to make against this third note For that it is no good exception you may hereby perceaue because the Fathers make both notes as I haue declared Wherefore the one destroyeth not the other but they stand both well together The cause thereof is this for that christians and catholikes are both but one name and so of the Fathers vsed and accompted who therefore commonly deny Heretikes to be Christians because they are not Catholikes that is to say Christians of all Christendome but only of some peece The difference only is that the name Catholike is plainer in this case and inuented to be ioyned as a very singular Epitheton vvith Christians so to put all out of doubt in saying Catholike Christians For if they were not all one a man might as vvell say Heretike Christians which no man vseth to say And so haue I by the verie common names both of them and vs made three most easie most certaine probations vnpossible of them to be coÌ„trolled that we are of the truth and they out of the truth Old Heresies TO proceede now to another like probation whatsoeuer was Heresie in time past the same is Heresie now also and the holders of it Heretikes as they were of old vnlesse any man be so vnfaithfull or rather mad to thinke that truth of Religion chaungeth with the time and that it is false vvhich Saint Paule saith Christ Iesus yesterday and to day the same also for euer Heb. 13. As certaine therefore as this is that Christ truth chaungeth not so certainely shall it be proued in this part that these men be Heretikes and their doctrine Heresie Which may be done and God willing shall be done hereafter if need be in very many points of their doctrine But because anie one point is sufficient to shew that we must auoide them as in the Arrians Sabellians and in manner all other olde Heretikes it is manifest who alwaies for only one point were accounted damnable it shall be enough specially in this my breuitie to bring forth one or two examples Well then Heresie it was aforetime to deny as these men doe that praier or offering may be made for the dead And that we plainly shew out of all Recordes of Heresies left vnto vs by the writing of most approued Notaries For the Greeke Church let Saint Epiphanius Epip her 75. Aug. haer 53. bee seene for the Latin Church Saint Augustine who both haue recorded it for the Heresie of a certaine Arrian named Aerius Saint Augustines wordes are these In Arrianorum haeresim lapsus propria quoque dogmata addedit nonnulla dicens orare vel offerre pro mortuis oblationem non oportere c. This Aerius being fallen into the heresie of the Arrians ioyned also thereunto certaine positians of hys owne saying that we must not pray or offer oblation for the dead c. Our men therefore hauing the same Position it followeth plainly that they are Heretikes as holding that which before was heresie so accompted in al Churches both Greeke and Latin And this were they neuer nor neuer shal be able to answere For another example I chuse that cruell Heresie of theirs against the necessitie of Childrens Baptisme through the which they haue suffered and stil do suffer to perish many thousands of those poore soules not able to helpe theÌ„selues It was of olde the Heresie of the PelaÌ„gians that children might come to lyfe euerlasting without the Sacrament of Baptisme Aug. haer 88. de pec mer. lib. 3. ca. 5 Cip. lib. 3. Ep. 8. de iâ—fant baptizaÌ„d as Saint Augustine in sundrie places witnesseth mightily by the scriptures confuting the same allegeing also against it the testimonie of Saint Ciprian with a Councell of 66. Bishopps in his tyme that they which suffer children to die without Baptisme Deny Gods mercie and grace to men and destroie soules Wheras Filius hominis non venit animas hominum perdere sed saluare Luke 19. The Sonne of man came not to destroy soules of men but to saue them And in another place S. Augustine sayeth De orig can lib. 3. cap. 8. Ep. 28. that if a man wil be a Catholike he must not so beleeue speake nor teach Againe in another place that whosoeuer so saith Tanquam pestis communis fidei detestandus est he must be detested as the pestilence of common faith Qui profecto contra Apostoli praedicationeÌ„ venit totam condemnat Ecclesiam Hee verelie both goeth against S. Paules preaching and condemneth the whole Church Therefore our Protestantes and Puritans for this their vnmercifull opinion are not Catholikes they are contrarie to the Apostle they condemne the vniuersall Church of GOD they are to be detested as corrupters of our Faith as Heretikes as Pelagians and in deede farre worse than Pelagians For vvee reade not that they vpon their Heresie leaft anie child vnbaptized as these doe great numbers because they although they promised them without Baptisme life euerlasting falslie yet not the kingdome of heauen also foolishly for they thought that one might be in life euerlasting without the kingdome of heaueÌ„ therefore thought they good to baptize them for the getting of that kingdome though not for euerlasting life whereas our Heretikes much more falsly than those promise them both life euerlasting and the kingdome of heauen all and therefore suffer them very often to goe awaie vvithout Baptisme as a thing for them at all vnnecessary O vnmercifull and cruell Heretikes All good people for the loue of God for pitties sake see better vnto them be euerie man vvith his acquaintance vvho so hath anie amongst them diligent earnest instant that their poore babies die not vnchristened Thus haue I by two examples of old Heresies most vndoubted prooued most plainely that they are Heretikes being both able and readie as I haue said if need be to doe the like by many examples moe Which examples for this time omitting leauing them to the remembrance of euerie man that is but meanely read in Diuinitie I will now shew forth some other waies Miracles Dogmaticall TWo waies therefore most plaine and readie will I shew by miracles vvhich are all for vs and none for them Wherein although I might be so copious as of this only matter to make great Volumes for our defence to their confusion yet will I say very little as my purpose and yet sufficient as my promise requireth Being then for vs as it hath pleased God our Lord two sortes of Miracles the one that may be called Dogmaticall the other Personall Of the first sort I set this Conclusion whosoeuer haue at any time set them-selues against any Doctrine confirmed by Miracle they haue beene against the truth There can to this no instance be giuen So that if it be shewed our Doctrine vvhich these men resist to haue beene so confirmed plaine it is that they are enimies of the truth But that can I easily shew in
their Churches Let them vnroll the Succession of their Bisshopps Finallie it is without contradiction by the witnesse of Scriptures Doctors and Historyes a most vndoubted way to know at al times vvho be Heretikes and who be Catholikes and therefore of such as wil not desperatly cast them-selues into Hell deeply and earnestly to be considered Apostolike Church VPON this poynt of Succession is inferred another very vvorthie consideration that whereas not only we in the holy Masse but also the Heretikes in theyr communion professe both to beleeue Vnam Sanctam Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam One Holy Catholike and Apostolike Church according to the Crede of the first Constantinopolitan Councel it is our Church that is Apostolike bycause it agreeth in the faith with the Church of Rome in which is the See of an Apostle holding on to this day by Succession and to which was written an Epistle by an Apostle What caÌ„ they here deny doth not our Church the Catholikes I meane of England agree in faith with the Romain Church It is both confessed by the Heretykes who for that cause do call vs Papists and knowen to all men bysides Doth not the Bishop of that Church succeede an Apostle in his See S. Peter was an Apostle and Prince of the Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome which is as euident in it selfe and as certainely may be proued by vndoubted witnesse and as sensibly is sene vvith our very eies as that there hath bene so long and is at this present such a citie in the world named Rome Had not the Church an Epistle writteÌ„ to it by an Apostle S. Paules Epistle to the Romains is extant Are not these the causes why a Church is called Apostolike Heare Tertulâ—ians definition De Pres Haeret. Age tam qui voles â—uâ—iâ—sitatem melius exercere in negotio salutis tuae peâ—â—urre Ecclisias Apostolicas apud quas ipsae adâ—uc Cathedrae Apostolorum suis lâ—cis praesidentur â—pud quas ipsae authenticae literae corum recitantur sonantes vocem repraesentantes facieÌ„ well now thou that wouldest vse yet more curiosiâ—ie in the matter of thy saluation runne ouer the Apostolike Churches at whom the very Chairs of Apostles are yet in their places sitten in at whom the very authentical letters of them are recited sounding their voice representing their face Examples there hee putteth of the Churches of the Corinthians of the Philippians of the Ephesians and specially of the Romains saying of the same Videamus quid dixerit quid docuerit CuÌ„ Aphricanis quoque Ecclesiis contestatur Let vs consider what it the Romain Church hath said what it hath taught Mary with our Aphrican Churches also it holdeth Which he there declareth in al points by the Heretikes of that time denied by himselfe with other Catholikes of that countrie beleeued Wheâ—eupon he will haue it to follow that their African Churches are Apostolike although not so as the Romaine Church other like yet in another right good sense bâ—cause they agree with those Apostolikes And in this hee putteth so strong an argument of the truth that hee â—gâ—ine againe prouoketh Heretikes to shew the like Edant origines Ecclesiarum suarum euoluant ordinem Episcoporum suorum ita per successiones ab initio decurrentem ut primus ille Episcopus aliquem ex Apostolis vâ—l Apostâ—â—icis viris qui tamen cum Apâ—stolis perseuerauerit habuerit authorem antecessâ—rem Hoc enim modo Ecclesiae Apostolicae census suos deferunt Sicut Smyrnaeorum Ecclesia Polycarpum ab Iohanne collocatum refert Sicut Romanorum Clementem a Petro ordinatuÌ„ id proinde vtique caeterae exhibent quos ab Apostâ—lis in EpiscopatuÌ„ constitutos Apostolici seminis traduces habeant Let the Heretikes bring sorth the origines of their Churches let them vnfold the rew of their Bishops so from the beginning running downe by successions as that first Bishoppe of theirs haue had for his author and predecessor some one of the Apostles or Apostolike men which also with the Apostles perseuered For after this manner doe the Apostolike Churches bring down their substance to our time As the Church of the Smyrnians sheweth Polycarpus placed by S. Iohn as the Church of the Romains sheweth Clement ordered by Saint Peter And so verily doe the rest also shew whom by the Apostles ordained Bishops they haue for the drawers vnto them of the seed or doctrine Apostolike So as our naturall progenitors haue deriued or passed vnto vs the naturall seede of Adam Confingant tale aliquid Haeretici Let the Heretikes faine any such thing if they can saith hee But no doubt they cannot and therefore be they not Apostolike and ours most certainely which manifestly so doth is Apostolike God graunt them therefore once in heart also to beleeue with vs that which with vs in mouth they professe to beleeue I say One Holy Catholike and Apostolike Church Neither it is the Motiue only of Tertullian Saint Augustine also in the greatest matter that can be touching the very Canon of the Scriptures sendeth vs to those Churches speciallie aboue all others Quae Apostolicas Sedes De doct Christ lib. 2. cap. 8. Epistolas accipere meruâ—runt which to haue Sees Apostolike and to receaue Epistles Apostolike found the fauour Finallie many others of the holy Fathers teach vs the same vvay vnto the Truth and no one of them all did euer disproue it In whome this is yet further to be coÌ„sidered that whereas there were in their time standing yet manie other Churches Apostolike besides the Romaine they for all that did euer principallie and singulaly direct men alwaies to the Romane so also calling it by prerogatiue the Church Apostolike or See Apostolike that by that name it was no lesse knowen from all others as all can beare me witnesse that read antiquity then I say when there were also many other Churches or Sees Apostolike than now at this time it is when we haue none other Apostolicke See remaining After which manner also we know Virgil from all Poetes by the name of Poeta and Aristotle from all other Philosophers by the name of Philosophus S. Paule from all the other Apostles by the name of Apostolus Which thing well considered of anie indifferent man may giue him easily to vnderstand that the holy Fathers of the Constantinopolitan Councell in their Creede bidding vs to belieue the Church Apostolike did not only meane the RomaÌ„ Church but also none other but the RomaÌ„ well that I leaue to the consideratioÌ„ of such as be indiffereÌ„t But that which afore I saide is certaine as it is also most worthy to be considered that the Fathers in their times hauing manie Sees Apostolike yet chieflie looked themselues and directed others to the Apostolike See of Rome And now at this time when as there is none other of that sorte remayning in the worlde but onely the Roman and yet neuer none of them all more
dispositions read depositions fol. 125 b line vlt. for consubstubflantialitie read consubstantialitie fol. 128. a. line 23. for vniuesallie read vniuersallie A TABLE OF THE MOTIVES conteined in this Treatise 1 NAme of Catholikes fol 5. a. 2. Name of Heretik 9. a 3. Name of Protestants Puritans c. 10. a 4. Oâ—d Heresies 13. a. 5. Miracles dogmaticall 15. a 6 Miracles personal 27. a. 7. Visâ—â—â—s 32. b 8 Scriptures 39. b 9 Traditions most certaine 42. b 10 The Churches iudgemeÌ„t 45. a 11 The churches practise 48. b 12 See Apostolike 55. a 13. Councels 59. a 14 The Fathers 63. b 15. Martyrs 69. a 16 Their own Doctors 74. a 17. The Catholike Faith in England mightily planted and lightly chaunged 80. b 18 Going out 84. b 19. Rising afterward 86. a 20 Beginning with wondring and gainsaying of Christians then in Vnitie 88. b. 21. Vnsent 90. b 22 Succession 93. a 23. Apostolike Church 95. b 24 The Romaines neuer chaunged their religion 100. a 25 Conuersion of Heathen Nations 102. b 26 By what Religion hath Idolatrie beene destroyed 105. a 27 Vnitie 117. b 28 Iudges infallible incases of Controuersie 120. b 29 Protestants themselues take things vpon our Churches credit 123. a 30 Storehouse of the scriptures 124. b 31 Studying and teaching of all Diuine truth 125. b 32 Annuall celebrating of all Christs Mysteries 129 b 33 Ecclesiasticall Monuments and Liuings 142. a 34 Apes 143. 35 States of perfection 144. b 36 The state of our Predecessors 145. b 37 The only knowen and vndoubted Mother of Christs childreÌ„ for one thousand yeares togeather 147. b 38 Celebration and Operation of Christs death 149. b 39 Teaching the Narrow way and liuing after it 151. a 40 Obedient subiects 153. a 41 The Church to whom Princes doe homage 155. a 42 The Parlament Church 156. b 43 Communion of Saints 158. a 44 The Church that all Christs enimies fight against 159. a 45 Euer visible and Catholike 161. a 46 Where grew the Protestants seed before our time 163. b 47 Sure to continue 167. a 48 How to make plaine demonstration that the Heretikes haue no euidence and that we haue all 171. a A TABLE OF THE MORE PRINcipall matters touched in this Treatise A AN Admonition to Catholikes that frequent the new Seruice Fol. 133. a To Priestes likewise that say it 136. b Aerians aliue againe in the Protestants 13. b Aultus 34. b 52. a 112. b S. Ambrose Motiue the Fathers 64. a Anabaptistes 165. b 166. a Antichristes side against the Pope 58. a Apes of the Catholikes are Heretikes 143. a The Apostles were of our religion 44. a. b 60. a 102. a 104. a 156. b Apostolike Church 95. b Apostolike See 55. a 94. b Assumption of our Lady 132. b Atheistes why they be so many in England 128. a. 152. a 166. a Motiues against theÌ„ See here in the word Christ and in the Preface S. Augustine of our religion 16. a 34. b. 35. a 44. b 45. b 47. b 49 a 51. b 54. a 55 b 108. a 117. a 160. b. brought therunto by God 34 b. How he should be vsed in England by the ParlameÌ„t law if he were there liuing 157. a His Motiues Name of Catholikes 5. b Name as of Protestants c. 12 a Councels 63. a the Fathers 64. b Succession in the See Apostolike 95. a 99. b 167. b the Churches authoritie pâ—e pa. 5. fo 123. b the Churches continuance 95. a 129. a 167. b the Churches wisedome and learning pref page 8. fol. 129. a Apostolike Churches as the Romaine c. 98. a 99. b. The honour and vertue of Saints and Relikes 110. a. Emperours turned from their Idols and praying at Peters Sepulchre 160 a. Christianity of humane lawes 153. a. 160. a S. Augustine the Apostle of Englishmen of what Religion and authoritie 80 b. B S. BAbilas Relikes 108. b Baptisme necessary for saluation of Children 14. a. 49. b. 71. b. 165. b. S. Bede of our Religion 17. a. 81. a 100. b. His storie to be read diligently of Englishmen 81. a. his Motiue the Romaine Church 100. b S. Bernard of our Religion and with what Miracles he confirmed it 29. a 115. a Bishops of England vnitie constancy 86. a A Bishop aboue a Priest 165. a Bookes of Heretikes not to be read 140. a C CAluin against our Prorestants about the Head of the Church 78. a His Legats in India 103. a His errors about the Trinity 126. b. Caluinists condemned by Luther 75. a Carolostadius condemned by Luther 75. a Catholikes haue the truth 3. b. that very name a certaine marke of right Catholikes 5. a Catholikes Romaine 55. b Chalenges turned into Proclamations 1. b Change of religion neuer made by vs. 51. a 100. a what an impudeÌ„t attempt it is 54. b. 80 b 135. b the Iewes religion chaunged into ours by Christ 117. a 124. b Christ to be beleeued for these Motiues Authoritie of his Church pref page 5. fol. 47 b Vnity of his Church 118. b Miracles 30. b 110. a Visions 33. b vertue of his Saints and of their Relikes 110. a. vertue of the signe of his Crosse 113. a 139. a Conuerting of Emperours and Powers from theyr Idols to serue his seruants 160. a the Scriptures of the old Testament as they be vnderstood in the Church 130. b Christ excluded out of England by Parliament 157. a Christendome shut out of England by Parliament 158. a Christians and Catholikes all one 12. b Christianity of humaine lawes in what Church 153. a S. Chrisost of our religioÌ„ 44. a 56. a. 109. a. b the Churches iudgement alwaies infalible 45. a 120. b. 123. a her practise likewise 84 b the Church euerlasting and visible 47. a 93. a 104. a 129. a 148. a 160. b 161. a 167. a. Her learning and wisdome 124. b 128. a 130. a 143. b Her seruice 130. a Churches the worke of Catholikes 142. a confirmed by Miracles 29. a. 54. a 107. a 109. a 111. a by visions 70. b Churches of the Heretikes to be refrained 133. b. Communion booke an apish imitation of our Masse booke 144. a burned in a vision 38. b. In another vision the Communion receaued by a blacke dogge 39. a against Communicating with Heretikes in their seruice c. 133. b Confirmation of Children 72. a Conuersion of Heathen Nations by our Church 102. b Councels 59. a 158. a Crosse 30. a 31. b 81. a. 113. a 115. a 139 a Custome or practise of Gods Church 48. b 72. a S. Cyprian of our Religion 39. b 44. b 116. a D DEgrees taken in vniuersities of Heretikes are annullated 127. a Diuels expelled with the Masse by a Priest of Saint Augustines 16. b. By S. Bernard 115. a with the signe of the Crosse by S. Bernard 115. a by Pius Quintus 31. b with Relikes 107. a Diuels in the Protestants 107. a Donatistes aliue againe in Protestants 45. b E EBionites 40. a Ember dayes
theÌ„ What those things are S. Augustine a litle before did partly vtter and by reading ouer this Treatise thou shalt more fullie know Which whosoeuer will vouchsafe to doe vvith any crumme of the feare of God I meruaile much but hee will confesse in his mouth or heart that the truth of Christ is on our side So plainely shall he here perceaue that our religion it is vvhich was deliuered to the world by Christ our Lord and his Apostles vvhich also euer since hath still continued which is also most sure hereafter to continue alwaies to the end no might nor maâ— no craftes nor wiles euer able to castâ— downe Whereas all other Religions which before in part I rehearsed out of all Ages as they had their beginning so haue they had also their ending except only these present Sectes brought in by Luther whose end also yet no doubt shal be seene as hath bin seene their begining that as it were but yesterday they neuer being so much as one Age yeare day or houre in any part of the world before Al this and much more of like importaÌ„ce shal he find here most clearly proued That and if they also which please themselues in thinking that there is no God nor Christ will read the same I hope that therby with the grace of God they shall see how fowly they deceaue themselues Howbeit vnto them I ment not this small labour of mine For that which should haue bin prepared for theÌ„ directly should haue bin I know somewhat of another sort which hereafter might peraduenture be done but that it is a shame of all shames only to heare that â—hristian stockes are growen such â—pes so out of kinde Yet because the â—atholike faith and the faith of Christ stand both vpon one and the selfe-same groundes as in deed they be all one but only that Heretikes forsaking the Catholike faith thinke yet that they haue hot forsaken Christ his faith such a one shall in pervsing these groundes of the Catholike faith vnderstand withal many groundes of Christ his faith as that he is now come not to beleeue in Christ hee came thither by forsaking first the Catholike faith And therfore as I haue said if it will please him to know these groundes and to consider wel vpon certaine of them he shall with the helpe of Christ return again both to the Catholike faith and to the faith of Christ And so I trust that by the grace of god it shal do good to al sorts of men confirme Catholikes reclaime Heretikes and lighten euen the Atheistes themselues But and if any man will needes continue wilful and obstinate as no doubt very many wil Non enim omnium est fides for faith is not for all men yet because Nemo perit nisi filius perditionis let others in the name of God looke vp and no more take darkenes for light night for daie poyson for medicine death for saluation Let no man nor nothing make Christian men to go from Christ Let none keepe the Children of the Church out of the Church They that needes wil perish let them perish by themselues alone Let theÌ„ remaine alone without the Church that will not returne vnto the Church Let them alone pay the price of their headines rebellion who for nothing that Moises saith or doth wil be brought to yeld vntill God doth shew his might vpon them as he did on Pharao They that will not be drowned with them in Hell come out of Egypt in the name of God with the children of Israel Christ hath sent vs this time to make the proued knowen and manifest to see who loueth him or the world better denouncing plainly to vs al that Whosoeuer loueth Father or mother more then me is not worthy of me whosoeuer loueth son or daughter aboue me is not worthy of me whosoeuer taketh not his Crosse foloweth me is not worthy of me Let vs therefore both for his feare or his loue take affliction for his sake What auaileth it a man to saue or gett say not a few akers of Land a house or â—wo yea a Kingdome or Empire but also the very whole vniuersall world and then a litle after not only to forgo al that againe but also to leese irreparably himselfe and his own soule If therefore it chaunce any man to leese for his cause either house or brethen or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands and liuings let such a one remember his fidelity omnipotencie that he hath saied Hee shal receaue an hundred-fold as much and inherite euerlasting life If some mighty trustie petson king or Queen should say vnto any one of his subiectes forgoe for my sake to day thy liuing to morow I will giue thee another as good or better who would not only to haue his fauour accord to his desire what is it theÌ„ els but lacke of faith or rather plain infidelity that for Christs word whose might and trustines and reward is incomparably greater hys loue infinitly better we wil do nothing doubtlesse either his promises or his menaces or both we doe not beleeue Verily if wee haue but one graine of faith then will wee doe not only with those our exteriours but also with our life it selfe as he requireth Mâ—â— 10. He that findeth his soule shall leese it saith he and hee that leeseth his soule for me shal finde it Or do we think that we deny not him vnlesse we say expressely I deny Christ be not deceaued Doth not Saint Paul say of some factis autem negant Tit. 4. that they deny God by their deedes and doth not Christ himselfe say Qui recipit vos me recipit Mat. 10. Hee that receaueth you receaueth me And againe to Saul doth he not say Act. 9. Quid me persequeris why doest thou persecute me whereof Paul himselfe saith 1. Cor. 15. persecutus sum Ecclesiam Dei I did persecute the Church of God Mat. 5 Doth not Christ againe make these two al one Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter iustitiam and Beati estis cum persecuti vos fuerint propter me Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes and Blessed ye are when they persecute you for me And againe wil he not say in his generall Iudgement at the last day Quamdiu fecistis vni ex his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis Quamdiu non fecistis vni de minoribus his nec mihi fecistis For as much as you did it to one of these my brethren the lowest you did it to me for as much as you did it not to one of these the lowest neyther to me you did it therefore thinke we not but that there be diuers and sundry waies both of confessing and also of denying him If we haue but common wit vvith vs we may consider that it is extreame folly the things which very quickly wee
must forgoe whether we will or no not to forgoe them a little sooner for Gods sake who gaue them vnto vs and vvho will restore them againe yea and that so much more and better as wee haue not seene nor heard nor cannot think Blessed be god our most merciful father that daily giueth into the hearts of many for to suffer encrease he and multiplie his gift vnspeakable By that may we hope that al shal be wel that the sooner the moe that he will stir to suffer Which is so litle to be abhored either of the sufferers themselues or of their brethreÌ„ that in respect thereof we rather may 〈◊〉 say with S. Cyprian as hee said of Afrâ— his Countrie in like time of persecution O beatam Ecclesiam nostram quam sic honor diuinae dignationis illuminat quam temporibus nostris glorosus Martyrum sanguis illustrat Erat ante in operibus fratrum candida nunc facta est in Martyrum cruore purpurea floribus eius nec lilia nec rosae de suÌ„t O happie is our Church whome the honor of Gods grace doth so lighteÌ„ whom in our daies the glorious blood of Martyrs doth glorifie She was in the workes of our brethren white before but now she is become in the blood of Martyrs of purple colour Neither lillies nor roses are wanting to her flowers And so vvith his wordes in the same place I conclude this Preface Certent nunc singuli ad vtriusque honoris amplissimam dignitateÌ„ vt accipiant coronas vel de opere candidas vel de passione purpureas In coelestibus castris pax acies habent flores suos quibus miles Christi ob gloriam coronetur Let each man now labour to attaine the most noble dignity of both honours to get Garlandes either white by working or purple by suffering In the heauenly camps both peace the field haue their flowers whereof to make for Christ his souldiars garlands of glory â—he approbation of this Booke according to 〈◊〉 order of the Councell of Trent Sess 4. HIC Tractatus a familiari meo Richardo Bristow S. Theologiae Licentiato vulgari Anglorum idiomate scriptus illustrissimas quasâ—ue notas quibus Ecclesiae Catholicae vera in Religiâ—ne sententia ab Haereticorum falsa vanitate discerni possit magna perspicuitate ordine arte complectens est per omnia Catholicus doctus lectione ac pralo dignus quem solum si dulcissima mihi Patria grauiter attente legat mirabitur se ab omnium Temporum Gentium Doctorum firmata fide a tam paucis tam nouis tam turbulentis tam malis tam indoctis tam inter se pugnantibus hominibus posse dimoueri Ita Censeo Guilielmus Alanus S. Theol. apud Duacum Professor Regius 30. April 1574. Which is thus in English THIS Treatise written in the English tongue by my louing friend Richard Bristow Licentiat in Diuinitie conteyning with great perspicuitie order and arte diuers most excellent markes whereby to discerne in Religion the true iudgement of the Catholike Church from the false vanitie of the Heretikes is in all points Catholike learned worthy to be read and printed Which alone if my countrie most sweet vnto me will earnestly and diligently read it will meruaile that froÌ„ the grounded Faith of all times Nations and Doctors it can be remoued by so few so new risen so busie so euill so vnlearned fellowes and so at variance amongst themselues So doe I giue my censure William Allen the Kinges Professor of Diuinity at Douay 30. April 1574. A TREATISE OF DIVERS PLAINE AND SVRE VVAIES TO FINDE out the truth in this dangerous time of Heresie conteining sundry Motiues vnto the Catholike Faith or Considerations to moue a man to beleeue the Catholikes and not the Heretikes IT is a thing very well knowen to most meÌ„ of vnderstanding plainly perceaued of all that haue made enquirie thereof and by the effect also thankes be to God in the reclaiming of many thousand souls euidently declared that as touching the controuersies of this vnhappie time the Catholikes haue in euery point sufficiently manifestly proued to the world the truth to be of their side by bookes written of the seuerall matters not onlie in the latine tongue but also in the common vulgar tongues of most Nations namely in our English tongue â—onsider whether this alone be not a sufficient motiue so substaÌ„tially that their aduersaries the heretikes knowing they haue nothing to gainsay haue not dared once to goe about the answering of most of the said Catholike bookes but faine to get them forbidden by proclamation although themselues prouoked confidently the Catholikes to write them And for those few that they haue gone about to answere they haue made such numbers heapes of shamelesse and open lies in their answeres that very many of al degrees haue by examining their said answeres bin to the Catholike Faith conuerted which as it is like by the Catholike bookes alone had neuer bin conuerted All this is or may be plaine enough to al that haue desire to know the truth or care to saue their soules Others which will not see the same they are but such as Saint Paule speaketh of when he sayeth That and if our Gospell be yet hidden it is in them which perish hidden in whom the God of this world â—ath blinded their vnfaithfull heartes that there shine not vnto them the light of the Gospell of the glorie of Christ Yet thinke I not all that are not alreadie turned to be such For well I wote that some there are which haue not nor cannot come by the said books some that lacke leysure to peruse them some that thinke it ouer tedious to read so many or any one of them some that thinke many of them either for the matter or for the handling too hard for them and yet these either desirous or at least content to learne if they might see a readier shorter and easier way thereto For such therefore I will by the help of God in this briefe Treatise open and shew very many such waies most sure most plaine and withall most short that whosoeuer would soone dispatch shall in any one of them finde his desire and yet who so that will walke them all ouer shall not finde it long Yea and this I adde moreouer that wheras by the reading of a whole booke of the other sort aboue-named hee shall learne but one truth or not many moe then one nor by reading them al learne but only certaine truthes as of the B. Sacrament of Purgatorie of Confession of the Supremacie and such like and so hauing learned them may remaine notwithstaÌ„ding doubtful in others he shall by reading this treatise yea or any part almost thereof learne all truth and that not only that is this day in question but also that eyther hath bin or may be in question betweene the Christians I speake not this vpon confidence of myne owne wit
haue beene in error but that it needeth not being a thing otherwise well known to all such as heare their Sermons or be in place to heare them talke boldly and familiarly together amongst themselues where they are not afraide plainely to confesse that the Fathers all were Papistes as I haue already sufficiently proued and vvill with the help of GOD more largely proue hereafter if it be required desiring the Reader for this time to holde himselfe content with this one fresh saying of Laurence Humphrey Libel de vita Iewel speaking of Iewels famous chalenging Sermon afore-mentioned vvherein he prouoked the Catholikes to trie vvith him the mater by the Scriptures Councelles Fathers and examples of the first sixe hundred yeares of Christes Church Thereupon thus saith Humphrey Nimium largitus est vocis plus aequo concessit sibi nimium fuit iniurius c. Et seipsum Et Ecclesiam quodammodo spoliauit Siquidem Daemoniacorum quaestio est Quid nobis tibi est Iesu fili Dauid Sed interrogatio Sanctorum est Quid nobis rei cum Patribus cum carne sanguine Too much he gaue to you hee graunted more then vvas meete and to himselfe hee was too iniurious c. Both himselfe and the Church after a sort he spoiled For it is the question of men possessed what haue we thou to doe O Iesus the Sonne of Dauid But the demaunde of Saintes it is what haue wee to doe with the Fathers with flesh and blood Such Saints as you heard a little afore were not S. Ambrose not Saint Augustine nor anie other Saint of Heauen but the Saintes of this Canonizers nevv Calendare such as Saint Paulus Samosatenus Saint Nestorius and other Heretikes of accursed memorie vvho were in their life time Ranae Cyniphes Exod. 8. Muscae moriturae quales sunt Pelagiani Frogges and Gnats Libel aduersus prophanas omnium haeresum innouationes and Flies that shall not last such as be the Pelagians as Vincentius Lirinensis for this theyr croking against the Fathers verie aptlie termeth them in that passing fine book of his written by him aboue a thousand yeares agoe of the same argument that this our treatise Nobis inquiunt authoribus nobis principibus nobis expositoribus damnate quae tenebatis tenete quae damnabatis reijcite antiquam fidem paterna instituta MaioruÌ„ deposita c. Take vs say they to the Catholikes for your Authors vs for your Leaders vs for your Interpreters vpon our word condemne yee the things that you held hold yee the thinges that you condemned cast away the old faith the fathers teachinges the thinges that your Elders left you to keepe c. This I say with him was the croking of those Egyptiacall frogs while they were liuing which now are quackling yalping with the Diuels in Hell froÌ„ whence they came as Saint Iohns Apocalips beareth witnesse Cap. 16. Now therfore let any reasonable maÌ„ anie that would saue his soule yea anie that thinketh himselfe to haue a Soule weigh consider with himselfe what he hath to doe whether to venture his soule with such frogs of Hell men vtterly destitute of all things wherwith preachers of Truth should be commended and found to haue all the marks of false Masters Heretikes or to bestow it in the way of the old Holy Fathers men most learned most gratious most miraculous their way so sure that it hath brought them vnto heauen where they be novv Saints most glorious by the confession of all men most vndoubtedly Certaine it is that none euer haue left their vvay but only Heretikes and therefore Protestantes and Puritans be Heretikes Their followers then can not looke for any other place after this life but that which is prepared for Heretikes which by the witnes of S. Paul himselfe cannot be the Kingdome of HeaueÌ„ Gal. 1. For aduouterers saith he murderers sorcerers heretiks such like regnuÌ„ Dei non consequentur shall not possesse Gods kingdome Martyrs NEXT of all let it be well considered what Church that is which hath in the roll of her owne children so manie which both wee and our Aduersaries acknowledge to be true Martyrs in deede that here I say nothing of other orders of Saints in heauen confessed by vs both consider I say whether all those which by our Church are enrolled in the number of Martyrs in the common Calendare who to Laurence Humphrey now that Iewell hath in learning life and Miracles so farre passed them al are al but Sanctuli hold heauen by any Church but ours Or whether any one of them all were of any other faith then ours Name any one of them all and prooue it by good record that he was of your Church or of your faith and let my name be blotted out of heauen for euer But the contrarie that they were not of your Church vndoubtedly thus I proue most euidently presupposing first that no man will doubt but that they were all of one Church so that it shall be sufficiently proued that none of them all were Protestantes if I proue that some one of them were not a protestaÌ„t which I may easily do by many kindes of strong arguments and will hereafter with Gods help if need be But now may one plaine argument well suffice and that common to all the old vndoubted martyrs but it will I onely in one exemplifie This it is All those holie martyrs were of the same Religion that they were of which prayed vnto them which worshipped their Relikes which went a Pilgrimage to their Churches and that whether it were our Religion or the Protestantes who knoweth not my example shall be S. Steuen himselfe of whose true martyrdome no man can doubt that beleeueth Saint Luke S. Paule the Scriptures Act. 6.7 8. 22. and God himselfe Now that he as all other Holy martyrs was and is of the same Religion that the persons aforesaid it is manifestly and inuincibly prooued by this that hee as all other holie martyrs did with the power of God Almightie heare and helpe those persons that in maner aforesaid sought vnto him to the same purpose also reuealing by visions the place where his Relikes were hidden with the Relikes of Saint Gamaâ—iel Gennad in Catalogo Saint Nicodemus and others to Lucianus a Priest of Ierusalem who wrote in Greeke the Historie of his inuention to the same purpose I say for these are the very wordes of S. Gamaliel appearing the third time vnto Lucian Exurge igitur vade In Ep. Lucia â—i dic illi vt aperiat nobis faciat locum orationis vt intercessione nostra misereatur Dominus populo suo Vp therefore and goe to the Bishop and say vnto him that he open vnto vs and make a place of prayer that by our intercession our LORD may haue mercy vpon his people And all this may be proued by such certaine witnesse of so many
auncient vndoubted writers that no man can possiblie with any reason make answere vnto it or exception against it Vide sermones nouos Aug. editos 1564. Louanii cum Epistolis Aniti Luciani duâ—bus libris Euodii de signis S. Stephani In S. Augustine alone may be seene examples very many of such helpe done to such men by this Martyr if anie man please to read his two twentith Booke De Ciuitate Dei the eight chapter his Sermons De diuersis in the tenth Tome from the Sermon 34. to the Sermon 40. of which Sermons he maketh mention himself De Ciuitate Dei in the place which I haue said and also Posâ—idonius in Indiculo operum Augustini There shall you finde how that by S. Steuens Relickes was cured a Bishop of a Fistula by the same was reuiued perfectly restored a boy that with a wheele was killed and crushed many likewise reuiued by thinges that had but touched his Relickes Six reuiued there as by oyle clothes and floures One of those exaÌ„ples because it serueth well to many good purposes I thinke it good to recite here at large in Saint Augustines owne wordes Such a Miracle doe wee know saith he amongst many others to have beene done at Vzalis a citie here in Africke Ser. 38. in Diuer To. 10 qui est Ser. 10. in noua edit A certaine woman lost in her lap her sonne by sicknes being a Catechumen or one appointed to be christened a sucking babe Who seeing that he was lost and irreparably perished began to weepe for him more of faith then as a mother For she did not desire the life of her Sonne but in the world to come and that life she bewailed the losing the perishing of it and full of confidence vp she took him dead as he was and ran to the Memorie of the blessed Martyr Steuen and began of him to require her Sonne and to say O holy Martyr thou seest that I haue no comfort left For I can not say that my sonne is gone afore whom thou knowest to be perished For thou seest why I doe make this lamentation Restore vnto me my Son that I may haue him in the sight of God that crowned thee As she in these other like words made her petition with teares after a sort not desiring but as I saide requiring him her sonne reuiued and because she had said thou knowest wherefore I seeke him God would also shew forth the truth of her minde and meaning By and by to the Priestes shee brought him baptised he was sanctified he was anointed hee was Imposition of handes was done vpon him Completis omnibus Sacramentis assumptus est and all the Sacraments being so fulfilled he was assumpted or taken out of this life vp to Heauen But shee then with such a countenaunce followed him as though shee brought him not to the rest of buriall but to Steuen the Martyrs bosome Probatum est cor fidele mulieris and so was proued faithfull the heart of the woman Here haue we that children although theyr Parentes be Christians perish without Baptisme We haue also that in baptisme they must be anointed after baptisme also an other Sacrament of coÌ„firmation by a Bishoppe or Imposition of handes Finallie wee haue here praying to Saint Steuen and by the two straunge miracles of the childe 's both reuiuing and assumpting wee haue the same confirmed both by Saint Steuen by God himselfe Wherupon who seeth not how plainely it followeth that Saint Steuen was no Protestant but cleane of the other side all against them And certaine it is I say that Saint Steuen and all the other Holy martyrs were of one Religion Therefore certaine it is also that no one of all those martyrs vvas a Protestant Which is so plaine a demonstratioÌ„ that the simplest of all may see it so sure a knot that not the cunningest of all our Aduersaries can euer possiblie either vndoe or breake it As the partie I say which prayeth to the martyrs so likewise the martyrs them-selues that with such miracles answere such praiers be both against the Protestantes And therefore be all the true Martyrs of old time against the Protestantes Quia per totum orbâ—m in locis sanctis quae frequent at nostra communio tanta mirabilia vel exauditionum v l sanitatum fiunt c. Seeing ouer all the world in the Holy places which our companie doth frequent so great Miracles of hearinges and healinges be wrought c. Aug. de vni Ecc. cap. 10. So that all men may easily see that if they desire to be with those Martyrs they must not be with the Protestantes Whereby againe may all men see what are these new Martyrs of theyrs of whome they are wont so much to brag whose worthie Actes and Monumentes Foxe the Martyrmaker hath put in writing For a full answere to them all although the very naming of our Catholike Martyrs euen of this our time to any reasonable man may suffice as the Bishoppe of Rochester Sir Thomas More the Monkes of the Charterhouses with very many moe vnder K. Harry and now of latter time all our holie Martyrs that haue beene and daily are made vp by losse of their liuings Let Elâ—â—â— remember his Tragedie of the Scottish friar at Lincol. by prison by poyson by whipping by famishing by bannishment Bishops Priests Deanes Archdeacons Canons Ecclesiastical persons of all sortes Knightes Esquires Gentlemen Laymen likewise of all sorts so many likewise that haue openly suffered the good Earle of Northumberland D. Storie Felton the Nortons M. Wodhouse M. Plumtree and so many hundreds of the Northern-men such men both in their life and at their death that neither the enimies haue to staine them as their owne consciences their own talke and the world it selfe doth beare good witnesse many of them also and therefore all of them bycause of their owne cause beyng by God himselfe approued by Miracles most vndoubted although I say no reasonable man will thinke those stincking Martyrs of the Heretykes worthy in any respect to be compared with these most glorious Martyrs of the Catholikes yet supposing that otherwise they were equall and ours not sensibly better then theirs this one consideration were notwithstanding inough to declare most plainly that ours are Gods Martyrs and theirs the Diuels bycause that ours as you see died in the faith of S. Steuen the first Martyr and of all his fellowes and theirs cleane against the same If a man be an heretike although he suffer death euen for Christ yet goeth he vnto damnatioÌ„ as S. Paul doth plainly say 1. Cor. 18. If I deliuer my body to be burned and haue not charity it profiteth me nothing vvhat then must we thinke of them that burne against Christ and against his truth No doubt as they that suffer death for him haue the greatest croune in Heauen so they that hold against him and that to leese their
qui vos vocauit in gratiam Christi in aliud Euangelium I maruaile that so soone and so lightlie ye are turned awaie from him that called you into the grace of Christ to be a meÌ„ber of his Church into another gospel which God wotteth is not another is not a gospell or good tidings of Saluation but that some there are that trouble you and that vvill turne in and out the Gospell of Christ He may well charge vs with leuitie for being lightly turned awaie from the truth that he planted so surely and so mightily amongst vs that it lasted nine hundred yeares vnchanged as it doth still also in them that be constant For what lightnes could be greater then froÌ„ so sure a ground whereon wee vvere so fast sett vvith such diuine Miracles to remoue our selues vvith euery puffe of wind blowen by none other but by flesh and bloud and that to the so certaine perdition of our soules destruction of our Countrie as was the former standing to the vndoubted Saluation of the one and triumphant glorie of the other in all affaires so many worldes and ages togeather And therefore may he yet say farther vnto vs as it foloweth in Saint Paul O insensati Galatae Gal. 3. quis vos fascinauit non obedire veritati c. O ye senselesse Galathians who hath bewitched you not to coÌ„tinue in obedience of the truth Sic stulti estis vt cum spiritu coeperitis nunc carne consummeâ—nim Are ye so without sence or vnderstanding that hauing begon in spirit you will now make vpp your selues in flesh Currebatis bene quis vos impediuit veritati non obedire Gal. 5. you did runne well who hath stopped your race not to obey the truth Ego coÌ„fido in vobis in Domino quod nibil aliud sapietis qui auÌ„t coÌ„turbat vos portabit iudiciuÌ„ quicunque est ille I trust in you with the help of our Lord that you wil be of no other meaning then in the beginning you were taught that they which be wil come home againe As for him that troubleth you he shal sustaine iudgemeÌ„t or damnation whosoeuer hee be high or low man or woman one or other And vpon that damnation most intolerable most certaine most nigh at hand God gyue them grace to thinke them deepely that they fall not in to it 2. Thes 2. But to receaue the truth and to loue it that they may be saued denying euery man witâ— Moises to be the sonne of Pharaoes daughter Heb. 11. and chusing rather to be afflicted vvith the peeple of God then to haue the swete of Transitorie sinne esteeming for greater riches then the treasures of AEgypt the reproche of Christ. Asâ—â—ciebat enim in remunerationem For he loked vpon the reward in the end saieth Saint Paul Which that al men may yet more plainly se how many how good causes they haue to doe let vs procede yet to moe other Motiues Going out AND for the next Motiue lett this be coÌ„sidered whether our Church did euer depart cut it selfe or violently breake out of any other company of Christians elder then it selfe by disobedience tumult seuerall packing and faction forsake contemptuosly their ordinary Superiours and into another syngular societie knitte asunder And whether the company that all the world knoweth to haue so done the time wheÌ„ the place where the Superiours from whome they brake all well knowen be not Schismaticall Or let a companie be named that euer since the Apostles time so did that was not schismaticall Thys very same consideration gaue Optatus to know the Donatistes to be schismatikes Li. 1. Videndum est quis in radice cuÌ„ toto orbe manserit quis foras exicrit quis Cathedram sederit alteram quae ante non fuerat quis altare contra Altare erexerit quis ordinationem fecerit saluo altero ordinato It is to be considered who hath remained in the roote with the whole world who is gone forth who is sitten him in another Chaire which Chaire was not afore who hath erected an Aultar against the Aultar who hath placed Bishops there where others were placed afore which are yet aliue In which his wordes that hee might not seeme to speake them of his owne head hee alludeth to many Scriptures which in many places liken the Church to a tree rooted in the Patriarkes Rom. 11. Ioan. 15. Mat. 13. Prophets Apostles and singularly in Christ himself that groweth from the first plaÌ„ting allwaies to the end of the vvorlde spreading it selfe ouer all Nations the braunches whereof that sticke not to it but fall off and breake themselues from it are none but Heretikes Schismatikes and Apostataes They doe likewise in many places describe such vnto vs by the terme of goers out 1. Ioan. 22. as where S. Iohn saith Ex nobis prodierunt sed non eraÌ„t ex nobis nam si fuissent ex nobis permansissent vtique nobiscum sed vt manifesti sint quoniam non sunt omnes ex nobis They went out of vs that are in the church but they were not of vs that shall be saued for if they had bin of vs that shal be saued verilie they had remained vvith vs in the Church But that they may be made manifest because all be not of vs that shall be saued And againe Omnis qui recedit 2. Iohan. non permanet in doctrina Christi DeuÌ„ non habet Euery one that departeth abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not Gods fauour S. Paule likewise 1. Tim. 4. Disâ—â—ndent quidam a fide Some will depart from the saith Hee alludeth also to the story of Ieroboam the first king of the ten Tribes 3. Reg. 12 13. who in Dan Bethel set vp an other Aultar against the only true Aultar which was at Ierusalem therefore was vndoubtedly a Schismatike Now it is euident that al this agreeth no lesse to the Protestantes then to the Donatistes and all other the like aforetime Who knoweth not the Tree whereon afore they grew and now deuided from the roote thereof lie withering by themselues Who knoweth not the companie out of which they are departed Who seeth not the chaire and preachers both that were afore that now they haue a new erected Who is ignorant that all the Bishoprikes which they now occupie were before by Catholikes possessed who with wonderfull consent and vnseparable vnitie stoode all most constantly to the Catholike faith as it became true Pastours not shrinking away at the Wolues inuasion and were for that cause throwen out of their charges cast into prisons there are now all almost made vp by Martyrdome This I say is a plaine declaration that the Protestantes be Schismatikes as the Donatists were before them for the like cause Finally let them shew any person or persons of old that did the like and were not Schismatikes certaine it is that they can shew none Rising