place the greatest part of theire Religion in Contemplation and Meditation and they soe strive to stirr up strong and sencible fervour and heat of Spiritt that somtymes excites in them motion and trembling of all the body from this they have the name of Quakers and they take this trembling for a great marke of perfection and interiour Devotion I have given you the Theorems of this rediculous Quaking Sect because they are new and not soe well knowne to all Oh With what illusions doth Sathan deceive these poore Soules Theire Author was one Iames Naylor to whom all of the Sect gave the greatest titles of honnour and respected him as Iesus Christ himselfe Hee was notwithstanding condemned in Cromwells tyme in the month of December anno Domini 1654. to a perpetuall prison after being whipt publickly and his tongue bored with a burning Iron Sall you see the number of your miserable Companions is allmost infinit but this great multitude of them will bring you noe joy or comfort Multiplicata est gens eorum quibus te junxisti sed non est multiplicata laetitia When the Sonne of God shall come downe and condemne them all to burne in eternall flames Sall what will you doe to prevent such a neuer ending misery lament in tyme and repent and cry to God to have mercy on you XVII CHAPTER A Discussion of some parts of Salls Recantation A Little after the beginning hee speaks thus And by frequent reading of holy Scripturs Fathers Councells and Histories of the Church my knowledg was furthered and my Iudgment ripened I began to doubt of severall Articles introduced by the use and Authority of the Roman Church repugnant to human reason and not warranted by devine writt as Transubstantiation Indulgences Porgatory Worship of Images c. Yet smothering scrupels partly fearing the severity of the Country against opposers of theire Tenets partly amused with a supposition that the Church and Pope of Rome were infallible in theire decrees touching Faith and soe mought stand with security to theire Declaration Sall the reading of Scriptures well vnderstood and of Fathers Councells and Church-Histories could not give occasion or ground to you or any man to doubt of Articles of Faith professed in the Catholick Church but true it is that Scriptures understood and explained amiss by men presuming much of their owne witt and learning likely you are one of those leadeth to Heresie and Errors S. Augustin teacheth soe Neque enim saith hee natae S. Aug. Tom. 9. expos Evang. Ioan. Tract 18. sunt Hereses nisi dum Scripturae bonae non intelliguntur bene quod in eis non â—benè intelligitur etiam temere audacter asseritur That is Nor doe Heresies spring up but when good Scriptures are not well understood and that which in them is not well understood is rashly and boldly asserted Sall I feare much this presumption carryed you out of the Church But one thing I must tell you when you began to doubt of Transubstantiation and other Articles of Faith you began to want Faith Quia dubius in fide infidelis est That you began to stagger in Faith is manifest because you began to doubt of the Verity of Articles proposed by the Church to be of Faith as are those of Transubstantiation Purgatory and the like Nam certum est qui supponit Authoritatem Ecclesiae veritatem vel dogma docentis ac profitentis non esse certam infallibilem in fidelis est Hereticus est That is It is cleare and certaine who supposeth the Authority of the Church teaching or professing Transubstantiation or any other Article not to be certaine and infallible is an Heretick and an infidell Your owne words above cited conuince you of being in such feare and doubt whereas had you supposed the Churches Authority infallible and certaine as indeed it is you would not have any way doubted of the mentioned Articles to appertain to Faith this is evident Quia certitudinem habens alicujus propositionis non potest habere ejusdem dubitationem Saint Bernard pondering the difinition Saint Paul gives of Faith Fides est Epis ad Hebr. cap. 11. sperandarum substantia rerum argumentum non aparentium Says Audis substantiam non licet tibi in fide putare vel disputare pro libito non hac illacque vagari per incerta opinionum per devia errorum substantia nomine altquid tibi certum sixumquae prefigitur certis claudens finibus certis limitibus arctans That is When you heare the word Substance it is not lawfull for you to doubt or dispute in points of Faith according to your owne head and fancy with incertainty of Errors and Opinions by the word Substance something is apointed to be beleeved that is certaine and fixed The Saint said excellently well because it is the genious of Hereticks to chuse what they will beleeve according to theire owne Iudgment and not as the Church doth appoint Saint Thomas saith in Substance the same in these Words Hereticus intendit S. Thâ— quest 11. art 1. quidem Christo assentire in quo dissert ab Ethnico Iudaeo sed deficit in â—ligendo ea quibus Christo assentiat quia non eligit ea quae vere a Christo sunt tradita sed ea quae sibi propria mens suggerit That is An Heretick intends to assent to Christ his Authority in which hee differs from an Ethnick and Iew but hee is deficient in ellecting those things by which hee should assent to Christ because hee doth not chuse those things which are delivered by Christ but those which his owne minde doth suggest Sall this is what you have done which is a great Error where had you stood to that Supposition a very true one that the Church and Pope are infallible in theire decree's touching Faith all had gon well with you relying on such a Supposition you had not doubted nor feared nor wavered nor erred because the Church is the Pillar of Verity and because you did not stick to this Pillar the Churches Authority you have doubted in matters of Faith and soe I will and must leave you after teaching Divinity soe many years in Spain Hominem dubium fluctuantem Circa Articulos fidei Sall doe not tell those that read your Recantation that Transubstantiation Purgatory Indulgences and the like Theorems are intruded upon men for Articles of Faith by the Authority and use of the Catholick Church by introduceing them for such as you speake as if they had not been Articles of Faith before they had been declared and defined to be such which is a great Error they having been such I mean Articles of Faith before such Declaration Quia propositiones fidei sunt aeternae veritatis what is this day of Faith was ever soe and in like manner whatsoever is now an Heresie was allways soe in its owne Nature soe as the Authority of the Church doth not make any Proposition a Theorem of
The dolefull Fall OF ANDREW SALL A JESUIT OF THE FOURTH VOW From the Roman Catholick Apostolick faith Lamented by his Constant Frind with an open rebuking of his Imbracing the Confession Contained in the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England Superiorum permissu 1674. THE RECANTATION OF ANDREW SALL A JESUIT OF THE FOURTH VOW Who had taught Divinity Eighteen years in Spain MADE IN S. JOHNS Church in Cashel in IRELAND Before the most reverend Father in GOD THO Lord Arch-Bishop of that Diocess MAY 17th 1674. Attested by the Secretary of the said Arch Bishop WHereas I Andrew Sall have been born and bred in the Communion of the Roman Catholick Church followed a Religious life and compleated my courses of Philosophy and Divinity in Colledges of the Order of Iesus in Spain and was employed in teaching the said Faculties many years I acknowledge that since by occasion of this Function I applyed my self to a stricter Inquiry and Examining of Matters And by frequent reading of the Holy Scripture Fathers Councils and Histories of the Church my Knowledge was furthered and my Judgment ripened I begun to doubt of the Truth of several Articles introduced by the use and authority of the Roman Church repugnant to Human Reason and not warranted by Divine Writ as Transubstantiation Indulgences Purgatory VVorship of Images c. yet smothered my Scruples partly fearing the severity of that Country against Opposers of their Tenets partly amused with a Supposition That the Church and Pope of Rome were infallible in their Decrees touching Faith and so might stand with security to their Declarations But having arrived in this Country Disputed often and closely of Religion with several Persons eminent in Learning and Integrity but principally with the Most Reverend Father in God and mine truly in Christ by the Gospel His Grace Tho Lord Arch-Bishop of Cashell present who mindful of the Duty of a good Pastour did procure to bring into his Fold this Sheep with unspeakable Constancy and indefatigable Charity suffering for Six years of continual battery my obstinate Resistance until at last by means of his solid Doctrine and of the Example of his pious and upright Life to the Glory of GOD be I permitted to say thus much here the LORD was pleased to give me a more clear sight of the Errours I was in yet a full Assent I delayed to give partly fearing that the weaknes I feeled may be of my Capacity rather than of the Cause I maintained partly frighted with the Confusion and Dangers I conceived might wait upon my deserting of the Romish Communion and so betook my self to a most diligent study of the Case leaving no stone unmoved for to quiet the trouble of my Conscience reading with indifferent Eyes the best VVriters on both sides and though I hartily wished to find the Cause I hitherto maintain'd justified for not to run into the terrible inconveniency which Human Considerations represented unto me in a Change yet assisted by Divine Grace and taking for Rule of my Actions the Service and VVill of God and the Interest of Eternity I resolved constantly to adhere unto the Party which with better ground would render me secure of this higher Emolument When being in these Considerations suddenly issued out our Soveraign Lord the King's Proclamation for Banishing the Roman Clergy wherewith I saw my self betwixt two extremities either to continue further in the Country with my Ambiguities in disobedience to my Soveraign's Command or to go into Spain and there be forced to Preach and practice Doctrines my Conscience did not approve of and so for a speedy Resolution after earnest Prayer to God for the assistance of his Divine light in so weighty a Matter I penned down for better Consideration the Reasons I did hear read and conceive against The RomishTenets Controverted I did also carefully peruse and seriously reflect upon the XXXIX Articles Canons and Liturgy of the Church of England and all considered well I did conclude the Way of the Church of England to be safer for my Salvation then that of the Roman Church Wherefore I resolved to declare as I do hereby seriously and in my heart without any Equivocation or mental Reservation in the presence of God and this Congregation Declare that I do give my full and free Assent to the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England for Holy and Wise and grounded upon the infallible Word of God acknowledging the Romish-Tenets against them to be false and superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a belief of monstrous Miracles repugnant to Human Reason and not grounded upon Divine testimony nor necessary either for verifying Christ's Words in the Institution of this blessed Sacrament or for the effects of it Not for verifying the Words whereas Christ saith in the like tenour that He is a true Vine without real alteration either in his Person or in the Vine nor for the Effects of the Holy Sacrament Christ being able to annex unto the Receiving of Bread and VVine what spiritual Graces he pleaseth without alteration of the Elements as he doth afford the spiritual Grace of Regeneration in the Waters of Baptisme without alteration in the substance of the VVater And least an Imagination of some temporal or sinistrous intention in this my Declaration upon the present Conjuncture may hinder the Spiritual benefit which Souls may reap by it I have grave Testimonies to shew and did already shew them to my renowned Lord the Arch-Bishop's Grace which assureth I did enjoy in Spain and may now enjoy with more advantage going thither upon the Account I was to go such degree of Honour and Commodity as possibly I may not expect elsewhere so as looking upon a Voyage thither continuing my former Profession nothing occurr'd to my mind but Honour Applause and Pleasure and turning my eyes upon my present Resolutions mountains of Crosses and Dangers did fright me But in this perplexity I haue chosen rather to suffer Crosses here with satisfaction of Conscience than to enjoy Honours that other way accompanied with the tortures of a checking Conscience and the unworthiness of a dissembling Life Wherefore I humbly beseech your Grace that I may be admitted into the Communion of this Church and that I may be absolved for my so long continuance in Errour resisting the powerful Calling of God which granted I hope by the Grace of Almighty God assisting me that I shall never withdraw my self For further confirmation of all this I have hereunto subscribed my Name ANDREW SALL Copia vera Examinata eum Original per me Carolum Robinson THE AUTHOR TO THE READER A Hundred to one you 'l be inquiring who is the Author but what need you care for that can not you feed on a dish of partriges unless you know who kild them there were many profitable Books written by Anonimi let it satisfy you that I haue reason to conceal my name The substance of the worke is the
VVicklifs Errors about that Sacrament Accidentia non manent sine subjecto in â—odem Sacramento substantia panis naturalis vini naturalis manent in Sacramento Altaris Errores damnati in Concilio constantiâ—nsi the Doctrin of Purgatory and other Articles will you heare Sir Iohn Oldcastle a prime Wicklifian his Protestation at his death of believing the Real-Presence after confessing Articles about the Blessed Trinity and Christes Diety Sir Iohn Old-Castle cometh to treat of the Sacrament of the Aulter hee protesteth thus as Fox himselfe writeth And for as much as Sir Ioh. Old-C his Protestation at his death I am falsly accused of a misbeliefe in the Sacrament of the Aulter I signify here to all men that this is my faith concerning that I beleeve in that Sacrament to be contained very Christs Body and Bloud under the Similitudes of Wyne and Bread yea the same Body that was conceived of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary donne on the Crosse dyed and was â—uryedâ— and a rose the third day from death and now is glorify'd in heaven The said Old-Castle shew'd his beleefe about three sorts of men thus The holy Church I beleeve to be devided into three sorts or Companyes wherof the first are now in heaven c. The second sort are in Purgatory Fox pag. 314. abyding the mercy of God and a full deliverance of payne The third upon Earth c. You see that Old-Castle a Wâ—ckclifian doth clearly beleev'd the Doctrin of Purgatory which Fox did not nor doe the Protestants of England now wherfore to this speech of Purgatory Fox thought best least it might disgrace his new Martyr to add this parentesis of his owne if any such place bee in the Scriptures c. which was perfidiously done of Fox It is to be supposed that Wicklif held some things with us and some things with the Protestants and somthings different from both and yet Fox must have him and his Sect to be of his owne Communion and make him a Martyr though hee confesseth and soe doth Iohn Ball alsoe that hee was neuer as much as imprison'd for his faith but his bones were taken up forty years after his buriall and burned by the Commaundement of the Councell of Constance for his Heresies discovered after â—his death and for this Fox made him a Martyr and consequently hee became Martyr without feeling any paine or without the Consent or Concurrence of his owne will Take here some Articles of Wicklifs Doctrin to which I presume the Protestant will not agree One is That it is against Scripture for any Ecclesiasticall Minister to have any temporall possessions at all What think you will the Ministers of England agree to this Another That as long as a man is in deadly sinn hee is neither Bishop nor Prelate Another That Temporall Lords may according to their owne will and discretion take a way the temporall goods from any Church-men when soever they offend Think you that the Protestant Church-men of England agree to this Article Another Tythes are meer Almes and may be detained by the Parishoners and bestow'd where they will at theire pleasure This Article alsoe cannot rellish Protestant Church-men These and many more Articles of Wicklif have been condemned by the Catholick Church as Hereticallâ— and himselfe as an Heretick though hee held divers poynts of the Catholick Religion as holy Orders Consecration Excomunication Purgatory and other like But Fox makes him a Martyr for holding some poynts with the Protestants though differing in other Materiall poynts But this is the Beggery of his new Church that it cannot be made up but by such dunghill cloutes as Wicklefians Lollards Albigensians and the like which are cast of by the Catholicks and rejected for that they have not agreed in every point of the Catholick beleefe according to the creed of Athanasius such is the integrity severity and Majesty of our Church that wee reject as spotted and blemish'd raggs all such as beleeve not all Articles of Faith propos'd by the holy Catholick Church this is according to Saint Augustins Doctrin Ecclesia Vniversaliter perfecta est in nnllo claudicat That is The true Church is Universally perfect and doth hault in noe one poynt of beleefe Now you shall see how Wickless fellow Saints condemn'd him for an Heretick and consequently one that should not be placed in the Calendar of Saints Luther the great Elias and Prophet of Germany as Ioannes Cockleus Ioann Cochl in vita Luteri Surius in hist Anno Dom. 1517. 1518. Melan. Epist ad Fredericum Miconium and Surius doe recount held Wicklif for an Heretick such alsoe was the Iudgment of Phillip Melankton which against Iohn Fox must needs be much avaylable who placed him for a fellow Saint together with Wicklef in his Calendar What then says Melankton of Wicklef hee speaks thus Inspexi Wicklefum qui valde tumultuatur in hac Controversia c. That is I have look't over Wicklef who behau'd himselfe tumultuously in this Controversy of the Lords supper and more then this I have found many Errors in him by which a man may make Iudgment of his Spirit It is certaine hee neither understood nor held the Justice of Faith Hee said in another place Plane furebat Wicklefus Melan. in Apolâ— tit de human tradit qui negabat licere Sacerdotibus tenere proprium That is Wicklef was playnly out of his wits when hee did deny that it was lawfull for Priests to hold in locis com tit de potestat Ecclesi any thing proper Well then Wicklef a furious man that stirred up sedition and was ignorant of the very foundation of the Protestant Ghospell to wit of theire Doctrin of Salvation by only faith as both Melankton and Luther affirmed Wicklif to be with what spirit think you doth your Apostata Fryer Bale call him an Elias a morning starre an Organ of Christ an habitacle of the holy Ghost But if you will listen to Catholick writers who liu'd about the same tyme with Wicklif as Thomas Walsingam and Thomas Waldensis in theire learned writings you shall finde him to have been one of the most pernicious wicked dissembling Hypocriticall impugners of Christ and his Doctrin that ever was in the Church of God Walsingam VVals in hist Ricard Rigis 2 anno Dom. 1382 doth beginn a Narration of Wicklif thus Eodem tempore ipse verus Hypocrita Angelus Sathanae Antichristi prae ambulus non nominandus Ioannes Wicklef vel potius wicked-beleefe Hereticus sua deliramenta concinnavit reassumens damnatas opiniones c. That is At the same tyme the very true Hypocrit the Angell of Satan the forerunner of Antichrist the heretick Iohn Wicklif or rather wicked-beleefe not being worthy the naming continved his madde and new devises renewing againe old damned opinions and heresies c. You see how holy a man Wichlef was by the Testimony of Catholick writers who knew him better then Fox did
againe can say to Protestants that wee are noe way obliged to prove our Church is the true Church and our Keligion the true Religion though wee can evidently prove both It is enough to tell the Protestants the Roman Catholick Church whilest evidences coms not against it stands firme upon its ancient right of Possession OLIM POSSIDEO PRIOR POSSIDEO This long and lawfull Possession proves the Church Orthodox and frees us from all Obligation of disputing the reason above hinted is that the Protestants Protestants because Agressors are obliged to prove theire charge and claime are the Actors and Agressors and therfore it s theire taske to prove ours only to defend which is easy If you marke how strangely in vaine they make theire attempts against us observe it After our Church had stood a thousand years and more in the quiet Possession of truth they accuse it of Error After soe many thousands of learned and vertuous men that lived holily and dyed happily in it ye and had eyes as quick Iudgments as profounde and wills as good to find out these Errours had any beene as the best of Sectaries yet found none they forsooth espy them After this Church had its Purity The Churchss Purity and Innocency and Innocency signed and sealed by the blood of innumerable Martyrs evidenced by undoubted Miracles manifested by soe many glorious Conversions wrought on Aliens drawne to Christ and finally demonstratively proved by all these illustrious marks of truth wherof wee treated aboue our Protestants rise up and Calumniate this great Society of Christians lay the foule Aspersion of Heresy on it Are not they think you as Actors obliged in Iustice to make theire charge good against us by evident proofes And are not wee exempted from all farther Obligation Proued by a long Possession of pleading then only to stand upon our ancient blameless and quiet Possession Beleeve it This OLIM POSSIDEO PRIOR POSSIDEO is warant sufficient and our Wall of defense against such weak Aggressors And yet wee strengthen our hold with Canon proofe it is evident reason alsoe And evidenâ— reason alsoe Nemo praesumitur malus nisi probetur No Man upon vaine presumption ought to bee accounted naught unless reason prove him a delmquent For Example Give mee a loyall Subject that hath done wonders and great service for his Prince that hath An Instance enlarged his Kingdome gained him Frinds defeated his Enemyes and yet is struggling to doe him more Service Whose repute was neuer stayned nor fame blemished c. Suppose now That a smale knot of unknowne men should offer at some small or inconsiderable proofs And with these endeavour to impeach him of treason would not the Prince think you either require evidences to be brought in against soe worthy a subject or reject these Accusers as unworthy of credit yes most assuredly This is our case though noe Instance taken from private men can parrallel the fidelity of the Church towards Christ the Roman Catholick Church The Church evidently hath proved her fidelity to Christ I speak of noe other for there is none hath faithfully done great Service for the King of Kings Christ Iesus it hath dilated his empire far and neer it hath defeated his Enemys perfidious heathens gained him Frinds and innumerable Servants It yet struggles Maugre all attempts against it to promote his honour and gaine him more It has beene of an unspotted same Hither toe of unspotted and accounted pure without blemish till now at last a smale inconsidâ—rable knot of Protestants Impeach it of Treason and make it a Rebell against the King whome fame before Sectaries Impeachment it hath served soe long and faithfully What then doth our Lord Iesus and all Iustice too require of these Accusers but Evidence Yes and if possible more then Evidente is Necessary to make theire charge good against this Church It hath evident proof enough of its fidelitity Iustice in this charge requires evidence not unproved Cavills by its faithfull long Service by its hitherto irreprehensible Purity allowed for a thousand years and upwards and therfore cannot bee supposed a delinquent upon meer Cavils or for things which look like proofs but when examined are noe sooner weighed then cast away as weightless For all this wee Catholicks find it noe hard matter to prove the Roman Catholick Church the only true Orthodox Church out of which there is noe Salvation and to prove this by an undubitable Principle which cannot bee shaken even this short Argument will doe it Christ Iesus founded a Catholick Church which as hee promiseth should never faile Et porâ—ae inseri non praenalebunt adversus eam And therfore Math. cap. 16. could never bee forsaken by him Take the reason for no Monarch that lays the foundation of a kingdome and obliges himselfe to take care of it can without iniustice abandon it unless a contrary power or great negligence deprive him of his right none can bee more powerfull then Christ and I hope those Protestants of the English Church will not make him guilty of negligence or Iniustice ergò hee still defends the militant Church a most deare Kingdome which hee establisht with his owne bloud Take this other Argument A Church which hath converted whole Author of Protestancy without Principles c pa. 409 Kingdoms and Nations from infidelity to Christ by working Miracles casting out of Deuills great austerity of life and efficacy of Doctrin evident and convincing Arguments of truth and drawne innumerable Soules from a tepid life to pennance and mortification from the contents of the world to a contempt of it from selfe-love to a perfect self-abnegation must either bee deseruedly named the true Church of Christ or else the Apostolicall Church was not the Church of Rome only hath by the assistance of God done those wonders therfore it is the true Church or there was never any true upon earth Deny these Conversations made by our Catholick Society and you deny what is most evident grant them and you subscribe to Popery Ergò This Learned Author after severall Arguments and considerations makes the ensuing inferences The Roman Catholick Church was once the true Church Sectarys confesse it once it was built on Christ once it taught Christian verityes without errour once it was owned by Christians for Christes School once it evangelized the word of God purly Therfore if God bee yet as favourable unto Soules as hee was anciently if hee substract not meanes from us Necessary to saluation if his gifts bee unchangable if his intention of settling truth for ever amongst Christians alter not if hee blest his owne Society as well with truth as with the consolation of Grace this Catholick Roman Church and noe other once true was is and shall ever be soe for the future Ecclesia invicta res est they are knowne words of agreat Doctor etsi Infernus ipsâ— Commoveatar The Church is Invincible and continues