cotrouerted betwixte them and the Catholiques yet is he not for all that to be excused from the proofe of those pointes vnless he will withall confess that in them the Protestantes haue no faith at all but onely a mere deniall of faith For faith beinge not a simple denying or not beleeuing but a possitiue assent and belief of such articles as are reueled vnto vs by God it hath possitiue groundes wherby it may and ought to be proued euen in those pointes which are negatiue And therfore as Catholiques doe proue theire faith in these negatiue pointes that onely faith doth not iustifie that we are not certayn of our iustification or saluation and the like so likewise are the Protestantes to proue theyr faith in these that there is no Purgatorie no reall presence no sacrifice of the Mass and the rest Vnless as is sayd before they will confess that they haue no faith in these pointes but onely a mere deniall of faith Haueinge thus aduertised thee good Reader of these fewe things I leaue thee to peruse the treatise it self desiringe thee to expect onely the bare positiones proued with the self text of holy Scripture and some fewe fathers without anie florishe of wordes at all The worke being such as doth rather resemble the bare bones of a great bodye tied together with dried Sinewes then a bodie throughly furnished with flesh and orher habiliments of friendly narure For which cause though to such as rather respect fashion then substance it may happ to appeare hideous yet to others of contrarie appetite for whose contentment it is speciallie intended it will not paraduenture be iudged altogether without forme THE FIRST CONTROuersie Of Holy Scriptures IT is Knowne that the Catholique Roman Church doth admitt more bookes and percells of holy Bible for Scripture then the Protestantes doe and consequently acknowledgeth a larger canon then they and yet notwithstanding shee teacheth Chatolique PositioÌ„ 1. That all such articles as by her and the Protestantes themselues are beleeued and holden for articles of faith are not so expressly contayned in holy Scriptures as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof Proofe The articles which the Protestantes doe beleeue to be of faith as well as Catholiques and yet are not contayned expresly in holy scriptures are many but wee will giue instance onely in a fewe 1 That there are three distincte personnes and one onely substance in god 2. That the secuÌ„de and third personns are of the same substance â—nd equall gloire with the first â— That the third personn proceedeth from the seconde and from the first 4. That there are two distinct and compleat natures in our sauiour Christ and but one onely personn 5. That there are in him two willes and two operations to witt of god and man about all which pointes haue been diuerse heresies as is well Knowne to the learned And thoughe all these articles haue most true ground and proofe in holy Scriptures yet are they not soe expressly contayned therin as they may be fully prooued by them alone One example shall serue for all To proue the sonn to be consubstantiall or of one substance with the father the Catholiques doe alledg and truly this testimonie I and the father are one yet because there are moe meanes of beinge one then in substance as namely to be of one will desire and affection of which sorte of vnitie specially the Arrianes did explicat this place alledging for them selues that testimonie I pray that they all may be one as thou Father in me and I in thee that they also in vs may be one which cannot be vnderstood of vnitie in substance Therfore this testimonie without the interpretatioÌ„ of the Church which is the piller of truth doth not fully proue the father and the sonn to be one in substance The like may be sayd of the other articles here mentioned Catho posi 2. All such articles as are of faith and so holden by the ProtestaÌ„tes them selues are not contayned so much as indirectly or implicitly in holy Scriptures but onely so farr as the Scriptures contayne and testifie the auctoritie of the Church and traditions Proofe That all the Bookes of the Bible and euerie parte therof which are acknowledged for canonicall scripture ioynthy of Catholiques and Protestantes be such indeed That the most blessed mother of our Sauiour Christ continued perpetually a Virgin That it is lawfull for Cristians to eate strangled things and blood which were expresly forbidden them acts cap. 15. vers 20 are not so much as indirectly contayned in holy Scriptures otherwaies then is mentioned in our position But this being more amply proued in that which followeth of traditions this which wee haue sayd already shall suffice for the present The Positions which the Protestantes in this question are to proue be these ProtestaÌ„t position 1 All articles of faith are so expressy contayned in scripture as out of them onely full proofe may be made therof 2. All articles of faith are at least so contayned in holy scriptures as with out anie testimonie or auctoririe of the Church or traditions they may thence be plainlie and distinctly deduced TE SECOND CONtrouersie of Traditiones Catholique Positions 1. THe holy Apostles deliuered by worde of mouth moe thinges to be beleeued and obserued by the Church then ether they found written or wrot them selues And these thinges are vsually called traditiones Proofe 1. Haueing moe things to write vnto you would not by paper and â—â—â—e for I hope shall be with you and speake mouth to â—outhe 2. And the rest I will dispose when I â—ome where the holy Apostle euidently sheweth that he reserued something more to be ordayned by worde then he wrote 3. The Apostles were commaunded to teache all nationes to obserue all things which our sauiour had commavnded which doubtless they fulfilled but they were not commaunded in anie place to write all the same nether doth it appeare by anie Scripture that they did write all thinges which they taught men to beleeue and obserue This is à demoÌ„stration that they taught more then they wrote if nothing be to be beleeued but what is contayned in holy Scripture 4. They taught Baptisme giuen to infants to be good and lawfull or ells the Anabaptistes are not heretiques for rebaptising them 5. They taught the sonday to be solemnised and the Iewes Sabbathe to be left without all solemnitie though most strictly commaÌ„ded by god to be solemnised as an euerlasting couenaÌ„t 6. They deliuered and taught the creed by worde and not in writing which from they re tyme till now hath continued in the church by tradition onely 7. They taught Baptisme ministered by heretiques to be good and therfore S. Augustin speakinge therof saith Manie things which are not founde in the Apostles writinges nor in latter councells yet because they are obserued by the whole church are beleeued to be deliuered and recommended
by none but by theÌ„ Agayne he sayth There are many thinges which the whole church doth hold and therfore are well beleeued to be commaunded by the Apostles albeit they be not found written Catholique positi The Catholique church doth ought to beleeue those things which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde without writinge in the same degree of faith with those which are written Note that the proofes of this position doth also proue thother going à fore Proofe 1. Therfore Brethren stand and hold the traditions which you haue learned whether it be by worde or by our epistle S. Basile saith I account it Apostolique to continue firmly in vnwritten traditions and alledgeth this place of S. Paule S. Chrisostome cited by Fulke himself saith thus Hereof it is manifest that they the Apostles deliuered not all by Epistles but many things without letters and the one is of as great credit as the other Therfore we think the tradition of the church to be worthie of credit It is à tradition inquire no more 2. O Timothee keepe the deposituÌ„ That is that which is comitted to thy trust not certes by writinge For litle or nothinge writren of the new testament was knowne to Timothee then See à large discourse herevpon in Vincentius lirenensis 3. But if anie man seeme to be contentious wee haue no such custome nor the church of god where S. Paule alledgeth the custome of the church as à sufficient disproofe of anie practise why not therfore for the proofe of anie The things which thou hast hearde of me by many witnesses these commende to faithfull men which shall be fitt to teach others also loe no word here of writing but of hearing teaching by worde of mouthe Nowe haueinge proued by Scripture it self and euident instances that many thinges are to be beleeued that are not directly contayned in Scripture it appeareth à sensless thinge to demaunde direct proofe of euerie thinge we beleeue out of Scripture Protestants Positi The holy Apostles deliuered not by word of mouth moethings to be beleeued and obserued by the church theÌ„ theyether founde written or wrote them selues And therfore are there no traditions to be holden or beleeued 2. The Catholique church ought not to beleeue those thinge which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde of mouth without writinge in the same degree of faithe with those which are written THE THIRD CON trouersie of the difficultie to vnderstand the Scriptures Catho positiones 1 All places of holy scripture conteyninge articles of fayth the obstinate misbeleife wherof is Damnable are not easâ—â— to be vnderstoode but requiâ—â— some rule to be interpreted by Proofe 1. Philipp sayd to the Eunucâ— whom he founde readinge thâ— Prophet Esay Trow est thou thâ—â— thou vnderstandest the things which thou readest who sayde how can vnless some man shewe me 2. Our Sauiour accordingly â—pened the vnderstaÌ„dinge of his Apostles that they might vnderstand the Scriptures see therfore what à speciall grace it is to â—nderstand the Scriptures in there true sense and meaninge In the which the Epistles of sainct Paule are certayne thinges hard to be vnderstoode which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue as also the 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures to theyr owne perâ—â—ione Sainct Hierome explicatinge â—â—e text now cited out of the actes concludeth thus These thinges haue I breifly touched as the limitts of an Epistle would permitt that thou mayest vnderstande that with out a guide and teacher thou canst not enter the pathe of holy Scriptures which is easie to conceaue seeinge as he notethe in the same place no trade nor mechanicall art is learned with out à maister Certes it is not onely an heresie but à meere frensie to saye that all scriptures conteyninge poyntes of faythe necessary to be beleeued are easie to be vnderstoode of priuat beleeuers sithence all heresies whatsoeuer haue bene begoÌ„n and maynteyned for want of true vnderstandinge of holy scriptures wherof Vincentius Lirenensis sayth thus Some man may peraduenture aske foâ— asmuch as the canon of the scriptures 〈◊〉 perfect and in all pointes very sufficient in it self what neede is ther tâ— ioyne therunto the authoritie of the ecclesiasticall vnderstandinge For this cause surely for that all take not the holy scriptures in one and the same sense because of the deepness therof bâ—â— the sayinges therof some interpret one way and some another way soe thaâ— tbere may almost as manye senses bâ— picked out of it as there be men Foâ— Nouatian doth expound it one waye and Sabellius another waye otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other wayes Photinus Apolinaris Priscillianus otherwayes Iouinian Pelagius Celestius lastly otherwayes Nestorius Thus far that auÌ„cieÌ„t father to whom we may ad otherwais wicliffe Luther Caluin Anabaptistes with the rest and this most truely seing of these fewe wordes This is my Bodye there are found aboue 80. diuers senses besides the Catholique â—ense and meaninge S. Augustine also auoucheth the samesayinge For no other reason are heresies made but because men not rightly vnderstandinge the Scriptures doe obstinatly affirme they re owne opiniones against the truthe of them Catho pos 2. Priuate personnes though true beieeuershaue not the spirit of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meaninge of the same Proofe 1. No prophecie of scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. The lippes of the Priest shall keepe knowledg and the lawe they shal require of his mouthe be cause he is the Angell that is the messeÌ„ger of the lord of hostes loe here the office of interpretinge the lawes of god giuen to priestes and not assured to euerie faythfull person 3. Vpon the Chaire of Moyses haue sitten scribes and Pharisies all thinges therfore whatsoeuer they shall saye to you obserue yee and doe yee loe here à commaunde to heare the prelates pastoures of the church and no man lefte to followe his owne fantasie in matters of faythe and manners Protestantes PositioÌ„ 1. All places of holy Scripture â—onteininge articles of faith the obstinate misbelief wherof is daÌ„nable are easie to be vnd er stood therfore require not anie rule to be interpreted by 2. Priuat persounes that are true beleeuers haue the Spirit and gift of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meainge therof THE FOVRTH CONtrouersie Of the infallibilitie of the churche Catho pos THe sense and meaninge of holy Scriptures giuen or aproued by the holy Catholique church is vnfallibly true as are also the definitiones and declarationes of faithe deliuered by the same and euery one is bounde vpon his damnatioÌ„ not to reiect the iudgment therof Proofe 1. My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouthe shall not departe out of thy mouthe and out of the mouthe of thy seede and out of the mouthe of thy seedes seede sayth our lord for this present and for euer
A manifest promise of the spirit of god to continue for euer in the church 2. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earthe Goinge therfore teache yee all nations teachinge them to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue cōmaunded you Loe here commission to teache giuen to the Apostles and in them to all pastores 3. He that heareth you heareth me and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me Loe here obligation for others to heare and obaye that which they who haue the former commission shall teache 4. Behould I am with you all daies euen to the consūmation of the worlde Loe here the assurance of Christs asistance to his church and the lawfull pastores therof till the ende of the worlde who can now doubt of the infallibilitie of the doctrine of godes church 5. I will aske the father and he will giue you another Paraclet that is an aduocate or comforther that he may abyde with you for euer The spirit of truthe loe here the spirite of truthe promised to abide with the church for euer By warrant of which promised the first generall coūcell that euer was houlden which was at Hierusalem sayth thus Yt hath seemed good to the holy ghost and to vs to laye no further burthen vpon you then these necessarye thinges 6. In respect of the singuler priuiledges of the church and spetiallye of the infallibilitie it hath in doctrine sainct Paule callethe it the howse of god the church os the liuinge god the piller and grounde of truthe 7. He that will not heare the church let him be to thee as the Heathen and the publican Touchinge which pointe of the infallibilitie of the church sainct Augustine hath this excellent doctrine Althoughe Saith he no example is brought out of canonicall Scripture of this thinge Speakinge sf the validitie os Baptisme ministred by heretiques yet doe we followe the truth of the same Scriptures in this pointe whilst we do that which pleaseth the whole church which the auctoritie of the Scriptures doth cōmēd And because the holy Scripture cannot deceaue whosoeuer feareth to be deceaued by the obseurite of these questiones let him consult ther vpō with the church which without all doubt the Scripture doth shewe Protes Pos. The sense and meaninge of the holy Scriptures giuen or approued by the Catholique churche is not alwaies true nether are the definitiones and declarationes of faythe deliured by the same vnfallible truthes Here the reader may marke à strāge peruersitie or blindness in the Protestantes who graunt the gift of interpretinge the Scriptures to priuate beleeuers and yet deny it to the whole chuche THE FIFTH CONtrouersie of the marKes of the true Churche THe true Churche of god is but one This being not denyed by the Protestantes needethe no proofe The question is which of all those Churches which doe challenge vnto them selues the name of the Churche is that one true churche which doubt will easelie be cleared by the notes and markes fololwinge Vniuersalitie Catho Positions The true Churche of Christ is Catholique or vniuersall aswell in respect of place as of tyme That is the true church of Christ hath euer continued since his gloriouse ascention into heauen till this day and shall doe till the end of the world which is to be Catholique or vniuersall in respect of time And it hathe or shal be spred throughe all kingdomes and countries that are vnder heauen which is to be vniuersall or Catholique in respect of place Proofe in respect of place Aske of me and I will giue thee the gentiles for thin inheritance thy posessione the endes of the earthe By this promise of god to Christ S. Augustine conuīceth the Donatistes and in them the Protestātes that they haue not the true Chruche because theyrs is not vniuersall in such sorte as here is promised 2. He shall rule from sea to sea and from the riuer euen to the endes of the rounde worlde These Prophesies are clearely vnderstoode of the inheritance and kingdome that is the Churche of Christ as he is man Accordinge to which prophesies our sauiour saythe All power is giuen me in heauen and in earthe Goeinge therfore teache yee all nationes baptisinge them in the name of the father and of the sonn and of the holy ghost 3. You shall receiue the vertue of the holy Ghost comminge vppon you and you shall be witnesses vnto me in Hierusalem and in all Ieury and Samaria and euen to the vtmost of the earthe See Sainct Augustine Learned reader if thou pleas Proofe in respect of tyme. 1. In the dayes of those Kingdomes the god of heauen will rayse vp a Kingdome that shale not be dissipated for euer and this Kingdome shall not be deliuered to another people 2. And he shall reigne in the howse of Iacob for euer of his Kingdome there shall be no ende 3. Behould I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world 4. Vppon this Rock will I build my Churche and the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it A faithful sayinge Saith Sainct Athanas. and not à waueringe promise and the Church is an inuincible thinge althoughe hell it self should be moued The vniuersalitie of the church all christians profess to beleeueī the creed of the Apostles and of the first councell of Constantinople sayinge I beleeue the holy Catholique church protes pos The ttue Churche of Christ is not necessarily Catholique or vniuersall nether in respect of place nor tyme. This positione most cleerely against holy Scripturs must the Protestantes defende and proue yf they will proue and defende they re Churche to be the true Churche of god and consequentlye theyr religione to be true Visibilitie Catho pos The true Churche of god ys visible and apparant both to the faithfull beleeuers that are in it and to heretiques and those that are out of it Proof 1. A Citie cannot be hid situated vpon à mountayne He put his tabernacle in the Sunn S. Augustine proueth our positione by these textes say inge The true churche is hid to no man whence is that which he our sauiour Sayth in the Gospell A Citie sett vppon à mountane cannot be hidd And therfore is it sayd in the Psalme hee hathe put his tabernacle in the sunn that is in manifest 2. In the latter dayes the mountayne of the howse of our lorde shall be prepared in the top pof mountaynes and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and all nationes shall flowe vnto it 3. Men doe not light à Candell and. put it vnder a bushell but Vpon à Candlesticke To these textes doth S. Augustine allude when he saythe what ells am I to saye then that they are blinde that doe not see so great à mountayne that shutt they re eyes against the lampe sett vppon the candlesticke 4. If thy brother offende against thee
in the doctrinâ— of the Apostles and in the communication of the breakeing of bread praiâ— Loe here communion vnder onâ— kinde For this breakinge oâ— bread was the ministringe of thâ— holy sacrament Agayne And the first of the Sabothe whâ— we were assembled to breakâ— breadâ— This S. Augustine vnderstand etâ— of breakinge bread as in the SacrameÌ„t of Christ his body so that it appearethe the practice of the Apostles to minister the Sacrament to the people in one kinde onely Protestant Position 1 It is forbidden in holy Scripture to giue the holy communion to the lay people vnder one kinde onely 2 It is commaunded in holy Scripture to giue the holy coÌ„munion to the lay people vnder both Kindes The lay people haue wronge done them in that they are a bridged of the Sacrament vnder both Kindes therby receauinge less benefit then yf they receaued it vnder bothe OF THE SACRIFICE of the Mass Catholique Position THere is in the newe lawe a Sacrifice truly and properly so called to wit the holy mass wherin is offered the body and blood of Christ Proofe 1. Our Sauiour Christ gaue Power and commaundement to his Apostles and all Preistes to doe that which he did in his last supper Sayinge doe this for commemoration of me But our sauiour Christ in his last supper sacrificed his body and blood vnder the formes of bread and wine therfore the Apostles and all preistes haue now power and commaundement to offer the same sacrifice which is not done but in the holy Mass That our sauiour Christ sacrificed in his last supper is proued thus Christ was and is for euer to the ende of the world a preist accordinge to the order of Melchisedeche whose priesthood coÌ„sisted in offering bread wine Melchisedech kinge of Salem bringing forth bread and wine for he was the Preist of god most highe therfore it is euident tha tour Sauiour was to offer some tyme in the same forme which he neuer did but in his last supper where though he offered his body and blood sayinge this is my body wich shal be giuen for you this is my blood which shal be shed for you yet did he performe this vnder the forme of bread and wine accordinge to the rite or vse of Melchisedeche his sacrifice 2. I haue no will in you sayth the lorde of hostes and gift I will not receaue of your hand For from the riseinge of the sunne euen to the goeinge downe great is my name amonge the gentiles and in euerie place there is sacrificinge there is offered to my name a cleane oblation This prophecie is not fulfilled but by the sacrifice of the mass This is the sacrifice sayth S. Augustine by the Preisthoode of Christ accordinge to the order of Melchisedech seeinge we now see it to be offered to god in all places from the riseinge of the sunn vnto the settinge therof And many other fathers in like sorte whose wordes we canot here rehearse studyinge to be breif But for the Doctrine of the most auncient fathers in this point I will taKe the confessione of Caluin Saiynge thus It is an vsuall thinge with these knaues soe modest is this newe Apostles to rake together whatsoeuer ys vitiouse in the fathers Therfore when they obiect the place of malachi to be expouÌ„ded by Ireneus of the sacrifice of the Masse The offeringe of Melchisedech to be see handled of Athanasius Ambros Augustin Arnobius it is breifly answered the same writers else where to interpret also bread the body of Christ but so ridiculusly that reason and truth causeth vs to dissent Thus M. Caluin but whether he be not ridiculus rather then these fathers lett the indiffrent reader iudge Protestantes Position In the newe lawe is there not anie sacrifice truly and properly nether is the mass à sacrifice of the body and bloode of our sauiour Christ OF CONFIRMAtion Catholique position COnfirmatioÌ„ as it is practised in the Catholique Roman churche is truly and properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe Proofe It is a sensible signe giueinge grace therfore a Sacrament Then did they impose theyr handes vpon them and they receaued the holy ghost wherof sayth S. Cyprian They that in Samaria were baptised of Philip because they had lawfull and Ecclesiasticall baptisme ought not to be baptisedanie more But onely that which waÌ„ted was done by Peter and Iohn to witt that by prayers made for them impositione of handes the holy ghost might be powred vpon them which now also is done with vs. that they which in the churche are baptised by the rulers of the churche offered and by our prayers and imposition of handes receaue the holy ghost and be signed with our lordes seale Agayne It is to little purpose to impose handes vpon theÌ„ to receaue the holy ghost vnless they receaue the churches baptisme For then may they be fully sanctified and be the Children of God if they be born by bothe Sacramentes And S. Augustine the Sacrament of Chrisme in the kinde of visible seales is sacred and holy euen as Baptisme it self Protestant Position Confirmation as it is practised in the RomaÌ„ churche is not truly properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe Of Pennance Catholique Positions 1. Pennance consisting of contrition confession and satisfaction of the penitent and absolution of the preist is truly and properly a Sacrament of the newe lawe Proofe It is a visible signe or ceremonie as appearthe by the confession of the penitent and absolution of the preist it remitte the synnes therfore giueth grace Receaue you the holy ghost whose sinnes you shall forgiue they are forgiuen them And whose sinnes you shall retaine thei are retained Of this power of remittinge synnes S. Chrisostome saythe thus For they that dwell one the earthe that conuers in it to them is coÌ„mission giuen to dispense those thinges that are in heauen to them is it giuen to haue the power which god would not to be giuen nether to Angells nor Archangells For nether to them was it sayd what soeuer you shall bynde in earthe shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer you shale lose in earth shall belosed in heaueÌ„ The earthly Princes in deede haue also powre to binde but the bodies onely but that bonde of preistes which I speake of toucheth the veâ—â— sâ—ule it self reacheth euen to the heauenes in so much that whatsoeuer tâ—â— preistes shall doe be neathe the self saâ—â— god doth ratifie aboue and the sentence 〈◊〉 the seruantes the lord doth confirme Fâ—â— in deed what ells is this theÌ„ that the power of all heauenly thinges is graunted them of god whose sinnes soeuer saith he you shall retaine thei are retaineâ— what power I beseeche you can be greater then this Haueinge thus proued the power of preistes to remit synnes And the protestantes confessingâ— contrition which they call repentance it remaynethe that I proue the other two
therfore he sayth I giue counsell as haueing obtayned mercie of god to be faythfull 3. There are euneuches which haue guelded themselues for the Kingdome of heauen he that can take lett him take Haue care of him and whatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I will at my returne repaye thee S. Augustine alluding to these two places sayth you that yet haue not vowed who can take take runn whith perseuerance that you may obayne take euerie one his sacrifices and enter into our lordes court not of necessitie but hauing power of yor owne will For as it is said thou shalt not kill it cannot so be sayd thou shalt not marrie For these things are exacted they are profered yf they be done they are commended yf thother be not done they are condemned in these thinges god coÌ„maundeth a debt in those what you shall supererogate or bestowe more he will render at is returne with much more to the same purpose in the whole booke where he proueth virginitie to be onely a counsell to be more perfect then wedlok and to haue a greater glorie in the next life But for the Doctrine of the auÌ„cient churche in this poynt I neede no other witnesse then Mr. Caluins owne confession set downe in these wordes This say they hath from furthest memorie beene obserued that they which would dedicate them selues wholy to our lord should bynde them selues with the vowe of continencie I graunt indeed that this maner hath also beene of ancient tyme receaued but I doe not graunt that that age was so free from all fault that what soeuer was done might bee taken for a rule Protestantes Position No man though assisted with gods grace can doe anie workes of supererogation or of counsell nether are there anie councelles of more perfection then the coÌ„maundementes THE 18. CONTROVERsie Of Preistes not Marrying Catholique Position IT is most conformable to the Doctrine of holy scriptures and practise of the auncient churche that all Preistes and other church men should vowe perpetuall chastitie And leade a single life Proofe 1. I woulde haue you without carefulness he that is with out a wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to our lorde how he may please god But he that is with a wife is carefull for the things that pertayne to the world howe be may please his wife and he is deuided 2. No man being a souldier to god intaÌ„glâ—â— ethe himself with secular businesses that he may please him to whome he hath approoued him self After the dayes of is office were expired he departed into his owne howse It is playne hereby ells where that the Preistes of the ould lawe did abstayne from theyr wiues during the tyme of theyr ofice which they exercised by turnes Yf thou haue aniething at hand yea yf but fiue loaues giue me or what soeuer thou shalt fynde the preist answered Dauid saying I haue no laye breades at hand but onely holy bread yf the seruantes be cleane especially from weomen And Dauid answered the preist and say de to him And truly yf the matter be concerniÌ„g weomen we haue refrayned our selues from yesterdaye and the day before Now yf such cleanesse euen â—â—om the law full vse of weomen was required in laye men to eate the hallowed bread of the owld lawe which was but a bare figure of that which is offered in the newe lawe what cleaness may we think is required in Preistes them selues of the newe lawe For the practice of the auncient church in this poynt I will onely alledge the 2. Councell of Carthage where S. Augustine was preseÌ„t which sayth thus It pleaseth all that Bishopes preistes and Deacones abstayne from wyues that we may also obserue that which the Apostles taught and antiquitie obserued Protestantes positions It is contrarie to the doctrine of holy Scripture practice of the auncient primitiue church that preistes and other church men should vowe chastitie and leade a single life THE 19. CONTROVERsie Of the churche seruice in the learned tongues Catholique position IT is no where forbidden in holy Scripture that the publique Seruice of godes churche should be in a tounge not vnderderstood to all the assistantes Proofe No such prohibition appeareth in all the Scripture Yea the practise of the contrarie is euidently gathered out of these wordes According to the custoÌ„e of the preistlye function he went forth by lott to offer incense entering into the temple of the lord And all the multitude of the people was praying with out at the hower of the incense Loe here the people did not vnderstand nether the prayers nor the actions of the preist yet neuer the less did they participate of both The same is more expresly coÌ„maunded in these wordes Let no man be in the tabernacle when the highe preist goeth in to the sanctuarie to pray for him self and for his howse and for the whole assembly of Israël vntil he come forthe nether doth that of S. Paule yf thou bless in the spirit he that supplieth the place of the Vulgar howe shall he say Amen vpon thy blessing bycause he knowethe not what thou sayest nor anie thing iÌ„ all that chapter make anie more against the practis of the romaÌ„ churche in this point then it doth against that of the Iewishe churche now menrioned S. Paul speaking not of the ordinarie publique receaued and established churche seruice werof all the assistantes are parttakers because it is performed by the preist a publique officer in all theyr behalfes thaugh they vnderstande not the wordes nor see the actions done by the preist but of certaiÌ„e perticuler exhortationes hymes Psalmes and other holy good things vttered by particuler personnes haueing the gifte of tongues which being not vnderstood of others haâ— no other fruit then the edification of the speaker and that nether to his instruction for often tymes he vnderstood not him self but to an eleuation of his mynde or spirit to god as appeareth by that For yf I pray with tongue my spirit prayeth but my vndersting is with out fruite Therfore S. paule would that these exercises showld be vsed with much moderation and in good order but forbiddeth them not Therfore that which he sayth of that matter toucheth nothing â—he publique seruice of the church which the perpetuall practice of the same church a sure rule to all those that desire to be gods children doth shew to be most coÌ„uenieÌ„tly celebrated in the learned tounges Agaynst which yf anie will wrangle or be contentiouse we aunswere theÌ„ as S. Paule doth theyr like in another occatione we haue no such custome nor the church of god Protestantes position It is forbidden in holy scrypture that the publique seruice of the church should be in a tongue not vnderstoode by all the assistants Haueing as thou seest iudicious reader gone throughe al or at least all the cheef poynts of controuersie of these tymes and proued theÌ„ by express scripture