of the whole time since the Apostles to this present that (¶) See Mr. Bunny in his treatise tending to pacificatioÌ„ Sect 14. circa med pa. 89. the Church of Rome hath euer continued after a sorte in the profession of the faith since the time that by the Apostles it was deliuered to them c. and hath also in some manner preserued and hitherto maintained both the word and the sacraments that Christ himselfe did leaue vnto vs which surely saith he is a very speciall blessing of God an euident worke of the holy Ghost c. And thus much briefly whether that the Romane Church professing the right faith in the Apostles times hath at any time since euer altred or changed the same against our foresaid discourse wherof grounded vpon seuerall truthes confessed euen by our aduersaries if any boulder forehead shal wilfully oppose it selfe shall without other answere or respecte had to that which his learned brethren haue heretofore coÌ„fessed and we otherwise proued leape ouer al the foresaide proofes and ages iumping per saltum vp to the Apostles then tell vs (*) So Mr. Whitaker l 7 Contra Duraeum pa. 478 ante medium saith Nobis sufficit ex PontificioruÌ„ dogmatuÌ„ scripturarum collatione discrimen dissimilità dineÌ„â—gnoscere historicis liberum relinquimus scribere quid vâ— lint that howsoeuer we proue from histories Fathers or other testimonie of their owne writers concerning euery of the ages since the Apostles times yet the scriptures theÌ„selues are in his (¶) Hereof see hereafter Tract 2. c. 1. Sect. 1. initio in the margent at the letter p. and 〈◊〉 q. opinion contrary in many points to that faith which the Romane Church now professeth and that therein therefore she hath changed the faith which was first to her deliuered Besides that this is a most needie and miserable begging of the thing in question against which we doe vehemently contest as being more then perswaded that our aduersaries cannot truely alleage from the first of Genesis to the last of the Reuelations so much as any one texte of scripture which maketh with them and against vs. Let that man all other of his minde yet also further consider that for so much as the sacred SCRIPTVRES them selues do as before (t) See heretofore Tract 1. Sect. 8. l. n. o. and hereafter Tract 2. c. 2. Sect 1. prope initium affirme that the Churches true Pastours must euermore continew and withstand all innouation of false doctrine euen with open reprehension The answerable performance wherof in perticuler being matter of fact can be to vs at this day no otherwise made knowen then vpon the onely credite of humane testimonie commended to vs by historie (u) Mr. Whitaker Contra Duraeum l. 7. page 472. saith Quicquid de Ecclesiae Propagatione Amplitudine gloria veteres Prophetae predixerunt id perfectum esse historia Luculentissime testatur ita vatic inijs Prophetarum Ecclesiasticam historiaÌ„ suffragari nulla controuersia est the force of which testimonie our very aduersaries acknowledge (*) Mr. Hooker in his Ecclesiastical Policie l. 2. p. 115. initio saith The strength of mans authoritie is affirmatiuely such that the weightest affaires in the world depend there-vpon And ibidem pag. 116. ante medium VVhatso-euer we beleeue concerning saluation by Christ although the scripture be therin the grounde of our beleefe yet is mans authoritie the keye that openeth the dore c. The scripture coulde not teach vs these thinges vnlesse wee beleeued men c And ibidem l. 1. page 86. ante medium Of thinges necessarie the very cheefest is to knowe what bookes we are bound to esteeme holy which point is confessed impossible for the scripture it selfe to teach And l. 2. Sect. 4. page 102. fine for if any one booke of scripture did giue testimonie to all yet still that scripture which giueth credit to the rest would require an other scripture to giue credit vnto it neither coulde we euer come to any pause whereon to rest our assurance vnlesse besides scripture there were some thinge which might assure vs. c. vpon which ground l. 3. Sect. 8. page 146. fine he saith VVe all knowe that the first out-ward motiue leading men so to esteeme of the scripture is the authority of Gods Church And Mr. Whitaker aduersus Stapletonum l. 2. c. 4. page 298. post med saith non nego traditionem Ecclesiasticam esse argumentum quo argui conuinci possit qui libri sunt canonici qui non And ibidem page 300. ante medium Hoc semper dixi sensique vide ibidem l. 1. page 25. ante medium And in his booke against Mr. VVilliam Rainoldes page 44. circa med In so much as the Protestant author of the treatise of the scripture and the Church so greatelie commended by Bullinger in his preface before that booke doth after the Englishe translation thereof cap. 15 page 72 say we coulde not beleeue the ghospell were it not that the Church taught vs and witnessed that this Doctrine was deliuered by the Apostles And see further there cap. 19. page 74. 75. that there-fore the same SCRIPTVRES do therein most euidently perforce reduce them to this foresaid triall by historie and Fathers whereto if they stand their ouerthrow they see is certaine and in refusing the same their flight is shamefull As for the further extremest bouldnes of such who are in these straites resolued not to acknowledge the (â‹) Iohannes Regius in libro apologetico c. page 192. post medium and 193. being vrged to shew wherein the Romane Church changed her faith and not able to giue any one perticuler example thereof betaketh him-selfe to this extreemest bouldnes answering page 193. post medium Sed denique licet verum esset Romanam Ecclesiam in sua religione nihil mutasse an propterea mox sequetur eam esse veram Ecclesiam Non opinor In defence whereof he is not ashamed to alleadge sondry impertinent reasons vnworthy of rehersall Romane Church to be a true Church though it were true that she had not changed any thing in religion We passe the same ouer as being most absurde and much more worthy of contempt then answere THE SECOND TRACT FIRST CHAPTER SECT 1. THAT CHRISTS CHVRCH VVAS BY the Predictions of the Prophets foretolde to become vniuersall and to conuert with great increase the Kinges and Nations of the Gentiles AND for so much most GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE as it hath bin the course of certaine our aduersaries vnder the pretence of onely scripture to vnder take libertie of reiecting all our former confessed proofes drawen from the authoritie of Mirâ—cles though neuer so true of Fathers though neuer so auncient and so thereby in the end making them selues and euery of their vulgar followers Iudges (p) Luberius in libro de principijs christian dogm l. 6. c. 13. page 563. antâ— med saith Omnes publicos Iudices vt interpretando
Albines page 64 prope finem And by Simon de voyon in his discource vpon the Catallog of the Doctors of Gods Church in the table numer 11. Alcuinus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and scoller to S. Bede for his onely opinion vntruely pretended against the Reall presence the contrarie wherof is by his owne writings more then (i) Alcuinus in lib. de diuinis officijs c. de Missa saith Consulens Deus infirmitati nostâ—ae qui non solemus carnes crudas manducare sanguinem bibere facit vt in pristina remaneant forma duo illa munera est in veritate corpus Christi sanguis euident So likewise do they name (k( Doctor Humfrey in Iesuitismi part 2. rat 3. page 326. initio And Simon devoyon vbi supra in the table numer 107. and claime S. Bede him selfe whom others of them do more truely and plainely reiect for a confessed Papist euen (l) Luke Osiander in epitom cent 8. page 58. initio see this heretofore tract 1. sect 1. in the margent at the letter g. in all those articles wherin Protestants do at this day distent from the Pope In like manner Peter Lumberd master of the sentences is by them sorted (m) Symon Pauli in method aliquot locorum doctrin c. tradit Rostochij fol. 12. b. in the Catallog of the Doctors and restorers of the heauenly doctrine and (n) Symon Pauli ibid. fol. 15 b. and Hiperius in method theolog in praefat page 1. fine 2. citâ—a post medium placed euen with Husse and Luther who was so euidently a knowne Catholicke that Mr. Foxe therfore termeth him (o) Actes and monuments page 41. b. circa medium an Archpiller of papistrie We coulde giue like example (*) Mr. Gifforde in his sermons vpon the reuelations page 195. post medium giueth instance in Ioannes Picus Earle of Mirandula And Simon de Voyon in his discource vpon the Catallogue c. page 126. post medium nameth S. Bernard And Mr. Foxe in his Callender placed in the begining of his actes and monuments placeth Erasmus and Picus Mirandula and yet Erasmus in whoÌ„ they do more pretend doth in lib. 16. ep 11. excuse him selfe briefly and fully to the contrarie saying Christum agnosco Lutherum non agnosco Ecclesiam Romanam agnosco of S. Bernard Erasmus Picus Mirandula sondry other knowne Catholicke writers whom our aduersaries do in like maner most iniustly claime to be of their Church And as with Catholickes so likewise in this exigeme of need are they constrained to make like claime to (p) Mr. Foxe actes monu page 70. a. ante medi. Almericus the (q) Like claime is made to the Albigenses by mr Sparke against mr Iohn d' Albines page 58. ante medium by mr Fulke contra Stapletonum de successione Ecclesiae page 112. 271 initio And by Chrispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church page 350 ante medium But see plaine testimonie of the execrable errors of the Albigenses in Osiander Centur. 13. page 329. And in Cesarius Cistert 5. dist dial and Luxemb haer Albig See also hereafter tract 2. c. 2 sect 3. in the margent at the figure 2. Albigenses and sondry other (*) Of like claime made to Peter Bruis and the Henricianes or Apostolici see Catallog testium veritatis printed Anno 1597. tom 2. page 561 562. confessed and knowne heretickes In diuers of whom Mr. Iewell to omitt others (¶) See these other Protestants so disclaiming hereafter tract 2. c. 2. sect 3. in the margent at the letter .o. is enforced to disclaime saying expresly of them (r) Mr. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie page 48. And see certaine of Almaricus his confessed errors mencioned hereafter tract 2. cap. 2. sect 3. in the margent at the letter o. And by Chrispinus in his booke of the estate of the Church page 349 post medium And see also thereof Cesarius lib. dial d. 5. and Gaguinus lib. 6. franc and Gerson trâ—ct 3. in Matt. and Paulus Amilus l. 6. hist Galliae and Genebrardus in Chron. Anno 1208. they are none of ours In examinatioÌ„ therfore of these such other like knowne impertineÌ„t exaÌ„ples we will not be so Idly tedious as to trouble your Maiestie but will make triall of those in whom our aduersaries haue greatest confidence as namely Waldo Wicliffâ— and Husse and in their seuerall followers and see if that these can vpholde the Protestant Churches administration of the word and Sacramentes but so much as for those seuerall ages in which they liued in whom if our aduersaries doe faile then remaine they for any hope to be had of the other no lesse then desperate THAT VVALDO WHO LIVED ANNO Domini 1220. was no Protestant and that therefore the examples of Waldo and his followers is not sufficient to proue but so much as for their times a continuance of the Protestants Churches administration of the Word and Sacraments SECT 3. TO beginne then with Waldo the Protestants admâ—nâ—stration of the worde and sacraments is so litle proued by his example to haue bene but so much as in beinge imediatlye befo e and at the time of his first appearing that in clâ—re prooffe to the contrarie he as Mr. Foxe testifieth was then a Catholiâ—ke lay-man (s) Act. mon. page 628. b. circa med a rich marchant of Lyâ—nâ— and so (t) act mon. pag. 628 b. paulo post medium vnlearned that he gaue rewardes to certaine learned men to translate the holy Scriptures for him and certaine other workes of the Doctors and being thus holpen did as Mr. Foxe reporteth (v) act mon. vbi supra conferr the forme of religion in his time to the infallible worde of God where vpon saith Mr. Foxe (x) act mon. page 41. b. paulo ante medium sprong vp the Doctrine name of tâ—ose which are called Waldenses (y) act mon. p. 628. b. ante medium or as he saith page 41. b. circa med About Anno. 1160. Anno 1218. 2 Seacondlie he had no ordinarie vocation or calling by man for our Catholicke Church condemned him and his proceedings and therfore would not call him and as for any other Church then being of his profession to call him there was none (¶) See herafter tract 2. c. 2. sect 3. at this marke ¶ at that time so much as but in being or knowne to him For which cause he and his followers contemned all calling teaching that (*) Illiricus in Catal. testium page 730. 731. 732. 740. 745. And Osiander in epitom histor eccles cent 9.10.11 c page 287 fine 440 Laye men and woemen might Consecrate the sacraments and Preach And as for any pretence of extraordina ie calling by God which euerie sectmaster may aâ—rogate euen as by the Protestants grauer assertion it had euermore when it was in vse (z) Amandus Polanus in partition theolog l. 1. p. 308 saith
schollers that to omitt sundry (r) See Pomeran in epist ad Rom. c. 4. And Vitus Theodorus in Annot in nou test pag. vlt. And the Centurie writers of Magdeburg Cent. 1. l. 2. c. 4. cent 2. l. 3. c. 4. And Hastenrefferus in loc theologic l. 3. stat 3. loc 7. page 292. And Adamus Francisci in Margarita theologic page 448. saith Apocriphi libri noui testamenti sunt epistola ad haebreos epistola Iacobi secunda tertia Ioannis posterior Petri epistolâ— Iudae Apocalip other of them Chemnitius Luthers greatest scholler affirmeth that (s) Chemnitius in Enchirid c. page 63. And see Chemnitius in his examen Concil TrideÌ„t part 1. page 55. the second epistle of Peter the second and third of Iohn the epistle to the hebrues the epistle of Iames the epistle of Iude and the apocalips of Iohn are apocriphall as (t) Chemnitius examen part 1. page 56. b. initio not hauing sufficient testimonie of their authoritie and therfore that (v) Chemnitius ibidem page 57. a. nothing in controuersie may be prooued out of these bookes Concerning now the other bookes of scripture although Luther acknowledged them for canonicall how far yet he was changeable otherwise in misse translating them we will omitting perticulers referre to the credit of Zuinglius his testimonie who saith hereof to Luther (*) Zuinglius tom 4. ad Luther l. de sacram page 411. 412. Thou doest corrupt Luther the word of God thou arte seene to be a manifest and common corrupter and peruerter of the holy scripture how much are we ashamed of thee who haue hitherto esteemed thee beyond all measure and now prooue thee to be so false a man 3 Thirdly as concerning faith he reprooueth as well such Protestâ—nts as say (x) Luther vpon the Galathians englished in c. 2. fol. 67. b. post med neiâ—hâ—r can faithe be true faith without charitie as also those other who teach (y) Luther ibid. fol. 67. circa medium though my faith be neuer so perfect yet if this saitâ— be without charitie I am not iustâ—fied calling it (z) Luther ibid. fol. 68. b. prope finem fol. 126 b. and see Luther in his sermons Englished c. page 204. circa med impietie to affirme that saith except it be adorned with charitie iustefieth not nay â—e proceeded so far as he douted not to say (a) Luther tom 1. prop 3. Fides nisi sit sine c. Faith vnlesse it be without euen the lâ—ast good workes doth not iustefie nay it is no faith which saying of his master D. Couell specially acknowledgeth and reciteth tearming it (b) Mr. Couel in defence of Mr. Hookers fiue bookes of Ecclesiasticall policie page 42. ante med harsh and (c) Mr. Couel ibid. iustly called in question by the Church of Rome He also further taught that (d) Luther de captiu Babilon and see further hereof the treatise against the defence of the Censure page 198. a Christian or Baptized person is so rich that although he would he cannrt lose his saluation by any sinnes how great soeuer vnlesse he will not beleeue wherof he giueth his reason els where saying (e) Luther in loc commun c. Class 5. c. 27. page 68. initio As nothing iustefieth but faith so nothing sinneth but vnbeleefe 4 Fourthly as concerning workes he teachteh (f) Luther in his sermoÌ„s Englished c. page 147. ante medium that workâ—s take their goodnes of the worker and that (g) Luther ibidem page 276. ante medium no workâ— is disalowed of God vnlesse the author therof be disalowed before saying therfore further (h) Luther ibidem page 278. ante medium Such a one worketh nothing but good workes neither can it be but good which he being good before shall do And as concerning the necessitie of good workes affirmed against him by English Protestants (i) The necessitie of good workes is affirmed by Mr. Willet in his tetrastilon Papismi page 90. fine by Mr. Fulke against the Rhemish Testament in 2. Petr. 2. sect 3. fol. 444. a. post med and by Mr. Whitaker against mr Rainoldes page 350. post medium Of the dissention had herein betweene the Diuines of England and the Lutheranes in Germanie speciall report and mention is made in colloquio Altenburgens fol. 168 a. fine And also in actis colloquij Adelburgensis page 102. circa med 483. circa medium it is so farre disclaimed in by him and his followers that they deny (k) Illiricus in prefat ad Rom. vide Conradum Schlusselburg in catal hereticorum l. 13. vlt. pag. 819. circa med good workes to be so much as causa sâ—ne qua non of saluation affirming (l) Illiricus in prefat ad Rom. And see colloquium Altenburgense fol. 210. a. b. 231. 324. 382. 352. the controuersie with the Papistes to be not onely whether good workes do iustefie but also whether they be in any respect necessarie to saâ—uation which last position they call (m) Illiricus vbi supra a papisticall error tearming it (n) Illiricus ibidem the doctrine of the new Papists as perniciouse as the ould to say as English Protestants do that the Apostle ment to exclude good workes from iustification not simplie and as due but onely as meritoriouse and cause efficient they will not in the point of our iustification graunt (o) Conradus Schlusselburg in catal Hereticorum l. 13. in epist dedicatoria pa. 22. paulo post med good workes to be necessarie necessitate presentiâ— so much as with a necessitie of presence condemning their brethrens contrarie doctrine for (p) Illiricus de originali iusticia ac iniusticia in appendice page 163. worse then is the Papistes doctrine concerning good workes they fortefie them selues herein with the testimonies (q) See Luthers sayings alledged in actis colloquij Aldeburgensis pa. 8. circa med and in Illiricus in prefat ad Rom. of Luther and haue proceeded so farr against all necessitie of good workes that some of them as namely Amsdorphius doubt not to affirme that (r) Hereof see acta colloquij Aldeburgensis page 120. sect 11. initio And pag. 443. paulo post initium pag. 293. paulo ante medium good workes are not onely not necessarie to saluation but also hurtfull to it (s) Vide ibid. pag. 205. post med fine alledging Luther in proofe of this opinion (t) Vide ibid. pag. 120 sect 11. initio 293. paulo antâ— medium the which Illiricus doth allowe and defende by publique writing And all this so grossely and intollerably that sundry other Protestant writers who acknowledge Amsdorphius (v) D. Amsdorphius piae memoriae so called ibidem pag. 206. circa med for a man otherwise of godly memorie do yet neuerthelesse in this professe to (x) Ibid. pag. 205. fine 206. initio It is saide hereof nos quidem ipsos
Romano Pontifice cap. 29. vesus finem it is lawfuâ—l to resist the Pope invading the bodie or troubling the common wealth it is lawfull I say saith he to resist him by no doing that which he commaunâ—eth and by letting or hindring him that hee execute not his will wherevnto might be added as well the late (4) See this at large in the civill warres of France in English collected by Anthony Collâ—net from An. 1585. till 1591. printed at London 1591. lib. 7. 8. examples yet fresh in memorie of the Catholickes of Fraunce who not onely acknowledged but also assisted and ayded this their present King notwithstanding his then knowne diversitâ— of religion or any former excommunication hâ—d froÌ„ the Popes As also the King of Spaines no lesse knoâ—ne detayning even to this day of Naples against the Pope notwithstaÌ„ding the Popes yearely clayming of it â—n the right of his See And thus much briefely coÌ„cerning such forraine examples as are alledged and acknowledged by our owne adversaries Onely wee thâ—nke this one point further worthie of observation That whereas it is manifest and confessed that sundrie Catholike Princes haue beene by their Protestant subiects actuallie deposed as your Highnes late Mother froÌ„ her kingdâ—me of Scotland which we referre to your Maiestâ—es owne more feeling (*) Howe they vsed that poore Ladie my mother is not vnknowne and with griefe I may remember it who desired onely a private Chappell wherin to serue God after her manner with some fewe selected persons but could not obteine it at their hands in the summe of the Conference before his Maiestie betweene the Bishops other of his Clergie printed 1584. pag 81. fine 82 initio testimonie the temporall Lord of Geneua from his territories there to forbeare the examples of the Lowe Countries the King (â‹) Hereof see heretofore tract 3. sect 2. in the margent at the letter c. of Suethland restrained as before to his private Catholike service â—n his owne Chappell we finde not yet on the other parte that so much as any one ProtestaÌ„t Prince was â—t any tâ—me deposed by his Catholike subiects so different â—re the spirits of Catholikes and Protesâ—ants yet is it evâ—deÌ„t that Protestâ—nts hâ—ue received their câ—â—efest beginning increase and strength by the onely favouâ— tolleâ—ation of their Catâ—olike Princes A PROTESTATION OF THE now English Catholickes SECT 5. AS concerning our selues we hould that the authoritie giuen by God to Kings is imediate absoâ—ute and ndependant and wee doe acknowledge from the Scripâ—ures that as (d) Rom. 13 1. there is no power but from God so likewise that vnto (e) Wisdom 6 3. King rule is giuen by the Lord and powâ—r by hâ— most High that (f) Prov. 8 15. by him Kings doe reigne as being (g) Rom. 13 4 6. his minister and that (h) Rom. 13 2. whosoâ—vâ—r râ—sisteâ—h them dâ— h withall resist he ordinance of God Hen e it is that we are commaunded to (i) Math. 22 21. Rom. 13 7. reÌ„der vnto Caesar the tribute of oâ—r obedience to be (k) 1. Pet. 2 13. subiect to the king as hauing preeminence to (l) Prov. 24 21. â—eare (m) 1. Pet. 21 17. honor him (n) Exod. 22 28. Act. 13 5. not to speake evâ—lâ— of him no not so much as in our (o) Eccles 10 20. thought to imagine his hurte but to bee (p) Rom. 13 5. subiect of ne essitiâ— and even for conscâ—ence sake Least that by our disobedience wee (q) Rom. 13 2. purchase to our selues domnation In so much as we doubte not further to affirme with our brethren the Rhemistes that (r) See the Rhemish Testament and the Annot. therein Rom. cap. 13. vers 2. after M. Fulkes edition fol. 259. a paulo post med Christians are bound in conscience to obey even their heathen Emperours Herevpon it is that wee differ â—n doctrine from our adversaries (2) See Bellarmin lib. 3. de Laiâ—is cap 10. 11. maintaining against them their contraâ—ie (3) Luther de Seculari potestate in tom 6. Germanico saith among Christians no man can or ought to be Magistrate but each one is to other equally subiect c. among Câ—ristian men none is superiour saue one and onelie Christ And in serm de oâ—e perdita also in his sermons Englished by Wâ—lliam Gage pag. 97. fine Luther further saith therefore is Christ our Lorde that hee may make vs such as himself is as he caÌ„not suffer himselfe to be tâ—de and bound â—y Lawes c so also ought not the consâ—ie câ— of a Christian to suffer them And in hiâ— said sermons pag. 261. circa med he doth adâ—on sâ— that we obey the Câ—vâ—ll Magistrate fâ—r saith he there commeth no losse of Christâ—an libertie or faith thereby for forsomuch as they doâ— not contend that those things are necessarie to salvatâ—on which they ordaine c. howbeit if any should contende that those commaâ—ndem nts of the Civill Magâ—sâ—rate be necessarie to salvation as doubtlesse they be in regard that they binde vs in â—onsâ—iâ—nce and to breake them were sinne then as it is saide of the tradâ—tâ—ons of the Papâ—sts the â—otrariâ— rather were to be done And M. Whitaker doubteth not to maintaine this doctâ—inâ—o Luther teaching vs obedience of policie rather then conscience For whereas Luther is â—hâ—â—â—d to say absurdly Christiani liberi sunt a statutis hominum M. Wâ—â—taker explâ—neth and deâ—endâ—th the samesaying liberi Christiani sâ—nt non vt nâ—llis legiâ—u obtemperent 〈◊〉 â—que sempâ—r vâ—â—â—nâ— s â— vd conscientia mentesque suaâ— legum humanâ—rum religâ—one liberatâ—â—sâ—e â—nâ—â—llâ—gant W ita â—r â—â—â—â—ss ad â—atiâ—nes Campiant rat 8. pag. 154. circa medium And sâ—e this lâ—kâ—â—octrine in Danau in prima partes aâ—tera â—arte coâ—tra Bel armâ—nâ—m pag. 1127 assertion t at the Civill Magistrates Lawes made of things lawfull or indifferent doe binde vs even in consâ—â—ence And froÌ„ this sured ground-worke proceedeth likewise that reverend and religious respect of loue and duetie wherewith we doe admire your royall Maiestie and hence lastlie it is that we do as now in most humble remonstrance and testâ—monie of our Loyaltie acknowledge and recognize even with vnspeakeable ioy to our selues and all due thankefuâ—nes therefore to â—od that your HIGHNES is our true vndoubted lawfull Soveraigne Lord King in whom is fulfilled the succeâ—full and blessed event of a most graue and prâ—dent (*) In regard â—â—d â—oâ—eâ—ight of this which â—ow is hâ— pely conâ—ne to passe K. Henrie 7. eâ—â—owsed his eldest â—â—ughâ—â— to Iamâ—s King of Sâ—oâ—laâ—â— Anno 1502. foresight and we thereby enriched with the most happie vnion of our long devided continent by whom only also and no other our dearest countâ—ie may enioy her established and sweetest â—eace avoiding so that dreadfull confusion and turbulencie of state which otherwise our former feares haue of long imagined and vnto whom only
most â—orthie honorable and able instrumeÌ„t most instantly vrgeth requireth it CONCERNING THE EVIDENT INCERtainety disagreement of Protestants in their faith and the reason particuler examples thereof with a like humble Petition therevpon for disputation SECT 7. AND now lastly for so much as our learned adversaries do hould 1 First that coÌ„cerning matter of faith they (q) M. W llet in his Synopsis pag. 38. initio saith the Scripture is not one of the meanes but the sole whole only means to work faith are to beleeue nothing for certaine but the holy Scriptures onely 2 Secondly that (r) M. D. Raynolds in his Conference with Harte pag 68. ante medium it is not the shewe but the sence of the wordes of Scripture that must decide controversies and that herein the Scripture doth not (*) M. Hooker in his Ecclesiasticall Policie lib. 2. pag. 116. paulo ante medium saith the Scripture could not teach vs the thinges that are of God vnlesse we did credit meÌ„ who haue taught vs that the wordâ— of Scripture do signifie those thinges instruct them of it selfe but only by certaine (s) M.D. Whitaker de Sacra Scriptura pag. 521. circa medium saith nam quaÌ„do Scriptura noÌ„ habet vivam vocem quam audiamus vtenuum est quibusdam medijs quibus in vestigamus quid sit â— nsus quae mens Scripturarum And in his book de Ecclesiâ— coÌ„tra Bellarminum coÌ„trou 2. quaest 4. pag. 221. ante med demaunding of vs if we affirme the Church to interpret the Scripture without meanes saith Si sine medijs dixerunt est Anabaptisticum meanes on their behalfe to be observed 3 Thirdly that these means are affirmed to be their (t) M. D. Raynolds in his conference pag. 83. 84. 92. 98. 99. and M. Whitaker de Sacra Scriptura pag. 521. 522. 523. reeding thereof their confâ—rences of places their weying of the circumstaÌ„ces of the text their skill in the tongues their diligâ—nce prayer and such like in which if they erre they do also thereby erre in the r vnderstanding of the Scriptures 4 Fourthly that these being actioÌ„s on their behalâ—e are but humane indeavours such wherein every man wâ—thout extraordinarie priviledge from God is subiect to (u) Lubbertus de Principijs Christian dog pag. 563. initio saith of the leâ—râ—â—d interpreters Hos omnes vt interpretando errare poste ostendimus ita etiam in iudicando errare posse asserimus And Hierome Zanchius de Sacra Scriptura pag. 411. fine 412. initio saith of theÌ„ cum Iudicio eos audiamus pâ—rsu si eos esse homines potuâ—ssâ— ac poste errare error oversight mans infirmitie all his prayer and possible diligence notwithstanding 5 Fifthly that in full demonstration hereof aswell Martine (x) M. Bridge in his defence oâ— the Government c. pag. 559. M. Perkines in his foure treatizes tract How to applie Gods word c. sâ—ct 10. initiâ— Luther whom themselues acknowledge to be (y) Apolog. Angl. part 4. c 4.2 a man sent of God to lighten the world (z) Fâ—xâ— in his Actes Monuments pag. 416. a. initio the Hâ—lias condâ—ctor and chariot of Israell whose calling they thinke (a) Aretius Loc. Comun loc 63. pag. 198. circa medium And Danaeus in Isagog Christian part 4. lib. 2. pag. 36. initio extraordinarie and speciaâ—ly (b) The booke entituled Anticâ—râ—stus sive Prognâ—stiâ— finis mundi pag. 12. 13. 86. fine And Schluse burg in Caiâ—â— Haeret. lib. 13 vit pag. 314 and 316 fine foreshewed the Scriptures since foretold in like manner by (c) Act. Mâ—n pag. 399. b. initio and 〈◊〉 in Apâ—caâ— pag. 324. sâ—ndry Prophecie that went of him himselfe being furthermore affirmed to be (d) â—leydane in Engliâ—â— 101. 222. b. paulo post medium and see the margent there a Prophet and most assured and (e) Luther adversus falso nominatum EcclesiasticuÌ„ statum saith scire vos volo quod in posterum non amplius vos hoc honore dignabor vt sinam vel vos vel ipsos angelos de coelo de mea doctrina iudicare c. nec volo meaÌ„ doctrinam à quoquam iudicari atque adeò ne ab angelis quidem cum enim certus deâ—ea sim per eam quoque vester angelorum iudex esse volo certaine of this doctrine and likewise (f) M. Whitguift in his defence of the answere to the admonition pag. 201 circa med And M. Sparke in his answere to M. Iohn d' Albines pag. 107. initio Calvine (g) M. D. Sutclyffe and D. Sarauia haue writeÌ„ whole treatizes hereof against Beza Beza (h) In M. Whitguifts defence c. pag. 522. initio M. Cartwright saith Bucer though otherwise very learned hath grosse absurdities Bucer c. and sundrie of the (i) M.D. Fulke in his answere to a couÌ„terfeite Catholike pag. 35. 87. Gomarus in speculo verae Ecclesiae Christi pa. 93. 94 auncient Fathers and Generall (k) M. Fulke ibidem pag. 89. 90. and M. Willet in his Synopsis pag. 92. Councels are accordingly affirmed to haue erred notwithstanding all their prayer and possible diligence in conferring the Scriptures As also it is further taught that even (l) M. Fulke vbi supra pag. 86. fine the whole Church millitant may erre altogether as every part thereof These being the confessed grounds and principles of our adversaries doctrine they do appeare to be no other but as it were lincked chaines or naked convections of vnavoidable incertainetie and being such can therefore afford to our adversaries not assured knowledge or certainty of faith (â‹) M. Whitaker de Ecclesia contra Bellarminum controu 2. quaest 4. pag. 221. paulo post med saith hereof qualia illa media sunt talem ipsam interpretationeÌ„ este necesse est at media interpretandi loca obscura sunt incerta dubia ambigua ergo fieri non potest quin ipsa etiam interpretatio incerta sit si incerta tunc esse potest falsa c. But according to the nature of theâ—seâ—ues a necessarie doubtfulnes and incertaintie of opinion for albeit that the Scriptures be in themselues certaâ—ne infallible and free from erâ—or yet what can this preteÌ„ce thereof availe to free our adversaries froÌ„ incertaintie seing it is euident by them coÌ„fessed that the Scriptures instruct them not otherwise theÌ„ by the foresaid meanes on their behalfe to be obserued that their obseruation of those meanes is but humaine subiect to error and that accordingly Luther many other notwithstanding all their diligent and careful observation of the saide meanes haue grievousely erred even in those points wherof they thought themselues so cleerely certaine that sundrie of them haue not doubted to testifie the same with their blood and yet indeed were therein as our adversaries confesse but incertaine and deceiued as also