that we say that whē our Lordes flesh was made whē our Lords body was framed that the very word of God was made the very wisdome of God was replenished with created knowledge as in the foresight of God His hands feet are said to be digged Psa 21. Frō this vnitie of person I say it procedeth by reason of like mistery that whē the flesh of the word of God was borne of his pure immaculate morher we do most Catholickly beleeue that God him selfe the Word was borne of the Virgin and most impiously the contrarie is maintained Which being so god forbid that any one should go about to depriue the holy Virgin MARY of her priuiledges of gods fauour as her especiall glorie For she is by the singuler grace of our Lord and God her sonne to be confessed most truely and most blessed to haue bene the mother of God but yet not in such sorte as an impious hereticke imagine and suspecte who affirme that she is to be reputed in name only and appellation the mother of God as she forsoth which brought forth that man which afterwarde became God as we say such a woman is the mother of a Priest or Bishoppe not because she brought him that then was either Priest or Bishop but by generating that man which afterwarde was made a Priest or Bishoppe not in that manner I say the blessed Virgin is to be called the mother of God but rather because as haue bene saide that most holy misterie was finished in her sacred wombe which by reason of a singuler and one onely vnitie of person as the Word in flesh is flesh so man in God is God CHAP. IX BVT now what hath already bene said towching the foresaid heresies or concerning the Catholicke faith let vs in few wordes and compēdiously for memorie sake repeate them ouer againe that therby with more facilitie they may be vnderstoode with more suretie retained Accursed therfore be Photinus not admitting the fulnes of the Trinitie and affirming our Sauiour Christ to haue bene only man Accursed be Appollinaris maintaining in Christ corruption of changed diuinitie and bereauing him of the proprietie of perfect humanity Accursed be Nestorius denying God to haue bene borne of a virgin teaching two Christes and so abandoninge the faith of the Trinitie bringing in a quaternitie But blessed be the Caholicke Church which adoreth one God in perfecte Trinitie and likewise worshippeth equalitie of Trinitie in one diuinity so that neither singularitie of substance cōfoundeth proprietie of persons nor distinctiō of Trinitie seperateth vnitie of deitie Blessed I say be the Church which beleeueth in Christ two true and perfect substances but one only person so that neither distinction of natures doth deuide the vnitie of person nor vnitie of person doth confound the difference of substances Blessed I say be the Church which to th end she may cōfesse Christ alwaies to be and to haue bene one acknowledgeth man vnited to God not after our Ladies deliuery but euen then in his mothers wombe Blessed I say bee the Church which vnderstandeth God made man not by any conuersion of nature but by reason and meanes of person and not that a fained and transitorie person but substantially subsisting permanent Blessed I say be the Church which teach that this vnitie of person hath so great force that by reason therof by a misterie strange and ineffable she ascribeth vnto man the proprieties of God attributeth to God the proprieties of man For by reason of this vnitie of person she confesseth that man as he was God descended from Heauen and God as he was man was made vpon earth suffered was Crucified Blessed therfore is that venerable happie and sacred confession and cōparable to those supernall praises of the Angells which glorifieth one Lorde God with triple sanctification For this is the principal reason why the Church teacheth the vnitie of Christ least otherwise she should exceed the misterie of the Trinitie And let this suffice touchinge this matter spoaken by way of digression hereafter if it please God I will intreate and declare these pointes more copiously Now to returne to our former purpose CHAP. X. We haue said in the premisses that in the Church of God the error of the master is a great tentation to the people and the more learned he were that erred so much the greater was the tentation Which we shewed first by the authority of holy scripture afterward by the examples ecclesiasticall of those men which for some time reputed accounted sound in faith yet at last fell either in some other mans error or else coined a new heresie of their owne This surely is a greate matter profitable to be learned and necessarie to be remēbred which once again we must inculcate make plaine by greater store of exāples that almost all Catholickes may know that with the Church they ought to receiue Doctors and not with the Doctors to forsake the faith of the Church But I am of this opinion that although I could bring forth many to shewe this kinde of tentation yet there is almost none which can be compared to the tentation of Origen in whom were verie many giftes so rare so singuler so strange that in the begining any wold haue thought that his opinions might haue bene beleued of all men For if life procureth authoritie he was a man of great industrie of great chastititie patience labour if familie or learning who more noble being of that house which was honorable for martyrdome him selfe afterward for Christ depriued not of father only but also spoiled of all his patrimonie so much he profited in the misteries of holy pouertie that as it is reported for the confession of Christes name he often indured much affliction Neither was he only adorned with these giftes all which afterward serued for tentation but was indued also with force of witte so profound so quicke so delicate that he far excelled almost all other whatsoeuer A man of such wonderfull learning erudition that there were few things in Diuinitie in humane Philosophie haplye nothing which he had not perfectly attained who hauing gotten the treasures of the greeke tongue laboured also about the hebrew And for his eloquence what should I speake of whose talke was so pleasant so delectable so sweet that in mine opinion not wordes but honie flowed from his mouth What thinges were so hard to beleeue which with force of argument he made not plaine what so difficulte to bring to passe which he made not to seeme easie But perchance he maintained his assertions by arguments only Nay without question there was neuer any Doctor which vsed more examples of sacred scripture But yet happelie he wrote not much No man liuing more yea so much that in mine opinion all his workes are so far from being read ouer that they can not possiblie all be found who not to lacke anie furtherance to learning liued also vntill
them selues How shall they in the holy scriptures discerne truth frō falsehoode To which I answere that they must haue great care as in the beginning of this Treatise I said holy and learned men taught me that they interpret the diuine and canonicall scripture according to tradition of the vniuersall Church according to the rules of the Catholike doctrine in which like wise they must of necessitie folow vniniuersalitie antiquitie and consent of the Catholicke Apostolike Church And therefore if at anye time a parte rebell against the wholle noueltie against antiquitie the dissention of one or a few caried away with error against the consent of all or the farre greater parte of Catholickes In that case let them preferre the integritie of vniuersalitie before the corruption of a parte And in vniuersalitie let them also preferr the religion of antiquitie before prophane noueltie and againe in antiquitie let them preferre before the temeritie of one or a few the decrees of a generall Councell if any be or if no such be founde let them take that which is next hand that is to followe the opinions of many and great learned Doctors agreeing togither which faithfully soberly diligentlye obserued and kept By Gods grace we shall without any great difficultie finde out the errors of new vpstarte Heretickes CHAP. XIIII HERE I perceaue by order it foloweth to shew by exāples how the prophane nouelties of heretickes are by bringing forth and conferring togither the olde Doctors opinions agreeing togither to be found out and condemned which auncient consent of holy fathers is not so carefullie and diligently to be sought for folowed in euery small question of the scripture but only and especially in the rule of faith neither yet alwaies nor all heresies are after this sorte to be impugned but only such as be new and vpstart to wit at their first springing vp before they haue lette with lacke of time falsified the rules of the auncient faith before the poison spreding far a broad goeth about to corrupte the Fathers workes But those heresies which haue alreadie gott ground and be of some contiunance are not this way to be delt with all because by long tracte of time they haue had oportunity to steal truth And therfore such kinde of prophane schismes and heresies which be of longer standing we must not otherwise conuince but either only if need be by the authoritie of the scriptures or else to auoide and detest them being already conuicted and condemned in olde time by generall Councels of Catholicke Preistes Therfore so soon as any infectious error begineth to break forth and for her defence to steale certain words of holy scripture craftely fradulently to expound thē straight waies for the right vnderstanding therof the Fathers opinions are to be gathered togither by which let any whatsoeuer new and therfore prophane doctrine growing vp with out all delay be deiected and speedely condemned But those Fathers opinions only are to be conferred togither which with holines wisdome and constancie liued taught and continued in the faith and communion of the Catholicke Church and finally deserued to die in Christ or happily for Christ to be martired whō notwithstāding we are to beleeue with this condition that whatsoeuer either all or the greater parte with one mind plainly commonlye constantly as it were a Councell of Doctors agreeing togither haue decreed and set downe receauing it from their auncestors holding it for their time and deliuering it to their posteritie let that be had and accounted for vndoubted for certaine and firme truth And whatsoeuer any although holy and learned although a Bishop although a Confessour and Martir hath holden otherwise then all or against all let that be put aside from the authoritie of the common publicke and generall faith reputed amongst his owne proper priuate and secrete opinions least with greate daunger of eternall saluation we do according to the custome of sacriligious Heretickes and Schismatickes forsake the trueth of the vniuersall faith and follow the nouell error of one man the holy and and Catholicke mind of which blessed Fathers least any man thinke that he may rashly cōtemne The Apostle saieth 1. Cor. 12. in his first epistle to the Corinthians And some verely hath God set in his Church first Apostles of which him self was one Secondly Prophetes as Agabas was of whom we read in the Actes Thirdly Doctors which now are called Cap. 11. Tractators whō also this Apostle some time nameth Prophetes because their office was to expound declare to the people the misteries of the Prophetes these therfore disposed and placed by God at diuers times and sundry places agreeing consenting all in one mind in Christ touching the vnderstanding of the Catholicke faith whosoeuer cōtemneth doth not contemne man but God and that we disagree not by any meanes from the perfect and true vnitie of those Fathers the same Apostle doth earnestly beseech all Christians saying I beseech you brethren that you say all one thing and that there bee no schismes among you but that you be perfecte 1. Cor. 1 in one sence and in one knowledge And if any man separate him selfe from the communion of theire opinion let him heare that saying of the same Apostle He is not the God of dissention but 1. Cor. 14 of peace that is not of him that leaueth consent and vnitie but of them that remaine in peace and agreement As I do quoth he teach in all the Churches of the Saintes that is of Catholickes which therfore be holy because they continue in the cōmunion of the faith and least happily any one should contemne others and proudly require only to be heard only to be beleeued strait after he saieth What hath the word of God quoth he proceeded from you or haue it only come to you And least this might be taken as spoken slightlye he addeth If any quoth he seemeh a Prophet or spirituall that is a master in spirituall matters let him be a zealous louer of vnitie and peace in such wise that he neither preferre his owne opinion before the iudgement of others neither leaue or forsake the sence and common consent of all men The commaundementes of which thinges he that is quoth he ignorant of that is he that learneth not those thinges which he yet knoweth not or contemneth those which he knoweth he shal not be knowē that is he shall be thought vnworthie whom amongest such as be vnited in faith equall in humilitie God should regard and looke vpon a greater euill then which I doubt whether any man can inuēt or deuise which yet notwithstanding accordinge to the Apostles commination wee see to haue fallen vpon Iultan the Pelagian who either contēned to be ioined in opinion with his felowes or else presumed to separate him selfe from theire societie and communion But now it is time to bring forth the example which we promised how and after what sort
as it were with the sweete powder of Gods worde that he which quicklie would haue cōtemned mans erronious inuention dare not so readilie reiecte Gods diuine scripture wherin they are like to those which minding to minister bitter potions to yonge childrē do first annoint the brimmes of the cuppe with honie that ther by vnwarie youth feeling the swetnes may nothing feare the bitter confection This deuise also practise they which vpon noughtie herbes and hurtfull ioyces writte the names of good wholsome medicines wherby almost no man reading the good superscription anything suspecteth the lurking poysō The selfe same thing likewise our Sauiour crieth out to all Christiās Take ye heed of false prophets Mat. 7 which come to you in sheepes cloathing but inwardly are rauening wolues What is ment else by sheepes clothing but the sayings of the Prophetes and Apostles which they with sheepelike sinceritie did weare like certain fleeces for that immaculate Lambe which taketh away the sinnes of the world And what is to be vnderstood by rauening wolues but the cruell dogged opinions of hereticks which alwaies trouble the sheepfoldes of the Church and by all meanes possible teare in peeces the flocke of Christ But to th end they may more craftely set vpon the sheepe of Christ mistrusting nothing remaining still cruell beastes they putt of their woluish weed and shroude them selues with the wordes of scripture as it were with certaine fleeces whereby it hapneth that when the feelie sheepe feele the soft woll they litle feare their sharpe teeth But what saieth our Sauiour By their fruites you shall knowe them That is when then beginne not only to vtter those wordes but also to expound them not only to cast them forth but also to interpret them then doth that bitternes breake forth then is that sharpenes espied then is that madnes perceaued then is that fresh and new poison belched out then are prophane nouelties sett abroch then may you see straight way the hedge cut in two the olde fathers bounds remoued the Cotholicke doctrine shaken and the Churches faith torne in peeces Such were they whome the Apostle sharplie reprehendeth in the 2. epistle to the Corinthians For such false Apostles quoth he are crafty workers 2. Cor. 11 transfiguring them selues into the Apostles of Christ What is transfiguring them selues into the Apostles of Christ But this The Apostles alleadged the examples of scripture they likewise cited them The Apostles cited the authoritie of the Psalmes and they likewise vsed it The Apostles vsed the sayinges of the Prophetes and they in like maner brought them forth But whē that scripture which was alike alleadged alike cited alike brought forth was not alike and in one sence expounded then were discerned the simple from the craftie the sincere frō the counterfeit the right good from the froward and peruerse and to conclude true Apostles from those false Apostataes And no maruell quoth Saint PAVL For Sathan him selfe transfigureth him selfe into an Angell of light it is no great matter therfore if his ministers be transfigured as the ministers of Iustice Wherfore according to Saint PAVL whensoeuer either false Apostles or false Prophets or false Doctors do bring forth the words of holy scripture by which they would according to their noughtie interpretation confirme their error there is no doubt but that they folow the craftie sleight of their maister which surely he would neuer haue inuented but that he knoweth verie well that there is no readier way to deceaue the people then where the bringing in of wicked error is intended that there the authoritie of the word of God should be pretēded But some will say how proue you that the Deuill vseth to alledge scripture Such as doubt therof let them read the Gospell where it is written Then the Deuill tooke him vp that is our Lord and Sauiour and set him vpon the pinnacle of the Temple and said vnto him if thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe for it is written that he will geue his Angels Mat. 4 charge of thee that they may keepe theee in all thy waies in their hands shall they hold the vp least perhaps thou knock thy foote against a stone How will he thinke you handle seely poore soules which so setteth vpon the Lord of maiestie with the authoritie of scripture If thou be quoth he the sonne of god cast thy selfe downe Why so For it is writtē quoth he we haue diligētly to waigh the doctrine of this place to keepe it in mind that by so notable an example of the scripture we make no scruple or doubt when we see any alleadge some place of the Apostles or Prophetes against the Catholike faith but that by his mouth the deuil himself doth speak For as at that time the head spake vnto the head so now the mēbers do talke vnto the members that is the mēbers of the Deuill to the members of Christ the faithlesse to the faithfull the irreligious to the religious to conclude Heretickes to Catholickes But what I pray saieth the Deuill If thou be the sonne of God quoth he cast thy selfe downe That is to say Desirest thou to be the sonne of God and to enioy the inheritance of the Kingdome of Heauen Cast thy selfe downe that is Cast thy selfe downe from this doctrine tradition of this high and loftie Church which is reputed to be the Temple of God And if any one demaund of these hereticks perswading thē such things how do you proue and conuince me that I ought to forsake the olde and vniuersall faith of the Catholike Church Straight waies is ready at hand For it is written forthwith he will alledge you a thousand testimonies a thousand examples a thousand authorities out of the law out of the Psalmes out of the Apostles out of the Prophetes by which expounded after a new wicked fashion he would throw headlong the vnfortunate soules from the tower of the Catholike Church into the deep dungeon of wicked heresie Now with these sweete promises which followe Heretickes doe wonderfully deceaue simple men For they dare promise and teach that in their Church that is in the conuenticle of their communion is to be found a great and speciall yea a certaine personall grace of God So that whosoeuer be one of their crew they shall straight waies without any labour without any study without any industrie yea although they neuer seek nor craue nor knocke haue such speciall dispensation that they shall be caried vp with the handes of Angells that is preserued by Angelicall protection that they neuer hurt their foote against a stone that is that they neuer can be scandilized But some man wil say if the Deuill his disciples wherof some be false Apostles false Prophetes and false teachers and all perfecte Heretickes do vse the scriptures cite their sayings bring forth their promises what shall Catholicke men do How shall the children of the Church behaue
what desired they all surely nothing else but that which was of olde time deliuered might be still retained and that which was newlie inuented might speedelie be reiected After all which we maruailed at and highly commended the greate humilitie and holines of that Councell in which were so many Bishopes the greater part of whom were almost Metropolitanes of such eruditiō of such learning that they were almost all sufficient to haue disputed of matters of faith Which greate assemblie and meeting together although it might in some mans opinion haue imboldened them to presume and determine somwhat of thēselues yet they deliuered nothing presumed nothing arrogated nothing to themselues but before all thinges they were very carefull not to leaue any thing to posteritie which before they had not receiued of their forefathers not thinking it sufficient to dispose well of the businesse then present but also to leaue an example to their posteritie how they in like manner should reuerence the religion of sacred antiquitie and vtterly condemne the inuentions of prophane noueltie We inuaighed also against the wicked presumption of Nestorius who boasted that he was the first and the only man which vnderstood the scriptures and that all others which before his daies preached and taught all that interpreted and expounded the word of God were ignorant and vnskilfull that is all Preistes all Confessors and Martirs of whom some had expoūded Gods lawe others allowed and beleeued them To conclude he maintained that the Church both now did erre and alwaies had erred because as he thought it had and did folow vnlearned and erronious Doctors All which albeit they were abundantly sufficient for the ouerturning extinguishing of all prophane nouelties Yet least that ought shold in such plētie of proofes be wanting we added for a conclusion a doble authoritie of the Sea Apostolique the one of holy Pope Xistus which venerable father nowe honoureth the Church of Rome the other of Pope Celestinus of blessed memorie his predicessor which I haue thought good also here to sett downe Pope Xistus then in his epistle which he wrot to the Bishope of Antioch towching the cause of Nestorius saieth thus Therfore quoth he because as the Apostle saieth the faith is one which euidently hath obtained to be so called let vs beleeue and such thinges as are to bee holden lett vs beleeue Afterward he prosecuteth and explicateth what those thinges be which are to be beleeued what they be which are to be kept saying thus Nothing quoth he is further lawefull for Noueltie because it is cōuenient that nothing be added to Antiquitie The faith beleefe of our forefathers is cleare perspicuous let it not be troubled or defiled with any permixtion of filthie mire Apostolically spoken in commendation of our forefathers faith to compare it to light and perspicuitie and in likening nouell prophanes to the admixtion of filth and mire Pope Celestinus likewise is of the same opinion for in his epistle which he sent to the Preistes of France wherin he reprehendeth their dissimulation in that they left by their silence the old faith destitute and suffered prophane Nouelties to spring vp thus he writeth Worthelie quoth hee the cause doth touch vs if with silence we foster errour therfore let such men be corrected let them haue no libertie to speake at their pleasure Some happely doubteth who they be whom he forbiddeth to haue their libertie in speaking whether the preachers of antiquitie or the inuentors of nouelties Let him speake and discharge the Reader of this doubt for it foloweth Let nouelty cease of quoth he if the matter be so that is if that be true which diuers accuse vnto me your Cities Prouinces that through your pernitious dissimulation you cause thē to yeeld vnto certaine new doctrine Therfore quoth he if the matter be so let noueltie cease of to prouoke Antiquity This then was the blessed opiniō of holy Celestinus not that antiquity should cease to ouerthrow Noueltie but rather that Noueltie should giue ouer to prouoke antiquitie Which Apostolicke and Catholicke decrees whosoeuer resisteth first of necessitie he must proudly contemne the memorie of S. Celestinus who defined that noueltie should giue ouer to prouoke antiquitie Againe he mustiest scoffe at the decree of holy Xistus whose iudgemēt is that nothing is lawfull for noueltie because it is not conuenient that ought be added to antiquitie Againe he must contemne the determinatiō of blessed Cirill who highlie commended the zeale of venerable Capreolus in that he desired that the old articles of faith should be confirmed new inuētions vtterly condemned Likewise he must reiect the Councell of Ephesus that is the iudgement almost of all the holy Bishopes of the East who inspired by God would not decree that posteritie should beleeue ought but that which the sacred antiquitie of our forefathers agreeing togither in Christ had holden beleeued who with their vniforme allowing acclamation testified that they all decreed all wished all gaue iudgemēt that is all heretickes almost before Nestorius contemning antiquitie and defending Noueltie were condēned So likewise Nestorius him selfe the author of noueltie and impugner of antiquitie should bee condemned Whose sacred consent and agreement proceding frō Gods goodnes if any dislike what remaineth but that he maintaine that Nestorius prophane opinion was vniustly condemned Finally hee must also sett light by and contemne the vniuersall Church of Christ and her masters the Apostles and Prophetes and especially the Apostle S. PAVL as dreggs drosse The vniuersal Church beecause shee hath alwaies religiously kepte and maintained that faith which was once deliuered S. PAVL because he hath written thus O Timothy keepe the depositum auoiding prophane Nouelties of voices And againe Yf any preach vnto you otherwise then you haue receiued bee he accursed And if neither the Apostle his definition nor the Ecclesiasticall canōs ought to be violated by which according to the sacred consent of vniuersalitie and antiquitie alwaies all heretickes and lastlie Pelagius Celestius and Nestorius were iustly and worthelie condemned surelie necessarie it is that hereafter all Catholickes which desire to shew thēselues true childrē of their mother the church doe cleaue ioine and sticke vnto the holy faith of their holy Fathers detesting and abhorring pursueing prosecuting the prophane nouelties of all prophane misereantes This almost is the summe of that which in these two commonitorie bookes we haue more amplie discoursed of now after the maner of recapitulatiō in fewer words gathered togither that my memorie for helpinge whereof I haue wrote this Treatise may both with dailye admonition be repaired and yet not ouerlaid with fastidious prolixitie
Apostles censure deterreth For all men know how grauely how seuerely how seriously the blessed Apostle S. PAVL inueigheth against certaine which with Gal. 8 great leuitie Were so soone transferred from him that called them into the grace of Christ vnto another Gospell which is not an other That had heaped vp to thē 2. Tim. 4 selues masters according to their owne desires auerting their eares from truth being conuerted to fables Hauing damnation because they haue made voide their 1. Tim. 5. first faith Whom those men had deceaued of whom the same Apostle in his epistle to the Romanes thus writeth I beseech you brethren to marke thē that make dissentions and scandalls contrarie Ram. 16. to the doctrine which you haue learned and auoide them for such doe not serue Christ our Lorde but theire owne bellie And by sweet speaches and benedictions seduce the hartes of Innocents That enter into houses and lead captiue seelie women 2 Tim. 3 loaden with sinnes which are lead away with diuers desires alwaies learning and neuer attaining to the knowledge of trewth Vaine speakers and seducers who subuert wholle houses teaching Tit. 1 the thinges they ought not for filthy lucre Men corrupt in their minde reprobates concerning the faith Proud 2. Tim. 3 and knowing nothing but languishing about questions and strife of wordes that are depriued of the truth that esteeme a 1. Tim. 6. 1. Tim. 5. gaine to be pietie And with all idle they learne to go from house to house not only idle but also full of wordes and curious speaking thinges which they ought not 1. Tim. 1. Which repelling a good conscience haue made shipwracke about the faith Whose prophane speaches do much grow to impietie and their speach spreadeth as a cancre But that is also worth the noting which is written of them But they shall 2 Tim. 2. 2. Tim. 3. prosper no further for their follie shall be manifest to all as theirs also was When therfore such kind of men wandering vp and downe through Prouinces and cities to set their errors to sale came also vnto the Galathians who after they had heard thē and were delighted with the filthie druges of heretiall Nouelty casting vp againe the heauenly Manna of the Apostolicke and Catholicke doctrine The Apostle vsed his authoritie decreeing very seuerely in this sort But although we quoth he or an Angel from heauen euangelize vnto you beside Gal. 1. Euangelize signifieth such preaching of good tidings as cōcerneth the gospell Anathema signifieth accursed be he that which we haue enangelized be he Anathema What meaneth this that he sayeth But although we why did he not rather say But although I That is to say although Peter although Andrew although Iohn yea finally al though the wholle companie of the Apostles euangelize vnto you otherwise then we haue enangelized be he accur sed A terrible censure for maintaining the possession of the first faith not to haue spared him selfe nor any other of the Apostles But this is a small matter Although an Angell from heauē quoth he Euangelize vnto you beside that which I haue Euangelized be he Anathema he was not contented for keeping the faith once planted to make mention of mans weake nature vnlesse also he included those excellent creatures of Angells Although we qhoth he or an Angell from heauen not because the holy Angells of Heauen can now sinne but this is the meaning of that he saith Although quoth he that might be which cannot be whosoeuer he be that goeth about to change the faith which was once planted be he accursed But peraduenture he vttered those words slightly and cast thē forth rather of humane affection then decreed them by any reason grounded in Gods word God forbid For it followeth and that very earnestly vrged very often repeated As I haue foretold you quoth he now againe I tell you If any body euangelize vnto you beside that which you haue receaued be he Anathema He said not if any man preach vnto you beside that which you haue receaued let him be blessed let him be commended let him be receaued but Anathema that is separated thrust out excommunicated least the cruell infection of one sheepe with his poisoned company corrupt the sound flocke of Christ But peraduenture this was giuen in commaundement only to the Galathians then likewise were these precepts folowing commaunded only to the Galathians to weete If vve liue Gal. 5. in the spirite in the spirite also lett vs vvalke lett vs not be made desirouse of vaine glorie prouoking one an other enuying one an other and such like which if it be absurd to say no man doubteth but that they were indifferently commaunded to all then certaine it is that as these precepts touching maners include all so likewise those concerning faith and doctrine exclude none And therfore as it is not lawfull for any to prouoke one another to enuie one another euen so it is vnlawfull for any to admitt or to receaue any other faith or religion then that which the Catholicke Church euery where teacheth or haply shal we be so mad to say that thē it was commaunded to curse and anathematize him that preached any otherwise then before had beene preached that now it is not cōmaunded then was that likewise which is there saide But I say walke in the spirite and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh then only cōmaunded but now is not which if it be impious and dangerous so to beleeue then of necessitie it followeth that as these precepts of life manners are to be kept of all ages so likewise those set downe against innouating of religion changing of faith are cōmaunded to all posteritie wherfore to preach vnto Christian Catholicke men besids that which they haue receaued neuer was lawfull no where is lawfull at no time shall be lawfull And on the contrarie to say Anathema and curse those which teach otherwise then once hath bene receaued was at all times needful is euery where conuenient euer shall be requisite Which being so is there any man either so bold that dare teach that which in the Church hath not bene taught or of such leuitie that will receaue ought besides that which he hath receiued of the Church Let that vessell of election that maister of the Gentiles that trumpe of the Apostles that preacher of the world he that was acquainted with heauenly affaires crie out and againe crie out in his epistles to all men to all times to all places that whosoeuer preacheth a new doctrine is to be accursed And on the contrarie parte let certaine frogges corruptible gnates and flies such as the Pelagians be reclaime and that to Catholickes Wee being your authors quoth they we being your leaders we being your interpreters condemne that which before you did hold hold that which before you condemned Cast away your olde faith your forefathers lawes your elders constitutions
of such a one perceaue to be brought in of some one man beside or contrarie to the olde Saintes and Doctors lett him know that not to pertaine to religion but rather to tentation for his proofe and triall especially being instructed with the saving of the Apostle Sainte Paule for this is that which he writeth in his first epistle to the Corinthians There must quoth he be heresies also that they which are approued may be made manifest amōgest you As thogh he should say This is the cause why the authors of heresies are not straight rooted out by God that the prooued may bee made manifest that is euery one may appeare how stedfastly faithfully and constantly he loueth the Catholicke faith And certaine it is that straight vpon the springing vp of any Noueltie the waightie corne is discerned from the light chaffe then is that easelie shaken out of the floare which before lightly remained in the floare for some by and by leape away others only shaken are afraid to perish and ashamed to returne remaining wounded halfe dead half aliue like vnto those which haue druncke so much poison as neither killeth nor digesteth neither bringeth death nor yet permitteth to liue Alas the miserable state of such persons with what seas of cares with what stormes are they tossed for some time as the winde driueth them they are caried away headlong into error an other time coming again to thē selues they are shaken beatē like contrary waues striuing togither somtime with rash presumption they allow such thinges as seeme vncertaine an other time of pusillanimitie they feare those thinges which are certaine doubtfull which way to take which way to returne what to desire what to auoide what to holde what to let go which miserie affliction of a wauering harte and not setled were they wise is the salue of Gods mercie towardes them For this is the reason why being out of the safe porte of the Catholike faith they are shaken tossed and almost killed with stormes and troubles to the end they should strike downe the sailes of their proud mind which they nough tely hoised vp to the windes of nouelties so retire keepe thēselues with in the most sure port of their calme and good mother first cast vp those bitter turbulēt waters of errors that afterward they may drinke of the flowing riuers of liuelie runing water Let them learne to forget well which well they haue not learned and those articles which the Church teacheth and by reason are to be attained to let thē in Gods name comprehend and those which surpasse reason let them by faith beleeue CHAP. XII VVHICH being so oftē times calling to minde and remembring the selfe same thing I cannot sufficiently maruell at the great madnes of some men at so great impietie of a blinded harte to conclude at so greate a licentious desire to error that they be not content with the rule of faith once deliuered vs and receiued from our auncestors but do euery day search and seeke for new doctrine euer desirous to add to change and to take a way som thing from religiō as though that were not the doctrine of God which was once sufficiently reuealed but rather mans institutiō which cannot but by continuall correction or rather corruption come to perfection Whereas the diuine scriptures crye out Do not translate the boundes which thy fathers haue set downe and Do not iudge ouer thy iudge And the Serpent will bite him that cutteth the hedge And that saying of the appostles by which all wicked nouelties of all heritickes haue often bene cut in peces as it were with a spiritual sworde and alwaies hereafter are O Timothie keepe the depositum auoiding the prophane nouelties of voices and oppositions of falsly called knowledge which certaine promisinge haue erred about the faith And yet for all this some there be so shameles so impudent so obstinate which will not yelde to such force of diuine scripture which be not moued with such waight of reason nor yet shaken with such heauenly hāmers to conclude which be not beaten in peeces with such celestiall lightning Auoide quoth he the prophane nouelties of voices He saieth not auoide antiquities he saieth not auoid auncientnes nay rather sheweth what contrariwise should folow For if nouelty is to be auoided antiquitie is to be retained if nouelty be prophane antiquitie is sacred oppositiōs quoth he of falsly called knowledge Verily the name of knowledge in the schooles of Hereticks is false where ignorance is called knowledge mist reputed cleerenes darknes termed by the name of light Which certaine quoth he promising haue erred about the faith What promised they when they erred about the faith What else but I know not what new and vnknowen doctrine For you may heare some of them say O ye vnwise and seelie soules which commonly are called Catholickes come and learne the true faith which no creature vnderstādeth besides vs which hath bene hidden many hundred of yeeres past but of late hath bene reuealed and laid open but learne it priuily learne it secretly for it will delight you And againe when you haue learned it teach it secretly that the world may not vnderstand it that the Church may not know it for it is graunted to fewe to vnderstand the secret of so great a misterie Are not these thincke you the wordes of that harlot which in the Prouerbes of Salomon calleth vnto her the passengers Who is quoth she most Prou. 9 foole amōgest you let him turne vnto me And such as be of small iudgement she exhorteth saying Touch willingly secrete bread and drinke sweet water priuily What foloweth But he knoweth not quoth he how in her company earthly men do perish who be these earthly men Let the Apostle declare Those quoth he which haue erred about the faith But it is worth the labour more diligently to examine the Apostle his whole Chapter O Timothie quoth he keepe the depositū auoiding prophane nouelties of voices This exclamation O both sheweth foresight and also argueth charitie for he foresawe certaine errors which before hand he was sory for who at this day hath the place of Timothie but either the whole Church or especially the wholle body of Prelates who ought them selues to haue the wholle knowledge of diuine religion and also to instruct others what is ment by keepe the depositum Keepe it quoth hee for feare of theeues for daunger of enemies least when men be a sleepe they ouer-sow cockell amongest the wheat which the sonne of man hath sowed in his feild Keepe quoth he the depositum What is mēt by this depositum that is that which is An excelent exposition of S. Paules wordes committed to thee not that which is inuented of thee that which thou hast receaued not that which thou hast deuised a thing not of witt but of learning not of priuate vsurpation but of publicke tradition a thing brought to thee
impious rather gracelesse follow that furious mad proceeding For the Church of Christ is a carefull diligent keeper of religion cōmitted to her charge she neuer chāgeth or altereth in it any thing she diminisheth nothing nothing she addeth What is necessarie she loseth not what is superfluous she forceth not her owne she maintaineth not her owne shee vsurpeth not but with all industrie laboureth only about this one thing that is by faithfull prudent handling of our forefathers doinges what by them in times past was well entered begone she polisheth what thē was well polished and declared she cōfirmeth what then was confirmed defined she retaineth To conclude what hath she els endeuoured by the decrees of Councells but that that doctrine which before was simplie credited the same afterward should be more diligently beleeued that religion which before was taughtmore slowly the same afterward shold be preached more instantly That faith which before was more securely reuerenced the same afterward should more carefully be practised This I say alwaies nothing els hath the Church prouoked with the nouelties of Heretickes set downe by the decrees of her Councells to weet onely to confirme that to posteritie by writing comprehēding a great summe of things in few wordes and often times for more easie vnderstāding to an olde article of faith geuing a new name which before by tradition she had receaued of her forefathers CHAP. XIIII BVT to returne to the Apostle O Timothie quoth he keepe tho depositum auoyding prophane nouelties of voices Auoyde quoth he as a viper as a scorpian as a basiliske least they infecte thee not only by towching but also with their very eies breath what is ment by Auoide that is not so much as to eate with any such what 1. Cor 5 importeth this Auoide yf any man quoth he come vnto you and bring not this doctrine what doctrine but the Catholicke and vniuersall and that which with sounde traditiō of the truth hath cōtinued one the selfe same through all successions of times and that which shall continue to the worldes ende What thē Receaue him not quoth he into the house nor say God saue you for 2. Ioan. 7 he that saieth vnto him God saue you communicateth with his wicked workes Prophane nouelties of voices quoth he what is Prophane Those which haue no holines in them no iote of religion wholie vnknowne to the Church which is the temple of God Prophane nouelties of voices quoth he of voices that is nouelties of opinions nouelties of things nouelties of senses contrarie to our forefathers faith contrarye to antiquitie which if we admitte and receaue of necessitie the faith of our blessed auncestors either all or a greate parte of it must be ouerthrowne the faithfull people of all ages and times all holy Saintes all chast all continent all virgins all widowes all Clearkes all Deacons all Priestes so manie thousands of Cōfessors so many bands of Martirs so many famous and great cities and common wealthes so manie Ilandes Prouinces Kings countries kingdomes nations to cōclude almost the whole worlde incorporated by the Catholicke faith to Christ their heade must needs be saied so many hūdredes of yeeres to haue bene ignorant to haue erred to haue blasphemed to haue beleeued they know not what Auoide quoth he Prophane nouelties of voices to receiue which which to folow neuer was the custome of Catholickes but alwaies the propertie of heretickes And to say truth what heresie hath euer peeped forth but vnder the name of some certain man in some certaine place and at some certaine time Who euer set abroche any heresie who first deuided not him selfe frō the consent of the vniuersalitie and antiquitie of the Catholicke Church which to be true examples do plainly proue For who euer before that prophane Pelagius presumed so much of mans free will that he thought not the grace of God necessarie to euery perticuler good acte Who euer before his monstrous disciple Celestius denied all mankind to be tied bound with the sinne of Adams preuarication Who euer before sacriligious Arius durst teare in peeces the Vnitie of Trinitie Who euer before wicked Sabellius attempted to confound the Trinitie of Vnitie Who euer before cruell Nouatiā affirmed God to be so mercilesse that he had rather the death of a sinner then he should returne and liue Who euer before Simon Magus punished by Apostolicall censure from whome that olde sinke of filthines came by cōtinuall secrete succession vnto Priscillian that was the last durst euer affirme that God our Creator was the author of euell that is the authour of our wickednes impieties and horrible crimes because God as he saied so made mans nature that by a certaine proper motion and impulse of an inforced will it can do nothing else but sinne desire nothing else but to offend because being prouoked and inflamed with the furious rage of all vices it is with an insatiable desire caried away headlong into the pitt and sincke of all filthines Such examples are infinite which for beuitie sake I omitt by all which not-withstanding it appeareth plainly and cleerely that it is an vsuall and common thing in all Heresies to take great pleasure in prophane nouelties to loathe the decrees of our forefathers and so fall from the faith by opposing the false counterfeit name of knowledge and learning contrariwise this is proper to all Catholickes to keepe that faith which the holy fathers haue left committed to their charge to cōdēne prophane nouelties as the Apostle hath already said again doth say Yf any man shal preach otherwise thē that which is receaued to accurse him CHAP. XV. HERE haplie some man may demaunde whether heretickes also do vse the testimonie of holy scripture To which I say that they do and that verie earnestly for a man may behold thē ranging and coursing in euery parte of the Byble in Moyses in the kinges in the Psalmes in the Apostles in the Ghosples in the Prophets for whether they be amongst their owne bretheren or with strangers whether in priuate or in publique whether in talking or in writing whether in the house a feasting or abrode in walking they almost neuer alledge any thinge of there owne which they do not pretend to shadowe with the wordes of sacred scripture Read the pamphlets of Paulus Samosatenus of Priscilian Eunomius Iouinian the rest of such like pestilent Heretickes and you shall find through all their workes an huge hepe of examples almost no page omitted which is not colored and painted with the sayinges of the new and olde testament But the more closely they lurke vnder the shadow of Gods lawe the more carefullie are they to be feared the more narrowlie to be watched for they knowe full well that their stinking and vnsauorie drugges be not likelie almost to please any if simplie and nakedly they be set forth therfore they do temper them
the iudgement and opinions of holy Fathers were gathered togither that according to thē by the decree and authority of a Councell the rule of faith might be set down which to the end that I may more commodiously do I will here make an end of this commonitorie and so take a nother beginning for declaring of those thinges which do folow and ensew A RECAPITVLATION of all that hath bene said in the former two bookes WHICH being so it is now time that in the ende of this second booke we recapitulate touch in few wordes the Summe of all that which in these two commonitorie bookes hath bene spoken We saied in the premisses that this alwaies hath bene and at this day is the custome of Catholickes to try and examine true faith two manner of waies First by the authoritie of the deuine scripture secondly by the tradition of the Catholicke Church not because the Canonicall scripture is not of it selfe sufficient for all thinges but because verie many expounding Gods word at there owne pleasure doe thereby bring forth and hatch vp diuers opiniōs errors And for that cause it is necessarie that the interpretatiō of the diuine scripture be directed according to the one onely rule of the Churches vnderstāding especially in those questiōs vpon which the foundatiō of the whole Catholicke religion doth depēd Likewise we said that in the Church we had to consider the consent both of vniuersalitie and antiquitie so that we be neither caried a way from sound vnitie to schisme nor yet cast headlong frō antiquitie of religion into the daungerous gulfe of hereticall nouelties We said also that in antiquity we had diligently to obserue and seriously to consider two thinges vnto which all those that will not bee heretickes must of necessitie stand The first is that which hath in oulde time bene determined by all the bishopes of the Catholicke Church by authority of a generall Councell The second is that if any new question did arise in which the determination of a Councell were not to be found that then we ought to haue recourse to the sayings of the holy fathers but yet of these only who in theire time and place were probable maisters being such as liued and died in the vnitie of the communion and faith And whatsoeuer we knew that they beleeued taught with one mind and consente to iudge and take that without all scruple to be the true and Catholicke Religion of the Church And least any man might think that we saied this rather of presumption thē of any authoritie of the Church we gaue an example of the holy Councell holden almost three yeeres sithence at Ephesus a Citie in Asia in the time of the right honorable Councels Bassus Antiochus in which disputation was had of constituting and setting downe rules of faith and least there might by chance some prophane Noueltie creep in as happened at that persidious meeting in Ariminum this was reputed and thought the most Catholicke holy best course to be taken by the iudgement of all the Bishops there present which were almost two hundred in number that the opinions of these Fathers should be brought forth of whō it was certaine that some of them had bene Martirs diuerse Confessors and all to haue liued and died Catholicke Preists that by their authoritie consent and verdict the old religion might be rightlie and solemnely confirmed and blasphemous prophane nouelties condemned which being so done worthely and iustlie Nestorius was iudged to haue taught contrary to the old Catholicke religiō and blessed Cirill to haue maintained holy and sacred antiquitie And to the end nothing might be wanting which procureth credite we put downe also the names and number of these Fathers although not remēbring their order according to whose consent and vniforme doctrine both the textes of holy scripture were expounded and the rule of Gods word established Neither will it here be superfluous for memory sake to repeate them all once againe These then bee the names of them whose workes were cited in that Councell either as iudges or else as witnesses S. Peter Bishop of Alexandria a most excellent Doctor and blessed Martir S. Athanasius Bishope of the same sea a most faithfull teacher and famous Confessor S. Theophilus Bishope also of the same Citie a notable man for faith life and learning next after whom succeded venerable Cirill who at this present doth honour the Church of Alexandria And that no man happelie should suspecte that this was the doctrine of one Citie or of one Prouince to the former there were adioined those two lightes of Caperdocia Saint Gregory Bishoppe and Confessor of Nazianzene Saint Basill Bishope and Confessor of Cesurea also another Saint Gregory Nissen worthy for his merite of faith conuersation integritie and wisdome of such a brother as Basill was And for proofe that not onely the greeke and Easte Church but also the Latin and Weast were alwaies of the same opinion the letters of Saint Felix Martir and Saint Iulie both Bishops of Rome which they wrote vnto certaine men were there read And that not onely the head of the world but also the other partes should giue testimonie in that iudgement From the South they had blessed S. Ciprian from the North S. Ambrose Bishop of Millan These then be the holy Fathers agreeing with that sacred number of the tenne Commaundements which were alleadged in the Councell of Ephesus as Masters Councellors Witnesses and Iudges whose doctrine the blessed Synod holding following whose counsaile beleeuinge whose testimonie obeyinge whose iudgement without spite without presumption and without fauour pronounced gaue sentence concerning the rules of faith And albeit a farre greater number of Fathers might haue bene set downe yet was it not necessarie because it was not requisite that time should be spent with multitude of witnesses and further no man doubted but that those tenne did litle differ in opinion from all the rest of their fellow Bishopes After all this we sett downe the worthie sentence of Cirill which is to be found in the Ecclesiasticall actes of that Councell For when the epistle of S. Capreolus Bishop of Carthage was reade who intended nothing else nothing else desired but that noueltie might be ouer throwen antiquitie defended Bishope Cirill spake and gaue his definition in this sort for I haue thought good not to omitt it here these then be his wordes in the end of the actes of that Coūcell And this epistle quoth he of the venerable and religious man Capreolus Bishope of Carthage shall be adioyned to the faith of the Councels actes whose opinion is plaine and perspicuous for he desireth that the dostrine of the olde faith may be confirmed and new opinions superfluously inuented impiously spread a brode may be reproued and condemned To which all the Bishopes with one cōsent cried out This we spake all this we teach all this we desire all what I beseech you saied they all