so difficill that I can assure my selfe of nothing which by mine owne industry I am able to attaine vnto much lesse find it so easie and plaine as to haue infallible assurance of what I conceiue wherefore I must of necessity seeke that assurance else where and take direction froÌ„ surer knowledge then mine owne or any my selfe can gather out of holy Scriptures otherwise I shall fashion molde out a very feeble and fickle Faith voide of all certainty Putasne intelligis quae legis saith St. Philip to the Eunuch Act. 8. Thinkest thou that thou vnderstandest what thou readest hauing the olde Testament in his hands Quomodo possum si non aliquis ostenderit mihi How can I saith the Eunuch In Apoc 2.5 vnlesse some body shall shew me Ego saith St. Hierome nec saÌ„ctior sum hoc Eunucho nec studiosior c. I am not holyer nor better studyed then this Eunuch and concludeth in these wordes These things I haue briefly mentioned to the end you may vnderstand that you caÌ„not enter the holy Scriptures without a guide and one who shall shew thee the way This I finding to be most true by all reason and experience in my selfe and diligent obseruation in others I bent my labours and study to finde out this happy guide which infallibly and without danger of erring would instruct me with the true meaning of holy Scriptures Perceiuing plainly therefore that the Protestants rule of Scriptures could not serue for this purpose I begin to examine what assuraÌ„ce Catholicks had for their beliefe or expositions whereupon they relyed 14 They confesse a plaine easie and infallible rule must guide in matters of Faith they say moreouer that cannot be any dead or dumbe writing be it neuer so Sacred for nothing can be written so plaine but in many clawses or passages it will beare seuerall constructions where seuerall constructions are there is ambiguity and doubt and consequently no such plainnesse and certainty as our Faith requireth neither can that writing when it is wrested against true meaning expound it selfe or determine any controuersie that about the Letter or sence thereof shall fortune to arise 15 This rule then must be a liuing rule able to expound it selfe and vnfold such doubts which in matters of Faith shall fall out And this I easily beleeued for my owne reason doth dictate that Almighty God would not vnder paine of Hell binde all men to beleeue aright and with a Diuine infallible beliefe and leaue no rule no meane no ground open to euery one and in it selfe infallible to establish his beliefe vpon and resolue the doubts thereto appertaining 16 This liuing Iudge can be no priuate man for warranty in such we haue none neither is there cause to expect more in one then in another moreouer that must needes dye and faile and so the rule of saluation perish and then the world to be left without meanes of accesse vnto Almighty God 17 A temporall or ciuill Common-wealth it cannot be for no one CoÌ„mon-wealth or temporall Congregation hath any colour of Authority out of Heauen to chalenge that priuiledge Againe no one Common-wealth hath continued since Christ but hath sufferd Change in the whole forme yea Religion and all and there is no cause to ascribe this security more to one CoÌ„mon-wealth then to another There remaineth only an Ecclesiasticall coÌ„munity to wit the Church of Christ whereupon Catholicks doe rely and assigne for this rule wherein as I doe confidently beleeue they are not deceiued whereunto I am induced by euident reason by manifest and apparant authority continuance of experience For the infallible Authority left in this Community we haue the expresse Promise of Almighty God in many places of holy Scripture for of this Church our most Blessed Sauiour saith St. Math. 16 Portae inferi non praeualebunt aduersus eam The Gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it Vitia saith St. Hierome peccatum c. In St. Math 16. St. Amb. lib. de bono mortis cap. 12. Epiâ—h in An. He meant by these Gates the vices sinnes and Doctrine of heretiques and the same in effect say the rest of the holy Fathers And St. Paul saith that Ecclesia Dei viui est columna firmamentuÌ„ veritatis quod manifestum est in Carne iustificatum est in spiritu apparuit Angelis predicatuÌ„ est gentibus creditum est in mundo assumptuÌ„ est in Gloria 1. Tim. 3. The Church of the liuing God the piller and ground of Truth and manifestly it is a great Sacrament of piety which was manifested in Flesh was iustified in Spirit appeared to Angels hath bin preached to Gentiles is beleeued in the world is assumed in Glory Quia ab illa In 1. Ti. 3. saith St. Ambrose firmantur in veritate omnes credentes For asmuch as from the Church all true Beleeuers are established in the Truth Ego vobiscum sum saith our Sauiour S. Math. 28. vlt. omnibus diebus vsque ad consummationeÌ„ seculi I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world Qui In Mat. 28. saith St. Hierome vsque ad consummationem mundi suam praesentia pollicetur illos ostendit semper esse victuros se nunquaÌ„ a credentibus esse recessurum Who promiseth his presence vnto the end of the world sheweth that they shall euer liue that himselfe will neuer depart from the faithfull St. Ioh. 14. And in another place he saith I meane Christ our most blessed Sauiour S. Chris hom 74. in Ioh. Ego rogabo PatreÌ„ c. I will aske the Father and he will giue you another Paraclete the spirit of Truth that he may remaine with you for euer which could not be meant of the Apostles only to whom it was spokeÌ„ St. Ciprian lib. 9. in Ioh. but of the succeeding Church whose person they beare and was to indure to the worlds end Non pro eis rogo tantum saith our Sauiour St. Ioh. 17. I doe not onely pray for them meaning his Disciples but for them also that by their word shall beleeue in mee that they all may be one as the Father in mee and I in thee that they also in vs may bee one as wee also are one And herein all holy Fathers doe assent and plainely thus vnderstand it 18 This promise of the holy Ghost St. Paul doth plainely testifie to be fulfilled when he saith thus Ephes 4. Christus ascendens in altum captiuaÌ„ duxit captiuitate dedit dona hominibus Christ ascending on high hee led captiuity captiue he gaue guifts vnto men where after a few wordes he addeth Ipse dedit quosdam quidem Apostolos c. he gaue some Apostles and some Prophets and other some Euangelists and other some Pastors and Doctors to the consummation of the Saints vnto the worke of the Ministry vnto the edifying of the body of Christ vntill wee meete all into
done what I haue beene able I am Seruus inutilis Luk. 17. au vnprofitable Seruant and Indignus vocari filius euis vnworthy to be called his Sonne The consideration whereof was long before it came into my minde for that I must not deny but that I spent much time in a most exorbitant course of life which I doe now from my heart repent and desire that Gods grace may neuer more depart from me so as I may for euer hereafter liue as an obedient not as a rebellious Child hauing so deare louing and tender and a Father who saith daily vnto me Psal 102. Qui propitiatur omnibus iniquitatibus tuis qui sanat omnes imfirmitates tuas quired mi de interitu vtam tuam qui coronat te in miserecordia miserationibus qui replet in bonis desidereum tuum c. That is Who is mercifull to all thy iniquities and who cureth all thy infirmities who redeemed thy life from Death who Crowneth thee in mercies and compassions who replenisheth thy desire in good thinges c. The remembrance of these thus skirmishing within me haue bin impregnable and irresistable motiues which pressed mee to determine vppon a more morrall worme wherby to measure the square of my life and these determinations made me thinke vpon Religion and Religion begat Deuotion and Deuotion brought with it a firme Resolution which Resolution being assisted by Almighty Gods grace hath wonne me to stand against all terrors temptations and which haue occasioned me to addresse these Lines vnto you whereby I doe intend to giue you a taste from what motiues and grounds I doe build my Faith which if you be able to refell I shall be very willing to belieue that a man may be saued in the Protestants Church which neither Scriptures Fathers Counsels or reason was euer able to make me vnderstand 1 Hauing therefore thus mispent my time and Quasi seruus nequam like to an euill seruant S. Math. 18. consumed my younger yeares yea the prime of my daies in vanity and irregularity It hath pleased Almighty God at the length to touch my heart with a due consideration of my mortality and with some care of eternity Insomuch as the more I seriously obserued the frailty and absurdity of the one the more inwardly I affected the loue and contentment of the other that finally I resolued to hunt after it albeit the passages and difficulties of my life were neuer so many resting now well perswaded That Nil prodest homini si vniuersum mundum lucreter animae vero suae detrimentum patiatur It auaileth nothing to gaine the whole world if a man make shipwracke of his owne Soule Ibidem 16. which to saue hereafter we are taught to saue heere That is to expose it to all afflictions contradictions which the world the Diuell or our owne sensuall appetite doe continually stirre vp against vs For much better it is for a man to enter into life euerlasting lame blinde or dismembred then to be plunged into the bottomlesse Pet of inquenchable sulphurous Hell with all our sences and members Ibidem 5. 2 These therefore and the like considerations incouraged me sincerely to seeke after Truth swayed neither with feare nor fauour but onely guided with that vnmouing Pole whose influence had touched my heart like vnto another Loadstone that howsoeuer these mortall waues tossed my vnsteddy barke the proofe of my affections euer bent that way I could very well haue contented my selfe to follow my appetite still But durum est contra stimulum calcitrare It is hard striuing against Almighty God and dangerous to harden our hearts against his calles Act. 9. Wherefore I yeeld my selfe saying Domine quid me vis facere What O Lord is thy pleasure I shall doe And herewith me thought I heard this comfortable answer viz. Dicitur tibi quid te oporteat facere Thou must be taught what thou must doe and taught I must be sithence the knowledge I sought after was aboue humane reach to comprehend and finde For these tidings came out of Heauen Vnigenitus qui est in suum Patris ipse enarrabit The onely begotten Son who is in the bosome of the Father hee will deliuer them Ioh. 1. and they onely can haue them S. Math. 11. Cui filius voluerit reuelare to whom it shall please the Sonne to reueale it Nobis autem reuelauit Deus pro spiritum suum Spiritus enim omnia scrutatur etiam profunda Dei But vnto vs hath God reuealed it by his Spirit for the Spirit tryeth all thinges yea the profundities of God 1. Cor. 2. Shewing that this knowledge could come from none other but only frō him alone 3 Thus then being desirous of this knowledge and perceiuing it not to be humane but Diuine Quemadmodum desiderat ceruus ad fontes aquarum Looke how the heart hasteth to the Fountaines of water Psal 41. Euen so earnestly did I thirst after some certaine rule guidance or direction whereby to be led or conducted by which meanes I might attaine vnto what soeuer humane industry could not aspire and this needeth no further proofe as being in it selfe manifest and by the joint and mutuall consent aswell of Catholicks as of Protestants receiued But of this Doctrine I collected further that this rule or direction we speake of must containe two seueral properties to make it auaileable for the end for which it is required First it must be plaine easie indifferently open or manifest to all the reason good for it must be a direction as well to the wise as to the simple to the Learned as to the ignorant sithence all these must before they can be saued be instructed in this supernaturall Science without which can be no accesse to grace Heb. 9. entrance into Heauen or possibility to please that Diuine Maiesty according as the holy Apostle teacheth vs and therefore the Prophet foretelleth of this way saying Esay 35. Et erit ibi semita via via sancta vocabitur c. And concludeth Haec erit vobis directa via ita vt stulti non errent per eam That is And there shall be in that place a path and a way that shall be your direct way so that fooles shall not erre in it The second property of this rule is that it must be certaine and infallible and the reason is for that the knowlege of our Faith depending thereupon must be certaine and infallible so as it may be no more subiect to error then truth it selfe is to falshood the credit thereof must be greater then of an Angell of Heauen Gal. 1. Licet nos saith St. Paul aut Angelus de Coelo euangelizet preterquam quod euangelizauimus vobis anathema sit If our selues or an Angell from Heauen shall Euangelize or Preach to you otherwise then wee haue Preached accursed let him be For if our Faith might be subiect to
the vnity of Faith and knowledge of the Sonne of God c. In these places it is euidently promised the assistance of the Holy Ghost the continuance of the Church the infallibility of her Faith Ephes 4. the assured Doctrine of her Pastors and Teachers to bring her Children in vnitatem Fidei into the vnity of Faith Wee haue likewise in Scriptures expresse commaundement giuen to these Pastors that they Act. 20. carefully attend vnto their Flocke and that they are to render an accompt of their soules 2. Tim. 4. Ezech. 33. which will be required at their hands if through their default they perish Wee on the contrary part haue the like commaund who are the Laity Heb. 13. S. Math. 18. St. August lib. 1. aduer Ioui Idem Epist ad Heliodox St. Cipri de vnit Eccle. Num. 3. to obey the Pastors to take direction Doctrine and instruction from them as appeareth in many places of Holy writ and that vnder paine of eternall Damnation Wherefore that Christian who followeth the direction of this Church and obeyeth her precepts fulfilleth Gods Commaundements and so consequently cannot erre nor the Church erre in that direction For if the Church could erre in that Direction and Doctrine then were wee bound by Gods Commaundement to imbrace error and from hence one or two absurdities must needes arise to wit either that by error and falshood we might be saued or else for obseruing Gods Commaundements we might be damned both which are most haereticall and apparant blasphemy 19 When I had found that this Church had the infallible promise of Almighty God for the integrity and certainty of her Doctrine for her continuance vnto the end that to her Pastors and Teachers was committed the care of Christ his Flocke that the said Flocke was straightly commaunded to obey them as their Spirituall guides that very affection wherewith they desired to be of this Flocke joyned mee to this Church and subjected me to this guidance that feare I had of mistaking the Truth so needfull for the health of my soule made me cleaue to the assurance of this Direction where the Spirit of God is to be my direction and guide and his lawfull Officers my instructors Now remaineth onely for me to learne out where this eminent Citty of God St. Math. 5. Super montem posita Placed or seated vpon an Hill and casting foorth splendour St. Luk. 1. Ad dirigendos pedes in viam pacis To direct our feete into the way of Peace was to be found and surely this Candle which is not S. Math. 5. Sub modio posita sed super candelabrum Put or hidden vnder a Eushell but set vpon a Candlesticke Vt iuceat eis qui in domo sient To giue light to those that are in the House was easie to be discerned and so it must bee if the promises of God were true or his prouidence sufficient for the sauing of such soules learned and vnlearned for whom hee shed his most precious Blood and dyed 20 The Church of Rome so celebrated knowne to the whole Christian world carrieth onely the testimonies of this Truth It hath knowne continuance with succession of Pastors from the beginning of Christianity vnto this day It hath preserued the holy Scriptures from corruption and deliuered them to posterity from hand to hand from age to age to these dayes wherein we liue St. Vincent Lyrinens aduersus propha haereses It hath consent vnity of Doctrine throughout the whole world the same preserued throughout all Ages notwithstanding the opposition of Herisie and infidelity wherewith it hath continually bin exercised It hath preuailed against all Sects and Heresies whatsoeuer and beate them downe as they sprung vp different each from other like vnto the prodigious heads of Hydra at all times It hath testimony of Miracles Beda lib. de Eccles hist whereby the better to confirme her Doctrine recorded by most venerable Fathers and approued Histories and annuals of all Ages It hath Sanctity and Innocency of life and Doctrine now sealed and crowned in the blood of the most glorious Saincts and Martyrs of Heauen and such as our aduersaries cannot deny to be such It hath the consent of all generall and prouinciall Counsels that haue euer bin lawfully gathered and approoued in all partes of the world Lastly it hath Vniuersality true Sacraments Sacrifice and all what euer markes the holy Fathers doe point our the true Church of Christ by euery of these seuerall signes most easie to be proued and in truth are manifest to him who will but peruse the Ecclesiasticall Histories of Times and Ages Euseb Zohomen Dorethe de hist enl which my selfe by examining finding to be most true cannot doubt of 21 Finally if this be not it on earth there is no true Church St. Chris in Hom. quadaÌ„ ad populam Antioch Christ hath deceiued vs the Apostles deluded vs the Fathers wronged vs and the promises of God haue failed For it is most manifest that no Congregation no Society no Sect no Doctrine hath continued from Christ downeward vnder the succession of Pastors with one and the same Sacraments vnder one forme of Gouernment but onely this And albeit some Sect hath for the time seemed powerfull as the Arrians Pelagians Donatists and many others yet were they no sooner sprouted vp but they were seuered into innumerable diuersities among themselues and at warres yea deadly fewd one against the other and it is not vnknowne vnto your good selfe but that Regnum in se diuisum must perish S. Math. 12 if we may beleeue our most Blessed and most mercifull Redeemer and so did they euery one in their turnes insomuch that the memory of them had not remained if that Catholicke Fathers in Confutations written against them had not recorded their Errors and preserued the infamous memory of the Authors 22 And what we doe finde true of all former Sectaries Luther in Epist ad Iohan Heruag is notorious in Martin Luther and his complyces for their differences implacable hatred each against other Tispogra Argent Zuingl vbi sâ—pra See a Treatise writteÌ„ by Doctor Stapleton called a discourse vpoÌ„ the Doctrine of Protest printed at Louan 12. of Nouember 1564. is at large discussed in their owne Writings to bee found in almost euery Booke-sellers shop Insomuch as since Luther among his progeny within one hundred yeares there are recorded more seuerall Sects I may truely say Heresies and more nouell opinions hatched and brought into the world by their abortiue meanes then in 1400. and odde yeares before And common experience sheweth that euery man being his owne caruer and Teacher shapeth vnto himselfe a Faith out of his owne Braines 23 And thus good Sir I not daring to doe for the reasons aboue mentioned and for the danger it importeth had none other hope to saue my soule but by committing my selfe to that guidance where so many assured
promises of Gods assistance doe both inuite and warrant me and so many infallible testimonies of his performance encourage mee to the same 24 Thus much Sir I haue deliuered and these reasons I haue alleadged for the better approbation of my motiues and thus much I haue set downe to the end you might vnderstand that I haue not done any thing which doth sauour either of temerity or passion but meerely out of true zeale and an earnest desire I haue to let you see how sollicitous I am to saue my soule which how sinfull so euer it is it hath pleased Christ our louing Sauiour to redeeme by the purchase hee made disbursing his owne most precious Blood Nor doe I in this stand vpon mine owne opinion but vpon the Iudgement and Doctrine of the whole Church of Christ neither haue I done this to any other purpose but meerely and purely to giue your importunity content 25 These thinges I haue I say deliuered and vnto them will I God willing adhaere vntill such time as better reason shall be giuen me In the interim I craue nothing but your Blessing and fauour if you be pleased still to cast mee off Gods will bee done Prouidentia Diuina haereditas mea I must take the Diuine prouidence to bee mine Inheritance and then I shall haue iust cause to say with that Blessed man Saint Francis who when his Father had cast him off for his strictnesse and austerity of life hee departed from his Fathers presence reioycing and singing Pater noster qui es in Coelis so may I say Pater noster qui es in Coelis for vpon earth I haue not the comfort of a Father Wherefore that comfortable saying of the Kingly Prophet can neuer depart from my remembrance viz. Quoviam pater meus mater mea dere deliquerunt me Dominus antem assumpsit me Because my Father and my Mother haue forsaken me but our Lord hath taken mee and the comfort hereof shall be alwayes ready to accompany me 26 Before I was a Catholicke my exorbitant and irregular life much afflicted you and now since I haue amended that fault through the grace of God and the helpe of the seauen Golden Candlestickes Ap. 1. spoken of in the Apocalips which are the seauen Spirits of God which the holy Church doth holde to bee the seauen Sacraments all which doe promise grace Ex opere operato which I haue sucked from the charitable breasts of our most holy Mother this Catholicke Church You haue Sir little reason to let that Religion which reclaimed me from Vice and hath beene the motiue to my amendment adde matter to your greater affliction Doe you desire that I should haue Saluation then deny mee not that Faith which hath more then a morrall assurance of Heauens happinesse 27 Out of the Catholicke Church Tract in col cum Eremito saith Saint Augustine a man may haue all thinges excepting Saluation hee may haue Orders hee may haue Sacraments hee may sing Alleluia hee may answere Amen hee may haue the Euangelists he may haue and Preach in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost but hee can by no meanes obtaine Saluation Thus wrote and taught Saint Augustine And seeing I haue some of his workes by me I will alledge you one or two places more to this purpose wee haue in hand And that I may omit saith hee lib. cont Epist Fund cap. 4. this Wisedome which I deny to bee in the Catholicke Church there are diuers other thinges which doe most Iustly retaine and holde mee within heâ— bounds and vnity there doth holde me the consent of People and Nations the Authority which bad her beginning by Miracles nourished by Hope augmented by Charity confirmed by Antiquity There doth holde me the succession of Bishops that is of Popes vntill this present Day from the very Seate of Saint Peter to whome our Lord committed the feeding of his Sheepe after his Resurrection to the Episcopall Dignity of this present bishop And lastly this very name Catholique holdeth and detaineth mee in the vnity of thee Church which Name this Church hath alwayes not without cause among so many different Sects and Heresies in such sort obtained that although all Heretiques doe desire to bee called Catholickes yet if a Stranger I meane a Iew Turke Infidell or one who is not a Christian should demaund where is the Assembly of the Catholicke Church there is no Heretique who careth to assigne his Temple or his house To which may very aptly bee added that worthy saying of Saint Caprian O beatam Ecclesiam nostram quam sic honor diuinae dignitatis illuminat quam temporibus nostris gloriosus Martyrum sanguis illustrat erat ante in operibus fratrum candida nunc facta est in Martyrum cruore purpurea floribus eius nec Lilia nec Rosae desunt That is O happy is our Church whome the honour of Gods Grace doth so lighten whome in our dayes the Glorious blood of Martyrs doth glorifie shee was in the workes of our Brethren white before but now shee is become in the blood of Martyrs of Purple colour neither are Lillies nor Roses wanting to her Flowers 28 Thus wrote Saint Ciprian rreating of the Church and of the persecution thereof in Africa Innumerable other places of holy Fathers could I alleadge for this purpose but I holde it not needfull I will heere end for feare I labouring to giue content in Writing vnto you might discontent you more by my perplexity and endeauouring to auoyde one mischiefe might happely fall into another according to the olde Prouerbe Incidit in Scytham cupiens vitare Charibilem 29 I therefore humbly craue your pardon to end and withall intreating you no further to taxe me then I shall be ready at all times Dum spiritus hos alit artus to continue From my Lodging indurance this 15. day of August being the 46. th Weeke of my Imprisonment 1614. Your most dutifull Sonne N. N.