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A00294 A booke intituled, The English Protestants recantation, in mattersof religion wherein is demonstratiuely proued, by the writings of the principall, and best learned English Protestant bishops, and doctors, and rules of their religion, published allowed, or subscribed vnto, bythem, since the comminge of our King Iames into England, that not onely all generall grownds of diuinitie, are against the[m], but in euery particular cheife question, betweene Catholicks & them, they are in errour, by their owne iudgments : diuided accordingly, into two parts, whereof the first entreateth of those generall grounds, the other of such particular controuersies, whereby will also manifestely appeare the vanitie of D. Morton Protest. Bishop of Chester his boke called Appeale, or, Ansuueare to the Catholicke authour of thebooke entituled, The Protestants apologie. Broughton, Richard. 1617 (1617) STC 10414; ESTC S2109 209,404 418

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of S. Paule How shall they call on hym in whome they doe not beleeue being vrged to Rom. 10. proue that faith goeth before prayer and other good workes without which they teach a man is not iustified and which themselues vrge in a sence like to that as they thoughe vntruely suppose against prayer to Angells and Saincts in whome wee doe beleeue yet the beleeuing allthough not in them that it is lawfull to pray to them sufficeth in that case hee maketh his supposed faith a very chimericall fiction and no true reall thinge of that nature but is forced to this absurditie to say assuring faith and prayer proceeding after Wottō def of Perkins pag. 209. faith be simul tempore bothe together in the same instant of time Which is vnpossible being diuers distinct acts specified from diuers obiects produced by diuers powers and operations of the soule one precedent going before the other following and to vse his owne words proceeding after Therefore by himself except before and after Prius Posterius be simul and simul tempore together and together in tyme which euery yonge logitian in Cambridge will tell him is moste childish and absurde both this his Answere is a new grosse absurditie and that his former doctrine that cannot be otherwise defended is of like qualitie which will more appeare in the next argument by this mans diuinitie also Therefore I argue fur●her thus Nothinge that wanteth assurednes but hath doubteinge and is not without doubt can be a matter of faith But this Protestant position euen by their owne confession wanteth assurednes hath doubting and is not without doubt Therefore it is no matter of faith or true faith The Maior or first proposition is so certainely true that Protestāts generally acknowledge as the truthe is that nothing can be more certayne and vndoubted then faith for being grownded vppon the vnfallible word and Reuelation of God which it moste vndoubtedly certayne true assured and without all doubt vnpossible to be otherwise ●f God be God and truthe it self How can there be any place of doubt of any thinge of that nature and therefore that common sayeing Dubius in fide est infidelis hee that doubteth in faith is an Infidell so much as in him lyeth makeing God vnworthe to be beleued is ordinaryly allowed with Protestants The Minor proposition is also proued by Protestants and M. Wotton himself wittnesseth of this their Imagined faith in these wordes Without doubt it is not And againe in this Wottō def of Perkins pag. 135. 152. pag. 161. maner I may graunt the faithfull ordinarily are not assured of their saluation by such a faith as hath no doubteing in it And further thus our faith is not without some doubteing and our feeleing not so stronge as it should and may be And they haue spoken so longe in defence of this their fantasticall faith that they proued themselues not to haue a sownd and certayne faithe of those things that of all others are moste generally beleeued of all excepting Atheists that there is a God for amonge Protestants the same Protestant faith there be such doubts Whether there be a God or no. Wherefore M. Parkes a Protestant writer amonge them might iustly speake of his English fellowes in Religion in this maner Heresie and Infidelitie Ioyne and labour to subuert Parkes Apol. pref and ouerthrowe all grownds of Christian Religion Thus hee of these Protestants Againe I argue in this maner from the 16. article of their Religion Where it is thus Artic. 16. defined After wee haue receaued the holy Ghost wee may depart from grace and fall into syn And after it teacheth that true repentance procureth forgiuenes of syn Now this true repentance either goeth before or followeth this their Imagined iustifieing faith If it goeth before this their faith then that faith iustifieth not because man is made iust before any Act of that applying faith is exercised If this Repentance followeth then againe that their supposed faith doth not iustifie for by their owne doctrine a synner Impenitent is not iust For theyr applying faith is to apply as they say the promises of Christ vnto vs but Christ in scriptures is so fare from promisinge saluation to man impenitent that hee promiseth and denownceth damnation That both these Acts should be together is vnpossible as I haue demonstrated against M. Wotton in the like case before This is also proued by the Arguments concerning predestination in the former chapter for those Protestants which hold this Iustification by faith defend also assurednes of predestination teaching that euery one that is at any time iust is predestinate and so the one is as well knowne vnto them as the other and either of them a matter of faith with these men Againe faith and hope be distinguished faith is the grownds of things to be hoped Faith Hope Charitie these three But where there is assured faith to obtayne a thinge or hauing a thinge Hope is there euacuated Againe These Protestants with the scriptures graunt that the iuste and iustified are in heauen But faith is not in heauen being euacuated by beatificall vision therefore Iustice is not by faith Againe faith is not discursyue D. Feild Feild pag. 226. Couell def of Hooker pag. 85. writeth as truthe is that priuate Interpretations bynde not and D. Couell saith doctrines deriued are not the word of God then they are not matter of faith But all these pretensed faithes of these Protestants are onely their owne priuate interpretations applications and deriued doctrynes for no scripture saith that any one Protestant in particular D. Willet D. Powell or other is iustified or shall be saued Therefore no faith much lesse iustifying faith CHAPTER III. WHEREIN BY THESE PREsent English Protestant writers the Catholicke doctrine of Iustification by inherent grace and Iustice is proued against the same Protestants and their opinion NOW it will be no difficultie for a Christian man to beleeue doctrine of inherent grace ●ustice iustification by good workes if hee will as all Christians doe are ought graunt and beleeue any iustification at all For the contrary opinion of Protestants being euen by Protestants our Aduersaries themselues confuted that of the Catholicke Church must needs be true In which question the Councell of Trent for Catholicks Concil Trid. sess 6. can 11. defineth thus If any shall say a man is iustified either by onely Imputation of the Iustice of Christ or the onely remission of syns excluding grace and charitie which is diffused in their harts by the holy Ghost and is inherent or that the grace whereby wee are iustified is onely the fauour of God lett him be Anathema For proofe of which doctrine euen by my contry Protestants and to procure their conformitie as they ought first I argue thus Wheresoeuer there be degrees of Inherent Iustice and man more or lesse accordingly so iustified there must needs be inherent Iustice and iustification by
before all others and both by the Iudgment of S. Isidore and these Protestants themselues is thought the best translation and to be preferred before all others is accordingely to be allowed esteemed and preferred But the vulgare Latine translation by these Protestants is such Therefore euen by them so to be allowed and preferred The Maior proposition is manifestly true for that which is so auncient in the true Latine Church and to be preferred before all others must needs be allowed and preferred The Minor proposition is proued as followeth first their Bishopp D Doue writeth in these words of this vulgare Latine translation Wee Protestants graunt it Doue persuas pag. 16. fitt that for vniformitie in quotations of places in schooles and pulpi●s one Latine text should be vsed and wee can be contented for the antiquitie thereof to preferre the olde vulgar translation before all other Latine bookes so much wee doe yeeld to the Councell of Trent D. Couell entreateinge of translations of scripture against Burges the Puritan Couell against Burges pag. 94. answeareth in these words Wee are readie to confesse whether you vnderstand the Italian or that which goeth vnder the name of S. Hierome that they were vsed a●n●iently in the Church a thowsand and three hundred yeares agoe one of them by S. Augustine preferred before all the rest the other highly commended by Beza and that of the vulgar though with Pagnin and Driedo wee thinke it not S. Hieromes but mixt yet wee can be content to say as Isodore doth of it Interpretatio eius this translation is to be preferred before others Hitherto this Protestant Doctor who with their Bishop Doue before haue graunted as much as the Councell of Trent a Rule to Catholicks decreed in this matter yf wee may giue creditt Feild pag. 258. to D. Feild citeing and alloweing Andradius writeing in this maner The Church doth approue translations not pronownceing that there is no thing amisse in them but that the diuine mysteries are therein truely deliuered and nothinge that concerneth faith Religion or good maners ignorantly or fraudulently suppressed The Councell of Trent defined that the vulgare Latine translation shall be holden authenticall but hee saith Andreas Vega whoe was present at the Councell reported that the Fathers of the Councell meant not to determine that it is not defectiue or faultie but that it is not erroneous and faultie in such sorte as that any hurtfull or pernitious opinion in matters of faith or manners may necessarily be deduced from it And that this was the meaneninge of the Cowncell hee saith Andreas Vega alleadged the authoritie of the Cardinall of Sainct Crosse afterwards Pope whoe deliuered so much vnto him Hitherto D. Feilds allowance which alloweth that his Protestants before haue testified as much for the vulgare Latine translation as the Councell of Trent defined and consequently as much as Catholicks doe hold in this question Further I argue thus That Translation of scripture which was vsed 1300 yeares age when the Church was in her best and florishing estate and from which no hurtfull or pernitious opinion can be deduced is to be allowed and preferred But the vulgare Latine is such Therefore to be thus allowed and preferred The Maior proposition is euidently true and before graunted and Couell def of Hook pag. 29. D. Couell saith God hath so linked his worde and his Churche that neyther can stande where bothe are not The Minor is also before proued by these Doctors their Bishop Doue D. Couell and Feild so nothing remayneth to be proued in this argument And so it is proued and allowed by these Protestants that of all translations it is to be preferred that it contayneth nothing against Faith Religion or good maners nothing that is erroneous which suffiseth for my purpose Now lett vs see how these Protestants can iustifie their Translations from such defects for they haue graunted before that this vulgare Latine vsed and allowed in the Romane Churche is to be preferred before all their Protestant Translations Latine English Welch Dutch French or whatsoeuer named translations I argue thus No translation whatsoeuer is authenticall But euery English and other Protestant translation is a translation Therefore none of them is authenticall The Maior proposition consisteth of the verie wordes of D. Couell Couell ag Burg. pag. 94. Doue persuas pag. 16. which be these No translation whatso●uer is authenticall scripture D. Doue writeth thus all Tra●slations haue many faultes The Minor is manifestly true for a translation cannot truly be saide to be no translation for so contradictories might be true which is vnpossible Further thus I argue No translation which is not well translated but requireth new translations is to be allowed But all English translations ar such Therefore not to be allowed The Maior is euidently true for things not well done ar ill done because Non datur actus indifferens in indiuiduo No act singularized is indifferent Therefore being ill is not to be allowed The Minor is proued by the Kings speach in the Conference at Confer pag. 46. Hampton where hee saith that hee could neuer yet see a Bible well translated into English but the worste of all hee thought the Geneua to be And therefore a new translation should be made for our English nation And so D. Couell also Couell ag Burg. wisheth Againe thus I argue No translation that is peruerred in many hundreds of places is inferior to the Turkes Alcaron and denyeth Christianitie is to be allowed But the English Protestant Common translation it such Therefore not to be allowed The Maior proposition is more then euidently true The Minor is thus proued by the Protestant Author of the booke called Aduertisement Aduertism in an 1604. his words be these The Bible is peruerted in eight hundred and eight and fourtie places in the olde testament The English Protestant Bible is inferior to the ●urkes Alcaron And so Christianitie is denied in England by publicke authoritie My next Argument is this No translation that hath many omissions many additions which sometimes peruerteth the sence is sencelesse and sometymes contrary is a true translation or to be allowed But the English receaued Protestant translation is suche therefore not true nor to be allowed The Maior is palpably true The Minor is proued by Mr. Burges in these wordes Burg. apol pag. 93. in D. Couells Answ of the approued English translation it is a Translation which hath many omissions many additions which sometimes obscureth sometimes peruerteth the sence beinge sometimes sencelesse sometimes contrary Thus I argue againe No translation that is corrupt hath grosse corruptions by leaueing out of wordes by putting to of wordes and which peruerteth the meaneinge of the holy Ghost is a true or sufferable translation But the vsuall English translation by Protestants is such therefore not true nor sufferable The Maior proposition is apparantly true And the Minor is thus proued by these Protestants The 22
of D. G●orge Abbot sup pag. 48. 52. Constance before by him and others generall did define Wickliffe to be an Hereticke Also Pope Iohn the 23 in a generall Councell at Rome did condemne him for an Hereticke Then by this graunt The protestancie of England being the same as these Protestants tell vs which was taught be Iohn Wickliffe and by these Councells generall by their owne assertions condemned for Heresie must needs be Heresie And the contrarie doctrine of the Church of Rome orthodoxall and Catholicke otherwise no doctrine euer at any time was or can be hereafter lawfully condemned for Heresie or iuridically approued and allowed for true and Catholicke For by their owne Censure the highest Iudgment in the Church generall Councells haue thus defined and by their doctrine before of the power of generall Councells bownde all Christians vnder penaltie of eternall damnation so to beleeue in these questions And allthough the generall Councells of the primatiue Church were assembled about other Heresies The Catholicke doctrine of these points now impugned by Protestants then generally receaued and not doubted of as will manifestly appeare in the Chapter of Holy Fathers and Doctors of the primatiue Church yet because the first fower generall Councells are by name receaued and authorized by Parlament both by Queene Elizabeth and our Statut. 1. Eliz. 1. Iacob c. Sutcliffe ag D. Kell pag. 102. present Soueraigne And D. Sutcliffe for Protestants hath answeared thus before wee hold all the Christian faithe explaned in the sixe generall Councells Then seing the first sixe haue gott this greate papall approbation first concerninge the first generall Councell of Nice all though Vitus and Vincentius were presidents there for the Pope of Rome yet it was further confirmed by that Apostolicke Conc. Rom. tom 1. concil See in these words Whatsoeuer is constituted in Nyce of Bithinia to the strength of our holy Mother the Catholicke Church by 318 Preists wee confirme with our mouth Wee anathematize all them that shall dare to dissolue the definition of the holy and greate Councell gathered together at Nyce The third Canon of that holy Councell Conc. 1. Nicen can 3. defineth thus Omnibus modis Interdixit sancta Synodus c. The holy Councell hath wholly forbidden that it shall be lawfull neither for Bishop Preist nor Protest Booke of makeing and Order Bish. Preists c. An 3. Edw. 6. 1. El. 1. Iacob can Iacob can 7. can 8. Socr. 1. c. 8. Sozom. Deacon nor any other of the Cleargie to haue with him any straunge woman except perhaps mother or Sister or Grandmother c. Where there be more Orders of the Cleargie then Bishops Preists and Deacons onely allowed with them and none of these to haue any other woman or wife but to lyue in chastitie Their Answeare that Paphnutius persuaded the Councell that wiues maryed before orders might be kept out of Socrates and Sozomen is directly against the words of the Councell l. 1. c. 22. Epip in Compend Basil epist 17. in addit Hier. in vigilant epist 50. ad Pammach cone Carthag 2. can 2. concil 6. generca 2. in Trull before cited against S. Epiphanius that glorious Saint and Father of the Greeke Church S. Basile also S. Hierome c. the second Carthagenian Councell confirmed in the sixt generall Councell allowed by D. Sutcliffe defineing thus Apostoli docuerunt ipsa seruauit antiquitas c. The Apostles taught and antiquitie it self obserued that Bishops Preists and Deacons and those that handle Sacraments should be keepers of Chastitie and abstayne from wiues And yet these Protestants vtterly deny the opinion of Paphnutius himself as they themselues cite hym for they Marry after Orders which they confesse both Paphnutius and the first Nicen Councell denyed to be lawfull together with Socrates Sozomenus and all Greeke authoritie and practice In the fourtenth Canon of that first generall Councell the sacrifice of Masse and Christs reall presence in the blessed Sacrament of the altare are taught in these Concil Nicen 1. can 14. words This neither the Rule nor custome hath deliuered that they which haue not power to offer sacrifice should giue the bodie of Christ to them that offer it vp The sixt canon deliuereth by their Concil 1. Nicen. can 6. owne Interpretation that the Pope of Rome is supreame heade of the Church of England and all others in this part of the world And in truthe of the whole Iohn Speed in Theatr. pag. ●06 concil Sardicen can 3. 4. 7. c. Theodoret. l 2. hist c. 8 hist trip l. 4. c. 24. 2● 15. 16. Conc. Constantinopol 2. gener can 2. Can. 5. Christian worlde as is declared in the greate Sardican Councell generall and otherwise binding this Kingdome by our Bishops presence and assent there by our Protestant Theater where Appeales be graunted to the Pope from any Bishops or Councells themselues And the second generall Councell held at Constantinople maketh manifest that the Nicen Councell prescribed no limits to the Pope of Rome but to other Patriarkes and plainely deciareth Episcopuin Romanum habere primatum That the Bishop of Rome is supreame And by denying this to haue beene the decree of the Nicen Councell they proue the Popes supreamacie from the beginninge For Socrates Socrates in histor tripart lib. 4. cap. 9. writeing how the Antiochian Councell kept within twentie yeares of that of Nyce Was reiected because not approued by the See of Rome writeth thus Cum vtique Regula e●clesiastica iubeat non oportere praeter sententiam Romani pontifi●is Con ilia celebrare The ecclesiasticall Rule commaundeth that Councells be not called without the consent of the Pope of Rome Therefore their Bishop Bilson writeth thus The Canon Bilson true diff pag. 67 pag. 66. sup of the primatiue Church forbad any Councell to be called without the Bishop of Rome his consent The canon of the primatiue Church made euery thinge voide that was done without the Bishop of Rome Then what may wee thinke of the Protestants doeings in England where his Authoritie Nicephor Calix histecel in concil Ephes Prosper in Chron. An. 431. is so dispised In the third generall Councell at Ephesus the then Pope of Rome Celesti●●● constituted Cyrillus Patriarke of Alexandria to be president for him In the fourth generall Councell at Caleedon the cause of the Popes supreamacie is so cleare that D. Downame denieth not but it attributed Downam l. 1. Antichrist c. 3. pag. 36. concil Calcedon sess 8. to the Pope of Rome to be heade of the Churche In that Councell in the 8. session is thus registred Omnes Episcopi clamauerunt c. All the Bishops cryed out next vnto God Leo then Pope of Rome hath Iudged And the Pope himself not being present in that Councell his legates gaue sentence against Dioscorus The wordes of the Councell be these Et cum Concil Calced Act. 1. 2.
by matching with his scisters and presenting him with rich and rare presents for Hugh Kinge of Fraunce besides other inestimable Iuells sent him the sword of Constantine the greate in the hilt whereof all couered with gold was one of the nayles that fastened Christ to the crosse and of the speare and crowne of thornes Before him they make Kinge Elfred the most worthie and after him Kinge Edward a Saint and yet make them bothe in doctrine and practise of meritt and meritorious workes to be renowned Of the first they Pag. 351. write in this maner Elfred the fourth sonne of Kinge Ethelwolfe and ladie Osburge his wife a child of fyue yeares old was sent very honorably attended to the citie of Rome where Leo then Bishop confirmed him was his godfather at confirmation and anoynted him to the expectation of a Kingedome growne in yeares hee grewe so in discretion magnanimitie and fauour of all men that in the successiue Raignes of his three elder brethren hee ruled as a viceroy or secondary Kinge vnder euery of them and Pag. 357. after them at the last succeeded in the English monarchye Hee was a moste worthie prince Gurmund or Gurthurne the danish Kinge with thirtie of his cheife nobilitie came to conditions with Kinge Elfred and are christened His buildings were many bothe to Gods seruice and other publicke vse as at Pag. 359. Edelingsey a Monastery at Winchester a new Minster and at Shastesbury a howse of Nunnes wherein hee made his daughter Ethelgeda the Abbesse His other holy workes and meritorious deeds are to many to be remembred in this place but they conclude of him in these words The Pag. 359. sup n. 25. 28. vertues of this prince are matchable to any that euer raigned before him and exceed the moste that euer raigned after him both in seruice of God c. Concerninge K Edward syrnamed the Confessor it would be to tedious to make recitall but of parte of his holy vertues and meritorious workes in this place I onely add from these men The 40000. pownds yearely of Dane guilt was remitted by him payed for 40. yeares continuance Pag. 397. 398. 399. 400. 401. 402. out of the lands of all except onely the cleargye because say our auntient lawes the Kings reposed more confidence in the prayers of holy Church then in the power of Armes His words of Q. Editha his wife openly vppon his death bedd were ●hee was his wife but in secret embraceings as his scister K. Edward and his successors after miraculously cureth the disease called struma now the Kings euill with other propheticall and heauenly guists hee was endowed Hee vowed a pilgrimadge to Hierusalem for dischardg whereof hee built the Church of Westminister c. These Protestants conclusion of him is this Kiuge Edward a prince of much vertue and integritie of life raigned with such Iustice and pietie that hee obtayned the venerable name of Saint and vnto posterities is distinguished from other Edwards by the adiunct Confessor ô how happy were it if either Catholicks or Protestants could truly write so much of Protestant princes neither frends to the doctrine or fauoures of exercise of meritts and meritorious deeds Therfore the vniuersitie of Cambridge by their owne Doctors were ouerseene to say Wee houlde charitie to be no concurringe cause of iustification with faith Yet somewhat more of this matter is conteyned in the next chapter CHAPTER V. WHEREIN IS PROVED BY these English Protestants that the commaundements of God are possible to be kept by grace may and ought so to be kept CONCERNINGE the keeping of Concil Trid sess 6. can 11. Gods commaundements The Councell of Trent hath thus defined No man ought to vse that temerarious saying and condemned by the Fathers vnder Anathema that the precepts of God are vnpossible to be kept of a man iustified for God doth not commaunde vnpossible things but commaunding doth admonish both to doe what thou canst and to aske what thou canst not doe and doth help that thou mayest be able to doe whose commaundements are not heauie whose yoke is sweete and burden light for they which are the children of God doe loue and they which loue him as himself wittnesseth keepe his sayeings Hitherto the Councell of Trent for the doctrine of the Romane Church now that the English Protestants by their owne writings are or ought to be of the same opinion in this question thus I argue Whatsoeuer all Christians Iustely vowe to keepe and performe that in all true doctrine they are able to keepe and performe But by the opinion of English Protestants all Christians vowe to keepe the commaundements Therefore they may and must keepe them The Maior is manifest by Protestants graunteing with the holy scriptures and Fathers that iust vowes be both of things possible and must be kept for if the iust promise of man to man bindeth how much more a iust promise to God which is a vowe obligatory and byndeing The Minor is proued by the publicke Protestant English communion booke reconfirmed by his Maiesties authoritie which both teacheth that wee are bownde to Communion Booke tit chatechisme and tit publicke Baptisme §. well beloued frends keepe the commaundements and all that are baptized vowe to doe it Then seeing all English Protestants doe either sweare or subscribe vnto and dayly followe and execute the doctrine and prescription of that their authenticall Rituall and Directorie as they cannot by their oath or subscription deny it without periury or denyall of their faith so by the rule it self they committ sacriledge in reiecting that doctrine Secondly I argue thus All things that are of necessitie to bee obserued or kept of men in Religion are possible But the commaundements are of necessitie to be obserued and kept Therefore they are possible The Maior is so euidently true that if it were false all Christians of necessitie must be damned and none saued not beeing able to doe that which of necessitie they must doe or els not be saued but damned The Minor is proued by the present Protestant Archbishops of Canterbury and D. Feilds allowed Greeke Church which censureth thus The commaundements of God of necessitie are Hieremias patriarch constant censur cap. 5. to be obserued Therefore if they would deny their cōmunion Booke it self which before hath proued the same for vowes iustly made are of necessitie to be kept yet if D. Feild and such will be members of their allowed true Church they must be of this opinion I the rather hope so because D. Feild with others say out of the Churche there is no saluation Thirdly that doctrine which is Feild sup paert 1. cap. 1. so absurde that by Protestants opinion no man teacheth it is not true But this of the vnpossibilitie to keepe the commaundements is such Therefore it is not true The Maior is manifest The Minor is made as manifest by these words of D. Sutcliff Sutcliff ag D. Kellison
The Maior or first proposition is euidently true otherwise God hath bownde man to followe and embrace heresie or error of necessitie hee must bee damned without all hope of saluation except heresie false opinions error or infidelitie could bringe to heauen which is against the holy Scriptures true Religion which by no possibilitie can either bee vntrue or vncertayne being reueled by God himselfe and against the light of reason it selfe that men vnder penaltie of damnation should bee tyed to bee obedient to that sentence for obedience whereof they were likewise assured to bee damned which is to accuse God moste mercifull of the greatest Tyranny The Minor or second proposition is proued and the first also in this words of D. Feild D. Feild epist dedicat before hi● bookes of the Churche There is no parte of heauenly doctrine more necessarie in this dayes of so many intricate controuersies of Religion then diligently to searche out which amonge all the socities of men in the worlde is that blessed companie of holy ones that housthold of faithe that spouse of Christ and Church of the liueing God which is the piller and grownde of truthe That see they may embrace her communion followe her directions and rest in her Iudgment Hitherto the wordes of this Protestant Doctor by which is euidently concluded the moste certayne truthe of those two Propositions in the Argument before But to auoyde all friuolous obiections and distinctions of these men concerninge the Church generall particular triūphant militant c. Hee playnely affirmeth that this supreame and infallible iudge is the present militant Church in tymes of controuersies as is demonstrated by this his words Which amonge all the societies of men in the worlde is that blessed companie of holy ones c. Where his words societies of men and in the worlde are manifest testimonie that hee assigneth the present militant Church on earthe and no other to haue this supreame and infallible authoritie and Iudgment to decide controuersies which is alsoe proued by all the rest of the Protestant citations in this chapter hereafter And if their words were not so cleare that they cannot bee wrested otherwise yett the Question it selfe doth make it manifest for all the faithfull people that euer were and be now in many thowsands deceased out of this life cannot now be assembled in a Cowncell to giue sentence And much lesse can they that are not yett borne be so gathered together to pronownce Iudgment and yett all this belonge vnto and ar or shall bee members of the vniuersall Churche further this is conuinced by his cited words That householde of faith which cannot bee possibly ment but onely of the militant Church For in the triumphant Church seeing God in himselfe and truely and perfectly knoweinge without beleefe all sacred misteries faith as the Apostle saith is euacuated in them and turned into knowledge and as for those that ar not yett borne though hereafter in their time ordayned they at truely to beleeue yett now they neither haue faith nor knowledge of any thinge nor any other qualitie or any being at all Thirdly this is euident also in his laste words Embrace her communion followe her directions and rest in her Iudgment Which Protestants will not and cannot meane of the triumphant Churche and by no possibilitie can either bee vnderstoode or verefied of the true beleeuers to come hereafter and not yett produced into this life for this as yett haueing no essence or beeinge for themselues can haue no communion giue no directions nor pronownce Iudgment for vs now extant to embrace and followe And this is inuincibly further proued in the Arguments followeinge Therefore secondely I argue thus That which hath Authoritie in controuersies of Religion to define what is true and good to ouerrule all inferiour and particular Iudgments and bynde all men to beleeue and embrace the definitions thereof must needs bee of Infallible Iudgment and haue the supreame and highest power to commaunde and no man to disobey yt But the true Churche of Christ is such Therefore it hath Infallible Iudgment the highest power on earth and may not bee disobeyed but in all thinges to bee obeyed by all people The maior proposition is euidently true for Authoritie is to bee obeyed by all subiects otherwise it were not authoritie And there were non to commaunde non to bee obedient And definitions in matters of faithe as they must bee moste certayne vndoubted and infallible as euery article of faithe is and of necessitie must needs bee So they ar as firmely to bee beleeued and professed except wee will bee Hereticks and obstinately incur damnation The seconde proposition is thus proued by D. Couell who writeth of the Church in this Couell def of hooke pag. 30. wordes That whi●h by her ecclesiasticall authoritie shee shall probably thinke and define to bee true or good must in congruitie of reason ouer rule all other inferiour Iudgments whatsoeuer And to them that out of a singularitie of their owne aske vs why wee thus hange our Iudgments on the Churches sleeue wee answere with S●lonion ●wo ar better then one For euen in matters of lesse moment it was neuer thought safe to neglect the Iudgment of manye and rashlie to followe the fancye and opinion of some fewe Hitherto this Protestant doctor directly proueinge the second proposition for which hee is cited which also is confirmed by the Arguments followinge Thirdly I argue thus whatsoeuer hath authoritie from Christ to approue the scriptures to bee a speciall grownde in the matter of scriptures to publishe and commaund to her children in Matters of Religion is the higest Iudge and of Infallible Iudgment But the true Churche of Christ is such Therefore it is the highest Iudge and infallible in Iudgment The Maior proposition is euidently proued and confessed before and of all men cannot bee excepted against by Protestants commonly attributeing the highest and consequently infallible Iudgement to the scriptures for if they haue their allowance and Infallibilitie soe much as belongeth vnto vs and our knowledge from the authoritie and approbation of the Churche The Church so giueing them allowance and warrant of Infallibilitie must needs bee as much or more Infallible at leaste concerninge vs in which maner wee dispute accordeinge to that Rule of Logicke Propter quod vnumquodque tale illud magis That which is the cause why any thinge is so is rather so it self Which is euident thus in this case For if the scriptures so much as appertayneth to our knowledge haue not approbation and Infallibilitie of truthe but at they at approued and published for such by the Churche This Church which so giueth them such allowance and warrant of Infallibilitie must needs likewise bee infallible which thoughe it needeth not confirmation being iustified by a Maxime in the light of nature may yett for Protestants bee further made manifest by the Protestant Author of the Assertion who to proue the ministery of
notes of the Church but to speake in D. Couells words adde discipline the thirde note and of as much necessitie although Couell against the pl●a of the Innocent pag. 21. 56. for his owne opinion hee affirmeth with their recited Article in this maner There be but two essentiall notes of the Churche the true preacheing of the word and the right administration of the Sacraments The Relator hath told Relat. 6. 48. Protestants before that this Note is in the Romane Churche Wherein to vse his words Protestants Ioyneing with it shall finde excellent order of gouernment singular helpes for encrease of godlines for the conquering of sinne for the profiteinge of in vertue And their B. Doue persuas pag. 29. Doue speakeinge of the late Cowncell of Trent hath these words In that Cowncell of Trent they sett forth such holsome Canons concerninge Discipline as were fitt for a reformed Church Therefore by these Protestants nothinge is wanteing in the Church of Rome that belongeth to the true Church of Christ neither any thinge superfluous vsed in these things Further I argue thus Whatsoeuer Church is not Hereticall or Scismaticall is true and Orthodoxe But the Churche of Rome is neither Hereticall nor Scismaticall Therefore Orthodoxe and the true Churche of Christ The Maior proposition is euidently true for as the true Church of God was euer called Orthodoxe and Catholicke so the Impugners obstinately eyther in vnderstandeinge denyeing the defined doctrine thereof or in will resisteing the Superioritie and true Authoritie were Hereticks and Scismaticks The seconde proposition is proued by their before cited Protestant Bishop Daue offereinge Doue sup pers Catholicks to communicate with Protestants without any chaunge of opinion in Religion And yett that neyther Hereticks nor Scismaticks ar to be communicated withall hee hath before wittnessed in these words This proposition is vndoubtedly true no Doue sup pag. 5. Hereticks nor Scismaticks ar to be communicated withall And hee giueth vs securitie That by no possibilitie accordeinge to the Argument of Generall Cowncells before The Church of Rome can be at any time adiudged Hereticall his words be these No Church can be condemned and adiudged Hereticall Dou● sup pag. 14. by any priuate Censure but it must be publicke a Generall Cowncell as hee there expowndeth himself which Protestants neuer had nor possibly can hereafter haue as they haue graunted My next Argument is this All that allowe the present Greeke Church to be the true Church of Christ and yett further acknowledg that the Church of Rome consenteth with the same Greeke Churche except in some fewe things in which they also holde that the Romane Church teacheth the truth and the Greekes be in Error must needs acknowledge the Church of Rome to be the true Church of Christ But these Protestant writers of England doe Thus Therefore they must allowe that the Church of Rome is the true Church of Christ The Maior proposition is euidently true for the comparatiue degree in all things includeth the positiue and addeth an encrease vnto it as better or more good more white more vertuous more true c. do include goodnes whitenes vertue truth c. and increaseth them Therefore that Church which is more true then that which is affirmed to be true must needs be graunted to be the true Church of Christ The seconde proposition is proued by these Protestants first their present Protestant D. George Abbat against D. Kill pag. 63. Feild l. 3. cap. 5. c. Archbishop of Conterbury and D. Feild allowe the Churche of Greece for true The Title of D. Feilds chapter hath thus freed it from the contrary in these words It no way appeareth that the Churches of Greece ar Hereticall or in damnable Scisme And againe all these holdeinge the Rule of faith and beleeueing all those things that ar on the perill of eternall damnation to be particularly and expressely knowne and beleeued wee accompt them in the number of the Churches of God and doubt not but innumerable liuinge and dyeing in them are and haue beene saued Now if wee consider the differences betweene these two Churches of Rome and Greece wee shall finde the cheefest to bee about the procession of the holy Ghost whether from the Father alone as the Grecians contend or from the Father and the Sonne as the Church of Rome teacheth and whether in the Sacrament of the Altare leuened or vnleuened breade as the Romane Churche teacheth is to be consecrated And in bothe these the Protestants of England consent with the Church of Rome as appeateth by those words of the Creede Who prooceedeth from the Father and the Sonne allowed and vsed by them in the one and their practice in the other If Protestants will add contention for supreamacie moste of them confesse that it neuer belonged to Constantionple in Greece whose name was not when Rome enioyed it And the present Gretians themselues acknowledge the highest dignitie in Rome And in the next chapter I am to proue the supreamacie of the Pope of Rome ouer all the world for this place it sufficeth that the recited D. Feild telleth vs absolutely it was Feild l. 3. of the Church c. 1. but intruded and vsurped by the Citie of Constantinople to be accompted superior greater more honorable then any of the rest and the cheife Bishop of the whole Worlde because his Cittie was the cheife Citie of the Worlde Which as hee saith hee challenged because hee was prou●e and Insolent Now how these Churches agree in other questions that be betweene Protestants and vs will appeare in diuers chapters of this treatise and is conteyned in the censure of the Gretians against Protestants Hieremias Patriarch Constant in censura c. Relation of Relig. c. 53. or 54. and as in playne words confessed by the Protestant Relator who speaketh of them in the Greeke Churche in this maner With Rome they concurre in the opinion of Transsubstantiation and generally in the seruice and whole bodie of the Masse in prayinge to Saincts in auriculare confession in offering of sacrifice and prayer for the deade and in these without any or with no materiall difference They holde Purgatorij Cap. 55. also and worshipping of pictures For the forme and ceremonies of the Masse they much resemble the Latines Their liturgies he the same that in the olde Cap. 53. or 54. time namely S. Basils S. Chrisostomes and S. Gregories translated without any bendeinge of them to that chaunge of languadge which their tonge hath suffered In summe all those opinions which grewe into the Church before that seperation betweene the Greckes and Latines and all those ceremonies which were common vnto bothe they still retayne as their Crosseings and Thapers with others Therefore yf this Church of Greece is not to be condemned as these Protestants teache much lesse can the Romane Church be condemned by them but must needs remayne the true Church of Christ Thus I
exercised when by Protestants confession is was in her Florisheing and best estate a Rule to all Anker of pietie cheife and onely Church that it still ought to enioy and wee to graunt vnto it But in that time it claymed and exercised supreamacie ouer all Therefore it ought now to enioy it and wee to graunt it The Maior is euident for that which is a Rule to all may not be crooked neither that which is confessed cheife be made Inferior And that the Church of Rome had those eminent priuiledges is thus proued by these Protestants our Kinge saith of this Romane Kings speach in Parlam Churche it is our mother Church it was a Rule to all bothe in doctrine and ceremonies when it was in her florisheinge and best estate D. Couell writeth thus The Churche of Rome was the cheife and Couell def of Hook onely Churche M ● Ormerod calleth it the eye of the west in which diussion England is and Ormerod pict pap pag. 184. Down l. 2. Antichr pag. 105. the Anker of pietie D. Downame graunteth it was a note of a Good Christian to cleane vnto the Roman Apostolicall Churche The seconde proposition that the Church of Rome claymed and had supreamacie in that vnspotted and primatiue time of Christianitie is also proued in the former for that which is Mother Rule to all bothe in doctrine and ceremonies cheife Churche c. must needs be graunted supreame Yett to proue it further D. Sutcliffe citeing S. Sutcliffe subu pag. 57. Irenaeus lyueing neare the Apostles time and longe before any generall Cowncell or Christian Emperour to giue supreamacie to the See of Rome writeth thus Irenaeus saith that euery Church ought to haue respect to the Church of Rome for her eminent principalitie Mr. Ormerod ascendeth to Pope S. Anacletus lyuing withein one hundred yeares of Christ his words be these To proue that the Church of Rome hath the preeminence ouer all Churches Ormerod pict pap pag. 78. Anacletus alleadgeth Matth. 16. vers 18. vppon this rocke will I builde my Churche and hee expowndeth it thus super hanc Petram id est super Ecclesiam Romanam vppon this Rocke that is vppon the Church of Rome will I builde my Churche And who shall wee thinke was better acquainted with the priuiledge of that highest Apostle S. Peter Bishop of Rome then this so glorious a Pope Martyr and Sainct so neare succeedeing vnto him when especially these Protestāts before haue assured vs that this supreame power was not to dye with S. Peter but to continue in the Church for euer And this was not a singular opinion of that Holy Pope and Sainct but of others also the words of D. Downame be Down l. 1. Antichrist cap. 3. pag. 35. these diuers Bishops of Rome before the time of Socrates the historiam in her that best and florishing estate contended to haue the primacie ouer all other Churches and that is the cheife scope of many of their Epistles decret all And yett in that time the Protestants confesse those Popes for Saincts and if their Epistles be decretalls and lawes to the Church as this Doctor calleth them how had not these Masters of decrees and lawemakers vnto the Church also supreame and highest power in the Church for lawes and decrees ar made by Soueraignes and not by subiects And not onely Popes but other Saincts and Doctors before and to be cited hereafter by Protestants were of the same myndc for this time it shall suffice that M ● Middleton Middleton Papistom pag. 200. writeth thus Papias lyueinge in the Apostles time taught Peters primacie and Romish Episcopalitye My next Argument or further confirmation of the former is thus That Church or gouernor that in the best and florishing estate of the Church by Protestants did clayme exercise and execute supreame highest spirituall Iurisdiction in all knowne parts of the worlde Asia Afrike and Europe was truely supreame and so still to be accompted But the Pope and Church of Rome was such Therefore supreame in authorine The Maior is euidently true for in this life no supreamacie can extend further then into the whole knowne world and all parts thereof The second proposition is thus proued by these Protestants and first of Asia amonge the Greeke Churches and priuiledges which they clayme D. Couell telleth vs that Pope Couell ag thea plea of the Inn. pag. 65. Victor a glorious Sainct and Martyr did in that best time authoritatiuely take vppon him supreamacie ouer all Asia excommunicating the Churches of it his words be inseperateing all Asia from the vnitie of the faithfull for being disobedient in the point and question of Easter And what greater supreamacie can be named in the Church then to excommunicate and purt forthe of the Churche so greate a part of the world Therefore seeing such Iurisdiction is not but in superioritie this supreamacie must needs be graunted to the Church of Rome for of all Churches of the world euen by the graunt of Protestants the Greeke Church next to the Church of Rome hath euer moste contended for superiotie and in the auncient cowncells next to the Church of Rome is moste priuiledged yett here they ar by a Sainct Bishop of Rome iustly excommunicated as by their superior for as these Protestants argue in an other place par in parem non habet authoritatem An equall against an equall hath not authoritie And Doctor Couell before hath told vs that they were thus censured by the Pope of Rome to vse his words againe for beinge disobedient in the point and question of Easter Which makes it playne in his opinion that the Pope of Rome was supreame and had highest power not onely to censure but to decree in matters of Religion and bynde others vnto it otherwise not to haue conformed themselues vnto him had not beene in these Greeke Churches disobedience which is onely against authoritie and superioritie And although S. Iraeneus disliked this proceedeing with the Asiaticall Churches Ob. as these Protestants vse to obiect yett it Answ was onely because hee thought there was not such seueritie then to be vsed not that hee denyed the power and authoritie of the Pope to doe it for of his opinion of the iustice of his supreamacie D. Sutcliffe Sucl subu pag. 57. hath wittnessed before that he saith Euery Church ought to haue respect to the Church of Rome for her eminent principalitie Therefore hee thought it had supreamacie For principalitie eminent ouer euery Church here mentioned must needs be supreamacie ouer all for euery Church being subiected vnto it none is priuiledged from subiection and obedience vnto it Next lett vs come to Afrike for which M. Perkins writeth thus Appeales were often made out of Afrike to the Popes of Rome in those Perk. problem pag. 237. 238. dayes of her best estate And yet appeales be all wayes to superiors and neuer out of forrayne kingdomes but to the highest for
there bounds there were three principall Bishops or Patriarkes of the Christian Churche namely the Bishop of Rome Alexandria and Antioche After which time Constantinople before named Bizantium made greate by Constantine and being the seate of the Emperors the Bishops of this See not onely obtayned to haue the dignitie of a Patriarche amonge the rest but in the second generall Coun●●ll holden at Constantinople was preferred before bothe the other of Alexandria and Antioche and sett in degree of honor next vnto the Bishop of Rome Hitherto See D. Feild l. 4. c. 5. pag. 202. clearely allowt●e Popes sentence to be greatest next to a generall Councell It is cited in the next chapter D. Feild by which discourse of his there is euident demonstration made that the priuiledge of the Bishop of Rome was not giuen him by generall Councells but hee had it before the first Nicene Councell the first generall Secondly that it was the moste principall that was in the Christian Church for of the twoe moste principall Churches ●atine and Greeke to vse his words the Latine the moste principall was vnder him thirdly hee was from the begynninge preferred before the Patriarches of Alexandria and Antioche and Constantinople in so much that for Constantinople claymeing after to be cheefe hee calleth it a pretended Title Feild sup pag 62. and false and further his words of the Bishops of Constantinople be these The mognificence and glorie of his citie dayly encreaseinge hee challenged to be superior and would be nam●d vniuersall B. not challengeing to himself to be B. alone but enchroacheinge vppon the Right of all other and thereby declareinge Himself greater and more honorable then any of the rest and the cheife Bishop of the whole worlde Hitherto his words of the encreacheing and vsurpation of that Bishop Then by his sentence the Pope of Rome still was cheife and obtayned by right the primacie in the whole Christian Church And this cheefnes and primacie as D. Couell hath told before must needs be supreamacie for no other could haue it and D. Downame alsoe hath acknowledged Down l. 1. Ant. pag. 36. that both the Emperor and generall Councell attributed to the Pope of Rome in the primatiue Church to be heade of the Churche the greatest stile in his Iudgment and it must needs be if as it is amonge all members of the bodie the heade is cheife supreame and most excellent Lett vs add to this twoe sentences of D. Feild the one concerninge the authoritie of Traditions in these words There is no reason why traditions or vnwritten verities should not be made equall Feild pag. 238. with the words precepts and doctrines of Christ the Apostles and Pastors of the Church left vnto vs in writeinge if they could proue any such vnwritten verities for it is not the writeinge that giueth things their authoritie But the worthe and creditt of him that deliuereth them though by word and lyuely voyce onely And after delyuering three Rules Feild pag. 242. how to knowe certaynely these so authorized traditions and vnwritten verities hee speaketh in this maner The third Rule is the constant testimonie of the Pastors of an Apostolicall Churche succeedeingly deliuered To which some add the present Testimonye of any Apostolicall Churche whose declynings when they began wee cannot precisely tell Hitherto the words of this Protestant Doctor of the authoritie of traditions equall to scriptures being proued by this his Rule Then if the opinion of these some his Protestants by his maner of argueinge teacheing that the present testimonie of an Apostolicke Church is sufficient Rule to proue true traditions of so high authoritie not onely this Catholique doctrine of the Popes supreamacie and commaunding power but all other doctrines taught against these Protestants of necessitie must needs be true by this Rule for they all being the doctrines of the present Church of Rome the first and principall Apostolicke Church must needs be iustified by the Testimonie of an Apostolicke Church at this present when they ar taught by it And this is sufficient for my purpose for so that some Protestants be of this opinion it is as much as I request and doe not desire or expect D. Feilds voyce or an harmony of Protestants neuer yett agreeing well in any thinge to be all of one mynde in this matter But to vrdge this particular question in hand of the Popes supreamacie by that Rule of traditions which hee alloweth which is The constant testimonie of the Pastors of an Apostolicke Churche succeedingly deliuered It is proued by these Protestants before that the Pastors of that greatest Apostolicke Church euen from the Apostle S. Peter haue succeedingly claymed taught decreed exercised and executed that highest power of supreamacie in all parts of the knowne worlde And yett for further proofe of my Minor proposition Mr. Powell writeth of these holy primatiue Powell l. 1. Antichrist pag. 230. 231. Popes followeing in this maner Calixtus Pope defined that all Bishops thoughe gathered in a generall Councell shall fullfill the will of the Churche of Rome They which doe not this ar pronownced of Pope Pelagius to keepe a Conciliable and not a Councell And againe in these wordes Powell sap pag. 240. Pope Damasus wrote that it is not lawfull for the Bishopps to doe any thinge against the decrees of the Bishops of Rome Therefore by these Protestants The Pope of Rome of right is and of all ought to be acknowledged and admitted for the supreame heade and Ruler of the Church of Christ And this being thus vnuincibly proued by these English Protestants themselues our mortall enemyes and persecutors I conclude with their owne words graunted before vppon such triall and conuiction That the Pope and the Offer of Conference pag. 16. Church of Rome and in them God and Christ Iesus himself haue had greate wronge and Indignitie offered vnto them in that they ar reiected and that all the Protestant Churches arre scismaticastin forsakeinge vnitie and communion with them Which D. Feild must alsoe Iustifie affirminge as Feild l. 4. c. 5. pag. 202. shall be cited at lardge in the next chapter that the Iudgment of the Pope of Rome or Church of Rome is one of the greatest in this world and as greate disobedience to resist or deny it which is euident alsoe before but more of it hereafter Now lett vs come to the New Protestants historie it self maliciously by their Bishops published against the Church of Rome First entreateing of the conuersion of this kingedome to the faith of Christ they sett downe this marginall supposition in these Theater of the Empire of greate Britanie pag. 203. cap. 9. n. 5. wordes Saint Peter the Apostle supposed to haue preached in Britaine And further write as followeth To which vncontrolable testimonie some others haue added that Saint Peter the Apostle preached the worde of life in this Iland as to other gentils hee did for whome God had
CHAPTER IIII. WHEREIN BY THESE Protestants is proued that all Bookes of scripture receaued for such by the Church of Rome ar canonicall That the Protestants also haue either no scriptures at all or vncertaine and doubtfull and no true Canon of them THvs haueinge demonstratiuely proued by these our English Protestants that the true Church of Christ is of that byndeinge and commaunding authoritie power and priuiledge That There is no saluation remission of synnes or Hope of eternall life out of the Churche it is the blessed companie of holy ones household of faith spouse of Christ piller and grawnd of truthe her communion is to be embraced directions followed Iudgment rested in to ouerrule all Inferior Iudgment whatsoeuer c. And that bothe the present Churche of Rome is this so excellent and enfraunchised societie and the Pope and Bishop thereof supreame heade and spirituall gouernor ouer the whole Christian worlde all other Questions against these Protestāts ar all readie determined by them for the Church and Pope of Rome So that nothing is further needfull to be disputed in this busines eyther of scriptures or any other matter in controuersy yet for particular satisfaction to all in all particulars I will proceede and first for the Bookes of holy scriptures and argue these first in generall Whatsoeuer Bookes ar proposed vnto vs by the true Church of Christ and the supreame Gouernor thereof to be canonicall scripture ar for such to be embraced and reuerenced But all Bookes allowed for canonicall by the Church of Rome at this present be such Therefore so to be embraced and reuerenced The Maior proposition is euident before by the priuiledges of the true Church recited in generall and not onely so but in particular also concerninge the authoritie of the true Church in approueinge and proposeinge holy scriptures for Mr. Wotton hath thus testified for Wotton ●ef of Perk pag. 442. Protestants The Iugdment of the Church wee are so far from discreditinge that wee Holde it for a very speciall grownde in this matter of scriptures And D. Couell hath these conuinceing Couell against Burg. pag. 60. words The Church of Christ accordeing to her authoritie receaued from him hath warrant to approue the scriptures to acknowledge to receaue to publish and commaunde vnto her children And to make it euident that this priuiledge by these Protestants cannot be attributed or ascribed to any other Church then the Church of Rome they haue before confessed that neuer any other Church but that onely exceptinge the Church of Constantinople pretended Title much lesse enioyed it to this supreamacie to propownde scriptures or make decrees and lawes to the whole Church and the children thereof and the clayme thereof in that behalf was but pretended and vsurped and now is by their desolation left desolate And to make this the next argument and others more cleare I will in this place recite the words of D. Feild wherein to omitt the Holy scriptures because they in no place tell vs which be or be not canonicall scriptures But wee ar as these Protestants before haue told vs and shall more particularely testifie Hereafter in this chapter to receaue them from the Church of Christ That wee may knowe whome moste to trust and obey in this and such matters of controuersy hee writeth thus haueing spoken of the Church before Hither Feild pag. 202. l. 4. c. 5. wee may referre those different degrees of obedience which wee must yeeld to them that commaunde and teache vs in the Church of God excellently described and sett downe by Waldensis Wee Waldens doct Fidei l. 2. art 2. 3. p. 27. must saith hee reuerence and respect the authoritie of all Catholicke Doctors whose doctrynes and writeings the Church alloweth wee must more regard the authoritie of Catholicke Bishops more then these the authoritie of the Apostolicke Churches amongst them more especially the Church of Rome of a generall Councell more then all these Hitherto D. Feilds allowance that this sentence is excellent Therefore soeinge Protestants neuer had nor can haue as they haue testified before any generall Councell and deny all Councells to be generall which Catholikes alledge for this Question of the Bookes of scriptures and others also They ar bownde to be obedient to that sentence next vnto them which D. Feild here hath told vs to be the Iudgment of the Church of Rome or Pope of Rome which hath defined and allowed the catholicke doctrine for the Bookes of canonicall scripture as alsoe other questions as all Protestants acknowledge Otherwise they ar in one of highest degrees of disobedience that is in this world as his words before are wittnesse For hee alloweth it for an excellent direction for this present time and state of controuersies And yett if he would contend which hee neither doth nor can being allowed for this present time to drawe it to the dayes of Thomas Waldensis disputing against Witcliffe their Brother in Religion as they write and resisting the Popes authoritie it maketh nothing for his excuse for if Witcliffe as they say was of their Religion the case betweene Waldensis and him was the same which now is with my self and other Catholicks writinge against these Protestants Brethren and Associates in Religion vnto Wickliffe and his Adherents This supposed I make the like Argument againe in this maner Whatsoeuer bookes ar proposed for canonicall scripture by the true Church ar the highest Rule that can be had or fownde in time of controue●sie ar to be receaued for holy scriptures But all those Bookes which the present Romane Church alloweth ar so proposed Therefore to be receaued for holy scriptures The Maior proposition is euidently true otherwise all Christians in such times must needs be perplexed in the cheifest matter of Religion by Protestants the scriptures themselues which cannot be for so contradictories might bothe be true The highest Rule ought to be followed the highest Rule ought not to be followed Which be contradictorie It ought to be followed because it is our Rule and the best that can be assigned it ought not to be followed because it is false and deceatefull And no man can be so bownde vnder damnation to followe a false Rule And concerninge the authoritie of the Church in this case it is further confirmed by these Protestant sentences D. Couells words be Couell def of Hook pag. 31. these The Church of Rome teacheth no badd opinion to affirme that the scriptures are holy and diuine in themselues but so esteemed by vs for the authoritie of the Churche And againe That the scriptures ar true wee haue it from the Church And further thus The Church hath fowre Couell sup pag. 32. 33. singular offices towards the scripture First to be of them as it were a faithefull Register Secondly to discerne and Iudge betweene false and adulterate and that which is true and perfect The third to publish and diuulge to proclayme as a cryer the true edict
of our Lord himself The laste is to be an Interpreter and in that followeing the safest Rule to make an vndiuided vnitie of the truthe vncapable of contradiction to be a moste faithfull Couell sup pag. 34. expositor of his owne meaneinge And hee concludeth thus W●e say that wee are taught to receaue the worde of God from the authoritie of the Churche wee see her iudgment wee heare her voice and in h●militie subscribe vnto all this Therefore beinge so proued before by these Protestants that the Church of Rome is the Church of Christ endowed with these priuiledges concerninge scriptures that the sentence of it by D. Feild before is more Feild l 4. c. 5. pag. 202. to be regarded then any they haue or can pretend and hath proposed all bookes for scripture which Catholicks receaue wee must obey it and the rather agreeing with the Greeke Church of which D. Feild writeth Feild pag. 71. l. 3. c. 5. thus wee accompt them in the number of the Churches of God Which that Church cannot be which proposeth adulterate and false scriptures for true and the vndoubted word of God The Minor proposition is also euidently true That all bookes which the Church of Rome receaueth for Holy scriptures as so proposed published and proued vnto vs by the true Church and that sentence which in this time is highest and to be obeyed as these Protestants haue written And so all things in this Argument ar euidently confessed for true by our Aduersaries Before my next argument I will cite the opinion of D. Doue Protestant Bishoppe of Peterboroughe in this matter that wee may playnely see where vppon Protestants denyeing so many bookes for canonicall scriptures which Catholicks receaue is grownded his wordes be these Catholicks Doue persuas pag. 15. proue them to be canonicall out of S. Augustine wee that they be Apochrypha out of S. Hierome both which Doctors are of no small authoritie with the Church of Rome And therefore in this wee differ no more from them then S. Hierome did from S. Augustine This supposed I argue thus from these Protestants Whatsoeuer doctrine was taught in the time of the primatiue Churche by a Bishoppe Sainct and Doctor of the Church in the Iudgment of Protestants farre the moste Learned Doctor that euer was or shall be in all likelyhood excepting the Apostles and this so constantly that this so worthie a man taught it to be the Common doctrine of the Churche of Christ in all probabilitie is more like to be true then that which doubtefully taught by an other Doctor of the same time who bothe as the same Protestants write delt vnchristianely and his authoritie in some other questions was not much worthe and in this also recalled his opinion or renownced it to be his meanening But the doctrine which Catholicks hold concerning canonicall scriptures is by the testimonie of Protetestants thus much more likely to be true and worthie to be beleeued then the contrary opinion of Protestants Therefore by Protestants it is more probable credible and worthie to be beleeued The Maior proposition in the proceedings of these Protestants by whome I dispute in this place is euidently true For amonge men learned in professions the Common maxime and reason is wee must beleeue euery one moste cunninge in his art and amonge men learned hee that is moste or more learned is to be credited before him that is supposed to be his inferior in learning And doctrine constantly taught not onely to be the doctrine of such a more or moste learned Father and Doctor and Sainct but further to be doctrine generally of Christs true Churche is of more creditt and more worthie to be beleeued then that which by a man supposed not so learned is either doubtfully or singularly taught or vncertaine whether it was so taught or if it were yet was recanted disclaymed or retracted by himselfe The second proposition concerning these two greate Doctors and their opinions in this point is thus proued by these Protestants D. Cou●ll writeth of S. Augustine in Couell against Burges pag. 3. these termes Hee was farre the moste learned Doctor that euer was or shall be in all likelyhood except the Apostles And giueing the highest commendation hee could to S. Thomas Aquin●s our holy and learned schole-man hee Couell ag Burg. writeth thus By a Common prouerbe it was spoken that the soule of S. Augustine dwelt in Aquinas Concerning S. Hi●●ome vppon whose Imagined opinion in this point they would hazard their whole Religion in their Iudgments alloweing onely the scriptures to be Iudges and grownds in other poynts they vse him in these termes Mr. Wottons Wotton def of perk 495. 500. 519. 520. words be Hieromes authoritie in the case of single life is not much worthe Hierome condemninge Iouinian delt vnchristianely with him The authoritie of Hierome concludeinge a worke of perfection from those words of Christ goe and sell all c. is not to be admitted Now let vs heare from these Protestants in what maner these two Doctors taught as this Protestants tell vs these two diuers doctrines one for Catholicks and the other for Protestants D. Feild writeinge of bookes which Catholicks admitt for canonicall and the Protestants refuse telleth vs that S. Augustine and the third Councell Feild pag. 248. l. 4. c. 23. pag. 246. of Carthage confirmed in the sixt generall Councell wherein Augustine was present and Innocentius Pope lyueing in that time seeme to add them to the Canon Then it seemeth by this Protestant testimonie that S. Augustines opinion approued in so greate a prouinciall Councell confirmed in a generall Councell the highest commaundeinge Iudgement by them before and by the Pope of the greatest Apostolicke See the seconde Iudge in the Christian world before in D. Feilds allowance especially in that best time when his Maiestie saith it was a Rule to all and constantly taught as the doctrine of the Church by this the greatest doctor that euer was or is like to be by these men is worthie to be credited and beleeued and by their doctrine before All men that will not be disobedient bothe in the seconde and first degree also ar bownde to embrace and followe it Now let vs heare what these Protestants will testifie of S. Hierome for their opinion in this Question of these bookes The Protestant Conference at Hampton court before Conference pag. 60. the Kinge entreateing of Protestants exceptions against these scriptures vseth these words Moste of the obiections made against those bookes were the olde Cauills of the Iewes renewed by S. Hi●rome in his time who was the first that gaue them that name of Apochrypha which opinion vppon Ruffinus his challendge hee after a sorte disclaymed the rather because a generall offence was taken at his speaches in that Kinde Hitherto the censure at that publicke Protestant Conference by which the Protestants grownde for deniall of those bookes of scripture and tearminge
them Apochypha is vtterly ouerthowne For an opinion fownded vppon old Iewish Cauills against Christians singularly held or renewed reclaymed by the Author and generally gi●●ing offence as these Protestants affirme this was is not probable to be true D. Couell against Burges the Puritane answeareth the obiections against these Couell ag Burges pag. 8● 86. 87. 88. 89 90. 91. bookes as Catholickes doe And sheweth that these bookes haue without cause beene accused of faultes by Protestants onely to deny them to be canonicall as Catholicks esteeme them And further hee addeth thus They ar moste true and might haue the reconcilement Couell sup pag. 87. of other scriptures And againe in these wordes If Russinus be not deceaued they were approued as parts of the old testament by the Apostles For when S. Hierome writt so scornefully of the historie of Susanna and the songe of the three children hee chargeth him therein to haue robbed the treasure of the holy ghost and diuine Instrument which the Apostles deliuered to the Churches And S. Hierome whoe is not vsually slowe to defend himself leaueth that point vnansweared pretending that what hee had spoken was not his owne opinion but what the Iewes obiected And for his paynes in translateing the booke of Iudith which Protestants deny hee giueth this reason because wee reade that the Councell of Nyce did reckon it in the number of holy scriptures Hitherto D. Couells words and much like vnto this of Russinus hee citeth from S. Augustine S. Ciprian and others Temporibus Apostolorum proximis in the next ages to the time of the Apostles And thus wee see how weake that Protestant Religion is that by their owne testimonie is fownded vppon so singular new reuiued Iewish Cauills disclaymed and generally offensyue and disliked opinion From hence I argue further All Bookes which were approued by the Apostles for parts of the old testament were the treasure of the holy ghost and diuine Instrument which the Apostles deliuered to the Churches which ar moste true and might haue reconcilement of other scriptures ar to be allowed for such But all these things ar verified of bookes which these Protestants deny and by themselues as is cited from them before Therefore ar to be allowed for canonicall scriptures bothe propositions be graunted by these Protestants before and so in this argument nothing remayneth to be proued And againe thus I argue whatsoeuer a generall Councell in the primatiue Church the highest Rule by Protestants before to approue scriptures and bynde all men vnto the definitions of it receaued for scripture ought to be receaued for such But more bookes then Protestants allowe were so receaued as these Protestants tell vs Therefore more are to be admitted Both propositions ar here also graunted before by Protestants and so the Argument concludeth truely against them Further I argue thus Those Bookes which the Iewes before and at the comminge of Christ for their greatest or greate part dwelleing out of Iury vsed as parts of the old testament and deliuered as a canon to the Christian Churches and were Ioyned in one volume read by them of the Latine Church then the acknowledged true Churche of Christ and were receaued in the third Carthagenian Councell which was confirmed in the sixt generall Councell ar now to be receaued and allowed for canonicall scriptures But those bookes which Protestants denie and Catholicks allowe be such Therefore they ar to be now allowed for canonicall The Maior proposition is euidently true for if the Iewes before and at the commeing of Christ the primatiue Christians of that time and their practice the authoritie of the true Church of Christ the moste principall Church before by D. Feild and other Protestants a fomous prouinciall Councell and the confirmation of a generall Councell ar not to be admitted to direct and instruct vs there is no meanes left for instruction in this case these beinge by these Protestants before the greatest warrants and Rules wee can haue in such causes The second proposition is proued in this manen D. Feild haueing spoken how the Hebrue Iewes had made their Hebrue canon accordeing to their Iewish reckoninge of the number of their letters how probably I leaue to Hebritians and may not now entreate hee concludeth thus These onely did Feild l. 4. c. 23. pag. 245. the auncient Church of the Iewes receaue as diuine and canonicall Neither much meruaile all the others being the last that were written and in the time of their decayeing state and afflictions Of these hee writeth thus in the next words That other bookes were added vnto Feild sup these whose authoritie not being certayne and knowne ar called Apocryphall fell out on this sortè The Iewes in their later times before and at the Act. 6. c. gloss ordinar lyr in eandem locum comminge of Christ were of two sortes some properly and for distinction sake named Hebr●es commorant at Hierusalem and in the holy land others named Hellenists that is Iewes of dispersion mingled with the Gretians These had written sundry bookes in Greeke which they made vse of together with other parts of the old testament which they had of the translation of the Septuagint But the Hebrues receaued onely the two and twentie bookes before mentioned Hence it came that the Iewes deliuered a double Canon of the scripture to the Christian Churches Thus wee see that the greatest parte of the Iewes Proselytes and all our of Iurie did add these bookes with the other for scripture vsed them as part of the old testament deliuered them to the Christian Churches as part of the canon of scripture and the primatiue Church consequently so receaued them otherwise they were not thus deliuered Therefore thus farre the Minor proposition is proued for I doe not expect D. Feild to say or not say expressely that these be or be not canonicall but what in true consequence hee must say by his owne graunte before and hereafter Then hee telleth vs they in S. Augustines time were receaued Feild pag. 246. by him the fathers of third Councell of Carthage and Innocentius then Pope of Rome in the best estate of that Church when it was as before by Protestants Kings speach sup a Rule vnto all in the catalogue of canonicall scriptures Now that the Canons of this Carthagenian Councell were confirmed in the sixt generall Councell holden at Trallo to vse his words and which Protestants acknowledge Feild l. 4. cap. 23. pag. 258. for a generall Councell their highest Rule hee testifieth after in the same chapter Neither is his exception because the Laodicean Councell which nameth not all Ob. them is there also confirmed of any purpose Answ for that generall Councell by Protestants approueing and confirminge bothe that which named them for canonicall and that doth not name them all must needs confirme them for canonicall otherwise against supposition this Councell of Carthage had not beene confirmed as they teach it was Further I
authoritie in such cases is priuate Therefore no Protestant Interpretation is binding or Iuridicall The Maior proposition is thus proued by D. Feild Feild l. 4. c. 19. pag. 235. in these wordes Wee confesse that neither conference of places nor consideration of the antecedētia and consequentia nor lookinge into the originalls are of any force vnlesse wee fynde the thing● which wee conceaue to be vnderstoode and ment in the places interpreted to be consonant to the Rule of faithe And hee writeth thus againe priuate Interpretation Feild pag. 226. is not so proposed and vrged as if they would binde all others to receaue it The Minor proposition That all Protestant expositions in respect of a bindeing and Iuridicall power are priuate is thus proued by this Protestant Argument No Interpretation or Interpreters wanteing Iurisdiction and authoritie to commaunde their Interpretations and expositions in matters of faith to be beleued as suche is to be accompted byndeing and Iuridicall But all English Protestant Interpretations expositions and definitions by their owne Iudgment want this bindeing and commaundeing authoritie in matters of faithe Therefore they are not Iuridicall and byndeinge to be beleeued The Maior is euidently true for where there is not power and authoritie in things those things cannot be rightly and iuridically commaunded or bindeing men to doe or beleeue them The Minor proposition is proued by D. Feild in these wordes As before wee made Feild pag. 228. three kinds of Iudgment the one of discretion Common to all the other of direction Common to the Pastors of the Churche and a third of Iurisdiction proper to them that haue supreame power in the Church So likewise wee make three kindes of Interpretation the first priuate the seconde of publick● direction and so the Pastors of the Church may publickly propose what they conceaue of it And the third of Iurisdiction and so they that haue supreame power that is in the Bishops assembled in a generall Councell may interpreate the scripture and by their authoritie suppresse all them that shall gaynesay such Interpretations and subiect euery man that shall disobey such determinations as they consent vppon to excommunication and Censures of the like nature Hitherto D. Feilds wordes playnely declareing that in his Iudgment the Protestants neither haue nor can haue this Iuridicall and commaundeing Iudgment or Interpretation because as is proued by themselues before they neither haue had nor can haue any generall Councell in which alone he placeth this Iurisdiction and bindeing power For proposeing without authoritie which hee giueth there to Bishops is not Iuridicall and coactiue If hee shall answeare that in the first three hundred yeares there was no generall Councell and yet matters of Religion were decided and embraced hee condemneth himself and all Protestants in this busines for either hee must leaue that primatiue Church absolutely without Iurisdict●on and power which is moste absurde or leaue it to them that both truely claymed and vsed it the Popes of Rome as these Protestants haue before acknowledged And aboue all men D. Feild must be of that opinion for hee Feild pag. 202. hath written and allowed in this maner Wee must reuerence the authoritie of all Catholi●ke Doctors whose doctrine and writeings the Church alloweth wee must more regarde the authoritie of Catholicke Bishops more then these the authoritie of the Apostolicke Churches amongst them more especially the Church of Rome of a generall Councell more then all these Therefore by this Protestant Doctor in tyme when generall Councells cannot be the highest deciding and Iuridicall sentence and power is in the Church and Pope of Rome And by this hee is also preuented from sayinge that Protestants may commaunde such Interpretations and definitions within their owne temporall Territories for so they should not moste reuerence and respect next to a generall Councell the Church of Rome the next Iudge as hee hath written but quite the contrary their owne stubborne and disobedient wills which in such causes is Here●icall or Sc●maticall vsurpation and yet D. Feild in his diuision of Interpretations before assigneth no Iurisdiction at all to inferior Bishops to commaunde either in the whole Church or in Prouinciall in such cases Further I argue thus No opinions or Articles not grownded vppon the worde of God are to be beleeued or commaunded as matters of faith But all Protestants deductions and Interpretations in these controuersies are such not grownded vppon the word of God therefore not to be beleeued or commaunded as Articles of faith The Maior is the Common doctrine of Protestants The Minor is proued both before when Protestants haue depriued themselues of Councells Popes and all true proposers of the word of God tying themselues to their owne doctrines and deductions and is thus further confirmed by D. Couell in these wordes Couell def of Hook pag. 85. Doctrines deriued exhortations deducted Interpretations agreable are not the word of God Therefore the whole Religion of Protestants against Catholicks beinge thus fownded vppon so deceatefull a grounde as humanee deduction is cannot truely and Iuridically be commaunder Yet it is so manifest to all that their Religion consisteth wholly on their Imagined Interpretations and deductions that Mr. Wotton and Wotto● def of Perk. pag. 467. c. others are enforced absurdely to say that deduction from scripture maketh a matter of Faithe otherwi●e hee ●annot make any articl● of faith to be in their doctrine against vs. And D. Feild himself so resolute before against these priuate Interpretations and expositions seemeth to be of the same minde to defend their Religion in makeing such deductions to be matters of faith by euery priuate deduction his wordes be these Wee Feild pag 226. say that men not negl●cting that light of direction which the Churche yeeldeth no● other helps and meanes may be assured out of the nature of the things themselues the Conference of places the knowledg of tongues and the sutable correspondence that one parte of dyuine truth hath with an other that they haue sownde out the true meaneinge of it And by this assurednes hee seemeth to vnderstand assurednes of faith makeing their priuate deductions and Interpretations the worde of God as M. Wotton before cited doth in Wotton def of Perk. pag. 467. these wordes Wee acknowledge both and holde all matters concludeth Logically out of the scriptures to be the word of God as well as if they were expressely sett downe in it worde for worde Therefore I may l●wfully take it is a Common Protestant doctryne both Doctor Feild and M. Wotton speakeinge for their Protestants in the plurall number wee say wee acknowledge c. so that by their Religion M. Feilds or M. Wottons Logicke vaine and vncertayne deduction is of higher authoritie and more to be beleeued then any generall Councell or Articl of Relig. art 21. other externall Rule of Religion for all these by them as is presently to be proued may erre euen in
faithe or be thought requisite or necessarie to saluation Now to proue my second proposition D. Feild will testifie that both these scriptures and the right order of deductions from them in matters of faith are deliuered vnto vs by tradition onely his ●ordes be these Much contention there hath Feild l. 4. pag. 238. cap. 20. beene about traditions some vrgeing the necessitie of them and other reiecting them For the cleareing whereof wee must obserue that wee reiect not all for first wee receaue the number and names of the Authors of bookes diuine and canonicall as deliuered by tradition This tradition wee admitt The number Authors and integritie of the partes of these b●oke● wee receaue as deliuered by tradition Thus much for the scriptures that their number Authors partes and euery chapter verse and sentence is by tradition Then their pretended deductions from thence must needs be such for in euery theologicall Syllogisme they must needs take eyther the one or both propositions from this graunted tradition and their conclusion must much rather be tradition as also the maner of deduceing for they graunt they are not expressely in scripture and to decide this D. Feild wittnesseth againe in this order The Feild sup pag. 238. 239. seconde kinde of tradition which wee admitt is that summarie comprehension of the cheife heades of Christian doctrine conteyned in the Creede of the Apostles which was deliuered to the Churche as a Rule of her faith The orderly connexion and distinct explication as these principall Articles gathered into an Epitome i● rightly named a tradition And howsoeuer hee will contend that the Articles are in scripture or may thence be deduced in which his fellowes in Religion hereafter will giue him deniall for Christs discendeing into Hell communion of Saincts and others yet hee must needs graunt that the Creede of the Apostles being composed by them and deliuered to the Church as a Rule of her faith before the scriptures of the new testament wherein hee will say it is conteyned were written is absolutely a Tradition And yet hee maketh it so absolute a thinge that to vse his wordes in it are implyed and whence are inferred all conclusions Theologicall But that the Feild supr cap. 20. true explication also of scripture is a tradition hee wittnesseth in these wordes The third is that forme of Christian doctrine and explication Feild pag. 239. of the seuerall partes thereof which the first Christians receauinge of the same Aposiles that deliuered to them the scriptures commended to posterities This may right be named a tradition for that wee neede a playne and distinct explication of many things which are somewhat obs●urely conteyned in the scripture Therefore seing these deductions from scripture are not without tradition and thinges obscurely conteyned may not be receaued as articles of Religion by them without a playne and distinct explication by tradition and the playne things of scripture by them before as also that epitome of our faith the Apostles Creede are traditions it is manifestly proued that all Articles and matters of faith are by tradition by these their writeings Further I argue thus whatsoeuer doctrine is of that necessitie that the denyall Feild 〈…〉 obstinately is Heresie must needs be a matter of faith and necessarie to saluation But by these Protestants there is such doctrine onely by tradition Therefore some matters of faith and necessarie to saluation are beleeued onely by tradition The Maior proposition is euidently true yet further confirmed by these Protestants D. Couells Couell exam pag 202. Ormer dial 2. wordes be these Hereticks are neyther simple Infidells nor Idolaters but obstinately erringe in some fundamentall poynt M. Ormerod writeth thus hee is an Hereticke which so swarueth from the wholesome doctrine as contemning the Iudgment both of God and the Church persisteth in his opinion Thus wee see that Heresie is not without deniall of a matter of faith wherein both the Iudgment of God and the Churche is contemned The Minor is proued by D. Feild in this maner where first to vse his wordes hee alloweth for a cleare Instance not to be proued by Feild pag. 240. scripture the perpetuall virginitie of Mary and after confesseth that Hiluedius for pertinatiousely deniall thereof was condemned of Heresie In that hee saith this is no point of Christian faith but a Feild sup cap. 20. seemely truthe deliuered vnto vs by the Church of God fitting the sanctitie of the blessed Virgin and the honor due to so sanctified a vessell of Christs Incarnation as her bodie was hee speaketh truely in allowing it for a Tradition but denying it to be any point of Christian faith and yet telling vs that Heluidius for deniall of 〈◊〉 was condemned of Heresie hee both contradicteth himself the truth and his fellowe Protestants before assureing that Hereticks be they that obstinately erre in fundamentall points as D. Couell writeth or as M. Ormerod noteth swarue from the wholesome doctrine as contenininge the Iudgment both of God and the Church Where it is euident that a matter of faith is denied in euerye Heresie and also that things deliuered onely by tradition as D. Feild acknowledgeth the perpetuall virginitie of our blessed Ladie to be are the worde and Iudgment of God Further these Protestants seeme to condemne the Anabaptists and denyers of the necessitie to baptise Infants yet D. Feild writeth thus Feild pag. 239. The foarth kinde of Tradition is the cōtinued practise of such things as neyther are conteyned in the scripture expressely nor the example of such practise expressely there deliuered Of this sorte is the baptisme of Infants which is therefore named a tradition because it is not expressely deliuered in the scripture that the Apostles did baptize Infants nor any expresse precept there found that they shoulde doe it And his wordes of the plurall signification The fourth kinde of traditions such things of this sor●e● c. are sufficient argument that hee alloweth diuers other Traditions of this nature That which he addeth wee fynde the scripture to delyuer the grounds of it is expressely Feild pag. 228. Couell def of Hook pag. 85. against himself before and D. Couell thus assureing vs in these wordes doctrines deriued exhortations deducted Interpretation● agreeable are not the worde of God and D. Feild Feild supr pag. 226. priuate Interpretation is not so proposed and vrged as if they woulde binde all others to receaue it Yet all men are bownde to receaue and firmely beleeue articles and matters of faithe Further D. Willet telleth vs that Vigilantius Willet Antilog pag. 13. was condemned of Heresie for denying reuerence to Relickes and yet Protestants generally teach that doctrine is not conteyned in holy scriptures D. Feild writeth Feild pag. 138. l. 3. cap. 29. in these wordes Aerius condemned the custome of the Churche in nameing the deade at the altare and offeringe the sacrifice of the Eucharist for them For this his
rash and inconsiderate holdenes and presumption in condemninge the vniuersall Church of Christ hee was iustely condemned For the practise of the Churche at that time was not euill in any of these things neither doe wee concurre with Aerius in the reprehension of that primatiue and auncient Churche What was this practise of the primatiue Church concerning the deade for deniall whereof Aerius was condemned as D. Feild hath told vs I will recite from other Protestants M. Middleton assureth vs thus Middleton papistom pag. 64. 45. 46. 51. 47. 48. 49. S. Chrisostome taught it to be the Apostles ordinance to pray for the deade it was a tradition in the primatiue Church receaued from the fathers to pray for the deade and begg mercie of God for them The deade were prayed for in the publicke liturgies of Hull Rom. pole pag. 86 Morton Apol. part 1. pag. 273. Basile Chrisostome and Epiphanius The Churche in Epipbanius time vsed to craue mercye for the deade M. Hull saith Leo 15 Leo the pope appointed Masses for the deade D. Morton citeth from Caluine this ipsi veteres preces fundebant pro defunctis The auncient fathers prayer for the deade And to giue finall content to D Feild the sentence of his true Greeke Church is Gennad Schol. def 5. cap. 3. this The doctrine of purgatorie prayer and sacrifice for the deade was a Tradition of the Apostles That which the Latines call Purgatorie they of the Greeke Church name Catharte●ion They were onely Scismaticorum sectatores followers of Scismaticks which denied it The seing Protestants doe ordinarily teach that prayer for the deade is not conteyned either expressely or deducebly in scriptures it must needs be by tradition for denyall of which tradition Aerius was condemned of Heresie and the vniuersall Church at that time by D. Feild taught prayer for the deade for hee telleth vs that Aerius in his opinion contemned the vniuersall Church of Christ and so must D. Feild confesse of himself and his fellowe Protestants if they deny this to be a Tradition as they haue denyed the Bookes of Machabees where this veritie is taught to be caconicall scriptures to gaynesay this primatiue and Catholick doctrine And from hence thus I argue againe by the Rule of S. Augustine allowed by D. Feild whatsoeuer the whole Church holdeth not Feild l. 4. c. 21. pag. 242. being decreed by the authoritie of Councells but hauing beene euer holden may rightly be thought to haue proceeded from Apostolicke authoritie But the Catholicke doctrine of prayer and sacrifice for the deade is such by the testimonie of these Protestants Therefore a tradition from the Apostles by these Protestants The Maior consisteth of the verie wordes of S. Augustine as they be translated and allowed by D. Feild in this maner Feild pag. 241. Hauing sett downe the kindes and sortes of traditions it remayneth to examine by what meanes wee may come to discern and by what rules wee may Iudge which are true and Indubitate traditions The first rule is deliuered by S. Augustine Quod vniuersa Aug. l. 4. cont Donatist cap. 23. tenet ecclesia nec concilijs institutum sed semper retentum est non nisi authoritate apostolica traditum rectissimè creditur Englished by D. Feild as in the Maior proposition where rectissimè creditur is moste rightly beleeued hee hath translated may rightly be thought The Minor proposition is proued before by these Protestants in teacheing this doctrine to haue beene the doctrine of the vniuersall Church resisted by Aerius and also that it was an Apostolicke tradition which all Protestants of England must needs graunt vnto by S. Augustines and D. Feilds first Rule before for by their proceedings they are so far from graunteing that this doctrine is defined by Councells and by that title to be embraced That they playnely teach in the Articles of their Religion the definition of a generall Councell in matters of faith not taken out of scriptures as they teach this is not is nothing worthe The Articl of Relig. art 21. wordes of their Article be these Things ordeined by generall Councells as necessarie to saluation haue neither strength nor authoritie vnlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of holy scripture Hitherto their subscribed article And that this is a thinge necessarie to saluation must needs also be yeelded vnto by these Protestants telling vs before both that Aerius was condemned of Heresie for denying it as also that Heresie is arror in some fundamentall point Cou●ll sup which must needs be necessarie to saluation My next Argument shall be taken from the next Rule of D. Feild to knowe true traditions and my Maior proposition shall be his verie wordes thus next followeing The second Rule is whatsoeuer all or the Feild supr pag. 242. moste famous and renowned in all ages or at the leaste in diuers ages haue constantly deliuered as receaued from them that went before them no man contradicting or doubting of it may be thought to be an Apostolicall Tradition But the Catholicke doctrine of prayer for the deade praying to Saincts single life of the cleargie especially in the Latine Church and others in their proper place to be proued such by these Protestants are in this state Therefore by Protestants they be Apostolicke traditions The Maior is the very sayinge and sentence of D. Feild before and the Minor concerning prayer for the deade also before allowed by these Protestants the others are to be proued in their order this now sufficeth The first proposition for my next Argument shall be D. Feilds third and laste Rule to knowe true and indubitate traditions and is deliuered by him in these wordes The third Rule is the constant testimonie Feild supr l. 4. c. 21. pag. 242. of the pastors of an Apostolicke Church successiuely delyuered But prayer for the deade c. is so proued by such testimonie therefore an Apostolicke tradition The maior is D. Feild sentence And the Minor is before proued by these Protestants for if the vniuersall Church as before by them consented is this veritie not onely one Apostolicke Church sufficient for his Rule but all did consent vnto it otherwise it could not be said the doctrine of the vniuersall Church And of all Churches Apostolicke there can be no question with Protestants bur the Church of Rome euer taught thus and D. Field hath told vs before that Feild l. 4. c. 5. pag. 202. amongst Apostolicke Churches the Church of Rome is more specially to be obeyed reuerenced and respected Further thus I argue whatsoeuer thinges are either approued by these Protestants themselues for true and indubitate traditions or allowed by them that the primatiue Church and fathers receaued for such are to haue that allowance But the signe of the crosse mixture of water with wine in the Eucharist reuerence of holy Imadges and Relicks sacrifice and prayer for the deade vowes of chastitie and single life of
Wherefore the Protestant Bishop of Winchester D. Bilson D. ●orton his late ●ppeale with others of his Protestants graunte these propositions Bilson true diff pag. 66. 67. Morton Appeale pag. 286. The Canon of the primati●e Church made euery thinge voide that was done without the Bishop of Rome And againe The Canon of the primatiue Church forbad any Councell to be called without his co●sent Which being onely peculiar to him and his See Apostolicke and from the begynning must proue a singular preeminence in him and a power supreame in deciding Matters and doubts of faith Therefore M. Ormerod wittnesseth that S. ●eo Ormer pict pa. pag. 44. Orm. sup pag. 78. that glorious Sainct and Doctor taught that God did assist and direct that See in decrees And further hee wittnesseth in these wordes To proue that the Church of Rome hath the preeminence ouer all Churches Anacle●us liueing in the Apostles time and Pope of Rome alleadgeth Matth. 16. vers 18. vppon this rocke will I builde my Church and hee expowndeth it thus super hanc Petram id est super Ecolesiam Romanam vppon this rocke that is vppon the Church of Rome will I builde my Churche This of the testimonie of that Apostolicke Pope Sainct and Martyr And D. Downame graunted that Downame lib. ● An●●chr pag. 105. S. Augustine that renowned Doctor and Victor Vticensis were of opinion that to adhere to the Church of Rome was a Marke of a true Catholicke in those times And telleth vs further of a Pag. 107. sup Bishop fallen into Heresie and after recanting it in this order Hee sweareth to renownce his former Heresies and to professe and mayntayn● that faithe and Religion which the Bishoppe and Church of Rome did professe All which proceedings of so greate consequence and preeminencie testified by enemies themselues could neuer haue beene exercised by that Apostolicke See with so greate approbation of Saincts and Doctors in the primatiue Churche and best estate thereof except supreame authoritie euen in Councells themselues as those Canons testifie and peculiar assistance as S. Leo taught to be freed from error in decrees and consequently not to be condemned by generall Councells whome it was to confirme or reproue had beene graunted by Christ vnto it Then this priuiledge and prerogatiue of that Church Apostolicke being thus both supreame and perpetuall it may not now without Irreligeous Iniustice be denyed vnto it And therefore the Protestant Relator of Religion hauing as before excluded his fellowe Protestants from all hope of comforte and releife by generall Councell addeth immediatly of Catholicks in Relation cap. 47. sup these wordes The other haue the Pope as a Commom Father Aduiser and Conductor to all to reconcile their Iarres to appease their displeasures to decide their difference aboue all things to drawe their Religion by Consent of Councells vnitie And that this Iurisdiction of the See of Rome is not onely ouer the Catholicke and truely beleeuing members of the Romane Church but of right belongeth vnto it ouer all Christians in the worlde is proued before by these Protestants themselues Cap. 3. sup Further I argue thus whatsoeuer Councells define or confirme the doctrine of the Romane Churche and condemne Protestant opinions defended against it are to be saide to proue the Religion of Catholicks But diuers Councells bothe allowed by Protestants for generall and others in the primatiue Churche and confirmed euen in the Iudgment of Protestants are such Therefore the Religion of the Romane Church is proued by them The Maior proposition is euidently true And the Minor thus is proued first concerninge the first generall Councell of Nice D. Couell Couell ag Burg. pag. 87. hath told vs before from S. Hierome that it receaued more bookes for scripture then Protestants allowe M. Middleton saith it Middlet papistan pag. 39. taught the dignitie of Rome ouer the West prouinces at the leaste and this by olde custome How much more ample this custome was is proued before and himself sufficiently insinuateth speaking in this maner Papias Pag. 200. sup liueing in the Apostles time taught Peters primacie and Romish episcopalitie And D. Downame denieth not but the greate generall Down l. 1. Antich pag. 36. Councell of Calcedon attributed to the Pope of Rome to be heade of the Church Which hee saith is the greatest stile D. Feild before hath wittnessed that the third Councell of Carthage confirmed Feild sup in the sixt generall Councell and wherein S. Augustine was present receaueth canonicall scriptures as the Church of Rome now doth D. Willet perceauing Will●t Antil pag. 88. 89. the primatiue Councells to be so cleare for the Church of Rome that hee could not glosse them with any resemblance or colour of truthe calleth the auncient confirmed Councells of Neocesarea and Toletane the first and the sixt generall Councell before expressely allowed by D. Sutcliffe the papall Church popery doctrine in popery And of the seuenth generall Councell hee writeth thus The Greekes in a Willet sup pag. 178. Middlet papist pag. 193. generall Councell held at Nice confirmed and allowed the adoration of Images M. Middleton speaketh in this maner peruseing Councells Fathers and stories from the Apostles for●ward wee finde the print of the Popes feete So that it is euident by them that from the very begynning the doctrine of the Church of Rome as occasion was is allowed both by Councells Fathers and Histories And this is the reason why in their Article of Religion Artic. 21. before they haue thus defined generall Councells may erre and some times haue erred euen in things pertayninge vnto God Because from time to time as cause was giuen they haue defined the truthe of the doctrine of the Romane Church against them And because I may not in this breuiate repeate many particulars breefely I argue thus Diuers Councells allowed by these Protestants for generall Councells haue confirmed and allowed all or the cheefest doctrines which the Romane Church now teacheath against Protestants and condemned the contrary held by them euen by their owne testimonie Therefore by their owne Iudgment they are for the Romane Church and not for them The consequence is euident and the Antecedent is thus proued by them The Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury writeth thus The Councell of Constance was a generall Councell D. Abbot ag D. Kill pag. 38. 48. 49. 51. Bilson Willet apud Parkes pag. 137. 180. So their Protestant Bishop D. Bilson and affirmeth the same of the Councell of Basile So doth Doctor Willet and graunteth the same of the Councell of Florence And yet it is euident to all the worlde that in these Councells the compleate bodie of their Protestant Religion was condemned in their predecessors Iohn Wickliffe Iohn Husse and Hierome of prage and the quite contrary in all things decreed and concluded for the Churche of Rome For further confirmation whereof the Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury hath these words the Councell
venerable Imadges commaunding the making and vse of them In the last Canon they giue diligent and longe directions Can. 102. vnto preists how to behaue themselues in aduising and absoluing penitents in the Sacramen● of penance Therefore I may conclude that Protestants Religion is vtterly condemned by generall Councells both of the primatiue Church and latter ages And consequently by all other Iudgments in the Church of Christ Because these men haue told vs that all Bishops Doctors and Professors of Religion are bownde to followe the definitions of generall Councells CHAPTER IX WHEREIN IS PROVED BY these Protestants That the authoritie of the primatiue Fathers is to be receaued and followed in matters of Religion And how it wholly proueth the present doctrine of the Church of Rome vtterly condemninge all Protestant Religion THE authoritie and value of the Testimonie of the auncient Fathers and that they taught and approued the doctrine of the present Churche of Rome euen by the graunt of these Protestants is euident in the laste Chapter for being of that opinion in generall Councells and publicke assemblies and sentences to which by their owne consent and subscription they submitted and bownde themselues as to their lawfull and commaunding Rule they could not and might not teache and write otherwise in priuate then in publicke themselues and others had authoritatiuely concluded Yet for a full satisfaction to Protestants in all things I will breefely entreate of these also as they wer● priuate writers And first of their authoritie I argue thus Whoso euer allowe in shewe and wordes amonge the Ignorant Readers or hearers of their writings and sermons the authoritie of the auncient and primatiue Fathers to procure people to beleeue that their Religion and doctrine agreeth with them as men teaching and writing the truthe and to that purpose doe yeeld vnto them greate respect and reuerence ought truely and syncerely to beleeue and embrace their Religion But these English Protestant writers be such Therefore they ought and are bownde to followe and embrace their doctrine The Maior proposition is euidently true for as dissimulation craftie and double dealeinges to delude and deceaue others in all thinges is a vile and abominable synne against truthe charitie and Iustice so in matters of Religion wherein not the least equiuocation of to saue a mans life may be vsed it must needs be an offence moste damnable and deuelishe The Minor proposition is thus proued by these Protestants Their Protestant Bishop D. Bilson writeth thus The Bilson suru pag. 85. auncient consent of godly Fathers is with greate care to be searched and fallowed of vs cheifely in the Rule of faith And agayne Wee rest vppon the Pag. 82. sup scriptures of God vppon the authoritie of the auncient Doctors and Councells And maketh the same reason with Vincentius Lirinensis in these Pag. 83. sup words Leaste euery man should wrest the scriptures to his fansye and sucke thence not the truthe but the patronage of his error And hee addeth that S. Augustine gaue this respect not onely to generall Councells but to the testimonies of particular Fathers Irenaeus Ciprian Hilarius Ambrose Gregory c. Chrisestome Basil and others D. Sutcliffe writeth thus Wee Sutcl subuers pag. 87. acknowledge the faith of the Fathers of the fourth fift and sixt ages and adioyne our selues to that Church And to credite his cause and make his readers beleeue hee consenteth with those Fathers hee speaketh in this maner The Fathers in all points of faith are for vs Protestants Sutel ag D. Kell pag. 17. and not for the Pope D. Willer knowing of what little credit his bare worde is euen by his Protestants as appeareth hereafter would procure creditt to his protestancye by damnable periury in these wordes I take God to wittnesse before Willet Antilog pag. 263. whome I must render accompt c. That the same faithe and Religion which I defend is taught and confirmed in the more substantiall points by these Historians Councells Fathers that liued within syne or sixe hundred yeares after Christ And further Pag. 264. sup thus It is moste notoriously euident that for the grossest points of Popery as Transsabstantiation sacrifice of Masse worshipping of Imadges Iustification by workes the supreamacie of the Pope prohibition of Mariage and such other they of the Romane Churche haue no shewe at all of any euidence from the Fathers within syue hundred yeares of Christ In all which questions amonge others I am to proue the contrary be these Protestants themselues hereafter in their place And in an other page of the same treatise hee writeth thus The auntient Fathers that liued within sixe hundred yeares of Christ are Willet Antil pag. 271. K. speache in parl An. 1603 conference at Hampt pag. 73. against them His Maiesties speach in parlament it this I will euer yeeld all reuerence to antiquitie And in their conference For my parte I knowe not howe to answeare the obiection of papists when they charge vs with nouelties but to tell them their abuses are new And hee approueth the dayes of Constantine for a Rule in Religion saying Constantine is not to be appeached of superstition but thinges then vsed may still be continued Confer pag. 69. But now it shall appeare that these Protestant Doctors and Ministers are so far from iustifying these their oathes protestations and assertions they be enforced to acknowledge those primatiue Fathers doe allowe teache and approue the doctrine of the present Romane Churche which these men impugne and persecute and for that cause doe not onely deny the authorities of those primatiue learned and holy Fathers but call and censure them with vnciuill barbarous contemptuous and Irreligeous names and phrases For proofe whereof I argue thus Whatsoeuer Sect Religion or People being vrged by such testimonies as Protestants haue giuen for allowance of the Fathers authorities before to followe them accept of their doctrine and stand to their Iudgment in these controuersies of Religion doe vtterly refuse and disallowe it though his Maiestie should approue it but say they are vnfit Iudges in controuersies of diuinitie that their Iudgment is little to be respected their testimonie is not worthe answearing there is no probabilitie in their opiniōs they are not to be beleeued deserue not credit are not credible to be admitted are not fitt Iudges were to partiall are to bee forsaken contemned and dispised such men cannot with any apparance of truthe affirme those primatiue Fathers and Doctors to allowe their Religion and proceedings or defend their cause by their Authorities But these Protestants Doctors and Ministers of England be such Therefore those Fathers are not for their Religion The Maior proposition is to manifestly true and the Minor is proued also by these Protestants themselues in this maner M. Wotton expressely controlleth the Kings sentence before concerninge Wotton def of Perk. pag. 15. 16. the time of Constantine and antiquitie his wordes be these the
their owne writings and authorities published allowed or receaued amonge them since the beginning of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Kinge Iames in England That in all the cheefest Controuersies of this time in particular The doctrine of the present Church of Rome is onely orthodoxe Catholicke and true And the Contrary of these Protestants erroneous Hereticall and damnable Here endeth the first part of the generall grownds in Religion and ensueth the second of the particular Questions betweene Catholicks and Protestant of England THE SECOND PART OF ENGLISH PROTESTANTS RECANTATION IN MATTERS OF RELIGION CHAPTER I. WHEREIN BY THE PRESENT English Protestant writers is proued against Protestants and their doctrine That the predestination of particular men cannot without particular Reuelation be certaynely knowne much lesse as a matter of faith AS amonge all Questions of Religion the eternall predestination of men to be saued being from eternitie in God can haue none before it in duration So in order lett vs first entreate and begin from thence how fare and certainely it may be knowne of particular mens preordination to glorie in this worlde The holy Councell of Trent aduertising all men with S. Paule to worke their saluation with feare and trembling hath thus defined of Philipp 2. v. 12. Conc. Trid. sess 6. can 12. this secrett So longe as wee lyue in this mortalitie no man ought so much to presume of the hidden misterie of Gods Predestination that he certainely determine himself to be in the number of the predestinate as though it were true that hee which is iustified could either syn no more or if hee shall syn ought to promise to himself a certaine Amendement for except by speciall reuelation it cannot be knowne whom God hath chosen The like doctrine it concludeth against the predestinaries of Can. 15. 16. sup this time in the 15. and 16. canons of the same session The contradictorie of which Catholicke position hath beene so fare and generally defended by Protestants That it is as the See cap. 2. infra principall and cheefest grownde of their Religion That as a man is iustified by faith so this faith is that which assureth him that hee is iust in grace and fauour with God that hee cannot at the leaste finally or totally fall from grace And so consequently that hee knoweth as a matter of faith that hee is both iust and predestinate as will sufficiently appeare in the next chapter by English Protestants synce his maiesties entrance into England the short time which I haue limited to dispute against them by themselues what inconueniences abuses and iniquities this inuention hath brought into the world will in some sort appeare in this chapter by their owne writeings and is so much knowne to all men by lamentable experience that I neede not to repeate it in this place Wherefore I will onely confute this Protestant opinion by the present English Protestant writers and thereby demonstrate the Catholicke doctrine of the cited sacred Councell to be moste true and religious in this point euen by their sentence Then first concerning this proposition I argue thus No doctrine or opinion which is a desperate doctrine contrarie to diuinitie and to the true doctrine of predestination is or can be the true doctrine in this question But the predestinarie Protestant doctrine with assurednes of faith without particular reuelation that a man shall be saued is thus desperate contrarie to diuinitie and to the true doctrine of predestination Therefore it neither is nor can be the true doctrine To deny the Maior or first proposition is blasphemie because God infinite and immutable wisedome cannot possibly commaunde or reueale for truth any such error Therefore the first proposition being euidently true The Minor or second proposition is authoritatyuely with English Protestants concluded against this predestinarie opinion in the publicke Protestant Conference at Hampton Court before his Conference at Hampton court pag. 29. Maiestie and with his allowance in these words Verie manie in these dayes neglecting holines of life presume too much of persisting in grace layeing all their Religion vppon predestination If I shall be saued I shall be saued which is a d●sperate doctrine contrarie to good diuinitie and the true doctrine of predestination wherein wee should reason rather ascēdendo then discēdendo thus I liue in obedience to God in loue my neighbour I followe my vocation c. Therefore I trust that God hath elected and predestinated mee to saluation Hitherto the consent of this English Protestant Conference from whence it is manifest that no certanitie much lesse by faith but onely a morall trust or hope according to the good life of man can be had without reuelation that wee are predestinate Secondely supposing which with the scriptures all Protestants graunt that without grace by Christ and persisting in it no man can be saued I Argue thus No man that is vncertaine whether hee sall fall from grace can be certaine with certanitie of faith that hee is predestinate or shall be saued But without particular Reuelation all men Protestants and others be vncertaine whether they shall fall from grace Therefore no man without particular reuelation is or can be certaine hee is predestinate The Maior proposition is certainely true And his Maiestie in the same cited Protestant Assembly citeing the place of S. Paule before related against the certainerie of predestination concludeth the Minor or second proposition thus Wee may full from grace Conference at Hampton sup pag. 30. and addeth the doctrine of predestination should be handled with greate discretion which hee insinuateth the Protestants haue not done and speaketh plainely of them in these words The Inferring of the necessitie of standing and persisting in grace is a desperate presumption The like is taught more at lardge in other places of that conference where it is also Confer sup pag. 41. 42. 43. acknowledged that present Iustification or iustice is loste by any mortall or greuous syn which to be frequently committed by Protestants will appeare hereafter by their owne testimonies My third Argument is this No doctrine that is pestilent and scandalous to all Churches is or can be true doctrine But this predestinarie doctrine is such Therefore neither is nor can be true The Maior Relation of Religion cap. 45. is euident The Minor is proued by the Protestant Relator of Religion whoe telleth vs that Protestāts in Germanie will rather returne to the Church of Rome then admitt this Protestant point of doctrine which they call predestinarie pestilence and addeth that this with some others Cap. 48. of their opinions hath exceedeingly scandalized all other Churches My fourth Argument is this Nothing that is not reuealed of God can be beleeued with certaintie of faith or with faith But particular mens predestination is not reuealed of God Therefore it cannot be by faith beleeued The first proposition is euidently true because Gods reuelation or to be reuealed of him is the formall
Protestant preacher in his more then vncharitable booke against Catholicks witnesseth of Prot. proof-part 1. c. 9. cap. 8. c. his owne brethren in Religion the English Protestants Of the more then irreligeous and prophane behauiour of their cleargie of English Protestants in abuseing falsefieing peruertinge the holy Scriptures Fathers Councels and all Authorities for Religion I haue for this point sufficiently entreated before to proue that they are not iust or righteous but most vniust and impious by their owne testimonie What other syns they are defiled with let their owne liues and the world censure But suer I am they are not voide of all greuous sinnes which they must be if they be iustified and in grace and such they must be in deed before they knowe themselues to be such except they can know that to be which is not as their sharp wits would seeme to doe in this and other questions of Religion Then seeing it is to apparant that Protestants are not iust either by their Imagined assureinge faith or howsoeuer let vs further examine by these writers and Protestant professors whether it is in it self possible that this supposed faith should Iustifie The contrary whereof thus I demonstrate from their owne writings All men that pretend to be iustified by this Imagined faith must needs be iustified by some act or acts thereof But no man is Iustified by any act or acts thereof Therefore no man is iustified by it The Maior is manifest The Minor is thus proued by Protestants First D. Feild with Feild pag. 177. others doth and of necessitie must affirme that in this busines of their fantasied Iustification their deuised faith hath twoe and onely twoe acts One going before iustification teaching vs to pray entreate God and humble ourselues when wee are not iust and this act as hee acknowledgeth it to goe before Iustification so hee thus freely confesseth that it doth not iustifie The second Act as hee telleth vs doth followe Iustification and so by no possibilitie because the cause cannot be after the effect caused by it that is able to iustifie wherefore his owne words of this Act of their inuented faith be these Shee doth not actiuely Iustifie but findeth the thinge done Therefore seeing they teach there be but two acts in their new faith the first and second te laste which admitt no more and neither the one nor other nor both together because they graunt there is no partiall influence or cooperation from them to that purpose dothe doe or can iustifie there is no possibilitie of Iustification by such idle faithe for so two contradictoryes should be true man is iustified by some act of faith man is not iustified by any act of faith Which in Logicke and nature is knowne to be vnpossible and a stupide absurditie to affirme it This matter is further proued by D. Couell who reiecting Luthers Couell def of Hooker pag. 42. opinion in this question graunteth a seperabilitie of faith and workes and that faith as they commonly graunte doth not iustifie Then Iustification cannot possibly be by onely faith which in an other treatise hee declareth by example in these words Faith is the fowndation of spirituall buylding of Gods howse charitie the Roofe without which the best are Couell against Burges pag. 148. but as howses vncouered that cannot longe continue Then iustification which is the Roofe of our spirituall buildinge in this world is and musts needs be the worke and buildinge of charitie and not of faith alone Which demonstratiuely is true by his graunt that faith and the works of charitie may be seperated for they consent that without such works man is not iustified therefore not possibly by this their Poeticall faith Further both the present Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury D. George Abbot against D. Hill and D. Feild also doth often tell vs that the Greeke Church is the true Church of Christ Then supposing from my first chapter in the first part of this worke by the graunt of the same D. Feild Protest proaf part 1. cap. 1. D Couell D. Sutcliffe M. Wotton and M. Ormerod that the direction thereof is to be followed her Iudgment to be rested in that it hath authoritie to commaund her children the Iudgment of it is a very speciall grownd of faith supporting the truthe as a piller doth vnderpropp a building is a diligent and true keepr of doctrines committed to her chaungeth nothing diminisheth nothing at any time addeth nothing superfluous looseth not her owne vsurpeth not things belonging to others and that there is no saluation remission of syns or hope of eternall life out of the Church All which be the verie words of those laste cited Protestants related in that place From which graunts thus I argue No doctrine or opinion that is a thinge moste horrible vnworthie any Christian against the lawe of God and light of nature is or can possibly be true But the paradoxe of Protestants that this their supposed onely faith doth iustifie is such Therefore it neither is or can be true The Maior is euidently true and to affirme the contrary is to denie all true Religion and the Authoritie of God for yf hee should or could teach or reueale to men to followe doctrine that is horrible vnworthie a Christian against his owne lawe and naturall light such doctrine could not be true nor hee honored as God but to be accoumpted a deceauer and seducer The Minor or second proposition be the expresse words of the Greeke Church so true to be obeyd and followed in doctrine by these Protestants as before is cited For Hieremias Patriarke of Constantinople cheef in Hieremias Patriarcha constant in censura cap. 5. that Church in his censure against Protestants vseth these words in this article The doctrine that onely faith doth iustifie is a thinge moste horrible vnto or thie any Christian against the lawe of God and the light of nature Therefore these men mayntayning so horrible doctrine by the censure of the true Church as they teach and out of which as they affirme before there is no saluation remission of syns or hope of eternall life are so farre from being iust iustified or to be saued by faith or any other meanes in their proceedings that by their owne confession they haue left vnto themselues no hope of eternall life or saluation at all Moreouer I argue thus Nothing which cannot be defended without graunting and mayntayninge more new and straunge absurdities and impossibilities is or can be true doctrine But this Protestant assertion of their onely assuring faithe iustifying is such therefore it neither is nor can be true The first proposition is euidently true for euery truthe may and is defended without any absurditie or inconuenience The seconde proposition is also manifestly proued from D. Feild and others before To whome I add M. Wotton who laboureing what hee can to defend this his forged faithes iustification and answere that place
it But when a man is iustified there be such degrees of inherent Iustice and more or lesse iustification by it Therefore there is iustification by inherent grace and Iustice The Maior and first proposition is manifestly true The second is proued by D. Feild who Feild pag. 118. acknowledgeth the denyall of inherent grace to be vntruthe and is so farre ashamed of the Protestant opinion in this poynt that he writeth thus Luther neuer denyeth inherent Righteousnes to be more in one then in an other and more in Mary the Mother of Christ then in any other Then of necessitie there is inherent Iustice and grace in men iustified and men be iustified by it otherwise it is not Iustice or righteousnes if it doth not make men iust and righteous for being inherent as hee confesseth it must needes denominate the subiect wherein it is as all inherent and intrinsecall formes and qualities doe Heate colde bewtie c. make men and bodyes wherein they be inherent to be and be called truly hote colde bewtifull c. And seeing in iust men there be degrees of this inherent grace and Iustice encrease and accesse of it there must needs be inherent grace and Iustice for new degrees of encrease are not where the thing encreased is not Neither the comparatiue degree more but where the positiue is No man or thinge can be said to be better fayrer colder hotter c. then it was before except before it was good fayre colde hote c. Againe I argue in this maner whatsoeuer is the cause of glorie and encrease thereof in heauen is the cause of Iustice and Iustification from which such glorie cometh But inherent grace is the cause of glorie in heauen and the differences thereof Therefore it is the cause of iustification in earthe The Maior is euidently true And the Minor is proued by D. Feild in these words From this Imparitie of Inherent righteousnes it is that there Feild pag. 116. are so different degrees of Ioy and glory fownd amonge the Saincts of God that are in heauen Then seeing the difference and excesse of glorie and Ioy in heauen proceede from the imparitie of inherent righteousnes or Iustice and righteousnes or Iustice is the cause of glorie inherent Righteousnes or Iustice must needs be that by and for which wee are iustified in earth and glorified in heauen Thirdly from the same Protestant Doctor I argue thus All Iustice and glorie of man cometh either from inherent grace or imputed But not from imputed Therefore from that which is inherent The Maior is euident for all grace must needs be inherent or not inherent and if not inherent it is by imputation if any way at all The second proposition is proued by D. Feild who doth not onely renownce the error of equalitie of Ioyes and rewards in heauen taught by Iouinian and seemeing to followe vppon the Protestant doctrine of Iustification and glory by imputation of righteousnes but clearely also confesseth with Catholicks the recited Councell of Trent Ioyes and reward in heauen for inherent Iustice and not imputed righteousnes his words be these That there is an equalitie Feild pag. 140. of ioyes and reward in heauen imputed to Iouinian wee doe not hold Where his worde wee and plurall number proueth hee speaketh generally for Protestants And concerninge the second hee writeth thus from imputed righteousnes no imparitie of Ioy can flowe Then seeing the first sentēce graunteth an imparitie of Ioye and reward and the second affirmeth it cometh not from imputed righteousnes The third and conclusion must needs be this That bothe Ioy and reward in heauen and their degrees imparitie or inequalitie proceede from inherent Iustice My next Argument is this All grace wherewith mens soules in Sacraments or otherwise be filled and is infused into them must needs be inherent But grace of iustification and sanctification is such Therefore man is iustified by inherent grace The Maior is euident for fillinge and infusion is by putting in of things and not by imputation for no such thinge can fill any thinge The Minor is thus proued by D. Feild speakeing of children baptized and the like reason is of others His words be these Children when they are adopted and made Feild pag. 179. the sonnes of God when they are instified and sanctified are filled with habits or potentiall habilities of these vertues faith hope and loue The same Feild l. 1. c. 4. pag. 10. doctrine hee teacheth in an other place to be cited hereafter when I shall entreate of the grace and efficacie of Sacraments where this Article will be more declared For this time it is further confirmed by D. Couell who also in playne termes approueth Couell def of Hooker pag. 114. habituall and reall infusion of grace and concerning iustification auoncheth thus The doctrine of Luther in this poynt was not vniustly called Pag. 40. sup into question by those of the Romane Church And seemeth to laboure to reconcile that which hee esteemeth the best opinion of Protestants in this matter to that of the Churche of Rome Further I argue thus All that is a guift of God a qualitie in the soule an internall habite and infused from God is inherent But the grace of iustification is such Therefore it is inherent The first proposition is manifestly true the second is proued by M. Wotton def of Perk. pag. 81. 82. Wotton in these words Grace is some guift of God which is a qualitie in the soule And a little after The habits of grace be infused from God Lastely in this matter I reason thus whatsoeuer maketh euery true Christian to be righteous in the sight of God is true Iustice But Inherent grace maketh euery true Christian righteous in the sight of God Therefore inherent grace is true Iustice The Maior is manifestly true And the Minor thus playnely proued by M. Wotton in Wotton def of Perk. pag. 12. pag. 186. these words Wee acknowledge euery true Christian to be righteous in the sight of God by inherent Righteousnes And answering for Protestants and writing this for their acknowledgment in the plurall number would haue vs take it for their common opinion And thus Catholicke doctrine of inherent grace is directly and demonstratiuely proued to be true euen by Protestants And their deniall thereof together with their conceipt of imputatiue righteous also by themselues conuinced for false and erroneous Which is further confirmed by M. Higgons in his Sermon at Paules Crosse wherein speaking of the iust hee calleth them Parsons hauing Theoph. Higg Ser. 3. mart 1610. pag 24. grace dwelling in them And againe Wee haue inherent righteousnes in our selues Then seeing formes inherent doe and must needs denominate the subiect in which they inhere and be subiected as heate cold whitenes blacknes and the like are the true cause why those things in which they are subiected be named and truely are thinges hott cold white and blacke so
pag. 74. 91. No man doth teach that the commaundements are absolutely and symply vnpossible Therefore they may be kept Further I argue thus All that graunt the doctrine of the Church of Rome expressed before out of the Councell of Trent to be true in this point and that God exacteth of vs to keepe the commaundements must needs graunt the possibilitie to doe it and consent herein with Catholickes But English Protestants doe or must doe so Therefore they must graunt this possibilitie and consent to Catholicks The Maior is euidently true The Minor is proued by D. Couell thus Couell def of Hooker pag. 55. 58. The Churche of Romes opinion is true concerning committing or auoydeing syn And agayne God exacteth wee should keepe all the commaundements Pag. 57. And further in these words If wee be not ourselues wanteinge though wee cannot auoyde all syns yet wee may and shall auoide all greate and presumptuous syns And to make this matter more cleare if it needed hee addeth Because S. Pag. 58. sup Iames saith hee that keepeth the whole lawe and offendeth in one is guiltie of all some thought all syns to be imputed to him that committed any one But S. Iames onely telleth to vs that God exacteth a keepeing of them all This then is the Conclusion that though no man be without all syn yet many are without many presumpteous syns which trough prayers and good meanes they auoyde What these men teach of veniall syns and the distinction of them from mortall and greuous syns agreeable to Catholicke doctrine I shall entreate hereafter In the meane tyme further I argue thus If true charitie such as keepeth the commaundements may be had in this life them they may be kept But such charitie may be had in this life Therefore the commaundements may be kept The first proposition is euidently true for the sufficient cause beeing putt the effect must needs be possible otherwise the cause were not sufficient contrary to our supposition Wottō d●f of Perkins pag 15. The Minor is thus proued by M. Wotton writeing in this maner True charitie thoughe not perfect may be had in this life and by it the commaundements of God may be and are kept though not perfectly Therefore which hee graunteth in expresse words the commaundements both may and be kept Therefore may be kept for things vnpossible neither are nor can be done Ad impossibilia non est potentia Ther is no power to things vnpossible And the same Protestant writer speakeing of inherent Iustice writeth thus Neither doe wee Protestants deny that this inherent Righteousnes Wotton sup pag. 174. 175. is such as might enable vs to keepe the lawe and shall when it is perfect Righteousnes sayth Austin is nothing els but not to syn not to synne is to keepe the commaundements of the lawe That is as himself presently expownds it to doe none of those things that are forbidden and to doe all those things that are commaunded To him I may add D. Barlow Protestant late Bishop of Lincolne who Barlowe Answ to a name lesse Cath. pag. 304. relateth two things which may serue this purpose The first is how princes haue the greatest Temptations are moste vnlikely by that meanes to keepe the commaundements and keepe themselues from greate syns his words be these Kings haue many occasiōs which may allure thē to syn especially hauing that priuiledge in scripture whether exgratia or de facto whether by exemption from God or feare of men that no man may say vnto them why doe you thus And the second thing concerning keepeing the commaundements and lyueing without greate synne hee writeth of Queene Elizabeth no more confirmed in grace then other princes for any thinge hee writeth or any man can coniecture in these words Queene Elizabeth neuer in her life committed helish cryme Therefore if shee a princesse and Barlow● sup pag. 73. Queene by this mans testimonie though I take it not as a reuelation liueing in that dawngerous stafe of those of her ranke by his Iudgment before neuer committed any synne deserueing Hell I hope hee will or must graunt that by his Iudgment others not in such case of dawnger and some of them also that be of that place may lyue without syns hellish or if they committ any in their life may doe pennaunce for them keepe the commaundements and be saued And thus much of this matter And I hope a full dischardge of the scruple of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge in their last question by their owne learned Doctors and professors CHAPTER VI. WHEREIN THE CATHOLICKE doctrine of free will in man is proued by these English Protestant writers THE Councell of Trent for Catholicks entreateing of the fall of Concil Trid. sess 6. can 1. man by the syn of Adam hath thus declard in this Question Men were so much the Seruants of syn and vnder the power of the deuill and deathe that not onely the gentiles by the strenght of nature but neither the Iewes by the letter of the lawe of Moses could be deliuered or rise from thence allthough free will was not extinguished but weakened in power and declined in them And thus againe The begynninge of Can. 5. sup iustification in them that be of discretion is to be taken from God by Iesus Christ by grace preuenting that is from his calling by the which when they had no meritts they are called That they which were auerted from God by syns by his excitatinge and helpeing grace to conuert them are disposed to their iustification freely assenting to the same grace and cooperating So that God touching the hart of man by the illumination of the holy Ghost neither man himself doth nothing at all receauing that inspiration when hee may abiect it neither not withstanding without the grace of God can moue himself to Iustice before him by his free will Wherevppon in holy scripture it is said be you conuerted to mee and I will be conuerted Zachar. 1. to you was ●●e admonished of our freedome when wee answere ô Lord conuert vs to thee and Psal 84. we● shall be conuerted wee confesse wee are preuented by the grace of God Hither to that holy Councell which I haue related more at lardge in regard that many Protestants haue and I feare sometymes voluntarily mistaken and reported the doctrine of the Romane Church in this Question And after this the same sacred Councell defineth against the Concil Trid. sup sess 6. can 6. enemyes of free will in this maner If any m●n shall say that the free will of man after the syn of Adam is lost and extinct lett him be An●●hema Now lett vs heare how these English Protestant writers will agree with this Catholicke sentence In which matter thus I argue Where there is freedome in will from coaction and necessitie there is free will But in mans will after the fall of Adam is this freedome Therefore in him there is free
Religion and perfection therin God of his infinite mercy graunt them true penance and turne away his so much deserued vengeance from this nation And that as these men haue much exexceeded the Infidell Danes in offendinge so they may in some kinde imitate them in satisfaction and repentinge for they themselues in this Theater are wittnes that their Theat of gr Britt pag. 391. 392. greatest Kinge Canutus whome I chuse to exemplify in for satisfaction of such his syns Went on pilgrimadge to Rome to visit the sepulchre of S. Peter and Paule Built many Churches and Abbeyes greately reuerenced S. Benett whose Monasteryes were so persecuted hee offered vp his crowne vppon the Martyrs S. Edmunds Tombe Most rich and royall Iewells hee gaue to the Church of Winchester whereof one is recorded to be a crosse worth as much as the whole reuenewe of England amounted to in one yeare Hee set his crowne on the heade of the picture of our Sauiour on the crosse at Winchester neuer weareinge it more Vnto Couentry hee gaue the Arme of Saint Augustine the Doctor which hee bought at Papia in his returne from Rome and for which hee payed an hundred Talents of syluer and one of gold With his owne hands hee did help to remoue the body of Saint Alphegus at the translation of it from London to Canterbury whome the Danes not withstanding his Archiepiscopall and sacred calleing before had martyred at Greenewich Gunhilda daughter of this Kinge and Emma his wife was the first wife of Pag. 393. n. 24. Henry 3. Romane Emperor her surpassing bewtie bredd in the Emperour Ielousy of her Incontinencye the matter to be tryed by combatt her champion was her page but a youth brought out of England against agyantlike man but the page cutt of his heade The Emperesse refuseth the Emperors bedd and tooke the holy vayle of a Nunne in Flaunders where shee spent the rest of her life O how happy had it beene for K. Henry 8. and his daughter Q. Elizabeth themselues for vs and all posterities in England if as in synninge they imitated and exceeded the vnbeleeueing Danes so in repenting and satisfaction they had beene Imitators of their pietie CHAPTER VIII WHEREIN THE CATHOLICKE doctrine of the distinction betweene mortall and veniall syns is proued by these Protestant writers IN this Question thus I breefely make demonstration for the Catholicke doctrine by these Protestants All men that graunte and doe not deny this difference of syns some to be mortall depriueing of grace others veniall not depryueing of it but consisting with it doe graunt this distinction and doe or ought to agree with Catholicks therein But these English Protestant Doctors and writers doe thus Therefore they doe or ought to agree with Catholicks therin The Maior is euident For as matters of faith may neuer without that greate horrible offence of deniall of a mans faith be denyed so they ought according to the obligation and dutie of some tymes professing our faith be also some tymes confessed But the rest of the Maior which is sufficient in this argument is expressely affirmed and the Minor thus proued First the publick Protestant Conference at Conference pag. 41. Hampton Court assureth vs thus Amonge syns some be greuous or mortall which depriue of grace others veniall or which doe consist with grace Which is the same which the Church of Rome teacheth in this Question And D. Feild entreateinge of this matter writeth Feild pag. 116. thus in the name generally of Protestants Wee doe not denye the distinction of veniall and mortall syns but doe thinke that some syns are rightly sayde to be mortall and some veniall some doe exclude grace out of that man in which they are fownde and so leaue him in a state wherein hee hath nothinge in himself that can or will procure him pardon others doe not so farre preuayle as to bannish grace Couell def of Hooker pag. 56. D. Couell disputing against the Heresies of English Puritane Protestants vseth these words Your three false conclusions seeme to establish a threefold error contrary to the doctrine of all Churches that are accompted Christian First that all syn is but one syn Secondly that all syns are equall Thirdly that all syns are vnited The first making no diuision of the kindes of syn the second no distinction of the qualities of syn and the third no difference in committing synne Against these wee say and wee hope warranted by truthe that syns are of diuers kinds of diuers degrees of diuers natures From which thus I argue againe Whatsoeuer doctrine is contrary to the doctrine of all Churches accounted Christian is erroneous and in the contrary to that which is warranted by truthe is not true But that Protestant doctrine which denieth the diuers kynds degrees and natures of syns is such Therefore it is not true The Maior is manifest for true doctrine cannot be contrary to all Christian Churches to truthe nor can be erroneous opposite to truthe The Minor is expressely in playne words proued by D. Couell before who maketh it so odious that in his opinion none accompted or to be accompted a Christian will defend it And the same doctrine of distinction of syns thus hee confirmeth in these wordes Yt is not all one to be ● foote Couell def of Hooker pag. 57. 58. and a rodd wide And therefore the lawe that forbad but one thinge thow shalt not kill forbad three things as Christ expowndeth it Anger to thy Brother to call him foole to offer him violence these hauing euerye one as their seuerall degrees so their seuerall punishment This Heresie then wee leaue to his first Authors Iouinian and the rest From which sentence thus I argue agayne Nothing that is Heresie and was for such condemned in the Heretick Iouinian and others for such can be true doctrine But this Protestant puritane doctryne here confuted by D. Couell in his I●dgment is such Therefore it cannot be true The Maior is euident for true doctrine and Heresie be contrary The Minor is proued in the last Protestant citation Lastely I argue thus That doctrine which hath scandalized all Churches and leaueth many followers of that Religion wherein it is taught ill satisfied cannot be true But the doctrine of diuers Protestants in this question is such Therefore it cannot be true The Maior is euident for truthe cannot scandalize all Churches nor leaue the Professors ill satisfied The Minor is proued by the Protestant Relator of Religion who entreating of this Relation of Religion cap. 48. and other such Protestant paradoxes writeth thus Touching the eternall decrees of God the qualitie of mans nature the vse of workes some of their cheife Authors haue scandalized all other Churches withall yea and many of their owne to rest verie ill satisfied Therefore the former Catholicke doctrine in this poynt is true and Orthodoxe euen by these Protestants Which shall suffyce in this question perhaps not so generally receaued
honor And after hee had thus defined Pag. 58. 59. or described them hee doth also diuide them in this order and in these words All Ceremonies may be diuided thus some were for iustifications such as the lawe commaunded whereby the obseruer was made more purified and more holy In place whereof afterward succeeded those that were for ornament and to signifie such vertues as were requisite in those parties that rightly vse them Secondly in Respect of the Author some were ordinances of nature as to looke vp to heauen to lyft vp the hands to howe the knees to knocke the breast and such like when wee pray things vsed in their deuotion by the Heathens themselues others were appointed by God himself some by the Apostles and Bishops that succeeded in their place thirdly some in the parts of the immediate worship as sacrifice prayer adoration and such-like some onely dispose as fasting austere liuing some are onely instruments as Churches Altares chalices and all those which religeously beinge seperated serue onely to make the deuotion more solemne and that solemnitie to be more holy Fourthly of these some respect parsons some times some other concerne places all which concurringe in a dyuine worship are with Ceremonyes by seperation made sacred and so fitter to serue vnto holy vses Lastely some are particular some more generall and vniuersall And hauing thus entreated Couell supr pag. 65. of the originall description and diuision of Ceremonies hee writeth further of their necessitie in this maner There is nothinge can be a surer preseruer of Religion then to keepe it from contempt a thinge not easely done where it is left destitute and depriued of holy Ceremonies For the principall excellency of our Religion being spirituall is not easely obserued of the greatet number which are carnall and therefore wee propownde not naked mysteryes but cloathe them that these offeringe to the sences a certayne Maiestie may be receaued of the minde with a greater Reuerence And therefore some of the Fathers accounting them as the shell to the kernell haue saide that noe Religion either true or false was able to consist without them Hitherto the words of this Protestant Doctor From which I first argue in this maner Whatsoeuer Religion omitteth and neglecteth those things which are so necessarie for the preseruation of true Religion that it cannot consist without them cannot be the true Religion But the English Protestant Religion is such therefore it cannot be true The first proposition is euidently true in the light of nature for any thinge that is necessarie for the preseruation of an other cannot be seperated from it The second proposition is likewise Manifest for the Protestants of England neither esteeme so of Ceremonies as this Doctor telleth vs they ought to be accompted of neither retayne such Ceremonies as his diuisions comprehend as is euident Therefore the Romane Church is true and the Ceremonies thereof holy otherwise there should be no true Church or Ceremonies practized and consequently no true Religion by this Doctor before Againe supposing as before is graunted by these Protestants that either their Church Religion and Ceremonies or the Romane Church Religion and Ceremonies be true I argue thus No Church or Religion which omitteth and denyeth those holy Ceremonies which are parts of the immediate worship and the Instruments thereof can be the true Church and Religion But contrariwise that which embraceth and alloweth them But the Protestant English Church omitteth and denieth ceremonyes parts of the immediate worshippe and the instruments thereof that is sacrifice altares c. which D. Couell telleth vs before to be such and the Romane Church embraceth and alloweth them Therefore the Romane Church and Ceremonyes and not the Protestants are true Bothe the propositions are manifest Therefore the Ceremonyes of the Romane Church be holy reuerent c. otherwise no true Church and Religion could haue them or be such Thirdly I argue thus The true Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies and consequently to bynde others to receaue them and not reiect them But by Part. 1. cap. 2. the graunt of Protestants in the first part the Romane Church was the true Church when it ordayned all ceremonies now vsed in it Therefore they ought to be vsed and bynde all men to receaue them and so are consequently holy decent reuerent c. The Maior proposition consisteth of the Articul Relig. 20. words of their allowed article before cited And the second proposition largely proued by these Protestants as I haue cited And by D. Couells citation it would haue been accompted Couell modest examinat pag. 64. 65. Heresie in the primatiue Church to haue beene stiffely opposite in this kinde Therefore Protestants may not deny them vnder such perill in his Iudgment Further thus I argue Those which be the Ceremonies of that Church which the English Protestants acknowledge for the true Church are to be receaued for holy decent reuerent c But the Ceremonies of the Romane Church that now is be the Ceremonies of the Lord Protestant Archbishops and D. Feilds and others true Church the present Greeke Church Therefore they are to be receaued as holy decent c. The Maior is manifestly true out of their Article before and their writers Articul 20. sup against the puritans The Minor is proued out of the Protestant Relator of Religion who speaking of them of the present Greeke Relation cap. 53. or cap. 54. Church writeth thus With Rome they concurre in the opinion of Transsubstantiation and generally in the seruice and whole bodie of the Masse in praying to Saincts in auricular confession in offering of sacrifice and prayer for the deade and in these without any or with no materiall difference They holde purgatorie also and worshipping of pictures for the forme and ceremonyes of the Masse they much Cap. 55. sup resemble the Latines In crosseings they are verie plentifull Their liturgies be the same that in the old time namely S. Basils S. Chrisostomes and S. Gregoryes Cap. 53. or 54. translated without any bending of them to that chaunge of languadge which their tonge hath suffered In summe all those opinions which grew into the Church before that seperation betweene the Greekes and Latines and all those ceremonies which were common vnto bothe they still retayne as their Crosseings and Tapers with others Thus they haue proued not onely that the Ceremonies of the Romane Church agree with or be the same with those of that Church which they teach to be the true Church but to haue beene vsed in the primatyue Church in the Masses of S. Basile S. Chrisostome and S. Gregorie the greate Pope of Rome the laste that added any thing to that Masse which the Romane Church now vseth and is also vsed amonge the Gretians themselues being translated into Greeke as this Relator wittnesseth And this will moste playnely further appeare in that hee sayth the Greekes agree with the
Latines and Romane Church in all opinions and ceremonies vsed before their seperation For to make manifest the Antiquitie of these holy ceremonies by that his prescribed time of seperation first D. Willet Willet Antil pag. 169. telleth vs it was before the writing of the tripartite historie which hee citeth to that end and was twelue hundreds of yeares synce D. Downame is of the like opinion Downame Booke of Antichrist denowncing it to haue beene in the dayes of the primatiue Churche before they take any exception to the Churche of Rome D. Feild is of the same mynde all of them assigning Feild l. 3. c. 1. pag. 62. Sutcliff subuor pag. 89 epist dedicat Willet Antilog pag. 263. 271. it longe before the 600. yeare which D. Sutcliffe D. Willet and others allowe for an vnspotted time in Religion and ceremonies thereof And thus wee see that those things which to their ignorant Readers and Auditors they will seeme to reprehend themselues in their owne Iudgment and Rule in such causes haue moste highely and vndenieably confirmed and iustified Againe I argue thus from the Relator himselfe Those Ceremonies which breede order in the Church auoyde scandall giue propagation vnto Religion breede vnitie and doe ingender quicken encrease and norish the inwarde Reuerence respect and deuotion which is due vnto soueraigne Maiestie and power and of themselues are decent reuerent and significant are to be allowed retayned and adiudged such as become true Religion But the present Ceremonies of the Romane Church at this day are such Therefore to be allowed retayned and adiudged for decent holy reuerent c. The Maior proposition is without all question true and more then the Protestants require in this case The Minor is Relation of Religion cap. 47. proued by this Relator speaking of the Church of Rome and the ceremonies thereof in these words For order in the worlde for quiet in the Churche for auoyding of scandall for propagatinge and encrease of what greate power that vnitie is which proceeds from authoritie the papacie may teache And againe The outward state and glorie of their seruice doth ingender Relation sup cap. 6. quicken encrease and norish the inwarde reuerence respect and deuotion which is due vnto soueraigne Maiestie and power Their outward gestures are decent Cap. 5. reuerent and significant Then these holy Ceremonies hauing so greate allowance from our Enemyes themselues for their decencie reuerence signification vertue and antiquitie must needs be so embraced preserued and exercised and may not be termed offensyue ceremonyes by that or any Protestant And to exemplify particularly in those ceremonies of the present Church of Rome which be moste disallowed of our English Protestants I argue thus Those ceremonies which were vsed in the primatiue Church of Rome when it was in her best and florishinge state a Rule to all c. ought or may still be practized and obserued But those ceremonies which the present Romane Church now obserueth and are so much disliked by many English Protestants are such Therefore they ought or may still to be vsed and with reuerence practized The Maior proposition is often graunted before Articul of Relig. 20. An. 1562. by these Protestants and thus defined in the 20. Article of their Religion The Church hath power to decree Rites or ceremonies and authoritie in controuersies of faith So that whether these ceremonies belonge to faith or manners being practized or ordayned by our Mother Church of Rome and the gouernors thereof when by all confessions it was holy and the true Church of Christ they are religeously to be embraced and receaued The Minor proposition is thus proued by these men M. Hull in his worke intituled Hull Romes polecies pag 82. 13. 83. 84. 85. 86. Romes polecies thus recompteth them Lent embringe dayes friday altares lynnen Albes corporalls preists Roabes the feaste of S. Peters chaynes the feast of Candlemasse The exaltation of the crosse the Saincts fastinge euens Annoyntinge the sicke annoynting Bishops crossinge with Chrisme in Baptisme Saincts Shrynes Hymnes pax to be caryed about to be kissed the paschall Tapar on Easter Eauen to be hallowed organes and Church instruments singeing of psalmes in order with Antiphones Masse for the deade canonicall howres processions processions to goe rownde about the Churche euery sonday Hitherto the words of this Protestant writer Others of them as D. Morton D. Couell M. Ormerod Morton Apol. part 2. pag. 141. Couell examinat Ormerod pict parit G. 2. 1. 3. 4. Theat of gr Britan. pag. 298. 299. 351. c. doe add holy water holy fonts interrogatories in Baptisme dedication of Churches introyte of Masse wafer cakes to be consecrated in the holy Mysteries Gloria in excelsis the Ringe in Marriadge And others are added by their Theater before and other Protestants And they tell vs further the names of those sacred Popes and Pastors of the Church that vsed approued constituted or confirmed vnto vs these sacred Ceremonies to haue beene in the primatiue Church when it truely was by his Maiesties graunt in her best estate and Mother Church to prescribe vnto other prouinciall Kinges speache in parlam Churches her daughters and as they then were and now should be her obedient children And they name them as followeth Telesphorus Calixtus Stephanus Siluester Sixtus Hull sup pag. 82. 13. 83. 84. 85. 86. Morton Couell Ormer sup Vigilius Honorius Bonifacius Sergius Leo Innocentius Zozimus Vitellian Celestine Pelagius Vrbanus Agapitus Damasus Higinius Pius Celestinus Alexander All which ruled the Church and liued longe before Protestants exception to the Church of Rome K. in parlam Kinge in Confer at Hampton pag. 75. and when it was in her florishing and best estate such as wee may not depart from it by his regall sentence Of what higthest and commaunding authoritie ouer others the Popes of Rome were in those vnspotted dayes of Christianitie hath beene proued before To which I add that D. Couell doth not onely tell vs that Metropolitanes Archbishops Couell modest exam pag. 111. c. came from thence and who to whome should be obedient and Superior and were so vsed before the first generall Councell to testifie that this supreamacie was from Christ immediately and not from Councells But hee further speaketh thus Eyther Euaristus Bishop in the See of Rome in the Couell supr pag. 162 yeare 112 or as some say Dyonisius first assigned the precincts to euery parish and appointed to each Presbiter a certaine compasse whereof himself should take charge alone Hitherto his words Then if this supreame and binding authoritie was in that chaste and florishinge time of true Religion in the Bishop of Rome ouer all Preists Bishops Archbishops Metropolitanes c. to appoint constitute and decree not onely what ceremonies and solemnities should be vsed in all Churches but to rate and proportion out what power priuiledge and iurisdiction all Pastors prelates and spirituall Rulers should enioy
Protestants in the last chapter yet to giue it a further though needles confirmation I proue it againe in this order to be a sacrifice externall and publicke That doctrine which that Church which is esteemed by Protestants to be the true Church teacheth is to be allowed But this doctrine of Christs blessed bodie and blood to be ouer publicke sacrifice in the Church is such Therefore it is so to be allowed The first proposition is often graunted before and the second of the Greeke Churches opinion and practice both at this present and from the time of the primatiue dayes of christianitie to be agreeable with the present Romane Church is iustified by the Protestant Relator of Religion in the chapter of holy ceremonies His words to make Relation cap. 53. or c. 54. a new repetition of that Churches doctrine are these With Rome they concurr in the opinion of transsubstantiation and generally in the seruice and whole bodie of the Masse in praying to Saincts in auricular confession in offering of sacrifice and prayer for the deade and in these without any or with no materiall difference They hold purgatorie also and worshipping of pictures For the forme and Cap. 55. ceremonies of the Masse they much resemble the Latines In crosseings they are verie plentifull In summe Relat. of Relig c. 53. or 54 sup all those opinions which grew into the Church before that seperation betweene the Greekes and Latines and all those ceremonies which were common vnto bothe they still retaine Then this doctrine and practice of this publicke sacrifice beinge not onely the vse of these two Churches now but before their seperation which these Protestants in that place haue told vs Cap. 11. sup to haue beerie 1200. yeares agoe must still with reuerence be obserued Which this Protestant Relator shall here confirme againe Relat. sup cap. 53. or 54. speakinge of the present Greeke Church in these words Their liturgies be the same that in the olde time namely S. Basils S. Chrisostomes and S. Gregories which is the same that the Romane Church now vseth translated without any bending them to that chaunge of language which their tonge hath suffered M. Middleton also Middleton papistomast pag. 51. Morton Apol. part 2. pag. 81. telleth vs of the Masses of Basile Chrisostome and Epiphanius and that in them the deade were prayed for D. Morton goeth higher to the dayes of the Apostles citing and allowing not onely the Masses of S. Basile and S. Chrisostome but S. Iames the Apostle himself Wherefore I hope hee and others will be the better pleased to accept the Censure of Hieremias the Constantinopolitane Patriarke taking vppon him to be supreame in that Church vttered in these words The holy Masse is a sacrifice Hierem. in censur instituted of Christ in memorie and commendation of all his mercie and humilitie sustayned for our sakes Saint Iames the Apostle called our Lords Brother first reduced into order that liturgie and Sacrifice being so instructed of Christ to doe it In all parts of that holy sacrifice nothing els is handled but an vniuersall order of things which our Sauiour vndertooke for our Redemption How these primatiue Masses liturgies or formes of the B. sacrifice of Christs bodie and blood in all questions and articles of Religion agree with that which the Romane Church now practizeth from S. Gregorie as these men before allowe and others write from S. Peter the Apostle is apparant in those liturgies and Masses and too longe to be cited in this place And from hence thus I argue againe That doctrine and publicke practice of Sacrifice or other which was instituted by Christ practized by his Apostles and such holy Saincts and Doctors of the Churche as Sainct Basile S. Chrisostome S. Epiphanius and S. Gregorie were may and ought still to be obserued kept and vsed But the doctrine and practice of our publicke Church Sacrifice or Masse is such Therefore it may and ought still to be kept and vsed The first proposition is moste euidently true and cannot be denied by any true Christian and the Minor is before proued in these laste Protestants allowed citations and may further be confirmed by these Protestant writers D. Sutcl●ffe writeth thus Wee reade in Ignatius this phrase offerre and sacrificium Sutcliff subu pag. 32. immolare to offer and immolate sacrifice and like phrases in Irenaeus Ciprian Tertullian and Martialis who mentioneth also Altares And these words and the things truely signified by them Altare and Sacrifice are in the Greeke and other tongues so vnseperably ioyned and knitt together that D. Morton doth thus acknowledge Wee cannot dislike the sentence Morton App. pag. 162. l. 2. cap. 6. Sect. 1. concerning the mutuall relation and dependance betweene an Altare and sacrifice but graunt that altare doth as naturally and necessarily inferre a Sacrifice as a shryne doth a Saint a father a sonne And againe it is truely said Sacrifice and preisthood are Relatiues Then for altares hee hath hard before that they were in the Apostles time and consequently Masse the Christian sacrifice was then for hee hath told vs they cannot be seperated And his Protestant Bishops in their late Theater will putt him out of all doubt that from the beginnynge of Christianitie euen in England such altares for sacrifice were vsed of the Christians Their words be these It is reported that Theater of greate Brit. pag. 205. n. 12. pag. 204. Patrick the Irish Apostle and canonized Saint longe before the Raigne of Kinge Lucius preached the Ghospel in many places of Wales And also that Ninianus Bernicius of the race of the Brittish princes conuerted the Picts to the Religion of Christ To which effect also the sayings of S. Iohn Chrisostome Bishop of Constantinople enforce And amonge Ilands expressely nameth this our Brittayne Whose Inhabitants saith hee haue also consented to the word which is planted in euery harte in honor whereof they haue erected their temples and Altares Thus in the Brittans tyme that S. Augustine brought in Altares Masse and the ceremonyes thereof is proued by these Protestants in other places And the Theater it self setteth this for one of the Questions of S. Augustine to S. Gregory Guifts Theat pag. 330. offerred on the Altare how to be distributed asked by Augustine of Pope Gregory And thus they write of Kinge Redwald After baptisme returninge to Idolatry Pag. 333. in one and the same temple after the maner of the olde Samaritans hee erected an Altare for the seruice of Christ and an other little Altare for burnt sacrifices which stood vnto the dayes of Beda himself And longe before againe in the Brittans tyme they tell vs of Preists stayne standinge at the Altars And againe in Pag. 291. Pag. 317. Gildas tyme 1200. yeares since oathes taken vppon the Altars made of stome And to secure D. Morton what the sacrifice offered vppon those Altars was they tell vs that in this primatiue tyme in
with precepts as those Hereticks called Apostolici Others esteemed them as things indifferent Others as things forbidden which error is accused by some of our Aduersaries to bee an opinion of our Church There is none of any sound Iudgment in our Church which doth not thinke that willing pouertie humble obedience and true chastitie are things verie commendable and doe bringe with them greate aduantadge to the true perfection of a Christian life By these wee doe more then without these wee should Then these men graunting the doctrine and neuer practizing the vse of it from whence this aduantadge to true perfection is brought are in a practicall error in this point and ought to reforme themselues Yf any man will excuse their omitting of it hee must needs answere that it is either because they will not or are not able to performe it If it onely proceedeth of willfullnes they are generally to bee reproued of willfull obstinacie and sin against the holy ghost vniuersally refusing or resisting such holy motions Inspirations and graces If they say it proceedeth from want of grace spirituall power and assistance to effect it they plainely proue and thereby acknowledge themselues and their Religion to bee gracelesse and not of God not hauing that habilitie and strengthe in any one compaine or societie of men or women amonge them in so longe time to embrace and practice that which so profiteth to perfection And as strongely graunt the Church of Rome and the doctrine thereof for true wherein that grace hath beene giuen to thousands of societies to professe to lyue and die in perpetuall vowed chastitie which hath not beene bestowed one any one fraternitie in their Religion And thereby demonstrate to the world that those Catholicke Preists of our nation whom they persecute as enemies to God are in this greate fauour and grace with him in performing that perfect estate of continencie which our Aduersaries openly confesse they cannot do Which wee are so fart from acknowledging in vs that in greate multitudes wee will solemnely sweare wee truely performe it And no man vnderstandinge the seuere canons of Catholicke Religion for such offendors the greate reuerence wee giue to that moste blessed sacrifice which wee daily offer and what Innocencie of life at the leaste to bee free from all carnall and other mortall sinne wee require vnto it and the ministring of all other Sacraments continually practized by vs can condemne our Order in this matter further in this question I argue thus That which was decreed by the Church within the first 400. yeares of Christ is now to bee obserued But the vowe of continencie was then decreed to bee annexed to holy orders Therefore still so to bee obserued The Maior is allowed before And the Minor proued by M. Perkins in these words Continentiae votum necessarium Perk problem pag. 192. perpetuum c. The vowe of continencie necessarie and perpetuall seemeth first to haue beene decreed in the west Churche about 380. yeares after Christ Traely it was receaued before but by the priuate deuotion of some not by the publicke Iudgment of the Churche If any man saith hee acknowledgeth then onely to bee decreed though vsed before and this in the west Church it sufficeth for this purpose and is obligatorie to Protestants both confessing that a time of truthe the Romane Church then to haue beene the true Church and Mother vnto others and themselues vnder the Iurisdiction of that westerne Romane Church And customes are not vsually decreed but vppon Transgression of them But M. Middleton will tell vs That S. ●piphanius an holy Sainct and blessed Bishop of Greece writeth of such decrees and Canons to the whole Church both to haue beene extant and practized longe before that time and from the beginning of Christianitie as his words traditions without limitation argue Epiphan l. 1. to 2. cōtra her Cathari apud Middleton papistom pag. 139. 140. Thus hee is cited by him writing of the Cathari Hereticks Those Traditions which were deliuered peculiarly for the Cleargie by reason of their supereminencie in celebration of the diuine mysterie These Hereticks would haue all men tyed vnto when they did heare that a Bishop ought to bee vnreproueable the husband of one wife and continent and likewise of Deacons and Preists For in truthe since the comming of Christ the doctrine of the Ghospell doth not admitt into these offices any that haue married a second wife by reason of the excellent dignitie of preisthood And this holy Church doth sincerely obserue yett doth not the Church admitt any into those offices that is the husband but of one wife whose wife is yett lyueing with him in the fellowship of marriadge sed eum qui se ab vna continuit aut in vidui●●te vixit But him onely that either was neuer married or that after the death of his wife lyueth vnmarried the Church receaueth into the office of a Deacon Preist Bishop or Subdeacon which is especially obserued where the Ecclesiastical Canons are sincerely kept But thow wilt say vnto wee that in many places Preists and Deacons do liue in wedlocke But this is not according to the sinceritie of the canons Hitherto and further bee the conuincing words of this holy and learned Father of the Greeke Church whose euidence is so playne for the Catholicke doctrine and practice in this Question and against Protestants that M. Middleton flatly saith Epiphanius was too partially Middleton sup pag. 143. affected in this point And hereuppon thus I argue againe That doctrine which is so plainely and directly held and maintayned by the learned holy fathers of the primatiue Church that the present Protestant Aduersaries otherwise seeming to allow these fathers confesse it to bee their opinion and of the Church in their time is to bee embraced and obserued But this Catholicke doctrine of Preists continencie and vowes of chastitie is such Therefore to bee embraced and obserued The Maior is manifestly true both Catholicks and Protestants in shew at the leaste allowing the primatiue Church and Fathers thereof for Iudges in questions of Religion The Minor is thus proued First M. Middleton acknowledgeth S. Epiphanius S. Hierome S. Chrisostome and S. Ambrose to bee so playne against their Marriadge in the Clergy and their doctrine against vowes of chastitie that hauing written of S. Epiphanius as before hee addeth of S. Hierome thus Hee made vnciwill entroades against Gods holy ordinance Middleton supra pag. 134. Pag. 138. in this point Of S. Chrisostome thus Chrisostome in his vehemencie goeth beyond measure in reprehending and the Christians of his time in their lightnes went beyonde measure in voweing Of S. Ambrose thus Ambrose had the Apostolicall Pag. 134. dragon the deuill dwelling in him And of the holy auncient Fathers in generall in this matter Hee speaketh in these termes Neither Middleton sup pag. 133. is it any thinge to the purpose that the auncient Fathers allowed vowes of chastitie
and single life of Preists And againe The Auncient Fathers are not Pag. 334. fitt Iudges to determine either of Preists Marriadge or vowes of chastitie M. Wotton well perceauing the doctrine and practice of the holy primatiue Churche in those vnspotted dayes dealeth as freely with vs in these words Such was the opinion of holines in single life Wotton def of Perk. pag. 491. in the primatiue Churche that it is not to bee looked for that antiquitie should afford vs any testimonie against the practice and Iudgment of those dayes Then how gracelesse and impudent are these men to cite both fathers and Councells to proue that which in their conscience and knoweledge they both vnderstand in themselues and publish thus vnto the world they vtterly denyed and disallowed wholly and clearely teaching the present doctrine of the Romane Church and the contradictorie to Protestants assertions Whether they were Greekes or Latines and this in so serious maner that such breach of chastitie vowed which M. Perkins confesseth to bee aboue 1200. yeares olde was called Incest and punished with excommunication From whence I argue thus further That which by holy fathers is called Incest and by allowed generall Councell in the primatiue Church censured with excommunication is not to bee adiudged lawfull but the contrary But breache of the vowe of chastitie now aboue 1200. yeares annexed to preisthood is such Therefore it is not to bee adiudged lawfull But the contrary The Maior proposition is euidently true And the Minor thus proued by M. Perkins in these words Epiphanius in his Perk probl pag. 201. 61. heresie saith they that marry after they vowe do sin and enioyneth them penance So Augustine and Hierome viduit c. 9. After these Marriadges began to bee accompted of some for a more greuous sin after the yeare 380. Basile calleth these Marriadges Incest the offence of whoredome and adulterie in his hooke of virginitie by the Councell of Calcedon in the 15. canon they are punished with excommunication But they will say the later Greeke Church vseth more libertie in suffering the vse of Marriadge in holy orders Though this is nothing to vs that bee vnder the westerne and Romane Church by their owne confessions yett thus I demonstrate that they neither agree with the auncient nor present Greekes in this question but make lust licentiousnes and libertie to bee their lawe For proofe whereof I argue thus That which is the cheefest lawe to the Greekes beeing as D. Feild writeth the 13. Feild l. 3. c. 18. pag. 101. Canon of the 6. generall Councell otherwise the 13. canon made in Trullo doth onely licence Subdeacons Deacons and Preists maried before Orders not to bee seperated from their wiues but to abstaine from them in the tyme of their turne that is in the tyme when they sacrifice as the second Councell of Carthadge in the 2. Canon defineth But the Fathers say that they know it deliuered for a canon to the Romane Church that Deacons or Preists in their ordination professe that they will not any more company with their wiues But both the doctrine and practice of Protestants are contrary marrying both before and after orders not regarding any time of sacrifice but denying it and beeing vnder the Romane Churche yet professe open disobedience to the Canons of it And not onely to the Latine but to the Greeke Church also For in the Greeke Church neither their Bishops Religious men or women or votaries of chastitie are permitted to marry but for such to marry is adiudged sacriledge in that Church the words of their Patriarke Hieremias are these Whosoeuer Hierem. in cens in epilog shall not performe the vowe of chastitie doth incurr the moste filthy sin of sacriledge and to performe such vowes is the moste angelicall and excellent life that can bee ledd on earth therefore wee must greately extoll monasticall life and conuersation Therefore these Protestants not onely permitting and tollerating but inciting prouoking and procuring Bishops Monkes Fryers Nunnes and all votaties to marriadge are by this censure guiltie of the filthie sin of Sacriledge and agree with no Church Greeke or Latine in this point and question But these men in their Theater and els Obiect where tel vs that there were married Preists in Ireland in the time of S. Malachy and in Speed in Theatr. pag. 145. c. England in the time of S. Dunstan our Archbishop of Canterbury But they haue beene told before euen from primatiue Saincts Answ and Doctors that wheresoeuer and whensoeuer such were it was an error and intruded abuse and not accordinge to the sinceritie of the Canons And answell by this kinde of Argument that such and such things haue beene or now bee without proofe that they are good and ought to bee they might proue murder treason Adultery incest sacriledge blasphemy and whatsoeuer villanies and Impieties to bee holy or Iustifiable things for these things were not onely in one or two kingedomes in one or two times but bee and haue beene with such wicked men in all tymes and kingedomes And to lett them knowe by their owne authorities that it was so in this their obiection wicked men that were thus married or allowed it and holy and Saincts that forbad and condemned it They themselues in this their Theater wittnes in these words S. Malachy Theatr. sup n. 9. pag. 145. whose life S. Bernard writeth prohibited Preists Marriadges in Ireland And to assure vs further that they were holy men that forbad these Marriadges and the highest authoritie by their owne Iudgment before by which they were forbidden thus they testifie in these words Pope Gregory sendeth hither into England Theat pag. 421. n. 47. his Bulls with damninge curses against the marryed Cleargie commaundinge that none should heare their Masses And thus againe Pope Gregory in a generall Synode excluded the married Preists from execution of their holy offices and forbad the lay men to heare their Masses And our Archbishop of Canterbury Pag. 373. then by their owne sentence a Saint condemned them miraculously as they testifie so were they cōdemned by other Councells and authorities The sanctitie of S. Dunstan Pag. 371. 372. his miracles guifts of Prophetie and verified Propheties of the calamities and punishments which God inflicted vppon the Princes and fauourers maintayning those wicked marriages are in some part testified in their owne Theater The Princes that Theat pag. 377. c. cap. 43. l. 7. disallowed them were holy and Saincts amonge which was Kinge and S. Edward the Martyr murthered and martyred by the fauourites of married Preists Amonge which was his Mother in Lawe Queene Elfrida and hir sonne his half brother Ethelred after Kinge by this Martyrdome Where vppon these men themselues haue thus registred The harts of the Subiects drawne from their Soueraigne Theat sup Dunstans Prophesie against their wickednes A cloud of blood and fier and many extreame miseries of that tyme. Dunstan
further prophesieth of other calamities to the Land after his death Queene Elfrida this greate patronesse of those wicked Marriadges and Murderesse of that blessed Kinge Martyr acknowledged her error and did perpetual penance for those Impieties their owne words thereof bee these Elfrida the second wise of Kinge Edgar procured the Theat pag. 372. n. 17. murder of Kinge Edward her sonne in lawe that her owne sonne Ethelred might come to the crowne and afterwards to purifie his and her husbands ghost and to stopp the peoples speaches of so wicked a fact shee founded the Abbeis of Amsbury and Whorwell in the Pag. 374. n. 10. counties of Wiltshire and South-hampton in which later shee liued with greate repentance and penance vntill the day of her death But both the life and death of them that repented not was by these mens relation odious and execrable I will onely exemplify in two Kings Ethelred before related and Kinge Edwyne before him both maintayners of Preists marriadge of Kinge Edwyne they write in these words Theat pag. 366. n. 7. 8. Pag. 369. n. 2. 3. Kinge Edwyne the day of his coronation before his nobles sittinge in counsell at that age not aboue thirteene yeares old with shamelesse and vnprincely lust abused a lady of greate estate and his neare kinsewoman Hee was a greate enemy vnto the Monkish orders whom from the monastery of Malmesbury Glastenbury and others hee expelled placing married Preists in their Romes Dunstan likewise the Abbot Saint of Glostenbury hee banished the Realme for his ouerbold reprehensions c. His subiects deny him obedience And sett vpp Prince Edgar his brother in Mercia and Northumberland not fully fourteene yeares old Edwyne then raigninge in a still decaying state was held of such is subiects in no better esteeme then was Iehoram of Iudah who is said to haue liued without beeing desired for very greefe whereof after foure yeares of his Raigne hee ended his life His wife thought to bee to Neare in the blood royall to bee matched with him in spousall bedd the subiects dislikinge of the vnlawfull marriadge the cause of Dunstans banishment failed by degrees to performe their duties to their Kinge and her they likewise forced to a seperation in the third yeare of his regardlesse gouernment The miseryes and punishments of Kinge Ethelred and this Kingedome for his syns they recompt in this maner Ethelred not able Theat pag. 376. 377. to resist the Danes his subiects not loueing him payeth vnto them 10000. pounds to depart An other peace hee purchaseth with 16000. pownds The next composition 20000. pownds Then 24000. pownds Then 30000. pownds and lastely 40000. pownds vntill the land was emptied of all the coyne the Kingdome of her glorye the nobles of courage commons of content and the Soueraigne of his wonted respect and obseruaunce The miseryes of this land for the syns of the patrons of such marriadges as now be defended and honoured in England which then it felt are to many and lamentable to be remembred at this time And a man may iustly call it a straunge Example that amonge other straunge punishments of Kinge Henry the eight that greate patron of Cranmer that marryed bishop that mared Religion and supreame head of such a Church that in his life time so iumbled tumbled and tumbled the world together should haue no better commendation of these Protestants now but to be ranked by them as the cheifest amonge wicked and iustly punished English Kings in their late published history of the worlde in these words Now for Kinge Henry the eight if History of the world in pref all the pictures and patterns of a mercilesse prince were loste in the worlde they might all agayne be paynted to the life out of the story of this Kinge And because Protestants memoryes serue them not to call to mynde the holynes sanctitie and Saints that haue beene in our English Catholicke Cleargie but like filthy swyne desyre to tumble moyle and roote in dyrt lett them cast ouer their accompts throughe out the historyes of this kingedome begynning with their owne Marriadges and tyme and so ascendinge to the first conuersion of this land to Christ and it will be no difficult Auditt to make that they themselues and those which were marryed as these be were the moste disordered prophane and irreligeous that were in our English Cleargie lett them make the calculation I may not now intend it my methode will not allowe it Being fittest for such as be partakers of such impieties Onely to begyn their reckoninge I must putt them in mynde out of their Theater and other their owne historyes penned by Protestants That as this Kingedome of our English or saxon Christians hath beene but twyse conquered and ouerrunne once by the Danes then by the Normans the greatest miseries and punishments it hath endured So the same their Theater other histories and Protestant writings neuer obiect vnto vs more Married and disordered Preists and cleargie men then at those tymes God of his mercy graunt that their third state of married ministers presage vs better bydeings and bring vs greater comforts Of vowes and profession of perpetuall chastitie and other workes of perfection it is further entreated in the proper question of such holy and religious life and conuersation CHAPTER XVIII OF PVRGATORIE AND PRAYER for the deade AFTER this lett vs entreate of prayer for the deade and Purgatorie And because these Protestāts before haue giuen so greate allowance to the Greeke Church especially D. Feild Intituling the 5. chapter of his third Feild l. 3. c. 5. in titul booke Of the nature of scisme and kindes of yt and that it no way appeareth that the Churches of Greece c. Are hereticall or in damnable schisme And it is their common assertion that the doctrine of purgatorie is onely taught by the Romane and not Greeke Church I will first thus argue from the authority thereof That doctrine which is taught by that Church which is neither hereticall nor damnably scismaticall cannot bee hereticall nor damnable but orthodoxe and Catholicke But the doctrine of Purgatorie is taught by this so Iustified Church the Greeke Church Therefore not hereticall nor damnable But orthodoxe and Catholicke The first proposition is euidently true for it is the doctrine and practice of any companie or priuate parson that giueth vnto it the denomination Hereticall Schismaticall Orthodoxe c. The second proposition is proued by these Protestant Testimonies following First the Protestant Relator writing of this Greeke Church speaketh thus With Rome Relation of Relig. c. 53. or c. 54. they concurre in the opinion of transsubstantiation and generally in the seruice and whole bodie of the Masse in praying to Saincts in auriculare confession in offeringe of sacrifice and prayer for the deade and these without any or with no materiall difference They hold Purgatorie also and worshipping of pictures Therefore these doctrines of purgatorie the rest must needs
Minor proued out of their publickly allowed and reconfirmed Communion Booke Where in the Buriall of the deade their Ministers are appointed to pray for the partie deceased in these words That wee with this our Brother and all other departed Comm. Booke Tit. Buriall of the dead● neare the end §. allmightie God in the true faith of thy holy name may haue our perfect consummation and blisse both in body and soule in the eternall and euerlasting glorie Amen If this prayer that people deceased may come to heauen bodie and soule man hath no other part to be prayed for is not to pray for the dead nothing can be called praying for the deade and for their saluation And so I end this Question with this sentence of M. Higgons in his publick sermon Theophil Higg serm 3. Mart. 1610. at S. Paules Crosse giuing a reason of this doctrine in these words As there is a death in syn and a deathe to syn soe there is a double resurrection The first a culpa from syn the second a paena from the punishment which followeth thervppon Which must needs be the temporall punishment of syn the grownde of Purgatorie and satisfaction after death being oftentimes not satisfyed answeared or to vse his owne phrase not risen from in this life For the eternall punishment of hell due for greate syns is euer remitted and risen from in his resurrection a culpa from syn Otherwise a man now intituled heire of the kingedome of heauen and saluation should also be guiltie of hell and damnation saued and damned in heauen and hell together And vppon this and other such holy grownds these Protestants in their late Theater recompt vnto vs so many hundreds Theat of greate Brit. c. of Religeous howses fownded by holy Kings princes and others in England to pray for the soules of themselues their Auncesters posteritie and other Frends CHAPTER XIX TEACHEING HOW THERE be 7. Sacramentes in number by these Protestants accordinge to the doctrine of the Romane Church HAVEING ended all other Questions to the full satisfaction and accordinge to the requests and demaunds of Protestants desiringe to be satisfied therein and performing this from themselues and owne writings I will proceede in the same maner in the Articles of the holy Sacramentes and first of their number thus sett downe in the Councell of Trent There be seuen Sacraments Concil Trid. decret de Sacrament of the new lawe instituted by IESVS CHRIST our Lorde neither more nor fewer Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist Penaunce Extreame Vnction Orders Matrimonie For defence and proofe of which doctrine by these Protestants themselues thus I argue Whatsoeuer doctrine a confessed true generall Councell hauing authoritie to bynde all by these Protestants before hath determined in this question is to be receaued and followed But the Catholicke doctrine of the Romane Churche concerning seuen Sacraments is thus determined by such generall Councell and bynding authoritie Therefore to be receaued and followed The first proposition is graunted before and must needs be thought so equall to all Protestants that how soeuer they thinke of the infallible sentence of such assemblies in matters of faith yet none of them may be soe partiall but to preferre a generall Councell to any Protestant assemblie censure sentence or decree The second is euidently proued supposeing what is written before euen by Protestants of the generall Councell of Florence and for such with the doctrine thereof not onely acknowledged by D. Willet and M. Parkes but Willet Limbom Parkes pag. 137. 180. Gennadius in defens concil Flor. Concil Florent de Sacramentis nouae legis by the Patriarke of Greece himself in his defence thereof Where it is thus decreed both with assent of Grecians Armenians Nouae legis septem sunt Sacramenta scilicet Baptismus Confirmatio Eucharistia Poenitentia Extrema Vnctio Ordo Matrimonium c. There are seuen Sacraments of the new lawe that is Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist Penance Extreame Vnction Orders and Matrimonie Which doe muche differ from the Sacraments of the olde lawe for they did not cause grace but did onely figure that it was to be giuen by the passion of Christ But these of ours bothe conteyne grace and giue it vnto them that worthely receaue them Hitherto the decree of that holy generall Councell receaued by all Christendome Latines Armenians Iacobynes Grecians From whence I further argue in this maner Whatsoeuer doctrine essentiall in Religion such as Sacraments be is taught by the true Church that is neither hereticall nor Scismaticall is to be embraced But the doctrine of seuen Sacraments as the Romane Church teacheth is such being likewise taught by the Protestants true Greeke Churche therefore to be embraced The Maior is also proued in the laste Argument and further confirmed in the Censure of the Greeke Church vppon Protestants in these words There is an holy Hierém in censur cap. 7. Catholicke and Apostolicke Churche of all true Christian men In this Catholicke and true beleeuing Church there be seuen diuine Sacraments Baptisme the Vnction of holy Oyntment holy Communion Orders Matrimonie Penance and the oyle of Extreame Vnction And they further prosecute as also the cited generall Councell of Florence doth the institution forme matter effect and other things belonging to these seuen holy Sacraments according to the present doctrine of the Romane Churche Againe I suppose that Catholickes in their definition of the Sacraments of the new lawe requiring a conteyning and giueing of grace by these holy Sacraments besides their signification thereof being onely signes Seales c. as the common Protestant opinion is to be farre more restricted and limited then that of Protestants because many more thinges be and may be signes of any thinge then bothe signes and causes as appeareth to be true in all genericall and specificall differences For example vnder animal a lyuing creature are conteyned more then vnder animal rational● a lyueing creature with reason onely limited to man who otherwise abstractinge from his rationalitie is with all other lyueing creatures comprehended Vnder the Genus Animal a lyueing Creature So a Signe of grace as well agreeth to the Sacraments of the old lawe as to those of the Ghospell but not to conteyne and giue grace Onely proper to those of the new Testament as is recited before from the generall Councell of Florence and is at Concil Trident. decret d● Sacramentis ecclesiae c. lardge sett downe against Protestants in the Councell of Trent This supposed which no man can deny I argue thus All things that agree with the definition of a Sacrament be Sacraments But according to Protestants all those seuen before remembred Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist Penance Extreame-Vnction Orders and Matrimonie agree with and haue the definition of a Sacrament Therefore they are Sacraments The Maior is euident because in Logicke the thinge defined and definition are conuertibles as this man and a reasonable creature Whoesoeuer is the one
impressed in the soule that is a certaine spirituall and indeleble signe that they may not bee iterated For proofe of which doctrine by English Protestants I argue in this Maner That doctrine which is taught by the Greeke Church neither hereticall nor Scismatical but orthodoxe by these Protestants ot by a generall Councell whose decree and sentence bindeth all is to bee allowed by them much more if both those their Rules so confirme it But the doctrine of this Indeleble character in the Sacraments of Baptisme Confirmation and Orders is taught and approued both by the Greeke Church and a generall Councell that of Florence for such allowed by them before Therefore it ought to bee embraced by them The Maior is euidently true by their graunt before And the Minor thus proued First the Greeke Church by Hieremias their Patriarke in their Censure Hierem. in censur cap. 11. vppon Protestants in the eleuenth chapter hath so censured And the generall Councel of Florence with the assert of the same Greeke Church Armenians Iacobines and all Christendome hath defined it in these words Inter haec Sacramenta tria sunt Baptismus Cōcil Flor. in vnion Arm. Confirmatio Ordo quae Characterem i. spirituale quoddam signum à caeteris distinctum imprimunt in anima indelebile c. Among these Sacraments there are three Baptisme Confirmation and Order which impresse in the soule a Character that is a certaine spirituall signe distinct from others indeleble wherevppon they are not Iterated in the same parson but the other fowre do not Impresse a Character and admitt Iteration To bee breife I argue thus once for all That doctrine which is generally maintained not onely by all professors of it but also acknowledged and defended by them that bee esteemed learned among the enemies thereof and professe the same Religion with them is true But this doctrine of a Character is such Therefore it is true The Maior is euidently apparēt for no more then frends and Aduersaries learned can consent to any truth The Minor is thus proued by these Protestant Doctors following Ioyning in Religion with them that impugne and persecute the Church of Rome First D. Feild Feild l. 1. cap. 15. acknowledgeth a Character in Baptisme and to remayne euen in the excommunicate And so indeleble D. Couell affirmeth the same of Baptisme and Orders and seemeth to insinuate it of Confirmation Hee writeth of it in these words It is not amisse both termed a kind of Marke Couell def of Hook pa. 87. 88. 91. or character And confesseth it to bee Indeleble And for Orders hee addeth thus For ministeriall power is a worke of seperation because it seuereth them that haue it from other men maketh them a speciall order consecrated vnto the seruice of the moste highe in things wherewith others may not meddle I call it indeleble because they which haue once receiued this power may not thinke to putt it of and on like a cloake as the wether serueth And againe in this maner Where there is a chaunge of estate with an Sup. pag. 91 Impossibilitie to returne there wee haue reason to account an Indeleble Character to bee imprinted This saith the Church of Rome is in Baptisme Confirmation and Order This forme figure or Character is called Indeleble because that is not to bee reiterated as Protestants confesse of Baptisme Confirmation and Orders from whence it cometh The Character of Order is an actiue power as the schoolemen speake which giueth an Abilitie publickly to administer the Sacraments vnto those whome the Church hath esteemed fitt The Character of Baptisme is a passiue power which maketh men fitt to receaue the rest And from hence not onely is proued in as playne words as any schooleman or other Catholicke can speake the Catholicke opinion of a Character but also that Orders and others besides them allowed for Sacraments are to bee so esteemed as his last wordes the rest insinuate And this sufficeth of this Question CHAPTER XXI PROVING BY THESE PROTEstants that the Sacraments of the Ghospell giue grace and as the schooles speake ex opere operato by the vvorke vvrought CONCERNING the validitie and grace of Sacraments The Councell of Trent defineth thus If any Cōcil Trid. Sess 7. man shall say that the Sacraments of the new lawe do not giue grace by the worke wrought opere operato but that onely faith of the promise of God sufficeth to obtaine grace lett him bee Anathema And to demonstrate that the present Protestants of England are or by their owne writings ought to bee of the same opinion thus I argue Whatsoeuer Catholicke doctrine of the Romane Church is confirmed both by the publicke proceedings and priuate writings of the Protestants of England ought to bee allowed and embraced by them But the doctrine of the Romane Church concerning the efficacie of Sacraments that they cause grace in the worthie and duely disposed Receauers of them and that ex opere operato as the Councell before and our schooles speake is such Therefore it ought to bee allowed and embraced by them for true The Maior is euidently true and cannot bee denied for no man may or can hold against his owne opinion or that publicke Rule and Authoritie to which hee hath subscribed and submitted himself in Religion The second proposition is thus proued and first by that cheefe Rule their booke of Articles Booke of Articl of Relig. art 25. to which they haue all subscribed where it is thus defined in their Religion Sacraments ordeyned of Christ are effectuall signes of grace and Gods good will towards vs by the which hee doth worke inuisibly in vs. And againe in their newly reformed communion booke in these words By this words Sacrament I meane an Comm. Booke refor titul Catechis outward and visible signe of an inward and spirituall grace giuen vnto vs ordeyned by Christ himself as a meanes whereby wee receaue the same Therefore beeing graunted by the greatest Rules of Religion which English Protestants haue that Sacraments bee effectuall of grace and Gods fauour giuing grace and meanes whereby wee receaue grace And all English Protestants Ministers haue subscribed to these doctrines in those bookes They must needs graunt that Sacraments bee causes of grace for among causes the efficient and effectuall is not onely a cause but of extrinsecall causes by many degrees the cheifest And beeing allowed for such Instruments and meanes by which God worketh inuisibly in vs and giueth grace and wee so receaue grace as their words bee They must needs bee true instrumental causes of grace and such worke in vs. And their same practicall Rule of their Religion the Communion booke hath the same doctrine concerning Baptisme and consequently of all others proued by them to bee Sacraments one and the same reason beeing of all for in the Treatise of Baptisme thus it prescribeth the Minister to speake vnto God By the Baptisme of Comm. Booke Titul publick
A BOOKE INTITVLED THE ENGLISH Protestants Recantation in matters of Religion WHEREIN IS DEMONstratiuely proued by the writings of the principall and best learned English Protestant Bishops and Doctors and Rules of their Religion published allowed or subscribed vnto by them since the comminge of our King IAMES into England That not onely all generall grownds of Diuinitie are against thē But in euery particular cheife Question betweene Catholicks them they are in errour by their owne Iudgments Diuided accordingly into two parts whereof the first entreateth of those generall Grounds The other of such particular Controuersies Whereby will also manifestely appeare the vanitie of D. MORTON Protest Bishop of Chester his booke called Appeale or Ansvveare to the Catholicke Authour of the booke entituled The Protestants Apologie Psal 126. v. 1. Except our Lord build the howse They labour in vayne that build yt With Licence Anno 1617. TO ALL HIS WELBELOVED CONTRYMEN ENGLISH PROTESTANTS especially persecutors of the Romane catholicke Religion DVely and moste frendly I remember my seruice and best loue vnto you In maladies and diseases desperate vsuall remedies will not ●uer in controuersies those that bee and wrongefully distressed when equall triall will not bee graunted must accept vnequall or none at all Your late commended history of the world recommendeth vnto vs for moste true this sentence nothing can bee a more excellent wittnessinge then where an Enemy doth approue our cause Your D. Morton doth testifie as much and no man will deny it neyther this that followeth that in controuersed questions and their tryall no condemnation is more approued then where men in their owne cause are condemned by their owne Iudgment Thus in our lawes confession of wronges and euill behauiour is conuiction And in matters of Religion a Recantation But without some high commaundinge cause how shall wee finde such enforceinge and forced wittnes Balaam his Asse spake not of himselfe nor Cayphas of himselfe did prophesye And in English Protestant Religion where euery one is made a Iudge ouer all that will gayne say him in their conceipts no man will suppose or once Imagine that any one will bee fownde amonge them to giue sentence against themselues whome they value and esteeme at so high a rate aboue all the world besides especially for the church of Rome which they hate and persecute so much Yett because no other meanes is left I must build vppon this vnleuell groundes and come for Iudgment at such a Consistory onely to take what they shall giue and haue nothinge but what they please to allowe Which I hope will bee that which is expressed in the Title of this booke the same to which they haue all sworne or subscribed ratified or confirmed printed and published for their doctrine and Religion I dare not goe hygher to the dayes of Queene Elizabeth nor bringe the testimonies of Protestants in other contries leaste I receaue for Answeare as others haue done that they stand not vppon what forreyne and former Protestants haue taught which though it bee a vayne and onely cauillons exception to bee at variance or defyance with them in faith of whose church as they name it they would bee members yett to auoide all suspition and colour of euasion though neuer so friuolous Because no protestant may deny but that is their protestant Religion in England vnder our Kinge supreame heade stiled of that Church which hee by his lawes and proceedings with their Consents and Assentinge hath here established and this their Bishops and Doctors by oath or subscription haue synce then confirmed and by their published printed writings defended or mayntayned or by their Religion ought so to doe I will onely insist in this their owne priuiledged and allowed testimonyes and authorities And assume by them to proue not onely that all grownds of Religion in generall doe proue and mayntayne the doctrine of the church of Rome and condemne this protestant Religion But further and demonstratiuely to manifest by true consequence that in euery cheife question betweene this Protestāts and Catholicks they ar in error and wee in truthe Which will be more then euident demōstration against D. Morton Protestāt Bishop of Chester his Appeale or pretended Answeare to the Catholick Author of the Protestants Apologie And therefore being confidently assured that I haue truely and fully performed what I vndertake by their so greate aduantage as to make them both wittnes and Iudge in their owne cause I presume as it is soe to name this Booke The English Protestants Recantation in Matters of Religion I wish it were as easye and no more difficult labour to bridle their wills and Appetites from libertie ouermuch loue of this world and wanton delights thereof as it is to demonstrate to their vnderstandings that they bee in error many men ar able to doe this But God and themselues must reforme the other which of his greate mercy I moste humbly beseech him to graūt That they which so longe tyme haue onely talked of Reformed Churches and Religions may come to the true and reall practise of reformation both in mynde and maners Which I hope they may the soener attayne vnto if they shall duely consider how fowle and deformed the face of this their new doctrine is euen as it is poynted by their owne colours and pencell That which remayneth as my onely suite to you is this not to bee regardlesse of your best good not willfully to erre from the way of truthe to esteeme of the sacred Religion of the Church of Rome as the greatest enemyes to it and frends to you shall conclude it worthye and lett my self and labours enioy your loue as wee shall deserue it And so I shall euer rest Your most wellwishing Contriman and frend Author of this Booke THE ENGLISH PROTESTANST RECANTATION IN MATTERS OF Religion THE FIRST PART CHAPTER I. PROVEINGE BY ENGLISH Protestant writers since the begynninge of his Maiesties Raigne in England that the true Church of Christ is of Infallible Iudgment The Protestants not so and so not the true Church BECAVSE the cheefest and moste generall controuersie in Religion in this time betweene the Catholicks of England and their Aduersaries their contry persecutors and Innouators is concerninge the true Churche of Christ which where with whome and what it is what bee the properties true notes signes qualities authoritie office and commaunde of it I will first begin with that Question In which I argue thus Whatsoeuer Companie Societie Consistorye Iudgment or Authoritie is in time of difference about Religion moste necessarie to bee knowe followed and obeyed and is the companie of holy ones the howsholde of faithe spouse of Christ the piller and grownde of truthe whose communyon is to bee embraced directions followed and Iudgment to bee rested in must needes bothe bee priuiledged from error and to bee obeyed in Matters of controuersie But the true Church of Christ is such Therefore free from error and to bee obeyed in this busines