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A15781 A briefe treatise in which, is made playne, that Catholikes liuing and dying in their profession, may be saued, by the iudgement of the most famous and learned Protestants that euer were. Agaynst a minister [N.E.] who in his epistle exhorteth an honourable person, to forsake her ancient Catholike Roman Religion, & to become one of his new-found-out Protestant congregation. Wright, William, 1563-1639. 1623 (1623) STC 26044; ESTC S103083 31,010 52

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do raigne most gloriously with Iesus Christ the King of glory in Heauen This being so set downe let vs proceed to the lury Faultes to be corrected In the title of the Preface all cauills read some cauills Pag. 8. lin vlt. Subbs read Stulbs Pag. 14. lin 2. humble more humble Pag. 18. lin 23. name of a man as read name of a man to a man as c. Pag. 25. in the margent adde Luth. declarat quorumdam artic cited by Coccius tom 1. lib. 7. Thesauri pag. 855. A GRANDE IVRY Of most famous and learned Protestants assuring all Catholiques of their Saluation if they liue and dye well in the Catholique Roman Fayth and Church The Names of the Iury Men. D Luther M Caluin D. Whitaker D. C●●ell D. Morton M. Hooker Zanchius Sclusselburg Polanus Iunius Boyswell Bunny Plessis Mornay Serauia D. White D. Willet Sir Edwin Sands M. Stubbs M. Holynshed D. Godwin M. Cambden Crentremius Theater of great Brit. M. Fox WE suppose as graunted out of the Rom. 1. Act. 18. 30. Apostles that the Church of Rome was once the true Church of God and so to haue continu●d for diuers hundred yeares as the Protestants themselues confesse For M. Iewell would haue vs belieue That as well Saint Augustine as also other godly Fathers Iewell in his Reply to M. Harding pag. 246. rightly yielded reuerence to the Sea of Rome c. for the purity of religion which was preserued there a long time without spot Seeing it was a thing notorious sayth M. Caluin and without doubt that after the Apostles age Caluin in his Instit in french lib. 4. sect 3. Protestant Apol. pag. 210. vntill these times to wit of Saint Augustine no change was made in doctrine neither at Rome nor at any other Cittyes which was 440. yeares after Christ But D. Morton confirming M. Iewells chalenge auerreth that protestants in oppugning D. Mort. Appeale lib. 4. c. 30. pag. 573. ●74 doctrines which they cal new and not Catholike are so far off from suffering the limitation of the first 440. yeares that they giue the scope of the first 600. years within the compasse of which Saint Gregory liued who sent Sain● Augustine the Monke into England and therefore he acknowledgeth that the Pagan and Heathenish people by the light of the Ghospell through the Ministery of Augustin the Legate of Saint Gregory were brought into the fold of Christ And heerehence sayth B. Morton our authours called it a gratious Morton lib. 1. pag. 60. conuersion But now this being supposed that the Church of Rome was the true Church for so many ages togeather in the which saluation was to be had It remayneth that we demonstrate and shew how not only then but also euer after that time euen vnto this day that Church hath been the only Arke and sanctuary in the which whosoeuer haue liued and dyed well could not miscary nor misse of their saluation and that therefore there is no reason why any being a member of that Church should leaue it and be take himselfe to any other assembly or Congregation seeing there is but one true Church and that in her saluation can be obteyned and in all others nothing but damnation is to be expected Which we will endeauour to proue out of the testimonies of most Bale likewise sayth That Augustin was sent from Gregory to season the English with the Popish faith that King Ethelbert dyed one twenty yeares after h● had receaued Popery Cent. 1. fol. 3. M. Napiere The Pope with his Clergy neuer suffered for the space of a thousand yeares after Siluester the first any to be seene vouchable or visible of the true Church pag. 239. Holynshed in the History of England graue and learned Protestants Supposing out of Venerable Bede that Saint Augustine was sent by S. Gregory to this our Nation to conuert it aboue 1000. yeares since from Paganisme to Christ For these be his words Saint Augustine coming into England deliuered his errand to King Ethelbert saying he came from Rome and brought a ioyfull message which whosoeuer would obey should haue eternal ioyes a perpetuall Kingdome with the true and liuing God Which is confirmed out of your owne Protestant English Historiographers and therfore we will begin with their verdicts and make them as the Formen of this sufficient full and complete Protestant Iury of whome we will choose Holynshed to be the first Holynshed therfore speaking of Saint Augustine writeth thus Augustine sayth he and his company arriued at Canterbury where he made his aboad by the Kings permission exercised the life of the Apostles in fasting cloathing and prayers and preaching the word of God to as many as they could despsing all wordly pleasures as not appertayning to them receauing only of them whome they taught things seeming necessary to the sustenance of their life all liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth Item At last King Ethelbert was perswaded by the good example of Saint Augustine and his company and by miracles shewed to be baptized And M. Fox speaking of Saint Augustine writeth thus At length when the King had Fox lib ● pag. 116. of his Acts. c. wel considered the honest conuersation of their life and moued with their miracles wrought through Gods hands by them he heard them I doubt not but God affoarded many miracles to the first in●ā●y of our Church So D Godwin in the life of S. Dauid more gladly and lastly by their holsome exhortations example of good life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare 596. Saint Augustine sayth Cambden cōmonly called the Apostle of the English sent hither by Gregory the great hauing destroied the Mōsters of Hethenish impiety with most happy successe planting Christ in their minds conuerted them Cambden in his Britan. pag. 125. to the Christian faith Agayne Straight vpon the preaching of the name of Christ the English did consecrate themselues vnto Christ in so feruent a manner that the diligence is incredible they vsed in the propagation of the name of Christ in the performance of the duties therof in the diuulging of Christian religion in building of Churches in enriching and adorning of the same that no Prouince of Christēdome could haue numbred more Monasteryes then England could in Catholike times euen Fox pag. 137. That none of all these Kings Queenes Princes and Prelats were Protestants is proued in the prudētiall Ballance and the Protestants themselues cōfesse no lesse For M. Nappiere saith That for these thousand two hundred and threescore years the Pope his Clergy hath possessed the outward and visible Church of Christiās reigning without any debatable contradiction Gods truth to wit the Protestant Church most certainly abiding so long latent and inuisible vpon the Reuel pag. 145. some Kings haue preferred religious and monasticall liues before Kingdoms So many haue been the holy men that England
worthy lodging that he might match the height of Royall Maiesty not only with fortitude and wisedome but with beauty also and comlines of body whome Fortune in the prime flower of his age trayned vp in many warres and most difficult times of the Commonwealth whilst that she disposed him for the British Empire which whē he was established in he so gouerned hauing ouercome the Welch-men and triumphed ouer the Scots that by good right he is esteemed another ornament of Brittany King Stephen sayth Stow was a noble man and passing hardy of passing comely fauour personage in all Princely vertues he excelled as in martiall policy affability gentlenes and bountifull liberality towards all He was very noble in birth sayth Godwin but much more in vertue and all good manners many miracles wr●teth he are said to be wrought at his Tōbe And this may suffice to vnderstand in some manner the holines and sanctity of our auncient Catholike Kings But to proceed concerning other famous Calikes D. Couell writeth thus of Alexander Hales S. D. Couell in defence of Hooker pag. 241. Bonauenture and Saint Thomas all three great defenders of the Roman Church A●d first of Alexander Hales he sayth who made his Summe that excellent worke by commaundement of Pope Innocentius the fourth that he was called the fountaine of life because of that liuely knowledg● that flowed from him he was mayster of Bona●ent ●re a scholler not inferiour to himselfe of whom he was went to say that in Bonauenture he thought Adam sinned not meaning of that illumination which was in him and doubtlesse there was much in him as though he had not been darkened by the fall of Adam and therefore the Church called him the Seraphicall doctour To these Aquinas was not inferior who came so neere vnto Saint Augustine whome in his book agaynst Burges he esteemeth the chiefest doctor that euer was or euer shall be excepting the Apostles c. that some thought he had all his works by hart by a common prouerbe it was spoken that the soule of Saint Augustine dwelt in Aquinas in whome aboue all the rest foure contraryeties were said to excell aboundāce breuity facility security in respect wherof he gayned the tytle to be called Angelicall Then if these men were the Popes Agents and yet so renowned and glorious and their doctrine so secure and excellent why may not we securely follow them in the same stepps of Agency in such busines Now all this being so it is no wonder if our aduersaries are forced to set out magnify and extoll the Luth. in ep cont Anabaptist Tom. 2. Germ. fol 267. Where also he savth that vnder the Papacy there are many godly men great Saints Church of Rome and truely in that manner as they are not affrayde to deliuer their mindes in such tearmes as Catholikes themselues could scarce desire or wish any better For herehence we confesse sayth D Luther that there is vnder the Papacy most of Christian good yea rather all Christian good and that from thence it came to vs Verily we confesse that there is in the Papacy true Scripture true Baptisme the true Sacrament of the Altar the true keyes to remission of sinns the true office of preaching true Catechisme and I say further that there is in the Papacy true Christianity yea rather the true kernell of Christianity M. Caluin agaynst Sadolet We do not deny those to be the Churches of Christ in which Caluin against Sadolet pag. 128. you gouerne And in the 2. to the Thessalonians he confesseth that the papacy is the Temple yea and the Sanctuary of God and else where that the Caluin l. 4. instit c. 2. n. 11. couenant of God hath remayned with them inuiolable Iunius All diuine thinges are in the Popes Church and hitherto it is the Church of God Iunius de Eccles c 17. col 1020. Zanchius The Roman Church is yet the Church of God Plessey Mornay The Roman Church is the Mornay lib. de Eccle. c. 2. 10. spouse of Christ as yet not diuerted from him she is a mother that bringeth forth children to God the name of the Church is no more to be denyed to her then the name of a man as long as he liueth Polan part 1. Thes de Eccles Polanus The Roman Church at this day is yet the Church of Christ Serauia The Church of Rome it yet the Church and see what I will say more she is Serauia in defens lib. de gratia Minist pag. 3. our mother in the which and by which God hath regenerated And agayne The Couenant of God to this day doth remayne in the Latine Church Boyswell I acknowledge the Church of Boys in cōfut Spon pag. 6 2. 283. 822. Rome as yet to be in the Couenant of God yea she is the Church the spouse and the Temple of God the Church of Iesus Christ redeemed by him D. Hooker We acknowledge willingly D. Hooker l. 3. de Politia Eccles p. 128. them to wit the Papists to be of the family of Iesus Christ D. Cou●ll I affirme the members of the Cou●ll in Apol pag. 68. Church of Rome to be members of the true Church of Christ and that those who liue and dye in that Church may be saued And D. Whitaker doth confesse That amongst D. Whitaker contro 4. 9. 5 c. 3. p. 682. the Papists is a ministery and a certaine preaching of the Word which without doubt to some is sufficient to saluation D. White in defence c. 7. p. 356. cap. 41. p. 408. I neuer deemed sayth D. White that to be the visible Church of God in the which our Auncestors held the true fayth and were saued And agayne We confesse that the Church of Rome in all ages hath been the visible Church of God Schluss tom 8. in catal Haeret. pag. 434. Sclusselburg Luther saith that all Christian good is in the Popedome that from thence it came to vs we do not deny Rhegius in cōsider censurae pag. 93. And Iohannes Rhegius Although it be true that the ministery of the Popes was corrupt with many traditions and inuentions of men neuerthelesse it had those thinges which were necessary to saluation to wit the Canonicall bookes the Creed of the Apostles Leonardus Crentremius The Bishop of Crentrem in 1. Cor. 3. Rome doth retaine this same ground of Catholike fayth 1. Corinth 3. the which both I doe acknowledge with the Catholike and Apostolicall Church although in certaine circumstāces there be some diuersity of opinions Zanch. in prefat lib. de natura Dei Zanchius The Church of Rome in despite of Sathan did retayne the principal groūds of fayth Boyswell We acknowledge that the Church Boyswell in Confutatione Sondei p. 79. of Rome is pure in the principall articles of Christian Religion Hooker They hould constantly to wit Papists Hooker lib. 5. de polit pag. 128.
A BRIEFE TREATISE IN WHICH Is made playne that Catholikes liuing and dying in their Profession may be saued by the Iudgment of the most Famous and Learned Protestants that euer were Agaynst a Minister N. E. who in his Epistle exhorteth an Honourable Person to forsake her ancient Catholike Roman Religion to become one of his new-found-out Protestant Congregation Deut. 32. Vers 31. Et Inimici nostri sunt Iudices Our Enemies also are Iudges Permissu Superiorum M. DC XXIII THE PREFACE Contayning certaine Considerations as well for better vnderstāding the drift of this Treatise as for auoyding all cauills and answearing such Obiections as might be made against this Grand Protestant Iury. The Zuinglians are to be nūbred say the Lutherans with th● Anabaptists Nestorians Turkes And againe The Zuinglians call the Lutherās Eutichians and ouerthrowers of many articles of faith Iezler de Diuturnit Bell. Euchar. pag. 78. Stancarus All the Churches which those men call Reformed by the Ghospell and the Sonne of God hold the faith of Geneua Zuricke concerning Christ are Ariās neyther cā this he denyed which I haue aboue demonstrated So he de Trinit c. 8. Sturmius By these hatefull dissentions peruerse opinions the foundatiōs of our Religion are ouerthrowne the chiefest articles are called in question many heresies are brought into the Church of Christ and the high way to Mahometisme Atheisme is apparently prepared Agayne The Lutherans saith he do hold the Protestant Caluinian Churches of England France Flanders and Scotland for hereticall their Martyr● for martyrs of the diuell De ration Cōcord ineund l. ● p. 2. 24. FOR the better vnderstanding of what we are about to handle in this Treatise we must obserue first that the maine drift and scope therof is to shew how it is farre better and more secure to liue dye a Catholike in the Romaine Church then a Protestant in what Congregation soeuer not only because one of them doth condemne the other for Schismatickes and Heretikes as vncapable of saluatiō but also because Catholickes doe neuer affirme that Protestants liuing and dying Protestans may be saued not for want of charity in Catholickes as some doe cauill seing they desire nothing more thē the saluation of all but for want of true faith in Protestants without the which it is impossible to please God whereas Protestāts doe not deny that comfort to any vertuons Romaine Catholike so that for the saluatiō of ●or that brea●● saith D. Whyte amōg vs Protestants ōly toucheth some particular mē in matters not cō●erning f●yth ●n the way pag. 13● Rog●rs in his Preface to the booke of Articles Willet Antilog pag. ●5 20. D Georg Abbot against Hill p. 101. 102. D. Doue In matters of religiō we all agree Persuas p. 3● And if they do not agree in on faith ●ow ●● they be the true Church which is but o●e hath only one Lord one Faith one Baptisme Ephes ● C●ntic 6. 8. My doue is one Symbolum Constant O●e holy Catholy●●● and Apostolicall Church Cal. l 4 inst c ● ● ● See Suarez dis● de Ecc Sect. 4 ● ● l. de fide spe c. Catholickes we haue not only the beliefe of Catholickes themselues but also the iudgement of most Famous and Learned Protestants who teach the same eyther expressely or at least in such tearmes as with the help of their owne brethrē with whom they are sayd to agree at least in all materiall points may sufficiently be proued and in this sense are to be vnderstood the verdicts of all those which may seeme not to be so full and sufficient as the other in this Grand Protestant Iury. As for example Zanchius and other Protestants affirme that the Roman Church as yet is the Church of God Here in expresse words is not auerred that those who liue and die well in this Church may be saued which neuerthelesse according to the common doctrine of Catholikes doth plainly inough imply the possibility of saluatiō to all those who are members of such a Church For if they cannot be saued in the Church of God which is but one where els should they seeke for theyr saluation Or if they cannot but be damned in the Church of God M. Cartright I doubt not but diuers fathers of the Greeke Church who were great Patrones of Free-will are saued M. Sparke discoursing of the honoring of Saints Reliques prayer for the dead saith VVe are not so hasty to pronoūce sentence of condemnation of any for such errors Acontius cōcerning the Reall presence Both those that deny it and those that doe hold it are in the way of Saluation Cōcerning Transubstantiatiō D. Luther writeth thus Bread wyne are not in th● Sacramēt of the Aultar but the shewes or accidents of bread and wyne for the bread is changed into the true and naturall body of Christ the wyne into the true and naturall bloud of Christ Serm. de Euch. Concerninge receauing vnder one or both kinds there is no commaundment saith D. Luther Concerning the Pope● Supremacy about it saith D. Luther he is to be borne with all Melancton teacheth how his Monarchy is profitable Concerning Satisfaction It was an error in the holy Fathers saith D. Whitaker yet notwithstanding they were good men and holy Fathers Did not Iohn H●●se that worthy Champion of Christ saith M. Francis Iohnson other martyrs of foretymes heare say Masse euen to their dy●●g day c. Did not also diuerse of them acknowledge some the Popes calling an● Supremacy some 7. Sacraments some ●uricular Confession And Benedict Morgenstern These things were pardonable in the Godly who held the Pope to be the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church the Papacy for the Church Saintes for mediators and the Masse for the Supper of the Lord. See the Protest Apol. pag. 471. 684. You may find aboue three score pointes of Catholicke Doctrine taught by learned Protestants through all the seauenth Section how doth such an assembly deserue to be stiled the Church of God and not rather the Synagogue of Sathan But if Zanchius or any other call the Church of Rome the Church of God although it haue some damnable errous which hinder the professors therof from their saluation I hope by clearing those imagined errours from being any such barres out of Zanchius his owne learned brethren euery one may inferre that Zanchius with the help of his brethren Protestants affoardeth saluation to all Catholickes liuing well and dying in the Church of Rome The helps which we haue out of learned Protestants be these To wit that neyther the beliefe of free will prayer to saints the reall presence trāsubstātiatiō receauing vnder one or both kinds worshipping of Images the Popes supremacy and the monarchy of the B. of Rome satisfaction merit of good workes priuate Masse seauē Sacramēts or any such taught by the Roman Church doe hinder any from being capable of their
saluation not only because they were all belieued of the holy Fathers who notwithstanding the belief of them haue been reputed alwayes Saints but because diuers famous learned Protestants brethren to all these Iury men teach the same expressely whose names you may read in the margent and what they say more largely in the Protestants Apology pag. 471 684. c. Which being applyed to what want soeuer occurreth in the verdicts of any named in the Iury will make it cleare that no such can be any impediment wherefore the same verdict ought not to passe as currant and good And therfore whē either Zanchius Mornay Serauia or any other of these Iurers doe accuse the Church of Rome of Adultery committing Idolatry bringing vp children to the diuell or of any such villanyes contrary to the true faith for belieuing any of these points now rehearsed we must tell them in plaine words that these be noe such letts as they imagine but rather their owne false and forged crimes meere vntruthes and calumniations put vpon the Church of Rome to make her odious to the commō people or for some other base end seing their owne brethren confesse against them saying that the beliefe of these cānot eyther hinder their sanctity or debarre any Catholike from obtayning their chiefest good and euerlasting saluation which if they had iudged to be Heresies Idolatries and such like abominations it may be presumed they would neuer teach Calu. l. 4. c. 1. n. 17. 2. Againe we must obserue with M. Caluin that there hath been no tyme since the creation of the world wherin the Lord hath not had his Church and that there shal be also no tyme to the very end of the world wherin he shall not haue it But now as for the Church of Rome it is certaine that it did continue the true visible church frō christ vntil the tyme of Constantine as M. Caluin hereafter auoucheth and that from Constantine vntill the tyme of Luther it neuer was interrupted is M. Napier vpon the Reuelations page 145. 16● 163. 19● 237. witnes M. Napier who saith that from the yeare 316. God withdrew his visible Church frō the open assemblies to the harts of particular godly men during the space of 1260. yeares The Pope and his Cleargy hauing possessed the outward visible Church of Christians euen 1260. years the true Church abyding so long latent inuisible out of which we inferre that all whosoeuer haue been saued since Christs Church was erected and sufficiently di●●lged haue beene saued in the Roman Church and whosoeuer haue dyed as members cut off from her or out of her could neuer attaine to the hopefull promises Calu. l 4. c. ● ● 4. D. Whitaker Out of the Church there is no other sea●● but the seate of error pestilence and euerlasting destruction of their chiefest good but miscarrying of their saluation could not auoide to be damned For what M. Caluin deliuereth speaking of the visible Church is most true to wit That out of her lappe no remission of sinnes is to be hoped nor any saluatiō at all But Milius If Luther ●ad bad orthodoxall forerunner● there had byn no need of a Lutheran reformatiō ●o Exp●cat Confess Aug. art 17. Luther saith we dare boast that Christ was first published by vs. Epist ad Arge●● M. Iewell Luther Zwinglius were appointed of God to kindle againe the light which you had q●●nched Defens Apol. part 1 c. 7. diuis 3. pag. 56. Pareus In Const●ntines time the Church begun to waxe fick to death notwithstāding the Catholike Church remained But where In the desert a●●● the world withdrawne from the eyes of ●en lib. 4. de gratia lib. arb that there was neuer any other visible Church of God which hath cōtinued since Christs tyme but the Church of Rome with her adherents the Protestants themselues confesse For although some fondly imagine that they had a Church yet neither Luther nor Caluin nor any other could euer point any such out which was apparent or visible to the eye of men For who can truly name any one Lutheran before Martin Luther or any one Caluinist before Iohn Caluin Verily none and much lesse a continuall and neuer-interrupted succession of Lutherans or Caluinists since Christs tyme who were not as inuisible to the world and as vnknowne as euer were those who are as yet vnborne A most foolish thing then it is yea and most ridiculous to auow that indeed there were such a company of zealous Protestants as some are not ashamed to say and that for aboue a thousand yeares they were all latent and inuisible which not only is impious and contrary to the Maiesty of the glorious VVho will not say that it was a s●●a●g● Church that had neyther beginning nor ending no def●nder no reprouer no mouth to vtter or ea●● to heare it nor pen to write nor place to rest in So M. Iewell in a like matter Art 2. diuis 8. S. Austin VVhat is this thou sayest The Church to haue perished in all Nations whē as to this end the Ghospell is preached that it may be in all Nations Therefore euen to the end of the world the Church i● in all Nations and this is the shortnes of her dayes In Psal 101. Th●se Markes sayth D. Willet cannot be absent from the Church and it is no longer a true Church thē it hath these mark●s For the only absence of them doth make a nullity of the Church In his Synops pag. 69. 71. which not to haue bene among Protestants for aboue a ●000 yeares wil witnes M. Nappier but in some fashion to haue byn alwayes in the Church of Rome is granted by M. B●ny in his Verdict which fashiō to haue bene the right and true fashion is euinced from thence that otherwise the Ch●●ch had perished contrary to Christs prediction saying The gates of Hell shall not preuayle against it M. Caluin lib. 4. inst c. 1. ● 4. Cal ● 4. inst c. ● 〈◊〉 If God did intend that the Couenant should remayne inuiolable left Baptisme a testimony therof for Catholike children as heere M. Caluin doth insinuate how doth no● the Couen●t to this day remayne among thē in the Church of Rome Agayne if the fayth of Catholick parēts be sufficient to place their children in the Couen●t state of saluatiō how much more may it be thought to establish the parents themselues in that Couenāt in whom reside● that faith which is so beneficial to their children Moreouer if the foundatiō of the Church halfe cast down doth remaine amōg Catholicks a● M. Caluin teacheth which is the true faith doctrine of Christ 1. cor 3. v. ●1 who dare deny that they are in the Couenant or that they may not be saued albeit they build there vpō wood hay stubble at least by fyre seing this is the expresse doctrine of the Apostle Kingdome of Christ foretould by the Prophets but lykewise
quite opposite to that which they giue out of the essentiall notes and markes of their church which is the pure preaching of the Word and the true administration of the Sacraments which to make inuisible were rather to be thought the dreames of mad men and bedlams thē the solid and sound doctrine of such great Rabbins and Doctors who for their supposed vertue learning would rather be accounted wise Sages by the commō people yea to be stiled Reformers forsooth and that of the true church of God frō whence we may cōclude that if there be no entry into lyfe vnlesse as M. Caluin saith the visibl● Chur●h like a Mother conceaue vs in her wombe vnles she bring vs forth vnles she feede vs with her breasts finally vnles she keepe vs vnder custody and gouernment vntill such tyme as be●ng vncloathed of mortall flesh we shal be like vnto Angels and noe other visible church can be assigned since christs tyme but the church of Rome as we haue seen we must needes inferre that as all whosoeuer haue been saued hitherto for all that tyme were members of the Romaine church euen so all those who desire to arriue to the happy hauē of Heauen hereafter must liue well dy● in that church otherwise they are neuer like to be partakers of that vnspeakable ioy which is the saluation of their owne soules and to liue with God for euer 3. Herehence for better vnderstāding of M. Caluin his verdict saying When God hath left his Cou●nant in France Ita●y Germany Spayne England since these Pro●inces haue byn oppressed with the tyrany of Antichrist whom he sayth is the Pope sitting in the Church of God yet that this Couenant might remayne inuio●able first he there preserued baptisme the testimony of his Couenant we gather that the Verdict which is set downe for him to wit that the Couenant of God hath remayned with them inuiolable to be most true for seing according to that of M. Caluin all those who were hitherto saued could not attayne their saluation but in the visible Church which was and is only the Church of Rome as we haue seene out of M. Nappier it followeth that in her the Couenāt of God could not but be kept inuiolable Againe if the Couenant of God was to be kept inuiolable in any company especially in that which is the Church of Christ the Sanctuary and Temple of God Serauia also wil help M. Caluins Verdict who saith That the Couenant of God to this day doth remaine in the latyn Church In defens l. de gratia Minist pag. 31. As concerning the baptizing of the ch●drē o● Catholiks how they are cōteyned within the Couenat Se the Protest Apol. Tract 1. Sect. 6. p. 172. 173. 174. M. Caluin It is therfore called Catholicke or Vniuersall because we cannot find two or three Churches but that Christ must b● torne in sunder which cannot be done l. 4. c. 1. n. 2. But betwixt the yeare of Christ 300. 316. the Antichristian Papisticall raigne beg●n raigning vniuersally without any debatable ●ontradiction for 1260. yeares last past before Luther So M Napp●er vpon the Reuel propos 37. pag. 68. And no other can be assigned to haue had this vniuersality therfore she is the only true Church of Christ but M. Caluin enobleth the church of Rome with all these titles therfore we may well conclude in his iudgmēt that the couenant of God was kept inuiolable in the Church of Rome Moreouer if Antichrist who is the Pope according to Caluin doth sit in the Church of God or which is all one in the Church of Rome of the which the Pope is head the church of God be but One as himself auoucheth it cannot but follow that eyther the Couenant is kept inuiolable in the church of Rome or no where but to say it was kept no where cannot be but most absurd and therfore the other must of necessity be most true to wit the Verdict set down out M. Caluin that the couenāt remayneth with them that is with the catholikes and that inuiolable Neyther can any auoyd this by obiecting that Caluin doth not so much say that the Church as the ruines therof and it half throwne downe are seene vnder the Pope for so the church of christ saith Bellarmine had fallen and the truth had lyed saying The gates of Hell shall not preuayle against it And againe neither the Luthera●s nor the Caluinists could be members of the true church for the whole is fallen and the ruins of the church half thrown down is among the Papists vnder Antichrist if they say they haue a new building in that it is new it is not christs and who seeth not that it is better to be in the church of christ half pulled downe then in none seeing that ther is kept the couenant inuiolable or els no were To this we add that the Apostle sayth not that Antichrist shall sit in the ruines or rubbish of the church but absolutly he shall sit in the Temple of God if thē the Temple of God be the true church as other Protestants say and that in it he shall sit that is he shall raigne and gouerne as the head in the true church how thē can the assemblies of Lutherans or caluinists be the true church seing Antichrist shall not sit and dominiere in this or how can the couenant be inuiolably kept in any other then in the church of Rome which is only the true church We conclude therfore that out of caluins Doctrine with the help of his brethren his Verdict is most certayne to wit that the couenant of God hath remayned with the catholikes inuiolable yea and in her only and no where els as is proued 4. Lastly we must obserue about the Verdict of Pl●ssey Mornay which as I find in him speaking of the church of Rome is this We deny her not the name of Church no more Mornay de Eccl. c. 2. As M. Caluin did proue the Church of Rome to haue fallē from the true faith of Christ with three grosse lyes saying that the Popes haue taught three grieuous errors to wit That there is no God no Christ no Resurrection Euē so Plessey Mornay following his Father Caluin tells vs that the Church of Rome is an Adultresse hereticall and bringer vp of children for the diuell Se Caluin l. 4. inst c. 7. n. 27. then the name of a man to a man so long as he is aliue though he be neuer so sick yea we are content to call ●er Spouse in as much as she makes a part of the visible Church so as they will suffervs vvithal to call her an adultresse But we say she is the most heretical Church of all those that e●er were a spouse that prouoked God to diuorce her a mother that bringeth vp children for the Diue●● That which Plessey Mornay here saith in the commendatiō of the church of Rome we willingly admit
and haue set it downe for his Verdict perswading our selues that he could say no lesse truth which is more forcible then either rack or tormēt comp●lling him therunto For otherwise no mā willingly lyeth to his owne shame nor freely cōfesseth that which ouerthroweth his owne cause But what he vttereth against the Church of Rome for being accursed and anathematized by her for so many errors and heresies both in Luther Zuinglius and other old rotten hereticall Se F. Persons Relation of the Triall with his defence therof against Plessy and O. E by N. D. Semel mendax semper praes●mitur mendax Glossa Admitten●ū in l. Si cui crimen §. 1. ff de Accusation Alciat Menoch Rake-hells of former times we cannot so easily belieue but rather think thē no better then notorious vntruthes and meere slaunders as proceeding from him who had a great talent in this black Art of lying which publickely was made knowne to his eternall shame by cardinall Perone before the most Christian King and Court Luther VVhosoeuer is once taken in a lye know most certainly that he is not of God but ought to be suspected in all thinges In Assert Teuton art 25. But Plessy Mornay was conuinced before the King of Frāce in 9. one day and the exception that the Cardinall tooke agaynst him did cōcerne 4000. as is to be seene in the relation aboue cyted The Diuell hath his Prophets saith Ter●ullian whose badg mark is falsity lying so that it must of necessity fall whatsoeuer is built vpon such ● ground de praescr c. 40. of France and therfore we purposely haue forborne to disgrace the Iury with any such foule and fi●thy stuffe as he setteth downe in the latter part of his sentence seing it is folly sayth his learned Brother Vorstius to bring in the guilty as vvitnesses in their ovvne cause or rather to bring in one that hath byn condemned not once but so often to rage rayle and lye not only against his true and lawfull Iudge but also against many other Catholickes Peeres Princes Kings and Emperours who all according to Plessey should haue byn bred and borne bastards by an Adultresse and brought vp children Idolatours by an hereticall harlot for the Diuell But o my Plessey I pray thee how could she be an Adultresse against whom Hell gates were foretold neuer to preuayle or how could that Church be Hereticall which neuer was condemned eyther by any lawfull generall or prouinciall Councell or by any other iust commanding power or how could she bring vp children to the Diuell or be an Idolatresse who hath brought vp all to God that euer were brought to him since the first erecting of the Church of Christ as we haue shewed before These then are your malicious imputations and not those glorious tytles becōming Christs vnspotted Spouse and her who hath byn accompted alwayes the sacred Sanctuary and the holy Temple of the liuing God And therfore detesting your impieties we must rather giue eare and harken to that holy Byshop and glorious Martyr S. Cyprian who speaking of the Church wryteth S. Cyprian de vnitate Eccl. thus One Mother sayth he there is by the fecundity of her issu● copious and fertile by her increase vve are borne vvith her milk vve are nourished we are animated with her spirit The Spouse of Christ cannot play the aduoutresse she is imaculate and vndefiled she knoweth one house she keepeth with chast bashfulnes the sanctity of one bedd This Church preserueth vs in God this aduanceth to the Kingdome the children she hath brought forth whosoeuer deuided from the Church cleaueth to the aduoutresse is separated from the promises of the Church To whom we add S. Augustine the greatest of all the Fathers and worthyest Deuine the Church of God euer had since the Apostles if we may belieue D. Field who is styled lykewise the mouth of antiquity by other Protestants giuing vs this wholsome Coūsell against all s●ch slaunderers of the church of Rome For writing against the S. Aug. tom 7. de vnitate Eccles c. 11. lyke lies of the Donatists I know sayth he what is written in the holy and Canonicall Scriptures concerning the Church of Rome the fayth therof I know not what you say of her Apostacy or falling from her faith Truly as we doe read in bookes the which you also doe honour and reuerence of the Roman Church and fayth therof So also read you out of Bookes vnto vs the which we also doe honour and reuerence how she forsooke and lost her fayth Doth it please you that we should belieue euery slaunderous reproach of men vpon what occasion soeuer it was vttered and obiected against the Roman Church the which the Holy Ghost hath both deliuered and commended vnto vs by his holy Scriptures This indeed is pleasing to you but whom it should more iustly please you see well inough but you being ouercome by obstinacy will not yield to the truth We therfore being about to looke as well into the true doctrine and verity as into the holines and purity of this Church from whence doth proceed the security of liuing and dying well in her lappe we are to vse the testimonies especially of Famous Protestants to the end the banners of her glorie may be carryed about and displayed by the penns and mouthes of our Aduersaries that all whosoeuer are not maliciously bēt may therby extoll and magnify the infinit goodnes of Gods prouidence who hath made as we may say euē the enemies of his Church and children although otherwise partiall witnesses with open mouth to cry out and blaze abroad in effect That this is the seed and familie of Iesus Christ whom our Lord hath blessed yea and hath made the S. Cyprian l. 1. ep 3. holy Ghost to inspire the ancient Fathers to warrant vs that this is the Church to S. Hierom. l. 3. Apol. contra Ruffin which misbeliefe can haue no accesse which receaueth no forgery and though an Angell S Cyril apud D. Thom. in catena teach otherwise then hath byn once preached guarded with S. Pauls authoritie it cannot be changed which remayneth vnspotted from S. Gregor Nazianz in carm de vita sua all seducing and hereticall circumuention which hath the true fayth euen from the tymes of our for●●athers alwaies remayneth as is fit for a citty that ruleth the whole world to haue euer more a sound fayth to God Out of all which we may cōclude that this is that blessed Cōpany of holy ones that houshold of sāctity that spouse of christ church of the liuing God which is the Pillar and ground of truth whose cōmuniō we may boldly imbrace whose directions we may safely follow rest securely in her iudgments as in that sacred society the which for this 1600. yeares hath yielded vp all those blessed Soules of the Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgins and of all the rest to God which now
the chiefe parts of the Christian faith D. White We agree with the Church of Rome in substantiall articles of fayth D. White in defence c. 38. 8. 273. D. Field The Roman and Latine Church continued the true Church of God euen till our tyme. And agayne we doubt not but the Church D. Field of the Church pag. 282. in which the Bishop of Rome exalted himselfe he addeth with more then Lucifer-life pride was notwithstanding the true Church of God that it held a sauing profession of the truth in Christ and by force thereof conuerted many Countreyes from errour to the way of truth D. Willet Antil pag. 144. D Willet It is not denyed by any Protestant but many renowned Kings and Queens which might not pleade ignorāce of the Roman Faith are Saints in heauen And speaking of his Maiesties D. Willet Antil of English Protest to the King mother he attributeth such holynes and truth to her Religion and her that it preuayled with God not only for herself but her sonne our Soueraygne also His wordes be these The child of such prayers teares cannot possibly fall away Bren. in Apol. pro confess Wittemb p. 297. Brentius We doubt not but that many haue obteyned true saluation in popery And speaking of S. Bernard whom D. Whitaker confesseth to haue been a member of the Roman Church he writeth Whitak ad oratio 7. Campian p. 30. Caluin Gregory Bernard were holy mē 4. instit c. 7. n. 22. Lubbertus we thinke truly that Bernard was a Saint l. 6. de Eccles c. 7. thus I iudge Bernard to haue been a man endewed with great piety and deuotion and to liue now happily with Christ Bishop Barlow in his third sermon The learneder writers do acknowledge the Church of Rome to be the Church of God D. Some agaynst Penry in diuers places auou●beth that Papists are not altogeather aliens frō Gods couenant That in the iudgement of all learned men and al reformed Churches there is in Popery a Church a ministery a true Christ If you thinke that all the Popish sect which dyed in the Popish Church are damned you think absurdly and dissent from the iudgement of the learned Protestants M. Bunny The Church of Rome hath Bunny in his Treatise tending to pacification Sect. 14. pag. 89. euer continued after a sort in profession of the fayth since the time that by the Apostles it was deliuered to them c. and hath in some manner also preserued and hitherto maintayned both the Word and Sacraments that Christ himselfe did leaue vnto vs which surely sayth he is a very speciall blessing and an euident worke of the Holy Ghost S. Edwin Sands writeth thus of the Roman Church There are among them vndoubtedly in Sir Edwin sads in his Relation num 48. great multitude men vertuous learned fraught with the loue of God and the truth aboue all things men of memorable integrity of hart affections In their Sermons much matter both of fayth and piety is eloquently deliuered by men of wonderfull zeale and spirit The outward state and glory of their seruice doth engender quicken increase and nourish the inward reuerence respect and deuotion which is due vnto soueraygne maiesty and power Their deeds of charity are exceeding No seuerity of life comparable to some of their religious If Protestants were or could be at vnion with them they shall find excellent order of gouernement singular helpes for increase of godlines and deuotion for the conquering of sinne for the profiting of vertue Yet in the chiefe of whome they send out Ibid. ● 25. to preach in the diligence and paynes which they take in their sermons in the ornaments of eloquence and grace of action in their shew of piety and reuerence towardes God zeale towards the truth of loue towardes his people which euen with teares they can often testify they match their aduersaries in the best and in the rest far exceed them But heerein the Iesuits carry the bell from all others hauing attayned the commendatiom and working the effect of perfect Orators of whome in Lent one in each Citty of Italy doth preach euery Day without intermission if their strength do serue them so as six dayes in the weeke they preach on the Ghospell of the dayes and on the Saturday in honour and praise of our Lady So euery yeare changing their preacher there is the delight of variety and in the daily continuing of the same the admiratiō of industry Some such like course it is to be thought the Iesuites hold also in other Countreys their proiects being certaine exactly pursued But wonderfull is the reputation which redounds thereby to their Order and exceding the aduantage which giueth to their fide For bookes of prayer piety all countreys are full of them at this day in their owne language c. In defēding their doctrine they dare enter into combat with the best of their repugnants and will not doubt either to entangle them so in the snares of their owne quirks or at least wise so put of his blowes with the word of their distinctions that an ordinary Orator shall neuer perceaue them to be vanquished and a fauorable Auditor shall report them vanquishers whereupon now they cry mainely in all places for triall by disputations Moreouer such is their diligence and dexterity in instructing that euen the Protestants thēselues in some places send their sons to their schooles vpon desire to haue them proue excellēt in those artes they teach This Order hath also their solemne Cathechizing in their Church on Sundaies and Holidayes for all youth that will come or can be drawne vnto it But this point of their schooles in instructing youth is thought of such moment by men of wisedome and iudment being taught so by very experience and triall thereof that the planting of a good Colledge of Iesuits in any place is esteemed the only sure way to replant that Religion and in time to eate out the contrary So far the Protestant Relator But to proceed from the common multitude of lay people and Ecclesiasticall persons to the Popes themselues this same anthour hath found much vertue deuotion and piety in those which haue been in these tymes and of the last Pope Clement the 8 he Relat. of Religion n. 42. 43. writeth thus He did often weepe vpon piety godly compassion at his Masses processions His eyes were still watering sometimes streaming with teares in so much that for weeping he seemed another Heraclitus He was a good Pope a good man a good Prelate a good Prince And as for the Lutheranes in Germany Relation n 45. they like the Religion of Catholiks so well that both the Clergy and Layty openly protest they will rather returne to the Roman Church then ioyne with the Sacramentary and predestinary pestilence The Puritans in this Nation in their late Offer of Conference preferre the Roman Church far before their
Countrey Protestants Of the Protestants there will be as little question And in particular M. Iacob writeth thus The Bishops M. Iacob p. 73. of England when they deale with the Puritans must ioyne plainely with the Catholiks in their answers if they will maintayne themselues So that we see in the iudgement of all both Catholikes Lutherans Caluinists Protestants Puritans that to remayne in the Catholike Church and to liue and dye in it is the securest way to attayne to our chiefest good and at last to receaue the promised reward of our endles happynes ioy and euerlasting saluation the which is confirmed by no lesse a man then D. Luther himselfe with whome we will end That the Roman Church of God sayth he before al others is to be honored there is no doubt S. Peter S. Paul forty six Romā Bishops so many hundred thousand Martyrs haue shed their bloud haue ouercome Hell death that it may euen be felt what a singular respect God hath to that Church And if now alas the matter so goeth at Rome as it were expedient it went better yet neither is there or can be so great cause that a separation or departure be made Heerehence those Protestants Offer of cōfer pag. 16. which offered Conference speaking of themselues say That if the ministers to wit the Puritanes be in errour they protest to all the world that the Pope and the Church of Rome and in them God Christ Iesus himselfe haue had great wrong and indignity offered vnto them in that they are reiected and that all the Protestant Churches are Schismaticall in forsaking vnity and communion with them And a little before speaking of some position among them offered then to be disputed they write in plaine tearmes how diuers of the positions are such that if the Offer of cōfer pag. 11. ministers should not constantly hould mainraine the same against all men they cannot see how possibly by the Rules of diuinity the separation of our Churches from the Church of Rome and from the Pope the supreme head therof can be iustified But now if in the Church of Rome there be true Christianity and Sanctity yea and the very kernell of Christianity if she be the Temple and Sanctuary of God in the which remaynet his Couenant inuiolable and all diuine things If she be the spouse of Christ the family of Iesus Christ and the mother Church conteyning all things necessary to saluation If she be the Church in which our Ancestours liued and were saued if she continued alwayes adorned with all kind of Christian good Enobled with most learned iust godly persons fraught with all kind of good workes of Miracles piety deuotion if she hath bred more Kings and Queenes Saints then were euer of of those tytles Protestants in all the Christian world and if now to conclude ●●re neyther is nor can be any sufficient cause wy●●● should separate themselues from that Church If all his be true as Protestants themselues haue now in this Grand-Iury acknowledged and confessed I do not doubt but euery one may see perceaue that whosoeuer liueth a true mēber of that Church and striueth to goe forward in all kind of vertue may not only be saued but ariue also to that degree of holines perfection as to become a blessed soule on earth and there aboue to be crowned a thrice happy most glorious Saint in heauen Out of which we may inferre that whosoeuer are members of this Church in the which only sanctity and saluation is to be had as our Aduersaries themselues confesse ●ught to auoyde most carefully all such wicked and diabolicall suggestions as the enemy of man by what Minister soeuer may put into their heads to ioyne themselues to any other congregation especially seing according to M. Caluin out of her lappe to wit Caluin l. 4. instit c. 2. n. 4. the visible Church no remissiō of sins or saluation at all is to be hoped for the Lord doth mak so great accoūt of the cōmunion of his Church Caluin n. 10. For Germany D Field sayth that Luther the rest of his Religion were baptized receaued their Christianity ordination and power of ministery in that Church to wit of Rome as the true v●sible and appa●ā● Church of Christ D. Field pag. 71. D. Couell in defence of Hooker p 7● For France Caluin l. 4 instit §. 2. l. 4. VVe saith he haue departed from their Romish Church For England the Apologer pag 188. con●esseth no lesse saying we haue indeed gone from the Pope we haue sh●ken of the yoake of the Bishop of Rome as he shal be held a trayterous turne-coate saith M. Caluin and a forsaker of his Religion whosoeuer disobediently alienates himself from that Christian Society Whence it followeth that a departing frō the Church is a denying of God Christ therfore so much the more must we beware of such kind of separation or breach of fayth Seing neyther can there be a more heynous crime imagined then with sacrilegious disloialty to violate that wedlocke which the only begotten Sonne of God hath contracted with vs. So far M. Caluin Pardon vs therfore good M. Parson if we willingly and constantly remayne where we are without being any thing moued with your trifles toyes confuted elsewhere to change our fayth profession which we haue been taught alwayes in the true Catholike Church And if you haue any care of the chiefest good of your soules saluation make hast to repayre to vs with your miserable seduced flocke or otherwise reflect seriously vpon this terrible sentence of S. Fulgentius who sayth Belieue assuredly and doubt nothing that euery Heretike or Schismaticke christened in the name of the Father and of the Sonne of the Holy Ghost if he not within the number of those which are of the Catholike Church what Almes soeuer he hath made albeit he shall shed his bloud for the name Christ can by no meanes be saued For neyther Baptisme nor large and charitable Almes nor death it selfe suffered for Christs sake will auayle S. Fulgent lib. de fide ad Petrum that man who doth not hold the vnity of the Catholike Church as long as his Hereticall or Schismaticall wickednes which leadeth to perdition shall continue in him A Note of fifty Kings Queenes of Great Britany accounted Saints their Memories celebrated for such by our Catholike Forefathers and this by the testimony of Protestants themselues S. Lucius King of Britany Martyr He liued about Nauclerus gen 6. Petr. de Natal l. 1. c. ●4 the yeare of Chris● 192. Stow Holinshed in Chron. Cambden in Brit. S. Clintācus King of Brecknocke in Wales Martyr Capgrau in catal Capgrau in catal About anno 300. Cambd. in Brit. S. Wistan King in Wales and Martyr About anno 400. Cambd. in Brit. S. Ethelbert King of Kent Confessour About anno 615. Stow Holinsh.