by none but by theÌ„ Agayne he sayth There are many thinges which the whole church doth hold and therfore are well beleeued to be commaunded by the Apostles albeit they be not found written Catholique positi The Catholique church doth ought to beleeue those things which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde without writinge in the same degree of faith with those which are written Note that the proofes of this position doth also proue thother going à fore Proofe 1. Therfore Brethren stand and hold the traditions which you haue learned whether it be by worde or by our epistle S. Basile saith I account it Apostolique to continue firmly in vnwritten traditions and alledgeth this place of S. Paule S. Chrisostome cited by Fulke himself saith thus Hereof it is manifest that they the Apostles deliuered not all by Epistles but many things without letters and the one is of as great credit as the other Therfore we think the tradition of the church to be worthie of credit It is à tradition inquire no more 2. O Timothee keepe the deposituÌ„ That is that which is comitted to thy trust not certes by writinge For litle or nothinge writren of the new testament was knowne to Timothee then See à large discourse herevpon in Vincentius lirenensis 3. But if anie man seeme to be contentious wee haue no such custome nor the church of god where S. Paule alledgeth the custome of the church as à sufficient disproofe of anie practise why not therfore for the proofe of anie The things which thou hast hearde of me by many witnesses these commende to faithfull men which shall be fitt to teach others also loe no word here of writing but of hearing teaching by worde of mouthe Nowe haueinge proued by Scripture it self and euident instances that many thinges are to be beleeued that are not directly contayned in Scripture it appeareth à sensless thinge to demaunde direct proofe of euerie thinge we beleeue out of Scripture Protestants Positi The holy Apostles deliuered not by word of mouth moethings to be beleeued and obserued by the church theÌ„ theyether founde written or wrote them selues And therfore are there no traditions to be holden or beleeued 2. The Catholique church ought not to beleeue those thinge which the Apostles deliuered onely by worde of mouth without writinge in the same degree of faithe with those which are written THE THIRD CON trouersie of the difficultie to vnderstand the Scriptures Catho positiones 1 All places of holy scripture conteyninge articles of fayth the obstinate misbeleife wherof is Damnable are not easâ—â— to be vnderstoode but requiâ—â— some rule to be interpreted by Proofe 1. Philipp sayd to the Eunucâ— whom he founde readinge thâ— Prophet Esay Trow est thou thâ—â— thou vnderstandest the things which thou readest who sayde how can vnless some man shewe me 2. Our Sauiour accordingly â—pened the vnderstaÌ„dinge of his Apostles that they might vnderstand the Scriptures see therfore what à speciall grace it is to â—nderstand the Scriptures in there true sense and meaninge In the which the Epistles of sainct Paule are certayne thinges hard to be vnderstoode which the vnlearned and vnstable depraue as also the 〈◊〉 of the Scriptures to theyr owne perâ—â—ione Sainct Hierome explicatinge â—â—e text now cited out of the actes concludeth thus These thinges haue I breifly touched as the limitts of an Epistle would permitt that thou mayest vnderstande that with out a guide and teacher thou canst not enter the pathe of holy Scriptures which is easie to conceaue seeinge as he notethe in the same place no trade nor mechanicall art is learned with out à maister Certes it is not onely an heresie but à meere frensie to saye that all scriptures conteyninge poyntes of faythe necessary to be beleeued are easie to be vnderstoode of priuat beleeuers sithence all heresies whatsoeuer haue bene begoÌ„n and maynteyned for want of true vnderstandinge of holy scriptures wherof Vincentius Lirenensis sayth thus Some man may peraduenture aske foâ— asmuch as the canon of the scriptures 〈◊〉 perfect and in all pointes very sufficient in it self what neede is ther tâ— ioyne therunto the authoritie of the ecclesiasticall vnderstandinge For this cause surely for that all take not the holy scriptures in one and the same sense because of the deepness therof bâ—â— the sayinges therof some interpret one way and some another way soe thaâ— tbere may almost as manye senses bâ— picked out of it as there be men Foâ— Nouatian doth expound it one waye and Sabellius another waye otherwise Arrius Eunomius Macedonius other wayes Photinus Apolinaris Priscillianus otherwayes Iouinian Pelagius Celestius lastly otherwayes Nestorius Thus far that auÌ„cieÌ„t father to whom we may ad otherwais wicliffe Luther Caluin Anabaptistes with the rest and this most truely seing of these fewe wordes This is my Bodye there are found aboue 80. diuers senses besides the Catholique â—ense and meaninge S. Augustine also auoucheth the samesayinge For no other reason are heresies made but because men not rightly vnderstandinge the Scriptures doe obstinatly affirme they re owne opiniones against the truthe of them Catho pos 2. Priuate personnes though true beieeuershaue not the spirit of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meaninge of the same Proofe 1. No prophecie of scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. The lippes of the Priest shall keepe knowledg and the lawe they shal require of his mouthe be cause he is the Angell that is the messeÌ„ger of the lord of hostes loe here the office of interpretinge the lawes of god giuen to priestes and not assured to euerie faythfull person 3. Vpon the Chaire of Moyses haue sitten scribes and Pharisies all thinges therfore whatsoeuer they shall saye to you obserue yee and doe yee loe here à commaunde to heare the prelates pastoures of the church and no man lefte to followe his owne fantasie in matters of faythe and manners Protestantes PositioÌ„ 1. All places of holy Scripture â—onteininge articles of faith the obstinate misbelief wherof is daÌ„nable are easie to be vnd er stood therfore require not anie rule to be interpreted by 2. Priuat persounes that are true beleeuers haue the Spirit and gift of interpretinge the holy Scripture in the true sense and meainge therof THE FOVRTH CONtrouersie Of the infallibilitie of the churche Catho pos THe sense and meaninge of holy Scriptures giuen or aproued by the holy Catholique church is vnfallibly true as are also the definitiones and declarationes of faithe deliuered by the same and euery one is bounde vpon his damnatioÌ„ not to reiect the iudgment therof Proofe 1. My spirit that is in thee and my wordes that I haue put in thy mouthe shall not departe out of thy mouthe and out of the mouthe of thy seede and out of the mouthe of thy seedes seede sayth our lord for this present and for euer
body which is giuen for you This is the chalice the newe testament in my blood which shall be shed for you and yet agayne Our lord Iesus in the night that he was betrayed tooke breade And giuinge thankes brake sayd Take yee eate This is my body which shall be deliuered for you this doe yee for commemoration of me In like manner also the chalice after he had supped sayinge this chalice is the newe testament in my blood this doe yee as often as ye shall drinke for the commemoration of me Note that these wordes this is my body beinge vnderstoode as they sounde there can be no more controuersie about this poynt And that they are to be vnderstoode as they sounde and without all figure may be conuinced in this sorte There can nether reason nor aucthoritie be alledged why anie other wordes of holy scripture are to be vnderstoode as they sounde and namely these wordes which are most like them This is my welbeloued sonne which doth not proue the same of these wherof we now speake Therfore without all sense reason merely of hereticall wilfulness is a figure sought in these Wordes more then in any other and namely in these I haue mentioned But here I inteÌ„d not any further dispute OF TRANSVBST ANtiation Catholique position THe worde TransubstaÌ„tiation is not founde expressly in holy scripture as likewise is not coÌ„substantiall but as the Catholique churche did euer beleeue the equalitie of power vnitie of substance in the Father and the sonne and by the assistance of the holy ghost the spirit of truthe which teacheth her all truthe did express her beleefe in that point by the worde consubstantiall in the holy councell of Nice so like wise haueinge euer beleeued the true reall presence of Christes body in the most holy eucharist by the change of the bread into the same body did beinge assisted by the same neuer fay linge spirit of truthe in the holy councel of Lateran first and since in diuerse others express her beleif in that poynt by the worde transubstantiation as most fitly declaringe the veritie of that most holy mystery Nether can the protestantes produce anie thing against transubstantiation which they themselues are not bounde to solue and answere the Arriannes obiectinge the very like against that of consubstantiall That the doctrin of traÌ„substaÌ„tion is not newe Adamus Francisci a learned protestant with others confesseth in these words The fiction of transubstantiation crep into the churche betimes And this shall suffice for this pointe till occasion be giuen of a larger discours OF ADORING THE holy Eucharist Catholique Positions OVr Sauioure Christ beinge noe less truly present in the holy Eucharist theÌ„ he was in the stable in Bethelem or vpon the cross he is noe less to be adored of all faithful christians in the sacrament then he was there or then beinge in the forme of a gardiner he was of S. Marie Magdalein Proofe Adore yee him all his Angells which wordes S. Paule hebrwes cap. 1. vnderstaÌ„deth of the adoâ—ation of Christ in his humanitié Adore yee the footstoole of his feete By which footstoole S. Augustine vnderstandeth the fleshe or bodie of our sauiour Christ and saith Because he walked here in fleshe and gaue the same fleshe to vs to be eaten for our Saluation and no man eateth that fleshe vnless he first adore it it is fouÌ„de howe the footstoole of our lord is adored Certes he that acknowledgeth our sauiour Christ truly present in the B. Sacrament and yet thinketh him not worthie of Adoration is more sensless and vnthankfull then that vngratfull kaytiff that seeinge his grations soueraigne coÌ„ming to visit him in his vile cottage should thinke him less honorable for suche exceeding grace and fauoure Protestantes positions In the holy Eucharist the true body and blood of our sauiouâ— Christ is not truly really anâ— substantially but in figure only 2 The body of Christ is not iâ— the Eucharist by transubstantiatione 3 He ys not to be adored in the Eucharist OF COMMVNION vnder one kinde Catholique positions 1. IT is no where forbidden iâ— holy scripture to minister the holy communion to lay personnes vnder one Kinde onely This Positione is clear no such prohibitione appearing in the scripture And yf the ProtestaÌ„tes growndes of beleeuinge nothinge but what is proued by scripture were true would sufficiently warrant the practise of the Roman churche in this poynt But â—urther It is no where commaunded â— holy scripture to giue the holy â—ommunion vnder both kindes â—o the laye people This Posision ys also cleare no such commaundement anie where appearinge For that which is sayd doe â—his for remembrance of me is spokeÌ„ onely of the kinde of bread and therfore doth well prouue the contraire S. Paule in deed â—ddeth it to both kindes therby also declaringe this holy mysterie taken ether under both or one kinde to be a memoriall of Christ and his passione and therfore doth rather proue the Catholique Roman practice then anie waye disproue yt Thoughe these wordes doe rather giue power and auctoritie to the Apostles priestes to consecrate and offer the vnbloody sacrifice here instituted and offered by our sauiouâ— Christ then import anie commaundement of ministringe thâ— same to the laye people vndeâ— both kindes And this shal appeare more euidently by thaâ— which followeth Catholique position The Catholique Roman churche doth not anie wronge or iniurie to the lay people ministringe vnto them the holy Eucharist vnder one kinde onely They receauinge the same benefit by one that they should do by bothe christs bodie blood beinge whole in eache Proofe He that saythe vnless you eate the fleshe of the sonn of man and drinke his bloode you shall not haue life in you saithe also He that eatethe me the same also shall liue by me And agayne he that eateth of this bread shall liue foreuer And he that sayth he that eateeth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me and I in him The same also sayth the bread that I wil giue is my fleshe forthe life of the wolrde And he that sayth he that eateth my fleshe and drinketh my blood hath life euerlastinge The same sayth he that eateth this bread shall liue for euer All these are the sayinges of our sauiour Christ in on the same hapter of S. Ihon where if we say with most Catholique Docteurs that he speaketh of the holy Sacrament Sacramentally receaued it is manifest that he ascribeth the same effect and vertu to one kinde that he doth to both And therfore can they haue noe wroÌ„ge done them that for most iust causes haue it ministered vnder one kinde onely But yf we saye with the Protestantes that here is no speache of sacrameÌ„tall eatinge of Christ his body theÌ„ is there noe difficultie in theyr cheest argument which is grounde vpon the first wordes alleadge in this proof 2. The were perseueringe
A manifest promise of the spirit of god to continue for euer in the church 2. All power is giuen to me in heauen and in earthe Goinge therfore teache yee all nations teachinge them to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue cōmaunded you Loe here commission to teache giuen to the Apostles and in them to all pastores 3. He that heareth you heareth me and he that dispiseth you dispiseth me Loe here obligation for others to heare and obaye that which they who haue the former commission shall teache 4. Behould I am with you all daies euen to the consūmation of the worlde Loe here the assurance of Christs asistance to his church and the lawfull pastores therof till the ende of the worlde who can now doubt of the infallibilitie of the doctrine of godes church 5. I will aske the father and he will giue you another Paraclet that is an aduocate or comforther that he may abyde with you for euer The spirit of truthe loe here the spirite of truthe promised to abide with the church for euer By warrant of which promised the first generall coūcell that euer was houlden which was at Hierusalem sayth thus Yt hath seemed good to the holy ghost and to vs to laye no further burthen vpon you then these necessarye thinges 6. In respect of the singuler priuiledges of the church and spetiallye of the infallibilitie it hath in doctrine sainct Paule callethe it the howse of god the church os the liuinge god the piller and grounde of truthe 7. He that will not heare the church let him be to thee as the Heathen and the publican Touchinge which pointe of the infallibilitie of the church sainct Augustine hath this excellent doctrine Althoughe Saith he no example is brought out of canonicall Scripture of this thinge Speakinge sf the validitie os Baptisme ministred by heretiques yet doe we followe the truth of the same Scriptures in this pointe whilst we do that which pleaseth the whole church which the auctoritie of the Scriptures doth cōmēd And because the holy Scripture cannot deceaue whosoeuer feareth to be deceaued by the obseurite of these questiones let him consult ther vpō with the church which without all doubt the Scripture doth shewe Protes Pos. The sense and meaninge of the holy Scriptures giuen or approued by the Catholique churche is not alwaies true nether are the definitiones and declarationes of faythe deliured by the same vnfallible truthes Here the reader may marke à strāge peruersitie or blindness in the Protestantes who graunt the gift of interpretinge the Scriptures to priuate beleeuers and yet deny it to the whole chuche THE FIFTH CONtrouersie of the marKes of the true Churche THe true Churche of god is but one This being not denyed by the Protestantes needethe no proofe The question is which of all those Churches which doe challenge vnto them selues the name of the Churche is that one true churche which doubt will easelie be cleared by the notes and markes fololwinge Vniuersalitie Catho Positions The true Churche of Christ is Catholique or vniuersall aswell in respect of place as of tyme That is the true church of Christ hath euer continued since his gloriouse ascention into heauen till this day and shall doe till the end of the world which is to be Catholique or vniuersall in respect of time And it hathe or shal be spred throughe all kingdomes and countries that are vnder heauen which is to be vniuersall or Catholique in respect of place Proofe in respect of place Aske of me and I will giue thee the gentiles for thin inheritance thy posessione the endes of the earthe By this promise of god to Christ S. Augustine conuīceth the Donatistes and in them the Protestātes that they haue not the true Chruche because theyrs is not vniuersall in such sorte as here is promised 2. He shall rule from sea to sea and from the riuer euen to the endes of the rounde worlde These Prophesies are clearely vnderstoode of the inheritance and kingdome that is the Churche of Christ as he is man Accordinge to which prophesies our sauiour saythe All power is giuen me in heauen and in earthe Goeinge therfore teache yee all nationes baptisinge them in the name of the father and of the sonn and of the holy ghost 3. You shall receiue the vertue of the holy Ghost comminge vppon you and you shall be witnesses vnto me in Hierusalem and in all Ieury and Samaria and euen to the vtmost of the earthe See Sainct Augustine Learned reader if thou pleas Proofe in respect of tyme. 1. In the dayes of those Kingdomes the god of heauen will rayse vp a Kingdome that shale not be dissipated for euer and this Kingdome shall not be deliuered to another people 2. And he shall reigne in the howse of Iacob for euer of his Kingdome there shall be no ende 3. Behould I am with you all dayes euen to the consummation of the world 4. Vppon this Rock will I build my Churche and the gates of hell shall not preuayle agaynst it A faithful sayinge Saith Sainct Athanas. and not à waueringe promise and the Church is an inuincible thinge althoughe hell it self should be moued The vniuersalitie of the church all christians profess to beleeueī the creed of the Apostles and of the first councell of Constantinople sayinge I beleeue the holy Catholique church protes pos The ttue Churche of Christ is not necessarily Catholique or vniuersall nether in respect of place nor tyme. This positione most cleerely against holy Scripturs must the Protestantes defende and proue yf they will proue and defende they re Churche to be the true Churche of god and consequentlye theyr religione to be true Visibilitie Catho pos The true Churche of god ys visible and apparant both to the faithfull beleeuers that are in it and to heretiques and those that are out of it Proof 1. A Citie cannot be hid situated vpon à mountayne He put his tabernacle in the Sunn S. Augustine proueth our positione by these textes say inge The true churche is hid to no man whence is that which he our sauiour Sayth in the Gospell A Citie sett vppon à mountane cannot be hidd And therfore is it sayd in the Psalme hee hathe put his tabernacle in the sunn that is in manifest 2. In the latter dayes the mountayne of the howse of our lorde shall be prepared in the top pof mountaynes and it shal be eleuated aboue the little hilles and all nationes shall flowe vnto it 3. Men doe not light à Candell and. put it vnder a bushell but Vpon à Candlesticke To these textes doth S. Augustine allude when he saythe what ells am I to saye then that they are blinde that doe not see so great à mountayne that shutt they re eyes against the lampe sett vppon the candlesticke 4. If thy brother offende against thee
ldinge a drawne sworde and he went nere to him and sayde art thou oures or our aduersaries who answered noe but I am a prince of the host of our lorde Iosue fell flatt downe to the grounde and adoreinge he sayd what speaketh the lord to his seruant loose sayth he thy shooe from thy foote for the place where in thou standest is holy And he did as he was commaunded Loe here the Angell not onely adored to the grounde but also the ground it self nere where he stoode duely reuerenced for respect of him Protest pos To the Angelles and Saintes in heauen is due no other honoure or reuerence then ciuil THE EYGHTETH CONtrouersie Of prayer to the holy angells and saintes in heauen Catho pos TO pray to the Angelles or saintes in heauen doth not derogate anie whitt at all from our sauiour Christ his office of mediatoure Proofe 1. S. Paule prayeth to the RomaÌ„s in this sorte I beseeche you brethren by our lord Iesus Christ and by the charitie of the holy ghost that you helpe me in your prayres for me to god The like he hath to the Ephesianes cap. last v. 19. the first to the Thesalo cap 5. and elles where often But if the prayer to saintes on earthe do the not derogat from the mediatorshipe of Christ certes the prayers made to them in heauen cannot Agayne Iacob prayed to his good Angell in this sorte The Angell that deliuereth me from all euilles biess these children Catho pos The saintes in heauen doe heare our prayers and vnderstande our perticuler estates ther fore it is not idle or in vaine to pray to theÌ„ as thoughe they did nether Proofe They are as the Angelles of god in heauen They are equall to the Angelles but the Angelles Knowe our particuler estates see that you dispise not one of these little ones saith our sauiour Christ For I saye vnto you that they re Angells in heaueÌ„ doe alwayes see the face of my father which is in heauen yea they knowe our secret thoughts I saye to you there shal be ioye before the Angelles of god vpon one sinner that doth pennance The saintes haue power ouer nationes to rule them therfore doe they know they re estates He that shall ouercome and keepe my wordes vnto the ende I will giue him sayth our sauioure power ouer nationes and he shall rule them with a rodd of Iron Catho pos 3. God doth somtymes heare accepte the prayers of his seruaÌ„ds or saintes for a nother man wheÌ„ he will not heare that man prayinge for hymselfe therfore is it profitable to praye vnto them God sayd to Eliphas the Themanite my surye is wrothe against thee and thy two freindes Take therfore vnto you seauen oxen and seaueÌ„ RaÌ„mes goe to my seruande Iob and offer holocaust for your selues and my seruande Iob shall pray for you his face I will receaue that the folly be not imputed vnto you They went and did as our lorde had spoken to them and our lorde receaued the face of Iob. Our lord also was tourned at the penance of Iob wheÌ„ he prayed for his freindes Againe Pray one for a nother that you may be saved for the coÌ„tinuall prayer of a iust man auayleth much I alledge not the fathers testimonie for prayer to saintes they beinge confessed by the learned protestantes to haue taught that Doctrine namely Fulke saythe In NaziaÌ„zen Basile and Chrisostome there is some mentione of the inuocatione of saintes to help vs with theyr prayers The like he confesseth of Ambrose Austine and Hierome So that wee see the doctrine of the Greke and latin churche in this pointe by the coÌ„fessione of one of our seuerest aduersaries to haue bene 1200. yeares agoe the same with the doctrine of the present churche of Rome Protest pos To praye to the saintes or Angelles in heauen doth derogate from the office of mediatour of our sauiour Christ 2. The saintes in heauen doe not heare our prayers nor know our particuler estates or necessities and therfore is it in vayne to pray to them 3. God doth neuer accepte of the prayers of his saintes offered for another man when he doth not accept of the same mans prayers for him selfe THE NINTH CONTROuersie of holi Reliques Catho posi 1. God doth honor the Reliques of saintes by working miraculouse thinges by them to his owne glorye the honoure of the saintes the benefit of man and the edification of his churche and therfore are they to be honoured and reuerenced by faithfull Christianes Proofe 1. There were brought from his S. Paule bodye napkins and hand kercheeses vpon the sike and the diseases departed from them and the wicked spirites went out 2. They did bringe forth the sicke into streetes and lead them in beddes and couches that wheÌ„ Peter came his shadowe at the leaste might ouer shadowe anie of them they all might be deliuered from there infirmities 3. Certayne persones buryinge a man sawe the rouers and threwe the bodie in the sepulcher of Eliseus which when it had touched the bones of Eliseus the man reuiued and stoode vpon his feet For the testimonie of the fathers in this pointe I wil onely alledg S. Augustine whom vnâ—ess our aduersaries dare condemne both of erroure in Iudgment and falsitie in historie they must needes confess that holy reliques in his tyme were had in great and publique honoure and reuerence The reader that desirethe to see or heare himself speake must be content to turne the booke himself for this wordes to this purpose are ouer Proâ—ix to be inserted in this briefe treatise The Doctrine and practise of ancient churche is soe euident in this pointe that Chemnitins a renowmed protestant is forced to write in this sort Of translation of riliques followed the caryinge them about in processiones as is mentioned by Hierome against Vigilantius And by Augustine when in the translatione of the reliques of Steuen à blinde woman receaued her sight Lucilius the Bishope streyght ordayned the carieing abont of the Reliques of Steuen And be cause sometimes certayne miracles were done at the reliques all per soÌ„neâ— in any iÌ„firmitie or necessite what soeuer rann to them Augustine mentioneth that flowers and otherthinges Ambrose that garmentes cast vpon the sepulchers or cofines of martyres were caried by Christianes as defenses and preseruatiues froÌ„ euill They did think that the martyres them selues were present with they re ashes Nor did they call vpon god onely but the very martyres did they inuccate at they re reliques and thinkinge grace and heauenly vertue to reside in they re bones by prayer and other worshippe did they seeke them at reliques As Basile discoursethe vpon the Psalme 115. Nor did they seeKe theyr onely corporall cures but did imagine that spirituall graces as holiness and charitie was giuen and creased by tovching and Kissing of liques as Nyssenus doth gloriouslie â—eache of Theodore the