〈◊〉 and we cannot tell how many kinds and theâ—… 〈◊〉 will bâ—… 〈◊〉 and pretend 〈◊〉 draâ—… their doâ—… from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—… Apostâ—… Sâ—… 〈◊〉 hearing thâ—… would not have bin aâ—…shed at al but would have signified that there was 〈◊〉 â—…ght way which was chalked out in the writings of the old 〈◊〉 Testâ—… 〈◊〉 bâ—…ing walked in woâ—…d bâ—…ng men vnto life thâ—…â—…st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 byâ—… 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 had opeâ—… 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 to draw some thither vnto their owne 〈◊〉 But if you will looke lower to the fourth age after Christ 〈◊〉 shall finde that youâ—… obiection might moâ—…â—…ly have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Geâ—…es in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 you many strifes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I should choose what I should preferre Everyone such I say the truth 〈◊〉 I should beleeve I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since I am 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures and they on both sides doe pretend the same Yet his Conclusion is that 〈◊〉 of the Scripture and such necessary consequences as are drawne from thence the iudgement what is truth is to 〈◊〉 had But what small vnity was there among the Christians when he wrote this Or when Saint Austen mencioned more then b De haeresib ad quod vult Deum fourescore heresyes which had arisen in the Church all whom but for tediousnesse I would retire from him as also one of Epiphanius and Theodoret that the Reader might see that we need not to be frighted with the pretended shew of your 55. Now might not such a one as that Symmachus was who vnder the Emperour Valentinian in the time of S t Ambrose made so earnest effectualla c Ambros. Epist speech that Ethnicisiue might be restored in Rome and altars might be permitted to their Paimme Gods Iupiter Mercury Apollo Iâ—…o and the rest have disputed in the same manner against the Christian faith as you now do reason VVhile vvee retained the service of our formerly knowne Maiores minores Dij vvee agreed vpon that vvorship which every God should have wee knew their Temples their altars their sacrifices their Priests their feasts times and seasons vvee had vnity in our heartes and sweete harmony in our speeches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which you have â—…hed among vs we see nothing 〈◊〉 to which we may cleave for howe should we be resolved what is to be embraced when you cannot agree among yourselves what is the 〈◊〉 and right way And the difâ—… is not that some go to the 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 the other 〈◊〉 a maÌ„ had 〈◊〉 many hands 〈◊〉 d Plutarch de multitud aâ—…corum Brâ—… 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dâ—…ed hands was imagined to have there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some be wanting who with 〈◊〉 dis-ioined 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 would 〈◊〉 to every one of them If Symmachus had spoke thus as heâ—… 〈◊〉 not behinde hand to vtter other 〈◊〉 sheâ—… available 〈◊〉 his purpose St. Ambrose who answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 obiections â—…d 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 â—…Lineâ—… and the same individed truth should be hemmed about with many different doctrines of Heresie T. HILL AND what divisions you have there in England you may in some sort know who doe as I thinke now and then heare Preachers of different doctrine What combats your Bishops Councellours and moderate sort of Protestants have to defend their Parlimentary Religion and the Queenes Proceedings as they terme it against Puritans Brownists other such like good fellowes that by shew of Scriptures impugne it you cannot but knowe and see with your eyes Neither can it bee answered that the Sects heere rehearsed differ one from another onely in matters of small moment for they differ and disagree in waighty points of our salvation as might heere easily be declared but that it would not benefite this mine intended brevity so to doe G. ABBOT 8 WHen you have put on your spectacles to see have picked your eares to heare you and all your confederates can neither iustly see nor heare Gods name be blessed therfore that either at this time or at the divulging of this your treatise there be or were any differences of opinion in England concerning the faith Our Preachers do not differ or teach diverse doctrines in any of their Sermons VVe have for our rule the olde and new Testament the e Articul Relig. in Synodo 1562. Confession of our Church in the Articles of Religion set out by the warraÌ„t of the Scripture alone and to these as to the Analogy of faith we do cleave and there is no graduate in our Vniversities and much lesse Preachers and Pastours in our churches but subscribe thervnto And if heeretofore there have bin some fewe Brownists mis-ledde by a man who afterward was sory for his own over-sight the name of them now as I thinke is not to bee heard of among vs. And such as you cal Puritans did never differ froÌ„ the rest in any point of substance but about circumstances and ceremonies as cappe surplesse and such like and about the manner of Ecclesiasticall regiment even as your secular Priests lately did not thinke fitte to bee ruled by your Arch-priest and his Assistants and yet Garnet your Provincial and Persons the Rectour of your English Seminary at Rome and the Pope himselfe whether by any surreptitious Breve or no doe you looke did thinke fitte to have them so ordered But never were the CouÌ„sellours of Estate nor the Bishops of this kingdome so disquieted with those dis agreements as the Court of Rome the Cardinals there have beene with your gaâ—…les in England in as much as the bruit of these differences heere went but to the Bishop of the Dioces or the High CoÌ„mission at LoÌ„don but your broiles brabbles have passed the Sea crossed Fraunce traversed the Alpes have never ceased ruÌ„ning till they have rapped at the gate of f Appellaâ—… 〈◊〉 Clement 8. Clemens Octavâ—… What the issue of theÌ„ farther wil be time must discover but of this we are assured that to your great discontentment and to the end that we might all the better observe you in our late Soveraignes daies of most happy memorie the fatherly wisedome of our châ—…stest Church governours and the moderate temper of other men being not so farre of from seemely conformity as heeretofore did to the ioy of all good men reasonablie well cure that wound and salve that sore and so the shame was taken away from Israel And had not this beene yet if your brevity which is but a shuffling colour to make shewe of some things which are not had beene turned into one yeeres or seaven yeeres longity you could not have shewed that in substantiall points of faith there was variaÌ„ce among vs. And therfore for that matter you do wel to do as you
and that in the daies of King Richard the second But while hee lived hee had so manie favourers in that Vniversitie as that k Vide Io. Fox in vita Wiclif Maister Robert 〈◊〉 Uice-chancellour and the two Proctors tooke part with him As also Nicolas Herford Philip 〈◊〉 and Iohn Ashâ—…on preachers and Bachelers of Divinity and grewe into great question for his cause where Râ—…ington in the ende being Doctor did slippe from him Yea so farre was his doctrine there spread that Pope l Annot. R. Richardâ—… 〈◊〉 Gregoâ—…ie the eleventh in the yeere 1â—…78 did direct his Bull to the Vniversitie of Oxford against the doctrine and Articles of that learned man even Rome it selfe ringing of his opinions in that Vniversitie Neither did his followers dye vvhen hee himselfe died but longe m Sub Rege Henrie after that Pope Gregorie the 12. did direct dovvne another Bull to Oxford against VViclif in vvhich hee vseth the same vvordes vvhich his Predecessor had that is to say that VViclif did follovvâ—… the doctrine of Marsilius of Paâ—…a and of Iohn of Gandâ—…ne of vnvvorthie memorie which speech is vvorth the marking to shevve that this man also had his Predecessours n Lib. secund in literis Reg. Henrie 4. The copy of this later Bull is to bee seene in the booke which that vvorthy lover of Antiquities Maister Hare gave to our Vniversitie VVhere also is to bee seene in the Constitutions of a Provinciall Councel celebrated at Oxford a sharpe Inquisition decreed by Thomas Arondell Arch-bishop of Canterbury against all even the heades of Colleges and Halles and others suspected of Loâ—…ardy and VViclevisme They might vvell suppose that the studentes of that place vvere entertainers of such doctrine since aboute that o An. 1406. Octobr. 〈◊〉 verie time a testimoniall p In operibus Iohn Hus. vvas given in their Congregation house vnder seale in favour of Iohn VViclif vvhere these vvoordes are among other GOD forbid that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for an Heretike c. And yet in the Councell of Constance hee vvas condemned for such a one fortie yeeres after that hee vvas deade and buried But all vvoulde not serve to extirpate his bookes or memorie out of our Vniversitie but even in the daies of q An. 1476. King Edvvard the fourth there vvere nevve letters directed to the Governours of that place by the King himselfe to make search for his bookes and to burne them I have in my custodie a faire auncient Record of that Vniversitie vvhich by meanes of a good friende I have gained backe to this place And therein is a solemne letter directed from the Convocation of Doctours and Maisters to the Kinge testifying that according to their Soveraignes commaundement they had vvith accurate diligence searched out the bookes and tractes of VViclif himselfe and of Reginald Pecocke and had burnt them So much adoe vvas it and that in so longe a space to suppresse the heade vvherevnto VViclifâ—… doctrine was growne in the famous Vniversitie of Oxford 26 Howe else-where in this kingdome his Positions were spredde may bee easily collected out of Geffrey Chaucer vvho dying about the yeere 1400. may rightly bee supposed to have lived vvhile Iohn UUictef lived This Chaucer vvho wanted neither write nor learning did at r In the Plow-mans tale large paint out the pride lascivious vicious and intolerable behaviour of the Pope Cardinals and Clergy even applying the name of Antichrist diverse times vnto the Romane Bishop and saying that there vvere many in those daies of the speakers minde yea finding faulte vvith their faith as vvell as vvith their manners The whole tale is well worthie the reading but I will cite onely a few verses Peter s The Apostle was never so great a â—…oole To leave his kaye s Which Paâ—…sts say he hath of heaven gate with such a t As the Pope lorell Or take such cursed such a toole Hee was advised nothing well I trowe they have the kaye of hell Theâ—… maister is of that place Marshall For there they dressen him to dwell And with false Lucifer there to fall They bene as proude as Lucifarre As angry and as envious From good faith they beene full farre In covetise they bene curious To catch cat taâ—…le as covetous As bound that for hunger well yall Ungodly and vngracious And needely such falshed shall foule fall This and a hundred times as much hee expresseth in a simple Plowmans person as evidently inferring that the husbandman and meanest countrie body of that time by the reading or hearing of the word of God could tell what was right and religious and what otherwise yea and complaine of the blindnesse and impierie of the Romanistes in that Age. But if we would bee advertised what even laye-men in those times could do let vs looke into the Declarations of VValter Bruite who waâ—… in question for his opinions before the Bishop of Hereford in the yeere 1393. and gave vp a little booke containing those things which he maintained The true u Ex Registro Episcopi Hereford copy of that treatise is yet extant and deserveth to bee reade There wee may finde these and the like positions That breade remaineth in the Sacramente after Consecration that the Pope is Antichrist that nothing is to be beleeved but what may be confirmed out of the Scriptures that the Pope is the Idol of desolation sitting in the Temple of God that Antichrist is not to come of the Tribe of Dan neither onely to raigne three yeeres 〈◊〉 a halfe that the City Apoc. 17. is Rome that our Iustification is freelie by faith alone that the doctrine of the Pope differeth from that of Christ that miracles are no assuraunce of truth that men are not rashly to bee reputed Saints that the Pope hath not power beyond other Bishops neither is the heade of the Church that Papistes mistake the keyes of binding and loosing that Infantes dyeing before Baptisme are not therefore damned that Auricular confession is not prescribed in the Scripture that the Canon Law is ill grounded that the Pope deceiveth men in his Pardons that Absolution is to bee sought at the hands of God onely that the Priests vse vaine praiers in the Masse that Exorcismes holy-water are vnlawfull that Priests doe sinne vvho bargaine to sing for the soules of men departed that Religious men and vvomen are the devourers of widowes houses that selling of Orders and Dirges is naught that the Pope is the beast vvith the tvvo hornes like the Lambe vvhile hee chalengeth the double svvorde that hee seeketh to bee vvorshipped as God that Dux Cleri doth make vp the number 666 that vvorshipping of Images is Idolatrie that temporall goods may bee taken from the Clergy offending There was a great Papist one William Wideford whome before I mentioned who giveth testimony to this Treatile of Brute whome hee calleth Waltherus Britta in Latin and
answered truely say that it was in England in France in Spaine in Italy yea in Rome it selfe Spiritus vbi vult spirat The holy Ghost breatheth Ioh. 3. 8. where it pleaseth For who cannot conceiue by the writings of many in former ages or by such touches as other doe giue concerning them that diverse who lived nearest the whore of Babylon did most detest her abomination finding that the weakenesse and impurity of her doctrine could not truely satisfie the hungry thirsty soule did according to that knowledge which Christ out of his word reveiled to theÌ„ seeke some meanes which was not ordinarily professed in that time And if it be asked who they were and how could they lie hid from the world it may truly bee answered that their case was like the case of them in the daies of s 1. Reg. 19. 18. Elias who were not known to that State which would haue persecuted them Now why should not we thinke but as God had his secret and invisible company at that time in that most idolatrous country so in the time of the deepest darknesse he had those who saw light this Christian children among Antichrists broode such as embraced true religion among the superstitious So that Italy and Rome and these Westerne parts had some of Godâ—… Saints in all ages who like sea-fish most fresh in the faltest water and being removed in their affections though not in their persons did with 〈◊〉 Lot vexe their righteous soules in the 2 Pet 〈◊〉 8. middest of a spiritual Sodome and kept themselues 〈◊〉 vnspotted â—…am 1. 27. of the world And yet it is not to be taken that we coâ—…rctate the Church within those Provinces onely which looked toward the See of Rome but know that God had thousands of his elect elswhere Osor. li. 3. de gest Emanuel Christians haue beene in 〈◊〉 India even by perpetuall dilcent from the daies of the Apostles and so in Africa among the 〈◊〉 Abyssines in 〈◊〉 and huge-companies besides Li. 9. Dam. 〈◊〉 Goes de morib Aethiop such as haue continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asia the lesser Aegypt but especially in the Greeke Church which was never so much as in shew extinguished and from whome the Russians and Muscovites had their faith Our Popish lads would gladly shut al these out of Christs fold because they acknowledged not the Bishop of Rome for their vniversall Pastour but we should do wrong to Almighty God to pinne his iudgment vpon the Popes sleeue and to offer to pull from him so many ample Churches whereas charity and common sence might put vs in minde that hee might there haue thousandes throughout all ages Looke to these places yee Papists and imagine that if there had been none but these yet the wordes of the Scripture which in generality speake of a spowse had beene true and Christ had there had his body on earth and the Church had not beene vtterly extinguished if neither we nor the Synagoge of Rome had beene extant 32 But in as much as it cannot be denied but that the Prophecies concerning Antichrist doe most touch the Westerne world y Apoc. 17. 18. Rome being by the holy Ghost evidently designed to bee the seate of the whore of Babylon as also because our Romish standard-bearers are more willing to talke of those partes then of any other I will once againe returne to the Countreies neere adioining Then in some parts or other of Christendome how many men were there in al ages who loâ—…thed both the See of Rome the whole courses of it as the Israelites did loath the Aegyptian bondage Matthew Paris alone giveth vs many notable experiments that way as relating the Actes of the z In Hen. 3. Emperour Frederike who put out diverse declarations in detestation of the Pope and adding else where farther of his owne that a Ibidem Pope Gregory did absolve from the oth of fealty all who were bound vnto the Emperour perswading them that they should bee faithfull in vnfaithfulnesse obedâ—…nt in disobedâ—…ence But somuch deserved the Romane Churches lowdnesse which is to be exâ—…ed of all men that the Popes authority did meritâ—… to bee harkened vnto by few or none He reporteth also of a certaine b Ibidem Carthusian Monke aâ—… Cambridge who cryed out against the Pope and said that he was an heretike and that the Churches were profaned And of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lancolne who was a man both holy and learned in his time This Lincolniensis while hee lived had many Combates with the Bishoppe of Rome and openly resisted his barbarous tyranny in dominering so farre in Englande as to inioyne Provision of the best Benefices to be taken vp for Italian boyes which for a c Lincolniens epistol Prebend in his Church at Lincolne hee vvould not yeeld vnto and for that cause vvas by the Pope excommunicated But vvhen he was d Matth Paris in Hen. 3 dying hee most bitterly inveighed against the Romane Bishop and the Ecclesiasticall Persons as being the most wâ—…ked men that did liue In the same e Ibidem Authour you may also find the conceite which the most Reverende Arch-bâ—…shop of Yorke Sewaldus had of them and their proceedings VVhat should I mention f Hoveden parte secuÌ„da loachim who said that in his time Antichrist was already borne and was in the Citty of Rome Or that Bishop of g Platina in Paschal 2. Florence who lived about the yeare 1100. and did vse to say that Antichrist was then in the worlde which mooved Pope Paschalis so much as that he thought fit to enquire of him in a Councell and did there castigate him for it Notable in this kind are the contentions of Philippus Pulcher the King of Fraunce and his whole Cleargy against h Pap. Masâ—…on in Bonifac 8. Boniface the eighth I might adde to these Petrus de Brus and many other learned men who laid the axe to the very roote of Popery and some in set Treatises oppugned one of their documents and some assaulted other but that the writer of the Catalogus Testium veritatis as it is lately enlarged and i In Histor. Ecclesiast Master Foxe and Master k In Catal. script Brit. Laur. HuÌ„â—…r â—…uitism part 1. Bale and diverse 1 other haue largely handled this to the reading of vvhose bookes I doe referte them who in particular desire to bee more advertised in this behalfe Now if these things doe appeare much by their owne witnesse and by the confession of Papistes themselues as also by such few Records as by Gods providence so disposing doe yet remaine howe many illustrious argumentes might there haue beene of the confession of our faith if the Clergy and Magistracy of those darke times had not burned suppressed all things which made against thâ—… as I shewed before touching the bookes of Iohn VViclef and Reginald Pecocke in Oxford The Clergy in those dayes did almost
there is a worke vnder the name of S. Austen intituled d Lib 2 34 De mirabilibus sacrae Scripturae where by the Authour the book of Machabees is secluded from the Canon NotwithstaÌ„ding we do not vrge thâ—…t to be his but take it for a counterfeit rather yeeld that S. Austen framing his iudgment to some others opinion in the Westerne Church did repute these also Canonicall Yet here that is to be remembred which briefly before I touched concerning S. Ambrose that this mistaking in this worthy Father grew by his want of knowledge in that tongue wherein the old Testa was originally writteÌ„ by which means he was not acquatÌ„ed with many things appertaining to the Iewish church vnto whoÌ„ since al Scripture before Christs time was coÌ„mitted if these had bin Scripture they also should haue bin coÌ„mended then they should haue bin written in the tongue which they vnderstood that is to say in the Hebrew not in the Greek which was a laÌ„guage of the GeÌ„tiles as e Aut l 30. 9 Iosephus testifieth the Iews did not accoÌ„modate theÌ„selues to the learning of any tongue but their own which is to be interpreted of the ordinary sort of theÌ„ But all these controversed writings are only in the Greeke and not in the Hebrew which is a maine argument against them and ruinateth the very foundation of them Now that S. AusteÌ„ knew nothing of the Hebrew he in his own f â—…pist 131. modesty most ingenuously confesseth as also in another place he acknowledgeth that he had but little skil in the Greeke I g Cont. liter Petilian DO nat lib. 〈◊〉 truely haue attained vnto very little of the Greeke tongue and almost nothing And this made the iudgment of S. Austen the more defectiue in that behalfe Now as this great Doctour might bee overtaken partly by his ignorance of the Hebrew and many circumstances belonging to the Iews partly by leaning to the opinion of some other neere about him in the Westerne Churches of Italy Afrike so it is a matter very probable that the h CoÌ„c cart 3. can 471 CouÌ„cel of Carthage induced by the same reasons and most of all by the authority of S. Austen mighte exorbitate in their Censure vvhen they put all these Apocriphal bookes among the writingâ—… Canonical For there assembled none but such Prelates as were about Carthage which standeth toward the West of Africa in comparison of the East Churches The same causes doubtlesse moved i Decret Innocâ—…n CoÌ„câ—…js Innocentius the Bishop of Rome and therefore of the Westerne Church to put all these books into the Canon Tobias excepted of whoÌ„ he saith nothing An errour once begon goeth plentifully forward is not stayed vpon the suddaine WheÌ„ce it was that k Gelas. Epist. in Concilijs Gelasius coÌ„ ming after InnoceÌ„tius did in this case treade the steps of his Predecessor wheÌ„ himselfe togither with seveÌ„ty Bishops doth define al these writings to be sacred Scripture NotwithstaÌ„ding he who wil looke the Decree of Gelasius as l Part 1 Dist. 15. 4 Gratian citeth it about this matter shal see that the iudgmeÌ„t of Gelasius coÌ„cerning the CanoÌ„ is very weake little to be regarded And in those decrees of his which are found amoÌ„g the CouÌ„cels the same wil appeere wheÌ„ he maketh meaner things theÌ„ these coÌ„troversed books to be of irrefragable authority For in the very next Decree to that which I formerly mentioned he saith thus touching an Epistle of Leo one of his Antecessors in the Roman see The text of the Epistle of Pope Leo if any maÌ„ shal dispute of eveÌ„ to one iote shal not revereâ—…ly receive it in all things let him be accursed This heate doth shew that Gelasius was not too too much advised in his determinations of this nature but followed the tract of those that weÌ„t before him without farther ventilating or disquisitioÌ„ And this is the most of that which by mine own reading I find in Antiquity making for the iustification of these Apocryphal bookes And some such shewes there be for the story of Susanna of Bel with the Dragon which also are not in the Hebrew therfore togither with the fragmeÌ„ts of the booke of Esther some other of equal sort are by vs held to be no Scripture Hee who would behould what farther may be saide for these things let him looke m De verbâ—… Dci lib. 1. Cardinall Bellarmine where he shal finde a many weake citatioÌ„s agreeing in substance with those whom before I haue named Now if we looke what is against them we shal easily discover testimony of greater ponderosity to overturne them then is any to support vphold them 12 VVhat the Iewes did or doe esteeme of them you haue heard before Onely take this with you that n 〈◊〉 l. c. 10. Bellarmine can say out of S. o â—…n Prolog gelâ—…at Hierome that all these bookes togither are reiected by the Hebrewes Now let vs see what witnes the Easterne Church giveth of them p Eccl. Hist. lib 4 2â—… Eusebius hath an Epistle of Melito sometimes Bishop of Sardis in Asia the lesser where Melito himselfe saith that of purpose he travelled to Hierusalem into Palestina to know what were the Canonical Scriptures of the Church before Christ and there he setteth downe all those bookes which wee admit none other This was very soone after the age wherin the Apostles lived It is heere to be marked concerning this holy man as also of al the rest whom I shall name that they never had in this businesse reference to ought but to the course of the Iewes accepting their iudgement for the bookes of the olde Testament to be that wherevnto Christians also should cleaue Not long after that time came Clemens Alexandrinus of whom q Lib. 6 11 Eusebius writing saith that hee cited the bookes of Wisedome and Ecclesiasticus in his vvorkes vvhich bookes saith Eusebius all men do not receiue And he addeth as it may seeme to prevent least any man vpon his example should attribute much to those two that he cited also the Epistle of Barnabas of Clement By the iudgement then of Eusebius Wisedome Ecclesiasticus at the least are books coÌ„troversed Soone after came r Cap 19 OrigeÌ„ who lived at AlexaÌ„dria in Aegypt And he reckoneth vp the CanoÌ„ of the Iews coÌ„prised in two tweÌ„ty voluÌ„es accepting all that which we accept not naming the other saving the Machabees which he saith to be reiected of the Iews That worke of OrigeÌ„ wherin that was coÌ„tained is now lost yet in those which remain he saith that the book of Wisdome s De principijâ—… lib 4. 3â—… is not accouÌ„ted of authority with al. Athanatius after his time lived also at Alexandria he sheweth what was held for Canonical what was refused s In Synopsi There be Canonicall of the old Testament two
and corrupt the New Testament partly by their Translation but most of all by their Annotations they may not chuse but say somewhat of the Revelation although they professe that it is as m In argument Apocalyps in Apoc. 1. 1. sparingly as may be as briefly which is not for that the volume of the Rhemish Testament groweth great as they would colour it but for feare least they should too much lay open their owne weaknesse which while that booke is in the Bible will never be concealed Howsoever therefore through their volume in many maine matters they be very silent vvhere they should most speak as of the question of imputed righteousnes where the n Rom 4. vi de Ration 14. Apostle doth most handle it a â—…ore argument of their owne conscience distrusting their cause even sinking vnder the waight of that Chapter yet here God over-ruling theÌ„ to say a truth as he did o Ioh. 11. 50 Cayphas they interprete the woman to be the p In Apoc. 12. 6. Church flying from the great persecution which shall bee in the time of Antichrist Indeede to keepe peace with their Lord and Master the Pope they will not haue this flight to be but in the very ending of the world and so they would fetch it with a back racket that the woman should continue so in secret but three yeares an halfe which to keepe all vpright they assigne to be the time of Antichrists raigne then the iudgement must come which is a most fonde evasion seeing by that means men living at the appearance of Antichrist should bee able precisely to tell when the last day should be to wit three yeares and a halfe after Antichrists entring But of q Mark 13. 32. that day and houre knoweth no man no not the Angels which are in heaven neither the Sonne himselfe saue the Father only It can never be made good that the r Apoc. 11. 2 3. c. 12. 6. c. 13. 5. Dan 7 25. time times and halfe a time the two and forty moneths and the thousand two hundred and sixty daies are so literally to be taken as that they should containe exactly three ordinary yeares and a halfe Your Romane Bishop in his declination hath already beene in the world much longer and he is the greatest Antichrist that ever yet was manifested among men and on whom many things in the Scripture signified touching Antichrist do directly and vnavoidably light 16 Well this revolt taking place and the woman the Church being in the wildernes it is not to be doubted but here there be diverse which serue God aright the very s Mat. 16. 18 gates of hell not beeing able to prevaile against them And as these in generall whersoever dispersod doe make vp the vniversal militant Church so where any few of them eveÌ„ in the smallest number are asseÌ„bled togâ—…ther they may bee saide to be a particular Congregation or Church s Exhortatio ad castitatem Where three are saith Tertullian there is a Church although they bee lay persons It is likely that he alludeth to that saying of our Saviour t Mat 18. 20. VVhere two or three are gathered togither in my name there am I in the middest of them He is with them as with members of his Church to guide them heare them to blesse theÌ„ preserve theÌ„ And that such little assemblies are not vnworthy the name of the Church is plain by S t. Pauls words to â—…hilemoÌ„ where he seÌ„deth greeting not only to PhilemoÌ„ Appiat Archippus but to u Philem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Church in Philemons house for so the Rhemists themselves traÌ„slate it In dangerous Apostatating times such petty aslemblies do make vp the general they beloÌ„g vnto the same mystical body although they not only be not known to their persecutors but many of theÌ„ have no acquaintaÌ„ce with other Tâ—… have the same head the same faith the same charity the samâ—…â—…pirit u De Baptism contra Donatist 6. 4 Idem Spiritus sanctus ca dimittit i. peccata qui datus est omnibus Sanctâ—…s c. The same holy Ghost is given to all Saints ioyned one to the other in love whether they know each other corporally or doe not know theÌ„ saith Saint AusteÌ„ The waÌ„t theÌ„ of acquaintaÌ„ce each with other may keepe the godly aâ—…uÌ„der as wel as the rage of their persecutours both which are to be souÌ„d in the case of Elias But directly to follow farther this argumeÌ„t of the Eclipse of the Churches glory may it not be thought to be brought to a low ebbe wheÌ„ it is said of the second beast that x Apo. 13. 16. he causeth al both smal great rich poore free bond that he should give theÌ„ a marke in their right haÌ„d or in their fore-heads that no maÌ„ might buy or sel saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the nuÌ„ber of his name And what else is signified wheÌ„ so many y Cap. 17. 2. 15. are meÌ„tioned to have coÌ„merce with the whore of BabyloÌ„ yea all z Cap 18. 3. NatioÌ„s are reported to have drunken of the vvine of the wrath of her fornication The ancieÌ„t Fathers were not ignorant that such times there might be wheÌ„ they so oft coÌ„paâ—…ed the Church to the Moone as Saint Ambrose a Epistol lib. 5. 31. The Moone it selfe vvhereby in the Oracles of the Prophets the countenance of the Church is figured when at the first rising againe shee is renewed into the ages of the month shee is hidden by the darkenesse of the night by little little fiâ—…ing her hornes or right ever against the Sun ending theÌ„ doth shine with the light of cleere brightnes Saint Austen in one b In Psa. 10. place doth for diverse respects liken the Church vnto the Moone and expoundeth the Moone to signifie it In another c Serm 134. de TeÌ„pore place he saith the Sun is Christ the Moone the Church VVhich as on the one side it doth intimate vnto vs that the Moone hath no light but froÌ„ the Sunne and the Church no light or bewty but from God so on the other side it doth most lively put vs in mind that as the Moone continueth not at the same stay but increaseth and decreaseth waxeth and waneth is eclipsed by the interposition of the earth betweene her selfe the Sun sometimes in the chaÌ„ge caÌ„not be seene although it is never to bee doubted but there is a Moone so the Church of Christ while this troublesome world doth last is now glorious then shadowed in one age in bewty in another age kept vnder vnder some Princes in peace vnder others in persecution yea sometimes so pressed with the extremity of the maliâ—…us as that she is glad to remaine retired into secret places not 〈◊〉 appeare opeÌ„ly to the malignaÌ„t albeit she
the Catholike Church in other rites and doctrines Cochleus m Lib. 7. nameth no such condition Nay to shew that simply and directly it was yeelded vnto them he reporteth that the Legates of the Councell of Basile did thus expound that which was concluded in the Bohemians behalfe n Lib. 8. The Councell doth permitte the Eucharist vnder both kindes not tolerating it only as a thing evil as to the Iewes was permitted a bill of divorce but so that by the auctority of Christ his Church it is lawful profitable to the worthie receivers Where is it likely that vnlesse the Bohemians now after Husses death had bin a stroÌ„g party the Antichristian rabble would have yeelded to their importunitie so directlie against the Canon of the nexte precedent Councel Indeed the o Ibidem Emperour Sigismund did afterward take a course to lessen their nuÌ„ber when he sent many of them into Hungary against the Turks that there they might either conquering winne to him victories or being conquered themselues so be destroyed and perish Hee who list to see more concerning the multitude of these Professours let him but looke on p Hist. Bohâ—… ca 35. cap 50. Epist. 130. diverse places in the works of Aeneas Sylvius who was afterward Pope by the name of Pius 2. he shall finde him reporting of his own knowledge as travailing himselfe into Bohemia that they were many and very earnest also in their Religion 20 If here it should bee replyed that these perhaps were base people and of the vulgar who thus followed Iohn Hus but men of learning knowledge or persons of authority they had none to ioine with them the course of the story will easily cleere the same shew that they had both learned Pastours great Magistrats who beleeved as they beleeved stood wholy with theÌ„ Of what literature Hâ—… himselfe was is evident by his works yet remaining by his personal withstanding the whole CouÌ„cel of Constance And what learning what eloquence what memory all admirable were in Hierome of Prage as also with what singular patience he tooke his death is most significantly delivered in an q Ad Leonardum 〈◊〉 Epistle of Poggius who as an eie-witnes beheld him seemed to bee much affected with the singular partes of the man Which noble testimony of that worthy Poggius is acknowledged by r Lib 3. Cochleus While these two lived there were diverse s Lib 2. priests s Lib. 1. preachers which agreed in their Doctrine in their Sermons reproved the Popish Cleargy for their Simony keeping of Concubâ—… avarice riot secular-like pride But after the death of those two famous servaÌ„ts of God their t Lib. 4. followers got to them a Bishop who was Suffragane to the Arch-bishop of Prage and by him they put into holy Orders as many Clerkes as they would Which the Arch-bishop tooke so il that he suspended his Suffragane But it was not long before that u Lib. 5. CoÌ„radus the Arch-bishop himselfe became a Hussite also as the Author calleth him Vnder this Conradus as president of the assembly these Hussites held a CouÌ„cel at Prage in the year 1421. there they compiled a CoÌ„fessioÌ„ of their faith This Cause did the said Archbishop many Barons of Bohemia afterward stifly mainetaine and complained against the Emperor SigismuÌ„d for offring wrong to those of their Religion u Ibidem Alexander also the Duke of Lituania did giue these Hushtes aide which moved Pope Martin the 5 to write vnto him in this sort Know that thou couldst not giue thy faith to heretikes which are the â—…ors of the holy faith that thou dost sin deadly of thou shalt keepe it because there cannot bee any fellowship of a beleever with an insidel Thus did the vertuous Pope write In x Lib. 8. processe of time there grew a parley betweene Sigismund the Emperour the Bohemians There among the Compacts this was one that the Bishops should promote to holy Orders the Bohemians even Hussites which were of the Universitie of Prage And they might well deserue to be reputed Vniversity meÌ„ for Cochleus himselfe witnesseth that the Priests of the Thaborits were skilled in argâ—…g exercised in the holy Scripture y Lib. 10. Rokizana one of theÌ„ did vndertake to dispute with Capistranus a great learned Papist By that time that the yeare 1453. was come Aeneas Sylvius doth complaine that the kingdome of Bohemia was wholy z Lib. 11. governed by heretiks Now all the Nobility all the CoÌ„minalty is subiect to an heretike That was one George or Gyrziko Governor of the kingdome of Bohemia vnder king Ladâ—…slaus But when Ladâ—…slaus was dead this a Lib. 12. George himselfe was by the Nobles and the People chosen King of that country And continuing the auncient profession of his Religion about the yeare 1458 those of Uratislavia and Silesia doe refuse to obey him as being an heretike Notwithstanding Pope Pius the 2. then intending warres against tho Turke did by all meanes perswade theÌ„ that they should yeeld obedience to him This George saith the Authour was borne and brought vp in the heresie of the Hussites Now when Pope Pius did interpose himselfe as a mediatour betweene this King and his Subiects George did require of the Pope that he might keepe the Compacts agreed vpon at Basill in behalfe of the Bohemians And when b Ibidem Pius vvoulde not yeeld there-vnto the king calleth togither the Estates of his kingdome and protesteth that he would liue die in those Compacts so did also the Nobles which were Hussits This was done at Prage in the yeare 1462. This resolutenesse of his caused that Pope to tolerate many things in him but Paul 2. who succeeded in that See of Rome did excommunicate that king and set vp a Croisado against him Also he gaue to Matthias the king of Hungary the title of king of Bohemia c Apud Platin Onuphrius in the life of Paulus 2 saith that the Pope did excommunicate him depriue him of his kingdome Indeed for seaven years this George and Mathias did warre for it and Mathias got from him Moravia and Silesia and a good part of the kingdome of Bohemia Vratislavia also and some other Provinces and citties did put themselues in subiection of Mathias Yet did not George deale hardly with the Papists which were at Prage but in his greatest extremity did vse both the advise and aide of many Nobles of the Popish beleefe At length after the continuance of warre for seaven years d Cochl lib. 12. Mathias coÌ„cludeth a peace with king George both against the will of the Pope and the Emperour And then this king was coÌ„tent to aske of the Pope an absolution from the excommunication some Princes being mediatours for him in that respect But before the Agents could returne from Rome the king died in the yeare
and twenty bookes equal in nuÌ„ber to the Hebrew letters For among the Hebrewes the elemeÌ„ts of the letters are so many But besides these there be yet of the same old TestameÌ„t other books not Canonical which are read only to the Catechumeus Heere is a most manifest distinction betweene the Canonical and the Apocryphall and a signification that these inferiour volumes were only read to such as were novices in the faith but they were not accounted authentical vnquestionable Next I ioyne Epiphanius who lived in Cyprus he t Haetes 8 rehearseth for Canonical Scriptures of the old Testament the Iewes bookes the other not admitted by them he expungeth for Apocryphal And in a u Haeres 76 second place reckoning vp al the divine writings he shutteth out these Apocryphal fellows only after al the volumes of the old new TestameÌ„t rehearsed he nameth also the Wisedoms of SalomoÌ„ of the sonne of Sirach He nameth theÌ„ I say but after al the right ones yet least any man should take advaÌ„tage of the mencioning of those two heare him else-where u De mensuris poÌ„deribus Among the Hebrews there are two and twenty bookes For thâ—…se two bookes written in verse The Wisedome of Salomon which is called Panaretus of all kinde of vertue and the Wisedome of Iesus the sonne of Syrach the nephew of that Iesus vvho wrote that Wisedome in Hebrew so that his nephew interpreting it did vvrite it in Greeke are profitable and commâ—…dious but are not put into the number of those vvhich are received How corruptly theÌ„ doth x De verbo Dei l. 1 14 Bellarmine deale who citeth Epiphanius as an allower of these two bookes and denieth that hee spake against them otherwise then according to the opinion iudgement of the Iewes But infinite such base shiftes are to bee found in that Cardinall In the meane time we see that thus Epiphanius who was very wel skilled in the Hebrew keepeth close both with the Iewish Canon and the iudgement of the Easterne Church 13 Gregory Nazianzen hath a y De veris libris Scriptur little treatise in verse of purpose made to shew what are the books of the old new TestameÌ„t inspired froÌ„ God He in the old reckoneth vp two twenty books after the Iewish fashioÌ„ so oft aboue meÌ„tioned no more There he putteth al these whoÌ„ we acknowledge vouchsafeth not so much as to name Tobias or Iudith or any one of those whoÌ„ we seclude And so doth he againe z De recta educatione ad Selencum To all these so famous learned men of the East Greeke Church wil I adde for the conclusion the Councel of Laodicea which in the last a Canon 59 Canon recapitulateth all the Canonicall bookes of the old Testament but hath not one of those whom the Romanists vvould gladly thrust vpon vs. Nowe is it not a greate sinne thinke you for vs to ioyne in iudgement vvith so many learned and holie men with all the good and religious Hebrews who were before the time of Christ withal the Eastern Church without impeachment for ought that I can truely find Are not we worthy to be reviled and revelled at as renters tearers and clippers of the sacred Bible I doe marvaile why we should be Heretikes for not admitting of these Apocryphals since so many Fathers and reverend Doctors of the Primitiue Church did the same that wee do and yet heretiks they are none Yea but the Romanists doe loue to be tried by themselues And great reason The Westerne Churches they will say haue ever beene of another minde Wel yet here is but one against two and then by S. Austens rule before named the matter should go on our side But what if we find in the Latin Church as much against it as for it Are not our popish people in a prety case for railing vpon vs as if we were manglers deâ—…uÌ„catours of the Bible Hilary was a Bishop of FraÌ„ce and b Prolog su per 〈◊〉 he saith that there bee two and twenty bookes of the olde scripture See his own opinion consonant with that of the Greekish and Iewish Church vnto which number saith hee some doe adde Tobias and Iudith and so make foure and twenty Marke that they be but some who do adde more and these doe adde but two so that the Machabees and the rest are vndoubtedly gone in his iudgement nay I may say in his minde these two also But if any man be in this cause to be heard it is Hierome whom Lodovicus Vives some-where did truely call miraculum orbis the miracle of the worlde Hee lived a good while at Rome and thought highly of that Church and therefore would not hastily break from any thing vvhich generally or vvith good ground was there received Hee travailed into Palestina and there spent much of his time and by longe conference vvith a Ievve and other his extreame labour attained to the exact knovveledge of the Hebrevve tongue and there-vpon as some thinke translated the vvhole Bible into Latin as others suppose reformed and castigated that version vvhich is called the Vulgar and is now only currant among the Papists Also hee made those learned Commentaries on the Prophets which labour may truly be said to be the glory and beauty of all his vvorkes vvhich yet otherwise are renoumed sufficiently Then if any man bee to be heard in this Argument it is this Hierome and that deservedly Hee then speaking of Iudith bestovveth this ierke on it c Epist 10 UUee doe reade in Iudith notvvithstanding of it please any man to receiue that booke But aftervvarde hee goeth more generally to vvorke and d Epist â—…06 sheweth which are the Canonicall bookes even those whome vvee holde for Canonicall and vvhich are Apocryphall even the very same that wee reckon for Apocryphall Neither hath hee yet done but continuing in the same iudgement he sheweth how and in what manner the Church readeth and accepteth those inferiour bookes e Epist 115. As therefore the Church indeed doth read the bookes of Iudith of Tobias and the Machabees but doth not receiue them among the Canonical scriptures so it may read also these two volumes that is Ecclesiasticus and the booke of Wisdome to the edification of the people not to confirme the authority of Ecclesiasticall doctrines What would he haue said thinke you if he had seene our Papists bring these bookes as the chiefe pillers of praier for the dead and intercession of Saints and other such like Apocryphal trumpery 14 And that there were more learned men of the Westerne Church in the same minde with Hierome wee appeale to that treatise on the Creede of the Apostles vvhich some suppose to haue beene written by Cyprian and for that cause it is found among his workes but more generally it is thought to be of Ruffiuus his doing who very well might speake for the evidency
others his consorts to haue done either vsurpingly or vniustly So that very true it is that the Greekes do not allow the eighth Synode not the other which followed and were held in the west by the meanes of the Romane Bishop with out their indifferent concurrence 11 What you cite in the name of the Lutheranes out of the Magdeburgenses is acknowledged and consented vnto by vs. In the eighth 〈◊〉 cent 8. 9 Century they among other Provincial meetings speaking of the confluence at Nice which is commonly called the second Nicene Councell in the setting downe thereof doe not dissemble their opinioÌ„ that is their dislike vnto it And what Christian man is there rightly advised which hath read the o Exod. 20. second commandement concerning Images who doth not both dislike and detest that Conventicle for decreeing both erection and adoration of Images in Churches In the like sorte in the ninth p cent 9. 9 Century the compilers of it do shew themselues not wel affected to that which you call the eighth Generall Councell they haue no smal reason for it For besides the allegations of the Greekes against it which even now is specified and besides the matter of it which I will not stand to discusse there was a foule attempt at the very entrance into it The Pope of Rome had so farre prevailed that he had there his Agents who stoode at the Councell dore with writing tables profering them to all who would enter there and requiring that they first should subscribe to the Iutisdiction and transcendent authority of the Romane Bishop To which Such as yeelded did enter in and those who refused were not only repelled but it was done with much reproach and disgrace vnto them A fit course to make a free Synode And of this sort either directly or indirectly haue all the Popes Councels bin You tel vs that some Eutychians be in Asia and Nestorians be in the East whereas indeed Asia is in the East but countrey in particular you name vs none nor authour you cite vs none I haue heard indeed of Marchantes who haue travailed in those parts that at this day there is at Aleppo a CoÌ„gregation of Nestorians and likely it is that in the country therabout or farther of in Armenia there may be more Neither is it vnlikely but that some also may embrace the old heresie of Eutyches in those parts In as much then as Nestorius was condemned in the third General q Socn 7. 33 Evagr. 1. 4. CouÌ„cel at Ephesus it is probable that his folowers wil refuse that Synode consequently all coÌ„ming after ratifying that so they must only accept the 2. formost And since Eutyches Dioscorus were coÌ„deÌ„ned in the 4. r Evagr. 2. 4 CouÌ„cel at ChalcedoÌ„ it is most credible that if there now be any who haue coÌ„tinued or revived their daÌ„nable heresies they wil not approue that of Chalcedon but only such as went before it What such in Polonia Hungary do as speake against the Trinity therefore are rather to be called Antitrinitarij then Trinitaries â—…it mattereth not to vs. We disclaime theÌ„ we abominate theÌ„ we execrate theÌ„ as we do the Eutychians Nestorians al other heretiks Neither do we ioine with the Greekes in all things as you know although some of their doctrins we prefer before those of the Church of Rome And therefore most ridiculously vnfittingly do you close vp your Chapter Behold the liberty of your Gospell when here are none named the Lutheranes excepted vvith whom we haue ought to do And for our liberty in the Gospel of reiecting such vnwarraÌ„table stuffe as Image-worshipping TraÌ„substantiatioÌ„ the like maintained by your heretical meetings we learne it of s Gal â—…8 9 S. Paul who hath taught vs not only that if a maÌ„ but if an Angel froÌ„ heaveÌ„ bring any other doctrin theÌ„ is in gods word let him be accursed And we being sufficieÌ„tly informed by Gods word that we are not to be inthralled to the beggerly s Colos 2 20 traditioÌ„s of meÌ„ do purpose by the assistance of the Lords heavenly grace to t Galat. 5 1. stand fast in that liberty wherewith Christ hath made vs free VVee accept therefore of this Christian freedome but Libertine-like licentiousnesse vvee leaue vnto you And so for a litle while I dismisse you with this remembrance that what you say of the CouÌ„cels accepted or excepted against by the Greeks the Lutheranes the Eutychians the Nestorians and the Trinitarians both for the matter and quotations you borrow froÌ„ Cardinall a Coacil l. 1. cap 5. Bellarmine 12 TO notifie then the iudgement of our Church concerning CouÌ„cels certainly we do hold them being rightly lawfully assembled proceeded in to be great blessings froÌ„ God notable meanes to remoue schismes to extirpate heresies Thus we are taught by the example of the Apostles 〈◊〉 coÌ„gregating 〈◊〉 Act. 15 6. theÌ„selues togither and by the fruite which some such meetings had in the Primitiue Church Yea we do like of that sentence of blessed Constantine after the Nicene Councel who 〈◊〉 said that the decree of keeping Easter by al vniformly and not 〈◊〉 Euseb de vita Const lib 3 18 by some after the fashion of the Iews was to be imbraced at the gift of God as if it had bin a coÌ„mandement sent downe from heaven For saith hee whatsoever is decreed in the holy Councels of Bishops that all ought to be attributed to the will of God Marke hee saith not generally in the Councels of Bishops nor in the CouÌ„cels of holy Bishops for even such may erre but in the holy Councels of Bishops that is in such as wherin men do holily conforme theÌ„selues vnto the Scripture of truth go no farther theÌ„ God is their guid Such as come without humane preiudice are zealous of truth earnest in praier for it diligent in searching it out huÌ„ble to yeeld conforme theÌ„selues to it Such were the first general CouÌ„cels where men did look to the load-star of the word therefore they are accepted of vs. Yet so that we do not esteeme theÌ„ as the sacred Oracles of God equivalent to the Scripture or of equal authentical force but as the definitions of Godly men out of the word so that they giue no vertue to the old new Test. but take al that which CouÌ„cels haue froÌ„ them therfore as takers and not givers are inferior to them We do therefore hold that speech of Gregory to be hyperbolically vttered not litterally iustifiable I x Greg li 1 Epistol 24. confesse that I doe receiue reverence as the foure books of the Gospell so the foure Councels And again And y Li 2 Epist 49. wee doe so receiue the foure Synodes of the holye Universall Church as the foure bookes of the holy Gospell If it be flatly and directly taken it is a hard and
vnfit saying it is wel that it is but one Doctors opiniō since the words of men yea of all the world put togither cannot be ballanced in equall waight with the immediate word of God which is so directly inspired by the holy Ghost A sweet childe the while was our Campian z Ration 4 who would take on him to proue that the rest of the Synods namely that of Trent was of the same authority with those foure first and so consequently all as powerfull as the Gospels By which reconing wee should not only haue a fifth Gospell of Nicodemus or some such counterfeit but eighteene Gospels more besides the foure Evāgelists so our Bibles now will grow so big that one volume wil not hold thē What a wrōg did that prowde and arrogant Iesuite to the Scripture when hee durst write on that fashion we dare not so far dignifie or rather magnifie the best Councels after that in the Apostles time for feare of blasphemy But if we shall compare the better with the worser the weaker with the stronger we shall see that we are not to far to leane on such assemblies least by attributing over much to such confluences we sometimes take error for verity For haue there not bin meetings which haue concluded against the truth yet haue caryed a goodly shew too I wil not insist on Provinciall Councels as that of a Inter opera Cyptiā A frike where Cyprian the rest cōcluded for rebaptising of those which were baptised by heretiks or that of b Soc. 1 21. Tyrus which proceeded against Athanasius being innocēt or that of c Lib 2 7. Antioch as also of d cap. 25. Sirmiū both which decreed for the Arrians against the faith of Consubstantiality in Christ with his Father I will rather stand on those who go for generall as that of Sardis in part reiected by e In Indice conciliorū Possevinus that of Milaine where were 300. Bishops ioyning for Arrianisme that of Selētia being gathered to the same purpose Here may you finde more general Synods making for the Arrians while they were in anye strength then making against them 13 Lay to these the Great Councell of Ariminum vvhere vvere sixe hundred Bishoppes mainetaining and decreeing for the opinion of Arius and the authoritye vvhereof seemed to bee so greate and vvas so farre vrged that Saint Augustine himselfe had beene everborne vvith it had hee not beene forced to flie to the Scriptures which were and are the touch-stone to trye Councels by The place which he hath to that purpose is famous f Aug contra Maxim Arrian Episcop l. 3 But now neither shoulde I produce the Nicene Councell nor thou that of Ariminum as meaning to extoll it Neither am I helde vvith the authoritie of the one nor thou vvith the other VVith authorities of Scriptures vvhich are vvitnesses not proper to either but common to both let matter contend with matter cause vvith cause reason with reason Both of vs doe reade That vvee may be in his true sonne Iesus Christ He is very God life eternal Let both of vs yeeld to waight of so great moment These are the words of the same S. Austē who els-where had said g Epist 118 The authority of Plenary Coūcels is most wholesome in the Church Very whole some while they keepe right with the verity of Christ but whē they fal frō that they are otherwise But S. Austē was never of opiniō to atrribute too much to Coūcels for he was not so simple but that he saw there were or might be many imperfectiōs in thē yea in the best of thē It is a worthy testimony which he gives in this behalf whē he was pressed with the authority of Cypriā the Africane Coūcel h De Bap◅ismo cōtr Donaust lib. 2. 3. The sacred Scripture saith he is not at alto be doubted or desputed of The letters of Bishops writē since the Scripture if there be any errour in thē may be reprehēded by the wiser speech of any one who is more skilful in that matter by the graver authority of other Bishops by the wisedome of the more learned by Councels And who knoweth not that Provincial Councels without any sticking do yeeld to the authority of plenary Councels which are gathered out of the whole Christian world yea that oftentimes the former Plenary Coūcels are amended by the later when by any experiēce of things that is opened which was shut known which did lye hid without any vanity of sacrilegious pride without any puffed necke of arrogācy without any contention of malicious envy with holy humility with Catholike peace with Christian charity And some part of this he cōfirmeth againe afterward Among after-cōmers the later Coūcels are preferred Cap. 9. before the former the whole evermore by very good right is esteemed before the parts Wel thē by Austens sentēce evē General coūcels may be amēded altered therfore they may erre or come to short Which wil the better appeere if we remēber that sometimes one Councel is directly contrary to another as that of Ariminum to the former of Nice that of Franckforde touching Images to the later at Nice those of Constance Basile in the subiecting of the Pope to the Councel to those of Florence and Trent the 2. at Ephesus approving Eutyches to that of Chalcedō which cōdēned him Yea the k Socrat. 2. 16. Coūcel of Sardis against it self whē the Easterne Bishops were for Arrianisme the Westerne against it whervpō they devided thēselves in place as wel as in opiniō It were thē a hard matter in an vnavoidable cōtrariety or rather cōtradictiō to have both sorts of Coūcels allowed the affirmer the denier therfore simply absolutly of thēselues they are not to be held for sufficient cōfirmers of that which we must beleeve It may bee added as another singular exception against Coūcels that most of thē are hādled with such irregularities that it is not only probable that they may swarve but likely that they wil since even the best men to the best Coūcels do come so laden with passions affections humours partialities that they wil not or cannot see the truth One of the most moderate of all the Popish Councels was that of Basile yet what turbulētnes doth l De Concil Basilcens Aeneas Sylvius witnes there to haue bin He therfore in that argumēt is rather to be reade thē that which cōmōly goeth for the Coūcel of Basile as m In Indice falcic rerum expet fugiend Orthuinus Gratius wel observeth for in Aeneas who was present at that meeting and saw and recorded all the manner of it a man may find the order or disorder of it so described that he may imagine himselfe to behold the Fathers there assembled sitting in their Pōtificalibus If we would haue an exāple of this in an olde
In 1. King 14. second place so much hee doth and no more But in a u Homil 34 in quadraâ—… 〈◊〉 third he not only hath these distinctioÌ„s of Angels but he alleageth for it Dionysius also that by the name of Areopagita calliÌ„g him an ancieÌ„t venerable Father But this is a single testimony al other of more antiquity make against him he may be supposed to do it doubtfully since naming the matter thrise he speaketh of Denis but once And moreover Gregory lived 600. yeares after Christ by which time this bastard might be a huÌ„dred or two huÌ„dred yeare old with some might be esteemed authentical which Gregory might take vp froÌ„ theÌ„ without farther examinatioÌ„ He who list to see this Denis farther discovered quite discarded let him look that noble u Lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moâ—…ney writiÌ„g touching the Masse if he be not impudeÌ„tly refractary he shall be sileÌ„ced in this point for ever Thus you are like to make good work with your Fathers when the first of your tale is filâ—… populi a bastard seed which cannot inherite What you say of Ignatius ClemeÌ„s Iustâ—… TertulliaÌ„ Cyprâ—… Irâ—…us all the Fathers is a vain Popish Pilcher-like bragge which is ordinary with such crakers as you are till you cite some particular deserveth no answere but to be denied If you meant truely to your Readers you would cite them somewhat for their mony T. HILL THis is very plaine in that the Cathâ—… are put compelled by the Protestants to defend 〈◊〉 vpâ—…la the â—…dit authority of thâ—… said Fathers for the Protestantes raile as them the Catholikes defend them the Protestants refuse their authority the Catholikes holde iâ—… for 〈◊〉 the Protestants will not be â—…yed by them the Catholikes appealâ—… to their iudgement and to be bâ—…fe the Protestants make no more acâ—…te of them longer then they can wrest them to serue their 〈◊〉 thâ—… they dâ—… of Bevis of Southampton or of Adam Bell. And in 〈◊〉 the Protestantes I include all the Puriâ—…es for I am not ignorâ—… how the sâ—… Protestants are driven by the said Puritanâ—… to defende thâ—… Fathers and also are called Papistes for their labour And â—…re by iâ—… iâ—…â—…fest that the Fathers are with the Catholikes and â—…her 〈◊〉 the Protests â—…r 〈◊〉 And vvhither all thâ—… 〈◊〉 being men of exceâ—… wits of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of â—…rfull lâ—…ing servent in praier holy in conversation greatly in Gods favour mighty in working of miracles and adorned with many such like giftes vvere more like to vnderstands the Scriptures freshlie delivered vnto them from the Apostles theÌ„selues who also no doubt taught their scholors the true sence thereof and they theirs from one age to another or these late foolishe vnstudied vnlearned prophane and arregant fellowes bee iudges your selues G. ABBOT 3 TILL you came to this Period you spake something of your owne peradventure but now you are apparantly become but eveÌ„ a plaine truÌ„ke to cary along what your M. x Motiv 14 Bristow putteth into you froÌ„stealing out of whose booke you cannot coÌ„taine if your hands were bouÌ„d behind you If hee then lash lye you thinke you may do so also as lying safe vnder his shilde But his target is no thicke one as that y â—…vid Meâ—…amorph Lib 13 seveÌ„-folde buckler of Aâ—…ax was but made of thinne browne paper therfore wil not beare out one blowe I pray you where are you forced to vphold the Fathers credite against the Protestants railing at theÌ„ or who of the Protestants be they that give them not the same right which God would haue to be giveÌ„ vnto theÌ„ or which they theÌ„selues desired should be allotted vnto their writiÌ„gs We hold them their labours to be great instruments of the setting forth of Gods glory we esteeme it as a good blessing froÌ„ aboue that the Lord hath left their labors as monuments to his church wherein we not only know what was done taught in the first ages of the christiaÌ„ world but may be helped also many waies in the vnderstaÌ„ding of Scriptures beating downe of divers heresies And our men do study theÌ„ are as copious frequent in theÌ„ as Papists be which if you will you may see in the bookes of Bishop Iewel D. HuÌ„fry D. Folke Peter Martyr CheÌ„nicius yea M. Calvins InstitutioÌ„s to say nothing of divers now liviÌ„g Truth it is that when our men made the true touch-stoÌ„e only absolute Iudge of coÌ„troversies to be the Scripture Harding his coÌ„panions in effect flying froÌ„ that would needes beare the world in hand that if the triall might be by the Fathers the victory was certainly theirs Whervpon in England as also in other places before they who stood for reformation refusing theÌ„ at no weapon ioyned with them there and now as persons of desperate deplorate misery you haue nothing to helpe you but by foisting and iugling in chaungelings vpstarts counterfeits in steed of vndoubted ones by razing and curtolling and clipping the works of those reverend meÌ„ as anone I shal shew you It is therfore a grosse slauÌ„der that we do raile at them or that we do wrest them Where there is iust cause we as men z Horat. l. 11 Apistol 1 Nullius adâ—icti iurare in verba magistri bound to stand to the opinion of none but of the holy Ghost we declining-wise do leave theÌ„ but where they subscribe to the authority of God there we subscribe to them defend them refuse not to be tried by them so farre as we may by any holy learned men of which sort we hold them but yet stil know them to be men As for Bevis of Southampton Adam bell we hold to be but fictions such as were devised in the time of Popery and thought fitte then togither with other Legends to be imparted to the people that when they should rather haue looked into the word of God if they might haue bin suffered they being busied with such toies might not grow to be of such Christian vnderstaÌ„ding as to espy the idolatries collusions of the Clergy When a maÌ„ who speaketh vntruth coÌ„meth to examinatioÌ„ his tongue faltereth in his mouth his tale crosseth it selfe So doth yours who attempting both to soupe and blow at once make no bones to speake as good as flat coÌ„tradictions Simul forbere flare Eraâ—m in Adage In the one sentence the Protestante raile at theÌ„ refuse their authority make no more account of theÌ„ then of Adam Bel in the next the Protestants are driven by the Puritanes to defend the Fathers they are called Papists for their labour So they do defend them not defend them They raile on them yet speake for them This is one of the riddles fit for b Terent. in Andrias Oedipus And yet the Fathers are against both the Protestants the Puritanes And why then I request you do the ProtestaÌ„ts