Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	know_v	scripture_n	1,910	5	5.5187	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07803	A direct answer vnto the scandalous exceptions, which Theophilus Higgons hath lately obiected against D. Morton In the which there is principally discussed, two of the most notorious obiections vsed by the Romanists, viz. 1. M. Luthers conference with the diuell, and 2. The sence of the article of Christ his descension into hell.	Morton, Thomas, 1564-1659.	1609 (1609)	STC 18181; ESTC S103393	25,429	38

A DIRECT ANSWER VNTO THE SCANDALOVS EXCEPtions which Theophilus Higgons hath lately obiected against D. Morton In the which there is principally discussed Two of the most notorious Obiections vsed by the Romanists viz. 1. M. Luthers conference with the diuell and 2. The sence of the Article of Christ his descension into hell IOB 31. v. 35. 36. Though mine aduersaries would write a booke against me Would I not take it vpon my shoulder and binde it as a crowne vnto me LONDON Printed for EDMVND WEAVER 1609. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE RAPH LORD EVRE LORD PRESIDENT OF the Principalitie Dominion and marches of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of the same THe many tokens of that interest which by your fauour right Honorable I haue in your fauour hath thus emboldened me in this little Treatise to manifest my due acknowledgement of your Lordships loue towards me but much more vnto the truth of Christ which doth ennoble you both in the sight of Angels and of men Not many nobles saith the Apostle but he addeth according vnto the flesh that we should not wonder at this defect but deplore it for we know that the Spirit of Christ which called the faithfull of Thessalonica noble because of their diligent studie in the sacred Scriptures and zealous inquisition of the truth of the Gospell doth teach vs to esteeme of all such as the off-spring of right Nobilitie which issueth not from generation but from regeneration the praise and glorie whereof is not of men but of God My speciall intendment in this dedication right Honorable was to giue your Lordship notice what kinde of conflicts I am daily to expect seeing that after the assault of a Moderator and a Mitigator now one T. H. a Motioner is sent to insult vpon me vnder a pretence of charging me with falsifications But how farre my disposition hath bene from this wickednesse I haue presumed to appeale vnto your Honours experience What my desert is the examination of his particulars will best discouer which I referre vnto the equanimity of your Lordships censure submitting my selfe either vnto the abalienation of your Honorable fauour or else your further approbation of me according as I shal be found in these points innocent or obnoxious Our Lord Iesus preserue your Honour vnto the glorie of his sauing grace Your Lordships in all due thankfulnesse TH. MORTON To the Reader THe speciall occasion of this Answer Christian Reader was in thy behalfe lest thou shouldest stumble vpon me as vpon a Falsificator who professe my selfe a publisher of truth I haue read my Aduersarie his pretended Motiues and haue since also vnderstood of his true motions which occasioded him to reuolt and comparing them together I could not but recken him among the number of that people who as histories relate did first execute men whom they called Malefactors and then afterward examined their cause For if T. H. had not first run out in a passion and afterwards deuised pretext of Reasons which he calleth his Motiues the law of charitie and of humanitie would haue chalenged him to haue consulted with those Authors whom he doth impugne with whom the Motioner did then stand in the termes of brotherhood As for my selfe I perceiue he hath read my Apologie in which there are many hundreds of testimonies alledged out of the Romish writers wherein they are found to contradict one another almost in euery question and to conuince their owne men of manifest slaunders against Protestants and almost in euery Article to iustifie the grounds of our Religion out of all which M. Higgons hath singled out onely fiue which it may seeme he thought to be more singularly false then any others These haue I examined and after due triall am now prouoked to expostulate the matter with my Aduersarie as Iacob did with Laban saying What haue I trespassed what haue I offended that thou hast pursued after me Seeing thou hast searched all my stuffe what hast thou found suffer me to change a word to charge me withall Put it here before thy brethren and mine either Protestants or Romanists that they may iudge betweene vs both I can say no more but laying open the parcels wish that the Brethren of both sides would iudge betweene vs both are in some sort chargible hereunto not onely by my Aduersaries chalenge who intitleth this part of his booke thus Trie before you trust but much more by the Apostles authoritie exhorting all men concerning things of this nature to Trie all things and to keepe that which is good The Lord Iesus blesse vs and by his preuenting Grace prepare vs alwaies for a comfortable appearance before him in the great day of Triall Thy friend and seruant in Christ Iesus TH. MORTON A DIRECT ANSWER VNTO THE SCANDALOVS EXCEPTIONS WHICH Theophilus Higgons hath lately obiected against D. Morton Theoph Higgons THE PREFACE IF you consider the deliberation of D. MORTON in the contexture of his APOLOGY or his pretended sinceritie therein it may seeme very strange that this worke which was borne after so long trauell should be surcharged with impertinent trifles or subtile collusiōs or malicious vntruthes The Answer I doubt not but my sincerity will indeed seeme strange vnto any that shall consider aright with what insinceritie and impietie it is impugned T. H. For which respects Iames Gretzer a verie noble author hath exorned it with a speciall encomion viz. Hoc opus c. This censure because it proceedeth from an aduersarie and a IESVITE also with whose order it pleaseth D. Morton to contend more eminently then with any other may peraduenture seeme vniust but yet the equitie of it or credibilitie at the least may appeare vnto you by the sequele which being a part doth delineate the condition and qualitie of the whole The Answer I cannot enuie Iames Gretzer your exornation of a very noble if you adde Rayler for although I haue seene many Doctors yet neuer read I of any other that was professor in that kinde whose onely phrases and emblemes of vnciuill Rhetoricke vsed against learned Protestants in that one booke here cited by you I haue seene collected into such a swelling bulke as may bewray that your noble Author in writing it laboured of a tympanie which since hath bene so skilfully vented by the reasons of a learned Protestant that we stand in good hope of his better temper hereafter Concerning whose censure of me you haue said in my behalfe that it proceedeth from an Aduersarie whom my selfe might haue incountred with by the testimony of a friend euen of his own Nation Omnes docti qui hîc sunt c. but I abhorre this folly Yet I wish that I had bene so much beholdē vnto you M. Higgons as to haue examined the particular exceptiōs which Iames Gretzer hath taken against me to haue noted any one thing wherin I haue bene iustly charged of subtle collusion or of malicious vntruths I should

I shall presently returne him I doubt not a satisfiable answer The fourth Interrogatorie Whether whatsoeuer the Diuell speaketh be therefore to be iudged diuellish because it proceedeth from the Diuell This was determined from the confessions of their owne Iesuits viz. that although the Diuell be the Father of lies yet doth he tell some truth Which is proued by Scripture where he is noted to haue cried out saying vnto Christ What haue I to do with thee Iesus thou sonne of the Almightie and therein to haue confessed two Articles of Christian faith euen the humanitie and diuinitie of Christ The fift Interrogatorie Whether Satan in his Conference obiected any Argument against priuate Masse which is not a certaine confessed truth The points were these First that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is to be administred in both kinds bread and wine Next that it is no Coommunion wherein onely the Priest doth communicate Lastly that the action of the Sacrifice of the true Masse is the Annunciation of Christs death Which were partly proued by the confessions of our Aduersaries to accord with Christs institution and might also be as easily confirmed by the consent of the best antiquitie But what said Luther to all this He sheweth that the Diuell is the most subtle lier euen then when he speaketh truth as for example in striking the heart of Iudas with that direfull thought I haue betraied the innocent bloud this saith Luther Iudas could not denie for it was too true a truth but the lie of the Diuell was this Therefore must thou O Iudas despaire of the grace of God Therefore brother Papist saith Luther the Diuell doth not lie when he accuseth a man for he bringeth with him two inconuincible witnesses euen Gods law mans conscience The truth of which Assertion euerie conscience of man will readily confesse Now followeth The last Interrogatorie Whether Luther in that conflict did conquer the Diuels temptation or no This needed none other answer then Luthers owne Application So saith he I cannot denie but that I haue sinned meaning in celebrating priuate Masse contrarie vnto Christs holy institution but the diuell doth herein lie in tempting me to despaire with Cain I confessed indeed euē before the Diuell that I had sinned with Iudas but I turne my selfe vnto Christ with Peter I call vpon Christ I beleeue in Christ who hath condemned all horrible damnation and blotted out my sinne with his bloud whereof I doubt not for to this end I haue receiued the Sacraments his seales of grace Which combat with the Diuell I shewed how semblable it was vnto S. Bernards case of whom we reade that in the fierce conflict which he had with the Diuell tempting him to despaire I confesse saith he that I am vnworthie neither can I by my merits obtaine the kingdome of heauen but Christ my Lord doth possesse it by a double right the one is by inheritance from the Father the other by the merit of his owne passion he is contented with the one and the other doth he impart vnto me This being my discourse whereby their ordinarie slander against Luther was sponged out none neede to maruell why M. Higgons forbare to handle this controuersie and choose rather to scratch me by the face by an imputation of voluntarie knowne M. Higgons wanted not his Inkehorne resolued determinate malice But I come to The Iustification of my selfe That which belonged vnto me to proue was that the Diuel doth sometime exhort vnto good although with a wicked intent which as our Aduersaries will easily grant may be confirmed by his commendation of chastitie and by innumerable other examples But because the Obiection made against Luther was concerning the Masse therefore did I endeuour to giue instance in the like example happened vpon that sentence out of Del'rio the Iesuit which I my selfe afterwards did discerne and in print in the end of my second part of Apology did plainely acknowledge to haue bene much mistaken acquainting my Reader therewith and therefore repaired that breach with another example out of the same Author in this manner I will shew you saith the Iesuite Del'rio an example worthie your memorie wherein notwithstanding this is to be maruelled that a Diuell did command one to buy a bell and to bestow it vpon a poore Church whereby the faithfull might euery Sonday be called vnto Diuine Seruice By this confession I fortified my former consequence thus If the Masse must be therefore accounted sacred because the Diuel did reprehend it then must it likewise be iudged to be sacrilegioús because the Diuell doth prouide meanes to call men vnto it Hereby manifesting how pitifully our Aduersaries are deluded who will not discerne the Diuels subtilty which is alwaies to speake aut falsum aut ad falsum that is either to teach that which is false or else a truth but with a false intent The thing he deliuereth is often most true and truth as their Iesuite confesseth is originally from the the holy Ghost whosoeuer be the preacher but his conclusion Ergo thou must kil or steale or despaire c. is alwaies the daughter of him who is the father of lies What remaineth but The guilt of my Accuser Tell me now you that professe to speake out of certaine experience and yet confesse that I haue exactly quoted the booke chapter question section of this testimonie whether you euer knew in all your experience any voluntary corrupter especially being compassed about with so many left-eyed Aduersaries to haue directly pointed at the place where his corruption might be certainly found out and then note me for a man voluntarily and resoluedly false Secondly whether any determinately malicious could euer be induced to acknowledge as I did his errour before he were publikely conuicted Thirdly whether he can call the answer resoluedly false in me who could haue confirmed the same conclusion viz. that the Diuell will acknowledge some good both by other and also by the same Author Del'rio in the same story from an example of the same kind I would adde a fourth whether M. Higgons read not that my satisfaction in my Animaduersions so with mine owne heiffer would maliciously plough vpon my backe But I will not gall his conscience God forgiue him his wrong Although this his former precipitancie might moue me to pitie his indiscretion yet the last clause of his sentence deserued a smile when he saith that Except this be a resolued and determinate malice then the infernall serpent did neuer tell a lie saith he for which he or they may not extort some colourable defence Hereby necessarily imagining that there may possibly be a lie which wanteth all colour of defence Which indeed is most true amongst all faithfull Professors of Christ but cannot hold firme in that sect which defendeth an Aequiuocation by a mentall reseruation for say good M. Higgons in your humanitie if I should haue bene so gracelesse as in

matter T. H. 2 This position with me is an impregnable bulwarke of my Religion viz. Whosoeuer doth pertinaciously reiect any point of faith accepted by publike consent of the CATHOLICKE Church he is an HERETICKE and no member of her communion For which consideration I am as tenderly affected in this article as in any other of my Creede esteeming my selfe obliged thereunto for two respects FIRST because the essentiall truth thereof is clearely reuealed vnto me by God both in his word written and by Apostolicall Tradition In his word written for what can be more perspicuous then this saying Thou wilt not leaue my soule in hel c. By Apostolicall Tradition for what can be more plaine then this Article He descended in hell 3 SECONDLY I am moued by the authoritie of the Church For who saith Augustine denieth that Christ descended into hell vnlesse he be an INFIDELL And for the sence of this Article he hath this cleare resolution Who is he that was not left in hell Christ Iesus but in his SOVLE onely Who is he that lay in the graue Christ Iesus but in his FLESH onely For the NATVRALL vnion of his bodie and soule was dissolued but not the HYPOSTATICALL vnion of either with his Person 4 This truth being so patent and perspicuous I aske you now what reason haue you for any part of your faith if you haue not assurance in this And if you fall from this what certaintie haue you in any other point Therefore it importeth your Church to shew a due conformitie in this Article of the Creed Finally you may remember that S. Athanasius in his Creed which your Church pretendeth to admit throughly c. hauing premised this denuntiation Whosoeuer keepeth not the Catholicke faith entire and inuiolate without doubt he shall perish euerlastingly doth afterward subnect this Article of Christ his descent into hell as parcell of that CATHOLICKE faith The Answer No man may iustly discommend M. Hiogons resolution if he can make good all that he professeth The heads be three the first is the equall necessitie of this Article with any other and secondly the equall euidence for the proofe hereof and lastly a generall conformitie of profession herein For the weight and necessitie he pretendeth to be as tenderly affected in this Article is in any other I would willingly beleeue him but that in my booke of Apologie in the same Chapter from whence he now maketh his obiection I propounded the iudgement of their learned Professor and Iesuite Suarez who determined this question in these words There followeth saith he a doubt whether the truth of Christ his descent into hell be not onely a matter to be beleeued but also an article of faith the reason hereof is this because it was not in the Nicene Creed nor set downe by the Apostles and because the Fathers as namely Augustine Tertullian Irenaeus Origen haue omitted it in their expositions of the Creed I answer saith he that it is not altogether certaine that the Apostles added this Article if by an Article of faith we vnderstand a truth which all faithfull men are bound explicitly to know and beleeue I thinke it not necessarie to reckon this among the Articles of faith because it is not a matter altogether so necessarie for all men and for this cause peraduenture it was omitted in the Nicene Creed the knowledge of which Creed may seeme to be sufficient for the fulfilling the precept of faith This resolution M. Higgons doubtlesse there saw wherein an ods of necessary vse of this article is professed by your eminent Iesuit Schoolemā and yet doth our yong Antagonist exact an equall necessity of this with any other Article The equall euidence of this Article is the second point wherein he doth insist requiring as good an assurance and certaintie for this as for any other point accounting it an essentiall truth clearely reuealed vnto him by God both by Apostolicall Tradition and by the word written and by custome of the Church as though he had obserued a certaintie hereof among the Romanists which he could not finde among Protestants not vnderstanding that their foresaid Iesuite hath said concerning his first hold that it is not certaine that the Apostles added this Article And as for the Scriptures which they produce for the proofe of the Romish sence thereof the same Suarez saith some Catholicks so expound these Scriptures as destroying and denying this Article and of the Article it selfe their Iesuite Salmeron durst pronounce saying We doubt not that this article is not so euidently declared in Scriptures as the other Articles are which concerne the humanitie of Christ insomuch that Scotus and Durand thought as he saith that it could not be proued out of Scriptures and yet their nouice M. Higgons presumed that all Romanists held it as most perspicuously deliuered in Scriptures As for his ground taken from the testimonie of S. Augustine this wil proue maruellously preiudicial to the Romish sence The last point which he professeth is conformitie in this Article of the Creed whereby he would be thought to auouch their owne consent herein notwithstanding he knew that among their Romanists there hath bene broached these differences one saying that Christs descent into hell was onely vertuall and not personall the second sort of them who held a personal descent but some applying it vnto the reall hell of the damned others onely vnto a Limbus Patrum which wil be proued out of S. Augustine to be no part of hell As yet the Romanists affoord vs neither an absolute necessity of the Article nor euidēce of their sence either from Apostolicall tradition or from perspicuous places of Scriptures nor yet entertaine among themselues a conformitie of consent So that as yet we cannot perswade our selues of M. Higgons equall tendernesse of affection in this behalfe but now concerning my selfe T. H. His Accusation §. 2. D. Mortons pretence of his Churches vnity in this point is clearely refuted NOw see your Doctors syncerity who may cal God to reuenge it vpon his soule if he deceiue any man with his knowledge First he citeth the opinion of Bellarmine in these words Opinio Catholica haec est CHRISTVM VERE SECVNDVM ESSENTIAM FVISSE IN INFERNO As much as to say Christ in his soule substantially did descend into hell Then he addeth Hanc vestram sententiam NOS quoque iuxtà cum Augustana confessione libentissimè profitemur non tamen quatenus vestram sed quatenus veram We also together with the Augustane confession do most willingly professe this opinion c. It is well that he left out the Scottish French Belgian and Heluetian confessions for he knoweth that the true Caluinists are hereticks in this behalfe The Answerers Iustification I concealed not the different expositions of some other Protestants who notwithstanding are no more guiltie of heresie in this point then are the Romanists as will appeare But