÌ„try to thinke fit that they probablie may honour the Almighty And wheras you speake of charges to advauÌ„ce true ReligioÌ„ you needed to have gone no farther then to your owne late Soveraigne who with the assistaÌ„ce of her peoples purses did for the true plaÌ„ting of the service of God spend more treasure in IrelaÌ„d alone that without any assuraÌ„ce or likly-hood of recoÌ„peÌ„ce againe which the SpaÌ„yard ever stood vpoÌ„ in his Indies theÌ„ al your late Popes Popish Princes haue done in seÌ„ding abroad their AgeÌ„s And had it not bin Gods glory alone the honorable mind of a ChristiaÌ„ Queene who desired to blesse not to spill that which was coÌ„mitted vnto her her Highnes might with lesse charge daunger and trouble have desolated the country of the auncient inhabitants and peopled it with English beginning with the Sea-coastes and going forward into the In-land wherof your Catholike Kinges of Spaine would peradventure have made no bones as is evident by their proceedings in America but a true regard of Christianity and a minde to deale regally in that as in all other matters induced her Maiestie to waste an inestimable deale of goulde and silver besides the losse of men and all this to bring that rough and vntractable people into the sheepefolde of Christ Iesus if possibly that might be And albeit the times and present occasions were such that by necessitie the expence of her Highnesse was rather imployed vpon Souldiours theÌ„ on Seminaries Colledges yet the resolutioÌ„ of her as of a most ChristiaÌ„ Princesse was illustrious that way wheÌ„ beyond the consultations and advises of all her Graces most noble Progenitours yea beyond the opinion of Stephen Gardiner himselfe as L. Chancellour and a Privy councellour howsoever as a Bishop he was otherwise minded shee was pleased to graunt vnto that nation that at Dubline they should have an Vniversity where one Colledge long since was erected before this time more might have beene but for the warres And if all this had bin done by her Maiesties charge yet howe small would that have beene in comparison of those masses of treasure which in warlike service have beene within these fewe yeares expended 14 Your scoffe of Prety Parnel and many such more we must beare But if it bee true that never any Protestant went about such a worke as the planting of the faith how do you knowe that they would not goe without their wives in their company your tale is tyed togither with points But is it such a sinne that men going from their countrey even about the Lords busines should take those with theÌ„ whoÌ„ God hath ioined as their perpetual yokfelowes to coÌ„fort each other in sicknes in health It was wont to be that h Marc. 10. 9 what God had coupled togither no maÌ„ sâ—… seperate Wold you have vsed this speech against i 1. Cor. 9. 5. S t. Peter the brethreÌ„ of the Lord the rest of the Apostles that they could not goe vp and downe to preach the word spread the faith without their prety Parnels And yet you know or may know if you be not grossely ignoraÌ„t that these led women about with them in their ordinary ministratioÌ„ And is it not more probable that these were wives of their own theÌ„ any other wemeÌ„ k Libr. de Monogamia TertulliaÌ„ indeede is of opinion that they were not their wives but ministra other
Catholikes ever sought the death of their Soveraigne though of a different religion from thē the conquest of their natiue land the subversion of the state the depopulation of the weale publike the alteration and change of all lawes customes and orders and in few the vtter devastation desolation and destruction of all the ancient inhabitants of their land c. Now if this may be saide of the laity of the English Papists what censure may bee given of the Priests the vrgers and instigatours of all these things He speaketh elsewhere more particularly of the Seminary Priests y Quod. 9. 4 Howe can they expect any favor when they are taken none can deny that their comming over is to increase the number of Catholikes and that Fa. Persons raigneth and hath the whole direction at this day for all the missions that are for England How then alas how may her Maiestie and the state conclude against them What lawes can bee too extreame to keepe them out of the land Or if they will needes come in what severity for the execution of lawes against them can bee more then sufficient Into what gulfe are we plunged Nay into what an obloquy are we plunged Nay into what an obliquie must the Catholike Church of Rome grow in that the execution of Priesthood and treason are now so linked together by the Iesuits in England as we cannot exhort any to the Catholike faith but dogmatizando in so doing we draw him in effect to rebellion You see that this writer doth not sumble nor doubly budgen but delivereth his opiniō roundly And if any one should except that these be the assertions of private and single men hee may see a treatise put out by ioint consent of divers Seculars and written of purpose to cleere the proceedings of the State in England from bloudy cruelty or vn-advised rigorousnes in cutting of such rotten members You may iudge the contentes thereof by the Title which is this z Edit An. 1601. Important considerations which ought to mooue all true and sounde Catholikes who are not wholy Iesuited to acknowledge without all equivocations ambiguities or shiftings that the proceedings of her Maiestie and of the State with them since the beginning of her Highnesse raigne haue beene both milde and mercifull By this time if there bee any wit or sence left in you you may put vp your pipes for complaining of the hard vsage of Priests sent hither from the Seminaries I haue beene the more large in this argument partly to stop your clamorous mouth and partelye to satisfie weake persons either on our or your side and not least of all to free the honorable Parliamentes and Magistrates taking order against such venimous vermine from the forged imputations and scandalous defamations in this particular laid against them by name of him a Supposed to bee D. Worthington who falsly reporteth the suffering of sixteene pretended martyrs in one yeere that is the yeere of Iubily 1600. Now I follow your steps againe where I left 21. When you fall to daring you shewe your selfe but a simple man There is one by whose helpe David did dare leape b Psa. 18. 29 34. over a wall and to attempt with his armes to breake a bow of brasse by whose protection in a righteous cause that England which by a diminution you call litle doth dare to stand against the strongest enemy that it hath What should hinder it good Sir to cut of lewde persons wherewithall God is well pleased when the late Queene thereof at her entrance to the Crowne did not feare all the Potentates in the world nor the backwardnesse of many of her owne subiectes nor the combining almost of all her owne Cleargy but that in the name of God and in the vndanted confidence of his maintaining of his owne truth shee did spread the banner of the Gospell and without discouragement did persist in that resolution till the day of her death the English fugitiues and the Irish Male-contents yea the Pope and Spaniard contriving to the vttermost to impeach it Why shoulde not this our country dare to doe well when by the singular favour of God blessing his true religion in it it hath beene able to repel that invincible Navy to sacke many of the kings townes in the West Indies to batter his Groine in Galitia to march with ensigne displayed almost an hundred miles in the heart of his countrey to knocke at his gates of Lisbone to sinke his fleete at Cales and to burne that towne at pleasure the Spanyards looking on scant offering to strike one blow The time hath beene that this England which is such a little more in your eie hath sent c Holinshed in Rich. 1 Edw. 3. Hen. 5. 6. a mightie army as farre as to Palestina hath had two kings prisoners in it at once and two of her owne Kinges crowned in Paris And hee is blind who seeth not that at this time it hath decayed no part of her ancient valure or worth Then do you never feare but it may dare to execute such companions of yours as will heere disturbe the peace of the Church Common-wealth Now that it grieveth your pretty heart that you haue not your will among vs I doe verily beleeue and do not you thinke that wolues beares doe much grieue that they cannot come at the sheep-folds but the shepheards will meets with them As our d Luk. 23. 28 Saviour somtime said to the women of Hierusalem that they should not weep for him but for themselues and their children so wee may bid you not to grieue for the evil case of England but to be sory weep for your sinnes and most malicious blindnesse that God without his more future mercy should giue you over to a reprobate sence so as to fly truth and to hate it to barke against the light to cary vndutifull thoughts to your Superiours and vn-natural to your countrey where the Lord be praised for it there is nothing vnhappy vnlesse it bee that it hath hatched into the world such vipers such monsters who care not what become of her so that Sathā may be king Antichrist may be general How your brethrē are persecuted with plenty ease aboūdance not lōg since I told you The wiser sort of thē cannot but acknowledge as evē now you heard that no Prince vnder the heavē being so zealous in Gods cause having sustained such indignities at the hands of many of that factiō as our late most Christiā Queen had done would haue proceeded with that mildnes For the māner of your speech you are now returned to your old custome again Here is nothing but all'all How al the world hath embraced your profession I haue shewed you before The ancienter part of the Primitiue Church knew almost nothing of it the latter part of the first 600. years had some weeds cōming vp in it but the good corn over-topped
vs belieue that although in the first Synode which long since did canonize the bookes of holy writte they were not admitted yet in a later Synode the Canon was made larger And reasons for this he maketh shew to giue But it is too late Genebrard you come after the faire The Councel which cannot erre hath shut them out of dores the Pope hath ratified their Decree therfore you lose your labour and you are but one man against so many Fathers therfore best pul in your hornes For as with your owne side you are like to gaine nothing so otherwise you wil pul an olde house on your head whē by your example you teach vs that a private man may question yea conclude against that which your Counsels haue determined Where by the way let not the simple and vnlearned Christian wonder that in this best booke the Bible there should be any thing which is not properly a member of it for we therin as also in reading some part of them publikely doe but imitate the custome of the most auncient purest c Zanch. in Observat in cap. 1◅ Confessiō Churches ioyning that with Gods most sacred word which vniversally hath bin ioyned among Christians since almost the eldest times and is not refused by the most reformed Churches at this day but we distinguish these writings from the divine volumes and note them by the name or appellation of Apocripha as hidden in comparison of the bright light of the other which may wel endure the light and sunne-shine And by a little Preface before those doubted bookes as also by the Articles of Religion agreed on in Cōvocation An. 1562. we teach what opinion the Church hath of them that they are not received to be publikely expoūded nor to confirme matters of doctrine but only as they cōsent with the other which are Canonical or onely as the writings of some godly men which may serue to giue light to the history or containe some not vnprofitable instructiōs touching good manners And these things in our Sermōs writings we do fequētly notify So that this indifferent course being held there is no iust cause of offence givē either to the weake beleever or to the malitious clamorous adversory that being done which anciently in the best Christian Churches was done and yet the people be taught but howe and in what sence it is done Nay our Church hath beene so carefull for giving any vvay iust occasion of scandale in this matter that it permitteth the Minister to reade in steede of any of these Apocriphal Chapters other Canonicall lessons vpon the Sun-daies and Holy-daies and therefore much more vpon the working-daies as hee in his wisedome iudgement shal see fit requiring of him prudence discretion in that behalfe Which appeareth in the Second Tome of Homilies set out by publike d An. 1563. authority almost in the beginning of her late Maiesties raigne For there in the e An admonition to al Ministers Ecclesiasticall Preface this advertisement being given to all Ministers For that the LORD doth require of his servant whom bee hath set over his housholde to shevve both faithfulnes and prudence in his office c. some thinges are advised vnto him touching his duty but lastly this is subnected and subioyned And vvhere it may so chaunce some one or other Chapter of the olde Testament to fall in order to bee reade vpon the Sundaies or Holy-daies vvhich vvere better to bee chaunged vvith some other of the New Testament of more edification it shall bee vvell done to spende your time to consider vvell of such Chapters before hand vvhereby your prudence and diligence in your office may appeere so that your people may haue cause to glorifie GOD for you and bee the readier to embrace your labours to your better commendation to the discharge of your consciences and their owne Which pointe being well considered avoideth all blame from the Church of England even in the eyes of them that would seeme most quicke-sighted it being not onely permitted to the Minister but also commended in him if vvisely and quietly hee doe reade Canonicall Scripture vvhere the Apocryphal vppon good iudgement seemeth not so fitte or any Chapter of the Canonicall may bee conceived not to haue in it so much edification before the simple as some other parte of the same Canonical may be thought to haue For the wordes wil very well cary both these 7 VVell then if there bee reasons why the Church of Rome doth shut out from the Canon these bookes of Esdras and yet they are printed and bound vp with all their ordinary Bibles if the same or such like exceptions may bee taken against Iudith Tobias and the rest is there not as great reason that they also should be secluded from the Canonicall albeit they remaine in the volume of the Bible The exceptions against all these controversed writings are many but I will reduce them briefly to these three plaine heads which I meane to touch First the matter of the bookes of Esdras is slight and vaine without maiestie and vnworthy the holy and sacred spirit of God Secondly these tracts are not to be founde in the Canon of the old that is the Iewish Church And thirdly in the computation of Christians they are also reiected If we lay these lines and rules to the rest we shall finde them of very little different quality For first the matter of them is not coherent with the rest of the vndoubted scripture In c Cap 5. 12 Tobias the Angell vtteteth somewhat of himselfe which cannot literally be avoided when he saith to old Tobias I am of the kinredos Azarias and Ananias the great and of thy brethren So it is a narration worthy at the least to be pawsed vpon that the d Cap 6 13 seven husbands of Sara should be killed by an evil spirit the first night of their mariage Of the hart and liver of the fish I haue spoken before Is it not a likely matter that e Cap 8. 9◅ Raguel would make a graue for him whom the day before hee so advisedly tooke for his sonne in law now to bury him before hee was dead They are not matters to bee commended by the penne of the holy Ghost that Iudith should f Iud 10 3 4 dresse and tricke her selfe more then became a matrone that so she might allure Holofernes to wantonnesse that shee g Cap. 12 12 14 18 c 13 1 should make shew as not to deny to lie with him that shee should tell such evident h Ca. 10. 12. 13 vntruthes to his servants at her first taking and to i Ca 11 15 16 himselfe afterward That the Iewes should haue peace so long in her life k Ca. 16. 25. time and a great while after her death is a matter vnprobable since these warres of Holofernes are saide to be made in the time of King l Cap. 2. 1.
Scriptures And for disagreement and stifnes to yeeld if any be or haue bin of that minde it is vitium persâ—…na non rei that party is to be blamed and not his religionâ—… In all differences men are too much wedded to their opinions Yet we doubt not but when Christian Princes shall be pleased to call a Generall Councell in such sort and to such end as it should be convocated God who moveth the mindes of the superiours like good Constantines and Theodosians to do their parts will also moue the harts of inferiours to humility and conformity laying a side private spirits which is much to bee intreated of the Almighty Remember I pray you that there may bee câ—…rtaine rules set downe which may bridle refractary persons as it was s In colloquio Ratispon â—…601 lately at Ratispone Remember also that the Councell of Constance could proceede not only without a Pope to be their head but also against three Popes removing them and deposing them Farthermore you much deceiue your selues in your opinion of our discord for we do not so iarre as you imagine For certainly we al agree wel inough to lay your Pope on the grouÌ„d and the Churches of England and Scotland and France and Switzerland and the low Countries calling none of the Lutherans a good part of Germany with others iumping expreslie in the same faith are able inough to make a most renoumed and Christian Councell Do not thinke therefore that we are so farre from that as you speake of for if you leane too much on that coÌ„ceit it will proue vnto you but a broken reede which will both faile you and the splints of it also wil run into your hands Gods word shall be the line after the which we all will walke T. HILL LAstly I would haue you here to marke the dealing of beretikes vvho play by Generall Councels even as they play by the Scriptures for Conc. Flor. Sess. 5. 6. Magdebur Cent. 8. c. 9 Cent. 9. cap. â—…9 they take and leaue as they lust and as best serveth their turne There haue beene in all Generall Councels eighteene All gathered allowed and confirmed by one and the selfesame authority of which the Greeks receiue only seven The Lutheranes the first fixe The Eutyehians which are in Asia onely the first three The Nestorians which are yet in the East onely the first two The Trinitaries which are in Hungarie and Poleland receiue nâ—…ne at all behold the liberty of your Gospell G. ABBOT 9 VVHat heretikes doe in refusing of Scripture wee list not now to examine our iudgement and the reasons whervpon it is grounded you haue heard in the last Chapter Neither are we vnwilling to acquaint the Christian worlde what it is that we doe holde concerning Councels to wit that such as are rightly gathered togither and take the direction of their conclusions from the Angell of the great counsaile froÌ„ him who is called s 〈◊〉 9. 6. Counsailer such are to be much reverenced and esteemed but yet still as the words of men and not immediatly of God For it is one thing to be the word of God and another to be guided by it The former great Councels did take the sacred Oracle for the load starre of their direction the later t Mat. 26. 3. Annas-like assemblies and Cayphas-like Councels did least thinke of such matters And therefore it may rightly bee saide that not the holy Ghost but Sathan in the likenesse of such a u Nicol. de Clem super materia Concilior filthy bird as appeared at Rome in the Councel called by Iohn the foure tweÌ„tith was President there Yet we hold it worth the while to looke a little into your doctrine concerning Councels You make them of mighty authority as anone I shall shew and yet the chiefe Patriarkes among you who boast so much of your Vnity and Consent cannot agree which be the Councels whom you plead for to be authenticall It is no marvell if your scholers cannot ye eld account of their faith when you their Masters cannot You for your part allow vs eighteene Generall Councels but you doe not make vs so much beholding to you as to tel vs which they be u In initio Platinae Ounphrius who was held for a great Clerke among you reckoneth but sixteene the fowre first of Nice Constantinople Ephesus and Chalcedon then two other at ConstaÌ„tinople then the second at Nice then a fourth at Constantinople then one at Laterane the next at Lions then at Vienna one afterwards those of Constance Basile and Florence then another Laterane the last at Trent x In indice ConcilioruÌ„ Possevinus keepeth your number of eighteene but the Councels of Constance and Basile hee secludeth But whereas by this reckoning if he ioined with Ounphrius otherwise he should now haue â—…but fourteene he maketh fiue in all at Laterane and two at Lions and so they rise to be eighteene In this account his ' fellow Iesuite 〈◊〉 Bellarmine 〈◊〉 concil lib 1 cap. 5 precisely ioyneth with him And yet in substance they bee but thirteene for he acquainteth vs that the first and seconde at Laterane both those at Lions and that of Vienna be lost which by a consequent diminisheth fiue of the number y In Chronograph Genebrarde who at length grew to bee Archbishop of Aix thought himselfe as good a man as either of those or any who would defend thÄ› and therefore he will not take it after their tale For he reckoneth to vs twenty General CouÌ„cels wherof as the fiue which are missing are a part so he solemnely taketh in those of Constance and Basile for as good as the best Thus the greatest Rabbins cannot agree among themselues All the stirre is about those of Constance and Basile who indeed do touch the Popes freehold and therefore himselfe and all the Parasites who stand for him are not hastily to admit theÌ„ The CouÌ„cel of CoÌ„stance did dosse three Popes which were vp at once in a schisme subiected the Bish. of Rome to a CouÌ„cel which goeth hard especially when the Synode may be called without him as that was therefore he wil none of that The CouÌ„cel of Basil would not be at the lure of Eugenius the 4. but set vp z Aeâ—… Silvius deCoÌ„cil Bafil Amedeus the Duke of Savoy against him made him an Antipape this I tel you is dangerous doctrin This doth touch the triple crown therfore it is good looking before these things be ratified What shal we the think that the Pope did in this case a Vbi supra Onuphrius he goeth briefly to work saith that the CouÌ„cel of Basil was coÌ„firmed by Eugenius the 4. that of CoÌ„stance by Martin the 5. So the if hee say truth they haue al their coÌ„plemeÌ„ts must go for currant mony CoÌ„cerning the CouÌ„cel of CoÌ„staÌ„ce b Vt supra Genebrard â—…uÌ„peth with him
so maintaine them For such dissolute dawbing of paper you are worthy to be rewarded at least with nothing It may be said of you your maister Bristow c Virgils Eclog. 3 Et vitula tu dignus hic It cannot be denied that some men of learning haue disliked the over-much heaping vp of Sentences out of the Fathers to no purpose or needlessely especially if it haue bin done in Latin or Greeke wheÌ„ SermoÌ„s are made to the ordinary people in the vulgar tongue But the iudgmeÌ„t of the most iudicious such as respect the edificatioÌ„ of the heaters wil warraÌ„t this their opinion while it dislâ—…keth not the vse but the abuse But that any maÌ„ of learning in our church or of true accouÌ„t in our state haue simply coÌ„dcÌ„ned the vsing of theÌ„ you caÌ„not shew Some weaker men in a little humâ—…ur haue seemed to bee no great favourets of theÌ„ paâ—…tly because they know them not as d 〈◊〉 in Adâ—…gijs Knowledge hath none more eger enemy theÌ„ 〈◊〉 persoÌ„ partly because they haue not learning to vnderstaÌ„d theÌ„ Also because they wil not be at cost to buy theÌ„ or if these impedâ—…eÌ„ts were remooved because they wil not take the paines to read theÌ„ But even such do daily more more reforme their iudgmeÌ„t we doubt not but God who hath put the spirit of moderatioÌ„ temperaÌ„te into the greatest wisest most learned of such as in times past were otherwise minded wil loine vs al in one against you the coÌ„mon enemies of the truth who in an Italionated out-landish faction litle care what you do And so I trust every English maÌ„ defiring to keepe himself in spiritual purity e Iacobâ—… 27 Motiv 14. vnspotted of the world Poperty the odious names of Puritans Precisias wherat you haue so triuÌ„phed shall to the greefe of your harts be extirpated al who loue the Gospel ioining in one as ChristiaÌ„s brethreÌ„ shal be dutiful subiects to God our King Your conclusion is ridiculous worthy to be hissed at The Protestants defend the Fathers against the Puritanes Ergo the Fathers be against both the Protestants and the Puritanes This is Logicke of the Popish Seminary 4 The titles which you heere bestow on the ancient Fathers Bristow setteth downe thus f 〈◊〉 14. excellent wits continual study woÌ„derfull learning servent praier holy coÌ„versation favour in Gods sight mighty working of infinite miracles froÌ„ whence froÌ„ the rest the Reader may iudge whether you had not Bristowes booke lying before you wheÌ„ you skuffled togither this Rhapâ—…ody As for these praises we neither envy theÌ„ nor deny theÌ„ to those great laÌ„pes of the first Church vnlesse it be that of working of miracles wherof we make a doubt And by these helps we say that they were wel furnished to vnderstand expound many things in the Scripture as also somewhat by their neerenesse to the time of the Apostles in those places especially where truth was kepte without mingling And yet we will you heere to remember that fewe or scant any one of the Fathers had the Scriptures freshly delivered vnto him from the Apostles themselues you are pitifully out for diverse hundreds of yeeres came betweene Christes disciples and the most of the olde Doctours And againe to call to minde that soone after the Apostles yea as g Eccl. Hist. Lib 3. 26. Eusebius saith immediately after their death heretakes came plentifully in who laboured what they coulde to corrupt the fountaines wheÌ„ce all pure water was to flowe Remember also that for three hundred yeeres by the extremity of persecutioÌ„ the Pastours were few they had little liberty to come togither to conferre about thinges questioned or to follow their studies so much as they would And yet farther remeÌ„ber that some of theÌ„ came late froÌ„ the Gentiles as Cyprian some froÌ„ heretiks as Eusebius froÌ„ the ArriaÌ„s AusteÌ„ the Manichees somefroÌ„ meere secular callings as Ambrose of al these without Gods special grace they might a little participate Then he is bliÌ„d who seeth not that they had not al those helps as these haue whoÌ„ you cal late folish vnstudied vnlearned profane arrogaÌ„t fellowes These words you vse when you Doctour Hill are not worthy to be sorted with the meanest of a thousand among them which speech without amplification or any diminution may be iustifyed onely in the present Church of England For first wee have the writinges of all those Fathers themselves like to which every private man of them had not no nor all the world neither before their times Secondly since their daies there be infinite bookes written which give light to matters in controversy Thirdly our age by meanes of printing hath better facility to come by al bookes theÌ„ those ancient times had Fourthly progres of daies hath made many thiÌ„gs plainer to later ages because they haue bin already fulfilled theÌ„ they could be to former tims wherin meÌ„ did but gesse at theÌ„ Fifthly God hath made the scriptures of such sort as that meÌ„s wits are to be exercised in theÌ„ vntil y e day of iudgmeÌ„t it beloÌ„geth to that industry which God requireth in his servaÌ„ts y e they shold not satisfy theÌ„selues w t the labours of others so growidle bue they shold search farther inventis addâ—…re Sixthly the helpe of the toÌ„gues is more rife now then it was amoÌ„g the ordinary sorte of them as may be seene by Athanasius who was so stuÌ„bled in the h Prov. 8. 22 8. Chap. of the Proverbs the i Athanas. in decret Nicen. Synod ArriaÌ„s to prove Christ a creature vrging thence by the traÌ„slatioÌ„ of the Septuagint that it is in the text k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septuag The Lord made mee or created me the beginning of his waies to which without difficulties he might easily haue aunswered if hee had looked into the l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebrew where it is rather as Hierome readeth it the Lord possessed mee or as Arias Montanus hath it the Lord got or obtained me Also Austen had no Hebrew and both he Gregory very little Greek as els-where I have shewed Now although it be likely that neerest to the fountaines the waters runne most cleerely the farther of that we are they are the more likly to be polluted yet in spirituall thinges that is not to bee vnderstood of place or time but of keeping close to the original of the writen word and not varying from it And so a man furnished by God as m Exod. 31 〈◊〉 Beseleel was to the framing of the Tabernacle may be by the means aboue named and by praier conference study nothing inferiour to those first lightes even as S. Austen was more excellent in some of his expositions on the Scripture then Origene and some other more ancient then himselfe were Which as both for him S. Hierome especially
1 Decret Distinct 4. 5. Gratian as late as hee vvrote vvhich is about foure hundred yeeres since vvas contented to cite that Decree of Telesphorus as if it might haue his vse in our daies either to know it or to keepe it 15 Nowe did those vvho came after like of this supposed ordinaunce of that Romane Arch-bishoppe No such matter For concerning the length of time the Councell of Orleans did take order by an expresse Canon o Concil Aurelian Canon 20 This is decreed for all Priests that before the solemnity of Easter not Quinquagesima but Quadragesima shall bee helde Thus the time of the Clergyes Lent was abridged That the time of fiftye daies was in vse before it may appeere by Saint p Serm de Eb◅tate Basile mentioning that the fast of Lent vvas for seven vveekes VVhere by the vvay this may bee noted that these vvoordes crosse that other speech cited by me before touching the fast onely of five daies and therefore one of the two Sermons may goe for a counterfeite Touching fasting on the Sundaye another Pope not long after is brought in to correct that And this is q Decret Me◅chad Melchiades who in his Decretal Epistle is thus sette downe to write The fast then of the Lordes daye and of Thursdaye no man must celebrate that there may bee a true and vnfained difference betvveene the fast of the Christians and the Gentiles of these vvho doe beleeve truely and of Infidels and Heretikes Thus the Sundaye is leapte out of Lent But heere is another trouble vvithall for by this Decree it hath taken away the Thursday also and so the dayes of Lente are shrewdely shrunke In this distraction was the olde Church about this fast no man almost being able distinctly to tell vvhat to make of it for the number of the dayes They vvho harkened to Telesphorus had a Quinquagesima for a Quadragesima fiftye or at least forty and nine dayes for fortye They vvho beganne at Quadragesima Sunday and kepte all till Easter had fortye and two daies to their Lente and so as r Vbi supra Polidore hath for a good while it was kepte They vvho began at Quadragesima and slipte out the Sundayes had but thirty and sixe daies to vvhich Aquinas alludeth as before is signified And if after Melchiades they vvoulde cull out Thursdaies too the fortye vvoulde bee but thirtye Heere then at last to mende all and to strike the finall stroke commeth Gregory the Greate about sixe hundred yeeres after CHRIST and because hee vvill have forty daies and yet the Sundayes too put out of question to bee no fasting daies hee added s Poli. Virg vt supra foure daies more to Lent that is to saye those which are before the Sunday tearmed Quadragesima beginning Lent on that VVednesday vvhich for the solemnity of ashes thē appointed by him to be vsed is called Ashe-vvednesdey from vvhich time vntill Easter-day if the Sundaies bee quite exempted from the number there may bee reckoned fortye dayes And that in Gregories time the Sundayes were so shut out appeereth partely by that of himselfe testifying that s Homil. 16 in 40 Homil they did not celebrate fast on the LORDS daye in the Lente So that vvee may saye of this Lent as it vvas saide of Rome t Virgil Aeneid ◠Tantae molis erat Romanam condere gentem And yet there bee in England persons Popishly affected vvho if they bee questioned vvithall are not quite resolved in the pointe whether the first foure daies after Shrovetide bee properly of Lent or no vvhether that bee but a preparing and clensing vveeke and vvhether good-Fridaye as it is called and Easter Even bee to bee solemnized as a parte of a Lenten fast or for some other reason and so consequentlye vvhether the Sundaies bee not to bee fasted as naturall members and a true portion of the forty daies or no and if they bee not to bee so fasted then by what rule a man may not eate flesh vpon them Thus is Popery tyed togither with points When therefore you right learned M. Doctour doe so clerke-like tell vs that in the daies of Saint Basile Saint Gregory Nazianzene Saint Leo S. Chrysostome Lent and other fasting daies were vsed as they are nowe in the Catholike Church are you not ashamed of your selfe and do you not condemne either your owne ignorance for writing you knowe not what or audaciousnesse for assevering so earnestly that which is so grossely false But you doe well to vphold Popery by that meanes the doctrine of Antichrist and Sathan by all kinde of lyes If you cannot blush for your selfe yet all modest Papists may blush for you to find in what sort such companions as you are make no conscience to say ought in that which they hold to be their religion I haue taken a little paines to instruct you concerning the first ancient and most different observation of Lent and I let you farther know that for vniformity with other Christian Churches and conformity to that vvhich we receiued from those who so long agone went before vs wee keepe Lent not superstitiously as you and yours doe but according to the laws of our most Christian Magistrats who cōmande an abstinence from flesh not for any sanctity which is in such forbearing but for other wise and civill reasons And as herein our law alloweth a toleration to such as by necessity of sicknesse or otherwise are enforced to feed on flesh so it convinceth all such as wilfully or carelessely doe transgresse without any other reason saving their owne greedy appetite So that wee accounte such men offendours before God albeit not simply and immediately for the eating of Gods creatures yet consequentlye for dis-obeying the Edicts of godly Princes to whom they are to yeeld obsequiousnes and that for u Rom 13 5 conscience sake In this therfore you very discreetly accuse vs of you cannot tell what as you doe in that also which now followeth T. HILL AND they who be given to Lust to Gluttony to Ambition to Covetousnesse and doe teach such doctrine as necessarily bringeth foorth such fruites must needes contemne S. Basile S. Chrysostome S. Hierome and S. Austen who haue written so excellently of the Order Rule and Vertues of Monkes G. ABBOT 16 HEre now followeth a rable of wicked slaunders to which you are so inured that you bee not your selfe vnlesse almost in every leafe you plentifully powre them out You charge vs here with many sinnes and truth it is that in our Realme there are too many as there will ever bee in the militant Church But yet it is easie to bee iustified that the Gospell hath so farre imprinted the feare of God in some the good laws established the feare of man in other that no Popish Realme nor Countrey may for moral civill behaviour bee compared to England Those brutish beastly sensuall sins which are commonly winked at in Italy and
bedde-stuffe vvere of a moderate and competent quality neither to neate nor too verie abiect bicause in these for the most parte men doe either vse insoleutlie to boast themselves or to abiecte themselves by both not seeking those thinges vvhich are Iesus CHRISTES but their ovvne But this blessed man as I saye kepte the meane neither declining to the right hand nor to the lefts Thus saith Possidonius wherevpon Erasmus fitly asketh this question n Observat. in margine UUhere was thou the letherne girdle and the blacke coule But besides this they haue forged certaine o Ad fratres in eremo books in the name of S. Augustine as if he the Bishoppe of Hippon had given orders and instructions to his Friers vnder him But this is as like the worke of S. Austen as an Owle is like an Eagle or a Cuckow to a Nightingale as the improbability of many things vvhich are in it the basenesse of the matter the barbarousnesse of the stile the foolish and shamelesse narrations and many other thinges maye demonstrate to every one who hath but halfe an eie or one graine of salt in him Yet so must Popery bee peeced togither with a faire title at the least although the stuffe be rotten 21 Heere looke we backe a little to the ancient Monkes and not any way curiously to trace their originall were there not even almost in the very time of their first institution many absurdities and incongruous superstitions which did creepe in every one by a voluntary will-worship adding what he thought good Was not the great p Sozo 1 13 Anthony who had so many followers a man vtterly vnlearned and did not he thinke even the least knovvledge a hinderance to his speculatiue devotion Did not the Heremits shew great presumption when being but simple persons diverse of them they wilfully refused the society of men the fellowship of cōmunion of Saints by their solitarynesse putting themselues more freely vpō Sathans temptations by debarring their soules of the word preached the Sacrament of the Lordes supper received and the comfort of the Minister or any other Christian brother Did not the too exquisite severity of q Lib 3 13 Eustathius the Monke who is supposed to be the true authour of the book intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cōmonly reported to be S. Basiles where so much is of the life discipline of Monks grow to absurd observations and such as were quite disagreeing from the laws Ecclesiastical There are reckoned vp many opinions of him his scholers which were condemned in a Councel at Gangrae as that he disliked mariage would not pray in their houses who were wedded despised maryed Priests thought rich men to be shut out frō heaven detested those who eate flesh and other such like monkish imaginations Some women perswaded by him or his leste their husbands put on mens apparrel and fell to adultery These persons lived about the time of the fore-named Fathers who in their bookes cōmended the good parts which were then exercised doubtles gaue those precepts which they did giue to reforme the abuses And as succeeding generations came on did not the superstitious devises of Monks increase as is to be seene in Evagrius Some did shut themselues into little houses r Evagr hist Eccl. l 1 21 which were so low narrow as that they could neither stand vpright in thē nor ly otherwise then double Some both men women living in the wildernes did onely cover their privities for the rest went naked both in the hottest coldest wether Some refusing all foode of men did eate only the grasse of the ground would not endure the presence of any persons but woulde run away and hide them in the rockes Other counterfeyting themselues fooles laboured to bee without all passion These woulde not refuse to goe into tavernes or brothel-houses they would be in bathes with women and as among men they lived as men so among women they were as women Yet did those ages so doate vpon monkery that even these were commended and helde for holy men Thus if wee take these olde lads in their best times they had imperfections inough but of the good qualities which were in any of them those vvho came after embraced but a few Onely the ignorance of Anthony went almost currant through all that was as good as hereditary to them But the olde devoute service of God was of late turned into hypocrisie fasting into perpetuall belly-cheere scarcity and penury into aboundance and lordly possessions of landes charity was converted into hart-burning and envie humility into pride sobriety into Venereous and Sodomitish lust their piety was but formality their idolatry was infinite Thus it grewe forwarde by little and little till it came to the height of vngodlinesse Howe soone this beganne maye bee gathered by him vvho vvrote the treatise commonlye called Cyprians De duplici martyrio There vvee thus read s Cypr. de dupl mart Not anie deserte place sacke-cloath for a garment pulse for meate neither fasting nor lying on the bare grounde doe make a perfect monke Under these covers lyeth hid sometimes a minde verie worldly which is so discovered if they bee called to any Ecclesiasticall office There you shall see some of them most easilie to bee overcome vvith delightes more impatient of iniuries more desirous of vengance then any other of the ordinarie people What is the cause Because they haue more exercised the body then the minde This began betimes but as they grew in yeares so many of them grew in horrible wickednes It is a long while since s Eccl. Hist. Ang l 4 25 Beda lived yet in his Ecclesiasticall story he mencioneth that a Monastery called Colindiurbem was consumed with fire for the lasciviousnes and wantonnes which was there founde in both men and women So did God punish them But in S. Bernards time a carnall kinde of behavior had over-growne almost all which caused him earnestly passionatly to complaine t Bernard in cena Domini cap 3. How many monkes be there in S. Benedicts monastery who do laugh when other men doe mourne who reioice when other are sadde In their bodie they are cloistered in their mindes wanderers and never standing still Slow to their reading tardy to their praying in the Church sleeping in the refectory vvaking For their long watchings grieving but for their long bankets reioicing This was the mortified life of many monkes in that holy mans daies And how this was afterwarde amended in England may bee testified by the survey which by Visitation of the Kings Commissioners was taken vnder King Henry the eight of famous memory when by othes of the religious persons themselues much Sodomitry other vncleannesse was detected and afterwarde was published to the world by a printed booke some notes wherof are to be seene in the French Apology of u Cap. 21 Henry Stephanus made in defence of Herodotus
were there is not one more pernicious to the Church of God then that of the Poore men of Lyons for three causes First because it is of longer continuance Some say that it hath endured from the time of Sylvester Other say that from the time of the Apostles The second is because it is more generall For there is almost no land in which this sect doth not creepe The thirde that whereas all other by the immâ—…ity of their Blasphemies against God do make men abhorte them this of the Lyonists having a great shew of godlinesse because they doe liue iustly before men and do beleeue all things well of God and all the Articles which are contained in the Creede only the Church of Rome they doe blaspheame and hate which the multitude is easie to beleeue and as Sampsoni Foxes had their faces severall waies but their tayles tyed one to the other so heretikes are diverse in sects among themselves but in the impugning of the Church they are vnited There can hardly be found a more honorable testimony out of the mouth or penne of a bitter and bloudy adversary as he was who wrote this and much more concerning those good servountes of God 30 VVe shall not neede to ascende any higher since hee giveth witnesse of the antiquity of their profession long before his â—…lme VVhich otherwise to make plaine is as easie as to deliver that which hitherto I have spoken And it is not to bee conceived that Petrus VValdâ—… of whom the VValdenses tooke their name at Lions had his doctrine from no body but that of himselfe he attained to his owne knowledge since he was not deeply learned c Matth. Parâ—… in Gul. Conquestore Berengarius indeede vvas onely called in question for denying of Transubstantiation in the Sacrament but it may well bee thought that in some thing else hee dissented from the Church of Rome And albeit by his ovvne vveakenesse and the importunitie of the Clergie hee yeelded once or tvvise to recant and abiure the true doctrine vvhich hee helde yet hee had many d CoÌ„tinuat histor de gestis Anglorum lib. 3. 27. scholers vvho by his example vvould not bee driven from the right Beleefe which they had apprehended These scholers were in e Malmisbur lib 3. France in great numbers and in diverse other Landes And Genebrard cannot conceale it but that about the f Chronogr lib. 4. yeere of our LORD 1088. Basilius the Monke did set on foote againe the errour of Berengarius And might not the doctrine of both these bee sucked from Bertram who wrote so learnedly and so directlie out of the Scriptures and Fathers against the Reall-presence and Transubstantiation that the Index g In Bertramo Expurgatorius cannot tell vvhat to make of him but the Bishoppe of h Resp. ad Dan. Tilen fol. 258. Eureux vnder the name of Henrie Connestable tearmeth him the greate fore-runner of all the Sacramentaries and i La saincte Messe declar lib. 2. 4 Richâ—…e the Iesuit disclaimeth him plainelie as a Sacramentarie Heretike Then Calvin and Zuinglius vvere not the first vvho gaine-saide Transubstantiation Before our ascending thus highe vvee might tell you of Saint Bernard vvhome although it is likelie at the first dashe you will chalendge as your ovvne yet vvhen you have vvell advised on him you may let him goe againe For albeit hee had his errours vvhich hee sucked from the age vvherein hee lived and vvee may not in all thinges subscribe to his iudgement but say of him as commonlie it is spoken Bernardiâ—… non vidit omnia yet vvee finde in him sâ—…rem partem a liberall profession of manie good and sound pointes agreeable to the Gospell He for a fashion acknowledgeth maine matters to bee in the Pope and giveth him k De considerat ad Eugen. lib. 2. 8. greater titles then any Papist can iustifie but it is by such infinuation to winne him the more attention froÌ„ Eugenius and then having procured liberty or rather taken it to himselfe hee schooleth and lessoneth the Pope plainely shewing that hee liked not of their ordinarie courses neither did hee repute him to have that preheminence or prerogative which his Parasites did allowe him But touching the matter l Serm. 61. in Cantiâ—… of merit by good workes for m Epist. 190. Iustification by faith alone in Christ for n De gratia libero arbitrio Free-will for o Serm. 3. de 7. misericordijs Certaine assurance of salvation in the death and by the strength of our Saviour and for p Serm. in Concil Rhemens dislikeing then the vile life of the Clergy how cleâ—…re how pregnant how copious is hee These thinges wee teach togither with him and notwithstanding his other slippes wee doubt not but his soule doth rest with the Lord God pardoning vnto him his errours and ignorances which hee being caried vvith the streame of that time did never discusse but tooke them as they were delivered to him without scanning or examining And to this good hope we are firmely induced by that saying of Saint Paule q 1. Cor 3. 11. Other foundation can no man laye then that vvhich iâ—…aide vvhich is Iesus Christ And if anie man builde on this foundation golde silver precious stones timber hay or stubble everie mans worke shall bee made manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall bee reveiled by the fire and the fire shall trie everie mans vvorke of vvhat sorte it is If any mans vvorke that hee hath builte vpon abide hee shall receive vvages If any mans vvorke burne hee shall lose but hee shall bee safe himselfe Hee helde the foundation of Iustification by onely faith in Christ and that our best deedes are but r De gratia liber arbitr via regni non cause regnandâ—… the vvay to the kingdome not the cause of raigning and for that cause we doubt not but his soule is safe though his hay and stubble of praying vnto Saints and other such stuffe as cannot endure the fire of the holy Ghosts triall do burne and consume And this is our iudgment touching many other both before and after the time of Saint Bernard that holding Christâ—…e foundation aright and groning vnder the heavy but then of humane Traditions Satisfactions and other Popish trash they by a generall repentance from their errours and lâ—…pses knowne and vnknowne and by an assured faith in their Saviour did finde favour with the Lord. Such as these vvere vvee holde to bee Gods good servants to be of the number of the Elect and propter saâ—…rem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for their founder and better parte to bee of that Church vvhereof vvee are to bee members of that bodye vvhereof by the grace of Christ vvee are a portion 31 And in this respect our setled and resolved iudgement is that when it is asked where our Church in former ages was we may besides that which formerly hath beene
reach so wide for diverse hundreds of yeeres without any maine corruption when the truth afterward though eclipsed yet was not extinguished in the Easterne Indian Africane Churches as also in very many poore men in West o See the answere to the 1. Reason Europe throughout the worst ages when nowe of late it is spreade so wide againe these thinges doe plentifully satisfie all the speeches afore named Rome by theÌ„ shal have no more possessioÌ„ of piety theÌ„ a grosse harlot hath of honesty You would gladly draw all Prophecies to you and appropriate them to your selves whereas those fewe excepted which living amonge you loathed your abuses you had have the least part of Gods congregation to be found with you And heere gentle Doctour according to your custome not your mouth but your pen doth exceedingly runne over while you speake things incredible improbable impossible and your Geography is iust as sound as your Divinity Hath your Romanishe beleefe for a thousand yeeres togither beene as largely difused as the beames of the Sunne Before I goe farther I vvoulde gladlye knovve whether you can blush at all or no Heere your dreaming doth farre exceed the doating of Hannibals Phormio You must have a face of brasse on when you doe but come foorth to make good the least parte of this proposition Cosmographers nowe divide the worlde into the olde knovvne Countries and into the nevve founde Landes And first doe you thinke that in the Landes lately discovered vvhich in quantitie are more then one halfe of the vvorlde the Sunne did not shevve his beâ—â—â—s till vvithin these sixe-score yeeres And can you bringe any mo 〈…〉 or presumption in the vvorlde that euer Christian man did knovve them or they knevve anie Christian man but especially that they heard of your Bishop of Rome till Christopherus Columbus did discover them in the yeare of our p Poâ—… Martyr Decad. 〈◊〉 Benzo Novâ—…orb Histor. 〈◊〉 1. 6. Lorde 1492 And if you cannot do this much lesse wil you evince that they accepted of his faith for a thousand yeares togither And as for the South CoÌ„tinent that was discryed but about or since the time of finding of America As for the olde knovvne worlde that consisteth in Africa and Asia and Europa in every part of all which the Sunne shineth some times in the yeare yea even to the very Pole as the rules of Astronomie vvhich it seemeth you never vnderstood vvill tell you Vntill that of late the Portingales attempting q Osor. de gest Emanucl lib. 1. to goe to Calecut found the Cape of Bâ—…na 〈◊〉 and since that time have straggingly gotte heere a towne and there a petye Castle vppon the Sea coast all vvhich vvas but a little before the going out of Columbus vvhat vvas there within the whole compasse of Africa vvhich knewe ought of the Romishe doctrine vnlesse peradventure you will name r â—…dem Septa and a towne or two in Barbarye where some Portingales before that time did dwell or else perhappes that it was possible that some Merchants of Europe might goe to Alexandria in Aegypte for wares and there while they resided keepe their owne superstition But the country it selfe was vnder the Saracent either Sultanes or Turkes for seaven or eight hundred yeares And as you spedde in Africa so did you in Asia the whole compasse of that huge region taking no notice of your Pope of his Idolatry For the Christians which were there were either of no dependance vppon Europe I speake for the greater parte of these last thousand yeares or were of the Greek Church The only thing which can be pretended is that s Malmisb in Gulielm a. lib. 4 GirusaleÌ„me del Tasso Godfrey of Bullion and other Christians of the Westerne pâ—…s did for a time conquere and keepe thr holy land which is scant the hundreth porte of Asia and this was holde but by the sword and that but for s Hâ—…veden â—…rt 〈◊〉 in Henrie 〈◊〉 fourescore seaven yeares but long before that time so since againe the Saracens ever had it What shame is there the in this maÌ„ who so asseverantly protesteth such grosse falshoods At the world theÌ„ in a miner is shrunke into our Europe there againe is cut of the Eastern Grâ—… church who could never be brought to ioine with the Pope of Rome no not at the t Platina in Eugan 4. Councel of Florence when Italie had thought to have intangled them in her net And all the dominion of the Muscovite which could not be caught by the baite of u Possevin de vebus Muscovit Possevinus Besides the Northren parts of Scythia Europaea nowe inhabited by some of the Tartars So that setting aside religion and common honesty among men if you had but a competâ—… wit you would never so audaciously haue pronouÌ„ced of this matter Yet I make you the largest allowance vvhich in any probability you can crave 3 But since your hand is in you will not so give it over There is no tongue nor people nor climate in the world which hath not hearde of and in some measure received the Catholike Romane religion Should you not heere be answered rather 〈◊〉 â—…stibus then with words VVhat saye you to the South Continent which is so huge a country that if the firme land do hould vnto the Pole as it commonly is received and beleeved it very neere equaleth all Asia Africa and Europâ—… And vvhat part in all that world is throughly discovered as yet by any Christian and I doe not capitulate with you touching all of it but what part at all is there of the same that hath received the faith of â—…ome How much is there in Peru yea of the maritime partes of Brasile and downe towardâ—… the straightes of Magellanus hovve much is there in the inlande as that Terra Patagoâ—… or of Giâ—…es yea hovve much toward the North from thence is there all vvhich remaineth yet in the possession of meere Infidels who neither have beene yet subiected to the heavy yoke of the Spanyards nor have once tasted of their religion Indeede for Hispania Nova and vp as high as Mâ—…xice the Spanishe have incroched very much into their handes but if vvee looke higher into the Northren and colder partes of America which are not so fitte for the breeding of golde the sâ—…m bâ—…m of Spaine what huge countries be there of incomparable bignesse which have nothing of Christianity in them Looke either on the farther side as men passe through the South Sea in that u Hacklan the viage of S F Dr Nova Albion touched on by Sir Frauncis-Drake and all the parts adiacent or on the neerer fide by the North sea in Florida Virginia Norimbega Estotilant with all whatsoever is within the straightes togither with the maine Mediterrane countries being more then the kings of Englande and France with divers other Princes of Europe haue vnder all their dominion
these remaine yet meere Ethnikes not knowing of Christ Iesus or Christianity much lesse the trinkets of spot ted Popery The who regiâ—… toward the North-pole as Groneland and Nova Zâ—…la and I cannot tell what besides remaine in the same taking The top of Scandinaviasas as Lâ—…ppia Bâ—…ia Seriefiâ—…ia and Finland are so meerely Gentiles as that x Olâ—…â—…agn lib. 3. 2. vide Dam. â—…goes de Lappijâ—… lately they adored for God whatsoever they did first see of any living thing at their comming forth of dore every day The mighty lande of Tartaria which containeth in it so many millions of men the dominion of Russia which extendeth in length aboue y Aeg. Fletche de â—…uss cap. 1. foure thousand miles as far as Astracâ—… and the Caspian sea haue nothing more to doe with the Romane religion then with that which is farthest from them Who ever did heare that the Great Cham one of the mightiest Princes on the Earth did admit ought of Popery As for China and divers portions of the East Indies â—…alfo the Southerne part of Persia and the maritime coasts of Africa and Aethiopia these haue indeede some Portingales in them here and there vpon the Sea cost but what haue the Princes of those countries or their whole states to doe with the Bishop of Rome And what Monarkes Prester Iohn the Sophy or Shaw of Persia be men of learning know well enough although you vnderstand it not To say no more what is there of the Romane religion received in all Turky vnlesse you will say that there be some few Venetian or French marchants in Constantineple A leppo Alexandria or such mart townes who vpon permission haue their Liturgy in some one set place or vnlesse you wil name those few Italian Friers who paying a tribute to the Turke for it doe lie at Hierusalem that there they may shew the counterfeite sepulchre of Christ to such superstitious Christian Pilgrimeâ—… as in their blind devotion travaile to the holy land Thus grossy absurdly and ignorantly and audaciously you write you knowe not what But if lying will prevaile you are resolved to haue it Miserable are out Papists who read such bookes as these be and esteeme them as Iewels and beleeue them and dare not looke on any mans writing which displayeth the falshood of them for feare least they shoulde learne the truthe or catch some goodnesse by them God open their blinded vnderstanding T. HILL NEither can the Protestantes sa it that the Church 〈◊〉 begins â—…th to flowrish and to dilate it selfe in the worlde after so manie ageâ—…t for that nowe it ss growne olde and aged as is most plâ—…e Colos. 〈◊〉 Ireneus l. 1. cap. 3. Tert. li. coÌ„t Iudens c. 4. Cypr. de vnitat Eccl. Athana lib. de humanit verb. Chris. Hier. in Mat. 24. Aug in Epist. 78. 80. ad He sychium Theod. lib. de legibus Leo Mâ—…g ser. 1. de S. Petro Paulo and to saie that shee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her young yeares but now in her olde age it to make her a Monster Shee must therefore of necessitie haue gravvâ—… and increased and occupied if not all the worlde yet 〈◊〉 doubt the greatest part thereof and so hath the Catholike Romane Church and 〈◊〉 but shee done for in the Apostles time shee beganne to fractifie in all the vvorlde And in Saint Irenâ—… his time shee was spreade all ever the vvorlde then knownne as shee vvas afterwardes in Tertullian his time and 〈◊〉 the dayes of Saint Cyprian Athanasius Chrysostome Hierome Augustâ—… Theodoretus Leo the great and Prosper who in his looke De Ingratis hath these words Sedes Roma Petri quae pastoralis honoris Facta caput mundo quic quid non possidet armis Religione tenet Which thus may be Englished Rome Peters seate whose Bishop is of Prelates Peerelesse Lord Religion Lady makes of all which armes doe not afford G. ABBOT 4. The obiectioÌ„ which here you frame in our name is of your own inventioÌ„ shallow like your selfe so is your coÌ„parisoÌ„ that the Church â—…st not breed now at this time least she should be like a moÌ„st 〈◊〉 And yet you wil haue your Church now within these huÌ„dred years spread her selfe into the East West Indies where shee never was before I wil not here remeÌ„ber you that z Gen. 18. 11. Sata in her younger yeares did never conceine but in het old age â—…ote a sonne yet sheâ—… 〈◊〉 monster But howsoevâ—… ordinarily women in their younger yeares doe breed most children and it were a monstrous matter as you would insinuate vnto vs that in old age they shold haue many yet this maketh nothing for your purpose nether hath it any affinity with the spouse of Iesus Christ. For women til convenient age breede no childreÌ„ at al. And wil you thinke that the Church was ever at that passe And womeÌ„ after a time leaue bringing forth altogither wheras the age of some of theÌ„ hath extended to a huÌ„dred for the latter halfe therof they haue coÌ„tinued childles Will your wit serue you to think that so it is with Christs beloved Then the later generations of the world should be in a fearful state You may therfore vnderstand that the fruitfulnes of the Church is nether tied to the first age nor middle age nor the last age but to such times as the Lorde hath appointed who decreeth that at some times there should be balcyons daies but some other seasons great tempests in which the Church shal haue a being but yet be reduced to straights and to a smaller number Let any man look into this before the comming of Christ at which time the Church was in her youth for almost 2000. years being contained in the houses of a very few of the Patriarkes After a Exod. 1. 1. 7 Iacobs comming into Egypt the multiplying of the Israelits her braÌ„ches were spread wider And so did shee continue vpon reasonable tearmes vntill b 1. King 12 28. Ieroboams time But when the Princes of Israel vtterly forsook the Lord the kings of Iuda also many times turned from the way both theÌ„selues their people were not the good broght to a great paucity Yet when c 2 King 18 〈◊〉 Cap. 22. 2. Hezechias came they were more a sloat againe but after him they went as fast downe Then d Iosias once more very admirably did put life into theÌ„ againe yet when he was dead till the coÌ„ming of Christ which was well-neere fiue hundred years there was great scarsity of the faithfull saving about the time when the e â—…r 2. 1. temple was re-edified In that state did our Saviour finde it then nor many of the Iews were reduced to the faith but the maine harvest was of the Gentiles Now if any of the false Priests either in the daies of Iosias or of the Apostles would haue bin of your mind he might haue argued as you do that if the