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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15781	A briefe treatise in which, is made playne, that Catholikes liuing and dying in their profession, may be saued, by the iudgement of the most famous and learned Protestants that euer were. Agaynst a minister [N.E.] who in his epistle exhorteth an honourable person, to forsake her ancient Catholike Roman Religion, & to become one of his new-found-out Protestant congregation.	Wright, William, 1563-1639.	1623 (1623)	STC 26044; ESTC S103083	31,010	52

Countrey Protestants Of the Protestants there will be as little question And in particular M. Iacob writeth thus The Bishops M. Iacob p. 73. of England when they deale with the Puritans must ioyne plainely with the Catholiks in their answers if they will maintayne themselues So that we see in the iudgement of all both Catholikes Lutherans Caluinists Protestants Puritans that to remayne in the Catholike Church and to liue and dye in it is the securest way to attayne to our chiefest good and at last to receaue the promised reward of our endles happynes ioy and euerlasting saluation the which is confirmed by no lesse a man then D. Luther himselfe with whome we will end That the Roman Church of God sayth he before al others is to be honored there is no doubt S. Peter S. Paul forty six Romā Bishops so many hundred thousand Martyrs haue shed their bloud haue ouercome Hell death that it may euen be felt what a singular respect God hath to that Church And if now alas the matter so goeth at Rome as it were expedient it went better yet neither is there or can be so great cause that a separation or departure be made Heerehence those Protestants Offer of cōfer pag. 16. which offered Conference speaking of themselues say That if the ministers to wit the Puritanes be in errour they protest to all the world that the Pope and the Church of Rome and in them God Christ Iesus himselfe haue had great wrong and indignity offered vnto them in that they are reiected and that all the Protestant Churches are Schismaticall in forsaking vnity and communion with them And a little before speaking of some position among them offered then to be disputed they write in plaine tearmes how diuers of the positions are such that if the Offer of cōfer pag. 11. ministers should not constantly hould mainraine the same against all men they cannot see how possibly by the Rules of diuinity the separation of our Churches from the Church of Rome and from the Pope the supreme head therof can be iustified But now if in the Church of Rome there be true Christianity and Sanctity yea and the very kernell of Christianity if she be the Temple and Sanctuary of God in the which remaynet his Couenant inuiolable and all diuine things If she be the spouse of Christ the family of Iesus Christ and the mother Church conteyning all things necessary to saluation If she be the Church in which our Ancestours liued and were saued if she continued alwayes adorned with all kind of Christian good Enobled with most learned iust godly persons fraught with all kind of good workes of Miracles piety deuotion if she hath bred more Kings and Queenes Saints then were euer of of those tytles Protestants in all the Christian world and if now to conclude ●●re neyther is nor can be any sufficient cause wy●●● should separate themselues from that Church If all his be true as Protestants themselues haue now in this Grand-Iury acknowledged and confessed I do not doubt but euery one may see perceaue that whosoeuer liueth a true mēber of that Church and striueth to goe forward in all kind of vertue may not only be saued but ariue also to that degree of holines perfection as to become a blessed soule on earth and there aboue to be crowned a thrice happy most glorious Saint in heauen Out of which we may inferre that whosoeuer are members of this Church in the which only sanctity and saluation is to be had as our Aduersaries themselues confesse ●ught to auoyde most carefully all such wicked and diabolicall suggestions as the enemy of man by what Minister soeuer may put into their heads to ioyne themselues to any other congregation especially seing according to M. Caluin out of her lappe to wit Caluin l. 4. instit c. 2. n. 4. the visible Church no remissiō of sins or saluation at all is to be hoped for the Lord doth mak so great accoūt of the cōmunion of his Church Caluin n. 10. For Germany D Field sayth that Luther the rest of his Religion were baptized receaued their Christianity ordination and power of ministery in that Church to wit of Rome as the true v●sible and appa●ā● Church of Christ D. Field pag. 71. D. Couell in defence of Hooker p 7● For France Caluin l. 4 instit §. 2. l. 4. VVe saith he haue departed from their Romish Church For England the Apologer pag 188. con●esseth no lesse saying we haue indeed gone from the Pope we haue sh●ken of the yoake of the Bishop of Rome as he shal be held a trayterous turne-coate saith M. Caluin and a forsaker of his Religion whosoeuer disobediently alienates himself from that Christian Society Whence it followeth that a departing frō the Church is a denying of God Christ therfore so much the more must we beware of such kind of separation or breach of fayth Seing neyther can there be a more heynous crime imagined then with sacrilegious disloialty to violate that wedlocke which the only begotten Sonne of God hath contracted with vs. So far M. Caluin Pardon vs therfore good M. Parson if we willingly and constantly remayne where we are without being any thing moued with your trifles toyes confuted elsewhere to change our fayth profession which we haue been taught alwayes in the true Catholike Church And if you haue any care of the chiefest good of your soules saluation make hast to repayre to vs with your miserable seduced flocke or otherwise reflect seriously vpon this terrible sentence of S. Fulgentius who sayth Belieue assuredly and doubt nothing that euery Heretike or Schismaticke christened in the name of the Father and of the Sonne of the Holy Ghost if he not within the number of those which are of the Catholike Church what Almes soeuer he hath made albeit he shall shed his bloud for the name Christ can by no meanes be saued For neyther Baptisme nor large and charitable Almes nor death it selfe suffered for Christs sake will auayle S. Fulgent lib. de fide ad Petrum that man who doth not hold the vnity of the Catholike Church as long as his Hereticall or Schismaticall wickednes which leadeth to perdition shall continue in him A Note of fifty Kings Queenes of Great Britany accounted Saints their Memories celebrated for such by our Catholike Forefathers and this by the testimony of Protestants themselues S. Lucius King of Britany Martyr He liued about Nauclerus gen 6. Petr. de Natal l. 1. c. ●4 the yeare of Chris● 192. Stow Holinshed in Chron. Cambden in Brit. S. Clintācus King of Brecknocke in Wales Martyr Capgrau in catal Capgrau in catal About anno 300. Cambd. in Brit. S. Wistan King in Wales and Martyr About anno 400. Cambd. in Brit. S. Ethelbert King of Kent Confessour About anno 615. Stow Holinsh.

hath brought forth and which for their most firme profession of Christian religion most solid constancy and sincere deuotion therin haue been put into the Kalender of Saints that in this point it hath not been inferiour to any Christian Prouince whatsoeuer yea as Britany was tearmed by Porphyrius a prophane Philosopher Fer●x Tyrannorum prouincia A prouince fertill of Tyrants so likewise England may be stiled Insula Sancto rum feracissima An Iland fruitfull of Saints So far Cambden To whome ●e may add another famous Protestant author who tels vs for the tyme past that more Kings and Queenes in England only haue becom'd Monks and Nunnes and now by Protestants honoured for Saints in heauen then euer were Protestant Kings and Queenes in all the world though neuer so vnworthy the name of Saints or Sanctity which are all to be seene in the Theater of Britany Iohn Fox also relateth how that eight Kings of England left their Kingdomes and became Monks whose names are these King Kinegil●●s King Cead wall King Inas King Ethelred King Sigebert King Coenred King Offa King Edbert Of whome he sayth that it is most like they did it for holines sake thinking in this kind of life to serue and please God better but in this sayth Fox they were deceaued To these we may ioyne 19. Kings Queenes daughters whom also M. Fox confesseth to haue left their Royall estates and became Nunnes And he relateth out of an auncient Chronicle that in the primitiue Church of England Kings Princes Dukes Earles Barons rulers of the Churches Fox lib. 2. pag. 114. incensed with a desire of heauen labouring and striuing among themselues to enter into Monasteries into voluntary exile solitary life forsooke all and followed the Lord. And as conconcerning the piety and deuotion of other Catholiks after the Centurists write thus saying Although in this age to wit the seauenth the worship of God was darkened with mans traditions and superstitions yet the study to serue God and to liue godly and iustly was not wanting to the miserable common people c. they were so attentiue to their prayers as they bestowed almost the whole day therin They did exhibite to the Magistrate due obedience they were most studious of amity concord and society so as they could easily remit iniuries all of them were carefull to spend their time in honest vacation and labour to the poore strangers they were Cēturists cent 7. c. 7. col 181. S●ubbs in his motiue pag. 43. most courteous and liberall and in their iudgements and contracts most true M. Subbs in his Motiue to good works sayth Certainely to speake the truth there is many times found conscionabler and plainer dealing among most of the Papists then amongst many protestants And if we looke narrowly into the ages past we shall find more godliues deuotion and zeale though blind more loue one to another more fidelity faythfulnes euery way in them then is now to be found in vs. And agayne he further sayth Is it not a shame vnto vs Stubbs in his motiue pag. 72. To name one amongst many Robert Winchelsey the 49. Archb of Canterbury Besids the dayly fragmēts saith Godwin of his house he gaue euery Friday and Sunday to euery begger a loafe of Bread there were euery such Almes dayes foure or fiue thousand people Besides this euery great festiuall day he sent a 150. pence to such poore people as could not fetch his Almes that our forefathers liuing in the times of superstition c. should so far notwithstanding out passe vs in good works as that we may not once be compared to them in any small measure Hēce for good works who seeth not that herin they were far beyond vs we far behind them For exāple what memorable famous buildings and what monuments haue they left to the world behind them What Churches Chappels and other houses of prayer did they erect to the end the Religion and seruice of God might be continued Yea what Monasteries Abbyes Priories and other religious houses c. what number of goodly bridges did they make How many Almes-houses Hospitalls and Spittles did they found c. What high wayes what pauements and causies in summe what famous Colledges Hals Vniuersities what schooles In so much as the former Statute of Mort-main now needles was yet then thought needfull to be made in restraint of such liberall deuotion But to giue some tast in particular of those famous and godly men who liued in these times we will beginne with Saint Dunstone Archbishop of Canterbury who was most gracious to King Edward and Ethelrede as wittnesseth M. Godwin vnder whome he ruled all thinges at his pleasure and for the most part admired for a most holy vertuous man and after canonized for a Saint Saint Elphege another Arch-bishop of the same sea was sayth the same authour of great parentage of wonderfull abstinence neuer eating or drinking nor sleeping more then necessity God win i● his life compelled him spending his tyme altogeather in piety study or other necessary busines so that with preaching example of holy life he conuerted many to Christ Duke William after his conquest made choyce of Lanfranke for his wisdome and faythfulnes to be Arch bishop of Canterbury as one in all respects God win i● his life most fit and worthy He was the most perfect sayth Bale of his time in all kind of Logicke or Bale Centur. ●● cap. ●● subtility of Aristotle He corrected amended according to the right fayth all the bookes of the old and new Testament which had been corrupted by fault of the writers and also the writings of the holy Fathers He was skillfull in science sayth Stow prudent in counsells and gouernement and for religion and life Stow. Chron. pag. ●79 most holy He was sayth Godwin bus● in exhorting Rufus to vertue and godlines And as long as Lanfranke liued sayth Stow Rufus seemed to abhorre all kind of vice in so much that he was counted the mirrour of Kings Saint Anselme likewise was a most worthy man of great learning as his workes yet extant do declare and for integrity of life and conuersation admirable vndoubtedly he was a good holy man and as worthy the honour of a Saint as any I thinke sayth Godwin euer was canonized by the Pope since his time None sayth Malmsbury liued more obseruant of Iustice Malmeb lib. 4. Regum None at that tyme so soundly learned None so wholely spirituall the Father of the countrey the mirrour of the world Saint Thomas sayth Houeden was of life S. Thomas of Canterbury Houeden part 2. Anal. irreprehensible he receaued day by day 3. or 5. disciplines at the Priests hands his inner garmēt was of rugged haire-cloath of goates haire wher with his whole b●dy was couered from the elbow to the knees he lay vpon the bare ground before his bed neuer ceased from pray●r

worthy lodging that he might match the height of Royall Maiesty not only with fortitude and wisedome but with beauty also and comlines of body whome Fortune in the prime flower of his age trayned vp in many warres and most difficult times of the Commonwealth whilst that she disposed him for the British Empire which whē he was established in he so gouerned hauing ouercome the Welch-men and triumphed ouer the Scots that by good right he is esteemed another ornament of Brittany King Stephen sayth Stow was a noble man and passing hardy of passing comely fauour personage in all Princely vertues he excelled as in martiall policy affability gentlenes and bountifull liberality towards all He was very noble in birth sayth Godwin but much more in vertue and all good manners many miracles wr●teth he are said to be wrought at his Tōbe And this may suffice to vnderstand in some manner the holines and sanctity of our auncient Catholike Kings But to proceed concerning other famous Calikes D. Couell writeth thus of Alexander Hales S. D. Couell in defence of Hooker pag. 241. Bonauenture and Saint Thomas all three great defenders of the Roman Church A●d first of Alexander Hales he sayth who made his Summe that excellent worke by commaundement of Pope Innocentius the fourth that he was called the fountaine of life because of that liuely knowledg● that flowed from him he was mayster of Bona●ent ●re a scholler not inferiour to himselfe of whom he was went to say that in Bonauenture he thought Adam sinned not meaning of that illumination which was in him and doubtlesse there was much in him as though he had not been darkened by the fall of Adam and therefore the Church called him the Seraphicall doctour To these Aquinas was not inferior who came so neere vnto Saint Augustine whome in his book agaynst Burges he esteemeth the chiefest doctor that euer was or euer shall be excepting the Apostles c. that some thought he had all his works by hart by a common prouerbe it was spoken that the soule of Saint Augustine dwelt in Aquinas in whome aboue all the rest foure contraryeties were said to excell aboundāce breuity facility security in respect wherof he gayned the tytle to be called Angelicall Then if these men were the Popes Agents and yet so renowned and glorious and their doctrine so secure and excellent why may not we securely follow them in the same stepps of Agency in such busines Now all this being so it is no wonder if our aduersaries are forced to set out magnify and extoll the Luth. in ep cont Anabaptist Tom. 2. Germ. fol 267. Where also he savth that vnder the Papacy there are many godly men great Saints Church of Rome and truely in that manner as they are not affrayde to deliuer their mindes in such tearmes as Catholikes themselues could scarce desire or wish any better For herehence we confesse sayth D Luther that there is vnder the Papacy most of Christian good yea rather all Christian good and that from thence it came to vs Verily we confesse that there is in the Papacy true Scripture true Baptisme the true Sacrament of the Altar the true keyes to remission of sinns the true office of preaching true Catechisme and I say further that there is in the Papacy true Christianity yea rather the true kernell of Christianity M. Caluin agaynst Sadolet We do not deny those to be the Churches of Christ in which Caluin against Sadolet pag. 128. you gouerne And in the 2. to the Thessalonians he confesseth that the papacy is the Temple yea and the Sanctuary of God and else where that the Caluin l. 4. instit c. 2. n. 11. couenant of God hath remayned with them inuiolable Iunius All diuine thinges are in the Popes Church and hitherto it is the Church of God Iunius de Eccles c 17. col 1020. Zanchius The Roman Church is yet the Church of God Plessey Mornay The Roman Church is the Mornay lib. de Eccle. c. 2. 10. spouse of Christ as yet not diuerted from him she is a mother that bringeth forth children to God the name of the Church is no more to be denyed to her then the name of a man as long as he liueth Polan part 1. Thes de Eccles Polanus The Roman Church at this day is yet the Church of Christ Serauia The Church of Rome it yet the Church and see what I will say more she is Serauia in defens lib. de gratia Minist pag. 3. our mother in the which and by which God hath regenerated And agayne The Couenant of God to this day doth remayne in the Latine Church Boyswell I acknowledge the Church of Boys in cōfut Spon pag. 6 2. 283. 822. Rome as yet to be in the Couenant of God yea she is the Church the spouse and the Temple of God the Church of Iesus Christ redeemed by him D. Hooker We acknowledge willingly D. Hooker l. 3. de Politia Eccles p. 128. them to wit the Papists to be of the family of Iesus Christ D. Cou●ll I affirme the members of the Cou●ll in Apol pag. 68. Church of Rome to be members of the true Church of Christ and that those who liue and dye in that Church may be saued And D. Whitaker doth confesse That amongst D. Whitaker contro 4. 9. 5 c. 3. p. 682. the Papists is a ministery and a certaine preaching of the Word which without doubt to some is sufficient to saluation D. White in defence c. 7. p. 356. cap. 41. p. 408. I neuer deemed sayth D. White that to be the visible Church of God in the which our Auncestors held the true fayth and were saued And agayne We confesse that the Church of Rome in all ages hath been the visible Church of God Schluss tom 8. in catal Haeret. pag. 434. Sclusselburg Luther saith that all Christian good is in the Popedome that from thence it came to vs we do not deny Rhegius in cōsider censurae pag. 93. And Iohannes Rhegius Although it be true that the ministery of the Popes was corrupt with many traditions and inuentions of men neuerthelesse it had those thinges which were necessary to saluation to wit the Canonicall bookes the Creed of the Apostles Leonardus Crentremius The Bishop of Crentrem in 1. Cor. 3. Rome doth retaine this same ground of Catholike fayth 1. Corinth 3. the which both I doe acknowledge with the Catholike and Apostolicall Church although in certaine circumstāces there be some diuersity of opinions Zanch. in prefat lib. de natura Dei Zanchius The Church of Rome in despite of Sathan did retayne the principal groūds of fayth Boyswell We acknowledge that the Church Boyswell in Confutatione Sondei p. 79. of Rome is pure in the principall articles of Christian Religion Hooker They hould constantly to wit Papists Hooker lib. 5. de polit pag. 128.

do raigne most gloriously with Iesus Christ the King of glory in Heauen This being so set downe let vs proceed to the lury Faultes to be corrected In the title of the Preface all cauills read some cauills Pag. 8. lin vlt. Subbs read Stulbs Pag. 14. lin 2. humble more humble Pag. 18. lin 23. name of a man as read name of a man to a man as c. Pag. 25. in the margent adde Luth. declarat quorumdam artic cited by Coccius tom 1. lib. 7. Thesauri pag. 855. A GRANDE IVRY Of most famous and learned Protestants assuring all Catholiques of their Saluation if they liue and dye well in the Catholique Roman Fayth and Church The Names of the Iury Men. D Luther M Caluin D. Whitaker D. C●●ell D. Morton M. Hooker Zanchius Sclusselburg Polanus Iunius Boyswell Bunny Plessis Mornay Serauia D. White D. Willet Sir Edwin Sands M. Stubbs M. Holynshed D. Godwin M. Cambden Crentremius Theater of great Brit. M. Fox WE suppose as graunted out of the Rom. 1. Act. 18. 30. Apostles that the Church of Rome was once the true Church of God and so to haue continu●d for diuers hundred yeares as the Protestants themselues confesse For M. Iewell would haue vs belieue That as well Saint Augustine as also other godly Fathers Iewell in his Reply to M. Harding pag. 246. rightly yielded reuerence to the Sea of Rome c. for the purity of religion which was preserued there a long time without spot Seeing it was a thing notorious sayth M. Caluin and without doubt that after the Apostles age Caluin in his Instit in french lib. 4. sect 3. Protestant Apol. pag. 210. vntill these times to wit of Saint Augustine no change was made in doctrine neither at Rome nor at any other Cittyes which was 440. yeares after Christ But D. Morton confirming M. Iewells chalenge auerreth that protestants in oppugning D. Mort. Appeale lib. 4. c. 30. pag. 573. ●74 doctrines which they cal new and not Catholike are so far off from suffering the limitation of the first 440. yeares that they giue the scope of the first 600. years within the compasse of which Saint Gregory liued who sent Sain● Augustine the Monke into England and therefore he acknowledgeth that the Pagan and Heathenish people by the light of the Ghospell through the Ministery of Augustin the Legate of Saint Gregory were brought into the fold of Christ And heerehence sayth B. Morton our authours called it a gratious Morton lib. 1. pag. 60. conuersion But now this being supposed that the Church of Rome was the true Church for so many ages togeather in the which saluation was to be had It remayneth that we demonstrate and shew how not only then but also euer after that time euen vnto this day that Church hath been the only Arke and sanctuary in the which whosoeuer haue liued and dyed well could not miscary nor misse of their saluation and that therefore there is no reason why any being a member of that Church should leaue it and be take himselfe to any other assembly or Congregation seeing there is but one true Church and that in her saluation can be obteyned and in all others nothing but damnation is to be expected Which we will endeauour to proue out of the testimonies of most Bale likewise sayth That Augustin was sent from Gregory to season the English with the Popish faith that King Ethelbert dyed one twenty yeares after h● had receaued Popery Cent. 1. fol. 3. M. Napiere The Pope with his Clergy neuer suffered for the space of a thousand yeares after Siluester the first any to be seene vouchable or visible of the true Church pag. 239. Holynshed in the History of England graue and learned Protestants Supposing out of Venerable Bede that Saint Augustine was sent by S. Gregory to this our Nation to conuert it aboue 1000. yeares since from Paganisme to Christ For these be his words Saint Augustine coming into England deliuered his errand to King Ethelbert saying he came from Rome and brought a ioyfull message which whosoeuer would obey should haue eternal ioyes a perpetuall Kingdome with the true and liuing God Which is confirmed out of your owne Protestant English Historiographers and therfore we will begin with their verdicts and make them as the Formen of this sufficient full and complete Protestant Iury of whome we will choose Holynshed to be the first Holynshed therfore speaking of Saint Augustine writeth thus Augustine sayth he and his company arriued at Canterbury where he made his aboad by the Kings permission exercised the life of the Apostles in fasting cloathing and prayers and preaching the word of God to as many as they could despsing all wordly pleasures as not appertayning to them receauing only of them whome they taught things seeming necessary to the sustenance of their life all liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth Item At last King Ethelbert was perswaded by the good example of Saint Augustine and his company and by miracles shewed to be baptized And M. Fox speaking of Saint Augustine writeth thus At length when the King had Fox lib ● pag. 116. of his Acts. c. wel considered the honest conuersation of their life and moued with their miracles wrought through Gods hands by them he heard them I doubt not but God affoarded many miracles to the first in●ā●y of our Church So D Godwin in the life of S. Dauid more gladly and lastly by their holsome exhortations example of good life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare 596. Saint Augustine sayth Cambden cōmonly called the Apostle of the English sent hither by Gregory the great hauing destroied the Mōsters of Hethenish impiety with most happy successe planting Christ in their minds conuerted them Cambden in his Britan. pag. 125. to the Christian faith Agayne Straight vpon the preaching of the name of Christ the English did consecrate themselues vnto Christ in so feruent a manner that the diligence is incredible they vsed in the propagation of the name of Christ in the performance of the duties therof in the diuulging of Christian religion in building of Churches in enriching and adorning of the same that no Prouince of Christēdome could haue numbred more Monasteryes then England could in Catholike times euen Fox pag. 137. That none of all these Kings Queenes Princes and Prelats were Protestants is proued in the prudētiall Ballance and the Protestants themselues cōfesse no lesse For M. Nappiere saith That for these thousand two hundred and threescore years the Pope his Clergy hath possessed the outward and visible Church of Christiās reigning without any debatable contradiction Gods truth to wit the Protestant Church most certainly abiding so long latent and inuisible vpon the Reuel pag. 145. some Kings haue preferred religious and monasticall liues before Kingdoms So many haue been the holy men that England