and other cleargie orders they haue baptisme the Eucharist and all other things He proceedeth affirming that the church was in times past knowne by miracles but now they are either ended or els in greater number with false Christians yea he auerreth that a man might know by the liues of men which was the true Church but now Christians were worse then either hereticks or Ethnicks If this worke were written by an Arrian as some say yet there is no cause to condemne this excellent sentence prooued by so weightie reasons The eight reason Scriptures We haue finished by Gods assistance seuen Reasons some of which as the Doctour seemeth to graunt are nothing worth without Scripture and therefore he saith that they teach not any doctrine but such as is deriued out of the holy Bible If you would abide by this confession you would not hold so many vnwritten opinions as you doe For adoration of Images for the halfe communion for the Popes not erring for the lent fast with other points of Poperie what scripture is there It is one of your principles Cens Colon. that traditiones ecclesiae non scriptae credendae ac seruandae sunt vnwritten traditions are to be beleeued and kept Hence I conclude after this manner They which hold opinions by vnwritten traditions deriue not all their opinions out of the scriptures But the Papists hold some opinions by vnwritten traditions Ergo. But good M. Doctour are we driuen to denie certaine parts of Gods holy Bible for the maintaining of our opinions and are the Manichees our predecessours take heede least by auouching vntruths you doe vastare conscientiam make shipwracke of conscience If Luther reiected the epist of S. Iames what is that to vs Caietane will haue it to be minoris authoritatis quam caeteras Bell. lib. 1. cap. 17. 2. booke 23. of lesse authoritie then the other epistles Eusebius saith sciendum est eam esse adulterinam we must know that it is a bastard epistle Euseb 3.22 cap. Now I reduce your argument into a syllogisme They which refuse bookes of Scripture frame that bible to their opinions But the Protestants refuse bookes of Scripture Ergo. I denie the assumption which is set downe without any proofe and for the disproofe of the same I will not content my selfe with a few fathers but will produce a cloud of witnesses that the Papists may see their proud bragge of fathers Origen at Eusebius speaketh thus Euseb hist 6. booke 24. Hand ignorandum fieret esse veteris testamenti libros sicut Hebraei tradunt viginti duos qui etiam numerus apudeos est literarum We must vnderstand that there are 22. bookes of the old Testament as the Hebrewes doe teach which also is the number of letters Hence I gather that if the Canonicall bookes answer the hebrew letters then there are but 22. otherwise there should be more then the letters are Melito numbreth the same bookes which we doe excepting the booke of Wisdome as witnesseth Eusebius 4. book 25. Cyril of Ierusalem in his 4. catechisme exhorteth the Catechumenes to read 22. bookes but that he reckneth Baruck with Ieremie he reckneth the same which we doe and directly warneth vs vt cum Apocryphis nihil habeamus negotij that we haue nothing to doe with Apocryphal bookes for saith he multò prudentiores te religiosiores fuerint Apostoli primi Episcopi veritatis duces qui nobis eas tradiderunt the Apostles and first Bishops were wiser and more religious then thy selfe they deliuered these scriptures to vs. Leontius in his 2. action of sects agreeth with these authors saying that veteris scripturae libri sunt viginti duo there are 22. bookes of the old testament Innilius reiecteth the Machabees from diuine scripture quoniam apud Hebraeos super hac differentia recipiebantur libri Canonici sicut Hieronymus alijque testantur because with the Iewes the canonicall bookes were receiued with this difference as Ierome and other writers witnesse He reiecteth Iob and some other bookes which are Canonicall by his owne reason namely because they were of that authoritie with the Iewes Amphilochius differeth not from the aboue named writer after that he hath set downe the same number which we doe excepting the booke of Wisdome which yet it may be but put in for verse because he reckneth but three of Salomon after I say he concludeth thus hic verissimus divinitus datarum est scripturarum Canon this is the most true Canon of the diuine scriptures Ruffinus in his exposition vpon the Creede saith that he will describe the Canonicall bookes of the olde testament which he doth after our order in England and acknowledgeth that non Canonicos libros legi voluerunt in ecclesiis sed non proferri ad authoritatem ex his fidei confirmandaÌ„ they wil haue the books that are not Canonicall to be read in Churches but not to be aleadged to confirme a matter of faith I will not produce the testimonies of Hierome Epiphanius Nazianzen Athanasius and others because they are obvious to euery one neither will I conuince the Doctour by his owne writers as Caietan Hugo and Arias Montanus Iosephus is worthie to be heard who plainly teacheth that duo solum viginti libri fide digni esse creduntur Euseb 3. lib. hist â—0 onely 22. bookes are to be credited By this cloud of witnesses I hope Christian Reader thou maist see the vanitie of Papists who doe nothing but crepare patres patres crie the fathers they are on their side I returne the Argument They which adde bookes to diuine scriptures draw the holy Bible to their fancies But the Papists adde whole bookes to diuine scriptures Ergo Where he saith that the Catholikes follow the bible I will not stand vpon that famous corruption of the Hebrew psalter by an English Papist to iustifie their vulgar latin text but come to one place out of which they would gather purgatorie Where it is said that a certaine sinne shall not be forgiuen neither in this world Math. 11. nor in the world to come we expound it by Marke who saith it shall neuer be forgiuen the Papist saith Matthew must not be expouÌ„ded by Marke because he is shorter but is he not plainer How absurd is it to expound these words â—ell lib. 1. de into cap. 4. he hath neuer forgiuenes to this sense whereas to expound the words of Matthew by Marke hath an excellent construction Thus euery man may see who draw the scriptures to their fancies whether Papists or Protestants The 9. reason Councells Whether the Church of God hath euer bin accustomed when any heresie did spring vp therein to gather a Councell of Bishops Prelates and other learned men I will not stand to dispute If your meaning be M. Doctour that nothing is heresie but that which is condemned by a Councell Lib. 4. cont dâ—â—s epist Pelag. in fine I vtterly renounce your vaine conceit Let Augustine
that congregation which teacheth the cōtrarie to be a false Church Hence I gather that true doctrine is a note to discerne the Church for if that be the true Church which teacheth holy doctrine then holy doctrine is onely in the church for if it be not inseperable from the same it cannot marke and chalke the Church Now by holy doctrine Christian reader I meane not that which may haue a shew of holinesse in the opinion of men but that which gods word alloweth The Pharisie may fast and make great shew of pietie The Montanists had three lents in the yeare the false Apostles did teach doctrine which had a shewe of wisdome Coloss 2.15 in voluntarie worship and humblenes of mind and in not sparing the bodie out of which we gather that pretended pietie and holines must not be made a note to discerne a Church but such holines of doctrine as Gods word doth allow for indeed that onely is holy and all other doctrine is prophane whatsoeuer shew it may haue with men The Doctor to prooue his opinion saith that the church is called holy because it professeth and teacheth nothing but that which is holy Who would thinke that a Doctor could be ignorant in his creed The church is called holy because it is washed in the blood of Christ and sanctified by his spirit The Apostle sheweth that the Church hath no wrinckle Eph. 5.27 which is as much as if he had called it holy That this is so it is plain because the triumphāt church is holy yet teacheth no doctrine this triumphant church is vnderstood in the creed as wel as the militant witnes the Papists themselues who teach also that it is called holy because it is consecrate to God But graunt him that the Church is therefore called holy because it teacheth holy doctrine doeth the Church of Rome teach such doctrine let vs see whether it be so or noe here he will not compare liues and yet he saith that Catholikes liue like Saints What Saints Catholikes are I haue shewed before to omit this then to come to his grounds He prooueth their holinesse of doctrine because Priests may not marrie This is so farre from beeing holy doctrine that it is deuillish doctrine as I will make plaine to your conscience M. Doctor The Apostles were married Euseb l. 3. 27. for Petrus Philippus liheris procreandis operam dederunt Peter and Philip did beget children Philemon if we beleeue Bellarmine was a Bishop and he had his wife Apphia as Chrysostome witnesseth The Councell of Ancyra Lib. 1. de Chr. c 27. can 10 decreeth after this manner Diaconi quicunque cum ordinantur c. Deacons whatsoeuer they be if in their ordinatiō they protest that they cānot containe if they marrie after let thē remaine in the ministerie ergo marriage is not a prophaning of orders If this Councell will not suffice Irenaeus I hope will who auoucheth that a Deacon had speciosam vxorem a beutifull wife Lib. 1. cap. 9. Lib. 2. de gest con Basil Aeneas Syluius writeth thus Id quod de vxore dicitur nihil pendo cùm non solum qui vxorem habuit sed vxorem adhuc habens queat assumi That which is obiected concerning a wife I regard not seeing not onely he which had but also he which hath one may be Pope I let passe the historie of Paphnutius Tempore cap. 14. l. 6. mentioned by Socrates and others Basilius was Ecclesiae Ancyranae Presbyter Eupsychius Cappadociae Basil was priest of Ancyra and Eupsychius of Cappadocia they ended their liues in Martyrdome and yet Eupsychius had lately taken a wife was but euen as a Bridegrome Chaeraemon a Bishoppe fledde in persecution with his wife Euseb lib. 6. cap. 41. l. 5. 21. Socrates writeth that many bishops Dum Episcopatum gerunt etiam liberos ex vxore legitima procreant whiles they are Bishops doe beget children of their lawfull wiues Spiridion was a Bishop and had a daughter Irene But heare what Bellarmine writeth he prooueth that single life is not annexed vnto orders by diuine right and therefore saith that Si liceat Sacerdotibus iure diuino habere vxores quas ante ordinationem duxerant cur quaeso etiam non licuisset Decaeli sacer etiam post ordinationem ducere If Priests by Gods word might retaine their wiues which they had before ordination why I pray you was it not lawefull to marrie after ordination also Nowe I haue prooued that Priests did retaine their wiues which they had before ordination ergo But M. Doctor if it be so holy doctrine to denie Priests lawfull marriage then what shall we say of Popes who giue dispensation in this point you knowe what your men write the Pope dispenseth against the Apostle is not this good diuinitie to teach that the Pope may dispense against holy doctrine but you like the Donatists as it seemeth hold that Quod volumus sanctum est that which we will is holy Your Inkchorne tearmes in which you flourish after this maner that the Protestants wiuing rewiuing tricke and trimme vp themselues to please the eies of their sweete hearts with their starched ruffes fine monsaches trimme tuscabonians may be doubled vpon your selues who vse all these with many moe vanities as curling the haire to please your Concubines and harlots Inde est saith Bernard quem quotidie vides meretricius nitor Serm. 33 in Cant. histrionicus habitus regius apparatus inde aurum in franis in sellis in calcaribus Thence is it as thou maiest daily see that they be trimmed like whoores attyred like plaiers serued like Princes thence is it that they were gold in their bridles saddles spurs This hath no Lutheran vttered but deuote Bernard himselfe concerning the Romish maners and that you may know the fruits of this your doctrine heare what Aeneas Syluius saith in the place before quoted Plures saluarentur in sacerdotio coniugato qui nunc in sterili Presbiterio damnantur Many might be saued in married Priesthood which now are condemned in barren Priesthood Panormitan also saith that ex lege continentiae by the lawe of continencie Priests are defiled with vnlawfull copulation but because I desire breuitie I referre you to Gildas the title of his booke i◠Acris inuectio in Ecclesiasticum ordinem a sharpe inuectiue against the Ecclesiasticall order Thus M. Doctour it had bin good for you to haue concealed this prophane doctrine of your impure priesthood You say further that the Romane religion teacheth restitution of goods wrongfully gotten so doe we teach and say with Augustine Non remittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum the sinne is not forgiuen without restitution and therefore you slaunder vs most detestably saying that we leaue all at large to our followers To proceede the cathohke Romane religion teacheth obseruation of vowes and promises so doe we of lawfull vowes and promises but otherwise we say in
other knaueries Verily M. Doctor I doubt not but that you know many of your men to haue beene hanged for treasons and that your owne conscience can tell you that our godly ministers pray whilst your Cardinalls are in bedde with their harlots If the Vicar of Waram had his trull from coleman hedge let him answer such a filthie fact himselfe charge not our religion with his actions I lament M. Doctor from my heart the vsurie symonie that is practised with many as also the excessiue pride in apparrell the traines verdingalls borders periwingles coronets wyers and ruffes which are spoken against by the syncere preachers of the Gospel and I know none practise these more then Atheists or Papists and it is vtterly false that it came in with our Gospel The holy prophet Esai hath sharply rebuked this intollerable pride as you may see in his 3. chap. will you therefore M. Doctor say that the doctrine of the holy prophet was naught because pride did so abound in his time I hope you will remember your selfe But Erasmus say you Epistles condemneth sinnes in Euangelicall people and so doe we in whome soeuer they are as he condemneth sinnes in the Euangelicall people so doth he commend Luther whome you say to haue ledde a brutish life Hominis vita saith he magno omnium consensu probatur iam id non leve praeiudicium est tantam esse morum integritatem vt nec hosteâ— reperiant quid calumnientur Luthers life is approoued by the consent of all men and that is no small praeiudice that his integritie is soe great that the enemies cannot slaunder it Touching his marriage hee married not to please you but to please God in holy matrimony Augustine writeth of virgins which are sory for their vowe Cap. 39. de sanct virg vt melius nuberent quam vrerentur That they should doe better to marrie then to burne and in his booke de bono vid 8. 9. chap. hee teacheth that they which marrie after a vowe doe contract true matrimony though therefore he maried a Nunne yet was his marriage true whatsoeuer you bring from Iouinian his lawes the Doctor which I had allmost forgotten demandeth what womaÌ„ is married without touch of her honestie yea saith he it is well if she had not a barne before These questions Master Doctour touch your honeste neerely for the world can controwle these vanites as like wise other in the end of your chapter where you say that if a Seminarie Priest turne to vs he drinketh vp sinne as the dogge lappeth vp water but on the other side if any doe leaue the protestants and become a Catholike he doth leaue all his vices These vntruthes deserue not any answer but graunt them to be true yet is religion truth whatsoeuer wickednes the men that professe it are giuen vnto And whereas you haue spoken of pride Laurentius Valla de Constat donat saith thus Existimo c. I thinke the deuils would expresse the pride of the Cleargie if they acted any plaies in the aire The 17. reason Constancie in Doctrine That the doctrine of the Romane Church hath euer remained without change it is as false as it is true that in the Apostles time the Romans faith was reported through the world To shew that the Romish Church hath swarued from that faith which the Apostles spake of the Epistle it selfe is sufficient who listeth to coÌ„pare the doctrine which now the papists hold with the holy doctrine taught in that Epistle shal see differences inough to shew the time of the change and alteration is nedeles for we see it with our eyes but because the Doctor saith that noe man can prooue that euer any pope or byshop in any See did at any time change in any point of religion of his predecessor I will name vnto him one poynte changed Gregory would not be called vniuersall bishop yet his successor Boniface was so called heare you haue a pope which altereth a point in religion August 157. ep Greg. l. 1. epist 4â— to giue you another point pope Zozimus held that Nemo redemptus dici potest nisi qui verè per peccatum fuerit captivus Mo man can be called redeemed except he hath bin in trueth a captiue in sinne yet Pope Sixtus taught the Virgin Marie not to be conceiued in sinne ergo shee cannot be called redeemed To touch some other charges Gregorie saith it was heard that the subdeacons of Sicilie should not be married he gaue them leaue to marrie although his predecessors had forbidden it Yet is this thing againe changed for nowe subdeacons haue no wiues Pope Vrban the 4. instituted the feast of the Lords body and the solemne Precession What should I speake of Images and the peoples consent in election of ministers that the people did giue voices it is plaine by Bellarmines confession lib. de Cleric cap. 17. and that in Gregories time By these fewe examples euery man may see a change I will not produce any moe because the Doctor named but one point And why should we not thinke of a change in points of religion seeing one Pope would change the acts of another Stephanus did most cruelly persecute Formosus and made all his ordinations voide and saith Sigebert Sigebert Alia in euÌ„ horribilia dictu fecit He did other horrible things to be named against him Pope Iohn afterward confirmed Formosus his actes then commeth Sergius and maketh all voide again this saith Sigebert is dictu nefas a most horrible thing to be spoken of Thus M. Doctor you may see alterations in Popes if you wil but read your owne men I could alleadge confessions out of Bellarmine himselfe but I haue handled them in other places and desire breuitie I reduce your reasons into a syllogisme They which alter some opinions are of a false religion But some Protestants haue altered some opinions Ergo I denie the proposition for who can discommend this thing that a man should vpon good grounds change his opinions Nunquam saith the Orator praestantibus viris laudata est in vna sententia perpetua permansio Excellent men neuer commend perpetuitie in one opinion As constancie is good so pertinacie is badde You will giue the Poets leaue malè tornatos incudi reddere versus to renue bad verses and will you not giue diuines leaue to change their opinions praestat recurrere quà m male currere it is better to runne backe then to runne a wrong way Augustine an excellent Father hath written bookes of Retractions yet Protestants may not alter any opinions but they are by and by heretickes Whitak coâ—â— Du. Luther desireth that his bookes may be reade cum multa miseratione with much compassion because he was once a Monke no maruaile though he changed his opinions seeing he was traind vp in blindnesse And yet as the Doctor here himselfe sheweth he came from condemning one errour in Poperie vntill he condemned many If Luther had chaÌ„ged
A QVARTRON OF REAsons composed by Doctor HILL vnquartered and prooued a quartron of follies by Francis Dillingham Bachelour of Diuinitie August in Senten Inimici Ecclesiae si tantummodo adversantur male sentienda exercent eius sapientiam The Churches enemies if they be onely her aduersaries by false opinions doe exercise her wisdome HINC · LVCEM · ET · POCVLA · SACRA Printed by IOHN LEGAT Printer to the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1603. And are to be sold at the signe of the Crowne in Pauls Church-yard by Simon Waterson TO THE RIGHT HOnourable and my very good Lord OLIVER Lord S. Iohn Baron of Blettenshoe Grace and peace THe paines of Papists Right Honourable in propagating the Romish religion should mooue sincere Protestants to be painefull in defending the truth of the eternall God who in hiâ— rich mercie amongst other innumerable benefits bestowed vpon this land hath giuen vs the benefit of his holy word not in a strange tongue as it was in the daies of Poperie but in our mother tongue that it may be a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our paths This light the Papists haue laboured to extinguish by treasons by writings and all meanes that they could vse but blessed be God frustra illis est they are deceiued Now least it should seeme strange to any that heretikes should be so laborious in auouching heresie may it please him to consider that Idolaters haue bin studious in maintaining their idolatrie Ieroboam made two calues 1 King 12. the one of them he placed at Bethel and so made it Bethauen the other at Dan and so made it a denne of Idolaters The Israelites offered their children to Moloc behold the rage of idolatrie If men could be content that their children should be sacrificed vnto idols shall we thinke it strange that some should write bookes to subuert the truth of religion Wherefore to leaue this point and to returne to that which I said in the beginning that the labours of Papiâ—ts should be a spurre to Protestants to defend the Gospel now publikely authorized in England Why should not we be as carefull for Gods glorie as they are for the glorie of their purple whore But I feare some are like the beete which is good both in winter and sommer others haue bought farmes or it may be haue married wiues that is they are so addicted to the world and to their pleasures that they haue no leisure to write I would these men would consider of Christ his commandement Negotiamini donec venero vse trafficke vntill I come But to leaue these loyterers in the Lords vineyard vpon the forenamed consideration I haue endeauoured my selfe to answer a booke called a Quartron of Reasons for the Catholike religion which booke as I dedicate to your Honour so I humbly desire you to accept the same as a token of my dutifull minde towardes you The author of this pestilent pamphlet commendeth the Romish religion for peace dâ— privil 〈◊〉 yet Theodoricus de Niem saith that vnum patet one thing is manifest after the suppression of the Imperiall power nothing but factions did spring vp in the Catholike Church especially in Italie And as he is not ashamed to lie in this point so doth he also in saying that in England all were Papists without exception from the first christening thereof vntill this age of king Henrie the eight yet Ministers were married many hundred yeares in England as M. Camden sheweth in his Britannia in many places In the 129. page of the third edition he prooueth that ante annum 1102. sacerdotibus vxores in Anglia non fuerunt interdictae Ministers were not restrained from marriage before the yeare of our Lord a 1102. And as Ministers were married so Transubstantiation was not acknowledged likewise a long time as may be seene by Aelfricus his epistle against the bodily presence Moreouer the author as he laboureth to disgrace all Protestants in generall so especially he inueyeth against Luther wherefore to stoppe the mouthes of Papists I will set downe the testimonie of Langius a Papist concerning Luther First he saith that he was vir venerandus profundissimus Theologus a reuerend man and most profound Diuine Afterward he writeth thus Martinus ille theologorum nostrae tempestatis omnium facile princeps doctrinam suam Evangelicis testimoniis divi Apostoli Pauli necnon priscorum orthodoxorum patrum originalibus dictis roborans comprobans perstitit invictus The same Martin the most wise ringleader of the diuines of our age confirming and strengthening his doctrine with testimonies out of the Gospel and out of S. Paul the Apostle and also with the originall sayings of the ancient orthodoxall fathers perfisted invincible This testimonie may suffice to cleare Luther from the friuolous quarrels that this slanderer hath written against him Bellarmine maketh the confession of the aduerse part to be a note of the Church Hence then are we prooued the Church by this confession of Langius The same author exceedingly commendeth Hierome of Prage saying that he was orator eloquentissimus atque acerrimus dialecticus adeo quod nullus doctissimorum virorum in Concilio disputando eum superare poterat He was the most eloquent Orator and fine Logician that the learnedest man in the Councell could not ouercome him in disputation Mutius his testimonie of the same man is worthie to be heard Erat saith he Hieronymus vir eloquentissimus insignis cum in omni philosophiae genere tum praecipue in sacris literis Hierome was a most eloquent and famous man in all philosophie but especially in the holy Scriptures Now what cause this proud Papist hath to vaunt of their owne learning and to disgrace the Protestants let euery man iudge seeing Protestants by the Papists owne confession haue beene such famous men Lastly not to be long the author of this booke extolleth the holinesse of their religion touching which point let that ancieÌ„t writer Aronobius speak who in his seuenth booke hath this sentence Crescit multitudo peccantium cum redimendi peccati spes datur facile itur ad culpas vbi est vaenalis ignoscentium gratia Sinners doe much encrease when there is hope giuen to redeeme their sinnes and men easily commit faults where pardons are sold Then is the Romish religion dissolute which selleth pardons Not to proceede any further the Lord multiplie his graces vpon you and your vertuous Ladie to your soules good and the benefit of his Church Your Honours euer to command Francis Dillingham THE FIRST REASON Of Prophesies IF M. Doctor had contended pondere argumentorum and not multitudine with sound arguments and not with a multitude he might happily haue perswaded some to his religion whereas now by reason of the weaknes of his reasons he hath rather hindred many from the same then moooued any vnto it That which is commonly said of pictures hath a fit place in this worke of doctor Hill Picturae eminus
his minde at his death it had beene something but seeing he continued constant against the Popish doctrine it is a sure argument of his setled minde against that religion although he could not see all errours at the first Maruaile not then M. Doctor though by little and little he taught against your erroneous doctrines Augustine saith that nemo nisi imprudens quia mea errata reprehendo Lib. 1. Retract me audebit repreheÌ„dere No man that is wise wil find fault with me because I finde fault with my selfe Touching the alteration of the Communion booke we haue made no great alteration these fourtie yeares of it And yet knowe we M. Doctor that ceremonies and matters of indifferencie may be changed so oft as the Church shall see cause But say you who so doeth obserue daiely the order thereof is a cold Protestant or an Atheist for his labour This sauoureth of your accustomed railing and therefore deserueth no answere As for the communion in leauened or vnleauened bread heare your angelicall Doctor Thomas non est de necessitate Sacraments Tertia Pâ— 74. art 4. quod sit azimus vel fermentatus panis quia in vtroque confici potest conueniens autem est vt vnusquisque seruet ritum suae Ecclesia It is not of the necessitie of the Sacrament that it should be either vnleauened or leauened bread but it is conuenient that euery man obserue the rite of his church in the celebration of the Sacrament That some in stead of wine take in the communion nappie ale it may be true in Papists but I knowe no protesants that doe it and as for placing the Communion table and praying with a mans face either towards the south or north be matters of indifferencie Walfridus Strabo writeth of this point thus Vnusquisque suâ— sensu abundet Let euery man abound in his owne sense Yea he sheweth that the altars did not looke all one way but there followeth a great matter concerning reuerend Iewel who first gloried that Christs flocke was little but afterwards vaunted much that our doctrine must needes be true because it was spread so largely As though this reuerend man might not auouch Christs flocke to be sometimes little See Sâ—câ— in his 5. booke and sometimes to be large But if this be such inconstancy I pray you learne M. Doctor that your selues were woont to prooue you to be the Church because of vniuersalitie But nowe your Rhemists seeing Antichrists kingdome lessended will needs prooue your selues the Church vpon the 20. of the â—eueâ— because of the small number Thus is vnconstancie turned vpon your owne heades for indeed it seemeth that you care not what you write to discharge the Pope from beeing Antichrist The same Rhemists will one while haue the reuolt of which Paul speaketh 2. Thessal 2. chap. to be vnderstood from the Romane Empire immediately they say it is very like to be from the Romane Church O admirable constancie What should I examplifie your inconstancie howe Saints heare our praier one whiles they heare them this way another whiles that way These you may read in Bellarmine himselfe the constancie of worshipping of your Images is vncoÌ„stant as I can prooue vnto you Luther his change of opinions I haue answered before the old prouerb may heare fitly be vsed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no one man seeth all things and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the second cogitations are best I will requite the Duke of Saxonie his speech with another it is reported saith Gryneus that he should say Although I am not ignorant that there haue both errours and abuses crept into the Church yet I will not imbrace that Gospel which Luther preacheth Thus the man as I thinke with whose saying you ende your chapter M. Doctor hath done you more harme then good The 18. reason False Prophets and teachers As the Prophets and Apostles and Christ himselfe foretolde that in the later daies there should come false Prophets so we find it by experience Now let vs see whether the notes of false Prophets agree to your selues or vnto vs. To prooue that they agree vnto vs you frame this reason They which come vnsent are false prophets But the Protestants come vnsent ergo The assumption is prooued because we haue neither ordinary or extraordinarie callings Extraordinarâ—e calling we haue none because we worke no miracles that we haue no ordinarie calling it is plaine I answer that Luther Zuinglius and some others were ordained Elders by your selues And therefore they were called ordinarily According to your calling if they were Elders they might preach true doctrine for I hope you ordained not them to preach false doctrine If they lost their ordination because they renounced poperie then haue you lost yours much more because you haue renounced Christs doctrine But I thinke you will not say that they lost their ordination because of your indelible character the Sacraments which imprint this cannot be repealed one of which you make Orders But I would not haue you to thinke that we esteeme so much of your calling as that we regard it beeing corrupt The wicked asked Christ for his authoritie Mat. 21. He that preacheth the Apostles doctrine hath authoritie enough the estate of this church beeing corrupted so that he cannot haue that calling which he would He that is sent to preach may not hold his tongue and tarrie till your Lord the Pope and his mitred fathers can inteÌ„d to consent But you require miracles I answer that Iohn Bapt. did no miracle Thom. 3. 3â— quaest art 2. resp ad 2. giueth this reason Si Iohannes signa fecisset homines ex aequâ— Iohanni Christo attendissent If Iohn had done any miracles men would haue equally attended to him and to Christ It is sufficient that our doctrine is confirmed by Christs miracles Further M. Doctor our preachers were called by the Christian Magistrates whose allowance they had which to be warrantable your selues cannot denie But why doe I followe this point any further Coster a papist confesseth that Quanquam plerique haereticorum Episcopi presbyteri doctores ex ordine munus officium docendi acceperunt nulli tamen facultas data est noua decreta fabricandi sed hoc tantùm candidè sincerè tradendi quod ei qui misit probatur Although many Bishops Elders and Doctors of haeretickes haue receiued orderly the dutie to teach yet to no man is power giuen to make newe opinions but sincerely to deliuer that which is approoued vnto him that sent him Wherefore you reiect our calling prooue that we coyned newe opinions Eusâ—b l. 6. 1â— cap. Origen taught before he was ordained Elder when the Church was sound Demetrius reprehended Alexander Bishop of Hierusalem and Theodistus of Caesarea for suffering him so to doe but they defend themselues and shewe that it may be done ad commodandum fratribus to profit the brethren If this might be done in Constituta Ecclesia in an
and the merit of his passion beeing content with one of them himselfe giueth the other to me I wish all Papists and Monkes for their saluation sake were of Bernards minde and I thinke this is to recant Monachisme for Monkes looke for saluation by their merits and workes Lib. 2. de grat c. 15. I will set downe that excellent place of Luke with Bellarmines glosse vpon it Feare not little flocke it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome Verbum complacuit nomen pater vocubula illa pusillus grex indicant gratiam non Justitiam The word it pleaseth the nowne father and these words little floke shewe grace not iustice Thus the kingdome of heauen is an inheritance giuen vs of our Father not deserued by vs. The last lie is some Protestants affirme the Fathers to haue thought otherwise then they wrote this is true of Papists For the Rhemists beeing pressed with Chrysostomes authoritie for the reading of Scriptures by Laymen say that he spake as e pulpit mā and not as a teacher belike pulpit men speake not that which they thinke Let the Reader then iudge whether you say the Fathers spake as they thought or no. For further triall of this I referre the Reader to that which I haue alleadged out of Bellarmine concerning the Fathers in the Reason of Fathers Hierom in his apologie to Paumichius saith that some things are spoken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for exercise sake and other things for opinions sake ergo the fathers spake not all things dogmatically but some things rhetorically Nazianzen also biddeth his chaire farewell The rest of the chapter concerneth Luther whose speeches haue beene somewhat vehement but not knowing the reason which he might haue to vse such I can neither absolue him nor condemne him for them I will now set downe popish lies I begin with the Doctors in the first chapter he saith that in England it is manifest that all were Papists without exception from the first christening thereof vntil this age of King Henrie the eight This as I haue proued is a famous lie witnesse Wickliffe who liued in England and yet was he no papist The second lie is that hereticks haue euer taken their names of some one who began that heresie this is a lie for some heretickes as the Catharists are called of their sect and not of the author The third lie is in the third chapter the Catholikes haue euer kept vnitie and concord in such a peaceable manner as neuer any one in England or Ireland dissented or disagreed in any point of doctrine from him which liued in the vtmost parts of the East This is such a lie as needeth no manifestation of it Yet I will name one point more then I haue before Hart. Some papists in England held that the Pope may depose Princes others denie it The fourth lie is in the same chapter where he saith that all decrees of lawfull Councels and Popes doe agree in all points of doctrine one with another This I haue prooued a lie Fiftly in the 5. chapter he saith that all countreies which euer beleeued in Christ were first cōuerted to his faith by such as were either precisely sent or at the least wise had their authoritie from the Pope who liued in the time in which they were conuerted This I haue prooued a lie Sixtly in the same chapter he saith that Iesuites are executed in England onely in regard of their sacred function which to be a lie their owne bookes can testifie besides the confession of Papists Seauenthly in the fift reason he belieth M. Caluin calling him a Sere backt priest for Sodomie For I will omit the lie of persecution onely in England in the same chapter Eightly in the tenth chapter he saith that Catholike Romane religion is taught by all the auntient Fathers of the first second third fourth fift and sixe hundred yeares Ninthly in the 13. chap. he saith that we meddle litle with restitution of goods but leaue all at large to our followers without restraint of any such crime 10. In the same chapter he saith the Protestant teacheth the landlord to doe what he listeth with his own 11 In the same place he saith that we teach not reward of good and bad life in the world to come which all men can testifie to be a lie although we disclaime the merit of good works yet we teach the merit of sinne 12 In the 14. Reason he saith that we denie the perpetuall virginitie of Marie which is an vntruth In the 15. Reason he hath many lies first that we haue nothing but a number of pelting obiections taken out of Caluins Institutions or out of the Magdebursens or some hereticall pamphlet Secondly he saith that we trouble our selues with nothing but with the controuersies of this time Thirdly that Protestants doe scarce vnderstand the tearmes of learned sciences which others doe fully possesse Fourthly he saith that the Clergie in Queene Maries time was more learned then now it is Fiftly he saith that the most learned Doctor of them all is vtterly ignorant of schoole diuinitie Sixtly he saith that the Protestant neuer medleth with cases of conscience but fraighteth his ship onely with faith and neuer beateth his braine about sinnes In the sixteenth Reason he saith that all the ministers nowe are naught yea he asketh in the same chap. what woman is nowe married without touch of her honestie I will gather no moe lies out of this Doctor I will set downe some out of other Papists The Rhemists vpon the sixt of Luke write that Protestants are wont to say All is very easie which is a lie Againe say they the Protestants thinke that to burne is to be tempted onely which is a lie 1. Cor. 7. Thirdly vpon the 9. chap. of the first epist of Paul to the Cor. they say that protestants will not haue men worke well in respect of reward at Gods hands which is a lie I desire thee Christian reader to read the Rhemists annotatiōs where thou shalt finde many slaunders but I delight not in these things Bellarmine affirmeth that Caluin maketh God the author of fin againe he saith that Caluin holdeth that the saints departed are not blessed he saith also that he died calling vpon the deuill which are monstrous lies Genebrard accuseth Caluin of errour in saying that the sonne of God is God of himselfe Bellarmine defendeth Caluine against Genebrard nowe let euery man iudge of this syllogisme They which are lyars are of a false religion But the Papists are lyars ergo Christian reader I would not haue vsed this tearme of lying so often but that I haue beene vrged by the Doctor For railing I referre thee to M. Hardings workes as also to Doctor Stapletons writings against M. Doctor Whitakers in which thou maist see the spirit of papists The 20. reason Keeping in memorie Gods benefits That the memorie of Gods benefits is carefully to
testifieth Arrias Montanus added to the 14. psalme whole sentences but this corruption was soone espied this was done to prooue the Hebrew text corrupt and to iustifie the latine translation approoued of Papists Who almost but bold Papists durst haue coyned scripture I thinke this is to proceede against conscience Latomus a Papist blasphemed out of a pulpit and was suddainly madde and died in despaire What should I speake of Franciscus Spira and others Hasinmullerus giueth many examples of papists who haue proceeded against their consciences The blessed deaths of Luther Zwinglius Oecolampadius Caluin Melancthon Bullinger Cranmer Ridely Bradford Philpot Iuell Pilkington Grindall Dearing and diuers other doe manifest that Protestants proceeded not against their knowledge To returne to Papists out of the forenamed author namely Hasinmullerus euery one may behold the strange endes of these men Stephanus Agricola beeing an Apostata drowned himselfe in the sea One Gaspare Franke confessed that he did and wrote many things against his conscience Turrian wished that he had neuer reade the Augustan confession c. Sadel his workes when I found these things to be true to vse your wordes I thought it better to adventure my selfe with Christians who haue quiet consciences then with desperate Papists who proceed against their consciences The 22. reason Vnreuerent dealing The Papists reuerence vnto God and Christ is such as was that of the Iewes who platted a crown of thornes and put it on Christs head to make him a king euen so the Papists make Christ a Sauiour but they giue not the whole worke of saluation vnto him which indeede is to dishonour Christ But forsooth they pretende to honour his Saints if they doe soe let them not make them Sauiours for this in trueth is to dishonour them The Saints honour consisteth not in false worshippe but in giuing all glorie to God That which Lactantius writeth of Angels is true of Saints Nullum sibi honorem tribui volunt quorum honor in Deo est They wil haue no honour giuen to them whose honour is in God We honour Saints by praising God for their vertues and by imitating them but we make not their merits the treasure of the Church neither doe we call vpon them As for reuerence vnto holy water pictures crosses images I say with Esay who required these things at your hands The Doctor in truth hauing nothing to say against vs raileth spitefully saying that we enter into Churches with no greater reuerence then men enter into Tauerns not contenting himselfe with this vnchristian lie he proceedeth auouching if any kneele it is but vpon thornes for full soone are they vp againe and then with their hats vpon their heads they either iangle or talke or walke as if they waited to see when the plaiers would come forth vpon a stage or else these good fellowes goe to the alehouse where now and then they finde their minister drinking his morning draught before he goe to his seruice to drinke a pot or two of nappie ale that thereby they may the better hold out seruice time Christian Reader to recite these reuiling speeches is to refute them and they which frequent the alehouse with vs are Papists and Atheists if any Protestants do so I wish them to amend whether they be ministers or laiemen Besides he hath many moe rayling words against the reuerend Bishops as that Barons and noble men disdaine their companie surely M. Doctor I blesse God that you haue no sound matter to obiect against the Protestants but such vanities as the world can controll Our Bishops and ministers are as highly esteemed with true Christians as Popish Prelates with their fauorites Vertue and learning maketh a man reuerend which in many Popish Bishopps to be wanting we see with our eies But let vs nowe see howe the Papists reuerence holy things speaking of such they vsually say the holy bread the holy Scriptures the holy Gospell and the holy Angels it is well that you doe not so alwaies why then doe you blame the Protestants who doe say the holy bible and vse this word holy whē it is to be applied vnto things that are so if they do not alwaies so you can not blame them more then your selues seeing this word is not alwaies added by you Marke your reasons M. Doctor and you shall finde them without this title holy The Prophesies of the old Testament Scriptures Fathers if this be such a hainous crime not alwaies to adde this word holy you are guiltie of it your selfe As for the French men I thinke they doe not well to call the Saints after this manner Mounsieor S. Peter Master Saint Peter or my Lord S. Peter for it is no tearme of ciuill or temporall authoritie but a religious and diuine honour in religion God is our onely Lord and Master and we will not giue saluation and redemption but onely vnto him The comparison which the Doctor maketh of a countriman calling her Maiesties Nobles Treasurer Keeper Admirall and so forth is not worth any answer wherefore I leaue it and say with Bernard Maria falso non eget honore honora vitae integritatem Marie needeth no false honour honour her entire life So say I honour the saints by imitating their vertues the honour that I desire to giue to saints is to followe their vertues The 23. reason Resembling in Doctrine and deedes olde Heretickes This Chapter is duely to be considered because we are said to differ little or nothing from olde Heretickes both in doctrine and deedes if you could prooue this then were the Protestants case very hard but it shall be God willing made euident that you resemble olde Heretickes and not Protestants The first heresie is that we hold with Simon Magus what monstrous impudencie is this M. Doctor to charge vs will Simō Magus his opinions he held that men were saued by his grace if they did acknowledge him the Sauiour of the world Doe we teach any such thing we ascribe saluation to no other but onely to Christ If you had that conscience which you pretend you would not thus abuse your selfe The second heresie is we are Nouatians because we renounce the Pope I might crie out vpon these lewd and lowd lies Nouatius as Philastrius writeth 34. chap. taught Non esse fideli post Baptismum locum aliquem paenitentiae After baptisme there was no place of repētance for the faithfull The third heresie is that we denie freewill with the Manichees but the Manichees taught that sinne came not from freewill but from a substance which doctrine we renounce and teach that we haue freewill to sinne Lib. 1. c. 6. But you deale with vs as the Pelagians dealt with the auntient Church For Faustus a Pelagian charged the Church with Manichisme because it taught the will of man to be made sound by meere grace and not of it selfe Thus would you charge vs with Manichisme as proud Pelagians The fourth heresie is that with Arrius
we denie praier for the dead I answer if Arrius tooke away thankesgiuing for the dead we hold not as he did but if he denied praier for those that were in fained Purgatorie we hold no such place Philastrius chargeth him with condemning of marriage and Augustine with Arrianisme these opinions we detest The fift heresie is that we make no difference of sinnes with Iouinian neither doe we make virginitie any better then marriage I answer that we teach a difference of sinnes some to be greater some to be smaller but we disclaime the opinion of veniall sinnes And if this be heresie then as I haue prooued both fathers and some papists are heretickes Touching virginitie we teach with Paul 1. Cor. 7. that pure virginitie is to be preferred before marriage although we hold that marriage is better then single life where virginitie or chastitie are not kept but counterfeited The sixt heresie is that we despise all holy reliques of Saints with Vigilantius I answer first that Augustine Philastrius and other doe not reckon him amongst heretikes It is not eftsoone heresy if one man calleth it so Hierom calleth Ruffinus an heretike yet M. Harding saith it is straunge so to doe Secondly I answer that if Vigilantius would haue Saints reliques cast vpon the dunghill we hould not with him as for tending of tapers and setting vp of waxe candles Hierom imputeth it to the simplicitie of some laye men and deuoute women that had zeale but not according to knowledge Thus you approoue that which Hierom excuseth Lastly S. Hierom is so hotte against Vigilantius that Erasmus is fayne to saie Conuicijs debacchatur Hieronimus Hierom raileth without measure The seuenth heresy is that we denie with Eutyches the oblation of the sacrifice and the hallowing Chrisme But therefore are we not Eutichians who confounded Christes natures and turned his humanitie into his Deitie as for Pelagianisme and Donatisme we haue nothing to doe with them for Pelagius denyed originall sinne which we teach to be in infants and the Donatists held the Catholike church to be onely in Aphrica and to haue perished out of the whole world we hould noe such thing Nowe I haue finished the doctrine of the ould heretckes in which christian reader thou mayst behold the slaunderous tonge of the Doctor who without conscience when he could not charge vs truly with heresy hath inuented lies for may part these slaunders driue me more and more from Popery and I beseech thee by thy saluation that they way preuaile so with thee Hereafter I must speake of the deedes and manners of heretickes first we are like to Paulus Samosetanus who desired great applause of his hearers for proofe that he did so Eusebius is cited but there is no such thing in Eusebius If this be the manner of hereticks then are Papists hereticks who as it is manifest by the Doctor desire applause of men for learning in so much that they breake out into their owne praises after a most insolent manner as for the protestants they doe noe such thinge and therefore they resemble not this hereticke if hee did so Secondly we are like to the Donatists who ouerthrew aultars the trueth is Christian Reader the altars which the Donatists destroied were not of stone as Popish altars are but were tables of wood such as we haue S. Augustine maketh this plaine in his 50. epistle Thus M. Doctor you see howe your owne quotations make against your selfe By this testimonie we may learne what to thinke of the popish sacrifice as for the Donatists refusing to come to Councels we doe not so but vnfainedly desire a free generall Councell and haue giuen sufficient reasons why we came not to the Councel of Trent The crueltie of the Donatists towards the Catholikes fitly agreeth to papists who after a most sauadge manner haue murdered protestants as the Lord wil one day make manifest to the world As for Claudius de sanctis his testimonie we regard it not The rest of the chapter concerneth the destroying of Idolatrie and Luthers arrogancie with other vaine matters as disputing of women and finding fault with priests liues but I haue answered sufficiently concerning Idolatrie and therefore it is a wicked slaunder that we are like vnto Iulian the Apostatâ— as for the disputing of women let Theodoret answer who plainly testifieth that women did dispute of diuinitie That which the doctor counteth a fault Theodoret approoueth of saying thou maist see our opinions to be held of women and handmaides I wish that women were so cunning in religion that they could mildly and christianly dispute of the same But there remaineth a perilous matter ould heritikes were inquisitiue and desirous to heare of the sinnes and faults of priests and of other Ecclesiasticall persons I will not stand to examine the trueth of this whether heretickes were so inquisitiue or no onely knowe Christian Reader that this sauoreth of Manichisme for the Manichees said Lib. 2. de Maâ— as Augustine sheweth non oportet omnino quaeri c. we must not inquire at all what men they are that professe the Manichees sect but what the profession is The papists would faine haue their wicked liues hidden from men but they cannot for as ignis tunica celari non potest fire cannot be kept in the garment so sinne cannot be concealed in vaine therefore M. Doctor you go about to haue your faults concealed the more you desire this the more men will enquire into your actions because you giue iust cause so to doe Thus hauing answered your accusation of heresie I wil set downe no faine dbut true heresies which you hould Bellar. lib. 2. de purg cap. 6. houldeth that it was true Samuell which appeared vnto Saul this Philastrius maketh an heresie as it is plaine 26. haer Where he prooueth that the soules of the righteous are in the hands of God Secondly the prodiants did vse the booke of Syrach Philastrius haer post Christ 9. soe did the papists as it is manifest in so much that they make the booke canonicall scripture Thirdly the heritickes Angelici did worship Angells August 38. haer so doe the papists as it is euident Fourthly the heritickes called Apostolici taught by practise a communitie of goods so doe the Monkes for they possesse not any thing Fiftly the Euthits would not labour with their hands no more will the idle Monkes Sixtly the Pelagians taught that a man may fulfill the law of God and so doe the Papists yea they vse the Pelagians arguments and answers as I haue prooued in other places Seauenthly the Pepulians permitted priesthood to women August 27. haeres so doe the papists permit women to baptize Eightly Carpocrates did worship the Images of Iesus and of Paul Iren. lib. 1. cap. 24. so doe the Papists Ninthly the heretickes called Apocryphi would not haue the Canonicall Scriptures onely to be read but certaine Apocryphall workes Philast haeres 40. So the Papists will haue Apocryphal bookes to
presence because the wordes were so plaine and why hath the text bin so tossed that out of it alone there hath bin wronge foure score different opinions I doubt you can hardly shewe so many opinions M. Doctor but graunt it yet a plaine text may not bee vnderstood of euery one and if the text be so plaine as you would haue it howe commeth it to passe that there are so many different opinions also among your selues for you know not howe to expound the word this as I haue prooued in an other worke Scotus confesseth that before the Lateran councell transubstantiation was no matter of faith ergo the wordes this is my body prooue it not Lactantius crieth out after this manner O quam difficilis est ignorantibus veritas quam facilis scientibus O how hard is truth to the ignorante but how easie to the skilfull truth then may be easie in it selfe though difficult to some men Vpon this vaine question you haue made a foolish inference that we haue noe witnesses at all of our newe inuented doctrine but euery one his priuat fancy or conceit whereas the catholike Roman religion hath all things in the world witnesses of it This is a monstrous fable are you able to prooue that all which are in heauen were the children of your church and all that are in hell were enemies vnto it to examine particulars Ignatius you say was of your religion because in Ecclesiasticall affaires he would not haue the king equall to the Bishop and because he wrotte Ecclesiasticall traditions To the first I answer that the true Ignatius would not correct Salomons speech Prou. 24. My sonne saith Salomon honour God and the king but I say honour God and the Bishop as high Priest the true Ignatius was a man of greater religion then that he would haue corrected the scripture but any thing is good inough to patch vp poperie To the second place I answer that it beeing duely considered ouerthroweth the Papists opinion For Ignatius thought it necessarie that the Traditions of the Apostles that is their doctrine should be written for feare of corruption what then is become of vnwritten traditions For that this is the true meaning of Eusebius Grynaeus sheweth Eus l. 5. c. 23. Next vnto Ignatius is Irenaeus placed who is so farre from agnizing the Papall authoritie that he did Acriter Victorem reprehendere sharpely reprooue Victor the Romane Bishop because he excommunicated the Churches of Asia for keeping the feast of Easter in a diuers manner from Rome Would Irenaeus haue done this if the Popes authoritie had beene vniuersall As foâ— Victor if this be your argument he excommunicated the Churches of Asia ergo he was a papist you make a ridiculous reason The next argument of Policarpus his going to Rome is of the same moment for who knoweth not that many mens aduise is vsed who yet haue no authoritie ouer others That Saint Cyprian Syxtus Laurence with infinite others doe witnesse the Romane religion I denie Saint Cyprian is so farre from witnessing all points of poperie that as I haue prooued he is reiected of Papists From men the Doctor commeth to women affirming thousands to haue defended their virginitie against deuils and men What then were they Papists therefore To come to speciallities Helen you say founde out the Crosse Although that historie may be doubted of yet Helen was no Papist for shee did not worshippe the crosse because that was an heathenish errour if shee had beene a Papist shee would haue adored the crosse But the Mother of Augustine Saint Monica was a papist who after death requested that shee might haue Masse said for her here if you meane popish Masse M. Doctor you abuse your selfe most shamefully for shee desired onely a memorie of her at the Communion So had the Prophets and Apostles which were not in your fained Purgatorie By these fewe examples you haue prooued Protestancie then poperie as for the rest which you name Saint Paul the Eremit and others when you prooue them Papists we will beleeue it To your question demanding whether there were any Saints in heaueÌ„ before this our age which were not papists I answer that there were therfore you speake impiously to say that heauen was emptie vntil Luther shooke off his hood or if there were any they were Papists who reuealed these things vnto you M. Doctor Take heede of the pride of Lucifer who would ascend into heauen to know secrets they belong not vnto you The Apostles and Martyrs with thousands I doubt not were in heauen which I am sure were no Papists witnesâ—e their writings From heauen the Doctor commeth to hell I feare me without repentance a fit place for him This iolly fellowe knoweth not onely matters in heauen but also what is done in hell as it seemeth The heathen persecutors are in hell for persecuting the Catholike Church I doubt not but this Catholike Church is not the same with the Romish Church at this day there is ample difference betwixt these And that Constantine gaue great peace to the Church Theod. lib. 1. c. 7. it is true also but he was no Papist for he saith that the holy Scriptures teach vs plainely all things which concerne diuine matters Lastly that all Bishops vnder the cope of heauen were members of this Romish Church is a notorious vntrueth The Doctor to fill vp his reason numbreth many but prooueth not that which he saith The rest of the chapter is but a vaine flourish of words in which I take no delight To drawe his reason into a syllogisme is needlesse because in deede it hath neither head nor foote Amongest many vanities in the ende of the chapter the Doctor saith that he is a Papist because the Romish religion is the most beneficiall of all the rest Christian Reader I feare me that this indeed is the true cause why many are papists namely their commodities But this is sufficient to driue men from poperie that in regard of preferment by this Doctors confession he is a Papist M. Doctor I haue taken away your euidence for poperie for baptisme bindeth no man to falshood Wherefore I beseech you by your saluation choose rather with Moses to suffer affliction then to be the Popes white sonne which as it seemeth by your owne confession you doe because the Romish Religion is most gainefull Out vpon gaine against conscience the Lord open your eies to see the trueth FINIS An admonition to the Reader I desire thee Christian Reader if there be any faults of the Printer to impute them to him not to the author of this booke for he could not be present at the Presse