the Church of Rome so cruelly surely there was no agreement betweene them Wherefore as the Catholikes of Africa then so they that were taken into the communion of the Church of Rome cared little for the Donatists as witnesseth S. Augustine saying of Cecilianus Bishop of Carthage August Epistola 162. He neede not to care for the multitude of his conspiring enemies the Donatists when he saw himselfe by communicatory letters joined with the Roman Church in which alwaies the principality of the Apostolical chaire flourished c. So we at this time neede as little to care for the bitter reproches and deceitful arguments of the Protestants so we stand stable and firme in the like society of faith and religion with the same Church of Rome ROBERT ABBOT Cont. Epist. Fund cap. 4. THERE vvas reason why Augustine should be moued with the name of Catholike vvhen they that were called Catholikes had testimony of their faith from the communion society of the Church throughout the vvhole vvorld and were therefore so called Breui collat diti 3. cap. 2. Quia communicant Ecclesiae toto orbe diffusae Because saith S. Augustine they communicate with the Church spread ouer al the whole world But most sottishly it is alleaged for a motiue to vs being now Donatistically applied to one particular Church of Rome and to men bearing the name of Catholikes only for communicating vvith that Church Surely as the name of Iewes was of old a name of honour and the proper title of the people of God but afterwardes by their Apostacy who bare it was left for Esai 65. vers 15. a name of curse and reproch so the name of Catholike was an honourable name and the peculiar title of the true children of the Church but now by their abuse who haue vnjustly taken that name vnto themselues it is become a name of curse and shame vvith the people of God and the proper badge of Apostataes and Heretikes And as the Apostle Rom. 2. v. 28. denieth the name of Iewes to them vvho yet according to the letter were so called because of the circumcision of the flesh and applieth the truth of the nam◠to them vvho vvere so according to the spirit albeit according to the letter they were not so named so the name of Catholikes in deede belongeth not to the Romish faction who according to the letter take vpon them to be so called but the true meaning thereof belongeth to them vvho although they joy not in the litteral name c. yet doe follow the same faith vvhich they followed vvho first were called by the name of Catholikes Let them haue the shel so that we haue the kernel c. the name in his true vse importeth them that imbrace the faith of the Catholike that is the vniuersal Church that hath beene from the beginning of the world that is through the vvhole vvorld and shal be to the worldes end WILLIAM BISHOP S. AVGVSTINE indeede was so much moued with the name of Catholike that he alleageth it to haue beene one principal cause Cont. Epist Fund cap. 4. De vera relig cap. 7. which kept him in the lappe of the Church And else where very often exhorteth al Christians To hold the communion of that Church which both is Catholike and knowne also by that very name not only to her owne followers but also to others And the self◠same reason alleaged by M. Abbot himselfe vvhich caused that most holy vvise and learned Father to esteeme so highly of that title Catholike is now of great force to perswade al reasonable men to make themselues members of the Roman Church for by joining in society of faith with the Church of Rome they shal cōmunicate with the Church spred ouer the whole vvorld because the faith and religion of the Church of Rome hath beene generally receiued al the world ouer as our aduersaries themselues doe confesse The name Catholike is by the Protestants Donatistically applied to their Schismatical congregation that neither are nor euer were scattered al the world ouer but be inclosed and confined vvithin certaine countries of Europe as the Donatists were within the boundes of Afrike Most sottishly then to vse his owne wordes doth M. Abbot affirme the name Catholike to be applied by vs of the Roman religion vnto the particular Church of Rome when as we cal al other Churches of what country soeuer that with the Church of Rome keepe intirely the same faith Catholike And men of al other nations doe we cal Catholikes as vvel as those vvho are Romans borne because they al beleeue and confesse the same one Catholke faith that is extended ouer al the world Secondly M. Abbot is much mistaken in his comparison of the name of Iewe with the name Catholike for to omit first that such examples proue nothing but doe only serue for shew or explication and moreouer that it can hardly be shewed that the name of Iewe was a name of such honour at any time for that peoples honourable name vvas Israelites and vvere not called Iewes til towardes the declination and wane of their estate Neither was it euer any peculiar and proper title of the people of God for God had many good seruants that were neuer called Iewes as may be gathered by Iob the Husite Naaman the Sirian the widow of Luc. 4. vers 26. Sarepta a Sidonian and by a great number of Prosilites and finally by that which the Apostle teacheth Rom. 2. vers 14. Many Gentils were saued without the law Lastly most vncertaine it is of what name the Prophet Isay speaketh when he saith Cap. 65. vers 13. It shal be left for a name of curse Al these impertinencies of his example being too too many I doe remit him but cannot pardon his grosse fault in the maine point of the comparison for the name Iewe according to the vsual signification of the word being the name of a certaine people of one race and kindred and hauing a law giuen them by Moises which should continue only for a prescript time and end at the comming of Christ is not like the name of Catholike which is no special name of the people of any one country but is attributed and doth agree to al sortes of men of what country or nation soeuer that doe embrace the true Christian faith And is inseparably linked and so fast joined and riueted with the Christian profession and religion that it shal neuer faile fal or be separated from it so long as Christs faith standeth nor euer be contemned of the faithful whiles Christs true religion flourisheth vvhich is proued inuincibly out of the very Etimology of the name Catholike and that according to M. Abbots owne interpretation in the same place who doth expound it to signifie that Church which is through the whole world and shal be to the worldes end If the name Catholike shal continue to the worldes end the true title of
A REPROOFE OF M. D OCT. ABBOTS DEFENCE OF THE CATHOLIKE DEFORMED BY M. W. Perkins WHEREIN His sundry abuses of Gods sacred word and most manifold mangling misaplying and falsifying the auncient Fathers sentences be so plainely discouered euen to the eye of euery indifferent Reader that whosoeuer hath any due care of his owne saluation can neuer hereafter giue him more credit in matter of faith and religion THE FIRST PART Made by W.B. P. and D oct in diuinity As Iannes and Mambres resisted Moyses so these also resist the truth men corrupted in minde reprobate concerning the faith but they shal prosper no further for their folly shal be manifest to al as theirs also was 2. TIM 3. vers 8. 9. ¶ Printed with Priuiledge Anno Domini 1608. THE PREFACE TO THE READER GOOD CHRISTIAN READER I doe voluntarily confesse that after I had seene M. Abbots answere to my Epistle vnto his Majesty I was a long time vnwilling to reply vpon it not for that I esteemed it to containe any such extraordinary learning as be too too fondly vaunteth off for I dare be bold to say that in a skilful mans judgement there are more pregnant proofes of their new doctrine in two leaues of M. Perkins booke then in tenne of his but cleane contrary I finde so little substance in his worke and so great store of impertinent and vile stuffe such superfluity of idle amplifications so many vnciuil and foule wordes that I could not thinke the time wel bestowed which should be spent in so friuolous and paine an altercation Notwithstanding being often admonished by my friendes that diuers Protestants much commended M. Abbots discourse some for the stile and his cunning and confident carriage in it others for that they saw it thicke interlaced with sundry ancient Authors sentences and thereby thought and gaue out that he refused not to deale with vs at our owne weapons Herevpon I resolued at length to afford it some answere specially for such good peoples sake who are desirous to bolt out that truth of God which only can saue their soules and are not willing to be deceiued with fine tricks nor doe wittingly suffer themselues to be carried away with faire glozing speeches or stout brags when they finde no correspondence of sound and wel grounded matter To giue the man his due I acknowledge that he inditeth not amisse if he did not defile and poison his penne with so huge a multitude of ougly venimous and vnsauoury tearmes But what account is to be made of choise picked and pleasing wordes when they be imployed not only to abuse and beguile simple soules but also to disgrace the sincere verity of Gods word surely for the debating of controuersies in religion plaine vsual speeches without painting or superfluity haue alwaies beene taken by the learned for most decent and expediēt according to that ancient Adage simplex est veritatis oratio the stile of truth is simple and plaine And where much colouring and flourishing is vsed there is no smal suspition of a badde cause and fraudulent dealing What neede bad M. Abbot to fil vp thirty sheetes of paper to giue answere vnto one sheete and halfe of mine doth it not argue to a man of vnderstanding that what he could not answere vnto directly in few wordes he would at least cloake with long circumstances and cast a mist before the Readers eies with gay glorious phrases that he might not see and discerne the truth Touching his frequent disgraceful and odious tearmes and most bitter rayling against the best sort of men on our side I would gladly learne how it can stand with Christian charity and modesty Sure I am that it consorteth ful euil with that sacred rule of the Apostle 2. Tim. 2. vers 24. The seruant of our Lord must not wrangle but be milde towardes al men apt to teach patient with modesty admonishing them that resist the truth And S. Peter telleth vs that the natural property of a true Christian is 1. Pet. 3. vers 9. To be modest and humble and not so much as to render euil for euil or curse for curse so farre off was he from encouraging any man to reuile and raile at them who neuer gaue him any one foule word in al their liues yea whome he neuer saw And he further biddeth vs to follow the example of Christ our great master who did not reuile when he was reuiled but hath in expresse wordes forbidden vs to vse any contemptuous or opprobrious speeches against our bretheren assuring vs before hand that he Math. 5. vers 23. Who shal say to his Christian brother thou foole shal be guilty of hel fire This and an hundred times more to the same purpose being set downe in the diuine Scriptures against bitter and barbarous speeches yet M. Abbot a professed Diuine seemeth to take a special delight in them and to esteeme them no smal ornaments of a Diuines stile otherwise he would not so often vse them I wote wel that the most milde and sweet pen-men are sometimes through zeale of the truth or by the ouerthwart dealing of their aduersary moued to let slip now and then a hard word or two but ordinarily or vpon euery smal occasion to fal into a fit of rayling and to vomit vp most rustical and ruffianlike taunts cannot but discouer a very corrupt and venimous stomacke In this one discourse of M. Abbots a diligent scauenger may rake together wel-neare a tumbrel ful of them I doe intreate the gentle Reader not to be offended with me if I doe here for verification of what I say trouble him with the view of some few of them The Bishop of Rome is seldome called by his right name but Antichrist Page 118. 124 146. 150. 162. the man of sinne that harpie of Rome filthy harlot filthy and vnnatural strumpet the whoore of Babilon and such like Religious men he tearmeth idle lossels and filthy belly-gods swarmes of Locusts Romish vermine ful gorged Friers and so foorth My selfe and others my bretheren False harlots witlesse sophisters blind Doctors abhominable hypocrites lewd caytifs the seede of the Deuil vncleane beasts foule mouthed dogs like vnto other swine of his fraternity base fugitiues false traytors the villany of our profession and innumerable others which cannot but conuince and demonstrate M. Abbot to be one of them whome the spirit of God hath liuely described when he wrote Rom. 3. vers 13. Their throat is an open sepulchre with their tongues they deale deceitfully the venim of serpents is vnder their lips their mouth is ful of malediction and bitternesse their feete swift to shedde bloud destruction and infelicity is in their waies and the way of peace they haue not knowne there is no feare of God before their eies And if M. Abbot scorne to be aduised by me his aduersary to forgoe this rude rhetorike of brabling and scolding women in latin called Canina eloquentia let him follow
Protestants vvil suffer vs to rest in no place vvhere we may study and further doe seeke by al the waies that the wit of man can deuise how to depriue vs of al meanes to maintaine our studies with what face then could this man say that our studies vvere more interrupted by the Iesuites then by them He addeth that they wel deserue persecution that destroy mens soules extinguish the true conscience of alleageance c. vvhich is true but concerneth themselues more then vs for rather Protestants then Catholikes be such as I haue heretofore in sundry places proued and therefore doe not stand vpon it here vvhere he only affirmeth it after his manner without any proofe ROBERT ABBOT NOw it is wel in the meane time that he acknowledgeth in his Majesty exceeding clemency mildnesse modesty louing and affable disposition singuler ornaments of a Prince and wherein is a special token of a King whom the Lord hath chosen but his threatning wordes towardes the end of his Epistle doe presage that hereafter they wil alter this stile and cry out as they did in the daies of our Queene deceassed of cruelty tiranny extremity of persecution and martirdomes when by their disloial and sediâ—ious courses they haue drawne from his Majesty greater seuerity and sharpnesse of executions then his Princely nature is of it selfe inclined vnto then shal this acknowledgment of his be an vpbraiding of them that they themselues haue made the rodde vvherewith they are scourged that his Majesty hath beene kinde and loâ—ing to them but they haue beene vnkind and cruel to themselues WILLIAM BISHOP WE are most vvilling to acknowledge al Gods gifts in his Majesty and to extol them to the vttermost of our power that his Highnesse may thereby both see our dutiful affection tovvardes him and be the oftner moued to thanke and serue God therefore Iacob 1. vers 16. From whom descend al good and perfect gifts We doe notwithstanding the great seuerity of his lawes against vs continue stil in the same minde that his Majesty is of his owne natural disposition very milde and clement yet by following ouer much other mens bitter and violent counsailes is too too much drawne from the goodnesse of his owne nature and disposition And although it be a maruailous pretious ornament in a Prince to be so humane and clement yet many haue beene excellent therein vvhom the Lord did not choose for his The Emperours Traian Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius were of a most courteous milde and moderate disposition yet being Heathens and following the course of their Predecessors lawes were not altogether free from the spilling of some innocent bloud of the Christians But let vs allow clemency to be one of the richest jewels in a Princes Diademe vvho then is to be accounted a more true harted and loial subject either I that endeuoured earnestly to perswade my Prince to keepe cherish and encrease that pretious gift of clemency in him vvhich doth so highly adorne his roial Majesty or he that emploieth his whole wit art and skil to depriue his Highnesse of the glory of those gratious giftes and to incense him to al rigour and seuerity If any men of our religion by seditious and disloial behauiour shal deserue seuerity let them be seuerely punished and if any be found so vnreasonable as to cry out against it vpbraide them hardly vvith that their folly But if for our religion only without any other offence to his Majesty or to the state we be extreame rigorously dealt vvithal or that innocent Catholikes be vnjustly oppressed for the faults of others then they must giue vs leaue to cal thinges by their right names and so to speake of them as they shal deserue for the Prophet doth hold them accursed that doe cal light darkenesse and good euil al thinges by men of truth are to be called by their true names If his Majesty vvould follow M. Abbots gentle aduise and embrue his sword in the harmelesse bloud of Catholikes he were like to get a good name and to purchase to himselfe a great renowme al the vvorld ouer in short space Now that which followes in M. Abbot is such a proper peece of stuffe that with the alteration of a few wordes it may be turned more truly against themselues then he hath spoken it against vs thus then it goeth with a very smal exchange of some wordes R. ABBOT and W. BISHOP BVT his clemency and kindnesse albeit it be an encouragment to good and faithful subjects in dutiful manner to vnfold vnto his Majesty their just grieuances and requests yet ought it not to embolden euil affected persons vvith calumnious libels to interrupt the peaceable course of his Majesties gouernement as M. Abbot doth by egging him on to the spilling of innocent bloud and to seeke according to their dronken humours and fancies the alteration of the estate and the admittance of those thinges the building vvhereof they themselues know not how to settle vpon any sure ground And this is the thing that * M. Bishop M. Abbot laboureth for seeking with Elimas the sorcerer Act. 13. vers 10. To peruert the straight waies of the Lord. And whereas his Majesty hath made open and often profession of his vigilancy and care to aduance the diuine honour of our Sauiour Christ and his most sacred religion he vvould in steede thereof draw him * to aduance to prepare the way to the Idol a Dan. 11. Mazzin the God of Antichrist and to establish damnable heresies by his Ministers first priuily brought in and now openly defended * by him whereby they his agents and factours 2. Pet. 2. vers 1. 3. Through couetousnesse with fained wordes doe make marchandise of the soules of men speaking thinges which they ought not for filthy lucres sake And this he doth vnder colour of deliuering what he assureth himselfe to be expedient towardes the furnishing and setting forward of so heauenly a worke But it is not enough that he assureth himselfe so vnlesse he could by good ground assure his Majesty also of that which he laboureth to perswade which he hath not done nor in deed can doe and therefore as touching his furnishing and setting forward of this vvorke we answere him as the Princes and Fathers of Iuda and Beniamin answered their vndermining aduersaries 1. Esdr 4 3. It is not for you but for vs to build the house vnto our God You Samaritans * you Papists you Protestants are mungrels taking vpon you to serue the Lord and with al doe serue the Idols 2. Reg. 17. of your owne braines neglecting the ordinances and coÌ„mandements of the Lord by which this house is to be builded yea teaching them to be impossible to be kept and doting vpon a new imputatiue justice so after * your old custome the old custome of al Heretikes seeke after strife and diuision a V. 34. 40. And therefore haue no
vpon just and vnjust that is bestoweth out of his owne bounty many temporal commodities vpon them that doe ful litle deserue them at his handes Wherefore M. Abbot was ouer-seene to bring in the Princes prosperity for proofe of the goodnesse of their religion Let vs proceede WILLIAM BISHOP BVT sithence there be in this our miserable age great diuersities of religions and yet but one only wherewith God is wel pleased and truly serued as saith the Apostle Ephes 4. One body one spirit as you are called into one hope of your vocation one Lord one faith one baptisme my most humble sute and supplication to your high Majesty is that to your eternal good you wil embrace maintaine and set forth that only true Catholike and Apostolike faith wherein your most roial Progenitours liued and died or if you cannot be wonne so soone to alter that religion in which it hath beene your Highnesse misfortune to haue beene bredde and brought vp that then in the meane season of your tender goodnesse you would not suffer the sincere Professours of the other to be so heauily persecuted R. ABBOT SECT 3. Page 14. HERE M. Bishop propoundeth briefly to his Majesty the summe of his petition the foundation whereof he laieth in a principle which we acknowledge to be a truth that whereas there be diuersities of religions in the world there is but one only where vvith God is truly serued Hereupon he frameth his humble sute that his Majesty wil embrace and maintaine that only true Catholike and Apostolike faith but that needeth no sute of his for his Majesty already doth that For what is the Catholike faith but the faith of the Catholike Church and which then shal we take to be the Catholike Church surely the Catholike Church by the very signification of the word is the vniuersal Church so called Quia per totum est August de vnit Eccles Athanas Q 81. Because it is ouer al or through al the world and is not tied to any country place person or condition of men not this Church or that Church as S. Augustine speaketh * August in psal 56. But the Church dispersed throughout the world and not that which consisteth iâ— men now presently liuing but so as there belong to it both those that haue beene before vs and that shal be after vs to the worldes end whereby we see how absurdly the Church of Rome taketh vnto it the name of the Catholike Church and how absurdly the Papists take vnto them the name of Catholikes The Catholike Church is the vniuersal Church the Church of Rome a particular Church there fore to say the Catholike Roman Church is al one as to say the vniuersal particular Church To speake by their rule the Roman Church is the head and al other Churches are members to it but the Catholike Church comprehendeth al therefore to say the Roman Church is the Catholike Church is as much to say the head is the vvhole body Neither doth it helpe them that of old particular Churches vvere called by the name of Catholike Church it being no otherwise done but as in toto similari in a body vvhere al the parts are of the same nature vvhere euery part hath the name of the vvhole and no one part can challenge the same more then another as in the elements euery part of the fire is fire euery part of the vvater vvater and so of the like for so euery Church where true faith was taught August coÌ„t Epist Fund cap. 4. was called to distinguish it from heretical assemblies the Catholike Church and euery Bishop of such a Church vvas called a Bishop of the Catholike Church and no one Church more then another assumed vnto it any prerogatiue of that title Therefore they called the Catholike faith the faith that vvas receiued by the Church throughout the vvorld and the true Christians vvere called Catholikes August Epist 48. Ex communicatione totius orbis by hauing communion and fellowship of faith vvith the Church of the whole world it is therefore a meere vsurpation whereby the Papists cal the Roman Church the Catholike Church WILLIAM BISHOP M. ABBOT is now at length come from his extrauagant roâ—ing narrations vnto some kinde of argumentation Here he wil giue a proofe of his valour here we shal soone try whether he come so wel furnished into the field that he neede not to doubt of the victory as in the beginning he vaunted of himselfe or vvhether his special skil and force doe not rather lie in railing at vs and in cosening of his reader then in any sound kinde of reasoning That doctrine vvhich he learned out of S. Augustine concerning the signification of the vvord Catholike vve vvillingly admit off to wit That religion is Catholike that faith is Catholike which is spread ouer al the world and hath beene alwaies imbraced and practised euen from the Apostles time to our daies and such is the religion vvhich I vvould haue perswaded his Majesty to receiue in to his Princely protection To this vvhat saith M. Abbot marry that his Majesty hath already receiued it How doth he proue that not by any one plaine and round argument directly to the purpose but from the Catholike religion falleth to the Catholike Church and so spendeth the time in most friuolous arguing against the Roman Church of vvhich I made no mention at al. Doth he not deserue a lawrel garland for the vvorshipful ranging of his battle and is he not like to fight it out valiantly that thus in the beginning flieth from the point of the question Proue good Sir that his Majesty embraceth and maintaineth that religion vvhich is spread ouer al the vvorld and that hath continued euer since the Apostles time and then you may justly say that he vpholdeth the Catholike religion according to your owne explication out of the ancient Fathers But because M. Abbot saw this to be impossible he gaue it the slippe and turneth himselfe to proue the Roman religion not to be the Catholike and perceiuing that also as hard to performe as the other he shuffles from the religion and faith of vvhich the question vvas vnto the Roman Church that is from the faith professed at Rome to the persons inhabiting the citty of Rome whom he wil proue not to be Catholikes and the Roman Church not to be the Catholike Church Doe you marke vvhat winding and turning and what doubling this simple Minister is driuen vnto ere he can come to make any shew of a silly argument But let vs giue him leaue to vvander vvhither his fancy leadeth him that vve may at length heare vvhat he would say It is forsooth That the Church of Rome doth absurdly cal her selfe the Catholike Church and that Papists doe absurdly take to themselues the name of Catholikes because the Catholike Church is the vniuersal Church but the Church of Rome is a particular Church therefore to say the Roman Catholike Church is
in steede of God WILLIAM BISHOP WHAT a worthy graue Preface he vseth to assure men that vve wil not deny S. Paul nor his Epistle to the Romans vvhich neuer were called in doubt by any man But good S ir vvhiles you muse and busie your head so much vpon bables you forget or wilfully mistake the very point of the question Was the Church of Rome at her most flourishing estate when S. Paul wrote that Epistle to the Romans was her faith then most renowmed ouer al the world as you write nothing lesse for not the tenne thousand part of that most populous Citty was then conuerted to the faith and they that had receiued the Christian faith were very nouices in it and stoode in great neede of the Apostles diuine instructions Any reasonable man would rather judge that the Church of Rome then came first to her most flourishing estate when Idolatry and al kind of superstition was put to silence and banished out of her vvhen the Christian religion was publikly preached countenanced by the Emperours authority which was not before the raigne of Constantine the great our most glorious country-man vvherefore M. Abbots first fault is that he shooteth farre vvide from the marke vvhich he should haue aimed at principally The second is more nice yet in one that would seeme so acute not to be excused It is that he taketh an Epistle written to the Romans for their instruction and correction as if it were a declaration and profession of their faith vvhen as al men know such a letter might containe many thinges vvhich they had not heard off before Further yet that you may see how nothing can passe his fingers vvithout some legerdemaine marke how he englisheth Theodorets wordes Dogmatum pertractationem The handling of opinions is by him translated al points of doctrine vvhereas it rather signifieth some then al opinions or lessons But I wil let these ouer-sights passe as flea-bitings and follow him whither he pleaseth to wāder that euery man may see when he is permitted to say what he liketh best that in truth he can alleage out of S. Paul nothing of moment against the Catholike faith S. Paul saith he is wholy against you and for vs. Quickly said but wil not be so soone proued First he condemneth the worshipping of Saints and Saints Images in that he reproueth the Heathens for changing the glory of the incorruptible God into the similitude of the Image of a corruptible man O noble disputer and wel worthy the whippe because we may not make false Gods or giue the glory of God vnto Idols may vve not therefore yeeld vnto Saints their due vvorship might not S. Paul whiles he liued as al other most Godly men be reuerenced and vvorshipped for their most excellent spiritual and religions vertues with a kinde of holy and religious respect euen as Knights and Lordes and other worldly men are vvorshipped and honoured for their temporal callings and endowments with temporal worship vvithout robbing God of his honour Is the Lord or Master dishonoured and spoiled of his due reuerence and respect if his seruants for his sake be much made off and respected yet with such due regard only as is meete for their degree This is so childish and palpable that if the Protestants were not resolued to sticke obstinately to their errours how grosse soeuer they be they vvould for very shame not once more name it To the next ROBERT ABBOT PAVL saith and we say the same that Ibid. vers 17. the righteousnesse of God is from faith to faith you say otherwise that it is from faith to workes that faith is but the entrance to workes and that in workes the righteousnesse of God doth properly consist WILLIAM BISHOP THE sentence of S. Paul is mangled his wordes are for the justice or righteousnesse of God is reuealed therein in the Gospel by faith into faith which are obscure and subject to diuers expositions The most common is that Christ the justice of God is reuealed in the Gospel by conferring the faith of them that liued before the Gospel vvith their faith that liued vnder it the faith of them who liue in the Gospel giuing great light for the cleerer vnderstanding of such thinges as were taught of Christmore darkely in the law and Prophets This being the literal sence of this place what is here for mans justification by only faith where only mention is made of Gods justice and not one vvord of the imputation of it to man but of the reuelation of it in the Gospel What a foule mistaking is this alas his pouerty of spirit and want of good armour compelleth him to lay hand on any vveapons how simple and weake soeuer In the next verse it is plainly shewed that God did grieuously punish al them vvho liued wickedly notwithstanding they held the right faith for saith S. Paul Rom. 1. v. 18. the wrath of God from heauen is reuealed vpon al impiety and vnrighteousnesse of those men that retaine or hold the truth of God in injustice Whence it followeth first that men may haue a true faith without good workes for they held the truth of God being themselues wicked Secondly that the same faith would not auaile them aught nor saue them from the just wrath of God if it were not quickned by good workes ROBERT ABBOT THE Apostle in expresse termes affirmeth Rom. 4. v. 6. imputation of righteousnesse vvithout vvorkes We doe the same but you professedly dispute against it WILLIAM BISHOP WE hold with the Apostle that vvorkes be not the cause of the first justification whereof he there treateth nor to deserue it though inspired with Gods grace they doe prepare vs and make vs fit to receiue the gift of justification neither doe the Protestants wholy exclude workes from this justification vvhen they doe require true repentance which consisteth of many good workes as necessary thereto We hold that justice is increased by good workes which we cal the second justification against which the Apostle speaketh not a vvord but doth confirme it vvhen he saith in the same Epistle Rom. 2. v. 13. Not the hearers of the law are just with God but the doers of the law shal be justified Marke how by doing of the law which is by doing good workes men are justified with God and not only declared just before men as the Protestants glose the matter Now touching See the place Rom. 4. v. 6. imputation of righteousnesse the Apostle speaketh not like a Protestant of the outward imputation of Christs justice to vs but of inherent justice to wit of faith vvhich worketh by charity which are qualities Rom. 6. powred into our harts by the holy Ghost so that there is only a bare sound of wordes for the Protestants the true substance of the Text making wholy for the Catholikes ROBERT ABBOT PAVL teacheth that Rom. 6. v. 23. Page 98. eternal life is the gift of God through IESVS
Christ our Lord but you M. Bishop tel vs That al who are of yeares must either by their good carriage deserue eternal life or else for their badde behauiour be disinherited WILLIAM BISHOP IN the same place you had a large solution of this objection but he that hath made a couenant with hel vvil not looke vpon that vvhich might helpe him to heauen We teach vvith the Apostle and vvith his faithful interpreter S. Augustine That eternal life is the gift of God both originally because we must receiue grace by the free gift of God before we can doe any thing that doth deserue the joies of heauen and also principally the vvhole vertue and value of our merits doe proceede of the dignity of Gods grace in vs which doth eleuate and giue such worth to our workes that they thereby deserue life euerlasting Notwithstanding if we take not hold on Gods grace vvhen it is freely offered vs and doe not concurre with it to the effecting of good workes we shal neuer be saued and this our working with the grace of God deserues heauen both which are proued by this sentence of the same Apostle Rom. 2. vers 6.7 8. God wil render to euery man according to his workes to them truly that according to patience in good workes seeke glory and honour and incorruption life eternal to them that are of contention and that obey not the truth but giue credit to iniquity wrath and indignation where you may see in expresse tearmes eternal life to be rendered and repaid for good workes to such men as diligently seeke to doe them and to others vvho refuse to obey the truth and rather choose to beleeue lies and to liue wickedly eternal death and damnation ROBERT ABBOT HE telleth vs againe and againe that Rom. 7. vers 7. 8. concupiscence is sinne to lust is to sinne and that by the law it is knowne so to be vve say the same and you goe about to make vs beleeue that it is no sinne WILLIAM BISHOP THE Apostle telleth vs againe and againe that our Sauiour Christ IESVS was made 2. Cor. 5 21. sinne and yet no Christian is so simple as to take him to be properly sinne but the Rom. 8. v. 3. bost or satisfaction for sinne so vvhen the Apostle calleth concupiscence sinne we vnderstand him with S. Augustine that it is not sinne properly yet so called not vnaptly both becâ—use it is the effect and remnant of original sinne and doth also pricke vs forward to actual sinne but if by helpe of the grace of God we represse it we are deliuered from the infection and guilt of it Which S. Paul in the very same chapter declareth when he demandeth Lib. 1. cont duas Epistol Pelag c. 10. Lib. 1. de Nupt. CoÌ„cupis cap. 23. * Ibid. v. 25. Who shal deliuer me from this body of death he answereth presently the grace of God by IESVS Christ our Lord. And againe that profound Doctor S. Augustine argueth very soundly out of the same sentence vvhere concupiscence is called sinne but now not I worke it any more but the sinne that is in me that the Apostle could not meane sinne properly which cannot saith he be committed without the consent of our minde Lib. 6. cont Iulian. c. 23. but that had no consent of the minde to it because it vvas not the Apostle that did worke it Now how can that be the euil worke of a man if the man himselfe doe not vvorke it as the Apostle saith expressely not I doe worke it Lastly the same Apostle teacheth that sinne hath no dominion ouer them that are vnder grace which were false if concupiscence were properly sinne for that hath such dominion ouer euery good body that they cannot auoide the motion and sting of it No not S. Paul could be 2. Cor. 12. vers 8. cleerely deliuered from that pricke of thâ— flesh though he praied most earnestly for it vvherefore by the testimony of S. Paul himselfe concupiscence is not properly sinne no more is it to lust if lust be taken for the first motions of concupiscence But Iacob 1. vers 15. concupiscence when it hath conceiued as S. Iames speaketh that is by our liking beginneth to take hold on vs bringeth forth sinne yet but venial marry when it is consummate by our consent or long lingring in it then it engendreth death that is mortal sinne ROBERT ABBOT S. PAVL saith of the spirit of adoption the same spirit beareth witnesse with our spirit that we are the Sonnes of God but you say we haue no such witnesse whereby we should beleeue that we are the Sonnes of God WILLIAM BISHOP AND that vve say vpon good consideration for we must not beleeue with the Christian faith which is free from al feare any thing that is not assured and most certaine Now the spirit of God doth not beare vs vvitnesse so absolutely and assuredly that we are the sonnes of God but vnder a condition which is not certaine to vvit that we be the sonnes and heires of God Rom. 8. v. 17. Si tamen compatimur yet if we suffer with him that we also may be glorified with him but whether we shal suffer with him and constantly to the end beare out al persecutions we know not so assuredly because as our Sauiour fore-telleth Luc. 8. v. 13. There be some that for a time beleeue and in time of temptation doe reuolt Was it not then a tricke of a false marchant to strike off the one halfe of the Apostles sentence that the other might seeme currant for him now no man doth more plainly or roundly beate downe their presumption vvho assure themselues of saluation then S. Paul as in many other places so in this very Epistle to the Romans in these wordes Cap. 11. v. 20. Wel because of their incredulity they the Iewes were broken off but thou Gentil by faith dost stand be not to highly wise but feare For if God hath not spared the natural boughes least perhaps be wil not spare thee neither see then the goodnesse and seuerity of God vpon them surely that are fallen the seuerity but vpon thee the goodnesse of God if thou abide in his goodnesse otherwise thou shalt also be cut off c. Can any thing be more perspicuously declared then that some such who were in grace once afterwardes fel and were cut off for euer and that some others stand in grace who if they looke not wel to their footing may also fal and become reprobate the Apostle directly forewarning those men vvho make themselues so sure of their saluation not to be so highly wise but to feare their owne frailty and weakenesse least otherwise they fal as many had done before them If this plaine discourse and those formal speeches vttered by the holy Ghost wil not serue to shake men out of their security of saluation I cannot see what may possibly doe it ROBERT
now by the Canon of the Masse the Priest must dippe the third part of the consecrated host into the Sacrament of the bloud and there praieth that this mixture may be heathful to himselfe and al the receiuers vnto euerlasting life WILLIAM BISHOP I Cannot easily judge whether this man were more fiercely bent to deceiue others or more foolishly set to shame himselfe vvith lying that durst aduenture vpon this Canon of the auncient and most learned Pope Iulius for besides that it hath nothing for the Protestants purpose it doth in sundry points notably confirme the Roman doctrine thus beginneth the Canon When euery crime and sinne is purged and blotted out by sacrifices offered vnto God what shal hereafter be giuen to God for the purgation of our sinnes when errour is committed in the oblation of the sacrifice it selfe note how often he repeateth and recommendeth the diuine sacrifice of the Masse For we haue heard of some men possessed with schismatical ambition who contrary to diuine order and the institution of the Apostles doe in the diuine sacrifice offer milke in steede of wine others also for a complement of communion doe giue the dipped Sacrament to the people c. Then confuting these opinions he saith When the Master of truth did commend to his Disciples the true sacrifice of our saluation he gaue to none of them milke c. let therefore milke be no more offered when we sacrifice Then come in the broken vvordes of M. Abbot thus But for that of the dipped Eucharist which for a complement of communion they deliuer to the people they haue not receiued any testimony brought out of the Gospel where our Lord commended to the Apostles his body and bloud for there the bread is mentioned apart and the commendation of the Chalice apart where M. Abbot first left out the commending of Christs body and bloud to his Disciples because those vvordes vvould haue scalded his tongue Secondly this Canon hath nothing against that vvhich is now done by the Priest in the Masse for the Priest doth not dippe any part of the Host into the Chalice to be afterwardes taken out and giuen to the people vvhich is that which Pope Iulius doth disproue Neither doe our Priests to speake properly dippe any part of the Sacrament into the Chalice for dipping in importeth as much as the putting in and taking foorth againe which we doe not but only for a holy signification we doe put into the Chalice one litle parâ—â— of the Host there to lie and not to be taken out againe but to be receiued by the Priest together with the bloud and therefore we cal it not the dipping in but the mixture or mingling together of the body and bloud of Christ wherefore M. Abbot erreth in the maine point of his reprehension For Pope Iulius reproued only the giuing of the dipped Host vnto the people vvhich we doe not nor hold it any way necessary because vve teach them that the holy Host of Christs body containes in it selfe being a liuing body as wel Christes bloud as his flesh now vve doe only put a little peece of the sacred Host into the Chalice there to be receiued with the pretious bloud not of the people but by the Priest alone That this is no new deuise of the Church of Rome may be wel gathered out of the same distinction and in the very next leafe to that of Pope Iulius cited by M. Abbot in the Canon Triforme De consecrat distinct 2. vvhere Pope Sergius of more then 800. yeares standing doth expound this very ceremony of putting one part of the host into the Chalice It was then a knowne vsed ceremony of the Masse in his daies and no late inuention as M. Abbot dreameth I may not here forget that in the very Canon of Pope Iulius vvhich M. Abbot alleageth there is most expresse and very earnest coÌ„mandement of mingling water with the vvine that is to be consecrated Because saith that blessed Pope our Lordes Chalice according vnto the precepts of the Canons must be offered the wine being first mingled with water Finally we haue in this Canon alleaged by M. Abbot a confirmation of a propitiatory sacrifice of the real presence of Christs body and bloud two principal points of our doctrine and of mingling water with wine in the offertory and not one direct word for the Protestants And because this resolution of Iulius seemeth to be taken almost vvord for word out of Pope Alexanders first letter vvho was but the fift Pope from S. Peter I wil acquaint the reader vvith his wordes these they be Alexand. in epist omnibus orthodoxis De consecrat dist 2. Can. 1. In the oblations of Sacraments which are offered vnto our Lord at the solemne time of Masse the passion of our Lord is to be blended that his passion may be celebrated whose body and bloud is made and consecrated so that superstitious opinions being banished bread alone and wine mingled with water be offered in the sacrifice For as we haue receiued from the Fathers and very reason doth teach in the cuppe of our Lord only water or only wine ought not to be offered but both of them mixed togither And a little after Crimes and sinnes are blotted out when these sacrifices are offered therefore the passion of our Lord whereby we were redeemed is to be remembred with such sacrifices our Lord is delighted and shal be appeased and wil pardon huge offences For among sacrifices nothing can be greater then the body and bloud of Christ Neither is there any oblation better then this but this surpasseth them al c. Where you see the present Roman religion deliuered in as formal tearmes as may be There is also much more to the same purpose but I am the briefer in these authorities and doe alleage them more sparingly because Protestants seing them to be beyond al other exceptions doe flatly deny almost al the Epistles and Decretals of the most ancient Popes neuerthelesse they must needes be effectual and haue good place against M. Abbot that doth take vpon him to establish their doctrine put downe ours by the testimony of these the lawful heires and successours vnto the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul alleaging many testimonies out of the very same Epistles Wherefore seing he hath appealed to them he must needes stand to them for this sentence of the President Festus hath his ground in very reason it selfe Act. 25. v. 12. Hast thou appealed to Caesar to Caesar shalt thou goe M. Abbot judged those Popes sentences of sound authority for confirmation of their religion he may not therefore deny them being brought in against him The same Pope Iulius to omit many other cleare testimonies taken out of his owne letters because the Protestants doe cauil at them doth most euidently confirme the soueraigne power of the See of Rome ouer al the East Church euen by the vvitnesse of most approued authours For vpon the
causes but relieth vvholy either vpon the example of reprobate Heretikes or vpon his owne inferences and enforcements drawne out of some darke sentences so shamelesly alleaged for the most part that they are cleane contrary to the plaine testimony of his owne authors in the very same place vvhereas we haue that most renowmed Emperours owne formal and expresse wordes professing himselfe to haue no power to judge ouer Bishops and Church affaires and that also fortified by the sound record of most graue holy and learned Fathers who liued some in his owne daies and some very neare thereunto Let then any man judge if he be not too too partial vvhether I gaue his Majesty wrong to vnderstand when I enformed him that Constantine the great that glorious ornament of our country vvould not take vpon him to be supreme gouernour in causes Ecclesiastical Or vvhether M. Abbot doe not goe about exceedingly to abuse his most excellent Majesty that with such bables foule shifts and manifest lies would perswade him the contrary Hitherto of the Emperours authority in calling of Councels and ouer Bishops so farre forth as M. Abbots objections out of S. Leo ministred just cause Now ere I passe vnto the next Successor of S. Peter and S. Paul which M. Abbot would force to speake in defence of their new Gospel I must according to custome shew in part what this Authour of his S. Leo doth teach in fauour of the Catholike cause that the indifferent reader may judge whether he were rather a Protestant or a Papist as they tearme vs. And because S. Leo is both ancient for he liued about 1200. yeares past and was also a most holy man by whom God did miraculously vvorke euen in his life time Againe for that he was very skilful both in the holy Scriptures and al learned Antiquity Greeke and Latin as may be seene by his Sermons and Epistles specially by the last Epistle written for the instruction of the Emperour called also Leo where he citeth S. Hillary S. Ambrose S. Augustine Latines S. Athanasius Theophilus Cyrillus Patriarkes of Alexandria Gregory Nazianzene S. Basil and S. Iohn Chrysostome Greeke Doctors And finally for that his workes be without al exception euen by the consent of the Protestants yea of such credit vvith them that they are gladde vvhen they can snatch a broken sentence out of him in fauour of their doctrine I wil therefore somewhat more largely cite his sentences in defence of the present Roman religion because they cannot choose but be of great value with al euen-minded men And the better to satisfie M. Abbots demandes I wil frame the order of S. Leos testimonies much thereafter Of the Pope and his Pardons S. Leo taught very much and most plainely as hath beene related in the beginning of this matter Of the Masse and of Transubstantiation he speakeh as perspicuously in very formal tearmes commanding Epist 79. ad Dioscor n. 2. That two Masses be said euery festiual day in great parishes where the people cannot conueniently meete al together at one Ne quaedam pars populi sua deuotione priuetur si vnius tantum Missae more seruato sacrificium offerri non possit nisi qui prima diei parte conuenit Lest some of the people be depriued of their deuotion if the custome of one Masse a day be obserued and the sacrifice may not be offered but at their meeting that come first in the morning In those daies when al men were so deuout to heare Masse that no body would willingly omit to heare one Masse at least euery holy day there was I weene no hundred markes to be forfeited for euery Masse they heard And were they then true Protestants thinke you who so zealously coueted to be present at the sacrifice of the Masse Moreouer S. Leo was so wel assured of the Real presence of Christes blessed body in the Sacrament and knew it to be so clearely acknowledged euen of the vulgar and common sort in those daies that he tooke it for a ground to confute the Eutichian heresie For hauing first declared that those Heretikes by affirming our Sauiour not to haue taken the true flesh of man did destroy his passion and resurrection he adjoineth Epist 22. ad Clerum In what darkenesse of ignorance in what drowsinesse of slouth haue these Eutichians I might as wel say Protestants lien that they could neither by hearing learne nor by reading vnderstand that which in the Church of God is so vniformely voiced and spoken off by euery man that it is not with-holden from the tongues of Infants to wit the truth of the body and bloud of Christ among the Sacraments of the Christian faith c. the substance and summe of S. Leos reason is that our Sauiour gaue his true flesh in the holy Sacrament to be eaten of vs therefore he tooke the true flesh of man otherwise he could not haue giuen it vs to eate ergo Eutiches was deceiued who denied Christ to haue taken the true flesh of man affirming him to haue taken only some shadow or similitude of it And because I am in the matter of Sacraments I vvil joine S. Leos testimony for the vertue of Baptisme In quo saith he foluitur quicquid peccati est Epist 84. ad Aquileiensem Episcopum cum quo nascitur Therefore is one baptised that whatsoeuer there is of sinne in him it may be loosed And after in the same Epistle Infants doe die to original sinne and elder folkes to al manner of sinne in Baptisme vvhich confutes the Protestants opinion that original sinne liueth and raigneth in al men after baptisme Now for the Sacrament of Confession and Satisfaction he is so formal that he hath left no euasion to the most nimble-witted Protestant Publike confession by reason of some inconueniences that thereupon ensued he prohibited but priuate and that which the Protestants cal auricular confession he alloweth and commendeth Epist 78. nu 2. ad vniuersos Episcopos Campaniae these be his wordes I decree that this manner of penance which is so exacted of the faithful that a prefession of euery kinde of sinne be written in a role and rehearsed publikely be wholy abrogated when as it is sufficient that the guilt of consciences be in secret confession declared to Priests alone For albeit that fulnesse of faith seeme laudable which for feare of God doe not stagger to blush before men neuerthelesse seing that some mens sinnes be such that it is not expedient they should be published least their enemies should take hold on them and prosecute them in law let that custome be abolished least many be thereby frighted from the remedies of penance for that confession is sufficient which is tendered first to God then also to the Priest c. Againe in another place Epistola 89. The manifold mercies of God doth so succour mans frailty that not only by the grace of baptisme but by the medicine of penance also
not a word out of him that wil greatly helpe their cause For what saith he that we say not we hold with him that the want of knowledge of the Scriptures is the cause of heresie for he that knoweth and vnderstandeth wel the holy Scriptures can neuer fal into errour or heresie Besides vve denie not but that it is expedient for al men either to reade the Scriptures or to heare them to reade them themselues if they be men of judgement and indued with a lowly spirit carrying with them this rule of S. Peter 2. Pet. 1. vers 19. That the Scriptures as they were not written by a priuate spirit so they must not be vnderstood by a priuate interpretation vvherefore in al darke and doubtful places they must not trust to their owne wit but make their recourse vnto the Catholike Church Ioh 14. v. 26. Ioh. 16. v. 13. 1. Tim. 3. vers 15. Which is directed by the spirit of God into al truth and therefore called the pillar and ground of truth for the true sence and meaning of them Al the rest both Men Women and Children we would haue to heare the holy Scriptures read vnto them and expounded by their lawful Pastours and approued Preachers who are chosen and sent to feede their soules with that heauenly foode of the word of God So that Gregory the ninth differeth nothing from Paul the fift the present Pope of Rome who is fully of the same opinion And M. Abbots audatious assertions to the contrary are but meere slanders For we hold it not pernitious for al sortes of people to reade the Scriptures vnlesse it be in such false translations as the Protestants haue made but haue our selues translated them into the vulgar tongue that al Godly wel minded people of any reasonable capacity may diligently and deuoutly reade them at their good oportunity M. Abbot vvas wont heretofore to alleage some authour or other to giue the better countenance to his lies but now he is faine to face them out himselfe without the helpe of any other and hauing put his special confidence in lying as they did of vvhom the Prophet speaketh Esai 28. Posuimus mendacium spem nostram We haue put our hope in lying he thrusteth them out lightly by huddles False then it is first that we teach the people to be secluded from the reading of Scripture as dogges are from holy thinges for vve would haue none other debarred from reading of them but wauering wilful and peruerse fellowes 2. Pet. 3. vers 16. Who as S. Peter teacheth abuse the holy Scriptures to their owne destruction and to the seducing of others Secondly it is a lie in graine to auouch that we teach the knowledge of the Scriptures to breede errour and heresie vnlesse he meane the corrupt and peruerse knowledge of them which is rather to be tearmed the ignorance of them for the true knowledge of them deliuereth vs from al errour and heresie and settleth vs in the sound doctrine of the Catholike Roman Church True it is that many now a-daies vvho haue some smattering in the vvordes and verses of the text hauing itching eares and wauering minds are the sooner lead away through their little skil in the Scriptures and ouer-great presumption of their owne wits for hearing Heretikes cite for proofe of their heresie some texts of Scripture which they know to be Gods vvord and hauing neither sufficient learning to answere them nor grace to aske counsel therein of the true Pastors of Christs Church vvho would rightly informe them become a pray to the rauening vvolues Againe the very experience of this age doth sufficiently informe an vnderstanding man that the ouer common reading of Gods word by the more rude and vnruly sort hath rather ingendred a corruption of manners then bredde any amendment thereof for euery peeuish scripturist puffed vp with the opinion of his owne learning wil rather take vpon him to be a teacher of others then a practiser of them himselfe And often very preposterously Women wil teach Men Children their Fathers Sheepe their Pastours in a word many wil be jangling about matter of religion and very few studious to liue religiously These disorders I graunt doe not spring directly out of Gods word but out of our corrupt nature too too prone to presumption on our owne skil And there fore let any reasonable man judge vvhether they did not more vvisely who vsed to bridle this itching appetite of reading in the curious and thought it better to binde them to follow the aduise of their spiritual guides which haue charge of their soules then our new bretheren who allow euery Man Woman and Child to read vvhat bookes of Scripture they list and to wrangle about them so commonly S. Paul insinuateth that al places of Scripture are not fit for al sortes of men but in some parts 1. Cor. cap. 3. vers 2. There is milke for sucklings and in others Strong meate for the more perfect And our Sauiour Christ IESVS spake much in parables vvhich are not for euery ones capacity A sword is a good weapon but put it into the hand of a madde man it wil doe more harme then good so if some men get a smattering in holy Scriptures they wil vse it ful madly Wherefore the Catholike Church though shee wish euery child of hers to know so much of the Scriptures as vvil doe them any way good yet shee knowes it to be holesome and very necessary that a moderation be vsed therein according to the discreet aduise and judgement of Godly and prudent Ghostly Fathers ROBERT ABBOT HIEROME and RVFFINVS by the doctrine of the Church of Rome Hier. in Prolog Galiat in Praefat. lib. Salomonis Ruffin in expositione Simboli excluded from Canonical Scripture the same bookes that we doe the bookes of Iudith Tobias Wisdome Ecclesiasticus Baruch and the rest they say plainly Non sunt in Canone non sunt Canonici They are not Canonical nor in the Canon The Church readeth them for instruction of manners not to giue any authority to any Ecclesiastical doctrine But now the Church of Rome wil haue them to be receiued and beleeued for Canonical Scriptures and of equal and like authority withal the other bookes WILLIAM BISHOP I Obserue first that M. Abbot forgetting himselfe vvhich is a foule fault in a liar and leauing his owne prescript order is now fallen cleane from S. Peter and S. Pauls successours the Bishops of Rome Secondly that he neuerthelesse holds his old custome in lying I winke at that petty lie that he thrusteth in Baruch among the rest vvhich his Authors doe not but may not dissemble this greater for whereas he saith Hierome and Ruffinus by the doctrine of the Church of Rome exclude from Canonical Scripture the same bookes that we doe therein he fableth for though they so did yet did they it not by the doctrine of the Church of Rome For Innocentius the first Pope of Rome
of the present Roman Church he may vpon very smal consideration be reclaimed and brought to reforme his errours For to S. Peter himselfe who was afterwards Bishop of Rome was giuen euen by our Sauiour Christ IESVS ful power and authority to pardon whatsoeuer he saw fit to be pardoned Math. 16. vers 19. To thee I giue saith he the keies of the Kingdome of heauen whatsoeuer thou loosest or doest pardon vpon earth shal be pardoned in heauen And if S. Peter might loose any sinne how hainous soeuer much more might he release some part of the temporal paine which was due to sinne vvhich is properly to giue a libel of pardon the like power had S. Paul who did in the person of Christ 2. Cor. 2. vers 10. Cyprian l. 3. Epist 15. Pardon the incestuous Corinthian by cutting off some part of his penance vvhich otherwise he had beene to suffer for his former sinnes vvhich were then forgiuen S. Cyprian and the Bishops and Clergy in those auncient daies of the primitiue Church did vse to pardon and release the penance injoyned to grieuous offendours after their repentance at the intercession and request of the Confessors and designed Martirs as hath beene before declared The most authentike Councel of Nice doth declare Cōcil Nicen. cap. 12. that it is lawful for Bishops to deale more mildly and fauourably vvith them vvhom they saw to performe their injoyned penance seriously vvhich was to graunt them a pardon Leo. Epist 77 ad Nicetum num 6. The very same doth Leo the great vvho was Bishop of Rome aboue 1100. yeares past teach most plainly willing the Bishop to release of the due penance injoined what he thought good which is properly to giue indulgence or pardon I omit here Pope Siluester his predecessour and S. Gregory the great one of his successours because I haue before alleaged them not doubting but that these few so auncient so graue so learned vvil suffice to satisfie and instruct him that is willing to learne And as for communicating the same authority to others vvho can reasonably doubt of it considering that the power of absoluing from sinne which is farre greater then the other is imparted to al both Bishops and Parish Priests I haue also before proued most manifestly Leo. Epist 82 ad Anastat Gregor lib. 4. Epist 6. ad Episcop Arelat that both S. Leo and S. Gregory most worthy Bishops did as delegate their authority vnto other Bishops so reserue vnto their owne hearing and judgement the causes of greatest difficulty vvherefore M. Abbot if he wil hearken vnto reason cannot choose but hold himselfe therein fully satisfied He recuiles backe to Indulgences and multiplieth his demands about one and the same matter like to a Cooke that hauing but one sort of meate to serue in doth mince it into many mammocks and then make thereof sundry dishes Can the Pope saith he for saying such or such praiers or for doing this or that release a man from Purgatory for an hundreth or a thousand yeares What a question is this if the Pope can distribute indulgences as hath beene before proued no doubt but he can the rather doe it by injoyning the party that receiueth them to say vvithal some praiers or to doe some other good vvorkes for thereby the party doth the better deserue to be made partaker of the other grace But can he release a soule out of Purgatory for a thousand yeares Yes marry can he and that too not for some certaine number of yeares but for euer and euer The reason is for that the soules there are members of the same body that we are and there capable of the same graces of pardon vvhereof also they stand in very great neede according to the truth of Christian doctrine howsoeuer the Protestants doe erroneously thinke the contrary reade the Question of Purgatory And touching the present purpose among many other pardons graunted by S. Gregory the great there is to be seene vntil this day one Altar by him erected in the Monastery of S. Andrewes in Rome where he was himselfe first Nouice and afterwardes Abbot where at vvhosoeuer said Masse for a soule in Purgatory shal deliuer one there-hence Concerning the Iubilee which is free and ful pardon graunted once in fiue and twenty yeares vnto euery one that shal visit seauen Churches in Rome that yeare some fifteene times or thereabouts what new difficulty can there be about that yea it is as the most renowmed pardon that is graunted so the most reasonable for it can be obtained but once in fiue and twenty yeares and then exceeding hardly by vnder going a long costly and painful journey to the citty of Rome and by exercising there al the workes of piety and mercy as fasting praying and giuing of almes making general confession and receiuing the blessed Sacrament and often visiting of many Churches and Altars Those most godly meanes of training men to true repentance and satisfaction for their former faults and amendmēt of their liues if the Protestant religion were acquainted withal there would be among them some checke and stoppe of their vvicked courses But if they vvil needes sinne on themselues and neuer giue ouer nor amend vntil Gods judgments fal vpon them yet let them not be offended at vs that doe aduise al men to labour in time for such indulgences that they may escape the due punishment of their sinnes either in this vvorld or in the next Is it not also most probable and likely if those good soules vvho to doe some satisfaction for their former euil liues and to serue God more deuoutly in those holy places where some of the holy Apostles and an innumerable company of valiant Martirs and holy Confessors liued and died doe die by the way in that Godly purpose that they are carried by Angels to heauen as Lazarus was into Paradise we pray to God to command such by his holy Angels to be brought into Abrahams bosome as may be seene in the Masse for the dead But Balaeus in Latin and Bale the Irish Apostata in English M. Abbots worthy authour reporteth that Clement the sixt himselfe did command the Angels to carry them into Paradise No great regard is to be had vvhat such a lying lewd fellow relates and so I thinke him vnworthy any other answere Touching Canonization of Saints we hold that the Bishops of the prouinces vvhere their vertuous liues and most godly deathes cōfirmed by miracles are best knowne did alwaies from the beginning of christian religion declare and testifie to the Church that they were to be esteemed of al men for Saints Since it hath beene found most expedient that the vvhole course of the life and death of such being by most diligent inquisition tried out and taken in the places of their aboade be afterwardes sent to Rome there to be also throughly examined first and then accordingly to be declared Saints by the highest Pastor of the Church that
no man of any other country might afterwards doubt of their so approued sanctity To M. Abbots question I then answere that euen by the order of S. Peter and S. Paul Clemens l. 8. Constit c. 39. S. Stephen was Canonized for a Martir and a festiual day kept in remembrance of his glorious death The like order was obserued for the Apostles and other Martirs And from that time downe to this time I could proue if neede were Canonization of Saints not only by the Bishops of Rome but by the testimony and practise of the best Bishops and Doctors of the Christian religion vvhat ignorance then in al antiquity doth this man bewray by this impertinent demand More impudent yet is this his next Who euer beleeued or taught as it is now in the Roman Church that the Bishops blessing is the forgiuenesse of venial sinnes He citeth in the Margent the Annotations in the Rhemes Testament vpon the 10. of S. Mathew and 12. verse vvhich being looked into doth conuince M. Abbot of vnspeakable impudency Lib. 9. in Lucam L. 22. de Ciuit Dei c. 8. He saw there S. Ambrose alleaged formally to confirme that the Bishops blessing doth remit venial sinnes He could not choose also but see S. Augustine and others quoted in the Margent in commendation of the Bishops blessing vvho else where vvith the Councel of Carthage reproueth the Pelagian Heretikes Epistola 90. for holding that the Bishops blessing was giuen to the people in vaine Seing then that both S. Ambrose and S. Augustine with other more auncient Fathers and Doctors of the Church did grounding themselues vpon Christes owne word and promise teach that the Bishops blessing vvas of great vertue and that it doth namely forgiue venial sinnes by the verdict at least of S. Ambrose that most holy and learned Bishop whose antiquity grauity and sanctity is more to be respected then a thousand of such light prophane Abbots was it not I say incredible and most shameful audacity to demand who euer beleeued or taught that when he saw before his eies such worthy Authours alleaged for it this passeth so farre al ordinary audatious impudency that I know not how to stile it Other innouations he wil of courtesie passe ouer to further occasion but for these jolly points whereof the greatest is scarce worth a pinne he requireth satisfaction vvhich being so readily and easily giuen him he wil belike become a new man if he could once be perswaded to giue ouer lying and trusting to his artificial colouring of lies In the meane season this which I haue said wil I hope serue to satisfie the indifferent reader that the principal pillars of the Church of Rome in her most flourishing estate haue in al points taught the same doctrine that the present Church of Rome doth now teach And it is one of M. Abbots truthes that is to say a most bright glistering vntruth that as Theseus shippe was in continuance of time by putting in of new plankes wholy altered so is now the doctrine of the Church of Rome For I haue before most euidently proued out of authentike recordes of the ancient Bishops of Rome that they beleeued and taught the Real presence and sacrifice of the Masse Praying to Saints Worshipping of their Relikes and Images Purgatory and praier for the dead Auricular confession Workes of satisfaction and supererogation Merit of good workes the Vowes of religious persons the Popes supremacy Briefly al the points in controuersie betweene the Protestants and vs as may more at large be seene in the reformation of M. Perkins Deformed Catholike vvherefore the similitude of Theseus shippe which M. Abbot borrowed of a Catholike treating of another subject vvil not serue his turne but may be more aptly returned vpon themselues vvho bragge and beare the world in hand that they haue reformed al the errours of the Church and brought it vnto the purity of the Apostles times vvhereas in truth they haue plucked vp most of the plankes and boordes of Christes shippe by oppugning most of the articles of the Christian faith and doe what in them lieth to build vp a rotten Thesean shippe of old condemned errours to steale away the golden fleece of Christes true shippe that is to pil and poul the true Catholike Christian of that white fleece of innocency which he receiued in baptisme or recouered by reconciliation to saile after Theseus towardes Paganisme and the infernal gulfe of hel Now because M. Abbot hath here indeauoured to staine the pure and cleane sanctity of our religion with the spots and yron-mooles of errors and heresie I wil to requite his paines giue a touch vnto some special points of erronious doctrine noted by the best Authours for such in expresse tearmes vvhich the Protestants haue as it were raked out of the dunghil of rascal and reprobate miscreants and doe now a-fresh deliuer the same nothing in manner disguised vnto their miserable followers for the purity of the Gospel Yea some of the same are so euident and cleare that they are constrained to defend the authours of them for learned and godly men though by al antiquity they vvere condemned for ignorant and infamous Heretikes and to note the most holy and best vnderstanding and juditious Fathers as lesse skilful then these other erring companions For example Aërius both a knowne and professed Arrian Heretike and also vnknowne to the world for any monument of learning or vertue and therefore likened by Epiphanius to a Beetle and Horse-flie only notorious for these his errours taught first That we ought not to offer sacrifice or to pray for the soules departed Secondly That we ought not to keepe any set times or appointed daies of fasting but when any man wil then let him fast that we may not seeme to be vnder the law For these two points specially that Arrian Aërius vvas Cronicled for a notorious Heretike both by Epiphanius a most holy learned and auncient Grecian Bishop and by S. Augustine one of the most famous lights of the Latin Church the later of whom liued 1200. yeares past Neuerthelesse the Protestants preferre the odde inuentions of that contemptible obscure and blinde Arrian before the judgement of these most renowmed Doctors of Christs Church Must he not then be a very simple or rather sencelesse creature that vnderstanding so much vvil notwithstanding follow them Againe Iouinian was so meane a scholler that he was not able to write his owne minde in good and congruous latin wherefore S. Hierome vvas faine to helpe him out with it and doth as he tearmeth it out of his darke vvorkes cast serpents as it vvere out of their holes into the light Lib. 1. cont Iouin cap. 1. that they may be seene and slaine What vvere these venimous blinde-wormes trow you you shal heare in that most zealous and learned Doctors owne words Iouinian saith first Lib. 1. cont Iouin cap. 2. That Virgins Widowes and married Women baptized if they differ not
other countries or vvas there euer such a shamelesse writer as M. Abbot that blusheth not to set out in print such monstrous and notorious lies that in falshood exceede al fictions of Poets and Painters and in malice doe match vvith any deuilish deuise whatsoeuer Oh into what lamentable calamity is our poore Country fallen that must haue such cosening Companions such false Hypocrites and most impudent Liars for the guides of their soules to saluation and for the only teachers of al spiritual doctrine Can any man that injoyeth the right vse of his senses giue credit and trust vnto them vvho make no conscience but a cōmon custome to lie al manner of lies nay such a one if they be wise they should not beleeue when he telleth them a truth which they doe otherwise know For Demetrius Phaleius being asked what euil did follow a liar Marry saith he that no man afterward beleeue him when he telleth truth And good reason for how knoweth he vvhether he doe not lie then as he was accustomed to doe before He therefore that wil be sure not to be deceiued must neither giue credit vnto M. Abbot vvho is plainely conuicted to haue told very many grosse and palpable lies Any plaine honest man must needes much maruaile to behold or heare that he who maketh profession of Gods pure word and the truth of the Gospel should take such a special delight in lying but he must remember that al is not gold that glisters Al be not true Pastors of Christes flocke that come in sheepe-skinnes Al be not sincere teachers of Gods word that take vpon them to be Preachers And no one more assured touch of counterfaite coyne no plainer proofe of a rauening vvolfe and false teacher then such often and euident lying For as God is the truth it selfe and al his doctrine most true so are they vvith truth alone to be vpholden and defended Iob. 13. v. 7. What saith holy Iob hath God neede of our lies or that we should speake deceitfully in his cause no verily for the truth is strong enough of it selfe to confound falshood Fortis est veritas praeualet But the Deuils cause it is that needeth to be bolstered out and vnder-propped with lies Iohan. 8. vers 44. For he is a liar and the Father of lies And without lying no falshood can be deceitfully coloured and made to appeare and seeme truth He then that wil be fedde vvith lies let him take the Deuil to his Father and M. Abbot or some other such like of his lying Ministers for his Master A certaine Minister being told that M. Abbot was reputed much to blame and very hardly censured by many discreet persons for that he had vsed so much deceit and leasinges in his writinges answered forsooth in his defence that he could not bely the Papists and their cause too much What can be said vnto such shamelesse persons surely nothing else but that the new light of their Gospel is now growne to his perfection vvhen as the brochers of it doe not only vnder-hand colourably paint it out with lies but are not ashamed openly to maintaine that they cannot lie to much in that cause O holy cause that needeth the helpe of lies But good master Minister be better aduised I pray you and rather hearken vnto the graue counsaile of the auncient Preacher Eccles 4. vers 26. Ne accipias faciem aduersus faciem tuam aduersus animam tuam mendacium take not falshood that is the face of the Deuil against truth vvhich is the true face of euery reasonable creature made after the Image of God and doe not admit lying against thine owne soule Sapient 1. vers 11. For the tongue that lieth killeth the soule Yea it doth not only kil his owne soule that lieth but the others also that beleeueth his lies blinding him with errors and so leading him blindfold into hel fire Math. 15. vers 14. For when the blinde guideth the blinde they both fal into the ditch Wherefore good Sir if you wil not yet a while make open profession to cast away your owne soule vvilfully and to leade al your followers after you to eternal damnation doe not for very shame vphold and maintaine open lying But if it be Gods good pleasure that you your selues shal make kowne to the vvorld that yee doe not only vse lying but also defend it as lawful necessary to vnder-proppe your badde cause then my trust in Gods infinite goodnesse and mercies is that the Moone-shine of your obscure Gospel waneth a-pace and the daies of your deceit draw towardes an end For howsoeuer you like iniquity and allow of leasinges Psal 5. v 6. God as the Prophet Dauid teacheth doth hate al them that worke iniquity and wil destroy al them that speake lies by bestowing vpon his faithful and prudent seruants such heauenly light and grace as they may easily discerne the juggling and false trickes of Protestant teachers 2. Tim 3. vers 9. For not their folly only as the Apostle speaketh but their falshood also and trechery are now sufficiently discouered and made manifest vnto al men of any reasonable capacity and study Wherefore al that haue tasted of the true gifts of Christes spirit vvil follow them no longer in their most dangerous and damnable courses but fly as fast and as farre from such false Prophets as poore sheepe doe from the jawes of rauening wolues and with speede returne happily vnto the only true fold of Christes flocke the holy Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church there to learne and imbrace that sincere auncient faith and pure religion vvhich only can saue their soules and which being planted by Christ and his Apostles hath euer since continued and brought forth aboundance of diuine fruit al the world ouer Which God almighty of his incomprehensible bounty graunt through the inestimable merits of IESVS CHRIST our most gratious Lord and Sauiour to whom vvith the Father and the holy Ghost be al honour prayse and glory for now and euer AMEN PRINTED ANNO DOMINI M. D.C.VIII A BRIEFE ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER I Haue hitherto set downe M. Abbots owne text word by word that the juditious reader comparing it with my answere may truly discerne vvhat substance is in his writing And how farre forth he is to credit him in the rest that hath in the first and best part of his booke behaued himselfe so insufficiently in matter of learning and dealt so dishonestly in the manner of handling of it There remaines behinde in this answere vnto my Epistle some light skirmishes and vaine friuolous brauadoes vpon those points of controuersie which I in one sentence only touched in the same Epistle excepting much foule speech and many slanderous lies which he plentiful powreth out by the way in both vvhich masteries I willingly leaue to him the bucklers Now because those his discourses are as it vvere scopae dissolutae not arguments soundly knit togither and set in any good aray but a feeble loose idle and disordered kinde of wrangling besides also the very same questions be afterwardes handled againe distinctly and particularly I haue judged it farre better to handle throughly euery controuersie in his due place then first lightly to skimme them ouer in hast as he hath done and afterward like vnto one that had either forgotten or ouer-shotten himselfe to recoile and turne backe againe to treate of the same matter more orderly and substantially vvhich course I hope wil not be misliked of the wise Take courteous Reader this that is already finished in good part If thou finde any thing in it to thy liking giue the glory to God And if thou be Catholike helpe me vvith thy good praiers that he who hath giuen me grace to beginne may increase his blessings vpon me to bring it to a good and perfect end The end of the first Part. FINIS COVRTEOVS READER I must needes acquaint thee with a notable legerdemaine which by perusing the Authour I found out after the rest was printed M. Abbot to proue that the Pope had no authority in Scotland 1200. yeares after Christ auerreth Page 117. that Alexander the second vtterly for-badde the Popes Legate to enter within his Kingdome which is not true For his Authour Mathew Paris declareth In Hērico 30 page 667. that the King indeede did at the first oppose himselfe against that visitation of his Kingdome to be made by the said Legate not for that he did not acknowledge the Popes supreme authority in those Ecclesiastical causes but because it was needlesse the matters of the Church being as he said in good order and for feare of ouer-great charges Nay further the said King did write a large letter vnto the Pope himselfe as the very same Authour recordeth where he first acknowledgeth In Hērico 30 page 873. that very person to be his Holinesse Legate as wel in Scotland as in England and Ireland Moreouer the King confesseth that he himselfe his heires and subjects were and would be obedient vnto the Popes jurisdiction and censures with much more to the same purpose Which alone is sufficient to conuince M. Abbot to be so perfidious and without al conscience in alleaging auncient Authours that no man who wil not willingly be blindly ledde by him can repose any trust in his allegations Good Reader beare with faultes in printing which besides false pointing be not many The principal that I remember are these Page 169 line 21 For Constantius the fourth reade Constantine the fourth and so in al that matter following treating of Pope Agatho his obedience to the said Emperour Page 170 line 32 though Emperour reade although an Emperour Page 186 line 21 for Concilij Praesidijs reade Concilij Praesidibus page 198 line 8 in the allegation of S. Leo there wants in the margent the quotation of his 23. Epistle to Martianus Augustus for the vvorship of Relikes Pag. 213 lin 27 for passed reade possessed pag. 261 line 25 for and ego reade an ego page 272 line 16 for Vndoubtly reade Vndoubtedly