of old but also of latter yeeres God euer be blessed for it Cuius manus non est abbreuiata approue them to be Saints canonized with GOD indeede as hauing their names writteÌ„ in the book of life whose worthty and famous memorye for all generations shall neuer decay Chap. LXXII Wherefore he weareth his Crowne is borne of mens shouldrrs suffereth deuout persons to kisse his foote THe hereticks say the Pope is proud for that men kisse his foote beare him on their shoulders and that hee weareth a triple crowne the like first for wearing a crowne they ought not to blame him for he is not only Bishop but also a king ouer that country and citty requisite it is for him his couÌ„sel the Cardinals to beare some shew of maiesty and estate otherwise the infirme people that must bee houlden in awe would despice and not obey them Againe if God suffer wicked Princes to haue glory and raigne it is for the glory of his name then that sometimes his deerest seruants may haue peace and honor euen vppon earth for the comefort of the faithful that infidelles may haue lesse cause to triumph and blaspheme the name of Christ as though he could not exalt his Vicare and Steward but would forsake altogeather his dearest seruants As for being borne of mens shoulders yt is for that he may the better be seene of the people as he passeth to Saint Peters Church of some solemne feast that they may all see him and haue his blessing which they could not a nomber see yf he went in the throng whereas there is such presse sometime of such a high feast many thousands being gathered together so great is the deuotion of the people to serue Christ honor him in his Vicar and visite the bodies of the holy Apostles In that some of deuotion kisse his foote though he command nor require any so to do yet considering for whome they do it that is that it is for Christ whose person by Gods prouideÌ„ce he representeth he dissaloweth not their deuotions and we se therein the word of the holy Prophet in some sort according to the letter verefied that before Christ prophesied Inimici eius terram lingent that his enemies shall licke the earth that is those that sometimes were enemies to Christ as Rome was before it receaued CHRIST faith afterward shal become so obedient subiect to Christ that they shall worshippe his very footestoole and not only kisse his foote but the very earth his Vicar treadeth vpon Moreouer whereas Saint Gregory Saint Leo and all holy Fathers Popes in that seat writt of themselues though most humble men yet I said they affirme of themselues that they supplye the place of Saint Peter and CHRIST yet This I heard of such inhabitants â— Rome thaâ— well knew it that this was the custome of Pius quin tus and Gregoriâ—â— 13. as euery one may easely perceiue they bee most humble and lowlye men of themselues in so much that the Popes that now bee in their owne persons giue audience and will heare and helpe the cause of the poorest men in the world yea once euerie day from his most waighty affaires the Pope alotteth a tyme to heare himself the complaints of the poore insomuch that in his writinges such is his humility he termeth himself with no higher a style then calling himselfe alwayes the seruaunt of the seruaunts of GOD. Chap. LXXIII Why heretickes haue euer slaundered the Pope and how GOD turneth their malice to the benefitte of his elect and how heretickes be forerunners of Antichrist and of Christs victory ouer his enemies in his Church ANd yet will hereticks can the Pope proud that with al humility watch and care seeketh their saluation both night and day But it is not without cause heretikes slaunder and barke against the Pope for they like wolues as long as he the lawfull pastor is sound cannot haue full scope to inuade and deâ—oure Christs slock and therfore as holy Fathers doe note it hath euer bene the manner of heretiks to bark against the Pope yet see how God can turne all to the best for truly the brabling most impudentiying of your Ministers against the pope gaineth them litle for it giueth some occasion that neuer almost heard of the Pope to enquier further what he is and so finding him in the end to bee Christs Vicar and Pastor of their soules by good enquirie of the truth they forsake their woluish Ministers as liers and enimies to Christ the truth who because they be Antechristians themselues therfore the more primly to goe masked vnknowne them selues they call the pope Antichrist not vnlike to that drab and vnnaturall mother whereof we reade in Scripture that that hauing oner-laine her owne child malapertly would haue faced downe the naturall mother and haue had her liuing child in keeping But wise Salomon decided the matter So you see it is the property of naughty women euer to sclaunder the good that their owne naughtines may either seeme more tollerable or lesse suspected So I say this corrupted whore of Babilon this strumpet heresy euer slaundereth the good woman the natueral mother the spouse of Christ his Church but especially the head thereof Christs Vicar the Pope calling him Antechrist Christan Rome Babilon and the like wheras as I declared they themselues indeede be very antichristians preparers of Antechrists way his prophets and very forrunners and their many folde heresies bee nothing but a very heape of deadly damnable dregges corruption a very babilonicall confusion But Christ our true Salomon the wisdome of his father hath and euer will iudge and discerne our naturall mother his deere spouse the Catholike Churches cause will restore her weeping for her children lost wilv according to his promise preserue his Vicar her lawfull pastor the Pope in all truth that his faith shall neuer faile and send the drabbe and strumpette of heresie and sinne packing and make her folishnes and wily deceipts knowne vnto all men yea will cast her into the fiery lake burning with fire and bristome in sacula saculorum world without end Where all her fawters that maintained her here and fledde not out of her be time al Kings Princes and nations of the worlde that with her whordome were corrupted shall crye Woe woe Babilon Babilon that great Citty is falne downe and so of the cupe of Gods wrath with her shall they drink for euer who were corrupted with her prostitution and who folowed her plefures and delights here in this life When Christ in his Triumphant Kingdome the Church spight of that olde Dragon the strumpet and all her Merchants shall raigne for euer Chap. LXXIIII Of the assistantes of the Pope as first of his Cardinals and why they be so called also of religious men Priests and Godly men of this time that dyed Martirs and of the dying obstinately of heretickes HEretickes to shew all their spight when
yea Mahomet and Sergius with all old Heretiks may as well alledge as Luther Caluyn Beza which that learned assembly seeing might well be ready with handes feete out of their company to explode yet Beza so vnable to defend his Maisters or his owne calling and yet so frontlesly still auouching the same to be by election of his people A learned diuine of Paris then vrged him to giue but one instance from the Apostles time of such an election or vocation which Beza plainlie confessing though such an example indeede could not be giuen yet still he shamelesly affirmed that his doctrine by the number of those he conuerted were sufficient to declare his lawfull calling yea miraculous as great a miracle as said Sir Thomas Moore as to see a stonefall downeward as though people of all nations be not euer most prone to imbrace licentious liberty especially vnder the pretence of vertue and authority as appeered in Mahomet and others who haue had greater flocks following them then yet Luther Caluin and Beza haue But the truth is as it most euidently appeereth by the Scriptures the tradition of the Church vniuersall and all true Ecclesiastical writers none euer from the Apostles time to this day haue or can be as true Pastors lawfully called sent and ordained but such only as can shew their vocation and lawfull succession from and of the Apostles or Apostolik men As S. Paul for example made Timothy Bishoppe and Timothy others so such Bishoppes as can lawfully shew their succession from the Apostles may by the approbation of CHRIST his Vicar especially make other Pastors and Bishoppes to teach feede and gouerne the Church of GOD as sonnes lawfull heires and successors to the Apostles And so bicause the heretiks haue neither miracles lawfull succession nor ordinarie vocation seeing withall how the claime of the consent and election of the people for their vocation and mission is so friuolous and vaine yea most shamefull as against all authority of the Scripture and practise of the whole Church whose name is yet of such authority that they dare not auouch that any can be saued without it See now another shift as it were the last refuge deuised though by some forraigne heretikes yet now chiefly of late by one Buny and many of such ministerly companions which is this forsooth that Lutherans Caluinists Papists Protestants and all be but one Church and why But bicause say they we differ but in some small points but in the chiefe articles and â—nbstance of our religion do agree well I will omit heere to set downe how well the Lutherans and Calâ—inists agree when as Luther to his dying day as appeareth by his vvritinges yet condemned Zwinglius to the pitte of hell and all his followers and so in like manner the Caluinistes the Lutherans to let these men and infinite moe Heretickes of this time agree amongst themselues who al make one Church indeede but the Church of the malignant only that is the Synagogue of Sathan and to lett heere passe also schismatiks who though they agree with the Church of GOD in true faith yet most miserable meÌ„ they cut themselues off from the same church in doing contrary to her lawes and precepts and so by their owne iudgement alas condemne themselues in that they best alowe This only I say against the Lutherans Protestants and all Heretikes in the world you vncircumcised Philistians what haue you to do with the host of the liuinge GOD the Catholicke Church which you blaspheame contemne and by all meanes possible goe about to depresse rent and teare a sunder can any be trulie accounted a lawfull subiect and due member of that common weale the soueraigne Prince whereof he betrayeth defieth and with all hostility impugneth can any be called a naturall and dutifull child to his mother that with Nero goeth about to exenterate rent or teare her bowells asunder or shal he be heire in his fathers house that weary of his fathers good ordinances life and discipline becommeth a paracide shall that Shepheard haue his hyre at the yeares end that stealeth and deuoureth his Masters sheepe or shal that member be left in the body that being become pestilent and contagious would corrupt spoyle and destroy the rest Or to be briefe can any ingenuous or generose honest wel minded Husband accept those children preferring them to as good portions as his owne which his wife confesseth to be conceiued in adultery Then surely will Christ accept protestantes for children of his Church which she his deere and most faithfull spouse so iustly execrateth and abhorreth as bastard slaues for corrupting his word with adulterous doctrine for abolishing his Sacraments persecuting his seruants prophaning his holines and extreame horrible blaspheamy of his holy name what I say shall ProtestaÌ„ts be with vs meÌ„bers of the Catholike Romane Church whom they so blaspheamously terme the whore of Babilon whose head Christs Vicar they call Antechrist scoffing at him in their rimes and jests deriding him vpon stages rayling on him in their pulpits yea joyning him with the Turke in their new made Psalmes saying from Turke and Pope defend vs Lord teaching â—o their children from their cradels to sing and pray against the Vicar and substitute of Christ in their new congregations as the olde cankred Iewes teach their young bâ—oode to pray and blaspheame Christ in their rotten outworne Synagogues nay the Lutherans in the beginning much more now their followers being come to the perfection of the fift Gospell preferred the Turke before the Pope wishing rather to liue vnder him then vnder the Popedome nay haue not Protestants of late shaken hands with the Turke wishing him all good successe in his affaires yea some of the chiefe Princes amongst Protestants as appeareth in their letters making him an open gappe to their powers to inuade all Christendome vvil these be accounted children of the Catholike Church that thus goe about might maine to ruinate her whole corpes by worde and sworde nowe at length as their first father Luther at first dash went about to cutte off the Popes head when the Lutherans draue For that army coÌ„sisted most of Lutheran hired Souldiers out of Ger many for whose out rage against Rome Ca rolus 5. was not to bee blamed they making spoyle of that holy Cittie against his will him into the Castle of S. Angele sacked Rome robbed the Churches and made themselues Cardinalles of derision in the Popes Pallace yea made hauock of all vvhich yet by GODS just judgment they long enjoyed not For as their chiefe Captaine ascending the wall died a sudden death so the rest of that sacriledgious army within a few moneths after lost all yea the most of them dyed miserably O impudencie be these children of that Catholike Church with vs that thus like vipers indeuour to burst her bowelles asunder yea most tyrannically cut out of her very breasts whereof notwithstanding her holy and sweete spouse Iesus her
grace the sweet liâ—our of his holie Sacraments without this Church of Christ no saluatioÌ„ can be found this Church is worthily called the ship of S. Peter out of which whosoeuer at death shall be found shal bee ouerwhelmed without all doubt in those flouds of eternall damnation For as at Noes floud none were saued but those only that were in the Arke eight persons euen so we cannot pas through the Sea of this troublesome world nor arriue to the sure haueÌ„ of rest with god in his kingdome vnlesse we saile in Noe and Saint Peters ship Christs holy Church which church is nothing else but a congregation of al faithfull people liuing in one faith or vnity of beleif vnder Christ their head his Vicar the cheif Pastor of our souls Saint Peters successor heare in earth keeping that faith and beliefe that Christ and his Apostles taught and hath beene euer openlie preached in Christs Church without intermission euen from Christs Assention vnto this day shal be so without faile euen to the end of the worlde For against his Mat. 16 Church Christ promised The gates of hel that is the Diuel and al his power that is al Infidels Turkes Iewes Heretâ—kes Schismatikes should neuer preuaile but the true Catholike church hath more manifestly shall haue in the end the vpper hand though for a time for our sins in this and other countries it hath beene sore persecuted and oppressed yet can it neuer be vanquished or suppressed because Christes worde shall neuer faile who promised to be with it and assist it with his holy spirit to the end of the world Nay the more it is persecuted the more in the end it will florish as the vine that is pruned afterward bringeth out branches more perfectly and more plentifull fruit This ship of Saint Peter hath bin sore tossed with stormes of persecution froÌ„ time to time but yet by the good guiding of Christ her head neuer ouerwhelmed How sore was it shaken when Nero that bloudy tirant and persecuting Emperour slew the chief Captaines therof Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome in which city now Christs Religion by his special grace and by the merits praiers of these Apostles most florisheth What bloudy battailes afterward made Domitian Diocletian and rhe rest of those persecuting Kings and Emperours against the same Church slaying by thousands of ChristiaÌ„s in one day The Arrian Heritickes aboue a thousand yeares agoe that denied the Son of God to be of the same substance with his father as the Heretickes of our time now deny him though not altogither alike but in another manner and in another article of our beliefe according to his worde to be heare with vs in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar Those that were true Christian Catholickes especially Bishopps Preists were for the truth by them persecuted with fire and sword both by Sea and land Yet by the valiant death and constancie of Martirs and worthy Confessours who were robbed spoiled of goods landes liberties and liues by long imprisonment death as many in this countrie for the same cause now be they in the end obtayned ouer the enimies of the truth the victorie that euen in those very places where greatest persecution bloodshed was for the truth there afterward was of all sorts of people greatest confession of the truth Churches and houses of prayer being raised in those very places where many Martirs were hanged shed their blood the bloody persecutor dying and being buried in hell in eternal obliuion The glorious Martir now triumpheth and reioyceth with God in Heauen with perpetuall praise and memory of his name here on earth When the ghospel in this country was first preached a blessed man harboured Amphibo lâ—s by Saint Albon nere to Christs time that blessed Martir for his receipt of Christs messenger and for becoming a Christian shed his bloud and yet in that very place was afterward a goodly Abbey built where Christ was serued both day and night and the towne of Saint Albons as of whome it tooke the name for many hundred yeares honoured God in him in that place who before as a traitor and enimie to the Realme and state they put to death Afterward about a thousand years agoe when Saint Augustine the Moncke was sent by Saint Gregorie then Pope of Rome to restore preach christs faith and religion here amongst English men then a mongst the Britons in some sort partly decaied for sinne as now in a great part of the whole Isle it is if not worse in manie mens hartes though God bee thanked a Church though litle poore and afflicted wee haue still manye mockes buffets and blowes that holy Moncke with the rest of his fellowes had before they could recall this Country to the right way of saluation The storme against them was sharp for a time But afterwardes with long patience Christ bad the winde cease and there became a great calme The Church of England hauing great tranquility flourishing after in religion virtue almost a thousand years togither till wicked Luther a many of his fellowes runagate Friers and forsakers of their order and religion for the desire they had to liue as they lust in al liberty pleasures of the flesh broched a new gospel I would say raised vp a moÌ„strous storme of heresy infidelity troubling the peace of the christian world quite ouerthrowing the coÌ„mon state of ReligioÌ„ here in our Country till it please God to bid the raging storme cease which no doubt hewil do wheÌ„ it semeth best to his good wil pleasure who after a storme sendeth faire weather when he hath beaten his children wel knoweth to cast the rod into the fire in the meane time in this perilous storme it behoueth vs to bee well armed least we be ouerwhelmed with al vertues but first cheifly with true faith and religion Chap. II Of the first certaine note of the true Church WHerfore because heretiks the enimies of truth deceiue simple soules vnder the shewe of truth glory of the Church as though they only were true meÌ„bers of the same which notwithstaÌ„ding they oppugn pul down Therfore the first note wherby you may knowe the true church of Christ froÌ„ the Church of Satan is this that the Church of God is called Catholike which word Catholike is deriued froÌ„ the Greeke and in Latine is asmuch as vniuersalis that is vniuersall and generall common as it were to al true beleuers of all nations so that the true Church of Christ is commonly called the Catholike church or at least knowne The proper etimologie of this word Catholik is vniuersall or generall of all sorts so to be called as we are taught in our Creed to beleue the holy Catholike Church so that true ChristiaÌ„ beleuing men are commonly called catholikes those that be deuided from this knowne common faith and Church of Christ in
right truly said that holy father Extra ecclesiam non est salus without the Church there is no Saluation and that you may better perceaue this reason the holy Apostle S. Paul 1. Cor. 12. compareth Christs misticall body the church in some sort vnto a natural body wherein euery member you se hath his office and function the eye seeth the eare heareth the hand helpeth the legg and the legge carieth hand the whole bodye euery member is necessary one to the other and euery member is ruled by the head receiueth life froÌ„ the body but deuide but a member cutt but a leg or an arme from the body it dieth you see the reason is because it is not of the body euen so it is in Christs mistical body his spouse the holy Catholike Church whereof hee our good Lorde Sauiour that tooke vpon him our seruile nature for vs is the true head for all catholike Christians that beleue as hee teacheth and liue in vnitiy vnder his Vicar the true cheife Pastor of our Soules worthely frequenting his sacraments abstaining from all other sectes in their prayers Sacramentes and Ceremonies these bee truely called members of his visible Catholike Church and receiue grace and mercie from Christ the head yea that which is more because there is as we beleeue a commuion of Saintes euerye one is partaker according to his good disposition and due desertes of anothers good prayers workes and actions yea in each of the praiers and good deedes not only of those in earth so we be in state of grace but also of the merits praiers Promodulo nostro of the Blessed Saintes in Heauen as both they we with praiers good deeds helpe the faithfull departed in that cleansing fire of Godes iustice called Purgatorie But if one bee deuided from this common companye of Christes Church either by Heresie or Schisme as but onely going to the Church there to praye or to be present or praye with Heretikes then loe is he deuided from the body of Christ the Catholike Church for no maÌ„ can serue two Masters and so hee hath not the fruit of life and grace in him as long as he remaineth so deuided in that state the reason is because being deuided from the body he cannot haue influence of grace from christ which is the head thereupon it commeth that what fasting prayer almesededs soeuer a man doth without Gods Church it nothing auaileth to eternal saluation the reason is because our works if they be not seasoned or imbrued with the blood of Christ and watred with the deaw of his grace caÌ„not be meritorious nor acceptable in his sight For by christ our lord and head perfect God and man by his grace in his passion our workes be meritorious beyng as he is God the principal and efficient cause of our iustification and merittes as hee is man the mediation for our sinnes and onlye Christ is the cheife cause of our merit though Tit. 3. Ephes. 1. 2 Conc. Trid. ses 6. cap. 7. we once preuented with Gods grace bee workemen with him to our own meritt and saluation and the Sacraments be instrumental causes of our iustification so that by heresie or schisme wee be deuided froÌ„ the Church his body theÌ„ consequently we be deuided from him our head and so void of his grace without which our doings be nothing till we return backe to him in becoming true meÌ„bers of his body the Church Yet in what soeuer state a man be it is far better to do vertuous actions deeds thaÌ„ otherwise as by Fasting Praier Almes-deeds the like because in so doing ones damnation is the lesse and because it is a disposition to better that in the end God wil powre downe more pleÌ„tifully his grace bring him to perfection who worketh his gifts commonly in matter disposed yet first preuenteth or disposeth that a man may so dispose himself but yet as I said how so euer let him worke neuer so much yet if he be not in the ende a member of Gods Church he cannot be saued for the reasons aboue-saide And therefore a man ought to feare nothing more than separation from Christs Church suffer his soule rather to be separated from his body yea loose many liues if he had them than euer be deuided from Christs Catholike Church without which no true life of grace nor saluation can be found and when a man is once within the vnity of the Church then Celum ruat though the worlde turne vp-side downe if he sticke to thâ— rocke and liue accordingly to the rules thereof he needes not be afraide God is of his side he shall lay such a sure foundation of the rocke that hee needes not feare to bee caried away nor be wauering with euery blast of new doctrine Wherefore if you desire to knowe the trueth to be guided with trueth not to erre from the trueth then presently become a member of Christes body that you may be guided by the spirit of trueth that proceedeth from the heade Let no loue of the worlde riches nor worldlye promotions no loue of your selfe wife kins-folkes or children no feare of imprisonment persecution or death separate you from tâ—e knot of vnity and charity in Christ Iesus and in his blessed sweet spouse the Church inseparably ioyned together Then in al doubts you mâ—y be resolued to perfect quietnesse in God in heart conscience When you haue thus founde out and thus ioyned your selfe to the Catholike Church you neede not then staggar or stande wauering vngrounded neuer resolute in your selfe what to beleeue or doe by reason of this opinion or that nor neede not to leane vpon this man or that but vpon the infallible trueth that can neuer faile and without all doubt in all perplexities say and firmelye protest the Article of the Creede I beleeue the Holye Catholike Church See the goodnesse of God in prouiding our saluation for no man vnlearned is so simple but he maye doe this and be saued and none so learned and wise but if he exceed this limitte trusting to himselfe hee shall erre and be damned Wherefore thus we must with humility beginne to beleeue subiecting our iudgement and our reason vnto Faith and all our repose next to Christ in the holy Catholike Church and then we shall vnderstande otherwise we shoulde be as wauering reedes â—uer vnconstant for Nisi credideritis non First beleeue and after vnderstand Esaias intelligetis Vnlesse you beleeue saiâ—th God by his holy Prophet you shall not vnderstande wherefore perfectelye to vnderstande the trueth you must first learne to beleeue and followe the holy Catholike faith and Church otherwise you shal neuer be certaine nor at a-stay if you seeke for saluation For shee euer directed with the holy Ghost as Christ promised is a strong fortresse for great ones and a quiet repose for little ones and a Nurse and Mother for al. Chap. VII Of the
Witches haue openly and secretly calling vpon the Diuell but by the worde of God and authority giuen him by the Church The fourth of the lesser orders is called an Acolite that may bring in cruets wine water to the altar to serue the Priest cloathes candels incense lights and other things necessary And these 4. orders be degrees toward the 3. higher orders of Priesthood which declare what a soueraigne thing it is and that no mā ought rashly or presumptuously to ascend to so high a dignity without due consideration preparation and by degrees For if in the olde lawe the Priests had their Leuits and other inferior ministers to serue them in their bloudy sacrifice how much more conuenient is it in this lawe of grace that Priestes which serue the liuing God with the pure vnbloudy sacrifice of Christ at the Altar haue due Ministers seruitors which none but they so authorized can properly exercise These inferiour orders in the Primitiue church it seemeth were better knowne practised with more solemnity then nowe they bee though in Cathedrall Churches to this day in Catholicke countries they be solemnly vsed neither without them can any take Priesthoode without sinne Chap. XXXII Of the higher orders and howe necessary by Gods ordinance one head is ouer the rest THree higher orders there bee that binde to chastity yea the lowest of them which when any taketh ipso facto he is bound to perpetuall chastity The first is called Subdeacōship which is a degree vnder a Deacon hath authority giuen him by the Bishop solemnly to read the Epistle as the Deacō hath authority likewise so emnly to read and sing the Gospell and so to prepare the Chalice with other thinges about the Priest at Masse Likewise the order of Deacōship was in the primitiue Church of great authority as appeareth by S. Stephen who was a Deacon and others The highest order is Priesthood which office and function is giuen by the Bishop when hee giueth the Pattyn and Chalice with bread wine vsing the wordes whereby hee giueth authoritye from Christ to consecrate the very body and bloud of Christ and to remitt sinnes when he said Receaue ye the holy Iohn 20. Math 18. ghost Whose sinnes you remit they be remitted and whose sinnes you retayne they be retayned This Sacrament of order is one of the three Sacraments whereof Baptime and Confirmation be the other two that imprinteth in mans soule a charecter that is a note or signe distinctiue for euer from all other persons 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 1. that haue not receaued those sacramēts which three sacramēts cannot be itterated that is one person cannot take them twice For be a mā neuer so euil if he be baptised hee is euer a Christian though he forsake his faith and shal be so iudged of Christ at the last daye from others that are infidells and hee that is once a Priest become he neuer so euill let him take a strumpet and doe what he will yea though he were degraded yet hath he still that note in his soule of Priest-hood and if hee would attempt to consecrate in neuer so euill state of life he doth it as verily as anye good Priest though to his owne damnation For the dignity of the Sacrament dependeth not of the power of man but of God yet if we know the Priest to be a Schismaticke Hereticke or openly excommunicate wee ought then in no case to bee present at his Masse The Bishop hath jurisdiction ouer the Priest and the Archbishop ouer many Bishoppes and the Patriarche ouer manye prouinces and the Pope as much to say Father of fathers is the highe Priest of God Vicegerent here of Christ in earth Bishop of Bishops Head and chiefe ruler in spiritual matters ouer all Princes Priests Bishops and ouer the whole Church vnder Christ her head and who so gainesaith this obstinately is a proud rebellious heretike and traytor to Iesus our chiefe head Lord and King and the sweete spouse his Church and deserueth seuere punishment of bodye also as by such obstinacy as long as he continueth therein hee is already damned in soule yea in the olde lawe before Christ it was death to disobey the high Priest He that is proud saith holy Scripture Deut. ca. 17. and will not obey the commandement of the Preist let that man die the death that so mischiefe may bee taken out of the people of God For none bee so pernitious members to Christian religion as those that goe about to breake the peace of the Church and breake vnity and concorde which all those doe that barke against the Pope Godes Lieuetenant Christes Vicar here on earth yea and as the holy Fathers of olde doe record it hath euer beene the custome of heretikes to barke against the rock of S. Peter that Apostolike Sea the Pope because that against that rock heresie neuer hath nor can possibly preuaile but falling vpon it is burst asunder yea and sayeth S. Ierome Christ chose one Head amongst the rest that a head being made and so ordained ouer the rest all occasion of Schisme or diuision might be taken a way for we see yea in very policy that no kingdome no common weale or house with out one head can stand much lesse it is fit that Gods house so well ordered and sure that it may not bee moued should be without her head or steward But to bee head in spirituall matters belongeth neither to king nor temporall Prince to no temporall man much lesse to a woman to whome it is Mulieres in Ecclesia dei taceant 1. Cor. 14. 34. not lawfull to speake in the Church as by Gods word I could proue at large much lesseto gouerne in the Church This power was chiefly giuen to S. Peter and his successors and to the rest of the Apostles in their degrees whereunto other Bishops succeede Peter and his successors and as a secondary rocke chiefe piller head vnder Christ gouerne the whole Church and others his brethren and fellowe workemen be gouernours of particuler Churches as he is of the vniuersal Church chiefe Pastor Father hauing thereof the chiefest charge For vnto S. Peter after christ had asked him thrice whether he loued him he gaue charge to feed his vniuer sall flocke young olde seed my lambes Iohn 21. Math. 16. 18. saith he feede my sheepe Vpon S. Peter likewise as the rocke most sure vnder next vnto himselfe he laid the foundation of his Church promising his faith should neuer faile which neuer hath done to this day neither in S. Peter nor his successors or euer shall to the end of the worlde Let any heretike if he dare auouch this of any of their Patriarkes at Geneua or else where if any would be so impudent as in deed they be shameles all the world may know him for a liar as knowing their beginning euil proceding which will haue a worse ende But we dare
members go that way The feete bidds not the hand doe this neither any of the inferior members haue domination ouer the higher but euery one vseth his office and function and is gouerned by the head that is Christs Vicar and cheife Pastor of our soules S. Peters successor whose faith Christ promised should euer holde and neuer faile and therefore when tribute was to be paid for heads of houses our Sauiour bad S. Peter goe to the water and take a fish in whose mouth hee shoulde finde a peece of mony and that he bad Math. 17. 27. him pay for them both for me and theo said Christ marke here for whome this tribute was paid for Heads of houses only not for the rest of Christs disciples but for Cephas only that is S. Peter the rock and head of Gods house vnder Christ tribute was paid Thus you see what vnity peace charity is in Gods Church by reason of one heade vnder Christ the Pope Whereby you see how the citty of Gods Church by this order in what sweete disposition it is as that citty Ierusalem well built and noe maruaile for as we read Saba hearing of 3. Reg. 10 the wisdome and worthines of Salomon comming out of the vttermost coastes of the earth to see him when shee harde his wisedome saw the temple of God which he had built the princely Palace wherin he dwelt the godly order and disposition of his seruants the varietie of dishes the goodly seruice at his tables with great admiration burst out saying Beati serui qui astant coram te audiunt sapientiam tuam Blessed be thy seruants that wait in thy presence and hearing thy wisedome minister at thy table If Salomon then which was but a shadow or figure of Christ the eternall wisedome of his father coulde so dispose his house no meruaile then though Christ the truth and wisedome it selfe in most noble decent and wise order could dispose his holy Church which S. Paul calleth the 1. Tim. 3. house of God the pillar and foundation of the truth this is done especially by the Sacrament of Order for want wherof all discord and confusion is amongst heretikes whose rude company like the proud builders of the tower of Babilon confound one another and lifting their mouthes to heauen to pul God from his throne be deuided into innumerable sects without all order Wherefore the conuenticle of heretiks for her miserable confusioÌ„ is properly called in holy Scripture the strumpet of BabiloÌ„ drinking of the cup of Gods wrath iustly forsaken of him as destitute of his spirit for want of peace vnity and concorde and the Church of the malignant whereof that terrene bloudy Cain was the first builder as Abell that innocent Martir was the first builder of the citty of God Chap. XXXV Wherein is more at large described the Babilonicall confusion of sinne and heresy how God hath blessed this Country of olde for honour and obedience to the Church Priesthood THerefore in heresy this Sinagogue of Satan is such a discord and disorder that it is a very figure of hell vbi nullus ordo c. where as testifieth holy Iob there is no order but euerlasting horrâ—r dwelleth therein What biting is there of one another neuer agreeing with them selues nor their followers what bitter inuectiues euery one braggeth of the spirit of God euery one would be a teacher an other Paul as it were numquid omnes Apostoli numquid omnes Doctores The Apostle teacheth the Church of Christ that euery one should not take vpon him to haue the office of an Apostle or Doctor but with heretikes it is quite contrary euery one looketh amongst them to be a teacher at least to expound the word euery one thinketh himselfe a Priest though neuer called to that function by any lawfull authoritie they would seme to haue Scripture for theÌ„ but falsely wrested Al we Christians in deed in holy Scripture be called genus sacerdotale a priestly stock generation or kindred but what then So we be called al kinges in the scripture or a princely generation As therefore wee bee not all properly kings but in some respect it is that wee bee so called for that we by Gods grace liue well and raigne in Christ well rule our inordinate passions and motions and well gouerne our selues that it is which is a greater matter then for some loosely to gouerne a kingdome So and no otherwise aâ—l lay Christians be called Priests not for that they bee properly Priestes which none can be but those which by order are lawfully chosen and ordeined but because they offer vpon their harts spirituall sacrifice of prayses prayers thanksgiuing to God which be not properly sacrifice but metaphorically no more be all Christians Priests properly but figuratiuely as we be not al properly Kings but vnproperly and in signification But heretickes like vncleane beastes and vnreasonable creatures out of all order make no distinction of any thing but confounde all therefore no meruaile though amongst them the feete stand where the head shoulde and the head in steede of the feete Euery maide amongst them by Luthers opinioÌ„ is a Priest and euery Minister amongst the Puritanes woulde bee heade of the Church euery one may start vp into the Pulpit and say what the spirit moueth him the man controleth his Master woemen men for not preaching the worde sincerely if there be any forme of order at this day in England amongst Protestants as wearing of Surplices Rochets square Caps and keeping Belles and Churches and the like all these ceremonies that beare a laudable shewe they haue and steale from the Catholike Church insomuch that Whitgift their chiefe Superintendent of Canterbury coulde not defende such ceremonies as appeareth by his booke against Puritanes but only by Catholike arguments Wherefore they though vnworthely call him Pope of Lambeth But in deed as heretickes tearme them those bee but Popes ragges in deede The Diuell careth not to leaue amongst heretickes a a fewe ceremonies of Catholickes to deceaue the simple in making a shewe so the Sacraments that is the things them selues wherby men should receaue gods grace be taken away so they take the shell leaue out the kernell take but only our ragges as it were if I might so tearme such laudable ceremonies when they be well vsed in Gods Church and all to cloth with all and couer the vncleane filth and abhomination of their ragged heretical flock which be deuided almost into as many superstitious heresies contray opinions as they be men yet would imitate vs catholikes in their outward ceremonies as apes do meÌ„ In so much but that it hath pleased God to leaue some seed of catholiks yet in EnglaÌ„d that kepeth theÌ„ in some awe they before this I may iustly thinke had all become Turkes or worse openly denying Christ God and all as many of them alreadye by the relation of some that be of their secrets
it but that it condemneth flatly their damned heresies theÌ„ they put out of Gods word holy Scripture whole bookes as namely this booke of the Machabees whereout I tooke the latter authority which booke as certainly is Gods word as S. Iohns gospell For who kept for me vndefiled from others writings S. Iohns gospell or how do I know it to be the worde of God but that our holy mother the catholike Church hath kept it for me and teacheth me that it is Gods word which church telleth me as certainly that these books of Scripture that so plainly make for prayer for the dead be also the word of God If therefore I beleeue the holy Church in one why should I not aswell beleeue her in the other as therfore I am certain by no other meanes but by the Churches authority that S. Iohns Gospell is true and Gods worde so by the same meanes I knowe most certainly euery Christian is bound to beleeue this book of the Machabees other the like that heretiks dâ—ny to be the word of God Thus you see then we haue the plaine worde of God that it is a good and healthfull thought to pray for the dead yea our Sauiour himself teacheth there is a place a man shall not come out of it till hee haue paid the last Math. 5. 27. 12. 32. farthing after which once paid a man may come out but in hell a man shall neuer haue release wherefore our Sauiour speaketh this of Purgatory The same is taughâ— by S. Pauls doctrine also where 1. Cor. 3. 13. he compareth pure works vnperfect works the one to golde and siluer the other to wood haye stuble and sayeth that the fire shall trye of what qualitye euerye mannes worke is The like I could proue by the same Apostle and others the Apostles in other their writinges in holye Scripture but I make hast neither can I stand to alleadge authorities of holy Doctors for this mater it is needlesse their works be full S. Augustine as it is most plaine in his books of Confessions prayed and desired others to pray for Monica his mother departed yea he wrote a whole booke of prayer and care to be had for the dead if we consider what holy men did of olde to avoide this cleansing fire of Purgatory in the next life it is strange Historia AngloruÌ„ and almost incredible Saint Bede maketh mention of one that beeing in a traunce or extasie paste this life sawe some glimce of the ioyes of the blessed and of the paines of those in Purgatory by Gods sufferance returning backe to his body he euer after tooke such penance that it seemeth intollerable somtime standing in colde nights in freesing water euen to the chin his friends would aske him why hee so greatly punished himself he would answere no otherwise but meekely say I haue seene or felte more paynes or colde and suffered harder thinges meaning no doubt of the paines in Purgatory in the next life This same holye Doctor maketh mention likewise of a Religious Priest saying daily Masse for his brother that he thought dead but in deed bound prisoner being taken in warres howe euery day at the holy oblation at Masse his brothers chains burst asoÌ„der Many such strange miraculous visions reuelations it pleased God to shew of olde and later time also manifestly declaring Purgatory That which helpeth them there is chiefly the holy sacrifice of the Masse because that B. Sacrifice is of most vertue most holy and of it selfe pleaseth God also fasting praier almesdeedes pilgrimage and the like godly workes deuoutly performed be healthful for the faithful departed so likwise be pardons of Pope Bishops rightly applied auailable for the same which pardons that we may auoide those paines in the next life it is very good meete and expedient we seeke for in this life not so to get pardons that we should be loyterers our selues do nothing for so pardons little auaile For they profitte not but to those that be in state of grace and well disposed to receaue them Chap. XLV Of Pardons and what they are whereof they come in what sort they be auaileable both for the liuing the dead NOwe what these Pardons bee that heretickes so slaunder you shall better vnderstand First our sinne after that by the Sacrament of Penance as I haue said before it bee forgiuen yet some satisfaction and penance remayneth therefore which if it bee not done in this life it must be done in the next because God as he is mercifull so is he just and will haue vs do something of our selues insomuch that for some one deadly sinne of auncient time nere vnto the Apostles time were 7. yeares of penance enjoyned which if a man in this time should doe for euery deadlie sinne his life would not endure a fewe persons excepted whome God preserueth from those greater sinnes verie rare to bee founde vpon earth These Pardon 's then of the Pope bee not properly forgiuenesse of sinnes but of the paine due vnto sinnes The reason is because the Church that hath authority from God justly to inflict satisfaction penance for sinne the same Church likewise hath power giuen her to release such paines and satisfaction that bee of Gods iustice laide on vs for sinnes and the Church that in the Sacrament of Penance by her Priests hath the authority from Christ to forgiue sinnes the same Church likewise by God hath authority giuen her by meanes of Pardons and fuffrage to release the paine due vnto sinne Now the Pope being head of the Church is chiefe dispensator and steward of these PardoÌ„s they be properly called the treasure of the Church that is specially graunted out of the merits of Christs PassioÌ„ his holy Saints For this is to bee vnderstoode in euery good worke that there be 2 thinges the one is merit and rewarde that properly appertaineth to the doer procuring him greater glory another thing in this worke is satisfactory penance or paine due vnto sinne which sinne first our Sauiour Christ was voide of without all sinne of his owne vertue and so was his B. Mother by his special grace euer preserued from all sinne and many of the Virgins Martyrs and great friends of God did more penâ—nce a great deale then euer their sinnes deserued herevpon the holy Apostle saide Adimpleâ— ea quae desunt passiâ—num Christi I fulfill Col. 1 24. saith he those thinges which be wanting of the passions of CHRIST for his body which is the Church Lo S. Paul did fulfill or satisfie those thinges that were wanting of the passions of Christ not for the redemption of the worlde for Christ therein needed no helpe-fellowes for his Passion had bene enough for many worldes but that which hee fulfilled of the passions of Christ were satisfactions paines or penance which euery one for himselfe that he may suffer with Christ and so bee pertakers of the
opinion be properly termed Heretikes Now lett vs see to which Church this marke Catholike is proper and agreeth and you shall find it to belong to no other but only to that church which Heretikes call the Popish or papistical church but she it is which they so scornefully miscall which is in deed the true Catholike church For our church and true Catholike faith and religion which they terme Papistry is common to all countries wheresoeuer heretikes be but yet Protestants or to speake more plainly heretikes be not in euery place where catholikes be as â—or example heretikes as Lutherans Caluinists or Protestants Puritans Anabaptists and the like sectaries deuided from the Catholike church be here openly in England Scotland Ireland Denmarke Switzerland Iseland partlie in Bohemeland yea in some corners of France Polony Hungary and in some prouinces free states rebells to their lawfull Princes in the inferior and higher Germany For in very few places else in all Europe saue these by me reckoned shall you find any hereticall estate To omitt then that all these countries many hundred years togither before they euer hard of these new heresies were al catholike yet at this day be they neuer so heretical you shall finde amongst theÌ„ some opeÌ„ church of the catholiks such as stick not to profes their faith with losse of liberty goods liues as here in England though Gods church be opressed by heretiks with taxes impri sonments death more then any christians be in the world yea worse thaÌ„ vnder that open professed enimie of Christ the Turke who permiteth Christians to liue with liberty of coÌ„scieÌ„ce to haue their churches Masse opeÌ„ly wheras you see how Catholiks here for their faith lose al their goods two partes of their lands cannot enioy that quietly neither but pilledwith euery apparitor purseuant cast in prison restrained of their liberty and susteining the like notable iniu stices disgraces knowne vnto you already to long to speake yet notwithstanding be they neuer so sore opressed beggered or consumed yet they liue after their death new arise in their places so that you wante not at euerye assises and sessions in euery shiere towne in England Catholikes that there be openly called vpon and ready to professe their faith besides many hundreds that lye this day in prison as in Yorke Hull Norwitch Wisbitch where be aboue thirty priests together most learned and reuerend men whereof some haue beene prisoners thirty yeares and aboue an hundred Priests or there-abouts haue beene within the same time hanged drawen quartered for the same cause though it is giueÌ„ out to the people it is for treason wherof they be most innocent as may appear by their milde death where they euer pray for conuersion of the Queene and Realme for recouery only whereof to the Catholike Faith Religion they be trained vp in virtue and learning in other countries and sent hither backe againe besides many lay men and weomen yong and olde of all degrees most noble personages and of interiour sort and condition haue and doe suffer to the open testimony of the world imprisonment and death for the Catholike cause So that you see here for example in England though neuer so poore and persecuted yet by Gods gratious mercy and prouidence be Catholikes and an open professant Catholike congregation The like might be saied of Scotland Ireland Germany and other countries that looke wheresoeuer heretikes be yet Catholikes be amongst them openly I say knowne to the world But yet the church of Christ is in farre more large noble worthy countries wher no heretike dare openly shew his head no nor at all or rarely be found as in the greatest countries of Europe the corpes of Christendome as in those most noble Countries In france god he blessed though the state publike be Catholicke yet both publikly and priuatly I graunt heretikes chiefly Italy Spaine Sicily and for the most part in the chiefe and famous cities of Fraunce Portugall and the like prouinces Kingdomes and dominions adioyning by North and South of those Countries where God be blessed the Catholike faith and Church hath free liberty vse for preaching Sacraments and ceremonies but very few heretikes or none to account in respect in the most of those mighty Regions that dare opeÌ„ly avouch their absurd monstrous heresies which they deceaue the simple souls with al here in EnglaÌ„d other obscure corners of the world like lurking theeus that be ashamed to shew their faces before men In somuch that at the last generall councel of Christendome holden at Trent where the most of all the learned Bishopps and Doctors of Chistendome were gathered together to dispute and appease controuersies in religion the heretikes of this country and of all others in the world being sommoned to appeare and hauing free liberty giuen them to say what they could for themselues with sufficient securitie of their saufe conduct to and fro they like men of cancred and guilty consciences knowing the naughtines of their own cause durst not appeare nor shew their faces before the lawfull Iudge graue Senate and councell of Christendome but like subtill foxes in their dens kept theÌ„selus at home so by the consent of all christendome were iustly condemned for obstinate Heretikes Ouer and besides al these couÌ„tries abouenamed where you see by Gods grace the Catholike church is openly persecuted or free and in peace there be other countries in the world neuer heard of but of later yeares which now be of late with wonderfull :: For miracles vidâ— OsoriuÌ„ dâ— LusitanoruÌ„ gestis IteÌ„ MaffeuÌ„ maxiâ—e Epistolas Indicas Iaponicas ver bi gratia The Reuâ— rende Father Franc. Zâ—uier his body was found vncorrupte sweet and of an odoriferous sauour some months after his death I omit the report how he raysed a dead maÌ„ This holy Zauier first in our age preached Christ in Iaponia The Iaponians though they be as faâ—re or rather farther distant from the Roâ—anes theÌ„ the Anâ—ipodes yet they be not properly Antipodes but in â—ome sort Antiesi or quasi Antiesi for that part of the world which is directly oppositâ—â—o Rome is partly it seemeth Sea partly terra incognita miracles conuerted to Christs faith religion both in the East and West Indians insomuch as about 9. yeares past in the latter end of the time of Gregory the thirteene of blessed memory I my self saw there three young Princes come to Rome that came from the vttermost coasts of the earth out of a Country called Iaponia who bee Antipodes to the Romanes that is their feete contrary to theirs they were 3. yeares in comming and all to visit the bodies of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul to acknowledge their dutifull obedience to the Apostolike Sea and to worship Christ his Vicar here on earth they were as worthy receaued with great applause of all Christian states and Princes in Christendome
that by the helpe counsell of the Diuell that often in the night by his own confession vsed familiar speach with him giuing greater reasons against the Masse then he was able to disolue But howe did his Schollars and followers thinke you accorde with their master and amongest themselues but like to Vipers that burst their Parentes bowells For though in the beginnig hee had followers that greedely followed his opinion as heauenly oracles yet the schollars being as proud as their master they presentlye inuented new opinions of their own condemning their master in most bitter writings and he them insomuch that about one article of our faith and beleefe the Blessed Sacrament a Learned man hath noted aboue fourescore sundry heresies opinions amongst them Thus they disagree in most waighty matters erring sending others into error the Lutherans fighting against the Caluinists the Caluinists against the Lutherans the Swinglians Protestants Anabaptists Arrians Puritanes Celestians Brethren of loue the like too many to recken al braunches of that vnsauery tree Luther all and euerie discenting from one another comdemning one another and that in the highest pointes of our Faith and beleefe and yet euery one braggeth of the word of God the Lord the Gospell that the truth is of his side agreing together for the most parte certainly in no one thing sauing that all conspire against the Church of God taking vpon them to defend God when they most of all offende him as S. Gregorie vnder the person of the friends In lib. moral in Iob. of Iob notably and oft describeth all heretikes This disention you se amongst themselues argueth they haue not the spirite of God for where vnitie and concorde is wanting ther can be no charity so that the heritikes wanting the knott of peace vnity concord and charity cannot be of God who is not author dissentionis sed pacis for want of this knot of peace charity brag they neuer so much of the word of the Lord vse they neuer so sweet blessings yet it is not the word of God but the very worde of the diuell who when hee tempted Christ vsed wordes of Seripture but euill vnderstoode wherefore they were his owne being so euilly applied and expounded but none of Gods as all heretiks words be which be members of their father the Deuill for they with him bringe Scriptures but wrested so that not the Scripture but the sence and euel vnderstanding is blamed the heritikes bring Scriptures and we that be Catholikes alleadge Scriptures aboundantly of both sides but quite contrarye one to the other some iudge thē must needs be to try decide thē who those be that rightly vnderstand the Scriptures we aske them how they will be iudged whether by the holy Fathers of old Yea say they as long as they accorde with the Scriptures but whē as men they erred frō the true sence of Scripture then we refuse them we answere though with more reuerence euen so doe we but yet heretiks want a certain Iudge to know whē as men they erred when they spake the truth which certain stay of iudgement withoutal doubt Christ which so deerelye beloueth his people hath prouided who promised his assistance to direct vs in all trueth especially in this Lawe of grace to the worlds end He after so deere a price hath not left vs in worse case than the Iewes amongst whom before Christ was a place of iudgement to try certainly al doubts as appeareth in the olde law in Deuteronomium That the high Priest and spirituall congregation assisting him was to iudge decide determine all doubtful matters in Religion and Conscience whose answere the people were to accept as the oracle of the holy ghost hereupon in Deut. seuenteene cap. is written Si deficile ambiguum apud te iudicium esse prospexeris c. if thou perceaue iudgdement to be doubtfull with thee and after if thou perceaue the words or sentēces of the Iudge to vary Ascende ad locum quem elegerit dominus c. veniesque ad Sacerdotes Leuitici generis c. queresque ab iis qui indicabunt tibi iudicii veritatem Lo you se here how in the old law matters were to be in all doubtes determined iudgement by the high Preist to be giuen in that place God had chosen they were in spiritual causes to shew truth of iudgemēt not the law or scriptures written but the high Preist his assistance the Leuiticall Preistes were to interprete the law and iudge of the scriptures as Malachie foretold how the lippes of the Priest do keep the law How much more now thē in this law of grace whē Christ had made a more firme pact with vs for the assistāce of his holy spirit saying Alium Paracletum dabo vobis spritum veritatis I wil giue you another cōfor ter the spirit of truth he shall teach you all truth now after he hath cōfirmed the new testamēt with his own blud hath he not left vs a more sure stay in al doubts Yes doubtles he hath promised his spirit you see to his holy church the cheife pastors of the same whoe promised to Peter and all his successors in him that his faith should neuer faile To this church this high preist vicar of christ in aldoubtful matters of faith as the only place cheife iudge whome God hath chosen we safely as to the true lawful iudge must haue recourse The fathers of old as men may erre but in those things they conspire and agree generally altogether they cānot erre especialy whē the authority of the Church cōfirmeth their Doctryne to bee according to the Scriptures The Heretikes who refuse to bee tried by the Church they affirme the blessed fathers of the church to erre men in vertue and learning no doubte farre beyond any in these daies but they themselus now a daies like gods cannot erre they would be iudges not only of Doctors Scriptures but ouer general councells Saint Peters successor christs vicegerent and vnder Christ here in earth the high Priest and pastour generall ouer our Soules to whom in S. Peter Christ promised his faith shoulde neuer faile yea also ouer the Church and al like vnto lurking robbers flying euer the tribunall iudgement seate of the lawfull iudge but we that by Gods grace be Catholikes members of Christes Misticall body the Church as we haue receiued the holy scriptures from the Church neither doe we certainly know them to be scriptures but that the holy Church telleth vs so we expounde and vnderstand the scriptures that be hard to bee vnderstood yea bee an vnspeakeable depth not by our inuentions and phantasticall opinons as euery heretike doth which maketh so many damnable heresies amongst them but by the rule and authority of Christes holy Catholike Church who bicause she is the spouse of Christ wherof he is head guided with his holy spirite according to his promise can neuer erre
in pointes of Saluation nor lead her children amisse Here vppon it commeth that the Catholike Romane Church the house of Christ dispersed through out the whole worlde is not diuers but one as Christ her head is one who is Sauiour of his body This church you shall finde to preach teach vse one vniformity of Sacraments yea and for the most part of ceremonies through out the whole worlde the same order and time of Fasting of Praier one and the same beliefe of al points of religion in euery coast in the earth not nowe one Faith and to morrow another but the same that was planted by Christ his Apostles that which with perpetuall peace consent vnity and concord shee kepeth vndefiled shal keep euen vnto the end of the world Here upon it commeth that when as heresie heretiks in the beginning seeme plausible and be greedily receiued yet for that they be not grounded in Christ the truth in the end become loathsome hateful to al mē being deuided destroy one another Cōtrary the Catholike Church being founded on christ the head corner stone and fast lincked together in vnity concorde and charity in all hir members euer encreaseth as she is more persecuted and is Tanquam acies bene ordinata As the forefront of a most strong armie well sett in battaile array terrible to the diuell and al his power and euer increaseth I say the more shee is afflicted for besides the herytikes haue stirred many vp that before were a-sleepe to search out the truth yea and many to shedde their bloode in the Catholike cause we haue not lost so many Christians by heresies in these parts of the world but God hath stirred vp others that hane raised many moe in other parts of the worlde which if this heresie had not troubled our quietnesse here perhaps some of those Apostolike men had not so speedely sought to haue planted the Faith in other Countries Wherein you see so good and mightye is God which woulde neuer permit euil but that he knoweth to gather good of it to turne their euill to our good and encrease of his Church who by vnitye and concord thus obtaineth the victory as that Babilonicall strumpet heresie is euer the ruine of her selfe To be briefe you see by this little that is saide that none can haue the spirit of God and the truth but those only that haue amongst themselues the spirite of peace vnity concorde which when it is euer hath beeue wanting amongest Protestantes and other heretikes of this time therefore it must nedes folow their sect and congregaton is not the true church of Christ because none els saue Catholike Christians which they call Papists doe consent and agree in all poyntes of Faith and religion liuing Tanquam vnanimes in domo As brethren all of one minde together in one house Therefore we may most certainlye conclude that none other sauing only the catholike Romane Church which euer hath doth liue in vnity consent of Faith Religion in all pointes is the true Church of Christ Chap. V Of the fourth certaine note of the true Church THe fourth and last most certaine marke of the true Church is the lawful succession of Apostolike Priestes Bishoppes in the Catholike Church which succession of Bishoppes as it was a stay to S. Augustine against the Donatists and other heretikes of his time to keepe him within the vnity of Godes Church so is it likewise a sure pillar for vs Many things there be saieth he that keepe me most iustly within the bosome of the Church the vniforme consent of people and nations the authority cōfirmed with miracles norished with hope increased with charity finally the succession of Bishopps in Peters seat to this day to whome our Lord committed the charge of his fllock to be fed keepeth me herein This lawful succession of Bishoppes loe that ledd Saint Augustine to the knowledge of the true Church and conserued him in the lappe thereoff is and iustlye may bee no lesse a guide and staye to vs in the same which lawfull succession of Bishoppes because the heretikes want therefore they bee not sent by God For two kindes of vocations there bee the one is ordinary the-other extraordinarye by miracle both which because the Heretikes want they cannot bee of God for as touching the first that they want ordinary vocation by succession it is plaine as for example who sent Luther Caluin and the rest If they say God so claime an extraordinarye vocation where then be their miracles that testifie they bee sent from God They haue none you see to proue their extraordinary vocation and yet the sonne of God himselfe would not be beleued without miracles saying Si Ioh. opera non fecissem in eis que nemo alius c If I had not wrought such workes amongst them as no other man did they should not haue sinned and must wee beleeue Caluin and his fellowoes for their bare wordes no their fruites be not so good you see it is vnfit As for their ordinarie vocation by succession that euery man seeth they want For before Luthers time there was neyther Patriarchall nor Bispopps seate nor yet euer any honest persons chaire of his Gospell to bee found throughout the worlde as all men may most easilye knowe but to make the matter more plaine by an example at home aske now the superintēdent of Yorke or Canterbury whome they succeed perhappes they can name you two or three predecessors of their hereticall crew hut appose thē a little more and they can goe no farther wheras he that was last lawfull and true Archbishoppe of Canterburye Cardinall Poole for exāple could haue shewed his lawfull succession from his next lawfull predecessor to an other many hundred yeares together euen to Saint Augustines time who was sent by Saint Gregorie the great then Pope Saint Gregory succeeded Pelagius Pelagius his predecessour Benedictus and so lineally euery of those Bishopps in that seat could shew theyr predecessor from whose handes by lawfull ordinary succession and vocation they receiued their faith and apostolike authority euen to Saint Peter who was sent by Christ as by all ancient writers we can proue Then as I sayd when as protestantes and all other heretikes of this time want both these vocations first ordinary not called of god as Aaron was and much lesse extraordinary by miracle for though meruailes they shew many yet miracles none no not asmuch as the healing of any lame creature therefore it followeth they be none of Godes messengers but such as of whome hee complaineth by his word Ipse currebant ego non mittebam eos They ranne and I sent them not that is bee intruders of themselues not true messengers of Christ not pastors but robbers not simple true teachers but wily foxes not raisers vp of Gods house entring in by the dore but breakers down of the wal deuouring the flocke Now how euidently
the Catholike Romaine Church hath this ordinary succession confirmed with miracles it partly appeareth by that is allready sayd when as then the very Iewes from Aaron to Christ could shewe their lawfull succession of Bishoppes euen to Christ the true law-giuer that state of olde being but a very figure of ours and whereas by the Apostles doctrine none ought to take vpō them the office of bishops no neither king nor prince much lesse to make bishops but hee only that therto is by ordinary vocatiō called as Aaron was by God annoynted inuested by Moises who first himselfe by extarordinary vocation or miracle vvas chosen and called by God and whereas by very drift of reason the Church cannot visibly continew as Christ promised it should doe without pastors and heades to guide it and succeede one another in the same The Catholike Roman Churh only therfore and no other being that which can shew this ordinary and lawfull succession of Bishops in the Apostolike Sea of Saint Peter whose faith in them Christ promised should neuer faile must of necessity be the true Church of Christ and other flockes and sortes of heretikes as Protestants Puritanes who soeuer must needs be bragge they neuer so much of christ and the Gospel the very Sinagogue of Satan Antichrist For the Protestantes and other Heretikes of our time that would be accounted gospellers of christ to haue with them ōly the true Church besides the new vpstarts bee very blasphemous in so saying as going about in effect to proue vntruth in christ as though he failed in his promis who saied his church shold neuer decay besids this I say they be very obsurd ridiculous foolish in their opiniō for example would you not thinke him a folish painter and very vnskilful in his art that hired by some noble gentleman to draw his picture after he had drawn the head would leaue out body legs armes sett only the feet where the necke should stand to his head Spectatum admissi risum teneatis Euerye one thinke you that looked theron would they not laughe him to scorne yes truly Like vnto this foolish painter be the gaye deceitfull painted heretikes of our time they brag Yea heretikes I mean be farre beneth the feete as for want of succession being no members of Christs misticall body the church a◠a◠of the lord christ the head of the church they say they teach the doctrine the Apostles did forsooth that they be al one with those B. Fathers of the Primitiue church one body in christ his church but enquire of thē by what sinewes and ioynts they be tied to the Apostles primitiue church of what lawful Bishops by succession they haue receiued their faith they can shew you none For 1500. yeares together they brag of the head yet be in steed of the feet wher is the body You see it is wanting wherefore you see for want of succession they haue no true possession in Godes house Wherfore those that will come into his kingdome must flie their company Fugite de medio Babilonis flie out of Babilon the corps of sin and Satan and her confusion hereticall congregations that you be not inuolued in her ruine and perpetuall destruction Chap. VI. Of some other signes and tokens of the true catholike church c. how without it none can be saued BY these foure notes then of vniuersality antiquity consent and lawful succession if you marke them well you may euer know the true Church from all other false sects and conuenticles of infidells and miscreant heretikes because they be proper to no other church but only the Catholike Church But besides these there be many other notes of the true Church that I cannot stand to reckon For what faith sauing only the catholike Romane faith hath bene in euery age when it hath beene planted in any Countrie first confirmed with so many miracles as in raising the dead giuing sight to the blind making the lame to walke and the dumb to speake but our Church and Catholike faith So that our church only I say is it and no other that hath had so many blessed and learned fathers and Doctors of all ages from Christs time to this day as appeareth by so many learned treatises and boks yea whole volums of theirs writtē in defence of our faith and religion As to begin with S. Dionise S. Paules scholler he writeth most learnedly of the Hierarchies of Angells of their aide succour we receaue by them of holie rites and ceremonies vsed euen at Masse this daye contrarie to the heretikes of this time yea we haue the very Liturgies that is the formes and orders of sacrifices as much to say of saying Masse which the Apostles namelye Saint Iames vsed in their dayes as they were taught by Christ at his last supper what shall I say of Policarp holy Ignatius in or nere the Apostles time the one scholler to S. Iohn view their writings you shal find the catholike faith confirmed how oft deuoutly do S. Athanasius S. Gregory Nazianzene S. Basil to praye our Lady the mother of God to assist and helpe them with her prayers S. Chrisostome how reuerentlye doth he speake of the most holy blessed Sacrament of the Aulter no lesse doth Saint Ambrose most plainly writing vvhole bookes of the same In so much that learned Saint Hierome is ours S. Augustine is ours S. Gregory the Pope S. Bede S. Anselme S. Bernard and as many as euer were writers or holye doctors in Gods Church bee most euident for vs hee that will but reade their bookes and beleeue them needeth no more nor new writers for confirmation of his faith If I would lye yet their bookes beyng extant to be sould almost in euerye stationers or booke-binders shoope in London can testifie the truth If thou desire thy saluation good brother perhappes discredite my words yet take but the pains to peruse the books of those Blessed fathers by me named thou shalt find my wordes true These Fathers many moe to long for me to reck on were most vertuous most wise most graue most learned of the greatest authority amongst al sorts of the best mē in their daies since so studious of holy Scriptures that they consumed therin nightes and dayes yea their whole liues and withal most skilfull in all other liberal sciences They would not attempt as heretikes do now a daies new come from the grammer schooles thinking thēselus great men when they can speake a little latine greeke yea some of them perhappes scarce good grammer schollers to take vpon them prophanely to handle the sacred booke of God and expounde rashly the holy scriptures that booke I say sealed with seauen seales open to none but to the humble in harte and to such as vse ordinary wayes and meanes as much fasting continual praier adioyned with good life especially humility lowlines of spirit a virtue
euer wāting in heretikes in cleane pure cōsciences in which vertues worthy qualities these B. Fathers most excelled liuing in such abstinēce cōtinēcy watching meditatiō of the law of god both night day praier with thē wēt euer before study study was ioyned with prayer they did not expound harde places and hygh misteries of Scriptures after their owne brayn phantastical conceipt but by the teachig of their masters holy forefathers of whō they had receiued the Scriptures especially therein following the rule cōmon consent of Christs holy Catholike Church that is euer guided with Christ her spouse head the holy spirit euer assisting the same church which was the cause there was not such iarres amongst thē as now be amongst heretiks Farre vnlike be our newe gospellers to these holy Fathers how more securely may we well committe our selues to God with them than hazard our saluation with these companions who with belly cheare little learning lesse honesty embracing of weomen care of children loue of the worlde and care of their owne carcases beeing most carnall men yet take vpon them to reueale his mysteries of the Spirite to open Gods word which commonly is open to none indeed but to those that be pure in hart and minde and with humility submitte their iudgementes vnder the obedience of the holy Catholike Church whereunto all heretikes be traitours and rebelles whether I say is it more like if we had no more certaine a marke of the true church and teachers that these lewde companions haue the trueth on their sides or those holy Fathers by me aboue named who excelled asmuch in vertue as these newe Gospellers bee drowned in vice which Fathers be of such authority that though indeed they be alwaies against heretikes yet the heretike is gladde if he can but get a scrappe or peece of a sentence euer wrested euill vnderstood out of these holy Doctours that maye seeme to make for his purpose though rightly vnderstood in the samesentence often-times they bee most confounded These holye Fathers were not eloquent in affection and inckehorne termes as Protestants be all wordes but no true or sounde matter but wisedome in those fathers by force ioyned vnto their words incomparable eloquence See S. Chrysostom S. Leo S. Ierome Lactantius but aboue all that Blessed martyr S. Ciprian who as many other of our holy doctors Catholike writers did sealed his writings with his blood if any of these holy Fathers as men at any time did of infirmity erre they did not malitiously obstinatly defend it as proud heretikes do but were alwayes ready to submit their doings to the cēsure of the Cath. church saing with S. Augustine Errare possiim hereticus esse nolo I may erre as a man yet wil I not be an heretike that is obstinately defending anye opinion the Church gain-sayeth This Faith then and Religion Catholike Romane Church thus groūded on Christ her head thus plainly knowne by such distinct notes of Vniuersallity Antiquity Succession Consent thus adorned and florishing with writings of so many and so holy auncient Fathers and Doctors thus confirmed with miracles thus watered and sealed with the blood of most constant and valiant Martyrs especially in the beginnig of the Church whilest the blood of Christ was yet warme in mens hearts yea of later yeares too as there want not in England and other places euen to this day Is there any so blinde if he obserue these notes well but he may both knowe this to bee the onely true Church and true way of Saluation or so carelesse of his saluation that dare aduenture his soule in any other congregation saue only the true Church of Christ thus strengthned with so many sure bulwarkes and strong pillars Assure your selfe good sir ignorance cannot excuse you For this is the citty set vpon a hill that cannot be hid so euident and so plaine that the words of the holy Prophet Esay may be applyed vnto her Hec Isa 35. erit vobis directa via ita vt stulti non errent per eam This shall be your direct way so that idiots or very simple soules maye not misse the same Where it is written to this effecte that great and lesse shall knowe God that is if they will seeke his waies diligently and in due time As also in Ieremie the thirty one Omnes cognoscent me a minimo eorum vsque ad maximum All shall knowe me from the least of them to the greatest And againe Adducam eos c in via recta I will bring them or leade them in the right way Non impinguent in ea and they shall not hit or stumble in it Seeke therefore to walke good sir in this way the Church of Christ if you will attaine the port of saluation for as long as you be out of this waye you shall alwaies be worse entangled with brambles bryers of sinne and blinde error and euer further frō your iourneys end the kingdome of God As youse when a man loseth his way in the night he is allwayes in greater incumbraunces and further from the marke till he returne by good guide to his way againe so it is in the blinde way of this life if we leaue Christ the way of life and his deare spouse the church the only way of truth we be euer in greater danger till we returne backe againe Come home the night draweth neare the day of payment hieth fast on take heed if you come short of the mariadge of Christ with his spouse the dore be not closed vp and you shutte out Heare what St. Augustine saith whatsoeuer saith he a mā be or whosoeuer he is he cannot be saued if he be not in the Catholike Church and in another place to Peter the Deacō he hath these fearful sayings Though a man giue neuer so much almes yea shedde his bloud for Christ if he be not a member of Christs Catholike Church he cannot be saued Firmissime tene saith he this holde stedfastly doubt in no wise not only al Pagans and Iewes but also heretikes and Schismatikes that die without the vnity of Christs Catholike Church shall goe into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Augells Neither doth this holy father St. Angustine speake these wordes of his owne priuate opinion but founded in Gods owne worde as in the holy Apostle St. Paule who saith If I giue al my goods to the poore and body to be burnt and want charity it profiteth me nothing now vnity be twixt God participatiuely I meane our owne soules and neighboures is that which maketh charity in vs by Gods grace which vnitye none can possibly haue that is not vnited to Christ being a member of his body the holy Catholike Church for otherwise he is deuided so that beeing out of this vnity he is not in charity so beingout of Gods Catholike Church he is out of state of Saluation therefore
same if we be not able to keepe them which to thinke or speake as heretiks doe of God which is all good and iust is most horrible blasphemie But one other kind of sinne there is which we call Veniall sinne as a light thought vaine worde and the like that deserueth not damnation nor is so grieuous in Gods sight and in such small sinnes the best commonly offende some more some lesse and as we oft diuerse waies fall therein so be there diuerse waies for our remedy as oft saying the Pater noster with sorrow and purpose to amend knocking vpoÌ„ the breast sprinckling our selues with Holy-water taking Holy-bread geuing Almes Fasting with many such charitable workes and the like yet we must abstaine from such little sinnes to as much as we may for feare of falling into greater yea and Christ saieth Of euery Math. 12. 36. idle word at the day of Iudgement we must make accompt therefore we had need flie all sinne as much as we may for the least sinne though it damneth not yet it darkeneth mans soule hindreth Gods grace and deuotion and if we doe not satisfie for it in this life we must be purged for it in the next before we can attaine the sight of God in that clensing fire of purgatorye thâ—t farre exceedeth all the payne and punishment in this world But for those great sinnes which be deadly neither Pater noster knocking knâ—eling nor any other ceremonies of the Church will serue without the holye Sacramente of Penance of which sins cheifly our sauiour spake Vnlesse Luc. 13. 5. you doe Penance you shall all perish Wherefore as I saied euerye deadlye sinne must needes be opened in confession with sorow of hart and full purpose to amend * Which confession before a We ought to be diligent to confesse all great sinnes for euen as a wound not well searched to the bottom though outwardly â—â—aled yet corrupteth the whole member or body so doth deadly sinne by dissimulation not opened in Confession infect destroy the whole soul 1. Cor. 11. 13. Preist ought to be breife simple plaine in humble sort entire or whole sorowful prepared to obey First breife it ought to be not with many wordes but necessary accusing no body but our selues in no sortexcusing ourfaults but plainly telling the truth and no more then the trueth In hnmble sort remembring that what we tell to the Preist wee speake as to God which confession must bee entire or whole that we tell not one sinne leaue another vnconfessed but confesse all as farre as our memoâ—y serueth for God forgiueth all or else none and therefore as we remember them we be bound to confesse and then God will forgiue that the rest And withall in ConfessioÌ„ euery one ought to be prepared to doe that is enioyned him to doe by his ghostly-father and for so iudging a mans selfe heere in this world a man at the day of iudgemeÌ„t shal not be iudged But if he wil not confesse himselfe to one man here theÌ„ at the last day shal his sins before God the whole world be laide before him to his vtter shame confusion endlesse daÌ„natioÌ„ therfore as S. Paul exhorteth vs. Let vs iudge our selues here that is by humble Confession and we shall not be iudged at the last day For God hath left a iudgement seat here of mercy in his Church before which if a man iudge him-selfe hee shall escape that straight iudgement at the last day if first he be losed quit here neither needeth a man feare to confesse for the Preist may not reueale or disclose any thing vttered in Confession no not for his life nor to saue or loose the whole worlde therfore if any man should be so vngracious to vtter any thing heard in Confession besides his perpetuall infamy and shame he should be suspended and degraded euer after from al Preistly office and function Wherefore none needeth to feare that his Confession shall be vttered Chap. XX Of whom the Sacrament of Penance was ordained that Preistâ— haue authority giuen them by Christ to forgiue sinnes and of the matter forme and effect of Penance THis Sacrament of Penance theÌ„ wherof lowly Confession is one cheife part was ordained by Christ wheÌ„ he gaue to his Church authoritie to binde and loose saying to his Apostles and Disciples and their lawefull successours to the worldes end Whosâ— sinnes you forgiue they be forgiuen Ioh. 20. 23 For that hee saied to them he saied to all as not suffering for their age only but for all persons in all ages to the worldes end saying to them and vs and the Pastors of his whole Church Euen as my father Ioh. 20 hath sent mee also I send yon So that his power that his father gaue him hee left to his Church the heads chiefly as namely to Saint Peter who when he first confessed Christ to bee the sonne of God in reward of his glorious confessioÌ„ he promised him first and chiefly authority to binde and loose sinnes as appeareth by the veâ—y wordes of the Ghospell saying Thou art Peter and vppon this Math. 16 18. 19. rockâ— will I build my Church and to thee will I giue the kâ—ies of the kingdome of heauen and whatsoeuer tâ—ou shalt binde in earth shal be bounde in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose in earth shal be loosed in heauen And then after his resurrection as appeareth by Saint Iohns gospell hee performed his promise saying to his Apostles when hee breathed vppon them Receiue you the holy Ghost Whose Ioh. 20. 23 sinnes you forgiue they be forgiuen and whose sinnes you hold they bee holden By which plaine wordes of Christ you seâ— in both places he hath giuen authority to his Church to bind loose sinnes as al holy fathers vpon these places do vnderstand But you must vnderstand that Preists as they be men doe not forgiue sinnes but as they be the ministers of Christ that is by his holy worde and vertue of the holy Sacrament as you see in Baptisme the Priest speaketh Godeâ— worde and sayeth I baptize thee in the name of the Father c. And so then by the power of Gods worde with water in that holy Sacrament the soule of the childe is washed and clensed from all sinne So when the humble penitent sinner commeth to the Preist and confesseth his sinne the Preist then vseth the word of God and saieth I absolue thee and so by the power of Godes worde and authority giuen him from Christ hee looseth the sinner from sin So that he which can beleeue his sinnes be forgiuen him in Baptisme I see no reason but hee may aswell beleeue his sinnes by Penance in confession and absolutioÌ„ be forgiueÌ„ him Neither ought any to doubt as some vnlearned foolishe Idiots some times doe whether Preists Bishops the lawfull successors of the Apostles and disciples of Christ haue
Body which shal be betrayed or deliuered vp for you so likewise he spake of the cup calling it his blood And both the Euangelists Saint Paul doe agree that Christ bad his Apostles sacrifice or doe that which he had donne in memorie of his death and Passion not to offer a peece of bread in memorie of his death and Passion for that should be to base and slender a memorie as the heretikes your ministers be-lie the truth but to consecrate sacrifice and receiue after an vnbloody maner the very self-same body that the day after was bloudely once for all offered on the Crosse there as a full price of our redemption and here as a mean to make vs pertakers of that high price and ransome there once bloudely offered here the very selfe same flesh and bloude that there once bloudely was offred but here after an vnbloudy maner not deuided or not cut in peeces as the Iewes vnderstoode and the heretikes doe blaspheme but whole Christ though reallye and substanciallye here present yet after a spirituall and deuine maner that cannot be sufficiently expressed in wordes not one Christ here other there or in heauen not one to day a nother to morow but one and the self same which was offred vpon the Crosse and now sitteth at the right hand of his father is daily offred vp here in the Church in diuers places at once that by the mighty power of his Godhead which is al in al * In saying vnited to his sacred Body Videtur praeposte ra locutio For his sacred Body is vnited to his Godhead not confounded but knit and ioyned together o insigne miraculum two natures in one person vnited to his sacred body to whome nothing is impossible Wee doe not substitute then or ordeyne many * There is but one Sacrifice though daily yea oft euerie day in the Catholike Church renued by the ministrie of Preists .. 1. Cor. 11. 26. Sacrifices of Christ as the heretikes be-ly vs for so we might be iniurious to his Passion but one and the selfe same sacrifice though different in the maner with that vpon the Crosse is daily here offered vnto God there once bloudely here vnbloudely by the ministrye of Preistes heere in earth to appease Gods wrath renue in vs the fruit of his death and Passion wrought by that sacrifice once all bloudy vpon the Crosse for all Doe this that I haue donne saith Christ in memorie of me that is you shal represet or shew by this sacrifice the death of our Lord as sayeth S. Paul to his comming againe By which wordes of Christ Doe this that I haue donne he gaue his Apostles and Priests authority to consecrate his Body by vertue of his holy word For what did Christ He tooke bread blessed gaue to his Disciples said This is my Body and wine saying This is my Bloud And bad them doe that he had donne that is by power of his mightye worde to consecrate his blessed Body So by those verye wordes that heretickes abuse when hee saide Doe this in memorie of mee to make the holye Sacrament to bee but a bare figure and remembrance of Christ by those verye wordes I saye you see by uery reason and as holye doctors euer vnderstood Christ gaue authority to the Apostles and to all Preists and Bishopps their lawfull successors to offer vp daily that pure and vnbloodye sacrifice in consecrating his body and blood to represent and renue in vs his death and Passion till his comming to Iudgement againe And therefore at the holy Sacrifice of the Masse euery ornament and action of the Preist reduceth to our memory some thing Christ said or did during his life bitter death and Passion Chap. XXII That heretickes which deny Christs body in the Sacrament euacuate the fruites of Christs death and Passion in mens soules and prepare the way to Antechrist THe heretiks therfore that do blasphem haue abolished the holy most blessed dread full pure most honorable Sacrament sacrifice of the Masse doe as much as lieth in them to put out of mens minds the Passion of Christ and make voide in our soules the fruit thereof wherefore they in deed be very forerunners of Antechrist that shall denye Christ and all and yet like shamelesse blasphemous wolues and deceiuers are not affraid to call the high Preist of God Christes Vicar here in earth the Pope Antechrist who is in deede the cheife piller head of the Church here next to Christ spreading and vphoulding Christs faith against Turkes Iewes Heretickes and all Infidles throughout the whole worlde But these impostors call the Vicar of Christ Antechrist that they Antechristians and their Master Antechrist the vessell of Satan when hee commeth may be the lesse suspected so pull downe Christianity But Gods Church Christes kingdome shall not faile though we are to feare now in the later ende of the worlde Antechriste is neare hand as these certainlie bee his forerunners whoe at his comming shall raise a greater persecution against the Church then euer was before For hee shall deny Christ and God and also exalt himselfe aboue God with such false deceits and wordes that if it were possible the very elect should be deceaued and the holye and continuall sacrifice of the Masse shall in his time cease to be offered openly as the holy prophet Daniell foretould What other thing then Dan. 12. Heb. 7. 12 The turks though perhaps sometimes they baue some voluntary externall superstitious sacrifice yet no ordinarye set sacrifice-publike for as much as euer I red or heard do these hereticks but prepare a way for Antechrist whoe denying the blessed Masse ordained and first said or celebrated by christ at his last supper would leaue vs neuer an externall Sacrifice to worship God withall like very Turkes to whome being without externall sacrifice they bee most like Translato enim according to the Apostles doctrine Sacerdotio necesse est vt legis translatio fiat So that take away Preisthood take a waye sacrifice and so consequentlye God and all For that by externall sacrifice God is chiefely knowne and worshipped the want and honor most due vnto which sacrifice maketh vs you se so many Atheists that now a daies make a scoffing against Christ God to But Lorde be mercifull vnto this Countrey whether is it fallen for sinne and blinde heresy the worste weede that euer was sowne To be briefe you see here how in an eleuen plaine places in the fower Euangelistes and Saint Paul Christ calleth that most blessed Sacrament he ordained at his last supper his very bodye and blood Caluin Beza and the Protestantes and other heretickes of this time say it is but a figure shadowe or bare remembrance In a peece of bread of his body and blood must we beleeue Christes and Saint Paul then or your wise ministers and new vpstart heretikes of this time O Christ if I should forsake
auouch can prooue because we are authorised by Christs holy word that in S. Peters chaire that is when any of S. Peters successors defineth a matter of faith intending to binde the vvhole Church though in priuate as a man he may erre otherwise yet therin he neuer hath nor can erre as being assisted by Gods holy Spirit For the benefit of the whole Church I haue prayed for thee Peter Luc. 22. 32. that thy saith may not faile said Christ in somuch that we reade of none that euer herein quailed that gods word may be true Nay in the olde Testament before Agg. 2. 12 Christ when there was doubt of any matter of religion they had recourse to the high Priest those of the stocke of the Leuites in whome God euer conserued true faith though in a number it quailed in Israell But the heretikes wheÌ„ they cannot answere by reason authority then they turne to scoffing rayling either commonly by lying or else like cursed Cham as he did at his fathers secrets scoffe in scoffing and deriding the same So doe they in discouering sinnes and defects of Popes Prelates of the Church deride their parents though in deede aboue thirty of the Popes next after S. Peter did all suffer martyrdome for Christ and many glorious Saints and Doctors were of them since that time Who more eloquent then S. Leo who more holy then S Grâ—gory which both were Popes with many moe But these heretiks maliciously conceale if there were any that as men had sins or defects those they publish to the world We graunt in deede that Popes as they be men may sinne but why for that O heretike dost thou slaunder the chaire of S. Peter wherein the Catholicke faith shall euer vndefiled continue Why dost thou not remember that God can shewe the truth by an euill man yea by a dumb beast what did not Caiphas though an euill man yet for that he was the Bishop and high Priest spake true prophecying of Christ that it was expedient that one Ioh. 11. 50 shoulde die for the people that the whole should not perish Nay did not Christ him selfe say Vpon the chaire of Moyses doe Math. 23 2. 3. sit the Scribes and Pharisees doe that they say but doe not as they doe for they say and doe not If therefore any Pastors of the Church lead euill liues they shall beare their owne burden neither ought wee to follow them therein but to doe as they bid vs that is to follow the truth touching matters of faith wherein the the chiefe Pastor cannot erre yet if we see defects in our spirituall Pastors it is not for vs as heretiks doe to slaunder them vncouer their defects and that which is worse to forsake the true faith for their sakes but rather with holy Sem and Iaphet to couer their nakednes or as that Christian Emperour Constantine did who said that if hee saw a Bishop doe a thing inconuenient he would rather couer it with his cloake then reueale it The reason is that Godâ— name the truth for mannes fault should not be blasphemed Yet God be blessed the Church of Christ hath euer in al Countries had some good Pastors wheras amongst heretikes can possibly be none good Chap. XXXIII Of Gods seuere punishment of diuers for arrogating to them selues Priestly office and howâ— wee are to obay our Pastors BVt admit that many were bad of life must therefore Gods ordenance bee altered and therefore any temporall King or Prince yea that which is more absurd tinckers and coblers take vpon them to be Pastors and rulers in spirituall causes O why doe they not remember and be afraide how Allmighty God of olde from time to time punished such Luciferian pride and intollerable presumption and arrogancy Chore Dathon and Abyron with Numeri cap. 16. a number more of their conspiracie who being not called or chosen of God to the high Priestly office and function and yet sacrilegiously would presume to to offer insence and doe Sacrifice did not fire from heauen consume them the earth swallowe them vp quick to hell to the terror of al generations That false King Ieroboam that vpon the Altar 3. Reg. 13. in Samaria offered sacrifice did not god strike him lame And in like sort did he not plague those perfidious treacherous kings of Israel with sundry plagues from time to time for their rebellion against that Catholicke Iâ—da that Preistly Princely tribe his holy Church Nay did not God strike Oza with sudden Oza 2. Reg. 6. death but for only touching with desire to vpholde the same the arke of God but a figure only of Christs very or misticall body the Church not to bee touched or gouerned by lay men but by Preists Bishops lawfully called by God as Aaron was For to them and to none other Christ gaue charge of his â—locke at his departure nay there was neither King nor mighty Prince of many yeares after Christs time that were Christians and yet the Church neuer waÌ„ted her head gouernours in spiritual matters those were the Apostles Bishops their lawful successors vnto whoÌ„e the holy Apostle exorteth vs to submitt our selues saying Obedite praepositis vestris Heb. 13. 17. subiacete eis obey your Prelats c. for they watch as to giue account for your soules such Priests as rule gouerne the Church wel the holy Apostle 1. Tim. 5. 17. accouÌ„teth worthy double honour those that labour in doctrine in preaching the truth For to them the holy Apostle gaue the charge Attend saith he Act. cap. 20. 28. to your selues and the whole flocke wherein the holy Ghost hath ordeyned you Bishoppes regere Ecclesiam Dei to rule or gouerne the Church of God By these and many like places of holy Scripture it appeareth that not temporall Kings Princes but lawfull Bishops be gouernours and haue supereminent power and authority in the Church This that noble Emperour Constantine that was the first Christian Emperour that most honoured enriched the Church sonne to S. Helene that noble Empresse that went pilgrime to Hierusalem and miraculously founde out the holy Crosse this I say he well considered that it was the office of a King to be head of temporal matters in the common weale only as to execute iustice to punnish the offenders to rule and commaund in taxes tribute and in martiall affaires but not to be ruler at the Altar not to be head in the Church not to giue first censure or iudgement in spiritual causes in so much that this noble Emperour being called to that first and most holy general Councel at Nice where in the Arrian heretickes 1300. yeares agoe were condemned vvoulde sitte at that Councell in no other place but in the lowest place of all acknowledging right worthely Priests and Bishops in spirituall causes his farre betters and superiours he well knew his duty and would
more then I deny him in their harts Thus you see by the truth it selfe and the contrarye how necessary worthy this holy Sacrament of Order is in somuch that S. Chrisostome other holy Fathers comparing the office of a Priest with the office of a King preferre the Priest by manye degrees before the King by how much spiritual and diuine matters exceed earthly and these base corporal things For in taking away Priesthood is taken away sacrifice whereby God is chiefly worshipped and so God therby is most dishonored as by the contrary vvhen Priesthood is had in reuerence then is he most honored those that thus honour Christ in his Priests be most blessed and prosperous yea oftentimes in this life For what Country for example was more puissant more vertuous more religious then England was so honorable in her selfe beloued of her neighbours feared of her foes * English men were first conuerted by Pope Gregorie the great through the preaching of Augustine the Moke about 1000 yeare ago as long as she honored Priesthood and was an obedient daughter to the high Priest of God by whom she first receaued the Gospell From whome since she fell what Country is in more misery danger at home and abroad hereof bee verified the wordes of holy Scripture Qui contemnâ—t me erunt ignobiles The holy Prophet foretolde that Kinges and Queenes should be norishers feeders of gods house the Church defenders of his Priests but those that contemne her and them shall become base and vnworthy Chap. XXXVI Of Matrimony and what it is and when it was ordeyned of the chiefe good ende and effect thereof and how Virginity is preserred before it also of vowed chastity annexed to Priesthood THe sixt Sacrament is Matrimony which is the lawfull conjunction of man and woman instituted by God to liue socially togither during life with out breach of mutuall faith and promise giuen in marriage the one to the other which state of life though heretiks falsely against Gods worde and the Apostles doctrine prefer before Virginity and chastiry yet that they may shew themselues heretickes in all things and leaue nothing vndefiled they deny it to be a Sacrament contrary to S. Paul Ephes 5. 32. who calleth it a greate Sacrament in Christ and his Church in Paradise also first insinuated and in some sort ordeyned by God For by that conjunction of man and woman in that honourable state of Matrimony is represented the conjunction of Christ and his Church as his most faithfull wife and spouse a pure virgin which in his endles kingdome hee shall make glorious without spot or wrincle The heretikes that deny matrimony to be a Sacrament not only gain-say Christ and the Apostles doctrine coÌ„found all good ciuill gouernmeÌ„t but also induce Iudaisme Turcisme yea Paganisme amongst Christians who are taught by Christ his Church that man wife as one body or rather two bodies in one flesh ought not to bee deuided during life by plurality of moe wiues or husbands and vvhy but because matrimonye is a Sacrament vvherein they bee ioyned together so representinge the coniunction of Christ the head of his only body and spouse the Church as man is head of one wife But deny once with heretickes matrimonye to bee a Sacrament and so to want this misticall representation of Christ and his Church which maketh it a sacrameÌ„t yea though it were in no other respect but in that representation and then what followeth but that mariage is nothing but a temporall pacte bargaine promise and a mere naturall acte and then may a man accordinge to the Turkes lawe haue as manye vviues as hee canne maintaine and keep which beastly absurdity you see followeth of protestants Doctrine yea and of their practize in many places wee see from vvhich fleshly heresie our Lorde deliuer vs. But in this Sacrament worthely receaued is the grace of God giuen diuers waies a remedy against vnlawfull concupiscence but the cheif goods hereof be Fides proles sacramentuÌ„ The troth first and fidelity that ought to bee betwixt the parties married that rather they should suffer death than once breake Secondly issue or children to Godes honour ought to bee cheiflye desired vvhereby God may be serued Thirdly in that it is a Sacrament is the greatest benefit for so thereby grace is giuen to performe these things better and to liue in sweet conuersation togither in the feare and loue of GOD whereby appeareth hovve haynous this sinne of adulterye is that breaketh so holy a state and violateth so high a misterye as the representation of the conjunction of CHRIST and his Church yet though Matrimonie bee good Virginity or chastitie is farre better insomuch that our Sauiour affirmeth that some there bee that haue euer kepte Chastity for the kingdome of GOD and he exorteth those that canne that is those that will take the holye state of Virginitye or chastitye to take it and the Apostle wisheth all to be as himselfe that is chast therefore hee saith Hee that giueth his Virgin to bee 1. Cor. 7 38. married doth well but hee that keepeth her continuall Virgin doth better though none oughte to bee forced thereunto Matrimony is graunted also for feare Note that I heare do not say that the SacrameÌ„t cheifly for that end was or day ned of a worse matter that is to avoide fornication and in that respect to those that bee at liberty and haue not before vowed chastitye Better it is as saith the Apostle for them to marrye then to burne though such as hee testifieth shall not liue without trouble of fleash But if once they haue vowed chastity they must seeke otherwise then by women that is by fasting prayer study discipline the like spirituall exercises to keepe them selues chast otherwise they damnablye offend like those vvanton widowes the Apostle speaketh of because 1. Tim. 5. 12. PrimaÌ„ fidem irritam fecerunt they brake their first faith made in vowe that is to Christ their husband and so were damned and therefore it is altogether vnlawful for Priests to marry because in being Priests they make vowe of chastitie Therfore let euery one before he take holy orders well consider with himselfe whilst he is at libertie for after it is too late and though some of the Apostles had wiues yet when they were called by Christ they forsooke their wiues as it appeareth by their owne wordes we have forsaken all thinges and follwed Mat. 19. 27. thee a wife belike was some thing neither doe wee deny nowe a married man to become Priest so that hee hath married a maid only and that shee bee dead or else hath her full consent that neuer after shee will desire his company S. Ambrose sheweth the reason vvhy Preists of the newe Testament now in this lawe of Christ and grace ought not to haue wiues for if the Priests of the olde Testament before Christ when they were to
fruit of Christs Passion of such infinite value is bounde to doe This satisfaction and paines I say Saint Paul did not only for himselfe but for all the faithfull people the misticall boof Christs Church that so they mightfully be pertakers of Christs merits and passions of such infinite value and so be released quite from sinne and payne due thereunto These satisfactory paines of S. Paul and other holy Saints who satisfied and did more penance for sinne then euer they deserued as I saide before be properly called the treasure of the Church in which Church because we be members all of one body that is as we beleeue there is a communion of Saints so therefore we by Gods grace be pertakers of the merits and prayers of I meane this participation taketh effect in such as be in state of grace For according to our due dispositiō euery one is pertaker of anothers good actions merits prayers the Saints in heauen as we in earth be pertakers of an others good actions and prayers and they in Purgatory of our merits and of the merits and prayers of Saints in heauen because there is a communion of Saints in Gods Church and being all members of one body vnder Christ our head we thus mutually helpe one another wherevpon it is I say that these satisfactory paines putte into the treasure of Gods Church not only help vs to release vs and satisfie our paines due vnto sinne which perhaps we are not able of our selues in this life to satisfie but also bee a release by meanes of suffrage for those in Purgatory Chap. XLVI By what meanes Pardons may be applyed to our soules and that we must iustly doe that which is appointed vs to be pertakers of the same NOw the Pope as hauing the keyes of this spiritual treasure giueth out thereof to all faithfull people so they apply it to themselues or the departed by such ordinary meanes as by him is ordained as by fasting prayer almesdeedes pilgrimage or the like as for example to those that be contrite confessing and receauing and saying but only our Ladies Psalter or the Beades once ouer or the 7. Psalmes or Letanies hauing but only a token on them as it were from the Pope that is a Crosse holy graine a bead sanctified or blessed or the like that bead o◠Crosse is a signe and certaine token to the party so disposed and doing that the Pope graunteth he hath so many daies or yeares of Pardon yea perhappes a full Pardon for all his sinnes past that is the paine due vnto sinne for as I said the eternall trespasse of sinne is forgiuen before in Confession which debt or paine is to be paied either in this life or in Purgatory The heretikes slaunder the Pope and the Church and say he graunteth Pardon to such for mony but they bely him for most commonly Pardons be graunted to such as deuoutly confesse receaue and say certaine godly prayers for the Popes intent and benefit of the whole church If any almesdeed be at any time required it is not for the Popes coffers as being God be blessed that so exalteth his Church spite of all infidels heretikes an absolute Prince of himselfe needing no such matter but rather maintayning as a generall father poore people children of the Church of al nations in the world but if any almes be giuen as very seldome is when pardons be graunted the Pope assigneth the parties to giue it with their owne handes to their poore neighbours or to the building of some notable ornament to all Christendome as to S. Peters Church or for the defence of Christendome against our great enemy the Turk and the like These Pardons Stations and the like how frequent or much vsed they were in S Gregories time a thousand yeares agoe it appeareth to those that be conuersant in his workes and other mens holy writings of olde and though in the primatiue Church they were not so needfull then when men were more charitable and feruent in Gods loue the bloud of Christ being yet warme in their harts and because when any offended they of themselues did such penance as might suffice yet in the very Apostles time these Pardons were giuen For S. Paul after excommunication of the incestuous Corinthian whome he gaue to Satan in body 1 Cor. 5 5 to be punnished that his soule might be saued after a time when he sawe his sorrowe and amendment least the enemy might haue too much power ouer him and least with sadnesse hee might be ouerwhelmed gaue him pardon remitting his paine for the rest of his penance due saying To whome you pardon 2. Cor. 2. 20. or forgiue any thing I likewise did the same who if I pardoned any thing I did it in the person of Christ What other thing was this then giuing of pardon Chap. XLVII Of Excommunication and how dreadfull a thing it is how heretikes being excommunicated in the highest degree their excommunication of others is ridiculous contemptible BY which words not only appeareth the value and practize of Pardons euen in the Apostles time but the heauy rod of Excommunication the heretikes so little feare by which excommunication the Diuell had power ouer the Corinthians body to torment it as he hath ouer the heretikes soules that despise it who though they feele not the smart in this life and by miracle to the terror of others as they did in the primatiue Church yet doubtlesse it is a leprosie which will sticke to their soules in the next life farre more fearefull then any torment can be here to the body For all Heretickes and Schismatickes be excōmunicate that is cut off from all grace of God the Sacraments good deedes and prayers of the Church and bee in the handes of Satan Heretickes that woulde doe like Catholickes as Apes would be like men they forsooth being excommunicate themselues would excommunicate others but they haue no authority their excommunication is nothing feare it not a straw a happie thing it is to be excluded out of their Sinagogue to be out of their company with whome in prayers diuine seruice none ought to conuerse seare excommunication of the Church in deede obey her truly and care not for any censure of the wicked Church of Satan Chap. XLVIII Of some abuses about Pardons and of the late reformation of the same and of the couetous humors of English Ministers BVt for these Pardons I spake of before I deny not but some abuses might be in those that carried them vp and downe called Pardoners some of them seeking their owne gaine but the Pope or Pardones ought not to be blamed for that but the abuses and faults taken away the good vses ought to be left still for nothing is so good but it may be abused yea the very Sunne in the firmament by light whereof as good men vse to worke good works and their Saluation so euill men a buse it to the workes of darkenesse
your saluation you must leaue going to heretikes Church and Seruice For if you goe to their Church yea but once a yeare you can be no more a member of Christs Catholicke Church as long as you continue in that state and minde it casteth you out from it yea once at any time going to their prayer and seruice sermons or Sacraments Nay the Pope himselfe cannot dispence with any to goe to the heretiks Church to be present or heare their seruice because it is by Gods lawe forbidden Moreouer wee gather out of Saint Paul he that consenteth to sinne is guilty of the same sinne he in any sort consenteth tot The Protestants of this time then be coÌ„demned for heretikes by all Christendome and be indeede most detestable heretickes and their seruice contrary to Gods ordinance and sacrilegious sinne but to goe to the Church is by my action and deede a consenting to sinne in that I alowe of them by my presence and otherwise wherein I sinne damnably therefore to goe to heretickes seruice and prayer is a damnable sinne yea schisme and vnlawfull and cannot be dispensed with First then it is against Gods holy eter nall lawe to goe to heretiks Churches to fitte or be with them in their Church at their prayers or seruice whereof said the holy Prophet Odiui Ecclesiam malignantiam cum impiis non sedebo I hated the Church of the malignannt and will not sitte with the vvicked Yea you shall finde in all the vvhole course of the holy Scriptures in the olde Testament how God seperated his people from forraigne Nations and people of a contrary religion so farre from praying or marrying with them that they shoulde not eate drinke nor conuerse with them Thus for example God speaketh of marrying or conuersing of his people vvith women of a false religion Certissime enim auertent corda vestra a domino vestro beware of strange and forraigne women because most certainly they will auert or turne your harts from your Lord God See here how carnall conuersion is forbidden to Gods people with idolatrous herericall or ill persons how much more ought we not to commerce or meddle with them in spirituall or diuine matters for then certo certius without all doubt they will peruert our soules who by gay painting words and sweet speaches doe reduce the harts of the innocent the Diuell vsing the mouth of heretiks to seduce the simple as he did the body and whispering of the serpent to deceiue our first mother Eue insomuch that for feare of this inconuenience of being seduced and chiefly for not to break the law of God which forbiddeth to pray and goe to heretikes Churches the perfect beleeuers of olde of the tribe of Iuda did not pray nor vse in many other respects to conuerse with the Samaritans as appeareth in S. Iohn which Ioh. 4. Samaritans were Schismatiks falleÌ„ into Schisme and Idolatry from the true Chtholicke Iuda and Hierusalem the Citie of God And although Peter Iohn and others of the Apostles went to the Temple of the Iewes after Christs Ascention they did that lawfully because she lawe of Christ then being not so manifestly knowne nor his faith and Gospell spread through the worlde the lawe of Moyses was by degrees to be buried with honour yea and the Apostles went chiefly thither by their preaching doctrine and miracles to confound the obstinate Iewes and plant Christ the truth in their harts in which case a learned Doctor of the Catholike Church that is to make a Catholike sermon or to conuert or confound an hereticall preacher might goe to Church yea some holde that for some meere temporal respect as for example to beare the Princes sword or his cushen or the like one might so waite of his Lord and Master to Church so it be knowne to all men that that temporall action or office is only the cause of his so doing and so one neither pray nor shew any reuerence to their seruice and so he presently returne when hee hath done his temporall office this was the case as some suppose of Naaman the Syrian who asked leaue of the holy Prophet to wait of his king to the idolatrous temple to do his teÌ„porall busines to be briefe God is iealous Zelotes euen as the maÌ„ may not abide his louing spouse to be familiar or conuerse with another but wil cast her out rather so God will not haue the soule for his spouse that is double in hart or goeth two waies perdi disti omnes qui fornicantur abs te thou hast destroyed all that coÌ„mit fornication froÌ„ thee O Lord. No man can serue two Masters but must either pleaseone or displease the other we cannot serue God MaÌ„mon Christ Baliall God our true father will not haue his childe deuided but will rather leaue it in the euill womans keeping But what shall I say of some monstrous mindes drawing euery thing to their owne humors as that forsooth a maÌ„ may go to heretiks church so he pray not with theÌ„ because the 3. childreÌ„ of Israel were amoÌ„gst those that ado Nabucadonosers statua or idol yet worshipped it not wheras these three childreÌ„ in that they there openly coÌ„fessed their faith suffering theÌ„selues to be east into the hot fierie furnace rather then they would dissemble the true faith one iott in worshipping a false god or yeelding to an vntrue religion do condemne all schismatiks most euidently that dissemble all thinges in taking othes goeing to Church kneeling vncouering the head hearing blasphemy and keeping silence yea for feare saying ofte as they say but suppose they but only bee present at Church yea though it were with a protestation of a contrary religion to heresie either vnder the colour of obedience or the like Yet it is vnlawfull because such a protestation declareth that hee coÌ„meth to do a thing that of it selfe is intrinsâ—ce malum very naught and euill of it self as I proued before so this protestatioÌ„ aggrauateth the sinne as those do that more publikely sinne and yet excuse defend or rather glory in it The like may be said of that obedience of theirs to an vniust law which intendeth thereby that a man shoulde allow and conforme himself to heresi iniustice in which case wee are neither to obay Master Mistris Parents Husbande Magistrate nor the greatest Prince in the world but we must boldly say with Saint Peter wee must abey God Act. cap. 4. rather then men as for the presence of these three children before the people adored to say therefore one may bee amongst heretikes at their seruice is very childish foolish for either these three holy men when they came thither knew not of any such worshippe there to bee done but that it was some other spectacle or els as being principall persons they came as magistrates for some teÌ„poral seruice to the King ouer the people or els they came by the very instinct of the holy
Ghost to reproue the people of their sinne and false worshippe and to acknowledge worshippe the liuing God as the glorious profession of his name in the middest of the flame with that angelicall Society well declareth Secondly this matter was talked of and debated by certaine great learned men at the counsell of Trent and was founde most vnlawfull both by the law of God and the Church therefore no power on earth no not the Pope can dispence with any to goe to the heretikes church no more then he can dispence with any to kill steale comit fornication or the like neither was it needeful to make any new canon or decree of this matter because in former generall councelles yt was euer holden vnlawfull yea an expresse canon of the Apostles forbiddeth al Christians to goe to heretiks churches or seruice much lesse to receiue with them or coÌ„municate with them in their Sacraments If any say Cardinall Allen thought it not such great sinne to goe to heretiks church it is most false impudent as his letters and writinges wel vnderstood yea his life and death declareth and as the liues and deaths of his schollars which if I may so terme it bee vere signuÌ„ Apostolatus sui make most manifest to the world and he that holdeth it lawful to goe to Church of heretiks coÌ„demneth well neere a hundred of B. Martirs in our daies that might haue liued if they once would haue yeeldeth to haue gone to Church Thirdly the Pope himself and all learned diuines of our time vtterly deny it in any sort to be lawfull and no doubt his holines if in any sorte it could haue bene tollerated of his commisseration and fatherly pitty of our affliction would most willingly haue dispenced with vs surely the Apostolike father the Pope alone his iudgeÌ„t ought to satisfi any true Catholik Christian in the world Fourthly goeing to heretikes Church is most dangerous for feare of infection can a man touch pitch and it not defile him can he lye by a Serpent and she not sting him then then may he conuers with an heretik much and be not infected or corrupted with him and therefore S. Paul exhorteth vs to flie the heretik man because his heresie creepeth as the caÌ„ker it hath bene noted in great learned men that in reading of heretikes bookes haue bin thereby inclyning to heresie how much more dangerous then is it for lay persons Yea simple vnlearned men to heare their voice in sermons prayers and the like wherefore heretiks bookes also vnder paine of excommunication be forbidden to all to be read For feare of infection vnlesse they haue lawfull authority or faculty graunted them Fiftly as wee read in the Ecclesiasticall histories true Christians euermore abhorred the Churches conuenticles and companies of heretiks yea Saint Iohn the Euangelist would not bath himself where Cerinthus the enemie of the truth had bene before lest the bath should fal vppon his head and exhorteth vs not to salute the heretike which wee ought not to do in any sort to fauour his heresi though to wynne heretiks to God and true religion The church in this time permitteth vs to eat drinck and traffick with heretiks and schismatiks in temporall matters only as our B. Sauiour and his Apostles conuersed eat and drank with sinners to winne theÌ„ to his fathers kingdome yea to conuerse with heretiks was so odious a thing so well knowne in the primitiue church to be vnlawful that the people would not say Amen or abide in the Church whilst the Arrian Bishop was amongst them nay that which is strange the very childreÌ„ made a conscience to play with the ball with out expiacion before that ranne vnder the heretiks horses feete what should I say blessed Martirs of old yea tender Virgins and Women accounted it nolesse then very denial of Christ who said Hee that denyeth mee before men I will deny him before my father in heauen either to goe to churches of heretiks or temples of Idolaters which be in effect one For as Idolaters worship the workes of their handes so do heretiks their fond opinions and imaginations and Idolatry a great deale worse then that of the gentiles If these blessed Saints of old I say would but haue yeelded to the tyme in but once putting vp the fingar to the wicked demaunds of the persecutors to haue gone to their churches and seruice then had wee wanted many glorious Martirs in heauen which those sharpe tymes of persecution most fruitfully afford vs. Sixtly this dissimulation in being present at heretiks seruice is scandalous and offensiue to the infirme and weak in faith inducing other to sinne do the like which sinne of scandall is one of the greatest and most generall in the world and shal be most seuerely punished against which Christ thundereth that most terrible woe affirming it were better one with a mill-stone about his neck were cast into the sea then to scandalise one of such litleweaklings in christ and religion Whereuppon the holy Apostle affirmed he would neuer eat flesh rather then offend his weake Brother Yea old Eleazarus a Iew before Christ which may be a confusion to many Christians would rather suffer death then but only seeme to do against the law for feare of drawing weaklinges and younglinges to do the same Seauenthly and last for it is my purpose to be briefe and referre you to more large and learned substantiall treatises writen of this matter in goeing to heretikes Churches or being thus present at their prayers Sacramentes or seruice in any place conuenticle or congregation of theirs be a man neuer so Catholick in minde yet in so doing he becommeth a schismatike excommunicate person which is a thing more terrible then the two edged sword or any torment in this life For thereby a man is cut from God Christ and all the Sacraments prayers merits of Saints in heaueÌ„ the prayers good deedes of all good men in earth so is exposed to the Deuill and damnation For as said S. Augustme to Peter the Deacon holde stedfastly and doubt in no wise not only al Paynims Iewes but also al heretiks schismatiks that dye without Christs Catho Church shall goe into euerlasting fier prepared for the Deuill his Angells a terrible token whereof God shewed yea euen in this life of schismatiks as Chore Dathan Abiron that were of the same religion Moyses was yet because they deuided themselues from Moyses Aaron offring sacrifice of theÌ„selues not being lawfully called thereunto fire consumed them from heaueÌ„ their adhereÌ„ts Yea the earth swallowed them downé quick to hell therefore S. Augustine biddeth feare nothing so much as diuision separation that is schisme for what â—â— schisme but a cutting of and diuision from the whole so that such Christians as in all points beleeue as the church doth and yet in their action do contrary to their beliefe as such dissemblers do that
for feare or other temporall respect as heere in England goe to church such properly bee schismatiks so called because by their seperation they not only deuide cut of thēselues quite from Gods church but also teare in sunder the misticall body of Christ which is one worse thē the souldiers that cast lott vppon his vesture not cutting it a sunder schismatiks then first bee deuided in themselues pretending one thing in body thinking another in minde indeede if wee in substance consisted only of soule the case were altered but seeing wee consist both of body and soule God as I said before out of Saint Paul requireth action and confession of body and beliefe of hart to concurre togeather as both in the end shall haue reward or iudgement together secondly schisme is so grieuous in Gods sight because it extinguisheth charity without which nothing can please God for charity proceedeth of vnity which schisme by seperation diuision quite taketh away God almighty then which in himselfe is one as all things proceede from him by vnity as the roote and liuely perpetuall fountaine so must they tend and haue reflection to him againe by charity in vnity wherein whosoeuer gathereth not with Christ he scattereth as hee affirmeth hereupon it commeth according to the Apostles doctrine that we be all one body in Christs holy Catholicke Church from which whosoeuer is deuided by schisme he cannot haue life of Grace and saluation from Christ the head as being a deuided member from his misticall body euen as any member of our body dieth we see that is deuided from our naturall body Therefore S. Augustine right worthely exhorteth to feare nothing so much as seperation that is schisme whereby wee loose the grace of God al merits of prayers good works life and saluation this ought to appale our Schismatiks if they had any feeling or feare of God but these of our times be more absurd hard harted and blind thē those of old for not only schis matiks of old but heretiks litle differed in externall rites and ceremonies from Catholike seruice nor in administration of the Sacraments from the true Catholike seruice sacraments but our schis matiks frequent a Caluinisticall puritane rabble of reading For their seruice with heretiks no more like the Catholike true seruice of Christs Church saue only but for the new Testament which notwithstanding they most falsly interpret and corruptly translate no more like I say set Baptisme aside thē the Iewish superstitious reading and ceremonies is like to christian seruice Moreouer in going to heretiks seruice no true priest can administer vnto them the Sacraments of the Catholike Church as penāce the Sacrament of the Altar which once a yeare you are bound to receiue therfore if it were nothing but in this respect you be in most miserable state of dānati on as neuer receauing the foode of life without which your soule cānot liue no more thē the body can without corporall sustenance but neither can you be present at Masse on holy daies nor receaue at Easter which vnder paine of deadly sinne you are bound vnlesse you haue some lawfull impediment as long as you goe to heretiks seruice therefore you see how on euery side you are plunged in sin misery so long as you cōtinue in this dānable state of schisme therfore I exhort you in the name of Iesus as you respect his honour that hath so dearely bought you and tender your owne saluation flie out of Babilon presently that is out of this miserable confusion of sin heresie out of this sinful wretched and most abhominable citty that you be not ouerwhelmed perpetually lost in the ruines of the same Fugite de medio Babilonis flie out therefore I say out of the middest of Babilon and bee not of those which Paululum fugiunt which flie but a little least you bee corrupted with her prostitution and inwrapped in her snares and if you vvill or looke euer to be saued by the truth I haue here taught First after you haue learned to beleeue well then do penāce that is be sorrowfull confesse your sins with full purpose to amend to a lawfull Catholike Priest then doe the worthie fruits of penāce that chiefly by his good counsell direction appointment and so I beseech you with the holy Apostle for Christs sake be reconciled to God bee reconciled to Christs holy Catholicke Church and then be carefull so to amend your life that you take heede of recidiuation or falling backe to your former vomitte least the latter end bee worse then the beginning though what falles soeuer of infirmity a man may haue had yet quickly he ought to rise againe fight manfully and grow not weake harted how sorrowful or penitent soeuer worke then busilie and vertuouslie be euer sorrie whilst you haue time and space for that is past though by Gods grace already in the Sacrament forgiuen according to that de propitiato peccato noli esse sine timore of thy sinne forgiuen be not without feare during this life come no moee at heretikes Church nor seruice nor Sacramenrs no not to die but suck of the sweete breasts of your deare mother and Christs true spouse the Catholicke Church followe her counselles listen to her sermons frequent deuoutly her Sacraments and so you shall beleeue well liue and die the seruant of Christ and attaine your saluation otherwise as long as you liue in this state that is out of the vnity of the Catholicke Church without all doubt you be in state of damnation and therefore seeing there is no other remedy speedely amend and doe penance Chap. LXXIX Admonishing to amendment of life seeing the time is short and the houre of death vncertaine when as ignorance shall excuse no man For this life is short and vncertaine but death most certaine and yet the honre most vncertaine remember my wordes I pray you I haue told you the truth ignorance cannot excuse you if you followe then my aduise you shall winne your owne soule if you doe not I must be a witnesse against you before God and his Angelles at the last day Then Princes cannot excuse you nor rulers for though they indeede shall beare the greatest charge or burden yet euery one neuerthelesse in his degree shall beare his owne sinne according to that of the Apostie Vnusquisque onus suum portabit Wherefore as in discharge of my dutie I haue truly sette downe before you and declared the truth as I will answere before Iesus the dreadfull iudge at the last day who is that euerlasting truth for which vndoubted Catholicke truth I trust by Gods great mercy and grace I shall be ready to shed my bloud if I bee called thereto So on the other side I most humbly and instantly againe and againe exhort pray and beseech you for that great loue of Christ towards vs all whereby for our sakes he shedde his most pretious bloud that you woulde deepely
faith they despise whose good manners they so little followe and regard and whose very bodies and ashes they so racke teare and ransacke here ōn earth If we can of chalke make cheese make the Aethiopian white or firmely conjoyne brasse and earth togither then perhaps wee may joyne Catholikes and Protestants in one Church and make them beautifull and acceptable in Gods sight and not before no no these two as farre differ in Gods sight in his grace and fauour as the other things doe in nature and much more Heretikes that deuide their loue from the whole Church of God deuide their liues deuide their faith and religion can be no more acceptable of God the naturall head and spouse of his one only Church then it could be pleasing to the natural mother by Salomōs motiō to haue the child deuided who chose rather to leaue it in the euill womans keeping euen so God our true father will haue vs one as he is one in vnity of true faith and religion in his Church or else we cannot be true children with him in his house which is one and not deuided Hereupon my first ground 1. is this that neither Lutherans Protestants Puritanes nor any other secte whatsoeuer in the worlde dissenting from the common knowne Catholicke and Apostolike Romane Church can bee members of the true Church of GOD nor canpossibly bee saued because as God is one so his true Catholicke spouse the Church as one wife of one husband is one one in faith and religion and that in euery point and article tuam vnus Dominus vna fides vnum Baptisma and without true faith it is impossible to please God which is only the one Catholicke faith and Church vvithout vvhich vvhosoedyeth shall most certainly perish euerlastingly as all did bodely out of Noes Arke testemonies hereof bee abundant the Prophettes Saint Paul and all the whole course of Scriptures and Fathers so expounding them namely holy Athanasius vvhose Creede is receiued of the vniuersall Church of God which Church is rightly called vna Columba mea amica mea of Christ her spouse viz my only doue my darling one chosen out from amongst a thousand all heretickes then dissenting thus from Catholickes and amongst themselues can neuer be members of Gods Church as long as they remayne in this state deuided from that one and only Catholicke Church Secondly if wee looke inwardly into the most essentiall parts of our Catholike faith and religion you shall finde them chiefly to differ from vs therein for if they were but incertaine indifferent matters left for learned men to vse their opinions and judgment in and not articles of faith defined out of holy Scripture by the Church of God the true keeper and expositor of Scripture wherein they differ from vs they vvere tollerable but they differ from vs not only in lesse articles but in many and the chiefest substantiall intrinsicall parts and articles of faith the least vvhereof euery one vnder paine of damnation is bounde to keepe pure and vndefiled Nowe Buny in his Pacification pag. an hundred and eight following some of his fellowes Bullinger Musculus and the like vvho finding themselues miserably intangled vvith this question of the Church deuised certaine principles and foundations of faith wherein vvhosoeuer agreed they should be accounted all members of one church these Buny imitating of his bounty is so liberall towards vs poore Papists insomuch that more then once hee affirmeth that in substance of religion wee and they agree and therefore that wee bee all one members of one Catholicke and Apostolicke Church and blameth his fellowe Ministers that very rashly and inconsideratly they reject Papists from the communion of the true church For saith he vnlesse we confes the papistical Church to be the true Catholike and Apostolicke Church whereof wee are members no lesse then the Papists wee cast our selues into a great difficulty to finde any other Carholicke and Apostolicke Church which being planted first of the Apostles hath alwaies continued to our time wherein wee as members may be ingraffed which if wee cannot finde or performe then are vvee constrayned to confesse our Church to be more new and later then the Romane Church thus farre Buny whereby you may see what shifts heretikes are driuen to that woulde make the vvorlde to beleeue wee differ in small or no substantiall partes of teligion that so by seeming to creepe into one Church vvith vs though vvanting altogither the vertue and for the most part the true faith of members of the Church yet at leastwise they may couer themselues vnder the bare title of the true Church the more to couer their badde dealinges and to deceaue the simple But what frontlesse brazen faces of Protestants bee these to affirme that their sects agree with the CATHOLICKE CHVRCH not only of all former times and of all Nations in the vvorlde but also that they bee not contrary to the vniuersall Church at this day Let vs then briefly consider all the essentiall or substantiall parts of the Church of ancient time and of this age vvhich is all one and let vs see in vvhat one principall point of faith or gouernment Heretickes agree vvith vs. First they haue instituted another regiment or politique gouernment of the Church quite contrary to that of the true CATHOLICKE CHVRCH for in steede of the Bishoppe of Rome generall and only chiefe Pastor of the vvhole Church they haue made temporall Princes heads of the Church whereby as for example here in England making first a Man then a Boy and nowe a Woman heade of the Church they chaunge religion as oft as Princes vvhether the Prince bee Lutheran Adiaphorist halfe Catholicke as King Henry was Zwinglian as his daughter is said to be trinitary Arrian as another may be or Turke as perhaps the other may be if to bee supreame head of the Church bee so annexed to the Crowne as a matter of inheritaunce as our English Diuines nowe of late haue made it yea and that by Gods lawe wee bee bounde to obey them in spirituall matters then by this diuinity euery new King may coyne a newe religion quite contrary to his predecessor and all good and holy Whereas to Pster and his successors Christs Vicar by Christs ordinance made head of his Church to keepe vniformity of faith to the worldes end in the same is certainly promised to the confusion of all heretickes in the vvorlde that his faith euer one shall not faile which promise Christ hath hitherto kept with his Church and generall Pastor and shall doe to the worlds end let me see now vvhether any hereticke in the vvorlde can or dare auouch so much for his sect whereas vvee dare boldlye affirme that CHIST his prayer to his father for our true Church is heard Ego rogaui pro te Petre vt non deficiat fides tua Well this ordinance of CHRIST of such importaunce for the gouernment of the Church heretickes haue altered and
not author Dissentionis fed pacis they would agree togither and with their first masters especially who many of them in the beginning since quite disclaime from our Church as quite decaied and come they now to vs with their foule feete when many of their fautors and all wise and honest men are weary of them Seauenthly such heretiks as can 7. admit any sect in their Church shew themselues to be of no conscience no feruour no faith no religion and beÌ„ the most daungerous persons in the world commonly the worst hardest to be reclaimed to good These be the persons God most abhorreth wishing they were either hot or cold Sed quaniam taepidus es because thou art luke warme saith he I wil euen spue thee out of my mouth signifying GOD can digest no such Neuter Nullifrdian sots in figure whereof it was forbidden in the law to haue a garment wouen of linneÌ„ wollen signifying that the mixture of contrary sects Christ cannot admit in his garment his spouse the Church which though it was well imbrodered whollie ouer declaring how his Church should be adorned glister with variety of all noble goldeÌ„ vertues in euery state degree yet should they all tend to charity end in one signified by the same garment whole with out seame which the cruell souldiers yet deuided not then which heretiks be worse that rent teare with barbarous cruelty sundry heresyes asunder the misticall body and garment of Christ his Church and this to doe the better nowe in the latter end of the world and most dangerous dayes by subtilly creeping into her they vvoulde make of her as it vvere a linsey vvolsey medley garment for themselues a while to maske in till they might if it were posible rob spoyle her of al vertues and heauenly treasures of scriptures Saints sacrameÌ„ts God all such drone bees that seek to their owne ruyne and of others to suck the sweete of other mens labours CHRIST IESVS will euer haue his watchmen to dryue back from his sacred inclosed garden whereinto none shall truly enter but the right in faith nor any enioy the fruits thereof euerlastingly but the righteous in hart for if the Church as I said hath iustly shurt out at all tymes before and since Christs tyme heretiks for lesse heresies then these of our dayes be by many degrees yea if God himself hath not spared iust reueÌ„ge of many of them in this life yea sometymes to the terror of others hath inflicted terrible sudden death for lesse sinnes then heresie yea spared not Angells in heauen for that vice proper to all hereticks which is pride then though he be long patient lett no heretik think he shall in the ende scape the heauy hand of God in token of whose heauy wrath and iust indignation for this sinne of heresie all good Christian Emperours Kinges Magistrates haue most seuerely punished it with fire to the terror of the wicked and preseruation of the good Lastly heretiks 8. Heretikes be most fit to bee linked in one Church with the Turk who haue pulled downe that most noble religious order of the Knights of the Rhodes ordayned to defend Christendome against the Turke to whom Protestantes now shewe al homage in most humble letters gift and other tokens of beneuolence yea coÌ„plotting with him to the ruin of Catholick states princes as both by their letters intercepted euident actions apâ—eereth that would be of one Church with Catholiks by what ioyntes sinnewes would they be knit to and with them surely they haue lest none for if they run as many of them haue done to the primitiue Church and the Apostles tyme they may indeede falsely and foolishly bragge of the head but then they must absurdly without body and other members ioyne their soule feete to their monstrous Chymerical head of that old dragon but not of Christ whose Church hath euer visibly continued shall do to the end of the world but if they will ioyne themselues with vs now that by Gods grace be Catholiks I see not one bond of faith Hope nor Charity left in them to make this coÌ„nextion betweene vs they that haue rased out or defaced the whole Scriptures which by Gods grace we keepe to our defence they that coÌ„temne whole general councels where on we stand firmely they that nothing regard all holy Fathers which as watchmen in GODS house teach vs how to gouerne our selues they that take away Sacraments that â—oster and feede vs to life euerlasting they that abolish sacrifice whereby we are to worshippe God only they that blaspheame God the blessed Tâ—inity on whome we are to beleeue they that take away Saints in heauen from praying for vs and the Church of GOD heeâ—e from all authority to guide and gouerne vs all which articles and diuerse others which they deny we stedfastly beleeue heere is no way left you see to conioyne vs in faith As for hope with vs in GOD they haue none left neither but in themselues only who they make iudges ouer themselues of their owne fancies Knowing without all doubt as they say they shall be saued before CHRIST come to iugement and so they be past hope As for Charity how can they agree with vs so quite contrary to them that can agree in no one point amongst themselues sauing that they in one point coÌ„spire together yea all heretiks in the world that is to raile against and impugne the Pope our chiefe pastor vnder Christ the Bishop of Rome him the Lutherans him the Caluinists him Protestants him Anabaptists him Trinitaries him the family of loue cry out of with one vniforme consent crucifige but in other matters how many men so many opinions coÌ„monly raigne cursing one another like deuils whome they serue deriding and scoffing ech one another see but only the inuectiues of puritanes against protestants heere in England goe no further note how they be entertayned againe by Whitgift others and it wil giue some tast of the rest how they agree first amoÌ„gst themselues goeing about to thrust one another out of temporall possessions yea to cut one anothers throte As for their charity towardes vs it is no other then that of Iulian the Apostate towardes Christians of his tyme who spoyling them of their goods and many of their liues said hee did them a benefite because according to their Master CHRISTS promise they should receaue a hundred fold for thinges lost so heere in this life and after the Kingdome of heauen Such charity heretiks shew to vs that imprison vs spoile vs of goods and liuings consume many with a lingring persecution most terrible dispach others with violent death infame vs slaunder vs make vs odious to the state and Princes where we liue as traytors impouerish our widowes beggar oâ—r children infeeble corrupt our youth prophane our virgins robbe our churches kil murder our Preists be these in peace
not exceed his limits or office knowing that it was the part of a King to rule in the pallace but the Priest in the Church so much did this mighty Emperour whome God so highly honored blessed with temporall power and spirituall graces honor Priestes but espeacially the high Priest of God the Pope that he gaue to him and his successors for euer the Citty of Rome and all the Territories thereunto belonging giuing place to the Vicar of Christ and remouing the Imperiall seate to Constantinople where Christian Emperours many yeares after raigned till that nowe for sinne and heresie it is fallen vnder the enemy of Christ that greate tyrant the Turkâ— with whome our Protestants in England o monstrous impiety shake hands as is said to trouble the whole state of Christendome that they themselues may liue in more quietnesse at home but no meruaile when they can haue no helpe of God who hateth the wicked and his iniquity they runne to the Diuell for like will to like in euery degree Theodosius the Emperour for a slaughter by him committed at Thessolonica being excoÌ„municated by S. Ambrose Bishop of Millaine and put backe by him from entring into the Church intreated the Bishop he might enter into the Church for that saith hee Dauid committed man slaughter yet after pleased god Yea saith S. Ambrose Dauid offended which many Kings doe but Dauid did penance which many Kings doe not let me first see fruit of your penaÌ„ce with Dauid and after we shal consider furder The Emperour fearing Christ in his Priest the Bishop returned with humility and teares and many daies in his Pallace did penance till at length hee was reconciled by S. Ambrose admitted into the Church O how far did this worthy godly Bishop differ from these false counterfeit Bishops of yours that like flattering Parasites to feede themselues children giue Princes superiority in the Church so far be they from gainsaying any vice raygning amongst theÌ„ which one day they will haue cause to curse as coÌ„trariwise Theodosius for his amendment had cause to blesse the true Bishop S. Ambrose that plainly told him of his fault vsing the rod and authority of the Church ouer him in somuch that therfore the good Emperour after more loued and commended him for it aboue all men esteeming Ambrose worthye in deede to bee Bishoppe These noble Emperours Constantine Theodosius and the like that so feared honoured and reuerenced Priestes which in England you see here tyrannicall heretickes so greatly dishonour and cruelly murther vvere of no lesse witte learning valour courage honour and power then hereticall Princes be now a daies nay they were not only of farre greater worthyer and of more excellency in all princely qualities then any such nowe liuing but withall they were of more profound humility had greater feare of God and reuerence of Priestes his messengers honoring Christ in them which vertues Princes alas deceaued with false heretickes now want They considered and feared right worthely these words of God Qui tangit vos tangit pupillam oculi mei he that toucheth you that is lawful Priests Gods annointed toucheth as it were the very aple of his eye remembring likewise what God said to Samuell of the Iewes They haue not despised 1. Reg. 8. thee but me that I raigne not ouer theÌ„ And our Sauiour saith Hee that despiseth Luc. 10. 16. Mat. 10. 40. Iohn 13. 20. Math. 10 15. you despiseth me he that hateth you hateth me hee that receaueth you receaueth me Againe he threatneth those that refuse his messengers comming in his name That at the last day it shal be more tollerable to Sodome and Ghomor Whereby it appearrth what greate reward good Catholicke christians at this day in England shall haue at Christes handes one day for receauing Priestes comming in his name and lawfullye sent by Christ yea though it be losse of goods landes and life to the receauers so much greater is their merite and what perill and danger not only those stand in that for dasterdly loue to them-selues and feare of the worlde refuse them but in what most damnable state those be that persecutâ— Priestes and their receauers with most vile deathes and so glory they neuer so much of Christ yet they in deede persecute Christ in his members and seruants vnto whome vvhat good or euill is done he accepteth as done vnto himselfe Chap. XXXIIII Of the goodly order of the Clergy and Monarchy of the Church and of the Anarchy and disorderly confusion of heretickes YOu may see by this litle which is said the reuerend order of Priesthood how much it hath euer beene honored by good men but euer impugned persecuted by enemies of the truth because the shepheard once taken away the flock is easily dispersed which maketh the heretikes so to rage and tirannize against Priests in England for the hatred in deed they haue against the whole flock of Christ to the end there should be left neuer a good christian or catholicke in England that in deede is their drift though to blind the simple they pretend all dye for treason not for religion and vnder the cloake of elemencye and mercy with a lingring persecution they vse one of the most subtill and greatest tiranny that euer vvas vsed since CHRISTS tyme For making some out-warde shewe of clemencye euer they haue and doe and will doe I feare me the worst they can deuise in their proceedings till it please GOD either to conuert their hartes vvhich I beseech hym of his mercy for their good and saluation hee vvoulde or else otherwise to chastise them as it may best please him to the terrour and example of all posâ—erity You see likewise how Priesthood most necessarily was ordained by Christ for conseruation of his Church and vvhat godly order is in the same and vvhat a valiant armye hereby the heauenly Monarchie the Church of God thus set in order is how bountifull and amyable to the good in their sight it is and how terrible to the wicked the Diuell all his power see I say in what decent noble aray this Monarchy of Christ standeth First the lay people as feete or inferior members though they rule not the head yet as necessary members be expedient for the body as other more noble meÌ„bers are next to the temporall lay people be those in lower orders or degrees toward Priesthood which as handes or armes in this christiaÌ„ Monarchy maintaine helpe the head as subdeacons deacons which in holy Order be eies as it were to the Priest and Bishop and so in order the Priest preacher is as it were mouth to the Bishoppe helping him to administer the Sacraments and preach Gods word and so Bishops with their vigilant care as it were with their head shoulders do support that most heauy burden Angelicis humeris tremendum and so vpholde altogether and maintein the head whither the head guideth and directeth all the inferiour
head singeth in those diuine Canticles Meliora sunt vbera tua super vino fragrantia vnguentis optimis The sweete milke of these two breasts of the Church be Gods word and the blessed Sacraments First haue not heretickes vvith their false corrupt interpretations and translations framing scriptures to their owne fantasies most wickedly peruerted the same but also haue quite pulled out and razed whole bookes and notable members thereof which most flatly condemne their damnable heresies and therefore they plainly deny those most sacred bookes of Scripture to be holy Scripture at al. As for the Sacraments though they confesse two yet in effect they deny al saying they be but bare signes conferring no grace at all though Baptisme they haue still but not without daÌ„nable heresies about the same in their opinions yet their communion bread is poyson which they crect and set vp against the true Altar sacrifice of God in his church which sacrifice of the Altar they blasphaemously cal an Idol treading those diuine misteries left for the foode of our soules by christs holy institutioÌ„ vnder their feete The rest of the Sacraments they vtterly deny contemne the sacred Virgins which the church as the deare darlings of Christ imbraceth in her bosome they prophane religious persons by vowes dedicated to God they deride their Oratories and sacred places they pull downe riotously consume bestowe their liuings the sacred Priests of God in great numbers for professing of their faith and execution of their function they most cruelly persecute and put to death This England can testefie that besides the consumption of many in prison of al sorts within this forty years hath had aboue an hundred Priests be sides women and lay persons some of them after long and most hard imprisonment rack and torment at length all of them most cruelly put to death hanged drawne and quartered the most of them aliue In the inferiour Germany but in France especially haue Priests there founde more fauour falling into the Hugonots handes surely no it will seeme to posterity almost incredible what the holy annoynted of God haue there suffered for the Catholicke faith some of them haue had their bowels drawne out quicke and that on spittes winding them out before their faces to their greater torments and lingring death from others they cut off their members and gaue them rosted to eate others they buried quicke leauing out their heads as pretty markes to bowle and play at with many moe exquisite torments by those most cruell Caluinists full of instinct and spirit of Beza exercised vpon the seruants of God and shall these bee accounted of one Catholicke Romane Church with vs whome Iewes Turkes Vandalles Gothes nor most barbarous Scythians coulde neuer more cruelly persecute Shall these I say inherit and be pertakers of the fruit of that vine-yard of Christ that with cursed Cham reueale their fathers nakednes as if there were any Pope Bishop Prelate Priest or religious person that shewed some infirmities as we be but men most scornfully odiously they set it out to the scandall of the infirme and reproach of the whole host of God his Church whose ordinances and lawes which all Christen men ought to obey otherwise they be heatheÌ„s publicans they breake whether it be in fasting prayer or any other good order that most spightfully for that it is commanded by the Church to giue a plaine instance hereof The old Lord Treasurer Cecill thought it in policie meete or at least mooued the matter that the late GregoriaÌ„ Calender should be receaued Elmer start vp and said though otherwise Superintendent of London it were requisite yet would he neuer consent to receaue it because it was ordayned by the Pope With more moderatioÌ„ the Treasurer replyed My Loâ—if any thing good laudable be instituted by the Pope why may not we follow it Surely quoth he it is vnbishoply spoken but Iohn of London learned this lesson of his grandsire Luther to hate thâ— Pope in all things knowing that where the Popes laws may take force their heresie can haue no sway nor entraÌ„ce Insomuch that Luther being dead buried in hell though the Pope according to Christs promise shal liue gouerne the house of God to the worlds end yet to shew his blody mind of his followers thus haue I heard is it written of his Sepulchre Morstua ero O Papa c. See whether these be not fitte children and members for the Catholike Romane church the death of whose chiefe father and Pastor they imagine and intende to their vttermost power last breath yea if it were possible euen in their graues Shall any Protestant ministers theÌ„ be Pastors of Christs flocke whose true Pastors they so mortally hate whose sheepe they infect and deuoure indeed they shall haue their hire but with Chore Dathan Abiron and their complices whome hell deuoured swallowed vp for euer that for a lesse sclusme pride and disobedience then Protestantes daylie and now many yeeres haue vsed most obstinatly against the whole Church of God of whome they are no more meete to be members then those rebellious Châ—rites were to be of the host of Israell the army of the liuing GOD if we be so straitely commaunded in holy Scripture to flâ—e the heretik not to salure or conuerse with him if Saint Paul did bidde auferte malum de medio vestri For feare of corrupting the rest if the excoÌ„municated the Corrinthian for a lesse fornication then heresie is and if the whole Church of God neere the Apostles time haue cut of lesse heretiks then these from her society yea for holding the same heresies that these heretiks of our times do these holding withall many worse besides will now then the same Church contrary to her selfe her Masters precept and Apostolike doctrine yea al sence reasoÌ„ ingraffe such rotten members so virulent an pestiferous euery way in her body yea will Christ her spouse I say imbrace them in the lappe and bosome of his Church then surely will he admitt Turks and all and then wherefore was he incarnate suffred for vs on the crosse which blessed passion as the Turks deny so do Caluinists the effect thereof that in more blaspheamous sort then Turks Insomuch that I may safely affirme that protestant puritanes be further of from the true Church of God and haue lesse excuse to make of their Apostacie at the day of iudgement then the very Turks As for example the Turkes haue to shew almost a thowsand yeeres now for their antiquity continuance in great glory prosperity and victories especially now within these two hundred yeeres with the applause consent and following of many nations with great shew of almes hospitality long prayer fasting and other good deedes all which our heretiks want As for the Turkish opinions though in a grosse and carnall sort yet they beleeue there is one God all good iust creator of all thinges