whatsoeuer giuing vs thereby to vnderstand that not onely the bondes of sins but as well all other knots and difficulties in matters of fayth are to be loosed by S. Peter and by the Pastours that succeed in the Church See more Deut. 17.8 Aggeus 2.11 2. Chron. 19.8 vnto the end 2. Thes 2.15 ¶ The holy Fathers that affirme the same are S. Gregory Naz. in orat excusat Tertul. lib. de praescrip aduersus haer S. Cyprian lib. 1. epist 3. S. Aug. lib. 1. cont Cresc cap. 33. lib. cont Fund cap. 5. Vincent Lyr. in suo commonit And S. Anselme lib. de incar c. 1. writing to Pope Vrban saith thus vnto him Vnto no other is more rightly referred to be corrected whatsoeuer ariseth in the Church against the Catholique fayth c. They affirme III. That the Scriptures are easy to be vnderstood and that therefore none ought to be restrayned from reading of them COntrary to the expresse words of their owne Bible 2. Pet. 3.16 where S. Peter speaking of S. Pauls Epistles saith In which are some thinges hard to be vnderstood which they that are vnlearned and vnstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures vnto their owne destruction But all vnlearned Reformers do both read and are allowed to read those hard thinges yea the Booke of Apocalyps also yet harder without any restraint to man or woman which yet they vnderstand not therefore they wrest them as also other Scriptures to their owne destruction Actes 8.30 And Philip said Vnderstandest thou what thou readest And be said How can I except some man should guide me Where first may be noted that this Noble Eunuch freely confessed he could not vnderstand the Scriptures without an interpreter to expound them albeit he was a great and serious student in them and withall a holy and humble man as S. Hierome noteth of him Epist ad Paulin. de stud Scrip. and next that he sayth Except some man guide me So as he fled not to his priuate spirit nor yet to conferring of place with place as our Aduersaries do Therfore the Scriptures are not easy Luc. 24.25 27. Christ called two of his Disciples fooles and slow of hart c. And beginning at Moyses and all the Prophets he expounded vnto them in all the Scriptures the thinges concerning himselfe How then are the Scriptures so easily to be vnderstood of the vnlearned when Christs Disciples themselues could not vnderstand them till first they were expounded to them Reuelat. 5.1 c. The Angell speaking of the Booke sealed with seauen seales wept much because no man in heauen nor in earth was able to open the booke nether to looke theron A strange case to read in Scripture it selfe that the booke of Scripture should be shut with so many seales but much more strange that euen in S. Iohns and the Apostles time none could be found nether in heauen nor earth able to open the same nor to looke theron which euery Apprentice now a dayes without any difficulty will vndertake to doe See more 2. Pet. 1.20 Mat. 13.11 36. Luc. 24.45 1. Cor. 12.10 Luc. 8.10 54. Luc. 2. 50.2 Tim. 3.7 1. Iohn 4.6 Iohn 5.35 Psal 119.18 34 Reuel 51. c. ¶ The Holy Fathers that affirme the same are S. Irenaeus l. 2. cap. 47. Origen l. cont Cels S. Amb. epist 44. ad Constant where he calleth it A sea and depth of propheticall riddles S. Hier. in praefat comment in Ephes 5. And S. Aug. epist. 119. cap. 21. saith The thinges of holy Scripture that I know not are many more then those that I know So S. Greg. hom 6. in Ezech. and many other Fathers confesse the same of themselues S. Denis Bishop of Corinth cited by Eusebius lib. 7. hist Ec. 20. saith Of this Booke of Scripture to wit this is my opinion that the matter therof is far more profoūd then my wit can reach vnto They affirme IV. That Apostolicall Traditions and ancient Customes of the Church not found in the written word are not to be receiued nor do oblige vs. COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible 2. Thes 2.15 Therfore Brethren stand fast and hold the Traditions which yee haue bene taught whether by word or by our Epistle Hence it is cleere that some Traditiōs were deliuered to the Thessalonians by word of mouth and those of equal authority with what was written if not of more for the holy Ghost doth name them first as they were indeed the first in being yea it is certaine that before the new Testament was written the Apostles deliuered all by Tradition and word of mouth Therfore Apostolicall Traditions are to be receiued and do oblige vs. 2. Thes 3.6 Now I command you bretheren in the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ that yee withdraw your selues from euery brother that walketh disorderly and not after the Tradition which he receiued of vs. Lo he saith not I counsell you but I command you But these men reiecting all Traditions walke disorderly therfore they breake the Apostles cōmandment Yea they stand not but are fallen they let goe what the word it selfe doth will them to hould and therfore in the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ let all good men withdraw themselues from them 1. Cor. 11.2 Now I praise you brethren that you remember me in all thinges and keepe the Traditions as I haue deliuered them vnto you But these reiect all Traditions therfore needes must S. Paul speake thus vnto them Now none of my brethren I dispraise you for that you forget me in all thinges and keepe not the Traditions as I haue deliuered them vnto you Lastly If nothing at all be to be belieued but only that which is left vs written wherein should the Church haue exercised herselfe from Adam to Moyses the space of two thousand six hundred yeares See more 1. Tim. 6.3.20 2. Tim. 1.13.2 Tim. 2.2 Iohn 20.30 21.25 16.12.1 Cor. 11.16.34.2 ep Iohn 12. 3. ep of S. Iohn 13. Actes 16.4 15.28 ¶ The Fathers that affirme the same are S. Irenaeus l. 3. c. 4. Origen in cap. 6. ad Rom. S. Damas l. 4. c. 17. S. Chrysost in 2. Thes 2. And S. Basil de Spiritu sancto saith Some thinges we haue from Scripture other thinges from the Apostles both which haue like force vnto Godlines S. Chrysost hom 4. in 2. Thes sayth If is a Tradition seeke thou no further They affirme V. That a man by his owne vnderstanding or Priuate spirit may rightly iudge interprete Scripture COntrary to the expersse wordes of their owne Bible 1. Cor. 12.8 c. To one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit to another the working of miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another kindes of tongues to another the interpretation of tongues but all these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit deuiding to euery man seuerally as
if he neglect to heare thee but if he neglect to heare the Church let him be vnto thee as a Heathen man and a Publican But it were a very hard case to be condemned for a Heathen for not telling or hearing a Church which hath so closely layne hid that no man could heare see feele or vnderstand it for a thousand yeares 2. Cor. 4.3 But if our Ghospell be hid it is hid to them that are lost Loe the censure of S. Paul vpon all such as affirme that the Church or her Ghospell can be hid Isa 2.2 And it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountaine of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountaynes and shall be exalted aboue the hilles and all nations shall flow vnto it In hundred of places do the Prophecies make mētiō of this Kingdome of Christ as Dan. 7.14 Mich. 4.7 c. which should be all in vaine if this his kingdome could be inuisible for a prophecy must be of things which may be seene and perceiued by our senses otherwise euery man might be a Prophet and fortell of thinges to come which if they should not come to passe he might answere that they had come to passe in very deed as he had prophecied but that they were inuisible to the world Loe the visible absurdities of this inuisible Church See more Psal 27.8 Rom. 10.14 1. Cor. 11.19 Psalm 19.3.4 Isa 60.20 Acts. 20.28 Isa 61.9 ¶ The Fathers commonly affirme the same Origen hom 30. in Matt. The Church is full of light euen from the east to the west S. Chrysostom hom 4. in 6. of Isa It is easier for the sunne to be extinguished then the Church to be darkned S. Aug. tract in Ioan. calleth those blind that do not see so great a mountaine Also S. Cyp. de vnitate Ecclesiae They maintayne IX That the Church was not alwayes to remaine Catholique or Vniuersall and that the Church of Rome is not such a Church COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Psalm 2.8 Aske of me and I shall giue thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the vttermost parts of the earth for thy possession And Luc. 1.33 He shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome there shal be no end But none of these promises haue beene any where els so much verified as in the Church of Rome therfore both the church hath bene alwayes vniuersall and the Church of Rome only such a Church Colos 1.3 c. We giue thankes to God for you c. since we heard your faith c. for the hope which is laid vp for you in heauen wherof yee heard before in the word of the truth of the ghospell which is come vnto you as it is in al the world and bringeth forth fruit as is doth also in you since the day you heard of it and knewe the grace of God in truth But no Faith or Ghospell hath or is so dilated in all the world nor hath fructified and growne for so we read as the faith of the Roman Church hath done as appeareth more plainely by this which followeth Rom. 1.8 First I thanke my God through Iesus-Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world Where in expresse termes S. Paul calleth the fayth of the whole world or Catholique Faith the faith of the Romans that is of the Church of Rome Therefore the Church of Rome and no other is truly and indeed such a church See more Colos 1.23 Gen. 22.18 Mat 24.46 Acts 1.8 Dan. 2.35 Luc. 24.47 Psal 46.9 Psal 72.8 we 7◠Marc. 6.20 Ezech. 13.3 Math. 28.19 Actes 1.8 All which places are to be vnderstood not that the whole world should be Catholique at one and the same tyme but that the whole should be conuerted to Christ at sundry times and that it should comprehend a greater part of the world then any Sect of heretikes should euer do and this is the true sense of being Catholike or Vniuersall ¶ And to follow still our former Rule heare the Fathers that affirme the same S. Cypr. ep 57. writing to Cornelius Pope of Rome sayth Whilst with you there is one mind and one voyce the whole Church is confessed to be the Roman Church S. Aug. de vnitat Eccles cap. 4. sayth Who so dissent from the body of Christ which is the Church that they do not communicate with all the whole corps of Christendome certayne it is that they are not in the Catholike Church S. Hierome in his Apologie against Ruffinus and in other places saith that it is all one to say the Roman Fayth and the Catholike Fayth Agayne S. Aug. vpon the Psal 45. we 44. but much more excellently in ep 161. ad Honorat The place beginneth Dignare ergo rescribere nobis As also cont lit Petil. l. 2. cap. 16. The Reformers hold X. That the Churches Vnity is not necessary in all points of faith COntrary to the expres wordes of their owne Bible Ephes 4.5 One Lord one Faith one Baptisme Therfore Vnity is necessary in all points of faith The reason is for that the Church being a Congregation of the faithfull one Faith is necessary to make one Church but our Aduersaries differ in matters of faith therfore they haue not the Vnity requisit to one Church Iames 2.10 Whosoeuer shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all And euen so is it in our faith for who so denieth one article denieth all Acts 4.32 And the multitude of them that belieued were of one hart and of one soule And againe 1. Cor. 1.10 Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Iesus-Christ that yee all speake the same thing and that there be no diuisions among you but that yee be perfectly ioyned together in the same mind and in the same iudgement But our aduersaries will needs ioyne with vs in vnity of the Church yea and with others also who differ from them in matters of faith But this as you see cannot be See more Ierem. 32.29 Can. 2.6 Psal 67.7 Mat. 12.25 Marc. 3.24 Luc. 11.17 Mat. 18.19 Ephes 2.14.15.16.18.22 Ephes 5.27 Philip. 3.16 Philip. 1.26.27 Galat 59. 1.8 Colos 3.15 Iohn 17.11.2 Cor. 13.11 Psal 121.3 ¶ And lastly to checke by our common Rule the breakers of this Vnity and Rule S. Aug. cited by the Manuduc p. 134. saith In Cathedra vnitatis posuit Deus doctrinam veritatis In the chaire of Vnity God hath placed the doctrine of verity As also cont ep Par. l. 3. cap. 5. The place beginneth Qui non vult sedere S. Cyprian lib de vnitate Eccles num 3. saith This vnity of the Church he that holdeth not doth he thinke he holdeth the faith S. Hilary lib. ad Constantium Augustum and many others XI That S. Peter was not ordained by Christ the first Head or Chiefe amongst the Apostles and that amongst the
refused if it be receiued with thanks giuing for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer Yea it was a common vse in the primitiue Church to bring Bread to the priests to be hallowed Author oper imp hom 14. in Mat. and being blessed to sēd it for sacred presents from one Christian to another as S. Aug. witnesseth ep 31 34.35.36 Mat. 23.17 Yee fooles blind whether is greater the gold or the temple that sanctifieth the gold Mat. 23.19 Yee fooles and blind whether is greater the gift or the Altar that sanctifieth the gift Lo how plainly our Lord affirmeth in both these places that the Temple sanctifieth the Gold and Altar the Gift generally all creatures seuered from common and profane vse to religion and worship of God are therby made sacred and holy Are not they therfore much to be blamed who keep such a scoffing at holy water holy ashes and the like See more 2. Reg. 2. we 4.2 where the Prophet Eliseus applied salt to the healing and purifying of the waters Toby 6.8 where the Angell Raphaell vsed the liuer of a fish to driue away the diuel 1. Samuel we 1. Kinges 16. where Dauids Harpe and Psalmody kept the euill spirit away from Saul ¶ See S. Greg. l. 1. dial cap. 4. S. Aug. lib. 18. de ciuit Dei S. Hierom. in the life of Hilarion post medium S. Bede lib. 1. cap. 30. hist Anglic. XXXVII That children may be saued by their Parents fayth without the Sacrament of holy Baptisme COntrary to the expresse wordes both of truth it selfe and also of their owne Bible Iohn 3. 5. Verily verily I say vnto thee except a man be borne of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdome of God Therfore they cannot be saued without Baptisme Titus 3.5 Not by workes of righteousnes which we haue done but according to his mercy he saued vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Marc. 16.16 He that belieueth and is baptized shall be saued but he that belieueth not shall be damned Seing infants therfore cannot belieue they must at the least be baptized or els they cannot be saued Heere they will obiect against vs that of S. Paul 1. Cor. 7.14 That the children of the faythful are sanctified But if they vnderstand by their sanctification that they are borne without sinnes they do directly oppugne S. Paul who affirmeth Ephes 1. that we are all borne the sonnes of wrath Yea S. Paul in the selfe same place sayth the vnbelieuing woman is sanctified by the belieuing man and yet I hope they will not say that she obtaines therby the full remission of her sinnes Gen. 17.14 The vncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his fore-skin is not circumcised that soule shal be cut off from his people But Circumcision was not more necessary to the Israelites then Baptisme to the Christians Therefore c. ¶ See S. Aug. lib. 1. de peccat merit and remiss cap. 30. and epist 90.92 S. Leo. epist 80. ad Episcop Campaniae S. Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 19 S. Cyp. lib. 3. ep 8. ad Fidum XXXVIII That the Sacrament of Confirmation is not necessary nor to be vsed COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Acts 8.14 Peter and Iohn prayed for them that they might receiue the holy Ghost for as yet he was fallen vpon none of them only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus Then laid they their handes on them and they receiued the holy Ghost Lo the holy Ghost is giuen in Confirmation which was not giuen in Baptisme how then is it not necessary nor to be vsed Heb. 6.1 Therfore leauing the principles of the doctrine of Christ let vs goe on vnto perfection not laying againe the foundation of repentance from dead workes and of fayth towards God of the doctrine of Baptisme and of laying on of handes Lo Confirmation is heere called one of the Principles of the doctrine of Christ and a foundation of repentance How then not necessary nor to be vsed ¶ See the Fathers that affirme the same Tertul. lib. de Resur carnis S. Pacianus lib. de Baptismo S. Ambr. lib. de Sacram. S. Hierom contra Lucifer And lastly S. Cypr. lib. 2. epist 1. speaking both of Baptisme and Confirmation sayth Then they may be sanctifyed and be the sonnes of God if they be borne in both Sacramēts XXXIX That the bread of the supper of our Lord was but a figure or remembrāce of the body of Christ receiued by fayth and not his true and very body COntrary both to the expresse wordes and truth of their owne Bible Luc. 22.15 With desire I haue desired to eate this pass-ouer with you before I suffer Now to refer these wordes to a figuratiue eating only by fayth were most absurd for we cannot say that Iesus Christ could receyue or eate himselfe in this sense sith all Diuinity forbids vs to admit fayth in the Son of God Therefore that Pasche which he so greatly desired to eate with his Disciples before he suffered was the Pasche of his owne true body Luc 22.16 For I say vnto you I wil not any more drinke of the fruite of the vine vntill it be fulfilled in the Kingdome of God Wordes of wonderfull force and which cannot be vnderstood figuratiuely no more then the former it being a thing as cleare as the Sunne that of material bread and drinke there is no vse at all aboue in heauen Iohn 6.51 I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer And the bread that I wil giue is my flesh which I will giue for the life of the world Beza is very angry when we ask him If the bread that came downe from heauen be liuing or life-giuing bread He willingly granteth vs the later but cannot endure to heare tell of the former and therefore translateth life-giuing insteed of liuing But this is absurd or the Sunne is life-giuing but is not liuing and being granted to be liuing what else is it then his body And note withall that thus our Lord spake of this blessed bread before he gaue it Mat. 26.26 Take eate this is my body And Luc. 22.19 This is my body which is giuin for you What I pray can be spoken more plaine Notwithstanding they wil needes mantaine and affirme that what he gaue and they receiued was nothing else but bare bread Note also that our Lord spake this at the very giuing thereof 1. Cor. 10.16 The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ And 1. Cor. 11. he addeth He that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body Loe how both before our Lord gaue it at the very giuing of it and his Apostles and disciples after he had giuen
That no man hath seene God in any forme and that therefore his Picture or Image cannot be made COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Gen. 3.8 where God appeared vnto Adam walking in the garden of Paradise in a corporall forme And Gen. 28.12.13 to Iacob standing aboue the ladder whereon the Angells ascended and descended For we must know that it is only the outward shape and forme of the thing which is expressed eyther in this or the like Image and not the inward substance thereof which is not possible for any Painter or Caruer to expresse which though it expresse not all that is therein yet that which it expresseth is a truth and thus may God be expressed to vs. Yea why may not God be expressed in the same forme manner wherein he hath manifested himselfe to mortall eyes Therfore his Picture or Image may be made Exod. 33.11 God appeared spake vnto Moyses face to face as one man speaketh to another To the Prophet Isay 6.1.5 Sitting vpon a throne To Daniel 7.9 Sitting wearing garments and hauing haire on his head like pure woll How then can any wise man doubt but that that thing may be lawfully set forth or expressed in an outward Image which necessarily must be conceiued by an inward 1. Kinges we 3. 22.19 I saw the Lord sitting on his throne and all the host of heauen standing by him on his right hand and on his left But perhaps they will say that God commandeth vs to heare his word and the Histories which speake of his apparitions but not to paint them I answere that seeing we learne by our eyes as well as by our eares there is no reason why that may not be painted before our eyes which may be preached to our eares Againe seeing we may find the aforesaid Visions and Histories in the Bible why may we not as well see them painted in pictures as written in a booke of white paper LI. That blessing or signing with the signe of the Crosse is not founded in holy Scripture COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Reuelat 7.3 Where one Angell sayd to foure other Angels Hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees till we haue sealed we read signed the seruants of our God in their foreheads Againe Marc. 10.16 And he tooke them vp in his armes put his handes vpon them and blessed them Therefore signing and blessing is founded in holy Scripture Luc. 24.50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany and he lift vp his handes and blessed them Therfore c. ¶ See the Fathers that affirme the same Dionys Areopagita cap. 4.5.6 Eccles Hier. Tertul. lib. de corona milit Origen in Exod. cap. 5. hom 6.5 S. Cyril Cat. 1. S. Basil lib. de spir sanct cap. 37. S. Chrysost hom 55. in Mat. cap. 16. LII That Concupiscence remayning after Baptisme is truly and properly sinne though not imputed to the faithfull COntrary to the expresse words of their owne Bible Iames 1. 14.15 But euery one is tempted when he is drawne away of his owne lust and entised Then when lust hath conceaued it bringeth forth Sinne and Sinne when it is finished bringeth forth death Heere 4. thinges are distinguished Concupiscence that is a power of couering prone to euill and her 3. motions Suggestion Delectation and Consent Now Concupiscence and her first motion S. Iames doth not call Synne but a Temptation to Sinne. Delight but not fully deliberate he calleth Sinne but not mortall the which only Consent causeth ¶ See in confirmation heerof S. Cyril l. 4. in Ioan. e. 51. S. Austine l. 5. cont Iulian. c. 3. 5. where he calleth Concupiscence not Sinne but the punishment of sinne besides the whole streame of Fathers LIII That Bishops and Priestes are not bound to liue a single life but may lawfully marry wiues COntrary to the words of their owne Bible Exod. 19.22 And let the Priests which come neere to the Lord sanctify themselues lest the Lord breake forth vpon them we read strike them Those also that were to eat the Paschal Lambe were commanded to haue their Loynes guirt Exod. 12.11 that is as S. Gregory expoundeth obseruing Continency hom 22. in Euangel In the New Testament S. Paul teacheth that a Bishop must be giuen to hospitality gentle sober iust Chast 1. Tim. 3. where insteed of the word Chast the Protestants in their later Editions translate of good behauiour therby to elude their state of liuing without wiues Also 2. Tim. 3.4 Thou therefore endure hardnes as a good souldier of Iesus-Christ No man that warreth intangleth himselfe with the affaires of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a souldier Which all the Fathers do vnderstand of liuing a single life and not to be entangled with wiues ¶ See Concil 2. Carthag can 2. Where it is expressely decreed that all Bishops Priests Deacons and those that handle the Sacraments be keepers of Chastity and to abstaine themselues euen from wiues S. Hieron l. 1. cont Iouin Apol. ad Pamach c. 3. Origen hom 23. in Num. Epiphan haer 59. Ambr. in 2. Tim. 3. and others LIIII That the publique seruice of the Church ought not to be said but in a language that all the people may vnderstand COntrary to the expresse wordes of their owne Bible Luc. 1.8 And it came to passe that while he executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course according to the custome of the Priests office his lot was to burne Incense in the Temple of the Lord and the whole multitude of people were praying without at the time of Incense Where it is to be noted 1. That this was then the common custome 2. All the people were without and the Priest within how then did they vnderstand him Therfore the publique seruice of the Church may be so said as all the people vnderstand it not Leuit. 16.17 And there shal be no man in the Tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an attonement in the holy place vntill he come out haue made an attonement for himselfe and for his househould and for all the Congregation of Israel Therefore c. I shal not need to produce the authorities of Fathers for this point when the as practise of the whole Christian world for these many hundred yeares together hath byn directly contrary to our Reformers heerin against which to dispute as S. Aug sayth were insolent madnes See to Rhe. Test. pag. 46. But against this they will obiect out of Scripture this their probablest place 1. Cor. 14.16 When thou shalt blesse with the spirit how shall he that occupyeth the roome of the vnlearned say Amen at thy giuing of thankes seeing he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest For thou verily giuest thankes but the other is not edifyed Heer to I answere that there be two kindes of prayer or giuing of thankes in the Church The one