right truly said that holy father Extra ecclesiam non est salus without the Church there is no Saluation and that you may better perceaue this reason the holy Apostle S. Paul 1. Cor. 12. compareth Christs misticall body the church in some sort vnto a natural body wherein euery member you se hath his office and function the eye seeth the eare heareth the hand helpeth the legg and the legge carieth hand the whole bodye euery member is necessary one to the other and euery member is ruled by the head receiueth life froÌ„ the body but deuide but a member cutt but a leg or an arme from the body it dieth you see the reason is because it is not of the body euen so it is in Christs mistical body his spouse the holy Catholike Church whereof hee our good Lorde Sauiour that tooke vpon him our seruile nature for vs is the true head for all catholike Christians that beleue as hee teacheth and liue in vnitiy vnder his Vicar the true cheife Pastor of our Soules worthely frequenting his sacraments abstaining from all other sectes in their prayers Sacramentes and Ceremonies these bee truely called members of his visible Catholike Church and receiue grace and mercie from Christ the head yea that which is more because there is as we beleeue a commuion of Saintes euerye one is partaker according to his good disposition and due desertes of anothers good prayers workes and actions yea in each of the praiers and good deedes not only of those in earth so we be in state of grace but also of the merits praiers Promodulo nostro of the Blessed Saintes in Heauen as both they we with praiers good deeds helpe the faithfull departed in that cleansing fire of Godes iustice called Purgatorie But if one bee deuided from this common companye of Christes Church either by Heresie or Schisme as but onely going to the Church there to praye or to be present or praye with Heretikes then loe is he deuided from the body of Christ the Catholike Church for no maÌ„ can serue two Masters and so hee hath not the fruit of life and grace in him as long as he remaineth so deuided in that state the reason is because being deuided from the body he cannot haue influence of grace from christ which is the head thereupon it commeth that what fasting prayer almesededs soeuer a man doth without Gods Church it nothing auaileth to eternal saluation the reason is because our works if they be not seasoned or imbrued with the blood of Christ and watred with the deaw of his grace caÌ„not be meritorious nor acceptable in his sight For by christ our lord and head perfect God and man by his grace in his passion our workes be meritorious beyng as he is God the principal and efficient cause of our iustification and merittes as hee is man the mediation for our sinnes and onlye Christ is the cheife cause of our merit though Tit. 3. Ephes. 1. 2 Conc. Trid. ses 6. cap. 7. we once preuented with Gods grace bee workemen with him to our own meritt and saluation and the Sacraments be instrumental causes of our iustification so that by heresie or schisme wee be deuided froÌ„ the Church his body theÌ„ consequently we be deuided from him our head and so void of his grace without which our doings be nothing till we return backe to him in becoming true meÌ„bers of his body the Church Yet in what soeuer state a man be it is far better to do vertuous actions deeds thaÌ„ otherwise as by Fasting Praier Almes-deeds the like because in so doing ones damnation is the lesse and because it is a disposition to better that in the end God wil powre downe more pleÌ„tifully his grace bring him to perfection who worketh his gifts commonly in matter disposed yet first preuenteth or disposeth that a man may so dispose himself but yet as I said how so euer let him worke neuer so much yet if he be not in the ende a member of Gods Church he cannot be saued for the reasons aboue-saide And therefore a man ought to feare nothing more than separation from Christs Church suffer his soule rather to be separated from his body yea loose many liues if he had them than euer be deuided from Christs Catholike Church without which no true life of grace nor saluation can be found and when a man is once within the vnity of the Church then Celum ruat though the worlde turne vp-side downe if he sticke to thâ— rocke and liue accordingly to the rules thereof he needes not be afraide God is of his side he shall lay such a sure foundation of the rocke that hee needes not feare to bee caried away nor be wauering with euery blast of new doctrine Wherefore if you desire to knowe the trueth to be guided with trueth not to erre from the trueth then presently become a member of Christes body that you may be guided by the spirit of trueth that proceedeth from the heade Let no loue of the worlde riches nor worldlye promotions no loue of your selfe wife kins-folkes or children no feare of imprisonment persecution or death separate you from tâ—e knot of vnity and charity in Christ Iesus and in his blessed sweet spouse the Church inseparably ioyned together Then in al doubts you mâ—y be resolued to perfect quietnesse in God in heart conscience When you haue thus founde out and thus ioyned your selfe to the Catholike Church you neede not then staggar or stande wauering vngrounded neuer resolute in your selfe what to beleeue or doe by reason of this opinion or that nor neede not to leane vpon this man or that but vpon the infallible trueth that can neuer faile and without all doubt in all perplexities say and firmelye protest the Article of the Creede I beleeue the Holye Catholike Church See the goodnesse of God in prouiding our saluation for no man vnlearned is so simple but he maye doe this and be saued and none so learned and wise but if he exceed this limitte trusting to himselfe hee shall erre and be damned Wherefore thus we must with humility beginne to beleeue subiecting our iudgement and our reason vnto Faith and all our repose next to Christ in the holy Catholike Church and then we shall vnderstande otherwise we shoulde be as wauering reedes â—uer vnconstant for Nisi credideritis non First beleeue and after vnderstand Esaias intelligetis Vnlesse you beleeue saiâ—th God by his holy Prophet you shall not vnderstande wherefore perfectelye to vnderstande the trueth you must first learne to beleeue and followe the holy Catholike faith and Church otherwise you shal neuer be certaine nor at a-stay if you seeke for saluation For shee euer directed with the holy Ghost as Christ promised is a strong fortresse for great ones and a quiet repose for little ones and a Nurse and Mother for al. Chap. VII Of the
asketh you what reason you haue for this or what Scripture for that or what beleeue you of this or of that Say you no more but I beleeue the holy Catholicke Church as shee belieueth in al things so do I if he aske you againe and againe how shee beleeueth answer the heretick euen as I beleeue I beleeue as the Catholick Churche beleeueth and so stay quietre your self and so first beginne to beleeue then after to vnderstand For as God saide by his holy Prophet vnlesse you beleeue you shall not vnderstand yea it is sufficient to saluation if your life be according though you cannot vnderstand the chiefe highest misteries nor bring Scripture for euerie thing so you beleeue as the Catholicke Church doth grounding your self therein who is able to direct and guide you from and out of all errors incombrances and darknes of this world into a most sure and stable light For to the holy Catholick Church Christ promised to send his spirite the holy Ghost after his departure to bee with her and guid her in all truth euen to the end of the world I haue many thinges to say to you saieth our Sauiour to his Disciples but you cannot beare them away now but when I shall goe I wil Ioan. 16. send you the holy ghost the comforter he shal teach you all truth Lo you se by Christ promise his holy Spirite shall guide his church in al truth that it neuer faile erre nor be deceiued that is as I haue proued before at large only the true Catholicke Apostolick Romaine church no other in this Church what simple man so euer containeth him-selfe and truly followeth the same hee cannot goe astray and out of this Church if hee were the greatest Philosopher or learned man in the worlde as there bee some Falsi nemmis scientiam sibi promittentes Yet most certainely hee shall erre bee deceaued To this Church then without which is no Saluation ioyne your selfe her obay her follow her beleeue in al things you cannot erre my soule for yours nor goe astray to damnation this Church if you forsake as I said before if you had all the wisdome of men or al the learning of Aristotle and the wisest Philosophers that bee or haue beene you should without al doubt erre walke in darknes and perrish for euer Chap. LXXVIII Against schisme that it is altogether vnlawfull and forbidden vnder paine of damnation to goe to the churches of hereticks or schismaticks to their prayers sermons Sacramentes spirituall exercises or in any sort directly or indirectly to communicate participate yeeld consent or assent to the sâ—me also a precaution is giuen to beware of dissembling Catholikes which indeede are schismaticks BVT when you bee thus once established in the one only truth of Christ and his â—oly Church though this be the foundatioÌ„ first to beginne to beleeue well yet you must then do according to true faith beleeue els you can not be saued for saith as I said before out of S. Iames without good workes is dead Epist Iacobi cap. 2. take heede then when you be once well grouÌ„ded in true faith religioÌ„ that you not only flee sinne and seeke to exercise good works true vertue but withal beware of dissembling Catholiks that flatter theÌ„selues to be Catholiks be none indeede they coÌ„sesse theÌ„selues to knowe Christ in words and yet deny him in deedes These men bee as daingerous as heretikes them selues in some respects worse and will vnder pretence of religion more easely deceaue the simple and those wee call Schismatiks not only lay persones but suche as bee and were preists of olde and yet for feare of loosing their liuings will teach you as thee tearme it to beare a little with the time till a better world come and in the meane time vnlooked for death cometh For thus they will come vnto you and say O Sir you keepe a good house you might badly bee spared amongst your neighbours infaith this world will not last alwalyes and then he will with Iudas whisper in your eare tell you how you shal heare newes erre it be long then will say vnto you CaÌ„not you goe to church in the meane time and keepe your conscience to your selfe by God there is neuer a knaue of them all shall take aduantage of mee and yet God knoweth my mind Lo this dissembling Schismatike with these and others foolish perswasions which come of loue of his flesh and want of loue and feare of God he deceaueth him selfe and others For the truth is whatsoeuer you beleeue yet if you doe contrary to your beliefe you damne your owne soule doing contrary to your conscience For we may not dissemle with God For he that denieth mee before men saith Christ I will denie him before my father which is in heaueÌ„ For God hath not only made mans hart and soule to beleeue in him but hath giuen him a body And mouth to confesse Rom. 10. him which wee must doe to bee saued For wee beleeue in heart to righteousnesse as saith Saint Paul and confesse in mouth to Saluation Now to goe to the heretiks church is to deny Christ for Christ is the truth Who as hee is God in all and all in all so is he wholy in euery parte of the truth and therefore hee that denieth any article of his faith denieth the trueth and so denieth Christ yea but you wil say I say nothing there but sitte downe and say my praiers yea but your very being there your very action or deede is an allowing of their euill doings or sayings for Christ and his holy Sacraments be there abused and blaspheamed so be his blessed mother and his Saints and therefore if I be present in such a company ioyning my selfe with them by my presence I alowe of them whatsoeuer I thinke to the contrary you see if one be drawne in amongst theeues perhaps partly against his will to be at a robbery as to hold the horses he shal be hanged for his paines The Church indeed was built by our forefathers for Gods seruice and good purposes and was dedicated to God consecrated or hallowed but now is defiled with vncleane birds become worse then a denne of theeues as haunted by the Diuels and ministers that daily blaspheame Christs truth holy Sacraments Wherefore if you will not be damned with them she such daÌ„nable company if you were in company where your Lord Master were euill spoken of you should giue them courage by your presence and silence do you think your Master would not plucke his coat oft from your backe thrust you out so God wil deale with dissemblers cast them out of his kingdome and seruice that see him heare him dishonoured and dissemble it besides many dangers ghostly that follow by going to heretiks prayers and Churches so that if you will be a Catholicke Christian and knowe the truth to
the Catholike Romaine Church hath this ordinary succession confirmed with miracles it partly appeareth by that is allready sayd when as then the very Iewes from Aaron to Christ could shewe their lawfull succession of Bishoppes euen to Christ the true law-giuer that state of olde being but a very figure of ours and whereas by the Apostles doctrine none ought to take vpō them the office of bishops no neither king nor prince much lesse to make bishops but hee only that therto is by ordinary vocatiō called as Aaron was by God annoynted inuested by Moises who first himselfe by extarordinary vocation or miracle vvas chosen and called by God and whereas by very drift of reason the Church cannot visibly continew as Christ promised it should doe without pastors and heades to guide it and succeede one another in the same The Catholike Roman Churh only therfore and no other being that which can shew this ordinary and lawfull succession of Bishops in the Apostolike Sea of Saint Peter whose faith in them Christ promised should neuer faile must of necessity be the true Church of Christ and other flockes and sortes of heretikes as Protestants Puritanes who soeuer must needs be bragge they neuer so much of christ and the Gospel the very Sinagogue of Satan Antichrist For the Protestantes and other Heretikes of our time that would be accounted gospellers of christ to haue with them ōly the true Church besides the new vpstarts bee very blasphemous in so saying as going about in effect to proue vntruth in christ as though he failed in his promis who saied his church shold neuer decay besids this I say they be very obsurd ridiculous foolish in their opiniō for example would you not thinke him a folish painter and very vnskilful in his art that hired by some noble gentleman to draw his picture after he had drawn the head would leaue out body legs armes sett only the feet where the necke should stand to his head Spectatum admissi risum teneatis Euerye one thinke you that looked theron would they not laughe him to scorne yes truly Like vnto this foolish painter be the gaye deceitfull painted heretikes of our time they brag Yea heretikes I mean be farre beneth the feete as for want of succession being no members of Christs misticall body the church a◠a◠of the lord christ the head of the church they say they teach the doctrine the Apostles did forsooth that they be al one with those B. Fathers of the Primitiue church one body in christ his church but enquire of thē by what sinewes and ioynts they be tied to the Apostles primitiue church of what lawful Bishops by succession they haue receiued their faith they can shew you none For 1500. yeares together they brag of the head yet be in steed of the feet wher is the body You see it is wanting wherefore you see for want of succession they haue no true possession in Godes house Wherfore those that will come into his kingdome must flie their company Fugite de medio Babilonis flie out of Babilon the corps of sin and Satan and her confusion hereticall congregations that you be not inuolued in her ruine and perpetuall destruction Chap. VI. Of some other signes and tokens of the true catholike church c. how without it none can be saued BY these foure notes then of vniuersality antiquity consent and lawful succession if you marke them well you may euer know the true Church from all other false sects and conuenticles of infidells and miscreant heretikes because they be proper to no other church but only the Catholike Church But besides these there be many other notes of the true Church that I cannot stand to reckon For what faith sauing only the catholike Romane faith hath bene in euery age when it hath beene planted in any Countrie first confirmed with so many miracles as in raising the dead giuing sight to the blind making the lame to walke and the dumb to speake but our Church and Catholike faith So that our church only I say is it and no other that hath had so many blessed and learned fathers and Doctors of all ages from Christs time to this day as appeareth by so many learned treatises and boks yea whole volums of theirs writtē in defence of our faith and religion As to begin with S. Dionise S. Paules scholler he writeth most learnedly of the Hierarchies of Angells of their aide succour we receaue by them of holie rites and ceremonies vsed euen at Masse this daye contrarie to the heretikes of this time yea we haue the very Liturgies that is the formes and orders of sacrifices as much to say of saying Masse which the Apostles namelye Saint Iames vsed in their dayes as they were taught by Christ at his last supper what shall I say of Policarp holy Ignatius in or nere the Apostles time the one scholler to S. Iohn view their writings you shal find the catholike faith confirmed how oft deuoutly do S. Athanasius S. Gregory Nazianzene S. Basil to praye our Lady the mother of God to assist and helpe them with her prayers S. Chrisostome how reuerentlye doth he speake of the most holy blessed Sacrament of the Aulter no lesse doth Saint Ambrose most plainly writing vvhole bookes of the same In so much that learned Saint Hierome is ours S. Augustine is ours S. Gregory the Pope S. Bede S. Anselme S. Bernard and as many as euer were writers or holye doctors in Gods Church bee most euident for vs hee that will but reade their bookes and beleeue them needeth no more nor new writers for confirmation of his faith If I would lye yet their bookes beyng extant to be sould almost in euerye stationers or booke-binders shoope in London can testifie the truth If thou desire thy saluation good brother perhappes discredite my words yet take but the pains to peruse the books of those Blessed fathers by me named thou shalt find my wordes true These Fathers many moe to long for me to reck on were most vertuous most wise most graue most learned of the greatest authority amongst al sorts of the best mē in their daies since so studious of holy Scriptures that they consumed therin nightes and dayes yea their whole liues and withal most skilfull in all other liberal sciences They would not attempt as heretikes do now a daies new come from the grammer schooles thinking thēselus great men when they can speake a little latine greeke yea some of them perhappes scarce good grammer schollers to take vpon them prophanely to handle the sacred booke of God and expounde rashly the holy scriptures that booke I say sealed with seauen seales open to none but to the humble in harte and to such as vse ordinary wayes and meanes as much fasting continual praier adioyned with good life especially humility lowlines of spirit a virtue
affirmeth that all things our Sauiour did be not written insomuch that if they were he supposeth the world would not be able to containe the bookes but what if we had neuer had Scripture left vs should we not haue beleeued the mouth tradition of the Church who was beleeued and taught her children to beleeue and followe her before any Scriptures were written whereof wee want as appeareth some part of that which the Prophets and Apostles writ and left vs and those parts we haue as they be most speciall rules testimonies directions stayes for the Church so we beleeue keepe them with all reuerence as deliuered vs by the Church For infallible truth whose authority chiefly moueth vs so to do Now these traditions are nothing but godly precepts orders vses rites ceremonies and infallible truthes of Christ God his Saints and Sacraments due administratioÌ„ of the same which we receaue by word of mouth without writing of our forefathers as they did of theirs froÌ„ one generation to another from Christ his Apostles time HereupoÌ„ S. Austen giueth this notable rule that when any thing is generally receiued of the whole Church the first beginner or author whereof caÌ„not be found out or is vnknowne acknowledge that for certaine for an apostolike tradition we are to beleeue it as certainly to be true as though it were written in the Scripture For the church was and traditions were as I said before the Scriptures was Nay saith an holy Doctor and blessed Saint what if the Scripture had neuer beene should we therfore not haue beleeued the Churches traditions Nay saith S. Augustine I woulde not beleeue the Canonical Scripture or gospell but that the Churches authority mooueth mee thereunto Se here of what authority the Church is vnto whome the word written is but a rule and stay as it were When S. Paul had taught the Corynthians 1. Cor. 11. â—4 the truth of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar forewarned them of some abuses amongst them about the same he tolde them that at his comming hee woulde dispose and set in order other things about administration of the same which what he did therein it is not written yet wee are to thinke hee vvas as good as his promise And therefore many things vsed at Masse this day as the holy canon and other ceremonies we no doubt haue theÌ„ by the institution of Christ and Apostolical traditioÌ„ For though the Church according to diuersity of times what she thinketh most fit to edefie the people may alter especially some externall rites and ceremonies or put to as she thinketh best yet there be certaine thinges she neuer doth nor will alter as Christs wordes therein and the traditions of the Apostles wherefore I am bound to beleeue the Church as vvell when shee saieth of tradition this is the worde or deede of Christ or the Apostles as when shee telleth me of the Scripture this is GODS word which Scripture we reuereÌ„ce more then any people in the world as I declared before but not the Scripture but the false vnderstanding is to be blamed againe though the Scripture be profitable to instruct teach and the like yet many other thinges that be not written be expedient necessary to be knowne as the word Trinity is not written in Scripture yet necessary to be knowne and beleeued where S. Iohn saieth in the Apocalips that no man shall adde or put to that booke or draw from it he meaneth that no man ought to corrupt his writing in that booke or anye other bookes of the Scriptures nor pull out any bookes but Heretickes as ProtestaÌ„ts and the like not only corrupt the text of Scripture both by false translation and false vnderstaÌ„ding them as of late hath bene proued to their shame if they had any but also mangle pull out a number of bookes of Holy Scripture that make against them as I declared before wherefore vppon them and such as they be that so adde and pull out of holy Scripture must needes lye that heauy curse God by S. Iohn threatneth against such euill men deprauers sacriligeous robbers and defacers of the Scriptures and GODS word Chap. LXVII Of God that he is one in substance and three in persons and of the horrible blasphemy of heretickes Athistes against his diuine Maiestie BVt some other hereticks of this time haue neither lest Christ nor God the blessed Trinity vntouched One heretick blasphemeth and compareth the blessed Trinity our most mighty and mercifull Lord God one in nature and substance but three in persons which S. Iohn calleth the father the word the Pater ver bum Spiritus Sanctus holy Ghost These three saieth he be one that is as I saied three persons and one God of one substance power and eternity these diuine persons I say that horrible and most monstrous heretick compareth to Cerberus the dogge of hell with three heads oh blasphemy whie doth not the earth open Oh mercifull Lord God long patient Other like men there be that worse then beasts desier to dispute whether there be a God or no a thing that very heathen men hauing vse of reason neuer scarsely doubted of For I neuer read or heard of any nation for the most part so barbarous but it either worshipped a true God or a false God but see how sinne heresie hath blinded mens harts O if Atheists would but lift vp their eyes to heauen and behold the heauens that all Philosophers and Astronimers know by reason neuer cease mouing and how one plannett or orbe hath superiority or domination ouer another and how the lowest and al the rest be in continuall circuite moued by force and vertue of the highest that primum mobile if senseles men I say would but only consider this common plaine knowne naturall reason they in the end might finde some first chiefe mouer aboue the rest so when mans minde is so high it can attaine or reach no further that incomprehensible thing so farre aboue the reach of mans reason is God summum perenne bonum that most high chiefe essentiall and endles goodnes the beginning of all thinges yet of himself without beginning orend that containeth all thinges and whome nothing not heauen and earth can containe or holde and yet whole and perfect God in all and euery part of heauen and earth whose mighty power reacheth to the vttermost coastes of that bottomles lake but alas what neede I say this to Christians and yet there be that goe vnder that name in our country too that call these matters in question with no lesse vanity and leuity would GOD with no more blasphemy then to talke of Robin Hood these be such whereof the Prophet speaketh dixit insipiens in corde suo c. the foolish man said in his hart there is no God Chap. LXVIII Of hell and of the iust punishments therein for sinne without release for euermore AND truly a number of
afflicted flock the Church which he shall neuer forsake Chap. LXXVI How the Diuell and Antechrist be compared to that monstrous serpentine tayled Dragon drawing numbers with them into euerlasting perdition and that one certaine man Antechrist is yet to come though hee hath many fore-runners LET any man of learning reade but only S. Gregory vpon Iob and he shall finde all this and much more then I can say vpon Antechrist comparing that great monstious serpent and dragon Behemoth which streatcheth out his tayle as the Cedar tree vnto the Diuell and Antechrist his vessell that as saith S. Iohn with his taile draweth Apoc. 12. the third part of the starres of heauen that is men in great account and authority in the sight of the world for learning and other qualities he by promises gifts and threatnings shall drawe downe with him out of Gods Church to destruction and damnation as his forerunners heretikes and Infidels doe you see a number that for feare of losse of life gaine pleasures and commodities forsake Christ the truth and their saluation so that many Antechrists no doubt as Ioh. 1. 4. saith S. Iohn be now in the world denyers of truth aduersaries of the same but yet one man of perdition properly called Antechrist is yet to come as wee by Scriptures and authorities of holy Fathers and Doctors be taught of which wicked man heretickes of these times as I haue oft said be no doubt Prophets fore-runners affirming that darknes is light and light darknes that is that the Pope which as by sufficient authority I haue already proued is the chiefe seruant and member of Christ is Antechrist so that when hee commeth faith being decayed Antechrist indeede may rule and take place without controlement or gainesaying but yet Christ will haue his Church and faithfull Apoc. 11. flocke euen in the heat of Antechrists time that shall boldly gainesay him and with their bloude testefie the trueth which shal neuer decay From which perilous times which seme now to approach our Lord deliuer vs For truly of all heretikes that euer were since Christ these heretiks aproach the nerest to Antechrist and seeme to be his very forerunners For Antichrist at his coming shall deny Christ God and all as heretiks haue by tymes since Christ denied some lesse articles of the Christian faith some more for of some heretiks we read of old that denied the coÌ„substantiality of the sonne of God with his father as the Arrians some the grace of God other free wil as in Saint Augustine time Some denyed Pelagius Iouin an vigilaÌ„tius Euâ—ches inuocation of Saints derided their sacred reliques and scoffed at pilgrimage gate or deuout visitation of their holy Sepulchers as in Saint Ieromes tyme one denyed the resurrection of the body in Saint Gregories time Others beganne to bark against the blessed Sacrament before and in Saint Bernards time and so from time false heresies haue start vp against the Church of God for her better triall and exercise of wisedome of minde as by bloody persecutions of pagans and infidelles shee before was exercised in body But these protestants with their fellow puritans and other of their brethereÌ„ heretiks of this time deny almost or corrupt all articles of our faith and religion their faith standeth all of negatiues and therefore like and most like Antichrist which shall deny all goodnes God and all As for example the heretiks of our tyme deny the true Church deny free will deny all the Sacraments saue Baptisme and that I told you how they abuse also they deny purgatory prayer to the Saints of GOD deny pardon Pope pilgrimage fasting prayer yea haue some most erronious and badde conceipts of Hell Heauen Christ God and all be not these Appollionists Apoc. cap. 9. Abbadonists those destoryers whereof Saint Iohn speaketh the very messengers of the denill and forerunners of Antichrist that thus raise vp all old heresies from hell thus by heaping a fardell of them al sinne mischief to geather make an open gappe to an vniuersall defectioÌ„ general Apostacy the very high way to erect an ydol to adore Antichrist insteed of Christ our only Sauiour true God wherfore hold them for certaine to be very forerunners percursors members of Antichrist which we iustly feare will shortly follow Chap. LXXVII In a sewe words touching the chiefe matters that haue bene spoken in this treatise and how the vnlearned especially in matters of religion ought to leaue disputes and simply to beleeue the truth founding themselues in Christ and in the Catholike Church THus good Sir according to your desire I haue declared vnto you the truth of those matters you desire to bee enformed of I haue set you downe by what certaine markes and notes you may know the true Church from the false Synagogue of Satan I haue likewise more in particular briefly declared vnto you the truth of the seauen Sacramentes how they bee grounded of Christs holy word instituted by him by the Scriptures haue discouered to you the falsehood of our aduersaries the hereticks I haue also briefly touched almost euery thing at this day in controuersy as iustification freewill prayer for the dead prayers to Saints pardons Pope fasting prayer pilgrimage with other like These points articles that euery Catholik is bound vnder paine of damnation to beleeue I haue not only proued vnto you by the Scriptures but also by the churches authority that euery Christian is bouÌ„d to beleeue for wheÌ„ you haue once fouÌ„d out the true church which by those notes I set downe you may easely do though wee haue authority sufficient for euery thing the holy Catholike Church vseth and teacheth yet it is not meete especially for vnlearned folkes to stand to reason or dispute with whies and howe 's but to stay them on that sure rock foundation and piller of truth the holy Catholik Church that so they may not bee wauering as the reede nor borne away with euery blast of new doctrine as circumuented with error and blindnes in the craftines and subtility of men alwaies learning and neuer comming to the perfection of true knowledge which indeede can neuer be had but in captiuating the vnderstanding in obsequium fidei into the obedience of the true Christian Catholick faith working by charity for wee see by too lamentable experence how vnfitte it is for the common people deceauing themselues that know not neither what they speak nor whereof they affirme to iangle and dispute of Scripture matters which as saith Saint Peter the vnlearned and vnstable do depraue to 2. Pet. â— cap. vltâ— their owne destruction wherfore it behooueth the simple people especially that being thus forewarned by the chiefe Pastor of their soules vnder Christ Saint Peter they be carefull neuer to fall or decline from their proper sure stability in Christ his deare spouse the holy Cathoâ—icke Church but say in al doubts when the hereticks
naught be admitted as Christian Catholiks and for meÌ„bers of Gods Church as they For the heretiks of this tyme rayse vp from hell al old heresies whereof Turcisine first arose for the most part that haue bene from Christs time to this day such as many hundred yeeres agone haue bene condemned by the general consent of al Christendome now knitting altogether in one fardell with a number moe of their owne and the deuils new deuising they make rather a generall apostacy denying al things in effect that good is then an heresie from the Church making the hye way to the Diuell and Antichrist learning yet this lesson of false Mahomet their grandesire to admitte al sects and religions that in outward wordes confesse GOD to be of their Church or to be saued and so by the Diuells drift endeauour to their power to send all the world packing to Hell Butlett vs suppose which would GOD it were true that Protestants differed from the Catholike Church but in some one point or the least article of our faith now in questioÌ„ at this day As for example inuocation of Saints or the vse of images yet I say am able plainlie to proue that for the obstinate denyall of the lesse of these points or any such like they should quite cut themselues off from the vnity of Christs Catholike Church which we are bound by Christs owne word by the instruction of our creede to heare beleeue because as there is but one faith Church so but one truth therein which is plaine and simple and cannot be intermedled with any lye therfore whatsoeuer this church proposeth as matter of truth faith to be beleeued I am bound to beleeue it or els I discredit her for a lying Church so not the Church of Christ which is truth so that deny the Churches truth and beliefe in one point deny her in al and the mis beliefe and obstinate gayne saying against one article of faith maketh one an heretike and so offender against the whole for God is truth and wholly in euery part of truth so that to deny any receiued truth of the Church which is matter of faith is to offend against the whole insomuch that S. Iames saith qui totam legem seruauerit offender it autem in vno factus est omnium reus he that keepeth the whole law offendeth in one point is guiltie of al now the true Church of GOD eight hundred yeeres agone condemned image breakers for exaÌ„ple quite cutting them off from the corps vnity of the Church commending to al as a matter of faith that good Christians ought reuerently to keepe and vsethe sacred Images of Christ and his Saints the same doth the Church of God stil beleeue teach confirmed it in her last general Councell holden at Trent as these image breakers for that one heresie were many hundred years agone condemned by the consent of all Christendome and cutte of quite from the whole Church so were those that denyed inuocation of Saints and their holy reliques as Ioumian and Vigilantius in S. Ieroms time against which heretikes and their heresies as new Idolls Saint Ierome him-selfe thundring with Note here that Beza in Actor Apo. cap. 23. v. 3. Is angrywith S. Ierome forwriting against Ioumian vigilaÌ„tius saying Ego coraÌ„ Deo Angelus eâ—us affirme intoller an danâ— esse multis locis in de torquè dis Scripturis Hieronimi andaciam vt in libro contra Iouinianum Vigilantium see here how Beza approoueth elde heretickes of his opinions condemning S. Hierome authority of Gods word and his church very sententiously and learnedly burst them asunder many other such like heretiks for other opinions as the Donatists in Africk in S. Augustine time agreeing many of them in all other points with the Catholik Church yea many of them differing litle or nothing at all in the outward rite and forme of the Churches seruice yea some of theÌ„ but Schismatiks in the beginning yet were they all cutte of the Church no true Christians euer Communicating with them in SacrameÌ„ts or prayers the holy fathers so vehe meÌ„tly writing against the least of those heresyes that rather then they would haue admitted the least of them into the Church of God they would haue suffered many deaths and come now heretiks that cast downe Images Saints yea Christ himselfe out of the Church and pulle downe churches and all and think to be accounted member of gods Church nay that Church hath euer taught vs another lessone who hath euer beene so carefull to keepe her faith with Saint Paul that reioycing said fidem seruaui In all pointes so pure and vndefilled remembring her chiefe pastors lessone that therein shee must resist the Deuill seeking euer his pray whome he may deuoure whome he bidds vs resist Fortes in fide strong in the Catholik faith especially That euen as the Church triumphant in heauen with God can admit no impure or vncleane soule distained with sinne so certainly the true Church of God militant heere on earth neither may nor can admit into her society any open obstinate leaporous heretike infected with the least heresie and why but because as treason is most hay nous to the Prince and common weale so is heresie most grieuous in the sight of GOD and most pernitious to his Church many other great offendors the Prince oft spareth but very seldome is treason pardoned because it tendeth to the ruine of the Kings person and dissolution of the whole state and Monarchy So the holy Church oft times vvith great compassion is forced to tollerate grieuous sinners yea vvith sighes and teares ought to sorrowe and lament them expecting donec formetur in eis Christus and as long as they bee not obstinate in sinne as in theft fornication or more grieuous faults so long oft she expects I say their amendment not quite cutting them off but releeuing them with prayers and good Counsaile that so she vpon their recouery with joy may imbrace them in visceribus misericordiae Christi but euen as the vigilant sheepheard immediatly driueth away the Wolfe or seperateth the scabbed sheepe from 〈◊〉 flocke for feare of killing his lambes or infecting his sound sheepe So the true Pastors of the Church neuer tollerate heresie nor the least heretike in Christs flocke the Church because it creepeth as the canker and destroyeth the corne of Christ Darnell Cockle and such other weede though it be permitted to grow stil with corne till the day of reaping yet venemous blacke flying vermine that consume the corne at euery bitte must diligently at all times bee driuen away For heresie opposeth her selfe by diuision against God which is one preferring her owne wit before the wisedeme and ordinance of Christ in his Church sinneth most highly in Luciferian pride which God so detesteth breaketh charity the knot of peace in his Church which he chiefly loueth and so shooteth against GOD himselfe the
writer but al so therin nov aâ—d then haue vsed some oshisowne speeches whose name though very memorable yet for the present vpon inst reasons I doe conceale trusting only to my slender weake memorye of that I haue heretofore reade or in schooles heard of my masters if I say in touching of so high misteries so many and waighty matters I in any sorte haue fayled or gone one iotte astray from the common receaued faith of the true Catholike and Apostolike Romane Churche as by GODS gratious assistance I trust I haue not yet if there be any of my learned Catholike Brethren that can synde any iust faulte or error herein I will not obstinatly defende yet as Heretâ—ks doe but humbly thanke him that will friendlie charitable either correct it him selfe or warne me of it that I may correct it my sâ—lfe amend it For I as a fraâ—le maÌ„ may easily eâ— Yet â—â—l I boldlie say with that learned * Father I wâ—â—â—euer be an heretike by GODS grace as alwaies submitting my lelfe â—nd all my sayings and doings to the censure judgment and correction of the holy Catholike Churche that I knowe cannot erre Neither haue I heare written any large discourse of any thing but only touched as it weare the toppes of things with what breuitie l mighte makinge the vnlearned to vnderstand But this I beseech you if at any tyme you perceâ—â—e me to enueigh shâ—rply against heretiks or their falie dâ—alings abuses that you woulde not take yt that I doe it for any wante of Charitie towards them or for hatred against their persons but only in respect of their vices and damnable sects heresies wherby they hurt theÌ„selues and others and slaunder the trueth For it is the zeale of GODS cause and the Catholike trueth that some tyme more vehemently causeth me to speake for it is not the most malitious heretike in this lande nor all the heretiks though neuer so malitiouslie they seeke our bloude but GOD is my witnes I am so farre from wishing them harme though olde infestred diseases must be cured with sharpe medicines sometymes for the patients good that I woulde lay my hands vnder their feete and kisse the very grounde they tread one to doe them good and winne their soules to GOD which though with the losle of my lise it were donne yet I trust in GOD I shoulde thinke it well * Aug. bestowed But if my laboures can doe such no good yet I hope GOD will accept my good will and desire And if that I may herewith doe any well disposed person good Then I beseech him whosoeuer that I a sinnful wretch may be pertaker of his good prayers which is all I desire for these smal paines Fare you well 10. Aprilis Anno 1594. Written by him who desireth the good of his Countrye and saluation of all I. R. CHAP. I. OF THE TRVE WAT to saluation GOod Sir touching the truth of those matters you desire to know First assure your selfe for certaine there is but one truth from which whosoeuer obstinatly swarueth must needes be a lyar so not of God but of the Diuell the father of lies Secondly to knowe the truth you can enquire of none more certaine theÌ„ of him who is truth himselfe who calleth himselfe via veritas vita the way truth life A way by grace truth by infallible direction life by fruition of his glory that is Christ him if you follow the true way you shall not walke a-stray him the light and fountaine of truth if you chiefly respect you shall not erre nor be ouer-whelmed in darknesse and so neither here want the life of grace without which the soule cannot liue nor so consequently of Gods glory without which the soule liueth in euerlasting death without which life of grace here glory there better it had bin neuer to haue enioyed this mortal transitory life For what profiteth it a man saith that euerlasting truth if he winne the wholeworld and loose his owne soule The beauty of which soule of man created by God whilst it remayneth in state of grace is so great as framed to the likenesse of almighty God the dignity so excellent as being fellow and coheire with Christ and the price of such value as redeemed with his pretious bloud which beauty of mans soule is soiled blotted quite lost yea become like vnto the olde and crooked most vglie serpent the Diuell by sin ignorance forgetfulnesse to be briefe for want of knowledge and following of the truth which is Christ who said he that followeth me walketh not in darknesse but shal haue the light of life Assure your selfe then my good Sir that it is the sweete motion of Gods holy spirit that in clineth your desire to know the truth which is of such inuinsible force that it stayeth it selfe in God only I meane as the finall and chiefe end of truth For wine may be strong women faire Princes mighty Sed omnia vincit veritas But truth ouercommeth all thinges Enquire then of Christ the infallible truth of those thinges you stand in doubt and you shall be sure neuer to misse the way so that you so enquire that you follow him with perseuerance to the end which is obteyned by Gods grace in perfect humility without security presumption or trust in our selues as of our selues but working with Gods grace our owne saluation chiefly reposing and staying our selues in the helpe and mercies of God and so in matters of faith yea and good workes also a man I meane may be in sure hope and coÌ„fidence neuer to misse the way I haue you will saye enquired thus of Christ but I finde diuers professors of Christ quite differing a sunder in most weighty matters of high misteries of Faith Religion Sacraments Ceremonies and of euerlasting Saluation and yet all parties glorie of the truth How may I then an vnlerned man discerne the light of the truth from amongst so many monstrous cloudes of darknes Hear therefore what Christ saith the truth that caÌ„not fail wel consider I say the rule he setteth downe to know the truth from the dissembled cloake of trueth which is pernitious falsehood and deceitfull flattery These be his words Many shal come in my name say I am Christ shall deceiue many Mat. 4 and againe shall saye Beholde here is Christ Beholde him there as one sorte of people who at this day glory of christ The worde of the Lord and the Gospel say beholde you shall finde Christ in a parte corner of Germanie in Saxony in Wittenberge in Denmarke as the Lutherans who affirme that man hath no free will and that God is the author of euell aswell of the treason of Iudas as of the election of Saint Paul An other Sect as of Anabaptists that oftentimes abuse Baptisme and confound all good ciuill and politicke gouernment to the extirpation of Christian Princes and all gouernors saye you shall finde Christ
ful authority to forgiue sin as they had For euen as the lawful heire vpoÌ„ his fathers death hath the same power authority ouer his land people if he be a king that his father had EueÌ„ so to the worlds end the words of the holy Prophet be fulfilled in the Catholike Church the true inheritance land of the liuing Pro Psal 44. patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii To these true sonnes and heires of the Apostles in the house of God which shall continew to the worldes end be giuen Apostolike power and authoritye to the same end which the Apostles had it Ad consummation Ephes 4. 12. sanctorum in opus ministerii To the edifying perfectioÌ„ of the Church of God which shall not wante her pastores and gouernours to the end As therefore God said once Increase and Gen. 1. multiply all things haue done so since as he said once to his Apost Go teach Mat. 28. 19. all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost and by those wordes Priestes to this daye haue had authoritye to teach and Baptize Euen so saying to his Apostles Whose sinnes you forgiue they be forgiuen hee gaue in those wordes authority to lawful Priestes to the worldes end to doe the same Thus you see by the plaine wordes of the holye Gospell Preists haue power giuen them to forgiue sinne by vertue of the Sacrament of Penance but they cannot knowe as lawfull Iudges in Gods stead what sins to forgiue and what penance to enioyne vnlesse the sinner confesse his sinne For no maÌ„ knoweth the secrets of mans hart but God alone therefore that a mans sins may be forgiueÌ„ he must confesse theÌ„ plainly to the Preist The minister then of this sacrament is a lawfull Preist with iurisdiction the forme is I absolue thee the matter called Remotior or the out ward matter belonging to this sacrameÌ„t be sins as wood is matter to the fire the matter of this Sacrament called Vicinâ—or or the inward matter is the sorowe of the penitent Contrition Confession and Satisfaction manye other thinges appertaine to this holye Sacrament of Confession that I cannot stand to reckon the fruites whereof bee many and vnspeakeable as that thereby wee be deliuered from damnation and to vs therby is opened the gates of Saluation thereby followeth purenes and ioye of soule and hart and to be briefe whereas before by sinne a man was the limme of the Diuell now by Penaunce he is made a member of Christ and childe of Saluation Those that bee Masters and haue charge of house-hold and children by experience know what the want of Confession bringeth a number vnto For in times past when the discipline of holy Church in Confession tooke place here in our countrey seruants children were affraid to offend God and that for confcience-sake did their labours as for God Hard it was to heare of a fellon executed a foure-score yeares ago at an Assise but now a number for want of due instruction feare of God make conscience of nothing so they may escape the halter Chap. XXI Of the most Blessed Sacrament and Sacrifice of Christs Bodie Blood substantially really truly vpon the Altar THe fourth Sacrament which is in the middest of the seauen Sacraments is the most high noble most excellent and worthy Sacrament that is the Sacrament of the Alter and as the sonne in the middest of the Plannets giueth light to the other starres and plannets and exceedeth the same in glorie So the blessed Eucharist wherin is Christ himself the fountaine of all grace excelleth the other Sacraments in dignity and is farre more excellent then any other Sacrament by how much the fountain exceedeth any litle riuer that proceedeth from it for in this most blessed Sacrament I say is contained the fountaine and wellspring of all grace and goodnes our Lorde Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe his Blessed Body and Bloud who at his last supper when he was to depart this worlde the night before his Death Passion deuised the wayes meanes according to his promise to remain with vs stil leauing vs vnder the forme or likenesse of bread wine his very Body Blood in perfect memorie of his death and Passion Protestants other heretikes o monstrous blasphemous heresy holde teach you that this Sacrament is but only a bare signe figure remembrance of Christs Body and his death But we most stedfastly according to Christs words the gospel do holde beleeue as sure as Gods worde and the trueth cannot fail that the very selfe same Body Blood which was borne of the B Virgin Mary suffered death vpoÌ„ the Crosse is giuen vs in this B. Sacrament that it is not a bare peece of bread as it seemeth to the eye outwardly or is in the mouth by tast but far aboue reason contrary to our sensuall feeling wheÌ„ the preist in Christs persoÌ„ hath once spoken Christs words ouer that creature which before was bread it is theÌ„ wholy really substaÌ„tially turned into the very body blood of our redeemer christ by his mighty vvorde vvhich made all thinges of nothing and to vvhome nothing is impossible and this vvhosoeuer vvill bee saued barke the heretikes neuer so much to the contrary must stedfastly beleeue for vve proue it by Gods vvorde that cannot faile the Apostolike doctrine so to be First theÌ„ the foure Euangelists be plaine The sixt Chapter of S. Iohn hath so many plaine places vvhereby this holy Sacrament was promised that I cannot haue time to reckon them as in one place Christ there saith The bread which I will giue is my flesh for the health of the worlde for my flesh is verily meat my bloode is verily drinke he that eateth my fleshe drinketh my blood dwelleth in me I in him I will raise him vp againe at the last day vnlesse you eate the flesh of the sonne of man drinke his blood you shall not haue life in you Lo heare no figure or remembrance only is named as heretikes say I know not truly how our Sauiour coulde vse any plainer vvords againe in the other three Euangelists in as plain Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Luc. 22. vvordes is mention made hovve our Sauiour instituted or ordained this holy Sacrament in this manner the night before he suffred after he had made anend of the Paschal lamb and olde Testament hee tooke bread blessed and gaue to his desciples saying Take and eate for 1. Cor. 11. this is my Body likewise when he had blessed the Chalice he said This is my Blood Likewise Saint Paul affirmeth that that which he receiued of our Lorde heâ— gaue to the Corinthians for our Lorde Iesus saieth hee the same night hee was betraied tooke breade and giuing thankes brake and gaue to his disciples saying This is my
also is witnesse of the truth S. Cyrillus of Alexandria doubt not whether it be true sith Christ saieth manifestly This is my body but rather take the worde of our Sauiour in faith for seeing he is the truth he lieth not And againe Lib. 4. 13 lett vs take great aduantage by the sinnes of other men giuing stedfast faith vnto the misteries let vs neuer in so high misteries speake the worde quomodo how Saint Gregorius Nazianzenus Eate In orat 4. â—â— Pasc the bodye and drincke the blood without confusion or doubt if at the least thou arâ— desirous of life neither do thou with draw faith from the sayings which concerne the fleshe The same Saint Hillary Leo Isichius Theophilactus Paschasius diuers others haue spokeÌ„ requiring vs not to doubt of the truth of this misterie that especialy because Christs words make ful perswasion and take away all occasion of doubting but if they be figuratiue it is not so then one may vnderstand this kynde of figure another that kynde one may think it is to be a Metaphore and an other that it is Sinecdoche the third that it is Metonimia the fourth that it is altogether an Allegorye or parable and without all ground of history others doubt to expouÌ„d this is my body as if it were said in this with this or vnder this or about this my body is yea from that day wherin the proper naturall sence of those words was denied I think neuer any words haue beene more vncertaine and more doubted of then This is my body yet the Fathers were so farre from this vncertainty that they counted him an Infidell and fallen from grace and saluation who so did not beleeue them euen as Christ spake them to witt euen so as they sound at the first sight If the truth of Christs body bee the reall substance thereof they that intreatinge of the Eucharist affirme the truthe of his flesh must needes meane that his substance is really present in that Sacrament whereof they speake S. Hillary speaking of the holy mysteries Lib. 8. dâ— Trin. saith There is lefte no place of doubting of the truth of flesh and blood Yet surely if the substance of flesh blood were not present not only some place but the cheife place of doubting were left S. Ambrose It is the true flesh of Christ De Sacra lib. 5. cap. 1. de ieiunio mensis serm 6. which we take Doubt you nothing at all Saith Leo Concerning the truth of christs body Be like he spoke to Catholickes for doubles the sacrameÌ„taries doubt so vehemently therof that they beleue the truth of Christs body to be only at the right hand of his father Isichius He receaueth In leuit li. 6. Ca. 22. De ortho side lib. 4. Cap. 4. by ignorance who knoweth not this to be the body and blood according to the truth Damascenus The bread and wine is not the figure of Christes body and blood God forbid but it is the self deified body of our Lord The like assertion Theophilact Euthymius In. 6. Ioan in 26. Math. and diuers other fathers haue They that name the supper of Christ a figure a sacrament or a remembrance doe not thereby exclude the true substance of Christes flesh but they meane to shew that it is present vnder the signe of another thing after a misticall and secret manner Saint Cyprian The diuine substance In serm de cena dom lib. 8. de Trinitat hath vnspeakably infused it selfe in the visible Sacament Saint Hillarius Wee take in deed the flesh of his body vnder a mystery Loe the fleshe the substance of God is present in truth but vnder a signe Cirillus Hierosolymitanus Vnder the figure Catech. Mistag of bread the body is giuen to thee Who now knowing the SacrameÌ„t to consist of two parts wil wonder that sometimes it is named the one and sometime of the other S. Augustine The Body and Bloud of Christ shall then bee life to euery man De verb. dom Ser. 2. if that thing which is visible receiued in the Sacrament be the truth it selfe eaten spiritually Beholde there is a thing in the Sacramente and so reallye it is there that it is visibly reâ—eaued therefore it is not a spirituall thing onlye for no such matter is visiblye receiued but it is there and thence it must be eaten spiritually and in the truthe it selfe that is to saye it must not onlie bee taken in the mouth but into the harte also and then it shall bee life to the receiuer This thing so receiued in the Sacrament must needes bee the body of Christ vnder the forme of bread for nothing else is to bee eaten spiritually It were too tedious to alleadge all that Saint Augustine hath written in this behalfe but his other wordes beeing conferred with these will make it plaine that when soeuer he nameth it a figure hee meaneth the truth hidden vnder a figure which is more shortlye named a misticall figure He that alleadgeth mannes fleshe why the flesh and blood of Christ is not seene in the misteries presupposed allbeit an invisible yet a most reall presence thereof Fluctuantem me conuerto Aug. â—n Psal 98. ad Christum quia ipsum quero hic â—â— venio quomodo sine impietate adoretur terra sine impietate adoretur scabellum pedum eius suscepit enim de terra terram quia caro terra est de carne MARIE carnem accepit quia in ipsa carne hic ambulauit ipsam carnem nobis manducandam ad salutem dedit Nemo autem illam carnem â—anducat nisi prius adorauerit Inuentum est quemadmodum adoretur scabellum pedum Domini non solum non peccemus adorando sed peccamus non adorando Which wordes may be thus englished I conuert my selfe being in doubt to Christ because him here I seeke and find how without impietie the earth may be worshipped without impietie his fooâ—estoole may be worshipped for hee tooke earth of earth because fleshe is earth and of the fleshe of MARIE he took flesh and because he walked here in that flesh gaue that flesh to vs to be eaten for our saluation but no man eateth that flesh vnlesse he first worship it It is found out how the footestoole of our Lordes feete may be worshipped and not only we doe not offend in worshipping it but wee doe offend in not worshipping it S. Ambrose saith it is not seene in his owne forme Vt nullus horror De sacr lib. 4. cap. 4. cruoris sit et precium tamen operetur redemptionis To the end there maye bee no lothsome abhorring of rawe blood and yet the price of our redemption maye worke in vs So that by his iudgement the truthe of bloode is present to worke in vs the effect of Christs death yet the forme of the blood is not seene because wee should not abhorre it Theophilact Although
in against them When Protestantes to couer their heresies about the Sacrament giue it honorable tearms we may say to them Lib. 8. de Trim. as Saint Hillarye saied to the Arrians who called Christ Lord Dominum licet nuncupes c. Albeit you name him Lord Yet you meane him not to bee the Lord because he is a Lord to you rather by a common kinde and familiar name then by nature Euen so pretende what honorable opinion or doctrine the Protestants list of Christs supper yet as long as by nature and substance they thinke not that externall gifte to be his body which himselfe called so they rather sooth it by a better name than meane it to be any better thing than a bare signe or figure Ebion although he denied Christs Godhead Epiphan Her 30. yet as Epiphanius telleth he affirmed him to rule Angells and all that euer was made by God and his scholers called him a Prophet and the Sonne of God which notwithstāding forsomuch as they beleeued him not to be God by nature the Catholikes neuer doubted to say that they taught him to be Nudum hominem A naked bare man Right so whatsoever holinesse bee annexed to bread and wine be it the signe of neuer so great a vertue and efficacy be it neuer so much called the body and bloud of Christ yet if it remaine still in the former substance if the trueth which it is appointed to signifie be absent it is bare bread and bare wine and a bare token of Christs Body and Bloud Some signes containe the trueth they signifie as a loaf set out that bread is there is to be solde another kind of signes signify the trueth absent as the Iuy-bushe doth wine The latter signe is a bare signe but not the first The Catholickes say the best and richest kinde of seales is in the sacrament because there is Christs body really present to signifie and as it were by seale to witnesse his owne death and Passion The bloudy sacrifices of the olde Lawe did better signifie Christs Passion than Protestants bread wine beeing but a bare signe Melchisedeche likewise had besides his bread wine the reall body of Abraham present whō he offered to God in him Iesus Christ his seede and so that also farre more excellent than bakers bread The body of Christ vnder the forme of bread is of it selfe both the thing and also a figure of the mystical vnity of the Church Res Sacramenti that is the thing of the Sacrament is the grace of God The substance of Christ vnder the forme of bread is the signe For Christ commeth in his own corporall presence to seaze and to endue vs with his grace Hence it commeth that S. Augustine so ofte calleth this Sacrament a figure because the body it selfe is heere not for it selfe but to put vs in possesion of so great a grace as the vnion with God is Moreouer those that say the bodye of Christ is eaten by faith only and no otherwise bee against the Gospell that affirmed Christ gaue his bodye with his owne handes beeing present and not at his fathers right hand But faith is Heb. 11. an argument of thinges to bee hoped for not appearing If in S. Iohn spirituall eating by faith bee only spoken of why is it said Dabo I will giue wheras sprituall eating was already giuen to all that euer beleued and therfore it was not to come but the bread which Christ will giue is his flesh and the guift therof is to come therfore it is more then a spirtuall eating by faith which was both past and present Note that the place in S. Iohn which Ioh. 6. heretiks take to make most for them in very deede maketh most against them What saith Christ If you see the Sonne of man ascending c. Whereby is declared the power of our Sauiours Godhead whereby onlye hee ascended which if the Capharnaits and heretikes woulde perfectly beleeue they woulde then neuer doubt of Christes reall presence in the Sacrament which through the omnipotencie of his godhead hee is able to performe Consider also against the heretikes these figure makers that it standeth well together the Eucharist to be a signe the truth as Christ is the Image of God and yet also God the higher euery signe or Image is the lesse it differeth from the truth and therefore the figure of Christs bodye and bloud differeth in forme but not in substance from Christ him selfe and so although the Sacrament be a figure yet the words This is my Body be not tropicall or vnproper Hoc that is the word This signifieth not bread but that is contained vnder bread Hoc facite doe this the making of the sacrificed substāce also must needes be a Sacrifice not only suffering himselfe to be seene of those that desire him as saith S. Chrysostome but also to In Iohn hom 45. be toucht eatē teeth to be fastned in his flesh al to be filled with desire of him Besides the reall presence sacrifice Christes body also hath a locall being in vs in respect that the substance of Christ occupieth the same place vnder the forme of bread which the substance of bread did occupie before when we haue that kinde of bread in vs euen so Christs beeing is locall in vs. Moreouer as Christ at his Incarnation came not from heauen by forsaking his glorie but by asumpting fleshe of the Virgin so nowe at the time of the Consecration his bodye commeth not downe from heauen but the bread is changed into his body by that meane his body is present with vs. And as after his resurrection hee ascended into heauen so after the communion the formes of bread and wine being consumed Christ ceasseth to be corporally with vs to the end wee should againe desire his presence well knowe these Note wel two cheife points of our beleife the one that the ende of the conioyning consisteth in spirit rather thā in flesh the other that the flesh of Christ really eaten is the means whereby we haue accesse to the spirite of God with trust confidence Now Christ cannot bee better present in spirite and grace then if hee bee present in his selfe therein to conuert to vs his spirite and grace for the cause of his taking flesh was to make his flesh an instrument to deliuer his spirite grace to our flesh to the end that no meane of prouiding for our saluation might be omitted by so louing a father In consideration wherof S. Ambrose saith Thou that Lib. 6. de Sacram. Cap. 1. takest his flesh art made pertaker of his diuine substance in that foode Note that the spirite and substance of God commeth to vs by taking Christes flesh Chap. XXIIII Of the excellency of the most blessed Sacrament and in what respect it is called a Sacrament signe or figure and yet is the very thing it selfe which it betokeneth IT
Sacrament actuallie that naturall dimension and occupying of place which it hath otherwise but as hee hath ordayned it to be so is it vnder diuers formes of bread in diuers places at once by his omnipotencie to whome nothing is impossible Here I am sure many will stand with mee and say they beleeue not so to whome I aunswere that by so saying they haue condemned themselues Iohn 6. 64 to bee of those of whome Christ sayed There are some of you whoe beleeue not For if CHRIST sayed by that which vvas bread before his blessing which still seemed bread if Christ said thereof This is my body and gaue it vnder twelue peeces or formes seeing they for the most of them I thinke confesse him to be able to make his body present vnder diuerse formes and to haue promised to giue his flesh and to haue said This is my body and to haue giuen it to twelue how can they denie that his bodye was present at that supper vnder twelue dyuers formes of bread beeing whole and all vnder each forme The confessing also of that which Christ said is a thing appertaining to faith because the speaker is God to whom all faith belongeth to beleeue this that God saieth must needes bee a vertue and to discredit it is a great vice But some will still perhappes alleadge that The flesh profitteth nothing Iohn 6. the wordes of Christ are spirit and life That is true and therefore I beleeue that vvhen he said Take eate this is my body he gaue his body not without life and spirit but yet as really as euer by saying Gen. 1. Let the light bee made hee made the light for his words be not deadfleash which profiteth nothinge but quicken and giue life how and whensoeuer it pleaseth him much better then the spirit and soule of a man is able to quicken and make liuelye the bodye wherein it is These two saying This is my body and my wordes are spirit and life stand so well together that I beleeue the one for the others sake Christs wordes neuer want spirit and life power to quicken other things euen as his fleshe neuer lacked all kinde of spirite in it selfe For when the soule was out of it yet the God-head remayned and corporallye dwelte in it and the soule returned to it againe the third day Collos 2. Therefore when Christ said This is my body which is giuen for you I am bound to beleeue that his bodye is neither without soule nor godhead for else it were not truly said it is giuen sor vs if it vvere not profitable to vs. Thus you see that I beleeue all the wordes of Christ together and that you not doing so are without you repent certaine to bee condemned sor not beleeuing these words Take eate this is my body you will say you beleeue these wordes yet not carrially but spiritually as it is meete for Christs wordes to bee beleeued O Sir he that assigneth a meane how he wil beleeue Christs words in that very fact sheweth himselfe not to beleeue them For beliefe inuenteth nothing of his owne but followeth the authority of God that speaketh I beleeue in deede that Christs wordes cannot be carnall as you take carnall words for foule grosse meanings but I see it to be a very cleane and pure meaning that the most pure substance of the flesh of Christ should be giuen vnder the forme of bread to the end it may be eaten of vs and the chiefe and the cleanest thing we vse to eate is bread to giue therefore the chiefe and most healthfull flesh in the worlde to be eaten vnder rhe forme of the purest eatable thing is a very pure and cleane worke farre from carnality You will say it is more pure if it be rather beleeued to be eaten only of the hart of man by faith and spirit then by mouth and body I answere that it is no pure eating of a corporall thing which taketh away the truth of corporall eating Againe both waies of eating are better then one of theÌ„ alone I beleeue his reall flesh to be eaten with hart and mouth to be eaten with body mind to be eaten in deed in faith Here faileth your beliefe because of two true things you beleeue but one the other you discredit To be short let vs imagine him that beleeueth the real presence of Christs body and bloud vnder the formes of bread and wine to stande before the seat of Gods iudgment and that Christ asketh him why he did beleeue and worship his body and bloud vnder the formes of bread and wine may he not well answere in this vvise I beleeued so and did so because your Maiestie taking bread and hauing blessed it doubted not to say This is my body which wordes all my forefathers vnderstoode to be spoken properly and to be true as they sounded and therefore at the commandement of my Prelates I a dored your bodye vnder the forme of bread If CHRIST reply that hee had Preachers whoe taught him otherwise cried to him to beware least he committed Idolatry First that obiection might not bee made to any man that died aboue 80. yeares past because no Preacher taught publikely any such doctrine Secondly if so much were said to one of our time he might answere that hee had moe forefathers and moe Preachets and those much more auncient and more honest men who required him to beleeue Christs wordes and to worship the body of his maker Well nowe wee are come to the point all the Catholickes haue preached with one accorde that it is the true body of Christ and the Gospell witnesseth that CHRIST said This is my body here is the worde of God and the tradition and preaching of man ioyned togither I aske whether it bee possible for CHRIST vvhoe requireth of vs nothing so earnestly as beâ—iefe to condemne that simple man who being otherwise of good life beleeued his worde and his forefathers and the Preachers agreeable with both or no answere me for what fault shall this poore man be condemned First to beleeue Christ it is no fault Secondly Christ said This is my body Thirdly he beeing an infant was of his parentes taught that to be the body of Christ which was holdeÌ„ ouer the Priests head Fourthly as many and moe preach to him when he commeth to lawfull age say this is the body of Christ as there are that afterwarde preach the contrary tel me then what was his fault for which hee may bee condemned If you say his eyes tould him it was not the body of Christ hee vvill ansvvere that for the reuerence he bare to the worde of God hee denied the sensible instruction of his eyes as giuing more credit to Christ then to himselfe is that a fault If you replie that by that means he might haue worshipped the rock in steede of Christ hee will answere he knoweth not what you meane he neuer had any rock
mighty power to whome nothing is impossible But o how happy was the time when men beleeued stedfastly and doubted nothing of Godes promise in this his so vnspeakable a gift and so worthelye receaued the fruites thereof whereas miscreantes now both deny the truth and shewe themselues most ingratfull in not only denying the truth but thinking most basely of his diuine ordinance O horrible ingratitude in steed of the Prince and king of heauen and earth left vs in this Sacrament to feed men with a peece of beead like to the vncleane hogg that refuseth the precious pearle and feeddeth of the pease shaling in the clay O vvhat coulde CHRIST haue done more for vs then he did and how more vnthankfull can these men shew themselues to him then they doe which most displeaseth him and hindreth his bountye towardes vs for this vnthankfullnes is a vice that drieth vp the fountaine of Gods grace in mans soule Flie then such lying Masters I saye and their wicked deuises taste no more of their baite that draweth to death but beleeue and prepare your selues with al purity of body and soule to receaue in the blessed Sacrament Christ the food of life and so you shall reape the wonderfull fruites thereof which bee many infinit First by worthy receauing of this most venerable Sacrament manie sinnes we could not remember in confession bee forgiuen vs so hot is the fire of GODS loue towardes vs herein if wee receaue him with feruour that it againe boileth and consumeth in vs al defects and imperfections with the relikes of sinne as fire purifieth mettalls from drosse and corruption which was signified by the Pascall lambe rosted and those holocausts or whole burnt sacrifices of the lawe Besides this it giueth most plentifully of grace to the well disposed it infeebleth our passions and inordinate motions maketh lesse and weaker all tentations bodely and ghostly giueth strength that wee consent not to them but to our great merit may ouercome them Wherefore saith a blessed Father If thou feele not so ofte violent tentations of the fleash thanke Christ for the grace that this holy Sacrament worketh in thee Moreouer in this B. Sacrament we cheifly exercise faith to our greatest merit beleeuing Christ aboue reason and not our sences and that right worthely For if as we reade of a sort of Phylosophers they would câ—edit what their Masters said and neuer reason the matter but say Ipse dixit our Master said it accounting it a sure ground great reason then haue we Christians to giue credit to our Master Christ the truth whose wordes cannot faile reasoning no farther but say Ipse dixit Christ our Master said This is my body that hee saide it this is a sure grounde Likewise in worthy offering receauing this B. Sacrament we giue due thankes to God for his wonderfull benefits which of our selues we coulde neuer be able whereupon the holy Prophet in spirit long before considering the wonderfull benefits of God bestowed herein which of himselfe man could neuer be able to requite burst our into these wordes Quid retribuam Domino Psal 115. c. O what shall I requite to my Lord God for all his goodnesse bestowed on me I will saith he take the Cup of our Lord call vpon his holy name See the mercy of God who bestoweth such benefits vpon vs that none is able to requite and yet we in receauing these pretious gifts and offering his benefits to him againe he accepteth it for a sufficient requitall Also in this B. Sacrament as I saide before we represent mostliuely Christs Passion before our eyes and imitate him therein This is a sacrifice propitiatory both for the quicke and the deade which with the three Sages we ought to honour with all diuine honour and worship prostrate both in body and minde as the holie Prophet foretolde saying All the families of nations shoulde worshippe in his sight Psal 21. And in an other place Adorabunr scaâ—ellum c. they shall worshippe his footestoole that is as S. Augustnie vnderstandeth his body or humanity the seate or his footestoole as vnited to his diuinity By this Sacrament and sacrifice we worshippe God and chiefly acknowledge there is a true God by this sacrifice Gods wrath is chiefly auerted yea and sufficiently appeased for our I meane it is sufficient of it self as the example of that vpon the Crosse but to vs according to our disposition sinnes which sacrifice euer acceptable in his sight he neuer denieth as being most glorified thereby which is his only most deare sonne So that it is ioyfull to Angels in heauen comfortable to men in earth and healthfull to the faithfull departed and the chiefe honour to God here on earth neither is there any thing so sufficient a remedy to release the faithfull departed speedely of their paines and bring them to the glory of God as this Sacrament and sacrifice To be briefe this blessed Sacrament and our pure and vubloudy sacrifice Christs very body and bloud in deede is the very body and bloud that was borne of the B. Virgin and suffered death vpon the Crosse by meanes vvhereof vve be incorporate vnited or knit vnto Christ our head made one flesh of his saered flesh and bloud by meanes vvhereof we receiue herein a pleadge most soueraigne to appeare glorious vvith him at the last day Who is it then but for to be worthely partaker of so great a benefit if he well consider but woulde vvillingly loose two hundred markes for that paine besides imprisonment O dolefull daies English statutes set downe for hearing one Masse For so long as vve remaine in the knot of peace vnity and charity that is be members of Christs misticall body the Church by worthely receauing this venerable Sacrament his very body so long we be the very flesh and body of Christ flesh of his sacred flesh and bloud and may say with a reuerent Father to our vnspeakable comfort we are thy flesh and bloud O Iudge of the liuing and the dead we are thy members how vnworthy soeuer yet thy members haue we neuer left off or ceased to be we neuer from thy body by heresy or schisme deuided our selues thy flesh good Lord then wilt thou not despise thy fleshe thou wilt not hate thy flesh thou wilt neuer condemne we haue no hope no trust no other glory but that thou art our flesh and we thy flesh Chap. XXX Containing a breife recapitulation of things touched in the treatise of this Sacrament and declaring that lay persons be not desrauded of the bloud of Christ nor healthfull fruite of the Sacrament in receauing vnder one kinde O The infinit loue of Christ to mankinde that with such sweet pure and vndefiled kisses imbracings of loue and charity knits and tieth vs fast togither vnto him O Lorde it is meruaile that oâ—r harts doe not for loue as it were burst asonder when we consider the most deare and tender loue of
auouch can prooue because we are authorised by Christs holy word that in S. Peters chaire that is when any of S. Peters successors defineth a matter of faith intending to binde the vvhole Church though in priuate as a man he may erre otherwise yet therin he neuer hath nor can erre as being assisted by Gods holy Spirit For the benefit of the whole Church I haue prayed for thee Peter Luc. 22. 32. that thy saith may not faile said Christ in somuch that we reade of none that euer herein quailed that gods word may be true Nay in the olde Testament before Agg. 2. 12 Christ when there was doubt of any matter of religion they had recourse to the high Priest those of the stocke of the Leuites in whome God euer conserued true faith though in a number it quailed in Israell But the heretikes wheÌ„ they cannot answere by reason authority then they turne to scoffing rayling either commonly by lying or else like cursed Cham as he did at his fathers secrets scoffe in scoffing and deriding the same So doe they in discouering sinnes and defects of Popes Prelates of the Church deride their parents though in deede aboue thirty of the Popes next after S. Peter did all suffer martyrdome for Christ and many glorious Saints and Doctors were of them since that time Who more eloquent then S. Leo who more holy then S Grâ—gory which both were Popes with many moe But these heretiks maliciously conceale if there were any that as men had sins or defects those they publish to the world We graunt in deede that Popes as they be men may sinne but why for that O heretike dost thou slaunder the chaire of S. Peter wherein the Catholicke faith shall euer vndefiled continue Why dost thou not remember that God can shewe the truth by an euill man yea by a dumb beast what did not Caiphas though an euill man yet for that he was the Bishop and high Priest spake true prophecying of Christ that it was expedient that one Ioh. 11. 50 shoulde die for the people that the whole should not perish Nay did not Christ him selfe say Vpon the chaire of Moyses doe Math. 23 2. 3. sit the Scribes and Pharisees doe that they say but doe not as they doe for they say and doe not If therefore any Pastors of the Church lead euill liues they shall beare their owne burden neither ought wee to follow them therein but to doe as they bid vs that is to follow the truth touching matters of faith wherein the the chiefe Pastor cannot erre yet if we see defects in our spirituall Pastors it is not for vs as heretiks doe to slaunder them vncouer their defects and that which is worse to forsake the true faith for their sakes but rather with holy Sem and Iaphet to couer their nakednes or as that Christian Emperour Constantine did who said that if hee saw a Bishop doe a thing inconuenient he would rather couer it with his cloake then reueale it The reason is that Godâ— name the truth for mannes fault should not be blasphemed Yet God be blessed the Church of Christ hath euer in al Countries had some good Pastors wheras amongst heretikes can possibly be none good Chap. XXXIII Of Gods seuere punishment of diuers for arrogating to them selues Priestly office and howâ— wee are to obay our Pastors BVt admit that many were bad of life must therefore Gods ordenance bee altered and therefore any temporall King or Prince yea that which is more absurd tinckers and coblers take vpon them to be Pastors and rulers in spirituall causes O why doe they not remember and be afraide how Allmighty God of olde from time to time punished such Luciferian pride and intollerable presumption and arrogancy Chore Dathon and Abyron with Numeri cap. 16. a number more of their conspiracie who being not called or chosen of God to the high Priestly office and function and yet sacrilegiously would presume to to offer insence and doe Sacrifice did not fire from heauen consume them the earth swallowe them vp quick to hell to the terror of al generations That false King Ieroboam that vpon the Altar 3. Reg. 13. in Samaria offered sacrifice did not god strike him lame And in like sort did he not plague those perfidious treacherous kings of Israel with sundry plagues from time to time for their rebellion against that Catholicke Iâ—da that Preistly Princely tribe his holy Church Nay did not God strike Oza with sudden Oza 2. Reg. 6. death but for only touching with desire to vpholde the same the arke of God but a figure only of Christs very or misticall body the Church not to bee touched or gouerned by lay men but by Preists Bishops lawfully called by God as Aaron was For to them and to none other Christ gaue charge of his â—locke at his departure nay there was neither King nor mighty Prince of many yeares after Christs time that were Christians and yet the Church neuer waÌ„ted her head gouernours in spiritual matters those were the Apostles Bishops their lawful successors vnto whoÌ„e the holy Apostle exorteth vs to submitt our selues saying Obedite praepositis vestris Heb. 13. 17. subiacete eis obey your Prelats c. for they watch as to giue account for your soules such Priests as rule gouerne the Church wel the holy Apostle 1. Tim. 5. 17. accouÌ„teth worthy double honour those that labour in doctrine in preaching the truth For to them the holy Apostle gaue the charge Attend saith he Act. cap. 20. 28. to your selues and the whole flocke wherein the holy Ghost hath ordeyned you Bishoppes regere Ecclesiam Dei to rule or gouerne the Church of God By these and many like places of holy Scripture it appeareth that not temporall Kings Princes but lawfull Bishops be gouernours and haue supereminent power and authority in the Church This that noble Emperour Constantine that was the first Christian Emperour that most honoured enriched the Church sonne to S. Helene that noble Empresse that went pilgrime to Hierusalem and miraculously founde out the holy Crosse this I say he well considered that it was the office of a King to be head of temporal matters in the common weale only as to execute iustice to punnish the offenders to rule and commaund in taxes tribute and in martiall affaires but not to be ruler at the Altar not to be head in the Church not to giue first censure or iudgement in spiritual causes in so much that this noble Emperour being called to that first and most holy general Councel at Nice where in the Arrian heretickes 1300. yeares agoe were condemned vvoulde sitte at that Councell in no other place but in the lowest place of all acknowledging right worthely Priests and Bishops in spirituall causes his farre betters and superiours he well knew his duty and would
at once but only declareth an infinite and almighty power of God and that diuine honour is due hereunto pag. 226. chap. 26. Of the B. sacrament of the Altar shewing how conueniently it was ordayned for our reparatioÌ„ what preparatioÌ„ we ought to make to the same p. 262 chap. 27. Of the Manna the paschall Lamb and other figures of the B. sacrament pag. 269. chap. 28. Wherein is touched how this sacrament is also a sacrifice daily vnbloudely offered by Priests propitiatory for the quicke the dead that it is the only saerifice whereby God is chiefly honoured and worshipped pag. 274. chap. 29. Of the great loue and humility of Christ in this B. sacrament of the deuotion of Christians of olde towardes the same pag. 281. chap. 30. Contayning a briefe recapitulation of things touched in the treatifâ— of this sacrament declaring that lay persons be not dâ—frauded of the bloud of Christ nor healthfull fruit of the sacrameÌ„t in receiuieg vnder one kind p. 288. chap. 31. Of holy Order what it is by whomâ— it was ordayned and of howe many degrees it consisteth and that no man rashly without due consideration ought to take vpon him the same pag. 305. chap. 32. Of the higher orders and hoâ—e necessary by Gods ordinance one head is ouer the rest pag 309. chap. 33. Of Gods seuere punishment of dâ—uers for arrogating to them-selues Priestly office and howe wee are to obay our Pastors pag. 318. chap. 34. Of the goodly order of the Clergy and Monarchy of the Church and of the Anarchy and disorderly confusion of heretikes pag. 325. chap. 35 Wherein is more at large described the Babilonicall confusion of sinne and heresie how God hath blessed this Couâ—try of old for honour obedience to the Church Priesthood pag. 330. chap. 36. Of Matrimony and what it is and when it was ordayned of the chiefe good ende effect thereof how Virginity is preferred before it also of vowed chastity annexed to priesthood p. 336 chap. 37. That vowes may be lawfully meritoriously made and ought to be kept and that Matrimony is a bande inseparable during life and wherein it consisteth pag. 342. chap. 38. Of extreame Vnction that it is a Sacrament and ordeyned by Christ taught by S. Iames practised by the Apostles and Apostolike men pag. 345. chap. 39. Touching briefly by the way the matter of Iustification and by whome howe we be iustified pag. 350. chap. 40 Of Predestination and that as no man is saued without Gods grace So no man shall bee damned without his owne fault and that wee mâ—st not curiously dispute hereof pag. 357. chap. 41. That man hath free will that Gods Commandements are possible to be kept that euery one must work his saluation with feare trembling pag. 361. chap 42. Of Christs descending into Hell of the intollerable blasphemy of heretikes against Christ in this point pag. 365 chap. 4â— Of Purgatorie what sort of people be therein punished and for what mâ—nner of sinnes defects they be there detained and thâ—t Prayer Sacrifice Almes-deeds and the like bee healthfull for the departed pag. 367. chap. 44. More at large of Purgatory prayer for the dead how heretikes noâ— only corrupt but deny thâ— playne scripturs in avouching the contrary pag. 371. ch 45. Of PardoÌ„s what they are wherof they come in what sort they be auaileable both for the liuing the dead p. 376 chap. 46. By what meanes Pardons may be applyed to our soules and that we must iustly doe that which is appointed vs to be pertakers of the same pag. 380. chap. 47. Of Excommunication how dreadfull a thing it is how heretikes being excommunicated in the higbest degree their excommunication of others is ridiculous contemptible pag. 384. chap. 48 Of some abuses about Pardons and of the late reformation of the same and of the couetous humors of English Ministers pag. 385. chap. 49. Exhorting all to doe their Penance meekely heere and not to trust to much to the helpe and praiers of their friendes left behinde pag. 387. chap. 50. Of Pilgrimage proued by examples of Christ his seruants pa. 390. chap. 51. Of the reliques of Saints reuerently to be vsed and kept of miracles wrought by meanes of them pag. 392. chap. 52. Of honour inuocation of Saints and how Saints pray for vs may heare and releeue vs by their prayers as also that our prayers to Saints their intercession for vs is no iniury but glory to Christ ouâ— Mediator pag. 397. chap. 53. Declaring how God for his holy seruants sakes heareth our prayers and how the holy Fathers of olde prayed to Saints pag. 403. chap. 54. Touching by the way the blessed Virgin our Lady and the iniuries done vnto her pag. 406. chap. 55. Of Images and of the Crosse of Christ and of the reuerende laudable vses of the same pag. 409. chap. 56. Of Seruice in the Latin tongue and how meete conuenient it is that the Scriptures be reserued seruice said in the auncient sacred tongues pag. 413 chap. 57. Wherein the Apostles wordes touching praying and preaching in vnknowne tongues are expounded and of the goodlye order of the Churches seruice praâ—ing singing praising God night and day in her cannonicall houres feastes and times of the yeare pag. 421. chap. 58. Of the Beades of the fifteenâ— misteries of thâ— Râ—sary or our Ladies Psalter of the great good spiritual fruit by deuout saying the same pag. 424. chap. 59. Of the Aue Maria how it is a most deuout prayer gratefull to God ioyfull to Angelles terrible to the Diuel most healthfull and comfortable to all mankinde pag. 427. chap. 60. Of diuers holy ornaments and thinges belonging to the Church as of lightes in churches of Insence Dedication of churches and such like godly ceremonies pag. 429. chap. 61. Of Religious persons of their sanctity leaâ—ning and perfection of life and of the vo â—es of pouerty châ—stity and obedience which make a religioâ—s man and of the heauy in â—gemeâ—t of God to vowe bâ—eakers how our Lady vowed virginity pag. 433. chap. 6â— Of holy Water and how creatures being blessed by the word of God miracles sometimes by the same be wroughâ— to the expelling of Diuels and confâ—rmation of Christian religion pag. â—40 chap. 63. Of holy Bread giuen the people iâ— remembrance of that most blessed Sacrament and in sâ—me sort taught vs by Christ in those lâ—aues blessed aâ—â— multiplyed by him in the desert pag. 442. chap. 64. Of receâ—uing vnder one kinde aâ—d how the same frâ—ite is reaâ—ed by onâ— kinde as by both anâ— that peace vnity and charity is the ende of this blessed Sacrament pag. 444. chap. 65. Of fasting the fruits therof how it hath beâ—e vsed coâ—â—â—nded by Christ his Saints how it is commanded vnder paine â—f sin by the church to â—hat persons how such as disobey the Church in this precept of fasting or any other disobey Christ. pag. 447. chap. 66. Of traditions whereof they câ—me what they be of what authority that by tradition and authority of the Church we knoâ— the Scriptures tâ— bâ— the word of Gâ—â— which be eâ—er most reuereâ—tly preseâ—ued by Catholickes â—ut euill vnderstood corrupted yea sâ—me quite razed â—ut by Heretikes pag. 452. chap. 67. Of God that he is one in substance and three in persons and of the horrible blaspheamy of heretikes and Athistes against his diuine Maiestie pag. 457. chap. 68. Of Hell and of the iust punishments therein for sinne without release for euermore pag. 459. chap. 69. Of Heauen which worldlinges contemne how we may obtaine it and of the glorious and most happy estate of the body with the soule for euer after the generall resurrection pag. 462. chap. 70. Of the Pope that he is the Vicar of Christ and lawfull successor of Saint Peter pag. 465. chap. 71. What most admirable vertuous holy zealous and most worthy and charitable men many Popes haue beene of old and of late yeares also euen to this present day pag. 468. chap. 72. Wherefore he weareth his Crowne is borne of meÌ„s shoulders suffereth deuout persons to kisse his foote p. 472 chap. 73. Why heretikes haue euer slaundered the Pope and how God turneth their malice to the benefitte of his elect and how herâ—tikes be forâ—runners of Antichrist and of Christs victory ouer his enemies in his Church pag. 475. chap. 74. Of the assistantes of the Pope as first of his Cardinals and why they be so called also of religious men Priests and Godly men of this time that dyed Martirs and of the dying obstinately of heretikes pag. 479. chap. 75. Of Antechrists forerunners of his false lying signes deceits of his intollerable Luciferian pride subtility and short raigne though most violent persecution of his life birth death and ministers pag. 483. chap. 76. How the Diuell Antechrist be compared to that monstrous serpentinâ— tayled Dragon drawing numbers with them into euerlasting perdition and that one certaine man Antechrist is yet to come though hee hath many fore-runners pag. 486. chap. 77. In a fewewords touching the chiefe matters that haue beene spoken in this treatise how the vnlearned especially in matters of religion ought too leaue disputes and simply to beleeue the truth founding themselues in Christ and in the Catholike Church pag. 490 chap. 78. Against Schisme that it is altogither vnlawfull and forbidden vnder pame of daÌ„natioÌ„ to goe to the churches of heretiks or schismatiks to their prayers sermons sacramâ—ts spirituall exercises or many sort directy or indirectly to coÌ„municate participate yeeld consent or assent to the same also a precaution is giueÌ„ to beware of dissembling Catholiks which indeede are Schismatiks pag. 495. chap. 79. Admonishing to amendment of life seing the time â—s short and the houre of death vncertaine when as ignorance shall excuse no man pag. 517. chap. 80. How though euery one ought to be prepared to suffer yet none ought rashly to cast themselues into teÌ„ptation but if â—e be called thereunto then we ought to be most glad to suffer as beeing Gods caâ—se we suffer for pag. 525. A short treatise against Adiaphorists Neuters and such as say they may be saued in any sect or religion and would make of many diuers sects one Church pag. 537. FINIS
Body which shal be betrayed or deliuered vp for you so likewise he spake of the cup calling it his blood And both the Euangelists Saint Paul doe agree that Christ bad his Apostles sacrifice or doe that which he had donne in memorie of his death and Passion not to offer a peece of bread in memorie of his death and Passion for that should be to base and slender a memorie as the heretikes your ministers be-lie the truth but to consecrate sacrifice and receiue after an vnbloody maner the very self-same body that the day after was bloudely once for all offered on the Crosse there as a full price of our redemption and here as a mean to make vs pertakers of that high price and ransome there once bloudely offered here the very selfe same flesh and bloude that there once bloudely was offred but here after an vnbloudy maner not deuided or not cut in peeces as the Iewes vnderstoode and the heretikes doe blaspheme but whole Christ though reallye and substanciallye here present yet after a spirituall and deuine maner that cannot be sufficiently expressed in wordes not one Christ here other there or in heauen not one to day a nother to morow but one and the self same which was offred vpon the Crosse and now sitteth at the right hand of his father is daily offred vp here in the Church in diuers places at once that by the mighty power of his Godhead which is al in al * In saying vnited to his sacred Body Videtur praeposte ra locutio For his sacred Body is vnited to his Godhead not confounded but knit and ioyned together o insigne miraculum two natures in one person vnited to his sacred body to whome nothing is impossible Wee doe not substitute then or ordeyne many * There is but one Sacrifice though daily yea oft euerie day in the Catholike Church renued by the ministrie of Preists .. 1. Cor. 11. 26. Sacrifices of Christ as the heretikes be-ly vs for so we might be iniurious to his Passion but one and the selfe same sacrifice though different in the maner with that vpon the Crosse is daily here offered vnto God there once bloudely here vnbloudely by the ministrye of Preistes heere in earth to appease Gods wrath renue in vs the fruit of his death and Passion wrought by that sacrifice once all bloudy vpon the Crosse for all Doe this that I haue donne saith Christ in memorie of me that is you shal represet or shew by this sacrifice the death of our Lord as sayeth S. Paul to his comming againe By which wordes of Christ Doe this that I haue donne he gaue his Apostles and Priests authority to consecrate his Body by vertue of his holy word For what did Christ He tooke bread blessed gaue to his Disciples said This is my Body and wine saying This is my Bloud And bad them doe that he had donne that is by power of his mightye worde to consecrate his blessed Body So by those verye wordes that heretickes abuse when hee saide Doe this in memorie of mee to make the holye Sacrament to bee but a bare figure and remembrance of Christ by those verye wordes I saye you see by uery reason and as holye doctors euer vnderstood Christ gaue authority to the Apostles and to all Preists and Bishopps their lawfull successors to offer vp daily that pure and vnbloodye sacrifice in consecrating his body and blood to represent and renue in vs his death and Passion till his comming to Iudgement againe And therefore at the holy Sacrifice of the Masse euery ornament and action of the Preist reduceth to our memory some thing Christ said or did during his life bitter death and Passion Chap. XXII That heretickes which deny Christs body in the Sacrament euacuate the fruites of Christs death and Passion in mens soules and prepare the way to Antechrist THe heretiks therfore that do blasphem haue abolished the holy most blessed dread full pure most honorable Sacrament sacrifice of the Masse doe as much as lieth in them to put out of mens minds the Passion of Christ and make voide in our soules the fruit thereof wherefore they in deed be very forerunners of Antechrist that shall denye Christ and all and yet like shamelesse blasphemous wolues and deceiuers are not affraid to call the high Preist of God Christes Vicar here in earth the Pope Antechrist who is in deede the cheife piller head of the Church here next to Christ spreading and vphoulding Christs faith against Turkes Iewes Heretickes and all Infidles throughout the whole worlde But these impostors call the Vicar of Christ Antechrist that they Antechristians and their Master Antechrist the vessell of Satan when hee commeth may be the lesse suspected so pull downe Christianity But Gods Church Christes kingdome shall not faile though we are to feare now in the later ende of the worlde Antechriste is neare hand as these certainlie bee his forerunners whoe at his comming shall raise a greater persecution against the Church then euer was before For hee shall deny Christ and God and also exalt himselfe aboue God with such false deceits and wordes that if it were possible the very elect should be deceaued and the holye and continuall sacrifice of the Masse shall in his time cease to be offered openly as the holy prophet Daniell foretould What other thing then Dan. 12. Heb. 7. 12 The turks though perhaps sometimes they baue some voluntary externall superstitious sacrifice yet no ordinarye set sacrifice-publike for as much as euer I red or heard do these hereticks but prepare a way for Antechrist whoe denying the blessed Masse ordained and first said or celebrated by christ at his last supper would leaue vs neuer an externall Sacrifice to worship God withall like very Turkes to whome being without externall sacrifice they bee most like Translato enim according to the Apostles doctrine Sacerdotio necesse est vt legis translatio fiat So that take away Preisthood take a waye sacrifice and so consequentlye God and all For that by externall sacrifice God is chiefely knowne and worshipped the want and honor most due vnto which sacrifice maketh vs you se so many Atheists that now a daies make a scoffing against Christ God to But Lorde be mercifull vnto this Countrey whether is it fallen for sinne and blinde heresy the worste weede that euer was sowne To be briefe you see here how in an eleuen plaine places in the fower Euangelistes and Saint Paul Christ calleth that most blessed Sacrament he ordained at his last supper his very bodye and blood Caluin Beza and the Protestantes and other heretickes of this time say it is but a figure shadowe or bare remembrance In a peece of bread of his body and blood must we beleeue Christes and Saint Paul then or your wise ministers and new vpstart heretikes of this time O Christ if I should forsake
thee the euerlasting truth and beleeue or followe any brainsicke hereticke in the worlde what shoulde I aunswere or howe durst I appeare before thy face I confesse then it is most certaine and sure which thou hast saide of this blessed Sacrament This is my Bodie This is my Bloud And that euery heretike that saieth This is a figureof thy Body This is a figure of thy Bloud is a most blasphemous and impudent hereticke and lyar Chap. XXIII Wherin is declared that we ought as really and truely to receaue his Body with our mouthes to health saluation as Adam did eate the forbidden apple to death and damnation BVt it is a woonder what shiftes these false Prophets the heretickes haue to couer their lyes vnder some shewe of trueth as though we were to eate Christ at his Fathers right-hand and so to delude the simple for as a learned man of our time writeth of this matter in this sorte Concerning that Caluin willeth vs to goe into heauen by faith to eate Christes body know you not because our nature was not able to clime vp to the seat of God in heauen therfore the sonne of God came downe from heauen to earth to lead and lift vs vp to the fruition of his father Know you not that because our body more quickly draweth our soules downwarde then our spirite is able to drawe our body vpward therfore Christ toke not only the soule but also the body of man giuing vs in his last supper that body of his to the intent that our bodies taking holde in the Sacrament of the Alter of his bodye might be caried into heauen to haue the sight of God because faith without the Incarnation of Christ cannot lifte vp our bodies therefore Christ fulfilled faith with trueth and hauing taken of the Virgin our nature gaue his body in deede to our bodies and soules that we againe might in body and soule be lifted vp with it It is not then sufficient to eate Christ by faith only but to arise againe in Christ the second Adam we must eate him in this blessed Sacramente as reallye and verily as our first father Adam wherein we all fell did eate the forbidden fruit The fruite of the tree forbiden entred into the mouth and damned the fruit of the blessed Virgin of the tree of the Crosse must enter into our mouths and spiritually worke effect in our soules and thereby wee shal be saued For as a man that is cast into a deepe pitt calleth by the meane of his tongue for helpe but when a cord is lett down to him for the ayde and succour of him it is not then sufficient to vse his tongue still to let his hands alone Euen so our faith called for Christ to come from heauen to helpe vs to let downe the corde of his humanity and of his fleshe and bloud and shall we nowe when it is let downe to be fastened in our bodies and in the bottome of our hearts by eating it really shall we nowe refuse it and say we will goe into heauen by faith our selues and there take holde of Christ whereby we may be saued and deliuered out of the deepe vale of misery As though neede were that the corde shoulde haue beene let downe if we coulde haue fastned our bodies to any thing in heauen and yet our bodies are they which weigh downe our soules cheifly Authorities to proue the vndoubted trueth of this most blessed Sacrament bee almost inumerable For if I should reckon vp all holy Saints and blessed Fathers that haue written of the trueth of this B. Sacrament I should neuer make an ende S. Ambrose saith Lib. 4. de Sacram. This bread is bread before the words of the Sacrament but when Consecration commeth to it of bread is made the body of Christ and howe at Masse the Priest prayeth for Kings Princes and the people but when he commeth to the most venerable renowmed Sacrament then he vseth not his owne wordes saith he but the worde of our Lord Iesus God commaunded saith he and heauen was made earth was made all creatures were made thou seest then saith he of what vertue the worde of Christ is If then God made thinges before of nothing that were not how much-more able is he to make things to be that were before and to change them into another As for example to make that which before was bread wine by consecration his Body and Bloud and before the wordes of Christ saith he the Chalice is full of wine and water but when the wordes of Christ come thereunto there is then the Bloud that redeemed the people All the holy Doctours as Saint Chrysostome Saint Cyrill Saint Ciprian both the holy Gregories Saint Hierome Saint Augustine Saint Barnarde bee full of the like testimonies for this matter many of them recording woonderfull miracles that haue beene wrought by vertue of this Sacrament Saint Augustine amongst De. ciu Dei the rest recordeth howe a place beeing troubled with euill spirits One of his bretheren a. religious mā that was a frier or a moncke went and offred there the healthfull Sacrifice as much to say as he said Masse and so the euill spirites were driuen away Hard you euer anye such miracle wrought by their Communion all this time I haue probably hard how the Diuell hath appeared in some of their Churches of late and in the beginning of this Queenes time when Paules steeple was burnt the very communion table from all other thinges about it was burnt in token of Godes wrath and indignation against that venemous bread of theirs whereby they poyson the souls of the simple people In the four general Councels that S. Gregorie did honour as the fouer Gospells you shall finde the blessed Sacrament of the Altar spoken of in most reuerent sort as called An honorable Sacrament called a most pure and vnbloody sacrifice of Christs body blood a pure and vndefiled host the lambe of God and the like by vertue whereof as wee read in Saint Gregories dialogues and other holy Fathers the deaffe haue beene made to heare the dumme to speake the lame to walke many other cured of incurable diseases Being abused by Iewes Heretickes and Infidles it hath issued out of blood and sometimes bin seene with streames of glorious lighte proceeding from the same as auncient histories doe recorde and blessed Saints in their writings doe witnes To be breife then this blessed Sacrament and our pure and most blessed vnbloody Sacrifice being so plainlye declared to bee Christes blessed bodye and blood by Christes owne words the holy Apostles and Euangelistes and all good men that euer writte since Christes time by the generall practize of the Church by generall Councells that cannot erre because Christ hath promised his holy spirite to assist them and his Church in all truth and by so many and wonderfull miracles we may firmely conclude with that holy Father Saint Hillary I am de