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A40453 The dolefull fall of Andrew Sall, a Jesuit of the fourth vow, from the Roman Catholick apostolick faith lamented by his constant frind, with an open rebuking of his imbracing the confession, contained in the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England. French, Nicholas, 1604-1678. 1674 (1674) Wing F2178; ESTC R6915 151,148 496

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God an infalible spiritt of rightly understanding the Scripture In which hee walked Religiously according to Doctor Whitak●rs definition of the privat Spiritt Wee Catholicks that have nothing to doe with this privat Spiritt doe firmly believe God hath given a speciall Grace and infalible Spiritt of expounding the Scripture and defining Theorems of faith to generall Councells assembled together in the Holy Ghost Vbi duo vel tres congregati sunt in nomine meo ibi ero in medio illorum That likwise the Pope hath this infalible Spiritt quando loquitur ex Cathedra but privat men bee they ever soe great Saints or learned wee doe not allow this infalibility unto them though wee doubt not but the Doctors of the Church who submitts themselves in all to the Church are specially assisted by the Holy Ghost in interpreting the word of God The pride of this privat Spiritt makes Protestants to make noe account of the ancient Fathers and Doctors nor of generall Councells or any diffinition or determination of the Church Ex. G. the second Counsell of Nice defines the Doctrin of Tradition in this manner Si quu Traditionem Ecclesiae sive scripto sive consuetudine valentem non curaverit anathema sit The privat spiritt of Doctor Whitaker spurning at this Councell said Generall Councells may erre Behold one Doctor of the English Church doth blast with a breath all the authority and creditt of this generall Councell Tell mee Sall is not this a Spiritt of pride in Doctor Whitaker a little Pigme contesting with soe many tale Gyants of Sanctity and learning all the Biphops and great Doctors of that famous Councell If wee produce the Authority of Fathers and Saints excellently learned as Cyprian Gregory Ambross Ierom Augustin and others behold the Father of Protestanisme your prime Doctor Luther whom your Church terms a holy man and the Hely-as of Germany speaks resolutly Gods Word is aboue all the Devine Majesty makes for mee in soe much as I regard not if a thousaad Augustins and as many Cyprians stood against mee Was this man in his sences Luth. Tom. 2 contra Henricum Regem Angliae when hee vapered in this kinde but how did Luther prove the devine Majesty made for him by noe other means but by his privat infalible spiritt which hee supposed though by Scripture hee could not prove it hee himselfe had and those Saints had it not See now Sall if you are happy in hauing Luther a monster of sinne with his privat Spiritt on your side and Cyprian Augustin and the rest of holy Doctors against you whome you have forsaken to stick unto Luther By this privat Spiritt you Protestant Domineer over all sorts of men interpreting Scripture as you please and who interprets otherwise be they universitys Doctors Fathers Councells yea and the very high Bishop of old Rome himselfe all erre and why soe because they have not the privat Spiritt of Protestanisme what a rediculous thing this is even Common reason teacheth us By this privat Spiritt you Protestants admit for Canonicall Scriptures all you please and you declare Apocriphall what you please by this Spiritt you take what Traditions you please and by the same reject what you please by this Spiritt you dis●anon the Books of the Machabees Ecclesiasticus and others those said Books have bine acknowledg S. Aug. in doct Christ l. 2 c. 8. Can. 47. for Canonicall by Saint Augustin and the third Councell of Africk You will doubtless tell mee that your chiefest Doctors Luther and Calvin had this infallible Spiritt in expounding the Scriptures and yet they give quite contrary interpretations of one and the same passage of Scripture as this Hoc est Corpus meum Luther understands Matt. cap. 26. that Text Secundum Litteram and says it is soe of faith to be understood and condemns for Hereticks the Sacramentariant Swinglians and Calvinistes who understand that place figuratively Luther hath this saying Englished I doe Luth. Ep. ad Har vagium Tom. 7. VVitt f 380. art 28. contra Lovanienses Tom. 2. VVitt. f. 503. protest before God and the world that I doe not agree with them the Sacramentarys nor ever will while the world standeth but will have my hands cleare from thee blood of those sheep which these Hereticks doe drive from Christ deceive and kill And againe in the same place Cursed be the Concord and Charity of Sacramentaryes for ever and ever to all Eternity Luther hee understands the above cited place litterally and possitively affirms that the body and blood of Christ is realy and substancially in the Sacrament of the Altar Hee likwise affirms but erroniously that bread is there with the body of Christ Calvin takes a quite Contrary way and affirms possitively the Body and blood of Christ is not realy and substantially in the Sacrament but figuratively see as hee expounds this Text Hoc est Corpus meum thus Hac est figura Corporis mei now what is more different then the Body of Christ to be realy in the Sacrament and the Body of Christ not to be realy in the Sacrament Sall reconcile the best you can these two great Doctors of your Church for plaine reason tells us if the Spiritt of one of them bee true the other must bee a lying Spiritt And those are the men these Monsters of incontinency and pride cover'd with all sort of vices are the Doctors and Masters you have now chosen Seeing then this privat lying Spiritt approves of expounding Scripture at will and pleasure allowing only such exposition of Gods Word as sorts well to the supporting of theire owne errors seeing it tramples all Authority of Councells Fathers and Doctors who expounded Gods Word differently from the Protestant Church seeing it ingenders contrariety in Doctrin even in the injoyers thereof as was now shewed in Luther and Calvin through each mans misconstruction of Scripture To conclude seeing the exorbitancy pride and petulancy of this Spiritt is such that it expects that all men should receive from it as from a second Moyses the Tables of our Evangelicall Law I pray sitt downe and saddly consider what you have done in following this pestiperous Spiritt and wandering with it have separated your selfe from your holy Mother the Church IV. CHAPTER BEfore resolving any thing upon this Ad tertum quere to wit of what Religion is Sall become having forsaken the Catholick Religion I must tell you hee hath been weakly armed against the evill temptation that overcame him hee hath not been a tale strong oak resisting the storme sathan rais'd against him but a wavering reed without strength or stay hee stood not stiffly upon the Rock of Peter but yielded without fighting Tempore tentationis recessit harken weake pusilanimus Sall to old Tertulian telling you Quod Hereses apud Tertul. prescrip cap. 2. eos multum valeant qui infide non valent That is that Heresies are strong against those who are not strong in theire
faith To vanquish a coward that makes noe resistance is but a smale Glory and Victory for a Champion the tentation that mastered you was like to such a Champion Illa tentatio vicit te non quia non potuit ipsa vinci repelli sed quia tu qui victus es nullarum virium fuisti That tentation mastered you not because the tentation was strong and could not be vanquished but because you that was vanquished was of noe force or resolution Tertulian speaks much to the same purpose in those tearms Hereses de quorundam infirmitatibus habent quod valeant non valentes si bene valentes fidem incurrant That is to say Hereses take theire force from the weakeness of some but would have noe force if they encountred men strong in faith You have beene indeed cast downe because you would not stand and fight for I dare affirme there are hundreds of simple honest lay-men Catholicks borne in Ireland would have rather suffered torments and death it selfe then abjure theire faith as you have don for that they would have made good use of the Grace God hath given them as you have not done but like a languishing man hast yielded to that black temptation over which they would have tryumphed It was exellently said of the formentioned Tertulians Nemo saepiens est nisi fidelis nemo major nisi Christianus nemo Christianus nisi qui usque ad finem perseveraverit Behold this Sage Father holds noe man wise but a man strong in his faiih noe man great or noble but a Christian noe man a Christian but hee that continues stout and faithfull to God in Combatts and temtations and more especialy when the storme of persecution rises upon this tryall you fainted and forsooke your Master and your Religion and now of what Religion I beseech you are you I am say you a Protestant a true Child of the Church of England but of what Sect or kind of Protestants are you is a new Queere for under this Notion of Protestant pass Lutherans Calvinist Moderat and Rigid Swinglians Anabaptists Phanaticts or the last Sect which calls themselves Quakers Shall I speak my mind to you having gone out of the Roman Catholick Church and quit the faith therin professed all along from the Apostles tymes till this day you are of noe Religion for all the rest is but Paganisme Judaysme and Heresy This assertion is evident out of the great Doctor of Nations in his Epistle to the Ephesians where hee says plainely Vnus Dominus una Fidos unum Baptisma Ad Ephes cap. 4. One Lord one Faith one Baptisme Ergo there are not two faithes to be sau'd in but one only and that the Roman Catholick Faith that noe man can be sau'd without this sole only faith Saint Paul teacheth clearely in his Epistle to the Hebrewes as thus Sine fide autem imposibele est placere Deo the words following give evidently the reason Credere enim eportet accedentem ad Deum Epist ad Hebr. cap. 11. quia est inquirentibus se remunerator sit But without faith it is imposible to please God for hee that cometh to God must believe that hee is and is a rewarder to them that seek him That the Roman Catholick Faith is that only true faith wherin men are to be saued is evidently confirmed for that it is taught and defended only in the Roman Catholick Church which hath the true signes and propertys of a true Church for that shee is one only and can not be many that shee is visible and visibly dispersed over the whole world and therfore Catholick and Universall that shee is infallible and can not be deceived nor deceive depending in her Doctrin upon the infallible Revelation of God being assisted with Christ's promise of the perpetuall presence of the Holy Ghost with her and consequently can neuer faile or fall into error that shee containeth not only the good or the elect in this life but alsoe divers wicked members as the barne doth both wheat and chaff that likewise shee hath continued perpetually visible from Christ to our days by manifest Successions of Popes and Bishops knowne to the world and shall soe to the end that there is noe hope of salvation out of this Church and without this Faith though aman live otherwise neuer soe well or give neuer soe much Almes or give even his blood or suffer neuer soe much for Christ his name Wee know there are some that say and hold that Catholicks and Protestants can be sau'd each in his owne Religion But that is a desperate Opinion and the refuge of a very Carless Conscience if not voyd of all faith Noe Catholick is of this mind they are only Protestants that say soe for wee Catholicks hold with the Fathers of the Church that salvation is only as before was said to be found in the Catholick Church among others Sainct Irenaeus and Tertulian neare the Apostles tyme and after them Epiphanius Theodoret and Saint Augustin doe specially treat of this matter The reason is evident in as much as Catholicks and Protestants doe disagree in substantiall Articles and Theorems of Christian faith theire disagreements being knowne to be in above a hundred points great and small partly about the God-head of Christ his Church head members and Authority therof in his descent to hell remission of sinns all which are Articles of the common Creed partly about the Sacraments both of theire nature number force and efficacy about the Real Presence the effect of Baptisme externall Sacrifices Purgatory and the Invocation of Saints praying for the dead faith and workes manner of Justification and the like All which are knowne to be very substantiall points It is therfore very absurd and plainly tending to a secret kinde of Athisme to uphold the Catholick and Protestant Religion doe not differ in substantiall points and the differrence being supposed as it must be it is an Heresy to hould the Catholicks and Protestants may be sau'd each in his owne Religion and Profession but Catholicks can be sau'd in theirs which can not be said of the Protestant and his for being out of the Arke Debet perire as Saint Jerom says regnante deluvio Consider therfor Sall having departed out of the Catholick Church what Eternity you may wait for an Eternity of Flames darkness and inconsolable lamentation Vbi ignis Sulphur spiritus procellarum pars calicis eorum this shall be your inheritance I must confess learned men unless careless are not soe easily intrapped by Hereticks for all this I see with all your Mastership of Philosophy and Divinity in Spaigne you haue bine deluded and circumvented by the Protestant Arch-Bishop of Cashel who likly is not an unlearned man hee hath not been carless in working your eternall ruine and undoeing and it is usually the principall care of Hereticks to pervert true believers as Tertulian doth excellently teach Studium est saith hee Heriticis
Sall and tell mee were not all your Saints such did not they lead about captive silly woemen loaden with sinns are not Nuns breaking out of Cloysters such woemen was there any of your capitall reformers that hath not led with him a Nun or some other woeman covered with sinns and from those they neuer seperated but for injoying them and theire love perrished eternally Ah Sall ah blinded Sall have you for joyning with those flagitious men and imbraceing theire new and Hereticall Doctrine deserted the famous Doctors and Saints Gregory Ambross Augustin and Hierom and all the ancient Fathers of the Church now glorious Saints in heaven Heu and Vae will fall upon you for a lost man that began to stray in your old age Sall for shame Fuge ad foli● in horto Paradisi absconde te a facie Domini cum peccantibus parentibus tuis Deo clamanti Sall ubi es responde cum pudore v●cem tuam audivi Domine tim●i eo qu●d nudus essem abscondi me XV. CHAPTER Sall if hee mindes his Salvation should not stay in a Church wherin Murtherers Traytors Hereticks Theeves Negromansers and other Mallefactors are Can●nized for Saints IT is saith Sall a greeuous reproach objected to the Protestant Congregation of the English Church to say they esteem for Saints Murtherers Hereticks and other Mallefactors it is soe Sall and even such a reproach as the Prophet objected to some men that were Socii furum Companions of Theeves But if the Congregation of Protestants in England doe this day owne and acknowledg for Saints Murtherers and other Mallefactors Ipsi viderint volenti scienti non fit injuria While they doe not disclaime in Iohn Foxes Calendar wherin hee sets downe for glorious Martyres and Saints Murtherers Traytors Theeves c. But rather highly value the same soe as it hath bin publickly read in the Churches to the Congregation doe not they make themselves guilty of this reproach Fox then is the man hath don this great Injury to the Protestants of England if they will be sencible of it This man of his owne head forged a Calendar or Ecclesiasticall Table of new Saints for the new English Church out of pride and vanity Emulation and apish Imitation of our Calendar for hee would forsooth have a Calendar for his owne Saints that indeed were noe Saints and in this Calendar hee put downe agreat rabble of Hereticks Theeves seditious persons c. And canonized of his owne new Reformers who hee pleased and left out whome hee pleas'd By framing this impious ridiculous Calendar hee hath done a grieuous Injury to the Catholicks of England to all the Saints of great Britany and to the very Protestant Congregation To the Catholicks those constant Professors of theire faith in the days of Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth days of sharp persecution that would not bend theire knee to Baal there were blessed be God many thousands of them Lotts that remained pure in Sodom in raising a Dagon a Calendar of false Saints against theire Arca a Calendar of true Saints but in the end our Arca hath falne Foxes Dagon To the Protestants hee hath done a very great afront and dishonoured theire Religion by setting downe in his Calendar for Saints of theire Communion knowne Hereticks Traytors Murtherers Witches and all kinde of Mallefactors by which hee hath made his owne Protestants Socios furum Companions of Theeves what more infamous to the Protestants of England then the Company of wicked men some condemn'd for lewd life some for theft and Sacriledg others for Murthers and Conspiracies others for witch-craft and sorcery and coming even to the distroying of their Princes person And is not this a holy Communion and Association of them to bragg of This is the great honour that Iohn Fox hath done to the Protestants of England that Luther Bucer Ochinus and those other Apostata's Priestes Monks and Fryers that for love of the flesh broak theire Vowes made to Allmighty God are sett downe for chief Saints in his Calendar Hee hath likwise highly injured the Saints in heaven in turning them out of the Callendar to make roome for his new Saints to that effect hee put out of his Callendar all the English British and Scotch Saints that have been knowne for glorious Saints by all the Ecclesiasticall Historys of the World What atempt more violent what Injury greater then to stricke out of the Senate of Saints all the Bishops Martyrs Confessors Virgins Eremites Priestes and Monks of great Britaine injoying the blessed Society of Angells and the happy presence and vision of theire Master Iesus the Lamb of God and who is the light and Lanthorne and Sunne it selfe of the Celestiall Citty of Hierusalem and this hee hath done and all those hee hath put out of theire seats and places to make roome for his new Martyrs and Saints such as you will blush to see named for Saints Nor did Fox stay heer but with great petulancy like a scelerat and prophane man hee dared compare his new Saints with our ancient Martyrs as Iohn Hooper a marryed Priest with Saint Policarp Hee resembleth Tindall in like manner to Saint Paul and his Shollar Frith to Saint Timothy Let any man read his arrogant and blasphemous dedicatory Epistle in beginning of his volume to Christ himselfe and hee shall see the pride the man had conceived of those his new Martyrs For first hee asked of Christ this question Quae gens quae Fox in Epist dedic ad Iesum Christum● lingua quae natio qua temporum vetustas quae hominum prosteritas earum non cantabit laudes c. That is What people what tongue what nation what continuance of tyme what posterity of men shall ever be that will not sing these new Martyrs prayses c. This was his question Fox his writing to Iesus Christ and you will easily imagin how quickly Christ could have answered the goose if hee had bene worthy of answer to wit that hee should soon after see and behold a posterity of the English Nation it selfe that instead of praysing them would defie and detest both them and theire Doctrin as alsoe display theire wickedness to the whole World And whether this tyme and posterity be already com or noe let the Reader judg by that which in this booke hee shall see set forth But now after Fox his Conference had with Christ in Latin hee cometh downe to reason with the Q. Majesty in English about the worthiness of the same Matyrs and then turneth againe to the learned Reader for soe hee saith hee must be in another Lattin letter where after many other insolent vaunts of his new Martyrs hee saith thus Si non poena sed causa Martyrem facit Fox Epist ad doctum lectorem non video cur non unum Cranmerum sexcentis Beckettis Cantuariensibus non conferam modò sed pretulerim That is If the cause and not the punishment make a Martyr I
however wee must leave him a Saint to fill up that new Calendar Fox is not ashamed to place in his Calendar Lollards a Sect of Hereticks ancienter then Wicklifians by 50 years who in some things held with the Protestants and Wicklisians against the Roman Church as against the Invocation of Saints Fastings Prayers and the Sacraments of Pennance Matrimonie Extrem-unction and the like they had alsoe particular Opinions of there owne against Baptisme Eucharist and the like They had alsoe theire peculiar fanatick Opinions as Tritemius saith 1. That Lucifer with the rest of The peculiar oponions of the Lollards according to Tritemius his Angells were injuriously thrust out of heaven by Michael and his Angells and consequently to be restored at the day of iudgment And that Michael and his Angells are to be damned for the forsaid Injury and to be delivered over to everlasting punishment from the day of Iudgment forward 2. That our Lady could not beare Christ and remaine a Virgin for that soe hee should have been an Angell and not a man 3. They held that God did only punnish such wickedness as is done upon Earth But if any thing be done underground it is not punishable And therfore in caves and sellers under-ground they were accustomed to exercise all abomination And of this hee relateth a certaine Story happened in Germany which was that one Gisla a young Woeman of theire Sect comming to be burned for Heresie shee was asked whether shee were a Virgin or noe wherunto shee answered that above-ground shee was but under ground not This Heresie the Lollards grounded upon that saying of the Psalme Terram Psal 113. autem dedit Filiis hominum That is God hath given the Earth to the Children of men I will conclude in this place with Fox a Father os lyes the greatest Hypocrit and Falcificator of that age or this for proofe heerof I remitt you to Father Persons a famous man of blessed memory a great Ornament to his Order and all the Church of God in the third part of his treatis in the Addition hee made or the Relation of the tryall made before the King of France in the year 1600. between the Bishop of Eu●eux and the Lord Plessis Mornay Page 59. 60. 61. I have had Occasion these monthe● The words of Fr. Persons past to peruse a great part of his last Edition of Acts and Monuments printed the fifth tyme in the yeare 1596. and doe find it soe stuffed with all kind of falshood and deceitfull mannerof telling tales as I could neuer truly have beleeved it if I had not found it by my owne experience And I doe persuade my selfe fully notwithstanding all his Hypocriticall words and protestations which are more and oftener repeated by him then in all the writers together that I have read in my life that there is scarce one whole Story in that huge volume told by himselfe except when hee relateth other mens words out of records and therby is bound to the formality therof but that it is falsified and perverted one way or other either in the beginning middle or end by adding cutting of consealing false translating wrong cyting or cunning jugling and falsification Hee saith further A certaine learned Student of Divinity brought to mee of late 30. places taken out of two only leaves of Fox his booke to witt from the 12. to the 14. which I looking upon found them all most evident by conference of the Catholick Authors aleaged by the said Student and moreover besides these thirty I did discover soe many other plain Falshoods and manifest willfull lyes in those only two leaues as might well double the former number and I doe offer to prove them one by one if any Frind of Iohn Fox will joyne issue with mee upon this poynt Infine Father Person concludes with Fox that if all the Falsifications and lyes in his great volume of Acts and Monuments were well siffted the number and account would swell soe high as it would much surpass Iohn Sleydans Story in this kinde though hee bee the Protestants Protochronicler out of whome noe lesse then an eleven thousands lyes were gathered by the Catholick writers of Germany Let Fox goe along for his Companion if not master in the art of lyeing XVI CHAPTER The fift Quaere what Company hath Sall forsaken and who are they hee now sticks unto TO this Quaere an answer is Soon given that Sall having shamfully deserted the Catholick Faith hath alsoe abandoned theire side and hath passed to those that profess the Religion or rather Heresie hee hath imbraced This is made manifest out of his owne words in his Recantation All considered well saith hee I did conclude the way of the Church of England to be safer for my Salvation wherfore resolved to declare as I Out of Salls Recantion doe hereby seriously and in my hart without any Equivocation and mentall Reservation in the presence of God and this Congregation I declare that I doe give my full and free assent to the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England for holy and wise and grounded upon the infallible word of God acknowledging the Romish Tenets against them to bee false and superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a beleefe of monstrous Miracles repugnant to human reason and not grounded upon devine Testimony Sall there is an end of you goeing out of the Arck not like the Doue that returned carrying in its mouth a branch of an Olive tree but like the crow that neuer came back againe it may be much feared this may be your dismall end But having now bid adieu to us whither doe you goe you pass indeed from us to a great Congregation of men who all of them put in a just claime to have you of theire Company and Communion All out of the Arck are your Companions of these you have in the Law of Nature in the written Law and the Evangelicall All these wee call them Hereticks were Armyes fighting against the eternall Verity and the goodness of God all are your Companions I remember to have said aboue out of Tertulian that Protestants and other Hereticks being not able to shew the succession of theire Church were forced to grant it was for a tyme invisible which is against the nature of a true Church yet for all this I cannot deny but that Heresie is ancient and had its being before man was created The first Hereticks therfore and before mans creation was Lucifer with some rebellious Legions that with him stirred up sedition in heaven when Lucifer out of Pride would bee esteemed an Anti God with him joyned in the quarrell severall Bands of Angells and fell all with him And there was Apocal. cap. 12. seen saith the Book of Revelations another signe in heaven agreat red Dragon and his taile drew the third part of the starrs of heaven and cast them to the Earth The sedition and Rebellion is
Scriptures wherin those Miracles are found as for Church Miracles they seem to make noe more account of them then of fables or of ridiculous things but holy men and those that feare God doe much esteem them by Church Miracles I first understand such as the most antient fathers have left upon record never questioned never call'd into doubt by any 2. I understand by Church Miracles such as in latter ages have been aproved by the Sea Apostolique chiefly at the Canonization of Saints wherof wittnesses have been produced upon oath and all Imaginable sinserity or severity rather used to avoyd heresies and to make truth openly knowne Wee Catholicks distinguish between the received Miracles of the Church and those which particular men relate wherof some are only probable others Dubious others false the Protestants doth not distinguish them but make all fish that coms to Nett The Catholicks alsoe distinguish the Miracles of Christ and other Miracles those of Christ are immediatly wrought by God and the other by Gods servants but In Nomine virtute Dei soe that Christ is the Magnus Thaumaturgus quia sine illo nihil possumus facere when one baptizeth Saint Augustin doth affirme that Christ doth Baptize with him even soe wee say when any of Gods servants workes a wonder Christ works that Miracle with him and consequently all the Miracles of the Saints are Christs Miracles If Sall and other Protestants shall deny Gods servants to have received from Christ the power of working Miracles I say Sall and his Companions in this doe not beleeve the Prophesie of Christ saying expresly Amen Amen I say unto you hee Ioan. cap. 14. that beleeves in mee the works that I doe hee alsoe shall doe and greater works then these shall hee doe These are Christes owne words who cannot deceive or be deceived For a more exact notice of the nature of Miracles and how they are differenced I remitt my reader to an excellent Treatise printed at Antwerp anno 1674. Thus intitled The Infallibility of the Catholick Church and her miracles Now that Miracles are not Monstrous as Sall prophanely speaks but Glorious and the true seals and Characters of the true Religion and Church the ensuing Chapter will declare XXI CHAPTER Of undeniable Miracles proving the Faith and Sanctity of the true Church Mi ∣ racle 1 VVHen the people of Israel were most devided in matter of Religion and very many of them bended theire knees to Baal the Prophet Elias said to them in zeale and Anger How long halt you of two sides if Lib. 3. cap. 18. our Lord be God follow him if Baal follow him And the people did not answer him aword Such a zealous postulation is necessary to those that are neither hott nor cold in Religion but luke-warme such as the Angells themselves detest Apocall Cap. 3. then the Prophet made a motion to them of clearing the truth in point of Religion between him and the Priests of Baal by that famous undoubted Miracle of burning an Ox upon the Alter without kindling fyre under this way was well approved of by the people and they all answering said a very good proposition Gods Prophet was but one and alone in this conflict and the Prophets of Baal then present 450. The reason wherfore the people willingly condescended to the Prophets proposition was that in common sence they judged that God would not permitt a falshood to be confirmed by Miracle in soe publique a tryall where the veracity of God was soe particularly concerned on the other side the Prophets of Baal durst not refuse soe faire an ofter as Elias made in the presence of all the people fearing they would fall from them and the Worship of Baal their God What end say you had this faire Tryall who had the Victory who but Elias the true servant and Prophet of God The Priestes of Baal began to pray and cry upon Baal theire God with great fervour and many Ceremonyes they cryed till noon-day the tyme the Sacrifice should be burnt but their God Baal sent them noe fyre Then Elias after gering the foolish prayres and exclamations of those 450. Prophane Priestes of the Idol Baal began to pray to the living God in this kind Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel shew this day that thou art the God of Israel and I thy servant and that according to thy Commaundement I have done all these things Heare mee Lord heare mee that these people may learne that thou art our Lord God and that thou hast converted theire hart againe And the fire of our Lord fell and devoured the Holacaust and the wood and the stones licking alsoe the dust and the Water that was in the Water gutter Which when all the People had seen they fell on theire face and said Our Lord hee is God our Lord hee is God Sall two things you may here observe the first that the people of Israel seeing the Miracle of the fyre coming from heaven detested Baal and adored God crying out Our Lord hee is God our Lord hee is God Secondly That the Devills power was here restrained and soe chained that hee was not able to help those Priestes of Baal demaunding fyre from him to burne the Holocaust and soe it is still when Miracles are attempted for the Tryall of truth then only truth will be testifyed and Sathan confounded having noe power to the contrary which is according to that of Saint Mark Our Lord working with Mark cap. 16. all and confirming the Doctrin with signes following And why should not I in this place in the name of the Catholick Church make such an offer to Sall and all his Protestants in England Ireland and Scotland as Elias made to the Priestes of Baal I hope they will be asham'd to refuse it for that were to confess that the Roman Doctrin is true and theirs false The Roman Church the true Church and the Protestants the false Sall let us not delude the people with School subtilitys or obscure Texts of Scripture If the Church of England or Scotland or any other reformed one be the true Church and its Doctrin the true Doctrin let that be try'd by Miracles I shall try ours of Rome by that Test I challenge then all the Bishops and Ministers of the Church of England and all those of the Reformation or all the Protestants of the World to work or mention any one Miracle ever yet wrought by any Protestant to confirme any one point of Doctrin or Religion wherin they differ from the Roman Catholick Gentlemen summon your Synods search into all Historyes Prophane and Sacred set your heads to gether and produce at least some probable testimony of as much as one Miracle to grace your Reformations Mi ∣ racle 2 When the same Prophet Elias raised from death to life the child of the Widow of Sareptha of the Sidonians and delivered him to his Mother and Lib. 3. Regum cap. 1●8 said to her behold
have said of this Miracle is but a Papisticall dreame or fable if hee say soe the Testimony of the Miracle before soe many thousands and the Examination therof upon the Saints Canonization will prove him impudent and if hee shall say that Consecrated Host which Saint Bernard held between his hands over the Patena which the Saint said was the same Body that took Flesh from the Body of the blessed Virgin was not the true Body of Christ hee affirms the Saint to bee a cheat and if this hee says wee shall make bold without being unmannerly to averre that hee belyes the Saint and that what hee says is a callumny In a word there is noe way left for Sall to discreditt this Miracle The other Miracle wher with Saint Bernard daunted and terrify'd William Earle or Duke of Aquitaine and changed as wee may say a Lyon into a Lamb happened thus This Duke took part with Antipape Petrus Leo against Innocentius the true Pope and in this Opposition shew'd great obstinacy and used great Tyranny against all those that obeyed Innocentius and stuck to him in his Canonicall Election hee deprived severall Church-men of their Benefices thrust out violently Bishops out of their Chaires and Churches and did very great Outrages against many of his subjects It was found meet and fitting to reason with this furious man and try if hee could be reduced to a due obedience and agreement with the Popes party to this purpose Saint Bernard the Bishop of Chartres with many other persons of quallity came to conferr with the Duke The holy man seeing him stubborne and refusing to reconsile himselfe to the Bishops and Church-men hee had oppressed betook himselfe to stronger weapons that is to say began Mass with great feruour and deuotion and coming to Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi c. Came abroad the Duke being forbidden to assist at Mass did not enter the Church with the Sacrament over the Patena and began to handle this proude Prince in this kinde The above mentioned Author of Saint Bernards life relates the History in this manner Homo Dei c. That is The Guliel Abbas in vita S. Bern. lib. 2. cap. 6. man of God not now carrying himselfe like an ordinary man puts the Body of our Lord upon the Patena and takes it with him and with an angry countenance and flaming eyes not praying but threatning came a broad and setts upon Duke William with the ensuing vehement words Wee have hithertoe pray'd you and you have dispised us in our last meeting of some servants of God the whole multitude humbly besought you and you contemned us all behold now coms to you the sonne of the virgin who is head and Lord of the Church whome you persecute thy Iudge here is present in whose name all knees bend in heaven on Earth and in Hell thy Iudge is present in whose hands thy Soule shall com Will you dispise him as you have contemned us his poore Servants All then upon the place powered forth teares and all attentive to theire Prayres waited for the end of the bussiness and cogitations of all suspended did expect some devine and great Matter to be done The Duke seeing the Abbott coming upon him in a vehement Spiritt and carrying in his hands the most Blessed Body of Christ feared mainly and trembling in all the members of his Body was like a man stiff of cold in this trembling and feare fell upon the ground and lifted up by the Soldiers fell againe upon his face nor had hee power to speak a word nor look upon any Body his great beard all defiled with spittle breathing out deep sights look't like a man in the Fallen-sickness Then the man of God came neare unto him and touching him with his foot commaunded him to rise and stand upon his feet and heare the Sentence and Iudgment of God upon him Heer is present saith the Saint the Bishop of Potiers whome you violently thrust out of his Church goe and make peace with him and bring him back to his Church and for Satisfying God give him Glory for the contumely you have show'd and in all your Dominions commaund your People to obey Innocentius the true Pope and have noe more to doe you nor they with Anti-Popes What will you doe William of Aquitaine imbraced the Bishop of Potiers and the rest and obeyed in all glorify'd God and became afterwards a great Saint Sall doe you take the tameing of this fierce Lyon of Aquitaine by the Lamb of God Christ Iesus in the Sacrament in the hands of his servant Saint Bernard wrought by him take you this I say for a Miracle Noe man will bee soe impudent as to deny the creditt of the History published and beleeved over all the World and beleeving the History you must confesse this Wonder was done in Confirmation of Transubstantiation Did ever your Piece of Bread in your figurative Sacrament cast to the ground a furious impious Tyrant as Duke William was or cast out a Devill as the Sacrament in Saint Bernards hands did in Millan Goe now Sall a furious zealott in your new Religion and Preach to your Bretheren that Miracles are Monstrous XXIII CHAPTER Certaine Advertisments to said Sall. First Hereticks are knowne by certaine Marks 1. HEreticks deny and hate Tradiditions soe saith the Counsell of Nice 2. Hereticks accuse the ancient Fathers of Ignorance and blindness soe saith Saint Bernard 3. Hereticks dispise th● head of the Church and speak contumeliously of him soe affirms Saint Cyprian and Augustin 4. Hereticks say and uphold there is noe need nor use of Miracles 5. Hereticks say they are sent extraordinarily from God to reforme the Church and sanctify the World and yet they work noe Miracles the true signes of such a Mission 6. Hereticks mock the simplicity of Priests Innocent the third a learned Pop● affirms this saying Simplicitatem Sacerdotem illudunt Heretici 7. Hereticks cannot give reason of theire Chaire nor prove theire Succession from the Apostles 8. Hereticks are still disputing but will in the end beleeve nothing but what themselves hold 9. An Heretick defends his owne opinion with pride and obstinacy soe saith Saint Augustin Cap. 10. Lib. 9. De Civitati Dei 10. Hereticks love not the vettue of chastity they hate saith Saint Hierom the Virgin and Virginity Difficile est saith Tertulian Hereticum invenire qui diligat castitatem It is hard to finde an Heretick that is a lover of Chastity These are the marks of an Heretick as ancient Fathers obseru'd I leave Sall to consider to whome these marks can be fittly atributed to Roman Catholicks or Protestants Wee come now to a Litany of Hereticks George l'Apostre a French Author hath this Litany in a worke intitled Le Tombeau des Heretiques Hee calls the Litany La Litanie Hugenote Hee begins thus 1. CAin denyed the Providence of God and the meritt of good VVorks and then says to the Hugenotes Vous
aussi That is And you doe the same 2. The Saduceans deny'd a part of Canonicall Scriptures You doe the same 3. The Scribes and Pharasies depraued the Bible You doe soe too 4. The Capharnaits would not beleeve the Body and Bloud of Christ in the Eucharist Nor doe you 5. Simon Magus said God was Author of Sinn deny'd Marriage was a Sacrament deny'd Free-will made a warre against Saint Peter You doe soe too 6. The Menandrens saith Saint Ignatius deny'd the Eucharist the Sacrifice of the Masse and averred the Body of Christ was not there You doe the same 7. The Gnosticks held them selves only wise and learned accused the Fathers of Ignorance Soe doe you 8. The Montanistes vaunted the Holy Ghost was only in theire Church they deny'd Confession and the Sacrament of Pennance Soe doe you 9. The Novatians held that the Church had noe power to remitt Sinn deny'd Confession rejected the Sacrament of Confirmation soe attesteth Saint Ambrose of them deny'd any Superiority in the Church affirmed all th'Apostles were equall and that Saint Peter was not cheefe soe attesteth Theodoret. You doe the same 10. The Catharians rejected the Sacrament of Pennance deny'd Purgatory affirmed Priests ought to Marry You doe the same 11. The Manichees mocked Virginity deny'd Marriage to be a Sacrament reproched Catholicks for VVorshipping Saints broack downe the Images deny'd Free-will mocked Catholicks for having memoryes of the feasts of Martyrs called Catholicks Idolaters for saying Masse for the dead said the Saints did not pray for us Threw away the Reliques of Saints as acurssed and abhominable things held the Eucharist as the Councell of Nice reports was but a Figure that the Body of Jesus Christ was not there You doe the same 12. The Arrians deny'd prayers for the dead would not receive Traditions said Bishops and Priests were equall cast downe Alters and Crosses hated Monks like aplague admitted nothing but the old and new Testament You doe the same 13. Jovinian mocked Celibatt or the state of Continency preferred Marriage to Virginity gested at the Vow of Religion derided Monks detested fasting on Fryday and Saturday and in Lent made noe Distinction between eating and fasting Marryed theire Priestes held that Fasting and Chastity did noe way profitt the Soule that Jesus did pray and fast for us all denyed the meritt of good VVorks affirming Jesus Christ had satisfy'd for all that all were Priestes that aman may live in vvhat Religion hee vvill You doe the same 14. The Waldenses that began the yeare 1160. Mocked the use of Chrisme in Baptisme and Benedictions Mattins and Canonicall Houres prayers to Saints and Lent deny'd Purgatory said Extremunction was noe Sacrament scoffed at prayers for the Dead denyed the power of the Pope derided Pardons and Indulgences said the Devill had invented Monks and Religious Orders held the Priest was as high as the Bishop You doe the same There are about forty Heresies more in said Litanie which for sauing tyme I omitt the same Author says that Luther with his German Apostata's raked up from Hell 404 Heresies Of Calvin I have given you an account in his owne Words Page 124. beginning thus Calvin comme une meschante Arragneé c. What ought to be considered in this place is that the afore mentioned Hereticks and their Heresies have been condemn'd by the Church and generall Councells this being soe I shall pray Sall as hee tenders the Salvation of his owne Soule to examine with how many of these Heresyes are the Protestants infected and how many of them are delivered as Doctrin of the Confession of England in the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England let him look well to what hee hath done it is certaine noe man sound in his witts will drink of a Fountaine wherin snakes and todes spitt theire Poyson no man will stay in a House infected with the plague if hee can gett out The second Advertisment Cleare places of Scripture in many points controverted make for the Catholicks THere is nothing more frequent then Protestants to bragg that Scriptures are for them in all Articles controverted between them and Catholicks This great Evidence they have as they say on theire owne side and therfore they lay a side Traditions ancient Fathers Councells Canons and Schoole Arguments they will stand to noe other Tryall but Scriptures and when they come to this test they are aground and faile quite in produceing formall Scriptures for themselves of the other side wee Catholicks admitt of Councells Fathers Traditions c. for good Evidences in desiding differrence of Religion between us and them which they denying wee bring express places of Scripture which they cannot doe as doth clearly appear in the ensuing Articles and matters controuerted between us them For example-sake wee Catholicks Real-presence for proving the Real-Presence have expressly Math. cap. 26. Ioan. cap. 6. Iac. 2. Iustification This is my Body You have noe where this is the signe of my Body Wee have expressly The Bread that I will give you is my Flesh You have no where It is but the signe of my Flesh. Wee have expressly A man is justifyed by Works and not by Faith only You have noe where A man is justifyed by Faith alone noe nor that hee is justifyed by Faith without works talking of works that follow Faith wherof only our Controvercy is Wee have expressly Whose sinns you forgive Absolution Ioan. cap. 20. are forgiven whose sinns you retaine are retained You have noe where That Priests cannot forgive or retaine sinns on Earth Wee have expressly The doers of the Law shall be justifyed Rom. cap. 2. You have noe where That the Law required at Christians Hands is impossible or that the doing therof justifyes not Christians Wee have expressly Vow ye and render your Vowes Psal cap. 75. Vowes You have no where Vow ye not or if you have vow'd break your Vowes Wee have expressly Keep the Traditions which you have learned Traditions Epist 1 Thess cap. 2. either by Word or Epistle You have noe where The Apostles left noe Traditions to the Church unwritten Wee have expressly Commaundements Math. cap. 19. If thou will enter into life keep the Commaundements And when hee said hee did that already If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all thou hast and give to the poore and follow mee You have no where That either the Commaundements can not be kept or that wee are not bound unto them or that there is noe degree of life one perfecter then another Wee have expressly Work your owne Salvation works Phillip cap. 2. with feare and trembling You have noe where Either that a man can worke nothing towards his owne Salvation being helpt with the grace of God or that a man should make it of his beleefe that hee shall be saved without all doubt or feare Wee have expressly Doe ye worthy frutes Pennance Luc. cap. 3. of Pennance You have noe where That
Apostolicale will you heare these holy men speake in theire owne Cathechisme Albe it say they the substance of the Doctrine comprised Catebhisme VVest infine in the abridgment commonly called th' Apostles Creed be fully sett forth in each of the Cathechismes soe as there is noe necessity of incerting the Creed it selfe Yet it is here anexed not as though it were composed by the Apostles What new masters or rather Monsters are these What ungodly pestiferrous Doctrin is this to say and teach the Creed is a human Collection and not made by the Apostles this they declared as was said and after such Declaration they did not say it neither did they require it to be said any more of others as the custome was formerly at Babtising infants all this they did to put the Creed out of Estimation and use now this Innovation calling the Creed in question the beleevers therafter could be sure of nothing Thus the Presbyterians indeavered to dash th' Authority of the Cymbol the principall foundation of Religion O abomination of furious zealots that would change the Apostolicall Creed which was taught for such and soe beleeved and esteemed in all ages by the consent of all Christian Nations and said dayly by all the Servants of God young and old But against the Impiety of those men wee have the Authority and Testimony of all the ancient Fathers for the Credit and Estimation of the Creed Cardinall Barronius in the first tome of Baron Tom. 1. Annal. an 44. N. 15. seq his Annals doth shew by the Testimony of the holy and ancient Fathers that the Creed was composed by the holy Apostles a little before they were to part and goe into severall Countryes to preach the Ghospell unto the Gentils to the end there might bee a certaine short cleare rule of Faith in which they all agreed wherin they were to instruct all persons and by which as by a certaine badge all Christians might be knowne Be pleased now to heare the Fathers speak of the Symbol Saint Ambrose saith Let us beleeve the Symbol S. Amb. Serm. 18. Epist 81. of the Apostles which the Roman Church doth ever preserve and keepe inviolate Saint Hierom saith The Symbol of our Faith and hope which was delivered by th' Apostles is not written in Paper or Ink but in the fleshly Tables of the hart Saint Augustin speaks thus The comprehension Aug. Serm. 42. de trad and perfection of our Faith is the Creed It is simple saith hee short and full That its simplicity might serve the rudeness its shortness the Memory And its fullness the Instruction of the hearers Else where hee saith this is a Symboll brief in words but large in Misteryes for whatsoever is declared in the Scriptures or foretold by the Prophets c. is contained and briefly confessed in it To show the excellency of the Creed which is therfore to be often sayd Saint Augustin speaks thus Render Aug. homil fortitu your Symboll render it unto the Lord be not weary to rehearse it the repitition of it is good least forgetfullness creep one thee doe not say I sayd it yesternight I sayd it to day I say it every day I have it well Remember thy Faith Behold thy selfe let thy Creed be a mirrour unto the there see thy selfe if thou beleeve all that thou confessest thy selfe to beleeve and rejoyce dayly in thy Faith Let it be thy Riches the dayly apparell of thy Soule Doe you not cloath your selfe when you rise Soe by remembring thy Creed cloath thy Soule least per-adventure forgetfullness make it naked Saint Ambrose cales this the Seale of our Ambr. lib. 3. de Virgin Tom. 4. hart which wee ought dayly to review and the Watch-word of a Christian which should bee in a readiness in all dangers Wee have the Creed by an assured Tradition and Testimony of the Church which Saint Augustin holds of noe less certainty then the Scriptures as is signifyed by these words I would not have beleeved saith the Saint Aug. Cont. Epist fund Cap. 5. the Ghospell unless the Authority of the Catholick Church had moved mee c. And that Authority being once weakned neither can I beleeve the Ghospell Seeing these Presbiterians have abollished the Authority of the Cr●ed saying it is not Apostolicall what in Gods-name have these Doctors given to the People in place of the Symboll The holy Covenant and as the Creed is denyed by these men to be Apostolicall soe is the Covenant cry'd up to be Divine for they call it Gods Covenant and the Confession of the Scottish Kirck This was truly a rare exchange to deny the Creed to be Apostolique and to cry up the Covenant to be devine To Rob us of a most ancient clear briefe positive sacred Confession of Faith made by the holy Apostles famous in all ages and Universally received throughout the whole world full of great Misteryes and divine Expressions and to give us in place of it a new long obscure negative Confession or rather noe Confession of Faith full of terrible oathes Execrations and Combinations devised by some few discontented heads and by cunning and force obtruded upon the Nation much suspected at the beginning to bee nothing but a meere pretence of Religion as it was notoriously known to be a humane Invention and as it 's now at length after all its disguises manifested for such unto the World It 's good fame hath not lasted long neither at home nor a broad It gott some footing in England by cunning and worldly interest but these soone failing it was quickly detected and rejected The Christian Mediator sayth to this purpose That the last Reformation Christ Mod. pag. 2. settled with soe solemne a Covenant and carryed on with soe furious a zeal is already by better lights discovered to be meerly humane and therfor deseruedly layd aside These are the words of the converted Presbyterian Sall I would now faine know what is your Iudgement of these kinde of Protestants perhaps you will say they are noe Protestants but Geneva the acknowledged school of English and Scottish Protestants will tell you that Presbiterians are the purest Protestants of all and for ought I could ever learne the Church of England held and holds them soe according to Doctor Whitakers manner of speaking Tell mee Sall have you ever seen any act of Parlament in England declaring that Presbiterians are not Protestants or any penal lawes enacted against them noe such thing though they differ as was said from the Episcopall or Royall Protestants in fundamentall points of Religion that of the order and dignity of Episcopacy which they hold to bee Anti-Christian and Tyranicall and noe way de Iure Divino The other of the kings supremacy in Spiritualibus which they flatly deny they alsoe differ from the Kings Protestants in abollishing the Lords prayer and the Hymne of Glorification to the B. Trinity and in denying the Greed to be Apostolicall
but after a long and due Examination of the substanc● of them hee refuted them soe substantially as to this day noe man of the Church of England hath answer'd him I observe in this place that this Gentleman spent a great deale of tyme in deliberation about seaven years before Adjuring said XXXIX Articles which hee once believed as you doe now Sall as Articles of faith which belief and Doctrin hee suckt from his Cradle much more tyme I say hee had bestow'd and deliberation in quitting them then you have done in deserting the Catholick Religion and its holy Communion in which you were bred and your parents before you which can not be spoken but to your shame and infamy The light and grace God gave to Mr. White the Gentleman I speake of led him out of Babilon in to Ierusalem and you without great musing on the weightiest matter can ever concerne you the damnation or salvation of your soule are fled from Ierusalem to Babilon The Tytle of Mr. Whites Book Schismatis Anglicani redargutio Authore Alexandro VVhite ex eodem Schismate per Dei gratiam ad fidem Catholicam Converso Viro qui coripientem dura cervice contemnet repentinus ei superreniet interitus cam Sanitas non sequetur Proverb cap. 29. Lovani typis Jeronimi Nempaei 1661. This Book Sall if you have it not allready you will finde with som of the Priestes there Such is my opinion and of the Devines of my side of the sound substance of this Book and the Reasons and Arguments and Authoritys of Scripture Apostolicall Tradition Counsells and Fathers hee produceth that I presume without all vanity to give a Challenge on the behalfe of Verity and the Roman Catholick Church to you and to the Protestant Arch-Bishop of Cashell I say I give a Challeng to you both and all that Profess the XXXIX Articles in the three Kingdoms to make answer to this Book This is not a Thrasonical defiance such as Mr. Iewell Bell and others Protestant Divines made to all the Catholicks in the world of disputing with them about Religion but the place of disputing must have beene in England they being sure the state would not allow therof this Challenge is only for answering this Book wherin Mr. White hath distroy'd the Babell tower of your XXXIX Articles which you will neuer build up againe This mans Arck hath cast downe your Dagon hee hath impeached your new English Creed the XXXIX Articles af a treason against heaven and verity I pray you Sall if you have any memory as yet left of mee peruse seriously sedato animo this learned Book one of two effects it will have that either it will convert you or confound you Now if your Arch-Bishop and you and the rest of your Devines shall refuse this Challeng doe not vapour hereafter of the light Doctrin and Sanctity of your XXXIX Articles nor of your owne maistership in Devinity for 18. years in Spaine My Reader you have heard Sall tell why hee went out of the Catholick Church But S. Augustin gives another kinde of answer wherfore such men goe a way from us Habent says the Saint calumnias suas August Tom. 8. in Psal 118. Conseio● 26. 1 Haeretici habent Scisma●ici quos omnes superbia de membrorum Christi compage proecidit When men begin highly to prise their owne learning and to censure and contemne the Doctors of Holy Church generall Councells and even the high Priest himselfe the Pope in matters of Religion as Sall hath now done and to interpret Scriptures according to their owne braine and fancy then swelling with vanity they break out of the pales of the Church Nature is strong in such kinde of men and grace weak and soe they easily fall into sinn Quia quod Creatura peccare non possit habet ex bono gratiae non ex conditione nature Poore Sall this presumption hath pulled you out of the Temple yea periit ipse Angelus superbia tumidus propria potestatis delectatione corruptus this hath beene and is your disease Smoth the matter the best you can pride will be found one of the greatest motives of your departure from us III. CHAPTER VVHat Guid led Sall out of the Ad secundum House of God it was likly the privat Spiritt of Protestanisme a kinde of Serpent that with hissing whispers infects the brains of curious men this spirit hath much helpt to loose the man Doctor Whitaker esteemed agreat Devine in the English Church defines this private spiritt to be an inward In Contro 1. q. 5. C. 3. contrae Bellarum perswation of the truth from the Holy Ghost in the secret Closset of the believers hart Sall with this deceiving guid you made your fatall Transmigration from our side I would faigne know where in Scripture or the ancient Fathers did Whitaker finde a ground for such a definition of his privat Spirit hee found it noe where and therfore likly hee made it in a dream This Spiritt hath not been knowne to the ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church for full fiftien ages they heard nothing of it nor doe any of us claime it it is only a priviledg of your Church a pleasant Imagination that makes your people madd Exempli Gratia A Protestant with whome I conferred about Religion som years past told mee in plaine termes hee needed noe light or assistance from Saint Augustin or Saint Paul himselfe for to understand Scripturs being certaine Iesus who redeemed his soule would have a care that hee should not err in expounding of Scripture or any thing that touched his salvation I demaunded from him could hee prove by Scripture hee had that infaliable spirit or sacred light hee answered hee could and cited that place of David Signatum Psal 4. est super nos Lumen vultis tui Domine The light of thy Countenance O Lord is signed upon us I told him that Lumen was commonly expounded to be ipsa ratio by which man is the image of God as hee might read in the Book of Genesis and that by this light man was in his nature distinguished from a brute and that a Turck and a Pagan alsoe had this light as well as hee and by a good consequence had an infalible privat spiritt of expounding Scripturs as well as hee I alsoe assured him that his owne Devines would tell him the light understood by David was noe other then reason which is the image of God whereto wee are created like which was fixed in our understanding that wee may see and know there is a God that ought to be served adored and loved and that hee will reward his servants Next said I t is absurdity to say that a Pagan which denys Scripturs should haue a spiritt to expound the Scripturs which follows from your opinion But this and all I could say could draw noe other answer from the man then that hee was sure hee had himselfe from
Tert. d● praeser cap. 42. sua variare nostra subvertere de verbi autem administratione quid dicam cum hodie sit negotium illis non Ethnices convertendi sed nostros evertendi hanc magis gloriam captant si stantibus ruinam non si jacentibus Elevationem operentur quoniam ipsum opus eorum non de suo proprio edeficio venit sed de veritatis destructione nostra suffodiunt ut sua edificent This Arch-Bishop hath throwen you that stood before in true faith and the way of Salvation hee hath done just according to what Tertulian tells you Quod non sit negotium Hereticis Ethnicos convertends That it is not the bussiness of Hereticks to convert Ethnicks which is most true and for the better satisfying you therin inquire I beseech you of said Arch-Bishop if any of the English Protestants Divines since the Subscribing and Establishment of the XXXIX Articles in that Kingdome did ever pass into Japonia or to any other Province or part of the Indies to give and spread the light of the Ghospell of which they boast soe much themselves to be the true and only expounders and Preachers to convert Heathens and Idolaters you shall not I think finde one But of the French Nation two of the Geneva Minions and Ministers navigated into the French quarters possessed by them in the Indies but lived soe incontinently and lewdly and soe disagreed among themselves in theire principles that one of them was forced to write to Beza of theire fruitless progress in those parts who answered him it was not Gods pleasure the word of God should be Evangelized by them to those blinded Idolaters and soe pray'd them to returne from their Mission and leave that worke to the Iesuits whome hee calleth Locusts Beza's owne words are Neque vere nobis hic Beza dediversiis Ministrorum gradibus printed Londini CI● 10 XCIIII cap. 19. pag. 309. curiose inquirendum puto num ad omnes gentes pervenerint Apostoli nec etiam magnopere nobis de legatione ad remotissimas aliquas gentes laborandum quam nobis domi in propinquo sit satis superque quod nos Posteros exerceat has igitur potius tam longinquas peregrinationes Lucustis illis c. Iesus Nomen ementientibus relinquamus c. Neither are wee I think to inquire very ceriously whether the Apostles came to all Nations nor are wee to take great care of any Mission to every remote Nations seeing wee have at home and neare at hand that may exercise us and those that may come after us therfore let us leave those forraigne preregrinations to those Locustes that falsely beare the Name of Iesus c. Sall you may see how much Beza differed from the Apostolick zeale and Spiritt in his uncharitable and profane disclayme in all care of converting Heathen Nations to the Faith of Christ leaving that professedly to the Iesuits This Resolution in him Dr. Saravia a learned Calvinist condemn's for unchristian in these words Responsionem hujusmodi a Domino Beza non expectabam nec a quoquam Theologo cui Ena●gelii Predicatio cordi sit ut esse debet c adserere judico impium ab omni Christiana Charitate alienum That is I did not expect an answer of this nature from Mr. Beza nor from any Devine that takes to hart the preaching of the Ghospell as hee should have c. And I Iudge it Impious and farre from Christian Charity to be of that Opinion Saravia means Beza's Opinion But of Catholick Devines and Missioners rightly ordered and sent by the Church of Rome very many have gone into America and other Provinces and Countrys to denounce the word of God and many of them have made great Conversions for example did not Saint Francis Xaverius the most glorious starr of the Society of Iesus convert soe many thousand thousands of soules in I●ponia and wherever hee came and therfore justly deserved the glorious Tytle and Name of Apostle of the Indies are you not confounded in your soule when I name Saint Xaverious the true Spirituall Father in Christ by the Ghospell of soe many thousand thousands of Pagans not such a Father in Christ as the Protestant Arch-Bishop of Cashell whome to your eternall infamy you call your Father in Christ by the Ghospell While you desert the Catholick Religion hee professed as alsoe the order of which both hee and you somtymes have been members this Saint did not hold for safe Articles of Salvation your XXXIX Ariicles hee did not reject the Doctrin of Purgatory and Indulgences and the Worship of Images and Relicks prayers to Saints and for the dead and the like as you have shamefully to your eternall perdition done hee would have dy'd for maintaining these Articles of Faith will you in the meane tyme dare say Xav●rius is not a Saint and Citizen of the triumphant Ierusalem if you deny hee is a Saint his Vertue and Miracles gives you the Lye and if you venerate him for a Saint as I think in your hart you doe you must grant hee dyed in a true sauing Faith without which hee could not be a Saint what Faith the Roman Catholick Apostolick and therfore in the Roman Catholick Church hee is a Canonized Saint Now granting him to be a Saint Sall consider well if you have don wisely in forsaking the faith Xaverius a great Servant of God professed Now Sall if you will be pleased to take a little paines in running over Doctor King Bishop of Londons Legacy or motius in Changing the Protestant Religion and becoming Catholick you will confess your selfe to have committed a great and unexcusable folly in your Choice and Change in Religion the rather that said Doctor King makes evident that your chiefest Doctors Luther and Calvin were Patrons of Arianisme which hee proves thus Is it not Vidi Enchirid precum Ann● 1541. confessed that Luther was soe adverss to the blessed Trinity that hee would not brook this vers to stand in the Latanys holy Trinity one God have mercy upon us affirming the word Trinity to be a human Invention and to sound coldly and hence it is that Luther in these ensuing words disgorgeth forth his poyson against the most sacred Trinity Anima mea odit OMOUSION optime exigerunt Ariani ne vocem illam prophanam novam regulis fidei statui liceret That is My soule even bated the word Homousion or consubstantialis and the Arians justly urged that this prophane and new word should not be inserted within the rules or principles of our Faith Now to Calvin wee doe finde said Doctor King Calvin to tread the stepps of Luther in disalowing that former prayer Holy Trinity one God have mercy upon us For thus Calvin writeth Precatio sanctae Trinitas unus Deus miserere nostri mihi non In Epist 2. ad Polonus de Trinitate pag. 700. placet ac omnino Barbariem sapit That is that prayer holy Trinity
one God have mercy upòn us pleaseth mee not for it wholy taste●h of Barbarisme Said Doctor King further teacheth in these motives that foule dèceipts and sleights and falcifications are practised by Protestant writers that your XXXIX Articles of Protestancy are Heresyes that true Miracles have beene wrought for proof of the Catholick Religion but neuer any for Protestancy that there is unity in Catholick Religion and disagreements in Protestancy that the Doctrin of Catholick Religion tends directly to Vertue of Protestancy to vice and liberty When you shall attentively read this learned mans motius why and wherfore hee quitted the Protestant Religion and became Catholick you must hold your selfe for a madd man for having forsaken the Catholick Religion to become Protestant The last motive the 12. which is most to be considered of all in order to safty is that Salvation may be had in the Catholick Religion even by the Confessions of Protestant Devines and Writers and likely some of them have signed the XXXIX Articles whence hee Derives an undeniable Consequence that the Catholick Religion is the safest hee discourseth to this purpose both the sides and the learnedest of both the sides Confess and agree salvation can be obtained in the Roman Catholick Faith that same faith which hath beene professed and maintaned by Popes Catholick Bishops and Catholick Congregations directed and governed by them in Spiritualibus in Confirmation of which the Catholick Saints in our Littanys are acknowledg'd for Saints by the Protestants but all the Catholick side hould that Protestants cannot be saued in theire Religion the Religion of the XXXIX Articles Ergo saith Doctor King it is Wisdome and the safest way to Imbrace the Catholick Religion acknowledged by both sides for the safest to Salvation I will conclude this discourse in giving you Doctor Kings owne words upon this subject with which hee coucludes his book of motives excellent perswading words But heere doe present unto us saith Doctor King two Porismata or resultancyes out of the premisses of this passage The first that all true reason perswadeth The 12 Motive pag. 165. 166. 167. me to implant and ingraft my selfe in that Church which I finde to be ackowledged for the true Church promising salvation t● her members even by her adversarys For if I dye Catholick my life being agreeable thereto both Catholicks and Protestants warrants my S●lvation but dying in the Faith of Protestancy the Protestants alone and this in honour of theire owne Religion assure mee of it for there is neuer a learned Catholick wryter in the world an observation much to be weighed who granteth that a Protestant dying with a positive setled and coutumacious neglect of the Catholick Church and Faith can be saved This then being ●hus shall I in soe great a bussiness leave a certainty for an uncertainty God forbid Wee Protestants expeot to be believed in other our positions and Doctrins why not then in this Since then the Protestants doe teach that Catholicks soe dying are in state of Salvation I am resolued my Brethrens wrytings shall have that powerfull Influence over mee as what themselves doe heerin teach I will through Gods Grace put in Execution And soe my will shall become in this point a ready and seruiceable handmayd to theire Iudgments The second The wrong which wee Protestants commit in afflicting the Catholicks and in unnaturally be●rampling upon theire dejected estates only for matters of Religion Alas by our owne Doctrin they are neither Babylonians nor Aegyptians both they and wee being as wee teach Israelits why then should Israel thus persecute Israell Are wee not become the gaze of Christendome thus to fight without an Enemy thus for Kindred to wound its owne Kindred yea often the Father the Sonne soe turning our owne Swordes into our owne Childrens breasts wee still inciting his Majesty to greater severity a Prince of his owne Disposition of the most benigne mercifull and commiserating nature that the world at this day enjoys and all this for the Catholicks living in that Faith and Religion in which our selves teach they may be saved thus doe wee make the confessed hope of theire Salvation● to be the sole cause of theire pressures and callamityes Good God! who would think that Christians the chiefest Articles of whose Faith are either reputed but as indifferencyes or which is more believed for true Doctrin by theire oppressours whose Church is acknowledged to be the d D. Morton ubi supra Church of God houlding the foundation of the Ghospell the e M. Hooker ubi supra family of Iesus Christ it being noe severall f M. Bunni ubi supra Church from theirs nor theirs from it houlding g D. Field ubi supra a saving Profession of the truth in Christ in which many h D. Covell with theother doctors ubi supra dying are by their adversaries registred for most glorious Saints Should neuer the less bee persecuted by either Christians of their owne Country yea their owne flesh for theire only persevering in the a foresaid Church with Confisca●ion of goods restraint of body some●ymes with sheeding of most inno●ent blood and suffering a cruell death Obstupecite e coeli super hoc portae ●jus desolamini vehementer Heere now I will stay my penne making this last motive as a fitting Catastrophe for all Since that Closure i Hierem cap. 2. and end is warrantable enough which evicteth from the ingenious Confessions of the most learned Protestants that I may be saved in that Religion wherein I am resolued to dye I think Sall you can not meet with a stronger argument then Doctor Kings unanswerable discourse for bringing you backagaine to your Mother the Catholick Church V. CHAPTER TO the fourth Quere Who are Ad quartum the Doctors Sall parted from and who those new ones hee imbraced It is easily answered hee hath quitt the four great Doctors of Gods Church holy Saints Gregory Ambrosse Augustin and Ierome and all the ancient Fathers and Catholick Doctors how famous these foure Doctors were for great Sanctity Learning and Authority is sufficiently knowne over all the world They have beene the Lights Pillars Champions and Ornaments of the Church profound in humility flaming with Charity Conspicuous in their Conversation sublime in their Comtemplation zealous in converting Souls and defending the House of God they have beene such as Saint Paule desires Gods Servants to bee Abnegantes impietatem secularia desideria Ad Titum cap. 2. sobrié justé pié viventet in hoc seculo expectantes beatam spem adventum Gloriae magni Dei salvatoris nostri Jesu Christs Cum quo jam triumphant in Caelo That is denying Impiety and wordly desires living soberly justly and Godly in this world expecting the blessed hope of the great God and our saviour Iesus Christ with whome they now tryumph in heaven What more glorious then Gregory and what more humble then hee set on the
holy Chaire of Peter noe less praised and honoured for flying and hyding himselfe from that highest Dignity on earth then in enjoying it Did the world see a more holy and stouter Bishop then Ambross what Combats had hee with Emperours and potentates for Piety and Religion and in all had the Victory Soone after being consecrated conferring with the good Imperour Valentiniane the elder about great affaires of Church and Common Wealth hee complained in a grave speech for hee was very eloquent that Potentates in those days much oppressed the People instigated therunto by wicked members that were about them this worthy Emperour was noe way offended with this Christian and Priestly Liberty but praising Ambross his Candid minde said to him Noveram prius hanc tuam Ambrosi libertatem macte igitur vertute age quod tui muneris est cnra ut res Christiana consistat incolumis ut vetteris Religionis Disciplina incorrupta perseveret doce quae amare doce quae sugere debeamus That is Ambross I knew your Liberty take Courage doe what appertains to a good Bishop have a care that the great affaire of Christians be safe and sound that the Discipline of the ancient Religion persever untoucht teach us what wee ought to love and what to fly O wise and Godly Emperour thus began Ambross with a holy freedom and soe persevered till his dying day One of the greatest Combats hee had for Religion and the Glory of God was with Iustina the Empress a perverse Arrian and a fervent protectrix of that Sect. This Lady after the death of her husband Valentinian in whose life tyme shee dared not declare her selfe to be what shee was an Arrian shee began to belch out the poyson within her and to afflict sharply Saint Ambrose Shee furiously angry against the holy man for opposing himselfe to the Arrians resolved to have him bannished thinking by that meanes to pull downe a strong Pillar of Gods House and to raise up Arrianisme shee made account shee was able to accomplish her wicked undertaking her Sonne Valentinian the Emperour being yong and in her power and Disposition to him shee complained that Ambrose had contumeliously dishonoured her here upon the yong Emperour who much lou'd his Mother became incensed against the good Bishop and commaunded him being there unto incited by his Mother and others of that Religion to come to court and dispute with some of the Arrians but hee refus'd to come saying hee would not honour obstinate Hereticks with any conferrence or Disputation they being obliged to believe as the Universall Church did otherwise were lyable to punishment according to the laws made against Hereticks in that case this denyall being made the Empresse procured a peremptory commaund from her Sonne to Ambross to deliver up a Basilica or great Church to the Arrians for their Communion and a band of Souldiers imploy'd to that effect were to bring him prisoner if hee refus'd it The Saint was then praying God in the Church and singing Psalmes with his flock the people though unarmed profered to defend their Father but hee would have noe resistance made hee was sure the Angells of God attending their Lord in the House of Prayer would defend him and soe it happened for the Souldery did not lay hands on him but asked him with all mildness and humility in the Emperours name a Church for the Arrians but hee flattly denyed what the Emperour demaunded and said hee neither would nor could deliver to the Empress Gods inheritance his Church to be poluted by Hereticks that in this matter hee could not obey the Emperour and that hee feared not prison or death it selfe in soe good a quarrell It was then hee spake that Devine and magnificent Language Soluimus quae sunt Caesaris Caesari Ambr. Tom. 3. 5. Epist Oratin Auxentium de Basilicis tradendis quae sunt Dei Deo tributum Caesaris est non negatur Ecclesiae Dei est Caesari utique non debet addici quia jus Caesaris esse non potest Dei Templum quod cum honorificentia imparatoris nemo dictum potest negare quid enim honorificentius quam ut imperator Ecclesiae Filius esse dicatur quod cum dicitur sine peccato dicitur cum gratia dicitur That is Wee have payd to Caesar what was Caesars and to God what was Gods tribute is due to Caesar it cannot be deny'd the Church is Gods it can not be given to Caesar because the Temple of God cannot be Caesars right which noe man can deny is said with honour to Caesar What is more commendable and honourable then for the Emperour to be cal'd a Child of the Church which is spoken without sinn and without offence of Caesar and with great Grace and respect After this by a letter to his sister Marcellina hee gave an ample account of what had past in this bussiness and said these words Mandatur denique tradi Ambr. Tom. 3. E. L. Epist 33. ad Marcelinam Sororem Basilica respondeo nec mihi fas est tradere nec tibi accipere imperator expedit allegatur imperatori licere omnia ipsius esse universa respondeo noli te gravare Imperator ut putes te in ea quae Divina sunt imperiale aliquod jus habere noli te extollere sed si vis diutius imperare esto Deo subditus scriptum est quae Dei Deo quae Caesaris Casari That is It was commaunded by Caesar a Church should be given up I answer I have noe power O Emperour to give a way a Church nor is it expedient for you to receive it It is aleadged all things are lawfull to the Emperour that all apertaine to him I answer doe not trouble your selfe O Emperour doe not think you have any imperiall right to those things that are Devine doe not extoll your selfe but if you have a minde to raigne long bee subject and obedient to God for it is written quae Dei Deo quae Caesaris Caesari What speech was ever spoken by a Bishop more sound and glorious then that of Saint Ambrose to Auxentious the Arrian Imperator bonus intra Ecclesiam non supra Ecclesiam est That is a good Emperour is within the Church not aboue the Church And after said to the Emperour himselfe Domum-privati non potes jure temerare Domum Dei existimas auferendam You cannot rightly violate a privat man's House and doe you think the House of God can be taken away and said further Ad Imperatorem pertinent Palatia ad Sacerdotem Ecclesiae publicorum tibi moenium jus Commissum est non Sacrorum That is The Palaces appertaine to the Emperour Churches to the Priest To thee O Emperour the right and defence of the wales of the Citty is committed not of Churches or holy Places Saint Ambress his minde is cleare and evident by his words to wit that hee acknowledges the Emporour Lord of Pallaces and of the Wales of the Citty
but not of Churches for hee allow'd no power or Jurisdiction to the Fmperour over or in the Church Sall you see how Ambrose by this undaunted generous answer denyed to yield to the Emperour one Basilica or Church for the Liturgy of the Arriaens the Empresse being of that Religion and you have joyned in Communion and Religion with those Protestant Bishops and Clergy-men that made and signed the XXXIX Articles and delivered up to Queen Elizabeth all the Churches in England and all Eeclesiasticall Iurisdiction and power over themselves and all the people in Spiritualibus which I am a shamed to write with those I say you have joyned denying to the Pope against all piety and reason over that Kingdome and People all Spirituall Superiority and therin you seperate to your great shame from Saint Ambrose The next conflict Ambross had was with Maximus who had kild the yong Prince Gracianus the holy Bishop goeing to seek the body of the dead Prince behaved himselfe like a noble and stout Prelate hee excomunicated the Tyrant for sheding Innocent blood and commaunded him to doe severe pennance for soe cruell a Murther After this Ambrose had a great encounter with the Emperour Theodosious which fell out in this manner Theodosius after defeating the Tyrant Eugenius who was killed in the fight which victory hee atributed to Saint Ambrosse's prayers and power with God being transported with an implacable anger against the Cittizens of Thessalonica for the death of one of his Courtiers slaine by that People in a tumult to revenge this mans death hee invited the People to the Spectacula or usuall pastymes in those days and gave order to the armed Souldery to inviron and Massacre the innocent multitud without Distinction of Age or sexe there were slaine by this blooddy Edict seaven thousand Soules This butchery being ended the Emperour took his way for Millan and thinking according to his ordinary custome to goe to the Church Saint Ambross with a Godly anger opposed himselfe and denyed him ingress giving him a severe reprehention in this kind Quid inquit tentas Caesar quid moliris tune Domini Templum post tam Crudelem innocentium hominum stragem intrare audes noli Caesar noli Priorem iniquitatem tuam haec te-meritate aug●re exhorresco hoc tam immane facinus tuum gladium civium Innocentium tam iniqua morte cruentnm videre non possum Glamat Caesar de Terra ad Caelum contra te Sanguis innocentum That is What doe you atempt Caesar what are you about to doe doe yon dare to enter Gods Tem●le after soe Cruell a Massacre of Innocent People Caesar doe not doe not augment the sinn you have committed with this new Temerity I abhorr thy cruell Act and I cannot indure to see your sword blooddy with the unjust death of soe many innocent Cittizens Caesar the blood of the Innocent Cryes to heauen against you What did the Emperour in this encounter receeving soe sharpe a rebuke hee revered the reprehention and the liberty of the holy Bishop and began to lament bitterly his great sinn and soe retyred to his Pallace not daring to enter the Church I may in this place say O Incomparabilem Pontisicis dignitatem O Imperatoris pi●tatem insignem Soon after came on the feast of the Nativity when the Emperour much afflicted for his being kept out of the Church sent Rufinus prefect of the Pallace to have the Excomunication taken of this powerfull Courtier made account the Saint would instantly yield but the Bishop would not heare him wherfore the Emperour wholy compunct and penitent came in person to Ambrose humbly demaunding hee would give him Entrance into the Church on that holy Feast that he● might partake of the joy the poorest men in the Citty enjoyed but the Bishop said Quid agis Caesar quid poscis num tam immane scelere tuo dignam penitudinem ostendisti tuum est said Caesar remedia dare meum accipere imper● quid fieri velis non obsisto hoc solum ambio ut cum Deo meo in Gratiam redire possem That is What doe you Caesar what seek you from mee have you done condigne pennance for soe great a sinn It is said Caesar your part to commaund and praescribe a remedy and myno to receive the same Commaund what you will have done I shall not resist this only I seek that I may be reconciled to my God Then Ambrose seeing and admiring Caesars most Christian example in contrition and obedience received him into the Church with great joy of all the People Was ever under the heavens a more noble and pious contention then this between Tbeodosius and Ambrose I have enlarged my selfe a little longer though I hope not unprofitably upon this rare History and example of the zeale and fortitude of a good Bishopl and of the piety and obedience of a good Emperour Had wee in this age but a few Ambroses they would I dare say make the Church of God and the Monarchy of the world more Godly and happier then now they are And how to Saint Augustin Was there ever from the Creation of the world a more learned and humble man then this Saint What Heresiarch in his tyme lifted up his head that hee did not refute and knock downe doe not all learned men at this day draw from him as from a Spring and Fountaine all Wisdome and Learning Who among men was a greater defender of verity and the Church then hee What quantity of vollumes and books hath hee set forth to this effect no● Doctor profounder none more learned nor more penetrating hard questions and difficultyes in Scripture Fathers and Divinity then hee but in nothing more gloriovs then in his humble Books of Confessions Are not you Sall confounded in your soule for parting from this great Catholick and most holy and learned Doctor and adhering to those new unCatholick Bishops of England with theire XXXIX Articles for the most part of them condemned Heresies who have but the titulary name of Bishops and noe holy Order at all and consequently cannot conferre holy Orders on others wherfore as was well observed by a late Author the Church of England is noe Church because it wants Priest and Sacrifice What shall I say now of holy Hierome the great Oracle of the world for expounding Scriptures to him from all Places and Provinces Fathers and learned men did write for clearing and resolving deep difficultyes and obscure sences of the Scripture who a greater Enemy to his body then this Saint Who more mortify'd what an austere life did hee lead in the Wilderness of Syria where hee cry'd out in this Language O quoties ego ipse in eremo constitutus Epist 22. ad Eustochium in illa vasta solitudine quae exusta solis ardoribus horridum Monachis prestat habitaculum putabam me Roman is interesse deliciis Sedebam solus quia amaritudine repletus eram Horrebant sacco membra deformia
England Nicolaus Sanderus a famous Doctor N. Sanderus de Scismati Anglieano lib. 3. Leges depotestate Regia in rebus Ecclesiasticis Anno 1. Elizabethe Latae of Divinity showes the latitude of this Vsurpation out of the English Lawes made in Parlament Ita inquit habet lex Omnia Privilegia praeeminemiae praerogativae superioritates spirituales quae ab ulla potestate vel humano vel Ecclesiastice Iure haberi aut exerceri possunt quoad visitationem correctionem seu reformationem Cleritotius seu quarumcunque personarum Ecclesiasticarum ad cognitionem etiam ac punitionem omnium errorum Haerefum Schismatum abusuam c. volumus in posterum quod Regio Sceptro in perpetuum sint annexa Decernimusque Reginam suosque Haeredes ac in regali dignitate Successores habere habiturosque efse deinceps omnimodam potestatem nominandi substituendi quoscunque voluerint qui eorundem vice ac auctoritatate candem Jurisdictionem Ecclefiastieam exerceant pro beneplacito suo personas visitent Hareses Schismata errores abusus castigent aliudue quiduis juris vel potestatis exerceant quod ab ull● unquam Ecclesiastico Magiftratu exerceri potuit aut oportuit Decernitur item ne clerus ad synodum ullam aliorum quam Regiis literis mandaris conveniat neve ullum Canonem Legem Constitutionem Synodalem seu Provincialem vel faciat velexequatur sine expresso Majestatis suae consensu licentia hujusmodi Canones faciendi promulgandi vel exequendi sub poena carceris mulcta pro Reginae arbitrio Imponenda Decernitur ne quis exeat regnum ditionesque suae Majestatis ad ullam Visitationem Consilium Conventum aut Congregationem quae Religionis causa uspiam fiet sed ur talia omnia Regiâ auctoritate intra regnum fiant Item ne Episcopi vel ullius Nominatione vel Electione vel ulla Auctoritate aliâ quàm Regiâ creentur neve Iurisdictionem potestatemque Episcopalem teneant aut exerteant nisi ad beneplacitum Reginae nec aliter nisi per ipsam a regali MAjestate derivatam auctoritatem Such saith hee is the Law All Priviledges Prehemenensies Prerogatives Spirituall Superiorityes which can be had or exercised from any power or any right human or Eeclesiasticall as to Visitation Correction or Reformation of the whole Clergy or of any Eeclesiasticall Persons whatsoever to the knowing and punishing of all Errors Heresies Schisme Abuses c. Wee will hereafter that they be annexed to the Royall Scepter for ever And wee decree that the Queen and her heires and all her Successors in the Royall Dignity have and possess and shall have hereafter all power of nominating and substituting whosoever they shall please to exercise by theire Authority and Order and according to theire good pleasure may exercise the same Ecclesiasticall lurisdiction that they vissit persons that they correct Heresies Schismes Errors and Abuses and that they exercise all right and power which could or ought to be exercised and practised by any Ecclesiasticall Iudge or Magistrate It is determind and enacted that the Clergy may not meete or assemble themselves in a Synod otherwise then by the Royall Letters and Mandats nor may they make any Canon Law Constitution Synodall or Provinciall or execute any such without the express Consent and allowance of her Majesty and licence of making such Canons and of promulgating or putting them in Execution and this under the penalty of imprisonment and of fyne or mulct to bee imposed according to the Queens pleasure It is further determind that none may part out of the Kingdome and her Majestyes Dominions to any Visitation Councell Meeting or Congregation which shall be any where made for Matters of Religion but that all such things be done within the Kingdome by Authority Royall Likwise that Bishops be created by noe other Nominatiou or Election or any other Authority whatsoever other then by Royall Authority nor that they hould or exercise Episcopall Iurisdiction and power but only ad beneplacitum Reginae that is according to the Queens good pleasure and that they have noe Authority but dependant of her and derived from the Royall Majesty Sall you see here all Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall power and Iurisdiction given by the Parlament to Queen Elizabeth goe now I pray you and read all the Annalls and Church Histories of the world and then tell mee was ever any thing heard of in the World more prophane and impious then men that held themselves to be Bishops to agree with such a Parlament and to hold for an Article of Faith a woeman to be head of the Church in Ecclesiasticis Spiritualibus Whereas Saint Paul commaunded woemen should not soe much as speak in the Church Mulieres saith Epist 1. ad Cor. cap. 14. the Apostle in Ecclesiis taceant non enim permittitur eis loqui sed subditas esse sicut lex dicit siquid autem volunt discere domiviros suos interrogent Turpe enim est Mulieri laqui in Ecclesia That is Let woemen hould theire peace in the Church for it is not permitted them to speak but to be subject as alsoe the Law sayeth If they will learne any thing let them ask theire husbands at home For it is a foule thing for a woeman to speak in the Church The Apostle teacheth the same writing to Timothy Mulier in silentio Epist 1 adTim cap. 2. diseat cum omni subjectione Docere autem Mulierinon permitlo neque dominari in virum sed esse in silentio Let a woeman learne in silence with all subjection But to teach I permitt not unto a woeman nor to have Dominion over the man but to be in silence The Matter went quite otherwise in England after the XXXIX Articles came in force forasmuch as Bishops themselves could not speak in the Church without a woemans that is the Queens Licence nor exercise any power Iurisdiction or function Episcopall which lookes like a kinde of abomination Sall I see you are gon a way in Opinion with those Bishops and Clergy that reverenced to much that Queen and loved woemen to much and continency to little Et idto prophanus factus es negans comedere agnum cum Sancto Ieronimo in Donio Dei eligens comedere cum impio Calvino extra Ecclesiam renuis cum hoc Sancto in arca contineri hinc miser peribis deluvio regnante And therfore you are becom prophane and denying to eat the Paschall Lamb with holy Hierome in the House of God and Chusing to eat the same with impious Calvin out of the Church you deny to be in the Arck with Saint Hierome wherfore miserable man you shall perish in the deluge Sall I shall pray you to ponder maturely the important saying of Saint Augustin Disputare saith the Saint contra id quod totum per orbem frequentat Ecclesia insolentissim a in sania est That is To dispute against that which the Church houlds over
all the world is a most insolent madness You have don this in siding with the XXXIX Articles and opposing your selfe to the four Saints Doctors of the Church and to generall Counsells and to the sence of the Church and its diffinitions and determinations wherfore sitt downe and consider well if a kinde of madness hath not ceasd upon you Gentle Reader you see these ancient Fathers and Doctors tells us clearly that Sall hath deviated from the right way of settling himselfe in true Religion the ready and sure way when hee began to doubt was not in reading many Authors when one Contradicts and impugnes the other nor of making notes of that kinde hee speaks of in his Recantation for it is more easy to gather doubts then dissolve or resolve them it is more easy to rays up dust then to lay it downe againe the certaine and infallible way of searching true Religion and setling therin without all fluctuation and danger is that a man leave his owne Iudgment and rely upon the Authority of the Universall vissible Christian Church what privat man or Doctor bee hee ever soe well learned or holy is soe wise as the whole Congregation of the Church as is commaunded by Christ himselfe I meane a Church descending from age to age from the Apostles For a publick Direction in this to all who are troubled about any dark question in matters of Faith Saint Augustin gives a good Counsell to Sall and all men the same hee gave to Cresconius Quisquis August Lib. 1. contra Crescon cap. 33. said hee falli metuit hujus obscuritate questionis Ecclesiam de ea consulaet That is Who soever feareth to be deceived by the obscurity of this question wherabout wee two doe contend let him goe and aske the Church therof Saint Augustin must needs meane the Governours and the chief Pastors of the Church Wee are to keep herein to the found Rule of ould Tertulian which if wee doe wee will not be deceived in Theorems and Articles of believing Caeterum Terrul depraescript cap. 28. said hee quod apud multos unum invenitur non est Erratum sed Traditum audeat ergo aliquis dicere illos Errasse qui Tradiderunt That is That which is found one and the same with many is not an error but a Doctrin delivered from hand to hand and who will dare say those have erred that delivered this Doctrin Sall look upon the Succession of Pastors in the Church from age to age downe from the Apostles and your work is surely done for in that Church you have true Faith for defect of such Succession Tertullian provoked the Hereticks to prove theire descent Edant said hee Heretici origines Ecclesiarum suarum evoluant totum ordinem Eptscoporum suorum per Successionem ab initio decurrentem ut primus Epsicopus aliquem ex Apostolis vel Apostolicis viris qui tamen cum Apostolis perseveraverit babuerit Authorem Antecessorem Had Sall examined the English Church according to this sure Rule of Tertulian hee had neuer taken up a place among them Having said soe much of these four great Doctors of the Church and theire Vertues let us now see what kinde of men were the new Doctors Sall hath closed with for comparing their lives and manners with one another wee shall according to that of the Philosopher unum quodque magis apparet contrario juxta si posito bee the better able to Iudge who were the true Dostors chosen by God to teach the Doctrin of Salvation who knows light knows darkness quia eadem est potentia cognoscitiva oppossitorum unde visus qui cognoscit lucem cognoscit tenebras Let us therfore examin a little the Doctrin lives and manners of the new men Sall hath chosen for his Doctors and Masters VI. CHAPTER Of the Doctrin and manners of Luther and some other principall Hereticks THe Discription of theire Lives and Proceedings who for an age and more under a faire pretence of Reformation have impugned our ancient and long before continued and universally professed Catholick Faith alas in many Provinces and Regions they have almost extinguished it will be a necessary Instruction to shun such men and abominate theire Doctrin and to contract noe kinde of amity with theire Desciples and followers God hath ever more out of his Devine and sweet Providence chosen for Reformation of his Church when decay'd in Disciplin or Doctrin men in theire lives not dissolute or licensious but auster and sanctifyed such were Moyses Elias and many of the old Patriarcks and Prophets such the Apostles and after them many Bishops and Apostolicall men all those brought in Faith and chased out Idolatry by Vertue Sanctity and Miracles Take great heed saieth our saviour of false Prophets c. And againet doe men gather grapes from Thornes or Matth. cap. 7. figgs of Thistels Certainly Sall you could not gather grapes from those Thornes nor figgs from those Thistels you are falne in love with they were other kind of men that God us'd to assume for sowing the seed of heavenly Doctrin and teaching the Devine lesson of Salvation hee said not to Plagitious wanton Moncks and Priestes running away with nunns and wenches such as your new Apostles and Doctors were Euntes ergo docete emnes gentes Baptizantes eos in Nomine Patris Matt. cap. 28. Filii Spiritu Sansti docentes eos servare omnia quaecunque mandavi vobis ecce ego vobisoum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consumationem seculi That is Going therefore teach ye all nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost teaching them to serve all things whatsoever I have commaunded you and behold I am with you all days even to the consumation of the World These words our saviour spake to the eleven Deciples in the mount holy and sanctify'd men chosen by God to enlight and sanctify the World This charge of converting Soules requires in its owne Nature by all means men of Vertue and Integrity Quiae Sancta Sanctè tractanda a Sanctis If those great reformers which keep agreat noys in the world they vapor much of a justifying faith but of good works they have noe care quite against Saint Pauls sentiment Who would have that they which believe be carefull to excell Epist ad Tit. cap. 3. in good works If those reformers I say have bin vertuous and mortifyd men wee here are to examin and shall begin with Luther the Father of Protestanisme and principall Doctor of the Church of England who is most highly praised and esteemed generally by Lutherans and Calvinists through all the Provinces and Countryes they have infected they all reverenced Luther as being sent by God as the light of the Ghospell and Doctrin Evangelicall Bishop Iewell a chief pillar of Protestanisme in Iewell in his defence of the Apolog. printed 1571. MrFox Act. and Mon. printed 1563.
is as necessary as meat drink or sleep and further yet when a man hath taken a wife hee may upon causes lye with her sister or with the next of her kinde and if these will bee obstinate hee may take the mayd instead of the Mistris and with all this may be not withstanding as holy and just as ever was Peter or Paul or the Mother of Christ If all this be true as Martin Luther warranteth us who can complaine saith the defence of the Censure of the hard way to heaven who can say the Gate is streight as Christ our Saviour did If these things be soe are not they great fooles that mortify theire bodyes austerely fasting and praying Christ our Saviour said Regnum Caelorum vim patitur violenti rapiunt illud But Luther says that saying of Christ is but a fable for soe much as by only believing you are as holy as the blessed Virgin the Mother of our Saviour for according to his Articles of Justification by faith only hee holds fasting praying and good works have noe influence upon Salvation But nothing of Luthers Doctrin is more impious and abominable then his abollishing the Masse upon a conference hee had with the Deuill to whome in the ende hee yielded This made Mr. Walsingham a prudent man in his Search into matters of Religion say to Doctor Downham who much praised Luther for a holy man I alsoe esteemed Luther to have binne a man of God but now ● finde him by what the Author of the defence of the Censure says to have beene a very bad man and to have opposed himselfe against the Church of Rome by instigation of the Deuill himselfe with whome hee had much conference as is proved out of his owne works And surely Sir saith hee to Doctor Downham I think it concerneth mee to bee of some better faith and Religion then such as should have the originall and beginning from the Divill for what concord can there be between Christ and Belial light and darkness Luther himselfe setts forth his conference with the Devill in these words Contigit me sub mediam noctem subito expergefieri Luth. Tom. 7. VVlte pridted anno 1558. ubi Satan mecum caepit ejusmodi Disputationem audi inquit Luthere Doctor perdocte c. That is It happened saith Luther upon a certaine tyme lib. de Eissa privata c. unct Sacerde fol. 228 that I was suddainly awaked about midnight then Sathan beganne this Disputation with mee saying Harken right learned Doctor Luther Nosti te quindecim annis Caelebrasse Missas privatas penè quotidie c. Thou knowest thou hast celebrated privat Mass for the space of fifteen years almost every day what if such Masses were horrible Idolatrie What if Christ his body and blood were not present there but that thou only didst a dor● Bread and Wine Wherunto I answered saith Luther that I was an anoynted Priest received Unction and Consecration from a Bishop and did all these things as from the Commaundement and Obedience of my Elders why then should I not consecrate There passed after other arguments of Sathan against the Mass and Luthers replyes and among others Luther said that hee celebrated Mass in the intention and faith of the Church and that the Church did rightly believe and think But saith Luther Sataen è contra fortius vehementius instans age prome vbi Scriptum est c. That is Sathan urging and replying more vehemently said goe toe shew mee where it is written that an ungodly and unbelieving man may consecrat in the faith and intention of the Church where hath God taught or commaunded this To which interogations and arguments of the Deuill Luther confessing that hee could not answer did yield in all points here touched by him except in only one which was against the real presence It is remarkable that the deuines of Hospinian in bis Histir Sacram part 2. printed Tiguri 1612. fol. 20. Wittenbargh publishing theire reasons of abrogating the Mass delivered the very same reasons and arguments that the Deuill brought against the Mass in his conference with Luther and among the rest this argument Confugiebatis ad Mariam Sanctos illi erant mediatores inter vos Christum sic erepta est gloria Christo That is You rann to Mary and the Saints these were the mediators between you and Christ and soe glory and honour is taken away from Christ Here you see gentle reader that Luther yielding to the Deuills reasons and arguments abollished the Mass and that the Wittenberg Devines have made use of these arguments made by Satan and that Luther himselfe afterwards us'd the same arguments against the Catholicks And as Mr. Walsingham says in his search into matters of Religion that the same Articles are now held in England namely against the Masse against the Ordination and Consecration of Priestes against the Real Presence against Privat Receiving and Communicating about the Faith of the Church about honouring and invocation of our Lady and other Saints And what is yet more maruelous to mee here is that the Deuill alleadged such arguments against Papists Religion in favour of Protestants as though hee had loved the Protestant Religion and hated that of the Catholiks which they would say is a good signe that the Catholick Religion is the truth And realy the Catholicks in all reason ought to think soe Now let any man think with himselfe of what spiritt a man soe conversant with the Diuill was who says Diabolus frequentius propius mihi condormit Incollo Mensal Germ. Edit fol. 281 quam mea Catharina That is That the Deuill doth sleepe with mee offtener and nearer unto mee then my owne Catharin that is to say my owne wife Catharin Boren or could write any thing of true Religion and Piety and how dangerous a point it were for a man to rely much upon him that was soe beset with contrary Spiritts and Deuills For as the Spirit of Christ can not but perswade good things and true Doctrin Soe cannot the Spirit of the Devill but perswade bad things and fals Doctrine either openly or covertly for it is the Devills function and profession to deceive all men and lead them to damnation The Matters of Luthers conference with the Deuill faling out to bee odious and shamfull sundry excuses are Cherke in his reply to the Censur printed 1581. Fulke in his treaeice against the desence os the Censure printed by Thomas Thomas p. 234. Lavat in his Hist Sacra printed Tiguri 1553. sol 24. pretended in answer therunto Mr. Charke and Mr. Fulke doe answer that by Luthers foresaid discourse of his Disputation had with the Devill is meant only a spirituall fight in minde and noe bodily conference Is it possible two Doctors of Divinity in the English Church would give soe weake an excuse did not Lavather himselfe confess it to have beene an apparition Luther being awak't did not Luther himselfe
1524. Hee did in a speedy acomplishment of his longing desire marry even upon the suddaine Catharin Bore one of the nine Nuns that Leonard Keppen on the 7. day of Aprell 1523. brought to Wittenberg from the Monastery of Nimpisen having in the evening invited to supper Pomeran Luke the Painter and Apelles the Lawyer hee then soe finished the abominable marriage for which by the most ancient and imperiall Lawes soone after the tyme of Constantine the great hee should have lost his head Jovinian the third Christian Emperour after Constantin Zozom Histor Lib 6. Cap. 3. fine published this Edict Vt qui Sacratam Virginem vel ad nuptias contrahendas pellicere conaretur c. Capitis supplicio mulctaretur And the foresaid Law is yet extant God lib. de Episcopis Clericis Where it is said Si quis non dicam rapere sed tentare tantum jungendi causa Matrimonii Sacratissimas Virgines ausus fuerit capitale paena feriatur Oziander and Melancton doe attest Ozean Centure 16. c. 36 pag. 29. Melan. in Epist ad Ioac Camer de D. Lutheri conjugio this marriage of Luther All wanton Monks and Priestes rann after Luther each one with a Nun or a wench Martin Bucer a Dominican fryer and Bernardus Ochynus a Capuchin a complished the like Sacrilegious Marriage with two Nuns Peter Martyr being a Canon Regular of the order of Saint Augustin marryed at Straesburgh Dame Catharin the loose Nun that rann out of her Cloyster of Metz in Loraine yea the Arch-Bishop of Cullen began his Reformation with marrying a Nun. Soe writes Osiander Interea saith hee Osian Centur. 16. L. 4 cap 18 pa. 984 Archiepiscopus Coloniensis Elector Gobardus Baro Truchesius Reformationem Religionis meditabatur Matrimonium Agneti quae monialis fuerat promisit eamque tandem in uxorem duxit That is The Arch-Bishop Elector of Cullen Baron Truches began the Reformation of Religion and promised to Marry Agnes that was a Nun and at length Married her See further there pag. 953. How revolted votarys the Protestant Bishops of England took wives namely the ensuing Hooper of Worcester Barlowe of Chichester Downham of Westchester Storie of Hereford Barkaley of Bathe and Wels Coverdale of Exeter who all of them were professed Monks to whome might be added Sandes of York and Cranmer of Canterbury who still carried a woeman about with him with divers others all of them formerly Catholick Priestes One of the first that begun to live in England scandalously was Iohn Bale of Norwicth a Carmalit Fryer taking to him his Dorathy a lusty wench whome hee called fidelissimam conjugem this Fryer was after made Bishop of Ossery in Ireland Mark it well Sall how all these illuminated Doctors of your Protestant Religion were declared Enemyes to chastity and prophane breakers of theire Vowes and began all of them the great worke of Sanctifying the world and reforming the Church by marrying to Nuns and other dissolute woemen without such Companions they could doe nothing at all Did the holy Missioners sent from the Sea of Rome Saint Patrick to convert the Idolaters of Ireland Saint Austin the Benedictin the Pagans of England in the tyme of the Saxons and other Saints to other Kingdoms to enlighten them and chase away Idolatry did I say these holy Missioners that brought in holy Religion by Miracles and Sanctity bring a long with them sacrilegious and naughty woemen to acomplish the Conversion of Nations Now good Sall sit downe a little I pray you and ponder with your selfe if God a God of Piety and Sanctity would send soe wicked a man as Luther to denounce his word and Ghospell to the world a man who by a conference with the Devill abollished the Mass threw of his habit of Religion and all modesty and vertue marryed a professed Nun and lived more like a beast then a man who contemned in the highest degree the veneration sanctity and learning of all the Fathers who was possessed with a spiritt of an intollerable pride would God imploy such a man a slave of lust pride and the Devill to give the true light of the Ghospell Think seriously Sall what smale reason Mr. White had to say of Luther Mr. VVhit in his way to the Church printed 168. pa. 428 This was the end of that good man whose memory shall be pretious in the Church for ever and flourishing as the Rodd of Aaron layd up in the Tabernacle After a due ponderation of the premisses touching Luthers impious Doctrin and incontinent and wicked conversation taken out of the writings of Protestants themselves I doe referr to the Readers owne Iudgement whether wee are to joyne in esteeming and terming him a holy man as certaine Protestants doe to the great blemish of theire credit Some of these are English Gabr. Powell in his consideraiion of the Mr. Gabriell Powell calls him holy Saint Luther Mr. Iewell calls him as above was said a most excellent man sent of God to enlighten the world in the midst of darkness Papists Supplication printed 164 pag. 70 † Mr. Fox saith it pleased the Lord to send and set up Luther by his owne mighty Spirit hee alsoe Rubricates him in the highest ranck of his Confessors Mr. Whitaker doth reverence him as the Father of Protestants other Protestant writers of Germany and other Provinces call him Elias Conductor and Chariot of Israell and to be reverenced after Christ and Saint Paul But all these high strange Phanaticall and hyperbolicall prayses given to this wicked man are proved lyes by the plaine uncontroulable alegations and Testimonyes of other learned Protestant Authors who are to be creditted in this Quia res ipsa loquitur X. CHAPTER What frutes followed Luthers Doctrin and Reformation IT has beene a constant observation in all ages and tymes that men sent from God by extraordinary missions as the Apostles and other Saints after them and alsoe those sent from the Sea of Rome with ordinary mission were Saints and holy men and wrought wonders and Miracles and great devotion sanctity pennance prayer and change of mens lives to the better followed these missions whole Provinces amended theire ill manners and lives Saints doe holy things Bona arbor bonos fructus facit Now if wee shall examin the nature and effects of Luthers Reformation wee shall finde neither Miracles nor Sanctity in him or the rest of his Brethren and what fruits did this new Doctrin produce in the people did those that received it become more holy then before more modest just sober or more penitent for theire sinns Was pride vice and dissolution abated or diminished after the pretended zeale of these reformers did any man mortify his body or crucify his flesh with the concupisence and vices therof Noe such matter a change indeed followed theire new Ghospeling and Reformation it changed all to the worst Rapine Vsery Adultery and all kinde of uncleaness and dissolution became greater then before these were the
of a Priest which to requite one curtesy for another made the King connive at his keeping a Woeman and at some of his Opinions though som what contrary to the statute of the six Articles In King Henry the eight's days Cranmer professed to be Catholick and writt a book for the Real Presence In King Edward the sixt days hee professed Protestancy and writt another book against the Real Presence Bishop Bonner produced both those books against him in Iudgment Hee conspired with the Protector Summerset to overthrow K. H. will and testament and afterwards conspired with Dudlay of Northumberland to ruine the Protector hee joyned with Dudlay and the Duke of Suffolk against Queen Mary for the Lady Iane Gray and immediatly after with Arondell Shrewsbury Pembrook Paget ane others against the same Duke finally when hee was condemned in Queen Mary's tyme for treason and Heresie and his Treason being pardoned hopeing the same favour might be extended to his Heresie hee recanted and abjur'd the same but seeing the temporall Lawes reserved noe mercy for relapsed Hereticks who are presumed not to be truly penitent or converted hee was soe exasperated therby that at his death moved more by Passion then Conscience hee renounced the Roman Catholick Religion to which hee had soe lately conformed These were the Godly men who framed the XXXIX Articles of the Religion of the English Church the Liturgie and the book of Sacraments Rites and Ceremonies of the Protestant Church and though it may seem incredible that an Athist a Iew a Contemporiser or meer Pollitian a Presbiterian a riged Lutheran a halfe Lutheran and an Anty Lutheran or Sacramentarian should all make one Religion yet when men doe but dissemble and deliver opinions to please others and profitt themselves and have noe Religion at all they may without difficulty concurr in some generall poynts of Christianity framing negative Articles such as many of the XXXIX Articles are Impugning the particular truthes of Orthodox faith This was the case of the Church of England and men disagreeing in opinions made up one religion such as it was The Fabrick of those Articles being rays'd as was said let any Christian be Iudge whether it be more safe and more rationall to rely in matter of faith upon the Tradition of the whole Catholick Church and ancient Liturgy's and Rites and upon the Testimony of all the holy Fathers and Counsells since the Apostles tymes then to take the bare Word of Cranmer a man of slippery life and Religion Let any Christian man I say bee Iudge whether this man together with Ochinus a Iew Buzer an Athist or at the best a Iew Peter Martir of the Religion the Parlament would have him to be of Hooper and Latimer and Rogers stubborn discontented Presbiterians Bale and Coverdale Lutherans two lew'd and runagate Fryers whether hee that cares for his owne soule should rather believe these wicked impious men in points of Faith and marters of Salvation then all the ancient Fathers and the holy Councells Let us now see after Dudlay and his faction of Protestant Religion and the Citty of London had crowned Iane Gray what became of them and how long they were in the roofe and prosperity Queen Marys courage and resolution and her owne good right Protestancy being not as yet soe deeply rooted at once with those loyall Catholicks that waited on hervertue and fortune quashed Dudlays Rebellion and designe those lewd Apostate Monks and Priests that coyned the XXXIX Articles then vanished away like smoke and brought Dudlay to his distruction hee was put to death for treason and Rebellion Upon the scaffold hee declared that hee had never been a Protestant in his Iudgment and only made use of its principels and Profession for temporall ends as to raise his family and make his Sonne marryed to Lady Gray King c. Hee advertised the people of the new Religions in consistency with peace and quiet that its Clergie were but ungodly men and trumpets of sedition The substance of his speech is set downe by Doctor Heylin a Protestant in Doct. Heil Eccls Restau Queen Mary pag. 19 these-words Hee admonished the Spectators to stand to the Religion of theire Ancesters rejecting that of latter date which had occationed all the misery of the foregoing 30 years and that for prevention for the future if they desired to present theire soules unspotted in the sight of God and were truly affected to theire country they should expell those tempests of sedition the preachers of the reformed Religion that for himselfe what soever had otherwise been pretended hee professed noe other Religion then that of his fathers for testimony wherof hee apealed to his good frind and Ghostly Father the Lord Bishop of Worcester and finally that being blinded with ambition hee had been contented to make wrake of his conscience by temporising for which hee professed himselfe seriously repentant and soe aeknowledged the Iustice of his death A Declaration saith Doctor Heyling very vnseasonable whether true or false as that which rendered him less pittied by the one side and more scorned by the other This is a more politick then pious obseruation of Doctor Heylin would hee not haue men confess theire faults and profess theire faith when they are dying and would hee haue them preferr the vanity of the pitty or scorne of the World when they are to bid the whole World adieu before the Satisfaction and Salvation of the Soule Sall hath there been soe much as one man of your first Doctors and Reformers and of all those that contriu'd the XXXIX Articles hath there been I say soe much as one just man before God walking in all the Commaundements and Iustifications of our Lord without blame one vertuous soule that mortify'd his body and loved Chastity one Priest or Monk amongst them all that was bonus odor Christi Noe but all of them lew'd dissolute infamous Priests and Religious men that broak theire holy vowes Rebells against God and against his annoynted on earth Kings and. Magistrats rayfing tumults and seditions in all the countrys they liu'd in such kinde of men they have been though Iohn Fox a ridiculous man canonized many of them for great Saints of which wee shall treat more at large in the ensuing Chapter They haue beene Cores that have rent the Coat and garment of Christ and made a great Scisme in Gods Church like Ballaaems they have cheated Gods People for gaining Wordly Comodityes and Pleasures like Gains they have murthered millions of innocent Abells with Hereticall Doctrine and pestiferous manners and Conversation You are not ignorant Sall of what Saint Paul writes to Timothy And 2. ad Tim. cap. 3. thus know thou that in the last days shall aproatch perilous tymes And men shall be lovers of themselves covetuous hauty proud blasphemous wicked without affection Incontinent unmercifull traitours stubern puffed up and lovers of voluptuousness more then of God Lay your hand upon your hart
relate in many ages The horrible Testament of 1. Ziscae a Bohemian Saint And at length being strucken by Gods Hand with the plague being demaunded of his frinds as Fox himselfe confesseth how hee would be buryed hee bid them to flea him and make a Drum of his skinn therwith to terrify the Papistes in theire fights and Battles as it was done casting his carcass to be devou'rd in the field This Relation of Zisca's life and death is writt by Iohn Dubravius Bishop of Iohn Dubra lib. 24. Histo. Bohem. Olemuz and by Aeneus Sylvius that writt this story more at large and out of whome Fox professeth to gather his Relation who concludeth thus Divinitus Aeneus Sylv. in Histor Bohem. cap. 16. tandem ut par est credere peste tactus expiravit monstrum detestabile crudele horrendum importunum c. And is it not cause of wonder that Fox in his Calendar allowes to this bloody Zisca the place of a holy Confessor on the fifth day of February though his Sect in Religion being a Hussit were farre different from that of the English Protestants at this day Iohn Claydon a Curriour hath the place of a high Martir on the third day of February in the yeare 1413. Fox in another place gives him the yeare 1415. This Claydon who was an old Lollard who upon confidence of his Sect was grown into such a maddness that being a layman and Curriour by A Curriour made himselfe a Bishop and his Sonne a Priest his trade hee presumed to give holy Orders to his Sonne and to make him Priest and to celebrate Mass in his House upon the day of his Mothers rising from Child-bed for which hee being apprehended examined and lawfully convicted of Heresie hee was burn't in London c. soe writeth VVals anno 2. Reg. Henr. 5. pag. 436. learned and famous Walsingham And behold the Curriour made a glorious Martyr William Flower in like manner the famous Apostata Monk took a wife and came by Apostacy to be a Surgion and wounded with his wood knife the Priest Iohn Cheltam administring the Blessed Sacrament to the people with great Devotion in Saint Margaretts Church hee wounded him in his head Arme and Hand wherin hee held the Chalice and said it was by the speciall direction and Inspiration of God hee is set downe in Foxes Calendar the ninth of Aprill for a holy Martyr and hee says of him in the end of his Martyrdom Thus indured this constant wittness and faithfull servant of God William Flower the extremity Fox pag. 1432. of the fyte Eleanor Cobbam Dutches of Glocester and Roger Only condemned plublickly the one for witchcraft and sorcery to Murther King Henry the sixt the other for conjuring to the same effect and purpose are both of them canonized upon the 12. and 13. of February for great Saints the Dutches for a Confessor and the Conjurer for a Rubricated Martyr The Author of this Relation is Stow who says the Dutches was condemn'd to certaine pennance which shee performed and was for all her life confined to the I le of man Of Only the Priest these ware his words That Stow anno Dom. 1441. Roger Only otherwise Bullenbrooke was condemned to be hang'd drawne and quartered at Tyburne upon the 18. of November as hee was and shee left to her pennance It is here to be observed that said Dutches and Only were not charged upon theire araignment and Condemnation for being of any other Religion then of the Catholick yet Fox must by force have them of his Religion Collens a maddman and Coubridg● who flatly deny'd Christ himselfe and used most uggly and blasphemous speeches against him yea did put out his name of all books wherin soever hee found the same these are not left out but rather put in for great Saints and holy wittnesses of Christ theire days are the tenth and eleventh of October and yet doth Fox himselfe confess that the one deny'd Christ and that the other was madd when hee held up a dogg instead of the Blessed Sacrament to be adored in the Church And was not Fox a maddman when hee canoniz'd this Bedlam a Saint William King Robert Debnam and Nicholas Marsh all three hang'd in Chains by King Henry the eight in the 24. yeare of his Raigne for theft and sacrilegious robbing of a Church in Kent are proposed in this Calendar for Godly Martyrs and holy People Fox to honour these holy men setteth downe a very goodly printed pageant with this title over it William King Robert Debnam and Nicholas Marsh hanged for taking downe the rood of Dovercourt Mark how Fox confesseth they tooke downe the Rood and saith further they did this to remedy the superstition of worshipping the Rood then us'd by Catholicks and addeth those tender words of these his foure theeving Saints Wherfore saith hee they were moved by the Spiritt of God to trauell out of Dedham in a wonderous goodly night both hard frost and saire Moonshine c. By this hee ascribeth stealing and robbing of Churches to the Spiritt of God and says God gave those Saints a very faire Moonshine night to goe robb this Church But what did King Henry and his Counsell Fox pa. 940. judge therof Fox himselfe tells you in this Language Notwithstanding saith hee these three whome God had blessed with his Spiritt were afterwards indighted of Felonie and hang'd in Chaines within halfe a yeare after or therabout Thus writeth Fox of these three holy Theeves which were hang'd soe solemnly in Chaines for Robbery and Sacriledg which things yet as you see Fox is not ashamed to ascribe to the particular instinct of Gods Spiritt Saint Augustin said of the Donatistes those especially called Circumcelliones who committed Robberies and killed one a nother and after were reputed Martyrs by theire owne faction Vivebant saith S. Aug Epist 68. Augustin ut Latrones honorabantur ut Martires That is They lived as Theeves and were honoured by those of theire owne Sect as Martyrs The same wee say of King Debnam and Marsh Foxes holy Theeves Soe liberall is Fox in canonizing Saints as hee gathers into his Calendar many different sectaries of oppositt opinions that cannot possibly agree or stand together you shall herafter see them quarrelling and putting one another out of the Calendar as Waldensians Albigentians Wicklifists Lollards Hussits Tha●●rits Anabaptists and Lutherans who abhorr and condemne expressly our English Protestant Religion at this day and each one defending yea dying for his sect and in maintenance of his peculiar opinions are heer all cuppled and joyned together in this Calendar as fellow Martyrs Hee Canonizeth Iohn Wicklif from whome came the Sect of Wicklifians And calleth him a chosen man raised up by God for lightning the World and Impugning the Church of Rome and yet Wicklif taught and belieu'd Articles that the Protestants of England at this day doe not as that of the Real-Presen● *
VVicklifs Errors about that Sacrament Accidentia non manent sine subjecto in ●odem Sacramento substantia panis naturalis vini naturalis manent in Sacramento Altaris Errores damnati in Concilio constanti●nsi the Doctrin of Purgatory and other Articles will you heare Sir Iohn Oldcastle a prime Wicklifian his Protestation at his death of believing the Real-Presence after confessing Articles about the Blessed Trinity and Christes Diety Sir Iohn Old-Castle cometh to treat of the Sacrament of the Aulter hee protesteth thus as Fox himselfe writeth And for as much as Sir Ioh. Old-C his Protestation at his death I am falsly accused of a misbeliefe in the Sacrament of the Aulter I signify here to all men that this is my faith concerning that I beleeve in that Sacrament to be contained very Christs Body and Bloud under the Similitudes of Wyne and Bread yea the same Body that was conceived of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary donne on the Crosse dyed and was ●uryed● and a rose the third day from death and now is glorify'd in heaven The said Old-Castle shew'd his beleefe about three sorts of men thus The holy Church I beleeve to be devided into three sorts or Companyes wherof the first are now in heaven c. The second sort are in Purgatory Fox pag. 314. abyding the mercy of God and a full deliverance of payne The third upon Earth c. You see that Old-Castle a W●ckclifian doth clearly beleev'd the Doctrin of Purgatory which Fox did not nor doe the Protestants of England now wherfore to this speech of Purgatory Fox thought best least it might disgrace his new Martyr to add this parentesis of his owne if any such place bee in the Scriptures c. which was perfidiously done of Fox It is to be supposed that Wicklif held some things with us and some things with the Protestants and somthings different from both and yet Fox must have him and his Sect to be of his owne Communion and make him a Martyr though hee confesseth and soe doth Iohn Ball alsoe that hee was neuer as much as imprison'd for his faith but his bones were taken up forty years after his buriall and burned by the Commaundement of the Councell of Constance for his Heresies discovered after ●his death and for this Fox made him a Martyr and consequently hee became Martyr without feeling any paine or without the Consent or Concurrence of his owne will Take here some Articles of Wicklifs Doctrin to which I presume the Protestant will not agree One is That it is against Scripture for any Ecclesiasticall Minister to have any temporall possessions at all What think you will the Ministers of England agree to this Another That as long as a man is in deadly sinn hee is neither Bishop nor Prelate Another That Temporall Lords may according to their owne will and discretion take a way the temporall goods from any Church-men when soever they offend Think you that the Protestant Church-men of England agree to this Article Another Tythes are meer Almes and may be detained by the Parishoners and bestow'd where they will at theire pleasure This Article alsoe cannot rellish Protestant Church-men These and many more Articles of Wicklif have been condemned by the Catholick Church as Hereticall● and himselfe as an Heretick though hee held divers poynts of the Catholick Religion as holy Orders Consecration Excomunication Purgatory and other like But Fox makes him a Martyr for holding some poynts with the Protestants though differing in other Materiall poynts But this is the Beggery of his new Church that it cannot be made up but by such dunghill cloutes as Wicklefians Lollards Albigensians and the like which are cast of by the Catholicks and rejected for that they have not agreed in every point of the Catholick beleefe according to the creed of Athanasius such is the integrity severity and Majesty of our Church that wee reject as spotted and blemish'd raggs all such as beleeve not all Articles of Faith propos'd by the holy Catholick Church this is according to Saint Augustins Doctrin Ecclesia Vniversaliter perfecta est in nnllo claudicat That is The true Church is Universally perfect and doth hault in noe one poynt of beleefe Now you shall see how Wickless fellow Saints condemn'd him for an Heretick and consequently one that should not be placed in the Calendar of Saints Luther the great Elias and Prophet of Germany as Ioannes Cockleus Ioann Cochl in vita Luteri Surius in hist Anno Dom. 1517. 1518. Melan. Epist ad Fredericum Miconium and Surius doe recount held Wicklif for an Heretick such alsoe was the Iudgment of Phillip Melankton which against Iohn Fox must needs be much avaylable who placed him for a fellow Saint together with Wicklef in his Calendar What then says Melankton of Wicklef hee speaks thus Inspexi Wicklefum qui valde tumultuatur in hac Controversia c. That is I have look't over Wicklef who behau'd himselfe tumultuously in this Controversy of the Lords supper and more then this I have found many Errors in him by which a man may make Iudgment of his Spirit It is certaine hee neither understood nor held the Justice of Faith Hee said in another place Plane furebat Wicklefus Melan. in Apol● tit de human tradit qui negabat licere Sacerdotibus tenere proprium That is Wicklef was playnly out of his wits when hee did deny that it was lawfull for Priests to hold in locis com tit de potestat Ecclesi any thing proper Well then Wicklef a furious man that stirred up sedition and was ignorant of the very foundation of the Protestant Ghospell to wit of theire Doctrin of Salvation by only faith as both Melankton and Luther affirmed Wicklif to be with what spirit think you doth your Apostata Fryer Bale call him an Elias a morning starre an Organ of Christ an habitacle of the holy Ghost But if you will listen to Catholick writers who liu'd about the same tyme with Wicklif as Thomas Walsingam and Thomas Waldensis in theire learned writings you shall finde him to have been one of the most pernicious wicked dissembling Hypocriticall impugners of Christ and his Doctrin that ever was in the Church of God Walsingam VVals in hist Ricard Rigis 2 anno Dom. 1382 doth beginn a Narration of Wicklif thus Eodem tempore ipse verus Hypocrita Angelus Sathanae Antichristi prae ambulus non nominandus Ioannes Wicklef vel potius wicked-beleefe Hereticus sua deliramenta concinnavit reassumens damnatas opiniones c. That is At the same tyme the very true Hypocrit the Angell of Satan the forerunner of Antichrist the heretick Iohn Wicklif or rather wicked-beleefe not being worthy the naming continved his madde and new devises renewing againe old damned opinions and heresies c. You see how holy a man Wichlef was by the Testimony of Catholick writers who knew him better then Fox did
there discribed After followes the fight between Lucifer and those of his side and Michael the Arck-Angell Captain of the innumerable Legions that remaind obedient to God and these had the victory And there was made Apocal. ibid. agreat Battle in heaven Michael and his Angells fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angells and they prevailed not neither was there place found any more in heaven And that great Dragon was cast forth the old Serpent which is called the Deuill and Sathan which seduceth the whole World and hee was cast into the Earth and his Angells were throwne downe with him From Heresie and Hereticks in heaven let us pass to those on Earth Hereticks in the Law of Nature AS soone as God began to be Cain the first Heretick worshipped on Earth the Heresie of Cain sprang up who deny'd Gods Providence and murthered his brother Abel for maintaining Gods Providence Cains Envy could not brook Abels Innocency The second Heresie was that of Lamech Lamech the second Heretick who marryed two wives at once and soe deny'd the Unity of the Church God drew but one Ribb out of Adam and of that made but one woeman and said to them Erunt du● Genesis cap. 2. in carne una Lamech violated this Law by taking two Wives which was an Heresie 3. The Gyants were the third sort of Hereticks 4. All those that did not enter the Arck and perished in the Deluge were Hereticks 5. C ham after the Deluge mocked his Fathers nakedness and was Eo Nomine Pratriarck and Father of all those scoffing Hereticks that contemne the holy Fathers saying they were ignorant unlearned and blind You see by this there was one Heretick Cham in the Arke wherin were in all but eight Soules 6. Those that were building Babell were Hereticks and the figure of Hereticks that follow'd them God confounded theire tongues soe that they could not understand one another it is soe this day with Protestants strucken by God with a giddiness and soe disagreeing in Religion and Opinion as upon this one Text of Scripture HOC Math. cap. 26. r. 27. EST CORPVS MEVM There are 400. Opinions and Interpretations God hath confounded them in theire understanding tongues and writings 7. Esau for persecuting his Brother Iacob therby opposing himselfe to God and Israel These are Sall your Companions in the Law of Nature Hereticks in the written Law 1. FRom the tyme the Church of God was planted in Egypt wee find by tradition that Iamnes and Mambre Tim. 2. cap. 3. who resisted Moyses were the first Hereticks of those speaks Saint Paul But as Iamnes and Mambre's resisted Moyses soe these alsoe resist the truth men corrupted in minde reprobat concerning the faith 2. All those that dyed in the desert murmouring against God and Moyses and his directions and commaunds 3. Chore and Dathan with theire seditious companions that opposed Moyses and his authority 4. Nahab and Albiu that put strange fyre in the Insence of the Lord. 5. All those strange Kings that made warre against the Children of Israel 6. All the false Prophets of Baal and all of that kind All these Sall are your companions in the written Law Hereticks in the Evangelicall Law IN the tymes of the Law of nature and of the written Law there haue not been if I am not mistaken above 20. Kindes of Hereticks but in the Evangelicall or in the Law of grace they have been above 600. of them A man would say it were hard to beleeve this seeing the standart of the Cross after Christes passion hath been lifted up against hell and heresie the kingdom and power of the Devill diminished Idols cast down Atheisme bannished and the Empire of Hell on Earth as it were destroy'd by the Bloud of Iesus Vertue Piety and the light of Grace for all this woefull experience proues what I have said to be true And Saint Cyprian giues you the true reason S. Cyp. lib. de Vnitat wherfor in these words Cum videret inimicus idola derelicta templa sua deserta ex●ogitauit novas fraudes hereses inuenit scismata ● quibus fidem subuerteret When Sathan saw after our Sauiours Passion the Idols cast away and his tempels deserted hee thought of new fraudes hee inuented heresies and scismes by which hee might subuert faith and sanctity Sathan therfore the Father and Author of all lyes and Heresies seduced men from the way of truth and stirred them up against the Church and Verity these kinde of men sowed Heresyes and Scismes and some of them began like Hypocrits covering theire damnable Doctrin with a cloack of Sanctity such were Arius Iohn Wicklef and many more and even the worst livers of them pretended a kind of Piety in theire Opinions and as it were a speciall regard of the glory of God grounding all Sanctity and Salvation upon Sanctifying faith alone and upon this account some of them took away free will others good works fasting pennance and allkind of Mortification they did but mock all these things others took away the Invocation of Saints and Angells and Doctrin of Purgatory Indulgence and Prayers for the dead others reduced seven Sacraments unto two or rather to one to wit Baptisme and others have even destroy'd this Sacrament teaching infants to be saved in the faith of theire Parents and that Baptisme is but a meer cerimony that might be used or omitted without sinne others said the Commaundements were impossible to be kept and others held they did noe way oblige Christians and that they were only made for the Iewes but oboue all Calyin was soe zealous in attributing mans Salvation only to the Passion and Bloud of Iesus that hee held all the good works man could doe of noe value or effect yea hee termed Bona opera hominis piacula sordes inquiuamenta By this you see the Doctrins taught by Hereticks were but mera somnia deliria and a good part of the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England are such I shall herafter in a convenient place give you a long Letany of Hereticks but it will be noe way holy In this place I will only set downe the Sect of Quakers that sprung up in England some years agoe theire principall theorems and tenets are 1. That they are imediatly cald by Iesus and sent to convert the world as the Apostles were by an extraordinary mission 2. That God being a pure Spiritt is to be honoured only by the Spiritt wherfore they condemne all bending of knees and all exteriour signes of Religion and worship due to God 3. That it is superstition to light Candles by daytyme to weare Capps Copes Albs or any sacred vestments 4. That it is Idolatry to build Churches put up Crosses or the Images of Christ or his Saints or render them any Worshipp 5. They denye and reject the name of Sacrament and affirme that Baptizing in water is not of devine Institution 6. They
place the greatest part of theire Religion in Contemplation and Meditation and they soe strive to stirr up strong and sencible fervour and heat of Spiritt that somtymes excites in them motion and trembling of all the body from this they have the name of Quakers and they take this trembling for a great marke of perfection and interiour Devotion I have given you the Theorems of this rediculous Quaking Sect because they are new and not soe well knowne to all Oh With what illusions doth Sathan deceive these poore Soules Theire Author was one Iames Naylor to whom all of the Sect gave the greatest titles of honnour and respected him as Iesus Christ himselfe Hee was notwithstanding condemned in Cromwells tyme in the month of December anno Domini 1654. to a perpetuall prison after being whipt publickly and his tongue bored with a burning Iron Sall you see the number of your miserable Companions is allmost infinit but this great multitude of them will bring you noe joy or comfort Multiplicata est gens eorum quibus te junxisti sed non est multiplicata laetitia When the Sonne of God shall come downe and condemne them all to burne in eternall flames Sall what will you doe to prevent such a neuer ending misery lament in tyme and repent and cry to God to have mercy on you XVII CHAPTER A Discussion of some parts of Salls Recantation A Little after the beginning hee speaks thus And by frequent reading of holy Scripturs Fathers Councells and Histories of the Church my knowledg was furthered and my Iudgment ripened I began to doubt of severall Articles introduced by the use and Authority of the Roman Church repugnant to human reason and not warranted by devine writt as Transubstantiation Indulgences Porgatory Worship of Images c. Yet smothering scrupels partly fearing the severity of the Country against opposers of theire Tenets partly amused with a supposition that the Church and Pope of Rome were infallible in theire decrees touching Faith and soe mought stand with security to theire Declaration Sall the reading of Scriptures well vnderstood and of Fathers Councells and Church-Histories could not give occasion or ground to you or any man to doubt of Articles of Faith professed in the Catholick Church but true it is that Scriptures understood and explained amiss by men presuming much of their owne witt and learning likely you are one of those leadeth to Heresie and Errors S. Augustin teacheth soe Neque enim saith hee natae S. Aug. Tom. 9. expos Evang. Ioan. Tract 18. sunt Hereses nisi dum Scripturae bonae non intelliguntur bene quod in eis non ●benè intelligitur etiam temere audacter asseritur That is Nor doe Heresies spring up but when good Scriptures are not well understood and that which in them is not well understood is rashly and boldly asserted Sall I feare much this presumption carryed you out of the Church But one thing I must tell you when you began to doubt of Transubstantiation and other Articles of Faith you began to want Faith Quia dubius in fide infidelis est That you began to stagger in Faith is manifest because you began to doubt of the Verity of Articles proposed by the Church to be of Faith as are those of Transubstantiation Purgatory and the like Nam certum est qui supponit Authoritatem Ecclesiae veritatem vel dogma docentis ac profitentis non esse certam infallibilem in fidelis est Hereticus est That is It is cleare and certaine who supposeth the Authority of the Church teaching or professing Transubstantiation or any other Article not to be certaine and infallible is an Heretick and an infidell Your owne words above cited conuince you of being in such feare and doubt whereas had you supposed the Churches Authority infallible and certaine as indeed it is you would not have any way doubted of the mentioned Articles to appertain to Faith this is evident Quia certitudinem habens alicujus propositionis non potest habere ejusdem dubitationem Saint Bernard pondering the difinition Saint Paul gives of Faith Fides est Epis ad Hebr. cap. 11. sperandarum substantia rerum argumentum non aparentium Says Audis substantiam non licet tibi in fide putare vel disputare pro libito non hac illacque vagari per incerta opinionum per devia errorum substantia nomine altquid tibi certum sixumquae prefigitur certis claudens finibus certis limitibus arctans That is When you heare the word Substance it is not lawfull for you to doubt or dispute in points of Faith according to your owne head and fancy with incertainty of Errors and Opinions by the word Substance something is apointed to be beleeved that is certaine and fixed The Saint said excellently well because it is the genious of Hereticks to chuse what they will beleeve according to theire owne Iudgment and not as the Church doth appoint Saint Thomas saith in Substance the same in these Words Hereticus intendit S. Th● quest 11. art 1. quidem Christo assentire in quo dissert ab Ethnico Iudaeo sed deficit in ●ligendo ea quibus Christo assentiat quia non eligit ea quae vere a Christo sunt tradita sed ea quae sibi propria mens suggerit That is An Heretick intends to assent to Christ his Authority in which hee differs from an Ethnick and Iew but hee is deficient in ellecting those things by which hee should assent to Christ because hee doth not chuse those things which are delivered by Christ but those which his owne minde doth suggest Sall this is what you have done which is a great Error where had you stood to that Supposition a very true one that the Church and Pope are infallible in theire decree's touching Faith all had gon well with you relying on such a Supposition you had not doubted nor feared nor wavered nor erred because the Church is the Pillar of Verity and because you did not stick to this Pillar the Churches Authority you have doubted in matters of Faith and soe I will and must leave you after teaching Divinity soe many years in Spain Hominem dubium fluctuantem Circa Articulos fidei Sall doe not tell those that read your Recantation that Transubstantiation Purgatory Indulgences and the like Theorems are intruded upon men for Articles of Faith by the Authority and use of the Catholick Church by introduceing them for such as you speake as if they had not been Articles of Faith before they had been declared and defined to be such which is a great Error they having been such I mean Articles of Faith before such Declaration Quia propositiones fidei sunt aeternae veritatis what is this day of Faith was ever soe and in like manner whatsoever is now an Heresie was allways soe in its owne Nature soe as the Authority of the Church doth not make any Proposition a Theorem of
Faith that was not soe before nor likwise make any Proposition Hereticall that was not soe before but only defines that Proposition to be of Faith that is and was ever soe and condemns that for an Heresie that is and was soe Nor are Articles of Faith as Sall affirms repugnant to human reason but transcending human reason as Saint Thomas teacheth Fidem non esse contra sensum sed esse de eo ad quod sensus non attingit much less is Faith repugnant to reason a nobler faculty then that of sence yet for all this wee may not say that reason can comprehend an Article of Faith Will you beleeve nothing Sall but what you can comprehend and as it were demonstrat by human reason and discourse This is not Faith but Science The silliest Catholick old woeman in your Country will tell you that in beleeving you must take Faith and leave reason And Saint Aug●stin saith the same as thus S. Aug. lib. de utilitat● credend● Quod inteligimus debemus rationi quod credimus Authoritati Had you ankored your selfe Sall upon the Authority of the Church as most eminent Schoolmen of our side doe you had not fallne into Heresie but you presumed to much on your owne witt and wanted humility and necessary vertue Saint Augnstin reprehends such kinde of men as would circumscribe matters of Faith within the sphere of reason and discourse in these words Eccè qualibus Argumentis omnipotentiae Dei humana contradicit infirmitas quam possidet vanitas That is Behold with what kinde of Arguments doth human weakness mastered by vanity contradict the omnipotent power of God The Paulin difinition of Faith the most perfect of all diffinitions doth clearly demonstrate that the force of reason cannot comprehend Articles of Faith Illa particula Argumentum non aparentium clarè significat objectum fidei esse rem non visam cui firmiter adhaeret intellectus non ex rei evidentia sed ex auctoritate divina per illam particulam non apparentium distinguitur fides a Scientia intellestu per quem aliquid fit apparens That is The Argument of things not appearing doth clearly signify the object of Faith to be a thing not seen to which the understanding doth adhere not for the Evidence of the thing but for the devine Authority revealing it and by that particle of things not appearing Faith is distinguished from Science and understanding of objects by which a thing is made apearing This is the Opinion of Nicholas de Lira and others It is alsoe the Opinion of Devines commonly Visum non esse objectum fidei S. Tho. 1. 2. qs 67. S. Tho. 2. 2. q. 1. a. 4 And Saint Thomas saith elswher Quod nihil est objectum fidei nisi sub ratione non apparentis XVIII CHAPTER The Doctrin of Transubstantiation defended against Sall a new Protestant THere is noe Protestant soe maddly obstinate as to give God the lye to his face and in plaine tearms to say though hee did know God did reveale the Doctrin of Transubstantiation as the Church of Rome doth propose and maintaine it I would not beleeve it noe all Protestants acknowledg and generally all Hereticks God to bee truth it selfe and not able to deceive or bee deceived The obstinacy therfore of Protestants against Gods verityes is not as they are uttered immediatly by himselfe but as they are proposed by his Church as in the point of Transubstantiation Sall become lately a Protestant doth not beleeve the Catholick Church proposing that Doctrin as revealed by God but says it is not warranted by devine writt the same hee says of Indulgences Purgatory worship of Images c. but introduced and made an Article of faith by the use and Authority of the Roman Church Against cleare evidence there can be noe obstinacy the object of it must be involved in some obscurity otherwise the will which is the source of obstinacy would not bee able to master the understanding There is nothing more cleare and evident to the understanding then this proposition If God said or revealed any thing it s very true The obstinacy therfore of Hereticks doth not contest with this cleare and confessed truth It only doubts or denyes that God said or revealed any such thing as the Church pretends By this it appears in what Sall and I doe differ about Transubstantiation for hee doth not beleeve the Church proposing and defyning the Doctrin therof as revealed by God The Heretick beleeves what the Church proposeth as revealed only conditionally if God reveal'd it reserving to his owne privat Iudgment or to that of his privat Patriarks Luther Zwinglius Calvin c. this determination but the Catholick Absolutly and doubts not but God revealed what the Church proposeth as revealed submitting his Iudgment in matters of Faith to what soever the Church doth define or declare This is the case of Hereticks They protest if they had thought or beleeved that the Doctrin of the Roman Church in controverted points were revealed by God they would hartily imbrace it but they doe not consider this very if or doubt is Heresie for they have noe reason to doubt but that the Roman Catholick Church hath Commission and power of defining and declaring what is revealed by God seeing it hath the evident signes of a true Church as Miracles Sanctity of Doctrin and Life continuall Succession from the Apostles to the present age both of Pastors and Doctrin These signes may be easily perceived and knowne by all people as Clownes Souldiers and other illiterate persons let them examin the Histories of theire owne Countryes and the Religion of theire Ancesters which soever amongst all the Christians Churches had and hath the aforesaid signes that Church must be heard obeyed and beleeved as having Gods Authority and Commission to deside all doubts and Controversies of Faith who soever beleeves not her diffinitions and obeys not her decrees and Canons in points of Faith is an obstinat Heretick and such is Sall having deserted and condemned this Church But Sall tells us the Doctrin of Transubstantiation is a novelty not found in Scripture but brought into the Church by the Councell of Lateran anno 1215. This is a great mistake in Sall The very condemning of Berengarius as an Heretick for impugning Transubstantiation anno 1050 which was before the Councell of Lateran 165. years proves it was noe novelty but an Article of Faith before that Councell There were present at this Counsell the Emperors Roman and Greek and of the Kings of France Spaine England Hierusalem and Cyperus their Ambassadors euen from the Apostles tymes For otherwise I pray you how were it possible that the Patriarks of Hierusalem and Constantinople 70. Metropolitans 400. Bishops and 800. Conventuall Pryours who were all present at that great Counsell should all agree in declaring Transubstantiation to have been revealed by God to the primitive Church how can this agree with what Sall affirms
faith Doctor Vsher found between the Greeks Ruthenians Armenians c. For bringing them into his owne Church and Communion but if they agree in any Articles with the Protestant though they differ'd in many more 't was enough for Vsher to make them all Protestants as Fox made Saints of all Sectarys as in what wee have said before is prou'd But wee Catholicks doe not nor may not receive into our Communion and Church the said Greeks Ruthenians c. Though agreeing with us in many Articles becaus they differ in others according to that of Saint Iames Qui offendit in uno factus est omnium reus Wee are now to speak or to deal with Sall for his contumelious Language to witt for saying that the tenets of the Roman Church against the XXXIX Articles are false and Superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a beleef of monstrous Miracles c. of which I shall treat in the ensuing Chapter XX. CHAPTER Miracles are ttue and cleare marks of a true Religion and the power of working them hath been given to the true Church and remaines therin The Anger Sall hath conceived against Gods wonders caling Miracles Monstrous gave mee occation of enlargeing this Chapter A furious zeale in his new Religion hath made the man ungodly It was not enough for him in his Recantation to declare his minde in the ensuing words Wherfore I resolved to declare as I doe hereby seriously and in my hart without Equivocation or mentall Reservation in the Presence of God and this Congregation declare that I doe give my full and free assent to the XXXIX Articles of the Church of England for holy and wise and grounded upon the insalliable word of God But hee must alsoe add Acknowledging the Romish tenets against them to be false and Superstitious especially that of Transubstantiation as forcing upon Christians a beleefe of Monstrous Miracles repugnant to humane reason and not grounded upon divine Testimony nor necessary either for verifying Christ his words in the Institution of this Blessed Sacrament or for the effects of it Sall verè durus est hie sermo quis potest eum audire Let any Catholick Reader tell mee Nonquid haec est atrox homuncionis insultantis Christo Ecclesiae rabies I did not think poor Sall was come to such a hight of Impiety as to belch up soe virulent a contumely against Gods Wonders But let him bee as much discontented as hee will Miracles are owned by the pious and learned by the Bishop and the Peasant and by all true and Godly beleevers because they are wrought In Nomine virtute Dei omnipotentis wherfore the Doctrin of Miracles is well grounded and delivered from hand to hand a long from the Apostles Tymes and the Church is called Ecclesia Sancta Sanctitate Miraculorum It is true Sall you have passed to a Congregation of men that deny and contemne manifest Wonders because noe Miracles were ever done in theire Church I defy you to shew mee one Miracle wrought by any of Foxes Saints or any Protestant since your holy Father Luther first brought in Protestanisme tell mee when and where and the man that did the Wonder Sall I see you deale with Miracles as the Fox did with a faire ripe bunsh of grapes hee jumpt and leapt to bring downe the grapes but when hee could not reach them said they were green and worth nothing But whether I pray you shall I beleeve you in a kinde of rage against Gods wonders caling them Monstrous or Saint Thomas the Prince of devines teaching What a Miracle is dicit enim Quod S. Tom. part 1. quest 105. a 7. nomen Mirac●li ab Admiratione sumitur Admiratio autem consurgit cum effectus sunt manifesti causa occulta That is The Word Miracle coms from Admiration and this Admiration doth arise when the effects appeare and the cause is hidden Likewise Saint Augustin tells us what a Miracle is cum Deus saith the Saint Aliquid facit S. Aug. lib. de quest contra cognitum nobis cursum solitumque naturae magnalia vel mirabilia dicuntur When God doth any thing against the knowne course of nature and custome therof they are caled Magnalia or wonderfull things I pray you good Sall give God leave to doe wonderfull things by his Saints and servants to his owne Glory when it shall soe please him and be not angry therwith caling impudently these wonders Monstrous Miracles take rather Saint Augustins good Counsell speaking thus to you and mee and all men Dicamus Aliquid Deum posse quod nos fatemur investigare non posse in rebus enim mirabilibus tota ratio saciendi est potentia sacientis That is Let us say God is able to doe somthing that wee must confess wee are not able to search into or comprehend in wonderfull things the whole ground of doeing them is the power of him that can doe them That God hath Impowered those hee sent by an extraordinary way for converting Nations with the grace of working Miracles is a truth you will not deny having been evidently made appeare in the written Law and Law of Grace when the people see Miracles they beleeve the man that doth them is sent from God This made Moyses when hee was commaunded by God to lead the Israelits out of Egypt to answer God in these Exod. cap. 5. tearms The people will not beleeue mee nor heare my voyce but they will say our Lord hath not appeared to thee Hee proposed the difficulty of the Embassy wisely and God iudgd what hee sayd to carry great reason and therfore gaue him the power of doeing wonders and this suffised to make the people beleeue hee was sent from God with an extraordinary Authority Sall wee are still demaunding from your Prophets and Doctors Luther Caluin and the rest of them who say they were sent from God by an extraordinary mission to sanctify the world and to pull downe the whore of Babilon soe they name the Roman Church and alsoe you of England and all Protestants affirme the same to wit that Luther Calvin and the rest were impowered with extraordinary authority even as the true Prophets of God and other holy men that wrought Miracles for proving theire mission were sent from God in former ages but till this day you could never name any Miracles wrought by your Doctors Now if the Israelits would not take Moyses his word though hee was a holy man that hee was sent from God without doing wonders shall wee take Luther or Calvins word who shew'd noe Sanctity in theire manners but much impurity that they are sent from God without working Mitacles to prove it this would be in us a great folly There are three kinde of Miracles those of Christ those of the Apostles and Church Miracles if Sall and those of the English Church will not beleeve the two first kinde of Miracles they doe not credit the
thy sonne liveth And the woeman said to Elias now in this I have knowne that thou art a man of God and the word of our Lord in thy mouth is true Sall wilt thou beleeve that the Miracle made this woeman beleeve Mi ∣ racle 3 When the Prophet Elizeus raised to life the dead child of the Sunamite saying to her Take thy sonne Lib. 4. Regum Cap. 4. Shee came and fell at his feet and adored upon the ground and took her Sonne and went out c. Behold Sall the force of the Miracle Miracle 4 This is a pretious one the preservation of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago three of the Children of Israell in the midst of the flames of burning fyre where they walked in the midst of Dan. Cap. 3. the flame praysing God and blessing our Lord. And did not Nabuchodnozor moved with this Miracle breaking forth say Blessed be the God of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago who had sent his Angell and had delivered his Servants that beleeved in him And after said By mee therfore this decree is made that every people tribe and tongue whatsoever shall speak Blasphemy against the God of Sidrach Misach and Abdenago hee perrish and his house be wasted for there is none other God that can soe save This Miracle made Nabuchodonozor confesse There was noe God could save but the God of Israel In the Law of Grace you will finde that God gave the power of working Miracles to witt of casting out Devills Math. cap. 10. of curing all manner of Infirmityes Where our saviour says to his Diciples And going preach saying That the Kingdom of heaven is at hand Cure the sick raise the dead cleans the lepers cast out Divells gratis you have received gratis give ye Mark Mark cap. 16. 2. Cor. cap. 12. the Evangelist doth attest the same Saint Paul alsoe avouched Miracles for the signes of his Apostle-ship The Miracles of Saint Peter and the rest of the Apostles are many and evident as is manifest by undenyable tradition All this being soe goe now Sall and tell thy Protestants Miracles wrought in the Catholick Church are Monstrous But if you will know the Miracles wrought by Hereticks Tertullian in a few words wil give you an account therof hee speaking of the Apostles said Apostoli de mortuis vivos saciebant Tert. de prescr That is The Apostles gives dead men life And then speaking of Marcion Valentinus Nigidius Hermogenes and other Hereticks said Isti de vivis mortuos faciunt These make living men dye soe is it speaking of mens Soules and somtymes of theire Bodyes as the Miracle of Calvin upon the Taylior Bruleus and of a certaine Arian that made aman seeing well quite blinde Another grave Father tells us of another kind of wonders Hereticks doe Invenerunt saith hee Matres quas de captivis monialibus fecerunt mulieres That is Of Nuns who were in theire power as it were captives they made woeman and Mothers Luther Beza Bucer Ochinus Peter Martyr and hundreds more wanton Monks Priests and Apostata's were excellent at working such Miracles Here Sall will tell mee hee makes noe question or doubt of Miracles attested in holy Scripture if soe hee must confess they are undenyable signes and proofs of a true Church and Religion and though they were says hee you cannot conclude other Miracles to be soe hee means Church Miracles and all such as are not found in Scripture these are they hee accounts for Monstrous Yet Luther himselfe confesseth these Words of Christ Hee that beleeveth in mee Iohn cap. 14. the works that I doe hee shall doe and greater Are understood of the power Christ left of working Miracles to the whole Body of the Church in whome this Vertue doth shine for ever and your English Bibles Edit 1576. in the marginall notes referrs this power to the whole Body of the Church A Deo discimus saith Luther accepimus aeternum verbum veritatem Luther Tom. 7. Lib. de Iudois c. fol. 220 Dei hactenus mille quingentis annis Miraculis signis consessam confirmatam That is Wee have learn'd and received from God the eternall Word and Verity of God hither to a thousand and five hundred years to have been confessed and confirmed by Miracles and Wonders But Protestants now a days contradict their holy Father Luther in this particular as all men must who maintaine errors and say when wee press them to relate some of theire Miracles that Miracles are now superfluous and therfore none wrought in the Church And some hold them ridiculous but Sall goes further saying they are Monstrous But I shall aleage some Miracles in Confirmation of the Roman Catholick Doctrin and more especially of Transubstantiation that some Protestants themselves will acknowledg to bee Miracles of undoubted creditt XXII CHAPTER Six Miracles confirming the Doctrin of the Catholick Church touching Transubstantiation and the Adoration of Christ in the Sacrament SAint Nilus relateth how Saint Ghrysostome S. Nilus in Ep. ad Anastasium almost every day had visions of Angells assisting and adoring the blessed Sacrament untill the Sacrifice was finished In the Ecclesiasticall History is recorded this example which Euagrius Euagr. Orthodoxus lib. 4. cap. 35. anno D. 552. writt as a thing notorius and done in his owne Tyme In the Tyme of Patriarck Menas saith hee there happened a Miracle worthy to be remembred It was an ancient Custome in Constantinople A Miracle for the Communion under one Kinde when many Parcels of the pure and unspotted Body of Christ our God were remaining after Communion little Children were caled out of the Schools and were permitted to eat them It happened that a little boy whose Father was a Iew by Profession and a maker of glass by his Trade being among the rest did eat alsoe his share of the aforesaid Reversion of the blessed Sacrament but coming some what late home and his parents demaunding the cause the child told innocently what hee had done which the Iew his Father understanding was soe enraged that unawares to his wife hee cast his little sonne into the burning ouen wherin hee us'd to melt and frame his glass The Mother missing the child sought for him three days together but hearing noe news of him abroad shee returned home with an heavy hart and sitting downe at the work-house house doore shee began to bewail the loss of her Sonne caling him by his name the boy hearing and knowing his Mothers call did answer within the oven where at the woeman starting burst the work-house doore and rushing in espied her child standing amidst the coles without receiving any harme After coming out being demaunded how hee escaped burning soe long a woe man said hee came often Tymes unto mee and brought mee water to quench the force of the fyer wherwith I was invironed and withall gave mee meat as often as I was hungry This accident being told unto the emperoor
Iustinian hee caused the Mother and boy to be Baptised which because the obstinate Father refused to yeild unto by the Emperors commandment hee was hanged upon a Gibet I Will now relate a story saith Waldensis wherof I my selfe was an eye Wittness in the Cathedrall Church of St. Paul in London where the venerable Thom. VV aldensis Tom. 2. de Sacra Eucha cap. 62. Arch-Bishop Thomas Arundell of happy memory the Sonne and Brother to an EarI sat in Iudgment in his Bishops Chaire assisted by Alexander the Prelate of the Church of Norwitch and others At which tyme hee proposed certaine Interrogatories concerning the Faith of the Eucharist unto a Taylor of the parts of Worcester shire taken in the crime of Heresie but when that the obstinat fellow could not be persuaded by any reason to embrace the right Faith nor would believe nor call the consecrated Host any other thing but only Holy Bread hee was at last commaunded to Worship the said Host but the blasphemous Heretick answering said Verily a spider is more Worthy to bee worshiped then it is When behold a monstrous horrible Spider came suddainly sliding downe by her thred from the top of the Church directly unto the Blasphemers mouth and endeavoured very busily to gett entrance even as hee was speaking the Words neither without much adoe could the many hands of the standers by keep her from entring into the wretch whether hee would or noe Thomas Duke of Oxford and Chancellor of the Realme was there present and saw this Wonder Then the Arch-Bishop stood up and declared to all that were present that the revenging hand of God had denounced the man to be a Blasphemer Saint Bernards Miracles THe Learning Devotion Sanctity and Miracles of this Saint are soe generally confessed by Protestant writers as Whitaker saith I realy beleeve VVhit de Ecclesia pa. 369 Osian Cent. 12. Bernard was a true Saint Osiander likwise saith Saint Bernard Abbot of Clarivall was a very pious man c. Yea Doctor Stillingfleet himselfe in his late Comedy of the Idolatry Fanatiscisme of the Church of Rome durst not bring Bernard upon the stage All the World lookt upon this Saint as the Apostle of that age wherin Divers Heresies were broacht by the Waldenses Apostolici Henricians and others These two last Sects had infected a great part of France especially about Toulouse theire chief Errors were against the Sacrifice of the Masse Transubstantiation Purgatory Prayer for the Dead Prayer to Saints theire Worship that of Images the Popes Supremacy c. Even the same Protestants hould in our days The Pope sent a Legate and Saint Bernard to confute them It is to be noted that Protestants Challenge these as Members and Martyrs of the Protestant Church as every one may see in theire Catalogue of the wittness of truth printed 1597. Among other Miracles one is recounted by Godefridus in vita Bernardi Lib. 3. Cap. 5. And by others of the same Tyme as followeth There is a place in the Country of Tolouse caled Sarlatum where after Sermon was done they offerd to the Servant of God as every where the use was many loaves to bless which hee lifting up his hand and makeing the signe of the Cross in Gods Name blessing said thus In this you shall know that these things are true which wee and that those other are false which the Hereticks labour to persuade you that whosoever they be of your diseased Persons that tast the loaves shall be healed to the end you may know us to be the true Ministers of God The Bishop of Chartres a great Frind to the Saint thinking this Proposition to generall told the People they were to understand it conditionally if they did eat of the loaves with Faith Saint Bernard suddainly replied My Lord I doe not meane soe my meaning and saying is that all sick Folks who shall eat of these loaves shall recover their health to the end it may be knowne wee are Gods true Ministers And accordingly it fell out not one diseased Person that did eat of the Bread● mist of being cured and the Miracle being thus d●uulged by its effects soe huge a multitude of People came to thank and admire the Saint that hee declined the common roads and went by by-ways to Tolouse Two other excellent Miracles of Saint Bernard the one in Millane the other in Aquitaine THat in Millane was of an old woeman possessed for many years the Devill had taken from her speech Veran Dom. Gulielmus Abbas in vita Saint Bern. lib. 2. cap. ●● sight and hearing her Breath was stincking her face gashly her presence uggly infine shee was the most miserable spectacle in the World The Saint in tyme of Masse began to vex this evill Spiritt that for many years had vexed the poore old woeman And immediatly after saying the Pater Noster in the Mass the holy man holding over the Patena the Body of our Lord and turning his face towards the People and to the lamentable and tormented possessed said these strong and vehement words Adest inique Spiritus c. Thou impious Spiritt hee is heere present who before his Passion said Now Sathan the Prince of the World shall bee cast out this is the same Body that took flesh from the Body of the blessed Virgin that was stretched upon the beame of the Cross that was layd in the Sepulcher that did rise up from death that ascended in to heaven his disciples viewing that strange Mistery Therfore in the terrible power of this great Majesty I commaund thee malignant Spirit to goe out of the Body of this handmaid of God and that thou shalt noe more touch or molest her The Saint then turned to the Alter and persued the rest of the Mass Now what happened The Devill cast out fled away quite mute the woeman came to her selfe and recovering her reason and senses drew in her tongue that hung downe at a great length and thank't God for his mercy towards her and beholding holy Bernard that cured her cast her selfe at his feet owneing the great benefitt shee had receiv'd from him Then says the Author Ingens per Ecclesia● attolitur clamor omnis aetas Iubilat Deo personant aeramenta benedicitur ab omnibus Deus That is A great Cry of Joy was raised over all the Church young and old praised God the Organs sounded melodiously and God was honoured of all This renowned wonder being done in the sight of thousands of Soules was recorded in the Archives of Millan and now I would faine know what may be Salls Iudgment of this Miracle wrought for Confirmation of Transubstantiation the real and true Presence of Christ his Body in the Sacrament the Worship of Adoration due therunto and of the power and Majesty of Christ in the Sacrament Will hee dare call this Miracle Monstrous let him be aware of speaking soe Non enim irridetur Deus or will hee perhaps tell us that all wee
Faith only is sufficient without all Satisfaction and all other works of Pennance Wee have expressly That every man shall be saved according Apoc. cap. 20. to his works You have noe where That men shall be judg'd only according to theire Faith Wee have expressly That it is a holy Cogitation to Prayer for the Dead 2 Mach. cap. 12. Sacrifice for the D●ad 2 Mach. cap. 12. Voluntary Corporall affliction Daniell cap. 10. Almes Tobias cap. 12. Prayer of Saints for those on Earth 2 Mach. cap. 14. pray for the Dead You have noe where It is Superstition or unlawfull to doe the same Wee have an express example Of an holy man that offered Sacrifice for the Dead You have noe example of any good man that ever reprehended it Wee have expressly That the Affliction which Daniell us'd upon his Body was acceptable in the sight of God You have noe where That such voluntary Corporall afflictions are in vaine Wee have expressly That an Angell did present Tobias his good works and Almes-deeds before God You have noe where that Angells cannot or doe not the same Wee read expressly That Ieremias the Prophet after hee was dead pray'd for the People of Israell You have noe where the contrary to this in express Scripture I leave many places more that I might relate but these are enough to prove that express Scriptures are for us and not for you nor can you shew that wee are driven to deny any one book of the byble or to gloss upon plaine places of Scriptures as you are forced to doe I pray you Sall consider well these things for they touch narrowly your new Religion Further-more I dare give you this Challenge that whereas there have been soe many hundred Heresies for the space of one thousand sixhundred and seventy odd years in the Christian Church condemned and Anathematized by her and her Bishops if it can bee shew'd that the Roman Catholicks doe agree or participate in any one point truly and sincerly that was Iudged for an Heresy in old tyme and that the Roman Catholicks doe hold it in that sence and meaning wherin it was condemned that then wee will yield that our Religion is false and our Church noe true Church But on the other side wee Catholicks offer to shew clearly that you Protestants doe hold divers old and evident Heresyes that were condemned openly for Heresyes by the ancient Catholick Church and in the self-same sence and meaning wherin they were condemned as is evident in the Heresyes of Aerius against Fasting days commaunded by the Church and Prayer for the dead as alsoe of the Heretick Vigilantius that denyed Saints to Old heresys held by Protestants be prayd unto and theire Reliques to be honoured of the Heretick Iovinian that compared Matrimony with Virginity and other like for which wee aleage Epiph. Haeres 75. Hier. cont Vigilantium cont Iovin Aug. lib. de Haeresibus Heres 50. defence pag. 15. Doct. Fulke against Bristowes Motius pag. 54. the cleare testimonys of Saint Epiphanius Saint Hierome and Saint Augustin and the matter is soe cleare that Doctor Fulk his words are brought in against Doctor Bristo's motives saying that Epiphanius and Augustin were deceived in recording those for Heresyes which are not And that Ierome rather rayleth then reasoneth and that Vigilantius was a good man and his opinion sound Sall you see Mr. Fulk a grave Doctor in your Church drawne to that extremity in this point that hee is forced to Iudge Epiphanius and Augustin two grave and ancient Doctors and Saints alsoe to have beene deceived and Saint Ierom to have rather railed then reasoned and infine to say that Vigilantius a pestiferious condemned Heretick was a good man and his opinion sound Good Doctor Fulk you sore to high when you dare judge Doctors pillars of Gods Church to haue been deceiued can not wee say to you Fulk Quis te constituit iudicem Upon those eminent Doctors Sall this ought to trouble you in your new Religion that one of the graue Rabbins of your Church hath showd himselfs soe foolish and impious as to preferre Vigillantius a Notorious Heretick's Opinion to the Iudgment of three soe renowned Fathers in a matter concerning faith Speake my Frind●●● speak truth and shame the Devill is not this an intollerable presumption in your Fulk an obscure man not knowne out of the Iland of Brittain Sall I pray put these things together 1. That hee that houldeth any one Heresie can not be saued soe teacheth Scripture A man that is an Heretick after Ad Titum Cap. 3. the first and second Admonition auoyd knowing that hee that is such an one is subverted and sinneth being condemned by his owne Iudgment 2. It is confessed by both parts that only a true Roman Catholick can be saued as was declar'd aboue in pag. 40. 41. 42. and 43. as Doctor King Bishop of London proves out of your owne learned men and writers and cleare it is that hee that holdeth any Heresie cannot be a true Roman Catholick for that the Names and Natures of the things are repugnant and consequently if any Protestant of the English Church doth hold any one confessed Heresie hee cannot bee saued Now the cited Doctors have evidently showne and prou'd The now Church of England holdeth many Heresyes wherfore it cannot be the true Church and consequently those dying in that Church and Religion can not be sau'd Doctor Fulk saying those learned Fathers Epiphanius Augustin and Hierome were deceived and that Vigilantius the Hereticks Opinion was sound is a weak ground to rely upon in the present Doctrin and points of Faith and none but a madd man or in a fury of blinde zeal will give him creditt against those most holy and learned Fathers This is a high and dangerous point Sall you had need look well unto it The third Advertisment A dissention in Fundamentall points and Articles being between Protestants they must hold on another for Hereticks Ergò Sall if he mindes his Salvation will part from that Church IN the true Church the beleevers in all Countrys and places agree in all Articles of Faith as it is in the Roman Catholick Church and as it was in the Tyme of the Apostles as this Text signify's And the multitud of the beleevers Actor Cap. 4. Irinaeus c. 1. l. 1. had one hart and one Soule Saint Irinaeus excellently teacheth this Quam accepit Praedication●m fidem Ecclesia diligenter custodit quasi unam domum inhabitans similiter credit quasi unam animam habens unum co● consonanter haec praedicat docet tradit quasi unum possidens cor That is The Church keeps diligently the Faith and preaching shee received as if the whole Church were dwelling in one House shee likewise beleeveth as if all the beleevers had but one Soule and one hart and shee preacheth and teacheth and delivereth all points of Faith as if all the beleevers had
but one mouth Can this be said of the English Church Noe but all is truly verifyed of the Roman Catholick Church Saint Cyprian doth likewise confirme this Unity of beleefe in the Church Exordium Ecclesiae S. Cypr. de Vnitate Ecclesiae ab unitate profisiscitur primatus Petro datur ut una Christi Ecclaesia Cathedra una Monstretur That is The beginning of the Church proceedeth from Unity and concord primacy is given Peter that the Church of Christ may be proved to be one and the Chaire one Let Saint Pauls Words give undenyable weight and creditt to what is said One To the Ephesians cap. 4. Body saith th' Apostle and one Spiritt as you are called in hope of your Vocation One Lord one Faith one Baptisme One God and Father of all which is over all and by all and in all us The Devines of England would faine perswade us there is noe contention or difference in Fundamentall Points or Articles of Faith between Protestants as for example between Lutherans and Calvinists soe teacheth Docter Charke saying in his reply to the defence of the Censure that in Principall points of Faith the Lutherans and Calvinists agree and are bretheren And Doctor Whitaker signify's the same saying wee reverence Luther as a Father and the Lutherans and Zwinglians our very deare Bretheren in Christ See above page 83. This hee would not say if hee held they disagree'd in Principall points of beleefe But the matter is otherwise as will appeare to those will examine the great contentions between Lutherans and Zwinglians Luther holds the Zwinglians for Hereticks being Sacramentarians the same Iudgement hee gives of Calvinists saying of them Hereticos serio Censemus alienos ab Ecclesia Dei c. That is Wee doe seriously censure them for Luther contra Artic. Lovan Thes 27. Hereticks and aliens from the Church of God As alsoe hee affirmeth that theire first Author Zwinglius Latro mortuus est That hee dyed a theefe and in his Iudgment was damn'd Which Iudgment hee saith Christ doth commaund us to pronounce upon such as deny him in this life as Zwinglians did in denying the Real-Presence of whome hee says further that hee held him not in the number of Christians Quia totum Christum amiserat for that therby hee had lost Christ all together And furthermore hee said that hee held said Zwinglius his books and Doctrin for nothing else but for venenum tartarei daemonis That is The poyson of the Deuill of hell and that hee would never have more conversation either with him or with those of his sect how doth Chark tell us that Lutherans and Zwinglians are bretheren in Christ agreeing in fundamentall points of Doctrine seeing Luther holds all Zwinglians and Calvinists Hereticks for denying the Real-Presens and damned Soules and theire Doctrin for poyson of the Deuill Surely the Protestants of England if they hold Luther for a holy man and true Doctor and reverence him for a Father haue great cause to tremble and feare seeing hee holds them all for Hereticks in a fundamentall Article of Faith that of the Real-presence whose Faith in this point is that of Zwinglius censured as was now said for an Heresy There are other p●incipall points of Religion in which Lutherans differ from Calvinists Franciscus Stancarus a Stanca Lib. contra Calvin N. 4. famous Protestant Preacher in Polonia hath particularly written against Calvin Cave Christiane Lector c. That is Beware Christian Reader of the Books of Calvin especially in the Articles about the Blessed Trinity Incarnation of Christ and his Mediation about the Sacrament of Baptisme and Predestination Continent enim Doctrinam impiam blasphemias Arianas That is For that they containe impious Doctrine and Arian Blasphemyes Another famous Protestant writer of the Lutheran party called Conradus Conradus de Theol. Calrin Lib. 1. Art 18 Schlusselburgius writeth thus Albeit saith hee in the beginning the Controversy of the Sacramentaryes was only about one Article yet by theire naughty Disputations the Calvinistes are passed now soe farre as they have brought into doubt noe small number of cheefe Articles of Christian Faith for now is the Contention between us and them of the Omnipotency of God of the Vnion personall of two Natures in Christ de Comunicatione Idiomatum of the Comunication of Names in the Blessed Trinity of the glorious Body of Christ of his Assention into heaven of the differrence of Sacraments of the old and new Testament of the force and efficacy of Baptisme of the prerogative of Infants borne of Infidels of the supper of our Lord of Predestination c. Noe man will deny these to be great Controversyes and Articles of Religion in all which the Lutherans and Calvinists disagree and how then will Charke prove them to agree in fundamentall points of Religion as Bretheren in Christ The said Conradus hath written three whole Books principally to prove this point that Lutherans and Sacramentaryes but especially Calvinistes are Irreconsilable in the very chief Controversyes of Religion And in his second Book and thirteenth Article hee hath these Words Nos negamus inter nos Calvinistas in Doctrinae fundamento esse consensum That is Wee deny that there is betwixt us and Calvinistes any consent or agreement in fundamentall points of Doctrine And hee further in the very Title of his Book affirmeth his cheefe purpose to be to demonstrate to the eye as in a Table that the Calvinistes De nullo ferè Christianae sidei Articulo Rectè sentiunt have noe right Faith allmost in any one Article of Christian Religion Likewise one Samuell Huberinus writt Samuel Hube rinus in Antith a Book whose Title was Antithesis Lutheranae Calvinisticae Doctrinae in praecipuis fidei Articulis That is The Contradiction or contrariety between Lutheran and Calvinian Doctrin in the principall Articles of Faith Yet was this Huberinus a zealous Protestant I will conclud with the Iudgment of Doctor Aegidius Hunnius publick Reader of Divinity in the Lutheran University of Wittembergh of Calvins writing upon the Scriptures his Book was printed in the same place Anno Domini 1594. In the beginning of his Book hee hath this Assertion that hee will shew most clearly and evidently Quod Ioannes Calvinus Illustrissima Scripturae sacrae loca Testimonia de gloriosa Trinitate Deitate Christi Spiritus Sancti in primis autem vaticinia Prophetarum de adventu Messiae nativitate ejus Passione Resurrectione Ascensione in caelos sessione ad dexteram Dei detestandum in modum corrumpere non exhorruit That is That Iohn Calvin in his commentarys upon the bible was not afrayd to corrupt most detestably the most clearest places and testimonys of holy Scripture concerning the Glorious Trinity the God-head of Christ and of the Holy Ghost and Principally the forretellings of Prophets of the coming of the Messias his nativity passion Resurection Ascention into heaven and his sitting at the right
hand of God All which Articles saith this Doctor doth Calvin willfully corrupt in his expositions in the favour of Iewes Arians and other such enemyes of Christ which hee proveth by alleadging above forty or fifty places citing Calvins owne words and commentaryes therupon soe clearly and perspicuously against sence and expositions of all holy Fathers that if his commentaryes therin were to bee admitted those foure named points or Articles of Christian Religion can not be defended against the force and adversaryes of Christes name And is not this a brotherly agreement between Lutherans and Calvinistes in Principall points and misteryes of Religion but the Lutherans have the best of it for wheras Luther and his followers to this day condemne the Calvinists as Hereticks especially for not beleeving the Body of Christ to bee realy and substantially present in the Sacrament of the Altar the Protestants of England who are Calvinists and deny the Real-presence hold Luther for a holy man and theire Father and hold all the Lutherans theire very deare bretheren in Christ as Doctor Whitaker above cited doth averre To leave Germany and to speak of the Professors of Protestanisme in England Scotland doe not many of them entertaine quarrells and falings-out among themselves about Principall Articles of Religion doe not the greatest part by much of the Protestants in England hold the King is supreme head of the Church all of one opinion with the Bishops maintaine this as an Article of Religion in that Protestant Church but the Protestants of Geneva and all depending upon theire Doctrin in France and elswhere doe not hold this Kingly supremacy for an Article of Faith and are not Catholicks punished by Law and somtymes put to death for denying this supremasy which would be a meer murthering of them and the greatest cruelty in the World if those that put them to death did not hold that supremecy to be an Article of Faith Now if you will be pleas'd to demaund what those Protestants in England and Scotland caled Presbiterians or Puritans say to this Article they flattly deny this supremacy to be an Article of Faith though none of them did ever suffer death for denying the same nay they are esteemed not with standing theire opinion in this to be of the Protestants communion A gaine all Protestants that follow the Bishops hold the dignity and superiority of Arch-Bishops and Bishops to be agrecable to Gods word and as the Devines speak de Iure Devino and what say the Presbiterians to this By theire Champion Martin Mar-Prelate and his mutenous moke-bates that band under his cullors cry all of them in the Name of the Lord as Thomas Rogers doth attest That the calling of Bishops is In his Sermon printed by Iohn windet 1590. pa. 13. unlawfull that they be Ministers of Antichrist worss then Fryers and Monks Deuills Bishops and Deuills In-carnate Sall you must grant mee these dissentions between Protestants and Protestants in England and Scotland about the Kings supremacy and the Order and Dignity of Bishops are not Triueall but Fundamentall and they have been now many years contending in theire Writings and Conferrences and still are about these points and others that are the very sinews and Soule of theire Religion in endless quarrells and Contensions If that were my Business I could sett downe many and great differrences quarells and contensions between these two kinde of Protestants In this place I think it pertinent to say somthing particularly of the Protestants called Presbiterians who were neuer by any act of Parlament that wee could heare of proscribed from the Communion of the Protestants that stick to the Religion of the King and the Bishops Impiety Fury and Rebellion gave beginning to this Sect and Religion in Scotland as hath been aboue said in Page 164. and 165. They had two Reformations the first was begun by Iohn Knox an Apostata Priest and though his Reformation was ungodly and unreasonable the second was farre more unreasonable and ungodly A Presbiterian that was converted to the Catholick Faith describes the Presbiterian Piety in this kinde There was among us a pretext of Piety but wee had not the substance of it wee had indeed much preaching praying fasting and such like exercises but our long preachings were nothing but continuall prayses of the Covenant the solemne League which they cry'd up to the heavens butt wee omitted as our Saviour observed of the Pharisies the weighty Matters of the Law as Iudgment Mercy and Faith Our Ministers told us wee were the happiest People of the World for they said wee only of all Nations had the honour to be Covenanters with God and that wee had the truth of the Ghospell in greater purity then Geneva it selfe that wee had soe cleare a light that the like had not shined to any Nation since the tymes of the Apostles yea one who was esteemed a principall Apostle among us did not stick to say in the pulpitt amidst the many Miserys Confusions and Troubles which then lay upon this Church and Nation That the Angells and Saints of heaven if they could leave the sight of God would be glad to come downe and see the admirable beauty of the Presbiterian Church of Scottland Soe farre this new Catholick And was not this ridiculous preacher with the beauty of his Scottish Kirck a great Hipocrite and Pharisie It was much observed that shortly after solemne fastes of Presbiterians the country and state was allways sure of some unhappy claps the puritan fast was still fatal and ordinarily a preparation to some violence or evill worke that was intended this made many understand what Queene Mary Stuart meant by that famous saying That shee was as much affraid of a fast of the Ministers as of an Army of Souldiers for experience taught her that those fasts were prognostick signes of ensuing tempests theire long prayers alsoe did not prove them to be Saints more then the like did sanctify the Pharasyes they bragged much of the spiritt but shew'd noe fruites therof these bee the fruites of the spiritt which Saint Paul recounts to the Galatians The fruite of Ad Galat. cap. 5. the spiritt saith hee is love joy peace long suffering Gentelnesse goodness Faith meekness c. This second Presbiterian ●eformation beganne with a prodigious abolishment of all holy things Mala arbor Malos fructus faci● 1. They condemned and cast downe Episcopacy this they doe whersoever they have power quite contrary to the Law of God for Episcopacy is de Iure Divino This order and degree they abhor'd as Tyrannicall and Anti-Christian yet Saint Paul writing to Timothey saith If a man desireth a Bishops Office hee desireth 1. Tim. cap. 3. a good thing The Apostle likewise affirmeth that Bishops are to Order Priests and Iudge them wherfore hee saith in his Epistle to Titus That hee left Ad Titum Cap. 1. him in Cret to Order Priestes by Cittys By this it is plaine and evident that
which are flatt Heresies and for all these Impietyes and abominations there are not that I heare of any Lawes made in Parlament for punishing these Presbiterians Noe but all the lightning thunder and tempest of the Bishops and that kind of Protestants and of the Presbiterians likwise doth fall upon the poor Catholicks our Religion is made treason to owne the Pope head of the Church in Spiritualibus as realy hee is is punish'd with death to worship Images superstition to invocate the Angels and Saints Idolatry wee suffer disgrace in Court and Country wee suffer the loss of livings wee suffer Imprisonments and death it selfe the Extirpation of our Faith is desired sought and put in Execution and men receive pleasure which is inhumane and cruell in our Miserye and Distruction and all these Afflictions fale upon us soly for the hatred men have to Religion What comfort can wee finde in these Extremityes That only and that is enough which our Saviour hath promised to his Servants Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur Math. Cap. 4. propter Iustitiam quoniam ipsorum est Regnum Caelorum That is Blessed are they that suffer Persecution for Justice for theirs is the Kingdome of heaven Sall wee heare you have preached in July 1674. before the Lord Lieutenant and State in Christ-Church in Dublin a long premeditated Sermon for Justifying your departure from the Romish Communion and you then told your Auditors that you had found in the Romish Church three Abominations to wit Idolatry Impiety and Tyranny and those you called Abominationem desolationes stantem in loco Sancto And that therfore according to our Saviours Admonition you departed from that Congregation But I tell you you have forged a pernitious Calumnie and Imposture in charging the Church of Rome the Mother of all Churches with Idolatry Impiety and Tyranny And I further say my Opinion that an Idol which is found in all your Congregations the pride of the privat Spiritt that Spiritt Doctor Whitaker see Pagina 17. discribed made you charge the Church of Rome with Idolatry Sir your zeal in your new Religion is soe furious that you have render'd your selfe at present incapable of Councell and all advice but in tyme you may become colder Non est abrevitae manus Domini And think better of what you have done however for the true love I have for you and especially for your Soule which is the maine and principal part ought to bee taken care for I hartily pray you what kinde of thing is Parlament Religion a ssippery and changable Religion which is thus declared For Satisfying King Henry the eight The Parlament changed some Articles of Faith as soone as hee dy'd they changed that Faith into Zwinglianisme to comply with the Protector Summerset young King Edward the sixt his Vncle within two or three years after they changed Zwinglianisme into Calvinisme and at the sute of Calvin reformed the Liturgy accordingly After the young Kings death they return'd with good Queen Mary to the old Faith and by new acts abolished those acts they had lately made before against Catholick Religion with Queen Elizabeth they restored againe the new Religion with some Alterations when King Iames succeeded they changed the translations of Scripture and other things In King Charles the firsts tyme Prelatick Protestancy was puld downe by Presbitery and this by IndePendency and the last puld downe quite Kingly Authority and took of the good Kings head from his Body Prelatick Protestancy being restored by King Charles the second the forms of Ordination where upon depends the validity of the Protestant Ministry Church and Sacraments being not thought sufficient were amended and are now changed into more Catholick Forms adding to the Forms the words Priest and Bishop which hath quite discredited theire Character of Priesthood and Episcopacy for those two Words being held by them as Essentiall in these two Forms the former orders given without these Words must have been invalid and in like manner all things in theire Ministry that depends upon Ordination are uncertaine and doubtfull for if the Church of England hath acknowledged to have erred in a thing of soe great importance as the Forms of Ordination what reason can it have in not erring in all the rest In a word Protestants in the Kingdome of England in one age have made more changes of Religions then Mahometans in the ten ages they have continued What I have sayd being duly examined tell mee Sall is not Protestant Religion slippery and changable and consider well what shall become of you in the sad exchange you have made The fourth Advertisment Learned Protestants of the Church of England doe confess that English and Irish Pagans venerable Beda called them Slaves of Idols were converted to Christian Faith by men sent from the Popes of Rome holy men that wrought Miracles in those Conversions IF any shall demaund to what end doe I make Mention of these Protestant Authors what doe I inferr from theire Testimoneys I make this Illation that said Authors did attest the Conversion of those Pagans to have beene made by those sent from Rome to a true and sauing Faith and for this Verity there are two convincing reasons The first that the Veracity of God was herein concerned which neuer confirm'd by Miracles a false Faith The second that the Goodness of God would not have Pagans brought from Idolatry to Heresy or to such a Religion wherein they would bee as certainly damn'd as in Idolatry to Iudge this of the goodness of God were a horrible Blasphemy for it were noe less then to cale him a cheate Sall examin now seriously what Faith that was the Saints Fugatius Damianus sent from Pope Eleutherious taught to the Pagans of England when King Lucius the first Christian King his Queen and thousands more were converted what the Faith which Saint Augustin the Benedictin Monk sent from S. Gregory Pope denounced to the Saxon Pagans In what Faith did S. Parrick sent from Pope Celestinus instruct the Idolaters of Ireland doubtless you will confess it was the same Faith then professed in Rome and by all the People that obey'd the Pope now all these professed as Articles of Faith the Real-Presence in the Eucharist the Invocation of Angells and Saints the seven Sacraments the Sacrifice of the Mass worship of Images and the like And aforesaid Saints Fugatious Damianus c. delivered them for such to the Pagans of both the Nations they likewise wrought Miracles for proving the truth of the Religion they taught and the Pagans seeing those Miracles beleeved they were sent from God They were indeed sent to those Idalaters as Moyses Elias and others Prophets to the People of Israel and as the Apostles to the Gentils doeing wonders In Nomine Virtute Dei. I observe in this place that the Religion the S S. Fugatious Damianus Patrick and Augustin preached to the Pagans of these countryes was not the Faith now Professed by Sall and
the Congregation of the now English Church ergò the Protestant Authors attesting the verity of the Religion taught by Fugatious and the rest and confirm'd by Miracles give Testimony against theire owne Religion I meane the Protestant My last illation from those Protestant Authors and against theire owne Religion and for mine is that Sall hath cause to feare his owne Damnation for having deserted the true Faith those holy men sent from Rome denounced to the Infidels Imbraceing a new Religion opposit to the ancient and orthodox The names of the Protestant Authors Devines and Historians testifying the Conversion of England and Ireland from Idolatry by the aforesaid Saints sent from Rome 1. Abbots pretended Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that writt against Bellarmin 2. Bale pretended Bishop of Ossory in Ireland reckened among theire learned men hee writ Centurys of the writers of Britaine and said of himselfe hee had read the Historys and Chronicles allmost of all Antiquitye 3. Bilson pretended Bishop of Winchester esteemed a learned writer 4. Caius Doctor of Phisick soe well seen in Antiquity as an Oxonian Orator tearmed him the Antiquary 5. Camden well knowne for his Discription of Britany an excellent Antiquary 6. Couper pretended Bishop of Lincolne and after of Winchester well knowne for his Dixionary and his Chronicle 7. Dangerous positioner some say it was D. Banckrofte pretended Arch-Bishop of Canterbury others say it was Doctor Sutclife 8. Fox most famous amongst Protestants for his acts and monuments of theire Martyrs 9. Fulk Doctor of Divinity and a great writer against Catholicks 10. Godwin a devine Sonne to Godwin pretended Bishop of Bath 11. Holinshed notorious for his great Chronicle and mosT earnest against Catholicks 12. Humphery Doctor of Divinity and the Queens Reader therof in Oxford 13. Iewell soe famous and known to Protestants as I need say nothing of him 14. Reynolds Doctor of Divinity famous with Protestants 15. Stow well knowne for his Chronicle and other his writings of Antiquity 16. Sutelife Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Exetor and a great writer against Catholicks 17. Surueyer soe I call the unnamed Author of the Suruey of the pretended holy Discipline 18. Whitaker Doctor and Professor of Divinity and a great writer against Catholicks very famous in the English Church tearmed by some a worthy learned man by others a Godly learned man These and thus esteemed are the Protestant writers that give Testimony of the Conversions of England by Saint Augustin and other Saints It is therfore agreed upon by Catholick and Protestant writers that King Luctus sent to Pope Eleutherius two holy men Elvanus of Avalonia and Medwinus together with these came commissionated from said Pope two other holy men Fugatius and Damianus who baptized the King and Queen and those of theire Family and many more that imbraced the Christian Faith Authors Catholick and Protestant stile these Legats of Pope Eleutherius Prelatos Episcopos for without such Authority and Character they could not erect Bishopricks consecrate Churches dispence Orders and the like this conversion was made and the King and Queen baptized anno Domini 183. to which Conversion agreeth Fox Jewell Godwin Abbots Fulk Whitaker Sutelife Reynolds Couper Stow Holinshed Camden Bale and others Bale one that would write nothing to the Credit of Rome if not convinced Bale Cent. 1. cap. 19. by evident Verity doth attribute this Conversion to Pope Eleutherius and with him joyned in this the Magdeburgenses Of the Conversion of the Irish Idolaters by Saint Patrick Saint Prosper that lived at the same tyme giveth a clear Testimony and after him venerable Bede Marianus Scotus and others who affirme alsoe that Saint Patrick dyed in the yeare of Christ 491. being 122. years Paladius was indeed sent to that work before Saint Patrick but though hee Religiously behaved himselfe in that divine Function the Glory of Converting the whole Nation from Paganisme was reserved for Saint Patrick who is therfore Iure merito stiled Apostle of Ireland Let us now heare Bale I pretermit other Protestant Authors that testify the conversion of the Irish Idolaters confirming the coming of Saint Patrick from the Sea of Rome and how hee gave the light of Faith to the Irish Pagans the testimony taken from an Enemy such as Bale against Catholicks is of the greater weight and force against himself Bale then who usually cal'd the Pope Anti-Christ and the beast and named the Primitive Church of England in the tyme of its greatest purity a Carnall Synagogue as great an enemy to the Pope as hee was speaks of Saint Patrick coming from the Pope thus Patrick saith hee surnamed Bale descrip Britan. Cent. 1. fo 250. Magonius who studied Divinity at Rome sent by Pope Celestinus did preach the Ghospell to the Irish-men with incredible feruour of Spiritt for forty years together and did convert them to the sincere Faith of Christ hee was most excellent in Learning and Holiness and among other Miracles hee did continue in Prayers and Fasting for forty days and forty nights founded many Churches healed many Sick delivered many possessed of Deuills and raysed to life sixty that were Dead Thus far Bale Behold here how Iohn Bale confesseth Saint Patrick was sent by Pope Celistinus and soe sent hee converted the Irishmen to the sincere Faith of Christ what more can any man say or more honourably of the Pope clearly allowing of Authority and power in him to send Doctors and missioners for converting nations to the true Faith In speaking of Saint Patrick hee mentions truly the vertues and duty of Apostles and preachers sent from Rome to enlighten nations as to fast and pray to found Churches heale the sick and worke Miracles Let Bale himselfe tell us if the blouddy Reformers of the Kirk of Scotland or himselfe Peter Martyr Buaer and the rest at the tyme of the Innovation they made in England did any of those holy works done by Saint Patrick and such Missioners as were lawfully sent from the holy Sea into the vineyard of our Lord I dare challenge in this place all the multitudes of those new men repayring as themselves say the house of God to give one Saint Patrick or Saint Augustin that fasted and prayed healed the sick and wrought Miracles I defye Bale to doe this with all his studyed tomes of centuries or Fox esteemed by the Protestants a most holy grave and pious man and plainly a devine man with his great and numerous volume of Acts and Monuments of theire Ridiculous Martyrs soe Credited in England as they have beene set in divers of theire Churches to be read by all or delicat Calvin the great Patriarck of Geneva with his soe adored books of Institutions or wanton Beza Reforming forsooth the Church of France with legions and troopes in set Battailes and beseeging the Kings goodly Cytties Garded by two fierce Giants in steele the Prince of Conué and the Admirall Coligny As Bale hath testifyed Saint Patricks Miracles soe
may not returne voyd Let not deare Sall all my paines and the expressions of my good affection bee lost by an obduration in you look to it my frind while there is tyme of Consideration having noe less at stake then an Eternity of Salvation and Glory or of Flames and Damnation if after all my ernest requests and harty Prayers you will not think of Returning to Hierusalem but willfully stay in Babilon I can but say with a lamenting Soule Perditio tua ex●te Isra●l denying to joyne your will with Gods Grace Peribis in Aeternum For Saint Augustin tells you Qui creavit te sine te non salvabit t● sine te crea●it nescientem salvabit volentem Hee that has created thee with out thee will not save thee with out thee hee created thee with out thy knowledge but will save thee with thy will One word more and then adue untill wee shall appeare before the great Iudge of all at the last day in old English dooms-day what word say you This only that I conjure you by all that is holy and pretious on earth and in heaven I conjure you I say in the name and in the behalfe of the Almighty that your great and only care in this life bee when the Angell of God shall come to kill the Aegyptians by Exod. cap. 112. night darke night of theire Iniquityes that lie finde in thy house the marke of Pardon the Bloud of the lamb Iesus sprinkled on the Postes of the Doore of thy Soule which cannot be unless you are then found a true professor of the Holy Roman Cathoclick Apostolick Faith without this marke the Angell will destroy you with th' Aegyptians muse deeply on this Important point and ever think with feare and teares to what eternity the last moment of life shall deliver thy soule O praetiosum Momentum ô Aeternitas ô Momentum a quo pendet Aeternitas ô Deare Iesus redeemer of the world have mercy on Sall that hath a bandoned verity and Santity and bring him home againe and have mercy on mee poore sinner now praying for him Amen Fugam scelestam pudendam Andreae Sall ex castris Israël ad papiliones Phylisthijm palam justè redargutam Deo Auspice finivimus 12. die Martii Anno 1675. divo Gregorio P. M Sanctae Ecclesiae Doctori Sacro omnia quae Scripsimus indubitato Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Oraculo submittentes Ut Scripta omnibus prosint summopere cupimus Catholicis ad fidem constanter servandam Heterodoxis ad eam faeliciter Amplectendam Ad Majorem D. O. M. Gloriam THE TABLE Of the Chapters and Advertisments contayned in this Book are as followeth SAll's Recantation The Author to the Reader I. Chap. A Distribution of the contents of this worke in 8. principall points pag. 1 1. VVhat drew Sall out of Gods House 2. VVhat guide led him the way 3. Having forsaken the Catholick Religion what Religion is hee become of 4. VVho are the Doctors hee hath parted with and who they hee hath now embraced 5. VVhat Company hath hee forsaken and who are they hee sticks unto 6. A discussion upon some principall parts of the Recantation 7. Certaine Advertisments to said Sall. 8. The Authors harty Exhortation unto him for his speedy returning to his Mother the Roman Catholick Church II. Chap. VVhat drew Sall out of Gods House pag. 8 The Tytle of Mr. VVhites Booke Schismatis Anglicani Redurgutio c. pag. 13 III. Chap. VVhat guide led Sall out of the House of God pag. 16 IV. Chap. Of what Religion is Sall become having forsaken the Catholick Religion pag. 25 V. Chap. Answer to the fourth Quaere pag. 46 VI. Chap. Of the Doctrin and manners of Luther and some other principall Hereticks pag. 79 VII Chap. Of Luthers Doctrin pag. 84 VIII Chap. Of Luthers Pride and contempt of the Fathers and belying them pag. 98 IX Chap. Of Luthers Incontinency pag. 106 X. VVhat frutes followed Luthers Doctrin and Reformation pag. 116 XI Chap. Of Calvins Doctrin his Calumnyes against Catholicks and of his life and Conversation pag. 123 Certaine Calumnyes of Calvin against the Fathers and other Catholicks pag. 138 Of Calvins Life and Conversation pag. 141 XII Of Beza's Doctrin and Conversation pag. 141 XIII Chap. A Brief Relation of the manners and Conversation of others of the Protestant Religion and pretended Reformers of the Church whose names are as followeth pag. 159 Of Zwinglius pag. 159 Phillip Melankton pag. 161 Jacobus Andreas otherwise named Smedelinus pag. 162 Carolostadius pag. 163 John Knox. pag. 164 Oecolumpadius pag. 166 Christopher Goodman pa. 167 XIV Chap. A Narration of the English Religion and Reformers in King Edward the 6'th Raigne pag. 169 VVho the Contrivers of the XXXIX Articles and first reformers of Protestant Religion pag. 172 XV. Chap. Sall if hee mindes his Salvation should not stay in a Church wherin Murtherers Traytors Hereticks Theeves Negromansers and other Mallefactors are canonized for Saints pag. 186 XVI Chap. The fift Quaere what Company hath Sall forsaken and who are they hee now sticks unto pag. 218 Hereticks in the Law of Nature pag. 222 Hereticks in the written Law pag. 224 Hereticks in the Evangelicall Law pag. 225 XVII Chap. A Discussion of some parts of Sall's Recantation pag. 231 XVIII Chap. The Doctrin of Transubstantiation defended against Sall a new Protestant p. 240 XIX Chap. The Ruthenian and Greek Church and the Armenians hold the same in the Article of Transubstantiation as the Roman Catholicks doe pag. 263 Testimonium seu professio quorundam Articulorum apud Nationem Surianam pag. 267 Ita nos Testamur die 29. Februarii Anno 1668. pag. 269 The Greek and Ruthenians Church Armenians and others agree in more points of Religion with the Romans then with the Protestants of the English Church pag. 271 XX. Chap. Miracles are true and cleare marks of a true Religion and the power of working them hath been given to the true Church and remains therin pag. 275 XXI Chap. Of undeniable Miracles proving the Faith and Sanctity of the true Church pag. 284 XXII Chap. Six Miracles confirming the Doctrin of the Catholick Church touching Transubstantiation and the Adoration in the Sacrament pag. 294 Saint Bernards Miracles pa. 298 Two other excellent Miracles of S. Bernard the one in Millane the other in Aquitaine pag. 301 XXIII Chap. Certaine Advertisments to said Sall first Hereticks are knowne by certaine Marks pag. 310 Le Tombeau des Heretiques pag. 312 The second Advertisment Cleare places of Scripture in many points controverted make for the Catholicks pag. 320 The third Advertisments A dissention in fundamentall points and Articles being betvveen Protestants they must hold one another for Hereticks Ergò Sall if hee mindes his Salvation vvill part from that Church pag. 329 The 4'th Advertisment Learned Protestants of the Church of England doe confess that English and Irish Pagans venerable Beda called them Slaves of Idols vvere converted to Christian Fáith by men sent from the Popes of Rome holy men that vvrought Miracles in those Conversions pag. 364 The fift Advertisment ● offer here certaine learned Catholick Anthors to be perused by Sall likely they came not all of them in his vvay pag. 381 The 6'th Advertisment Three vveighty points offered to be considered by Sall. pag. 388 The 7'th and last Advertisment Olim Possideo Prior Possideo The Roman Catholicks strong defence against the claime of all kind of Hereticks and theire Attempts pag. 397 XXIV Chap. Containing a firvent Exhortation to straying Sall for a tymly returning to his Holy Mother the Roman Catholick Church that there may be joy in heaven upon a sinner doeing Pennance pag. 416 FINIS ERRATA Pag. Lin. Faults Corrected 3 15 the thee 11 18 are are 25 14 pestiperous pestiferous 35 10 nequo neque 35 14 quam cum 35 18 Iesus Iesu 38 23 motius motives 39 8 Latanys Letanyes 40 21 motius motives 48 10 vertute virtute 48 12 vetteris veteris 66   commoderit commederit 78 19 si se 105 21 dispilefull dispitefull 105 24 care are 109 1 usith vvith 124 11 compaesant composant 125 21 nonquid nunquid 130 22 origenal● original● 131 1 hier here 132 25 the thee 160 18 hierof hereof 160 22 Sangunem Sanguinem 166 2 malum mulum 178 14 ane and 180 22 vvicked vvicked 180 23 marters matters 191 14 prosteritas posteritas 197 24 sith fift 196 11 leage liege 202 20 vvare vvere 204 17 saire faire 228 6 inquivamenta inquinamentae 232 1 mought might 234 10 altquid aliquid 237 25 inteligimus intelligemus 239 2 intellestu intellectu 252 14 hodte hodie 268 5 nostri nostrae 273 2 Armneians Armenians 275 4 ttue true 296 18 Emperoor Emperour 316 8 beld held 347 20 contrary contrary 361 19 declated declared 371 4 Magdeburgenfes Magdeburgenses 371 15 felfe selfe 380 16 vvife vvise 394 3 patted parted 407 21 Keligion Religion