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
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
playne is that Rise vp and be baptised and washe away thy sinnes inuocating his name 3. Not by the workes of iustice which wee did but according to his mercie hâ— hath saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holy ghost Loe here wee are saued by baptisme 4. wherunto Baptisme being of the like forme now saueth you also As Noë saythe S. Augustine with his was deliuered by the wâ—tâ—r â—nd the woode So the family of Christ by baptisme signed wâ—th the pâ—ssion on the Crosse Protestantes position Nether baptisme nor the other Sacramentes of the newe lawe giue grace as cause therof but are onely signes of gods good will towardes vs or meanes to stire vp faythe in vs. CHARACTER Catholique position THe Sacrament of Baptisme Confirmation and orders besides the grace which they giue doe make and leaue a signe or seale in the soule of the receauer which after S. Augustine is ordinarily called a Character Proofe And he that confirmethe vs with you in Christ and that hath anoynted vs god whoe also hath sealed vs. of S. Augustines Doctrine coÌ„cerninge this matter M. Fulke sayth thus S. Augustin doth righely conuince the Douatistes that the Sacrament of Baptisme ought not to be reiterated because it is the Scale or character of regeneration which beinge once giuen by godes ordinance is not to be repeated the like he sayth of ordination Protestans positions Nether Baptisme nor anie other Sacrament of the new lawe doe leaue anie signe mark or character in the soule of the receauer THE 13. CONTROVERsie Of Iustification Catholique positions IVstification is the translation of sinners from the state of sinne vnto the state of grace and adoptione of the ChildreÌ„ of God and therfore consisteth not in the bare remission of synnes but in true sanctification and renouation of spirit Proofe Giuing thankes to god and the father whoe hath made vs worthye vnto the parte of the lott of the saintes in the ligtht whoe hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the power of darkeness and hath translated vs into the kingdome of the sonn of his loue The diligent reader may see S. Augustine alleadging this place in the same sence 2. God sent his sonn made of a woman made vnder the lawe That he might redeeme theÌ„ that were vnder the lawe that wee might receaue the adoption of sonnes 3. He hath saued vs by the lauer of regeneration renouatioÌ„ of the holy ghost whome he hath powred vpon vs abundantly by Christ Iesus our sauioure 4. Nor theeues nor couetouse nor drunkards nor raylers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdome of god And these thinges certes you were but nowe you are washed but now you are sanctified but now you are iustified in the name of our lord Iesus Christ and in the spirit of our god 5. Lay you away accordinge to the ould conuersation the owld man which is corrupted according to the desires of erroure And be renewed in the spirit of your mynde and put on the new man which according to god is created in iustice and helines of truthe Behould sayth S. Augustine what Adam lost by sinâ—e in that therfore we are renewed according to that which Adam lost that is according to the spirit of our minde Spoyling our selues of the owld man with his actes And doeing on the newe him that is renewed vnto knowledge according to the image of him that created hym This image sayth S. Augustine imprinted in the spirit of our minde AdaÌ„ lost by sinn which we receaue by the grace of iustice Catholique position 2. Synn is not onely couered or not imputed by iustification but it is washed purged and quite taken away Proofe 1. I will power out vpon you cleane water and you shal be clensed from all your contaminationes 2. Thou shalt sprincle me with hysope and I shal be clensed thou shalt washe me and I shal be made whiter then snowe 3. As farr as the cast is distant from the west hath he made our iniquities farr from vs. 4. Behould the lambe of god behould him that take the awaye the sinn of the world 5. Be penitent therfore and conuert that your sinnes may be put out But yf we walk in the light as he also is in the light we haue societie one toward another and the bloâ—de of Iesus Christ his sonn clensethe vs from all sinn OF CONCVPIScence Caetholique position THat rebellion or concupiscence of the fleshe which remay nethe in man after Baptisme is not properly sinne of it self or with out the free consent of the will Proofe Concupiscence when it hath conceaued bringe the forth sinn therfore of it self is it not sinn As S. Augustine playnly prooueth by these wordes sayinge when concupiscence hath conceaued it bringeth forth sinn verely in these wordes that which is brought forth is distinguished from that which bringeth forth that which bringethe forth is coÌ„cupisceÌ„ce that which is brought forth is sinn but concupisence doth not bring forth vnless it haue conceaued it conceaueth not vnless it hath allured that is vnless it hath obtayned the assent of the will to doe euill There is nowe therfore noe damnation to theÌ„ that are in Christ Iesus that walke not according to the fleshe S. Paule calleth it sinn because it his the roote cause matter and also the effect of sinn As likewise the golden calfe made by the people of Israell is called sinn because it was the cause and effect of sinn Our sauiour also is called sinn because he was the Host oblation for sinn Catholique position Asynner is not iustified that is clensed from sinn made iust holy and the child of god all which are effected by iustification by the externall iustice of Christ imputed vnto him but by internall grace truely receaued and inherent with in him Proofe 1. The holy scripture playnly testifiethe that there is a grace which is the spirit of god dwelling with in vs yf the spirit of him that raysed vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raysed vp Iesus Christ from the dead shall quicken also your mortall bodyes because of his spirit dwellinge in you 2. which is the life of our spirit you are not in the fleshe but in the spirit yet yf the spirit of god dwell in you But if anie man haue not the spirit of Christ the same is not his But if christ be in you the bodie in deed is dead because of sinn but the spirit liueth because of iustification 3. which is the circumcision of the hart in spirit Not that which is in open shew in the fleshe is circumcision but the circumcisione of the barte in spirit not in the letter whoâ—e prayse is not of god The circumcision of the hart sayth S. Augustine is the will pure from all vnlawfull coÌ„cupiscence which is not made by the teaching threating letter but
therfore he sayth I giue counsell as haueing obtayned mercie of god to be faythfull 3. There are euneuches which haue guelded themselues for the Kingdome of heauen he that can take lett him take Haue care of him and whatsoeuer thou shalt supererogate I will at my returne repaye thee S. Augustine alluding to these two places sayth you that yet haue not vowed who can take take runn whith perseuerance that you may obayne take euerie one his sacrifices and enter into our lordes court not of necessitie but hauing power of yor owne will For as it is said thou shalt not kill it cannot so be sayd thou shalt not marrie For these things are exacted they are profered yf they be done they are commended yf thother be not done they are condemned in these thinges god coÌ„maundeth a debt in those what you shall supererogate or bestowe more he will render at is returne with much more to the same purpose in the whole booke where he proueth virginitie to be onely a counsell to be more perfect then wedlok and to haue a greater glorie in the next life But for the Doctrine of the auÌ„cient churche in this poynt I neede no other witnesse then Mr. Caluins owne confession set downe in these wordes This say they hath from furthest memorie beene obserued that they which would dedicate them selues wholy to our lord should bynde them selues with the vowe of continencie I graunt indeed that this maner hath also beene of ancient tyme receaued but I doe not graunt that that age was so free from all fault that what soeuer was done might bee taken for a rule Protestantes Position No man though assisted with gods grace can doe anie workes of supererogation or of counsell nether are there anie councelles of more perfection then the coÌ„maundementes THE 18. CONTROVERsie Of Preistes not Marrying Catholique Position IT is most conformable to the Doctrine of holy scriptures and practise of the auncient churche that all Preistes and other church men should vowe perpetuall chastitie And leade a single life Proofe 1. I woulde haue you without carefulness he that is with out a wife is carefull for the things that pertaine to our lorde how he may please god But he that is with a wife is carefull for the things that pertayne to the world howe be may please his wife and he is deuided 2. No man being a souldier to god intaÌ„glâ—â— ethe himself with secular businesses that he may please him to whome he hath approoued him self After the dayes of is office were expired he departed into his owne howse It is playne hereby ells where that the Preistes of the ould lawe did abstayne from theyr wiues during the tyme of theyr ofice which they exercised by turnes Yf thou haue aniething at hand yea yf but fiue loaues giue me or what soeuer thou shalt fynde the preist answered Dauid saying I haue no laye breades at hand but onely holy bread yf the seruantes be cleane especially from weomen And Dauid answered the preist and say de to him And truly yf the matter be concerniÌ„g weomen we haue refrayned our selues from yesterdaye and the day before Now yf such cleanesse euen â—â—om the law full vse of weomen was required in laye men to eate the hallowed bread of the owld lawe which was but a bare figure of that which is offered in the newe lawe what cleaness may we think is required in Preistes them selues of the newe lawe For the practice of the auncient church in this poynt I will onely alledge the 2. Councell of Carthage where S. Augustine was preseÌ„t which sayth thus It pleaseth all that Bishopes preistes and Deacones abstayne from wyues that we may also obserue that which the Apostles taught and antiquitie obserued Protestantes positions It is contrarie to the doctrine of holy Scripture practice of the auncient primitiue church that preistes and other church men should vowe chastitie and leade a single life THE 19. CONTROVERsie Of the churche seruice in the learned tongues Catholique position IT is no where forbidden in holy Scripture that the publique Seruice of godes churche should be in a tounge not vnderderstood to all the assistantes Proofe No such prohibition appeareth in all the Scripture Yea the practise of the contrarie is euidently gathered out of these wordes According to the custoÌ„e of the preistlye function he went forth by lott to offer incense entering into the temple of the lord And all the multitude of the people was praying with out at the hower of the incense Loe here the people did not vnderstand nether the prayers nor the actions of the preist yet neuer the less did they participate of both The same is more expresly coÌ„maunded in these wordes Let no man be in the tabernacle when the highe preist goeth in to the sanctuarie to pray for him self and for his howse and for the whole assembly of Israël vntil he come forthe nether doth that of S. Paule yf thou bless in the spirit he that supplieth the place of the Vulgar howe shall he say Amen vpon thy blessing bycause he knowethe not what thou sayest nor anie thing iÌ„ all that chapter make anie more against the practis of the romaÌ„ churche in this point then it doth against that of the Iewishe churche now menrioned S. Paul speaking not of the ordinarie publique receaued and established churche seruice werof all the assistantes are parttakers because it is performed by the preist a publique officer in all theyr behalfes thaugh they vnderstande not the wordes nor see the actions done by the preist but of certaiÌ„e perticuler exhortationes hymes Psalmes and other holy good things vttered by particuler personnes haueing the gifte of tongues which being not vnderstood of others haâ— no other fruit then the edification of the speaker and that nether to his instruction for often tymes he vnderstood not him self but to an eleuation of his mynde or spirit to god as appeareth by that For yf I pray with tongue my spirit prayeth but my vndersting is with out fruite Therfore S. paule would that these exercises showld be vsed with much moderation and in good order but forbiddeth them not Therfore that which he sayth of that matter toucheth nothing â—he publique seruice of the church which the perpetuall practice of the same church a sure rule to all those that desire to be gods children doth shew to be most coÌ„uenieÌ„tly celebrated in the learned tounges Agaynst which yf anie will wrangle or be contentiouse we aunswere theÌ„ as S. Paule doth theyr like in another occatione we haue no such custome nor the church of god Protestantes position It is forbidden in holy scrypture that the publique seruice of the church should be in a tongue not vnderstoode by all the assistants Haueing as thou seest iudicious reader gone throughe al or at least all the cheef poynts of controuersie of these tymes and proued theÌ„ by express scripture