Councell expoundeth it should not be â—roden on and defiled by mens feet With the like cosenage they quote a Canon of the Elibertine Councell as though it discharged all Churches of the vse of Images whereas the Councell allowing all Tables and portable Pictures commanded only by reason of the incursions of the Gothes which often happened at that tyme no Image should be painted and engrauen on the wals and windowes of the Church least that which is adored by Christians should be dishonoured and abused by sauage enemyes in their common ransackes and rifling of the Temples 31. Then they produce certaine wordes out of a Conc. Nic. 2 act 6. Bils 4. par pag. 601. proscript of S. Epiphanius Epistle Disswading images to be brought into Churches or erected in Church-yardes or tolerated in priuate houses conuinced in the 7. Synod to be inserted by heretikes where the fable of the painted veile is proued also to be fabulous which the fornamed Epiphanius Baron an Christ 392. caused as they pretend to be cast out of the Church Or he commanded that veile to be remoued and torne in peeces because it was the Picture of a prophane man seeming to be the Image of Christ or some Saint as the wordes themselues import and Baronius in his Ecclesiasticall History diligently vnfoldeth 32. Notorious is the Centurists and Caluins fraud in alleadging to this purpose two vnlawfull Councells tumultuously assembled at Constantinople the one vnder Leo Isaurus the other vnder Constantine Copronimus two pernicious Cent. 8. c. 9 Calu. l. 1. Inst c. 11. Abbas Vrs pâ—â—g in Chron. Bils 4. par pag. 547. Heretikes and as a graue Historiographer chronicleth them Fore-runners of Antichrist Lesse notable yet no lesse dangerous is M. Bilsons legier-de-main in crazing the 2. Nicen and extolling the credit of the Councell of Franckeford where the Churches sayth he of England France Italy Germany c. condemned the former Nicen in behalfe of Images A mighty condemnation if iuridically pronounced as crafty a Collusion if wickedly procured if guilfully extorted The guile lurked in the Authour of the bastardly bookes ascribed to Charles who perswaded the Councell of Franckeford first that the Bishops assembled in the 7. Synod at Nice decreed Images to be worshiped Epist Adri. act 2. subscrip in omnibus actionib Confes act 7. Recant act 1. 3. Centu. 8. cap. 9. Paul Dia. l. 23. ReruÌ„ Rom. Cedr in comp hist Iuo 4. p. c. 147. Bils 4. p. pag. 551. 565. Rein. de dol Rom. Ec. l. 1. c. 2. with the Diuine honour of Latria secondly that this Councell was celebrated without the authority of the Pope of Rome Both false depositions as the Epistle of Adrian the Pope the subscription of his Legates the confession of the Councell it selfe the recantation of Basil the Bishop of Ancyra of Constantine the Bishop of Cyprus can testify who abiuring their Heresyes allowed the Religious yet not the godly worship of Images The Deuines notwithstanding of Franckeford mistaken in this matter of fact by that faythlesse deponent disanulled the second Councel of Nice accursed them who assigned to Pictures the worship of Latria and those withall who should seeke to abolish them Which point M. Bilson concealed as little fauouring his cause Or if this CouÌ„cell had fauoured it could not haue steeded him against the former A priuate Councell cannot impeach a publike a latter a more ancient a Councell from which if the Centurists deceiue vs not the Pope and his Legats dissented a Councell approued by the supreme authority of Pope and Prelate as the 2. Nicen was first by AdriaÌ„ then by Leo the third of that name as Paulus Diaconus Cedrenus and Iuo accord 33. Lastly for the vpshoot and conclusion of their perfidious dealing M. Bilson and M. Reynoldes oppose certaine passages of the Fathers The fact of Ezechias the Idolatry Epiph. haeres 27. Aug. haer 7. Greg. l. 7. ep 109. l. 9. ep 9. Ambr. de Obitu Theodo Aug. de moribuâ— Eccl. Cath. l. 1. c. 34. Caiet in 3â— part q. 25. art 3 of Marcellina Carpocrates the Gnostikes detested by S. Augustine Irenaeus c. detested also by vs. For they as S. Epiphanius and S. Augustine teach had the Pictures of Heathens Homer Plato Pythagoras in equall esteeme and reuerence with the pictures of Christ of Paul c. They burned incense and offered Sacrifices to their Images worshiping them as Gods which we renounce King Ezechias abhorred when he brake the Brasen Serpent in peeces for the like crime committed by the Iewes S. Gregory S. Ambrose S. Augustine with the rest condemne in such places as they speake against the worshiping of Images For as Caietan very learnedly obserueth The Fathers sometime say Picturs ought not to be adored Sometyme they write that they ought They ought not to be worshiped absolutly for themselues not with Sacrifices or Godly homage but they ought to be honoured respectiuely with reference to the Originalls with a deuout and Religious kind of worship as by Scriptures Fathers Councels and vnanswerable proofes I haue manifestly declared to such as will not shut their eyes against the light of truth THE FIFTEENTH CONTROVERSY MAINTAINETH Purgatory and Prayer for the Dead agaynst D. Field and D. Fulke CHAP. I. HAVING mantained the honour of Aug. l. de baer c. 35. Epiph. haer 75. Guido in summa de haeres Field l. 3. c. 17. in append 1. part p. 42. 43. c. Fulke in c. 12. Matth. sect 6. in 1. 10. 1. sect 5. our noble Patrons the glorious and triumphant Saintes in Heauen the worship of their Images the veneration of their Reliques now I come to defend the cause of our humble suppliantes the poore afflicted soules in Purgatory the place of their punishment the reliefe they receaue by our prayers suffrages The later whereof was first gainesayd by Aerius as S. Augustine and Epiphanius the former by the Waldenses as Guido reporteth and both are now denyed by D. Field D. Fulke and all Protestants vpon these three groundes First for that they suppose after the guilt of sinne remitted no punishment remaineth to be expiated either heer by our satisfactory workes or heerafter by the paines of Purgatory Secondly for that they allow no distinction betwixt mortall and veniall sinnes Thirdly because no mention is made in Scripture or in the Primitiue Church either of Purgatory or Praier for the Dead Their former grouÌ„d I haue ouerthrowen in the treatise of Satisfaction now to refute the second Some Protestams imitating the old Heretikes Iran l. 1. adu haeres of whom Iraeneus writeth who spake like Catholikes and meant farre otherwise admit with vs the names of Veniall and Mortall sinnes but in a farre different sense Calu. lib. 2. Inst c. 8. in Antido 2 to Concil Trident. sect 6. c. 12. Eulke in c. 1. 1. ep 10. sect 5. Caluin will haue all sinnes Veniall to the Elect because they
Proueth Inuocation of Saints to be lawfull against D. Reynolds D. Field and D. Fulke pag. 255. The 14. Controuersy Establisheth the lawfull worship of Images against D. Bilson and D. Reynoldes pag. 276. The 15. Controuersy Maintaineth Purgatory and Prayer for the dead against D. Field and D. Fulke pag. 296. The 2. Chapter VVherin Prayer for the dead is defended against the foresayd Doctours M. Feild and M. Fulke pag. 316. THE FIRST BOOKE THE FIRST CONTROVERSY DECLARETH That neither the Holy Scripture by it selfe nor by any meanes the Protestants do assigne can be Iudge of Controuersyes AGAINST Doctour VVhitaker Doctour Reynolds and all other Protestants CHAP. I. THe extreme miserable refuge of al guilty persons who either mistrust the equity of their cause or feare the weaknes of their owne defence hath euer been to decline the barre of indifferent tryall and cleaue to the succour of some such Tribunall as will not or cannot giue sentence against them This was the wonted fraud of all ancient Heretikes this was the retraite of the Iran l. 3. cont haer Tertul l. 8. depraescrip Basil l. de Spir. sanct cap. 27. Aug. l. 1. cont Max. VVbitak coÌ„t 1. q. 5. c. 8. Reyn. in bis coÌ„f c. 2. diuis 2. p. 45. c. 8. diuis 1. p. 396. c. Bezainan noui Test 1556. in c. 10. Matth. in c. 22. Luc. Iran l. 1. c. 10. 20. 29. Aug. l. 32. con Faust c. 19. 21. Philast c. 36. Euseb l. 4. hist c. 29. Epiph. haer 30. Valentinians Eunomians Marcionists and the like This was the voice of Maximinus the Arian Bishop as S. Augustin reporteth writing against him And this is now the common cry of M. Whitaker M. Reynolds and their fellow-Sectaryes who will not stand to the generall arbitrement of Fathers Doctours Councells Historyes or former Churches not to the prescription of tymes presidents or approued customes not to any roll record or monument of antiquity They only appeale in all matters of Controuersy to the sole and silent maiesty of Gods sacred Stile and that for two chiefe and principall causes The one is to cloke couer their new deuises vnder the mysteryes of holy Writ The other with a cunning and guilefull sleight to auoyd indeed all manner of triall not to admit any Iudge at all For as long as they reserue in themselues this singular power to construe and expound Gods word as they list to receaue or reiect what Scriptures they please let vs produce any euidence against theÌ„ neuer so cleare they wil either cloud it with some colourable answere or wrest it to another sense or charge it with corruption as Beza doth in the Greeke text in many places or vtterly discard it as no Canonicall write as Heretikes vsually do such Oracles of God as condemnâ— their errours 2. Alleadge for example the old Testament against the Marcionists against the Manichees the new the Acts of the Apostles against Tatian Cerinthus against the Ebionites the Epistles of S. Paul they peremptorily deny these books of Scripture Pose Faustus the Manichee with these Ad Rom. 1. v. 3. Aug. l. â—0 con Paust c. 2. 2. Iac. 24. Cent. 2. c. 4. col 17. words of the Apostle to the Romans The sonne of God was borne of the seed of Dauid according to the flesh his reply saith S. Augustine is the booke is forged it is not Paules Proue against the Centurists out of S. Iames That by workes a man is iustisyed not by fayth alone they discredit the authority of his Epistle saying It is an adulterous and bastard Epistle Alleadge in like manner against M. Whitaker Intercession of Saints out of the vision of Iudas Machabeus concerning Onias he answereth His dreame of Onias I let passe as VVhitak in resp ad Ration c. Camp VVhitak ibidem Cyp. l. 3. ep 9. Ambr. l. 4. de side cap. 4. Aug. l. ad Oros Clem. Alex c. 7. strom VVhitak de sa Scrip. cont 1. q. 1. cap. 14. Orig. l. 2. de princ c. 1. Dionys Areop do Cal. hier â— 2. Cyp. ep â— 55. Aug. de doct Christ l. 2. c. 8. de ciut Dei l. 18. c. 36. a dreame As though God had not often reuealed to Ioseph diuers of his Prophets many thinges in their sleep Vrge him out of Ecclesiasticus with the liberty of Free-will he answereth That place of Ecclesiasticus I little regard neither will I belieue the liberty of Free-will albeit he affirme it an hundred tymes Then S. Cyprian S. Ambrose S. Augustine Clemens Alexandrinus were of light beliefe who credited this worke as the reuealed write Presse him at length with prayer for the dead out of the bookes of the Machabees he still replyeth I discouer in them a human Spirit a human wit a human confession all thinges human Then Origen Dionysius S. Cyprian S. Augustine were much deceaued who descryed in them the character stile and spirit of the Holy Ghost 3. But graunt our Aduersaryes admitted all those bookes of holy Writ the Church approueth or that they would be tryed by them we both imbrace yet I say the Scripture alone cannot be Iụdge or Vmpire between vs. Which that I may more strongly euince proceed more smoothly without rubb or incombrance in so waighty a question before I come to the period or full point of our variance I will briefly premise some certaine positions of our consent and agreement We accord then with Protestants 1. That the Scriptures are a diuine and infallible rule of faith yet not the sole and only rule as they affirme 2. We graunt with them that nothing is to be belieued The state of the question explained Deutr. 17. v. 9. contrary and repugnant to those oracles of God no traditions reuelations or interpretations whatsoeuer 3. We teach that the vniuersall iudgment and generall definitions of the Church are alwayes leueled and directed according to the inerrable prescript of holy Writ Therefore at her Oecumenicall Consistoryes she placeth They shal teach theâ— according to the law the Bible in some high eminent and honourable seat as the chiefe and speciall guide of her counsayles decrees 4. We yield that the letter of Scripture or to vse their phrase of speach that God speaking by that letter may improperly be tearmed the voice of our supreme Iudge in such manner as I shall explicate heereafter But our maine difference and dispute is whether it be such a voice and sentence of his as when any doubt or CoÌ„trouersy ariseth about the meaning of his word it may without any further externall and open declaration for of inward Inspirations in the Chapter ensuing giue a finall euident certaine and irresistable decision of all such doubts controuersyes to euery humble diligent skillfull and pious Reader and conferrer of places Our Aduersaryes say it is we say it is not proposing our arguments in this manner 4. The Scripture is the written word or outward rule by which
senteÌ„ce is or ought to be guided therfore not the Iudge himselfe that pronounceth sentence For in all Courts Common-wealths or publique Tribunals besides the written Law or outward euidence by which verdict is giuen some speaking-Iudge or other Magistrate is requisite who as the liuely rule or square of Iustice to vse Aristotles words ought to expound and deliuer the true meaning of the law so much more in the Church of God which is a Kingdom a Citty a Campe well ordred Arist l. 5. Etb. l. 4. Polit. Plat. l. de repub de lege Read Philo Iud. l. de legat ad CaiuÌ„ prope finem the like must needs be graunted especially seeing Plato writeth That good Gouernours are more to be regarded accounted of then good lawes because a good law without a good Iudge which may execute it is a dead law but a good Iudge without a written law is both to himselfe and others a liuely law The reason heereof is manifest because it belongeth to the Iudge who may decide and end debates 1. To heare vnderstand and compare togeather the arguments of the parties in strife 2. By explayning the true sense and meaning of the law to deliuer a definitiue sentence agreable therunto 3. To compell and inforce the contentious to accept and obey his censure But this neyther Scripture nor any written law can performe Therefore some other intelligent authenticall publike Arbiter is likewise necessary 5. M. Whitaker our Protestant-writer and Hunnius a Lutheran Doctor both agree That the holy Ghost as speaking VVhitak cont 1. q. 5. cap. 8. Hunnius in act Col. Ratis sâ—sâ— 9. in Scripture or the voice of God as vttered therin is this publike and soueraygne Iudge Very vainely very idly The voyce of God as speaking in Scripture is no way distinguished from the Scripture no more then the commaundement of the King promulgated in his law is any way different from the law Therfore as besides the King speaking in his law eyther himselfe speaking in a more liuely manner or some other Iudge is requisite to satisfy the doubts which arise of the law so besids the holy Ghost speaking precisely by Scripture eyther himselfe speaking in a more distinct and publicke fashion or some other infallible Iudge is necessary to end the controuersies which arise Hunnius ibidem Reyn. c. 2. diuis 2. p. 63. 64. out of Scripture Hunnius addeth That the Scripture it selfe or the voyce of God deliuered by learned Ministers and expounders of the word By them sayth Reynoldes who haue in vnder Christ committed vnto them is at least a sufficient and competent Iudge As vainely as idly as before 6. For who are they to whom Christ hath giuen this commissioÌ„ of Iudgmet They are as M Reynolds subnecteth Reyn. loâ—o citato of two sorts The one priuate the other publike Priuate all the faythfull and Spirituall Publike the assemblies of Pastours and Elders Of these I reason thus Eyther he alloweth both or one of these sortes supreme soueraigne infallible authority to decide debates and expound the word without further appeale and so admitteth another Iudge besids Scripture or he assigneth them not the Soueraignty of Iudgment as himselfe and all other Protestants define but the ministery of interpreting the written will and sentence of the Iudge And so maketh the Church a maymed wauoring imperfect Common-wealth without any iudiciall visible and publike Tribunall without any profitable meanes of setling peace in tyme of discord For seeing these Ministers neyther in priuate nor publike are as they confesse so assisted alwayes by the holy Ghost but that they may being men subiect to errour sometymes propound their owne dreames insteed of Gods vndoubted truthes who shall determine whether the voyce of Christ or sentence of our Iudge be truly deliuered by them or no a Rein. c. 2. diuis â— pag. 64. The written will or letter of Scripture It cannot speake or declare her Iudgment b VVhitaker cont 5. q. 5. c. 9. 13. The diligent Reader and conferrer of places He may both read conferre amisse c Hunn in act Col. Ratis ses 9 The pious Magistrate and executioner of Iustice May not he both execute and commaund an errour d Sutclif in his answere to the sixth c. of his Suruey A Generall Councell proceding according to Gods word And who shall iudge when it proceedeth according to his word The parties who contend and stand in debate Then they must be plaintiffs and Iudges both And whilest ech of them swayeth on his owne side what end of strife What decision of truth Such as Lawyers such as Attournyes make in behalf of their clients who would neuer end their Plea vnlesse some vmpire were appointed to arbitrate the cause Now to go forward 7. The Iudge of Controuersyes ought to be infallible because it must breed a certaine and infallible assurance as M. Whitaker agreeth with vs in doubts of VVhitak cont 1 q. 5. cap. 8. â— 3. c. 11. fayth but albeit the Scriptures be so in themselues yet in respect of vs they are fallible they may be erroneously printed corruptly translated falsly suborned not well expounded not rightly vnderstood And although the voice and doctrine of the Church may be somety me fallible in respect of vs as one obiected against this argument An obiectioÌ„ made against the Church solued because a particular pastour may deliuer vnto the people his own phantasies for the Churches decrees he may perswade them and they may giue credit vnto him that his priuat assertions are the generall and Catholike doctrines that they were taught by the auncient church and that many miracles haue bin wrought in confirmatioÌ„ of them yet here is a notable disparity between this and that fallibility for this proceedeth not from the repaire to our iudge either true or so taken but from a falsifier and wrong relatour of the iudges sentence that immediatly commeth from appealing to their true reputed iudge This happeneth to the ignorant only or Catecumens who begin to belieue to others the Catholike tenent in necessary poynts is so generally known as they cannot be deluded That to the learned also and most expect in matters of religion for such they are who often misconster wrongfully expound the holy scriptures This may easily be discouered and auoided by conference with other pastours by perusing the Churches decrees or hearing the oracle of her voice which can manifestly explaine herself and disproue those forged relations That can hardly be espied more hardly be auoyded because priuat interpreters by conferring reasoning and disputing the case without submission to the Church are often tymes more confirmed strengthned in their erroneous expositions neither can the Scripture open her own meaning and condemne their false constructions Our danger therfore of being deceaned is litle or nothing to be feared their 's very pernicious and irremediable 8. The Iudge of Controuersies
things spoken if to Luc. 10. v. 16. Matth. 18. v. 17. all be graunted the spirit of Prophesy If members must iudge of their heades and people examine their Pastours doctrine 10. In fine to rippe vp the bowells and breake the very sinewes of this answere in pieces the inward Spirit which moueth the Collatour in the exposition of Gods word may be caused three seuerall wayes 1. God may inspire it 2. The Diuell suggest it 3. The discourse of reason gather and collect it Now aread me this doubt you that ground your fayth hereon how do you know the perswasion you follow to be an inspiratioÌ„ 2. Cor. 1â— vers 14 from God a suggestion of Satan or a discourse of reason The Diuell may transfigure himselfe into an Angell of light many falshoods as the Philosopher teacheth may seeme more probable then truthes Diuers haue beene vndoubtedly perswaded that the spirit of God guided them aright when they were ignorantly missed by the spirit of deceit wherein if you belieue not me belieue a iudicious learned ProtestaÌ„t belieue M. Hooker a famous writer of your owne who hath published these wordes in print Such as are readiest to cite for one thing fiue hundred Hook in his 2. Book sess 7. fol â—18 sentences of holy Scriptur what warrant haue they that any one of theÌ„ doth meane the thing for which it is alleadged Is not their surest ground most commonly eyther some probable coniecture of their owne or the iudgment of others taking those Scriptures as they do which notwithstanding to meane otherwise then they take them it is not still altogeather impossible So that now and then they ground themselues on humane authority euen when they most pretend diuine Who could say more against the vanity of our Sectaries against their obstinate arrogancy in expounding the word by their owne priuate sense and iudgmeÌ„t for if amongst fiue hundred sentences they haue no warrant for one to meane the thing for which it is alledged Yf now and then they ground themselues on humane authority euen when they most pretend diuine by the pretence no doubt and direction of the spirit what notes doth he or his mates assigne what marks do they propose to discerne the Diuine spirit of God from the humane spirit of man or illusion of the Diuell 11. Marrie some Protestants prescribe the Analogie of Scripture That the spirit ought to be tried by Canon of holy writ which is nothing els then to allow the circle so often hissed out of schooles by the spirit to interpret the Scripture and by the Scripture to discerne the spirit Nothing els then to make a faire shew where no hope can be had of escape For either I vnderstand before the sense of the Scripture to which I iudge my spirit agreable or vnderstand it not Suppose I vnderstand it in vaine is the instruction of the spirit Suppose I know it not how shall I iudge of the conformity of my spirit to that which I do not my selfe conceaue Others therfore teach That the spirit needeth not the touch stone of Scripture but may by it self be descried as black from white light from darknesse If this be so why are we commaunded Not to trust euery Spirit when none can deceaue vs Why is it â— Ioan. 4. v. 1. IbideÌ„ sayd Trie the Spirits when they need no triall How falleth it out so many mistake the spirit of truth How is our sight so dimmed that we cannot perceaue the distinction of spirits the darke night from the clearest day 12. We for example beleeue with Protestants the Councell of Nice we beleeue the mystery of the holy Trinity the Incarnation of Christ and with the same spirit which they count erroneous we beleeue the CouÌ„cell of Lateran of Florence the Reall presence the Sacrifice of the masse neither can we see any difference in this our spirit Not we perchance but you the sharp-sighted eagles who soare so high as to gaze on the sunne you no doubt can bewray the different markes Aske then the Lutheran what cloudes of darknesse he discouereth in the spirit of defiance he hath with the Caluinist from the bright beames of light which ioyntly shine in poynts of their agreement he answereth None at all Aske the Caluinist what foggie mist he espieth in his spirit of variance from the Lutheran he answereth none at all Aske the diuine spirited Protestant Aske the Puritan the like question The Protestant contendeth that the spirit which causeth him to dissent from the Puritan is the spirit of light the illustration of the Holy Ghost The Puritan protesteth the same of his And wheras the one must needs be a Satanicall illusion sith it wholy crosseth and contradicteth the other who seeth not that the spirit of truth cannot by it self be discerned from the spirit of deceit no not by the grand-maisters themselues and boasters of the spirit 13. When our Ghospellers are thus beaten out of all their forts or strong holds of succour when they are conuinced that neither Scripture alone nor perusall of places nor examination of Greeke Hebrew fountains nor prayer to God with the direction of the priuate spirit can safely conduct them to the true knowledge and Rein. â— 2. diuis 2. p. 62. 〈◊〉 in act Col. Ratis ses 14. p. 1â—2 Vvhâ—taker desa Scrip. Controu 1. q 4. c 4. q. 5. â— 8. Ioan. â—o v. 17. 1. Cor. 2. v. 15. sense of Scripture will you heare their last and most desperate refuge Listen and learne to detest their fraud Albeit say they these former helpes be not alwayes effectuall to the reprobate or wicked sinner yet they are sufficient inough to the elect of God If the Lord sayth Reynolds take delight in vs he will bring vs to the food of life he will giue vs the bread of our soules and make vs learned in the Scriptures For it is written quoth Hunnius Whitaker My sheep heare my voyce and The spirituall man iudgeth all things O yee children of darknesse O yee enemyes of light How long will yee seeke these cloudy euasions How long will yee runne from one maze of obscurity into another As from search of Scripture to secret prayer from secret prayer to priuate spirit from priuate spirit to hidden grace And how shall I learne who is endued with this celestiall grace in whome God is pleased How shall I know the spirituall man or sheep of Christ Eccles 9. v. â— Salomon sayd No man can tell whether he be worthy of loue or hatred S. Paul I am guilty of nothing yet in this I am not iustified But thou more wise then Salomon more illuminated then 1. Cor. 4. v. 4. S. Paul describe me the markes shew me the badge and cognizance of Christ that I may see whether I am a sheep of his flocke or no. Thou sayst if I had a strong feruent fayth if I belieued aright I should be infallibly acertainted of
Gods present grace and eternall fauour And who I pray hath this feruent fayth He that imbraceth the reformed Ghospell O rounds O circles Are you not ashamed stil to trace this endles Labyrinth Calu. in argumento Epist l. â— Inst c. 8. anno 1554. Luther in prolog Epist. Rogers in his book to the Kings Maiesty I desire to know how I might belieue aright how I might be sure to heare my shepheards voyce and you at length resolue me if I be a sheep of your fold and belieue as you do I shall belieue aright and be sure to heare his voyce A feat of Sophistry tooto common amongst you yet such a feat as with slender skill may be defeated 14. Caluin your Ring-leader approued and partly broached your reformed Ghospell he was a sheep of Christ who reading the epistle of S. Paul to the Hebrewes the epistle of S. Iames heard in them the voyce of Christ the voyce of God And Luther your fore-father what was he a goat of Sathan who perusing the same epistles heard no such voice nothing but dry and dusty stuffe nothing worthy an Apostolicall spirit Our English Protestants are sheep of Christ who reuerence the whole vulgar translation of their Bible as the pure word of God The Millenary Plaintiffes what are they All goats of Sathan who lament therein many false corruptions in matters of fayth as M. Rogers testifyeth in his booke dedicated to this Maiesty Not to speake of the Precisians the Protestants among themselues are all no doubt sheep of Christ How heare they then the voice of their Pastour One in this sort another in that quite opposite to the former One heareth Christ a Biâ—â—on in his suruey of Christs sufferings pa. 650. 651. c. descended into hell another He b Vviâ—let in his book intituled Lymbomasâ—ix descended not One The c Field l. 1. of the Church Church to be alwayes visible another sometymes d VVillet in his Synopfis p. 48. all protestants generally inuisible One gathereth out of Gods words two e Melancâ—hon in lo. commun Sacraments another f Caluin l. 4. inst c. 19. Tree another g Melancth in locis editis an 36. an 52. foure c. One affirmeth The Sacraments do not only signify but h â—ilsoÌ„ in his book of Christ subiection 4. p. pag 51. conferre grace another condemneth i Fulke against purgâ—tor p. 35. Sparks in his answere to M. Iohn Aâ—bins p. â—46 the same as Popish What Is the voice of Christ repugnaÌ„t to it self c. Or are some Protestants also goats of Sathan Or is it true the sheep of Christ do not certainly heare their shep-heards voyce 15. Moreouer the sheep of Christ are of two sortes some are sheep by present grace others by eternall election of neither of these can your maxime be verifyed Not of the first For if they only know their Pastours voyce woe be to all Infidels woe to all notorious and obstinate sinners in vaine are they perswaded and preached vnto Woe had it beene to S. Matthew to S. Mary Magdalen and thousands of Saintes who once depriued of preseÌ„t grace could neuer haue heard their shepheards cal Happy the Reprobate in respect of them who being often sheep by present grace might perfectly know and easily stoop to theâ—â—â—aisters lure Not of the second kind of sheep because S. Augustine a Manichâ—e S. Paul a persecutour euen then â—â—re sheep of Christ by eternall election euen then they studyed and examined the text of Scripture euen then they were both infused with the inward perswasion and spirit of Protestants that they followed their Pastour and obeyed his precepts yet were both deceaued by the voice of a stranger You answere they could not be finally deceaued They heare the true voice of their spouse sayth M. Sparkes at one tyme or another At one tyme or another And who hath reuealed vnto you that this is the tyme of your vocation Imagine you be as they were Gods chosen sheep may you not now be bewitched with some deceitfull charme May not your dreames seeme his Oracles And may you not as God graunt you may be heereafter vncharmed and lament with S. Augustine My errour was my God and the siction Aug l. 4. confes cap. 7. of my braines the voice of my shepheard 16. Againe if this second sort only of elected sheep are vndoubtedly grounded in the true knowledge of holy writ none according to you can be infallibly instructed in necessary points of fayth vntill God admit him as S. Paul sayth to the Counsell of his inscrutable iudgments vntill Rom. 11. v. 3â— he shew his name engrossed in the booke of Liâ—e Which because you ordinarily hold impossible to be belieued without your Solifidian and all-working fayth fayth requireth election and election presupposeth faith And seeing the one can neuer be obtayned without assurance of the other you may search long inough before you can attaine to either 17. What construction then quoth Whitaker will you make of those wordes My sheep heare my voyce Of those The spirituall man iudgeth all thinges I answere that Vvhitaker locis ciâ—â—tis the sheep of Christ heare his voice not at all tymes not when they list but how and when it pleaseth God Sometyme by secret inspiration other while by outwaâ—d hearing or reading his word yet so as they haue neuer infallible certitude heerof but when it is confirmed by extraordinary reuelation or by the publike Iudgment approbation of the Church by whose authority the spirituall man iudgeth all thinges Or he may be sayd to Vvhitaker cont 1. q. 5. c. 8. Rein c. 2. diuis 2. Act. 17. v. 1â— 1. Ioan. 2. v. 27. iudge all thinges not infallibly but prudently and discreetly as the testimony of his conscience and instinct of the holy Ghost shall teach and perswade him Whitaker and Reynoldes againe The men of Beroea are commended for trying the doctrine of S. Paul by the iudgment of Scripture It is written You haue no need that any man teach you but as his vnction teacheth you of all things Lastly All are sayd to be taught of God I answere The men of Beroea or as some say of Thessalonica which were the more noble and wiser sort Esay 54. v. 3. Iohn 6. v. 4â— Vvhitaker ibidâ—m q. 3. ca. â—â— either belieued not before as many hold and then they tooke a iudicious prudent course in searching the places S. Paul alleadged to procure as the Deuines require arguments of credibility whereby they might be induced maturely to imbrace the truth he deliuered which S. Paâ—l no doubt exhorted them vnto And in like case hauing produced testimonyes out of the Sybills Hystapsis against See Lorinê° vpon this place of the Actes and Stapleâ—on in Antidoto â—â—â—n â— strom â— 1. the Gentills he counsaileth them as S. Clemens Alexandrinus testifyeth to read and consider the allegations how strongly they concluded
so great a maister in Israel why blame you vs for approuing what your selues allow Why appeale you to Scripture alone and yet subscribe to such and so many points of fayth not comprised in Scripture Or if these Traditions be necessary to be imbraced what meane you M. Field to renounce others as ancient as behoofull as warrantable as these euen by the rules your selfe prescribe which are Field l. 4. cap. 19. pa. 242 Iran lib. 4. c. 32. â—ulke in his confut of Purgat p. 362. 303. 393. August tract 84. in Ioan. Chrys bo 21. in act Concil Nicen. 2. Damas lib. 4. c. 17. Hiero. con Vigil c. 2. Middlâ—ton Papis pag. â—34 Bils part 2. pag 265. Rom. 10. 17. Basil de spir Sanct. c. 27. Chris ho. 4. in â— Thes 5. Aug. Ep. 119 86. Field l. 4. cap. 20. Rein. conclus 1. pag. â—17 The authority and custome of the Church Consent of Fathers or testimony of an Apostolicall Church By these Irenaeus alloweth the new oblation of Christs body and bloud as a Tradition from the Apostles Why reiect you this Tertullian S. Cyprian S. Chrysostome S. Hierome S. Augustine approue as M. Fulke your great Golias granteth the Sacrifice and prayer for the dead as an Apostolicall traditioÌ„ Why disproue it you S. Augustiue S. Chrysostome admit a memory or Inuocation of Saints in the selfe same sacrifice Three hundred Fathers of the second Councell of Nice defend with S. Iohn Damascen the adoration of Images as a Tradition from the Apostles S. Hierome by the custome of the Church and consent of Fathers D. Fields rules for true Traditions mantaineth against Vigilantius the religious worship of holy Reliques By the same Tradition of the Church and consent of the Fathers M. Middleton auerreth vowes of Chastity to be obserued What meane you to make no reckoning of these Are you only priuiledged to admit or discard what Traditions you please to countenance or deface whatsoeuer you list But an ill cause without cosenage cannot be vpholden I acknowledge the shifts of pouerty and falshood 13. Against these vnanswerable grounds M. Bilson opposeth in this weake and impertinent manner Fayth is by hearing and hearing by the word of God therefore S. Paul alloweth not matters of faith vnwritten How often shall I repeate inculcate a truth that the word of God is partly written partly vnwritten and this as S. Basil S. Chrysostome S. Augustine affirme is as worthy to be credited as the other Which speach albeit M. Whitaker noteth in S Chrysostome as inconsiderate and vnworthy so great a Father yet M. Field approueth it and reason perswadeth it vnles you belieue that letters figured with inke and paper add awe of reuerence to Gods hidden verityes M. Reynolds obiecteth out of S. Iohn These thinges are written that yee may belieue that Iesus is Christ the Sonne of God and that belieuing you may haue life in his name Heereupon M. Reynolds inferreth Ioan. 20. v. vlt. that S. Iohns Ghospell alone is sufficient to faith and saluation What may not be proued where such illations go currant S. Iohn speaketh of signes and miracles M. Reynoldes extendeth himselfe to many other matters S. Iohn writeth there of one principall point of fayth he concludeth all necessary to saluation S. Iohn disputing against Cerinthus who denyed the diuinity of Christ affirmeth that he hath written sufficient to proue that Christ is the sonne of God M. Reynoldes arguing against vs forceth him to say that he hath written inough concerning that and all other necessary articles of our beliefe Againe if S. Iohns Ghospell alone haue sufficient to saluation needlesse are the rest of the Euangelists the Epistles of S. Paul of S. Peter of S. Iude the Reuelations of S. Iohn wholy needlesse If S. Iohns Ghospell alone haue sufficient the Natiuity and birth of Christ his Circumcision Apparition the Institution of our Lords supper and many other thinges of which S. Iohn writeth nothing are not necessary to saluation Which to confesse is vtterly to subuert all Christian Religion to deny is plainely to ouerthwart M. Reynoldes assertion Rein. con â— 1. p. 618 â— 619. 2. Cor. 3. 16. 14. Secondly he alleadgeth out of S. Paul That all Scripture inspired by God is profitable to teach argue c. That the man of God may be perfect instructed to euery good worke Our Aduersaryes boast much of the pregnancy of this place and yet if it made any thing in their behalfe it would conuince that all and euery Scripture euery Epistle euery Chapter euery sentence which is some Scripture were The Greek hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latin Omnis Al or euery auailable to these foresayd effects Which they perceauing resolue rather to abuse the word of God then loose the force of their argument when insteed of all or euery Scripture they most fraudulently translate the whole Scripture contrary both to the Greeke and Latin text But no deceite will serue to betray the truth The whole Scripture was not finished when S. Paul wrote that Epistle the Ghospell of S. Iohn which by it selfe alone as M. Reynolds auerreth â— sufficient to saluation the Apocalips and other bookes of Scripture were wanting at that tyme he could Rein. loc citat not then speake of the whole Scripture before the whole was extant or if he meant of the whole that was written it maketh nothing against vs. For S. Paul speaketh of the profitablenes of Scripture to instruct argue c. and not of 1. Tim. 4. v. 8. the sufficiency thereof Many thinges are profitable to promote vs to perfection which are not sufficient to atchieue the same Piety as S. Paul writeth is profitable to all thinges yet not alone sufficient nor only profitable You cannot deny but that rayne is profitable for the fruits of the earth yet without the labour of men fertility of soile heate of the sunne not sufficient to make them increase So as when M. Reynolds disgraceth this as a mincing distinction he discrediteth not vs but S. Paul for mincing in this manner 15. Fourthly others obiect That Christ reprehendeth the Traditions of men S. Paul condemneth them and S. Peter exempteth all Christians from them They mistake Christ Mat. 15. v. 9. Colos 2. v. 22. only reprehendeth the fond and friuolous Pharisaicall traditions or deprauations of the law called Deuteroses Of which also S. Peter speaketh or of the superstitious errours of the Gentils from which we are redeemed by the bloud of Christ S. Paul forewarneth vs of the vaine Sophismes 1. Pet. 1. â— 18. and fallacyes of the Philosophers which impaireth not the authority of our soueraigne and holy Traditions deriued from the Apostles and their successours inspired by the holy Ghost 16. Yet M. Field will needs endite vs of two hainous faults 1. That we charge the Scriptures with imperfection 2. Field l. 4. c. 15. That therfore we rely vpon humane interpretations and vncertaine
Traditions Both false depositions both wrongfully imposed crimes A wrongfull crime it is that we traduce the Scriptures as vnperfect We graunt with Vincentius Lyrinensis Vincen. Lyâ—â—nen cap. 2. that the Canon of Scripture is perfect a perfect light and lanterne to our feet a perfect rule and direction of sayth if as he noteth the line of Propheticall and Apostolical interpretation be leuelled according to the square of the Ecclesiastical and Catholike sense As great a wrong that we cleaue to humane and vncertaine Traditions We anker on such as are diuine certaine and infallible authentically warranted by the rules himselfe approueth to descend from Christ or the Church his holy and vndoubted Spouse 17. A like wrongfull crime M. Sparkes fastneth vpon Sparks p. 82. 83. vs when he sayth That we preferre the authority of the Church the wife before Christ the husband that we make the written word of God inferiour in authority to the Church and to haue his Canonicall credit from thence Sure you are as Salomon censureth a guilfull witnesse who furnish your cause Prouerb cap. 14. Testis fidelis non mentitur Profert mendaciâ—â— dolosus testis Io. 4 3. Reg. 3. with such shamefull lyes When many belieued in Christ induced by the speach of the Samaritan woman was her authority prefeâ—â—ed before Christ When King Salomon decreed the infant for which the two harlots contended to belong to her whose bowells were moued at the sentence of his death did he make her therby the mother of the child or declare her to be the mother who was the mother indeed So when we imbrace Gods written word by the externall approbation and testimony of the Church answerable to that of S. Augustine Ego Euangelio non crederem c. I would not belieue the Ghospell vnles the authority of the Church moued me thereunto we extoll not the Aug con ep Fund cap. 5. voice of the Spouse before the voyce of Christ. Nor the Church when it defyneth any booke to be Canonicall Scripture doth giue it thereby diuine and Canonicall credit Bils part 4. pag â—81 Rem cont 1. pag. 619 6â—9 Field l. 4 Stapleton cont 5. de poâ— Eccles quaest â— but commaundeth that to be receaued by others as Canonicall which hath in itselfe Canonicall authority 18. Lastly our Aduersaryes arme themselues with the weapons of the Fathers and M. Bilson marshalleth six togeather in a rancke S. Athanasius S. Chrysostome S. Cyrill S. Ambrose S. Augustine and Vincentius who conformably mantaine the sufficiency of Scripture in all necessary points of fayth Many other to the like purpose are alleadged by M. Reynolds and M. Field To all which I answere First that the Scripture is taught to containe all things necessary to saluation as the vniuersal ground Cyril l. 12. c. vltimo Chrys ho. 3. in 2. Thes 2. Vincent aduersus prophan hae nouit c. 2. Bafil ep 80 Cyril de rect fide ad Regi Hieron in Psal 86. Aug. l 3. con lit Petil Tert. lib. cont haer Athan. l. cont Gent. Aug. l. 2. cap. 9. Rein in his conf c. 2. diuis 2. Aug. l. 10. de Gen. ad lit c. 23. Bils 4. par p. 582. 583. Field in appen 2. p. §. 8. Aug. l. 4. c. 24. Dio. l. Eâ—c bier c. vlt. Orig. in 12. Leuit. bom 8. in cap. 6. epist ad Rom. seed or roote from which whatsoeuer we belieue may either mediately or immediatly be gatheted as S. Cyril and S. Chrysostome auouch Secondly as it teacheth and directeth vs to the authority of the Church and doctrine of her Pastours by which euery point is of may be particulerly and clearely explained Thus Vincentius and others are to be interpreted Thirdly it is affirmed to containe all thinges and that nothing besides the Scripture is to be admitted to wit no priuate customes or particuler Traditions not agreeable or repugnant to the writen word as S. Basil S. Cyrill S. Hierome S. Augustines meaning is in his booke against Petilian Fourthly the Fathers often acknowledge the sufficiency of Scripture to conclude euen in plaine and expresse wordes certaine maine principles of our fayth as that God created all thinges of nothing of which Tertullian against Hermogenes That Christ is the true God That Idolls are not God of which Athanasius writeth Or they teach it clearely comprehends the chiefe articles of our Creed and ten Commandments of which S. Augustine only speaketh in his booke of Christian doctrine so often quoted by M. Reynolds 19. Besides which many other things are necessary to be imbraced as by Fathers Reason and Scripture I haue already conuinced and therfore will close vp my whole discourse with one or two sentences of S. Augustine and Origen S. Augustine sayth The custome of the Church in baptizing Infants is not at all to be belieued vnles it were an Apostolicall Tradition M. Bilson and M. Field haue no other shift to trauerse the euidence of this place then by accusing it of some secret corruption But what was he corrupted also in his booke of Baptisme against the Donatists where he repeateth it againe Was Dionysius was Origen corrupted too who sayth The Church receaued a Tradition from the Apostles to minister Baptisme also to Infants Was this other passage of S. Augustine corrupted likewise Aug. de Bap. con Donat. l. 5â— c. 23. It is an article of faith to belieue this Baptisme to be valide Orig. in c. 3. ad Tit. teste Pamphilo in Apol. prâ— Orig. of the validity of Baptisme ministred by Heretikes The Apostles commanded nothing hereof yet the custome which was opposed herein against Cyprian is to bebelieued to proceed from their Tradition euen as many things be which the whole Church holdeth and are therfore well belieued to be commanded of the Apostles although they be not written I may then conclude with Origen He is an Heretike who professeth himself to beleiue in Christ yet belieueth otherwise of the truth of Christian fayth then the definition of Ecclesiastic all Tradition containeth 20. Notwithstanding to reproue our Aduersaries and satisfy all indifferent Readers that we fly not to the succour of Traditions for want of proofes out of holy writ I will vphold the right of our cause in euery ensuing Controuersy as I promised in my Preface by the irreprouable testimonies of Gods written word THE THIRD CONTROVERSY WHEREIN The Reall Presence is maintayned against D. Bilson and D. Sparkes CHAP. I. AS the vnspeakable riches of Gods infinite loue in no mystery of our fayth appeareth more bountâ—full then in the true and reall Fresence of Christs sacred Body conteyned in the holy Eucharist so the vnsatiable malice of our deadly enemy no where more hatefully bewrayeth it selfe then in seeking to abolish this most blessed dreadfull and admirable Sacrament For besids the Armenians Messalians Grecians and Aquarians Althons de Cast l. 9. adu haer v Eucharist Aug. de haer Epiph haer 26. whose errours
these hauty speaches in Leo and I thinke that the Mistery of iniquity so wrought through his ambitious adaduancing Peter that of the Egges which he cherished two of the most venemous Cockatrices were bred that euer poysoned the Church of Christ The one the Popes Supremacy c. The other the worshiping of Saints 31. What sayth he of Saint Hierome Hierome to Reyn. c. 4. diuis 3. fol. 134. Hieron ad Aug. ep 11. inter ep Aug. Reyn. c. 4. diuis 1. fol. 133. Rein. c. 4. diuis 1. fol. 116. 117. mayntaine his quarrell agaynst Augustine wrote of affection more what he fancied then of discretion what be thought And when we Catholikes alleadge that sentence of his Paul not had security of preaching the Ghospell vnlesse it had beene approued by the sentence of Peter c. Mayster Reynolds answereth That we discouer the nakednesse of the Fathers c. And prayse the beauty of their blemishes and thinke them best clad when they are naked most Thus of Saint Hierome What of Saint Chrysostome That which Peter might haue done as Chrysostome supposeth would infer a greater Primacy then Peter had if it were true but the Scripture sayth it not The Fathers write some thinges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of prayse and commendation c. Wherein if their words should be rigorously sifted Reyn. c. 4. diuis 3. fol. 132. cap. 4. diuis 2. fol. 123. Ibid. c. 7. diuis 9. fo 285. Bern. l. 2. de Conside the truth is somtymes ouerlashed Of Maximus of Isidore of Theodoret what Father Maximus did dote Isidore ouershot himselfe by slip of memory Theodoret serued his owne cause 32. Is Saint Gregory then Is Saint Bernard of more credit with him Gregory quoth he was somewhat troubled Gregory had a louing affection to Rome Will you giue me leaue to thinke of him as Christ of Peter That he knew not what he sayd That worthy passage is cited out of Saint Bernard vvriting of Eugenius Thou art the Prince of Bishops thou the Heyre of the Apostles Thou art for Primacy Reyn. c. 6. Diuis 4. fol. 226. Abel for gouernement Noe for Patriarch-ship Abraham for order Melchisedech for dignity Aaron for authority Moyses for Iudgement Samuel for power Peter for vnction Christ. Mayster Reynoldes answereth Your men esteeme this place of Bernard very highly and make a feast of it I maruell they are not ashamed to alleadge it For to call the Pope heyre of Saint Peter it were a great excesse of speach much greater to call him heyre of the Apostles But to call him Christ that is so great that any modest man who were Bernardes friend would rather lay his cloake vpon it then discouer it much lesse make boast of it Was euer heard a more audacious fellow who durst open his mouth agaynst heauen it it selfe and disgrace the vvritinges of so many Saints 33. And who art thou O Reynoldes that I should belieue thee before those Cyprians those Chrysostomes those Gregoryes those Bernardes whome thou reprouest Who art thou that I shold rather iudge the greatest faults in them then the least spot or blemish in thee Shall I deeme Leo ambitious Hierome naked Gregory troubled Cyprian to haue varyed from the word of God and only Reynoldes to haue vnderstood it aright Can any man be perswaded that Chrysostome ouerlashed Maximus doted Isidore ouershot himselfe Theodoret serued his own cause and Iohn Reynoldes spake sincerly that Bernards shame deserued a cloake and Reynoldes beauty was worthy to be displayed Can a man thinke so many godly Popes miscaryed with affection all Ecclesiasticall Hystories wide and only Reynoldes to hit the marke Truly he were eyther sottishly peruerse or frowardly blind whosoeuer would seeme so partiall on his side whosoeuer I say vpon the slanderous deposition of such a faythlesse witnesse should depriue the Pope of his soueraygne dignity ouer the whole Church which God and his Saintes haue imparted vnto him The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE THE TWELVTH CONTROVERSY FREETH The true worshippe of Saints of their Shrines and Reliques from Idolatry Agaynst D. Bilson D. Reynoldes and D. Fulke CHAP. 1. THE Prince of darknesse our professed enemy as he alwayes enuyed the glory of God and repined at the felicity and happynesse of man so he euer sought to impayre the honour of the one deface the dignity preheminence of the other To this end he leuied See Irae l. 1. c. 22. ler. in Catal Epip baer 68. his infernall forces first agaynst the Diuine Maiesty it selfe agaynst the first person in Trinity stying vp Simon Magus Basilides and others to deny the first article of our Creed That God the Father created beauen and earth Then agaynst the second person he banded Ebion Chrinthus Arius who robbed our Sauiour Christ of his Diuinity and Equality with his Father Agaynst the third he armed Concil 2. Constant cont Mac. Ambr. l. 1. de fide c. 1. 2. c. Macedonius who impiously impugned the Diuinity of the holy Ghost Agaynst them all iointly Sebellius who wickedly gainsayed the distinction of the Persons But when this diabolicall battery could no way preuayle he mounted his Ordinance agaynst the blessed Angels and Saintes of God He suggested Eustachius in the yeare of Basil in orat con Sabellium our Lord 300. Eunomius and Vigilantius about the same tyme to fight agaynst the honour the vniuersall Church exibited vnto the happy soules which raygne in heauen whose poyson Wicklisse after swallowed vp and is now disgorged by M. Caluin M. Bilson M. Reynoldes M. Fulke Calu. l. 1. Inst c. 11. §. 11. Bils 4. p. pag. 157. 561. 571. Rey. de ldol Rom. Eccl. 1. l. c. 8. Fulke in c. 14. Act. sect 2. in c. 19. Apoc. sect 4. Rey. ibid. c. 6. 8. and all moderne Protestants chiefly vpon this fond perswasion That there be only two sorts of honours Ciuill and Dixine the one proper to God the other peculiar to mortall men And seeing the seruants of God already departed cannot be reuerenced with Ciuill honour because they are absent nor with Diuine for feare of Idolatry no true worship but only as M. Reynoldes yieldeth an honest commemoration or decem burialt can belong vnto them This is the maine ground of M. Caluin of M. Fulke of whosoeuer which being once razed the Rampier of their defence and Fortresse of their folly is wholy ouerthrowne 2. First then I will deduce out of the cause it selfe and off-spring from whence honour ariseth out of Scriptures reasons vndeniable another kind of worship besides Ciuill and Godly which without danger of Idolatry may be allotted to Saintes Albeit Aristotle sayth Adoration and honour is in him that honoureth yet it hath for Etb 9. c. 2. his marke and obiect the excellency of the person worshipped in testimony whereof this signe of reuerence is submissiuely exhibited And therefore as there be three sortes of
excellencyes so we distinguish three kinds of adorations Godly Ciuill Religious 3. There is first in God a supreme infinite and illimited Excellency to which a Godly worship or adoration is due commonly called Latria There is secondly in Men in Kings Magystrats Maysters Fathers c. a humayn and naturall excellency to which our will by the apprehension of their worthinesse inclineth to exhibite an honour tearmed by Aristotle conformable to the nature of their dignity Ciuill or Humane Thirdly there is a meane or midle preheminence betweene these two an higher then the last yet inferiour to the first seated not in the naturall but in the supernaturall giftes and graces of God to which supernatural preheminence a supernaturall worship more then Ciuill lesse then Diuine Aug. ser 58. de verb. Dom. sup Ps 98. ought to be attributed commonly called Religious or Dulia For Hyperdulia is only a more eminent and remarkable degree yet contayned vnder the same kind of reuerence properly belonging to our Blessed Lady as she is mother of God and to the humanity of Christ as considered apart from the diuinity albeit as it is inseparably conioyned and Hypostatically vnited with the Word it ought to be worshiped with the adoration of Latria as the fifth generall Councell of Constantinople defined Rey. l. 1. de ldo Ro. Ec. c. 3. 8. Fulke in c. 4 Matth. sect 3 in Act. 14. sect 2. Aug. de ve reâ—g c 55. Hiero. ep ad Ripa con Vigil Augustquaest 61 supr Gen. Huro aduer Vigil cap. 20. agaynst Theodore the Heretike And S. Augustine answering the Gentils who obiected agaynst the Christians as now the Protestants doe against vs the crime of adoring Christs flesh in the Eucharist I adore sayth he the flesh of Iesus Christ because it is vnited to the Deity euen as one adoreth the King and his Royall robe with the same adoration 4. Notwithstanding these three sorts of honour be ech of them most different in nature the one from the other yet the names are most of them promiscuously vsed and according to the ten our of the discourse sometyme restrayned to one kind of adoration sometyme to another Which if M. Reynolds and M. Fulke had diligently weyghed they would neuer haue cited S. Augustine agaynst vs Affirming the worship of Religion neyther to be due to Angels or men departed but only to God Nor S. Hierome That neyther Angels nor Martyrs Reliques nor any created thing can be worshipped and adored Nor Ep phanius saying God will not haue Angels adored how much lesse Mary Nor S. Cyril nor S. Gregory nor any of the rest who in those places take Quis o insanum caput aliquando Martyres ador auis quis hominem putauit Deum Aug. l. 3. de trin c. 10. the name Religion Adoration and Worship for the supreme and soueraygne worship which is only proper vnto God as S. Augustine explayneth himselfe in his questions vpon Genesis S. Hierome in the same place and agaynst Vigalantius not for that inferiour kind of adoration which is often ascribed vnto creatures and which Abraham exhibited vnto the people of Heth wherupon S. Augustine gathereth That it is not sayd Thou shalt only adore thy Lord thy God as it is sayd Him only thou shalt serue Which in Greeke i◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And in his â— booke of the blessed Trinity writing of the brasen Serpent and other holy signes he sayth They may haue honour as Religious thinges not admiration Fulke in 4. Matt. sect 3. Aug. l. 10. de Ciui c. 1. as strange thinges So that the Fathers only deny the Religious worship of Latria to Angels and other creatures the Religious worship of Dulia they assigne vnto them Which M. Fulke forced to confesse sayth S. Augustine a meane Grecian imagined a distinction betweene Latria and Dulia c. and that by them which haue interpreted Scripture Latria is taken for that seruice which pertayneth to the Religion of God But Lodouicus Viues in his notes vpon that Chapter telleth you otherwise But Lodouicus Viues O base comparison Was it not inough to disgrace S. Augustine with his meane knowledge in Greeke but must a late Gramarian be compared opposed preferred before him whome D. Couell esteemeth the chiefest Doctour that euer was or shal be excepting the Apostles Let his skill in Greeke be what it was shall his D. Couell in his book against M. Burges doctrine his distinction the diuersity of Religious worships which he and other Interpreters from these Greeke wordes deriue be vtterly exploded and reiected by you Shall Viues be accepted and S. Augustine outcouÌ„tenanced 5. Consider M. Fulke how farre heerein you iniure your cause wrong your conscience dishonour that graue ancient and incomparable Deuine Agayne vve ought to obserue that as the names so likewise the outward actions of kneeling prostrating lifting vp hands the like are generally vsed in euery particular kind of worship yet by the inward acts of the mynd they are wholy different the one from the other For he that kneeleth to God reuerently acknowledgeth by the light of his vnderstanding a certayne supreme incomprehensible and increated excellency authour and cause of all rare and excellent thinges he loueth with his will a bounty vnmatchable and with profound submission humbly adoreth an infinite and vnsearchable Maiesty He who kneeleth to his King or Prince dutifully agnizeth and aflectionatly reuerenceth his naturall or Ciuill dignity He who kneeleth to a Saint to their Tombes Reliques or Pictures deuoutly apprehendeth and piously worshipeth some supernaturall preheminence Three things necessary to the nature of honor quality or relation Wherby it followeth that three thinges concurre to the nature of honour 1. The apprehension of the vnderstanding which acknowledgeth an excellency worthy of adoration 2. The propension and inclination of the will which vnfainedly prosecuteth the same with honour 3. The externall obeysance of capping kneeling or bowing the body which is an outward obsequie of inward reuerence And although the vnderstanding be the root origen or rather motiue which exciteth the will yet the act of the will is the life soule and proper essence of adoration without which the sole notice and apprehension of dignity is no worship at all and the outward and externall action may be as well a sinne of mockery as any marke of honour As it was in the souldiers who adored Christ Matt. 27. Ioa. 19. and sayd All hayle O King of the Iewes 6. By which you may easily discerne the blindnesse of Protestants who distinguish not the outward worship by the inward mynd but seeme to make all externall Bils 4. par pag. 576. 577. honour belong to God whether it proceed from the acknowledgment of naturall supernaturall or intreated excellency Submission sayth M. Bilson of knees hands and eyes parts of Gods honour Agayne The outward honour of eyes hands and knees God requireth of vs as his due Then
by which they hoped demanded and often obtayned the fruits of their requests Listen to S. Hierome listen to S. Gregory Nazianzen both which you produce to bewray their doubtfulnes S. Hieromes words are these Farewell O Paula and support with the help of thy prayers the feeble old age of thy worshiper These S. Gregory Nazianzens calling vpon S. Basil O Diuine and sacred head behold vs from aboue and the instigation of my flesh giuen me as an instruction from God eyther aswage with thy prayers or moue me to beare coragiously Did these men doubt Or S. Bernard who often assureth vs of Bern. serm 3. in vigil Nat. ser de B. Virg. quae incipit Signum magnum Bafil in 40. Mart. Cyp. lib. de habit Virg. Ruffin l. â— hist c. 33. the help of our B. Lady Or S. Basil exhorting vs to inuok the 40. Martyrs Whosoeuer is oppressed with any misery let him repayre to these and who soeuer reioyceth let him pray tothese the one that he may be freed from euill the other that he may perseuere in his prosperous courses Or S. Cyprian who requested the Virgins or Nuns of his time in whose coÌ„mendation he wrote to remember him after their departure when their Virginity should begin to be honoured Or Theodosius the Emperour who as Ruffinus witnesseth clad in sacke-cloath lay prostrate at the Tombes of the holy Apostles and Martyrs and craued help by the assured intercession of Saints Or any of those whome I recited before whose speaches cannot be eluded by any doubtfull florish or figure of Rethorike much lesse the suites they make vnto the Saints in heauen a PrudeÌ„ in hym 4. 8. 10. Casar-August August quaest 108. ser 18. de Sanct. to obtaine pardon for their sinnes b Noz or at in Athâ—n To be directed in the warfare and combate of this life c Bern. in vigil Petr. Paul To incline the hart of our Iudge in their behalfe d Prud. hym 2. in D. Lauren. To be sooner released the bonds of our mortality e Amb. or at â— in morte fratris Nazi ora in Basil To be receaued by them into the Tabernacles of blisse f August lib. medit cap. 24. Nazian in S. Cypri Ambros exhor ad virg Paul Nola. in Car ad Cytherium August lib. 22. de Ciuit. Dei cap. â— To bewafted by their prayers and merits to the hauen of perpetuall peace Such and many such like requestes they made which were no. wholy frustrate as the miracles wrought in accomplishing their desires giue testimony vnto vs. 7. S. Gregory Nazianzen writeth of a Virgin bewitched with diuelish charmes to be deflowred by her Louer who prayed to our Blessed Lady and was deliuered from his wicked inchantements S. Ambrose of S. Iulian who obtayned a sonne by the intercession of S. Laurence Paulinus of Martinian who escaped imminent danger of death by the help of Saint Felix Saint Augustine of Palladia who praying to S. Stephen was healed of a grieuous disease Of a blind woman who receiued her sight Of the daughter of one Bassus a Syrian restord to life And sundry other miracles wrought by the Reliques memory and inuocation of selfe-same happy and glorious Protomartyr 8. Which argueth M. Field of more then vnshamfastnes Field l. 3. c. 20. fol. 109. 110. Kemnitius exam p. 3. p. 211. of insolent malepartnes in slandering S. Augustine That he dareth not pronounce but inclineth to that opinion that the Saints doe not particulerly see know and intermeddle with humane thinges If Saint Augustines owne words here quoted cannot free him from so vile a reproach let Kemnitius M. Fieldes fellow Protestant be heard he alleadgeth S. Field loco citato Augustine inuocating S. Cyprian and blusheth not to adde These thinges Augustine without the warrant of Scripture yielding to tymes and custome Yet D. Field once downe the banke Whitgift in his defence against the reply of Cartwright of modesty slideth to the bottome of audacious impudency and immediatly writeth The Church of God neuer desined otherwise how soeuer Hierome in his passion agaynst Vigilantius seeme to say the contrary Not Hierome M. Field in his passion but your owne Sect-mates in their sober writinges shall conuince you of falshood and testify the same vvith him D. Couel in his exam pag. 120. Fulk in his Reioynder p. 5. 6. agaynst the Rhem. Test in 2. Petr. c. 1. sect 3. Kemn in exam p. 3. pag. 200. Sparkes p. 33. Cent. Cen. 3. Col. 83. c. 9. M. Whitgift late Archbishop of Canterbury Almost all the Bishops sayth he and writers of the Greeke Church and Latin also for the most part were spotted with Doctrines of Free-will of merit of inuocation of Saints and such like The same is auouched by D. Couell M. Fulke sayth I confesse that Ambrose Augustine and Hierome held Inuocation of Saintes to be lawfull And in another place In Nazianzen Basill and Chrysostom is mention of Inuocation of Saints Kemnitius the Lutheran before named Inuocation of Saintes quoth he at length about the yeare of our Lord 370. by Basil Nissen and Nazianzen began to be brought into the publike asseÌ„blyes of the Church D. Sparkes chargeth Origen or some other vnder his name With a grosse Popish prayer to Iob. The Centurists doe the like acknowledging moreouer this vniforme doctrine in many other who liued about the 300. yeares after Christ saying There are manifest steps of Inuocation of Saints in the Doctours of that auncient age And in the Centuries following they accuse Athanasius Basil Nazianzen Ambrose Prudentius Cent. Cen. 4. c. 4. Col. 296. 297. VVhitaker in his ans to the 4. reason of Comp. Ibid. in his ans to the 5. reason Epiphanius and Ephrem of the same errour Finally when blessed Campian vrged this approued custome of the ancient Fathers Whitaker answered The old and inueterate practise of inuocating Saints in prayers we little regard although this were an ancient custom yet it flowed from humane superstition not from Diuine authority And a little after speaking of Prudentius who florished within the 400. yeare after Christ he sayth Prudentius I graunt as a poet sometymes called vpon the Martyrs whose Acts he describeth in verse and the superstitious custome of praying to Saints had now taken deepe roote in the Church which as a Tyrant haled sometymes the holy Fathers into the same error 10. What thinke you now M. Field was S. Augustine was S. Ambrose were all these learned Fathers here cited and the whole Church which they guided of this beliefe or no that the Saints in heauen see and intermeddle with humane affayres Or were all these mirrours of wit learning and sanctity not only superstitiously as your Ghospellers tax them but foolishly sottish also as you would make them to call vpon such as they thought had no sense or feeling of their necessities Dare you auouch That Inuocation of Saints preuayled not in
more who accord with them as their owne fellow Protestants contest with vs. The Magdeburgians write That Lactantius affirmeth many superstitious thinges concerning the efficacy of Christs Image That Bede erred in the worshipping of Images M. Bale sayth That Gregory by his Indulgences established Pilgrimage to Images And that Leo allowed the worshipping of Images With whome Simondes another Protestant accordeth saying Leo decreed that reuerence should be done to Images What agreement is heere These say the adoration of Images was first decrred by Leo Bilson about 200. yeares after by the Councell of Nice Where is truth Where is sincerity 21. Yet M. Bilson will reply That the fornamed Fathers speake not of any Religious worship but only of a louing aspect ciuill salutation or mannerly submission But this vnmannerly answere is already refuted in my former discourse because there can be no naturall or Ciuil dignity assigned Bils 4. par pag 554. Reyn. de Ro Ecc. I do l. 2. pag. 145. de Iero pag. 421. de Aug. pag. 476. Exod. 32. Bils 4. par vbi supra Reyn. l. 2. c. 3. 9. Deut. 32. Psal 105. 1. Reg. 8. Esa 46. Abac. 2. Hier. 2. Psalm 113. 114. Sap. 13. 14. c. Aug. l. 3. de doct Christ c. 7. in Psal 113. Cypr. de Ido vanitate Tertul. Apol cap. 11. 12. Arno. l. 1. cont gent. Lactan. l. 1 cap. 14. 15. c. Câ—â—m Alex orat exhor ad Gent. to pictures for which they should deserue any ciuill reuerence It is also countermaunded sufficiently by his owne sect-mates who accuse the Fathers not of Ciuill worship which they allow but of Religious honour reproued by them Then he and others out-face vs That the Iewes and Gentils thought not the Idols they worshipped to be Gods but Images of their Gods and in that respect honoured not so much them as God by them as we by our pictures do The children of Israel sayth M. Bilson did not thinke their golden calfe a God but minding to haue some monument of him to stir them vp to deuotion they made choise of a Calfe The same he auoucheth of the Heathens and not he alone M. Reynoldes defendeth it too and argueth S. Hierom of inconsideratioÌ„ S. Augustine of falshood for affirming the contrary albeit the Scripture it selfe affirmeth it with them Moyses writeth that the people sayd of the golden calfe These be thy Gods O Israel who haue deliuered thee oâ—â— of the land of Aegypt Behould they tearmed it their Gods not by the figure of Metonymia because it was a signe or monument of the true God as you misconstrue them but for that it was an Idol of the false God a resemblance of the blacke Calfe of the Aegyptians called Apis to whome they attributed the honour of their deliuerance And it was so far off from putting them in mind of the true God which M. Bilson with M. Reynoldes stifly contend as it made them wholy relinquish and abandone him which he complaineth saying The God which made thee thou hast forsaken and thou hast forgotten our Lord thy Creatour Againe They made a Calfe in Horeb they adored an Idoll and they forgot the God that saued them They haue abandoned me and serued strange Gods 22. Semblably the Prophets the Psalmes the whole Scripture is so frequent in deriding the phrensy of the Heathnish people who imagined their siluer brasen and golden Idols to be Gods the Fathers so vniformely coÌ„sent heerein S. Augustine S. Cyprian Tertullian Arnobius Lactantius Clemens Alexandrinus as our Aduersaryes could hardly deuise wherein they might eyther gainesay more plainly the expresse voyce of God or more impudently ouerbeare the authority of their ancestors who distinguish diuers sorts of Pagans Some yea the most prayed vowed sacrificed to their Idols as to breathing and liuing Gods Witnesse S. Paul Arnobius and S. Augustine Others 1. Cor. 10. Arnob l. 1. con GeÌ„tes Aug. in Psal 113. Aug. l. 8. de Ciuit. Dei c. 23. 26. Lactan. l. 1. c. 14. 15. l. 2. c. 16. Orig. l. 6. con CelsuÌ„ Euseb l. 3. praep Euang ca. 2. 3 c. Concil Trident. sess 25 reuerenced a certaine Diuine vertue a certaine Diuinity inhabiting in them Some worshiped dead men some Diuels in them Some the Sunne Moone Sea Aire or the soules of these creatures as S. Augustine Lactantius Origen and Eusebius testify Not these not any of these nor any such thing we inuoke adore or ascribe to our Images We are commanded by the most sacred Oecumenicall Councell of Trent to exhibite due honour and reuerence to them not because we belieue any diuinity or vertue in them for which they are worshipped nor that any thing is to be demanded of them or any hope or affiance to be placed in them as the Infidels did in their Idols but for that the honour done to them is addressed to the Saints whom they represent No otherwise then all deuout Christians when they adore our Sauiour or any Saint in their harts they frame in their minds as the Philosophers teach an inward * As it is no Idolatry to adore by the inward image of the mind either Christ or his Saints so neyther by the outward Image and liknesse of him whom without touch of Idolatry they worship by it so by the outward Image before which we kneele we pray to him whose picture it is by lifting our hands to it we lift our hands and harts both to the Originall it selfe by bowing kissing or vsing any obeisance we manifest our louing affection and dutifull homage to the true person whom it resembleth 23. But to grant that which can neuer be proued let it be the Gentills neyther confided in their Idols nor accounted them worthy of any reuerence but only in regard of the things represented yet infinite is the disparity betweene their worship and ours They by their Idols adored false Gods wicked men they worshipped Iupiter a Tyrant Venus an Harlot Mars a Murderer We by our Images reuerence the true God euen Christ himselfe our B. Lady the holy Apostles who deserue to be honoured Could any Protestant then be euer so malicious as to match them with vs but such a one as protesteth defiance against God and his Saints 24. Caluin D. Bilson and D. Reynolds will not yet Calu. l. 1. Inst c. 11. Bils 4. par p. 565. 569. c. Reyn. de Idol Rom. Ecc. l. 2. 4. Reg. 4. vers 37. 3. Reg. 19. v. 7. Ruth 2. vers 10. Gen 4. v. 4. Gen. 28. vers 18. Iudith 6. 1. Macha â—â— 4. v. 59. Iohn 10. Num. 6. Iud. â—8 Exod. 26. 29. Leuit c. 27. be silent but demaund what euidence we shew out of the writteÌ„ word for this The arke say they the tabernacle the Temple the Cherubims were by Gods appointmeÌ„t made our Images are deuised by men made by men erected by men What if they be Are you witched with so foule an error that
oblations for the dead to relieue soules temporally afflicted in penall estate And this is it which I haue established by the former places of Scripture now I fortify by the testimonyes of many renowned witnesses both of the Greeke and Latin Church 10. S. Chrysostome writeth It was not without good cause enacted by the Apostls that in the Celebration of the reuerent Mysteries a Commemoration of the dead be made for they knew that great profit and much commodity redounded therby vnto them M. Fulke confesseth these wordes of S. Chrysostome in two distinct places and malepartly replyeth in both first he sayth Chrysostome must pardon vs for crediting him Secondly he answereth Without any good ground he affirmeth this memory Tertul. l. de coron miâ—it Cyp. lib. ep 9. Ioan Dam. orat de defunct Athattas Nys a. pud eundeÌ„ Aug. de verb. Apost ser 32. Idem in Enchiridio câ— 109. to be of the Apostles decree Without ground then Terullian S. Cyprian S. Iohn Damascen S. Athanasius and S. Gregory Nissen testifyed the same Without ground S. Augustine sayd It is not to be doubted but the dead are holpen by the Prayers of the holy Church and by the holesome sacrifice Againe without ground he wrote Neither is it to be denyed but that the soules departed are relieued by the piety of their friendes when for them the Sacrifice of our mediatour is offered or almes is giuen Without ground did a Euseb in vita Constant. Constantine the Great Desire to be buryed in a famous Church that he might partake the benefit of many deuout prayers after his decease Without ground b Theod. hist Eccles l. 5. cap. 25. Hier. epist ad obitu vxoris Aug. l. 21. de ciu Dei c. 23. de cura pro mort c. 1. 50. ho. hom 16. Dionys Ec. Hier. c. 7. Tertul. de monoga Chrys ho. 32. in Mat. ho. 41. in cap. 15. 1. ad Cor. Paulinus ep ad Delph Epis Aug. de verb. Apost serm 32. in Ench. c. 110. Idem lib. 50. hom hom 16. Theodosius the younger Prostrated himselfe at the Reliques of S. Chrysostome and made supplication for the soules of his Parents Arcadius and Eudoxia Without ground S. Hierom Commended the piety of Pammachius who not with lillies or purple roses but with the odours oyntments and balme of Almesdeeds refreshed the venerable bones and ashes of his deceased wise knowing that it is written As water quencheth sire so almesdeedes extinguisheth sinne But if the soules departed be thus ayded and comforted by our workes of charity they are in some state of need to vse S. Augustines wordes in someplace of distresse or penall affliction for their former defaults 11. Therfore S. Dionyse teacheth our prayers auaile them to this end That God may remit the sinnes which heereby frailty they committed That the dead may obtaine some ease or refreshment sayth Tertullian That they may purchase some rest or repose sayth S. Chrysostome That their soules may be sprinkled with some droppe of refreshment sayth Paulinus That our Lord may deale more mercifully with them That they may haue sayth S. Augustine more full remission or more tollerable damnation to wit more tolerable punishment in the place of affliction in which they are banished for a while the sight of God vntil as the same Doctour discourseth The due correction of fire hath burned out what the guiltynes of the fault deserued 12. Moreouer the foure sorts of commem orating the Dead which M. Field specifyeth the Church equally made for all who reposed in our Lord for Patriarches Prophets and Martyrs She assisted them in their passage prayed for their consumation gaue thankes for their victoryes and for imitation recounted their names and tryumphes But besides these S. Augustine mentioÌ„eth another Aug. tract 84. in lo. kind of Commemoration behoofull for them for whom it was offered saying Therefore at the table we do not so remeÌ„ber Martyrs as others departed who rest in peace that we may also pray for them but that they may pray for vs. 13. S. Cyril Archbishop of Hierusalem recordeth it Cyr. Ieros in Catech. Mislag 5. his words in Latin are these Maximum â—redentes esse animaruâ— iuuamen pro quibus offâ—rtur obsecratio sancti illius tremâ—ndi quod in altari posituÌ„ est Sacrificij Epiphan bar 75. Extat in 5 â—â—m Chrys Aug. in â—nchyr c. â—â—0 more plainely saying Ouer the Host it selfe of propitiation we inuocate God for the common peace of the Churches c. for Kings for souldiers c. for the sicke and for the afflicted and in summe for all that need help c. After we make mention of them that are departed first of Patriarches Prophets Apostles Martyrs that God by their prayers and intercessions would vouchsafe to accept of ours Then for the deceased Fathers and Bishops In fine we pray for all who haue departed this life amongst vs thinking it a most great help or ease of their soules for whome the obsecration is offered of that holy and dreadfull sacrifice which is placed on the Altar The same appeareth out of Epiphanius and out of the Greeke Liturgy extant amongst the workes of S. Iohn Chrysostom where there is an expresse distinction made betwixt the Sacrifice of praise offered for the Patriarches Apostles Prophets Martyrs and the supplications made for others which S. Augustine also excellently describeth When the Sacrifices sayth he of the Altar or whatsoeuer other almesdeeds are offered for all the baptized departed for those that be perfectly good they be thanksgiuings for such as be not very euill they be propitiations for them that be passing naught although they be not any helpes or refreshments of the dead they be some comforts and consolations of the liuing 14. Behould M. Field the Sacrifices and Prayers of the Church are not only thanksgiuings and grateful remembrances but Propitiations also for dead for them that are not of the worser sort Which you could not find in your hart to gainesay in your answere to M. Higgons who espying a triple difference betweene the Comendation of the dead vsed by the Protestants from that which was practised by the ancient Fathers As 1. Higgons booke 1. part 1. c. 2. §. 6. p. 38. That theirs was at the Altar which ProtestaÌ„ts haue not 2. Theirs in the holy Sacrifice which Protestants admit not 3. Theirs with intention to relieue the dead wheras ProtestaÌ„ts haue no such intention You M. Field to this latter difference deceitfully reply The Fathers did not intend to releeue all them they remembred at the Altar no more do we And who auerreth that they did Field in ap pen. x. part fol. 20. Aug. l. 21. de Ciuit. Dei c. 24. 27 item l. de cura pro mort cap. 1. de verb. Apo. serm 32. Field loe citato fol. 20. 21. Nyss in orat de Baptismo Aug l. 22. de ciu Dei c. 10. Dionys Areopa de Eccles
of Christ that euery Ibid. pag. 304. 2. ad Cor. cap. 5. Fulke in c. 5. 2. ad Cor sect 1. Matth. 12. S. Chrys in c. 15. 1. ad Cor. ho. 14. Fulke â—-Purg pag. 251. Iob. cap. 1. 4. Reg. 19. Chrys in Ep. ad Philip hom 3. Fulke ibid. p. 236. 237. one may receaue the proper thinges of his body c. M. Fulke answereth Augustine holding that errour without authority of Scripture that prayers were profitable to the dead is driuen to inuent a distinction how they may seeme to stand with this text not be contrary to the Scriptures S. Gregory and Venerable Bede conuinceth prayers for the Dead out of the place of S. Matthew cited aboue M. Fulke Gregory and Bede sought not the true meaning of Christ in this Scripture but the confirmation of their plausible errours S. Chrysostome produceth two seuerall places in confirmation thereof one out of Iob the other out of the booke of Kings M. Fulke to the former replyeth I deny not but that Chrysostome doth alleadge this example of Iob sacrificing for his children for prayers to profit the dead c. Those good men in that declyning state of the Church to superstition c. are driuen to such simple shifts to vphould their plausible errours as it is great pitty to see To the later Chrysostome alleadgeth Scripture but he applyeth it madly and yet he often applyeth it to the same purpose Then cyting the text out of the booke of Kings which S. Chrysostome bringeth he bemoaneth him in this sort Alas good man what manner of reason is this So he O Chrysostome ô Augustine ô Gregorie haue your prayers watchings trauels industry al your naturall tallents and supernaturall guifts in searching the true sense of Scripture beene so meanly imployed as they deserue to be controlled pittyed bemoaned now by the new Ghospellers new Apostles new Peters new Pauls of this our vnhappy age 21. But to pursue this matter against my Aduersaryes could a more shrewd Inditement be drawne to conuict M. Fulke of desperate audacity then this which is Idem in his confut of Purg. pag. 362. c. 303. 393. taken out of his owne wordes In challenging to himselfe the supreme Censour-ship of iudging reiecting and condemning Fathers Scriptures Traditions or whatsoeuer els doth distast his humour Or could a more indifferent Iury be impanelled to giue verdict of M. Fields hypocrisy then these his owne fellow-sectaryes who would neuer haue darkened the foresayd lights of the Church had they taught the same kind of Commemorating the dead which M. Field mentioneth and all Protestants defend For that would Sparkes haue renounced S. Augustine Spark p. 371. 372. Fulke in his confut of Purg. p. 349. in cap. 5. 1. ad Cor. sect 1. Calu. l. 3. Inst cap. 5. §. 10. Zuing. tom 1. Epicheresis de Can. Missae fol. 185. Field in oppend 1. par pag. 13. and deliuer of him He was greatly carryed by the sway and opinions of the multitude He went further then either he had warrant for out of the Canonicall Scriptures or out of any vnforged and vncounterfeited president Of that would M. Fulke haue sayd Augustine blindly defended it Augustine held it without authority of Scripture Of that would M. Caluin write The old Fathers wanted both commandment of God and authenticall example They were carryed away into errour euen as vnaduised lightnes of beliefe is wont to rob mens wits of Iudgement Of that would Zuinglius affirme If it be so as Augustine and Chrysostome say I do not thinke the Apostles for any other cause then to yield to their infirmity permitted some to pray for the Dead Would the fornamed and many other Protestants reprehend the Fathers disgrace the Apostles resist the current of all Antiquity for countenancing a point of Protestants profession No M. Field no man of sense can thinke your men so senslesse as to condemne in their Predecessours which themselues vphold 22. Neither can it be defended that this Prayer for the Dead reproued by your Ghospellers in the ancient Fathers was made by them as you seeke another way to escape Either for the mititagion of the paines of men in hell or for the admittance of the Iust into the Heauenly Pallace and presence of God out of some wrong conceit that no iudgment passed on them vntill the generall day of Resurrection For both these were particuler fancies of priuate men as you M. Field your selfe seem to auoch and it is euident to all that are Field in appen 1. part fol. 4. 12. 13. 16. Bulling Decad. 4. serm â—0 Fulke in his confut of Purg. p. 78. 310. acquainted with antiquity But the ancient Commemoration of the Dead reprehended by our new Reformers was generally receaued by all the Fathers It was as Bullinger writeth obserued in the vniuersall Church It was as M. Fulke sayth the common errour in S. Augustines and S. Ambroses dayes The preuailing custome as * Hospin in hist Sacra p. 167. Vrbanus Regius in 1. par operum in loc Commun c. 18. de Missae negotio f. 7â— Fulke in his answer to a counterfeit Cathol p. 44 Aug. l. 21. de ciu Dei c. 23. 24. de cura pro mort c. 1. another testifyeth in the tyme of S. Cyril The vniuersall obseruation as Vrbanus Rhegius reporteth and ancient custome of the whole Catholike Church Againe this is affirmed by the Fathers to be a Tradition of the Apostles which those errours neuer were 23. For gainesaying this as vnprofitable for the Dead Aerius was condemned as M. Fulke witnesseth yet neuer any was censured by the Church for deniall of those To mantaine this S. Augustine and others distinguish three sorts of men departed and make the middle only as I specifyed aboue partakers of benefit To allow those no such distinction is necessary for none are so euill whose paines may not be mitigated none so good whose ioyes may not be increased or felicity hastned Lastly this is confessed by our * Fulke in his confut of Purgat in the places before cited Kemnitius 3. p. exam pag. 93. 107. Vrbanus Regius part 1. operum in loc Commun cap. Casaubon in the answere to the epist of Card. Peron to the 3. instance fol. 33. in English Aduersaryes to haue beene defended by S. Dionyse S. Gregory Nazianzen S. Basil S. Athanasius S. Cyril S. Gregory Nissen S. Epiphanius S. Chrysostome S. Hierome S. Ambrose S. Augustine and many more who neuer dreamed but some of them stoutly impugned the former errours of which M. Field could not be ignorant 24. Therefore as I cannot but iudge him both a deep dissembler and deceitfull iugler in seeking these grosse and palpable euasions so I truely honour his Maiestyes plaine and sincere dealing who freely protesteth That it was a very ancient custome in the publike prayers of the Church to make commemoration of the deceased to desire of God rest for their soules
humane iudgment more then of any other mystery of our redemption to which notwithstanding they are equally vnknowne 6. Further you teach M. Abbot that by ordinary fayth euery man is made priuy to his election and yet that no See Abbot cap. 3 and VVhitak vt infra man can be certaine of his fayth vnles he be sure he be one of the elect For true fayth in your fancyes is only graunted to the elect but by fayth to know election and by election fayth is to wheele about without end of knowing and neuer come to the full point of knowledg It is to run the circle you reprehend in others Notwithstanding what entrance I pray doe you make which is primò cogniâ—um the first knowne in this circled round Do you first ascend into the Counsails of God there see your names written in the booke of life and from thence discouer the beames of your beliefe or first see your true beliefe and thereby mount vnto the knowledge of your election A question which much perplexeth the learned Protestants For Whitaker clymeth the former way and VVhiâ—â—k l. 8. aduers Duraeum fol. 620. by assurance of election receaueth the certificate of saluation and beliefe saying Whosoeuer do certainely know themselues to be elect and predestinate they are certaine of the remission of â—heir sinnes and of their saluation c. Therfore the Protestant must first know that he is enrolled in the number of Calu. l. 3. instit c. 24. § 4. reproueth VVhitakâ—â—â— answere His Maiesty with the Bishops at Hampton Court reproue the same f. 29. 30. the predestinate before he can know that he is incorporated by remission of sinnes wrought by Fayth in the coÌ„gregation of the faythfull which clyming of Whitakers Caluin condemneth as a dangerous tentation and peruerse desire of seeking to know election out of the way I call iâ— seeking out of â—he way sayth he when a wreâ—ched man enterpriseâ—h to breake into the hidden secrets of the wisedome of God and to pierce euen to the highest Eternity to vnderstand what is determined of himselfe at the iudgment seate of God for then he throweth himself headlong to be swallowed vp in the depth of the vâ—measurable deuouring piâ— then he wrappeth himselfe with iâ—â—â—merable snares such as he cannot wind out of then he ouerwhelmeth hâ—mselfe with the bottomles gulfe of blind darcknesse 7. Therefore Caluin and M. Abbot compasse about Calu. l. 3. instit c. 24. §. 4. 5 6. Abbot cap. 3. sect 12. fol. â—â—7 the second way and by ordinary fayth trauaile to ascend into the bosome of Gods secrets and assure themselues of their election but this is already refuted by S. Paul S. Augustine and S. Bernard that God by fayth reuealeth other mysteryes but sealeth vp this and reserueth it still vnknowne concealeth it to himselfe as a depth vnsearchable Likewise your speciall fayth is nothing els but an assured affiance of your hart which certifyeth you of the remission of your sinnes of your adoption in Christ of your election and predestination But as the obiect according Aug. 4. de Gen. ad lit cap. 32. to S. Augustine goeth before the knowledge thereof so your predestination mouing you to beleeue precedeth euen in respect of you the affiance of your hart by which you belieue Howbeit if you ignorantly suppose that true fayth is knowne by it selfe and leadeth you to the obiect of election which thereby is knowne although it be a foolery vnworthy to be refuted yet I shall cast so much tyme away by and by as to disproue that foolery August de dono perse l. 2. c. 22. Chrys ho. 11 in â— 3. ad Philip. 1. Cor. 10. v 12. Ibidem c. 9. Greg. ep â—8â— quae est l. 6. ad Gâ—â—g Cubiâ—ul Aug. Bernar ser 2. in octau Pen. ser 1. in Sept. Hier. l. 2. cont Pâ—lâ— 8. My custome is after the authorityes of holy Scriptures to alleadge by themselues the testimonyes of Fathers but now besides those I haue heere interlaced shall add heereafter I will content my selfe with these few First with S. Augustine Serue our Lord with feare and reioyce to him with trembling because of euerlasting life which God not lying hath promised to the children of promise c. No man can be secure vntil this life be finished Then with S. Chrysostome Of resurrection we cannot be confident and secure to which purpose he bringeâ—h in S. Paul speaking thus I acknowledge my selfe to haue beleeued in Christ in the power of his resurrection that I haue byâ— mâ—de partaker of his sufferings conformable to his deaâ—h notwithstanding after all these things I am noâ— secure In proofe whereof he alleadgeth these two sentences He that seemeth to stand let him looke he do not fall and I feare so S. Chrysostome readeth least whilest I haue preached to others I become a reprobate my selfe With him S. Gregory S. Bernard and S. Hierome agree who excellently corroborate and confirme the same Moreouer S. Hierome sayth I contaminated with the filth of all kind of sins Hier. ep ad Florent citatur ep 5. in Gloss Hieron in vita â—ius day and night expect with trembling to render the Last farthing the tyme in which it shal be sayd to me Hierome come forth So S. Hilarion and the rest of the Saints stood in feare and dread not presuming to challenge the security of Protestants against which I also wage warre by the strength of reasons THE SECOND CHAPTER WHEREIN The former Presumption is refuted by Reason and whatsoeuer the Aduersary obiecteth against vs is remoued FIRST al Sectaries teach that nothing is to be beleeued as an article of fayth VVhitak l. 8. aduer Duraeum fol. 618. 619. Abbot c. 3. sect 2. f. 262. 263. 264. 265. loan 3. v. 15. Mar. 1. v. 15. Mar. 16. v. 15. 16. but what is either coÌ„teyned in Scripture or by manifest deduction is gathered from thence But where is it written in Scripture that Richard Field Doctour of Diuinity or Robert Abbot Titulary Bishop of Salisbury haue their sins remitted shall infallibly be saued Whitaker Abbot make answere that in these generall propositioÌ„s Whosoeuer beleeueth shall be saued repent and belieue the Ghospell and yee shal be saued is inuolued Richard Field belieue thou shalt be saued Robert Abbot repent and beleeue and thou shalt be saued Therefore although the Scripture nameth not any in particuler yet it affoardeâ—h euery one a sufficient warrant that by his repenting and beleeuing he shal be saued But this warrant is conditionall as M. Abbot there confesseth and this condition is if he rightly repent if he righly belieue which Abbot ibiâ—â—â— are acts depending of Gods grace and his freewill no way comprehended in that generall assurance nor by any infallible meanes deduced from thence therefore his certainty still wauereth in respect of these conditionall workes For although it be so that a man may
vertues it nourisheth humility exciteth care procureth watchfullnes restrayneth vs within our bounds whetteth vs forward Hier. in c. 3. lonae Aug. l. de correp grat c. 13. Chrys ho. 8. in c. 2. ad Philip. Greg. ep 186. quae est l. 6. ad Greg. Cubiâ—ul Aug. lib. 9. mora c. 17. Andr. Vegal 9. cap. 17. in Concil Trident. Abbot c. 3. sect 7. Greg. epist 286. quae est ad Gre. Cubicul Aug. in our duety maketh vs more narrowly sift and examine our actions more deeply repent and do pennance for our sinnes more diligently worke to the attayning of vertue and more feruently cry and call vpon God to succor and assist vs in our dayly conflicts and combates against vice These fruits of our vncertainty and the former euills of Protestants security are set downe by S. Hierome S. Augustine S. Chrysostome S. Gregory the Great and diligently proposed by Andreas Vega in his defence of the holy Councell of Trent 7. Now when Protestants account these feares tentations when they compare them to sinne against which they fight and seeke wholy to abandone they bewray the Anuil on which their deuises are hammered quite opposite to the touch-stone of holy Scripture which commendeth timidity as behoofull Blessed is the man who is alwayes timerous worke your saluation with feare and trembling Are these counsailes suggestions Is this happynes to be abandoned Renounce you as dangerous assaults which the holy Ghost proposeth as wholesome remedyes and stayes of our soules And which S. Gregory writing to the Lady Gregoria notably pursueth telling her That she ought not to haue security but alwayes iealous alwayes fearefull dread her sinnes and wash them away with incessant teares A verity so often repeated in holy Write and celebrated by the rest of the Fathers as Caluin is coÌ„strained to coÌ„desceÌ„d vnto it at least in shew of words For Calu. in c. 6. ad Heb. v. 4. he affirmeth That God sprinckleth the reprobate with some tast or smacke of his grace shiâ—eth on their minds with some sparks of his light affoardeth them some feeling of his goodnes and engraueth in a sort his word in their souls Otherwise where is that fayth for a time of which S. Marke maketh mention There is therefore Mar. 4. v. 17. in the reprobate a certaine knowledge of God which after vanisheth away either because it tooke not so deep root as it ought or because being choaked it degenerateth Hitherto Caluin Which discourse Cal. ibid. of his because it driueth the silly Protestant into a thousand perplexityes still casting doubts and questioning with himselfe whether his fayth hath taken sufficient roote may not heereafter be choaked may not degenerate Whether the motions he feeleth be proper to the elect or the common sparkes of light tastes of grace feelings and impressions which are communicated to the reprobate Caluin quieteth his conscience with this finall Conclusion And by this bridle our Lord keepeth vs in feare and humility And truly we see how slippery and prone humane nature is otherwise to security foolish confidence Whose wordes be these The wordes of a Protestant or of a Catholike They are the wordes of a Protestant of the ring-leader of Protestants taking heerein the face of a Catholike and condemning the infallible certainty vayne security and foolish confidence of his Sectaryes 8. The obiections heere heaped togeather by our late Reformers are of diuers sorts some insinuate an assurance of saluation by reason of Gods spirit dwelling in vs others seeme to challenge it to the condition of faith others to Gods protection safeguard and preseruation Abbot c. 3. VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum of such as he hath once called to the participation of his grace The principall of the first kind are these In this we know that we abyde in him and he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirit the spirit himselfe giueth testimony to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God and if sonnes heires also We haue receaued not the spirit of this world but the spirit which is in Fulk in c. 8. ad Rom. 2. 1. ad Cor. Kâ—mnitius in examin Con. Trid. Calu. l. 3. iustit c. 11. 1. Ioan. 4. v. â—3 Rom. 8. v. 1â— 1. Cor. 2. v. 12. 1. Ioan. 5. v. 19. â— Ioan. 3. v. 2. Rom. 8. v. 38. Hier. ep ad Algas quaest 9. Ambr. in eum loc Vatablus Beza and Erasmus in eum locuÌ„ â— Cor. 2. v. 12. God that we may know the thinges that are giuen vnto vs of God We know that we are of God and the whole is in wickednes We know that when he shall appeare we shall be like vnto him for we shall see him as he is I answere that this knowledg which the Apostles mention is not the certayne and infallible assurance of fayth but a probable knowledge a morall certainty such as begetteth a ioyful confidence and assured hope as S. Paul had when he sayd I am sure that neither death nor life nor Angells c. shal be able to separate vs from the Charity of God Where the Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifyeth only a propable perswasion and so S. Hierome S. Ambrose the Syrian interpreter Vatablus Bedae also and Erasmus read it or the Apostles may speake in some of those places of themselues in particuler by speciall reuelation if they had any such imparted vnto them concerning their perseuerance in grace as some thinke they had or they are to be vnderstood of the predestinate in generall and benefits of grace glory and euerlasting life reuealed for them in Scripture and by the instinct of fayth and spirit of God infallibly beleeued of which S. Paul namely writeth in the second Chapter of the first to the Corinthians But Protestants vrge against my former answere That the testimony of the spirit is the testimony of the Holy Ghost the testimony of the Holy Ghost is sure and infallible therfore the testimony of the spirit which witnesses to our spirit or with our spirit as the Greeke importeth is not only probable and coniecturall but infallibly certaine I answere it is so I confesse in it selfe as it is witnessed by the Holy Ghost but as it is intimated vnto vs by the inward loue of God zeale of soules hatred of sinne peace sweetnes ioy comfort dilatation of our hart such like which are the pledges testimonyes and certificates the holy Ghost affoardeth it is fallible and subiect to deceit For as the truth of holy Writ is of irrefâ—agable authority in it selfe yet proposed by men who may be deceaued is also deceaueable so that which the Holy Ghost witnesseth by himselfe immediatly or such expositors as cannot erre is infallible that which he testifyeth by probable and coniecturall signes is only probable vnto vs and obnoxious vnto errour Howbeit it passeth the boundes of truth and modesty That with a wonderfull tormenting of conscience we mistrust Reynolds
in his 5. conclusion fol. 656. still and stand in doubt of saluation wherwith M. Reynoldes slaundereth vs. For the probability or morall certainty which we acknowledge ought not to trouble the peace of our Consciences nor anxiously distract much lesse torment the quietnes of our mindes It is a probability intermixed with feare and nourished with such comfortable VVhitak l. 8. aduer Duraeum and stedfast hope with such filial loue as banisheth all combersome anxiety all wauering doubtfullnes all seruile base and troublesome solicitude That which Whitaker so eagerly presseth against Duraeus Try your owneselues if you be in the fayth proue your selues know you 2. Cor. 13. vers 5. Cornelius Cornelij à Lapide in eum locuÌ„ not that Christ Iesus is in you vnles perhaps you be reprobates is interpreted as Cornelius declareth out of Theophilact of Christs aboad not in euery particuler person by iustifying grace but in the Church of the Corinthians by power miracles conuersions and other externall gifts wrought by S. Paul and to the tryall of this his presence he exhorteth them by the remembrance and consideration of the workes acheiued among them and not to try their iustifying fayth vnles it be by some probable tokens 9. The obiections of the second kind which ascribe Ioan. 3. v. 36. â— Ioan. 5. v. 13. Rom. 10. v. 9. Rom. 9. v. 33. Ioan. 3. v. 15. 16. Ioan. 6. v. 35. the certainty of saluation to fayth are these He that beleeueth in the Sonne hath life euerlasting They that beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God are to know that they haue eternall life confesse with thy mouth the Lord Iesus and beleeue in thy hart that God raysed him from the dead thou shalt be safe He that beleeueth in Christ shall neuer be confounded nor perish but haue euerlasting life He that beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst He that eateth this bread shall liue for euer To which I answere that these generall promises which assure life and saluation to the beleeuer are vnderstood conditionally if he beleeue as he ought with a true fayth working by charity and he is sayd to haue euerlasting life because by Cyril in Ioan. 3. fayth he hath entred the gate and way which leadeth thereunto or hath receaued the seed thereof the pledge right and title vnto it by the spirit of adoption or diuine filiation imparted vnto him He is promised also to be saued conditionally if he perseuere in that state to the end after which many other vniuersall sentences of Scripture Ioel. 2. v. 3â— Rom. 10. v. 13. Prou. 1. v. 28. Matth. 7. vers 8. Iac. 4. v. 3. are to be expounded It is written Whosoeuer shall inuocate the name of our Lord shall be saued and contrarywise Then shall they inuocate me and I will not heare them Christ sayth Whosoeuer doth aske shall receaue Contrarywise you aske and receaue not the reason he subioyneth because you aske amisse that you may consume it in your concupiscences Therefore these generall sentences whosoeuer inuocateth or beleeueth shall be saued are to be construed also with this promise If he inuocate and beleeue with true fayth sincere affection and purity of life as it behooueth him to do 10. Secondly whereas many causes concurre to the Hebr. 5. v. 9. Rom. 8. v. 24. Eccles 1. v. 27. Tob. 12. v. â— workes of Iustification or saluation the holy Scripture sometyme attributeth it to one sometyme to another To obedience He was made to all that obey him cause of eternall saluation To Hope By hope we are saued To Feare The feare of our Lord expelleth sinne To Almesdeeds Almes-deeds deliuereth from death because ech of them if nothing els be wanting is sufficient to saue vs and so fayth acheiueth our saluation if we be not defectiue in other things required thereunto or rather because it is the first supernaturall habit origen or roote of life which springeth and bringeth forth the liuely motions of all other vertues and for this cause our iustification is more often assigned to fayth then to any other vertue neuertheles if it fayle dye or be lost as in the next Controuersy I shall proue it may be it procureth not the health of our soules to which it was ordeyned 11. The last troupe of their misapplyed sentences which retyre vnder the standard of Gods care and protection Ioan. 10. v. 27. 28. VVhitak l. 8. aduers Duraeum Abbot c 3. Ioan. 17. v. â—0 21. Matt. 24. v. 24. Rom. 8. v. 30. 1. Cor. 1. v. 8. for security of saluation are My sheep heare my voice c. and they shall not periâ—h for euer no man shall plucke them out of my hands Christ prayed for the faythfull that they might be all one with him and no doubt obtayned it affirmeth it impossible for the elect to be induced into errour Whom he hath predestinated he hath called and whome he hath called he hath iustifyed and glorifyed He confirmeth and strengthneth them vnto the end I answere heere is a new throng of witnesses but no euidence brought in our Protestants behalfe For they are all veryfied of the elect in generall that they shall not perish but be preserued and glorifyed in the end into their harts he striketh his feare with them he maketh his euerlasting couenant but heer is no word or syllable that this or that man in particuler is one of them he may be in the number of such as are outwardly Matt. 20. v. 16. Aug. ser 16. de verb. Apostol called For many are called but few elect He may be also inwardly iustifyed for a tyme which yet S. Augustine auoweth to be vnknown to him but that he is one of the happy band of those who are called according to the purpose and eternall election of God is an inscrutable mystery fit and expedient sayth the same S. Augustine to be Aug. tom 7. de corr gra c. 13. hidden in this place where elation and pride is so much to be decaded c. That all euen those who runne may feare whilest it is concealed who shall ariue to the goale 12. In like manner to answere the authorityes of the Fathers foure obseruations are carefully to be noted Nazian in orat conso in grand Ambros serm 5. Bernar. ser â— de annuÌ„ August tract 22. in Ioan. First that they auouch vs certaine of Gods grace as S. Gregory Nazianzen doth Certaine of saluation S. Ambrose Of remission of saluation S. Bernard Of finall perseuerance S. Augustine to wit conditionally if we keep the commandements if we striue manfully against vice euen to the end c. Secondly they speake sometyme of the certainty of hope and confidence not of the certainty of fayth or of the certainty only of humane fayth by probable coniectures not of diuine and supernaturall Thus S. Hierome S. Augustine S. Leo and S. Gregory in the places heere quoted Thirdly they say that we are infallibly
themselues haue also arriued The third is perpetually without intermission withall the forces and powers of our soule to be actually carryed away with the supernaturall streames of loue This only is proper to the Saints in heauen and not axacted by God of any mortall creature besieged with the infirmityes of flesh and bloud in respect of this our iustice on earth yea the iustice and perfection of S. Paul is tearmed vnperfect it is an image or shaddow of vertues it may be sometymes touched with the spots of vncleanes and therfore of this Philip. 3. v. 12. 1. Ioan. 1. v. 5. only the Apostle auouched Not that now I haue receaued or now am perfect yet in regard of the former two degrees he arriued to perfection and was already perfect euen by the phrase of holy Scripture which speaking of the first degree sayth He that keepeth his word in him in very deed the Charity of God is perfected Of the second it is also written If Matth. 19. v. 21. thou wilt be perfect go sell the things that thou hast and come and follow me By these degrees therefore of perfection all the obiections may be easily warded which our aduersaryes bring either out of Scriptures or Fathers as when they affirme our Iustice to be imperfect defiled with the touch of impurity they speake of the first degree soyled with the dust of wordly cares and too often distayned with veniall defaults When they exhort vs to greater perfection that is not to the common of all the iust but to that singuler of the mortifyed and feruent persons finally when they teach that we can neuer be perfect in this life it is true in the last acceptation of the word according to the third degree heer specifyed Which triple diuision of perfection keepeth the aduersary at such a bay as he knoweth not whither to turne him how to escape or what to mutter against it THE XXVII CONTROVERSY WHEREIN Our good workes are acquitted from the spottes of sinne against Doctour Whitaker Doctour Fulke and Doctour Abbot CHAP. I. THIS calumniation is euery where so rife and frequent amongst Protestant writers as M. Abbot in his defence c. 4. sect 44. 45. 46. VVhitak in his an swere to the â— reason of M. Camp f. 250. in the translation whereunto is added in brief marginal notes the summâ— c. Abbot spendeth many Sections to attach his owne paynes and endeauours iustly all other mens good workes wrongfully yea perniciously with the guilty stayne of sinne and M. Whitaker vndertaking the patronage and approbation of that drunken sentence of Luthers All good actions be sinnes if God be seuere in iudgement they are damnable sinnes If he be fauourable they â—e but small ones auoweth Luther sayd this and he sayd it truly for in euery action of a man though neuer so excellent there is some fault which may wholy marre the action and make it odious to God if that which is done be weighed in the ballance of diuine iustice 2. But if Luther sayd truly then as Duraeus most pithily argueth against M. Whitaker the Apostle S. Paul sayd not truly If thou take a wife thou sinnest not theÌ„ S. Peter sayd not truly Doing these things you shall not sinne at any time VVhitak ibid. fol. 251. 1. Cor. 7. v. 28. 2. 2. Pet. 1. vers 10. 1. Ioan. 3. v. 8. 1 Ioan. â— v. 9. 1. Cor. 3. v. â—1 Matth. 6. v. 22. Luc. 11. v. 36. August l. 2. qq Euang c. 15. Maldon in c. 11. Luc. Matth. 5. v. 17. S. Iohn sayd not truly For this appeared the sonne of God that he might dissolue the workes of the Diuell If there be no worke which is not diuellish and sinnefull he sayd not truly Euery one that is borne of God committeth not sinne Neyther did S. Paul wel to compare good workes to siluer gould and pretious stones nor did the Prophets and Apostles well to exhort vs to good workes Christ did not well as Cardinall Bellarmin prosecuteth the argumeÌ„t saying If the eye be simple thy whole body shal be lightsome and If then thy whole body be lightsome hauing no part of darknes it shal be lightsome wholy and as a bright candle it shall lighten thee Where by the eye S. Augustine and others vnderstand the intention of maÌ„ By the whole body Maldonate expoundeth all his facultyes by the whole absolutely of which it is also sayd the whole shal be lightsome he interpreteth all his human actions which proceed froÌ„ the powers faculties of the soule All these sayth Christ flowing from the iust and leuelled by a right intention to a good end and obiect are so bright as they inlighten the whole man so pure and vnspotted as they haue no part of darknes no blemish of sinne to destaine them For which cause he calleth them in another place light So let your light shine before men c. Matth. 5. v. 17. 3. Lastly if Luther sayd truely God himselfe sayd not truly writing of Iob In all these things Iob sinned not with his lips neyther spake he any foolish thing against God And in the next Chapter he calleth him A right man fearing God Iob. c. 1. v. 22. Iob. 2. v. 3. departing from euill and retaining innocency Whereby it is euident that Iob in all his troubles committed no sinne neyther in thought word nor deed not in word because he sinned not with his lips not in deed because he departed from euill not in thought because he still retayned innocency in his hart And if we follow the Hebrew Text all this may be gathered out of the former words of the first Chapter For the Hebrew addeth not with his lips but without restriction absolutely readeth Iob sinned not or as our Protestants translate In all this did not Iob sinne Which Origen and the Grecians according to Pineda reférre to his Origen in his commeÌ„tary vpon Iob. Pineda in â—um loc Nihil peccauit Iob coram Domino Psal 16. v. 3. Psal 7. v. 9. 1. Tim. â— v. 17. 18. Matt. 5. v. 17. cogitations to wit that he entertayned no euill thought or cogitation against God but iudged wel of his goodnes and the 70. Interpreters subscribe hereunto who read in all these things which hapned vnto him Ioâ— sinned not at all in the sight of our Lord. The like King Dauid affirmed of himselfe Thou o Lord hast tryed me in fire and there was no iniquity found in me Therefore albeit he otherwise offended yet at that tyme he was cleane from sinne as also when he sayd Iudge me o Lord according to my iustice and according to my innocency Moreouer some workes of the iust are pronounced by the holy Ghost to be good God giueth vs all things abundantly to enioy to do well to become rich in good workes That they may see your good workes and glorify your Father which is in heauen And yet they could not be good nor commendable in