euideÌ„t that Caluin thus writeth Ante (e) Instit lib. 3. cap 5. sect 10. mille trecentos annos c. More then thirteene hundred yeares since it was receaued that prayers were made for the dead c. But I will graunt those tymes were in errour I wil conclude this point with the Confession of M. Gifford thus writing (f) In his plaine demonstration that our Brownists are Donatists pag. 38. Publike worship to pray for the soules of the dead and to offer Oblations for the dead was generally in the Church before the dayes of Austin as appeareth in Cyprian Tertullian which were before him and nearer to the tymes of the Apostles 5. Touching Vnwritten Traditions Whereas S. Chrysostome sayth The (g) In 2. Thessal hom 4. Apostles did not deliuer all things by writing but many things without D. Whitaker in answere heerto fayth I (h) De sacra Scriptura pag. 478. answere that this is an inconsiderate speech and vnworthy so great a Father Of which saying of Chrysostome as also of S. Basil speaking the lyke D. Reynolds thus censureth I take (i) In his conclusions annexed to his ConfereÌ„ce Conclus pag. 689. not vpon me to controule them meaning the two former Fathers but let the Church iudge if they considered with aduice inough Wheras S. Austine maintayneth the Doctrine of vnwritten Traditions M. Cartwright thus censureth him therefore If (k) In M Whitguifts defence pag. 103. S. Austins Iudgment be a good iudgment then there be some things commaunded of God which are not in the Scriptures and thereupon no sufficient doctrine contayned in the Scriptares And further To allow (l) Cartwright vbi suprà S. Austins saying is to bring in Popery agayne D. Whitaker (m) De sacra Scriptura pag 678. 681. 683. 689. 690. 695. 696. chargeth Chrysostome Epiphanius Tertullian Cyprian Austin Innocentius Leo Basill Eusebius Damascene c. with maintayning the Doctrine of Traditions To conclude (*) Exem Concil Trid. part 1. pag. 87. 89. 90. Kemnitius reprehendeth Clemens Alexandrinus Origen Epiphanius Ambrose Ierome c. for their teaching the same Doctrine 6. As concerning Images We fynd that (n) L. Iustit 2 c. â—1 num 5. Caluin affirmeth that Gregory the great was not taught in the holy Ghost because he called Images Laymens Bookes In lyke sort the foresaid Father S. Gregory is reprehended by (o) In his Common Places part 2 p. 343. Peter Martyr (p) In his Exam. part 4 p. 3â— Kempnitius and (q) Cent. 6. p. 288. Ostander for his lawfull vse of Images (r) In his Pageant of Popes fol. 33. Bale maintained that Leo allowed worshipping of Images Chrysostome is charged for giuing reuerence to Christ his Image by D. (s) Against Heskins c. Fulke Lactantius is coÌ„deÌ„ned by the (t) Cent. 4. col 408 409. CeÌ„turists for that say they he affirmeth many superstitious things coÌ„cerning the efficacy of Christs Image D. Morton thus writeth of the antiquity of Images in Churches About (u) In Protest Appeale p. 586. the foureteenth hundred yeare Images crept out of priuat mens Houses and went into publike Churches there standing c. To conclude touching the vse of Images the Centurists (x) Cent. 4. col 409. Kempnitius (y) In Examen part 4. p. â—6 2â— 30. and Peter (z) Parker against Symbolizing part 2. pag. 32. Martyr do confesse the same from diuers testimonies of Zozomen Athanasius Prudentius diuers others 7. Touching Relikes of Martys And first touching Reuerence exhibited to them by the ancient Fathers first we fynd by the Confession of (*) In Iesuitism rat 5. D. Humfrey that Gregory and Austin at their first planting of Christianity in England did among other points of Catholike Doctrine bring in the doctrine of Relikes The which point (*) Doct. Fulke against the Rhemish Testam in Apocal. 6. D. Fulke acknowledging as true thus auoydeth Gregory i being so neer to the Reuelation of Antichrist it is no meruaile though he be superstitious to Relikes To ascend to higher tymes S. Hierome (*) Ierome contra Vigilant affirmeth that the Emperour Constantine did translate the holy Relickes of Andrew Luke and Timothy to Constanninople at which sayth he the deuills did roare Now Bullinger not approuing his iudgment thus writeth (a) De Origins Erroris fol. 67. 58. Ierome is ouer full in that he sayth the diuels do roare at the holy Relickes of Andrew S. Ambrose hauing made a pious discourse touching the reuerencing of Martyrs Tombes the Centurists thus iudge thereof Let (b) Cent. 4. p. 301. the godly reader consider how horrible these things are vttered by Ambrose The Centurists thus reprehend Constantine the first Christian Emperour With (c) Cent. 4. col 50. 29. lyke superstition Constantine is sayd to haue translated to Constantinople certayne Relickes of the Crosse found by Helene that the Crosse might preserue that Citty Kempnitius (d) In Exam. part 4. pag. 10. acknowledgeth the ancient vse of carrying of Relickes in tyme of Procession in these wordes from Translation of Relickes forthwith was vsed the carrying of them as is to be seene in Ierome and Austin Touching Pilgrimages to Relicks and Holy Places we thus fynd confessed by the Centurists Concerning Pilgrimages (e) Cent. 4. col 457. to holy places that in this age vnder Constantine first began the places of the Holy Land c. to be had in esteeme Helen Mother of Constantine a superstitious Woman going thither to worship In like sort Kempnitius sayth Pilgrimages (f) Exam. Trid. part 4. p. 10. were made he meaning in those Primitiue tymes where men heard were Relicks famous (g) In his Retractiue from Romish Religion pa. 197. 198. renowned for Miracles D. Beard thus confesseth In former tymes they placed the Relicks of Saincts vnder the Altar as Ambrose witnesseth of the Relicks of Geruasius and Protasius Touching Miracles exhibited at the Monuments and Relicks of Saints Kempnitius thus writeth Mention is (h) Exam. part 4. pag. 10. made in Austin that a blynd Woman receaued sight at the Translation of the Relicks of Steuen (i) Contra Duraeum l. 10. pag. 860. that sometimes certaine Miracles were wrought at Relicks c. D. Whitaker sayth I do not thinke those Miracles vayne which are reported to be done at the Monuments of Martyrs Finally M. Fox (k) Act. Mon. pag. 61. and seâ— Crispinus of the Estate of the Church pag. 13â— reporteth out of Chrysostome contra gentiles and Theodoret mentioneth the same how after the bringing of the dead body of Babilas Martyr into the Temple of an Idol the Idol ceased to giue any more Oracles saying that for the body of Babilas he could giue no more Answeres In this last place touching the signe of the Crosse That it was worshipped by the anâ—ient Fathers and by others of those Primiâ—ue tymes as also that great
our said Religion For why should their iudgments agree with the Catholike Church therein but that the force of the Truth constrayneth them thereto and therefore it is truly said of D. Whitaker The (e) Whitak contra Bellarm. l. de Eccles Controuers 2. q. 5. c. 14. argument must be strong and efficacious which is taken from the Confessions of the Aduersaries And I do freely acknowledge that Truth is able to extort testimonies euen from its Enemies Whose Sentence herein is agreable to the iudgment of Irenaeus thus writing It is (f) Lib. 4. c. 14 an vnanswerable prooffe that bringeth attestation from the Aduersaries themselues And further it may be inferred that seeing most Protestants do reiect the Doctrine of Traditions that therefore those Protestants who are related aboue to giue an assent to our Catholike Positions do consequently belieue that the said Articles are most agreeable to the Holy Scriptures seeing these Protestants will belieue nothing as matter of Fayth but what hath its proofe from Scripture 4. A Fourth is their reiecting of parts of true Scripture and their contentions touching the seuerall translations of confessed Scripture Now it bring once granted that it is not certainly knowne what bookes be Scripture and that all translations of Scripture yet extant are false how preiudiciall must this be to the Protestants who erect the Scripture alone for the sole Iudge of all Controuersies in Fayth Seeing admitting that the Scripture should be this Iudge yet this is to be vnderstood of those writings which are infallibly Diuine Scripture and are truly and faythfully translated Since otherwise such bookes of the Bibles which are Spurious and not the true Word of God and such Translations of true Scripture which are adulterated and made contrary to the Sense of the Holy Ghost therein should become this Iudge And thus it followeth that the Protestants till this day euen by their owne implicit Censure neuer enioyed a true Iudge for the decyding of Controuersies in sayth 5. Touching the imaginary facility in fynding out the true sense of the Scripture iustifyed not only by some learned Protestants but also by euery silly Puritanicall Woman and Mechanicall fellow that can out read vanting themselues to be as it were possessed with the Holy Ghost how dangerously doth this assertion lye open to the defence of any Heresy I will here set downe some few Texts wherof the literall words may seeme to iustify strang Errours and Heresies so certaine Drugs taken in their grosse substance are hurtfull to a mans health which being extracted become most medicinable The texts shal be these 1. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who only hath Immortality 1. Timoth. c. 6. Now from this place one might seeme to argue that since God alone is immortall the soule of Man is not immortall but dyeth with the body an Atheisticall blasphemy 2. He that striketh thee on the Cheeke offer also the other and him that taketh away thy Cloake forbid not to take thy Coate also Luke 6. Which words of our Sauiour seeme to implye that we must offer vpon such an occasion the other cheeke to be strocken and suffer our Coate to be taken away with our Cloake And if we do not this we sinne since it is a sinne not to obserue the precept of Christ 3. Call no man your Father vpon earth Math. 23. c. Which words seeme to sound that the sonne ought not to call that man which begot him Father 4. Yf any man come to me and hateth not his Father and mother and Wyfe and brethren and sisters c. he cannot be my Disciple Luc. 14. Here the naked words sound that whereas in the ten Commandements we are taught to honour our Father and mother as also obliged to loue our wyues and friends yet here the next way to serue Christ truly is to hate our Parents our Wyues other our nearest Friends 5. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere Psalm 126. It is but vayne for you to ryse before it he light thus it seemes a man ought not to ryse before Sunne-rising A good pretence for sluggards 6. Melchisedech King of Salem c. Without Father without mother without Genealogy hauing neither beginning of Dayes or end of Lyfe Hebr. 7. A text from whence if one rest only in the naked Words an illiterate man may seeme to euict that this Melchisedech being a man is neuerthelesse as it were another God as neither hauing beginning nor ending as being sempiternall And also that he is another Adam as not begotten by any Carnall Copulation 7. I do accomplish those things quae desunt passionum Christi that want of the Passions of Christ in my flesh for his body which is the Church Colos 1. From whence the poore Puritan-Reader might be induced to thinke that the Apostle did here speake no lesse then blasphemy as intimating that something were wanting or defectiue in the Passion of Christ which himselfe was to fullfill and make perfect 8. Lastly to turne my Pen more particularly to our She-ignorant Puritans who by carrying the Bible they thinke they can vnderstand any part thereof Now how would these ignorant Fooles vnderstand this text against themselues Melior est iniquitas viri quam mulier benefaciens The Iniquity or wickednes of a man is better then a Woman doing good Ecclesiast 42. by which words the Puritan-Woman must be forced to confesse vnderstanding the words as they simply lye that a man fraught with all wickednes is to be preferred before herselfe who seemes to be full of the spirit and the written word Thus far these few examples for instance sake to the which many hundred more may be adioyned All which are most true in the sacred and intended sense of the Holy Ghost yet they conuince that the Scriptures are not of that facility and easines for the perfect vnderstanding of them as diuers Protestants alledged towards the beginning of this Treatise merely contrary to the more graue iudgments of other Protestants their brethren do make shew to teach 6. In this next place we may call to mynd what Indignity and dishonour that most blasphemous and miscreant Opinion and Sentence of Swinglius and his Companions as so many Charons seruing to wast soules ouer to Hell do offer to the Christian Fayth by teaching as is aboue shewed most differently from all their owne Christian Protestant Brethren That a man though not belieuing in Christ so that he lead not a wicked lyfe may be saued For who houldeth this for true litle pryseth the Passion of Christ they being in the number of those of whom it is said They deny (g) 1. Petr. 2. him that bought them the Lord bringing vpon themselues speedy Damnation So forgetfulll they are of that other sacred Sentence There is no (h) Iohn 1. other Name vnder Heauen giuen vnto men then that of Iesus wherein we must be saued And thus these men make him to become to
l. 4. cap. 17. §. 16. Marcion is raised out of Hell And in like sort Caluin thus more writeth The (t) Admonit 3. ad Westâ—y balum Lutherans are forgets and Lyars These implacable and mutuall dissentions betweene the Lutherans and the Caluinists are so great and irreconcileable as that Conradus (u) Schlusselburg in Theolog. Caluinist in his Catalogue praecipuorum Doctrinae Capitum c. Schlusselburg the great Lutheran reciteth three and thirty seuerall Articles of Doctrine in question and controuerted betweene the Lutherans whom he defendeth and the Caluinists against whom he writeth And Luke Osiander the Protestant did write a Treatise bearing this title Enchiridion Controuersiarum quas Augustanae Confessionis Theologi habent cum Caluinianis Printed Tubingae 1603. And Hubberus a learned Lutheran wrote a booke in Dutch printed Regiomonti 1592. hauing this title The Opposition of the Lutheran and Caluinian Doctrine in certaine chiefe Articles of Fayth So iust reason had Nicolaus Gallus the Protestant and superintendent at Ratisbone thus to complayne of the Contentions betweene his owne Brethren all Protestants Non (x) In Thesibus of Hypoiâ—esibus sunt leues c. The dissentions that are among vs are not of light matters but of the greatest articles of Christian Doctrine of the Law and the Gospell of Iustification and good Workes c. And finally Pappus the Protestant hath no lesse resentment and feeling touching this point thus writing Etsi (y) Papipus in Theolog. Caluinist l 1. Art 28. initio de vno tantùm articulo c. Although in the beginning one only Article was called into doubt notwithstanding the Caluinists are now so far gone as they call in doubt neither few neither the least Articles of Christian Doctrine c. With whome conspites Bullinger the Protestant in these words Ipsi inter (*) Bullinger in his â—undamentum fiâ—mum cap. 1. pag. 5. se Euangelici acriter pungunt pugnant c. Those alone who are professours of the Gospell do vehemently prick and feight one against another And from hence are hard among vs those vnfortunate names or appellations of the Lutherans and the Swinglians 3. In this next place let vs behould how the Lutherans do agree among themselues Their contentions are so great that Conradus Schlussenburg (z) Schlussâ—lb in Catal. Haeret nostri temporis l. 2. the most eminent Lutheran placeth six sorts of his owne Lutherans in the Catalogue of Heretikes And from this seuerall sort of Lutherans did first rise that distinction of Molles Lutherant and Rigidi Lutherani These seuerall Kinds of Lutherans had seuerall appellations or names for some of them were called Substantarij for teaching sinne to be of the essence and nature of Man Others opposite to these were tearmed Accidentarij who impugned the former Opinion Some called Vbiquitarij for confounding Christs Humanity with his Diuinity Some called Osiandrians in regard of their different Doctrine of Iustification Some others were styled Maiorists of Gregorius Maior in respect of the necessity of Good Workes Others Flaccians of Flaccus Illyricus who oppugned the Maiorists therein Finally others were denominated Adiaphorists for maintayning the indifferency of Rites and Ceremonies wherein they are greatly written against by the Flaccians Now all these as aboue is said are Lutherans and do imbrace and acknowledg the Confession of Augusta which Confession of fayth the Caluinists do wholy reiect And yet these Seuerall sorts of Lutherans haue written and published seuerall Bookes one against another in defence of their seuerall maintayned different Doctrines 4. To come to the Sacramentaries or Caluinists alone we find that Castalio the Sacramentary or Caluinist condemneth Caluin himselfe for his presumed Doctrine of God being the Authour of sinne thus writing hereof By this (a) Castal l. ad Caluinum de Praedestinat meanes not the Deuill but the God of Caluin is the Father of Lyes But that God which the holy Scripture teacheth is altogether contrary to this God of Caluin And then after The true God came to destroy the workes of the Caluinian God And these two Gods as they be contrary in Nature one to another so they beget and bring forth Children of contrary disposition to wit that God of Caluin Children without mercy proud c. Thus the foresaid Castalio In like sort Caluin (1) L. de Coena Dom. l. 4 Instit c. 15. sect 1 wholy condemneth Swinglius for his teaching that the Sacraments are bare externall signes and (2) Epist. ad quandam Germaniae Ciuitatem fol. 196. Swinglius reciprocally condemneth Caluin for his teaching that to the Sacraments more is attributed then to externall signes According to these dissentions of the Protestants or Sacramentaries among themselues Doctour Willet a formall Protestant thus reprehendeth M. Hooker D. Couell and others in these words From this Fountayne (b) In his meditat vpon the 12â— Psalme haue sprung forth those and such other whirlepooles and bubbles of new doctrine c. and then after Thus haue some beene bould to teach and write who as some Schismatikes meaning the Puritans haue disturbed the peace of the Church one way in externall matters concerning Discipline they haue troubled the Church another way by opposing themselues by new quirks and deuises to the soundnes of Doctrine among Protestants Thus far D. Willet of the strifes among the moderate Protestants themselues In this last passage we will descend more particularly to the doctrinall contentions of English moderate Protestants and English Puritans And to begin the English Puritans writing against the English Protestants thus say If (c) In a Treatise entituled A Christian and modest offer p. 11. we be in errour and the Prelats on the contrary side haue the truth we protest to all the World that the Pope and the Church of Rome and in them God and Christ haue great wrong and indignity offered vnto them in that they are reiected c. And more the English Puritans thus complayn hereof Do we (d) In the mild defence of the silenced Ministers supplication to the high Court of ParlameÌ„t vary from the sincere doctrine of the Scripture Nay rather many of them meaning the Bishops and their Adherents do much swarue from the same touching generall Grace and the death of Christ for euery particular person c. Touching the manner of Christs presence in the Eucharist c. Finally the English Puritans do more fully dismaske themselues thus bursting out and maintayning that the (e) These Positions of the Puritans are verbally recited and condemned in the booke entituled Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiasticall printed anno 1604 Worship of the Church of England is corrupt superstitious vnlawfull repugnant to the Scriptures Againe The Articles of the Bishops Religion are erroneous their rites Antichristian Aâ—d yet more The gouerment of the Church of England vnder his Maiesty by Archbishops and Deanes is Antichristian and repugnant to the word of God 6. Now to turne ouer
directed to her Excellent Maiesty of the Psalmes compared in our Booke of Common Prayer doth in Addition Substraction and Alteration differ from the truth of the Hebrew in two hundred places at least M. Parkes censureth the English Bibles with the Notes of Geneua in these words As for (d) In his Apology concerning Christes descending into Hell those Bibles it is to be wished that either they may be purged from those manifould Errours which are both in the Text and Margent or els vtterly prohibited To conclude with M. Broughtons Condemnation of the English Bibles This great Hebritian thus expresly writeth The publike (e) In his Aduertisment to the Bishops Translation of the Scripture in English is such as that it peruerteth the Text of the Old Testament in eight hundred forty and eight places and it causeth Millions of Millions to reiect the New Testament and to runne into eternull Flames And hence it is that D Reynolds in the Conference at Hampton-Court being the speaker for the Puritans openly denyed before the King to subscribe to the Communion Booke because said he It warranted a corrupt and false Translation of the Bible Thus far of the immortall Disagreements of the Protestants both touching the Authority of the many Bookes of Scripture and of the Translations of the Scriptures made by the Protestants 3. I will here in this next place rest in the easines and difficulty of the Scripture seuerally maintayned by seuerall Protestants We find (f) In Prolegomâ— contra Patrum à Soto Brentins to write that it belongeth through the easines of Scripture to euery man to iudge from the Scripture of the Doctrine of Religion and to discerne truth from falshood In like sort D Whitaker thus writeth touching ech vnlearned Mans reading the Scripture The (g) de sacra script p. 529. vnlearned in the exposition of Scripture is to demand the Opinion of the learned and to read the Commentaries of Interpreters but they must take heed ne nimis illis tribuant that they do not ascribe too much to them but so as that in the meane tyme they retaine their owne liberty that is that euery illiterate fellow must finally iudge of the sense of the Scripture This point needeth no further allegations for we see that euery Mechanicall Fellow if so he can but read and thinks himselfe to be of the number of the Faythfull vanteth of his easy vnderstanding of the Scripture And this deportment is the Character of ech ignorant Puritan Yea ech silly ignorant Puritan-Woman will assume so much to herselfe in the interpretation of Scripture And yet to crosse this their Vanity we find Luther thus to write Scio (h) In praefat in Psalm esse impudentissimae temeritatis c. I know it to be a signe of most shameles temerity and rashnes for any Man to professe that he truly vnderstandeth in all places but any one booke of the Scriptures And D. Field maintayneth the same and sheweth Reasons in defence thereof thus writing There is no (i) L. 4. of the Church cap. 15. Question but that therebe many difficulties of the Holy Scriptures proceeding partly from the high and excellent things therein contayned which are without the compasse of Naturall Vnderstanding so are hidden from naturall Men c partly out of the ignorance of tongues c. And the truth of this point is warranted from the practise of the learned Protestants many of whom haue written Commentaries and Expositions of most bookes of Scripture which Commentaries and Expositions had beene needlesly vndertaken if the Scripture were of that facility and easines as the Puritans seeme to suggest Here now in this last place concerning the Protestants disagreements about Scripture I will descend to shew how they disagree in seuerally expounding seuerall texts of Scripture To goe through all such texts of their disagreements would be most laboursome and needles therefore I will insist in some few And First to begin with those words of the Institution of the blessed Eucharist Hoc est corpus meum Touching which text after all the Protestants haue wholy disclaymed from the Catholikes exposition thereof they presently dissent among themselues 1. For First (k) In lib. suo caâ—â—o Basiliae anno 1526. Carolostadius the Protestant will haue the Aduerb Hîc to be vnderstood by the Pronoune Hoc he thus meaning Hîc sedet corpus meum 2. Bucer (l) In Râ—tractâ—â— suis affirmeth that the Pronoune Hoc signifieth the whole action of the supper So as the sense must be This action signifyeth my body 3. Swinglius (m) L. dâ— vera falsa Religiâ— cap. de Eucharistia teacheth that the words of the Institution are to be taken Figuratiuely And the Figure to consist not in the Pronoune Hoc but in the Verb Est Which ought sayth he to be taken for the word Significat he thus meaning This signifyeth my body 4. Petrus (n) In examen libri Hothusiâ— propâ—iâ—â—tium Boquinus affirmeth that the bread is truly called the Body of Christ propter communicationem Idiomatum as by the same forme of speach we truly say of Christ This Man is God 5. Oecolampadius (o) In lib. de genuine exposit horum verborum doth not rely either in the Pronoune Hoc nor in the verb Est but in the Substantiue Body For he maintayneth that the bread is called the Body by the Figure Metonymia by which Figure the name of the thing signified is attributed to the signe So as the sense sayth he is this Hoc est corpus meum that is this bread is a Figure of my body 6. Caluin (p) Lib. 〈◊〉 Instit. c. 17. â— 11. teacheth in part with Oecolampadius that the Figure Metonymia lyeth in the word Corpus But withall he addeth that the bread of the Eucharist is not a naked Figure of Christs body but it is a Figure which doth exhibit and present the thing it selfe And therefore Christ did not say This bread is a Figure of my Body but is the body it self And Peter (q) L. de ver aque natura Christi Martyr conspireth with Caluin herein 7. Certaine other Caluinists mentioned though their names not expressed by Cornelius (r) In Comment cap. 59. Concord in illa veâ—ba Nisi manducaueritis Iansenius do teach that the word Corpus ought to be taken for the Mysticall body of Christ that is for the Church So as the sense of the words of the Institution should be this This is my body that is you Disciples are my body 8. Iohannes (s) Vti testatur Lutherus insua breâ—i Confess edita anno 46. Campanus a Sacramentary thus expoundeth the words of the Institution This is my body that is This body is created and made by me See here Good Reader the wonderfull disagreements of the Protestants in the exposition of these few words who all conspire togeather in reiecting the Catholike Interpretation but then
presently they dissent in ech ones particular construction giuen thereof They resembling many lynes which meet together in one Center but then presently they breake of and runne seuerall wayes The Protestants do no lesse disagree touching the manner of receauing the body of Christ for First all the Lutherans mantaine with the Catholiks that the body of Christ is receaued with the Corporall mouth But Caluin teacheth it is truly present and receaued with the mouth of Fayth in regard whereof as placing a great Mystery therein Caluin thus breaketh forth in words Nihil (1) Caluin l. 4. Instit c 17. §. 7. restat c. Nothing remaineth but that I breake forth into admiration of this mistery the which neither the vnderstanding is able to conceaue nor the tongue to deliuer in words With Caluin agree herein D. (2) D. Whitak contra Duraeum pag 109. Whitaker The Confession (3) The Confession of Belgia in the English Harmony pag. 4â—1 of Belgia M. (4) Hooker Eccles pol. l. 5. sect 67. pag. 174. Hooker (5) Bucer inscript Anglic. p. 548. 549. Bucer and many others Yet this doctrine is impugned by Peter (6) Peter Martyr in his Epistles annexed to his Common places in English p. 107. epist. 25. Martyr (7) Aretius serm 1. de Coena Aretius Ludouicus (8) Alamannus in positionib apud Lugdunens editis anno 1566. Alamannus reproouing it in these words Neque etiam per fidem c. Neither is the body taken by the mouth of Fayth after an incomprehensible manner as they say for this is clearely imaginary and is euidently repugnant to the word of God Finally the former doctrine is denyed by all our English (9) In their Christian letter to M. Hooker pag. 35. Puritans Touching those words Thou art (t) Math. 16. Peter and vpon this rocke will I buyld my Church c. Now heere the Protestants to auoyde this pressing Authority for the proofe of Peters Primacy do answere seuerally and most distractedly For Caluin (u) Lib. 4. Instit c. 6. §. 6. sayth that here by the word Rock is vnderstood Christ figuratiuely (x) Eras in hunc locum Erasmus maintayneth that euery one of the faythfull is vnderstood thereby But (y) Lib. de Potestate Papae Luther that the Word Rock there signifyeth The Confession of our Fayth So disparate the Protestants are in themselues in the construction of this Text. In like sort they are not much lesse various in expounding that Article of the Creed Descendit ad inferos He descended into Hell For (*) Bucer in Math. â—â— Bucer by the word Hell vnderstandeth the Graue by the Figure Epexegesis or rather by an idle Tautology Yet Caluin and most though not all of the Caluinists do interprete by the word Hell that Christ suffered really and truly the paynes of Hell For thus Caluin discourseth of this text and the sense thereof Since (z) Calu. l. 1. Instit. c. 16 â—um â—0 11. Christ only by corporall Death could profit vs nothing his soule therefore ought to fight with euerlasting Death that by this meanes be might expiate our wickednes and punishment To whose construction herein (a) In Caâ—â—ches anâ—â— 155â— Brentius subscribeth Yea Caluin is so preâ—ipitious and resolute in his exposition of the former words as that he tearmeth all others Perditos (b) L. â— Iustit c. 26. num â—1 nebulenes qui doctrinam istam solatij plenam exagitant Lost and damned fellowes who should call in question this most Comfortable Doctrine So iust reason had that Blessed Martyr Father Campian to burst out in a Christian and Zealous feruour saying (c) In ratio redd Academ rat 8. O Tempora Tempora cuiusmodi monstrum aluistis Touching that place of Scripture I and my Father are one (*) Caluin in Ioan â—â— Caluin differently from all others affirmeth thus This text sheweth not that Christ is Consubstantiall with his Father Which exposition of Caluin is also defended by D. Whitaker contra Campian rat 8. pag. 123. In like sort that Sentence in Psalm 2. Thou art my sonne this day I haue begotten thee Which text proueth the Diuinity of Christ euen in the iudgment of most Protestants Yet Caluin differently expoundeth it from them thus wâ—â—â—ing in Hebr. c. 1. Friuola Augustini argutia est c. The subtility of Austin is here friuolous who by the word Hâ—diâ— interpreteth Eternall and Continuall Againe where we read 1. Ioan. 5. There be three which giue testimony in Heauen The Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and those three bâ— one alledged not only by the Fathers and Catholiks but also euen by most Protestants to proue the Diuinity of Christ yet Caluin vpon this place thus differently from them all expoundeth these words saying Quod dicit tres esse vâ—um ad essentiam non refertur sed ad consensum Whereas it is here said these three are one this is to be referred not to the essence but rather to consent Lastly to auoyd prolixity concerning the word Eloim in Genes c. 1. M. Willet vpon Genes in c. 1. thus vrgeth 11 Against the Iewes who deny the Trinity we haue euident proofe in this Chapter where the word Eloim c. Which Interpretation Peter Martyr and Zanchius in Hunnius his Anti-paraus pag. 16. 19. and many other Protestants of note do approue yet Caluin diss nteth in the Construction thereof from them all thus writing in Genes c. 1. Ex verbo Eloim colligero solent c. They are accustomed to infer from the Word Eloim that there are three persons in God but because the proofe of so great a matter seemeth to me but weake I will not insist in that word but rather will admonish my Readers that they take heed of such violent Glosses and interpretations Thus far of Caluins constructions of the former Texts against the iudgment almost of all other Protestants to impugne with the Arians the Diuinity of Christ And thus far for a tast of some few texts of Holy Scripture receauing from our Aduersaries Pens most contrary constructions So as admitting one of the said Constructions to be true it followeth necessarily that all the rest are false for they are in sense and in the inferences thereof most incompatible one with another This point shall be made more euident hereafter by setting downe many points of Catholike Religion maintayned by learned Protestants from the Scriptures and therfore the said Protestants dissent wholy in interpreting the Scriptures touching those Doctrines from other Protestants not belieuing the said Doctrines The V. Paragraph I Will in this next place insist in our Aduersaries disagreements touching their Liturgy or booke of Common Prayer chiefly peculiar to England shewing how often the Protestants through diuersity of Iudgments at seuerall tymes haue altered the same the later Edition thereof euer condemning the former And to begin The Reformed Communion Booke of Prayer begun by
of the said Catholike Doctrines or otherwise by their deniall of them they did cease to be members of the said Church of God Cum (z) Cyprian l. Vnitate Ecclesiae Deo manere non possunt qui in Ecclesia Dei vnanimes esse noluerunt Now to descend to the secoÌ„d Part of this Appendix which is touching the Comparison made betweene the ancient Fathers and the Protestant Doctours and Wryters for the fynding out of the intended sense of the Holy Ghost in the exposition of the sacred Scripture In the consideration of which point I grant I am finally moued to a iust and warrantable Anger since the want thereof vpon so vrgent an occasion might well be reputed but stupidity and an insensiblenes of the indignities and wrongs offered to those blessed and happy Saints Therefore let the Reader pardon me if I here sharpen my Pen which can hardly spend its inke vpon a more worthy and noble subiect and if I become somewhat more luxuriant in defence of these Champions of Christ his Church vpon whom diuers Protestants as in the former Treatise is shewed do euen showre downe infinit words of reproach contumely and do throwe vpon their honorable Memories the durte and filth of their owne most intemperate and gaulefull Language But first I thinke it conuenient to take away the vulgar stumbling-Block which most of our Aduersaries haue layed betweene the Truth and the eyes of the ignorant and credulous Protestant Which is as the Protestants most wrongfully and to themselues consciously suggest That seing the Scripture as being the vndoubted Word of God is to be aduanced before the Authority of the Fathers they being but men and seeing the Protestants say they relye only vpon Scripture the Fathers vpon their owne and oâ—her humane Authorities Why then should not the Scripture be pryzed aboue the Authorities of the said Fathers Now to dispell and dissipate this weake smoake from the Eyes of the Ignorant I do auer this their answere to be a mere Elench of Fallacy called by the Logitians Petitio Principij since here it is falsly presumed that the Protestants do relye only vpon the true sense of the Scripture and the Fathers do reiect the Scripture Whereas indeed the Fathers with all Reuerence and honour do affect the Scripture and most humbly submit themselues to it And therefore the life and touch of the doubt in this point only consisteth To wit whether the Fathers who buyld the Articles of their Fayth vpon the Scriptures are to be preferred before the Protestants interpreting the said Scriptures in a contrary Sense And thus the Antithesis or opposition is here to be made not betweene the Fathers and the Scripture as our Aduersaries do calumniously pretend but betwene the Constructions giuen by the Fathers of certayne Texts of holy Scripture and the different or contrary constructions of the sayd Text giuen by the Protestants The lyke subtility our aduersaries to wit the Centurists D. Whitaker Illyricus and others do vse when the call Catholike doctrines as they are maintained by vs Idolatry Heresies Blasphemies c. thereby to intimate that the Papists are no members of Christs Church which very doctrines as they are taught by the ancient Fathers the Protestants stile but nauos naenia errores c. with intention to shew that the Protestants do not deuide themselues from the Church of which the Fathers were members O incredible and serpentine Craft and Imposture But to launce further in discoursing of the Comparison betweene the Fathers and the Protestants For I hould it my honour to be their poore Aduocate vpon earth and I hope that in their Seraphicall and burning Charity they wil be my Adocate in Heauen and will vouchsafe to intercede to his Diuine Maiesty for the remission of my infinite sinnes and transgressions Heere I say that any true and zealous Christian ought to haue a sensible griefe and religious Resent to see that Saphyrs should be preferred before Diamonds the lowest Shrubs to dare to contend in height with the Cedars of Lybanus vpstart Innouation to take the wall as I may say of reuerend and gray-hayrd Antiquity I meane that Luther Swinglius Melancthon Caluin Beza and such refuse of men should shoulder out of the due Seatâ— of Honour and Authority Austin Ierome Epiphanius the Gregories the Cyrills Basil Ambrose Hylary Optatus Athanasius Cyprian Ephrem Irenaeus Ignatius Polycarpus and diuers other Fathers of those Primitiue and purest tymes But to descend more particularly to the dissecting of this point I hould it most conducing to present to the Readers Eye certaine forcible Circumstances aduantaging the ancient Fathers much aboue the Protestants for the searching and picking out the true and intended sense of the Holy Ghost in the Texts of sacred Writ produced either by the Catholiks or the Protestants Thus I meane to Parallele the Fathers with the ProtestaÌ„ts not as Plutarch did by comparing Worthy Men with Worthy Men but by ballancing the ancient graue and most literate Doctours with certaine Nouellizing and but competently learned Sectaries 1. And to beginne Our first Circumstance may be taken from the different times wherein the Fathers and the former Protestants did liue The Fathers as is knowne florished in those pure tymes neere to Christ and his Apostles when his Spouse I meane his Church remayned intemerate and incontaminate as then not brooking any defiled touch but of one Heretike We may adioyne hereto that in regard of their proximity in tyme to Christ for some of them liued in the (a) Ignatius Dionysius Areopagita liued in the dayes of the Apostles Apostles dayes others in the next (b) Iustinus Martyr Pope Pius Ireneus liued in the second age Origen Tertullian Cyprian c. in the third age Athanasius Hilarius Cyrill of Ierusalem Ambrose Basil Optatus Gregorius Nyssenus Gregorius Nazianzenus Ephrem Epiphanius c. in the fourth Age in which age was celebrated the Councell of Nyce Gaudentius Chrysostome Ierome Austin Cyrill of Alexandria Proclus Constantinopolitanus Theodoret Gelasius Leo Pope Hilarius Eusebius Emyssenus in the fifth age Gregory the Great and Austin our Apostle in the sixt age ensuing ages the true Fayth and Doctrine and consequently the true meaning of the Scripture might well be Paraphrazed by force of Tradition during that short desceÌ„t of the Church ech man receauing from his Predecessour euen from hand to hand the practise of the true Religion so as such Men as then would not acknowledge the splendour of the Catholike Religion in those firster Tymes may well resemble the stars when they are darkened through ouer much light This far of this Circumstance in behalfe of the Fathers from whence we may gather that diuers of them liued a thousand yeares since others more then fifteene hundred But now let vs cast our eye vpon the other End of the Ballance Haue our Protestant Writers beene in Rerum Natura fifteene hundred yeares since Haue they beene a thousand yeares Haue they beene
so fully acknowledged that the Protestant Ministers neuer effected any of them no not so much as supernaturally curing a prickt fingar or raysing to lyfe a dead flea as that diuers of them behoulding with the eye of sulliuation and enuy the miracles wrought by the former Fathers and other deuout persons do peremptorily (q) In his Suruey of D Kellisons c. D. Morton in his Apol. Cathol part 1. l. 2 25. and diuers others teach that all Miracles haue ceased euer since the Apostles dayes so willing they are to shackle and tye the hands of God from exhibiting all such stupendious ActioÌ„s And hence it is that their owne chiefe Doctours do wholy confesse the want of all Miracles in confirmation of their first plantation of Protestancy For thus doth D. Fulke acknowledge saying It is (r) Against the Rhemish Testament in Apocalyp cap. 13. knowne that Caluin and the rest whom the Papists call Arch-Hereticks do no Miracles And no lesse is confessed by D. Sutcliffe in these words We do (s) In his examen of D. Kellisons Suruey printed 1606. p. 8. not practize Miracles nor do we teach that the doctrine of Truth is to be confirmed with Miracles 5. Another ouerballancing Circumstance resulteth from the different Conditions of the Fathers and of the Protestants touching the preaching of their seuerall doctrines in Fayth The Fathers interpreted the Holy Scriptures in confirmation of our Catholike Fayth when as no other Fayth was knowne and many ages before Protestancy was euer dreamed of And therefore what they did write or teach out of the Scriptures they did it in an Azisme and purity of Conscience not being forestalled with any Preiudice of Iudgment or inuited thereto by any humane or temporary Motiues the most dangerous Sands vpon which many Schollars do suffer shipwrack Now the Protestants I meane chiefly many Protestant Ministers throghout Christendome euen from the first tyme that Protestancy began to get on wing do prosecute their Fayth with a most strong bent of Endeuour because their temporall states as aboue is intimated are so imbarked therein as that an vtter extinguishment of Protestancy would instantly threaten all mendicity and ruine to the Doctours thereof So fully are their temporall states ingaged in their owne Religion Therefore no wonder it is if most Protestant Doctours as in likelyhood they do do thus syllogize and dispute in the secret of their owne Soule I am maried I am attended on with a great trayne and charge of Children My temporall Meanes lye only in my possessing of Parsonages and other Ecclesiasticall Liuings which are allotted to me for my Ministeriall and Protestanticall functien Yf Protestancy should suffer an vtter disparition and vanishing out of the World What then would become of me How should I my Wyfe and my poore Children maintayne our selues We cannot liue only vpon breathing the Ayre Therefore I must nay I will in all estuation and heate of dispute and writing maintayne my owne Religion of Protestancy shaping though I grant in a retrograde manner the pretended sense of the Scripture to the fortifying of my lately appearing Fayth not my Fayth to the true sense of the Scripture God is mercifull and I hope seing my state otherwyse lyes mortally a bleeding he will pardon this my Offence proceeding from such a forced and vrging Necessity O most dangerous and desperate Resolution 6. To proceed to another Circumstance Diuers of those ancieÌ„t Fathers as Ignatius Dionysius Polycarpe Cyprian c. spent their lyues in defence of the Christian Catholike Religion to speake nothing of many thousands of others lesse eminent Christians dying for the same they suffering most glorious Martyrdomes for their fayth in iustifying in theÌ„selues that sentence Paradisi (u) Tertul in l. de Anima clauis sanguis Martyrum Of which euery one might well say in his owne person Occidi possum superari non possum so becoming Balls to the then boysterous tymes Happy Men who by losing of lyfe did fynd lyfe and by sheeding their bloud did (x) Apoc. 7. wash their Robes in the Bloud of the Lambe And who did passe the Red Sea of of persecution Martyrdome with such humility alacrity eauennes and constancy of mynd as that their Honorable Memories might well deserue to be recorded in more seuerall pages then heere are lines I might well say in more lynes then heere are letters And can it then be thoght possible their admirable fortitude for Christ his sake considered that God would conceale from them the true Sense of Scripture without which their Soules could not enioy Saluation It is repugnant euen to Gods Iustice What is it then to his Mercy Among the Aduersaries who euer suffered death in defence of Protestancy Iohn Husse say they It is false For Husse being otherwise a turbulent fellow and raysing combustions in his owne Country dyed for only defending the necessity of Communion vnder both kinds comparting with the Roman Church in other points Of whom Luther thus writeth The Papists (y) Luth. in Colloq Mensal German de Antichristo burned Husse when he departed not a fingers breadth from the Papacy Who els Ierome of Prage This man also maintayned but one or two Heresyes being wholy Catholike in all other Articles who after a second recidiuation and Relapse was burned Who more A company of Mechanical ignorant despicable and poore Snakes in Queene Maries reigne M. Fox his Martyrs who as being possessed with a Iewish Obstinacy in defence of some few points only of Protestancy belieuing withall many Catholike Articles became proud forsooth of their future-dying honour and so through their owne froward Wilfulnes did euen importune the Fagot thus losing their breath for the gayning of a litle breath or Wynd of prayse Miserable Wretches their Bodies no sooner ceasing to be afflicted with temporall flames then their soules as is to be feared began to be tormented with eternall flames 7. The last Collateral respect between the Primitiue Fathers and the Protestant Doctours and Writers in which I will heere insist much preponderating in this busines is that most of the new Testament if not all was originally written in the Greeke toÌ„gue and that diuers of the ancient Fathers were (z) Ignatius Epiphanus Athanasius Basil Nazianzene Chrysostom Cyrill Theodoret besides others were Greeke Fathers Grecians borne so that tongue became their Mother tongue Now whereas the Tongues are deseruedly stiled the Porters of learning or the mines wherein the goulden Oare of knowledge is found and also whereas what skill the Protestants can haue in that language is only Artificiall and gotten by their owne paynes and labour therefore it ineuitably followeth that the Fathers as better knowing the true Emphasis and Energy of euery Greeke Word then the Protestant can are much aduantaged aboue the Protestants for the digging as it were myning out of the true sense of the Holy Ghost in those sacred writings And this no wonder since we fynd that Art which is but a print or stamp impressed by the seale of Nature euer subscribes to Nature Thus far touching the Trutination of the Fathers with our Protestant Teachers and of this Impar congressus Achille Concerning which Fathers I hould it my great Honour as aboue I professed to imploy my pen in their Panegyricks and due commendation Howsoeuer many of our Aduersaries as is allready made euident do take great complacency in eiurgating out of their impure stomacks words of contumely and reproch agaynst the said Centinels of Gods Church Vpon (a) Esay â—2 thy Walles O Ierusalem I haue set watches for euer And heere before I end I demand to recapitulate the former points how can any Christian iustly apologise for himself at that most dreadfull day the day (b) Esay 13. of our Lord a cruell day full of indignation wrath and fury when it shal be vrged agaynst him that in the election and choyce of his fayth drawne from the Scriptures vpon the truth or falshood wherof depended his euerlasting happines or misery he did preferre Nouelty before Antiquity few before many Men but ignorant in the Scripturall tongues before others who sucked with their milke those tongues from their Mothers Breasts Preiudice of iudgment before all impartiality dissention in doctrine before vnity in doctrine such as traffick nothing but transitory benefits and pleasure before Men of most mortifyed and stupendious liues and conuersation Men being most (c) According herto we fynd Luther to haue had familiar conference with the Deuill as himselfe witnesseth in tom 7. Wittenberg lib. de Mâ—ssa priuata fol. 2â—8 Oecolampadius was slayne by the Deuill as Lauather the Protestant witnesseth in histor Sacrament printed Tiguri 1563. fol. 24. Carolostadius is termed by D Fulke an Epicurean Gospeller in his Reioynder to Bristows Reply printed 1582. pag. 240. And Melancthon calleth Carolostadius A barbarous fâ—llow in whom there is no signe of the Holy Ghost in Epist ad Fredericum Miconium Swinglius thus writeth of his owne lust in his Treatise to the Heluetian State We so burned O for shame as that we haue committed many things vnseemely Caluin is charged with Sodomy as the Citty of Noyon in France in its Register doth testify was burned vpoÌ„ the shoulder for that cryme Beza in like sort charged with Sodomy with a yong boy called Andebertus and this is testifyed by Conradus Schlusselburg the Protestant in Theolog. Caluin l. 1. fol. 93. To passe ouer others for breuity Ochinus became a Iew as Zanchius the Protestant witnesseth in his booke de tribus Elohim l. 5. c 9. Finally Andraeas the great Protestant is charged by Hospinian the Protestant in histor Sacrament to haue no other God but Mammon and Bacchus fol. 389. impious and prophane liuers before workes of miracles Briefly certaine ignorant ignoble fellowes desperatly casting away their liues for the purchasing of a litle popular ayre before many holy and learned Martyrs And with this I close vp these leaues And I trust he closeth well who closeth his speach in defence of such Men who were defenders of the Ancient Christian and Catholike Religion God saue the King THE Faultes vvhich haue escaped in printing I hope be not many nor yet such as may not easily be corrected by the iudicious Reader