him he saw him free and safe without hurt of the fire These foure so straunge wonders besides others which we passe ouer shall you finde in his sermon of the dead You see heere the Textes of holie Scripture wherewith hee confirmeth his Purgatorie Also to proue the resurrection he citeth the place of Genesis the ninth chapter and the fourth verse where God commaunded Noah The flesh with the bloud shalt thou not eate Also another straunge thing in the chapter of Virginitie he saith that had not Adam sinned men for generation should not carnally haue coupled with their wiues And because hee saw the Text of Scripture to bee against him God might sayth hee by other meanes multiply men without the coniunction of man and woman Also seeing that Saint Basil calleth the bread and the wine of the Sacrament examples of the bodie and bloud of Christ which was opposite to him This saying of S. Basil said he ought to bee vnderstood of the bread and of the wine before sanctification which is not so for the bread and wine before consecration as already wee haue proued by the Fathers are common bread and wine as the rest and be no symbols nor figures of the body and bloud of Christ vntill and not before these words Take and eate this is my body bee sayd Sith such a one then is Damascen leaue we him and let vs followe that which the hole Scripture doth teach vs that which the Fathers whom against Transubstantiation we haue alleaged doe tell vs and that also which experience it selfe of that which we see touch and tast in the sacrament doth shew vs. To Theophilact Anselme Hugo Richardo c. whom they cite against vs and liued in the time that the holy Supper of the Lord was now falling the Popes then tyrannizing the consciences of men who neuer stayed vntill the holy supper destroyed they had made of some reliques patches and remnants of their Masse such as now it is full of abuses superstitions and idolatries do we answer the same He of these late writers which least erred in this matter of Transubstantiation is Scotus who saith as before we haue said that neither by Scripture nor reason it can be proued but would yet be deceiued because the Church so commaundeth How could his Church which is the Pope and his Cardinals make new articles of faith besides those which Iesus Christ our king our Prophet and priest ordained and taught us which be contained in the Creed of the Apostles Let vs now answer to the Councels which our aduersaries alleage against vs. As touching that which they obiect against vs of the Councell of Ephesus wherein Cirillus gouerned and Theodoret who is so appaparantly against Transubstantiation was present therein they doe vs great wrong For the same do wee confesse that the Councell confesseth We say that receiuing this Sacrament we receiue not common flesh but flesh sanctifying which by an inseparable vnion is conioyned with the diuine word But how do we receiue it Spiritually by faith not carnally as say our aduersaries that they receiue eat and digest it For vntil it be digested they affirm it to be the flesh of Christ They obiect the councel of Vercell in the time of Leo the ninth where Berengarius was condemned They obiect the Councel of Lateran in the tyme of Nicholas 2. which caused Berengarius to recant The Lateran Councel also in the time of Innocent 3. Also the Councell of Constance Anno. 1516. The Trident also of our time in the time whereof so many Popes as Paule 3. Iulius 3. Marcellus 2. Paulus 4. Pius 4. and none of these for the causes that speaking of the Popes wee haue shewed were present in it poped But examine wee the recantation which Pope Nicholas the second that poped about the yeare 1060. commaunded Berengarius to make in the Councell of Lateran as it is written in the Decrees de consecrat dist 2. cap. Ego Berengarius Wherein hee was constrained to confesse that the body of Christ is handled or sensnally felt with the hands of Priests that it is broken that it is chewed with the teeth I demand of them how can the body of Christ which now is glorified and therefore impossible and no way subiect to these humane miseries suffer these things Which the Pope and his Councell do say The Glosser of the Decrees himselfe although not verie wise could not but see so great an absurditie as this and therefore sayd that this verie warily and aduisedly ought to be vnderstood for if thou doest not so saith he thou shalt fall into an error farre greater then that of Berengrius The Glossor then vnderstood it much better then Pope Nicholas or his Councell whose holy spirit the Pope was that the body of Christ in the Sacrament could no wayes bee touched with the handes nor broken nor chawed with the teeth For this cause the Maister of Sentences in the fourth willing to amend or conceale this so notable a fault saith That this which was commāded Berengarius to say ought not to be vnderstood of the body of Christ but of the Symbols which say they be the accidents And so in that manner of speaking admitteth a trope or figure according whereunto is attributed to the thing that which is of the symbols But should we vse this figure they would eat out our eyes Now shalt thou vnderstand the account which is to be made of such a Councel and of the other Councels that followed this in which the Pope or his Legates haue gouerned and nothing aught worthy was in them determined albeit the Fathers had broken their heads about it if the Pope approued it not So that the Pope only is hee which maketh and vnmaketh decrees and articles of faith and not the Councel Whē a Councell is celebrated the which from many to many yeares is done as though there were no euill life of the Prelates to be amended nor abuses superstitions heresies nor idolatries in the Church to bee corrected the Legates of the Pope which commonly are three for such is his cause that hee trusteth not one with it haue great regard to write to the Pope this or that is determined in the Councel how liketh it your Holinesse Then doth the Pope either approue it or blotting it out disalow it If he blot it out there is then no more treaty of that matter how true soeuer it be how profitable soeuer for the Church That which he approueth he writeth to his Legats This letter which the Pope sendeth is the holy spirit which now gouerneth the Councels This holy Spirit descendeth not from heauē but commeth inclosed in a budget or wallet Thus is the Councell not free but a seruant and of whom of the Pope Who as before by many most sufficient reasons we haue proued to be Antichrist So necessarie an article to saluation is
nor his Apostles who in all simplicitie did celebrate the holy supper The wisdome of the flesh being enemy to God hath brought them into the Church to make vs forget the memorie of the benefite of Christs death and passion Moreouer we wil cite certaine histories by which the Christian Reader shall clearely see what account the Pope and his Cleargie make of their Sacrament of the Altar which they affirme to be God Gregory 7. for that he demanded a reuelation of the Host against the Emperour and had no answer cast it into the fire burned it Victor 3. died of poyson which his subdeacon in saying of Masse put into the chalice A Dominicke Friar gaue poyson in the Sacrament to the Emperour Henry 7. Sixtus 4. commanded that at the time of the eleuation the-murder should begin and so it was performed at Florence A certaine Inquisitor at Barcelona called Molon clipped the Host with a paire of sheers Foure Augustine Friars which were hanged at Seuill said Masse without any intention of consecration The same haue many other Priests done also and so by their owne Cannons haue caused all that heard their Masse to commit idolatrie That being as it is true which we haue said and proued of the Masse with very iust title and good and sound conscience do we detest it as a prophanatiō of the holy supper of the Lord There is then no cause why any shuld condemne vs for sedicious heretikes or schismatikes if abhorring the Masse flying the same we follow and imbrace the holy supper which Iesus Christ iustituted his Apostles and our forefathers for the space of a thousand yeares celebrated Would God for that onely sacrifice sake which his sonne our high and onely Priest offered vnto him that all our Spaniards would know as other nations do already know what the Pope is what things are his Buls which be nought els but mockeries which he maketh of vs what is his authoritie which is nought els but vanitie wherewith he hath many yeares deceiued vs that they would know that when the Pope curseth vs then God doth blesse vs would God they would know the holinesse of the masse to be diuelishnesse seeing it is a prophanation of the holy Supper of the Lord. Very hard will it be for them I know well to do this because they haue bene borne brought vp growne old in the contrary But if the holy spirit giue them grace to reade compare conferre cōfront that which we haue sayd in these two Treatises with the holy Scripture which is the word of God very easie it shall be vnto them wherby euery faithfull and catholike Christian in particular and the whole Church in generall ought to be ruled gouerned Our Spaniards in this should imitate those of Berea who as saith S. Luke in his history of the Acts of the Apostles searched the Scriptures to know if that which Paul preached were the word of God or no. If that wee haue said be the word of God no time no custome how ancient soeuer ought to preuaile against it And if for our sins lies falshood and error haue for a little or long time oppressed and darkened the truth the errour ought to giue place as maugre the same it shall giue and so truth iure Postliminij as say the lawes shall reenter his possession And albeit an olde custome is very hardly left yet none ought to preferre such custome to reason and truth do euer exclude and expell custome Therefore when with reason and truth for reason and truth we constraine and conuince our aduersaries In vaine do they oppose ancient custome vnto vs saying in this were our forefathers brought vp in this did they die In this were wee borne and brought vp in this then will we die As if custome were greater then the truth This is euen like the saying of another A Moore was my father a Moore also will I be hauing no other reason to giue but custome Custome without truth is an olde errour and errour the elder the more dangerous it is Therefore leauing as saith Saint Cyprian in his epistle ad Pompeium errour let vs follow the truth knowing as saith Esdras Truth ouercommeth as it is written Truth doth shall euer preuaile and liue and raigne eternally And then saith the same S. Cyprian Blessed be the God of truth The which truth Christ shewing in his Gospell vnto vs saith I am the Truth wherefore if we be in Christ and haue Christ in vs if we abide in the truth and the truth abide in vs. Let vs hold that which is the truth And a little lower If the truth in any thing shall stagger or seeme doubtfull meete it is that we runne backe to the originall which the Lord ordained and to the Euangelicall and Apostolicall instruction and thence ariseth the reason of that which wee doe from whence the order and originall was raised And as he himselfe in another place saith What men haue formerly done ought wee not to looke but to that which Christ who is the first of all hath done The holy Scripture is the most certaine and infallible rule and squire whereby all our actions ought to be ruled and squired as witnesse these places which we will alleage and manie others Dauid Psal 119. vers 105. sayth Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Esay chap. 8. and 20. we are commanded to repaire to the Law and to the testimonies and sayth that they which do not so it is because there is no light in them It is because they be in darkenesse it is because they are blind and as blind men goe groping Saint Peter speaking of the word or doctrine of the Prophets saith Whereunto yee shall doe well to giue eare as to a candle burning in an obscure place c. The holy Scripitures doe teach vs that Iesus Christ is our high and onelie Priest It teacheth vs that hee once offered vp himselfe with which sacrifice being of infinite vertue he sanctifieth vs for euer And teacheth vs that there is no other sacrifice nor was nor shal be but this alone by which remission of sinnes is obtained it teacheth vs that whosoeuer shall offer another sacrifice be sides this or reiterate this doth most great iniurie to Christ As though his sacrifice which was Christ himselfe were insufficient It teacheth vs that Iesus Christ ordained his holy supper which he commandeth vs to celebrat in remembrance of that sacrifice which he one only time offered to the father all this in generall and euery thing in particuler by the grace of God to him be the glory haue we sufficiently proued This is the trueth for it is the word of God This then we beleeue his Maiestie graunt vs grace not onely with the heart to beleeue this which he in his holy Gospell he hath reuealed vnto vs but also strength and constancie with the mouth to confesse it and
that it is not barren but full of works of charity which are the fruits of righteousnes of a true faith Heb. 11. 1. Gal. 5. 6. Philip. 1. 11. The new doctrin of men teacheth that the particular iustification of meÌ„ and much more the saluation is very vncertaine so that men must alwayes doubt of their saluation And that not to doubt of the grace and fauour of God is presumption Conc. Trid. Ses 6. Can. 13. Cens Colon. fol. 96. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that our good workes for thaâ— they are imperfect can deserue nothing at Gods hand as saith the Prophet Esay 64 6. All our righteousnes is as a stained cloth And Christ our Lord saith Luk. 17. 10 When ye haue done all that is commanded you say ye are vnprofitable seruants The new doctrin of men teacheth that our good works deserue the grace of God and euerlasting life also that men may do works which they call of supererrogation that is to say ouer and aboue those which the Law of God commandeth whereunto the doers thereof are not bound and they are auailable to helpe others â—ellar de Purgatorio lib. 1. â— 8. censor colif 175. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that Iesus Christ is the head Spouse of the Church which he gouerneth and teacheth by his word and Spirit that the dutie of the Church is to heare and obey the voyce of her Spouse and faithfull Pastor according to the commandement of the heauenly Father Mat. 17. 5. Heare him and as Christ Iesus also teacheth Io. 10. 27. My sheep heare my voyce I know them they follow me The new doctrine of men teacheth that the Pope is the head Spouse of the Church and Vicar of Christ vpon earth who hath the keyes of Paradice and of hell and can both saue condemne and therefore ought all men to obey his decrees and be subiect vnto him And that whosoeuer obeyeth obeyeth not but gainesaith his constitutions is an heretique In extraâ—ag Tom. 22. Tit. 5. In Gloss 2. lib. 1. Decret T it 7. C. 5. The ancient Doctrin of God doth teach that the pastors ministers of the Church ought to feed the Christian people with the true spiritual food which is the word of God and wholesome Doctrine of the Gospell As the ministers of Christ faithful Stewards of the misteries of God according to the commaundement of Christ Matth. 28. 20. Iohn 21. 16. 17. And following the stteps of the Apostle which taught the Church that which they had receiued of the Lord 1. Cor. 11. 23. And that which was agreeable to the holy scripture Acts 26. 22. 1. Cor 15. 3. 4. The new Doctrine of men teacheth that the ecclesiaâ—tical persons ought to sacrifice or say Masse sing and pray in the Latine tongue and to keepe the ceremonies and tradition of the Romane Church And to teach the people to obserue all that which the Popes and Councels determine coÌ„maÌ„d Albeit it agreeth not with the holy scripture CoÌ„ci Trid. Ses vltma c The ancient Doctrin of God doth teach that the vse of strange tongues albeit to the praise of God is vnprofittable in the Church to the ignorant auditory Therfore that they which teach pray or sing in the Châ—rch ought to vse the vulgar tongue vnderstood of the people for edification and exhortation and consolation of all 1. Cor. 14 3. 6. 7. 8. c. The new Doctrine of men teacheth that the worship of God ought to be vsed in the Latine tongue And that it should not be only vnprofittable but also to the common people hurtfull if the holy scripture in the Church should be read or sung in the vulgar tongue Bellar de verbo Dei lib. 2. cap. â—5 The ancient Doctrin of God doth teach that the sacrameÌ„ts be instituted of Christ to imprint confirme in our harts the truth of the promises of God and that they may be healthful vnto vs it is of necessity required that we be faithful in the vse of them for as the word of God not beleeued doth not only not profit the hearers thereof but leaueth them condemned So haue the sacraments the same effect when by faith they are not receiued Matth 28. 19. 20. Rom. 4. 11. 1. Cor. 11. 27. 29. Heb. 4. 2. cap. 11. 6. The new doctrine of men teacheth that the sacrameÌ„ts of the new testament giue grace ex opere operato That is to say By the vertue of the worke wrought without any good motioÌ„ of his part that receiueth theÌ„ l. 4. se dist 1 The ancient Doctrine of God doth teach that Iesus Christ in the institution of the holy supper brake the bread and gaue it to his disciples and afterwardes the wine saying drink ye all of it without making difference The same teacheth the Apostle Saint Paul 1. Cor. 11. 23. The new Doctrine of men teacheth that the sacrameÌ„t of the altar ought to be giuen dispensed in bread and in wine to the priests onely But to the â—ayty the bread alone ought to be admonished Concil Trid. Sess â— The ancient Doctrin of God doth teach that matrimony is honorable among all men Heb. 13. 4. And that it is better to marry then to burne â— Cor. 7. 9. Also that to forbid marriage is a doctrin of diuels 1. Tim. 4. 3. The new Doctrin of men doth teach that matrimony is a Carnal estate and therefore with such seuerity to be forbidden to the Clergy that more 〈◊〉 it should be for a prelate or ecclesiasticall person to liue in fornication th lawfully to marry according to the law of God for as saith Bellar it is a greater wickednesse for an ecclesiasticall person to marry then to commit fornication And adding the cause saith for that he which is so married is made vnable to keepe his vowâ— the which he that committeth fornication is not Bellar. de Monachis lib. 2. cap. 34. The ancient Doctrine of God doth teach that that which entreth into the mouth defileth not a man Math. 15. 11. And that all meates be cleane creatures and that the faithfull may indifferently vse them with pure conscience and thanksgiuing 1. Tim. 4. 4. Tit. 1. 15. The new Doctrine of men teacheth that it is not lawfull for a Christian vnder paine of mortall sinne to eate of all sorts of meates on all dayes and times As in Lent the foure times the frydayes the satturdayes and the vigils of some Saints Dist 4. cap. Statuimus The ancient Doctrine of God doth teach that the duty of a godly man is to speake truth keepe his faith promise not to violate his oath although it were to his owne hindrance Psal 15. 2. 4. Zach. 1. 16. Eph. 4. 25. The new Doctrine of men teacheth that faith ought not to be kept with heretiques and that it is lawful to violate promise and oath in fauour of the Roman Church as it is coÌ„cluded in
of Spaine would not obey the lawe which commanded them to leaue their wiues At the hearing whereof Siricius was angry and sayd That such as were in the flesh could not please God Rom. 8. 8. The same Siricius alleageth this authoritie in the fourth epistle which he wrote to the Bishops of Africa Siricius vnderstanding this place of maried folks writhed and wrested the scripture So also was this place wrested by Innocent the first But S. Paule by this in the flesh meant not maried folks for therby should he condemne the estate of matrimony instituted by God in Paradise Gen. 3. 24. sanctified by his sonne Iesus Christ with his presence working there his first miracle Ioh. 2. 11. Very well knew the Apostle Mariage to be honorable among all men and the bed vndefiled Very well did he know that God would chastise fornicators and adulterers Heb. 13. 4. Wherfore he commandeth that they which had not the gift of chastity should marie 1. Cor. 7. 2 9. And he himselfe defendeth the liberty which he and Barnabas being Apostles had to haue their wiues and to carry them with them Or haue not we authority saith he 1. Cor. 9. 5. to leade about a sister that is to say faithful aswell as the other Apostles and the brethren of the Lord c. Paule then with fauour of Siricius and Innoncent 1. by being in the flesh vnderstandeth not the maried but carnal men and vnregenerate by the Spirit of God Such saith he be they single maried or widdowes cannot please God And that this is so appeareth by that which the same Apostle speaking to the Romanes of whom many were maried saith But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit because the Spirit of God dwelleth in you c. Rom. 8. 9. By this interpretation which Siricius and Pope Innocent 1. made of the place of S. Paule shall our aduersaries see albeit they denie it that the Pope may erre that in the interpretation of the Scriptures Siricius after Platina hauing bene Pope almost 16. yeares died Anastasius the first Innocentius the first Zozimus the first and Bonifacius the first succeded him Betwene Boniface and Eulalius was the 4. Sisme in the yeare 420. Eulalius verie vnwillingly renounced but yet was made Bishop in Campania Celestine succeeded Boniface Sistus 3. succeeded Celestine who being falsely accused made answere for himselfe in an open Sinod and Bassus his aduersarie was condemned The councels were then aboue the Pope Leo 1. Hillarius Simplicius Felix 3. Gelasius succeeded Sistus To this Gelasius that notable saying of communicating in both kindes is attributed which we will alleage in the Treatise of the Masse After Gelasius 1. Anastasius 2 succeeded Anastasius 2. tooke parte with the Eutichians and other heretiques and communicated with them For confirmation hereof reade Gracian in the decree dist 19. Cap. Secundum ecclesiae Catholicae And Cap. Anastasius And the 2. Tome of the Councels and Platina Beleeue not the Popes Parasites as be D. Illescas and the two late writers Albertus Pighius Diego de Couarrunias whom he alleageth Anastasius in doing his needes voided say Volateramus and Platina his guttes into the draught At this time in Spaine the Gothes reigned who began there to reigne in the yeare of the Lord. 417. where expelling the Roamanes and other nations they reigned three hundred yeares After Anastasius succeeded Symachus Between Symachus and Laurencius was the 5. Sisme But Laurencius renounced and in the 498. yeare as saith Panuinus was made Bishop of Nucesino after Symachus succeeded Hormisda Hormisda Campanus was the first as saith S. Isidor that by means of Iustin the Emperor in the 520. year of an Archbishop was made Patriarch by litle litle they proceeded they wil shortly be Popes I wold say perfect Antichrists He excoÌ„municated the Emperor Anastasius because he said the Emperor was to coÌ„mand the Bishop to obey At this time began Antichrist to appear Hormisda died in the 523. year Genselaricus reigning in Spaine and Iohn 1. succeeded Hormisda Iohn 1. a Tuscan being made Patriark was iointly with others sent Embassador for Theodoricus king of Italy vnto Iustinus the Emperor The Bishops of Rome had not as yet that absolute or to speake better that dissolute power which now they hold He died a Martyr in the 527. yeare I cannot omit a ridiculous historie which Friar Iohn de Pineda speaking of this Iohn the first reporteth for a miracle About to go saith he to the Emperour he tooke a borrowed horse which when Pope Iohn was mounted vpon him would not permit his maisters wife to ride Felix the third called the fourth succeeded Iohn and Boniface the second succeeded Felix In the 530. yeare was the 6. Sisme betweene Boniface the second Dioscorus After Boniface Iohn the 2. Agapetus Siluerius Vigilius succeeded Vigilius a Romane and a crafty accuser of his predecessour Siluerius by deceit aspired to the Bishopdome whereunto he was aduanced by meanes of Theodora Augusta and of Antonina the wife of Belisarius But God who is iust gaue them both their reward Vigilius by subtilty and Siluerius the sonne of Pope Hormisda by force obtained the Bishopdome This was the seuenth Sisme And Theudiselo or Theodisco in Spaine at this time reigned Pelagius a Romane was the first that affirmed the primacie of the Church of Rome to depend neither of the Councels nor men but of Christ himself dist 21. But the Cannonists are against him saying that Omnis maioritas minoritas etiam Papatus est de iure positiuo that is all maioritie and minority yea the Popedome it selfe is of the positiue lawe He ordained that Ecclesiasticall persons should pray or mumble vp the seuen Canonicall houres which be the Mattens Prime Third Sixt Tenth the Euenings and Completes Pelagius ordained saith D. Illescas that the Priestes should each day pray ouer the seuen houres which we call Canonical And the same Illescas vpon the life of Sabinianus saith Sabinianus was the first that set an order in prayer diuiding the Office into seuen houres which we call Canonicall How can Sabiniaâ—â—us be the first that ordained the 7. Canonicall houres if Pelagius had first ordained them This institution was an occasion that Ecclesiasticall persons should not read the Bible And so we see that very few Church-men in Spaine haue the Bible in their houses but none of them is with his Breuiarie which all of them do hold for a verie Catholike booke but the Byble in generall doe they call a booke of heresies One day will God punish this blasphemie In the time of this Pelagius Agila reigned in Spaine and in the 561. yeare Iohn 3. sucâ—eded Pelagius Iohn 3. made a contrary decree to that which his predecessor Pelagius had made and Dist 99. comaunded that none should call him high priest nor vniuersall bishop So one Pope did that
with him 30000. men and onely Saint Barnard without any payne flew to heauen 3. descended into purgatorie and all the rest into hell perpetually to be damned Thus far Venero He that reporteth this was no Ideot but a preacher and of the order of preachers Who will not beleeue an holy hermite come from another world a Bishop and a preacher also O happie Bishop which knew what passed in Heauen Purgatorie and hell Blessed be our God which hath opened our eyes and made vs to vnderstand such apparitions to be illusions of the diuell For confirmation of this our Doctrine Reade the Parable which our Sauiour propoundeth of the rich worldling who prayed Abraham to send Lazarus before deceased to the house of his father that he might declare to his fiue brethren that which he passed But Abraham answered they haue Moses and the Prophets let them heare them whom if they will not heare neither will they bee perswaded though a man should rise from the dead Luke 16. So that euery Christian which readeth searcheth and meditateth the holy scripture doth know that all this which they say concerning Purgatorie is lies albeit the Pope will haue it an Article of faith Were it an article of faith it should be founded vpon the scripture On the scripture it is not founded therefore it is no Article of faith Also were it an Artticle of faith it should be one of the twelue of the Apostles creede but it is not therefore it is not an Article of faith But it is as saith Doctour Constantine the head of the wolfe It serueth to mainetayne idle bellies Conclude wee this then of the false myracles of Antichrist with that which the Lord saith False Christes and false Prophetes shall arise and shall worke signes great and wonderfull so that if it were possible the verie elect should be deceiued Well hath our Redemer forewarned vs well hath his Apostle Saint Paule foretold vs. See we now to our selues for of ignorance now shall we not sinne we are forewarned And as Daniel for our consolation foretold vs of the miserable end of Antichrist so also saith Saint Paule and that more plainely then Daniel that the Lord will destroy him with the spirit of his mouth and consume him with the brightnesse of his comming which we see dayly more and more accomplished How many kingdomes and prouinces do now know the Pope to be Antichrist And how came they by this knowledge not forced but by reading and hearing the word of God Very wise was the Pope in forbidding the Bible in forbidding the reading of the holy Scripture well did he vnderstand that all his euill his whole ruine and destruction should there thence proceede But I commaund it The Lord saith Saint Paule will destroy him with the Spirit of his mouth with his word with the holy Scripture with the doctrine of the olde and new Testament with the Bible which he so much abhorreth Many nations haue forsaken him onely Spaine and Italy giue him life But albeit they so do yet is his sicknesse vncurable and doubtlesse shall he die thereof The third and last passage wherewith we confirme the Pope to be Antichrist is taken out of the seuenteenth chapter of the Reuelation of Saint Iohn Reade the whole chapter Here will we note the principall points Saint Iohn saith hee saw a woman sit vppon a beast the woman and the beast with their quallities and attire he depainteth The woman saith hee was the great whore which sitteth vpon manie waters with whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication He saith that she was set vppon a beast That this woman was clothed with purple and Scarlet and guilded with golde and adorned with precious stones c. Who had in her forehead a name wriâ—ten A Mysterie Great Babylon mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth that this woman was drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus And concluding the chapter he saith that this woman is the great citie whâ—ch reigneth ouer all the kings of the earth Concerning the beast saith he which was of the colour of Scarlet full of the names of blasphemie which had seuen heades and ten hornes Saint Iohn saith that when he saw this woman ride vpon the beast he greatly wondered The Angell declareth vnto him the secret of the woman and of the beast The beast saith the Angell which thou hast seene was and is not c. He saith vnto him that the seuen heades be seuen mountaines whereupon the woman sitteth He saith that the ten hornes be ten kinges subiect to the beast That these kings shall fight against the Lambe but the Lambe shall oueâ—come them That the waters whereupon the Whoore sitteth bee peoples and kindreds and nations and tongues Hee saieth that the ten hornes of the beast shall hate the whore shall make her desolate and destroy her Who seeth not Antichrist the Pope of Rome here figured and liuely painted out to whom can all these things be applied but to him alone The whore is the Pope the beast is the Romane Empire whereupon the Pope sitteth aâ—d wherewith hee hath lifted vp himselfe It is a common pâ—rase of speech in the Scrâ—pture to call Idolatrie and superstition fornication and tâ—e Idolaters it calleth strumpets and whoores Reade the sâ—cond chapter of Ieremie and 3. verse Ezech. 16. chap. Of 〈◊〉 chap. 1. 2. and 3. The Pope then is called Whore and greâ—t whore for his idolatrie and superstition which he committeth and teacheth to so many people and nations Note that which we haue said in the passage cited out of the 11. chapter of Daniel How much more yet by the great prouidence of God hath this thing fully and plainely happened seing a Pope hath bin which was a woman and a greate whoore Reade the life which we haue recited of Iohn 8. where he saith that the woman was clothed with purple and scarlet and gold c. Euen so is the Pope in his pontificall habite and chiefly the day of his coronation fully clothed Platina speaking of Pope Clement the fifth as in his lâ—fe we haue declaâ—ed saith that at his coronation fell a wall which killed many and that the Pope falling from his horse lost a Carbuncle which fell from his Miter or as they call it Reyno that was worth sâ—xe thousand Florences D. Illescas chap. 24. speaking of the coroantion of Leo the tenth saith these words The day of this coronation in Rome was so solemne and ioyfull that any hardly remembred to haue seene the like thing For besides the other feastes made which should be tedious to recount they affirme aboue an hundred thousand duckets to haue bene cast among the people c. How could this Pope say that which said Saint Peter Siluer and gold haue I none This woman he calleth Babylon as much to say as confusion He calleth
the more thou of all other nations of the world in these last times hast abased and deiected thy selfe to serue and adore this monster this man of sinne this sonne of perdition this whore clothed with scarlet purple adorned with so great store of gold precious stoâ—s this beast this Antichrist this thy Pope this thy God vpon earth by so much the more holding thy selfe ashamed confounded for that which thou hast done because thou so much louest and more esteemest honor then other nations thou shalt abandon abhorre him and shalt practise his vtter ruine and destruction God giue thee that grace that quickly for the sacrifice sake which Iesus Christ his sonne our chiefe and only high Bishop our redeemer and Lord vnto him hath offered Amen For the healpe of memorie haue we heare placed a table wherein is plainely declared the Pope to be Antichrist which is the summe of of this first Treatise An end of the first Treatise A briefe table wherein most clearely euidently is declared who Antichrist is and by what markes he may bee knowne The necessitie of this Doctrine is first declared AS it behoueth the Christian Church and euery faithfull member thereof to know Iesus Christ the Lord and followe his Doctrine with all obedience So is it meete that euery faithfull Christian should perceiue and know what the holy scripture doth teach concerning Antichrist to the end that all the faithfull may truly know him and knowing him flie from him and beware his deceites And if the Apostles themselues in the Primitiue Church forewarned the faithfull of the daunger and comming of the great woolfe as in the 2. Thes 2. 3. 4. c. 1 Ioh. 2. 18. c. appeareth How much more now in this old age of the world wherein all iniquitie aboundeth the end of all thinges approcheth ought we to esteeme this Doctrine necessarie 2 Concerning the name of Antichrist and how the holie scripture speaketh touching the same Antichrist is a Greeke word and asmuch to say as contrarie to Christ For as Antipapa is hee who not beeing Pope attributeth to himselfe the whole authoritie and power of the Pope So is he Antichrist that opposeth himselfe to Christ attributing to himselfe that which is proper to Christ The holie scripture of Antichrist speaketh two manner of waies For as this word Christ or anointed is sometimes generally taken Psalme 105. verse 15. Touch not mine Annointed where by annointed all the faithfull that hold Communion with Christ are vnderstoode And properly againe when Christ our Lord is mencioned So by this word Antichrist is some time generally vnderstoode all such as in Doctrine oppose themselues to Christ 1. Iohn 2. 22. and cap. 4. 3. But then properly it mentioneth Antichrist when it noteth an head of an abominable kingdome which head lifteth vp it selfe against Christ as in 1. Ioh. 2. chap. 18. where the Apostle saith that Antichrist should come It is to be noted that as many things in the scripture foretold of Christ are applyed to some persons which were types and figures of Christ as Dauid Salomon Zerubbabel c. Which properly and truly are meant of Christ and in him accomplished so many things also foretold of Antichrist Dan. 7. 8. 20. 21. 25. chap. 8. 23. 24. 25. chap. 11. 36. and 1. Timoth. 4. 1. 2. 3. are applyed to certaine tyrants and heretikes as forerunners and types of Antichrist but properly to Antichrist in him are fulfilled 3 Whether Antichrist be come The Papists say that Antichrist is not yet come but shal come teach they of the race of the Iewes of the Tribe of Dan be borne in Babylon brought vp in Chorazain and Bethsaida and shall reigne in Ierusalem c. with sundrie such like inuentions of man not warranted by authoritie of holie Scriptures But wee say that Antichrist is alreadie come and that will wee prooue by the testimonies of the holy Scriptures For the same thing nowe is befallen the Papistes which in time past when Christ Iesus our redeemer did manifest himselfe in the world happened to the Iewes For as the Iewes with the Apostles did beleeue and confesse the Prophetes to haue spoken manie things touching the Messias but not beleeued nor confessed that the promised Messias then was come nor that Iesus borne of the Virgin Mary in Bethelem was that true Messiah Euen so doe the Papistes at this day fully confesse with vs that many thinges in holy Scripture are foretolde concerning Antichrist yet beleeue they not nor confesse that he is come but say he shall come as the Iewes did of the Messias We say then that Antichrist is already come Let vs see now who he is and by what marks he may be knowne 4 Who Antichrist is and by what markes he may be knowne This question in former time was hard and obscure but now Antichrist being reuealed is Verie cleere and easie For as this is the true Messias in whom all things foretold by the holie Ghost concerning the Messias are fulfilled So is and ought this to be truly Antichrist in whom all thinges foretold of Antichrist by the Prophets and Apostles do properly belong and are fulfilled Let vs then consider what the holie Ghost in holie scripture hath spoken of Antichrist which we will deuide into three points 1 Of the time of his reuelation 2 Of the place of his seate and being 3 Of his estate life and Doctrine The time of Antichrists reuelation is signified by Dan. cap. 7. 5. 8. when he saieth A litle horne arose vp among the other hornes in the heade of the fourth Beast The Prophet declareth that the kingdome of Antichrist should rise vp in the Romane Empire which was the fourth Monarchie signified by the fourth Beast The Apostle Saint Paule well noteth the time of the reuelation and comming of Antichrist when he writeth 2. Thestal 2. 3. Let no man deceaue you by any meanes for that day shall not come except there come a departing first that that man of sinne bee disclosed euen the sonne of perdition Cleerely signifieth the Apostle that after an Apostasie Antichrist shall come True it is that from the Appostles time haue bene some forerunners of Antichrist of whom we read Io. 1. 18. 22 c. And that then the Mysterie of iniquitie did worke 2. Thes 2. 7. yet could not the kingdome of Antichrist increase whiles the Roman Empire flourished But when the Roman Empire should be weakened then should Antichrist be cheife as the same Apostle declareth when he saieth 2. Thes 2. 7. 8. Only he which now withholdeth shall let till he be taken out of the waie And then shall that wicked man be reuealed The place where Antichrist shall holde his seate is noted by Daniel â—1 45. when he sayth And he shall place the Tabernacles of his Palace betwene the seas Saint Iohn also in his Apoc. ca. 17. when he signified Antichrist by a woman arrayed with purple and
Epistle which the Apostle wrote to the Hebrewes and chiefly the seuenth chapter Of this will wee intreat somewhat more to the purpose hereafter The 2. manner of sacrifice which wee call Eucharisticall comprehendeth all the exercises of charitie which done to our neighbours in some sort are they done vnto God who is thus honored in his members Our prayers praises thankesgiuing and all whatsoeuer we doe for the seruice and honor of God are also comprehended in this kind of sacrifice Al which sacrifices doe depend vppon that great sacrifice by which we are consecrated in body and soule and dedicated for holy Temples to God This kind of sacrifice nought serueth to appease the wrath of God to obtaine forgiuenesse of sinne or to deserue or purchase righteousnesse but is only to magnifie and glorifie God This Eucharisticall sacrifice can no way please God except it proceede from those which hauing by the other kind of sacrifice which we call Expiatory obtained forgiuenesse of sinnes bee already reconcyled with him and iustified This sacrifice Eucharisticall is very necessarie in the Church And woe to that day which a Christian passeth without offering of this sacrifice to God This is the incense and oblation cleane and pure which Malachie Prophesied that the Church of God should offer Of this sacrifice speaketh Saint Paule when hee saith that we offer vp our bodies a liuing sacrifice holie and acceptable vnto God a reasonable seruice of God For this cause the almes and other good works of the faithfull are called sacrifices wherewith God is well pleased The Prophet Hoseas exhorteth the people to returne vnto the Lord and saie vnto him Take away all iniquitie and receaue vs gratiously So will wee render the Calues of our lippes What the Prophet vnderstood by the calues of lippes the Appostle declareth when hee saith Let vs therefore by him offer the sacrifice of praise alwayes to God that is the fruite of the lippes which confesse or prayse his name Saint Paule calleth the liberalitie wherewith the Phillippians in his necessitie had relieued him A sacrifice of sweete sauour and all the good workes which the faithfull doe are called spirituall sacrifices His Maiestie giue vs grace continually to offer such sacrifices vnto him and that when we offer them we may without all hypocrisie confesse that wee are vnprofitable seruauntes c. For if hee commaunded his Apostles so to say and thinke yea when they had done what God had commanded them Why shal he not command the same vnto vs which be in life and doctrine so farre inferiour to his Apostles that we are vnworthie to lose the latchets of their shooes God giue vs grace to be humble in heart Of this kinde of sacrifice will we also say more hereafter By that which is said is plainely seene that the Masse is neither an expiatorie nor Eucharisticall sacrifice and so by consequence no sacrifice at all That it is not expiatorie we already haue proued and that it is not Eucharisticall by that which our aduersaries say that the Masse is an expiatorie sacrifice is proued If it be expiatorie then is it not Eucharisticall The force of this Argument consisteth in a rule of Logicke which saith The members diuiding must not be confounded As touching the definition of the Masse this is sufficient Wee haue taken from it the kind in prouing it no sacrifice we haue taken from it the difference in prouing that it is not expiatorie both the kind and difference taken away what shall be the definite Nothing Or if the Masse bee anie thing it is a priuation of the holy supper of our master and redeemer Iesus Christ euen as sinne is the priuation of grace Let not our aduersaries thinke that we yeeld thē their Masse to be so ancient as they make it saying that the Lord 1565 yeares past did institute it for so long it is since he suffered Neither do we grant them that S. Peter nor S. Iohn nor any of the Apostles euer said that which our aduersaries say to bee the Masse Those which they bring are false testimonies If any man beare false witnesse against his neighbour how vile or abiect soeuer he be he breaketh the 9. commandement he breaketh the law of God and for the same is worthy of eternall death Howe much more shall he breake it and be worthy of death that vpon cold bloud and deliberat purpose of the learned I speake and not of the vulgar sort which can neither read nor vnderstand bringeth false witnes against Christ his king prophet and priest saying that he did institute the Masse wherin are so many superstitions and idolatries saying that the Apostles chosen vessels of God to denounce the Gospell and to preach the holy catholike faith haue sayd such a Masse And so say they that S. Peter was the first that sang Masse but by hearesay they speake without alleaging any Authors How is it possible that S. Luke so diligent an Historiographer of the Acts of the Apostles hath left in the incke-horne this Article which our aduersaries hold so necessarie to saluation as any other of the twelue Articles of the faith contained in the Creed And seeing that this false testimony which they raise vp against Peter auaileth little to the confirmation of their Masse Another false testimony raise they vp also of S. Iames that S. Iames say they was the first that said the first Masse in Ierusalem Yet are they more shamelesse bring to light the said Masse said of S. Iames which 1500 years since at the least was buried cry out a miracle a miracle Now is there no further disputing to be had sith it is an Apostle which hath said Masse now neither can or ought they to moue any more doubts touching the Masse vpon paine to be an heretike blasphemer whosoeuer shal moue it In the 1560. yeare was this Masse of S. Iames as they call it printed in Paris In this Masse ther is a prayer wherin are said these words We pray for the gifts offred sanctified precious supercelestiall ineffable immaculate glorious horrible fearful diuine What maner of speech is this when vsed the Apostles any such forme of speaking Also that this falshood may be clearely perceiued there is a prayer in the Masse for the Monkes Nunnes which liued in the Monasteries They which say that this Masse is of S. Iames should read this and be silent For in the time of the Apostles was there neither Monkes nor Nunnes nor Monasteries many yeares after were these things inuented Moreouer if this be a Masse of S. Iames let them augment the Cannon Let them place them among the Canonicall bookes of the holy Scripture Let them beleeue do al that which is said in the same In this Masse which they call of S. Iames all the people did vnder two kinds communicate all the office was said in the vulgar tongue the people sang
albeit God of his absolute power can drowne the whole world againe yet will hee not drowne it So then say we now that Christ could doe that which they say annihilate the substance of the bread and be transubstantiated into it But we say that he will not do it because he will remaine sitting at the right hand of his father in heauen and according to his humanitie according to his flesh which he tooke of the Virgin Mary according to the flesh wherein he dyed wiil he neuer descend hither vntill he come to iudge the quick and the dead And so to this end sayd he to his disciples The poore ye shall haue alwayes with you but me shall ye not haue alwayes For fortie dayes passed after his resurrection hee ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hand of the Father c. Very well did his Apostle S. Peter vnderstand this when in a sermon which he preached at Ierusalem hee sayd Whom meaning Christ the heauens must containe vntill the time that all things bee restored And this is an Article of our faith which in the Creed we confesse That Iesus Christ is ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father from whence shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Then will he not come to transubstantiate the bread into his body So our aduersaries be heretikes denying in deed this article of faith which with their mouth they confesse in the Creed Hereuppon let vs nowe conclude that Christ can but hee will not transubstantiate himselfe into the bread but will sit at the right hand of the Father vntill he come to iudge c. As the holy Scripture doth witnesse it and in the Creed wee confesse it The second reason wherewith they confirme their Transubstantiation is That Iesus Christ is infallible truth and therefore of necessitie that which hee sayth must bee as hee saith it He saith This is my body Then it followeth that that is his bodie and if it be the body of Christ it is not Bread With Esayas chap. 53. verse 9. and Saint Peter chap. 2. vers 22. confesse we that Iesus Christ neuer sinned we also confesse that vntruth nor deceit was euer found in his mouth For he is that which of himselfe he saith Ioh. chap. 14. verse 6. The way the trueth and the life Wee also confesse that with his owne mouth he hath sayd This is my body and so beleeue we that it is For should wee denie that which our King Prophet and Priest affirmeth we should not be Christians Thus farre agree we with our aduersaries The difference that is betweene them and vs is as touching the maner How or in what manner that which Iesus Christ by the meane of his minister in the holy Supper doth giue vs is truely and really the body and bloud of Iesus Christ For the better vnderstanding hereof it shall bee needfull to vse the distinction which the Lord vseth in the sixth chapter of the Gospell of Saint Iohn That there bee two maners of eating the bodie of Christ the one carnall the other spirituall Commonly when the Scripture opposeth the flesh to the Spirit by the flesh it vnderstandeth the parte of man that is not regenerate nor subiect to the lawe of God So call wee men without the knowledge of God carnall naturall and sensuall men But it is not heere so to bee taken By the flesh is vnderstood the same flesh of Christ it selfe ioyntly with his blood bones and sinewes and which Iesus Christ took when he was borne and liued in this world when he dyed and rose againe c. The second maner of eating which is called spirituall is when the faithfull Christian his bodie being here below is lifted vp so high in spirit that with the wings of faith it flyeth and with one flight doth pierce all the heauens and stayeth not vntill it come before the throne of the maiestie of God the father at whose right hand he findeth sitting his redeemer and satisfier Christ And finding him with great ioy doth feede vpon him eateth his glorious bodie and drinketh his most precious bloud And if the faithfull Christian doth freely eate him much more freely doth the Lord giue himselfe to sustaine the soules which he with the death of his body with the shedding of his bloud redeemed He that with his body and bloud did redeeme them with his body and with his bloud wil he maintain them yet not carnally but spiritually by faith as before we haue sayd Our aduersaries beleeue the body of Christ in the first manner to be in their Masse They beleeue that the mouth taketh the teeth chawe the throate swalloweth and the stomacke receiueth the same carnall bodie which was borne which dyed which rose againe c. They wil vnderstand the words of Christ literally be it as it will be but Christ himselfe speaking of the necessity that wee haue to eate his flesh and drinke his bloud saith The words which I speake vnto you are spirit and life to wit that which I haue sayd vnto you touching the eating of my flesh and drinking of my bloud vnderstand you not after the letters as they carnally sound lift vp the mind and vnderstand it spiritually The Capernaits and many of the disciples also as saith S. Iohn carnally vnderstood the words of Christ And also they sayd that it was a hard saying and murmured at it To whom Christ vnfolding their errour told them they should vnderstand his words spiritually You see here that our aduersaries are worse then the Capernaits for the Capernaits would not carnally eate the flesh of Christ nor drinke his bloud but they make no bones at it without any scruple and without any loathing will they eate the flesh of Christ carnally but it will nought auaile them For the Spirit it is that quickeneth and the flesh as Christ himselfe saith speaking to our purpose profitteth nothing c. That the Lord in his supper gaue carnally his body may wee not vnderstand For should wee so vnderstand it A most great absurditie world followe that Iesus Christ when hee celebrated his supper had two carnall bodies One by one The Bodie that celebrated the supper that brake the bread in his handes blessed it brake it and gaue it to his disciples c. was the true carnall body of Christ which was borne and dyed c. If that which this carnall bodie tooke in his handes and gaue to his disciples was also the carnall body of Christ it followeth that Iesus Christ when he had celebrated his supper had two carnall bodies one which sate and remained in his place and the other which sitting body gaue to his disciples The which is a great absurditie But did they vnderstand this second manner of body which the Carnall body of Christ gaue to his disciples and they tooke it and did eat it not to bee his
Transubstantiation among our aduersaries that they hold him not a Christian but an heretike anathematized accursed and excommunicated that doth not beleeue it Wherein to the Councell of Florence held in the time of Eugenius the fourth in the yeare of our Lord 1439. do they great iniurie In this Councell were present the Emperour of Grecia the Patriarke of Constantinople and many Easterne Bishops The Greekes and Latines agreed in this Councell in the difference which they held touching the holy Spirit and in some other things they also agreed but as touching Transubstantiation albeit the Pope did labour them to allow of it yet could they neuer effect it with them And great heed tooke the Greekes that in the letter of vnitie no mention were made of Transubstantiation the which was done to the good liking of the Greeks as in the Bull of Eugenius which beginneth Exultent coeli laetetur terra appeareth wherin he giueth for good to all Christendome that the Greeke and Latine Church had once againe accorded And I surely know had their Transubstantiation bene an article of faith without which there is no saluation the Romane Church did wickedly to admit the Greeks for brothers seeing they openly denyed Transubstantiatiō That which our aduersaries say of the mutual cōsent of the Church touching the article of Transubstātiation here appeareth to be false For neither the Greek nor Eastern church euer beleeued it nor now at this day beleeueth it nor yet did the Latine Church for a thousand yeares space beleeue it Of all this which we haue spoken touching Transubstantiation we conclude that which we say to be truth that he which heareth the Masse is a great Idolater and he which sayth it is a greater The fift Domage which the Masse causeth is that besides the sayd foure domages it maintaineth many abuses as is Purgatorie Concerning Purgatorie say we there is no other purgatorie but the bloud of Christ which purgeth our sinnes By which purgation wee are reconciled with the euerlasting Father The other purgatorie say we which our aduersaries haue forged without the word of God is the head of a wolfe as Doctor Constantine did call it who for the cause of religion of infirmitie age and hard imprisonment among those cruell Canibals and eaters of mans flesh the defilers of the faith in the castle of Traiana died Purgatorie is a common cutpurse that without shame or correction stealeth robbeth and catcheth all what it can to fill the paunches of these idle bellies priests and friers all the ecclesiasticall order For whence haue they so enriched themselues whence is it that they haue builded so many sumptuous Monasteries which seeme rather Castles and pallaces of most rich kings and Princes then houses of begging Friers and poore Monkes who in times past gained their liuing with the labour of their hands Whence haue they founded so many Chappels so manie Trentals so many Masses prayed and sung which they called de requiem but of the foolish perswasion of Purgatorie As the Masse entertayneth Purgatorie so also doth Purgatorie entertaine the Masse The Masse and Purgatorie are euen as two Mules the one rubbing the other The false prophets made an old simple woman beleeue that the soule of her father mother husband daughter or other person whō she deerely loued was suffering most grieuous torments and paines in Purgatory and demanded some reliefe by the Masse or Masses which should be said for it Then the poore old woman taking it from their mouth ioyned peece to peece 68 Blancas which is a ryall went to a Priest and giuing him the tyall for Masses are sold for money besought him to say a Masse with great deuotion for the soule of her father or some other person whom she loued And were the old woman so much more superstitions then went she to a monasterie holding it for certaine that the Fryers liued a more religious and holy life then the Priestes and being come to the monasterie besought the Sextan or potter to cause a Masse with all speede to be sayd The Sextan or porter sayd it should presently bee done Then went out a Father to say the Masse and tooke money of her to whom better had it beene to haue giuen then taken it from her for God knoweth the pouertie that remayned in the house of this old woman and the riches and superfluity that was in the monasterie And a faire thing it was that they sayd it not for her for oftentimes it happeneth that more Masses are receiued for in one day then all the Priestes of the monastery can say in a moneth And this is the cause why they cannot say all the Masses they receiue for But thou wilt say vnto mee Why do these reuerend men take of them more money for Masses then they well can say Me seemeth they rob in doing this which thou sayest Hereunto I answer that they reckon not of this nor make they any conscience thus to rob and deceiue And that which is worse this their theft and robberie do they sanctifie saying that is very well done and that necessity so requireth that the deuotion of the people be not despised Ad the Pope for the cause aforesayd a proueth and maketh good this theft and commandeth them to say two Masses at euery moneths end one for the quicke another for the dead which two Masses saith he are as auayleable as all those how many soeuer they haue omitted to say Did the Magistrates their dutie they would seeke and in the chests of their Monasteries should find such Bulles such mockeries and such licenses to steale Purgatorie haue they made a new article of faith so that he which beleeueth it not is therefore an heretike If it be heresie not to beleeue that which neither in the doctrine of the old or new Testament is confirmed Nor is in any of the three Creedes of the Apostles the Nicen nor of Athanasius being a Summarie token out of the scripture which a Christian ought to beleeue conteyned The 6. domage is that suppose the sacrifice of the Masse or sacrament of the altar As they call it had bene such As they paint it out Yet should it not be wel administred sith the Christian people are defrauded and depriued of the one halfe of the sacrament because they giue them not the sacramentall wine which is the sacrament of the bloud of Christ shed for vs vpon the Crosse when the other halfe is receiued they giue it seldome once in the yeare wickedly with so many superstitions and Idolatries As we haue already proued In bread and wine did Iesus Christ institute this sacrament for the high signification and allusion which the bread and wine holde with his bodie and with his bloud and commaunded his Apostles in the selfe same maner As they had seene him celebrate the supper in memoriall of his death to celebrate it When he gaue thē the bread he said Take
our high priest offered with which wee being sinners and sonnes of wrath he reconciled vs to God Oh good newes Heare them then O Spaine and beleeue them In this Treatise I wil be short for many things which were here to be sayd haue we formerly sayd in the confutation of the false priestes which is the Pope and of the false sacrifice which is the Masse And there haue we sayd it for confutation of falshood For how can falshood be confuted but with the truth walke we then hence forth as Children of truth and light He that listeth to knowe who is this high priest and what is this his onely and eternall sacrifice Let him read the Epistle which the Apostle wrote to the Hebrewes there clerely shal hee find both the one the other And no booke there is in all the holie scripture which more to the purpose and more axcellently handleth this argument then this Epistle An Epistle truely worthie for each faithfull Christian to reade and reade againe and to retaine in memorie Seeing there in is handled a matter so necessary without the vnderstanding knowledge whereof it is impossible for mā to be saued For what thing is more necessary thē to know who my redeemer is how he hath redeemed me so to beleeue in him beleeuing in him to be thankful vnto him by liuing in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of my life His maiesty pardon our imperfections supply that much which is wanting But before we enter into this matter Let vs declare that which we beleue of Christ we confesse that Iesus Christ is truely God and truely man that in as much as he is God he is equall with the father with the holy Ghost in nothing inferior We confesse that in as much as he is man he is lesse then the father and lesse then the holy Ghost and in nothing equal We confesse these two so far different natures diuine humaine not to haue bin vnited nor conioyned for euer but in time as saith S. Paule when saith he the fulnes of time was come God sent his son made of a woman made vnder the lawe c. The same saith S. Iohn And the word was made flesh and dwelled among vs. So that from thenceforth is hee called and is true God and true man and so according to this coniunction Christ is lesse then the father For the father hath made him and giuen him vnto vs. For our king Prophets and priest Which three offices the name of Christ signifieth which is a Greeke word and is the same that is Messias in Hebrewe and Vngido in our Spanish tongue So also is it called because these three kindes of men were in olde time annointed And so doe wee read that Samuel annointed Saul for king Dauid also hee annointed Sadoc annointed Solomon c. Concerning the Prophets wee read that Elias annointed Eliseus Concerning the Priests annoynting it is seene in Exod. 30. 50. These 3. Offices doth the holie scripture attribute to Christ It calleth him king Psal 2. 6. I haue appointed to my selfe a king ouer Sion Also Luke 1. 33. And he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer his kingdōe shall haue no end Also Iohn 1. 49. 12. 15. Mat. 22. Al the places also which say Christ to be the head of the Church cōfirme Christ to be king a Prophet he is called Esaie 61. 1. Luk. 4. 19. Also Deut. 18. 15. It is promised that God wil raise vp a Prophet which place S. Peter in that excellēt sermō which S. Luke mentioneth vnderstandeth of Christ who is the Prophet of Prophets In the same maner vnderstādeth it S. Stephen A priest is hee called Psal 110. 4. Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchizedech Which place in the Epistle to the Hebrewes is oftentimes alleaged where it calleth him the only euerlasting priest But the difference between the kings Prophets priests of the olde Testament Christ is this they were the figure of Christ and annointed they were with materiall visible oyle But Christ is the thing figured is annointed not with visible oyle but with the grace of the holy spirit As he himselfe Luk. 4. 18. doth witnes in declaring the prophesie of Esaie The spirit of the Lord c Of this kind of ointmēt thus speaketh the Psal 45. 7. Thou hast loued righteousnes and hated Iniquitie Wherfore God euen thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of goodnes aboue thy fellowes which place the Apostle vnderstandeth of Christ And Christ being annointed with the spirituall oyntment we vnderstand his kingdome not to be of this world his doctrine to be heauenly his priesthood to be euerlasting diuine Christ as king appointed of the father gouerneth his Church giueth her lawes which no prince nor the mightiest monarch of the world may disdaine or abolish For it is noted that all how mighty soeuer do acknowledge him for king of kings Lord of Lords For God as saith S Paul exalted Christ gaue him a name aboue all names that at the name of Iesus euery knee do bowe in heauen in earth and vnder the earth Christ as a prophet doth teach vs the will of his father doth shewe vs what we ought to fly what we ouht to follow Whō the father gaue vnto vs for our Doctour maisterand teacher whē he said This is my beloued sonne in whom I take delight heare him He wil we should heare another Doctrine albeit an Angel from heauen doe preach it If an Angel from heauen saith Saint Paul shal preach vnto you another gospel thē that which I haue preached vnto you the which he had learned of the Lord Iesus Let him be accursed The office of the priest is to appeare before the diuine Maiestie to appease his wrath and to obtaine grace for vs. The which he performeth Offering a sacrifice pleasing and acceptable vnto him This did Iesus Christ offering vp himselfe vpon the Crosse Which sacrifice one only time offered and neuer more reiteratetd For reiteration should shewe imperfection to haue beene in it was so sweete and so good a sauour vnto God that he was pleased and being pleased was reconciled with men So that he pardoned all our sinnes and sanctified vs for euer Of these three offices treateth also the epistle to the Hebrewes In the 1 chapter it sheweth the excellencie and maiestie of Christ aboue the Angels and consequently ouer all Creatures In which it deuoteth his kingdōe In the third chapter the Apostle calleth him the teacher of the will of God Which thing did the Prophets chapter 13. 20. he calleth him Great Pastor By Pastor he vnderstandeth a teacher And so in the 7. verse he said Remember your Pastors which speake vnto you the word of God c. That Christ is a
priest and his sacrifice his proper body his flesh and his bloud which he himselfe offered to the father for vs all this Epistle is full thereof Of which I will here make a short Summarie concerning that which toucheth his Priesthood and sacrifice This then is that which we now promised to shewe So necessary for a Christian is this Doctrine of the Priesthood and sacrifice of Christ That without it it is impossible to be saued For as saith Saint Peter there is no saluation in any other and no other name there is giuen to men vnder heauen wherein we may be saued Come we then to the Summary in the first chapter of the Epistle the Apostle sheweth the excellencie of Christ aboue the Angels The which he confirmeth with passages of the scripture In the 3. verse He maketh mention of the sacrifice of Christ hauing made saith he the purgation of our sinnes in himselfe chap. 2. The Apostle hauing proued in the first chapter the dignity of Christ concludeth in the beginning of the 2. chapter the obedience due to his doctrin the great punishmēt prepared for vs if we despise the same which menaces he afterwards vseth chiefly in the 6 and 10 chap In the third chapter he compareth Christ with Moses proueth Christ to be his superior wherefore he exhorteth the Hebrewes to obey him And that they should not be obstinate against Christ As their fathers in the time of Moses were obstinate against God In the 1. vers he saith Consider the Apostle Bishop of our profession Iesus Christ In the 4. chap. He exhorteth thē to cōtinue in the receiued grace of the Gospel openeth the gate to the Treatise of the priesthood of Christ so saith he verse 14. Therefore hauing one so great a high priest which pearced the heauens Iesus c. And in the 15. verse we haue not an high priest which cēnot haue cōpassion of our infirmities In the 5. chap. The Apostle sheweth what the office of the high priest is speaketh of the dignitie of Christ of his offering of the vertue efficacy thereof The dignity The eternall son of God The offering his flesh and his bloud himselfe The efficacie of his sacrifice to be heard of the father made the cause of euerlasting saluation to those that obey him as he saith verse 9. In the 6. verse saith he Christ is a priest for euer after the order of Melchizedech Which maner of speaking the Apostle taketh of Dauid Psal 110. 4. oft times vseth it in this Epistle chap. 5. vers 6 10. chap. 6. 20. cap. 7. verse 17. 21. And in the 15 verse he sath that he is likened to Melchizedech What the order of Melchizedech is we haue before said speaking of Transubtantiation In the 6. chap. he calleth Christ our forerunner high priest c. In the 7 chap. the Apostle taking occasion of the last words of the chapter going before Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchizedech beginneth very fitly to intreate who Melchizedech was and wherein he was like to Christ without father saith vers 3. without mother c. This done the Apostle sheweth the priesthood of Christ which is after the order of Melchizedech to be much more excellent then the leuitical priesthood The causes which he sheweth are that the priesthood of Christ being come it adnulled abolished the leuiticall priesthood that also of Christ was instituted with another The Lord sweare saith he will not repent c. Psal 110. But the Leuitical priesthood was instituted without an oath the priesthood also of Christ is eternal euer holdeth his being vertue the Leuiticallnot Also Christ who exerciseth this euerlasting priesthood is much more excellēt thē Aaron which exerciseth the Leuitical priesthood Of so great vertue is the sacrifice of Christ That hauing one only time offered he left no place for any other expiatory sacrifice For he eternally saueth those that come vnto God by him euer liuing to make intercession for them They need not then any other sacrifice but the only death passion of Christ And as little haue they need of any other Intercessor or mediator but only Christ Who so will not be contented with this only sacrifice nor with this only intercessor let him seeke for others better To such a one it wil happē that leauing the foūtain of liuing water he shal dig cesterns which will hold no water Also of so vnmeasurable vertue is this sacrifice which Christ one only time offered that it neither ought nor can be reiterated For reiteratiō is a most sure argument of imperfectiō And this is the cause why the Leuitical facrifices were so so often reiterated because the bloud of calues and of Goates could not perfectly sanctifie either those that offered them or those for whom they were offered He that will attentiuely read meditate vpon this 7. chap. shall not desire any other sacrifice but that only which Iesus Christ one onely time offered Which was himselfe As verse 27 is declared The memory whereof the Lord commandeth vs to renewe so often as we celebrate his holie supper And this word once which the Apostle chap. 9. verse 12. 25. 26. 28. and chap. 10. 10. 12. 14. vseth is very much to be noted For vpon the word once groundeth the Apostle his argument to proue the priesthood of Christ to be much more excellent then the Leuitical priesthood For the Leuitical priests reiterated their sacrifice which they offered First for their owne sinnes and then for the sinnes of the people But Christ offered not sacrifices but one only sacifice to wit himself and not for himselfe for he had no sinne neither was there any guile found in his mouth but for others And this sacrifice did he not oftentimes offer nor commanded it should be oftentimes offered one only time did he offer it In the 8. chap. the Apostle repeates that which he had said in the chap going before concerning the heauenly euerlasting priesthood of Christ In the 9. chap. he three or foure times repeateth the word once In the 10. chap. vers 10. he repeateth the word once In the 5. and 12. One sacrifice and vers 14. One only offering Hitherto treateth the Apostle of the Priesthood sacrifice of Christ and as in the word after the order of Melchisedech there remaineth great mystery for by it the Apostle proueth the Priesthood of Christ to be eternal repeating the same as wee haue seen for a word of so great importāce So also in the word Once which the Apostle so often repeateth is there great mysterie for therby two things are proued The first is that there is no other sacrifice to obtaine remission of sinnes but onely that which Iesus Christ offered The second is that this sacrifice is euer shall be of so great vertue and efficacie as it was
to suffer also for this faith and confession whensoeuer he pleaseth with persecution to proue vs. Concerning that which men haue of their owne heades haue inuented That the Pope is our chiefe Bishop the successour of Saint Peter the vicar of Christ God vppon earth and that as such a one he pardoneth sinnes draweth out of hell and purgatorie what soules he will and what soules hee will hee placeth in heauen And that the Masse such as now they say is a sacrifice as satisfactorie as was the death and passion of Christ None of these things doth the holy scripture teach vs it is humane inuention and diuelish lies wherwith Sathan hath long time deceiued vs. The Apostle Saint Paul willing to correct the vices brought into the holy supper of the Lord in the Church of Corinth found no better remedy but to reduce it to the originall and first institution And so 1. Cor. 11 he saith I receiued of the Lord that which I haue giuen you c. so now do we also the same We restore the supper of the Lord and celebrate it according to it first institution as the Euangelists and Saint Paul doe declare vnto vs. And if so we do thē haue they no cause to hold vs for heretikes but for good faithfull and catholike Christians and for such do we hold our selues and such we are albeit is the many imperfections the Lord pardon them vnto vs. We confesse we hold beleeue that God through the merit of Christ is our father and the holy catholike or vniuersall Apostololike and true Church whē it is ruled by the word of God in the sacred scripture of the olde and new Testament reuealed For otherwise is she no mother but a Stepmother our mother And wo to that man which shall not be son of this father and this mother We confesse hold and beleeue all that which this our mother confesseth holdeth belieueth All which is conteyned in the bookes of the old new Testament For nothing there is which we ought either to do or belieue which is not writtē in these sacred bookes Therefore will we conclude this Treatise saying That whosoeuer albeit an Angell from heauen shall preach or beliue another Gospell another Doctrine besides that which Iesus Christ and his Apostles haue taught vs all which is written in the bookes which we call the holy scripture Let such a one be accursed and execrable Let him be as saith Saint Paule Anathema Thou hast hard Christian Reader the Enormious charges wherewith we charge the Pope as touching life Doctrine But chiefly touching the superstition and Idolatrie of the Masse which the sayd Pope of himselfe without the word of God hath inuented and brought into the Church Thou hast also heard the Enormious charges where with the Pope chargeth vs. Hee accuseth vs for proud contentious and arrogant that we will know more then all the whole Church He accuseth vs for disobedient to Magistrates disturbers of common-wealthes prouinces and kingdomes he accuseth vs for schismatiques and heretiques For the which as an accuser witnes and Iudge he concludeth that we are not worthy to liue in the world But it is not sufficient to accuse Of necessity must he proue that which hee saith and so conuince the accused Come we then to the proofe let a generall Councell be assembled which may heare both parts Let it graunt to euery part freedome of speech The Councell hauing heard both sides let it iudge according to the thing alleaged and proued without respect of any person poore or rich wise or ignorant ecclesiasticall or secular Let it only haue regard of iustice equity and truth Let the part conuinced by the Testimony of holy scripture and of the fathers also and ancient Councels As be the first foure generall be subiect to the censure which the Councell shall ordayne Let the Pope and his defendors appeare personally in the Councell not as iudges because they accuse vs and we accuse them but as accusers and accused Let vs also appeare seeing we accuse them and they accuse vs. Let this Councell be called As were the foure first generall Nicen 1. the Constantinople the Ephesian and the Chalcedonian This is the onely remedie to take away the dissentions and differences which are at this day in the Church as touching life and Doctrine This remedy in times past vsed the Church in like cases In the meane time beseech we our God to moue the hartes of the Emperour Christian kinges and Princes that they may take in hand such an Enterprise for the glorie of God quietnesse of his Church By the meanes of which Enterprise vice and false Doctrine superstitition here sie and Idolatrie may be condemned And vertue and wholesome Doctrine conteyned in holie scripture confirmed But our aduersaries will say vnto mee that all this in the last Councell of Trent was concluded and that therefore another Councell is not needefull Whereunto I answere that which so often in this booke I haue sayd And chiefly vppon the life of Pope Marcellus the second That this Councell was not free Sith to none whereof was had the least suspition in the world not to bee in all and by all slaue of the Pope and sworne to the Pope was it permited to speake therein The rest which haue there sayd to this purpose and that which is sayd in the foure hundred fifty and eight and foure hundred fifty and nine pages is to be noted besides this say we that this Councel was not generall For how shall the Councel of Trent be called an Ecumenicall vniuersall or generall Councell Sith in it was not found the hundreth part of Bishoppes of Christendome And that this is truth it is euidently seene For in it were found but fiue Cardinals Three of which were legats of the Pope foure Archbishops two of which were Archbishops in title or as we call them in Spaine de anillo of the ring namely Olaus magnus intitled Archbishoppe not of Hispall but of Vpsall people of Gocia that neuer acknowledged the Pope nor the Roman Church The other named Robert Venant called Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland vnder the Crowne of England A land that as litle acknowledgeth the Pope These two poore Archbishops Paul the third maintayned giuing to Olaus 15 crownes a month and another like thing gaue he to Robert 33 Bishops were found there all of them Spaniards or Italians except only 3. Then were also found betweene priests Friars 47. diuines Of whom all al most were Spaniards or Italians Thou seest here the great nomber of bishops with which the Trident Coūcell began which by times conteyned 18 yeares In which time were holden 25 Sessions In many of which nothing was done for want of appearence in the Councel And so in the 8 Session was nothing done but that the Italians transported the Councell to Bologna aland of the popes in Italy Where was held the
of our Saluation and call vpon the name of the Lord. No other willeth God for all his benefites but that we be thankfull and call vpon his name Thus shall the number of those whom God hath elected to life eternall encrease and so the kingdome of sinne death the diuell which is the kingdome of lies of false new doctrine confirmed with dreames false miracles and illusions of the diuell shal be destroied and that of grace life and of Christ which is the kingdome of truth the true and old doctrin confirmed with the word of God shal abide for euer To whom which is one God Father Sonne and holy Spirit who liueth and raigneth be perpetuall honâ—â— and glory Amen An Addition I In the moneth of Aprill 1588. Philip the second of that name king of Spaine pretending to send his inuincible fleet for the Conquest of England made choise by the aduise of the Prioresse of the monastery of the Anunciada whose name was Mary of the Visitacion as most worthie for her holinesse to blesse his Standard royall the which she did with vsing diuers other câ—remonies in the deliuery thereof to the Duke of Medina Sedonia who was appointed chiefe Generall she did pronounce openlie good successe and victory to the Duke in saying he should return a victorious Prince This standard was carried in procession by Don Francisco de Cordoua who was a Spaniard the tallest Gentl. that could be found he being on horse backe to the end it might be the better seen at the solemnzing wherof there was such a number of people assembled that diuers of them perished with the throng There was present the Archduke Albertus which then was Cardinall and Gouernor of the kingdom of Portugal the Popes Nuncio the Archbishop who was head inquisitor with diuers other Nobles Prelates Gentlemen This solemnization dured so long that Albertus fainted with fasting and this holy Nunne to comfort him caused a messe of the broth which was for her owne diet to be brought presenting it to him which he accepted most willingly coÌ„ming from the handes of so holy a Nun as then she was holden to be but about the beginning of DeceÌ„ber next after all her holines false miracles and great dissimulations was then found out and she condemned punished for the same according as is râ—bersed in this booke About the end of this yeare 1588 that this holy Nun was discouered in Lisbon there was also discouered in Seuil one father â—yon who was counted to be a most deuour and religious man but by his owne fellowes of his profession he was discouered to be a great hypocrite and a most vicious 〈◊〉 giuen to carnall lustes and for this and diuers other causes he was committed to the prison which is in the Cardinals house of 〈◊〉 A Table wherein by certaine Antitheses is declared the difference and contrarietie which is betweene the ancient doctrine of God contained in the holy scripture and taught in the reformed Churches and the new doctrine of men â—aught and maintained in the Roman or Popish Church Ierem. 6. 16. Thus saith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the old way which is the good way and walke therein ye shall find rest for your soules THe ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the holy Scripture being the word of God diuinely inspired hath most sufficient authority of it selfe containeth all necessary doctrin to pietie and our saluation as S. Paul clearly teacheth 2. Tim. 3. 15. 16. 17. The new doctrin of meâ— teacheth that the holy Scripture although it be the word of God should haue no authority were it not for the approbation of the Church and that it is an vnperfect and maimed doctrine which containeth not doctrine sufficient to pietie nor our saluation but that this defect must be supplied by vnwritteÌ„ traditions Belar de verb. Deâ— noÌ„ scrip l. 4. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that ignorance of the holy scriptures is the cause and mother of errors as Iesus Christ our Lord doth witnesse Mat 22. 19. saying to the Sadduces Ye erre because yee know not the Scriptures nor the power of God and therefore the duty of euerie faithfull Christian is to reade meditate and search the holy scripture as God commandeth his people Deut. 6. 7. chap. 12. 32. chap. 17. 19. Iosua 18. Esa 8. 20. And Christ our Lord in the new Testament Ioh. 5. 39. And as did the faithfull in the time of the Apostles Act 17. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 15. The new doctrin of men doth teach that ignorance is the mother of deuotion and that to keepe religion safe it is needful to forbid the lay or secular men the reading of the holy scriptures seeing it is the cause of many heresies Bellarm. de verbo Dei lib. 2 cap. 15 16. cens col f. 19. The ancient doctrin of God doth teach that many deceiuers and false Prophets are gone out into the world and that the faithfull therfore are to proue the spirits whether they be of God 1. Io. 4. 1. And that the holy scripture is the touch whereby this proofe and examination ought to be made Ioh. 5. 39. Act 17. 11. So that all doctrine contrary and repugnant to holy Scripture be it of Councels Fathers Doctors old or new and that as saith the Apostle of himselfe or of an Angel from heauen ought not to be receiued nor taught in the Christian Church Gal. 1. 8. 1. Tim. 1. 3. chap. 6. 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 2. Ioh. 10. The new doctrin of men doth teach that whosoeuer coÌ„tradict the Pope his decrees human traditions be false teachers that the Pope hath authority to iudge of all controuersies and of the true sense of holy Scriptures and that from his iudgment it is not lawfull to appeale Bellar. de verbo Dâ—â— interp lib. 3. cap. 3. c. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that we ought to serue God alone which is the Creator and gouernour of all the world following the doctrin of Christ which saith Matt. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God him only shalt thou serue The new doctrine of men doth teach that we ought not to serue God alone but also the Saints that they hold them for patrons of kingdoms people cities societies and infirmities Bellarm. de Sanct. beat lib. 1. cap 12. Cens Col. fol. 230. The ancient doctrine of God doth teach that the lawful worship of God is to be founded vpon the holy Scripture that God will be serued according to his will and word in spirit and truth Ioh. 4. 24. and not after the opinion nor by the traditions nor customes of men as God by his prophet Eze. 20. 18. doth very expresly teach vs saying Walk not in the ordinances of your fathers nor obserue their lawes nor defile your selues with their idols I am the Lord your God Walke in mine ordinances and