Math. 23 but in heauen is his chaire from whence he teacheth by his spirite Againe he reuoketh vs to Church and Councels foure times repeated within foure leaues to which because we will not stand with out due examination or iust coÌ„tradiction therefore hee inferres that we haue no meanes to settle faith to determine controuersies to abolish heresies all which haue beene aunsweared in the former articles wherin we appropriate these especial meanes vnto the spirite of God and the holy scriptures for the first the scripture saith Isidore worketh in vs faith not obliquely hoouerly ambiguously but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 firmely amassed and compact deepely setled qui ne branle point as the French speake not mutable not nutable for that which onely ingendreth faith is the principall meanes to settle faith which are onely these twoo the word and the spirite because all faith by the confession of the schoolemen is either acquisita which is the effect of the woord read or preached or infusa which is the operation of the spirite without which the word is not effectual for nunquam Pauli sensum Ãngredieris nisi Pauli spiritum imbiberis a man shall neuer vnderstand Paul his meaning vnlesse hee haue beene touched with Paule his spirite saith Bernard for which cause both the Gospell is called the ground and stablishment of faith Colos. 1. and the Apostles and Prophets the foundation of our beleefe Ephes. 2. which was not spoken personally but as Aquinas well interprets it of their doctrine writings this being no derogation to Christ his priuiledge who is the principall fundament beecause as the Apostle speaketh of himself they hauing sensum Christi do preach nothing els but Christ and him crucified 1. Cor. 1. so that whereas other writers are to be read cum iudicandi libertate with libertie to censure them as wee please with choise whether wee will beleeue them or no the scriptures must be read cum credendi necessitate and therefore Canus confesseth that vltima resolutio fidei the last resolution of faith must bee vppon the spirite his inward operation And Aquinas that fides non debet inniti our faith must not be settled vpon any other writinges or decrees then the authors of the Canonical bookes haue set downe Whereupon the Bishop before named makes this conclusion proper to our purpose Nulla igitur alia c. no other principles of diuinitie no other doctrine of any diuines except of Christ the Prophets and Apostles fidem ecclesiae fundat doth ground or settle the faith of the church Secondly for the determining of controuersies wee appeale to the Princes Deputie the Vicar generall of Christ not the Pope whome in this case they deifie wee defie him but Vicarium Domini as Tertull. calles him the holy ghost and to his sentence viz. the scriptures wherein there is that vicaria vis Spiritus Sancti that power delegate of the Spirit and thus put the case with S. Augustine Ista controuersia iudicem requir it doth this Controuersie require an vmpire Iudicet Christus let Christ be he which hath those three perfections required in a Iudge confessed though ironically yet truely by the Herodians Math. 22. giuing a true sentence wherein we are assured there is no error absolute admitting no appeale vpright without bias of partialitie Iudicet cum illo Apostolus and with him ioyne the arbitrement of the Apostle because Christ himselfe speaketh in the Apostle Excellent is that place of Optatus are their Controuersies in poynts of Christianitie Iudges must bee procured to reconcile theÌ„ not Christians they will bee partiall on each side not Pagans they are not capable of these mysteries not Iewes they are sworne enemies against the truth from earth wee appeale to heauen sed quid pulsamus ad Caelum but why stand we knocking there cum habeamus hic in Euangelio since here wee haue him in the Gospel where if wee knocke the doore shall be opened by him whome Theophyl calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the porter of the Scriptures And so for that point we conclude with S. Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let the holy scripture determine betweene vs for there we haue controuersiarum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the deuoyement dissolution of all controuersies said the noble Emperour Constantine in the Councell of Nice For in Gods matters who more fit to iudge then God himselfe Idoneus enim sibi testis est qui nisi per se cognitus non est The same we say of the third for abolishing herefies the scriptures beeing as proper and sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to confound an heresie as it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to found a veritie For which cause both the spirite and the woord are compared to fire The spirite 1. Cor. 3. discerning betweene straw and siluer stubble and gold The word Ier. 23. disgregans heterogenea seuering the pretious from the vile the mettall from drosse being both index vindex the discrier of heresies the destroyer of them the boke of God by the power of the spirite being as Dauids sling and stones able to prostrate Goliah and repell the Philistines therefore though Councels assembled for confounding heresies yet the speciall artillerie wherwith they battered those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lofty imaginations of rebellious heretikes were fetched from the tower of Dauid Cant. 4 this armory of God For if the high priest discerne not of the leprosie or crime secundum legem according to the law though his authoritie were great yet his sentence was frustrate it beeing not free in matters of religion for men to determine or condemne what they will but iuxta leges so farre forth as the law prescribes theÌ„ saith a Papist on that place otherwise it might proue a tyranny ouer the conscience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be Lordes ouer the faith of men to inforce them without scripture So then we conclude this point with that precept of the wise maÌ„ His amplius fili mine requiras seeke no farther nor other meanes then these the spirite and the scriptures for the true Catholike church admittes of no other howsoeuer that Church thus nick-named the whore of Babylon enamored with strange louers doth boast herselfe of traditions and councels and fathers For our Sauiour Christ by his diuine prouidence did foresee that heresies were to arise in his church as his Apostle S. Paule doth warne vs the which as plagues were to infect his flocke and therefore he not onely forewarned vs of them but also gaue vs meanes how to preuent and extinguish them Hee willed vs to heare his Church if wee would not be accounted as Ethnikes and Publicans He ordained Pastors and Doctors least we should be carried away with euery blast of vaine doctrine He promised vnto the
both before that time was the promise by Esay prophecied accomplished in the gathering of the Gentiles in processe of time the number so incresed though still inuisiblie that as her loue said in the Canticles There are threescore Queenes and fourescore Concubines and of the daughters without number As for those homages or rather base vassalages of Emperours and kinges and that much bragd of donation which Pipine king of France gaue to Steuen the 2. and his successours in lieu of the Pope his absoluing this rebell from his loyall allegiance to his lawfull prince falsly intituled Constantines donation are nothing within the circuite of Esay his prophecy alleadged by this libeller but rather which S. Iohn foresaw and reuealed that the kings of the earth should commit fornication with the strumpet of Babylon The two last are easily reioyned for the Spirite of God which is Christ his viceroy heâ—e on earth both for his preseruing assistaunce and powerfull presence as hee is called the Holy ghost sanctifying the elect in their hartes and actions and a Doctor informing their mindes and a Pledge assuring their consciences against the day of Redemption so is he principally called the Paâ—aclete or Comforter both assisting theÌ„ in their troubles and comforting them in their afflictions so that if this were the euâ—dent marke and continuall state of Christes church to be outwardly glorious what neede it either a Protector to defend it or a Comforter to support it for the whole neede not the Phisiâ—ion but the sicke Therfore because the church should still be endaungâ—red he promised his assistaunce and because dismayed his presence both effectuall yet alwayes inuisible For so saith Bernard There are three aduents of Christ in the first he was seene on earth couuersing with men in flesh and infirmitie in the last hee shal be seene in â—eauen in glory and mâ—â—estle the middle aduent which hath-beene since his Ascention and is now continuall occultus est soli Electi in seipsis vident â—um in spirite and power Then our position denying the coÌ„spiâ—uous constant visibilitie of the church truly Cathelike to be an essentiall note thereof is neyther negatiue of Christ his aduent nor impeachment of his promises nor weakening his assistance nor abandoning his presence but the poorer and weaker his flocke the more admirable is the accomplishment of his promises and the more to be magnified is his protecting power his powerfull presence For my power is perâ—ected in weaknesse saith himselfe to Paul For Atheisme and Machiauelisme in the church of Rome they bred from thence haue beene spred for all her glorious conspicuitie Melch. Canus constantly auoucheth Italy to bee the very fountaine of Atheistes Machiauell was a Florentine and the authour of that detestable libell De tâ—ibus impostoribus whether Aretinus or Postellus eyther an Italian or a Frenchman neither of them a visible meÌ„ber of any reformed church And not to ransacke all corners let a Pope of Rome speake for Rome it selfe so glorious so gorgious so constant Pius Quintus often spake it with griefe Roman adhuc magis gentiliz are quà m Christianizare and it is not 50. yeares since hee died that Rome was yet more heathenish then Christianâ— so theÌ„ we conclude this point of Visibilitie with that speech of Clement Alexandr Any thing becomes a Christian better 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then to be pompous if euery Christian whose bodie is the temple of the holy Ghost much more the Church which is the body of Christ should not glorie in her pompe The Second Article The Learned Protestants are Infidels 1 Whosoeuer buildeth his faith vpon his owne priuate and singular exposition of Scripture is an Infidell This is his Maiâ—r Aunsweare STrumpettes they say haue more easie deliuerie in their trauaile then honest womeÌ„ and Sophisticall arguments are sooner framed then true syllogismes the tearmes of this proposition being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the connexion will not hold for Faith and Infidelitie beeing ex diametro opposite caÌ„not agree at the same time in the same subiect Is it a trueth which he buildes then the builder is no Infidell is it a falshood then that which he buildes is not Faith but errour All knowledge in Diuinitie is threefold as the light is opinion compared to the twylight Faith to the dawning science to the Sunne shine the first is neither certaine nor euident being still in formidine oppositi and so resoluing vpon nothing falleth either in obliquum ambigui or errorem mendacii and is the very fountaine of Atheisme and heresie at the best it is but that which S. Paule calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very morphew faint colour of knowledge The third Scientiâ— is both certaine and euident which being within the compasse of S. Paul his non 〈◊〉 in respect of vs is proper to that other liâ—e saith Basil where we shal know euen as we are knowne because we having here not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Damascen speaketh but compassed about with this vaile of flesh haue no other knowledge but 〈…〉 in part and vnperfect The middle therefore which is Faith is certaine but not euident being of thinges not seene Heb. 11. quia valdé remota est a sensibus 〈◊〉 saith S. Augustine But there being exfide in fidem Rom. 1. 17. degrees in â—aith he which reacheth not the highest step is not to be concluded an Infidell for 〈◊〉 in vniuersali errans in particulari is no infidelitie in the iudgment of the schooles els the Apostles deriring to haue their faith increased Luc. 17. might bee accompted infidels and the Apostle his difference betweene a weakeling in faith and an Infidel were superfluous Wherefore as in that morall precept of Epicharmus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the strength ioynts of wisedome there is not inioyned an Academicall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an obstinate restrainte of the assent to any thing we reade or heare but a prepensed deliberation not to be rashly credulous so in diuine knowledge Faith being by S. Austen defined intellectus cum assensu they whome Christ calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 slowe of heart to belâ—eue were not to bee intituled Infidels For tarditie and suspence of the assent may arise by some obstacle not remooued but infidelitie proceedes from a pertinacie of the minde Therefore his proposition had bene more Theologicall and Logicall Whosoeuer builds his opinion or his errour is an Infidell For nothing is to be accompted faith whose obiect is not veritas prima Againe building of a mans faith argues his desire to be confirmed therin a thing not incident to an infidell For all infidelitie is purae negationis or prauae either priuatiue or contrary the first in them to whome the trueth was neuer reuealed as the Pagans and Heathen which
to theire Creed saying that nothing ought to be beleued which is not in the Apostles Creede But then I would demande of them whether wee ought to beeleeue that the Scripture is the word of God that Baptisme is a Sacrament that in the Eucharist is the bodie of Christ by faith to what article should these be reduced seeing they are not contained in the Creede or how shall wee know infallibly how these be matters of faith since they are not contained in the Creede Aunsweare Were the Law of India and Persiagenerally infortiat that he which was thrise taken in a lie might be perpetually sileÌ„ced this fourth article had perished in the Libellers lunges the three former beeing shamelesly false but sithence he is of his nature whome the poet describes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that hath neither grace to speake trueth nor power to holde in his chatt Artoxerxes law will fitte him better as hee punished a liar with fastening three nailes into his tounge so to choke him with three argumentes conuincing him of manifest vntrueth in saying that it is manifest we haue no rule to know what is matter of faith First the holy Ghost praescript haec scriptasunt vt credamus Ioh. 20. Secondly our writers indesinent challenge prouoking with the Prophet Esa. 8 ad legem testimonium Thirdly their owne continuall clamours crying out vppon vs for making the Scripture alone the rule of life beliefe the sole iudge in coÌ„trouersies Therfore let him know that we know our selues to bee citizens subiect to a prince by whose law we are directed which as the great Philosopher in humane policie we with Tertullian call regulam veritatis the 〈◊〉 of trueth with Cyprian regulam doctrinâ—â—um the rule of all learning with Basil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the rule of right with Aquinas regulaÌ„ intellectus nostri the rule of our vnderstaÌ„ding with Carthusian regulaÌ„ credendorum agendorum the rule of contemplation and action For doctrine wee say with Esay If any speake not according to this rule it is beecause there is no light in them for manners with S. Paul as many as walke after this rule peace be vpoÌ„ them and mercy and so conclude with Cyrill that our faith is not deriued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 froÌ„ the inuention of man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but from the demoÌ„stration of Gods writ It is their dunsticall glossary that prescribeth in the discord of the foure Doctours to take Augustins rule in disputationibus Ieromes in translationibus Gregories immoralibus forgetting S. Ambrose and therfore Ambrosius Spiera for names sake preferre his rule in iudicijs But we say with S. Augustine Sacra Scriptura doctrinae nostrae regulam figit the holy Scripture frames the rule for our faith and profession This is their torment that we will not say to their Pope in sooth which S. Augustine spake to Faustus the Manichee in a scoffe ergo tu es regula veritatis and so acknowledge his definitiue to be the why and what the forme and matter the rule and frame of our faith and beliefe That which followeth of confining our beleefe to the Creede and accompting all other thinges extrauagant from faith not combined within the Apostles Symbole is this Tatlers fancie not our practise For first wee doubt not but it is an Apostolicall collection agreeing with and deriued from their doctrine yet resolue not that it was the Apostles frame Secondly wee acknowledge it Canonlike but not Canonicall squared according to that rule the holy Scriptures but not the rule it selfe Thirdly we vse it being Christs souldiers as the Romanes their Tessera communis in warres as a short placard wherin is comprehended the summe of our profession for that cause called as S. Austen writeth Symbolum either in respect of the Authors arguing their vnitie in faith euery one casting in his seuerall share or of vs it being the Christians Shibboleth distinguishing Gilead from Ephraim a true trained souldiour from a rude nouice or counterfaite intruder or open pagan And giue that wee made it either the Limitation of our faith it is no more then the Fathers haue done Ambrose calles it S. Peters key strong inough to open and shut the gates of heauen Austen cals it certam regulam fidei an vnfallible rule of faith And so doth Leo in his sermons de passione or if wee call it the perfection of all faith it is no other then the same Augustine hath done who intitles it the abridgement of both testaments totum continens com pendio breuitatis and els where comprehensionem fidei nostrae perfectioneÌ„ the simplicitie thereof helping the rudenesse the shortnesse assisting the memory the fulnesse perfecting the doctrine of the professours nor then S. Hierome who accomptes it the absolute breuiary Christiani dogmatis no more then the Schoolemen who call it summam credendorum containing in it the whole matter of faith vel explicitè vel implicit éeither directly or respectiuely for whatsoeuer thinges are credenda saith Aquinas are referred either ad esse naturae and so respecte the whole story of the creation and consequently the articles of the three persons each of them hauing an hand in that great worke as Basil elegantly obserueth or ad esse gratiae which the Creede presentes vnto vs in the articles of our redemption or ad esse gloriae which we expect by beleeuing the bodies resurrection and the eternitie of life Briefly our faith resting vpon that double couenant of God vnto his chosen the first I will bee thy God is dilated in the former and larger part of the Creede teaching his omnipotency in the creation his mercy in our redemption by his Sonne and the assistance of the holy spirite the other and they shall be my people in the last part from the Catholike church vnto the ende And yet for all these glorious prerogatiues of this Apostolicall abstract none of our writers haue made it the non vltrá of our faith or the listes of our beleefe But did wee so what followes an horrible sacriledge insues and threefold that is There is no article to make vs beleeue the Scripture to be Gods woord that is fals for beleuing in God the Father we acknowledge both his essence his prouidence in esse diuino saith Aquine are included all those properties which wee beleue to be in God eternally wheron dependeth vita beatitudinis and amongst them his trueth infide prouidentiae all those thinges are comprised which he hath temporally dispensed for mans saluation which leade him in via beatitudinis among these is the dispensation of his woord which in our Creede wee acknowledge to be his in professing him to be a God and therfore true for God is not as man that hee can lie Nomb. 23 but himselfe hath testified 1.
to the bread videlicet shed for many in remissionem peecatorum for remission of sinnes and so making them demi-saintes are more guiltie of annihilating this article of the Communion of Saints then we which exclude none and giue the whole But to conclude if the real and carnall presence of Christ be the onely cause of the Saintes vnion vnto him and their communion among themselues what then doth S. Augustine meane when he saith that in receiuing of the sacrameÌ„t some do eate panem domini and other some panem dominum if it be bread then it is not transubstantiated into his bodie if some do eate the bread of the Lord other the bread the Lord what makes the difference if it be his bodie really then is it alike to all for Christes bodie cannot bee changed if to some it be bread and to others Christ the difference is in the receiuer not in the sacrament summarilie in the holy supper there is sacramentum res sacramenti the first the twoo elementes the second Christ himselfe they are tasted with the mouth and chewed in the teeth this must haue as Basil calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mouth of the inward man which is faith The sacrament is receiued by some to life by others to perdition but the thing it selfe Omni homini ad vitam nulli ad mortem saith S. Austen If therfore Christ be there carnally present then indefinitely quicunque eius particeps fuerit whosoeuer good or bad shall participate eateth vndoubtedly his owne saluation and so becomes one with Christ a consequent necessary but most impious Seondly they deny the Communion of the church militant triumphant by exclaming against inuocatioÌ„ of Saints by which holy exercise those blessed Saintes in heauen and wee in earth communicate wee by prayer glorifiing them and they by meditation obtayning our requests Aunsweare This distinction of saintes into militant and triumphant we allow that there is but one tribe and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of them both wee acknowlege Eph. 3. We on earth sub pellibus lying in campe vnder sold pay fighting as souldiers 2. Tim. 2. the celestiall in rest and glory hauing coronam repositam impositam 2. Tim. 4 the crowne laid vp for theÌ„ put vpon them raigning as kinges Apo. 1. That communion with them wee maintaine which the primitiue church allowed both by imitation of their vertues in our conuersation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by celebration of their praises in panegyricall orations by the example of the Apostle Heb. 11 in reuolution of their annuall memories at solemne feastes authorized by the church We detest the Cainans and Eunomians for contemning the Saintes departed accounting a liuing dog better then a dead lion Eccles. 9. with S. Augustine we honor them charitate non seruitute hauing receiued prohibition to be seruants of meÌ„ 1. Cor. 7 with loue not feare in admiration of their liues not adoration of their images nec templa sicut dijs sed memorias vt hominibus dicamus saith Austen we reare not temples vnto them as Gods but record their memories as of holy meÌ„ there being a difference betweene sepulchra aedificare Math. 23 simalâ—chracolere betwene dignifieng them as Saints by celebration Deifieng them as Gods by inuocation this combâ—ning of heauen and earth together by prayer to them being rather a mutinous rebellion and conspiracy against God then a mutuall communion or societie of saintes grounded vpon an heathenish superstition the chiefe authors beeing Plato and Apuleius who formed mediators Doemonicall and Heroicall both those spiritual essences which they call Doemones and the soules departed which they called Heroes as the popish clergie Angels and Saintes continued by supposed aparitions of walking ghostes and miracles wrought at martyrs monumentes and confirmed by some ambiguous irresolutions of a few fathers for whether they procure vs any good euen Origen makes it a question thinkes it not to bee chartulae mysterium a written veritie but an vnknowne secrete and they which were that way in such affections most passionate slaked their heat in this case with a Si or a Qnasi as S. Basil with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Nazianz. as I thinke am perswaded not resolued by the scholemen what their knowledge or their power is whether their knowledge be matutina or vespertina and whether they procure vs any good either impetratiuè by mediation of their prayers or interpretatiuè by valuation of their merits No where euen by the confessioÌ„ of Eckius authorized in scripture by any example or precept not in the old testament because the people were to prone to Idolatrie as in the Calfe was seene the saints were theÌ„ in Limbo not glorified not in the new least the Gentils couerted shold returne and worship men for Gods as the Lycaonians did Paul and Barnabas Act. 14. not in the writinges or preachinges of the Euangelists and Apostles least they might be suspected of arrogancy as purueyors of their owne prayses in proclayming themselus an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a future glory among meÌ„ after their decease this saith Eckius although both Duraeus will needes fetch it from the very crosse of Christ in this manner Our Sauiour in his passion cried out Eli Eli and the people thought hee had called for Elias ergo Inuocation of Saintes was vsed among the Iewes and this pamphletor as you see wil haue it an article of faith which caÌ„not be whether we look vnto the matter of faith which is the word or the obiect of faith which is Christ. For nothing may bee an article of faith which is not squired by the rule of faith the scripture Neither is prayer to be made vnto any but on whome we beleeue Rom. 10. no Christian dare say that wee must beleeue in Saintes It was said of Cesar that in the renewing Pompey his statues which were ruinated he erected his owne here it is contrary for this gloriâ—eng of the Saintes is the disparagement of the whole Trinitie of God the father beeing the principall obiect of our prayers by his owne precept Psal. 50 Call vpon mee by Christes auaunt to Sathan Math. 4 Eisoli him only thou shalt serue by his soueraigntie of place beeing our king of olde Psal. 74. 12. nec benè cum socijs regna-manent saith the Poet. Of the Sonne beeing the vnus mediator the alone mediator betweene God and man 1. Tim. 2. 5. the still suruiuing priest making intercession for vs Heb. 7. 25 without whome there is no accesse vnto the Father Ioh. 14. who onely as Ambrose saith hath that double office of a mediatour imperare vt deus visitare vt homo as man compassionating our infirmities Heb. 2 as God supplying our wants as man dying for our sinnes as
A Defence of the Articles of the Protestants Religion in aunsweare to a libell lately cast abroad intituled Certaine Articles or forcible reasons discouering the palpable absurdities and most intricate errours of the Protestantes Religion Vt loquerentur calumniam transgressionem conceperunt et locuti sunt de corde verba mendacii Esa. 59. 13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basilius LONDON Imprinted by Iohn Wolfe and are to bee sold in Pauls church yard by Mathew Law 1601. To the Right Reuerend Father in Christ Richard by Gods permission Bishop of London my very good Loâ—d TVVo venemous worms there are which like snakes at the Palme roote doe gaster and infect the floorishing state of a setled Church Sacrilege and Haeresie which double mischiefe to the Church is principally imputed to men of the Church ambition basely yeelding to any compact for titular prefermentes feeding the sacrilegious humour factious traducing each of other for opinions different or rather indifferent opening a gap for the haereticall inchanter This last through the despite of Rome transmitting her traiterous shauelinges to seduce good subiectes disgorging loathsome slaunders to defame our Prince and State among forreners and principally dispersing their infamous libels against our religion to make it more odious to our domesticall professors hath of late much pestered and haunted this our Church and Realme the inward cause is their inueterate malice but this outrage in multiplying their blowes thus thicke and threefold pardon my good Lord if I gesse amisse is incensed by an opinion they haue conceyued that there is among vs a generall declining to Poperie aud the ruine beginning at the very groundcelles of religion our schooles of learning which God bee thancked stande both fast and sure against the strongest battery of the Romish factioÌ„ if euer heretofore cleerly voyde of all her superstitious infections yet this hot surmise though very vaine and false hath notwithstanding receiued the flame from a wilde-fire zeale of some vniuersitie men who pronounce euery position to be Popish which is not within the verge of their paper booke common places and wanting the Towne-clarke his discretion Act. 19. 36 to do nothing rashly but to referre the determination to a lawfull assembly vers 39. proclaimed that for heresy in a solemne meeting which comming to a higher and more mature examination prooued to bee so farre from Popery that it was on the contrary conuinced by the writings verdict of the greatest authors of accompt among vs to bee most sound doctrine and orthodoxall By which offensiue clamour woorse then Cham his irrision so farre carried and sorting to so smale effect of trueth howsoeuer without seuere and condigne punishmeÌ„t it escaped yet surely the whole state of this realme the vniuersitie it selfe and the particular persons thus slaunderously abused haue receiued a wroÌ„g scarcely expiable by the diuestiture of the accusers from their places The Realme because report which getteth feathers by flying will sound it out in forreine partes that our fountaines are infected the vniuersitie in that no parent of wisedome and religion will send his sonne to a place suspected the particuler men beeing iniuried in their good name impeached in their preferment discouraged in their indeuours being as readie to confront as willing to encounter as able to ouerthrow any Papist as the most forward and whotspurred challengers of the opposite enraged faction which by your Lordship and other of authoritie Ecclesiasticall being not allayed and scattered it is no marueile if the Papist take courage like another Antaeus thus redouble his strength to the preiudice disgrace of this our famous Church An instance hereof among many other is this smal pamphlet aunsweared by mee so commaunded by his Grace wherin the author taketh euery occasion to triumph in our diuisions VVhich aunsweare I haue presumed to present to your Lordship both as a testimony publike of that reuerent regard which I euer acknowledged due from my selfe vnto you principally for that I am acquainted with that most earnest desire and care which your L. reuealed at your first inuestiture into that great dignitie to haue the common aduersarie euery wâ—y answered This if your good Lordship accept and approue it is the accoÌ„plishment of mine endeuour if not the secoÌ„d part for this is but the first may bee imposed vpoÌ„ some other who with more opportunitie for leysure sufficiencie for learning may discharge it better In the meane time I commend this to your L. fauour and your Lordship to God his protection From his Graces house in Lambeth Ianuary 11. 1601. William Barlow The fiue Articles obiected concerning knowledge and faith 1. The Protestantes haue no faith nor Religion 2. The Learned Protestantes are Infidels 3. All Protestantes ignorant of the Greeke and Latine tongues are Infidels 4. The Protestants know not what they beleeue 5. The ProtestaÌ„ts haue no meane to determine controuersies abolish Heresies In the aunsweare to them these pointes are fully handled occasioned by his obiections In the first the Returne of the Article in generall vpon the Papistes Antiquitie of our particular Church Inuisibilitie of the true Catholike Church Constancie and Diffusion In the second the Qualities and nature of Infidelitie Best exposition of Scripture Publike Priuate Authoritie of Fathers In the thirde the Credite of Councels and the Church Vse of tounges Bibles translation In the Fourth the Motiues to faith not subiect vnto reason True rule of faith Authoritie of the Apostles Creede Dignitie Vse and Substance Fiue Articles of the Creed examined 1. Catholike Church therein the Definition Description of the true Church 2. Communion of Saints wherein of the Nomber of Sacramentes Presence in the Eucharist Inuocation of Saintes Prayer for the dead and Purgatorie 3. Remission of sinnes wherein of Baptisme Pennance Iustification by not imputing 4. The Deitie of Christ. 5. Descent into Hell In the fifth The fittest arbiter and iudge in decision of controuersies The differences betweene Protestantes and Puritans An aunsweare to an odde extrauagant syllogisme about the Certaintie of Saluation Et me prodes nec tibi proder is nisi perlegas Hieronym To reade as the booke opens casually not from the beginning orderly is to betray my paines and thy profite The greater faults escaped thus to be corrected Blunderus lege Bunderus pag. 20. marg In quos read In quo pa. 32. lin 8. maiestlâ— for maiestie pa. 36. lin 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pa. 52. lin 9. 11 Cor for 1. Cor. pa. 53. marg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pa. 63. lin 2. abundance lege abundare pa. 64. lin vâ—t pag. 67. marg Durius for Duraeus mendatium for mendacium pa. 70. lin 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 71. lin 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pa. 72. li. 14. Ephes. 42. lege Epistol 42. pa. 73 marg ius bt foris buâ— pag. 75.
was Saint Augustines to Cyprian in the like We repute not their writinges as Canonicall but iudge them by the Canon if they accorde cum laude corum to their praise we admit them if they dissent cum pace â—orum by their leaue wee refuse them Which in this point is true for Epiphanius though mightily opposite in this opinion against Aerius coÌ„fesseth that this is not praeceptum patris but institutio matris not any precept of Scripture where notwithstanding we reade of solemne funerals and honourable memorials of the dead but a tradition of the Fathers and Church which is also Tértullian his speach Secondly for the thing it selfe sithence it hath often and impregnably bin proued that the praier for the disceased neither preuaileth with God nor auaileth the dead therefore Chrysostome howsoeuer a great patron for this point concludes that it is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a verie stage-play mockerie But of this poynt more in the treatie of Purgatorie For the last clause if it be true wee commend it as an excellent precedent and paterne desiring that they which so much glorie of the fathers would therin imitate them For this word the Scriptures is that tower of Dauid wherin are a 1000. shields and tota armatura fortium all weapons both defensiue and expugnatorie for all conflicts of controuersie Cant. 4. 4. 4 Or perhaps they meane to admitt the Fathers when they alleage Scripture but such as euery Protestant shall allow of so it be conformable to their fancies fit their new coyned Gospell and in this sence who seeth not that euery paltrie companion will make himselfe not onely the true expositor of Christes word but also will preferre his exposition before all auncient Fathers when they daunce not after his pipe and consent not with their heresies Aunsweare These hick scorning termes of new coyned Gospell paltry companion dauncing after his pipe and those wordes also of fieâ—ie element fancies and heresies beeing but the issues of a filthie braine and loathsome stomacke we returne into his throate with the aunsweare of the Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a fennel stalke will not make a speare nor such wordes sound proofes onely they argue an impatience with a badde cause and a worse conscience The substaunce of this demaund is if a priuate man may discerne of Scriptures whether truely or falsly alleaged by the Fathers an answeare hee receiues in the rifling of his Minor if that coÌ„tent him not S Paule will tell him that there is discretio spirituum a gift of the holy Ghost not tyed onely to the Church and Churchmen but imparted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to euery man illumined by the spirite imploring Gods direction and conferring Scriptuâ—es and therefore elswhere hee wisheth eueryman abundance in suo sensu Rom. 14. Wherein as he giueth libertie for euerie man to haue his owne sense so withall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to assure his conscience that this his meaning is rectified which certainty is wrought by prayer to God diligent coÌ„ference serious studies often meditation the like all which beeing euident arguments of a spiritual man his power is warranted by saint Paule to discerne al things euen profunda Dei Whervpon Canus infâ—rs that vnicuique praestanâ—â— quod in se est to euery man vsing the means before named God giues vnderstaÌ„ding sufficient in all matters of saluation for the eare trieth wordes as the mouth tasteth meate saith Iob As therefore the palate if it be well affected can discerne perfitely of the sapours which touch it if infected it cannot so saith he the affection of a mind well disposed is able to distinguish a truth froÌ„ an erâ—our So true is that of the Philosopher Qualis vnusquisque erit tale etiam iudicium proferet Notwithstanding herein we verifie not that prouerbe to bring Saul among the â—rophets not to make men deuoide of Gods spirit though otherwise acutely witted or excellentâ—ie learned discerners of spirituall thinges wee knowe that the shaâ—pest Philosophers comming to these mysteries haue fared as the Sodomites at Lots doore as Nazianzene speaketh 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as saint Augustin acutâ— obtusi and as Gerson obserueth disputers in these poynts vt caeci de coloribus but knowing with all that the Spirit bloweth where it listeth Ioh. 3. we with the Apostle grant this prerogatiue of true exposition not to euerie man pelly melly but to euery spirituall man whom because it so pleaseth this Libeller he entitles a paltry companion but what sayth hee to his owne Melchior Canus who giues this power simplici mulierculae to a silly woman assigning his reason quia ab vnctione docetur because shee is annoynted with the Spirit And here I might nd but that you shâ—ll see either the impudâ—ncie or the ignorance as I gesse it of this mate for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Prouerbe as Saint Paul sayd of clergie marriage 1. Cor. 9. haue not I power to leade about a sister a wife so say I haue not we Protestants as good authoritie to refuse the fathers vnsound expositions of Scriptures as well as the greasie shauelings among the Papists who reiect their soundest interpretations crossing their proiects The Rhemists renounce Saint Austen as an vnskilfull interpreter of super hanc petram Math. 16 Pighâ—us abiures him in the tract of oâ—iginall sinne Aug. Steuc barkes at saint â—erome in Nomb. and Deu. and Bernardinus at both of them with a triuiall prouerbe of dormitat Homerus and Duraeus the Scot turnes off Saint Ieroms opinion of Baruch his book with a quid tum postea thus these transam-eyed hypocrites can spie small motes in vs not feeling their owne beames The summe of this article and the drift of this rennagate is that fides iâ—plicita to driue vs to the streights which the Philistines forced Israel vnto the sharpning our instruments and the fetching our weapons froÌ„ their forge that is to beleeue as their Church beleeues without any triall or examination and then wee should not bee Infidels but that is stopped by S. Peter who willes euerie one to bee readie in giuing an account of that fayth hee professeth 1. Pet. 3. 10. fayth it is not which is not certaine nor aunswere cannot bee made but by him which is assured but both Aquinas and Canus conclude that the authoritie of Doctours and Fathers make fidem probabilem noÌ„ certam perswade fayth but assure it not and thus endes this second Article The third Article All Protestants who are ignorant of the Greeke Latine tongue are Infidels Whosoeuer relieth his faith c. Aunsweare IT is the propertie of Sophisters saith S. Augustine grandi cothurno incedere to make stately paces great shewes to vphold an ill cause vel moram faciendo if with nothing els yet with standing vpon it faine would this disputer with his
vnsauery sayth Iob and malice without arte is vnarmed bitternesse and a distempered folly and therefore as those iangling rudesbies titular Doctors in S. Paules time knew not what they spake nor whereof they affirmed so saith IeroÌ„ Heretikes cum disputare nesciant tamen litigare non desinunt though they cannot reason yet they will wrangle and for want of Logicke they will chop Logicke His syllogismes are wasted now hee comes to profound diuisions of why and what and the Protestantes ignorance in both which he inforceth by a double reuiew That they know not why they beleeue I haue shewed before For that the ground of their belefe iâ— not the authoritie of the Scâ—ipture of Councels of Doctours nor of the Church but their owne fancie Aunsweare Both these reuiewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are returned with a remaund semblable the first where he hath shewed it I haue aunsweared and there let him search it the second with Nazian that Tautology is no meanes of breuitie which hee so affectes in pretence and request But what diuinitie is this to call a Christians beliefe to a why vidâ—licet to calculate the mysteries of faith by proofe of reason a thing countercheckt by all the Fathers especially Clement Alex. in generall and particularly by Eusebius in the Antemonistes who weighed all the articles of Faâ—th by Logicall Syllogismes For some which haue faith saith S. Augustine haue not copiam defendendi fidem not the skill to apologize their faith or render reason thereof and hee which hath this skill doctior est non fidelior is the greater clerke not the â—ounder Christian therfore his rule elsewher is not to discusse the diuine mysteries but to beleeue them non rationem requirere sed fidem simpliciter exhibere And the Apostle S. Peter when he wils vs to be ready to satisfie euery man poscenti rationem desâ—e that asketh a reason of our hope meaneth that neither we should be ashamed of our faith in our publike confession nor to shame it by a depraued conuersation For to giue a reason of matters of faith is not possible they beeing supernaturall and mans reason in that knowledge but a beast saith Ieremy neyther were it so is it a faculty generall but sapientum tantum saith Aquinas And they which desire by questioÌ„s to be resolued in the deepe mysteries of faith doe it not as Anâ—elme speaketh vt per rationem ad fidem accedaâ—t that by reasons or resolutions they might be induced to beleeue sed vt â—orum quâ— credunt ontemplatione delectentur For articles of faith are the obiectes of admiâ—ing contemplation not of Logicall demonstration saith Basil. yet to follow this fellow his absurde methode wee can shew him a tâ—iple why three reasons of our beliefe the cause why the meanes why and the ende why the procatarcticall or first moouing cause the grace and power of the spirite inclining our hartes to beleeue the demiurgical or instrumentall meanes the word of God read or preached the teleioticall or finall cause eternall life which wee by faith expect the first for this purpose called spiritus fidei 2. Cor. 4. 13. the second verbum fidei 1. Tim. 4. 6. the last finis fidei 1. Pet. 1. 9. so then the Protestants why is that which the Schoolemen call sufficiens inductiâ—um not onely doctrina diuina the holy scripture sed quod plus est saith Aquinas interior instinctus dei inuitantis the inward inspiration motioÌ„ of the spirite Let the case be in that article of our belefe the incarnatioÌ„ of Christ demand of a ChristiaÌ„ why he belieues this his answere wil be because the Scripture recordes it but reply vpon him why he beleeues the Scripture his reason exceedes a why it is the finger of God opening his hart els when S. Peter handeled those great mysteries in his sermon Act. 2. why had some of them compunctionem spiritus vers â—7 the pricking of the spirite whereby their hartes were moued to beleeue but others of them spiritum compunctionis Rom. 11. their hartes pricking against the spirite resisting it partly by doubting vers 12. partly by scoffinge vers 13. the same Scripture opened to theÌ„ all but the same spirite not working alike in all If any aske a why of this beliefe S. Paule will crie out not aunsweare O altitudo Rom. 11. non est disputationis sed stuporis saith Ambrose it is a matter of amazemeÌ„t not of argument And therfore the scholemen define credere to be an acte of the vnderstanding assenting to the diuine trueth ex imperio voluntat is a deo motae per gratiam at the commaund of the will so mooued by the grace and spirite of God a resemblance familiar will make this euident There are in euery man three parts 1. Thes. 5. 23. flesh soule and spirite or rather three men in one man 1. Cor. 2. the carnall naturall the spirituall man and each of these hath his seuerall eye that Chrystalline humor for the body the reason for the soule and faith for the spirite Now then as the eie of the body thogh it be the caÌ„dle of the body Math. 622. yet the apple in the eie is the eie of that eie saith Philo and as the eie of the minde is reason Eccles. 2. 14. yet the eie of that eie is the vnderstandinge sayth Aquinas so the eie of the part regenerate is faith but the eie of that eie is the spirite of God for in his lighte doe wee see light Psal. 36. 9. therefore as in the bodily sight shine the Sunne neuer so glorious be the aire neuer so cleere and the medium neuer so transparent yet if the apple in the eie be vnsound the sight will faile and deceiue for he that lookes through a miste saith Basil seeth a misse so be the media of our beliefe optimé disposita the Scripture perspicuous the church testimonie euideÌ„t the torrent of Fathers euery way concurrent the decrees of Councels vnalterably constant yet if the spirite of God qui sensum dat assensum mouet saith Bernar. worke not vpon the wil forcing the assent thereto all the other are in vaine Wherefore if wee bee asked why we beleeue our aunsweare is that we ascribe the cause to Gods inspiration and the meanes to the words ministration As for this Cuckow-like Palinodie of Councels Doctours and Church beeing the fa-burden of euery article hetherto it argueth the barrennesse of his conceite and the badnesse of his cause but deserues no other aunsweare then hee hath receiued before And now wee must come to his second profunditie of what we beleeue And that they knowe not what they beleeue is manifest beecause they haue no rule wherby to know what is matter of faith and what is not Some will limit their beleefe
Libeller being his owne Whosoeuer beleueth a particular church to be the Catholike denyeth that article But the Papistes avow and beleeue Rome to be the Church ergò The Papistes denie that article But that I promised at his request to aunswere seriously I might play with him about his wheate tree and aske him where he was borne and how corne growes I haue read in S. Basil that coales readie burnt haue growne vpon trees but that corne hath bulkt into a stemme and branched out into armes non me pudet fateri nescire quod nesciam I neuer heard or read but let his folly passe we will follow him to the second article denied as hee saith by vs. 2 The second article is the Communion of Saintes the which they deny many waies First by not beleeuing that Christ hath instituted seuen Sacraments wherein the Saintes of his church communicate Aunsweare The Protestantes denie that Christ instituted seauen Sacraments ergó They denie the Communion of Saintes The argument is denied as beeing arena sine calce an inâ—erence without any coherence there beeing no semblable relation betweene fiue of those Sacramentes and this article of the Câ—eede Yet the Anabaptistes reason more properly who beecause we detest their Platonicall communitie as accompting Meum Tuum to be more consonant to Gods law and all Christian policie do thereby inferre that wee deny the Communion of Saintes But to this purpose for the article we beleue and confesse that among the saintes on earth though distant in place or different in condition or aliens by nation there is an vnitie in religion an vnanimitie in affection a sympathie in affliction a mutuall charitie for reliefe each of other either comforting the mind if vexed or supplying the wantes if distressed or supporting the weakenesse if vnsetled or reforming the ignorance if blinded or praying for deliueraunce if oppressed falsifying that Heathenish and vncharitable prouerbe Amici qui degunt procul non sunt amici This is our faith without breach whereof notwithstanding we denie seauen sacramentes to bee Christes ordinaunce If he meane of them which denie al the seanen he should say somewhat but not touch vs who acknowledge two which ratifie this article most Baptisme an initiation or entraÌ„ce into this Communion and the Lordes Supper which by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and speciall priuiledge is intituled by S. Paule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the communion But if the force of this argument lie in the septenarie nomber as it seemeth by the Tridenrine anathema it must then all the auncient fathers some of their owne doctors are as obnoxious to this imputation of denying this article as we The obiections by our men out of Iustine Tertullian and Augustine in diuers places are triuiall and stale but especially out of Ambrose who of purpose writing a treatise of the Sacramentes â—eckons but two Isidore and Gregory excede not three As for the Sacrament of Matrimonie grounded vpon an ignorant translation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. 5. Canus citeth the infinite differences and digladiations of the schoole doctors there about Lombard the first hammerer of this seuen folde shield by a close consequent denieth it to be a sacrament because it conferreth not grace as all Sacraments must doe by their diuinitie Erasmus constantly affirmeth that in S. Ieromes time it was accompted no sacrament Durandus minceth it with an vnivocé and stricté saying that it is a sacrament after the larger size not properly But Alexander Alensis the ancientst schole man of credite concludeth that Christ instituted but two sacramentes which hee proueth both by Christs side pierced out of which issued water and bloud and also by that triple testimonie agreeing in one the spirit water and bloud reliqua per ministros Ecclesiae ordinata the rest were the inuentions or additions of church gouernours And Petrus a Soto coÌ„fesseth that the elementes woordes and effectes of foure sacramentes cannot be proued by the scripture Compendium Theologiae is forced to say that the element which in all sacraments is an externall substance and materiall is the action and humiliation of the partie penitent and the woord adioyned to make it a full Sacramente is the Priestes absolution S. Bernard puts in the Maundie of Christ for a Sacrament and so makes eight others and aboue the rest Dionys. Areopag leaues out matrimonie and so finds but sixe But will you see two foxes tied by the tailes and their heades turned counter this hood winckt libeller saith wee denie seauen but Duraeus the Schottish champion for Campian findes that Caluin Beza and Melancthon agree vpon the full nomber of seauen both alike true for we denie but fiue hauing the authoritie and precedent of 500. yeares but for two onely and none of ours euer allowed of the whole seauen And therefore I conclude this point first that if our denial of iust seauen bee a blot to that article wee are not the first the Fathers after the Scriptures directing vs and â—ounder schoole-men of their owne agreeing with vs. Secondly when he shall bring for those fiue pseudo-sacramentes either the institution of Christ to authorize them or any commaundement to vse them or any promise of remission annexed to them or any element by God appointed for them we will with reuerence embrace them but their greatest clarkes hauing failed heerein wee may not expect it at the hands of this sneaking atomite And seeme they neuer so zealous in defence of their sacramentes Saintes communion how basely they esteeme of them one case in their Cannon law will demonstrate which I singled as concerning this purpose fitly It happeneth that one in iusting and torneament is cast his horse falling vpon him bruiseth him mortally it is permitted vnto him to communicate of the Eucharist to be annointed with oile and to doe pennaunce there are three sacramentes and yet after all this hee must bee denied Christian buriall First note the absurditie to preferre buriall aboue the chiefest sacrament then the vncharitablenesse to forbid his bodie to sleepe among Christians who died in their sight a Christian which is a kind of deniall of this article Christian buriall bein some respect a communion of Saintes And specially the true and reall presence of our Sauiour Christ in the Eucharist by which all the faithfull members participating of one and the selfe-same body are made one bodie as all the partes of a mans bodie are made one liuing thing by participating of one soule Aunsweare To discourse of this double controuersy de modo essendi edendi of the manner of Christes beeing and our eating him in the sacramente consideringe how their schoolemen leauing the simple trueth of Gods word haue verified that prouerbe Mendacij multiplex est diuortium and are at daggers drawing among theÌ„selues would aske more time then I
God risen for our iustification Rom. 4. as both God and man sitting at the right hand requesting for vs Rom. 8. 34. Of the Holy Ghost the life breath of our prayeâ—s for we know not what to pray as wee ought but the spirit it selfe maketh request for vs within vs Rom. 8. 26. so that the establishing of prayer to Saintes were to subiect the spirite of God to the deuotion of men for postulare minoris est saith Aquinas it is the inferior his part to sue Wherefore the Apostle concludeth that the searcher of the hearts knoweth the meaning of the spirit qui postulat prosanctis vers 27. for the Saints not to the Saints Briefly whereas euerie prayer must be made in the name of Christ Ioh. 16. the sweetest In nomine we can sing and euerie praier not so made non solùm non delet peccatum sed fit ipsa peccatum saith S. Austen surely the prayer to saintes must needes be sinne because we must not pray to them per Iesum Christum for Christs sake for that were to make him inferiour to them and that is no maruaile in Rome for in their Canon of the masse the greasie priest requestes God the Father that hee would vouchsafe to heare his son Christ as if his orizon were more preualent with God then Christes intercession 3 They denie the Communion of the church militant the soules in Purgatory bereauing them of that Christian charitie which charitable compassion and mercifull pittie requireth and by mutuall affection the members of one bodie helpe one another Aunsweare It must needes prooue syncere religion which frames diuinitie of poetrie and fetcheth Virgils Aeneids into the Apostles creede maketh the Popes kitcheÌ„-stuffe the furnace fuell of Purgatorie an article of faith but heerein is that speech of Tertullian properly instified That Philosophers are the Patriarkes of heretickes This fancie of Purgatorie being imagined first in the dreame of Homer Plato and Virgill vpon a foolish pittie which this melting boweld traytor calleth charitable compassion that those who died in their sins which wer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venial curable though they were not woorthy to flie to heauen immediately yet not so cruelly to bee censured as to be throwne downe into Taâ—arus or Hell the iudge who ballaunced the weight of the Painims sinnes was in exorable Radamanthus but of the Catholike ghostes the indulgent Pope Among the Christians the principall founders thereof either Clem. Alexand. who was so enamored of Philosophy that hee concluded the Grecians might be thereby saued or his scholler Origen of whome it is no maruell he should thinke the soules departed might bee freed from torment sithens hee also helde that euen the damned spirites and Lucifer himselfe should in the ende bee saued The scriptures for this place by their owne confession none or obscure the Fathers in this pointe to themselues contradictorie the greatest patrones among themselues vnresolued first of the place whether in the aire or vnder the earth or the brim of hell Secondly for the scite whether extensiue as a couer ouer hell in latitude or collaterall with hell seuered by a partition in longitude or circular about hell in seuerall celles as the spottes of an apple about the quore Thirdly for the nature of the place to some it shall not be fire but tanquam ignis as it were fire as out of S. Paul they collect to other it shall bee both fire and water as out of the Psalmes they inferre to other it shall bee a lake and no water as they cite Zachary to that purpose Fourthly for the parties tormented the most wil haue them a middle sorte betweene saintes and sinners this fellow as it seemes accomptes them saintes els why brings hee theÌ„ within compasse of this article Therefore we refusing to build vpon sand leaue them to their vnletled coniectures out of the Scriptures acknowledge no Purgatorie but one the bloud of Iesus Christ purging vs from all our sinnes wherein the garments of the saintes are washed white Apoc. 7. no other clensing but that which Aquinas meÌ„tioneth velper gratiam a culpa vel per lumen doctrinae a nescÃentia either froÌ„ the guilt of sinnes by his grace or the drosse of ignorance by his word For which he hath appointed a double fire for doctrine the fire of the spirite 1. Cor. 3. to trie timber from stubble pearles from strawes for the other that which Peter calleth the fierie triall videlicet the afflictions of this life which are as fire to golde as the flaile to corne saith Gregorie But two sortes of vessels of wrath and sauour either for honour or contumelie Rom. 9. sheepe or goates for the right or left hande A double state of saintes which S. Paul resembleth to a gargarment in this world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vesture of this flesh in the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their inuestiture with immortalitie either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a peregrination from God here or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a presence with him in heaueÌ„ For both which there is allotted a seueral burden 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6. in this life that which S. Austen calleth onus mutuae charitatis mutuall affection and compassion in supporting each other vers 2. in the next life onus reddendae rationis the render of accompt which euery one must beare himselfe vers 5. But two places of resort Abrahams bosome the lake of brimstone two wayes thereunto the one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a straightened path hardly passable the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a broadway a roadway with trauailers innumerable Math. 7. Two rewardes in the ende the crowne of righteousnesse eternall life 2. Tim. 4. the wages of sinne euerlasting death Rom. 6. which S. Austen calleth ignem aeternum and regnum aeternum Cyprian refrigerium iusti supplicium iniusti the atchieuement of both in this life in the other neither remission nor redemption saith Austen this beeing the time of working that of reward saith Nazianz this of striuing that of crowning saith Chrisostome The 3. Article is Remission of sinnes for they acknowledg no such effect in the Sacrament of Baptisme but onely accoumpt it as externall signe of a praereceiued grace of fauour of God by his eternall predestination against the expres word of God which therfore calleth the Sacrament the lauer of regeneration for that in it the soule deade by sinne is newly regenerated by grace Aunsweare This fellow purposed from the beginning Asellius his profession which P. Africanus said was malitia and nequitia to bee not onely a libeller but a liar that argues his mind to bee malitious this bewrayes his cause to be bad both make him shame lesse and all spring from ignorance either making report his ground or partiall
opinion no errour from which Bellarmine rids him by this distinctioÌ„ In which positioÌ„ if ther be either Arrianisme as Genebrard wil haue it or Puritanism as this mate scornes it or Mahumetisme as Duraeus will inferre it or Manicheisme to which Canisius referres it then euen Genebrard himselfe is that way guiltie who oft so distinguisheth then was Pope Innocentius a Puritane who definitiuely concludeth for Lombard against Ioachimus the Abbat with authoritie and consent of the Councell of Lateran wee belieue and confesse that there is vna quaedam res one certaine thing incomprehensible and ineffable which truely is the Father Sonne and holy Ghost and euerie of these three persons is illa res that thing viz. the substance essence and nature diuine and illa res that thing is neither generans nec genita neque procedens neither ingendreth nor is begotten nor doth proceed but it is the Father which begetteth the Sonne is begotten the holy Ghost proceedeth that so distinctio sit in personis vnitas in natura there may be a distinction of the persons but an vnitie in essence theÌ„ is Bellarmine a Puritan for he alleadging Simlerus his confession non negamus filium habere essentiam à Deo patre sed essentiam genitam negamus wee denie not the sonne to haue his essence of the Father but we deny that the essence is begotten the very opinion for which the Puritans are challenged seeth no reason cur haec sententia catholica dicenda non sit why this position should not bee catholike and orthodoxall Then is Epiphanius a Catharist who calleth Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perfect of himselfe God of himselfe and Origen also who calleth him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 life of himselfe which is all one for idem est Deo esse viuere say the schoolemen it is all one in God to be to liue Briefly the mystery is intricate in quo humanum laborat ingenium saith S. Augustine intangling the wit exceeding the speech of any man this obiection no controuersie but a slaunder long since vnaunswearably rebutted by vs into their teeth sauing that with the poet their malice so either delighteth or deceiueth them that they had rather continue a cauill vainely contumeliously Quà m sapere ringâ— And now from heauen like Lncifer hee glides to hell 5 Finally they denie the dâ—scention of Christ into hell and desperately defend that he suffered the paines of hell vpon the crosse whereby they blaspheme most horribly that sacred humanitie as if Christ had despaired of his saluation as if God had hated him and hee had hated God as if he had beene afflicted and tormented with anguish of mind for his offences for which hee was depriued of the sight of God and eternally to bee depriued all which horrible punishmentes are included in the paines of hell and whosoeuer ascribeth them to Christ blasphemeth more horribly then Arrius who denyed him to bee God for lesse absurditie were it to deny him to bee God then to make God the enemy of God Aunsweare What Puritans denie or affirme the Church of England whome this libell principally attainteth meaneth not to defend which to cut off all factions in opinions about religion hath ioyntly concluded the whole summe of her profession within the compasse of forty articles the third whereof is this As Christ died for vs was buried so withall it is to be beleeued that he went downe into hell which it inioyneth vs to beleeue not so much beecause it is an article in the Apostles Symbole so called for it is notorious that this article was not admitted into the Creede 300 yeares after Christ neither by the East nor West churches omitted also in the Nicene Creede nor any where extant as Aquinas confesseth in Symbolo patrum in the articles which the auncient fathers doe recompt but as being grounded vpon manifest scripture Psal. 16. and Act. 2. The exposition thereof not onely in moderne times but euen presently after the admitting thereof diuers and different euery part of the proposition hauing a diuerse acceptation in the scriptures For the proposition beeing this Christ descended into hell the subiect Christ is sometimes put for his person sometimes for the efficacy of his death his person somwhere for his Diuine elswhere for his humane nature his humanitie in some places for his body onely in other for his soule alone and sometimes for both his person and his office The copula descended signifieth either a locall motion from a higher to a lower place or some more speciall preâ—ence and effectuall power shewed more in one place then another as God saying in Genesis that he wil go downe and the holy Ghost descending in the Baptisme of Christ Math. 3. The praedicate Inferos Hell either the graue or the place of the damned or the miserablest state which may befall a man either by immineÌ„t perils pursuing him which was Dauids Hell Psal. 18. or anxietie of mind tormenting him which was Annaes Heâ—l 1. Sam. 2. 6. or both ioyned together which was Ionas Hell in his bodie distressed being deuouted of a whale in the deepe sea in his mind feeling Gods high displeasure vppon him for his disobedience Ion. 2. From which varietie of sence there issue fiue seuerall interpretations of this article none of them exorbitant from the scriptures tracke or erring from the analogy of faith 1 That Christ his bodie was laid in the graue 2 His soule separate from the bodie went to the place where were the soules departed 3 His Deitie exhibited it selfe as it were present in the lowest pit to the terrour of the deuils and further despaire of the reprobate 4 That the efficacie and power of his death did euen thether stretch it selfe 5 That Christ suffered those extreme anguishes and torments which for our sakes by his father appointed he was to endure There is also a sixth which passeth most rife among thâ— Fathers who taking Inferi for Abrahams bosome expound it that Christ weÌ„t thether ad liber andum liberandos to conuay the Fathers deceased before his resurrection into the place where nowe they are but not returning as the grosse Papistes expresse him like another Hercules Thoseus with a flagge and a crosse Saint Austen confesseth he could not satisfie himselfe with any exposition thereof especially of that place of Saint Peter which seemes most to confirme it Cyprian or Ruffinus approue the first that hee lay in his graue The schoolmen mightilie trouble their heades 1. into what place of hell hee went Thomas includes all the parts of hell as they haue diuided it that as an haruenger he scowred Limbus patrum and rid all from thence as a conqueror he presented himselfe in Tartarus for the terror of the damned as a visitor he surueyed Purgatory promising them remission 2. Howe