had beene an infallible assembly it selfe it must necessarily follow that all those who pertinaciously follow him heerein are to bee accounted pertinacious Heretikes Heretofore Christians were taught that holy Scriptures expounded by the Vniuersall and Generall voice of the Church were the rule of faith and accordingly all agreeing in this rule they were called Catholikes but this rule being left by Popes and the infallibility being giuen to them by their followers thereupon worthily of Popes the heads of their faith they haue beene and are called Pontificians and Papists I may iustly thinke that vpon beleefe of this rule some late Pontificians haue plainely graunted to me that the Christians of these times are bound to beleeue explicitly and expresly somewhat which the Apostles themselues and the Primitiue Christians did not expresly and in explicit termes beleeue An example at first was graunted in transubstantiation it selfe but vpon better consideration denyed againe but when I roundly vrged them to shew me where or how in explicit or equiualent termes transubstantiation was beleeued in the Apostles times because they faltered in their answeres and defences our conference ended to no small comfort of my soule so lately deliuered out of the Aegyptian seruitude The Aduersaries seeme to produce diuers authorities to proue infallibility of iudgement in the Pope but in truth they force not Ouerthrow two and the rest fall of themselues I will take a little paines with these two The first of them is taken out of ſ Math. 16. St. Mathew where the Euangelist bringeth in Christ thus speaking of St. Peter vpon his confessing of Christs diuinitie Tues Petrus super hanc petram c. Thou art a Rocke and vpon this Rocke will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it There the aduersarie triumpheth saying it is cleare that Christ builded his Church vpon Peter for by those wordes this Rocke Peter is most expresly designed I will not now stand to confute this exposition by the authorities of Scriptures and testimonies of some ancient Fathers who with St. Austen expound those wordes this Rocke for Christ the Rocke whom Peter had confessed and from whom Peter had his name as t In sacro eloquio c. In holy Writ when the word Rock is put in the singular number who else is signified but Christ Paul witnessing but the Rocke was Christ but when rocks are so called in the plurall number then holy men are signified which are cōfirmed by his strength Greg. apud Pater in 1. ad Cor. Aug. tract vltim in Ioh in Retractationib ' Chrysoft homil 55. in Math. Greg. in Psal Paenit super illud initio tu Domine Isidor lib. 7. Etym c. 9. St. Gregorie and St. Austen expound it or else of Peters confession and faith Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God as u Theophil in Math. 16. Hilardo Trin. lib. 2. The Papists will not by any meanes in the words of consecration of the Sacrament this is my body admit the demonstratiue article this to demonstrate the bread which Christ taking into his handes giuing thankes broke and deliuered saying take eate this is my body the cause is because if the article this doe demonstrate Bread which cannot possibly be Christs true body no more then his body can bee true bread then they should be constrained to admit of a sacramentall presence only of Christs body in the Sacrament which they cannot abide but here the article this must needes demonstrate the person of Peter because it maketh for their Popes supremacies Theophilactus expoundeth it but I will only demand at this present how they can violently against the nature of the demonstratiue article this draw it vnto Peters person who in the same proposition of Christ to him was designed by the article demonstratiue thou as though thou and this in one proposition when one person is spoken vnto must needes both of them demonstrate the very same one person to whom the speech is made and not rather according to the nature of the pronounes demonstratiue one of them to wit thou demonstrate the person to whom the speech is made and the pronounce this to demonstrate the thing or person of whom the speech was made before I put a familiar example Iohn hath two sonnes Thomas and William he calleth his eldest sonne Thomas with his brother vnto him demanding a question or two of him and withall discourseth of his yonger brothers wit and capacitie for learning To which his eldest Sonne accordingly answereth that his brother is indeede witty and fit for the Vniuersitie To which his Father replying saith Thomas thou art my eldest sonne and shalt inherite my liuing and this sonne I will send to the Vniuersitie there to make profit in learning what might Thomas conceaue vpon this speech that hee should bee sent to the Vniuersitie and not rather his brother William many like comparisons might bee made by which it would appeare that the demonstratiue article this being vnderstood personally doth not demonstrate the person to whom but rather the person of whom the speech was made Againe manifest it is that Christ built his Church vpon that Rocke against which the gates of hell should neuer preuaile But if the wordes this Rocke bee applyed not only to Peter but also to his Successours themselues cannot denie but that the gates of hell haue often preuailed against many of those stones or rockes to the ruine and perdition of innumerable soules As against Boniface the 8. Siluester the 2. Iohn the 12. Stephen the 6. I am assured x Platina in vitis Platina will not sticke to auouch so much in effect of two Bonifaces the 7. and 8. and of Siluester the 2. and y Genebrard in Chronol lib 4. saeculo 10. ad ann 107. alias saepe Genebrard a most furious enemy against the reformed Churches doth boldly pronounce that diuers Popes were rather Apostaticall then Apostolicall and that they came not in the right way by election but through the backe-dore by intrusion What z Baron ann Baronius himselfe recounteth of the Monster Stephen 6. one of their Popes how he abused the body of his Predecessour Formosus arraining it condemning it cutting off his fingers and casting the body into Tiber and in a Synode gathered euen in Rome that See and Rocke which cannot erre as it pleaseth our Aduersaries he decreed all such as had beene ordained by Formosus to be reordained againe Of Iohn the 12. this Cardinall cannot write bitterly enough and yet he inueigheth against Otho the first renowned and worthy Emperour and the whole Clergie of Rome who in a Synode gathered in Rome the infallible Sea deposed that monster Iohn and placed in his steede Leo a worthy man But to make hast for of like examples of Apostaticall Popes much might be said I doe in good earnest aske of any of Baronius his profession whether the gates of hell preuailed
conclude these my Motiues about their idle rules of faith the Christian Reader who is carefull of his owne saluation and giueth obedient eare to that propheticall light of Gods sacred Scriptures expounded by the ancient Church which Scriptures Saint Peter n 2. Pet. 1. preferreth aboue that vision which he and his brethren had of Christ in mount Thabor he cannot but easily obserue what consequences are likely to follow out of three such corrupt Rules of faith as are in request amongst the Pontificians to wit infallibility solely and onely in the Popes definitiue iudgement authority of Apophricall Scriptures and the vaine authority of their traditions pretended to be Apostolicall where as they are nothing lesse The aduersary will for the validitie of these rules stand vpon the authority of their present Romane Church which hath receiued them of which their defence conformably to all antiquitie and ancient Fathers who taught otherwise we must also conformably to their proceedings search out of Gods word whether the Church of which they bragge so much be the true Church Succession in Sees onely will not suffice as by their owne confession is manifest in the Churches of Antioch Alexandria Constantinople c. but there is required also successioÌ„ in doctrine according to Gods word by which triall must be made of all Churches and of all doctrines and all after-traditions to which if they be not agreeable without perill of damnation they must not be receiued and this is the most expresse doctrine and faith of Saint Austen in o August lib. 1. de doctrina Christiana cap. 37. lib. de unitate Ecclesi cap. 2. but cap. 16. so clearly that I do suppose no Pontifician Priest dare scarce read that Chapter to his family sundrie places yea of Bellarmine p Bellarm. lib. 2. de verbo doi cap. 2. Basil serm de fide himselfe though as it may be thought he not very willingly confesseth this truth Other means saith he may deceiue but nothing is more certaine then the Scripture and therefore by confession of all both ancient and moderne writers the triall by Gods word is most firme and assured The fourth Motiue THe fourth Motiue and that very effectuall The fourth Motiue with me is that transcendent power both in all temporals and spirituals which later Popes contrary to Christs institution and practise of holy Primitiue Popes challenge and which the Romane Canonists and Cardinals ouer-liberal of that wherwith they haue nothing to doe doe flatteringly thrust vpon their Romane Monarches In spirituals he challengeth and they grant vnto him to be the onely supreme and immediate Pastor ouer Christs flocke so that looke how ample and immediate Christs iurisdiction for saluation of soules was so is his he glorieth in that title and they giue it him which q Greg lib. 4. epist 38. S. Gregory so much detested as the very badge of Antichrist he will in the gouernment of Christs flocke haue no Peere nor Colleage He is content to be honoured with that title yea and aboue that ambitious title the which Constantius the Arian required for he was content with numen nostrum our power or diuinitie but the Pope can willingly acept of supremum in terris numen the supreme and highest diuinitie or power vpon earth O ye heauens be astonished and euerlasting gates be desolated the pretended only Vicar of Christ the successor in some sort of that poore fisher who r Act 3. gloried in that he had neither gold nor siluer must heare and that from renowned * Proesat ad Grego 13. in principia doctri Stapletons mouth the Spanish kings professor in Louane the English Pontificians chiefe champion thus thy supreme diuinity vpon earth iust God how more iustly may we lament with those words of Saint Gregory against Iohn of Constantinople for his extraordinary fasting surnamed Ieiunator the faster f Grego lib. 4. â—p 38. O alasse all things that haue beene forespoken are come to passe the King of pride is at hand and that which is a wickednesse to be spoken a whole Army of priests is prepared for him because those serue the proud necke of elation and pride who haue beene set to giue example of meekenesse and humility Thus that Father in those times when the mysterie of iniquity began to worke most apparantly in the Patriarke of Constantinople but appeared more clearly in one of his next Successors to wit Boniface 3 who emulating the Constantinopolitan Patriarks for their pride obteined of Phocas that hatefull and traiterous vsurper rather then Emperour to decree by constitution that the title of Vniuersall Bishop should for euer after belong and be giuen only to the Bishops of Rome this is a matter vndoubted of by auncient t Sabel Aenead â— lib. 6. Platin. in Bonifac. 3. Otho lib. 5. Paulus de gostis Longobard Marianus anno Dom. 608. Duerenus de sacris Ecclesioe ministris lib. 1. cap 10 Abbas in Phoca poene emnis aly Sigebert Regino Luitpran Anasta Baron annal ad annum 606. Historians and yet perchance this Boniface did not assume by that title so much vnto him as these latter Popes doe to wit to be immediate pastors of all the whole Church comprehending all Partriarkes Bishops c or that there is no power nor iurisdiction in any Prelate or Pastor of the Church whatsoeuer which is not dependantly from them and of them so that they can and may peremptorily call to their court all causes greater or smaller and according to course of law or otherwise finally and * Iudicare c. to iudge and decree whether it be necessary to depose a Prince belongeth to the Pope of whose iudgement whether it be right or not no man may iudge Bellar. contra Barck ca. 12. vnappellably ende and determine them and if any either Emperour Prince Prelate or Vniuersity would offer to appeale from any of their sentences though most exorbitant and tirannicall they should thereby deserue to bee cursed with Bell Booke and Candle I cannot thinke that in Bonifaces time the Romane Bishops were growne to that height of Antichristian pride that was left for later times when the Diuell was to be let loose after the thousand yeeres of his binding Notwithstanding he challenged by Phocas his constitution to be only called vniuersall Bishop of the Church against which title Saint Gregory so vehemently and Christianly exclaimeth in u Greg lib 4. ep 32. 34. 38. 39. diuers Epistles testifying and demonstrating most plainly that that Antichristian title robbeth all Bishops of their honour and maketh that the Assumer thereof should bee reputed Antichrist This being so in this Auncient Father how durst D. Stapleton x Staple principi doctr lib. 6. cap. 7. that renowned Professour of diuinity endeuour to make Saint Gregory speake against himselfe in this very epistle and out of him labour to proue the present Romane supremacy and Monarchy which that Father so much
being therevnto vrged by manifest truth and reason that it is not enough for them vpon their bare wordes to affirme this or that is a tradition Apostolicall or this or that is a doctrine Apostolicall because it is now generally obserued through out all those Churches which communicate with the Bishop of Rome no though at such times when there was no notorious or famous Church on earth to oppose against her and whereof no expresse beginning can bee shewed vnlesse they can withall for such their Traditions ascending vpwards euen vnto the Apostles times or the dayes of their immediate Successors and Schollers clearly and soundly deduct by graue testimonies of Ancient and Catholike authours that such thinges were euer more or lesse obserued and receiued as from the Apostles themselues throughout the Church of Christ if they will refuse this honorable triall of their Traditions and stand only vpon this idle answere and defence that the Church Romane now generally hath them and there is no beginning of them to bee shewed ergo they are Apostolicall they shall shew themselues to be meere wranglers wilfully wedded to most corrupt errours as I will most clearly demonstrate And herein I dare boldly challenge being most confident of this truth any Pontifician whatsoeuer be he Benedictine Fransciscan or Ignatian to shew me some ancient sufficient authority out of Councels or ancient Fathers that whatsoeuer might be obserued or should bee obserued in the later times of the Romane Church whereof no expresse beginning could be shewed should be therfore accounted Apostolicall because generally obserued in her g Epist 118. ad Ianuar. St. Austen indeede is vrged by the Aduersaries to affirme so much of some vnwritten Traditions in his time generally obserued throughout the whole Church but St. Austen is misvnderstood and his rule commonly cited not without corruption misvnderstood because his rule is of such Traditions whereof although nothing is written in holy Scripture yet they are mentioned in approued Authours and Historians more or lesse from the Apostles daies till his times besides great is the difference of 1200. yeares for so long is the time from St. Austens daies to vs for carrying downe of Traditions from the Apostles and in so many ages many thinges vnapostolicall h See Onuphr Genebrard and Platina supra pag. 3. might creepe into particular Churches and consequently into the whole whereof no certaine beginning might be shewed Againe St. Austens rule is commonly mis-cited For whereas that Father writeth thus in effect in his Epistle to i Epist 118. Ianuarius If the authority of diuine Scripture prescribe in any of these rites and ceremonies what is to bee done I I cite not the expresse words of the Father because editions are so different but all haue thus in effect answere there is no doubt to be made but that wee must doe as we reade the like I say if any of these rites which we obserue and the whole Church throughout the world at this present time obserueth for to dispure that we should doe otherwise were insolent madnesse but the Aduersaries commonly when they cite this place leaue out first what he writeth in the beginning of the sentence touching the authority of Scriptures Againe they leaue out commonly those words which restraine his meaning to his daies And in Saint Austens time it is manifest that the Christian Churches were not so diuided as since his times they haue beene and withall that a little before his time the generall Councels of Nice and Sardica had ordered most things and brought many things to light and yet notwithstanding this rule it is well knowne how Saint S. Aust in the same Epistle pronounceth that Christ instituted very few ceremonies Epist 118. Austen complained against multiplicitie of rites and ceremonies brought into diuers particular Churches in his daies wherewith the Christians were more heauily clogged then the ancient Iewes had beene vnder Moses which if it were euer true then it is now amongst the Pontificians most true who haue from their Popes some 1000 of rites and haue also innuerable lawes binding vnder the censure of their curses and heauiest excommunications and so frequently that a man may iustly suppose that there are few of that profession who are not more or lesse touched It is not credible to what number their Excommunications are growne since their tyranical vse of them See Nauar. Man cap. 27. num 50. by their lesser or greater excommunications his holinesse onely excepted who will be bound to no lawes no not to those which he sweareth inuiolably to keepe â—e being indeed that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exlex iniqnus outlaw which Saint k 2. Thes 2. Paul hath prophecied should sit in the Temple of God as I will more fully declare hereafter But I will demonstrate that there are diuers practises and customes obserued throughout their Roman Church vniuersally wherof no beinning can be shewed which themselues wil not dare to affirme to be Apostolicall and so their rule by their owne confessions shall to the ground First is it not an vniuersall though impious practise throughout the Pontifician Church to paint God the Father in the forme of an old man and God the holy Ghost in the forme of a Doue by the same not onely to represent two persons of the most inenarrable and inexpressible Trinitie but also by the same and in the same to adore and worship those two infinite Persons what will they or can they shew me when this custome prâ—cisely began No I wis what must it therefore be a tradition Apostolicall it were impudencie or meere ignorance so to affirme and I thinke there is none of them as yet so shamelesse as to affirme it Nouell I am assured it is vtterly forbidden by the ancient Fathers of the sixt l Sinod 6. Cano. 82. generall Councell reputed an impudent thing by worthy Iohn m Damas Orthodox sid lib. 4. â—ap 17. Sinod Nicen. 2. act 4. 5. 6. 7. Damascene reputed a renowned Saint in their Church and a famous Patrone for the vse of other Images and by their Italian n Polid. lib. de inuentor Polidore Virgil accounted meere folly and which of their own men o Abulens Lira Alij commenting vpon the fourth of Exodus do not more or lesse condemne it and yet now the present Romane Church is so generally infected thereby with the leprosie of superstitious Idolatry that no man whose heart is zealous of Gods honour cannot seeing it but lament therefore Of this kinde also is the prostrate adoring of the Crucifixe it selfe vpon good Friday generally obserued throughout the Romane Church Can their best antiquarie amongst them shew me a beginning hereof no God wot what is it therefore a tradition Apostolicall shame will not suffer them to affirme it To this I adioyne their most Catholike and vaine custome of adorning their Images like as the old Paynims adorned Venus Iuno Ceres their vaine Gods
detested Whereas y Lib. 4. epist 38. S. Gregory in a learned discourse writing against the Patriarke of Constantinople Iohn who claimed to bee vniuersall Bishop of the Church and had procured Maurice the Emperour to write to Saint Gregory for the same purpose sheweth that Christ is onely head of his Church and that there is no other head but hee adding much to that purpose he adioyneth thus Certe Potrus Apostolus primum membrum sanctoe c. Certainly Peter the Apostle the first member of the holy Vniuersall Church Paul Andrew Iohn what else are they but heads of particular people and yet notwithstanding they are all members of the Church vnder one head and that I may bind vp all within a short compasse of speech the Saints before the Law Saints vnder Law Saints vnder Grace all these perfiting one body of our Lord are all placed in the members of the Church and no one would euer haue himselfe called vniuersall Thus farre hee with much more in that Epistle the which whosoeuer shall reade if hee respect Saint Gregories authority confirming his doctrine also out of Scriptures it is not possible hee should beleeue the present Romane Monarchy How then thou wilt demand can Doctour Stapleton find any thing in this very Epistle for the Popes exorbitant supremacy he hath found somwhat yea in this very sentence by me cyted but he hath vsed a certaine figure called of addition by thrusting into the text as he citeth it the word Petro Peter And maketh Saint Gregory speake thus Truly Peter is the first member of the Vniuersall Church Paul Andrew and Iohn what are they else but of singular flocks heads and yet all vnder one head Peter are members of the Vniuersall Church Thus hee Some Dowists and precise Pontificians will perhaps say it is not possible that learned Stapleton should so corrupt this auncient Father let such take paines to examine z Grego lib 4. epist 38. Staple principia doctrina lib 6. c. 8. and then iudge as they find I could shew also how he corrupteth by subtracting but that vpon some other occasion I must needs confesse when I reade this egregious corruption in him that I resolued neuer to trust Pontifician doctour againe without triall citing any sentence for the Popes monarchie It is not imaginable what suppositious books haue bene obtruded vpon the world to support this declining Monarchy but ruet ruet it will fall it will fall and God graunt it may rather be ruinated Lino as an auncient Sibile prophecyed that is with paper to wit learned books rather then with fire sword famine cold as the Sibill Delphicke prophecied vnder Romulus raigning and Rome triumphing and according as Saint Iohn a Apoc. cap. 18. hath fore-prophecied in his Reuelation I cannot now stand prolixly to ouerthrow b See for this purpose Cusanus concoâ—d Cathol lib. 2. ca. 20. and Euseb lib. 5. hist cap. 25 26. especially consider how the Councell of Chalcedon in the 16. action did most resolutely oppose against the Pope their decree hath preuailed this ambitious Monarchy of the Popes by the decrees and constitutions of auncient and later Councels of Nice of Constantinople the first and eight of Chalcedon of Sardica Carthage Constance Basile and by vniforme consent practise of the Greeke Church I will therefore heere onely adioyne somwhat concerning the other branch of this my motiue to wit the Popes arrogant and persumptuous claime c Bulla Pij 5. in Elizabet Clemen 7. in Henri 8. Clement 8. in Henric. 4. Franc. Sixti Quinti c. ouer Princes and kingdomes wherin he assumeth that honour and power which was neuer giuen him by Christ the mysterie of which iniquity hath wrought so powerfully in these latter Popes to fulfill the prediction of d 2. Thess 2. Saint Paul that the Romane Empire according to the exposition of the ancient e August 20. de ciuit 19. Tertul lib. de resurrect carnis Hieron epist ad AlgasiaÌ„ q. 11. in Danielem Aeneas Sâ—luius lib. de ortu Roman Imperij Irenae Theod. Bellarminus lib. 3. de Roma Pont. Ribera viegas in Apoc. Chrisost Amb. Theoph. Primas in 2. ad Thessal 2. fathers was not to be taken away vntill a certaine Antichrist should come I said a certaine Antichrist not because there shall bee onely onely one in number or person but to distinguish him from some other kinds of Antichrists described in some places of the Reuelation and other parts of holy Scripture but then at his comming the empire must De medio fieri be done or taken out of the way but whether it shall be taken out of the waie by the direct meanes of Antichrist or not the Scriptures do not expresly affirme it some of the Fathers yea the Rhemists doe incline to thinke so and doubtlesse it is most probable that the holy Ghost meant so because he maketh the standing of the Romane Empire to be a let and hindrance against the comming of that man of sin Antichrist which f 2. Thess 2. is here prophecied by the Apostle the which thing if it be true it cannot possibly be auoided but that the later Popes be that Antichrist of which the Apostle heere foretelleth who mounted not to their perfect height of iniquity vntill the Romane Empire was made out of the way which was done by them as I will anone shewe For my part I doe very resolutely affirme that whosoeuer shall haue taken the Romane Empire out of the way and shall haue made himselfe the direct or indirect supreame Monarch of the world and withall shall sit in the temple of God that is shall challenge onely to sitte without peere and equall in the vniuersall Church of Christ to Teach all Gouerne all Censure all Command all and necessarily not to be taught censured or corrected by any whatsoeuer The Popes extoll theÌ„selues neither the triple crown nor adoration was first freely giueÌ„ but exacted by themselues that this must needs be the man of sinne the sonne of perdition the outlaw or man without law who extolleth himselfe aboue all that is called God marke extolleth himselfe or that is worshipped Now whereas it is manifest that the Popes by their practise and decrees doe challenge the later to wit the spirituall Monarchy and vniuersall supremacy in the chaire of Gods temple yet they haue not perhaps professedly by decrees challenged to be the supreme direct monarchs of the whole World in temporals I said perhaps for the decrees g Alexander the 6. his decree of diuiding the East and West Indies which he pretendeth to doe ex plenitudine potestatis and gratuito out of the fulnesse of his power frankly Bonif. 8. his decree vnam sanctaÌ„ and his Epistle to Kâ—ng Philp the faire a king of France Leo 10. as Petrarâ—h reporteth him lib. de rebus me mâ—randâ—s gaue the kingdome of Saracens to Sanctius who required him wih the Caliphship of
Anall Platin. in Adrian Irene caused the same by a Synod of Bishops to bee decreed in Nice And I pray you doe you thinke worse of your Iubilies because y Platina in Bonif 8. Walsing in Edward 1. Polychron lib. 7. cap. 40. Boniface the 8. who entred most ambiciously like a Foxe liued like a Lion and died like a Dogge brought them in beware of such mislikes it will not be for the profit of Romes purse Againe the Church of England is calumniated euery day by all the Ignatians as though she had no true orders or iurisdiction I dare affirme that in it there is as certaine and as assured a succession of orders spirituall iurisdiction as in the Church of Rome it selfe which hath so often tottered with so many schismes and hath bin pestered with so many Apostatical Popes as both Baronius and Genebrard deliuer I my selfe very lately searched for my own satisfaction the Records and I find clearly that Archbishop Parker was sufficiently truly and canonically ordered and consecrated by such Bishops as had receiued orders and consecration according to the Romane Church he swore not thou wilt perhaps obiect obedience to the Bishop of Rome a toy Where in all antiquity finde you the vse ofswearing subiection to the Bishop of Rome Romane Tyranny brought it in to the Church and Christian liberty hath exploded it It is indeede the soule of your Religion that subiection to the Bishop of Rome is a meane necessary to saluauation as necessary as Baptisme it selfe O prodigious Doctrin it is not enough say these men to saluation to be vnited with Christ and subiected to our immediate Pastors who are in vnion with the whole Catholike Church touching the Catholike faith vnlesse we be also vnited by immediate subiectiō vnto the Pope of Rome who may both be an Heretike and also contaminate the Church with his pernicious Lawes So that if a Pope Nerolike as Boniface the 8. would by pernicious Lawes draw you from Christ and like as a Heliogabalus as Iohn the 12. would draw you to all impurities and teach you to diuide the Church by opposing against the true Pope after his iust deposition by the whole Romane Clergy most Bishops of Italy assembled in a Synod or Ottomanlike as Paul the 5. will teach you against Christs institution not to yeelde temporall obedience to your lawfull Soueraigne if hee out of his throne take vpon him to dethrone him vnlesse forsooth you be subiect to such Vicars of Christ you cannot haue saluation in Christ O prodigious and vaine Doctrine of these times the holy Prophets O ye Britaine 's haue forewarned vs let vs beware of them What vile calumniation is that by which the reformed Churches of England are charged to deny the seeing of Gods face and glory vnto the Saints departed vntill the day of Iudgement What a slander that she respects no Holy daies of Christ or his Apostles I dare say that the memories of the Apostles are in many places of this Kingdome as religiously obserued as the Sundaies are with them but in the obseruation of the Sabbath our Lords day the Church of England doth so farre surpasse all Papistical Churches yea of Rome it selfe that it were a sinne to make any comparison therein betwixt them a Caluino Turcismo William Rainolds calumniateth Caluin that hee teacheth that Christ by his corporall death redeemed not mankinde A meere Calumnious imputation his doctrine is that Christ by his meere Corporal death had he not subiected himself to haue vndergone his fathers displeasure against mankinde and to haue clothed himselfe as it were with the deserts punishment and guilt of man he had not fully made that satisfactiō for mankind of which the Scripture so often speake of which doctrin who can be ignorant who is acquainted with holy writ Great is their spight against that man but notwithstanding all their malice against him he liued peaceably laboured faithfully and died Christianly leauing such a posterity of books behinde him which checketh the daily continual innouations of Rome Grieuous is the imputation to the English Church for condemning and contemning the ancient Fathers whereas the most it striueth for is to support that of b Tertull. lib. de prescriptio Tertullian Quod antiquissimum verissimum that which is most Ancient euen in the Fathers is most true At first when counterfeit Martials Abdias Clements Markes Dionises were produced the Prelats of the reformed Churches were more afrighted then hurt and to such Fathers they might iustly giue the Anatheme because such fathers had impugned and contradicted that Gospell of Christ the which whosoeuer though an Angell from heauen shall doe we are warranted by the c ad Galat. 1. Apostle to giue him the Anatheme But in and for true Fathers the Church of England reuerently and constantly auoucheth that of d Vincent Lirin contra Heres cap. 4. Tertull. de praescript Vincentius Lirinensis to take place Quicquid non unus aut duo c. Whatsoeuer not one or two but al together with one and the same consent openly frequently and constantly shall bee knowne to haue held written and taught that she also without any doubt knoweth must by her bee beleeued and this most iustly the English Church admitteth it being as cleare as the verie no one daies that all Fathers of the Ancient Church neuer taught helde nor wrot any thing in this sort which is not clearely agreeing to Gods word which is the onely Rule of Christian faith But iustly to retort vpon them who knoweth not that for most of their Roman nouel positions the Aduersaries haue no Ancient Fathers and therefore to defend themselues being vrged they do not produce Fathers but stand to their imagined Traditions written no where in Antiquity but only reserued in the Romane Bishops and Churches brests as they pretende this is their City of refuge as for example When a world of Fathers concurring with sacred Scripture is produced to shew that the Virgin Mary whose name bee euer blessed amongst and aboue all women was conceiued in Originall sinne yea some of them with S. Anselme auouching that shee was borne in sinne which I can hardly beleeue doe they heere sticke to the Fathers nothing lesse their imagined traditions must take place Againe when whole centuries of Fathers and those assembled in Synods bee produced to affirme that Popes haue beene and may bee Heretikes will they heare admit of the Fathers nothing lesse all records must be coūterfeit their own best Authors deceiued rather then the Fathers authorities admitted against their Popes infallibilies When irrefragable authorities of most ancient Fathers are produced to shew that the holy Scriptures are the onely inerrable rule of Christian Catholike faith and the square by which the writings and faith of all men and all Churches must be examined and tried will they heere allow the Fathers No alas they flye the field and seeke after some maimed sentences
for Traditions of which Traditions when it is also shewed out of the Fathers that they must also be tried by holy Scriptures will they heerein receiue the Fathers euen as before renounce all and runne to the present voice of their Church which Church is with them the Pope alone or Pope and his Cardinals Againe when all the Fathers that euer commented vpon the 14. of the first to the Corinthians with the authorities of many others bee produced to shew that the publike Church Liturgy ought to be in such a tongue as may be vnderstood by the assembly and for their edification will they heere accept of the Fathers Good God they fleet vp and downe like men in mases to finde some probable reasons for their barbarous seruices Againe when innumerable authorities of ancient Fathers are clearely produced for iustification by onely faith e Ad Gal. 5. which worketh by charity and against their Laterane Transubstantiation will they admit the Fathers Good God their subterfugies are innumerable either they will skippe ouer them and runne onely to the text of Scripture This is my body 〈◊〉 else they will expound all their sayings that 〈◊〉 still remaineth the natures of the creatures are not changed Christs flesh which was crucified is not in the Sacrament Christs flesh is present as in a Mystery as in a Sacrament as in a figure c. with infinite such like most expresse sentences They will I say so figuratiuely expound them all to shew that as they detest any figuratiue exposisition of the words of Scripture in this Sacrament so they themselues delight in nothing more then in figuratiue expounding most plaine sentences of the Fathers discoursing of this mysterie Againe when authorities of all the ancient Fathers that euer had occasion to entreat of the obedience of Subiects towards their naturall Princes and lawfull Soueraignes bee produced to shew that Christians ought to obey them g Ad Rom. 13. euen for conscience sake although they be persecutors of the Christian Religion and that they neuer vnderstood of the Imperiall Papall power ouer Kings and kingdomes which the Romane Bishoppes now assume to themselues will they heere strike saile and doe homage to the Fathers No God wot they flie out of the field and for the most part either they passe ouer the question with silence or else if they bee English and Ignatians or Ignatianed they fall to libelling and with namelesle Pamphlets labour continually to traduce Magistrates Gouernment Maiesty onely striuing by such a nouell Gospell to the Apologies of which they are ashamed to put their names to set vp the maiesty of the Romane Papall monarchy after destroying of the Romane Empire to ruinate such Kingdomes as were according to the predictions of holy Prophets to rise out of the Romane Empire vntill the times of malice bee 〈…〉 I iustly touch them heere for writing of 〈…〉 in defence of this Gospell to which bookes they are ashamed or else afraide to put their names wherein they shew themselues to bee right Parsonians and Ignatians or else deepely ignatianed Those infamous libels of stinking and prophane Pruritanus and the most blasphemous masked Polonian Exetasis against the maiesties glories and gouernments of these Kingdomes and expressely the most disloiall quipping in the Polonian Exetasis of Englands title P. W. The Corrector W. Pater Gib to France Who composed them Ignatians who diuulged them Ignatians and Ignatianed The vnsauory Pruritanus worthy to bee retorted into the Popes bosome but that the Maiesty of Gods Scripture may not bee abused who caused them to bee reprinted againe after that most of them were taken at the Venetian Embassadors Ignatians Who brought new store of them againe ouer into England Ignatians Who were so well pursed as to giue eight shillings apcece yea an angell for such a prophane Pamphlet comprised in a sheet or two of paper The Ignatianed and Brethren of the societie Who composed the late idle Pamphlet of the Puritan and Protestant Sister communing against the Oth of Allegiance A simple and silly Ignatian creature God wot Who was the Authour of the late bragging recapitulation in the title of which the namelesse Composer who as it is reputed resting in S. Iohns Mount should haue put P. W. to the end of the Pamphlet rather then H. I. promiseth a recapitulation together with a declaration but faileth in the latter for he declareth nothing only he recapitulateth a certaine learned booke as it is thought of Leonard Lessius the demonstrating Diuine which booke as yet appeareth not Some say the cause is that the Sorbone Doctours of Paris hearing of it haue written to Rome against the publishing of it to the Popes Holinesse for that say they France is not in a fit temper for such doctrines Others say the French Ignatians haue written vnto their Generall Aquauiua to haue the worke stopped because in this time when their credits are so shaken euery where for like pernicious doctrine it would greatly * That doctrine must not be allowed in France which poore English Recusants must maintaine with all vtter extremity manifest perdition of their soules hurt their cause This is done to saue the Ignatians skinnes whole and yet the poore English Recusants termed both in Italy and France the Popes Asses must beare the brunt of the Popes quarrell though it be to their vtter ruines I rather thinke the booke is kept in out of diffidence of their cause and that the Louanian societie of Ignatians will not permit their Diuine to enter into such an vnsound quarrell leauing it as they say for the English to defend and vndertake Alasse the good English like Asses must vndertake all and vndergoe all yet there was neuer people vpon earth who haue had worse successe with traiterous doctrines and conspiracies then they Againe who was the composer of the late Libel against me the which I neuer read to make my selfe merry therewith But I heartily also reioiced that I was found worthy to suffer contumely and disgracefull slanders for truths sake and for my Countries and Princes sake Some silly Saint-Omeristian boy for his Fathers the Ignatians who as it is reported made themselues oftentimes merie with the same at their recreations after their full meales whom I here leaue to the making of Libels stil if they hold that a fit course to support their desperate cause only giue me leaue Curteous Reader here with two or three particulars to shew how the young Ignatians like Crabs learne of the old like as to write namelesse bookes for their gospell so also to blaspheme maiesty and soueraigntie and to commend and engender disloyall spirits and to discommend and checke the naturall and loyall Some yeere agoe and as much as since Iuly last my selfe with diuers other Priests arriuing at S. Omers we heard there a certaine Ignatian preach vpon that j Matt. 7. text Beware of false Prophets c. In which his Sermon before the
ego pono in Sion lapidem c. Behold I put in Sion an approued a corner stone and a precious one laid in the foundation This prophecy although S. Peter b 1. Peâ— 2. most expresly expoundeth it of Christ himselfe yet Bellarmine in his dictates would needs haue it to be vnderstood of Peter not of Christ His profound reason is forsooth because the c Isai 28. Prophet addeth of this stone that it must be in fundamento fundatus founded in the foundation that is laid in the foundation which may not be vnderstood of Christ but fitly of Peter founded vpon Christ So Bellarmine but in his d Bellar in praesat in lib. de pont Rom. printed Preface he hath somewhat mended the matter for he is content to vnderstand principally this prophecie of Christ secondarily of Peter so that Christ and Peter must still ranke together Christ principally but Peter secondarily Baronius in his Voto against the Venetians to Paul the 5. in Consistory publikely applied to him to be the stone vpon which e Matth. 21. whosoeuer falleth saith the holy Ghost shall be bruised and vpon whomsoeuer it falleth it shall breake them in peeces but alas the Cardinall failed the Pope in his Prophecie for by his sentences of excomcommunications interdicts c. he did so little bruise the Venetians who so constantly opposed against him that The manner of the Venetians reconcilement with the Pope for which the Ignatians euerywhere exclaim against that state onely they are warie before whom they could not by any meanes be brought to make any submission for any offence imputed to them or to acknowledge any fault so that at the last the Pope was contented to accept of a shew of submission made to him by some third persons and as it is reported suborned also by the court of Rome thereunto and so with his honour to be reconciled vnto them againe a notable example for posterity against the vsurpations of Popes I could here more enlarge my discourse to shew how Bellarmine Sanders Baronius Stapleton do all they can and labour earnestly though most vnsouÌ„dly to bring all ChristiaÌ„s to that pernicious perswasioÌ„ faith to wit that it is not inough according to f Decretal Bonifa 8. vnam sanctam Bonifaces decree for their saluations to be in communion with the Catholike Church dispersed through the world and with the head thereof Christ Iesus vnlesse they be in actual communion and blind obedience to the Bishop of Rome as the onely one and supreme head of the visible Church It is a sufficient assecurance for my conscience that according to the sense of ancient Church it is against S. g 1. Cor. cap. 1. Pauls expresse doctrine who in his Epistle to the CorinthiaÌ„s doth most grieuously reproue all such as went about to make a speciall ioyning either with Peter Paul or Apollo nothing herein differencing S. Peter from Apollo or himselfe doubtlesse he was nothing acquainted with the present necessary subiection and vnion to the Bishops of Rome the pretended onely successors of Saint Peter But rather he instructed and most earnestly h Jhidem commaunded all Christians to acknowledge Chrâ—st Iesus for their onely head of whom they were named in whose name they were baptised and who onely was for them crucified dead and buried risen againe to life Surely if Saint Paul did beleeue such a necessary headship in the Bishops of Rome doubtlesse his faith therein was onely implicit for his expresse doctrine is against it but I dare heere boldly saie that if per impossibile by an impossibilitie such a headship in the Popes had beene respected in the Primitiue Churches yet later Popes are now so degenerate from what their predecessors were into all most abhominable and tirannicall conuersations to the corruption of faith against the temporalty and spiritualty that Gods infinite mercy would excuse such who to giue them most iust cause and motiues to ranke themselues in their owne degrees should leaue their communion with them and adhere onely to Iesus Christ to whom vpon him onely resting with King i Psal 118. Dauid I humbly complaine tempus faciendi domine dissipauerunt legem tuam It is high time O Lord to doe for they haue dissipated and and broken thy law The second Motiue THus they hauing most egregiously erred in coÌ„stituting a false rule of their faith to support the present Roman profession to the same end they haue perniciously depraued the true rule of faith by adding to the sacred word of God such bookes as antiquity worthily reiected for Apocriphall that is of doubtfull vncertaine authority not fit to confirme and proue the dogmaticall doctrines and articles of Christian faith thereby distinguishing them from the Canonicall Scriptures Gods infallible word Such are k Hieron in Prolog Galeat Epiph. lib. de mensur August de ciuit dei lib. 18. cap. 36. Athanas in Sinop Epipha haere 8. 76. esteemed accounted the books of Iudith Wisdome Ecclesiasticus Toby the Machabies all such like doubtfull parts of Chapters of the old Testament as by neither the Iews before nor in Christs time nor in the Nicene Laodicenc Councels nor ancient Fathers purposely setting down and defining the Canons of holy Scripture were euer receiued into the Canon 1 Con. Nice Laodic in Cano. de Canonicis scripturis Hieron epist 10. 115. Joseph contra Appto lib. 1 Russin de Simbol Apost and rule of Christian Faith Against this their deuised rule it is most easily and manifestly shewed that considering the Iewish Synagogue when it was the true Church of God receiued not these bookes into their Canon wee ought not to receiue them hauing no new reuelations for them nor no better warrant then they had especially considering that the Septuaginta interpreters who tooke vpon them to interpret all the bookes of Gods word to Ptolomeus neglected them Christ and his Apostles neuer cited any thing out of any of them as they did out of the other Scriptures And further the thrice reuereÌ„d Fathers of the Nicene Councell and those worthies of the Councell of Laodicea both which Councells were celebrated in the East nearer the place and time where and when Christs Church might best informe her selfe which were the bookes of Sacred Scripture reiected and cashired them out of sacred Canon of holy Scripture Neither is there any new reuelation for them now nor any iust cause why the Pope and Pontificians should be so eager to put them into Canon of Scripture but for that they seeme in some places contrary to the vndoubted Scriptures to fauor some of their vaine and corrupt doctrines as of Purgatorie Praier for the Dead Merits of good workes c. As for * The contra dictioÌ„ betwixt the 5. châ—pter of Iudith and the 10. â—â—irreconcilable so manâ—â—est that the same euinceth the author of the same booke not to bee the holy Ghost who caÌ„not lie See
courteous Reader how Bellarmine tra uaileth to defend this booke from contradiction Bellar de verb. Dei lib 1. c. 12. Iudiths booke in particular I cannot but meruaile how any one can thinke that the holy Ghost would euer approue that decking and trimming vp of her selfe for such an impure and luxurious proiect thereby to draw m Iud. 10. 12 Holofernes into an vnlawfull burning lust and concupiscence of her if so they will teach and affirme may I not heere charge their doctrine with affirming God to bee the approuer and Authour of sinne more iustlie then they charge Caluin therewith Was not that of the holy Ghost in n Rom 3. St. Paul law and right in Iudiths daies Non sunt facienda mala vt eueniant bona Things that are euill are not to bee done that good may come thereby Besides it is too too apparent that in the story there are some vntruths and vnreconcilable contradictions which are clearelie against the other sacred Scriptures And therefore by euident consequence it is to bee affirmed that the booke is Apocriphall and not of that vndoubted and certaine authority which holy Canonicall Scriptures haue by which onely Dogmata fidei articles of Faith are to bee decreed and tried as the ancient Church euer beleft from whose faith because faith must euer be the same no Christian can without hazard of Saluation depart Against the books of Machabees many particular and vnanswerable doubts might be produced I will content my selfe with two or three Doth not the Author of them I should say the abbreuiatour of Iasons larger history as himselfe p 2. Mach. 2. professeth to be against the faith and doctrine of vndoubted Scriptures approue and admire the fact of q 2. Mach. 14. Razias murthering himselfe doth he not craue pardon of the Reader if he haue not answerably to the condition of a good r 2. Mach. vlt. Historian behaued himselfe belike the holy Ghost who is not accustomed nor cannot acknowledge himselfe nor his Scribes to bee subiect to any humane errour in writing thus here left him but not aboue in the 12. Chapter of this Å¿ 2. Mach. 12 booke where he mentioneth prayers and sacrifices for the dead and yet this by the helpe of false fingers also and therefore he here not there craued pardon if he had not arightly performed his office Doubtlesse hee who will thinke the holy Ghost can craue pardon of man as though he might be subiect to errour hath little of the holy Ghosts grace in him Which things considered with diuers other impossibilities against the truth of historie I cannot be perswaded that t Lib. de Ciuit. Dei 18. c. 36. St. Austin and the Fathers of the Councell of Carthage did otherwise approue them to be read then as a probable historie contayning some good morall matter if reade with u Cont. GaudeÌ„t sobriety to vse St. Austens owne phrase but not as to receiue them into the Canon of sacred Scripture of Gods word And if St. Austen may not bee thought to contradict himselfe within the compasse of halfe a dozen of lines some Manuscriber hath egregiously corrupted him for x Aug. lib. 18. de Ciuit. Dei cap. 36. first hee seemeth clearly and absolutely to affirme that they are not Canonicall and proueth thereupon a truth vpon which hee there discourseth and presently he is made to say thus that although the Iewes receiue not the Machabees into Canon yet the Church of Christ receiueth them but who smelleth not false fingers here especially if infinite like forgeries of Manuscribers be obserued Further I am more confirmed in my iudgement against these bookes because y Dist 15. cap. Sancta Romana Gelasius a Pope of Rome before any greater corruptions had deeply tainted that Church did with a whole Synode in Rome recounting a Canon of the Apostles for the same purpose exclude the Machabees out of the Canon of holy Scriptures and although the Canon beginning Sancta Romana c. in which this exclusion was be now so maymed and mangled that no man can iustly say this part or line of it is sound yet z Anton. 3. part summ l. 18. c. 6. Antonine Archbishop of Florence and a Saint in their Church confesseth that he himselfe had read the exclusion of these bookes out of Canon of Scripture in that decree of Gelasius and according to the Canon of the Apostles there mentioned All these things concurring out of Antiquitie and the vndoubted Churches of Christ with the authority also of some learned Pontificians their later Doctors and that of a Tertull. lib. de praescript Tertullian euer taking place in Christs Church Quod antiquissimum verissimum that which is most ancient is most true What may bee thought of that b Conc. Trident. Sess 4. congregation at Trent who hath giuen equal authority to them with the vndoubted word of God and haue accursed with their idle Anatheme all those who shall with the ancient Church of the Iewes the Nicene Councell which St. Gregorie esteemed as the Gospell with the I aodicene reuerend Fathers and almost all other ancient Fathers reiect them as Apocriphaâ—l Doubtlesse the curse of God against the idle curses of men may be iustly giuen vnto them who c Apocal. vlt. haue added the word of man to his word and haue made the word of man equall with his most infallible and inuiolable word d Iud. Epist Imperet illis Dominus The Lord God reproue them It is not possible if these men had esteemed of the vndoubted Scriptures as all the e Aug Epist 71 ad Marcell in prolog lib 3. de Trin. Epist 1â—1 Ep 166. ad Dâ—natist 〈◊〉 Epist 62 Basil 〈◊〉 de si de 〈◊〉 me Chrysost in opere imâ—â—rfect homâ—lia 49. ancient Fathers did who euer required the writings of all men to be examined and tryed by the certaine word of God they would neuer haue coupled humane authority with diuine and haue equalized them in one degree of truth but they may bee excused in dealing so warily and politikely herein for their desperate cause of Porgatorie fire praier for the dead c. otherwise would to the ground with many like of their superstitious trumperies The third Motiue BEsides the corrupting of the true rule of faith by adding the Apocriphall bookes they haue also depraued the same f Conc. Trident. Sess 4. rule by their vnwritten Traditions Anathematizing all who shall refuse or disesteeme the same Traditions and not hold them in equall reputation with Gods most vndoubted word This rule of Traditions they hold to bee an vnwritten Deposit left in the Romane Church and kept inuiolably by her vntill these times which if they can shew what good Christian is there who wil not with reuerenced esteeme receiue or commend whatsoeuer those most irreprehensible Founders of the Church haue deliuered either concerning faith or Church discipline But I must tell them
139. Doctor Harding commendeth and produceth to proue the Romane presence in the Sacrament the similitude wherewith Martin q Bucer in comment in 16. Math. Bucer vsed to expresse the manner of Christs presence and how his bodie worketh those graces in the soules of worthie receiuers I will it being as fit as similitudes vse to be heere vse the same vt sol vere in vno loco coeli visibilis circumscriptus c. Euen as saith he the visible Sunne is truly circumscribed in one place of heauen and yet as present in his beames is truly and substantially exhibited throughout the world So the Lord although he be circumscribed in one place of the arcane and diuine heauen that is of the glorie of his Father notwithstanding by his word and sacred Simboles truly as whole God and Man he * Obseruing this sentence out of Bucer may not Parsons his calumniating spirit be called in question who reporteth that Martin Bucer should affirme to the Duke of Norfolke who asked his opinion of the reall presence that if all the Euangelists had written were true then Christs bodie must needs be there what presence hee taught you haue heere heard by himselfe confested and by Harding approued but Parsons bringeth his answere to the Duke as thogh that worthie man had doubtâ—d of the truth of th Euangelist a manifest caâ—umny as you here see but Parsons is sul of such stuffe is as present exhibited in the sacred Supper and for that really substantially which presence the minde doth not lesse certainly acknowledge beleeuing these words and simboles of the Lord then the eies see and haue the Sunne presentially demonstrated and exhibited by the corporall light This is a hidden thing and of the new Testament a thing of faith therefore hither are not to be admitted cogitations of the presentation of a bodie which is consisting after the manner of this passible and fluxible life we must simply adhere vnto the word of our Lord and faith must yeeld supply to the defect of senses thus farre that learned man and I wish the Reader to obserue the simplicitie of Doctor Harding who produceth this place against Bishop lewel as prouing the Romane transubstantiation It proueth indeed that Christ in his graces is truly and exhibited to the worthy receiuers of the Sacrament which the Church of England in her Iâ—yturgie and articles of the conuocation constantly with all the ancient Church Catholike delinereth O how happy had it beene for Christendome if learned men leauing off too deepely to search into this dread full misterie had with a Christian simplicitie applied themselues onely to the deuout and frequent vse of the same and not so peremptorily to haue defined Christ really corporally to be present eyther by impanation as Rupertus Abbot or consubstantiation as the Lutherans or transubstantiation which is most improbable and against the verie light of all antiquitie as Pope Innocent and his I ateranists but such is the pride of the Romane Bishops all their Doctrines forsooth must be vncontrollable all their vses vnreprehensible all their sentences vnappellable but if they would haue vouchsafed to haue squared their faith to the ancient Church they would haue perswaded and inculcated the reuerent and deuout often receiuing of it as of a diuine Sacrament but as for the manner of Christs presence seeing his Maiestie hath not more expresly deliuered it then as in a Sacrament they would haue beene reuerently silent But the r Apocalip 17. Cuppe of abhominations was to come from Rome for which one day she will be consumed and destroyed euen by those Kings and Kingdomes who haue beene drunke with the Cup of her fornications and abhominations The seuenth Motiue ANother Motiue with me and very forcible The seuenth Motiue is their intollerable or rather execrable abuse in their vaine indulgences the which being void of all foundation in holy Scripture are nothing at all to be grounded Å¿ See â—ajetan lib de Indulgent cap. 1. Roffensis consutat assert Lutheri Act. 18. Alphons aduersus hereses verbe indulgentia vpon any Apostolical tradition or authoritie of ancient Fathers Those pardons lay as hidden little regarded vntil that prophane Pope Boniface the eight of whom his predecessor Celestine reputed by the Romanists for a Saint prophecied that as he had entered like a Foxe so he should liue like a Lion and die like a Dog as accordingly it fell out did by his impious and superstitious Buls giue pardons to the visiters of Rome in the yeares of Iubilies t Platina in vita Bonifa appointing the same to be kept euery hundreth yeare although they are now ordained to be kept euery fiue and twentie by Sixtus the fourth as a little before they were kept every fiftie yeare by the ordinance of Clement the sixth and in the same his Buls did cast abroad the dregs of the filthy Cup of his abhominations I call them dregs of the Cup because being so iniurious to the death and passion of Christ so perniciously ouerthrowing all discipline and as a canker destroying good life that I can hardly thinke of a name vile enough for them Dregges they are therefore because partly founded vpon the imperfect and impure defects of sinfull men of whom there was neuer yet found one without many sinnes or so perfect that he could u Psal 48. make redemption for himselfe much lesse for his brother Dregs because this treasure vpon which papall Pardons are grounded is blasphemously compounded ioyntly of the infinite merits of Christ and his Saints they seeme to acknowledge Christs merits to be inexhaustible and infinite and yet they will needs haue compartners with him as Saint Laurence Saint Paul c. in the founding of this Pontifician treasurie Dregs and most vaine dregs because this treasurie is founded vpon the actions and merits of Saints not as they were meritorious for so say they they are rewarded in their owne persons but as they were satisfactorious forsooth as though an action in that it is painefull may not be and is not also meritorious according to their owne principles and therefore because there were some Saints who had more satisfactions then their sinnes required as though euerie sinne though in Saints had not an infinite malice according to their owne principles and euerie action in that it is satisfactorious according to their owne principles also had not a finite and a limited vertue these their satisfactions remaining in the Popes Vatican treasurie he may dispense thereof to whom he shall thinke meete What need then of the pecuniarie taxe of the Apostolicall Chancery or penitentiarie if there be such a treasurie yes that is to fill the purse but not to inrich the spiritual treasurie of merits of Saints and rather to buy some of them which are inexhaustible I demaunded not long since of the x M. G. B. Archpriest that was vpon what authoritie of Scripture the Pontifician treasurie of Indulgences