necessarie for mee to aske counsell of Peters Chayre and of the fayth praised by Saint Paules mouth c. Noe sticking at the monstrous space of sea land that is betwene Vbicunque fuerit corpus Mat. 24. illuc congregantur aquilae Wheresoeuer is the carkase thither vvill the egles gather c. Ego nullum primum nisi Christum sequens Beatitudini tuae id est Cathedrae Petri communione consocior I following none but Christ first am ioyned in communiō to your Blessednes that is to the Chaire of Peter Super illam Petram aedificatam Ecclesiā scio Vpon that Rock I know the Church is builded c. And because I am so far of from you Ideo hic Collegas tuos Aegiptios confessores sequor therefore here I follow them of your syde the Confessors of Egypt c. Quicunque tecum nō colligit spargit hoc est qui Christi non est Antichristi est Who soeuer gathereth not with you he scattereth that is to say who so is not of Christes syde he is of Antichrists syde c. Obsecro Beatitudinem tuam per Crucifixū mundi salutem per homousion Trinitatem vt mihi epistolis tuis siue tacendarum siue dicendarum hypostaseon detur authoritas I beseech your Blessednes for hys sake that vvas crucified the Saluation of the vvorld and for the Consubstantial Trinities sake that by your Letters authoritie may be gyuen me to say or not to say these Hypostases Read the whole Epistle Finally true it is I saie generallie without exception that alwaies as Catholikes haue earnestly kept and dilygently sought the vnity and communiō of the See of Rome so were they euer Heretikes or Schismatikes that cōtemned the same especially after that they were by it condemned for such were they at the length by the whole world taken if they continued wilfull and obstinate in the said rebellion Therefore the Protestants and other Sectaries of this time vvho haue binne by so many worthy Bishops of that holy See accursed and haue notwithstandyng so many yeares desperatly continued in their disobedience are Schismatikes and Heretikes and so wil they one day be accompted of all Christian men when as in al Heretikes that were afore our time so in these shal be fulfilled Saint Paules most certaine Prophecie 1. Tim. 3. Insipientia eorum manifesta erit omnibus their folly shal be knowē of al men as thanks be to God it hath of late yeares wel begonne to be and namely in our Countrie where notwithstanding their continual preaching for these sixtene yeares and the Catholikes all that while beyng put to silence yet haue they now fewer folowers without comparison then they had whē they began for no other cause but for that the folly of Heresie as Saint Paule hath told vs is such that through Gods working men of their owne accord in time wil see it and seeing wil forsake it Which when as by the mercy of God Catholikes shall haue there againe their liberty will no doubt much more and in short time generally of al men be done For certaine it is as I haue saied that none haue bin from Christes Ascention to this our age by the Apostolyke See condemned in maner aboue-sayed but they haue binne also after-ward by all Chtistian men with one consent abhorred and detested howsoeuer they haue for a time abused their vile tongues against the said See for condemning thē calling it Cathedram pestilentiae the Chaire of pestilence as did the Pelagians Augustine con lit Petil li. 2. cap. 51. or the seat of Antichrist or by such like termes of blasphemie Councels VVHOM so euer any Councell of Bishopps Generall or Prouinciall confirmed by the See Apostolyke hath at any tyme condemned as Heretykes they were Heretykes in dede as such they were at length forsaken of all men howsoeuer for a tyme Emperours Kinges or Queenes multitude of folowers shew of learning opinion of holines or any other mā or thing did vphold them Neither against thys can there be brought any exception Remember all the times who so that will that were before vs. The Nycene Councell condemned the Arrians for denying the Godhead of Gods Sonne the Constātinopolitan condemned the Macedoniās for denying the Godhead of the holy Ghost the Ephesine Councel condemned the Nestorians for diuiding Christs own person into two the Councell of Chalcedon condemned the Eutichians for making but one of Christs two Natures an other Councell of Constantinople condemned the Monothelits for leauing in Christ but one wil only other Councels condemned others And the end alwayes vvas that the Councell preuailed the Heretykes were suppressed For those Heretykes which I haue rehearsed which in theyr time raigned each one very farre infected meruaylous great multitudes of sinful vnconstant soules yea many Emperours also and Empresses Kinges and Queenes States Countries c. novv at thys tyme and many hundred years before this time what one folower haue they had Haue they not bin generally forsakē Haue not those Councels which condemned them of al Christēdome bin embraced Yea by the verie Parlament lavv Si Dijs placet of our Protestants in England haue not foure of them bin allowed with the Scriptures for good touchstoanes of Heresie So mightie is the authoritie so vndoubted is the verytie of such a Councell And that wel worthie as being a thing wonderfully commended vnto vs by the Example of the Apostles and first Christians in the acts of the Apostles where we haue the first lineaments of Christes Church and the orders of the same There wee see how that a very great Question being raised by certaine Prechers saying Act. 15. that wee Gentiles without circunciding of our selues after the maner of Moyses lavve can not be saued although wee beleeue in Christ the matter was referred vnto a Councell of the Apostles and other priests at Ierusalē Who after great searching debating of the matter determined it vvith Visum est Spiritui sancto nobis it hath pleased the holy Ghost vs that Christian men of the Gentils should not be bound to the law of Moises making also certayne Decrees of such to be obserued And after this what effect toke the Councell Mary S. Paule and Silas vvent ouer many Countries and Cities Act. 16. preaching and deliuered vnto them to kepe the Decrees that vvere decreed by the Apostles and Priests that vvere at Hierusalem And this same order euer since that time in like cases hath the Holy Ghost the guid leader of the Church into all Truth caused the Church alwaies to obserue making by his diuine power Councels to be assembled to be furdered to be agreed to be finished to be receaued That we doe worthily refer this proceeding prospering of Councels in the Catholike Church to God almyghty any reasonable man wil sone cōfesse that cōsidereth out of how many countries languages maners wits persōs about how many matters
God doe either flatly denie or call in question and leaue in doubt as a thing indifferent for any man to affirme it or to deny it which the learned know to be so and I will by Godds grace shew to be so when it shal be required And therefore it is not the Protestants Church whereof Saint Augustine there speaketh but a Church it is that the protestants do impugne a Church that no lesse biddeth vs not to beleue the protestants and to beleeue those Scriptures than it did bid S. Augustine not to beleeue the Manichees as hee there doth say and to beleue those Scriptures Storehouse of the Scriptures FOR furder declaration hereof consider againe what Church it is ours or the Protestantes which hath had the custodie and construing both of the forsaied and of the other Bookes of the holy Bible euer since the Apostles tyme into the vvhich the olde Testament dyd fall by iust descent and alteration of the spirituall State from the Ievves vvhich hath noticed to the vvorld the Autoritie and Canon of the holy Books of the new Testament also which hath so many worldes and in such alterations of mortall thinges saued from destruction and corruption of all Heretikes Iewes and Infidels the whole autentical Corpes of Scripture which no Heretike aliue can charge for adding or minishing any iot thereof Will any man doubt therefore whether this be the true Church which is the olde and only Treasure-house of so precious a Monument which hath kept the iust possession of it these fiftene hundred yeares and hath lost neither leafe nor line thereof Or wil any man be so mad to thinke that to be the true Church which occupied no Bible nor had not to doe with holy Scripture as they cōfesse themselues for a thousand yeares together which now forcibly and violētly plucking it out of the iust possessours handes hath in little more then fortie yeares of their restlesse spoiling raigne robbed vs of so many vvhole Bookes thereof and of many a particular portiō more Tantae igitur ostensiones cum sint haec Iren. li. 3. cap. 4. non oportet adhuc quaerere apud alios veritatem quam facile est ab Ecclesia sumere cum Apostoli quasi in depositorium diues plenissime in ea cōtulerint omnia quae sint veritatis vti omnis quicunque velit sumat ex ea potum vitae Haec est enim introitus vitae omnes autē reliqui fures sunt latrones Propter quod oportet deuitare quidem illos quae autē sunt Ecclesiae cum magna diligentia diligere apprehendere veritatis traditionem Being therfore these so great so many demonstrations a man must not yet saith S. Ireneus seeke the truth amongest any other which it is easy of the Church to take because the Apostles haue in her as in a rich storehouse laid vp most plentifully al that true is so that euery one that listeth may out of her take drinke of life For shee it is that is the doore of life all other are theeues and robbers Wherefore a man must auoyde them I say but the Churches thinges he must most earnestly loue take hold of her Tradition of truth Studying and teaching of all diuine truth AND better yet to know both the plentie of this rich Storehouse and the Emptines of the beggarly Dennes of Heretikes consider againe vvhat Church it is whose maisters teach and children study the whole body of Christian truth taking no lesse paines to seeke out and to know what God hath reuealed about the Blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and yet their vnity equalitie consubstubflantialitie in one Godhead about the Incarnation of Godds Sonne ioyning two most different natures of God and Man both intiere both complete no commixion no confusion into the vnitie of one Person about all the same one persons in his humaine nature perfections and defects doings and sufferings for our sakes about the creation of the world in the beginning of things visible and inuisible of men and Angels what they were both made by God and what they made themselues by sinne about the Resurrection and Iudgement that shal be in the ending and state of things both in earth and hel and heauen for euer afterward finally about all parts of faith Religion no lesse then about the Questions of this time And againe who they be on the other side that know very little euen of their owne Questions that they haue moued vnto our Church in these their dayes as they can not possibly knovv much being occupied rather about wyning then in studying and taking vpon them to be teachers before they haue bin lerners husbandes and Ministers both so sone as they can get them wiues and benefices so yong fathers so yong Doctors that the common Wealth is forsooth greatly strengthned by their multiplying and the Church substantially edified by their preaching But in other questions of our beleefe such as before I rehearsed so ignorant they be that they are scarse euer heard and very few of them to preache or teache vpō them the people thereby remaining vtterlye vnskilfull of Mysteries that they are bound to know vpon paine of damnation Yea Caluin himselfe the learnedst of them al and their master of masters compelled also to study the Mysterie of the Trinity for to answere his Polonion Trinitaries yet is hee found so ignorant therein that his errors are intolerable as that Gods Sonne is autotheos God of himselfe and not GOD of his Father Iust li. 1. cap. 13. nu 23. 24. Vide Geneb de Trin. li. 1. pag. 43. as the great Nicene Councell hath professed Deum de Deo Deum verum de Deo vero God of God very God of very god whereof it ineuitably foloweth that they are two Gods not one God vnlike in substance not consubstantiall beside many other his ignorant errors Such was Iuels ignorance also that Christ is a priest according to his Godhead being yet I say studied in the matter What then must be the blindes of our Countrie Heretikes that neuer trouble their braines about those Mysteries Loke to theyr Vniuersities and see vvhether there be any appointed publicke Readers or Teachers of such matters any that priuatly make them their studye whether they doe not all in maner study nothing at all but the arte of speaking or els but certaine new bookes of common places for a few pointes of their new Doctrine and them so lightly that the cōmon sorte of Catholikes are able to answere all there argumentes and to say also more for them then they can say for themselues and yet it serueth them to be Doctours there of Diuinitie a Goddes name how be it both in lawe and truth they are no Degrees that men seeme there to take Is such a Church trovv you that Rich Storehouse Li. 3. c◠4. in the which the Apostles laid vp for euer most plentifully al truth
doe you seeke a proofe of him that speaketh in me Christ who in you â—s not weake but mightie he is in you Whereby it is manifest that they doe miserably forget themselues vvho feare not the excommunications of Pius Quintus of holy memorie in whome Christ himselfe to haue spoken and excommunicated as in S. Paule vnlesse peraduenture they beleeue not neither in Christ himselfe needing therfore that S. Paule say to them also Vosmetipsos tentate si estis in fide ipsi vos probate c. they might coÌ„sider by the miracles that Christ by him as by S. Paule did worke hee vvith his prayers and signing of the Crosse casting Diuels out of fiue women in open procession Vide Epistolas Germanorum quorundaÌ„ Surius Chronologia edit 1572. as very many oculati testes doe to this day beare witnesse some of them also hauing put it in print and the Chronicles of this time commonlie recording it And in consideration of this that God must needs be confessed to be with them that by his power doe thus worke Miracles the Apostles and other Christians in the first beginning praied thus Et nunc Domine respice in minas eorum Act. 4. da seruis tuis cum omni fiducia loqui verbum tuum in eo quod manum tuam extendas ad sanitates signa prodigia fieri per nomeÌ„ sancti Filij tui Iesu And now Lord looke to the threates of our enimies and graunt thy seruants to speake thy vvord vvith all confidence by this that thou stretch forth thy hand to healing and Miracles wonders to be wrought by the name of thy holy sonne Iesus Which euen so to haue bin done Saint Marke witnesseth saying that the Apostles after Christes sending of them Marke 16. Went and preached euerie where our Lorde woorkeing with them and confirmeing their preaching with Miracles that followed Whereupon it is most certainely inferred that wee who haue for our Preachers and Religion such confirmation from God are of Christ our Lord and that the Protestants Puritans which vtterly are destitute of all such confirmation are not of Christs sending but that they come of their owne head by the instigation of Inimicus homo The enimie man Mat. 13. to destroy the seed sowen before by the true Sower in euerie Christian Countrie with the mighty operation of meruailous Miracles such as by our men were wrought and still are wrought in all Nations speciallie at their first conuersion vvhich is a thing well knowen to all that are anie thing read in Histories Visions ANOTHER sure and infallible way verie like to that of Miracles going next afore to finde out vvho haue the truth we or the Protestantes is this to consider in all ages of what side were those persons of ours or of the Protestantes and of what side were and are those doctrines of ours or of the Protestants which persons and doctrines or also doctrines alone and not the persons as sometimes hath happened God in any age hath commended with heauenly Visions For that vvaie doth Saint Paul himselfe vse to commeÌ„d both himselfe and his doctrine vnto the Corinthians against the deprauing of their false Apostles and Heretykes Veniam autem ad visiones reuelationes Domini scio hominem in Chriflo c. 2. Cor. 12. Now will I come to Visions and Reuelations of our Lord. I know a man in Christ fourtene yeares ago whether in hys bodie I know not or out of his body I know not God knoweth the same man to haue bin rapt euen vnto the third heauen And I know the same man whether in his bodie or out of his bodie I know not God knoweth that he was rapt in Paradise and heard secret words such as a man may not tell Pro huiusmodi gloriabor prome autem nihil gloriabor nisi in infirmitatibus meis Of such a man will I boast but of my selfe by name will I nothing boast but onlie in mine infirmities 2. Pet 1. Saint Peter likewise alleging his Vision for so it is called in the Gospell of our Lordes Transfiguration in the Mount Mat 17. is nothing afeard of that kind of argument but sayeth boldlie For wee haue not followed craftie fables in preaching vnto you the power and presence of our Lord Iesus Christ but beholders wee were afore of his Maiestie For receauing of God his Father honor and glory comming downe vnto him such a voyce from the magnificent Glorie Thys is my beloued Son in whom I haue pleased my selfe him doe you heare And this voice heard we brought froÌ„ heauen when wee were with hym in the Holie Mount Also for the Christening of vs that be Gentiles Act. 10. et 11. hee had a Vision of a Sheete vvith all kindes of beastes in yt both cleane and vncleane a voyce bidding him from heauen kyll and eate of them all which Vision he eftsones alleageth boldlie in defence of that his doing He allegeth also in the Actes of the Apostles for the truth of Christes Religion Act. 2. a Prophecie of Ioel in the which amongest other signes and argumentes of the truth thereof this also is promysed to be one Ioel. 2. And your sonnes saith hee and your daughters shall prophecie and your yong-men shall see Visions and your elder sort shal dreame dreames c. Finallie of this sort wee haue one whole booke of the new Testament named the Apocalipse or Reuelation or Visions of Saint Iohn Now then for a few examples consider ye of Saint Monica the mother of S. Augustine a woman verie much accustomed to meruailous VisioÌ„s sent her of God as Saint Augustine himselfe witnesseth in many places of hys deuout Confessions CoÌ„fes l. 3. ca. 11. namely how on a tyme beginning to detest and abhorre her sonne being yet a Manichee and to refrayne from eating with him for hys blaspemies shee had a dreame in vvhich she saw herselfe stand vpon a wodden ruler as straight as a line and a yong man comming vnto her shining pleasant and smiling vpon her she being then heauy and with heauines a most spent VVho after that he had asked of her the causes of her heauines and daylie weeping she answering that it was for my perdition sayth Saint Augustine bad her to be without care willing her to maâ—ke and behold that vvhere she was there was I also which when she had marked shee saw mee standing by her vpon the same ruler saith he in signe that he should turne to be of her Religion although not before that time nine yeares Consider now I say of what Relygion was this holie woman for of the same you see was S. Augustine himselfe afterward and the same in him by God himself both promised and perfourmed whether she were a Protestante or a catholike such as we be She beleeued and knew CoÌ„fes l. 9. ca. 4. Co los 2. that from of the Aultar was ministred and dispensed Victima
impugned then this no none of them all euer the thousandth part so much impugned so much barked at so much sifted as this and yet they gone and this remaining by which very euent of thinges Christ hath plainely declared vnto vs what he meant when hee said to Peter first concerning all his Aposâ—les Simon Zuke 22. ecce Satanas expetiuit vos vt cribâ—arâ—t s cut triticum Simon behold Sâ—tan hath desired that he might siâ—t you lâ—ke wheaten meale all the flowre of truth out of the sieue nothing to remaine within but bran of Heresie and error then concerning Peter himselfe Ego autem rogaui pro te vt non deficiat fides iua tu aliquando conuersus confirma fratre tuos But I haue made petitioÌ„ for thee that thy faith may not faile and thou once turning confirme thy brethren all this I say notwithstanding the Heretikes of this time will haue vs now to be so blockeheaded so mad not to take our light of the Apostolike Church of Rome that Church I say whose Bishoppes from Peter vnto Eleutherius of his time twelue in number Ireneus reckneth vp saith that it is plenissima ostensio Lib. 3. ca. 3. a most ample declaratioÌ„ of the Apostolike truth to be of his side a confouÌ„ding of all false maisters That church againe whose Bishops from Peter vnto Siricius of his time seauen and thirtie in number Optatus reckeneth vp saith that he is Schismaticus peccator Lib. 2. a Schismatike and a sinner that against this one singular chaire setteth vp another That Church also whose Bishops from Peter vnto Anastasius of his time eight and thirtie in number Epist 165 Saint Augustine reckoneth vp and saith that this is Certo vere salubriter numerare Surelie to number and to our soules health in verie deed Who now that haue care of their saluation wil not folow the example the rule of these Holy Fathers Saintes in heaueÌ„ reckning vp likewise the Bishops of the same Church from Peter to Gregorie of our time the thirteenth of that name being two hundred thirtie and three in number and there seeke find beleeue the Doctrine which the Apostles taught Mat. 16. rather then with the Donatists Protestants Puritans other gates of Heâ—l fight against the rock all in vaine so foolish to thinke that he can with theÌ„ leape at one iumpe from Luther to the Apostles hauing not one place to rest his feet in all that long space of fifteene hundred yeares which is betweene Catholike men you see were neuer wont so to leape to proue their Church to be Apostolike Heretikes haue none other but that impossible way Wherfore the Protestants Puritans be not Catholikes and Apostolikes they be Schismatikes and Heretikes with such guides or companions they walke that vvalke with them whither who seeth not whither els but to perdition God giue my deare friendes and Countrimen better eyes and take from them their vvilfull blindnesse The Romains neuer chaunged theyr Religion ANIE man that vvill may by this that I haue said easilie and plainely vnderstand that the Roman Church is still as it euer was Apostolike For the which true vnderstanding Quod Romana esset Catholica Apostolica Ecclesia that the Romaine was the Catholike Apostolike Church Hist Angli Lib. 3. Cap. 29. Saint Bede our Countrie-man much commendeth in his time King Oswy But to make it yet more plaine I adde this other consideration that whereas the Romaines faith was once the true faith of S. Paule himselfe commended where hee saith Gratias ago Deo meo per Iesum Christum pro omnibus vobis Rom. 1. quiae fides vestâ—a annunciatur in vniuerso munâ—â— I giue thankes to my God through Iesus Christ for you all because your faith is reported in the vniuersall vvorâ—d And vvhereas theyr Church vvas once Catholike and Apostolike which the Heretikes themselues neither câ—n nor wiâ— deny it cannot possibly be shewed that they euer changed their faith or any part thereof Wherefore their Chuâ—ch doth still remaine as it was Apostolike and their faith Catholike Or let them shew if they can what Pope changed it in what Articles or pointes of Faith it was chaunged at what time vvith what tumultes in the world rising thereupon vvhat Doctors withstood it what Councels accursed it or such other circumstances vvhich we can shew in all innouations both great and small that euer by Heretikes were attempted as namely by the Arrians Sabellians Donatistes Pelagians with other of old and now presentlie of the Protestantes and Puritans We see in what Princes dayes they began what Captaines they had what pointes they chaunged what Catholike men haue set against them what places or countries haue chaunged Religion with theÌ„ what countries againe keepe still the old Religion These things and others the like can neuer be shewed in the Romaines because they neuer were and therefore most certainlie neuer was there by the Romains any change made Or if any man will say that the Romains made their change not al at once but secretly by little little he can not so escape but he must shew vs those seuerall little changes in forme also aforesaid As we doe shew not only the totall chaunge made now by the Protestants but also how in the former ages at sundrie times their misterie of iniquitie did worke by litle litle or by one one For example Aerius preparing to their handes theyr doctrine against Purgatorie Nouatus theyr doctrine against forgiuenes of sinnes by a Priest Iouinian their doctrine of Priests and Nunnes mariage Vigilantius theyr Doctrine against praying to Saintes Manicheus theyr Doctrine against free-will Pelagius theyr Doctrine against the necessitie of childrens Baptisme Simon Magus their Doctrine against saluation for good vvorkes Eunomius also theyr Doctrine of onely faith to be sufficient with many others that here I could recite They must shew the like of the seuerall points in their imagined Romaine chaunge Which most sure it is they can not doe For name they what point of faith they will at such or such a time to haue beene chaunged and wee will plainely shew the contrarie that the same point which they will say to haue beene brought in by the chaunge vvas euer afore by the Romaines and other Christians beleeued vp to the Apostles time What points will they name but such as euen now I touched of Purgatorie Confession Saintes vowed Nunnes with the rest But those you see were so not brought in by any Romaine change that we haue by the FATHERS noted vnto vs vvhat Heretikes would haue brought in theyr contraries by some chaunge Whereby it is inuincibly proued that in those very pointes also the Romaine Church remained vnchaunged And so doe the Holy Fathers witnesse as much that euen then when as wee can shew the Romaines prayed for the dead c. they did yet keepe still vnchaunged the Faith
and straight vvaies vvithout all tergiuersation to captiuate their vnderstanding into the obedience of faith Is it not plaine by the Scriptures that the Church of GOD should be so obeyed Or is there any so blessed a Church and felowship saue only ours Any other Church so credited so beleued so reuerenced so obeyed of her children that whatsoeuer she teacheth is receaued and followed whom none of her children be his witt neuer so great or his learning so excellent euer controlleth or euer mistrusteth and that most agreably I say to the holy Scriptures in ten thousand places as where they say Ephes 5. that Ecclesia subiecta est Christo in omnibus the Church is obedient to Christ in all thinges Who therefore saith vnto it Qui vos audit me audit qui vos spernit Luc. 10. me spernit he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me Mat. 18. Si Ecclesiam non audierit sit tibisicut Ethnicus Publicanus If he wil not here the Church auoid him as thou wouldest an Ethnick and a Publican Thus is the Church of God to be obeyed and thus do we obey our Church and none of their Church but we For our Church it is and our Church onlie which hath by the spirit of wisedome discretion so sorted and seuered from the corps of truth al blemishes corruptions vncertaine or singular opinions or seueral errors in her childrens and Maisters workes whatsoeuer that both the truth may be had with ease and securitie and the vntruth escaped vvithout doubt or daunger Ours therefore and ours only it is that hath in it the path that the Prophet Esaie forespeaketh and promiseth should be in the Church of Christ Isai 35. Et erit ibi semita vita via sancta vocabitur Non transibit per eam pollutus haec erit vobis directa via ita vt stulti non errent per eam And there shal be in it a path and a way an holy way it shal be called the defiled shall not passe by it but this to you shal be a direct way so that fooles cannot misse if they folow it But now on the contrary side in any company of these seueral sectes and scatered congregations are they so humble as to submit themselues for dicision of their questions to any power placed in earth or haue they any possible meanes to trie and end their controuersies any sort or number of men amongest them whom they may trust in al things which whom and in whose steppes they dare venture to walke the way of faith and Religion towardes saluation None there is amōgst al the Sects in the world so happy none so secure and therefore no Church amongest them For in the plat forme of the Church drawen by the Apostles wee see that when a question arose about Circumcision of vs that be Gentiles straight was there found a remedie Statuerunt Act. 15. vt ascenderent Paulus Barnabas quidam alij ex aliis ad Apostolos Presbyteros in Hierusalē super hac quaestione They determined that there shold goe vp Paule and Barnabas and some others of the other side to the Apostles and Priestes in Hierusalem vppon this question Vpon this matter hath S. Augustine written an excellent Booke which hee intituled De vtilitate credendi Tom. 6. of tht vtilitie of beleeuing the Catholike Church in all thinges and whith all humilitie which booke I vvish and desire all that can to reade it Very fitte it is for this time and alone sufficient to perswade any reasonable man to be a Catholike For were it not for beleuing the Catholike Church and taking of it our light and knowledge a smal number God wotteth of truthes should wee in our whole life be able to finde out although we liued the yeares of Mathusalem and in most thinges should we fouly erre and be deceaued and of nothing almost be fully resolued And therefore being so many so obscure so controuersed the things whereof vpon payne of damnation vve may not doubt but must hold them certaynely euen to the losse of frinds Countrie liberty goodes landes and life vvhat hope were leafte for vs poore wretches of any saluation So desperate is the state of Heretykes their followers that no doubt for lacke of being grounded vpon the sure Rocke of the Churches Faith they would as sone be caried away from the faith of the B. Trinitie if the wind should chaunce to blow that way as were in old time the Arrians and others and now in Polonia the Protestant Trinitaries as they haue beene from the other Articles vnto the which wee labour and pray to see them once reuoked Protestants themselues take things vpon our Churches credit AND that wee doe well so as I haue saied to beleue our Catholike Romaine Church and also that all other should doe the same you shall yet againe perceaue by this if you consider what Church it is vpon vvhose credit the very Protestantes themselues haue receaued the Diuine Scriptures and besides them certaine confessions of Faith called Creeds the Creede of the Apostles the Creed of Athanasius the Creed of the Fathers also diuers Articles of Doctrine as the holy Ghost to proceed from both the Father and the Sonne that but as from one principium origin or beginning c. also many artificiall tearmes as Person Trinity Consubstātiality Sacraments c. into the very hart of Religion which neither they did would or could haue inuented nor we neuer haue vsed but only vpon infallible credit of this Church Con. Epis Mā ca. 5. For whereas S. Augustine saied Ego vero Euangelio non crederem nisi me Catholicae Ecclesiae cōmoueret authoritas I for my part should not haue beleued the Gospel but the Catholik churches authority moued me Catholicis obtemperaui dicentibus Credite Euangelio to the Catholikes it was that I obeyed saying beleue ye the gospel Euāgelio Catholicis praedicantibus credidi I beleeued the Gospell vpon the Catholikes preaching Catholicis praecipientibus Euangelio credidi at the Catholikes commaundment I beleued the Gospell was it the Protestantes Church thinke you that in al these wordes he meant Or can you hold your laughter when you heare the question asked No no the Church at whose commaundement he beleued the Gospel at the same Churches cōmaundment he beleued as he declareth in his booke De Doct. Christ Li. 2. ca. 8. the bookes of Tobie of Iudith of Canticles of Wisdome of Iesus Sirach called Ecclesiasticus of the Machabees in the olde Testament and in the new Testament S. Paules Epistle to the Hebrues the Epistle of Saint Iames the second of S. Peter the second and third of Saint Iohn the Epistle of S. Iude the Apocalips of S. Iohn Al which holy bookes of Canonical Scripture the Protestantes either in their whole multitude or in some of their Captains whō they defend follow and commend as men of
and knowledge for euery one vvhen hee lifteth to take vvhat he vvill as Saint Ireneus hath saied Or is that the Company where is discarged the charge that Saint Paule gaue to Timothee 2. Tim. 2. Quâ—e audisti a me per multos testes haec câ—mmenda fidelibus hominibus qui idonâ—i erunt alios docere The things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses theÌ„ commend thou againe to trusty persons such as againe shall be able to teach others also and so from hand to hand from mouth to mouth continually till the worldes end Are men amongst them prepared instucted and made able to defend the Faith of Christ in all pointes against Iewes against Turkes against Arrians Manichees Nestorians and all other Heretikes what soeuer haue beene or may be The very Foundation of our Faith and in deed al in all is that Iesus is Christ who knoweth not and graunteth the very point that is betwene vs specially and the Iewes and which Saint Paule ful often and ful mightily proued to and against those trayterous infidels as in many places of the Actes S. Luke hath noted Act. 9. 17. 18. 26. 28. Now if in England any of our newe Maisters should meete vvith such a Iewe would hee be very readye thinke you to oppose him to replie vpon him to make answere vnto hym Or if hee should light vppon any there that thinketh there is no God or that beleueth not the immortality of the soul should reason so with him in the hearing of others were he not like to betray the truth for lacke of learning rather then to roote out the error The multitude of that threefolde cockle in our Countrie against Iesus against God against the soule declareth vvell vvhat husbandes they are And wil there yet be any man so folish to thinke theirs to be the Church that S. Paule doth call Columnam fâ—mamentum veritatis 1. Tim. 3. the Piller and vpholder of truth Or is there any man of experience that knoweth not that our Catholike Church it is wherein most learnedly most substantially most lightsomely most orderly most vniuesally all truth Christian is studied taught and learned Looke the Summes of Diuinity written by our Maisters as Saint Thomas and others Consider our Pulpits Catecheteries Monasteries and Vniuersities such Readers such Lectures such Orders that in a short space a man may learne the groundes of all euery truth that vnto Faith belongeth In the Vniuersities on this side the sea that I haue bene in and the like I heare of others shall he heare in foure or fiue yeares the whole Course of Diuinitye and all in Dictates vnder two or three Readers twise or thrise ouer in the same tyme also the Controuersies of these dayes by another Reader seuerally by themselues examined by another al the new Testament very learnedly and very profitably expounded all this besides aboue a hundred publike disputations euery yeare euery disputation being of some whole matter as of all Baptisme all the Eucharist the Trinity the Incarnation the Supremacie the Angels the Creation of man Originall sinne c. euery one continuing for three houres at euery one foure or fiue Opponentes besides many Doctours sitting by and replying where and when they list all this againe besides priuate Disputations little inferiour to the other in sundrie places euery weeke finally besides all this the whole Bible red ouer at Table euery yeare and alwaies after dinner supper two Chapters of it one of the old Testament another of the new diligently examined as it were by familiar conference betweene the better learned and the younger sort as Doctors Licentiates Bachelers and Scholers of Diuinitie In this Church I say are the Treasures of the wisdome of Christ knowledge of God This is the Church of whose learning and wisedome S. Augustine often writeth himselfe to haue bin in vvonderfull admiration De vtil cred ca. 4. and calleth it Syncerissimam Sapientiam De mor. Ecc. Cat. cap. 30. con Epist fun ca. 4. most sincere wisedome alleaging it to the Manichees for the first Motiue holding him in the lap of the Catholike Church And therefore of this Church I say to euery one of my deare friends Countryemen as he did to his friend Honoratus Diu te affectum vides si iam satis tibi iactatus videris De vtil cred ca. 8. finemque huiusmodi laboribus vis imponere sequere viam Catholicae disciplinae quae ab ipso Christo per Apostolos ad nos vsque maenauit abhinc ad posteros manatura est You see that you haue beene long troubled with these broyles of parties in the world And if now you thinke your selfe to haue beene tossed and turmoiled inough would haue at length an end of these vexations follow the way of the Catholike Discipline which from Christ him selfe by the Apostles to vs is come and from hence shall not faile to come to our posteritie This Catholike continuall Discipline and euerlasting teaching sufficient to settle all that labour for the truth and to shew them all that they seeke is euident to be ours and that it can be none but ours Annuall celebrating of all Christes Mysteries THIS being done and considered that our Church it is which hath so put in course and order all Christian Doctrine for the ready and sure defence of our Sauiour Christ against all his enimies consider you consequently what Church it is that for the due worship of GOD for the thankefull and liuely rememberance of our Redemption hath driuen the Christian Seruice to such a Maiestie order and decencie in all Countries of Christendome most vniformely that it hath beautified sanctified all Christian common wealthes with the obseruation of Feastes and of Fastes with Rogations and other solemne Supplications vvith varietie of sundrie seasons with Histories to be remembred most apt and fit for euery season so exactly applying out of the Old Testament all shadowes figures promises Prophecies to the manifold and seuerall Truthes of Iesus Christ our God Lord that the Iew may be confounded the christian confirmed al Heretikes of theÌ„selues ashamed to see that done by Christes Church euery yeare coÌ„tinually without ceasing which Christ afore did himselfe to his Disciples Luke 24. Incipiens a Moyse omnibus prophet is interpretabatur illis in omnibus scripturis quae de ipso eraÌ„t Beginning at Moyses and all the Prophets he did vnto them interpret declare throughout all the Scriptures the matters that to him belonged as his Passion his resurrection c. his Catholike Church to begin at Ierusalem and to goe thence ouer all Nations by preaching pennance and forgiuing of sins Was it the Protestants Church that hath so done Or is it not euen so done in the seruice of our Church Who then are they of whom it is written Tunc aperuit illis sensum Luke 24. vt intelligereÌ„t
touching the very bokes of Heretiks In indice librorum prohibitorum regula vlt. Quod si quis libros Haereticorum vel cuiusuis authoris scripta ob haeresim vel ob falsi dogmatis suspicionem damnata atque prohibita legerit siue habuerit statim in excommunicationis sententiā incurrat Qui vero libros alio nomine interdictos legerit aut habuerit praeter peccati mortalis reatum quo afficitur iudicio Episcoporum seuere puniatur The bookes of Heretikes or writinges of any Author for Heresie or for suspition of false doctrine cōdemned and prohibited if any man reade them or haue them in his keeping wee ordaine that by and by he incurre the sentence of excommunication As for bookes that are for any other cause forbidden hee that readeth or hath them besides the guilt of mortall sinne wherof he is attainted let him according to the discretion of the Bishops be seuerely punished Now whether is worse I aske them and more daungerous to reade theyr bookes or to heare their Sermons No doubt to heare their Sermons both because the greatest foulest blasphemers of them al do preache who yet for lacke of learning or for other causes doe not nor are not alwaies suffred to write abstaining also in their Sermons from no blasphemy be it neuer so diuelish false because they feare to that no answere as to their bookes they doe And also because that viua vox word of mouth hath incomparably more force then the dead pen whether it be to edifie or to destroy 1. Tim. 2. Sermo eorum vt cancer serpet saieth Saint Paul Their preaching will creepe vpon you like a canker No man is so madd as to let poyson into his body be it neuer so little These then that goe to the places where most soules are poisoned and al in danger to be poisoned vnlesse they thinke themselues more safe and sure than was our mother Eue in paradise it selfe do plainly shevv that they care lesse for theyr soules then for their bodies and therefore lesse for the world to come then for this world lesse finally for God then for thēselues Yea as I said afore of such heretikes as had the true Seruice so although it should chaunce to be nothing els but truth that Heretikes preach yet should vvee not come at them For els why did our Sauiour for the same confession for which he saied to Peter Beatus es Simon Bar-Iona c. Mat. 16. Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Iohn say to a Diuel Obmutesce Luc. 4. Be thou dumme and hold thy peace Peters confession was Tues Christus Filius Dei viui Thou art Christ the Sonne of God the liuing And the Diuels was Scio te qui sis Sanctus Dei I know thee vvho thou art the HALOVV of God Moyses likewise in figure of this that I say Deut. 18. rekoned vp many darke Scholemaisters as Southsaiers Inchaunters Witches Wise-men Familiars Coniurers c. and charged the people not to seeke euen Truth it selfe of such And therefore whereas a wench possessed of a Pithon-sprite cried after Saint Paule and his companie isti homines serui Dei Excelsi sunt Act. 16 qui annuntiant vobis viam salutis These men are seruantes of God the Highest who shew to you the way of saluation what saieth the Scripture thereupon Dolens autem Paulus conuersus spiritui dixit praecipio tibi in nomine Iesu Christi exire ab ea Et exijt eadem hora. But Paul being grieued thereat and turning himselfe said to the sprite I commaund thee in the name of Iesus Christ to goe out of her And hee vvent out the same houre Much more might be here said to this purpose in commendation of Catholike and detestation of Hereticall both Seruice and Sermons But for my breuitie thus much shall suffice Proced we therfore to other Motiues Ecclesiasticall Monumentes and liuings CONSIDER moreouer what Church it is that hath furnished and beautified the faithfull Nations of the world vvith Vniuersities vvith Colleges vvith Hospitals vvith Abbies and Monasteryes vvith very Churches Chappels and innumerable other Monumentes of our only Religion Romain and Catholike and for vvhat Church like-wise all such Monumentes in all places by christian Emperours Kinges Queenes Princes and other persons of wealth and Dignitie at al times since theyr first conuersion to Christ haue beene erected for vvhat Church such honorable portions of lands and liuings and other earthly commodities haue by such persons beene sorted out Hath not our Lord God by his Euangelicall Prophet ESAIE told vs that to his Church such benefits and prouisions by such persons should be giuen Esaiae 49. Et erunt Reges nutricij tui Reginae nutrices tuae Kings saith he shal be thy fosterers Quenes shal be thy nurces Were then these magnificent Churches Colleges and Vniuersities builded either by Protestantes or for Protestantes by any one or for any one euer that was of their Religion VVere the Bishopriks Archedeconries Deanries Prebendes Personages and Vicariges instituted for their women and children to make them gentlewomen and gentlemen or to the honour and seruice of any Church but ours Were the tythes and other liuelyhoodes so religiously lotted and limited of euerie mans goodes for any Church but ours Such maintenance of study in Vniuersities and Schooles of Solemne Seruice in Chappell Church College Cloyster and Close did it proceede from their Church Or vvas any of these commodities made or meant towards any Church but ours Doth not the very condition of these fore-sayed thinges poynt ours to be the true and only Church of Christ and Christendome and giue terror and horror to the consciences of our Aduersaries against the fearefull day of Christes general Iudgement either for plucking downe and destroying or for vsurping the foresayed douries of his Catholike Church cleane against the meaning of all the first Founders Looke at the very forme and fashion of euery Church of euerie Chappell of euery Chauncell of euery Chalice of euery Aultar of euery Sepulchre of euery Stone of euery window giue they not euidence for our only Church and Religion Beare they not our cognisance and badges Crie they not out alowd that they be and haue bene alwaies some of them these twelue hundred yeares and vpward our goodes and possessions that the Heretikes be vsurpers theeues sacriligious men and robbers Apes AGAINE consider what Church that is vvhich as it is to it selfe sufficient and able to stand alone lacking in it no good Learning or knowledge no iust Law no necessarie order because it hath in it all things deliuered by Christ comming vnto it by the Apostles hands and their most certaine Successors euer hauing vvith it the Holy Ghost to assist it in all thinges to lead it into all truth to direct it into all good order and there to keepe it so is it of al Schismes and separated Religions imitated and apishly followed as without whose