seemeth good vnto Hierome I little respect m ibid. I call that impossible which yet hath neuer bine and that hereafter it may not be is hindered by the ordination and decree of God If wee speake of these latter tymes I say there hath bine neuer a Sainte who being at the poynt of death hath attayned vnto that measure of loue as to loue God with all his hart with all his mynd with all his soul and with all his power Now heere it is manifest that he maketh God himselfe the impediment why wee doe not fullfill and keepe that law which he commaundeth vs. An old condemned Heresie This heresie was held by certayne men Concil 11. conon vlt. anno 440. against whom the councell of Arausicanum did define where thus wee read Heere also wee beleeue according to the Catholick faith that by grace receaued in Baptisme all that are baptized Christ helpping and Cooperating with them and if they will truly and faith full endeuour may fullfill all thinges necessarie vnto saluation THE 22. ARTICLE To beseech the prayers of the righteous heere on earth is no derogation to our Sauiour SCRIPTVRES ONLY a Rom. 15.30 I beseech you therfore brethren by our lord Iesus Christ and by the Charitie of the holy ghost that you helpe me in your prayers for me vnto God that I may be freed from the infidels which are in Iudea b Coloss 42. Praying with all for vs. c Thessa 5.25 Brethren pray for vs. d Ephes 6.18 And in the same watching in all instans and supplication for all Saintes and for me c. THE 23. ARTICLE The Angels and Sainctes in heauen knovv our doinges and vvantes better then men therfore c. a O see 12.4 ANd he preuailed against the Angel and was strengthed and hee wept and be sought him b Psal 150.1 Prayse yee our lord in his Saintes c Toby 12 12 The Angel Raphael saith I offered thy prayer vnto ouer lord d 2. Machab. 15.14 Onias the high priest benig dead appeareth to Iudas Machaheus speaking of the Prophet Ieremy saying This is a louer of his brethren and of the people of Israel This is he that prayeth much for the people of Israel and for the whole Cittie e Matt. 18.10 Their Angels in heauen doe alwayes see the face of my father which is in heauen Saintes also departed f cap. 22. â—0 are as the Angels of God in heauen therfor wee may better craue their prayers then mortall mens g Luc 15.7 So there shal be ioy in heauen vpon one sinner that doth peannce c. I lay to you there shal be ioy before the Angels of God c. h 1. Peter 1.15 And I will doe my diligence to haue you often after my decease also that you may keep a memorie of althinges i Apâ—c 4. And the smoke of the incenses of the prayers of the Saintes ascended from the hand of Angel before God THE CATHOLICKE DOCTRINE The Angels and Saintes of God are not hindered by teÌ„porall death leauing thier mortal bodies so that they can no more pray for vs neither do they cast away all care and loue of Charitie to wardes vs that they will no more help vs but they are most willing and ready to pray for vs soe that they doe help vs labouring and warring heere on earth by their holy prayers and wee ought often to inuocat and beseech their intercession for vs vnto God FATHERS S. Dionysius anno 80. saith k cap. eccles Hierarch Certainly it is all one as if a man when the sunne shines should plucke out his eies and yet not withstanding desire to be partakers of the light of the sunne so he is held in suspence with a superstuous hope of impossible thinges whoe doth craue the prayers of the Saintes and yet reiect holy prayers and operations agreable to their natures S. Irenaeus anno 160. saith l lib. 5 contra hâ—â—reses And as she Eua was seduced and did fly God soe this Mary was perswaded to obey God that the virgine Mary became the aduocate of the virgine Eua. S. Athanasius anno 340. saith m Serm in Euangel de Sanctissima Deâ—pata siue de annontiatione Marix Incline thyne care o Mary vnto our prayers and doe not forget thy people Et infra vnto thee wee crie most holy vrign remember vs. Et infra Mistris Lady Queene and mother of God make intercession for vs. Eusebius anno 330. saith n lib. 1â— praeparationis Euangelicae Cap. 7. these thinges wee doe daily whoe honouring the souldiours of true piety as the frindes of God doe approch vnto their monumentes and make our vowes and prayers vnto them as vnto holy men by whose intercession vnto God wee doe confesse our selues not to be a litle holpen S. Basil anno 380. saith o orat in 40. man yres O vnconpereable souldiers and common protectours and defenders of mankind and best companions of cares He which is oppressed with any miserie let him fly vnto these and he which doth reioyce let him beseech these he to the end he may be freed from his euill this man that he may continue in ioy and prosperitie S. Gregory Nazianz p orat in Cyprianum anno 380. saith in th end of that oration inuocating S. Cyprian But thou mercifully behold vs from aboue and direct and receaue this thy holy people and nourish and feed vs together in peace insighting and strife direct and receaue vs and determine with thy selfe that such also as thy selfe doe make earnest request for vs. Againe q orat 15 de obitu Gregorij parentis sui Now he doth more profit vs by his prayers then he did before by his Doctrine yea by hâ—w much the nearer he is vnto God for as much as he hath put of his corporall bonds S. Chrysostome anno 380. saith r Serm. de Inuentio Maximo tom 3. As souldiers shewing their woundes receaued in war vnto the kinge doe speake bouldly and with good confidence so they carrying their heades cut of and bringing them foorth in presence may obteyne of the kinge of heauen whatsoeuer they will Againe he saith Å¿ homil 66 an â— pâ—lum prop. sin for also he which is adorned with purple doth approch to imbrace these Sepulchers and all pride set aside standes making supplication to the Sainctes that they would make intercession for him vnto God also he that doth walke adorned with his diademe doth beseech the carpenter and the fisher man as his protectours S Gregory Niss anno 380. saith inuocating S Theodor. t orat in Theodor. circa linem Make intercession and beseech our common king and Lord for thy country wee feare afflictions wee expect perils the wicked Scythians are not sure of preparing warre against vs vse thy liberty of speech as a souldier fighting for vs as a martyre for his fellow seruants infra But
shall fall there it will a bide you haue serued the world hitherto in sin and heresie to leaue it novv is not so much to leaue it as to preuent it for shortlie it vvill leaue you for the vnexpected coming of death you vvant not of your neerest knired whose suddayne departure may be sufficient examples yea the only death of our father nosmale griefe to me may suffice vs in this To haue erred hitherto is humane to perseuere as I may tearme it is beastly you haue giuen your life past to heresie and her accomplices giue at least the remnant and surplus to God and his Church you haue giuen as one saith the maine croppe io the enimie of mankind the redeemer let at least glean the reproofe of your haruest and he will requite you as he promiseth a hundreth fold and with life euer lasting O Mother Pardon yet once more I earnestly beseech you my bouldnes and rough manner of writing 2. Cor. 116. I confesse with S. Paul I am rude in speach yet tolerable in opening to you the meane how to escape so great a daunger as the eternall perdition both of body and soule in which perill as I said you dayly sleepe in your tyme therefore is but short and you haue a great account to render your conscience vpon the vnderstanding of these cannot but vrge you your sinnes call vpon you the iudge expecteth you imbrace then the Roman Catholicke church for your mother and God will euer be your father accuse your self and God will excuse you be sorrie for your sinnes and they shall not be imputed vnto you permitt the priestes sentence to passe on you and Gods wrathfull sentence shall not touch you If you will mount the hills of Armenia enter the arke of Christes Church if you will ascend the higher heauen enter this lower yea this is the way and only meane To haue liued hitherto in sin and heresie is daunger to dye in this estate as our Sauiour and his Apostles witnes is certayne damnation But I haue beene to longe and therfor must rather abruptly conclude then any way finish this my present discourse wherfor as my last greeting and farewell I humbly beseech you for the tender good of your owne soule and so many which depend vpon you a great account to answere for to wouchsafe the reading or at least relating by some other these my paynes and trauells taken in your be halfe that so at length all poyntes and doubtes clearly proued you may with the people in Esdras say â— Esdras 4. â—2 truth is great and preuaileth and that I as S. Ambrose at the conuersion of S. Austine may sing Wee prayse thee God c you assuming the part of S. Austine with a cheerefull countenance and heauenly responsorie answere wee confesse thee our Lord c. and finally be incorporate a member of Christes mysticall body heere on earth his church in which an obedient child concluding your last daye as the soule of poore Lazarus was by his good Angel conueighed into Abrahams bosome so your guarden or good Angel with a triumphant victorie from that roaring Lyon enemye to man kind the Diuell may present your glorious soule a sweet smelling odor to our Lord Iesus Christ and there with the whole court of heauen his fellow Angels Luc. 15.7.10 as our Sauiour saith reioyce at so glorious a conquest which that it may sort according to my desire and that I may as Iob saith Iob 19.27 see you with these my eyes in that eternall glorie I most earnestly and humbly beseech our Sauiour who hath so long expected you to mercy that you may make your chiefe commoditie of this exhortation and some vse also of this my no lesse painfull then long admonition that in this life you may so purchase is grace as in the next eternall glorie Amen Your obedient sonne to the vtter most that he may I. P. AN INDEX Of the common places treated off 1 IMprimis the English were conuerted aboue a 1000. yeares since to the Catholicke faith fol 1. 2 The same faith was vniuersally professed for sundry ages before and was also agreable to that first faith where vnto the Brittans of wales were conuerted in the Apostles tymes fol 3. 3 Our aduersaries good opinion of the fathers fol. 6. 4 Our aduersaries appeale vnto the fathers fol. 8. 5 Scripture is not easie to vnderstand fol. 10. 6 Scripture is not for euery one to read and interpret fol. 16. 7 Scripture neuer doubted off amongst Catholickes fol. 21. 8 Scripture some tyme in Question fol Ibid. 9 Scripture neuer admitted by the Catholicke church fol. 22. 10 The Protestantes pretence of only scripture is friuolous and Idle fol. 10. 11 Protestantes disagreeing translations and Acknowledg c. fol. 27. 12 The church cannot nor ought not to haue erred fol. 31. 13 The church doth consist of good and bad fol. 33. 14 The church is ought to haue beene alwayes visible Ibid. 34. 15 Of this churches visible head c. fol. 46. 16 Of Free will fol 58. 17 Of the cooperation of Freewill with grace fol. 66. 18 Faith alone doth not iustifie fol 72. 19 Of good workes fol. 78. 20 Of Fastinges fol 87. 21 The lawes and precepts of Christ are not impossible 95. 22 To beseech the prayers of the righteous heere on earth is no derogation to our Sauiour fol 100. 67. 23 The Saintes and Angels in heauen know our doinges and wantes better then men fol. 101. 24 Of Saintes Reliques fol. 112. 25 Of the holy crosse and Images fol. 118. 26 Of Purgatorie and Lymbus Patrum fol. 125. 27 Prayer for the Dead fol. 131. 28 Of Ecclesiasticall tradition fol. 140. 29 Of the Seuen Sacraments fol. 149. 30 Of the efficacle of Sacraments fol. 16. 31 Of Baptisme and the necessitie thereof fol 166. 32 Of the venerable Sacra of the Eucharist as the form Consecration Real presence great care obserued had more thereof then of the water of Baptisme lest any part therof should fall to the ground mixture of water with wine in the Chalice and the receauing therof Fasting and Chast fol. 172. 33 Of the Sacrifice of the Masse fol. 102. 34 Of Communion vnder both kindes fol. 210. 35 Of Confession fol 215. 36 Of Satisfaction 225. 37 Of the single life of Priestes and Clergie men fol. 235. 38 Vowes of perpetuall chastitie were allowed by the Fathers affirming them to be obligatory fol. 245. 39 Of Antichrist and the Aulters and Sacrifice which he is fore told to take a way Daniel 12.11 fol. 247. 40 The Roman faith proued to be the true Catholicke faith by Dionysius Areopagita and Hermes most auncient and Apostolicke fol. 248. 41 To shew no beginning of a Doctrine is an infallible token that it is and proceedeth from the Apostles 249. 42 True Miracles make a stronge argument for the true faith and that the foresaid faith wherevnto the English were conuerted was confirmed by
if there shal be need of more earnest prayer and aduocation gather together the company of thy Brother martyres and together with them pray for vs admonish Peter stire vp Paul and Iohn also the Deuyne and beloued Disciple of Iesus S. Ephrem anno 380. saith v Serm. de Laudibus S. Martyrum wee beseech yee most blessed martyres whoe freely and willingly haue suffered tormentes for our Lord and Sauiour for his loue also you are so much the more familiarlie ioyned vnto God that you may vouchsafe to make intercession vnto our Lord for vs wretches and sinners and all filth through negligence that the grace of Christ may descend vpon vs. S. Cyrill anno 350. saith x Catechesi S. â—mislag when wee offerre this sacrifice wee make mention of them which haue deceassed before vs first of the Patriarches Prophets Apostles and Martyres that God by their prayers may receaue our prayers S. Theodoret anno 440 saith y lib. 8. ad Graecos such as trauell with difficultie doe beseech the Martyres for their companions in the way or rather captayns or guides in the iourney Againe he doth in this manner conclude euery mans life z in historia S. S. Patrum But now in a king an end of this my narration I implore and beseech them that by their prayers I may obteyne diuine help S Cornelius Pope anno 251. saith a in Epist 1. beseeching God and our Lord Iesus Christ that his holy Apostles making intercession for you he would purge you from your sinnes S. Hilary anno 350. saith b in psal 124 Neither is there wanting to those that will the protection of Sainctes and sauegarde of Angels c 1. tem 129. The nature of God doth not want the intercession of Angels but our infirmitie for they are sent from those that shall inherit saluation God being ignorant of none of all this which wee doe but our infirmitie to aske and merite doth need the help of spirituall intercession S. Ambrose anno 380. saith d lib 8. in lu in fine lib 10. in Luc. 21. As Angels are in authoritie so also are those which haue deserued the life of Angels And kinges being dead martyres shall succeed them in an euerlasting kingdome in the honour of heauenly grace and they shal be suppliants these Patrones Againe e lib. de viâ—uis wee ought to beseech Angels who are giuen vs for a sauegarde also martyres whose Patronage wee seeme to challence for a defence of our body they can aske for our sins whoe haue washed there owne if they had any with their owne blood these arre the martyres of God our prelates and beholders of our life and actions let vs not be ashamed to take them for the intercessours of our infirmitie for they haue also knowne the infirmitie of our bodie when they did once liue S. Maximus anno 420. saith f Serm. de Nartyribus Tauricis There is familiarity betweene these and vs for they are alwayes with vs they alwayes abide with vs that is they both keepe vs liuing in our body and receaue vs going out of our body Againe praying to S. Agnes he saith g Serm. de S. Agnese O glorisious to Christ fayre to the sonne of God and gratefull to all Angels and Archangels wee doe beseech thee by what prayers wee can possible that thou vouchsaue to remember vs. S. Hierome anno 380. saith h in Epitapho Paulae circa â—inem Farwell o Paula help by thy prayers the last old age of thy worshipper let thy faith and good workes ioyne thee to Christ that being present thou maist more easilie obtayne what thou shalt request Againe i in epist ad Paulum de obitu Blesillae shee doth beseech our Lord for thee and obteineth pardon of my sins for me Ruffinus anno 400 saith k lib. 2. hist cap. 33. Hee went about to wit the Emp. Theodosius all the places of prayer with the priestes and people and did lie prostrate in hearcloth before the shrines of the martyres and Apostles and did craue vndoubted help by the intercession of the Saintes S. Augustine anno 400. saith l lib. 7. de Baptismo Cont. Donatistas cap. 1. let Cyprian help vs by his prayers labouring in the mortalitie of this flesh as it were in a thicke cloud that God assisting vs wee may imitate his good workes as farre as wee shall be able Againe m tractatu 84. in Ioan Therfore wee doe not so remember them martyres at the very table as those which rest in peace that wee should also pray for them but rather that they martyres should pray for vs. Againe d Sanctis Petro Paulo n a multitude of people doe worship the most blessed fisher man Peter with their bowed knees Heathens obiecting that Christians did worship the Angels he answereth o in psalme 96 I would to God saith he that you would worship them for then you should soone learne of them that they doe not worship them as Gods but as Sainctes Againe p Serm. 17. de verbis apostoli ecclesiasticall discipline hath and teacheth that the faithfull know when they recyte martyres in that place at the Aulter of God that they doe not pray for them but for other the dead For it is iniury to pray for a martyre to whose prayers wee ought rather to commend our selues q Serm. 18. de sanctis He hath also there an excellent and a long prayer to the blessed virgine Mary S. Victor Vticensis anno 486 saith r lib. 3. de perseq wandal O you Angels of God be you present pray for vs you holy Patriarches and Prophets you Apostles be you our intercessours chiefly you blessed Peter wherfore art thou silent for thy sheep and lambes commended to thee by our common Lord with great care and earnestnes you S. Paul maister of the gentiles know what the Arians doe to wandalia and thy sons being captiues doe sigh mourning and all yee Apostles sigh together for vs. S Fulgentius anno 480 saith Å¿ Serm. de Laudibus B. Mariae Therfore the virgine Mary receaued all the courses of nature in our Lord Iesus-Christ that shee might help all women slying vnto her S. Leo Pope anno 440 saith t Serm. 1 de Petro Paulo As wee haue tried and our elders haue proued wee doe belieue and trust that amongst all the labours of this life to obteyne the mercy of God wee shall alwayes be holpen by the prayers of speciall patrones Againe u Serm. 2. de anniuersario suae assumptionis Peter doth now more fully and powrefully performe those thinges which are coÌ„mitted to him and doth execute all partes of his offices and cares in him by whome he is glorified Againe x Serm. 3. de anniuersario Now the pious pastor Peter doth execute the commaundementes of his Lord strengthning vs by his exhortations and not ceasing to
pray for vs that wee be not ouercome by any teÌ„tation Againe y Serm. 5. Epiph Confirme frindships with the Angels Patriarckes Prophets Apostles and ioyne your selues to the martyres couet their riches and by good contention and emulation contend and striue for their fauours S. Iustine Martyr anno 150. saith z in 2 apolog 2. speaking in the name of all Christians explicating the faith of the whole Churh Wee worship adore him God the father and his son who came and taught vs these thinges and wee worship in word deed the whole troope of others that follow such like good Angels earnestly teaching it to all that desire to knowne how wee are taught instructed Origen anno 230. saith a homil 3. in diuersos The memorie of these as it is worthy is alwayes celebrated in the church b haeres 79. S. Epiphanius anno 309. refelliing their errour who offered sacrifice to the B. virgine Mary as vnto a Godes fearing lest by this occasion their should be no honour giuen vnto her as the heretickes of our tyme now put in practise he repeateth very often these wordes let Mary be had in honour God adored S. Chrysostome anno 380. saith c homil de Sanctis Inuentio Maximo you doe not worship the Saintes of auncient tyme and these later after a diuerse manner but all with the same alacritie of mynd infra And the martyrs that wee worship this day were present infra And therfor let vs often visit them adore their Sepulchers c. S. Cyrill Alex. anno 430. saith d lib. in iu. Iulianum vltra medium wee doe not say that the holy martyres are become God but wee are accustomed to giue them all honor S. Cyprian an 240 saith e lib. 4. Epist 9. The sufferinges dayes of martyres wee celebrate with an yearly remembraÌ„ce S Ambrose saith f Serm. 6 in sine whosoeuer honoreth martyres honoreth Christ and whosoeuer despiseth the Saintes despiseth God S. Hierome saith g edist ad Rigatiam wee honor the seruantes that the honour of the seruants may redound to the Lord. S. Bernard anno 1140. saith Serm. in illud SignuÌ„ magnum c. Serm. de Aquaeductu h let vs imbrace the steps of Mary and with most deuout supplication prostrate our selues at her blessed feet Againe Let vs with all the bowels of our hartes with all our affections and voues or desires worship Mary because such is his will who would haue vs altogether through Mary THE ADVERSARIE i in his def c agaiÌ„st the reply of Cart pag 472 473 Also D Couell in exaâ— c. pag 110 in â—â—uynder to Brâ—stow pag 5 and age nâ— Rhem. teâ— in 2 Pet. c. 1. s 3. fol. 44. and against Purgatory Pag. 310. Also Châ—m tamen part 3. pag 200. 211 The lord Archbishop of Canterbury M. Whitgist affirmeth that to vse his owne wordes almost all the Bishopes and writers of the Greeke and Latine Church for the most part were spotted with Doctrines of free will merite inuocation of Saintes and such like k M. Fulke saith I confesse that Ambrose Austine and Hierom hold inuocation of Saintes to be lawfull And againe he saith l that in Nazianzen Basil and Chrysostome is mention of the inuocation of Saintes That Theodâ—ret speaketh of prayer vnto Martyrs that Leo ascribeth much to the prayers of Peter for him that many of the auÌ„cient Fathers held that the Saintes departed pray for vs. Againe he affirmeth that about the yeare â—70 inuocation of Saintes was brought publickly into the Church by Ambrose Basil Gregory Naz Gregory Nyss Theodoret Hierome c. m vbi supra 211. Chemnitius alledgeth S. Austine inuocating S. Cyprian and concludeth saying These Austine doth without the scripture yeelding to tyme and custome The n Cent 3. col 84 line 23. and col 8 lnie 49. Centuristes charge S. Cyprian to affirme that martyres and dead Saintes do pray for the lyuing Also they charge Origen with prayer for himself to holy Iob saying o Cent. cap 4 col 33. lin 4â— Blessed Iob pray for vs wretches The affirme also that there are manifest steps of Inuocation of Angels in the Doctors of that age LVTHERS DOCTRINE p de adoratione Sacramenti ad waldenses I cannot saith he account you for heretickes as our Sophister doe because you neither inuocat the mother of God nor any other Saint but rest in Christ the only and alone Mediator although one may make intercession for another heere in this life yet for the intercession and inuocation of Saintes departed the Scriptures speake nothing Againe Inuocation of Saintes saith he is also one of the number of the Antichristian abuses q in attieulis ad Concil Mantuanum missis wherby he resisteth the chiefest articles blotteth out the knowledge of Christ. Philipp Melanchthon saith r in antithest verae Doctrinae and Pontificiae all inuocation of the dead is manifest Idolatrie such as is in the worship of Saintes Nicolaus Hemnimgius saith Å¿ in explicat Euang. de Festo Annunc Mariae inuocation of Saintes is a Diueliâ—h worship brought into the Church by the Diuell Iohan. Brentius saith t in Apolog. Confessions wittemberg wee grant that the Saintes in heauen do pray for the liueing on earth doth it therfore followe they are to be inuocated no such matter c. who commaunded you to inuocate the Saintes as the frindes of God for this verie worship of inuocating Saintes is idololatricall because God only is to be inuocated CALVINS DOCTRINE v lib 1. instit cap. 13. ¶ 12. Let that Platonicall Philosophie saith he of seeking recourse vnto God by Angels be of force and of worshiping them for this end wherby they may make more propitious and easie vnto vs which superstitious and curious men haue endeuoured from the begining to bring vnto our religion and doe so perseuere vnto this day Againe moreouer saith he it is a meere toy that Sophisters bable Christ is a mediator of redemption but the faithfull of intercession Againe x ¶ 21 for as much as perteineth to Saintes who are dead in flesh but liue in Christ if wee attribute any prayer vnto theÌ„ vvherby they may pray for vs in heauen let vs not dreame of any other way to beseech God by them then Christ who is the only way or that their prayers are accepted by God in any other name therfor for as much as the Scripture doth call vs from all vnto Christ only and our reauenly Father will haue vs to seeke all thinges in him it were to much blockishnes nay I say madnes for vs to seeke accesse by them and be led from him without whome they themselues haue no admittance But who dare deny but this hath bine practysed many ages and to this daye is in vse whersoeuer the Papacy raÌ„gneth Finally in all their litanies In fine Ibid. hymnes and prose
where there is any honor giuen to dead Saintes there is no mention of Christ y Ibid. ¶ 24. But saith he if any man excuse it and say it caÌ„not be but that they haue the same charitie to vvardes vs vvhich they had vvhen they vvere ioyned together vvith vs in faith vvho notvvithstanding hath revealed that they haue eares so long as to reach vnto our voices and eies so sharpe as to behold our necessities they idlelie imagine indeed in their shadovvees I knovv not vvhat of the splendor of the diuine countenance illuminating vvherby they behold from aboue as in a looking glosse the affaires of meÌ„ z ¶ 27 But this latter argumeÌ„t is easilie confuted by their ovvne impudencie in that they contend by no stronger an argument then as to say vvee haue need of the Patronage of Saintes because vvee are not vvorthy so familiar accesse vnto God c. But hence vvee collect that they leaue nothing to Christ vvho esteeme his intercession for nothing vnlesse George Hippolitus and such like Hagges or Hobgoblins be present An old condemned Heresie This heresie vvas proper to Vigilantius vvho said VVitnes S. Hier. lib. contra vigilantium that the prayers of the dead for so he called them vvhich liue gloriously vvith Christ ought not to be spoken of or heard to be profitable for others from whence doth follow that it is in vaine to inuocate the Saintes To take one more braue spirit by the vvay in respon ad rat Campiani rat 1. p. 15. M. Whitaker saith q little do wee regard the example of Raphaell the Angel mentioned in Toby neither doe wee acknowledge those seauen Angels whereof he speaketh all this is different from the canonicall scriptures and fauoureth of I know not what superstition So fixed is M. Whitaker in this opinion against vvhatsoeuer may be sayde THE 14. ARTICLE Of Saintes Reliques THE CATHOLICKE DOCTRINE Wee ought to haue in price and honour the Bodies and reliques of Saintes and to vse them reuerentlie and holily with all pious deuotion SCRIPTVRE The Angels Protect Saintes Bodies a Inde v. 9. MIchael the Archangel disputing with the Diuell made altercation for the body of Moyses Vnreasonable creatures spare the bodies of Saintes both Dead and liueing b â— kinges 13.24 The Lyon which slew the disobedient Prophet spared his body c Daniel 6.22 My God hath sent his Angel and hath shut vp the mouthes of the Lyons God doth honour the reliques of his Saintes by miracles d 4. kinges 13.21 When it had touched the bones of Eliseus the man reuiued e 4 kinges 2.8.14 And with the mantle of Elias c. he smote the waters and they were deuyded f Matt. 9 21. Yf I shall touch only his garment I shal be safe g Act. 5.15 S. Peters shadowe healed the sicke h Act. 19.11.12 And God wrought by the hand of Paul miracles not common so that there were also brought from his body napkins or handkerchefs vpon the sicke the diseases departed from them and the wicked spirits went out FATHERS Eusebius anno 330. speaking of the wooden seat of S. Iames saith i lib. 7. in hist cap. 15. It is kept with great care as deliuered from our elders in memorie of his sanctitie and is had in great veneration and worship S. Athanasius anno 340. writeth in the life of S. Antonie that he left an old cloake and also addeth the receauer of blessed Antonies legacie who hath deserued to receaue by his commaund an old cloak with an other garment made of a goats skine hanging downe from the neck doth imbrace Antonie in the giftes of Antonie and as it were enriched with a great inheritans doth ioyfully remember the Image of Sanctitie by a vestment S. Basil an 380. saith k in psalm 115. in illud Praetiosae â—n conspectu domini morâ— Sanctorum wheÌ„ any maÌ„ dieth lyke a Iew the thinges left behind him are abominable wheÌ„ death happeÌ„neth for Christ the reliques of his Saintes are pretious in tymes past it was said to the priestes and men dedicated to God he shall not be defyled by any dead but now he that toucheth the bones of a martyr doth receaue a certayne societie of holines by the grace remayning in the body Againe speaking of the reliques of martyres he saith l orat in 40. Martyres these are they who gouerne our countrey and cleauing together as it were certeine towers doe promise securitie from the incursions of our enemyes not shutting themselues vp in one place but are become hostes in many places and pray for many couÌ„treyes S. Gregory Nyss anno 380. saith m in The odorum Martyrem The soul after it hath ascended on highe doth rest in it place being freed from the body doth liue together with like vnto it self but her venerable bodie immaculate instruments composed and adorned withall honour worship is placed in a faire holy place And if any maÌ„ entring the temple of martyrs hath delighted his eyes with beholding and doe afterward desire to approche the sepulcher it selfe beleeuing the Sanctitie and benediction by often touching of it but especiallie if he be permitted to take of the dust where the body of the martyr doth ly or rest that dust is taken for a great fauour or gift and is gathered as a-thing of great price to be hidden in the earth for how much it is to be desired and wished for to touch the reliques themselues if at any tyme so good fortune happen that a man may doe it as the gift of all prayers they doe knowe that haue tried it and are made pertakers of that desiere S. Eusebius Emissenus anno 520. saith n homil de S. Blandina where are they that say there is no veneration or worship to be giuen to the holy bodies of martyres S. Cyrill of Hierus anno 350. saith o Catech. 18. But that not only the soul of the Saintes might be honoured and that it might be belieued that there is power and virtue in the bodies of the Dead The Dead man lying in the sepulcher of Eliseus is raysed to life by touching the dead body of the Prophet S. Chrysostome anno 380 saith of S. Inuentius and Maximus p Serm. de SS Inuentio 〈…〉 Therefor let vs often visit them let vs adore there sepulchers and whith great faith touch their reliques that therby wee may get some blessing or benediction S. Ambrose anno 380. saith q Serm. 93. de SS Nazario celso in fine what doest thou say to me what dost thou honour now resolued and consumed in the flesh I honour the wounds in the flesh of a martyr receaued for Christes name I honoure the memorie of the liueing by perpetuall virtue I honour hallowed ashes for the confession of our Lord I honour the seed of eternitie in the ashes I honour the body which hath taught me to loue our
suffered because the offender doth after wards reiect them and they may very well be purged by satisfaction THE ADVERSARIE The i Cent. â— col 127. l. 40. See also M. VVhitaker contr camp rat 5. pag 78. and himself also alledged in M Fulkes def of the English traÌ„slations ca. 13 pag. 68. Centuri-wryters affirme that penance or satisfaction was inioyned according to the offence and that the same Fathers thought by such their externall discipline of life to paye the paynes due vnto sins and to satisfie Gods iustice and that not Cyprian only but almost all the holy Fathers of that age were in that errour k Toby 129. Almes doth deliuer from death and doth purge all sinne Againe l cap 410. Almes doth deliuer from death and suffereth not the soule to goe into darknes m Ecclesiâ—sticus cap. 333. Water quencheth burning sier and almes resisteth sinnes This place of Ecclesiasticus and the other of Toby are so euident that the ministers of lincolne Diocesse say n in their abridgment c. pag. 76. The twoe places of Toby and ecclesiasticus tend daungerously to the iustifying of the merit of almes deeds LVTHERS DOCTRINE in assert articulor art 5. I mortally hate saith he and earnestly desire that terme satiefaction to be taken quite away which not only is not found in scripture but it hath a daungerous sense as if any man could satisfie God for his sin when as he doth freely pardon althings wherfor saith he I said that true satisfaction is not found neither in the scriptures nor in the fathers in Apolog. confessionis Augustanae art de coÌ„fess satisfactione Philipp Melanchthon Luthers Schollâ—r saith But yet our aduersaries saith he confesse that satisfactions doe not profit vnto the remission of the fault but doe fame that satisfactions profit to redeeme the paynes either of purgatorie or other payns Et infra this is ameere fiction and a thing newly inuented without authoritie either of scripture or auncient ecclesiasticall writters Againe in locis commun tit de satisfactione prope finem de carnis mortificationibus such manner saith he of voluntarie mortifications or tormentings belonge vnto that rule in vayne do they worship me with the commaundements of men also it is against these precepts Thou shalt not Kill and that Giue honour to the body who euer heard of a more sweeter ghospell then this of Luthers CALVINS DOCTRINE They assigne saith he the thirde place of satisfaction in penance lib. 3. instit cap. 3. ¶ 30. wherof whatsoeuer they bable it may all be confuted in one word they say it doth not suffice the penitent to abstayne from sins past to amend his manners vnlesse he doe satisfie God for that which he hath committed they say there are many helps wherby wee may redeeme our sins as teares fastinges oblations and the offices of charity And a little after against such lyes I oppose free remission of sins and that which is gratis then which there is nothing more clearly mentioned in the scriptures what I pray you hath Christ done for vs if the punishment for sin should still be exacted for when wee say that he suffered for all our sinnes vpon the crosse wee signifie no other thing then that he died with that payn and reueunge which was de for our sinnes Et infra I know that they speake yet more subtilly when as they distinguish betweene eternall payne and temporall paynes but in that they say temporall payne is a certayne punishment which God doth take as well of the body as the soule excepting only eternall death this restraint doth little availe them Again ¶ 38. all those thinges which doe euery where occurre in the writings of the fathers coÌ„cerning satisfaction do little moue me I see indeed that many of them yea I will speake plainly almost all whose bookes are now extant that in this matter they did either erre or speake to bitter and harsh ¶ 39. Againe But they called it for the most part satisfaction not a recompence which should be rendered vnto God but a publike testification wherby such as were punnished with excommunication when they would be receaued into communion againe they did make their penance knowne vnto the church And a little after confessions and satisfactions which are at this day in vse tooke their beginning from that old ceremonie indeed a viperous broode wherby it is come to passe that there is not so much as a shadow left of any better custome I know that the auncient writters did speake sometyme to hardly in this matter neither peraduenture as I said euen now did they erre therein lib. 4 cap. 12. ¶ 8. Againe the immodest authority saith he of the auncient writers can by no means be excused which doth altogether swarue and dissent from the precept of God and is very daungerous where also he saith that S. Cyprian was not so strickt but S. Chrysostome was more exact THE 37. ARTICLE Of the Single life of Priestes and Clergie men THE CATHOLICKE DOCTRINE Virginitie and single life is farre more excellent and conuenient for diuine exercices them wedlocke or matrimonie wherfor it doth chiefly become priestes and the ministers of the church to be so and that they are iustly bound vnto it by holy Cannons and vow SCRIPTVRE a Exod. 19 1â— BE ready against the third day and come not neere your wiues b Matth. 19.12 And there are Eunuches which haue gelded themselues for the kingdome of heauen c cap. 22. v. 30. In the resurrection neither shall they marrie or be married but are as the Angels of God in heauen d 1. Cor. 75. v. 7. Defraud not one an other except perhaps for a tyme by consent that you way giue your selues to prayer c. I would all men to be as my self to witt vnmarried FATHERS e lib. de virgin extremo S. Athanasius anno 380. saith O virginitie a neuer fayling riches an immortall crowne the temple of God the Dwelsing howse of the holy ghost a pretious pearle inuisible to the world the ioy of the Prophets the glory of the Apostles the life of Angels the crowne of Saintes f lib. de virginibus S. Ambrose anno 380. saith lett no man maruail if they be compared to Angels which are coupled with our Lord. g Catechesi 12. S. Cyrill Hierosol anno 350. saith let vs not be ignorant of the glory of chastity for it is an Angelicall crowne yea this perfection is aboue man h in 2. Dialogo b. Suâ—pitius anno 420. saith o blessed beauty and worthy of God i lib. de virginitate cap. 31. S. Austine anno 400. saith Therfore when professors of perpetuall continency shall compare themselues vnto those that are maried they shall find that according to the scriptures they are farre inferiour vnto them both in worke desert vow and reward also then presently doth that saying come