vrge I saye That if the Catholick Romane Church had departed from any other extant Church that enioyeth à succession of Pastors vp to the Apostles time that they would name the time when she fell away from that Church name the Companie of Christians of more Auncient and of different fayth from whence she is departed Tell where this Christian companie more Auncient is extant Rehearse the succession of their Pastors out of Ecclesiasticall records For seing it is à prophesie drawne from aknowledged Scriptures on all sides and from the acknowledged sence on all sides That Christ Church shall forever enioy continewally Pastors and Doctors for the worke of the Ministrie that is for preaching the worde and administringe the Sacraments The verification of this prophesie can be drawne from noe other testimonie then the evidence of Ecclesiasticall history And truly it is à strange incredible thinge That seeinge Christ Church is soe visible as she is compared to à Tabernacle placed in the sonne to à light not hidd vnder à bushell but placed on à Candlesticke and finally to à Citty of everlastinge foundation builded vpon à mountaine which was in such manner without anie limit of tyme to shine to the world to witt Cheiffly by her Pastors and Teachers the lights therof soe that it cannot be hidd How is it possible that if there were extant any such Auncient Compaine of Christians but that some historie would give some testimonie of her succession of Pastors and Apostolicall Acts and certainlie if men were voide of reason or sence perad venture they might be perswaded that for nine hundred yeares together men had noe eyes noe eares and noe tongues as easilie as that there was à more Aūcient Church which had Pastors that had noe tongues to preach with had such members as had neither eyes nor eares to see and heare their Pastors to administer the worde and Sacraments and yeld anie testimonie that they eyther sawe or heard such Pastors and Doctors and questionles some historians that lived in those dayes would mention the departure of the Romane Church soe renowued for her fayth through the world if she had made anie deperture from such à more Auncient Christian Companie professing à different fayth Wher were the watchmen God placed vpon the walles of his Church that should not hold their peace neither night nor daye Esay 62. were they asleepe and silent when soe notorious à breach was made were the Pastors and Doctors which Christ had given to his Church for the worke of the Ministrie vnto the consummation of the number of the elect and vntill wee mett all in the vnitie of fayth Ephes. 4. were not I saye these Pastors and Doctors able to confirme in sownd doctrine and stoutlie and corragiously even with importunitie to reprehended and argue the Romane Catholiques for the introduction of such grosse errors as Protestants accuse the Romane Church to haue been possessed with for soe maine ages Could they take notice of the least chinkes of the Churches walles that is of the few errors of fayth in comparison of those the Romane Church is accused of by Protestants which eyther Arians Pelagians Marchionists Manicheans c. attempted to haue made And onely were they vnable to argue the Romane Church Or were they partiall or corrupted to be silent and dombe vntill Papistrie over-ran and possessed the whole Christian world And did the Holie Ghost which by Christ infalliblie was promised to abyde forever with these Pastors to teach them all truth forsake them soe maine ages and at last take their flight to à Sacrilegious Luxurious Apostata Martin Luther and à branded Sodomite Iohn Calvin who at last should discover the Romane Churches deperture from the more Auncient Christian Church God knowes in what imaginarie spaces extant to be fownd Credite posteri Noe noe soe farr is the Romane Church from havinge departed from any other more Auncient extant compagny of Christians professinge à different fayth as that her greatest enemyes witnesse the contrarie D. Feild l. 3. de Eccle. C. 13. sayth the Romane Church allwayes had Communion with those Churches which never fell into error D. Sutcliffe allsoe pressed with the truth doth acknowledge in his answere to à Masse Preists petition That the Romane Church never departed from anie visible companie of Christians Bunny in his Treatis of pacification sayth that she allwayes communicated with the true Church and never went from the Christian cōpanie Yea Cassander much magnified by Protestants sayth that the Romane Church is to be reverenced as beinge the true Church of God And Somes in his defence against Penrie sayth that by the Iudgment of all learned men and of all the reformed Churches the true Church is the Papistrie Iohn White in his defence C. 41. in the name of his fellowes sayth wee professe the Romane Church in all ages to haue been the visible Church of God wee never doubt sayth Feild li 3. de Eccl. But that the Churches wherin those holie men S. Bernarde S. Dominike c. did liue and die were the true Churches of God and held the savinge profession of heavenlie truth yea Luther whom with tytle of Father of Protestants M. Whitakers honoreth sayes in his Epist. against the Anabaptist wee confesse that all Christian good is in the Papacie and that from thence it came downe to vs And in the selfe some place he sayth I saye farther that in the Papasie is the true Christianitie yea and the true curnell of Christianitie And Anthonie Saddell in his booke de rebus graniss controversis c. titulo de legitima vocatione Pastorum Ecclesiae reformatae affirmes that sundrie Protestants Confesse that the Ministers with them to be destitute of Lawfull callinge as not havinge à contineual visible succession from the Apostles time which they doe attribute only to the Papists And M. Fu'ke allsoe accordinglie sayth Yow can name the notable persons in all ages in their government and ministrie and especially the succession of the Popes yow can rehearse in order vpon your fingers soe he in his auswere to à Counterfett Catholique It beinge then made manifest by the Text of Canonicall Scriptures the testimonies of the approved auncient Fathers yea and from the plaine Confession of the Learned Protest so powerfull is truth as she extorts weapons from her adversaries in her owne defence that it is an insepable true marke of Christ his Church his spowse which is but one that she shall allwayes enioy Pastors and Doctors rightly to administer the word and Sacraments Insomuch as wher there is à cessatiō or want of these Pastors given for the worke of the Ministrie vntill wee all meet in the vnity of fayth There can be noe Church and consequently noe salvation And seeing alsoe this Marke agreeth not with Protest or any other congregation saue only the Romane Church as hath aboundontly bin declared it followeth by à necessary sequell that the Romane Church is the onely Church to which
Heathers Heathens Ibid put out Math. 28. P. 63. Captiuite Captiuate Ibid. Madmes Madnesse THE CONTENTS THE cause of vvriting this manifest pag. 1. The reall Motiues of making his Search into matters of Religion p. 2. A fitt disposition for the finding out the truth of Religion p. 4. The false deating of Protestant vvriters acknovvledged by themselues p. 6. The blasphemous absurdities of Protestants auouching the Church to haue perished p. 7 The vnion of Sectaries vvhich principally consistes in their common conspiracy against the Romane and Catholique Church VVhat it argues p. 8. The reason vvhy none vvith à safe conscience can adheare to the English Church p 9. The guile full deceipt of Heritickes pretending to flie to the Scripture p. 10. VVhether Protestants haue infallibly any true Scripture to dispute out of or to build their faith on from the 10. to the 13. Theire falsifying the Scriptures and vnconscionable dealing in commending them to the people for the pure vvord of God p. 14. That Protestants can not proue any thing assuredly out of Scripture p. 16. The cunning of Heretickes in affirming the Church can erre that they take avvay all meanes of ending controuersies in Religion p. 17. The manifold old heresies Protestants haue renevved p. 18. to the 20. Their contempt of the Churches authority makes them guilty of Antichristian pride p. 20. VVhat effect the consideration of the Prementioned absurdities vvrought p. 21. The perpetuall visibility or succession of Pastours as the marke of Christes Church vvhich is but one established p. 22. of vvhich also p. 66. c. That the Fathers fled therevnto to confute heretikes p. 23. to 26. proued The Argument demonstrating that only the Romane Church is Christs true Church founded on the inseparable marks therof p. 26. Protestants Confessions that their Church vvas not in the ages before Luther but that truth was vnknovvne an vniuersall Apostacy ouer spreading the vvorld till his coming p. 27. to 31. The consequence dravvn from their style of Reformed Church incompatible in points of faith vvith Christs true Church p. 30. Their euasions of the Argument confuted p. 31. A triall by expresse Scripture of the controuerted points of Religion p. 32. to 38. Protestants impious dealing vvith Scriptures p. 39. to 43. A Triall by the auncient Fathers according to Protestants ovvne Confessions p. 44. The deepe hypocrisy of Ievvel the English Protestants grand champion in Appealing to the Fathers p. 47. The vanity also of Witthaker therin p. 48. Also VVillets diabolicall dissimulation in that point p. 49. The exeerable blasphemy vvhich folovveth from Protestāts pretēded Reformation of the Church p. 51. A Further prosecution of the Argument against other Sectes p. 53. Protestants Confessions in behalfe of the Romane Church that she vvas the true Church and that she never fell p. 55. to 61. The issue or result of the former discourse and the Authours Resolution p. 61. 62. c. An Ansvver to the obiection of differring his Conuersion to the Romane Church p. 72. The Fathers testimonies of her p. 68. c. The Conclusion and reason vvhy he so much vseth the Protestants confessions and testimonies p. 75. M. W. P. MANIFESTE TO HIS FRIENDS IN IVSTIFICATION Of his abandoning the English Church and becoming Catholique BEINGE not ignorant but very sensible how falsely my brother is voyced to haue seduced me such is theire phrase they please to vse to become Catholique and againe how temerariously noe lesse vniustly my selfe is accused of Levitie and inconstancy for abandoninge the Protestant reformed Congregation I haue therfore thought it à very behouefull part to declare my selfe breifly by this ensueinge manifest as well to clere my brother as to render your selfe an dmy other best freinds some satisfactory accoumpt in iustification of myne owne Action First then although my brother doe much ioy with the Angells for my Conversion as I doubt not but all godly people doe and might much more haue gloryed had he been the Instrument or Agent therof yet vpon my resolution I assure yow he was soe great à stranger unto it as that he knew me not to be otherwise then à Protestāt before that some weeks after my reconsiliation to the Church of Christ I tould him I was à Catholique Yea soe farr was he from conceavinge any hopes that way as that he ingeniously and playnly tould me that I was one of the prophanest Spiritts that ever he heard speake against his Religion How then was he an Actor in my Conversion to the Catholique Church that was not onely such à stranger to it but allso in à manner dispayringe therof As Concerninge the obiected Levity I sincerly protest it was the due Consideration of the vanityes of these transitory affayrs the vncertaynty of this present life the Innumerable daingers that therin occurre the Dreadfull Iudgement that I was to vndergoe and the fynall sentence of eternall Ioye or misery never dyeing but everlastinge wich I was to receive These important poynts I say seriously pondered and not levity occasioned my search into matters of Religion on the verity or falsety wherof accordingly depends the salvation or damnation of every mans soule which is the Vnum necessarium to vse the Gospell phrase that aboue all affaires is to be regarded What exchange will à man make for his soule Verily by the irrefragable testimony of our Sauiour If he gaynes the whole world he profitts nothinge if he suffer damage therof Vnderstand yee these things that forgett God whilst peradvēture ther will not be any to redeeme yow Ps. 49. Oh all yee who are enthraled by the loue of perissinge riches temporall honnors Carnall freinds and wordly respects who by their actions and deeds deny God nothinge fearinge the fynall sentence of eternall woe or wellfare Oh all yee I say tymely consider and take to hart this most Consequent affaire least hereafter when it will be too late ther wil be none to releive or succor you and therfore lett vs while wee haue tyme worke good for our soules Let vs now I say while it is A nunc acceptabile seeke our Lorde while he may be fownd and be prepared to ascertayne our selues in the knowledge and embracement of the one Catholique Church out of which ther is noe salvation least when wee little thinke of it the Sonne of man will come to call vs to à dreadfull accoumpt and finde vs Et minus habentes ad recte credendum tardos And forasmuch as that in the Inquest after soe weightye an argument ther can be noe worse preparatiue disposition and more disadvantagious to the findinge out of the soule savinge truth then to haue aforehand an over wayueringe conceipt of the one syde and to be prepossest by preiudicate opinion of the other part I was resolued vtterly to divest my selfe of the passions of loue or hatred towards eyther syde and dilligently with the impartiall eye of Charity to looke into the principales of both Catholique and
Protestant Ministers and teachers haue of any Lawfull ordination or vocation for their pretensiue reformation and departure from the Roman Church with whom sometyme their Sect-masters were vnyted in Communyon of fayth but their owne errable authoritye And consequently seinge their Church can erre how can Protestants be assured that their Church doth not erre in Condemninge the Roman Church of superstition Or how can the vulgar be sure they are taught the truth when their teachers themselues confesse that their Church and all their Pastors may lye In à word noe Protestant can produce any prooffe on t of Scriptures in his owne defence or impugnation of Catholique Religion but it is glossed or expounded litterallie or misticallie eyther by his Church or his owne private Spiritt If by his Church what Certaynty or security when confessedlie she may erre If by his private Spiritt much lesse is he free from error And indeed by how much the more I heare and see Protestants amayne striue to maintayne that the Church may erre in matters of Fayth it renders me more averse from them and Iustly to suspect their Religion for that they seeme to be heires of vnworthie progenitors to witt of the Arians who taught all Counsells to be subject to error The hereticall Donatists who condemned the whole Church of Error As lykewise of the Wiklefians and Waldenses And would yow know the fundamentall reason of this their assertion Truely ther is noe other then that by disgraceinge the Churches authoritie whith errability their doctrine might be exempted from the note of heresie and themselues avoyd the tytle of hereticks for if the Church could erre in the determynation of controuersies of Religion why might not the decrees of the Church in Condemninge of hereticks be called in question and soe in fine ther would remayne noe meanes to know who are hereticks for if yow goe to the scripture which they whith great forwardnes will alledge and seclude the Churches exposition of the true sence they can never be Convinced but will allsoe easilye elude whatsoever Text can be brought against them as long as themselues be iudges of the controversie and sense And whem I Consider the many doctrines renewed by Protestants which formerly haue been Condemned by the Church as hereticall Noveltyes cōtrary to the fayth generally and aunciently professed how can I againe imagine otherwise then that they maintayne this dangerous and absurd position of the Churches errabilitie for noe other end then that their doctrine might be the betther freed from the Censure of heresies for what is not the denyinge of mans frewill the heresie of Simon Magus Is not the affirmeinge that distinction and order ought not to be observed in the Church of God the heresie of the Prepusians Is not the denyinge that all synnes are forgiuen by the Sacrament of pennance the heresie of the Nouatians Is not denyinge of the water of Baptisme to availe any thinge to our salvation one of the heresies of the Mamkeans Is not the denyinge to offer sacrifice for the Dead ād that ther is noe difference betwene à Bissopp and à simple Preist and that the fasting dayes of the Church ought not to be kept the heresies of Aeriaus Is not the affirmation that by fayth onely men maye obtayne life everlastinge the heresie of the Eunomians Is not the theachinge that Infants may be saued without Baptisme one of the heresyes of the Pelagians Is not the theachinge Marryage to be as acceptable to God as virginitie and that it is lawful for Nonnes and Monkes to Marry the heresies of Iouinian Is not the denyinge the intercession of Saints And the honoringe of the Martyrs reliques the heresies of Vigilantius Is not the breaking downe the Images of our Lorde Iesus and of his Saints the Iconomachians heresie Is not the denyinge of the body of our Lorde Iesus to be really present in the Sacrament of the Alter the heresie of Beringarius In à worde to omitte many other renewed heresies of the Albigenses Waldenses Wicklifts Hussitts and other detestable hereticks many yeares agoe condemned by the Church of God Is not the denyall of the possibility of Gods Comaundements condemned as the famous and auncient Doctors S. Ierome S. Augustin witnes Condemned I saye in certayne ould hereticks yea verilie What marvill then is it that when they see their Doctrine Condemned of hereticall novelty if they contemne the Churches authority in Generall Counsells and reiect the auncient Fathers As patrons of Papistrie Note What marvill I saye seeinge in these they finde their condemnation in most Articles now in contestation if they affirme the Churches errabilitie in matters of Fayth True it is as S. Paul sayes that an heretick is condemned by his owne Iudgment seeinge he disclaymes from the authority of Gods Churchs Which is the pillar and foundation of truth and betrampleth the Pastors and Doctors lights of the Church in which he manifestly preferreth himselfe before the holy Ghost the ruler and director of the Church Accordinge to Christ infallible promise Note And what is this else but to extoll himselfe aboue God Super omne quod dicitur Deus Which is one of the speciall markes of Antichrist and yet this Antichristian arrogancie in treadinge vnderfoot the diffinitions of the Church and the authority of the auncyent Fathers and Doctors therof is the verie mayne grownd of Reformers And therfore Peter Martyr one of the pryme wpholders of the Reformed Church endoctrinates his fellowes with this principle sayinge That soe longe as wee stand to the Counsells and Fathers soe longe wee shall remayne in the Papists errors Lib. de votis Oh when I seriously considered and discussed the former discourse with many daingerous Consequences which thence yssued and seeinge my selfe to sayle in the barke of such à Congregation which had noe assured safegard against eternall Shippwrack it was high time to leaue her and spedily to imploy all my endeavours for findinge out of that Church which is the Arke of safetye the mother of the faythfull the pillar of truth Soe beutifull à spouse of Christ which hath neyter spott nor wrincle soe infallible à Iudge of all Controversies of Religion as whosoever shall refuse to receive her sentence is to be reputed as à Heathen and Publican It is this vnspotted Church not lyable to error in fayth espoused to Christ for ever who is with her to the consummation of the world and directs her by the holy Spiritt which shall abyde whith her for ever and teach her all truth It is this vnspotted spouse of Christ I saye my cares were incumbant spedily to procure for my mother to the end I might haue God for my Father The Caracteristicall and insepable marke of Christ Church which is but one is that in her shall allwayes be found Pastors and Teachers for the Contineuall preachinge of the word and administration of the Sacraments the ordynarie meanes necessarie to Salvation To this effect are alledged these words
grosse survay of Poperie is soe bould to nickname antiquitie the alleagtion of the holie Councell vnder S. Silvester aboue thirtene hundred yeares agoe hestilles Thevaine shew of Moath worme Antiquitie and wheras Bellarmin thinketh it à probable opinion that Antichrist shal be of the Tribe of Dan For that manie of the Auncient Fathers probablie soe held namely S. Ireneus Hippolitus Ambrus Augustine Prosper Theodorett S. Gregory c. M. Willett without ever strayninge of Curtesie calleth them playne Hereticks It is à verie fable and Couseninge device of Heretickes quoth he to make men beleive that Antichrist shall come of the Tribe of Dan. Surly D. Parkes in his rejoinder pa. 7. pa. 365. had good reason to tell him lyke à brother of his yow haue committed such faults even in that great worke wherof yow bragg soe much as yow can neyther defend with honestie nor with modestie excuse yea the same D. Parkes his fellow Minister as Willett himselfe recounts in his Lodoromast Chardgeth him with folly Hipocrisie falshood lyeinge Infidelitie Impudencie Machivilisme Athisme c. And iudeed who but à Machauilian Athist if really he had thought that there had been à God after this life to haue punished durst haue made such à protestation And to omitt the lyke vaine cracks of M. Vsher copiously discouered by Mallone in his replie to his answere It is most true that which Zantius à great Protestant ingeniously confesseth of Protestant writers viz Scriptures at our pleasures wee detorte to our dreames wee boast of Fathers when wee will followe nothinge lesse then their doctrine soe he in his Epist. 10. to Sturmius But is not Luther then the author of the Protestant reformation with his brethren to be esteemed for havinge endeavoured to reforme the Church in diverse manie points of Fayth wherin they affirme for manie ages she hath erred Surlie noe except wee should honnor and esteeme those who renew Auncient condemned heresies and hereticall manners wherof Luther and his sectaries are in à heigh degree guiltie But as for reformation in matters of fayth wherin they pretend the Church hath erred They are rather to be avoyded who glories in any such title Note Seinge that herein they destroy the Godhead of Christ and make him an imposture for if the Church of Christ which he promised soe firmely to build on à Rocke as that Hell gates should never prevaile against her and vnto the Pastors wherof he promised that he would assist to the Consummation of the world and give them the spiritt of Truth to abyde with them forever for the teachinge of them all truth If I saye the Church of Christ could or had erred in matters of fayth as the pretended reformers affirme Then doth it follow that they make Christ not ominipotent able to vphold his Church against her enemies and soe destroy his Godhead or an imposteur in not fullfillinge what he promised because the Church for Errors of fayth and want of truth is as much destroyed as à man if he wanteth or is deficient in any one of his essentiall parts to witt if he be not à livinge or à reasonable Creture The defect of any of these destroyes him Soe in lyke manner if the true Church of Christ could Erre in fayth or fayle in truth which is essentiall to the Church it could not subsist possiblie For accordinge to themselues the Church essentiallie is à Congregation of faythfull where truely the worde of God and the Sacraments are administred wherfore if the worde and Sacraments haue erroniously been administred for soe many ages as they pretend then Consequentlie of necessitie hath the Church of Christ perisht and Hell gates prevayled against her And soe by this doctrine it followeth that Christ is not God and that the Iewes may well reiect him and the Gospells anounceinge and speakinge of him as à grande impostour which is most blasphemous And this doctrine of the Churches error in fayth by which Protestants pretend to iustifie their revolte and speration of there reformed congregation from the Catholique Church is the maine motive why I ame averted from their societie and relinquish their Communion And soe much in proffe that the Protestant Congregation wants the insepable marke of Christ his true Church and in confutation of there shufling evasions Secondly the Iewes haue not inioyed in all ages Pastors and Doctors to administer truely the word and Sacraments for their Church at this present is not Christian nor the Arians Pelagians Manicheans Donatists Wicklifians c. for they haue all perished and that in such serte as had not Catholique Doctors impugned them in their wrightings and that these present reformers haue here and there renewed some of their heresies ther had scarcely remained any memory of them Neither also the Graecians for they were in Communion with the Roman Church of and on about one thowsand yeares Soe that for such à space since the Apostles tyme they cannot be sayd to haue bin à distinct Church from the Roman Church from whom the Patriarke of Constantinople was Confirmed and the Bishopp of Rome by himselfe or his legate presided in all lawfull generall Councells Celebrated formerly in Greece although now vnfortunatelie as all knowes they be sepated by reason of the heresie touchinge the Holie Ghost c. Mereouer their successiō hath bin interrupted by the intrusion of maine hereticall and not lawfully ordayned Bishopps as confessedlie is auerred by all Catholiques and cannot be denied by Protestants Neyther the Turkishe Mahometans for they haue not had existance in the world ever since Christ his tyme and soe cannot glorie of their Antiquitie professinge Christian fayth as indeed also not beinge Christians and soe consequentlie comes not into question For here wee treat of the perpetuall existence and Antiquitie of à Church professinge Christian Doctrine accordinge to the Markes which insepablie accōpaine Christ his Church as in the begininge was established Finally the lyke may be demonstrated of any other Christian Church that may be assigned to witt that they want the insepable Marke of Christ his Church that is the enioyinge of à continuall succession of Pastors in all ages to administer the worde and Sacraments On the contrarie by the confession of the Protestants the Romaine Church many hundred yeares was the true Church of Christ and noe Protestant is able by evidence of any Authenticke Ecclesiasticall historie to shew any Christian Companie or Church In rerum natura more Auncient of different fayth from whence the Romane Church departed Therfore as yet she is and ought to be esteemed and consequentlie must enioye in all ages Pastors and Teachers for the administration of the worde and Sacraments beinge the true Church cannot fubsist without them Heer then I vrge that if the Romane Church whose fayth as testifieth the Apostle Ep. ad Rom. c. 1. was published and renowned throughout all the world that is with whom all the Christian world had Communion of fayth here I
invited by many inspirations soundinge in his eares This day if yow shall heare my voyce obdurate not your harts and affect not to be ignorant of the true Church least yow should be converted and liue forever Moreover if yee consider the nature of Celestiall glorie which is such as the least glimpes therof but for one moment in an eminent degree surpasseth all wordly honnors pleasures and riches that ever the eye of man did see in this world or is able to see the eare to heare yea or then can be comprehend by the vnderstanding of man which in one quarter in thought can represent farre more then the eye can see in many yeares or the care heare in à long space what Marchant then is he who would not give all to procure the inestimable treasure of everlastinge glorie in noewise to be purchased but by those that be members of the Catholicke Church For them doe I pray not for the world doe I praye but for them whom thou hast given me because they be thyne 10. 17. ve 9. For none indeed be Children of the heavenly Father who be not Children of the Church who soe is sound to be out of her Communion sayth S. Augustin de Simb ad Catechu He shal be excluded from the number of Gods Children nor shall he haue God for his father who would not haue the Church for his Mother and it shall avayle him nothimge that he beleived c. to the same purpose he speaketh in diuers other places as de verit Eccles. ad Bonif. And S. Cyprian the glorious Martyr in his booke of the vnity of the Church sayth that he belongeth not vnto the rewards of Christ who abandoneth the Church of Christ Hee is an alyen he is prophane he is an enimie he cannot now haue God for his Father who acknowledgeth not the Church for his mother Yea sayth S. Cyprian that great Champian of the Church saith in the same booke He maye be killed but he cannot be Crowned for he professeth himselfe to be à Christian noe otherwise then the divill faineth himselfe to be Christ accordinge to our Lordes sayeinge Luke 21. Manie will come in my name and saye I ame Christ O then sayth S. Fulgentius another Phoenix Lett them all make hast whilst they haue tyme vnto their Lawfull mother For even as within the Catholick Church fayth is in the hart vnto Iustice and Confession is made with the mouth vnto salvation Soe without the same Church an evill selfe persuasion attayneth not vnto rightuousnes but vnto punishment and à wronge Confession bringeth death and not salvation to him that maketh it c. Hould it then for most certaine and vndoubted that noe Hereticke noe Scismaticke though baptizred in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Goast c. can possiblie be saved vnles he be recounsiled to the Catholick Church Thus S. Fulgentius And that the Romane Church is that societie out of which is noe salvation yow haue heard before by the many testimonies prealledged of the Fathers and by what I haue demonstrated of These most dearly beloued Father and best freinds are the motiues which amongst many other I haue reade and Collected which haue occasioned my spedy aversion from the English reformed Congregation of Protestants which I haue confirmed by the manifould confessions of your owne brethren not for that I weigh their Authoritie but partly for that Protestants contemne all authority of the Church Councells and auncient Fathers and with vnreasonable pride and arrogance will haue their owne words stand as Gospell partlie allsoe for that these can not be à more excellent witnessinge then where an enimye doth approue our cause and Criminalls confesse the truth against themselues These allsoe are the principall motiues of my Conversion to the holy Catholike Apostolicall Church of Rome that is to the Cōmunitie which by obedience and in vnion of fayth communicates with the Bishopp of Rome Successor of the holy Apostle S. Peter and Christs Vicar vpon earth From whose Communion in the Secte masters of Protestancy viz Luther Calvin c. ye haue departed not without the iust Censure of Schisme as invinceblie and vnanswerably is thus demonstrated by M. D. Hardinge in his Text related by your great Campion M. Iewell in his defence of the Apologie of the Church England parte the 6. fol. 576. printed 1567. in folio Whosoeuer departe from the Catholike Church They be Schismatikes yee haue departed from the Catholike Church of these nine hundred years ergo yee be Schismatikes The first proposition yee will not deny the second your selues confesse the Conclusion then must needes be true if we say the same blame vs not neither say we that onely but also that yee ar Heritikes Soe M. Harding to which argument drawne from Protestants owne confession M. Iewel giveth the slipe without answer fathering in his marginall note à manifest vntruth according to his vsuall manner vpon D. Harding which any one that hath the least dramme of witte may euidently perceiue These most dearly beloued freinds I say are the motiues of my auersion frō the pretensiue Reformed Church of England and of my conversion to the Catholique Roman Church my mother of which I hould soe great an accoumpt and esteeme that fearing those more who can slay both body and soule then those who haue power ouer the body only as had I as many liues as haires on my head I would most willingly depose them rather then be separated from Christ his vnspotted Spouse the Cathelique Church my mother to the end I may haue God for my Father Corde creditur ad iustitiam ore autem fit Confessio ad salutem S. Paul to the Romans c. 10. v. 10. FINIS Confirma hoc Deus quod operatus es in nobis A templo sancto tuo quod est in Hierusalem OREMVS DEVS qui corda Fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti da nobis in eodem spiritu recta sapere de eiusdem semper consolatione gaudere per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum filium tuum qui tecum viuit regnat in vnitate eiusdem spiritus Sancti Deus per omnia saecula saeculorum Amen O My God that I had neuer offended thee in any erroneous beleefe or sinfull life thee I say who art my only good worthy to be loued for thine owne selfe with all possible loue for thy loue I firmly pourpose neuer to offēde thee more but by thy grace to do whatsoeuer shall be necessary and I hope in thy mercy which by the merits of thy Sonnes sacred Passion o Father of Mercies graunt vn to me Amen