Church Hierico being ruinated destroyed and quite razed downe the wales of Hierusalem may bee builded vp Then may we sing exultantibus animis with Psal 50. ioyfull harts Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae oblationes holocausta tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos Then O Lorde we purified by grace in hart and soule from sinne with due composition also and decency of body wholy offering our selues to thee as thou offeredst thy selfe farre more bountifully for vs in contrite and humble hart by Christ here our high Priest the only pure and most acceptable Sacrifice vvee I say vvill offer to thee O God and thou for IESVS thy sonnes sake Shalt accept our sacrifices of prayers and thanksgiuing oblations of iustice the due sincere and vpright charitable dea ling to vard our neighbours with whole burnt offerings of burning heauenly desires with feruent loue aboue measure to our louing L. aboue then vpon the Altar of our hartes with incensed and diuine affections kindled with deuotion shall we make a feast to God and his Angels who delite to rest and dwell with pure soules deuout oft and worthy receauers of this blessed Sacrament then shall wee in thy Church militant here in earth ouer all nations triumpth in true and souud faith then with constant patience the Lady of wisdome and procurice of true honour shall we in all aduersities expect ioyfully thy B. comming Then for thy loue with armes of loue and charity shall wee imbrace both friend and foe fructifying in good workes wishing and procuring to our power the good of all men then shall christ enter into vs with diuine presence and holy grace and we rest and repast our selues of and in him by his bountefull sauour Then shall we enter and repose in him by tasting his sweetnes and go forth contemplate his mighty power and goodnes in all creatures and superabundantly find within and without which none can tell but he that hath found it repast and refection of his loue his sweetnes his power maiesty bounty glory and goodnes So reliquie cogitaticnum c. the remnant of spirituall and pure thoughts conceaued by the deuout tasting and most sweet meditation of this diuine mistery shall refresh vs and make in our harts a festiual day a healthful banquet an immortall and most delightfull supper full of all ioy and gladnes Then shall we be so enamored with his loue that vvith his svveete spouse in her Canticles wee burst out and say Fasciculus Mirrhe Cap. 1. dilectus meus mihi c. My beloued to me is a poesie of Mirrhe of svveete odoriferous and fragant flowers I will imbrace him and he shall rest betweene my breasts in my very hart Tenui nec demittam Cap. 3. eum I haue kept him c. I will hold him fast I will hold him fast and neuer let him goe Thus exulting to GOD here vpon the Altars of our hartes and soules thus offered in his sight farre better pleasing God then oblations sacrifices of thousands of those bloudy sacrifices of calues bulls Then finally in that glorious triumphant Church a boue shal we laud and glorify almighty god through christ Iesus his most sweet and only sonne that pure and innocent Lambe daily offered here in sacrifice vpon the Altar in a mistery and sitting at his Fathers right hand in a supereminent glory who to our bodies soules is the true foode of grace and glory that perisheth not but remayneth to life euerlasting who be blessed and honoured of all creatures for euermore Amen Chap. XXXI Of holy Order what it is by whome it was ordeyned and of hoâ—e many degrees it consisteth and that no man rashly without due consideration ought to take vpon him the same THE fift Sacrament is holy Order as then in Baptisme we be newe regenerate or borne in Christ in Confirmation strengthned in Penance after our woundes and faults healed and raised vp againe in the holy Sacrament of the Altar most abundantly fed to make vs liuely Souldiers of Christ and that we may last out to our iorneys ende like royall Souldiers obtaine the victory so by this holy SacrameÌ„t of Order christs kingdome and common weale his holy Church as a most valiant army set in most mighty noble order is prepared to triumph ouer those Princes of darknes perpetuall enemies of mankinde this wretched worlde For if all things God hath ordayned bee well ordered much more his holy Church so dearely beloued of him that not only all thinges he created in heauen and in earth tend to the saluation of it but he himselfe shed his bloud for it For euen as God in his triumphaÌ„t Church in heauen hath some higher some lower orders of Angels euen so in his Church militant here in earth there be diuers degrees in holy order all teÌ„ding to the due seruice of God as Bishops Priests Deacons and other inferior orders wherof some succeed the Apostles others the Disciples of Christ and coadjutors of the Apostles al lawful messengers and workmen of Christ ad Ephes 4. 12. consummationem sanctoruÌ„ in opus ministerit dulie to administer and execute his woâ—ke to bring his elect seruants to perfection Order then being instituted by Christ giuen by imposition of hands as appeareth by holy Scripture is a Sacrament you see ordeyned by Christ whereby his Church is well disposed gouerned yea and defended against all foraine incursions Nowe this holy order which is chiefly principally called Priesthood consisteth of many orders I meane the other inferior orders appertayning to it Foure inferior orders Other inferior orders euery one in their degree bee also properly called Order but chiefly Priesthood whereunto the other inferior be long there be which be preparatioÌ„s to Priesthoode which though they binde not to chastity as the 3. higher orders do yet it is not coÌ„nuenient that any take theÌ„ but such as haue mind to be Priests yet ther is first a preparation to these 4. inferior orders which we call the first tonsure whereby a man before he enter to take holy orders is taught by thus cutting of the haire to shake of all worldly cares to cut of al superfluous desires and transitory thinges that may hinder him from heauenly contemplation and the due seruice of almighty God The first of these lower orders is called the Ostiary that is the dore keeper that hath by vertue of that office giuen him which the keyes the Bishop giueth him doth betoken power to keepe and shutte the Church dores to keepe out heretickes and infidels and preserue enclosed from prophane handes the holy vestures and sacred vessels of Christ The second order is the Reader that by the booke which the Bishoppe giueth him may reade holy lessons of holy Writ in the Church The third order is called an Exorcist which hath power giuen him to expell and cast out Diuels not by witchcraft and superstition as Southsayers Conjurers and
rewarder of wel doers But our diuelish heretiks most blaspheamously affirme he is the author of euill that his commaundements are impossible to be kept and therefore it followeth he is vniust and most vnmercifull to punish men with endles tormentes for breaking those lawes that none can keepe besides that they hold that men want free will and whether he do well or ill if he be predestinate to bee saued or damned hee shall be all is one Caluine affirmed that CHRIST despaired and blaspheamed his father vppon the crosse suffring in his soule the paines of the damned Yet the Turks hold him euer to be a holy Man the Sonne of a Virgin and the most blessed man that euer was or shall be yea punish such as deny it but you will say Caluin and his followers hold him to be GOD which Turks do not I deny that Caluin and his adherents acknowledge Christ for GOD vnlesse they will haue mo GODS then one and in so affirming they be worse thē Turks For what meaneth Caluin when contrary to the Churches creede and faith he denieth the Sonne of God to be Deus de Deo God of God that is euerlastingly begotten of his fathers substance but he wil haue him Deus ex se or per se as much to say as of another substance from his father and so of the holy Ghost and so it must needes follow that either there be three Gods as of diuers substances or els that the Sonne and the holy Ghost be no Gods at al by this doctrine of Caluin his followers but the first cannot be yet if the sonne be of another substāce from his father then whether he be lesse then his father equal or greater then his father yet being of another substance frō his father as Caluin blaspheameth then must it needes follow there be two Gods at least which consequent because Caluin denyeth yet obstinatly affirmeth the precedēt therfore he affirmeth Christ or his father or both to be no god at al. And truly in my opinion it seemeth more tollerable to affirme ther is no god thē thus with Caluin other heretiks to blaspheame his infinite goodnes which indeede cānot cōsist with the very essential nature of God as to say he is vniust vnmercifull the author of euill so that Protestāts be worse thē very atheists how much more tollerabe then be Turks then they who though they deny the passion of Christ yet do they not hold that euer he dispayred or blaspheamed God as Caluinists do teaching likewise but especially the Zwinglians that not only Turkes and all heathenish children if they be predestinate be aswell saued as Christian mens childrē Christened who dying yea in their infancy they say if they be not predestinate though Christined yet can they not be saued but also that the old heathēs as Socrates Hercules Numa c. be saued as much to say as christ dyed in vaine for the world if such as neuer had respect to him coulde be saued without him as well as the B. Virgin Peter Paul and such for these and olde heathens Zwinglius ioyneth together telling the King of France in his Epistle to him exhorting him to imbrace his Gospell which if he would do he telleth yea and promiseth him he shall see these and many moe there together in one kingdome Do you thinck this doctrine of these two men Caluin Zwinglius which our english Heretiks chiefely follow and teach can ioyne the followers and beleeuers thereof in the Catholike Church suerly then as I said Turks Atheists and all heathens be of the Church doth not Caluin vtterly These bee Caluins ownewords Epist ad Polonos pag. 946. vt cognoscant te vnum Deū id est Trinitatem hoc non modo tanquam insipidum sed prophanū quoque repudiamus vtterly mislike and forbidde that any should cal vpon pray to yea or vse this word Trinitye as to say o holy Trinity one GOD haue mercy vppon vs for though he can abide in that manner as he teacheth to heare named the Father the Sōne and the holy Ghost yet can he not abide this word consubstantiality which one viz. Luther said his soule abhorred nor this word Trinity neither as a papisticall inuention For mee to recite these places of theirs written at large would be too long and tedious but their bookes bee extant in euery stationers shoppe and their doctrine heerein so manifest to the world that none can deny it howsoeuer our politik courtly parlamētary religion heere in England to dazle simple mens eyes will haue such wordes as of Trinity still vsed to content the vulgar sort though they iump with their Apostles Zwinglius Caluin in conceipt opinion in the deepest degree Thus you see how in the chiefest points of our religiō as of God Christ the Blessed Trinity heretikes quite differ from the catholike Church as also in that great matter of iustification by faith and good works in Christ Iesus which the holy Apostle S. Paul in his Epistles so diuinely teacheth whose meaning S. Iames after so perfectly explaneth yea S. Peter the Prince of the Apostles exhorting vs by good works to make our vocatiō suer stable forwarneth Christians to take heede how they vnderstād his brother Paul who according to that hye diuine wisedome of God giuen him wrote many thinges hard to be vnderstood which the vnlearned vnstable depraue as the rest of the Scriptures to their owne destruction saith he good Lord do not these wauering vnstable heretiks of our tyme as S. Peter right worthely termeth them neuer long contynuing in one opinion but full with themselues and others of sects and dissentions do they not most peruersly and corruptly interpret chiefly this holy Apostles Epistles against the true matter of iustification confounding faith good works yea affirming faith alone to iustifie which is a very diabolicall faith affirming man hath no true iustice in him with many absurdities and heresies As about the merrits not only of our good workes and the Saints in heauen which they affirme to be none but about the merrittes of IESVS Christ himselfe the like absurdities they hold about predestination free will the Sacraments inuocation of Saints prayer for the dead images pilgrimage pardons fasting prayers and euery point all most of the Catholike Churches faith And be these of the Church of God who hold not one sounde opinion almost of God Heauen Hell Purgatory nor of the Church of God it self militant heere on earth sparing neither the soules of the glorious S. in heauen nor their bodies and sacred reliques heere in earth but digge them out of their tombes cōsume them with fire and cast their ashes to be dispersed in the water and the winde to trye perhappes with the old heathens whether they shall rise againe at the last day and can wee make these men or rather monsters members with these glorious Saints in heauen as of the same Church whose
naught be admitted as Christian Catholiks and for meÌ„bers of Gods Church as they For the heretiks of this tyme rayse vp from hell al old heresies whereof Turcisine first arose for the most part that haue bene from Christs time to this day such as many hundred yeeres agone haue bene condemned by the general consent of al Christendome now knitting altogether in one fardell with a number moe of their owne and the deuils new deuising they make rather a generall apostacy denying al things in effect that good is then an heresie from the Church making the hye way to the Diuell and Antichrist learning yet this lesson of false Mahomet their grandesire to admitte al sects and religions that in outward wordes confesse GOD to be of their Church or to be saued and so by the Diuells drift endeauour to their power to send all the world packing to Hell Butlett vs suppose which would GOD it were true that Protestants differed from the Catholike Church but in some one point or the least article of our faith now in questioÌ„ at this day As for example inuocation of Saints or the vse of images yet I say am able plainlie to proue that for the obstinate denyall of the lesse of these points or any such like they should quite cut themselues off from the vnity of Christs Catholike Church which we are bound by Christs owne word by the instruction of our creede to heare beleeue because as there is but one faith Church so but one truth therein which is plaine and simple and cannot be intermedled with any lye therfore whatsoeuer this church proposeth as matter of truth faith to be beleeued I am bound to beleeue it or els I discredit her for a lying Church so not the Church of Christ which is truth so that deny the Churches truth and beliefe in one point deny her in al and the mis beliefe and obstinate gayne saying against one article of faith maketh one an heretike and so offender against the whole for God is truth and wholly in euery part of truth so that to deny any receiued truth of the Church which is matter of faith is to offend against the whole insomuch that S. Iames saith qui totam legem seruauerit offender it autem in vno factus est omnium reus he that keepeth the whole law offendeth in one point is guiltie of al now the true Church of GOD eight hundred yeeres agone condemned image breakers for exaÌ„ple quite cutting them off from the corps vnity of the Church commending to al as a matter of faith that good Christians ought reuerently to keepe and vsethe sacred Images of Christ and his Saints the same doth the Church of God stil beleeue teach confirmed it in her last general Councell holden at Trent as these image breakers for that one heresie were many hundred years agone condemned by the consent of all Christendome and cutte of quite from the whole Church so were those that denyed inuocation of Saints and their holy reliques as Ioumian and Vigilantius in S. Ieroms time against which heretikes and their heresies as new Idolls Saint Ierome him-selfe thundring with Note here that Beza in Actor Apo. cap. 23. v. 3. Is angrywith S. Ierome forwriting against Ioumian vigilaÌ„tius saying Ego coraÌ„ Deo Angelus eâ—us affirme intoller an danâ— esse multis locis in de torquè dis Scripturis Hieronimi andaciam vt in libro contra Iouinianum Vigilantium see here how Beza approoueth elde heretickes of his opinions condemning S. Hierome authority of Gods word and his church very sententiously and learnedly burst them asunder many other such like heretiks for other opinions as the Donatists in Africk in S. Augustine time agreeing many of them in all other points with the Catholik Church yea many of them differing litle or nothing at all in the outward rite and forme of the Churches seruice yea some of theÌ„ but Schismatiks in the beginning yet were they all cutte of the Church no true Christians euer Communicating with them in SacrameÌ„ts or prayers the holy fathers so vehe meÌ„tly writing against the least of those heresyes that rather then they would haue admitted the least of them into the Church of God they would haue suffered many deaths and come now heretiks that cast downe Images Saints yea Christ himselfe out of the Church and pulle downe churches and all and think to be accounted member of gods Church nay that Church hath euer taught vs another lessone who hath euer beene so carefull to keepe her faith with Saint Paul that reioycing said fidem seruaui In all pointes so pure and vndefilled remembring her chiefe pastors lessone that therein shee must resist the Deuill seeking euer his pray whome he may deuoure whome he bidds vs resist Fortes in fide strong in the Catholik faith especially That euen as the Church triumphant in heauen with God can admit no impure or vncleane soule distained with sinne so certainly the true Church of God militant heere on earth neither may nor can admit into her society any open obstinate leaporous heretike infected with the least heresie and why but because as treason is most hay nous to the Prince and common weale so is heresie most grieuous in the sight of GOD and most pernitious to his Church many other great offendors the Prince oft spareth but very seldome is treason pardoned because it tendeth to the ruine of the Kings person and dissolution of the whole state and Monarchy So the holy Church oft times vvith great compassion is forced to tollerate grieuous sinners yea vvith sighes and teares ought to sorrowe and lament them expecting donec formetur in eis Christus and as long as they bee not obstinate in sinne as in theft fornication or more grieuous faults so long oft she expects I say their amendment not quite cutting them off but releeuing them with prayers and good Counsaile that so she vpon their recouery with joy may imbrace them in visceribus misericordiae Christi but euen as the vigilant sheepheard immediatly driueth away the Wolfe or seperateth the scabbed sheepe from 〈◊〉 flocke for feare of killing his lambes or infecting his sound sheepe So the true Pastors of the Church neuer tollerate heresie nor the least heretike in Christs flocke the Church because it creepeth as the canker and destroyeth the corne of Christ Darnell Cockle and such other weede though it be permitted to grow stil with corne till the day of reaping yet venemous blacke flying vermine that consume the corne at euery bitte must diligently at all times bee driuen away For heresie opposeth her selfe by diuision against God which is one preferring her owne wit before the wisedeme and ordinance of Christ in his Church sinneth most highly in Luciferian pride which God so detesteth breaketh charity the knot of peace in his Church which he chiefly loueth and so shooteth against GOD himselfe the
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
his holy waies yea so louing bountifull and gratious is God and so desirous of mans saluation that it is not the worst person in the world but somtimes he shall haue good motions and holy inspirations to amend his life and the more a man hath and yet followeth them not but is hardened and dyeth in sinne the greater shall bee his damnation Marke then O man whosoeuer the motions and stirrings of thy hart and noli contristare spirituns doe not as it were make sadde the holy Ghost by ingratefully repelling his most blessed and holy instincts beware you put not backe Gods holy motions nothing falleth on the earth without Gods will and holy disposition no not the very bird neither can any thing bee done without his permission whereof if we may make good and therefore nothing can happen to vs in this life good nor ill but if we will we may take occasion thereof to remember our ende and and dispose our selues more and more to our saluation and therefore I say to you especially for whome I haue taken this labour to write this treatise it ought to be a more euident and effectuall motiue and sufficient warning for the perfect amendment of your life by your reconciliation to GOD vvho because it is he that as hee straightly commandeth vs to keepe his commandements and followe his holy waies so without his grace and helpe wee cannot fruitfully doe nor execute the same For whether Paul or Apollo plant or water yet Deus incrementum dèdit God is he that euer hath and must giue the increase And therefore seing vpon this ground S. Augustine said vnto GOD good Lord giue that which thou commandest and command what thou wilt Let vs then followe his counsaile who said Aske and you shall haue seeke and you shall finde knocke it shall be opened vnto you Let vs therefore not cease to knocke humbly and instantly to craue grace and mercy at his hands that the sweete and seasonable raine of his gratious fountaine may bee plentifully instilled into our harts yea let vs make instance at least to obtaine one droppe of grace to mollifie and strengthen our hard weake harts Open then the eies of our soules O Lord and they shall be opened water them with the dewe of thy heaueuly grace strike our harts vvith thy feare and loue that wee euer may be so watchfull ouer our soules that we neuer preferre any pleasure of the flesh any worldly riches credit or honour before thy true seruice and euerlasting glory Let vs then worke busely our saluation as the matter of greatest importance whilst this life indureth for as saith our Sauiour the night will come when no man can worke from which darke night of sinne hell death and eternall damnation CHRIST the euerlasting truth of his infinite mercy deliuer you and vs all conuert all heretickes and poore deceaued soules make vs all members of one body his deare spouse the Catholicke Church that as heretofore by diuersity of minds a number haue beene deuided from Christ so knitting our selues altogither in the knot of peace vnity and charity in Christs holy Catholicke Church here on earth wee may then once enioy his endlesse glory altogither in his triumphant and most glorious Church in heauen where all errors sadnesse sorrowes paynes lamentations and mournefull teares shall quite cease and passe away where more ioy felicity and true happie blessednesse then euer eie hath seene eare hath heard or mans hart can imagine or conceaue whereunto hespeedely bring vs our Lord and Sauiour CHRIST IESVS To whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all honour and glory A SHORT TREATISE AGAINST ADIAPHORISTS NEVTERS SVCH AS SAY THEY MAY be saued in any sect or religion would make of many diuers sects one Church AMongst many shiftes of Heretickes and Schismatikes which by the example of their Master that old wily Serpent be commonly versipelles one is that they would beare Catholikes in hand they be of one Church with them still that so more easely they may draw the simple into their nettes perdition For the Maiesty of the church is so great that the very name thereof maketh the enemy appalled either to seeme to resist it or to liue with out it for though oftentimes in their pulpittes writinges especially amōgst themselues heretiks wil not stick most impudētly to affirme the visible Church especially was decayed for a thowsand yeeres and more glory that they be the men sent from God to restore it againe Yet when they be pressed by the learned to shew their vocation who sent them because as I declared before they haue neither extraordinary vocation by miracle nor ordinary by succession as is plaine and so euidently to all learned men shew thēselues false Prophets not sent of god for no man according to the Apostles doctrine ought to preach vnlesse he be sent by lawfull authority which the Heretikes perceiuing so plaine by Scriptures they cannot deny diuers shiftes they haue vsed some to shewe their vocation like the Apostles extraordinarie by miracle As Luther that by miracle would haue expelled the Diuell out of one possessed but in his exorcismes was driuen to such hard shiftes as hardly he could get honestly out of the place himselfe cleane a merry iest but scarce honest to be reported so Caluin killed a man which he hyred to faine himself dead and to rise at his call to confirme his Apostleshippe who by GODS iudgement falling dead indeede his wife bewrayed with exclamation the matter therefore these two new Apostles hauing no better successe for their mission and extraordinary calling Beza Caluins successor deuised another shift for his lawfull embassage and ordinarie calling and election For in that great and solemne meeting and most famous dispute in Fraunce betwixt Catholickes and Hugonots at Poissee Cardinall Guise being In conuētu Poissiaceno lib. 1. de stat religionis in Gallia sub Carolo 9. part 1. lib. 3. moderator himselfe asked Beza who sent him from whence come you but Beza being not able to answere he fell to this shift and most seely refuge that hee was lawfully called and chosen of those people that chose him to bee their Pastor leauing so Luther and Caluin his forefathers in the lurtch who were chosen neither of the Clergie nor people to preach hauing none to preach to and therefore intruded themselues first not sent like theeues that by violēce enter into another mans house or the adulterer that by stealth ascending another mans bedde corrupteth his wife so corrupteth these false Apostles Luther and Calum the Churches they inuaded the seely poore people the flock and spouse of Christ in some particular countries and citties with adulterous and false doctrine so sending themselues before they could be chosen and receiued of the people which Beza Calums honest successor said he was called of But such a calling as this is both Marcion Ebion Arrius Photinus Sabellius Pelagius
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
sent backe againe with great honour and gifts and the like triumph and reioycing to my knowledge was neuer in Rome before since our Country was first conuerted vnto Christ in Gregory the greats time our holy Apostle that sent S. Augustâ—ne to preach the Gospell amoÌ„gst vs English men These couÌ„tries new y conuerted in the Indians be conuerted by Iesuites Monkes and Friers so honourabâ—e once in our Country but now odious yea their very names They in those mighty Countries citties far greater then the rest of all Christendomâ— do raise vp houses of religion as fast as we pull the downe they know or beleeue no other faith but only the Catho Romane faith Church praysed â—om 1. 8. with the Apostâ—es mouth to be preached through the whole worlde Heretickes here you see in corners of Christendome rent and teare in peeces like rauâ—ning Wolues the flocke of Christ but they plant it in no place amongst Iâ—fidelles where Christ was neuer heard of before as our Priests and religious men doe which they so raiâ—e against in their pulpits amongst ignorant people But no maruell for our Sauiour describeth such Wolues vnder the name of hirelings or rather no Pasâ—ors but theeues and robbers that come in by the window not by the doore that feede themselues and not the flocke of Christ but be like to those whereof the Prophet speaketh De Psal 52. 5 uorant plebem meaÌ„ vt cibum panis deuouro my poore people aâ— meate of bread It is the property oâ— the heretike vt furetur mactet perdat to steale murder destroy but not as a good shepheard to feed the flock of Christ and raise vp and build the walles of Ierusalem the holy Church Thus you see how the Church of Christ is no priuate conuenticle or tied to one or two Countries or Nations but it is common to the whole world A mari vsque ad mare a flumine vsque ad terminos orbis terrarum a visible Church to be seene as hee promised by the holye Prophet it should bee that all Nations might haue recourse thereunto Againe Ps 112. 3. he promised by his Prophet it shoulde be from the rising of the Sunnet to the setting of the same againe Et aperienter portaetuae Isa 60. 11 iugiter die ac nocte non claudenter vt afferatur ad te fortitudo gentium reges earum adducantur That her gates should neuer be shut that is that shee should be common to all Nations of the world both Iew and Gentile but this is proper to no sort of Heretickes in the world which be enclosed you see in a few corners of the same as England and Germany But our common knowne faith Church and religion is Catholicke that is vniuersall generall and common not only to these countries but to all the countries of the worlde where Christ was euer preached or heard of Euen from the rising of the Sunne to the setting of the same againe therefore no other Church the true Church but ours only that is the common knowne Catholicke and Apostolicke Romane Church First then you see what Church hath the first true marke which wee be taught in our Creede to beleeue that is our Romane Church no other because ours and no other you see can properly be called Catholicke that is common to all Nations Chap. III Of the second certaine note of the true Church SEcondly this Catholike Roman church is of greatest antiquity which is a sure note or marke of the true Church proper to no Church but onely to our church that is the true catholike church For this catholike faith religion which at this day for example is preached at Rome in the Indians in al the coasts of the world is no new fangled vpstart opinioÌ„ sect as lutherans protestants be whose first rising is yet in our fathers memory but most ancient that is both euer continued one and the same Faith and church for almost these 1600. yeers from Christes Ascention euen vnto this day whereas the Protestants can neither shew church chappel nor congregation of their faith religion through the whole world till only within these 80. yeres till Luther his fellows licentious Lollards first arose if their were anie of more ancieÌ„t years as Wicliff Hus Ierom of Prague and the like yet with their opinions they held other damnable heresies which the Protestants mislike as-well as Catholikes so that only our Catholike Church is that which hath continued not for fourescore yeers but fifteene hundred fourescore which marke so auncient of Antiquity because heretikes want therfore they cannot be members of Christs Catholike Church against which our Sauiour promised The diuell and all his power should neuer preuaile but that it shoulde continue from his Ascention into Heauen to his comming againe to Iudgement eueÌ„ to the end of the world when by his iust IudgemeÌ„t he shal seuer the good corne and chaffe a-sunder make himselfe a glorious triumphant Church in Heauen without spotte or wrinckle Nowe then either it must followe that Christ failed of his promise which to thinke or saye is extreame blasphemie or else that our Church the Catholike Romane Church and no other is only the true church because no other Church but ours only hath beene seene and openly continewed and preuailed against the deuil and all his members from Christes time to this day For their church if not you yet your father knew when it sprong vp that of what ground and occasion it rose that was of Couetousnes Pride and whordome but our Catholike Church hath continued by most of there owne confessions for a thousand yeares yea some of them giue vs thirtene hundred yeares but wee will take to vs and are able to proue by all auntient authority and the invincible truth sixteene-hundred yeres nowe well drawing on that is euen froÌ„ Christs time to this day Wherefore our Church being the only church that hath euer visibly beene seene and florished in many Though the church hath euer beene visible yet I meane she hath especially florished since times according to the promise of our Sauiour his Church shoulde doe Therefore it must needes followe that noe Church but onely our Catholyke Romane Church is the true Church as being by farre most antient euen from Christes time But the heretike hath another shift for this he granteth with vs that the Church of Christ shall euer continew but he would haue it an inuisible congregation secrett in mennes hearts a congregation knowne to God alone to no mortall creaâ—ure saue only to such as be of the same whereupon he woulde haue the Church to consist of the onely Elect saued soules that there be not of both sorts good and bad in the holie true Catholike Church which wily shift of the heretikes we easily shift off reproue plainly by Gods word his gospel which compareth his church Vnto
a Mat. 20. Mar. 12. Luc. 20. citty set vpon a hill to a tabernacle set in the sunne that cannot be hid Againe he biddeth vs if we cānot amend our brother by brotherly correctiō Totel the Church which if he will not heare account him as a Heathen and Publicane saith christ But how should we tell that Church or howe should a man hear that church that can neither be seene nor heard but is inuisible as the heretiks would haue it Wherefore you see how slender a shifte this is of them who like theues that hate the light would haue the Church inuisible contrary to Gods word his holy Gospell which biddeth vs to haue recourse vnto it in time of neede as the sure foundation and piller of truth so euident and plaine that it may and might euer and shal be seene to the worldes end euen frō the rising of the sunne to the setting of the same againe as was foretolde by the Prophets Hereupon the Apostles write their epistles to such and such Churches and to the whole Catholike Church as in particular to the Romanes the Cor. the Ephes c. as visible that may be seene that is This position of theirs heretiks I meane denying the Church to be visible is so false that before Christs time whē things were but in shaddowe and figure yet was there euer an opē visible Church of God whereunto men might haue recourse in all doubtes especially since Moyses as appeared in Elias time whē it was so sore persecuted that he cried out Relictus sum ego solus I good Lord thy seruant am lefte 3. Reg. 19. alone and yet aunswere was giuen him by God that he had left 7000. in Israell besides the wel known citty of Ierusalem Cath. Iuda that neuer bowed knee to Baal Loe a visible cōpany at al times yet in the visible church we be taught by Scriptures there be both good bad as appeareth by that parable of the gospell the Kingdome of Heauen that is the Church of God which in holy scriptures is sometimes called the Kingdome of heauen is compared to a field where Mat. 13. good corne cockle and weed grow together which our Sauiour the good man of the house his Church bad let grow both to gether least in weeding out the cockle the good corne also should bee bruised and plucked vp but in the end of the world then will he by his Anglles gather his good corne his elect people and bind the weed that is the wicked in bundles to be burnt with vnquenchable fire For God suffereth wicked men as saith Saint Augustine to liue amongst the iust that either they may be conuerted by their example or else good mens patience by them may be the better exercised In an other place the church is Mat. 13. compared to a net cast into the Sea gathering good bad fishes so likewise to the threshng place wherein is both corne chaffe So that you see how false the heretiksb e how contrary vnto the Gospell whereof before the simple and vnlearned eares they so brag that would haue the church inuisible that no man might see their wily deceits and would haue therin none but good wheras in their Church can be none but bad but we that by gods grace be catholikes doe according to Gods word affirme that in his holy Church be many good none good but onely those of Gods Church yet amongst those good be some euel til the last day of paiment when the goats and lambes shal be shed or seperated by the good sheapheard a sunder so that Gods Church is visible that is open to the whole world to be seene and knowne and shall so continew euen til the end of the world take then this for the second most certaine marke of the true Church of God that our Catholike and visible church is of the greatest Antiquity and longest cōtinuance Wherfore none but our church is the true spouse of Christ Chap. IIII Of the third certaine note of the true Church The third most certaine note of the true church is vnity and consent in all matters of Religion For as there is on God as I sayed in the beginning so one onlie truth proceedeth from him hee is not the author of dissention but of peace as therefore there is one God so is there but on Church his only spouse For thus hee saieth in his Canticles Vna est Columba mea c. My doue is Cont. c. 6. one as shee is one so is shee not nor cannot possiblye bee deuided into diuers sectes factions and opinions in faith and Religion forso shee shoulde not bee one but manye and so not of God which is one and hath chosen her for his onely spouse and euer according to his promise guideth her with his holye spirite saying Her◠Heb. 13. 8 hodie ipse in secula who is one and the same yesterday to day and for euer heereupon it commeth that by the guiding of Christes holye spirite euer resident and directing his Church that therein is not preached one faith this daye another that nowe this yeare one thing an other yeare an other as Heretikes doe that can neuer agree among themselues in opinions but the same faith that was taught in the beginning by christ his Apostles in matters of Faith Religion the Church of God euer most soundly keepeth pure vndesiled as we be able to proue by authority of Gods wordes and all auncient Fathers and the same Faith that we Catholikes holde here in England the same they holde in Fraunce Scotlande Irelande Germany Poland Dalmatia Italy Spaine the East and West Indians and so to the vttermost coastes of the worlde not differing a iotte in points of religion and due administration of the Sacraments But if you see howe finely heretikes accord you shall see them like Samsons foxes with sire tyed in their Iud. 15. tayles together readye and of one accord to burne vppe the good corne of Christ but their heads quite contrarye from each one another readye to bite one another in peeces neuer agreing in opinyons but sharpely vvriting against one another condemning one another to the bottomelesse pitte of Hell For Luther that was their sirst father and broke downe the walles and so was fallen with pronde Lucifer from the kingdome of heauen frō Gods holye Church did hee long continue thinke you in one opinion with himselfe No for besides that in one and the same matter in some one booke he is contrary to him self he changed his opinions dayly to worse and that diuerse times For first of pride and couetousnes he founde fault at the manner of dispensing of pardons and in the ende denied the Pope pardons and all what said I Pardones Saints Sacraments to espeacially priuate Masse as he termed it and the most pure and vnbloudy Sacrifice of the Altar propitiatory both for the quicke and the dead and
hath offeÌ„ded deadly yet the holy Church commaundeth once a yeare to recieue before which Confession in lay-men but much more in Preists if they finde their consciences guilty is commonly presupposed which vnlesse euery one obserue vnlesse he haue some iust impediment he grieuously sinneth and though a man cannot finde himselfe guilty of deadly sinne yet of some smal sinnes wherein we daily al offend and without which this life can hardlye be led the best maye accuse themselues may very well confesse them and ordinarely good men some euerye wâ—eke do confesse such small sinnes as light thoughts vaine wordes and the like which be commonly called veniall sinnes and whereof Christ saieth we shal make account at the daye of iudgement if wee first iudge not our selues here which though not of necessity because other-waies they maye bee forgiuen yet they may be matters of confession But a deadly sinne if one after due discussion of his conscience can remeÌ„ber it come to a lawful Priest euery one vnder paine of damnation is bound to confesse to a lawfull Preist a deadlye sinne I say that is the transgression or breach of Godes Commaundement it is called deadlye because it draweth to euerlasting death vnlesse wee confesse it in the holy Sacrament of Penance if in any sort we can come to the Priest Deadly sinnes be many but especially these following bee called capitall and principall sinnes whereof all other sinnes proceede Pride Couetousnes Leachery Gluttony Wrath Yet these sins some of them especially be not alwaies mortall but in some deepe or high degres Enuy Slouth Moreouer false beleife infidelity heresie these three be most grieuous deadly sins likewise witches or those that goe or send to witches or such you call wisemen coniurers those offend deadly Likwise those that speake euil of God our Lady or his holy Saints or against the Pope Christs vicar heer in earth or against the holy Sacraments especially the B. Sacrifice of the Masse those be all or some of them sacrilegious blasphemous sinners excoÌ„municate cannot be forgiuen without Confession at least in will when a Preist caÌ„not be had for those sinnes be most deadly against the first CoÌ„mandement of God that coÌ„maundeth no God but one to be worshiped as for Images or Pictures of Christ his holy saints they be no more forbidden vs therein than to carry the Image of our Queene in our mony or the like God forbad all Idolatry worshiping of false Gods vncleane false Idoles Images not true Images that be liuely memories of our Redemption vertuous personages therefore be called Lay-mens books as holy Fathers tearme them Nay God himselfe as you shal reade in holy Scripture commaunded Images to be made of Angels which were set vpp in Salomons Temple 3. Reg. 6. wherefore Christians right worthily set in their temples the Images of Christ his Saints For many a simple vnlearned man knoweth not how Christ died vpon the Crosse but only by seing his picture vpon the Crosse therfore heretikes that haue pulled it out of Churches doe that which lieth in them to put Christs Passion out of mans mind bragge they neuer so much in wordes of the same We then offend not against the first commaundement of God that religiouslye keepe and set vp holy pictures to imprint Christes memory in our hartes but they that breake and pull them down be impious heretikes who therefore in general Councels many hundred yeares before by the consent of all Christendome haue beene condemned Who in deed bee worse then olde Idolators as worshipers of their owne opinions an Idolatry far worse then that of the gentils Againe great swearers and forswearers offend deadlye and ought to confesse for an oathe ought not to be vsed but in Iustice and Iudgement whereby God is called to witnesse Likewise those that breake their vowes as of chastity and the like Let Schismatike Preistes that after their vowes haue taken whoores to their concubines which they tearme their wiues looke to this as for Ministers they haue no damnation for mariage which Preistes with their so tearmed wiues haue because they neuer made vow of chastity for they good men thinke it impossible to bee chast whereas * Cor. 7. 7. Ministers I meane so that they would forsake their hereticall ministerie and become Catholikes should not sin in taking vppon them honest mariage or in being maried Saint Paul wisheth all men to be so as himselfe that was chast As for vnlawful oathes when where before whomsoeuer they be taken they ought not to be kept for they doe euill in taking them but worse in keeping them if the matter be of importance and vniust As when Herod swore his daughter should haue what she asked and she like an enuious caytiffe by her mothers suggestion asked Saint Iohns head Herode did euill in swearing rashly but he offended worse in keeping his oath deliberatly * Mar. 6. Chap. XVII Of the rest of the Commaundements and of some sins against them to be confessed to the Preist LIkewise wheÌ„ one goeth as oftas he goeth to the heretiks Church to heare or bee present with them at seruice it is a deadly sinne and Schisme and a deniall of Christ which is the truthe and much more grieuous a sinne it is in recieuing that wicked and most blasphemous communion of theirs which is haynous Idolatry for that a man taketh a peece of bread reposing therein his saluation contrary to Christes holy ordinance that left vs his body and blood in the holye Sacrament to bee receiued which they like traitors to God and his Church haue abolished and deceiue with a peece of bakers breade the simple people giuing it them in steede of that bread of life that came downe from heauen whereby we all doe liue So that this communion of theirs being quite contrarye to Christes ordinance to receiue it is most horrible and deadly sinne And as by a worthye receiueing the blessed Sacrament a man is made one body with christ so to recieue their coÌ„munion it maketh a man one body with Antechrist the diuel wherfore I cannot find or caÌ„ hardly find a greater sin than to go to the heretiks Church receaue with them For receiuing the coÌ„munion as the Diabolicall Samaritanes the ministers therof do raise vp an Altar as it were against the true Altar of God which God euer so abhorred terribly punished so the receauers of that communioÌ„ I say make a publike professioÌ„ of the deniall of the B. Body Blood of Iesus in the holy Eucharist of the catholike Faith Religion yea take a signe seale of the same incorporating theselues therby to the synagogue of Antechrist the diuell as the worthy receauers of the B. SacrameÌ„t be incoporate knit or made one body with Christ Likewise not to come to Masse euery Sonday Holy-day if a man can conueniently is deadly Sinne. So
shewed him by most graue authoritie which was said to be Christ if such thing had beene taught him he for his part was so obedient to beleeue so willing to adore Christ that he woulde haue done any thing which had beene commaunded him vnder the name of Christ or of his religion Is this a fault why the poore man should be condemned no surelye seeing the prophet Dauid saith Vt iumentum Psal 62. factus sum apudte I am become as it were a beast before thee It is laudable saith Enthymius that in the sight of God we take our selues as beasts which being so I can deuise no fault in this poore and simple man who if he be deceaued he is deciued by Christ by his forefathers by diuers Catholicke and vertuous preachers by the vertue of humility of obedience and of pure loue towardes God But on the other side if Christ call one of them before him who denieth his reall presence and aske him why hee did not beleeue the Sacrament of the Altar to bee the body of Christ what will he answere for himselfe will he say Sir I beleeued your body to sitt at the right hand of God the father and therefore that your body was not in the Priests hande Why then thinkest thou that I am not able to make the same which is at the right hand of my father to be also present vnder the forme of bread Sir whether you are able or no I can not say But I haue heard many preachers tell that one bodye cannot be at one time in diuers places O how dreadfully would Christ answere in this case Did not those preachers whome thou pretendest to follow say alwayes they preached to thee the sincere worde of God did they not by that colour ouerthrow Monastaries Churches Altars Images of Saints and mine owne Image and Crosse Did they not deny the sacrifice of the Masse Praying for the dead such like auncient vsages only for pretence of the word of God nowe se how inexcusable they and thou art I saide Take eate This is my Bodye I said this to twelue men I gaue each of them my body bad make that thing as it is written in the Gospell I shewed at Capharnaum that I was signed of my father and equall with him in power they them selues beleue that I made all creatures places times of nothing nowe is it doubted how I am able to make my body present vnder the forme of bread in diuers paâ—ces Yea to mainteine the better the argumeÌ„t against my almighty power they say I entred not into my Disciples the dores being shutt but either preuented the shutting of them contrary to the wordes of my Gospell or came in by the windowe as theeues do or by some hole as creepers do yea any thing is sooner beleeued theÌ„ my diuine strength and working thou Hypocrite seeing the worde of God hath it written fower times in the newe Testament This is my body how coÌ„mest thou to talke with me of my sitting in heaueÌ„ as though one of my workes were contrary to the other if in deed thou hadst bin humbly perswaded that I were god thou wouldest not measure my almighty power by thy simple witt Thou art twice condemned first for deniall of a truth and againe for denying it against my expresse worde which thou pretendest to esteeme and pronouncest it false If the poore man say he knewe not so much nor sawe not the falsehood of that argument and begin to accuse the false preachers who deceaued him Christ may well say that he was not deceaued for before these false preachers began their false doctrine he had said This is my Bodye and This is my Bloud and all the world beleeued and taught the reall presence of Christs body and bloud fiftene hundred yeares togither what cause now hadst thou to beleeue a newe Gospel and newe preachers thereof forsooth Sir they said the Bishop of Rome had deceaued vs. If in this case Christ tell him that the Bishop of Rome were the successor of Saint Peter and so his Vicar hauing promise by him not to erre in faith and yet that he alone taught not that Doctrine but that all the Bishoppes Doctors and Preachers of the whole Church taught the same from the beginning and that Christ himselfe had said the same that all the Euangelists and the Apostle Saint Paul had written the same that all faithfull men beleeued the same what excuse can hee haue who forsooke CHRIST the Apostles the Bishopps the Fathers the Preachers and the whole Church to follow an vpstart renegate Frier who began his doctrine so ambitiously and proudly who liued so euill and died so terribly that his very abhominable dealing with great princes his shamefull incest and horrible death might make any good man weary to thinke vpon him much lesse shoulde any haue followed him To be short answere the poore man for himselfe what he may yet he cannot deny but that both Christ said This is my body and the Church taught the same yet beleeued he not this to be the body of Christ and therefore is one of them who beleeue not and without faith which is but one there is no saluation no pleasing of God no part in the kingdome of heauen which thing if they that be aliue will consider they may returne againe to the Catholicke faith and Church and so be made liuely members of Christs body whereof Christ is the Sauiour O but the Hereticke still vrgeth if I eate Christ really then I feede not of him spiritually I answere it is the fondest kinde of reasoning in the worlde by one truth to deny an other seeing both stande togither Is my faith the lesse because Christ was bodely seene in earth howe is then my spirituall feeding the worse because the foode of life is in my mouth Doth not Tertullian say the flesh is fedde De resurrect cor with the body and bloud of Christ to the ende the soule may be made fat with God and yet will the Heretickes say Christ in his last supper left vs but a figure of his body Except yee eate the flesh of the sonne of man is in deede a figure and the speaking thereof is figuratiue because it was not meant that a man should be visibly eaten as flesh is at common tables but yet that he shoulde be really eaten albeit the maner of eating be figuratiue as we knowe S. Augustine then as I said before calling those wordes except yee eate my flesh figuratiue referreth the figure to the manner of eating but not to the substance which is to be eaten for else if by no meane the flesh of Christ might be eaten it shoulde not be eaten by faith but if it may so be eaten it may be eaten by mouth also in that pure manner as it is giuen vs. The whole man must eate as well in body as in soule because the whole is taken and assumpted of Christ the
diuine honor yet honorably to conserue and keepe them deuoutly to beholde or kisse them and to shew certaine reuerence towards them in that they be reliques and tokens left vs by such deere seruantes and friends of God we be taught both by the holy Scriptures practize of Gods Church from Christs time and the testimony of all good men which declare that by the reliques of Saints that is deade mens bones as the heretikes tearme them many great miracles haue been wrought Bid your Ministers looke in the 4. booke of Kinges and in the 13. chapter and see whether they cannot finde there in holy Scripture how when certaine men cast a dead body into the graue of Elizeus the Prophet as soone as the body touched the holy Prophets bones it rose vp aliue againe and stood vpon his feete Can heretickes blame vs for keeping vestments and cloathes of Saints departed when wee reade in holy Scripture that Elizeus by 4. Reg. 2. keeping his Master Elias his cloake receaued with all his double spirit and comming to the riuer Iordan striking it with that cloake the riuer deuided and by vertue thereof gaue him passage Mar. 5. 28. 29. Act. 19. 12. Act. 5. 15. ouer What did not the very hemme of Christs garment napkins and little cloathes taken from S. Paules body and the shadowe of S. Peter heale and cure the sicke lame and diseased with incurable diseases what need we goe farther for Reliques of Saints then to plaine Scripture itselfe were not all the Patriarkes buried with great honour did not Ioseph according to his father Iacobs cōmandemēt carry his body dead into the land of promise And were not Iosephs bones 400. yeares after his death with great honour by the children of Israell carried into the land of promise also and dare heretickes burne the bones sacred bodies of Martirs Saints and cast their ashes into the winde and waters rent teare their vestments asunder yea most vilanously breake downe and abuse the Image and sacred Crosse of CHRIST the verye ensigne of our redemption and yet saye they haue Scripture for it But these bodies of Saints bee they neuer so much abused by them shall appeare glorious in the resurrection vvhen Infidelles and Heretickes that teare CHRISTS misticall bodye his Church and his coate asunder shall vvithout all doubt frie for it in Hell I coulde shewe diuers miracles likevvise since CHRISTS time but time serueth mee not vvhich haue beene vvrought at the bodies of Saints As Saint Augustine maketh mention Aug. lib. 22. de ciu Dei cap. 8 of the Reliques of Saint Stephen whereby vvere cured diseases Yea by the very flowers that touched the Cophin vvherein his Reliques vvere put miraculous thinges vvere vvrought Wee reade also how that by the vaile of a certaine blessed Virgine and Martyr the outragious and furious flames of fire which threatned ruyne to some whole Citty haue beene quenched by Saintes bodies the Diuels expelled to the blinde their sight restored and the lame made to vvalke Howe miraculouslye vvere the two Chaynes that at Ierusalem and Rome bounde Saint Peter of them-selues knitte togither and the like vvhereby it appeareth how mightye and high their Lorde is howe good and gratious that so highlye honoureth the verye bones or reliques of his deare friendes that trulye serued and loued him here giuing other thereby encouragement to follovve their example Which honoure giuen by GOD to his friendes and seruantes when the Holye Prophete considered hee wondered at sayng Thy friendes O God bee Psal 138. 17. too too much honoured But the heretikes that not onlye denye prayer for the soules departed but withall burne and so dishonour the reliques of Saintes both which the honourable reliques of Saintes and prayer for the soules departed bee great hopes and comfortes of the resurrection truly in my simple judgement doe shoote fast to deny another article of our Creed that is the resurrection of the body and all with which denyall as I doe not alltogither charge them yet to confesse the truth I iustye suspecte them and let them not say but they haue beene forewarned Chap. LII Of honour and inuocation of Saints and how Saints pray for vs and may heare releeue vs by their praiers as also that our praiers to Saints and their intercession for vs is no iniury but glory to Christ our Mediator TOuching the Saints in Heauē our prayers and honour vvee doe to them such honour and prayers bee by farre and by many degrees inferiour to those that we doe to God naye what honour vvee doe to Saintes it tendeth chieflye to Godes honour who is honoured in his Saintes vvho accepteth the least seruice wee doe to any of his friends as done vnto him Novve you must vnderstand their be diuers kindes of vvorshippes and honours according to the worthines of the persons we shew it to as one kind of honour is due to father and mother another kinde of worship or honor to gentlemen our betters another higher honour to temporall Lordes Princes Bishops and the like and yet when wee doe this honour to them which by Godes Commaundement is due because they take power of him there is no reasonable man that can say wee dishonour God therein but rather honour him in so doing So likewise wee honour Saints as great friendes of God Princes and Senators in that heauenly court with an honour due vnto them which kinde of honour the Greekes call Dulia and wee right worthely worshippe and honour our blessed Lady as being neerest Christ with another kind of honour cal led Hyperdulia higher then that againe but wee honour GOD alone with that most high honour and seruice called Latria vvhich honour is due to none but to God only to whome finally and alone in this high seruic◠is due all honour and glory and with this most high seruice vvhich is Sacrifice vvee only vvorshippe God and no Saint For we say not we offer to thee Peter or Paul Sed offerrimus tibi domine deus Wee offer and doe Sacrifice to thee O Lord for in this manner of honour that is Sacrifice he will giue his honour to no other Heretikes nowe confound all these honours together making no distinction or difference betweene them whereby they deceaue them selues and others vvee then neither honour our Lady Saints nor Angels vvith that honour due vnto God but with such honour as is meete for his friendes and most noble creatures in whome God is chiefly honoured and praysed but touching Sacrifice which is proper to God that diuine worship I say consisting in external sacrifice and in acknowledging the parties worshiped to be Gods is it which may bee done to no man nor creature and therefore the Apostles refused it with all possible diligence and all the Angels and Saints in heauen refuse that adoration by Sacrifice The Catholicke Church suffereth no Priest nor other so to worshippe any Saints in heauen or in earth shee hath
the B. Virgin our Lady and the iniuries done vnto her ONly this I cannot omitte without griefe of hart the shamfull dishonour and blasphemy the heretickes doe and say against the B. Mother of God some Ministers esteeming her no better then their baggage wiues and some naming her with such compatisons and tearmes as I am afraide to recite But O filthy and blasphemous mouth darest thou call with such base tearmes the Mother of God the tabernacle of Christ and very temple of the holy Ghost his deare spouse the perfect figure and flower of his Church that starre of light in whose blessed wombe Christ rested nine moneths taking flesh of her sacred flesh and bloud shee bearing him in that sacred vessell of hers whome heauen and earth coulde not comprehend She that the holy Ghost spake by that all nations shall call her blessed darest thou I say compare to her a drabbe yea any woman that euer vvas or euer shall be Shee that is the flower of women She that bruised the Serpents head as repayring by her vertues that vvhich Eue lost by her vice She that was a pure religious Virgin in before and after her Sonnes birth She that is cloathed with the Sun and starres hauing the Moone vnder her feete Shee that shineth for euer vvith pearles and pretious stones of honour and glory that misticall Arke of God that royall throne of the very true Salomon whome he chose before all other creatures for his cheife and elect vessell in whome he is well pleased who for her incomparable beauty admirable perfection vnspeakable glory and splendor of all magnificent vertues farre surpasseth all the prayses of those Angelicall Citizens and humane creatures Shee that in giuing suck to that blessed Lambe of God sucked with all of him diuine wisedome euer duly seruing him neuer displeasing him conseruing all his wordes and sayinges in her harte who sitteth at the right hand of her Sonne in a golden vesture as prophesied holy Dauid all glorious that is compassed about with all variety of vnipeakable vertues and merittes there rewarded with honour and glory where as saith S. Bernard The Sonne sheweth his wounds to his Father and the Mother placed aboue all Angels Cherubyn and Seraphin sheweth her breasts to her Sonne There sayeth he the deuout pâ—nitent sinner can haue no repulse or gainesay And therefore againste all heretickes in the vvorld follow my counsell with S. Bernard In omnibus anxietatibus tuis Mariam cogita Mariam inuoca In all thy heauines and necessities whatsoeuer deuoutly think vpon Marye and call vpon her and seeke to follovve her example as a paterne to all faithfull Christians remembring that the iniuries done to her Christ no doubt accepteth as done to him and the honour done to her as done to him for the Sonne cannot but loue the Mother but I goe forward Chap. LV Of Images and of the Crosse of Christ and of the reuerende and laudable vses of the same IMages I touched in the first Commaundement yet to say more heretickes that will keepe pictures of their wiues husbands or friendes and may not abide the picture of Christ his blessed Mother and holy Saints mee thinkes poste faste forwards to deny the Humanity of CHRIST with the heretikes of olde otherwise I see not why they should deny his Image and picture As for pictures that put vs in minde of GOD the Father and the holy Ghost they doe not goe about to expresse his diuinity vvhich is incomprehensible and vnspeakeable which neither can bee painted fayned or imagined but onlye some propertye in GOD as his fatherlye care his eternitye his meekenesse mercye and the like expressed by the doâ—e and holy lambe which I touched before But that there were pictures euer of Christ and his Saints al antiquity doth testifie yea Christ himself imprinted the very figure of his face in a cloath in kissing it or laying it to his face which picture is reserued to this day whereby miracles haue beene wrought And Saint Luke painted the Image of our Lady reserued to this day borne in Rome in solemne procession in S. Gregories time whereby miracles as I haue probably hard haue beene wroughte There is mention made likewise in the Euseb lib. â— 14. â—is Ecclesiasticall histories of an Image of Christ made by the vvoman that was cured of an issue of bloud by touching the hemme of our Sauiours garment which Image shee set vp in memory of that benefit and the * hemme of the Yea a plant there plaÌ„ted or a flower wheÌ„ it greâ— so high as the hemme of the Image of Christ cured same Image did also miracles This Image Iulian the Apostata threw dowâ—e and set vp his owne in steed thereof which was immediatly destroyed by fire from heauen but the Image of Christ broken in peeces by the heathen the Christians afterwardes gathering the peeces together placed it in the Church where it was as Zozomenus writeth vnto his time But I hasten on and let this suffice any reasonable Christian that these Image-breakers in generall Councels by the consent of all Christendome haue beene condemned many hundred yeares ago as is most meete For surely such as cannot abide the Image of Christ his B. Mother Saints prepare the very way to Antechrist the Diuel his army that shall haue Imaginem bestiae scriptaÌ„ in froÌ„tibus Apoc. 14. eoruÌ„ the Image or Idoll of that beast writen in their foreheads in steed and despite of the Crosse of Christ which these Antechristian heretiks already detest abhorre And this moreouer I say and confidently affirme that if the King or a noble man would not take it in good part to haue their armes razed or pulled downe assure your selfe Image-breakers and spiteful razers downe of Crosses shall not be vnpunished as God hath shewed already some tokens of his wrath Therefore heretickes that slaunder vs we worship them for Gods belike thinke we haue not so much wit or sence as a dogge who knoweth an Image from a â—iuing body I warrant you euen by his very nose Let proud foolish heretickes then auaunt and preach trifling toyes to babes and Ideots Christians knowe what they doe in keeping and reuerencing Images and Christs Crosse neither neede they heretickes counsaile For touching that we doe to Images and Reliques wee want neither Scripture nor sufficient authority otherwise I deny not but some abuses about Images in some simple people might creepe in but that good Pastors and Bishops may easely reforme and Images stand still which being well vsed Saint Gregory rightly tearmeth as it were lay mens bookes as representing to the vnlearned in figure that which the historie doth to the learned in bookes but I cannot stay Chap. LVI Of Seruice in the Latin tongue and how meete and conuenient it is that the Scriptures be reserued seruice said in the auncient and sacred tongues THe heretickes to deceaue the simple made them a great while beleeue there was
afflicted flock the Church which he shall neuer forsake Chap. LXXVI How the Diuell and Antechrist be compared to that monstrous serpentine tayled Dragon drawing numbers with them into euerlasting perdition and that one certaine man Antechrist is yet to come though hee hath many fore-runners LET any man of learning reade but only S. Gregory vpon Iob and he shall finde all this and much more then I can say vpon Antechrist comparing that great monstious serpent and dragon Behemoth which streatcheth out his tayle as the Cedar tree vnto the Diuell and Antechrist his vessell that as saith S. Iohn with his taile draweth Apoc. 12. the third part of the starres of heauen that is men in great account and authority in the sight of the world for learning and other qualities he by promises gifts and threatnings shall drawe downe with him out of Gods Church to destruction and damnation as his forerunners heretikes and Infidels doe you see a number that for feare of losse of life gaine pleasures and commodities forsake Christ the truth and their saluation so that many Antechrists no doubt as Ioh. 1. 4. saith S. Iohn be now in the world denyers of truth aduersaries of the same but yet one man of perdition properly called Antechrist is yet to come as wee by Scriptures and authorities of holy Fathers and Doctors be taught of which wicked man heretickes of these times as I haue oft said be no doubt Prophets fore-runners affirming that darknes is light and light darknes that is that the Pope which as by sufficient authority I haue already proued is the chiefe seruant and member of Christ is Antechrist so that when hee commeth faith being decayed Antechrist indeede may rule and take place without controlement or gainesaying but yet Christ will haue his Church and faithfull Apoc. 11. flocke euen in the heat of Antechrists time that shall boldly gainesay him and with their bloude testefie the trueth which shal neuer decay From which perilous times which seme now to approach our Lord deliuer vs For truly of all heretikes that euer were since Christ these heretiks aproach the nerest to Antechrist and seeme to be his very forerunners For Antichrist at his coming shall deny Christ God and all as heretiks haue by tymes since Christ denied some lesse articles of the Christian faith some more for of some heretiks we read of old that denied the coÌ„substantiality of the sonne of God with his father as the Arrians some the grace of God other free wil as in Saint Augustine time Some denyed Pelagius Iouin an vigilaÌ„tius Euâ—ches inuocation of Saints derided their sacred reliques and scoffed at pilgrimage gate or deuout visitation of their holy Sepulchers as in Saint Ieromes tyme one denyed the resurrection of the body in Saint Gregories time Others beganne to bark against the blessed Sacrament before and in Saint Bernards time and so from time false heresies haue start vp against the Church of God for her better triall and exercise of wisedome of minde as by bloody persecutions of pagans and infidelles shee before was exercised in body But these protestants with their fellow puritans and other of their brethereÌ„ heretiks of this time deny almost or corrupt all articles of our faith and religion their faith standeth all of negatiues and therefore like and most like Antichrist which shall deny all goodnes God and all As for example the heretiks of our tyme deny the true Church deny free will deny all the Sacraments saue Baptisme and that I told you how they abuse also they deny purgatory prayer to the Saints of GOD deny pardon Pope pilgrimage fasting prayer yea haue some most erronious and badde conceipts of Hell Heauen Christ God and all be not these Appollionists Apoc. cap. 9. Abbadonists those destoryers whereof Saint Iohn speaketh the very messengers of the denill and forerunners of Antichrist that thus raise vp all old heresies from hell thus by heaping a fardell of them al sinne mischief to geather make an open gappe to an vniuersall defectioÌ„ general Apostacy the very high way to erect an ydol to adore Antichrist insteed of Christ our only Sauiour true God wherfore hold them for certaine to be very forerunners percursors members of Antichrist which we iustly feare will shortly follow Chap. LXXVII In a sewe words touching the chiefe matters that haue bene spoken in this treatise and how the vnlearned especially in matters of religion ought to leaue disputes and simply to beleeue the truth founding themselues in Christ and in the Catholike Church THus good Sir according to your desire I haue declared vnto you the truth of those matters you desire to bee enformed of I haue set you downe by what certaine markes and notes you may know the true Church from the false Synagogue of Satan I haue likewise more in particular briefly declared vnto you the truth of the seauen Sacramentes how they bee grounded of Christs holy word instituted by him by the Scriptures haue discouered to you the falsehood of our aduersaries the hereticks I haue also briefly touched almost euery thing at this day in controuersy as iustification freewill prayer for the dead prayers to Saints pardons Pope fasting prayer pilgrimage with other like These points articles that euery Catholik is bound vnder paine of damnation to beleeue I haue not only proued vnto you by the Scriptures but also by the churches authority that euery Christian is bouÌ„d to beleeue for wheÌ„ you haue once fouÌ„d out the true church which by those notes I set downe you may easely do though wee haue authority sufficient for euery thing the holy Catholike Church vseth and teacheth yet it is not meete especially for vnlearned folkes to stand to reason or dispute with whies and howe 's but to stay them on that sure rock foundation and piller of truth the holy Catholik Church that so they may not bee wauering as the reede nor borne away with euery blast of new doctrine as circumuented with error and blindnes in the craftines and subtility of men alwaies learning and neuer comming to the perfection of true knowledge which indeede can neuer be had but in captiuating the vnderstanding in obsequium fidei into the obedience of the true Christian Catholick faith working by charity for wee see by too lamentable experence how vnfitte it is for the common people deceauing themselues that know not neither what they speak nor whereof they affirme to iangle and dispute of Scripture matters which as saith Saint Peter the vnlearned and vnstable do depraue to 2. Pet. â— cap. vltâ— their owne destruction wherfore it behooueth the simple people especially that being thus forewarned by the chiefe Pastor of their soules vnder Christ Saint Peter they be carefull neuer to fall or decline from their proper sure stability in Christ his deare spouse the holy Cathoâ—icke Church but say in al doubts when the hereticks
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