haue our spirite quiets peacible amōg all the wherl wyndes and tempests of heresies this is the onlie mean he that walketh in the spirit of the Church is in the high way he goeth not in darknes he goeth by day and setteh sure footing The church is to him a bulwark of quietnesse a wall of brasse a stay more sure then the firmament of heauen yea I say truelie more sure than the firmament of heauen For rather the heauen shal fall in pieces and all the whole frame of the worlde shal fall into cōfusion and nature shal erre rather than the Church shal come to errour in that doctrine of the saluation which she doeth teach her children And good reason for her vnderstanding his higher than the vnderstāding of all nature for it is the vncreated vnderstanding the holie Ghost God him self which doth gouerne the same immediatlie And for the Churches sake heauē earth and all Nature haue bene made and doe consist without whose prayers the frāe of the whole worlde could not stād one moment The Angels them selues as S. Paul sayth are all Hebr. 10 to minister to them which receiue the inheritance of saluation which are the childrē of the church But I will no forther open the priuileiges of Grace the heauenlie and liuelie comforts which the children of the catholike Church haue The catholike Church is the onlie fortresse impregnable the wiseman to her wil haue his recourse and shal be saued She is the strong fort of the citie of God founded vpon the rock whiche can not be vndermined Genes 27. fortified by the inuincible force of the holie Ghost garded by heauenlie armies vvhich are camped round about cōpassed of all sides with the fauour of the almightie She is the true earthlie Paradise where the tree of lyfe is planted which all of her house may freelie vse and thereby receiue nourishment of lyfe euerlasting She is the true house of God where he doth dispose his graces and all his goodes and the souueraign felicitie And who euer can taist of the fruit of the name Catholike he shal fynde hem selfe happie and shal perceiue in that he is a Catholike he is as it were weeded out of him selfe to be transplanted in God and being lostin him selfe he shal fynde him selfe grafted and rooted in God in whom he shal stand more surelie more liuelie more happilie and be more his own man thau standing in him selfe where vpon his soule shal be filled with true sound parfite soueraign diuine and euerlasting ioye I doe not call in question whether the catholike Churche be visible nor where she is being a societie not of Angels or of soules separated from the bodie but of men She must necessarilie be visible that one may say there is the Church pointing to her with the fingar and shewing her to the eye otherwyse sayth S. August Aug. tract 1. 2. in 10. no man could be assured of the vnitie in the which men must necessarilie enter and holde them selfes to the ende they may be ioyned to the head communicate with all the other members thereof And our lord should in vain haue bidden men resort to the Church and obey it if it were inuisible to the face of the whole worlde so that she can not by any manner of wayes be hidden nor darckned in the earth no more than the sonne in heauē Yea sayth S Iohn Chrisostom S. Chrys ho. 4. in cap. 6. Efa it were more easie to put out the light of the sonne than to darcken the Church And those which say that the Church which was planted of the Apostles and dyd lighten the Gentiles is no more extant and that she is lost many a day agoe and that strayght after the Apstoles she was eclipsed of her light and became an Apostata in such sort as the worlde is entered in to darknes as before and those which doe compare her to the Sinagogue in the time of Eli those I say are verie impudent and their impudencie can not be heard with out indignation for that it is contumeliouse to the sonne of God as if the sonne of God which sayd that he is the light of the world and that he came to renew all to destroye the vvorkes of the deuil and to dispossesse him of his raign had not doen that vvhich he promised nor that vvhich he came for and as yf his light had bene as a flash of lightening vanishing avvay and not as a sonne rising to chase out effectuallie the darknes of the vvorld This is a moost vile and shamefull abasing of Christs honour and estimation this is to take from him the deserued inheritance of all Nations vvhich GOD the father promised vnto him this is as it vvere to spoyle him of his dignitie and the royal scepter and to plucke him downe frō his throne and to take from him his royal Diadem vvhich the father gaue him and to make that GOD hath not kept his promisse They vvhich vse thies vvoordes are not in the Church them selues sayth S. Augustin Aug. in psalm 101. Thou sayest that the Church is not extant because thou art not in her Look vvell to the matter thou art not in dede in her but she is and shal be extant though thou art not Al that the scripture doth teach Numer 20. 3. Reg. 8. Math. 18. Acto 15. 18. 20. feighteth against this impudent saying It hath bene foretold that the glorie of the secound house of GOD shal be greater then the glory of the first that she shal reach from one sea to an other from the Orient 1 Tim. 3. Psal 1◠Esa 2 Dan. 2. Mich. 4. Math. 7. to the Occident that she shal fill Asia Affrica Grece Italy all tounges all nations and the Iles ferre of and that the sauiour shal make as it vvere nevv heauens and nevv earth so that the Sinagogue in comparison of the Church is no more then one starre in comparison of the Sonne and had but fevv litle spartles of that light whre of the full brightnes is spred vpon the Church Origin sayth that the first signe Iud. 6. giuen to Gedeon of the flyse only devved from heauen the earth round about remaining all drye did prefigure the Sinagogue and the secound signe of all the earth bedevved the flyse contynevving drie did prefigurat the Churche In Daniel also the Church vvas prefigured by the Dan. 2. litle stone cut from the mountaine vvithout hand of man the vvhich hauing broken the Image of Gold of Syluer of brasse of Iron and of clay vvhich did represent the Empires of the vvorld became a great mountaine and did fill the vvhole earth vvhere vpon sanct Augustin doth argue against the heretikes If the Ievyes be sayd to be blinde for not hauing seene the stone being but litle what blindnes is that in them which can not see the same being a mountaine so those saith he which denie the Church dispersed
to the Apostles you are owt of the communion of the Church of IESVS Christ you be without Church without priesthood and without any mediation towards God for that you haue not any preist of the order of the Mediator Your ministers be those that S. Ciprian speaketh of who without lawful S. Ciprian lib. 4. ep 9. calling without gods ordinance without ecclesiastical order doe appoint them selues to be head ouer rash men take to them selfs titles of Bishops and like apes they resemble mens actions and them selues being not in in the Church counterfait the face of the Church arrogating to them selues her authoritie truth blessing others being them selues cursed of God promising life being theÌ„ selues dead calling vpon God being blasphemers administring priesthood being theÌ„ selues prophane presenting theÌ„ selues to the altar as intercessors to God being theÌ„ selues sacrilegiouse prouokers of gods wrath their preaching is not preaching but preuarication of the woord of God their priesthood is not priesthood but a seruice of the deuil and ministerie of Antichriste for Apes be alwayes Apes and neuer shal be men and heretikes alwayes heretikes how so euer they doe counterfait and neuer shal be Catholikes except they enter again in to the bosom of the Church where the lauful succession of priesthood of the Apostles doth remain The third marke is Antiquitie for euen as the good seed was sowen in the field by the house houlder before the cockle by the enemie so it is certein that the true church is more auncient than the false Now that the catholike Apostolike and Romain Church is the same that IESVS Christ him selfe hath instituted more auncient then all the sects of heretikes this argumeÌ„t wil forse them to confesse In all notable chaunges of religion six things are to be marked the Author the new opinion the tyme when it began the place where it began the Impugners that it had the small number of folowers when the same began to make her separation of communion from the religion that it dyd forsake first vve know that the Author of the heresie of ArriaÌ„s was a preist of Alexandria named Arrius of Nestorians a Bishop of ConstaÌ„tinople named Nestorius of Lutherans a monk of the order of S. Augustin named Luther Secondlie we know that the new doctrine of Arrius imported that the sunne of God was a creature Of Nestorius that there was two personnes in Iesus Christ Of Luther that the Eucharist is not a sacrifice and that man is Iustified by that onely special faith which he hath of his own iustification Thirdlie we know that the sect of Arrius dyd beginne the yere of our Lord 324. that of Nestorius the yere of 431. that of Luther the yere 1517. Fowertlie we know that the Arrianisme dyd beginne in Aegipte the heresie of Nestorius in Thrace that of Luther in Saxonie Fiftlie we know that the Arrians were Impugned by Pope Syluester by the Councel of Nice by S. Athanasius ' by S. Hilarie and many others the Nestorians by Pope Celestin by the Councel of Ephesus by S. Ciril and many others the Lutherans by Pope Leo the tenth by the Councel of Trent by all vniuersities catholikes and by many Doctors Finally vve know that in the beginning when all those archeheretikes did separate them selues from the communion of catholikes they were small in number an that euen then the catholikes were dispersed throughout the world in infinite numbers None of all those thinges can be obiected by the Lutherans and Caluinists againste the catholikes First they haue neuer obiected vs the autor of our faith contrary to theirs neither haue they named vs after any particular man vvhich they wolde verie willinglie haue done if they could Secondly they doe not shew the beginninge of any our nevv doctrine if they ascend not vp to the Apostles vvhose nouelty is ours and is our antiquitie against all heresies They are not also hable to shew any tyme certain of our faling from the Church nor the place neither where it should haue begun nor those which did impugne the same as new nor that any councels haue bene celebrated against her nor finally that this our Church catholike Apostolike and Romain did separate it self from some greater that was before in such sorte as those which did coÌ„municate with the Romaine Church vvere fewe in member and that the rest of Christians were farre more greater For it appeareth by the epistles of S. Gregorie the Pope vvhich he did vvrite to the Bishops of the East of Afrike of Spaine of France of Italie that almoste all the Christians of the world did coÌ„municate with him Now it is a thovvsand yeeres past sithens S. Greg and the doctrine of faith vvhich he did teache is the same that the Church doth teach at this day The fowerth marke is continewance without being interrupted It is foretould in Daniel Dan. 9. that the raigne of the church shall neuer be dispersed and in sanct Paule that heresies 2. Tim 3. can not long stand the Churche being like the brightnes of the firmament vvhich shineth in perpetual eternitie Heresie is as a Comet conceiued of the vapours of the earth vvhereof the flame ceaseth so sone as his earthly norishement doth faile The Church in an other sorte is as a continual flud which can not drye Heresie is as a flud of tempest vvhich presently doth faile wherof S. Augustin sayth Be not you sayth he amased to see the fluds swellinge and roaringe In illud psa 97 Ad nihilum dâ—uâ—nâ—ent tanquam aqua deâ—urrens for a tyme. It is a violence of vvater vvhich runneth downe and shall cease verie sone for the same can not long continue many heresies be alredie dead they haue runne in theyr channel as long as they could they be slydden away the rootes be drie and hardlie shal one finde the marcke where they were It is verie certein that the Church catholike Apostolike and Romain hath coÌ„continued since the Apostles in her visible brightnes vnto this day vvhich thing if heretikes doe not fullie grant yet doe they confesse that those things which they blame in the same vvere alredie brought in before a thowsand or twelue hundred yeres But vvhat heresie hath euer lasted any thing near that tyme yet I vvil confound them by this argument Before that Luther did start vp besydes the Romaine Church there was not in the vvorld but thes religions Paganisme Iudaisme Machometisme and the relikes of Nestorianisme in Grece But it is certein by the confession of Lutherans and Caluists them selues that the Church of IESVS Christe was not in any one of thies sectes vvhereof it foloweth that she was in the Romaine Church or els quyte extinguised in al the vvhorld vvhich can not be Trulie this marke of the true church is famous for sythens Theobutes and Simon Magus the first Archeheretikes vntil Luther two hundred diuers heresies haue had their course wherof some were vpholden by verie mightie Patrones by
that the gates of hell should neuer preuaile against the same that he would giue him the keies of the kingdome of heauen and that all that he sholde bynde and vnbynde in earth should be bound and vnbound in heauen he hath not spoken of giuing the keyes to the other Apostles So the church is builded vpon the faith and confession of S. Peter And the faith which is the seed of our regeneration is called the faith of S. Peter Let that also be considered which is spoken of in S. Luke that the people pressing Luc. 5. on our sauiour for to heare the word of God our Sauiour seing neare the lake two shippes went vp into the one which belonged Luc. 5. Io. 21. to S. Peter where being set he did teache the people And those that sailed in the other shippe transported them selues into that of S. Peter with Iesus Christ Let it be further considered that the two miracles done by our sauiour in the taking of fishes were done in the ship of S. Peter and by the ministerie of S. Peter That S. Peter also is only he among the Apostles that our sauiour made goe vpon the waters for whom only he paied tribute for whom only in particular he praied to his father to the end his faith should not fayle to whom onlie he gaue charge to confirme the faith of his bretherē of whom as head of others he did require more loue then of others whose feet he did first vvashe accordng to S. Augustin to whom he did first appeare after his resurrection to whom only he foretould his death and death on the crosse to whom onlie he said three tymes feed gouerne my sheepe meaning his Church whome more preciselie than others he commaunded to folowe him who onlie vvhen the disciples were scandalized at the vvordes of our sauiour saying that he vvolde giue his bodie to eate answered for all the Apostles and sayd Lorde thow hast the wordes of life euerlastlng and we beleeue the same whom onlie among all the disciples our sauiour did baptize with his owne handes First Euodius immediat successor of S. Peter in the Bishopryke of Euodius in lib. Anthioche hath written that our sauiour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did baptize onlie the virgin his mother among women and S. Peter onlie among men and that S. Peter did baptize S. Andrew S. Iames S. Ihon and the others That S. Perer also as head of the Apostles after the ascension of our sauiour did assemble the church for to chuse an Apostle in the place of Iudas That S. Peter after the sending of the holie ghost did first preache and conuert in two sermōs eight thowsand soules That he Act. 1. did the first miracle on the lame man which was at the gate of the temple That he as soueraine iudge did condemne the fraude and hipocrisie of Ananias and Saphira whom he did kill with his woord That he knew and did condemne the first notable Archeheretike Simon Magus that to him was directed as to the head the vision of that sheete Let downe from heauen hauing of all sortes of beastes and comandement to preache to the Act. 1◠gentiles the which vision doth concerne the direction of the vniuersal Church that for him as head of the Church prayer was made without intermission in al the Church Act. 15. which is not sayd of anie of the others That he in the Councel of the Apostles did speake first as head That he in the most holie Creed of the Apostles did begin first by that high woorde Credo therby making the christian religion a religion of faith for whose sake S. Paul saith that he went vp expresselie into Hierusalem note also that S. Peter him selfe doth testifie that God chose him emong the Apostles that by his mouth the Gentiles should heare the woord of the Gospel and beleeue Let it be also considered that after that the twelue Apostles had receiued the holie Ghoste and the gifte of all tounges hauing distributed among them selues all the earth therin to plant euerie one in his quarter the Gospel of Iesus Christ S. Peter as head of the twelue is sent to the head of the world to the Queene of cities the cheif citie of the Romain Empire to the end that the law of trueth which did reuele it self for the saluation of all people might sprede it self abroode more easilie from the head to all the bodie of the world and vvhere the vvorld had the head of his Empire there the prince of the Apostles hath had his seate in the citie of Rome in the which hauing first giuen order to the affaires of the East he comes him self to make his aboade for to forme and set in order the affaires of the west and of all the world where hauing ended his course before the tyme of his death 2. Pet. 1. Iesus Christ made vnto him yet one prerogatiue more by appearing vnto him and saying to him that he would be glorified by his martirdome within the citie of Rome Let it be further considered that the Churches founded by S. Peter that is to saye Antioche and Alexandria haue bene named the chief In Con. Calced Patriarchal Churches and did goe before all the others in the Councels Let it be considered Optatus lib. 2 that in the primatiue Church in the testimonial letters that they gaue to those that went in to farre coūtries did chaunge their habitations to the end they might be receiued where they went to the cōmunion Sidon Apol. l. 7. ep 2. there was put downe in subscription after the first letters of the names of the father of the sonne and of the holie ghoste the first letter of the name of S. Peter for witnes that such a one was Catholike Finallie let it be considered that the Church hath made a feast or holie dare of the chaire of S. Peter fos to praise God for the soueraign benefit that he hath done to his Church to giue him a chaire eminent aboue the others which shold alwais be certein vnto whom al the world may haue recourse of whom all the world ought to be instructed as sayth Optatus the which feast is very auncient For Bede and S. Augustin make mention therof Optat. li. 2. Bed in Thetl Aug. ser 15. de sanct But in none of the other Apostles are the prerogatiues found to be called of our sauiour into the feloushippe of his name and of his office and pastoral care and euen of his death to be the mouth of the other Apostles in all occurrent affaires nor the other prerogatiues the which haue bene attributed of all the aucients to the supremacie and principalitie of S. Peter which being euident in S. Peter it is superfluous to speake of them in his successors For it is well knowen that our sauiour giuing a head to his Church hath not intended to giue onlie the same for the time of S. Peter as
if the Church had had no need therof after him But it is the custome of GOD to make the first formes of thinges as moulds and afterwardes to let the same be continewed by succession propagation according to their nature TESTIMONIES OF THE fathers and of Councels for the supremacie of S. Peter IT should not be neede full to procede here any farder But because heretikes be so impudent liars as to sey that the auncient fathers haue neuer geuen to S. Peter nor to his successours Bishops of Rome those names of Prince of Head or of Soueraigne I will bring forth some testimonies for to confound them S. Irene being nere to the tyme of the Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Apostles sayd That it muste necessarilie be that all the vniuersall Church that is to say all the faithfull which be in all the world should resorte to the Romain Church for her most high principalitie and doth adde that in this Church the true traditions of the Apostles and the faith vvhich geueth life hath always bene kept S. Ciprian he which forsaketh the Chaire of sainct Peter vpon the vvhich the Cyp. l. de vâ—ita eccl ep 55. 69. Church is founded doth he think to be in the Church Moreouer he doth call S. Peter the head the fountain the Roote and the matrice of the Church He doth attribute to him the supremacie of the Apostles in preheminence of excellent grace he saith that vnfaithfulnes can not haue accesse to the chaire of S. Peter and that the cause of all heresies procedeth of this that men be not obedient to one onelie Bishop vicar of Iesus Christ S. Hierome Among the twelue Apostles one ys chosen head for to take away all occasions Hieron cont Ioâ—â—a 71. of schisme And being in the holy place of our lords natiuitie in Iurie he did write to Rome to Pope Damasus in these termes Loe here the faith which I haue learned Hieron ad Damas pap in the Catholike Church If I doe erre in any maner of fassion as Ignorant or as misaduised I desire that you correcte me sithens that you haue the seate and the faith of S. Peter And if you allow my confession I protest then bouldelie against whosoeuer shal reproue me that I am not ignorant that he is wicked or an heretike Your citie of Rome is happie where the faith of the fathers kepeth it selfe vncorrupted Here the euil children haue consumed their Patrimonie Here the good graine is degenerate into cockle whereas your Rome being allwayes fertile with diuine seede watered with heauenlie graces fructified in one selfe same puritie Now in the vvest the sonne of Iustice doth rise Here in the East that Lucifer vvich did fall from heauen hath set his throne I pray yow therefore to teach me that which I ought to keepe secret or vtter concerning the fayth I shunne euerie heretike I folowe yow onelie I am the sheepe vvhich demaundeth succour of the Pastour I speake to the successour of the fisher to the disciple of the Crosse I hould me to your holines that is to say to the chaire of S. Peter I know that vpon this Rocke the Church is gronded that vvhosoeuer out of this house doth eate the Lambe he is prophaned he is not of Iesus Christ he is of Antechrist Moreouer he calleth the Romain Church a verie pure fountain vvhich doth not receiue Illusions against the faith vvhich hath neuer norished heresie vvhich hath allwayes continued immaculate Ruffinus Ruffin in sym sayd also that neuer heresie tooke beginning at Rome S. Augustine who knoweth not the principalitie of the Apostleship of S. Peter is Aug. tract 55. 124. Ep. 164. lib. de Bapt. to be preferred before any Bishoprike The Principalitie of the Apostolike chaire hath allwayes had force in the Romain Church S. Peter as concerning his person by nature was but a man by grace a Christian But by more abundant grace that on selfe same man is the cheef Apostle and for the supremacie of his Apostleship doth represent the vniuersall Church And speaking of the Repentance of S. Peter Our Lord sayth he hath healed the disease of all the bodie in the head and in the verie toppe of Aug. ser 144. de paen Pet. the Church And praying for S. Peter he hath prayed for all for that the benefit of the head doth redounde to the people He doth moreouer call the Pope father of the Christian Aug. in q. vet nou Test q. 75. Amb. ser 47. people S. Ambrose saith our Lord ascending into the onely ship of the Church whereof S. Peter is the gouernour that ship doth so swimme in the high See of the world that the vvorld perishing she shall kepe safe as did the Arke of Noe in the shipwrake of the world those whome she shall haue receaued And as the flud being passed the doue brought into the Arke the signe of peace euen so after the burning of the vvorld to those whom the Arke of the Church shall represent Iesus Christ shall bringe the signe of his peace of his Ioye He sayth further that Peter is the vicar of the Loue of Iesus Christe towards vs that he is the stone of Churches which as an vnmouable Rocke conteineth the heape and Ioining together of all Christian building That not S. Andrew but S. Peter hath had the primacie and care of Churches Optatus emong the markes of the true church putteth the chaire Optat. li. 2. of S. Peter for the first and cheefe There is saith he but one onely chaire which hath bene set at Rome where the head of the Apostles S. Peter hath bene president in whom the vnitie of the chaire is kept of all and he should be a Schismatike and wicked man who against that singular chaire would set vp an other S. Leo. Of all the world onely S. Peter Leo ser 3. is chosen president for the vocation of the gentiles for all the fathers of the church And allthough there be many priestes and many pastours emong the people of God Yet S. Peter doth gouern them all And it was so ordained by great prouidence that in euery place there should be one head in the great townes other superiour heads hauing more ample Iurisdiction by whose meanes the care of the vniuersall Church should come to the seat of S. Peter and that nothing should be disagreing with his soueraigne head Prosper Rome is the seat of S. Peter A Hatchet of heresies the head of all the Prosp lib. de Ingratis world That which she can not possesse by Armes she doth hold the same by religion S. Gregorie It is most cleere vnto al those that know the Gospel that the care principalitie of the whole Church hath bene giuen to S Peter Prince of all the Apostles by the voice of our Lord him selfe S. Bede S. Peter hath specially had the keyes Bed in vigil S. Andr. of the kingdome of heuen
the principalitie of Iudicial power to the ende that al the faithful which are in the world might vnderstaÌ„d that whosoeuer doth separat him self from the vnitie of the faith of the societie of S. Peter he can not be absolued from the bandes of his sinnes nor be brought in at the gate of the kingdome of heauen S. Bernard A man doubtles very holy and very farre of from al flattery obseruing euery where the seueritie of brotherly correction vsed these termes to Pope Innocent we must Ber. ep 190. bring to your Apostleship all the perils and scandals which rise in the Church being a thing mete that the detriments of the faith may be restored in that place where the faith caÌ„ not receiue detrimeÌ„t for this is the prerogatiue of that seat And to Pope Eugen. Thou Bernar. l. 2. de consider art the great priest the soueraign Bishop Prince of Bishops Inheretour of the Apostles In Primacie Abel In Patriarchie Abraham Moises in authoritie S. Peter in power Iesus christ in vnctioÌ„ The others haue euerie one flokes assigned a part to the all flockes are coÌ„mitted thou art not onely Pastour of Sheepe but Pastour of Pastours Among the Greekes Origen saith that the gouernement of the Church hath bene giuen to S. Peter that S. Peter is the cheefe or head of the Apostles hauing more power and perfection then others S. Greg. Nazianz. The disciples of Iesus Christ all great excellent wourthie to be heades haue neuer the lesse bene very wel content to be put behind S. Peter vpoÌ„ whose faith the church hath her foundation Io. Chrisost Our lord hath shed his blood Chrysost lib. 2. de sacerd for to get together the sheepe of whoÌ„ he hath giueÌ„ the charge to S. Pe. to his successours Hieremie was father to one nation but Iesus Christ hath set S. Peter ouer all the world S. Basil Iesus christ him self is trulie the Basil de paenit immouable Rocke S. Peter is so by Reason of that Rocke Iesus christ giuing him his dignities doth not spoyle him selfe of them nor hath any thing lesse Theoph. in illae verba Confirma fratâ—es tuos Theoph. bringeth in our sauiour speaking to S. Pet. Thou whoÌ„ I haue made Prince of the disciples who after thou hadest denied me hast again receiued the Primacie of all the preheminence of the whole world who art after me the stone and the foundation of the Church confirme the others and be to them a good example of repentance S. Thomas citeth out of S. Cirill these woordes As Iesus Christ hath receiued of the father the scepter of the Gentiles eueÌ„ so hath he plainlie coÌ„mitted it to S. Peter and to his successors and hath not geuen that which is his own to any other but vnto S. Peter Epiphaneus Oecumenius Euthymius and all the rest of the auncient Greekes doe speak of this matter conformably to the Latines And Origen and S. Hierome haue applied that place of S. Paule to the Romaines your faith is preached through the vniuersall world in the sence of the principalitie of the Romain Church As if S. Paul should giue thancks to GOD for the conuersion of that place which should be the oracle of the vniuersal Church and wherof dependeth the conuersion of the whole whorld Ephrem the Syrian saith that as Moises was head of the societie of the Hebrewes euen so was S. Peter of the Church of Christians And as the one was Prince of the olde Testament so the other is likewise head of the new One Eritrianus in the time of Emperour Emmanuel It doth appear manifestlie by euidence of the thing it selfe that our sauiour hath appointed S. Peter Prince head for euer not onely of the Latines and of Greekes but of Armenians of Arabians of Iewes of Madianites of all the people of the East and of the West of the South of the North. The General Councels which be as it were the cheefe seat of the holy Ghoste doe testifie the Primacie of the chaire of S. Peter as it doth appeare in the first Councel of Nice where it is sayd that the Romain Concil Nice Church is the Rule of the others In the Councel of Calcedon where Pope Leo is caled Bishop of the vniuersal Church Chncil Cal. 1. Act. 16. to whom the keping of Gods vineyarde was committed by our sauiour In the Councel of Constantinople where Menas the Patriarche was president it is said Concil Const we folowe the Sea Apostolike it we obey with them which communicate with it we communicate those which are condemned by it we condemne also In the seuenth Synod of Carthage the seat of S. Peter hath primacie through al the world being head of all the Churches of God In the Councel of Laterane where the Greekes the Latines were In the general Councel of Lions in the Councel of Florence Conci Lat. c. 5. by consent of the Greekes of the Latines it is sayd defined that the holie Apostolike Seate and Bishopricke of Rome doth hold the Primacie ouer all the vniuersal worlde that the Pope is the true vicar of Iesus Christ father and doctor of all the Christians and head of all the Church He should make a great volume which would gather together all the testimonies of the supremacie of S. Peter of his successors ouer the Church This point was so cleere in the primitiue church that certain heretikes Theod. lib. 5. c. 14. act coll Carthag for to procure authoritie to their sect did faigne to haue coÌ„munion with the Romain Church so farre forth that the Donatistes did suborn a Bishop of their sect whom they caused to remain at Rome secretely that they might say that they had that marke of the true church which is of the chaire of S. Pet. And they suborned an other which did practise Optat. lib. 2. with some raskall fugitiues of the citie of Rome coming froÌ„ thense for to proue by theÌ„ that he was bishop of Rome successour of S. Peter but these coÌ„panions being conuicted of this falshood were coÌ„founded and made ridiculous The Emperours theÌ„ selues haue acknowleged the bishop of Rome to be head of the vniuersal Church and they haue called him Pastor of Pastors father of fathers and the toppe of the crown of the Clergie And that so publiklie as the Paymin Authors make mention therof as it appeareth in Amianus Mancellinus which named Pope Liberius souerain Bishop of the Christian law and the Emperour Constance caused S. Athanasius Bishop of AlexaÌ„dria to be sent to the same Pope of purpose to cause him to be condemned by him which hath the soueraign authoritie ouer the Christians Thus by these testimonies as wel of the Gospel as of the ancieÌ„t fathers Councels and by the practise of the Church it selfe sithens the Apostles to this day it is manifest that there hath bene one soueraiÌ„ head in the ministerie
of the Church vicar of the souerain head essential Iesus Christ and successor of S. Peter in that vicareige to whom al Catholikes which are dispersed throughout the world are ioyned as members to their head Loe here 12. markes of the true church That is to say 1. The possessiō propertie of the name Catholike 2. The succession of the Apostolike priesthood 3. Antiquitie 4. The long cōtinuance without interruptiō 5. The largenes of the kingdome 6. The victorie of the whole world by efficacie of doctrine 7. The conformitie in doctrine with the primitiue Church 8. The holynes of doctrine 9. The holines of life of the possessours 10. The gloire of miracles 11. The Infelicitie of the impugners and prosperitie of the Protectours 12. And the vnion of the members with their head the successour of S. Peter These are comprised in fower woordes of the Creed that is to say in that she is one Holy Catholike and Apostolike I doe not enter here into the groundes of the doctrin of the Catholike Church The principal scope of this present treatise was onely to shew that out of the Catholike Church man can not be saued whatsoeuer thing he doth whereunto I haue added these outeward markes the which without farder disputation may be sufficient to euery Christian mā to resolue him selfe touching all difficulties whatsoeuer for all the controuersies which haue bene are and euer shal be in the faith doe rest therein and are reduced to that onely head to finde the true Church Which being ones found a man is out of all hazard and peril of errour For all agree vpon this principle that there is but one Church and that the same can not erre being as saith S. Paul The piller and seur grounde of truth And therefore whosoeuer shall doubt of any thing as of Sacramentes of the Inuocation of saincts of praying for the dead or of any other point of lerning he must onely marke that which the Church doth teach thereof and then therevpon to resolue him selfe more assuredly then if an Angel of heauen were descended expressely to informe him of the same And euery other cōgregation which shal call it selfe the church teaching the contrary must needes be conuinced of falsehood of being sent from sathan of heresie and of impietie All the markes of the Catholike Church are euidenly found in the Romain Church The respect of the name Romain is not to the town of Rome but the to chaire of S. Peter which hath that highnes of glory to haue bene cheefely and especially priuileged by the prayer and promise of our sauiour who prayed for S. Peter to that ende that his faith might not faile and founding vpon him his Church hath promised vnto him that the proud gates of hel shall neuer preuail against her as in fact we see that sathan hath ouercome the Churches of the other Apostles and ouerthrowen their chaire In Hierusalem in Alexandria in Ephesus and els where But not the chaire wherewith S. Peter hath innobled the citie of Rome This Church is onely inuincible insupplantable immouable frō her foundation It is she that hath born away the victory of the whole world She hath destroyed Paganisme ouerthrowen Idolatrie expelled al heresies tamid kingdomes Empires ouercome the Philosophers driuen away the darkenes of the world hath gained to god all men of good will She hath troden down and always shal tread down the head of sathan She hath ben euer sithēs S. Peter an obiect vnto the world very apparant as a moūtain of vnderstāding A burning light not to be quenched and an infallible Pole starre directing the way of God To her onely in the troublesome and tempestous sea of variable opinions of men we must haue regard She is the quickening plant that God hath planted in earth hauing her Roote in heauen Yt is not possible for men to root her out no more than it is to throw downe God from his heauenlie seat vpon whom she is founded All the heresies of the world haue bent them selues against that Church Titans Hypocrites and euel Christians haue assaulted her but she remaineth victorious ouer all her enemies not by the merits of men but by the efficacie of that prayer which our sauiour made to his father for the faith of S. Peter and to make his promise effectuall The promises of the truth it selfe can not be vaine Iesus Christ sayd of the temple of Hierusalem that there should not one stone remayne vpō an other and so it came to passe The Iewes edeuonred them selues with might and maine to build the same again but fier came from heauen and placed it self in the foundations for to hinder their intreprise He said of his church that it should endure as long as the world shal remain And men doe see that hither to she remaneth as long as the world hath indured heauen and earth shall passe but the woordes of our Sauiour shall not passe Let these wicked Spirites heretikes Schismatikes Hypocrites and deuelishe men lay their embushes conspire make warre and doe all they can against that Church yet shal they get nothing They fight against the prayer and promise of our Sauiour they doe fight against GOD him selfe The deuils haue not gotten the victory in heauen against the Angels neitheir shall they get it in earth against the Church Many Angels did fall many members of the Church doe fall dayly But as the kingdom of Angels was neuer wholly ouerthrowen so the whole Church shall neuer be vanquished Hel may shake the earth but not the heauens The Church is not an earthly building a building of Adam a building of no other foundation then natural It is an heauenly building whollie supernatural and diuine whereof not man but God him selfe is the foundation and founder and the holy Ghost is the Architect which hath gathered together the liuely stones This building is not made of men borne by nature as the children of Adam but of men made heauenlie regenerate by grace as the children of God Faith which is the bond of the bodie of that Church is aboue the heauen the obiect of that faith which is IESVS Christ Author of that regeneration doth appertain more to heauen by his diuine person then to earth by that humain nature Therefore a thowsand hels shal neuer be able to preuaile against that church whosoeuer thou art therfore which hast separated thy self from that Church what so euer thing thou doest thou art not apparteining to IESVS Christ thou art a member of sathan and a pray of euerlasting damnation Goe about the earth and the see trott vp and downe the world and goe where thou wilt searching the truth thou shalt not find the same out of this Church The Church Catholike Apostolike and Romain is the same of whom doth spring rise as from a center all the droctrine of Christianitie the chaire of S. Peter is the chaire of Iesus Christ and of the truth it self al other
THE FIRME FOVNDATION OF CATHOLIKE RELIGION AGAINST THE BOTTOMLES PITT OF HERESIES wherin is shewed that only Catholiks shal be saued that all heretikes of what sect so euer are excluded from the kingdome of heauen Compyled by IOHN CAVMONT of Champany And translated out of French into English by IOHN PAVNCEFOTE the elder Esquyre in the tyme of his banishement Hoc habet authoritas matris Ecclesiae hoc fundatus veritatis canon contra hoc robur contra hunc inexpugnabilem murum quisquis arietat ipse confringitur S. August de verb. Apost serm 15. Imprinted at Antwerpe by Arnold Coninx M. D. LXXXXI Cum Gratia Priuileg Reg. Maiest HIS Catholike Maieste hath graunted and giuen licens to Arnold Coninx that he may print the booke named The firme foundation of the Catholike Religion against the bottomles pitt of heresie Translated out of the french into Inglish by Iohn Paunsfote Esquyer vvhere in defence is made to all printers for to print the same for the space of three yeares vvithout licence of the said Arnold Coninx Geuen the 15. of Nouembre 1591. Subsigned Io. de Buschere THE PREFACE OF THE translator AS it hath bene often a great greef vnto me to consider hovv many of you my deer frends and good countrey men not al of malice but some of blyndnes some other of a folyshe feare others also for lak of instructions and trevv informatiō of the holy Catholike Church the true spouse of Christ do daylie erre and lyue in scisme heresie diuiding yor selues by that meanes from Christ his mysticall bodie hazarding your soules to perishe eternally Euen so of late I did not a litle reioyce vvhē I hitt by chance on a litle frenche treatise vvhich doth lyuelie expresse as it vveare in a table sett furth such sufficient true infallible tokens of Christ his Church that none can be ignorant that is vvilling to learne nor no man lefte in blyndnes that vvil open his eyes to see And albeit my skylin the french tonge is but small yet the loue vvhich I beare to you my deare frendes hath supplied that vvant and giueth me corage to attempt somthing aboue my strēgth in translating the sayd treates as vvell as I could vvhich I haue put to the print that you may be partakers of it trusting that you vvil accept the same as a token of my good vvill And if it shall please God to send my labeur so good successe as that any of you all receiue benefit therby after due thankes to him that is author of all goodnes I pray you remember me in your deuout prayers vvho haue not bene vnmyndfull of you here in this my poore banishement And so hoping you vvill excuse or amend such faultes as you may find eyther in the translation or printyng I beseche God send you so much light as to find the vvay home again to the Catholike Church Fare you vvell Your louing frinde I. P. HE VVHO GATHERETH NOT WITH ME SCATTERETH ABRODE Matth. 12. THE FIRST principall most necessary groūde of all 1. Cor. 13. woorke agreable to GOD is that it be done in charitie in vnion of Christians in the Catholike church Iohan. 1. 1. Iohan. 2. and all that man doth in the spirit of the Catholike church is wel liked before God for that it is as it were dipped in the bloud of his welbeloued sonne IESVS Christ in whom he taketh his good pleasure of whose grace and vnction all those that be Catholikes be partakers flowing from him vpon them as from the head vpon the members Yea it is IESVS Christ him self which liueth which breatheth which 1. Cor. 15. Galat. 2. S. August in Psalm 85. ser 4. de sanct Steph. prayeth and which sturreth in all those that be Catholikes and members of the body of his Church He prayeth saieth S. Augustin for vs he prayeth in vs and he is prayed to of vs As Vnus ipse saluator corporis sui Dominus noster Iesus Christus filius Dei orat pro nobis orat in nobis orarur à nobis vt Sacerdos noster orat pro nobis vt caput nostrum orat in nobis vt Deus noster oratur a nobis our Priest be prayeth for vs as our head he prayeth in vs and as our God is prayed to of vs. This is the glory the ioy and assurance of a Catholike man that Iesus Christ is in him the chief agent the which for his reuerence is heard of God in him and this is the trew firmament of the Catholikes more firme then the heauen it self It is not so in heretikes all that which is of heretikes is accursed and abomination before God their faith their preaching their prayers their fastings their almes S. Ignat. ep ad Heron. S. Io. Chrys ho. 65. in Ioan. al actes of religion comyng from them are nothing els but cursed sacriledge pollution If they should raise vp the dead if they should be more vvise then Angels If they should haue their faith so great as to moue mountaines if they should distribute S. Cypr. lib. 2. de vni Eccles S. August lib. de siide ad Pe. all their goods to the cherishing of the poore if they should kepe heroically continual virginitie if they should delyuer their bodies to be burned if they should shyne with an Angelical holines all this serueth them for nothing being diuided from the body of the Church al this vvould not any thing appease the rigour of the eternal ire of God vpon them Core Dathan and Abiron did sacrifice to the same God that Nuus 16. Moyses did yea to the only trew and almighty God but for that it was done in diuision from the body of the Church the earth did open and swalow them vp aliue with their wiues their childrē their how 's holds their Tabernacles and all their substance and more ouer the fyer of God did consume 250. of the chief that were assotiated with them and 14700. of the people for that they murmured at that iustice And the fury of Gods wrathe had consumed all the people wholy but for the vehement intercession and meditation of the Priesthood of Aaron which did appease the same God doth not receaue sacrifice but of his Priestes whom he hath ordayned for that purpose and there is no seruice what so euer agreable to God but that of the children of his Church Let not the heretike flatter him self with the holy scriptures as peruerse men do abuse all the gyftes of God employing them otherwise then they be ordeyned by his prouidēce so do they abuse the holy sctiptures them selues That hath bene alwayes the cloke of impietie of heretikes they carie against Iesus Christ the signe of Iesus Christ sayth S. Augustin S. Aug. ep 16. Contra Christum portant signū Christ cōtra Euāgelium de ipso Euangelio gloriātur and take holde of the Gospel to make engines to
spirit and not seing but of his light and who so euer kepeth not this vnitie he kepeth not the law of God he hath no faith and he can neyther haue the life nor the saluation of Iesus Christ It is S. Paul him Ephes 4. self that teacheth this Sacramēt of the vnitie of faith in the vniuersalitie of the Church as there is not saith he but one sole God lord father of all so there is but one faith one hope one trust one bodie one spirit the head of which bodie is the sonne of God Iesus Christ who being him self the spring of lyfe euerlasting doth inspire lyfe to all the bodie doth furnish it dayly with strength by his holy spirit Whosoeuer is not a member of that bodie can not take lyfe of the spirit of Iesus Christ he is a straunger he is prophaned he is an enemie he is dead drye and wythered without moysture of all diuine grace and that no part of the promises and rewards of Iesus Christ he is the braunche Iohan. 11. cut from the true stocke appointed to the fyer to be burned If any of those which were out of the Arcke of Noe vvere saued those also shal be saued which are founde out of the Arke of the Church If the riuer cut from his spring dryeth not vp if the braunche diuided from the tree can bear fruit if the member cut from the bodie can take lyfe of the same bodie then also the man that is diuided and cut from the Church shal liue of Iesus Christ He can not haue God for his father which wil not haue the Church for his mother and he can not be vnited with God which is not vnited with the Church At the same instant that man doth separat him self frō the Church he dyeth from Iesus Christe and leeseth the grace of the holy Ghost For euen as the vniuersal sensible light is tyed to the bodie of the sunne which doth spread and distribute it to all the world in the absence wherof there is nothing but darknes euen so al grace of reconciliation to God was annexed to the bodie of Iesus Christ yea to this bodie of his which dayly groweth by increase of the chosen preordinate to lyfe euerlasting which is the bodie of the Church which he doth gather together taking out from the heape of mankynd al men of good wyl which haue bene are and shal be to the end of the world out of which bodie there is but the wrath and malediction of God Search where you wil out of this Church you shall fynde nothing but death To be short he which is not in the Church hath no God he hath his owne proper iudgement his phantasie and his owne presumption for his God he maketh him selfe an Idol doth worship only his owne imagination in place of God If such a man calleth him self a Christian that is as the deuil often sayth he is Christ and if he be kylled for his heresie that is no martirdom bur the reward of his heresie which is not yet al purged by his owne death Dying he goeth to yeld and ioyne him self eternally to the darkenes which he hath worshiped and to his head which is the deuil There is no martirdom nor death pretious before God but in the catholique Church in the which only is the grace of the Gospel of Iesus Christ the which only she doth preach in sinceritie and truth and without any hazard or possibilitie to erre because she taketh her direction of the holy Ghost of the tradition of the Apostles and of the holy scriptures together which be the three grounds set downe by the holy scripture it self the which doth shew that not shee only buyldeth vp the Churche but is also holpen of the traditions of the liuely voyce of the Apostles to the which she often tymes referreth men Kepe sayeth S. Paul the traditions 2. Thess 2. Tenete traditiones quas didicistis siue per sermonē siue per epistolā nostrā Act. 15. 16 which you haue learned of me be it by woord or by our epistle and it is written in the Actes of the Apostles that in al places whear S. Paule passed by he recommended to the Churches to kepe the ordinances of the Apostles and of the elders which were things not written When the Apostles had planted the Gospel they did not say al things at one time nor in one howre nor wrote al that they sayed but according as occasion was giuen they planted their doctrine so that the holy scripture which we haue of the Apostles and of the Euangelists is not so muche a full doctrine of faith as a witnes of the faith that they preached Now if wee will goe higher the law of Moyses cōsisted no lesse in tradition than in writting and not only the sense but the letter and text thereof was to be learned by tradition For they had the scriptures in maner but by half the pointing beeing not yet put to the hebrew text But the holy Ghost alwayes hath in formed the Church of the true traditions and the true sense of the scripture in such sorte as the Church and the holy scripture are so linked together that they both be as an indissoluble cheyne of golde The Church is not aboue the scripture but the authoritie of the Church doth shew the true scripture And when the Church hath need of wholsome information she doth goe to the scriprure and if there be any darknes in the scripture the holy Ghoste is giuen to the Church for to interpret the same Euen so in the olde law in al difficulties that rose the law of Moyses ordained that they should goe to the hygh priest for the tyme being and that they Deut. 17. Malach. 2. should folow his verdit not turnyng either to the right syde or the left vpon paine of death The Prophets also sent them thether and in the Gospel it self our sauiour commaundeth that if any obey not the Church Matt. 18. he be degraded from the name of Christian and holden for an Eathnike let no man now seeke excuses in a corner God hath appointed at al tymes the priests of the Church present to iudge the present controuersies and willeth that men should repayre vnto them his holy spirit assisteth them to that end He hath not promised vs in them more then in other men example of holynes but he hath promised vs by them the Oracles of his truthe Oh that al those that do erre in faith did know the vertue of the name Catholique and the horror of the name heretike how the Catholique in his faith doeth renounce his own reason his own iudgemēt his vnderstanding his wil and all his senses for to hearken simplie and absolutely vnto that that the Church doth teache how on the cōtrarie side the heretike doth groūde builde his fayth vpon his owne iudgement They should knowe that the name Catholique is a name of
chaires are the chaires of pestilence Take away frō before thy eyes those clouds of euil opinions heaped together and thickened by false reportes against ecclesiasticall persons and doe hinder the to see the truth if there be any spottes in those persons which be sett in the chaire of S. Peter it must needes be that all the true children of God find them selues therby inwardlie woūded and praye to God to make them cleane But in the meane time what so euer they be in their maners those are particular matters personal and separated from the chaire which is a dignitie authoritie and matter vniuersal I know that in manie ther is not a cromme of the holines of S. Peter that they be scandelouslie gone a straie from the life Apostolike but they teach the faith of S. Peter the Apostolike doctrine Looke not then vpon the faultes of the persons haue regard to the promise and to the prayer of our sauiour If the defectes of the ministers be of more force with the or beare more swaie with the for to alienate the from the church than the reuerence of the prayer and promesse of our sauiour to kepe the there thow art vnwoorthie of any other prayer and promesse of our sauiour The chaire of S. Peter is the maistresse of the faith I wold that she were also the example of holie life But what so euer scandal there hath bene in some thou shalt find others in the priesthood and people that better know the faults wherin they are then thei self more learned also and lesse reprocheable in their maners and in all pointes lesse imperfect then they self and are in ioye and in peace of their conscience in this Church There they receiue the sacraments of life euerlasting they exercise the workes of charitie and there attend the iudgement of God Doe not say apart to thy selfe that thou doest worshippe Iesus Christ that thou doest beleeue the Gospel and that thou doest resolue thy self according to the expresse word of God euen so sayd Arrius Manicheus Pelagius and all the auncient heretikes Thou doest not worship Iesus It is thy imagination and thy particular fansie wherof thou doest make an Idol which thou doest worshipe Thou doest bowe thy self downe before the woord of the deceiuer that hath seduced the not before the woord of God That which the Church doth teach is the expresse woord of God That which the heretike doth teach is the expresse woord of the deuil which doth vsurp the iudgement of the expresse woord of God and doth vse the same for a baite to make the swallow vp the hooke of error This now is the verie greatest of al synnes for wheras al that a mā may say of the formalitie of sinne it is no other thing but the turning away and goyng farre of from God There is no crime which seperateth more from God than heresie and there is not a sinner that Iesus Christ doth hate so much as the heretike The sinnes of workes Adulterie Meslanghter couetousnes and other doe depriue men of the grace of God but thei doe not driue a man from the Church neither doe they cut away the roote of life which is the faith by the which a man may find the way to enter againe into grace but heresie doth not onlie take away grace but doth also cut away the root of life doth depriue men of the participatiō of all good things that be in the church The scripture sayth that faith is the substāce of thinges to hoped for that without faith it is impossible to please God that the iuste of God do liue by faith that is to say breflie that faith is the foundation of all Christian building Now heresie doth take awaie from vs faith then onlie heresie is a sufficient cause why the heretike can neuer wel ground his hope can neuer doe worke agreable to God nor can neuer haue the life of the iust of God The other sinnes be as a tyle taken from the couerture or as a stone drawen from the wall which doth much hurt to the building But heresie is as it were the vndermyning of the foundation which doth destroye the whole building To be short this kinde of argument is plaine and verie true that no man can saue him selfe without the Sacraments of the Church The Sacraments be not administred but by the priest the priestes be not made but by the Bishoppes Bishoppes be not made but in the Romain Church then what so euer thing that man doth it is impossible by all impossibilitie to saue him self out of the Catholike Apostolike and Romain Church Doe not resist thees argumēts the more thou doest enforce they self to auoide them by euasions so many more halters doest thou put about thine owne neck smitest the axe in to thine owne foot And what so euer thy tounge doth speake to the contrarie thy soule doth fight against the and thy conscience shal neuer be in rest as longe as thou shalt be in heresie And S. Hierom vpon those words of S. Paul Hier. in epi. ad Tit. c. 3. that an heretike is subuerted and condemned by his owne proper iugement sayth verie wel thus the fornicator the adulterer the manslaer and other euil doers be driuen out of the Church against their willes by the priestes But the heretikes of them selues without constraint do depriue them selues of the Sacraments of saluation and of all the good things which be in the Church damning them selues wittinglie and throwing them selues downe hedlonge from their proper fredome in to the bottomlesse pitt of euerlasting perdition For conclusion I will exhort the as the Angels of God did exhort the handmaide Agar that was departed with her sonne from the house of Abraham whom to bring home again finding her in the wildernes taking the waie towardes Aegipt he saied to her poore il aduised Agar seruant of Sara from whence comest thou and whether goest thou tourne again to thy maistres and humble thy self vnder her hand as if he wold say thinke on thy estate that thou comest from a noble house riche ful of the blessings of God that thou goest to cast thy self as a strayed sheepe into the throte of the woolf in the land of malediction And all these things well thought on turne again to thy maistres and humbling thy self vnder her hand thou shalt be happie in that house Euen so will I say to euerie heretike thinke that thou comest from the house of the lyuing God which is the Catholike Apostolike Romaine Church in the which onlie is the grace of Iesus Christ and the remission of sinnes and all blessings of God and thou goest in to the sect of a deceiuer which is one particuler man by whose mouth sathan hauing diuided the from the bodie of the only Church it must neds folow that thou fall in to the bottomlesse pitt of heresie which is the bottomlesse pitt of death and euerlasting damnation Take then the exhortation of the Angel comforter of Agar if not thou shalt soone mete an other Angel which shal be thy destroyer 1. Cor. 10. Heb. 9. If thou hast erred vntil this tyme cut the threde of thy errours renounce heresie and all newnes of opinion be the disciple not of any particular man what so euer he maye be were he more holy and more eloquent then an Angel but only of the Catholike Church the which can neuer erre for so much as she is gouerned by the holie Ghost and that IESVS Christ is her head which is the seur ground of the Catholikes vnto the which I pray God giue vs the grace to cleaue and continue firme and sure that we be found lyuelie members of his body when we shal-be iudged SO BE IT Libellum hunc Gallice intitulatum Du firmament des Catholiques contre l'Abisme des heretiques fideliter è Gallico in Anglicanum idioma per nobilem virum Joannem Pauncefote translatum ac per eximium Dominum Dom. Thomam Stapletonium Anglum S. Theologiae professorem examinatum ac manu eius propria approbatum Ac postremo ex primaria copia manu dicti D. Stapletoni subsignata fideliter teste venerabili Domino D. wilhelmo Clederow Prefbytero Anglo transscriptum tuto posse imprimi ac prelo committi praesentium tenore attestor ego infrascriptus Antwerpiae 9. Octob. Anno 1590. Michael Hetsroey Bruegelius S. Theologiae Licentiatus Canonicus Cathedralis Ecclesiae B. Mariae Antwerpiensis librorum Censor